coming home....

May you find a cozy and light filled place to spend your holidays!


I will be back soon....

when the snow storm hits....

After you have had your fill of snowball fights, and after the hot chocolate...when you still have A LOT of day left....

cut open a potato, get out some paint and start printing..


Cards, wrapping paper...the table (you can't get away with this if you are not a 3 year old :))


You can also use sponges...


Enjoy!

making Christmas trees

making trees

I was inspired by a tree a friend made on her son's wall with this japanese tape a few months ago.


...riding through the park one day this fall we found the most spectacular red leaves and stopped to collect them.


We pressed the leaves in a big heavy book about gnomes and waited.



There is a little book by bruno munari called "Drawing a tree". He says if you can make the letter Y you can make a tree...just stack one letter Y on top of another.
That's what we did, we made Y shapes out of tape.
My assistant handed me the leaves and I taped them on. Then he danced around the room singing "last leaf falls" over and over...


Sometimes the rain can be fun.


...in keeping with last weeks gift ideas, this tape makes a great gift. I know lots of you have already discovered the joys of this stuff...if you have not, it's amazing. You can stick it to the wall and it doesn't take the paint off, so it's great for kids. I found it here and here in amsterdam and here online.

For the kids in your life...

There are two online shops that I LOVE for all things kids, Smallable and Kid-O I have put together a little collection form both shops. I either already have the products shown here or have tried them out and have them on my list.

Kid-O was my favorite shop in NY, I was very happy to discover they had most of their products on line.Lisa Mahar, kid o's founder and owner, searched the world for products that have both a design and an educational focus. Kid o makes these items available to other parents who believe that beautiful, well-made objects are critical to stimulating children, accelerating their development, and enhancing their well-being.



All products available at Kid-O. Clockwise from top. exploring nature puzzle, matching shades puzzle, city and country blocks,narrow to wide puzzle, deep in the forest, fireman skittles game


Smallable is an online shop whose idea is to “Make life easier for parents and more amazing for little ones”. They have some beautiful toys and clothes for children 0-8. I love the range of recycled cardboard houses and vehicles by Kidsonroof and paperpod, they leave so much room for the imagination and they come flat packed (for those of you who have to travel this Christmas).


recycled cardboard aeroplane & rocket by paperpod, recycled cardboard dolls house, castle and bo buro desk by kids on roof

I have a three year old boy, so I admit my picks are geared towards that age and are car and truck oriented...from my experience, most of these products are played with for at least of couple of years..they last and they are great to look at.


Firetruck and mini fire truck by plantoys, automoblox and automoblox min set

I hope you enjoy. If you are in NYC try and visit Kid-O...and get a coffee at Jack's around the corner...and then walk down to Castor and Pollux (some gifts form there tomorrow)...can you tell I am missing New York?

The list begins

I'm jumping in with all the wonderful bloggers out there who are sharing their ideas and picks for the Holidays. Coming up are some of my favorite things...for you, for me, for the kids... some decorating ideas and a few projects you can do with things on hand to make your world a little more beautiful at this time of year.



I am starting with books. I read somewhere of a woman who told her kids there was a book fairy. Every now and then in a special place in their room a new book would appear. If I were a book fairy, or Santa Claus these would be on my list and I would give them to everyone...even big people because they make you feel like a kid again, and who doesn't want that.


De boomhut or The Treehouse by Marje Tolman & Ronald Tolman is filled with the most beautiful, whimsical illustrations and no words so you can make up a new story each time. You can find it here or ask your local bookstore if they can order it.


I actually bought The red tree before I even thought about having children, I fell in love with the illustrations. At first it may seem a bit dark, but I believe children have a very vivid and complex inner life and sometimes the world does feel overwhelming and confusing. This book touches on something universal. Each page has just a few words, so again you can create your own story. Here is Shaun Tan's website and you can purchase the book here. I found my first copy at a small bookstore in LA, I would check your local favorite first and see if they have it or could order it.


The fable game, designed by enzo mari, is made up of six color plates, almost like a magic pack of cards with forty-five animal pictures on them, plus the sun, the moon, an umbrella, a big boot, a cage, eight trees, a tree trunk, nine bamboo canes, five stones, an apple, a pile of earth, a nest and two eggs, all the things that appear in classic fairy tales. children can make up stories by mixing the plates to create countless variations. Available for purchase here and here

I'll be back tomorrow with some more goodies....maybe sooner if I can get the rest of my work done.

Speaking of books this is a fun idea.

recipe for a winter's day

Mix a bit of sunlight,

with a few lovely shadows,

toss in a couple of your favorite scarves..

and head outside.
Everything is always better once you get outside.

new work

A couple weeks back I did another raku firing. I was really happy with the results. I have been working with texture, as always, but there were some really lovely surprises.


These pieces are all porcelain, built by hand and raku fired.




I hope to get a shop up by next week. It's been in the works for a long time and I am very excited about it. I look forward to showing you everything I have set aside for this. Eventually the shop will have textiles, ceramics and photographs.




In the mean time if you have any questions or are interested in something, please send me an email or leave a comment.

Just a note about comments. I have noticed when I reply to your comments that blogger won't publish mine right away. I get a message saying error, or comment failed. However if I try a second time it always goes through. If this happens to you, please try again.. I do love to hear from you.

After....

happy happy

Wishing everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving in The states!! We had a wonderful feast with folks from Amsterdam, South Africa, Australia, India and my family who travelled over from the US. There was a lot to be thankful for....especially my carmelized onion gravy :)....really, don't wait for next thanksgiving make up any excuse you can find to cook some onions in a stick of butter for an hour and then add balsamic and herbs and a touch of honey.
Oh and wild rice with toasted pecans, cranberries, chanterelles and fresh herbs...
ok ok I'll make that one again and give you photos and the recipe.
Have a great Monday!

treasure

We had a brief respite from the rain.

I have never seen light like this.


It pours out of the sky ....


...illuminating otherwise ordinary objects.


It makes you feel like an alchemist...


..turning everything into golden treasure.

fine little day

Hi there, it's Monday. We have had rain with a side of rain here. I love the wonderful sounds it makes on the roof...going for a glass half full attitude...really really trying.
Fine little day, Elizabeth Dunker's wonderful blog, there is so much inspiration here. This picture just puts me in a cheerful mood and takes me back to being a child.
Enjoy your week.

awakening

sometimes there is the feeling that you have stepped into a fairy hill, a twilight...


it's easy to fall asleep under a shady tree..or a cloud


there are many kinds of sleep...


and soon it will be time to wake up.

Unforeseen Circumstances

Introducing Unforeseen Circumstances.



I am not biased, really I'm not. I think Teo Griscom is one ridiculously talented lady. She is my jackson, johnston and roe partner and one of my dearest friends and I can truthfully say I am inspired continuously by everything this amazing woman creates!

Unforeseen Circomstances is Teo's newest baby. A georgeous line of undergarments carefully curated and inspired by interior spaces and furniture. Made in New York, with hand picked silks and cottons, Teo creates pieces for a women who strives for quality and a hint of extravagance.

In a semi quiet moment between the rush of fashion and market week and the next wave of sampling and production, Teo took some time to answer a few questions for us here, I hope you enjoy her answers as much as i did.



-What has inspired the fall/spring collection color palette and shapes?

I was looking at a lot of dance and performance books and photos. I
loved the dancers in their saturated colors contrasted with the stark
white or nude. Hence the green and nude combos. I also really love the
work of Vanessa Beecroft, there is a series that she did of organizing
scantily clad women in art galleries that she then photographed. The
photos have always had a profound affect on me, the relationship
between them and the space they were in and then the relationship to
the viewer. They also wore some amazing nudes and tans that inspired
me. I love the paintings of Klimt and the line drawings of Erte, and
books with photos of old 19th and 20th century furniture from France.
I am completely obsessed with furniture and the arrangements of rooms
and spaces. I spend quite a bit of time at home thinking about the
contrast of rug to wood floor to dark wooded armoire to plant to the
color of the wall. For me it is another way of dressing. It is also a
very intimate and very personal experience.



-Why the name Unforeseen circumstances?
I spent a lot of my youth traveling. I remember clearly a moment I had
on a plane when I was young, and the flight attendant was going
through the safety speech and something about the way she said due to
"unforeseen circumstances" registered with me. It seemed fitting for
a lingerie line.

-Based on your experience starting your own business, is there any
advise you would give to a fellow woman entrepreneur?
Try and learn as much as you can about every aspect of the business.
To understand the way each part of your machine works is so important.
There is no job within your company that is beneath you. For instance,
I have great satisfaction in packing and shipping, and I learn so much
from that one action, that perhaps to a designer would be an
unimportant job. And always remember, one of the most important
things... Quality vs. Quantity.



-Do you have any timeless style tips, a couple of live by rules that
will always make you look/ feel better?
A good pair of jeans and an amazing pair of shoes and always have
one special little item on your person, a piece of knotted string, a
necklace passed down, or a detail on a garment that pleases you. And
of course a beautiful pair of underwear for that unforeseen
circumstance.

-If you could live anywhere besides New York, where would it be and why?
Argentina. when I visited there I felt at home. The language the
food, the people. It reminded me of Galisteo, New Mexico, mixed with
a European city.



-Favorite Spot in NY to eat? To shop? To hide in public?
To eat-Salties... in Williamsburg. It's my new favorite place.. it
is delicious! I find satisfaction in window shopping in every
neighborhood in New York. I love A.P.C and of course the stores that I
like to support because they are woman owned like Castor&Pollux,
Jumelle and Bird. I am very excited about the new Isabel Marant store
opening next Spring. In New york the best place to hide in public is
any of the many beautiful parks, you can sit and watch and be
unnoticed, it's magical.



Where will UC be sold? Will it be available online? Do you do custom orders?
For Fall 2009 the jjr and UC collaboration is available at Bird,
Jumelle, Castor&Pollux, Souchi, all of which are available online. I
am also doing custom orders. For years I hand made the underwear for
friends on special occasions and I would like to continue that
process.


Thank you Teo!!!!!!
These last two photos represent the Unforeseen Circumstances fall 09 collection as well as a UC + JJR collaboration available in stores now. Check out the website http://www.unforeseencircumstances.com/ to find out where to buy these lovely under things and the blog for updates on the collection.
http://unforeseencircumstances-teogriscom.blogspot.com/

(website photos by Bill phelps, drawings by Teo Griscom, all other photos by Riley Salyards)