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100 degrees and in love - part 1

2011-06-10T00:36:00.000-07:00

My dear friends Nikki and John married in Tuscon last month. We called it the meeting of the mythical figures..those friends in your best friends lives who you hear about all the time, but have never met. I think that is my favorite part of weddings, getting to meet the other loved ones of the ones you love. Tuscon with it's 100 degree days and breezy sundress nights was a beautiful setting for such a meeting.

This day was beautiful

2011-06-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

focus

2011-04-05T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hello. It's spring. I'm back.
These were taken while a room full of people cheered passionately for India to win the world cup cricket tournament. I found inspiration outside in the branches and the approaching spring sunset.

friday

2011-01-28T04:33:00.000-08:00

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I wish you sunshine and warmth this weekend.

storms

2011-01-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

"Don't touch"
"Why"
"Because, this is a giant storm, crossing a terrible river and if you are the wind and blow back you will be lost forever"

...so some times you just let things and storms be

...because they will brew themselves out.

and even when you feel like this, be you big or small

the wind can shift

and leave you with something beautiful.

color

2011-01-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

I traveled to Peru (for work) and India (work and family) in the past two months. I felt as if I was given a color transfusion. I am excited to bring that color into my work here, through glaze and yarn, food and photo.

Hello again.

2011-01-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

Hi. Welcome to 2011. It's flying. This first picture gives a hint of where I was and the rest tell of where I am now.

I'd like to be here a lot more.

I love this apartment because even on a rainy Amsterdam day I get uplifting light.

2010-12-11T13:28:00.001-08:00

So many things to show you from Peru....so many other things screaming for my attention.
More is coming and it is beautiful... worth the wait, I promise.
Wishing you a very joyful this time of year, where ever you are.

home

2010-12-01T13:48:00.000-08:00

More of Peru coming very soon.

Wednesday

2010-11-26T12:10:00.000-08:00

Tuesday

2010-11-22T04:08:00.000-08:00

These old machines are used to make alpaca yarn.

A couple of Alpaca creations from one of the companies I am working with.

Monday

2010-11-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

Leaving on a jetplane

2010-11-17T20:46:00.000-08:00

I'm off to Peru for a couple of weeks. More to come soon.

chez Jule

2010-09-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

I have been in Paris for work several times this month. I was fortunate to be able to stay at the house whisperer's house. Each room has a story and time slows a little here. Enjoy a peak into her beautiful world.

The house whisperers..part 4

2010-09-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

After the baking comes the dreaming...

and the waking...

Plans need to be made.There are adventures to attend to....

and moments to be captured...

and if you are quiet enough you can capture the capturer

The House Whisperer...part 3

2010-09-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

I have been traveling a lot for work. I was able to stay in the house whisperer's house. The series continues....

We have been reading "In the night kitchen" around here

These pictures make me sing "milk in the batter, milk in the batter, stir it, scrape it, make it, bake it"

And so the bakers baked up a storm so we could have cake in the morn.

The house whisperer....part 2

2010-09-03T01:07:00.000-07:00

Do send her to the market for flowers....and encourage collections from your yard.

Let her rummage through your scraps of fabric and bits of paper...visions need to be fed.

When you make an offering of your bouquet, you can claim responsibility for the beautiful creation...after all you did send her to the market :) But you will cave in the end and say "I had help".

The house whisperer....part 1

2010-09-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

She is a curator of daily life. She demands you retrieve beauty from each moment...a cup of coffee, a meal, ironing your favorite shirt.

She uses all the best dishes, all the time. Who else are they for....especially those small pods and delicate dishes you made.

She pours through a house like a magic wand leaving it just a bit dreamier than you remember.

Sail away

2010-08-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

Sail.

Circling round tall ships...red sky at night...fireworks. I love Amsterdam.

Gone Fishing

2010-08-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Hi. New job, new house, new studio.... family time, lake time, summer time.
I'm back now.

sonnets to orpheus

2010-06-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

Want the change. Be inspired by the flame
where everything shines as it disappears.
The artist, when sketching, loves nothing so much
as the curve of the body as it turns away.

What locks itself in sameness has congealed.
Is it safer to be grey and numb?
What turns hard becomes rigid
and is easily shattered.

Pour yourself like a fountain.
Flow into the knowledge that what you are seeking
finishes often at the start, and, with ending, begins.

Every happiness is the child of a separation
it did not think it could survive. And Daphne,
becoming a laurel,
dares you to become the wind.

...reminded lately of my great love for Rilke. Some poems catch your breath and needle into your heart. The book with this poem fell off the shelf onto this page while I was packing. It has been sitting in my pocket for a few days now.
Enjoy the weather this weekend. Become the wind....
(sonnets to Orpheus, Part Two, XII by Rainier Maria Rilke - Translated by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy)

Afternoon delight

2010-05-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

I love the afternoon light in my house. Especially in this room, it pours in and eases even the hardest of days. I don't get to spend enough time in this room, so I decided in the two months i have left in this house to move more of my son's playthings into this room..now we can both "work" and I can take advantage of the haven I have right here.

Wait...

2010-05-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

some things just take their time unfurling.

Time to move house...

2010-05-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

He has informed me that it's time to move house...ours is old and has "cracks in the ceiling and sharks in the walls".

This is our new one, built to withstand giant storms.

Monday...

2010-05-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

Have a glorious week.

blue...

2010-05-12T05:52:00.000-07:00

Daydreaming a lot lately of colors and textures...clearing old spaces to make way for new ones.
I love the idea of blue walls the color of deep sky...like this house in Arequipa.
This post is very inspiring.

For you...

2010-05-09T02:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's day...this is what I would put in your bouquet if I could...

My Father wrote to me a Happy Mother's day email yesterday and said "You are doing a wonderful job. Practice makes perfect, it is said. Sometimes I am sure you wonder how to do something or just how you did do something - and then you look at the young one who all the doing is for and the proof is before your eyes. Not exactly sure the precise steps in the process, and yet, LOOK AT THAT! Good job, if you do say so yourself."
I thought that was lovely and words worth sharing.

Enjoy your day wherever you are.

Julie

2010-05-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

I am about to rent a new studio space. I have worked from home for the past two years...I loved my room at home, but a move is on the horizon. I have always dreamed of a space to work, outside of my house, where I can print and paint and, create ceramics freely.

I visited my friend Julie's studio a few weeks back to help her photograph her new work. I was so inspired I asked her if I could share some of the pictures here....and it really sparked me to go and find a space myself.

Julie works from an old school classroom. She waited very patiently to get this spot and she has created a place that is truly beautiful.

She is currently working on a series of watercolor faces. She told me "At first I made portraits of people from my experience and memory. But slowly the images seemed to come from somewhere older and more archetypical, a memory that preceded me."

The existence of time is evident in much of her work. She collects materials on her travels... pigments, paints and textiles. You can feel life and a sence of place in them. `She has painted on two hundred year old ceilings, antique canvases from France and Swedish linen wallpaper from the 1700’s. She does not use a particular technique but rather is open to use whatever technique and materials a painting requires.

Some of her recent work that I love...

(watercolor flowers and onions)

(Spaces of time 1)

(spaces of time 2 & 3)

(Faces)

You can find Julie Arphi at her boutique Wednesday-Saturday.
Arphi Art & Antiques
Prinsengracht 827, 1017 KB Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

You can contact her here...
jarphi@hotmail.com or 020-620 4074

rituals

2010-04-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

Rituals. We all have them...some probably more profound than others. Every Tuesday and Friday when I pick him up from daycare, my son and I walk down the street to a cafe with a green door to purchase a "special juice". Each time he stands in front of the glass door seriously contemplating the choice. He opens the door and goes to the apple pear section,picks one up and right at the last minute puts it back and says "I don't like apple pear" (he's never tried it) "I like apple cranberry" (he's only tried this one). I think he likes the color. In the beginning, he would walk straight out of the shop..no need for an exchange of money here folks, it's just mine. Now, he plops the juice on the counter, folds his arms and asks for a straw in dutch. The ladies know him now...so does the old dutch man who sits in the corner and drinks wine by himself. Now that the weather is nice we jump on the bike to go home. The juice has to go in my bag for later but he doesn't trust me with the straw yet, that goes in his pocket.

Amsterdam is funny. It can be grey all day and at about 6-6:30 the sun makes an appearance and suddenly you feel like the whole day has been beautiful and you have to celebrate.

I decided to start a new ritual today. It's called "you sit on the front stoop and drink your apple cranberry juice and yell at bikers and boats....and i sit on the front stoop and drink rose." Catchy title?

I got some funny looks. I can't decide if it's because our liquids were the same color and they secretly thought I was saucing my kid up...or if the cold stares were culturally misinterpreted?

Either way sun + "juice" = good!

at my window

2010-04-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

This is blooming just outside my back window...

I have resisted cutting some branches and bringing them in...until today. Armed with my garden shears I jumped up over and over until I caught a branch (and until the neighboring construction workers started laughing at me), pulled it down and snipped a few rougue shoots. My son told me very sternly that I was hurting the tree and I looked him right in the face and lied. "This helps the tree grow" I said "I promise you the tree is not sad"...he didn't buy what i was selling, just shook his head and said "no...that's not how it works" and walked away.

these blooms will only last a day on my table and window sill, but oh they are magnificent...

sunsets part 3

2010-04-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

The companies I worked with in Peru laughed at me because I would stop everything and lean as far out their studio windows as possible to catch the colors...

sometimes laundry can be beautiful...

sunsets part 2

2010-04-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

I am on a tight deadline over the next to weeks...but I have a lot of images I would like to share with you. I may let the photos speak for themselves until I get this work done...

sunsets part 1

2010-04-05T14:38:00.000-07:00

The air here is thick with the stuff of beautiful sunsets. When the sun turns in for the night and colors lay themselves across the sky I almost forget where the catch in my breathing originates..pollution or awe.

These images of yarn being dyed bring the myth of Arachnae to mind.

To be a weaver of sunsets....Sifting through light, selecting threads, weaving for eternity something so fragile, intricate and passing.

lions

2010-03-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

I have been shooting look-books and catalogs for companies here all week. Among the companies making women's and children's clothes is a lovely woman who makes blankets. These are the kind of blankets you think to yourself "when I am a real grown up I will have a blanket like that"...they feel like heaven and make you dream of naps in a room cold enough for a blanket with just the right amount of sun streaming through the window.

Of course when I brought one of these grown up blankets home after my last trip where did it end up? On my bed? Draped luxuriously over a chair? Nope. It has been taken hostage by a lion tamer. In fact it is now a lion...who lives on the couch, who will not let anyone else sit on the couch because he gets sad if you crush him.

I am bringing back a lion this time. A stuffed one, made from felted alpaca...I am crossing my fingers that the lion tamer will see this as a far superior species and sell the old one off for a song.

wednesday

2010-03-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

My lovely translator/model...more of her to come.

On a very strange side note...I found out that they are experimenting with making yarn out of milk?????What? A milk/Alpaca blend.

monday, tuesday

2010-03-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

sunday

2010-03-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

I found a place full of silence...

...an old monastery with secret rooms and walls the color of sky.

crossing between worlds

2010-03-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

Back to Peru.....

sweetheart

2010-03-09T14:07:00.001-08:00

My son has started calling me sweet heart. He separates the two words with the emphasis on heart.

He is like one of those people they send in to diffuse a bomb. Just as my frustration level reaches a boiling over point he casually inserts the words into the situation and pouf it's gone.

DVD player is freezing the movie for the 900th time...
"don't throw the motor( remote control) sweet heart, its only frozen not broken"

It's 10:30, I have hours of work to do and he is still not going to bed..
"only one more book sweet heart"

Can only find one shoe in the very messy closet and I am very very late...
"can't find your shoes sweet heart, maybe the bees or a lion ate them"
....AMAZING!

Oh hello sunshine

2010-03-01T11:21:00.000-08:00

Spring, you are officially invited to come in and stay awhile.

I had a date a few days ago to see the butterflies and get hot chocolate. I rode my bike for the first time in a long time. I wore a sweater and a coat and I was too warm. We found crocus poking up in little pockets everywhere. My little guy actually said "oh hello sunshine".

back in the saddle

2010-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

I spent some time in the studio on Sunday...

When I was ten I visited my aunt in the mountains of Colorado. We went horse back riding, my absolute favorite thing in the world at the time. I saddled Povy, my Appaloosa, in her gear and set off amongst the peaks and sagebrush. A snake teased us with it's tail and sent Povy leaping into the air. I went flying and landed kidney up on a sage bush and had to walk almost a mile back to the ranch where I was rushed to the ER. I was white as a ghost and my Aunt made me get back in the saddle for a moment before I went to the hospital. She said if I didn't do it then I might never ride again.
I think this happens creatively sometimes as well...it feels good to ride again.

snow hearts

2010-02-21T07:05:00.000-08:00

Where did the last two weeks go? You don't realize just how much of your time and energy you give to a young child until you are removed from it. I had such long days in Peru and I still manged to find time to take, process and post photos...coming back in is another story. I have a lot of wonderful images and posts to share with you but I have to finish a report...a never ending report first....and make dinner...and make a puzzle on the floor (my boss is demanding that right now :)
In the mean time this was the beautiful view from my window a few days ago. Do you see the heart in the snow...that's why I grabbed my camara in the first place....reminded me of this project

Spring tapped on my shoulder yesterday. I swear she was there for a moment and just when I turned around she disappeared around the corner...but she is close.

Homeward bound...

2010-02-05T15:01:00.000-08:00

Arequipa, I will miss your colors.

This has been such a heart opening experience. The embrace of new friends, the honor of being invited into someone's world, someone who really believes you can help them...the saturation of color....

I spent two weeks gently encouraging people to consider more neutral colors in order to appeal to western tastes....but I will return form this trip infused by color. Bring on the reds and purples...give me the bright and the vibrant...

maybe I can drag this sky behind me and brighten the grey skies I am headed towards.

Looms

2010-01-31T20:50:00.000-08:00

This weekend....

In the blood

2010-01-28T20:25:00.000-08:00

Thursday...

I met a woman today who explained to me that knitting was passed down from generation to generation so seamlessly that she didn't even remember formally being taught...it was just always there for her. When she was 6 she began to cut the hair off her family's alpaca and weave it into yarn. Resourcefully, she cut the needles off a cactus and began to knit small sweaters for her dolls. She believes the knowledge was already inside her before she ever knit her first garment...it was in her blood.
The tool you see here is the needle used for a very old hand-loom technique. The woman with knitting in her blood is learning how to use it. I have a scarf/shawl now, woven on said loom, and it turns my eyes very very green. It was a good day.
Buenas noches

spinning tales...

2010-01-27T20:33:00.000-08:00

tuesday...

As you can see I am a day behind. I would love to write you a big, long post about my experience here...and I may at some point. Right now I am too tired to think in words. This is really inspiring work I am doing but also really exhausting. At the end of a 10-12 hour day I can only think in images. This spindle came from a woman who demonstrated how Alpaca fiber was spun by hand into yarn. I would like to dream of this spindle, spinning tales of ladders, passion fruit, opening windows and colorful horses through the night.
...good night to you (and good morning to you too if you are elsewhere in the world)

Monday...

2010-01-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

I am learning a lot about alpaca fibers here, I really love the natural shades...as you can see they come in many colors.

palette inspiration-Arequipa

2010-01-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday...

Friday

2010-01-23T18:28:00.000-08:00

Day 1, Peru

Up in the air

2010-01-22T04:17:00.000-08:00

I am in Peru for two weeks for a really exciting new job. I will be working with alpaca, organic cotton and some really amazing women. I will reveal more as I can. I traveled to the US over the holidays to see family and friends, which is always a wonderful treat. I returned to Amsterdam last Monday and flew to Peru on Thursday. I can't tell if I even have jet lag because I never really transitioned from US to Amsterdam time and now I am back on North/South American time.
It's been a while since I posted...but that's about to change. Stay with me, I will be back with some inspiring stuff very soon.

woven light

2010-01-08T20:47:00.000-08:00

I am beginning some interesting new work that will have me traveling in the next couple months.

I love the images that the words yarn, thread and weave conjure....I think less of garments and more of storytelling.

winter wonderland

2010-01-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

coming home....

2009-12-22T04:27:00.000-08:00

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

I will be back soon....

when the snow storm hits....

2009-12-22T04:15:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

making trees

2009-12-14T06:17:00.000-08:00

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...

2009-12-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-09T06:26:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-08T05:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-02T23:52:00.000-08:00

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....

2009-12-01T02:49:00.000-08:00

happy happy

2009-11-29T14:20:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-25T12:37:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-23T06:21:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-19T11:51:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

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)

Come Darkness

2009-11-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

I was visiting one of my favorite blogs grijs when I found out about this beautiful installation. Come Darkness is a small collection of art curated and installed by Maria Alexandra Vettese at Chellis Wilson in Portland. Maria has involved so many fantastic artists. Lorraine from grijs has one of her extraordinary hand dyed scarves in the exhibition (I have been wanting to get my hands on one for ages). The opening was last week..I am a little late posting, but this is good stuff and better late than never. Check out the site, you can contact the store to purchase any of the pieces you may fall in love with...I am smitten with several.

The light is falling out of the sky

2009-11-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

It's getting dark here around 4:30 and I often have all the lights on during the day. These are rainy, banana bread baking, bowl making, train track building, Totoro watching, cozy inside days. When the sun makes an appearance we often head over to the botanical gardens to check up on the butterflies. My little guy wants to make sure they have enough oranges to eat, he's thoughtful like that. Last week, As we were enjoying a post butterfly coffee/ warm milk he looked up and said "oh no, the light is falling out of the sky"....he sure knows how to turn a phrase.

Castor & Pollux

2009-11-04T00:51:00.000-08:00

Remember this pretty lady?

Photo by John Von Pamer

This is Kerrilynn Pamer, owner of one of my favorite boutiques in NY Castor and Pollux.

Photo by John Von Pamer

Castor & Pollux is rooted in creating a decorative conversation, recognizing that the act of getting dressed directly corresponds to the books on our shelves, the foods we eat, the scents we wear, and the way we set a dinner table.

For eight years owner Kerrilynn Pamer’s eclectic spot has been a destination well known for it's tightly curated selection of clothing, jewelry and vintage objects. Teaming emerging talent like Risto Bimboloski with established designers like women swear guru Sonia Rykiel, the store offers something for the fashion observers and fashion obsessed alike. Originally opened in 2001 in Prospect Heights at half its current size, Pamer knows how to maximize the space by constantly re-energizing the inventory, while staying true to the classic pieces that define her vision.

Photo from Castor& Pollux

I lived down the street from Castor & Pollux during my last year in NYC. This happened to be my first year with a baby so to say I did a lot of walking and looking would be an understatement. Kerrilynn and her staff create a deliciously inviting space. It is almost impossible to go in and not really really want something...and some of my very favorite things come from C&P (including my all time favorite wallet, below) When my need for company was greater than my need for things it was such a pleasure just to walk in and see how the "decorative conversation" was evolving. I always received such a warm welcome, an invitation to stay and chat about clothes of course, but also food, art, life, children, love...everything. For me it was a home away from home.

Photo from Castor & Pollux

Last Summer when I was in NY I had the opportunity to take some photos and during fashion week this past September Kerrilynn took time out of her very busy schedule to do a little interview for us here.

I bet you are excited for all your new fall/Winter arrivals. Is there a designer or trend that you are especially excited about?

I truly am excited about everything coming in the store for Fall. I’ve always felt very attached to this time of year as my birthday and anniversary are in September and the store’s anniversary is in October so there is always a lot to look forward to. I feel as if this is the season that truly embodies C&P so it’s always fun to do our Fall buy.
In regards to how I buy for the store I’ve never been much of a trend driven person so that explains why I am so attracted to the Kimberly Ovitz sweaters that we have in the store currently. They remind me of sweaters that everyone in Portland used to get for Christmas, but upgraded to being totally decadent and luxe.. I am also loving the Acne pieces that we have; their collection just seems to keep getting better and better as time goes by. They are consistently updating classic shapes and ideas but always making them interesting and beautiful. In truth though, I love everything that is coming in the next months; in my opinion Fall should last for 9 out of 12 months, that would make me happy!

-How are you creatively navigating the recession? I read an article where you talk about being an M-3 racer and count me in, can you tell me about those programs?

Count Me In and Make Mine a Million are amazing organizations that are completely dedicated to helping women get their businesses to a place of profit by getting one million women owned businesses to sales of one million dollars. Currently, the number of women who reach that goal is remarkably small even though we have become major contributors to the economy through our businesses and being consumers.

Nell Merlino, who started Take Your Daughters to Work Day, also started Make Mine a Million and has been so supportive of C&P and myself. This October, Nell, Poppy King, (the Lipstick Queen), and I will be having an in-store party/networking event for Poppy’s new lipstick, Fired Up (all profits go towards Count Me In). I am honored to be hosting this event with these inspiring and amazing women; it makes you realize that when women work together we can affect so much change. Nothing is too large to make change.

In addition to this I am competing in the Make Mine a Million race, a year long competition that inspires you to reach sales goals, understand your financials, receive invaluable advice and communicate with other women who are running their own businesses. It’s a wonderful resource for entrepreneurs, I encourage all women to get involved with it.

In regards to the recession I think it has been an incredibly helpful way to look at my business and see exactly what I want it to be and also how I can contribute to the world in ways that are related to selling clothing but actually fall over into other disciplines. We have had charity dinners in the store; the first one was a six course Mexican feast that my friend Nils of Matador Records prepared that benefited The Tia Foundation, a wonderful organization that provides health care training for women in rural Mexican villages. We were able to fully sponsor two women to go through the program by having this event in our store. Very exciting! We have more of these on our calendar coming up. We have also had an Italian wine course, a dog adoption, trunk shows and many other events. I believe that all of these things make a person complete, not just the clothing they wear, so it has encouraged and allowed us to explore and host events that might not normally be associated with a clothing store.

-What is inspiring you right now; Food, books, artists, designers.

I always love this question and also dread it a bit because I feel like I will inevitably leave something out! But that being said, I have many things right now that I’m greatly interested in and would love to talk about.

Food is always a huge inspiration with me and although I’ve loved the summer foods that were available, I can’t wait to get into the kitchen and cook this Fall. Japanese fried chicken, chunky apple walnut cake, butternut squash soup, Hatch green chilies over eggs, Zuni’s roast chicken and bread salad. This list could go on for so long that I will stop myself here for fear of this turning into a cookbook!

Outside of food, I’m really inspired by Risto Bimbiloski’s collection and can’t wait to get my hands on all the pieces that are coming from Alexandre Herchcovitch.

I’m inspired by an organization that one of my clients, Melissa Kushner, started called www.goodsforgood, It is based on the simple idea that we have the ability to turn excess into progress. The organization receives donations of surplus goods from companies, coordinates shipments to Africa and puts them in the hands of schools and community centers. Just the smallest item can make a difference. A pen in the hand of a school child can make the difference between going to class or not. I can’t think of anything more inspiring.

And, then there is fragrance. This is a medium that has always spoken to me and I’ve always found immensely fascinating. I have been working on the development of the first Castor & Pollux scent since last year and we are launching this in Winter 2010;
I am beyond happy about this.

-When you think of Autumn what imagery does it evoke?

Fireplaces, Montauk, lobster rolls, crisp air, cozy nights, Indian summers, new beginnings. I just truly love Fall, all of it. There’s nothing about it that doesn’t make me completely happy. I think it’s magical.

-Why the name Castor and Pollux?

Such a beautiful story about the twins, so lovely, sad and poetic.

-Based on your experience starting your own business, is there any advise you would give to a fellow woman entrepreneur?

Know and understand your numbers.

Always do your routines when you are supposed to and don’t let them pile up. This can save so much frustration; a little bit a day is much easier to handle than a lot later on.

Ask and talk with other women entrepreneurs as it’s almost inevitable that someone has gone through what you are going through as no problem is new. It’s very reassuring to know that you are not reinventing the wheel and these conversations can be invaluable in getting you through difficult times.

Try not to take it all so seriously. Have fun with it and bring something to the world that people genuinely want and you are proud of.

-Do you have any timeless style tips, a couple of live by rules that will always make you look/ feel better?

I find that laying my clothes out the night before does wonders. Even with the best of intentions I always seem to run out of time when getting dressed in the morning and have a lot more fun getting ready when I’ve figured it out with a clear head (and a glass of wine!).

Being nice to people always makes you feel better.

And a pair of Christian Loubutin Miss Tick heels makes everyone feel (and look) just a little better than you can imagine.

-If you could live anywhere besides New York, where would it be and why?

I really long to spend more time on the West Coast where I grew up, but for now New York will do. (Good thing you didn’t ask me that on the most humid day of the year!) I love Los Angeles and imagine living there at some point in our future. Life there includes John and tons of animals that run the gamut from a pack of rescue dogs, horses (of course!), pigs, chickens, possibly a couple rabbits and what ever other wayward souls want to show up looking for a place to stay! The more the merrier!

I am thrilled to announce that Castor & Pollux is launching it's E-commerce site today! This is fantastic news for all of us that don't live in NY.

I am also very excited to tell you that since I began working on this post a couple of months ago kerrilynn began carrying jackson, johnston & roe and my ceramic raku bowls.

http://www.castorandpolluxstore.com/

I'm afraid of the shark

2009-11-02T14:06:00.000-08:00

Everyone at my house had the flu over the weekend, so there was no Halloween festivities. We made it out of the house today to buy a pumpkin...we live in Holland and he's only three so my son doesn't even know that we missed the event. He told the cashier at the store that we were going to make a "pumpkin soup happy birthday candle" (pumpkins do mean soup in our house and candles no matter what make him sing happy birthday.) Once it was carved he named it "hospital", that's right we have a jack-o-lantern named hospital in our window.

The light bulb on our stairs has blown out. As we were heading upstairs to read books and go to bed I heard a small voice behind me say "I'm afraid of the shark" "Do you mean you're afraid of the dark?" "no, the shark" "I think you mean the dark, it's dark on the stairs" "NO THE SHARK IS REALLY SCARY" he yelled hiding behind me and pointing at the wall. The ferocious shark, it turns out, is a oval shaped pattern of light made by the reflection of the outside street lamps coming through a circular window in the stairs. I explained this and he replied "oh!, a reflection...or maybe a whale!"

Happy belated Halloween.

Hi there...

2009-10-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. I got an incredibly exciting job, which I will tell you about later, and I went to see dear friends get married in Mexico. The Job had me working some crazy hours and kept me far from a computer but it was so inspiring to realize I had a lot to bring to the table....sometimes you forget who you were before you had a kid.

It will take multiple posts to share the wedding with you. The location was so glorious, and since we were in the path of a hurricane the week I was there, the sky-scapes alone could feed us visually for a week.

I just wanted to say hello again. These flowers graced my windowsill this summer, but I just saw some similar ones last week in Mexico so they still feel current to me.

Have a wonderful weekend!

jackson, johnston and roe spring / summer 2010

2009-10-04T05:40:00.000-07:00

Presenting jackson, johnston and roe spring.summer 2010. I am showing you some shots that won't go on the website or our look book, a special treat for all lover's of jjr and follower's of this blog.

We have been working with and inspired by the concept of a "trousseau" for the last couple of seasons. We had always associated the word with a brides possession's until our French friend Juliette referred to the trunk of clothes that her mother took to boarding school as her trousseau. That image sparked something for us and this season we have continued with a collection that you could pack with you for a journey, a school year/ study abroad, or to start a new life and adventure.

This season a new silk/linen hand drawn "Paint Print" was introduced, inspired by a painting of Teo's.We continue to work with Italian men's shirting, beautiful organic cotton and naturally hand dyed peace silks. The result is a lovely masculine/feminine balance. The fabrics are delicious shades of seaside, warm sun and berries. Ticking stripes accent hand painted and printed fabrics and we aim to make each piece a favorite go-to in your wardrobe (even your apron!)

Check out our website for the collection currently in stores and stay tuned to see where Spring.Summer 2010 will be carried...and for all of you who are not in the US a jackson, johnston and roe online store is in the works!

perspective

2009-09-14T00:46:00.000-07:00

I have been missing from this space for a few weeks. To those of you who check in here, I do apologize. It has been a hard three weeks. First, I lost someone quite dear to me...lost in the sense that they are no longer in my life, though they are still here, it's complicated. I have felt the loss deeply and it has had me thinking a lot about trust, disappointment, what we value, the things we find important enough to take with us and the things we leave behind. Tough concepts for an adult to grapple with, I'm struggling to make them undaerstandable to my three year old (three today in fact!)

Next, a glass of wine spilled on my very new computer. All over it. I knew what to do, I took the battery out let it dry overnight and took it to the Mac store the next morning. Two weeks later I was told by the two Dutch people in all of Amsterdam that do not speak English that it will cost 1000$ more than I paid for the computer, to fix it. I was pretty devastated. It was only a couple of months old, a gift from my parents, and it represented for me a new beginning in my professional and creative life. I had attached so much meaning to it. I couldn't bear to tell my mom, I felt like a little kid who had ruined their brand new shoes, dollhouse, transformer, bike...whatever thing they really really wanted.
"Something terrible happened, I am so sorry to tell you this....I, um, well he um, well a glass of wine spilled all over the computer.."
"oh" she said "....what a relief"
"relief?" I said
" you said something terrible happened, I thought something happened to my grandson...it's just a computer ...it can be replaced"

Oh, right!

So I have spent the last few weeks regrouping, deciding what is really important, what gives me joy and what I can do without. I decided I love this space, new as it is, it is something I really want to continue in a way that is manageable for me in my life. I wanted to post every day like the blogs I admire and I made myself a little crazy with it. I felt guilty when everydayness won out over creative expression. That's what I am in right now, every day with a small child and a fledgling business in a new city. It isn't always glamorous and there isn't a lot of time to myself but it is incredibly joyful at times...and I learn a lot about myself during those times when it is not. I just needed a little perspective. I hope you will bear with with me as I sort out my computer situation...it may be a few more weeks, although I might sneak onto a friend's computer every once in a while to post something delicious...I had a few in the works when he, um, I, um ...a glass of wine spilled on said computer. In the meantime I am reposting this photo collage as it represents to me what is truly important.

shadows

2009-09-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

Shadows have been on my mind....

Astulabee

2009-09-05T02:33:00.000-07:00

Nicole Licht lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. She studied fine art at Cooper Union and has exhibited her paintings, installation work and soft sculpture throughout the U.S. Under the name astulabee, Nicole stitches up unique limited edition and one of a kind individually considered fabric soft sculptures. Each one is created with many many hand sewn special details and carefully selected materials. Sturdy enough to be shared as a keepsake or heirloom toy, astulabee wares are equally enjoyed as soft sculpture objects, decorative ornaments by adults.

Print, illustrations, small objects and wearable designs are also often offered as one of a kinds or in small batches depending on the medium used.

I first saw Nicole's work via Small Magaazine which led me to her blog where I found the fabric collage tutorial she created for Etsy's DIY workshops at the Museum of Arts and Crafts. Follow the link for step by step instructions. I am so inspired by her work and can't wait to try this project.

Astulabee
Astulabee blog

coquelicot

2009-09-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

Coquelicot is french for poppy. While visiting the seaside I have been showing you in my last posts we found a little hut by the side of the road. They sold bottles of wine, but you could also bring empty plastic bottles and they would fill them with wine straight from the vats. Jackpot! Upon entering, the proprietor would offer you a little glass of Something. The Coquelicot I am showing you here is a syrup made from flowers and it is what they offer to the little guys. My little guy was very cute sitting on the stoop carefully holding his own small wine glass trying very hard to pronounce coquelicot. It is really delicious and can be used in white wine or rose to make a kir or sparkling water for a lovely, refreshing summer drink. It is also good to bribe your kids with, not that I do that kind of thing. (Here I would wink if I could which I can't, but I always try and my son always says "no, only one eye"...anyway.) I found some online here if you are interested. I hope you Enjoy and have a great weekend!

palette inspiration: seaglass

2009-09-01T02:04:00.000-07:00

sandboxes

2009-08-28T04:17:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine what it must be like to be two or three and discover a sandbox this big?

This one has a much better wading pool and rock selection than the one at the park.

Treasures

2009-08-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

Hi. I'm back. Pia asked me today if I ever intended to blog again or was I staying on permanent vacation. I knew she was going to ask me that. I'm back, really....and I have some lovely treasures to show you this week and some really exciting interviews and posts lined up for next week.

I always feel like a new year starts in the beginning of September, do you? Long after my school days I still feel like you get a fresh chance to make things happen, or change things up once the "school year" starts. I rode through the park this afternoon and there was just a hint of fall in the breeze, a few leaves have already fallen. I love summer but I really LOVE fall so this is one season change I always look forward to. But before I go jumping seasons let me show you summer by the seaside.

not enough hours...

2009-08-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

I tried. It is planned out in my head, my lovely next post, but there are not enough hours in the day. We are going away for a couple of weeks, very early in the morning and with the packing and the cleaning....well you know how it goes getting ready for a trip. I though I might just finish but my dear dear little guy can sense in his sleep how much I am trying to cram into the wee hours and has woken up every hour on the hour for the last few hours...grrrrr.

SO I am going to wait because I really want to give this lady all my attention. What i am going to show you and direct you to is the work of her husband, Jon Von Pamer. He is a wonderful photographer, here is his website-check out his notebook section. He is part of a project called The ones we love which is breathtaking. Really, I could spend so much time looking through this site. It is very inspiring and makes me want to really capture and document the ones i love.
I will be back in two weeks. I have some great things to show you and I hope to have even more after this little break.

I will definitaly have a full post about this lovely lady.

in the works...

2009-08-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

I know I have been posting a lot of flowers lately. I promise I have some other fun things in store for you, hang in there while I get these blooms out of my system. Here is a little peek at something in the works.

Summer

2009-08-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

From Uniform Studio Journal

Martha at Uniform Studio has a really lovely blog. I found this the other day and had to share it, I think it is so beautiful. She originally made it as a contribution to this project, titled "summer is...". Her stunning piece has inspired me to create my own little ode to summer.

All photos by Riley Salyards

bees and blooms

2009-07-31T04:17:00.000-07:00

We went on a little date to the Hortus botanical gardens earlier this week. There is a great butterfly house and bees galore, two very important things for my date. Everything is in glorious bloom right now and until December a unlimited pass is only 20 euro. It is a great place to get your green fix and then have a coffee.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Balloon flowers

2009-07-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

These guys are beautiful aren't they? A friend of mine had them in her apartment and I fell in love. My son calls them balloon flowers. I did a little research to find their real name for you. Yellow balls is what I came up with, but I am not convinced that is their proper name. The best part about them is they dry with out loosing any of their color, so you can keep them without water for ages. They brighten up the room even on grayest of days.

For the little guys

2009-07-28T03:06:00.000-07:00

I am working on a new line.

I can't tell you too much about it yet.

I can tell you it's mostly for the little guys (and gals too, my son calls all kids little guys), I have a fabulous partner, we are printing the textiles by hand, it involves some really amazing collaborations and I am very very excitied about it. Here is a little sneak peek.

raku

2009-07-27T04:36:00.000-07:00

On a bio-dynamic farm just outside of Amsterdam, tucked away amongst fields and flocks Patty Schilder conducts her raku workshops.

For those in the Amsterdam area here are a couple of links;
http://www.pattyschilder.com/index.htm (Her site is in dutch)
http://www.keramiekatelier.nl/ (Gill offers many courses and there are some great photos of the raku process on her site.)

blue strawberries

2009-07-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

We are growing strawberries in a pot in the backyard. It has become a daily ritual to check the strawberry plant, search carefully under the leaves for the perfect red ones, wash them off and then admire them like treasures. Sometimes I get one. These berries have made quite an impression, so much so that all berries have become strawberries. Blackberries are black strawberries, raspberries are red strawberries and blue berries, well you get the picture. It is blueberry season here right now. At the farmers market there are big baskets tumbling over with my favorite fruit. I wait all year for blueberry season.
When I was twelve I moved close to my grandparents. Each year when blueberries came into season we would drive to a farm where you could pick your own. I knew we were supposed to fill the baskets my grandmother brought but I always ate far more than I picked. I ate until I was blue in the mouth and holding my belly. Back at my grandmother's we made jams to be savored later, pies to pass around to friends and family, and for those of us with no patience there were bowls full of berries to eat with the cream of my choice (iced, whipped or heavy) after it all it was my grandmother's. I love the decadence of this childhood memory. It's entirely possible there were not three kinds of cream available, and I don't know if I made a pie, but in my mind it's 100% all true. One other detail painted into this memory is a bowl of flowers. My grandmother had rose bushes in her garden. She picked them daily and cut them very short so they would float in glass bowls throughout the house. I remember thinking it was very fancy and that someday I would have glass bowls with beautiful blooms floating in them. My bowls are not glass but I do love to cut my flowers short, and I think of her every time I do.

coming soon...

2009-07-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

There are projects brewing that I will soon be able to share with you. My studio wall contains hints of things to come. I will show and tell very very soon. Until then have a wonderful day!

Imprints

2009-07-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

I started collecting pine cones, branches and beautiful stems and stalks on my walks in the park. My little guy chases birds and I gather materials.

2009-07-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

jackson, johnston & roe.

All the Fall photos are up on the jjr site. I took these photos in LA while the collection was out there. I like how the light filters through the fabric.

2009-07-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

Good Morning

It's been raining here all morning, I hope it is brighter where you are.

2009-07-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

The second group...

Except for the white porcelain duo, these guys were all raku fired. The imprinted lace technique is the same as the blue ones I showed you last week. I love how every piece fired in raku is a gamble. You never know where the cracks will be or what colors will emerge. I have made some very beautiful mistakes.

2009-07-10T05:46:00.000-07:00

The summer vitrine...

On Pia's blog I mentioned that when I moved into my current house I fell in love with an antique store in my neighborhood. Mother and daughter team Odette Welvaars and Julie Arphi have the most exquisite taste and have created a truly magical environment. You can imagine how thrilled and honored I was when they asked to put my latest collection of raku and imprinted ceramic bowls not only in their shop but in the window. The "summer vitrine" as they call it, also features Julie's beautiful aquarelle paintings - I want to own all of them!

There are three little groups within the collection, I will show them all to you over the next couple of days. The long green platter with fruit in it has been glazed with copper and imprinted with stalks from my garden. The turquoise bowls have all been raku fired, some imprinted with lace. The White bowl at the bottom is imprinted with my great grandmother's lace curtains from a farmhouse in upstate NY. Next week I will share more info and photos from my last raku firing.

All photos by Riley Salyards and Pia Jane Bijkerk

I can't take any credit for those stunning green glass grapes, i just loved the way they looked with my bowls. If you want more info about the grapes or anything else you see you can contact Odette (+31 if outside of The Netherlands) 020-662-4062, or Julie 020-620 4074. If you are in Amsterdam and want to stop in, the address is 827 Prinsengracht. They are open Thursday - Saturday 11-5.

2009-07-09T04:38:00.000-07:00

Remember Juliette and those beautiful bottles from her kitchen in Paris? She has inspired a great love of old bottles. She also has a lovely habit of labeling everything in those bottles in English,if she is trying to learn, or French, if she is trying to teach you. I think this could be the key to my learning dutch.

2009-07-05T13:55:00.001-07:00

Welcome

My final post is up on Pia's blog. A most gracious and heartfelt thank you to Pia for the opportunity to meet her readers and get my feet wet. I am very excited to create a place for my collections, inspirations and creations. Please visit often, I have many many lovely things to show you.

Fire escape garden, Brooklyn, NY