Collaboration with: Brown Betty + Styled Creative

As I hinted at here, Norrinda sent along some images from the Brown Betty celebration last summer. How adorable are those flamingos? Thanks to Courtney Apple, Brown Betty, the ladies at Styled Creative.

{Photos by Courtney Apple Photography}

BEING ELMO

Over the winter holidays I saw the movie "Being Elmo," and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I bawled  watching the trailer, and the film was no different (for me, my husband, and the 60somethings, 10-year-old and 14-year-old we brought along with). I won't give away the remarkable story but I will say that, for me, it underscored the power of pursuing your passions, finding a mentor and giving of yourself. Thank you, Kevin, and the makers of this film. Showtimes here!

Congratulations, Raj!

I just got a nice email from Raj Dagstani, a favorite collaborator, with the spectacular news that his Pear Vanilla preserves won a Good Food Award. The panel of judges included Alice Waters, Ruth Reichl and June Taylor. I can't wait to dig in to my jar for my birthday.

{Photo by Michael Wright}

MR. DAISEY AND THE APPLE FACTORY

When I leave the factory, as I can feel myself being rewritten from the inside out, the way I see everything is starting to change. I keep thinking, how often do we wish more things were handmade? Oh, we talk about that all the time, don't we? "I wish it was like the old days. I wish things had that human touch." But that's not true. There are more handmade things now than there have ever been in the history of the world.

Everything is handmade. I know. I have been there. I have seen the workers laying in parts thinner than human hair. One after another after another. Everything is handmade.

It seems appropriate to post a follow up about Steve Jobs's passing with this story that aired last week from This American Life and Mike Daisey on what he saw in China while visiting the Apple factory. Everyone I know in the creative industry uses Apple products (I'm looking at five on my desk right now). For the entire hour, I was frozen to my seat. It is a masterful combination of information, storytelling, emotion and balanced reporting and left me with so much to think about as we speed through the digital age with our cornucopia of consumer electronics. Because of the quote above, I now have a very different perspective on Etsy and artisanal and hand-crafted products (like mine). We can quite easily get caught up in the preciousness and sanctimoniousness of it all, and forget about the millions of others who join us, working under completely different conditions. Thank you, TAL + Mike.

OPEN CALL: MASHUPS

Ever since I heard Orbital's mashup featuring both Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" (above) in high school, I've been smitten with the concept. I made an unintentional mash up once while playing Lil' Wayne when Pandora was open to the Monteverdi station (my feeble attempt to recreate this serendipity above). There are so many out there-- do you have any favorites? And while we are on the topic of music: watching Cyndi Lauper's AMA's performance from 1985 and then Beyonce's Billboard performance from 2011 is...eyeopening. I love both, but there is something so earnest about barefoot Cyndi taking out the red paintbrush from a heap of old shoes at ~2:45. Happy weekend!

KATIE + JOSH

How thrilling to share these photos from Katie and Josh's summer wedding. The couple + Suann of Simplesong Design + Ritzybee Events + photographer Bryan Johnson + florist Sidra Forman = what a vision! It was delightful working with them.

As I was thumbing through the photos let me tell you what blew my mind. The breakfast pictured above. I didn't know what the menu and place cards would be used for at the time but now I get it. And if I have surmised correctly, somebody had the foresight to arrange for a quiet moment the morning of the big day on a grassy lawn where the couple could enjoy each other's company, and a delicious meal-- the calm before the storm. Genius. I won't get into what I was doing the morning of my wedding but let's just say it involved floral tape and chalk pens.

Huge props to the folks responsible for this idea, and for executing it -- and the entire day -- so beautifully. And heaps of thanks to Suann, Ritzybee, Bryan and Southern Weddings (which featured the day over here).

{Photos courtesy of A. Bryan Johnson Photo}

52 x 52 + being charitable in all ways

Do you know about the awesome project that the awesome Jessica Hische created called 52 x 52? The premise is that you commit to giving a certain amount to charity every week. And every week the site offers you a suggested charity. You can learn more about it here. I jused signed up. It raises the issue of creative types and charity, which I try my best to be mindful of (and very often scrutinize blogs who aren't charitably inclined). But if you are affiliated with a charitable organization out there, and can think of a way I might be of assistance other than cash donations (certificates for volunteers, auction items, place cards for an event, a pretty banner) please don't be shy about getting in touch. I always like to learn about new causes.

And while I'm in mind of Jessica, her recent post on Inspiration vs. Imitation is a MUST READ for anyone interested in design (and very much applies to calligraphy...as does everything else she writes). Lately I've been getting links from concerned colleagues who come across work that looks eerily like mine (and what I find so interesting is how immediately I know it isn't mine, but others may not). I don't have the time or inclination to write the note of concern she suggests, but I'm so glad she brought these issues up.

NORRINDA + FAREED

When Norrinda passed along these shots of her envelopes taken by the gifted Max Wagner it sent me on a surprisingly emotional trip down memory lane.

I worked with Norrinda and Fareed over two years ago-- they were some of my first clients, and Philadelphia locals. This is what I remember: 1. The couple had the most specific and beautiful ideas about stamps. They wanted a collage of marigold and fuschia and were committed to showcasing the spectrum of beautiful black heritage postage. These Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and W.C. Handy stamps were the perfect fit (along with a slew of others). 2. Norrinda is just a wildly radiant person, and this radiance has been well-documented in the tremendous press she's garnered from the cupcake empire she started with her mother and grandmother, Brown Betty Dessert Boutique. Every time she appeared at the door it was as though I was being visited by the Patron Saint of Creative and Intellectual Pursuits (she is also a practicing attorney).

And finally, as you can read on their wedding blog, Norrinda and Fareed both come from tight-knit families who are bedrocks of their urban communities. This was immediately apparent as I started in calligraphing the guestlist and, as I've snapped above (but changed the house numbers), guests literally lived right next door to one another, or down the street, or around the block. Envelope after envelope of the same zip code. At a certain point I put down my pen and -- this is one of the few times I remember this happening -- and I teared up thinking about these two communities on both coasts who, with their love and support, shaped these two remarkable, visionary young people.

So! You can see more photos of the celebration of this love and community on Max Wagner's blog. And, next up, a little collaboration with Brown Betty. Thank you, Norrinda, Fareed, Max, 90047 and 19131.

SMALL BUSINESS CRUSH: HOTEL PARQ CENTRAL

I'm adding to my list of small business crushes Hotel Parq Central in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had the pleasure of staying there before the final leg of my holiday travels to Chicago and it was charming (thanks to Kristina for the suggestion).

It was originally built in 1926 as a hospital to treat employees of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, then became a psychiatric hospital, and was repurposed into a hotel last year (more here). Heather Van Luchene Interiors oversaw the decor which included so many thoughtful details (from top): framed, enlarged historic postcards sent from residents of the hospital (this one says "Having a fine time" from the 1930s) in the guestrooms; mini cabinet of curiosity-esque exhibits throughout the hallways on the five senses, medicinals, old diagnosis codes, hat boxes (is this a trend? Mounting exhibit vetrines in hotels? If not, it should be); vintage inspired lighting. There's a writing desk off of the lobby that features cubbies with old photos, stamps, telegrams, coupons and railway ephemera of the day. The shutters in the hallway are industrial plastic (?), with a pattern that calls to mind hospital wards of yore. And the rest of the interior design can only be described as comfortable, institutional chic evocative of the sanatorium from Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain: terrariums, sun-drenched sitting rooms, comfortable reading chairs (the design of that green one is amazing). This, to me, is a model revitalization project.

You'll find Apothecary Lounge on the roof with great views of the city. My three minor quibbles (only because it stands in such sharp contrast to the rest): the interior space could be so much cozier, and atmospherically lighted (recessed track lighting? Really? May I suggest something closer to this from Gjelina in Los Angeles, with maybe more of a modern Shane's Candy Store quality (in Philadelphia)?). And why not list the drink prices on the menu? It's no fun making guests ask the price of a half dozen different brands of scotch ranging from $9 -$25 a glass. And I feel like implementing a dress code in Albuquerque is exclusive and off-putting, especially if you are trying to build goodwill in a community where you have to include this (admittedly endearing) disclaimer on the website:

The Apothecary Lounge is not a licensed pharmacy and does not fill prescriptions or practice pharmacy.

But overall, three cheers for the developers, designers, city of Albuquerque and Huning Highland Historic District Neighborhood Association.

{Photos by Neither Snow}

SEGESSER HIDES

I visited the recently opened New Mexico History Museum, a grand new addition to Santa Fe's cultural scene that documents the area's tri-cultural history. The exhibit design is impeccable: juxtapositions of Indian and Spanish serving utensils, projecting past and present images of Santa Fe's streets on the interior canvas of a caravan, audio of the articles of various treaties with Indians read in both English and native languages, old steamer trunks of families who traveled from out east, a haunting room of quotes devoted to the secrecy surrounding the Manhattan project, lantern slides, and an engrossing interactive exhibit on the Segesser Hides from the 1700s-- beautiful, detailed animal hides that depict a battle between the French and Spanish, and their Native American allies. The interactive was designed by Second Story Studio (which seems like an amazing place to work) and you can explore for yourself here. I think what I like most are the gold outlines that emphasize the historical players (including rabbits), and the way that you can zoom in to every square inch and notice things like body paint, flora, fauna and ornamentation.

Collaboration with: Dagstani + Sons

I am over the moon happy to share this project with Raj Dagstani of Dagstani and Sons: A Very Fine Fruit Company (who is a collaborator par excellence and found me through Ingrid).

Raj got in touch to collaborate on a little thank you card that would be sent along with his small batch, artisanal preserves, marmalades and jams. Once in a blue moon a collaborator comes along whose craft and passion is so obvious that it doesn't make sense to exchange money. And so, we traded "jam sessions" subscriptions (for us, for friends) for calligraphy. I waited to open this month's box, which included the card printed by the talented Thomas Printers, until the morning before I left for Santa Fe. It was my reward for completing a heap of projects before the new year. Every aspect - from the packaging to the three color + one blind press labels-- is so thoughtful. As I was readying to dig in to the Cranberry Raspberry it occurred to me that it'd be much better shared which meant swaddling it in my suitcase and bringing it to New Mexico where Andrew and I savored it on toast from Sage Bakery in celebration of our 10 year anniversary. (We are saving the Pear Vanilla).

I'm not sure what magic Raj possess, but every spoonful contains an alchemical mix of delight, comfort, and love.  I can think of no better gift to give or receive, and no more worthy enterprise to support. Here's to another year of satisfying, inspiring collaborations

HELEN FRANKENTHALER AT WORK

I was saddened to hear of the death of artist Helen Frankenthaler.  Photographer Ernst Hass made a terrific series of Frankenthaler at work, which you can find here. I also love the two top images -- with slippers -- by Burt Glinn.

{Images via Ernst Hass estate and I'm not a person in this dream. I'm a place}

SANTA FE

We are back in Santa Fe for Christmas which is a ridiculously magical time of year. I encourage everyone to visit Canyon Road on Christmas Eve at least once in their lifetime, and experience thousands of faralitos (candles in paper bags) illuminating downtown; turning down an alley and finding a crowd gathered around a model train making circles around a piñon tree; the flying faralitos that mesmerize onlookers set alight at Acequia Madre elementary school; the incredible fashion - furs, Navajo jackets; fires on the street to warm yourself; RTVs transporting free cider; random brass bands leading Christmas carols.

And also, a visit to the unparalleled Nicholas Potter bookstore, where you'll find the gardening section in the back kitchen. He always has the most interesting, beautiful books specific to the region like (above) a study of Indian running; fly-fishing illustrations; boxed sets and a history of master potter Maria Martinez. If you don't know anything about her work, check out the videos below (you may want to disable the cheesy soundtrack).

HEDY LAMARR + MAISON LESAGE

Of the many interesting nuggets in the Sunday New York Times, two caught my eye: the first is the passing of François Lesage, the "pope" of French embroidery. NPR's Susan Stamberg visited his embroidery studio in Paris earlier this year and took the time to interview his petites mains-- the hands behind Lesage's designs. There is also Ecole Lesage. Can you imagine taking a 30 hour class in sculpting roses? And then the book review for Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World. How could I not buy a book with this description?: "What other book brings together 1920s Paris, player pianos, Nazi weaponry, and digital wireless into one satisfying whole?" 

{Images via Just Be, The Gold Book d'Odette, This is Not a Shoe, the L.A. Times, the Atlantic}

SABINE

Here's what happened: Tumblr has been incredibly good to me. Many Tumblrs have kindly posted about my work, very often this tattoo. I am, and remain, grateful. Curious, I crawled out from underneath my rock and clicked about. I was startled. Image after image of really thin girls. Girls from the back, with jutting shoulder-blades. Girls from the side, with emaciated ribs. Girls lounging on yachts, with hip bones taking up most of the frame. Quotes about being skinny, then getting skinnier. Apparently this is called "thinspiration" -- thinspo for short. I can't bring myself to explore this topic any further. I once scrolled through this discussion over at The Sartorialist and vowed never again. It has nothing to do with big or small. Rather, it is how we see and notice and document beauty in the world. There's no reason to defend what we see and notice and document, but what we see and notice and document speaks volumes about who we are.

Overwhelmed, I retreated back under my rock shaking my head, feeling out of touch with this particular audience and what they chose to notice. I love Andrea's story, and the much larger sentiment she so eloquently expressed transcended the immaterial coincidence that she has a slender frame.

So you can imagine my whoop of happiness when Sabine offered to share these photos of her tattoo, and the touching story below. This is what I know from reading lifestyle and fashion blogs over the years: this tattoo may not tumble its way through the internet, it will not be reposted and "liked" and tweeted and integrated into an inspiration board and cooed over in the comments. And I could care less. To me, it is perfect, it is heartfelt, and it possess a quality lacking in those scores of skeletal women. A quality that Andrea identified, that they both embody, and that we can all recognize, intuitively, when we see it: a spark, a soul.

A few years ago my first panic-attack struck me and to make a long story short: I ended up in a psychosomatic clinic to learn how to deal with the panic and how to trust again in my body, in my heart. Learning, that it's not necessary to maniacally observe the own heartbeat. And now, some years later, I can finally deal with that. This year was quite a good year, with loads of challenges and great adventures. I travelled to Latin America and Africa (and to those that know me in person: two years ago that would have been an impossible idea even to think about!!), my job is challenging but good, I feel healthy and strong, I love my life, my husband, my friends and family. It's not that the panic is gone forever, but I am stronger than the panic. and that's why I wanted to get inked again, with a kind of mantra: live&breathe. no fear. That should accompany me, visible for me, on my belly.

 

And then I somehow (via) stumbled upon Mara's blog and the first thing I saw was this lovely and adorable picture. And after that it was clear to me that I want "my" mantra in calligraphy, done by Mara. For me, the first (and also the second and third) sight was breathtaking! I loved to see the words written so beautifully! it took us some drafts and actually I changed some words (the first version has bee too long: live - love - think - breathe. no fear) - but I immediately fell in love with this piece of art!

 

But still: which tattoo artist? And Bastian, my husband, was not so keen on my idea.  At the end, I let fortune decide. In October I had some days off, was cruising in my quarter in Munich and passed Wild at Heart. I showed Anna, the tattoo artist, the draft and asked if she can make it. And she could. Immediately afterwards, I was sure, that I would regret it ("I am 41, a grown-up, why do I need a tattoo?!"; "Oh my god, I got inked on my chubby belly... How will the tattoo look, after having lost weight?" [not so very likely...] etc.). But 2 days later, after the healing began and I could see the beauty, I loved it and I still do! In contrast to my tattoo on my shoulder, I can see this one every day and it reminds me of - and I know that sounds over dramatic - living and breathing! And of the most important: no fear! Thank you so much, Mara!