My momma...

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day! My mom, Cici, is the pretty much the sweetest thing ever. She loves wholeheartedly, is the kindest lady you'll ever meet, and is very creative. Every time I call her she's either sewing or gardening. I always miss being with her on days like yesterday. Being so far from my family is the worst part of loving living in NY. I always feel split in two.

Missing my mom (my dad & grandparents everyday, who all left us this past year. Holidays are hard. ) so much made me think of a good day we had together when I was home last. Her little bird, Corky, needed his wings clipped so we went to the local bird shop. My mom was so excited to share this store with me, because she knew I'd love all the little toys and bird decor. 

This baby African Grey is not Corky, but so very cute. 

What did you do for mother's day? Do any of you live far away from your family too?

coming back....

After a long internet hiatus I'm slowly coming back. I'm not ready to share why, only that I've experienced a loss that changed my world suddenly and unexpectedly. I've been cloistering myself with family and our sweet, goofy pets, and have pushed everything else aside- work, friends, life. Slowly, slowly I'm trying to figure out how to come back after this loss.

There are little points of light and joy everyday. I've been cooking and baking a lot. I've put my restless energy into making thoughtful meals & sweets. We take long evening walks with my mom's three little dogs. My mom is a good gardener with a lush, beautiful backyard. I love spending time outside in this green haven. This backyard was a jungle to me as a child, and there's still wonder to be found in a suburban backyard in the blistering heat when you've got a heavy heart. We've been checking in on our "friend" everyday, a bright green grasshopper, whose been living in a hibiscus plant in the backyard...

I've reopened my Etsy shop – it was closed for about a month. It's a bit different right now, because it's only custom embroidery. While I'm in California with my family (away from my Brooklyn studio) I'm only able to make and ship custom embroidery pieces, but if there is something you want send me a email or convo....

I should tell you-  this was hard to write. I never want to share too much or get too personal. I think I just wanted to remind you to tell the people you love that you love them, everyday....

SF or Bust

I got a fresh little buzz on my hrrr yesterday. Feeling so fresh & clean. I'm leaving for San Francisco on Monday, so I wanted to clean up a bit. My man will be in an exhibition and our families will meet for the first time - ekkk! If you're in SF I'd love to see you at the opening!!

I'm looking forward to getting out of the city for a bit. Definitely feeling a little cabin fever over here. Exploring SF sounds so good to me! Looking forward to visiting the Chronicle offices, Curiosity Shoppe, and I've always wanted to go to Alcatraz.

Any must see places you'd suggest? Would love to hear your SF recommendations... 

Today I'll finishing up sewing this dress (my first one!) for the trip. Can't wait to finish & be on my trip already...

p.s There's still time to enter my scented give-away, that ends 7/14. The comments are wonderful & making my day. Go read them to put a smile on your face. We're sharing our favorite scent memories...

RIP Hair 2007 - 2011

A few weeks ago I cut my hair from long, long, long to pretty short. I know 17 inches of some crazy curls aint no bid deal, but you get attached (no pun intended)! I had to document my long locks before I chopped it all off and donated to Locks for Love....

The cuts not quite right, so I'm actually getting in cut today.  I have this fantasy of shaving the back of my head and getting "Bitches get Stitches" buzzed in.

Last time my hair was this short I'd dream about having mermaid hair and combing long locks. It feels good though, still not used to it, but it's good. And anyways, it'll grow back....

California lovvvve....

You must know that I have big California Love. Born and raised valley girl here! Like totally.  I love visiting my home and family, especially for special events like my cousin Natalie's wedding....

and no wedding feels right without a photo booth!!  Here my parental units & my cousins and I hamming it up big time....

Happy Mother's Day...

I have the sweetest, kindest, goofiest, thoughtful mom ever. Being on the opposite side on the country on mother's day puts little guilty thoughts in my head.  I just miss her so.  These pics are from our trip to DC a few years back.  I didn't realize how many great shots I got of her new boot goofin' with her new red, red hair did. She pretty much will direct a photograph or pop up perfectly between two columns... love her!

To all the mothers, grandmothers, sons and daughters out there.... Happy Mother's Day!

Isn't my mom the cutest!?

NY days & this post (kinda) contains male nudity (NSFW?)

This pic has to be my favorite from the weekend. The towel image itself was shot by my bf's boss, Marcelo Krasilcic for a project with Butt Magazine and American Apparel. The towels always get a good laugh from our guests. You can see more fun pics on Marcelo's blog.

Sorry about the NSFW thingy in the post title. Since I've never posted a nude pic on this blog (even if it's just a representation of it), I thought it'd be wise to warn you a bit. (Aside, in graduate school, a student was told to take down a male nude image in a show where the school's president was to visit. Said show also contained female nude images. So wrong! It's just a penis. So what.)

Anyways, isn't my cousin the cutest!? She works for Lululemon so she's always got the best clothes and she's pretty much the sweetest person ever. I wish my family wasn't so far. I always miss them...

on sunday...

we rolled out of bed and pointed a camera at ourselves just because....

as i posted this sweet picture, bug knocked over a whole box of cat food and i wanted to shake him.
(i didn't)

i'm so thankful for my short little visit to st. mary's, pa. i ache for a little nature living here in nyc. i want some trees and dirt. i fantasize about moving somewhere like here, to wake up with the sun and see deers and bears in your backyard- cause that's how i woke up here. i saw a bear two mornings in a row. ahhh! i also saw rabbits, lots of elk, bats, caught a few toads, and saw a freakin beaver! my aunt loves to go "yard sailing" and i got a bunch of new to me fabrics and linens! there are more images here with little stories...

dorothy...

i was browsing through some of my old photographs and found these images of my grandmother, dorothy. you can spot my pops as a little man too in the collage. my grandmother would make him little army outfits to match his dad. as a young lady my grandma dorothy sang on the radio, and played the banjo. in all honesty, she is the most beautiful woman i've ever seen. i only really know her through photographs and stories, so i've built this mythology around her.
here she is as a small child. look at those shoes!! and clothes...do you see what i mean, doesn't she have a enigmatic beauty.

summer walks...

...while it was sunny last week we took a walk in our neighborhood of crown heights.

ny always has great trash. it makes me so incredibly sad to see so many perfectly useful things just thrown away, especailly books. seeing books in the trash drives me crazy!! plus you find things like this!

it's cat city here! so. many. cats.

photoshoot- what else do you do on your walk, but take pictures in an alley? really. i like how we both made the same pose (in reverse) in our respective images. this may be the first image i've ever posted an image of myself here.... hello there!

for father's day....

this is my pops back in the day....
this image kills me! that little suit, the way his head is tilted back, his small hand up like the horse is bucking for reals. this is probable one of my favorite old photos of my dad. i'm so lucky that my grandparents took lots of photographs....

ominous fortellings...

in my soup...

i swear this kinda made itself. i just help push along the butter to make the "teeth" and the left "eye" the rest was a dark omen.

which is kinda spot on. i'm not feeling well. i have a viral infection, which makes me feel like a frankenstein face, because i have swollen gums that hurt so bad. the bug tries to help by being my sweet little mang- for all of about five minutes until he ran off. i take what i can get....

the soup reminds me of these....via Lady Lavona

Cup Of Knowledge tea cup sold by Lady Lavona.
you can read all about Tasseography, or tea cup fortune telling on her crazy great witchy blog...

best thing today....

was seeing this work via ffffound, which can i say is the devil, much like the flickr. i just get lost happily clicking away good work time. but anything with winners ribbons and the line, "cool and smooth moves" wins me over! it looks like it's on a book cover, which i like very much.

 via ffffound

this past week was crazy! i'm so thankful that the shop opening was well received, as was Marichelle's (from Heart Handmade) Shop Live event. Many, many  thanks to her for organizing it and inviting me to participate!! Thank you Marichelle for supporting so many shops and handmade!  it made for a great opening week. 
but along with that came a kitchen accident- it's not me though! my boyfriend cut the tip of his finger off-ahhh!  and now i must button up his shirts and put on his watch. he now has a frankenstein thumb that will forever be slanty. i was trying to think up good stories he can tell when he's asked how it happened- hummm...what do you think?

i'm back...

...home from california.

thank you to everyone who sent me your kind wishes and encouragement- it really means alot to me!!
it was great to go home, even just for a bit. my grandfather is doing better and is back at home, which is an unbelievable relief. my family rallies during these times of need- they make me so proud and happy to be part of it.and just being at my grandmother's house in santa monica is theraputic. its a small house by the ocean, filled with good memories and touches of my grandparents handiwork throughout.
and being with these guys, buddy lee and dexter, my parents little dogs, seriously fill me with joy. they are unconditional love bugs

buddy lee in my old bedroom in CA

soooo.... i'm feeling refreshed and excited to start the shop up again. i'll have a little "grand reopening" Monday April the 6th @ 5pm eastern time.... i'm working hard to get everything ready. i'll have my old favorities and some new pieces....come stop by.

and thanks again to all you who wrote me your well wishes! thank you....