Lise Silva (i.e. the maker of our current obsession)

We have a tendency to fall into group obsessions at the studio. Recent objects of our collective fixation have included Topo Chico,  staghorn ferns, Raquel Allegra, the Evan with chicken at Taco Joint, and Le Labo Santal 33 (we're all about the high/low).

Of late, Lise Silva's knotted necklaces have joined the list.

It started with that ivory "vibration knot" action above. I almost bought it at Christine's pop up shop a few weeks ago, but in a rare moment of responsibility and frugality, I decided to abstain from purchasing. Sam showed up at the same pop up a couple of hours later and snapped it up. Catie also coveted the "vibration knot" but ended up ordering the "entrance knot" online.  She and Sam eventually traded necklaces and currently have them in heavy rotation. Watching the two of them sport their Silva's has made me totally regret my initial decision. (Who am I kidding... I'm jealous every time I see one of them donning that groovy fiber goodness.)

I may have just purchased my own Silva.

Photos forthcoming.

Lise Silva's Double Coin Knot Blue Moon and Trio of Double Coin Knots at Vee Caravan.

Less...

all photos by the supremely talented Melanie Acevedo

I love pretty things far too much to be any sort of respectable minimalist.

In fact, so great is my fondness for the pottery and the art and the foliage and the coffee table book and the marble object and the... (you get the idea), that, in my own home at least (oddly, we can work a minimalist space for a client with aplomb, though we don't encourage it, because what's the fun in that?), sparse surfaces seem like a pipe dream.

And, yet, these rooms above, with their artfully restrained mantles and tables and walls, are calling my name like nobody's business. Maybe it's the fact that things are a little nutty in my world of late -- a soupcon of uncertainty, some mad juggling, a dash of crazed -- that the idea of largely unadorned (and seemingly low maintenance -- I mean what is there to dust?) rooms is just highly appealing. Or maybe it's just damn pretty. Either way, I feel a Goodwill trip in my future.

Ilse Crawford for IKEA...

images via Lonny

Umm... Yes please. I'll take the daybed, a cork bench, a couple cork stools, and a few pieces of that black pottery for starters. Well played Ilse, well played.

Lovely, Useful, Just Plain Awesome Last Minute Gifts To Give (Or Get)

image via elle.com

If in the off chance that you, like me, are a thrill seeker (procrastinator) and prefer to save a bulk of your holiday shopping for the very. last. minute., I have a few gifty ideas that with the help of seriously expidited shipping could be in your loved one's hands (your hands, who are we kidding) by Christmas day. Jump over here for some seriously chic DIY gift wrap ideas and you're all set.

Living on the edge is fun, yes?

Full disclosure: I have no idea how Regime des Fleurs Water/Wood and Turquoise smells, but it sports the prettiest bottle of all time. Your most discerning pal will think you hung the moon when she unwraps this bad boy.

I love the idea of gifting a cluster of brass candlesticks to your favorite ambiance-loving bud. I'd kick things off with a quick swing by the thrift store for some vintage numbers (they always have them) and then round things out with a few of these gold numbers from World Market (the medium is still available, and it's on sale + free shipping for Christmas. Hurry!) 

For your foodie friends, a sculptural black marble cheese board (+ a big block of stinky fromage and some tart jam) is a guaranteed win. I love these beauties from The Mansion, but have seen equally lovely ones in store at William Sonoma and Crate and Barrel. (For you local Dallas peeps, I was at Bel Air Home yesterday and they had a lovely cache as well.)

Here's a secret: everyone loves a delicate layering necklace. Everyone. My friend Christine makes the prettiest. Full stop.

Ok, ok, this one's for me. Husband, if you're reading this, you can snap up one of these Seletti Eusapia hybrid dish at J.Crew (just one, as I'm planning to pop this loveliness into a shadow box, hang it on the wall, and call it a day). And you're in luck, as the J. Crew is another v. kind retailer meeting the needs of the seriously time challenged with free shipping and guaranteed holiday delivery.

In return, I will buy you (myself) a nice set of hand-painted ceramic sake cups and a giant bottle of tasty sake to toast making it to Christmas Eve with our sanity intact (because wine is so 2013).

You could do some bulk shopping action (not usually my M.O., but desperate times...) and get all your favorite kiddos (and nautical loving grown ups) this seriously cool sailing ship kit. (I used a white one in an install recently, and it was incredibly pretty.)

Last but not least, how about a brass hex pot (also available locally at Bel Air Home) + a snake plant for your least horticulturally inclined pal (because you just can't kill a snake plant).

Happy shopping friends!

On Holding Out For The Right One

One of the most unexpected side effects of switching careers a year and a half ago was how the new gig single handedly curbed my desire to acquire stuff. You long time readers out there know that this "stuff acquisition" issue is long-standing and rife with angst, so the curbing of it is a pretty big deal.

I'd like to be able to attribute the change to career fulfillment --  to report that finally finding deep satisfaction in my work fed a void that I had been previously been filling by buying crap I didn't really want or need (or love). That feels much more enlightened than what I'm about to admit...

But it would be only partially true. See, here's the thing, now that I know what the really, really good stuff looks like, everything else is ruined for me.

I've spent a good chunk of the past two years pursing high-end showrooms, pristine art galleries, and beautifully designed homes. I've come up close and personal with painstakingly-crafted wood credenzas, zillion thread count sheets,exquisite hand-painted wallpaper, and a lamp so well-constructed that my heart ached a bit when I turned its heavy switch and it clicked into place.

So now I'd rather save every one of my pennies for something beautiful, timeless, well-made, special. I thought that's where I stood before, but I've reached a whole new level here friends. I promise this doens't come from a snobbish place. My pennies are few, so even after saving them, the best I can buy is still often from the IKEA, and I'm cool with that. But I won't buy something just to, well, buy something anymore. Those days are over.

So instead of 10 bottles of ho hum, not quite right red nail polish, I'll save for that bottle of Tom Ford above (i.e. the best nail polish of. all. time.). Same for the perfect black heels, bag, blazer and swimsuit (you know I love me some black). I'll shoot for chandeliers and wallpaper that will look just as stunning 20 years from now, and if I can never scrape up the dough to actually swing them, I'll just ditch the entire thing and go all monastic a la Georiga O'Keeffe and Lisa Jackson.

After all, that kind of minimal, simple perfection never goes out of style.

An Outfit Deconstructed... (Recently Acquired Edition)

If you happen to be keeping up with the things I've acquired this year over on Operation Simplicity, you know that this Ace and Jig v-neck tee is a recent purchase. I'm historically bad about buying something and then letting it hang in my closet a looong time before I actually wear it. It's not a good thing, as I think it indicates that I tend to buy things I'm on the fence about...that I have to marinate on a bit if you will.

My (unscientific) theory is if you buy something you truly love, you want to wear it stat... And in the case of this top, that's what I did. I bought it when Christine and I were setting up for the pop-up shop a couple of weeks ago, and then I wore it that very night to some FNO events. Oh and I've worn it twice since then, so I'm feeling pretty sartorially virtuous on this one.

I love it when that happens.





The Details:

• Top -- Ace and Jig
• Jeans -- Banana Republic
• Necklace -- Vintage
• Handbag -- Derek Lam
• Shoes -- Old Navy

To Birk Or Not To Birk...

image via clare vivier

image via dullDiamond

While I may not *need* "gold" flatware, it could be argued (and it often is by my husband) that I actually do need (in the true sense of the word) to own some practical shoes. Apparently wedges are not "practical" footwear. Who knew?

Friends, I like some height with my shoe. I do... It just is what it is. I am not a fan of flats (on me), and until last summer, when a sudden urge to exercise necessitated the purchase of some kicks, I didn't own a pair of tennis shoes. (I never, ever wear those tennis shoes though, I'm not gonna lie.)

But all of the sudden, I am seriously considering (wait for it) a pair of black Gizeh Birkenstock sandals.

The Gizehs first entered my subconscious when I was in NYC last month and spotted a supremely chic girl in a long black skirt and a simple tank sporting them. She looked awesome. Then I noticed a few shots of them popping up over on Emily and Jen's fantastic blog for their jewelry line dullDiamond. And finally there were the photos over on Clare's blog of that v. cool girl in the Tucker dress (with the sweet red bike) rocking a pair.

Now I'm a bit obsessed... And to add to the allure, they seem to be on sale everywhere right now, as apparently the rest of the country considers these "summer shoes". Ha! Clearly they do not live in Texas ;-)

So whattya think? Yay or Nay on the Birks?

Some Scenes From the Weekend...

My goodies from the Pretty Mommy pop-up shop -- Rachel Rose silk tee, Object and Totem necklace, Upstate scarf, Clare Vivier blue pebbled flat clutch + white foldover clutch...








So much Clare Vivier goodness, I had to include two photos...



It was a doozy of a weekend... Admittedly there were a few late nights leading into it, and you know late nights aren't really my M.O. (but we had to unpack and set-up all the lovely goods for the pop-up shop + a few FNO activities may have beckoned), so it's safe to say that by Sunday I was completely fried.

But all was worth it, as getting to dive into a project with Michelle and Christine was beyond satisfying... Here's the thing about those two wildly inspiring women -- they are the ultimate enablers of "mindful consumption". As shopkeepers (both virtual and brick and mortar) they slog through the "muchness" to curate and sell (and in Christine's case, make) thoughtful things they believe in. Each time Christine and I opened a box of Michelle's wares, we would (literally) gasp. Everything was so crafted and special and well-made...like little works of art in the form of bags and necklaces and silk tees and hand-dyed scarves.

In fact, when I took some time to look back over the few things I acquired for myself from the pop-up shop, I realized every. single. item. was handmade, by women, in the U.S., in a totally unique way... I feel like I will have these things forever. I think this is shopping for a new economy friends.

In other weekend news, Audrey tried out for the Nutcracker on Saturday (fingers crossed) and then joined up with some of her buddies for a fun father/daughter camping trip. (It was her yen and yang moment -- ballet followed by chasing frogs in the mud.) While they were away enjoying the great outdoors, Millie and I partook in all sorts of goodness...drawing, cuddling, swimming, an epic game of charades. I reveled in her a bit, which was pretty great.

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Perfume, A Pop-up Shop and Fun Press (a.k.a The Random Bits)

First up, an update on the shopping front (specifically the "shopping while in NYC" front)... In addition to the dress mentioned yesterday and the goodies I posted over on Operation Simplicity, I also bought another lovely dress (which I'll disclose soon) and MCMC's Maui perfume oil during my trip last week.


I've had a bottle of MCMC perfume oil on my wish list for a while, based solely on the thoughtful, artisanal approach that creator Anne McClain takes in creating each scent (for example that image above is one of the inspiration photos that Anne took while in Hawaii conjuring her perfume "Maui"). There are no shops in Dallas that sell the line (!), so I've hesitated, as I really like to wear perfume a bit to see how it works with my chemistry before I commit.

So when I came across the little vials in a shop in Nolita, I took my time sampling them all. Maui was the clear winner...it's crazy lovely and interesting, unlike anything I've worn before. If you have a chance to try it out, I would highly recommend.



Next, (and I'm so excited to share this one) Christine and I have joined forces with the lovely Michelle to create a Pretty Mommy pop-up shop at Little Bean on Friday, September 9th. Michelle will be here in person and is bringing along loads of amazing things like Clare Vivier bags, Laura Lombardi necklaces, John Robshaw bedding... (it'll pretty much be her entire online shop brought to life).

Mark your calendar for 6:00-9:00 on September 9th to check out all the lovely goods and have a glass of wine and some snacks!


photograph by Mei Chun Jau for The Dallas Morning News

Ok and finally I wanted to share some fun press stuff happening of late. tinyDallas was featured in FD Luxe's August "Hot List" (that's us with our kiddos above)...We were so honored to be included!


photograph by Mei Chun Jau for The Dallas Morning News

In that same issue of FD Luxe, I was also a contributor, writing a little piece on the amazing potter (and friend) Jonathan Cross and one about creative kid's parties. The team at FD Luxe is is so smart and creative and cool; it was fantastic to work with them...


My "On Our Radar" picks for Dallas Child...


Millie's rainbow party in Dallas Child...

Last by not least, in addition to my monthly "On Our Radar" picks for Dallas Child, I also contributed a piece on packing a "foolproof" school lunch for their August issue. And as an added bonus, they featured Millie's last birthday as their "party of the month".

Whew...Sorry for the press overload, but I thought you guys might enjoy taking a peek some of the stuff happening in my "offline" world ;-)

I'm be taking a little blog break for the rest of the week to spend some concentrated time with Bryan and the girlies before the craziness of the new school year kicks-in next week! I'll be back on Monday with tales of our adventures.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend friends!

Creative Enablers (The Good Kind)

Ben Martin/Getty Images via NPR

image via WNYC

Behind the legions of amazing artists and writers and musicians, there are the "enablers" -- the people that champion and encourage, the people that support (both financially and emotionally), the people that consume and then come back for more...

Growing up with a musician father, I experienced first-hand the importance of this ecosystem, and several of the people that encouraged and supported my dad's craft (and somewhat unorthodox non 9-5 lifestyle) became extended members of our family and are still very much a part of our lives today. I think that experience has instilled in me a desire to be a massive champion for creative pursuits.

On the way home from work last night, I heard a story on NPR about Kathleen Annie Pannonica de Koenigswarter (or "Nica"), a wealthy baroness that devoted three decades of her life to helping jazz musicians, including greats like Charlie Parker, Art Blakey and (my beloved) Thelonious Monk. She was the ultimate artistic enabler and did so at a cost to her own comfortable life. It was brave and highly admirable on many levels if not infinitely fascinating.

Hearing the story was also timely, as I've been thinking and talking to others (hi Lucia) about what it takes to make Dallas into a great "creative" city. We now boast a formidable arts district, and there's a wealth of creative talent tucked into Dallas' nooks and crannies. But I think we need more enablers... It goes beyond financial support or visiting museums and galleries and buying art (although that's certainly an essential component). It has to be a sort of passionate commitment to a creative culture. It's has include fiercely supporting our talented local designers, attending creative events and activities (and helping to concept new ones in a sort of grass-roots way) and encouraging a general sort of soulfulness to balance Dallas' reputation as a hotbed of consumerism... This city is just so much more than the sum of our shops and restaurants.

So to that end, I wanted to highlight a couple cool creative things/happenings in Dallas on the off-chance that you want to help "enable"them a bit ;-)


image via The Criterion Collection

First up, the screening of Bottle Rocket next Thursday the 28th at Oak Cliff's Kessler Theater (part of the brilliant movie series Dallas, Outlaws, and The American Dream)... So much goodness packed into this one friends. First and foremost, Bottle Rocket is (in my humble opinion) one of the truly genius movies, and it's utterly local (created by locals, acted by locals, filmed locally). And then there's the matter of Oak Cliff and The Kessler Theater...both gems, (again my opinion) among the very best of our city.

Be an enabler... go to this screening. For sure.






Next is my dear friend (and partner in crime) Christine. I recently watched this video of her creating her Spring 2012 collection for Little Bean and was just, well...hugely inspired. Christine is a force -- her kid's clothing line, her shop (which is unequivocally unlike anything else in Dallas), Small Magazine... I am endlessly in awe.


Ok friends, now it's your turn. Share in the comments something or someone creative you'd like to help promote/enable. I'll pick a few from your suggestions and share them here in the next couple of weeks.