Rock-Goodbye-Baby...

One of the finest craftsman in history
recently passed away.


Sam Maloof was born in Chino, California in 1916,
and went on to become one of the founding fathers of the
American Arts and Crafts movement.

A woodworker,
He was most famous for his rockers,
(all of which fit so perfectly together
they require no nails or metal fastenings)


and has many fans, most notably
Presidents Carter, Reagan and Clinton.
(and me.)

He also crafted an incredible residence,

that is open for docent-led tours in Alta Loma,


by HAND.

This incredible Californian
was awarded the MacArthur Foundation fellowship “genius grant,”
making him the first craftsman to ever receive the honor.
*My favorite piece, his Double Rocker

His work was featured in a 2001 retrospective
aat the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery,
and his work is included in the permanent collections
at the Met, LACMA, Boston, Philadelphia and the Smithsonian,
among others,
not to mention is a permanent fixture in the White House.

I wonder if Barack knows he's reading the girls' their bedtime stories
in the most perfect rocking chair ever created.

Somehow, I have a feeling, he's bright enough to be able to feel a difference.

xx

June BLOOM.

Its been cloudy in LA for at least a fortnight,
and I've started to wilt due to the lack of sunshine.

Its starting to peak through as I write this,
but the cloudy June-Gloom days
have really made me appreciate my
normally superflously-sunny city.

May was a tough month for me,
(boy went away, job changed, ferocious killer-kitty bite)
so I'm happy to say that summer is upon us

and I'm SO ready.

This summer I would like to do the following:

Pick Berries.

Go to the movies outdoors.

Have dinners Al Fresco.

Bake a berry crisp.

Garden.

Watch the sunset at the beach.

Ride my Hello Kitty bike to ice cream at Scoops.

Stroll through the Farmer's Market and shop for watermelon.

Sew a new summer sun-dress.

Drive to Santa Barbara for tacos at La Superica.

Go to Disneyland.

Swim in pools... at night.

Imbibe in Paloma Margaritas with the girls on the patio at Loteria.


and those are just a few ideas...
Sounds like a great summer awaits.

Now if the damn SUN would just stay out, I could get started.

xx

A long repose...

I have missed you all so much.

After a terrible bite from a ferocious beast,

*Marmalade, the ferocious California Alley-Cat

I was left somewhat paralyzed

(and thumbless)

for quite some weeks.

I am back with a thousand stories and adventures to share, 

and cant wait to fill you all in on the incredible moments

I've recently encountered.

To start:

I recently discovered 

(and subsequently became obsessed with)

Sharon Montrose,

a local Los Angeles photographer,

who takes photos of animals in her studio, 

and captures THE most incredible moments.

I am trying to decide which of the many I want to line my hallway, 

I'll post some shots once I've decided and installed them.

Thanks for standing by me in my absence,

I am so excited to get re-acquainted.

xx

Good NIGHT, Moon.

Last night, the girls and I went out to the beach to watch the sunset.

I live in the Hollywood area, and I always forget
how remarkable the coast truly is,
how fresh and invigorating.
(not to mention CLOSE!)

I was awestruck by the colors of the sky...
they reminded me how much I love being
an Interior Designer-


slate grey, light blue, pale lavender
dusky rose and peach...

The sand a milk chocolate...


The nearly full moon reflected off the turquoise and navy water
in a gorgeous silver...


And it dawned on me...
ALL color comes, from one place or another, nature.
SO
as a designer, I just have to trust my instinct
about what colors work together,
and because nature created all of them,
I literally can't screw up.

And when I'm a little unsure of my choices,
I can take a drive to the beach, catch a sunset,
and find a deep rich palette to draw from thats foolproof.

Now THATs awe-inspiring.

xx

To each her own...

I went to the LA Flower District this morning
and was awestruck by the incredible
display of spring.

The peonies were in FULL bloom,


Lilacs are back,


And the hydrangeas were so fluffy and delicate.


I even fell in love with the ROWS of tulips,
which have never been a favorite,
but they just remind me how MUCH spring is HERE.


Its like a living museum.

I could spend hours just walking around,
smelling the different blooms, taking in their colors.

Now, I know...
I DO have some issues with the cut floral industry,
and DO believe it is important to be aware of what goes IN
to bringing us these blooms.

This awesome book, and article, touch on some of the issues...
(pesticides, humanitarian issues, fossil fuel emissions)

But I'm starting to get a tad softer on life in general, loosening the rules.
Because if I am not allowed to appreciate the beauty of something already
underway, meaning something already harvested etc,
I am denying what is happening for ME, the beauty I am experiencing,
in THIS very moment.

The way I've found a compromise?

I bought nothing but THIS:




And it will flower for 6 weeks, and I can lovingly
tend to it and encourage it to bloom again.

I'm starting to see that we CAN make different choices
to show up for ourselves, and our planet,
in a different way,
But that we can at the same time appreciate and savor the moments
that life presents us.

Happiness, like all things, is a choice, an attitude.
And so I bless all the lovely blooms that wait to make some mother
incredibly happy this Sunday,
and sit quietly and enjoy my orchid.

To each HER own.

xx

Heard it through the Grapevine...

Looking out my bedroom window this morning,

I was shocked at how quickly
my grapevines are growing...



To see the tiny little seeds of grapes starting to blossom
warms my heart.


Its no secret what a fool I am for wine...

One of my dreams is to retire to Sonoma
(Russian River Valley to be exact)
and rehab an old house into a fabulous boutique inn,
with an award-winning restaurant,
and delicious vineyard.

*isn't this just BEGGING to be turned into a gorgeous inn??

I would spend my days tending the chickens,
caring for my grapes and roses,
and throwing fabulous luncheons for my guests.

*THIS is actually for SALE in Healdsberg...

Nights would be spent telling stories around a campfire,
roasting marshmallows with folks of all ages,
and drinking wine I'd bottled myself
before tucking away
for a deep, restful sleep.

I may desire to travel this world and explore its glorious locales,
and will spend much of my time doing so.

But my heart and soul forever belong in California.

xx