Worth coveting lately

 Horseshoe earrings by the Modernist, from Mille.  I can see myself wearing these non-stop this fall.

Sometimes there are things in life that don't make sense, until they just do.  These Saarinen tulip tables are like that for me -- I never grasped their perfection until now, and I want them desperately. 

 Erie Basin lapis beetle pendant.

I'm jumping on the bootie bandwagon.  I've wanted some Rachel Comeys for years, but can't afford them.  In the mean time, Madewell to the rescue.  (I may or may not have these already sitting in a box in my closet, waiting for cooler temps).

Lastly, how about these heavy duty clippers?  Similar to the vintage ones I already have, these look ready to do some serious work.  I'm not alone, as they're already sold out -- Japanese hand-forged clippers from Kaufman Mercantile.

Ficus

I normally rail against the ubiquitous ficus trees of L.A., but the branches of this one are exemplary.

Recent acquisitions

I've had some luck lately at the thrift store.  I think most people go for the shinier objects, but when I see brown, rusty metal or hand-knotted wire, I dive right in.  These three clippers have served me well this summer, and I recently found this denim jacket with generous pockets to wear while working.  I'm pretty sure these tools work better than any new ones, based solely on the amount of wear they've already seen. 

The importance of natives

A friend of mine just shared this article with me, and it pretty well sums up why I care about plants:

Just Because It'll Grow in Your Yard Doesn't Mean You Should Plant It, by Lisa Novik. 


Photo from If Nature Could Talk

Cool my eyes

 

 

 

My eye keeps being drawn to images dense with color and coolness.  I think the dry summer is starting to get to me.


1: Charles Burchfield via what were the skies like
2: by Olaf Hajek
3: 1945 New Yorker
4:  Morris Louis via secret little gem

5: Cover illus. by Józef Wilkoń for Tygrys o złotym sercu, 1963 From the collection of Hipopotam

Studio Shack

I think often about building myself a little fort/studio.  Someday when we buy a house, I imagine there will be a small corner of the yard where I can pitch a 12x12 frame, slap on some old windows, and move right in.  I've already begun hoarding old doors, and I keep an eye out for discarded casement windows.  For now, these are my inspiration. 

Top photo: Erica Weiner
Middle photo: seier+seier
Bottom photo: Shannon Rankin

Channel Islands in June