Simple Lovely

Loving

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:12:00 +0000

This entire ensemble, which contains more pattern and color in a single outing than I sport in an entire month and is therefore wholly inspiring. I'm totally digging the purple marled cardigan paired with that rust paisley action. So, so good... (Via Refinery 29.)

The image for the opening of James Lee Byars at LA Gallery Overduin and Kite. Lovely in every way...

Handwoven Turkish Kilim pillow goodness.

A beautiful, classic video still by Carlotta Manaigo via Montmarte and Cheryl.

Gat Rimon's beyond awesome cuff via Banquet...

Sibylle Bauer's photography. I am completely obsessed with the pattern riot happening in her image taken at an abandon hotel in Mexico. I'm thinking it would be the perfect foil to the total absence of pattern happening in my house...

Jane Waggoner's necklaces (and rugs, and design work, and just general loveliness)...

Major kiddo cuteness (and more pattern mash up...I'm clearing having a pattern-centric week here friends) via Skirt as Top.

Some Scenes From The Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:38:00 +0000

This weekend couldn't have been more different from our last. Seven days ago we were dancing in the rain with art world stars -- all festive and glam and what have you. This weekend we were sweating and eating burgers and watching kids movies. Not so glam or fab or fancy, but really fun nonetheless.

Bryan toiled away in the yard, tending to the strawberries and blackberries and blueberries and tomatoes and some unidentifiable plant we think might be a cabbage (don't ask), while I embarked on "Operation Patio Beautification" for a fun little project I participated in (more on that later). There was also some sprucing-up of the master bedroom and an impromptu Sunday dinner involving a rather impressive play performed by the kiddos, great conversation, and sad, overdone (cooking just wasn't my strong suit this weekend) goat cheese polenta.

And of course the aforementioned In and Out Burger enjoyed while piled on the couch watching The Muppets with the girlies. We are nothing if not high class.

Hope your weekend was excellent!

On Being Excited

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:27:00 +0000

I get excited. A lot. I can't tamp it down (although I've been told on more than one occasion that I should). I am happy, enthusiastic, upbeat...

All of this, in theory, is good, I mean there's an entire genre of books aimed at upping ones happiness quotient, and yet, being perky isn't the most revered of qualities. It's seems more respectable, cooler even, to be harried, cynical, sardonic.

I'm holding firm though. I don't mind being uncool...being cool is overrated. I'm not afraid to walk out of situation that was magical/fun/interesting and be excited about it (really, really excited). I'm good with that.

Over the past two days, I've had the opportunity to sit down and chat with a design icon, have dinner in quite possibly the most stunning, soulful home I've ever encountered (above), and share lunch with a wholly inspiring and talented woman. It was a good two days.

I am (really really) excited.

Loving...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:05:00 +0000

Just a perfect little, quiet moment captured in Jeana's latest Closet Visits. (But then again the perfect little moment is sort of Jeana's speciality..)

More No. 6 lookbook goodness (via Cheryl)...that mustardy yellow smock top is just pure beauty.

Morgan's awesome fiber art...I love this in ways that aren't even natural friends. Sadly, I couldn't pull off something like this, as my house oozes the 1970s without even trying. (I know that seems counterintuitive, but I tend to think when you go too literal you end up with a bad time warp situation.) But still, I love this more than words. So much so that it almost makes me want to buy a totally. different. house.

Almost ;-)

Bettina Prentice's living room in Apt by LSD on Vogue. That pattern mix is pretty heady stuff, but man she pulls it off. Big time...

Soledad's brass and fiber bangles...found after first spotting her (wait for it) fiber art on Michelle's pinterest. What can I say, it's a fiber art week...

A beautiful meal (and equally beautiful photograph by Leo Patrone) from the latest issue of Kinfolk...

Electric Feathers at Anise. The pieces are just stunning in every way...

Leonor Antunes' gorgeous Chain of Triangles (from Vernet to Barcelona) (2011) via I'm Revolting.

Neon spray painted baskets via Abbey. I'm itching to spray paint a basket...some neon, some silver, what have you.

Some Scenes From The Weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:53:00 +0000

The weekend was all kinds of goodness...

The girlies and I double dated with my friend Janet and her sweet son H on Friday for the (amazing) opening of the Ernesto Neto exhibit. We crushed rose petals under our feet, "cuddled on the tightrope", and danced in the rain to a Brazilian band with, wait for it...Ernesto himself. It was by far one of the most fun, most magical nights in recent memory and most definitely my best art experience of all time.

But wait, there's more. Sam joined up with me + the girlies (we were sans Bryan most of the weekend, as he was travelling), and we hit the genius Diorama-O-Rama, which consisted of loads of artful creations, tamales, a rockin' DJ, dear friends, some DIY action. Just awesome all around.

Sunday consisted of a nice mother's day brunch out in our backyard with Bryan's mom, my mom and a few friends and then (because every weekend needs a little drama apparently) a quick trip to the ER to check out some sort of wicked bug bite on Millie's arm (it turned out to be just an infected mosquito bite, thankfully). But really, the rest of the weekend was so lovely that the ER adventure didn't even dampen our spirits.

Hope your weekend was equally fab and that all you fellow mamas out there had a a lovely Sunday!

Three (Incredibly Lovely) Things...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:37:00 +0000

First and foremost (and really this merits a post of its own, but I'm still trying to tackle that whole balance thing) is The Equals Project.

The brainchild of the beautiful, talented and immensely soulful Elisabeth Thurston Fraser and Miya Hirabayashi, the project comprises a website, a print publication (coming in 2013) and a philanthropic call to action all celebrating the varied and interesting things women of different backgrounds, in different circumstances, and living different lifestyles think about, do, make, and discuss.

It is truly stunning friends. I am so proud of these ladies!

images via Tales of Endearment

And while we're on the topic of lovely women, next up is the awesome designer Heidi Middleton (of Sass & Bide) on Tales of Endearment. The 40-year old mom of two girls (India Grace, 6 and Elke Bay, 5) has survived cancer and, in Natalie Joos' words is:

"The picture of happiness and peace. She’s poised, soft-spoken, a little bit shy, curious, sexy, and in the best shape of her life."

And then there's the matter of her home, and her taste, and her wardrobe (and her blog)...Insane. I'm smitten; I'm not gonna lie.

images via vogue.com

Ok last but not least, I was tooling around on vogue.com this morning and was so excited to see some Dallas action on the home page in the form of designer Jeremy Laing's trip to Dallas for his trunk show at V.O.D.

I love Laing's online "diary" of his time in Dallas...but I especially love how he managed to capture the true essence of our (smart, interesting, artful) city... Thanks Jeremy.

Loving...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:41:00 +0000

Shabd's spring 2012 lookbook...I've espoused my love of Shabd in a loving list before, but the look book is just such immense goodness all around, it deserved a second mention.

Serena and Lily's rattan hanging chair -- pretty much my dream Mother's Day gift...just sayin'.

KW's stack of ultra chic books and those blocks topped with dripping molten metals. Holy awesome...

Tissu's stellar color block totes, which are reminiscent of the Celine bag that I can't get out of my mind (and I also can't afford). This one on the other hand...

Justine Smith's coin sculptures. Brilliant.

Oh and Lulie Wallace's flower paintings...

Artful origami mobiles made completely by hand by a French architect living in Berlin after she couldn't find one she loved for her new son's room. Stunning, yes?

Some Scenes From The Weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:17:00 +0000

My weekend consisted of copious amounts of entertaining...some casual cookout action with our friends Julie and Tim, dinner with lovely cousin Erin and fiancé Ben and my aunt Sharon, oh and co-hosting a party at our house for Audrey's school which involved 100 (!) guests and, wait for it... a drag queen. (I can only imagine the google ads that are going to pop up as a result of me having included the words, "drag queen" in this post, but I couldn't exclude it. It had to be told.) We also went roller skating. Good times I tell ya.

It should be noted that the above just serves as further evidence that balance isn't exactly my forte of late. Apparently I like to compensate for months of entertaining slackerdom with one weekend long blow-out. But hey, you do what you can.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend friends!

Paula Greif...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:37:00 +0000

images via Remodelista

I'm not quite sure what to do about the issue of Paula Greif, but I am completely obsessed... Her work alone is enough to spawn a full-on girl crush, but then there's this via Remodelista:

"Brooklyn-based Renaissance woman Paula Greif set herself a creative goal: to make everything in her kitchen by hand. Greif views her working life as a horizontal line—she started as a graphic designer for magazines; later, she directed music videos and commercials; more recently, she's turned her attention to ceramics. Greif's house in Brooklyn is a project on that continuum; filled with her own hand-hooked rugs and distinctive pottery. Her inspiration? Alexander Calder (specifically, the book Calder at Home), who "extended his creativity to every corner of his existence." After reading about Calder, Greif began to make things for her own home; rug hooking led her to pottery, and ultimately, a desire to remake everything in her kitchen by hand."

Oh and then this from her site:

I'm at a loss.

Thanks a lot Michelle ;-)

On Finding Balance...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:51:00 +0000

Some shots of a seriously cool house from our March/April issue...

I've just passed the three month mark at the new gig, and I finally feel settled...well relatively speaking. To be sure, I'm still flying by the seat of my pants, a lot, but I don't have that deer in the headlights, total and complete idiot feeling I did in the beginning (or at least I have it way less often).

Friends...starting a new job after over a decade at your old one is a humbling enterprise. I went from knowing what I was doing 99% of the time to asking an embarrassing amount of questions of my (infinitely patient) co-workers. Humble pie. But I expected to feel green for a while, that I was unmoored wasn't the surprise.

What was is how much the new job affected all the other aspects of my life. I thought non-stop (and to some degree I still do) about how to do my job well, how to manage the work, how to get things right. It made me distracted, and most distressing, it made me, well (for lack of a more eloquent term)... suck at pretty much everything else. Social life? Vanished. Entertaining? I don't do it. Volunteering at school? Abysmal. Calling friends and family? Never. Personal e-mail? Forget about it. (On that note, sorry if I owe you an e-mail...I'll get to it, I promise.)

Between keeping Bryan and the girlies #1 and navigating the new job, I was totally and completely accounted for and then some.

So now that I'm getting my footing a bit, putting in place some systems, creating a bit of a rhythm if you will, I'm ever so gingerly trying to find balance. I'm trying to figure out how to be a good mom/wife/daughter/sister/friend/career woman/good citizen/creatively balanced person again.

I'll let you know how it goes ;-)

Loving...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:26:00 +0000

{David Netto's house via Habitually Chic & Robert Ryman via Sarah Schmerler}

Lisa's excellent interview with David Netto on A Bloomsbury Life... but this part especially:

"I'm big on respect for yourself. Putting a tie on most days at home to write does make me take life more seriously. I don't view that as an inconvenience. I'm inspired by the abstract painter Robert Ryman who gets up every day, puts on a suit, rides the subway to his studio and gets to work painting white squares."

CV's cobalt blue duffel and that striped clutch above... Both officially on my (ongoing) CV wish list. Is it possible to own too many Clare Vivier bags? I think not ;-)

The insane awesomeness that is Lee Borthwick's Mirror Tapestry...

And Yves Klein Blue inspired nail polish from Rescue Beauty Lounge. (Both spotted via Moodboard.)

Aurélie Bidermann’s butterflies on The Coveteur...

This brass owl pencil cup from Minty (which I can't help thinking would be a nice companion for my kangaroo, yes?)...

Some Scenes From The Weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:23:00 +0000

The weekend was a blur, a whirlwind, a frenzy even, involving (but not limited to):

One case of double pink eye
One magical dinner at my friend Janet's house
Three kiddos toasting sparkling apple juice, roasting marshmallows and orchestrating a (rather impressive) improv performance
Three hours of leather tassel making
Six little girls getting along swimmingly for a full afternoon playdate (thus allowing me to embark on the aforementioned three hours of tassel making)
One bout of the stomach flu (ugh)
Two ballerinas participating in their spring recital

Onto a new week...

The Process of Falling in Love in Five Steps

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:20:00 +0000

1. Spot a cluster of lovely ceramics on Pinterest.

2. Click through to Design*Sponge (the source of that ceramics image) from Pinterest to discover that said ceramics were created by Angela Hodgkinson (one of my faves).

3. Click over to Angela's blog, Various Projects, and catch up.

4. While catching up, become obsessed with photo of Solange Knowles at The Louve.

5. Click over to Solange's "Damn Blog" and proceed to obsess over everything before falling... Hard.

The interwebs is a magical place, yes?

Books: Read, Want to Read, Coveting

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:13:00 +0000

Sadly, it seems I do 75% of my yearly reading during our April beach trip. I read during the entire 12-hour drive there, as much as possible during the week, and then every second of the 12-hour drive home. I read like it's my job...it's a non-stop reading extravaganza. And thank God I don't get car sick, or I might not actually finish a book the entire year.

Last week I managed to plow through Bringing Up Bebe, and I would highly recommend. Despite all the controversy and hubbub re: French parenting vs. American parenting, this is a fantastic book... You will for sure glean something helpful from it regardless of your stance on the matter. I promise. I also finally finished Blood, Bones & Butter (my "raging love affair" with this book started in February and was then stalled by, well...life). It was worth the wait. That book is magic. Raw and honest and poetic and inspiring. I loved ever single page (well maybe not the page about the rat in behind Prune, but I loved all the other pages).

The one thing I always wish I had more time for is reading. It is truly at the tippy top of my list of happy makers, and yet it somehow always (always) falls by the wayside (save that blissful voracious week of reading in April). The stack of books and magazines next to my bed is groaning -- a little neglected leaning tower of temptation. No matter that there's so much un-read material sitting there all forlorn, I still have a perpetual "to read" list going in my little day planner.

Here's what's currently on it: Twyla Tharpe's The Creative Habit, anything about Helen Frankenthaler, and (while technically more of a photo book) Belgian Architects and Their Houses.

How often do you guys get to read? Is finding time for it as tough a nut to crack for you as it is for me? Oh and what are you reading of late?

Loving...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:43:00 +0000

Leanne Shapton's studio in The Paris Review... the perfect embodiment of her work.

The dreamy "foggy mountains" pleated sac from No. 6...

Mariam Sitchinava's beautiful photos... + lovely girlies in flower crowns is one of my all-time favorite things.

A crazy cool plum velvet sofa, oh and do I spy some leopard and mirror action too? And yet, the whole thing feels modern and fresh... not exactly what I expect from my plum velvet and leopard and mirrors. Who's with me?? (Via the lovely Molly Ruth.)

The incomparable Kate Moss by Corinne Day for Vogue UK December 2000. (Via Bohemia Design.)

Books via The Sphinx & The Milky Way. I want every. single. one. But I especially want that Helen Frankenthaler tome.

Art in the kitchen. In my estimation, a piece of well-placed art can make even the most humble kitchen feel special and a bit glam... (Via Remodelista.)

Some Scenes From The Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:05:00 +0000

And we're back...reluctantly.

Don't get me wrong, I love you guys, I do. I love my house and my job... Love it all. But man I wish we were still at the beach. I'm not gonna lie.

We frolicked and basked and lazed. I read two full books and countless magazines cover-to-cover (big, meaty ones even like VanityFair and Vogue). I walked around barefoot and ate ice cream every day and cruised around on my bike and spent an embarrassing amount of time laying in a chair staring at the ocean.

The girlies were bold and funny and fierce. Audrey tromped confidently out into the sea and body surfed for hours. Millie swam and danced and hunted for shells and just generally charmed everyone she encountered.

It was a perfectly perfect wholly blissful week. Just exactly what we needed. And now I'm clinging to that relaxed vacation afterglow for as long as humanly possible...

Some Regrouping

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 01:46:00 +0000

We leave for the beach tomorrow, and I can honestly say I've never been more ready and less prepared for a vacation. (I know, I know...) The four of us need this time away desperately. After a topsy turvy past couple of months, we need some huddle time... unplugged, chilled out, doing nothing, and totally focused on each other. Like the deserts need the rain we need this action.

And yet, a mere six hours from departure, and I'm not even remotely prepared. I'm still packing; half the things on my to do list have not even a remote chance of getting crossed off; it's a bad scene. And remember, I'm a girl that has a packing formula, lists and plans. I rock this kind of thing. But no dice this year, which really just puts a big, fat explanation point on the need to just throw it all in a bag and hit the road, don't you think?

So I'm going to try and wing it a bit and see what happens. See you in a week. Wish me luck!

A Quick Bit of Random Loveliness to Offset the Crazy

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:41:00 +0000

Today was a doozy of a day... multiple mishaps, work craziness, and an epic anesthesia-induced, post dental surgery meltdown by Audrey.

It was good times.

So I'm just going let these lovely paintings hanging in the T Room at Forty Five Ten be my temporary happy place (despite their air of mild melancholy). Cool?

Loving...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:53:00 +0000

The stunning Joanna in vintage amidst flowers...

The light at Renilde's place.

Inspiration via the lovely ladies at dullDiamond

Laure's outtakes (But then again I think Laure's loveliness makes the list every week...)

Maryam via Garance...just perfection.

The Shourouk Masai necklace at Beklina.

Scenes From the Weekend (And the Ship and Shape Winner)

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:03:00 +0000

Megan Adams' lovely clutches...

This was (and I don't exaggerate when I say this) quite possibly my productive weekend, of all-time. It was not, however, glamorous in, well...pretty much any way. To wit, there was closet purging and drawer organizing and the general rearranging of stuff and backyard sprucing and planting and patio scrubbing and replenishing of summer clothes for the girlies (which involved an epic trip to the mall that I'm still recovering from).

Suffice to say, it was some pretty crazy action.

And yet, I somehow managed to get the entire family in on it. (Ok I bribed them with the promise of a trip to the movies on Saturday (+ popcorn + candy) after all our work was done...I pulled out the big guns.)

When we weren't taking part in "operation hard core house refresh 2012" (yes, we named it), we also managed to fit in a terrarium making class with lovely cousin Erin, some bowling with our buddies, a few shop visits for work, an impromptu family dinner with Christine + fam and the beheading of an embarrassing quantity of chocolate bunnies. Oh and I wore a (bright) green shirt. I'm living large here friends. Watch out.

And finally, the winner of the Ship and Shape giveaway...congrats Kristin!

Hope you all had a splendid weekend!

Loving (On A Thursday)

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:49:00 +0000

The lovely Cheryl in her Malia Mills Aquitaine dress...

Jamie's (insanely) beautiful "mess"...

Ashley's immensely dreamy new blog, Comme Ci, Comme Ça...

Gijs Frieling adorned buildings and malachite bracelets via Banquet

Berkeley-based "renegade florist" Louesa Roebuck via Remodelista... I love everything about this. All of it.

More artful Shabd goodness via Lena Corwin...

Perfect brass bangles via Pretty Mommy...

Ship and Shape Goodness...And a Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:01:00 +0000

I am a huge fan of pretty much everything about Ship & Shape -- the aesthetic sensibility, the design, the carefully considered goods...

The ladies behind all this goodness, Erin Smith, Maddy Nye, and Annika Kaplan, are designers and makers that wanted to create an online space to showcase quality, handmade goods. Each season, the ladies carefully curate a mix of their own works alongside unique handmade products made by their favorite artists.

It is seriously good stuff.

And because they are so lovely and kind, they've offered up the little trifecta of goodness above to one of you, including:

Annika's SHIP & SHAPE Studs: Sterling silver studs inspired by the SHIP & SHAPE logo. Hand made. Easy everyday studs or second piercing accents.

Erin's Mini Plant Hanger: Hand built stoneware slab pot with hand painted detail, hanging from a knotted waxed cotton cord. Perfect for air plants and tiny succulents.

Maddy's Yeah! Notecard Set: Lively notecard set, digitally printed on recycled paper. Brighten up your friend's day with a note written on one of these.

(Is it bad to say that I want to win my own giveaway?!)

Just pop over to Ship & Shape to check things out and then leave a comment here telling me what your favorite item is from their new Spring Collection by Sunday, April 8th at midnight CT. I'll announce the winner on Monday. Good luck!

Some Scenes From The Weekend (A Day Late)...

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:31:00 +0000

One of the treasures that made it home with me...

The girlies getting crazy in their new Round Top dresses...

The lovely Sam in repose...

I'm struggling a bit with re-entry this week.

You'd think a mere 48 hours of Round Top goodness wouldn't throw me off so much, but clearly I underestimated the effects of all that walking and sleuthing and sweating (it was hot!). Sleuthing is hard work friends.

But it paid off, as we saw loads of inspiring stuff, engaged in some much needed girl bonding, consumed maybe the best strawberry rhubarb pie of all-time and scored some lovely treasures, including, not one but, wait for it...two busts. (I'm having a bust moment, Bryan is perplexed, but it is what it is.) I also took home some brass bracelets and mid-century candle holders, a marble box, some art, Mexican dresses for the girlies, a Kelly Wearstler meets hippie pottery vase... It was a respectable haul; I'll snap a photo of the loot and share with you guys later this week.

Ok off to continue my re-entry efforts (wish me luck). Hope you guys had a fantastic weekend!

Off to Round Top

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:36:00 +0000

I'm headed to Round Top today with two of my loveliest friends to sleuth out some treasures and enjoy a little (much needed) girl bonding. Last year's trip netted some pretty stellar finds, so hoping for more of the same this time around ;-)

Have a splendid weekend friends!

In Praise of Single-Tasking

noreply@blogger.com (Joslyn) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:23:00 +0000

A teeny, tiny detail pic snapped on my iPhone from yesterday's shoot

Something miraculous happened yesterday. Ready?

I did not access the interwebs. At all.

I spent the work day at a house shoot where the homeowner had no Internet access (No internet access people!), so, when I wasn't downing an obscene amount of coffee in an attempt to stave off the effects of the previous evening's insomnia*, I was focused wholly and completely on, wait for it...doing my job.

It was a revelation this single-tasking. No popping over to Pinterest, no peeking in at blogs, very little e-mail (I did have my iPhone, but I purposefully tucked it away for most of the day). I forget how much better I am at something when I actually give it my focused attention,when I'm present, fully engaged, in it.

Game changer...for sure.

{*thanks for all your comments about the insomnia...you guys had so many amazing suggestions and made me feel like I'm not the only sleepless zombie out there trying desperately to hold it together.}