love forever

Raw Color

2012-02-06T07:12:00-05:00

Pretty much everything that Dutch design team Raw Color does is genius but I am most drawn to their ongoing experiments with natural dyes and colors. These images of their work are as beautiful and thoughtful as the process itself. I've been wanting to try out vegetable dyes for years; this might be the nudge I need to get started!

Vegetable dye experiments.

A print made with specially made vegetable juice ink cartridges.

silk scarves dyed with vegetables.

More of the dyeing process.

Shelves full of georgeous liquid dyes

Hair of the Season

2012-01-28T20:54:22-05:00

photos from Refinery29 and Style.com

I just got home from working the Alexandria Anthro store opening (hence my extended lack of posting- sorry!) and my roommate Lauren had the coolest hair ever. She does these awesome architectural twists and rolls every day. Our room resembled a hair salon, with irons and curlers and product everywhere. I mean, here we are working 12 hour days for nine days straight and her hair is perfect. Meanwhile, I was lucky if I showered.
Anyway, I'm back home and have a bit more morning time to do my hair. I'm still digging braids and top-knots but I love, love, love these hairstyles (maybe not with the eyeshadow though- too much?) from Rodarte's Spring show. It's sort of a modern, undone '40s thing right?

Girl's Night In: Nailed It.

2012-01-09T06:14:00-05:00

The nails in their splendor. Note the chevron rug below...

Remember that episode of Sex and the City where the girls talk about their Secret Single Behavior, the weird purely-for-them stuff they do when their partners aren't home?
The Mr. was in NYC for a few days and I decided to engage in my own favorite SSB: I got take-out, watched a movie (Midnight in Paris) and attempted a new home manicure: the chevron nail!
Two hours later, the movie was over but my nails were only half finished. One episode of vintage: Law and Order and they were perfecto! Well, not perfect but I am pretty proud of them. I followed this tutorial but used painter's tape instead of scotch. And I did two different colors for the chevrons. Next up, the holy grail of DIY nail art: the marbelized nail. I might need to do this one over the course of a weekend. It looks brutal!

What's your favorite night in activity?

Loving {Forever}: Words of Wisdom

2012-01-05T07:32:00-05:00

When I think of motivational words, I can’t help but picture that “hang in there” cat that graced the walls of every junior high guidance counselor office. As far as positive thinking, I tend to balance on the awkward precipice between jaded cynic and kool-aid drinker. Like Mulder, I guess you can say “I want to believe”, but it can be hard for me to swallow all the fluff.

Lately though I have noticed a much more artful approach to the ubiquitous affirmation poster (some aren’t even poster!). No more serenity prayers or cat posters, these speak to me for reals.

art by Katie Licht

photo by Max Wanger

art by Mark Johns

duvet by David Shrigley from Third Drawer Down

from the Imaginary Foundation

another piece from Mark Johns, this one a temporary tatoo!

print by Wasted Rita

papercut by Mr. Yen

A (Giant) Necklace a Day

2011-12-30T07:41:00-05:00

Jewelry should either whisper or scream (medium-sized baubles are for suckers) and today I’m all about making it loud. The bigger statement, the better. I’ll take one for every day of the week.

Loving {Forever}: New Year's Glitz and Glam

2011-12-29T08:59:00-05:00

I don't know what it is this year but getting dressed up is more fun than ever. There are few fun aspects of the aging process but one of them is that I care less and less about what other people think of my get-ups. Now the going out part: that's getting to be a little less fun, but who cares? Even if you're just hanging out with a couple of friends on New Year's Eve, give yourself a crazy manicure and stick a feather in your cap. It's a new year and this is not the time to play it safe.

So, why don't you...

...don a wild hat and some serious party lips. My two favorites are Funny Face and Schiap by Nars.

...wear a party dress with bedazzled kicks. Or make your own.

...tease your hair, pile on the sequins.
(image from Numero #129 by Sebastian Kim)

...throw some ballons in the air (or under your skirt).
(image by Sølve Sundsbø for Vogue China)

...be the hit of the party with the most ridiculously awesome cake ever.

...cover yourself in glitter from head to toe. I'm going to do my nails with this magical Holographic polish.

...bust out some Sophia minis. And drink them in the can! They're cuter that way.

...party like it's 1958.
(image from the Time Life archives)

...make your own confetti and streamers. Throw them everywhere!

And don't forget to kiss someone at midnight!

Happy Holidays from the Christmas Goose!

2011-12-25T12:46:14-05:00

The Mr. and I are in Connecticut with my mom and step-father, Peewee the cat, and of course, the Christmas Goose. My mother made this guy about three decades ago and each year, she enjoys decking him out in a scarf and hat (we're not sure where his hat is at the moment- whoops!). Usually we get a few snaps of my brother kissing the Christmas goose but this year, he and his new wife are in New Zealand visiting her family.

So it's a very mellow holiday and I don't hate it. We are still in our pajamas, watching bad tv (it was only a matter of time before TLC made a show about people who go overboard decorating for Christmas right?) and breaking into the Christmas cookies.
I hope you are having a beautiful, peaceful holiday regardless of what or how you celebrate.
Merry Merry!

Cookie Time

2011-12-19T08:17:00-05:00

I can't believe I haven't mentioned the word "holiday" on my blog and Christmas is only one week away! Even though it doesn't seem like I'm in the spirit yet, festive things are starting to happening around the Loveforever house, we are just firm believers in some good holiday procrastination. Basically we talk about how much we need to get started on holiday preparations for a couple of months and finally spring into action around December 10th. Over the last week, wrapping paper was made, presents were crafted and of course, cookies were baked.

We were invited to a co-workers cookie party this weekend and I wanted to try a few new things. Last summer I went to Blue Bottle Coffee in Brooklyn and had parmesan fennel shortbread with sea salt. It was sublime, buttery, salty goodness. I couldn't find the recipe for it so I doctored this Ina recipe a bit, adding fennel seeds, a sprinkle of cheese and pink himalyan sea salt on top. Oh and a tiny bit of sugar to the dough. Mr. Love Forever said they tasted like tiny pizzas. I believe this to be a great compliment.

Another cookie I dream about is the TKO cookie (that's Thomas Keller Oreo) from Bouchon Bakery. Thankfully this recipe is very easy to find on the internet. The cookie is incredible: salty, crumbly and rich with chocolate and the filling is just like an Oreo but without the waxy shortening aftertaste. I made also made a peppermint variety, adding a few drops of peppermint oil to the filling and rolling the sandwich in peppermint candies crushed into sparkling minty dust. Oh. my. gosh. They are so good. Like tempted to not go to the party and spend the day in bed with a plate of cookies good.

I'm Teaching at Squam! Fall 2012

2011-12-18T14:15:53-05:00

photo by Christine Chitnis

I am full-on over-the-moon to announce that I am going to be teaching at Squam next fall! Squam is pretty hard to define but among other things, it is an amazing retreat of creative experience and learning in New Hampshire.

photo by me

I went last fall as the opening night speaker and was lucky enough to stay on as a student. I can say with total confidence that it changed my life. That's a big statement to make about a five day retreat but there is just something that happens there, some magic that transforms you.

The class I am teaching is called Color & Composition and it's all about helping people learn how to mix colors and prints in their work and their play. We will do a series of collage and mixed media pieces over the day. I love to mix it up so I'm excited to help people get more cozy with experimentation and learn to love color as much as I do.

photo by Marilee Kennedy

If you have ever though about going to Squam or you're on the fence, just do it! It is awesome.

If you still want to know more, head over to the new and improved Squam website.

Miami: Out and About

2011-12-15T16:04:19-05:00

A bunch of random images from this year's Art Basel in Miami. It's difficult to categorize these images into one post but also impossible not to share.

the breathtaking first floor of the Delacruz Collection

The always amazing Swoon with a wheatpasted piece that made me, um, swoon.From the Underbelly Project show.

Concrete bunny by Ross Bonafanti at Aqua.

Asmall corner of Greg Haberny's installation at the Like the Spice gallery at Aqua. Wonder if anyone partook?

Achair that manages to be both modern and very traditional at Design Miami. From Priveekollektie Gallery.

A fashionable couple at Fountain Art Fair.

Love the kicks. At Fountain Art Fair.

Fashionistas. At Fountain Art Fair.

Some seriously good street art.

Some seriously funny street art.

And the obligatory, check-out-my-feet vacation photo. Thanks to the hammocks at Scope!