Hi there! You can also find me on Pinterest!
Above is a photo from our recent vacation in Sedona, Arizona. There is a place called Buddha Beach where you can witness in awe thousands of stacked rock sculptures near a Vortex site at the Red Rock Crossing in Sedona. It was amazing! I love Sedona!
I love this photo that was featured in today's enewsletter from Future Natural, an organic and natural beauty product shop! Makes me miss my long hair =)
Gorgeous antique Buddha pendant by Laurie Gilula at Henry Road!
This beautiful image is from the Korean Vogue... I love the color, texture and styling! I found this photo via the inspiring PaPaYa blog.
Check out these beautiful interiors from designer Jose Natori's New York home via Elle Decor Magazine. Apparently, the renovation took 7 years! Wow! I love the Asian details and refined style!
I LOVE KATE QUINN ORGANICS! Check out the new summer collection of sumptuous organic cotton options for you and baby!!!
Whoa, how do I contain my excitement? I finally found a career inspiration that closely matches my lifestyle, my experience and my aesthetic! Today I discovered the story of Kate Fujimoto... a fashion designer - turned wife - turned event designer! Kate Fujimoto worked as a fashion designer and product manager for labels such as Trina Turk and Betsey Johnson. She was getting frustrated with the corporate structure and
felt that her aesthetic didn’t necessarily match up to some of the
companies she worked with. After planning her own wedding, Kate began to consider a career in event design. She took on small
events at first, but with a growing client list, the budding designer launched Kate Fujimoto Event Design in November 2007. With an emphasis on color, texture and trim, she treats events as landscapes similar to fashion designs, and applies her expertise to every aspect of presentation. Kate often looks to the venue first— much like she used to look to the human form—to find ways to enhance its features...Kate, you are my she-ro!
I don't know how she did it, but Bree from Kuga Designs created this absolutely stunning "Retro Glam" wearable floral dress (including shoes!) and other fabulous couture with her design partners for the Bouquets to Art event in San Francisco! I want one!!!! Girl, you rock!
I'm a MAC user, but who wouldn't want a mini laptop that looked like a clutch and sported a Vivienne Tam peony print!!! Sheer bliss! Check it out here and read more about it here and here. It's fierce, baby! If you don't need a clutch laptop you can get a dose of Vivienne Tam's style by clutching her fashion book China Chic.
"fatal attraction to cuteness"
I've always loved Gwen Stefani, her L.A.M.B. danders and her Harajuku Lovers line. I own a couple of hoodies and funky bags but just now I was flipping channels and landed on the Home Shopping Network... I was reminded of the new HL perfume and the cute as heck collectible doll dispenser... You pull off the doll to reveal the sprayer and when your fragrance is all gone, you have a darling little doll to hang on to. Each fragrance is named after Gwen and her girls... Love, Music, Angel, Baby and of course G for Gwen. Buy them at Sephora.
Figurines of beauties and goddesses always inspire me and this one is no exception. I would love to have this incredibly gorgeous doll! "This doll was inspired by the image of Yang Gui Fei from the Tang Dynasty, one of the renowned four beauties of ancient China. It reveals the elaborate craft of dress making in the Tang Dynasty." I want to do my hair like that one day! You can collect this doll at China Sprout. They also have many other beautiful fashion dolls and figurines. For an Indian inspired doll check out Jewel of Bollywood by Devout Dolls.
I truly adore this wedding ensemble...the yellow, chartreuse and fire red colors, the glowing beauty of these gorgeous ladies, and the exotic elegance of gloriosa lilies and orchids! From Ellen F. Burnie and Brides.com
I have a busy week so my posting will be on the light side until things settle down. In the meantime, here is a sneak peak at the annual Bunka student fashion showcase that I attended this past weekend at my fashion alma mater Seattle Central Community College. Bunka University is in Tokyo and the whole production is a traveling show put on entirely by students! My girlfriend and I go every year and are amazed at the creativity of the fashions and the ingenuity of the production crew.
I recently saw the Bollywood exhibit by the Center on Contemporary Art (COCA) and was amazed by this absolutely gorgeous handmade doll by Sara Lanzilotta of Devout Dolls! I saw this doll in person and every detail was divine including the matching silk covered shelf that it was on!
I'm loving the texture, the hexagonal style and the muted brown colors of Ferrer, a new fashion store in Nieuwpoort-Bad, Belgium. Designed by Studio Arne Quinze the retail vibe is clean, modern and tactile. The wallpaper has linear texture and I absolutely love the fringe beaded curtains. Great ideas for party or wedding decor! via Dezeen.
Be sure to check out Jubella's beautiful post about the amazing artist, Frida Kahlo...her life is an inspiration to me and this post really made my day! (image via Jubella)
I really like this raffia clutch that was posted by the fantastic Fly blog...
These gold bangles are on my wishlist! I love that these bangles are inspired by Japanese design icons and graphic elements often seen on kimono textiles and paper. Buy them here.
Check out these beautiful hand colored photographs by flickr user Okinawa Soba! Also check out these color palettes over at Color Lovers inspired by one of the sets featuring Geisha in swimwear fashion.
Introducing Trend de la Crème, a fantastic fashion and design blog by a detail-obsessed trend addict living in San Francisco, California. My jaw dropped when I saw a couple of posts with trend boards juxtaposing Chanel's Spring 2009 collection with exotic flowers and André Lima's Spring 2009 collection inspired by geometric/origami effect. Check 'em out!
I'm drooling over of these gorgeous handcrafted charm necklaces by Ornamental Things. Courtesy of Earth Friendly Weddings (30% off with code FOURYEARS)
Growing up with Ikat & Batik textiles all around the house (like runners, placemats, bags, sarongs) has instilled in me a sense of awe and amazement of the weavers and community of craftspeople that instinctively create the colors and intricate handwork that affords us these wonderful textiles. For me, no matter what the season, global culture and craft will always be in style. Ikat fashion spread via InStyle Magazine.
Inspired by our favorite flower, this stylized Peony Pop print by Shanghai Tang is colorful, inspiring and sophisticated!
Today I discovered Stylekist, a fabulous design and decor blog from Mumbai, India! I also discovered Portico India, a most sumptuous home textile company with some amazing collections! Shown below are selections from the fashionable Urban Monk line. I love the intense colors, the artwork and the styling. Portico collaborated with the Lakme Fashion Week (would love to attend someday!) in India this spring to create an amazing fashion collection using their Urban Monk textiles. Go to the Portico site and click on the Lakme Fashion Week image to learn more about the collaboration and to watch the incredibly inspiring fashion show! Um, hello, I'll take all of those fashion pieces along with the coordinating bedding!!!
(Photos by Barbie Hull Photography, graphics and styling by LotusHaus Creative Services)
Check out this stylish event for the Ladies that I helped design, inspired by, you guessed it, Sex and the City! Hosted at the beautiful Ibiza Dinner Club, we pulled out all the stops to create a lovely ambiance for the ladies (and gents) to lounge, lavish and dance the night away.
"choose life, choose positivity, choose the golden rule, choose to be at peace with yourself, choose salvation." Choose Matt & Nat vegan handbags! By choosing vegan, you are supporting cruelty free, non-leather goods that are made of the highest quality synthetics. Influenced by east and west, yin and
yang, Matt and Nat embrace a positive philosophy and call us all to choose life, salvation and peace within ourselves. I'm in!
I recently discovered a new wedding and design inspired blog called You Love Me and It's Heavenly, by Carlene, a fellow Filipina graphics gal and bride to be. Above are two of her heavenly illustrations! If you're wedding bound, this blog is a must read!
Featured Event Theme: Coral Fixation via ThirteenMinutes Magazine
This post is inspired by an amazing fashion spread I saw in ThirteenMinutes, an avant garde Asian American magazine. I just love this sleek and modern take on the traditional "Seaside" theme. Coral is fascinating with it's varying textures and dynamic forms. Hair styling by Philippe Paschkes, photography by Richard Warren, and makeup by Viktorija Bowers. Seashell takeout favor idea by Pink Pearls, rare black coral ring by Art Deco Rings, modern seashore tablescape by Rebecca Thuss, and coral sea shell arrangement by Zofia Design.
I drove by the Escada boutique and was inspired by the window display. I just love the color story for the Summer 2008 collection. With saturated brights and sophistication, this palette of purple, fuschia, orange, caramel and chocolate would be an amazing color theme for a wedding, shower or special event.
Next to the color pegs, you will see some beautiful Mokara Orchids that could be used to carry this theme. For you event planners and DIY brides, check out FiftyFlowers.com for bulk flowers, DIY flower combos and wholesale prices. They even carry organic roses. Gerbera daisies come in these lush colors as well! Flip through Organic Style magazine and read about B&H Flowers an amazing organic gerbera daisy farm in California. Make sure to watch the cool video tour on pg 37.
P.S. Christy Turlington looks gorgeous in this ad campaign (did you know her mother was Salvadoran?)! She's simply stunning!
Hey everyone! Please check out fellow blogger Lalla Lydia and her sumptuous Moroccan & Mediterranean style blog! Based out of Portland, Lydia is Moroccan by marriage and recently received a diploma in International Studies with a Mediterranean Region focus! Congratulations Lydia! You rock the Kasbah!
H&M (Hennes & Mauritz), the Swedish fashion department store chain is finally coming to Seattle!!!! It's like IKEA for fashion...seriously! I just read that H&M will open three stores this Fall. One in the University Village, one downtown Seattle and one at Southcenter mall, in my own backyard! Oh man, this is big news for Seattle fashion. I have been to the many H&M stores in New York and it's madness. You can expect to wait in line for a dressing room and then again to check out. I always love their textile prints - you can imagine the awesomeness of finding a plethora of summer wrap dresses in prints reminiscent of Marimekko, Orla Kierly or Dianne Von Furstenberg for $24.99! It would make any mild mannered fashionista's heart race and blood pulse. Oh and don't feel too bad. H&M is also working on their corporate responsibility & sustainability initiatives by providing its followers with affordable organic cotton options too.
Saw this awesome calendar spread over at Love Made Visible. Amazing! Reminds me of the Spring 07 Christian Dior couture collection.
So much brilliant work comes out of Australia! Here are some beautiful Japanese inspired pendant necklaces by Australian designer Ceeb Wasserman via Etsy.
If you've ever been to an Aveda Concept Salon or an Aveda Retail Store you'll know why I love Aveda. The Aveda approach to beauty, wellness, aromatherapy & ecology is so inspiring. When you go into a retail store you are offered hot tea and a complimentary hand massage. When you have a styling appointment at the salon you receive a scalp and neck massage with essential oils before your service, and a hand/arm massage while your hair is being shampooed/ conditioned. Aveda's environmental mission is displayed everywhere and even the stylists and sales staff are excited to talk about the environment while showing you the latest things in hair and makeup.
I personally love Aveda's fragrance and makeup lines (especially the Uruku Lip Color Line.) The makeup products are stylish, simple, sustainable, great smelling, great tasting, and beautifully packaged.
This goes for all of Aveda's products and services! Aveda also has a really cool Pure Privilege program where you can rack up points to score really cool green products and service. I'm saving my points up for the Destination Spa Stay in Jamaica. I had the chance to work with Aveda in a third party kind of way when I designed last year's Earth Month collateral for the Columbia Riverkeeper, Aveda's 2007 west coast environmental partner. Recently, after Christmas while redeeming some gift cards, I found out that Aveda is now 100% Wind Powered! Another reason to love Aveda! The company has funded wind turbines that generate enough wind energy to offset 100% of the electricity used by Aveda's primary manufacturing facility in Minnesota. The best part about this wind power push is Aveda's super couture looking ad campaign! I just love the juxtaposition of beauty, style and environmental concern! Beauty is as Beauty does. I love it!
Looking for something spunky & lovely for your fashionista gal pal this Valentine's Day? Order one of these "Miss KZ" bunny toys (before they are all gone) from Kirna Zabete, a swanky designer boutique in Soho and Tokyo. I have been to the Soho store and it is wonderfully hip and stylish. This cool bunny toy, inspired by the owners' recent experience in Japan, is just another addition to this fantastic brand. Check out the virtual tours to see what I mean!
This week Seattle will have it's very own Green Fashion Week! Check out the event schedule for some pleasantly unexpected fashion events like style consultations, green panels, book releases and spa pampering. I hope to attend some of these events and will be back to report on them!
I love the look of Free People's new store in Austin, Texas. Look at the kimono inspired painted storefront. Check out the Free People blog for the inside scoop on this great free spirited, urban boho brand. Anthropologie has a vibe similar to Free People...see photos from their cool headquarters in Philadelphia here (via Decor8).
Green is the New Black by Tamsin Blachard is a personal and light-hearted must have book for all eco-fashionistas. Available at Amazon UK, this book reminds us of how our style choices can change our lives and the world. What a great gift this would be for... myself, oh and for my friends too, lol!
Hooray, Raw Threads my girlfriend's new boutique in Ballard just got a write up in the NW Source! My fashionista sista, Audrise (pictured in the white peasant blouse), opened her boutique in May and it's been a dream come true for her! Raw Threads focuses on few-of-a kind fashion, jewelry & accessories from local designers like Suzabelle, Mac Fashion House and Audrise Paper Kutouts (her signature line). I am honored to have designed her logo, flyer and some floral arrangements for her grand opening.
Pictured above are dresses from her shop. The purple dress on the left was purchased at the grand opening by Jenny from the Trendi blog. The teal dress in the middle is my favorite! It's a reversible dress! The top layer is an elegant sheer fabric and the other layer is a beautiful patterned fabric that peaks out when you shimmy. Reverse the dress for a bolder look. Sorry, this dress has already sold! But there will be more like this available soon! Email Audrise to find out more!
Remember I told you about Julep? Well, me and my girl Mac, the diva designer of Mac Fashion House, took a break from our hectic schedules to have an express pedicure at the newly opened Julep Nail Parlor. The ladies were friendly and the service was great! The best part was that it didn't smell like a nail salon because they use their own non-toxic formulas for their polish and lotions. We got to meet the owner Jane, and she was great! The organic lotions we bought are fantastic! Thanks Jane!
Kelly Hoppen: Kelly Hoppen Style: The Golden Rules of Design
Kelly Hoppen: East Meets West: Global Design for Contemporary Interiors
Colin Cowie: Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: 1,001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration
Cindy Ng: Girligami: A Fresh, Fun, Fashionable Spin on Origami
Robyn Griggs Lawrence: The Wabi-Sabi House: The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty
Thich Nhat Hanh: Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Maureen Whitehouse: Soul-Full Eating: A (Delicious!) Path to Higher Consciousness
David Kundtz: Quiet Mind: One-Minute Retreats from a Busy World
Michelle Cornell: Ikebana: Japanese Flower Arranging for Today's Interior
Sakul Intakul: Tropical Colors: Art of Living With Tropical Flowers
