wouldn't it be nice...

Our friends Meghan and Nathiel just left this morning to go back to Boston and I already miss them like crazy.

Mr. C and I always try to convince them to move to Southern Cali, where Meghan and I finally will start our design studio.

I have our space all picked out.

Life, Death & Computer Malfunctions

This month is flying by, a rapid succession of adventures as days that I can barely keep up with. Since last I wrote here, I have turned another year older, a good friend has departed and my computer has completely broken down.

The laptop is fixed. I wish everything was as easy to repair as making an appointment at the Mac store. As for the rest of us, we will keep moving forward, keep having birthdays, keep getting older, keep breaking down. Until one day we won't. So it goes.

And on that note... have a fully wonderful Memorial Weekend friends. It's a long one, but it goes fast.

{the photo is my 2011 birthday self portrait}

Saturday Recap

This last Saturday afternoon was pretty darn perfect. Not only did I get to hang with some of my favorite people...

... but I got to sip margaritas and taste ceviche on a sun drenched, Mexican tiled patio. It just doesn't get much better.

the music of Aron Van Alstine

This is my friend and coworker Aron Van Alstine. I always knew he was a musician, but I only heard his songs for the first time this morning. You simply have to have a listen...

in memoriam

While I often shy away from the deeply personal in this public space, I wanted today's post to be a tribute. I am thinking of some one I've been missing. She's been gone for one year to date, though it hardly seems that long. These red flowers are for her.

just when I'd almost given up on you, Facebook

Just when I was really questioning the value of social networks, an old friend found me. Here's to you Mr. Parker. You have saved my Facebook account from almost certain destruction and you have renewed my faith in the system.

Happy Friday everyone.

Buck Up 'Lil Pardner Pie

The best part of this triple strawberry cream pie? Eating it at midnight with a side order of good conversation.

I knew him when...

My friend Dustin makes the most amazing films. You might have seen some of his side splitting literal music videos. The Huffington Post has given him credit "as the founding father of this genre."

He also does these hilarious mockumentaries and spoof commercials. I hear he's still collecting gold from his Send UR Gold film. I sent him all the gold I had just laying around the house. One of my favorite Dust Films is the Trash Artist. As and art school graduate, I feel I can really relate to the trials and tribulations of this Pasadena based creator.

He is endlessly clever and beyond prolific (I'm not sure he ever sleeps). And some of my favorite pieces are the oldies like this one here called Play. I really never get tired of watching this.

I am so proud to say I knew him when.... we were just kids. You can see more of Dustin's work on YouTube, Funnie or Die and on his own website, dustfilms.com.

oooh, I just love a wedding

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” —Audrey Hepburn

Thank you, Ms. Hepburn, for putting it into words. And thank you T&C for letting us be a part of your beautiful, elegant, radiant wedding day. You two glow so brightly that everyone around you lights up.

{photo by Sue Hwang}

taco Thursday

While my belly is rumbling from missing supper, I am thinking fondly of Taco Thursday in Olympia.

The gentleman in the goggles and white rubber gloves was our chef, Wylie. He's fantastic.

happy birthday to you, Lynn

This year, saying happy birthday was much more complicated. So we got creative...

7 Red Balloons

Nicole, Sarah, Annie, Isaac, Noah, Kendal, Nickolas, Ian and I all sent our messages to you on the fog and wind. I would not normally condone the release of balloons, but there are some moments, when you are invited into the closest circle, not to say what or where, just to be there.

2 Trees

Ian and I climbed a small mountain to silently say... everything.

getting ready for a Haute Summer

I am so excited for our upcoming Haute Summer event. Some local ladies of Etsy and I are having a soiree to kick off the summer and show of our styles. These gals are so talented. I feel honored that Little City Designs will be amongst them for this fashionable fiesta (and that I got to design our promo pieces above).

Lindsay Miller is one of the designers that will be showcasing her work. you might remember my post about her party dresses. She has been sewing away to get ready for Saturday, upcycling unique and often vintage pieces to make one-of-a-kind wearable treasures. She is also the owner and operator of  Sassy Sally's which is a haven for indie designers all over California.

There will be some wonderful jewelry designers at our event too. Melissa and Joan of Live Vibrant create vintage inspired, beaded necklaces that are so full of color and fun. Kristin of KD Designs uses all kinds of unique materials for her jeweled pieces from pink jade to Yak bones. And I just love the resin jewels by Heather of Ascending Peculiarity. They have tiny illustrations and little bits of nature inside.

If that weren't enough, we will be joined by the lovely Shannon of Supernatural Flowers.   She makes amazing hair clips with flowers and feathers. I have a beautiful piece of hers that I wear ALL the time and I'm hoping to treat myself to a giant magnolia on Saturday.

hot club of Friday

Happy Friday everyone. Here's to a sizzling weekend with a little tune from the Hot Club of France and some wonderful footage of the quartet that includes Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli.

By the way, the show last night was amazing. Ventura's fine fiddler, Phil Salazar, sat in to everyone's surprise and delight. And Ian and I agreed that if  Swing Cheese's guitar player, Chris, wore a 1930s suit and slicked his hair he bear a resemblance to Django.

rendezvous at the Riviera

We're off to see our friends Swing Cheese play at the Riviera Bistro. They are a wonderful group of gypsy jazz men and a sweet treat to the ears. I got to thinking about gypsy jazz and the late but so great Django Reinhardt. I love the way he was depicted in the Triplets of Bellville...

coffee, work & inspiration

There is so much to do today that I am just about to brew a pot of French press and get back to work. But while the sun is shining and I am stuck indoors I'll be thinking of days like the one in the photo above when all I had to do was drive around town with a best friend and take polaroid pictures with my old Land Camera.

climbing trees in party dresses

The photos are by me, but the fashion is all Lindsay Miller. I love her party dresses—all one of a kind, reworked vintage pieces. They are Grace Kelly glamour with a Punky Brewster twist. The designer herself is shown here climbing a pepper tree in one of her own designs and holding a Maryink handbag. If I had prom to do all over again I would wear a Lindsay Miller party dress. You can shop for both designers at SassySallys.com.

And with that in mind, I'm off to rummage through my closet in search of the perfect thing to wear to the Getty Villa.

and many more...

SOME FAVORITE MEMORIES OF BIRTHDAYS PAST:

Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, flip flops, perfect Levi's and a tiny cactus Ian walks through the back door, home made chocolate birthday cake breakfast and a shiney new banjo Juno and Arianne as the sun is setting, surprise sushi dinner with good friends, black petticoat and 'Tropic of Cancer' May 6, 1986, turning 6, loving pink hearts on my golden birthday, the Ventura board walk, a shell necklace from mom, a magic wand from Jabe paper doll art opening, white dress and bare feet, aimless flirting with a crush Afternoon driving on Vinyard Ave. with my big brother and no plans, avocados from a roadside fruit stand, cooking dinner together, just the 4 of us BRUNCH WITH THE MOTHERS ON JOANNAFINA'S PATIO, MARIACHIS AND ROSES ALL AROUND happy hour with new friends, tgif until the wee hours of Saturday, nursing a hangover with strawberries and kettle corn on a sunny beach with you paper crown, my name in glitter, the birthday belle of the preschool playground BLUE HAWAII GOWN, A GIANT SUNFLOWER FROM MISS BRAVERMAN, BLOOD ORANGE TIRAMISU BY TANYA B, A PERFECT SNAPSHOT Las Vegas turning 20, lemonade instead of margaritas, photographing photographers, a cape cod in the casino—Andy's treat 30 minutes until 29 years, coming home from work, Ian asleep in melting ice cream, french vanilla kisses

viva la vida

Happy Cinco de Mayo. Here's to bright light Tuesdays, local swap meets and best friends in sequined sombreros. And, of course, hats off to the small Mexican army who defeated Napoleon's invasive (yet stylish) military in 1862.

For more on Cinco de Mayo...