TOUGH DECISIONS

After getting an inside tip that Sasha was considering growing out her bangs (my two cents: don’t, they’re so awesome!), I’ve started thinking about mine. I’ve had heavy bangs for six or seven years now, and feel terrified about growing them out. (They’re like a safety blanket for your face!) But now that Sasha’s put the bug in my brain, I’m considering it. Should I go for it? Eeek…

OUTTAKES

Montreal Gazette photographer John Kenney was kind enough to send me a bunch of outtakes from our ramps photoshoot. Man, if only the photo editor had chosen to run a photo of my actual face (the photo that ran is of me, almost completely obscured by my giant nest of black hair, great). But after seeing the quality of these photos — not to mention Jennifer’s new camera and gorgeous new pics — I am pretty much convinced that I, too, need to upgrade to a REAL camera. Any suggestions?

PORTRAIT WITH CAT

I recently “commissioned” my talented and awesome friend Gigi Kaufman to do the first ever portrait of me and Joni. I am so stoked with the results. She really nailed it. I mean, my hair is exactly like that! My friend Alison said it best: “It’s how I imagine you guys would interact if she had opposable thumbs and drank alcohol.”

See more of her work here.

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Some of you have been curious to know a little bit more about a necklace that pops up in my photos from time to time…

The necklace is an original piece by Himo Martin, artist and jeweler behind the Montreal-based line Pearls Before Swine. Himo is a wonderful friend of mine, and the piece is one of a kind, and cast from a real-life onion ring! (Long story). I never wear rings, so this necklace was still able to incorporate both the ‘ring’ theme as well as my love of the beloved crunchy deep-fried snack. The onion ring even has a small nibble taken out of it.

I was completely blown away when I was given this — it’s hard to convey in a few blurry photos just how much detail and care was put into this piece. The rich oxidized silver has grown more matte and complex in the six months since it was made. It ages with me.

His non-commissioned work is available at the boutique Reborn in Old Montreal…

I would highly recommend Pearls Before Swine for any commissioned ideas you have — I’ve seen his casts of tiny animal hearts, delicate olive branches from Morocco, human baby teeth, leather spurs, and dirt-encrusted nails and studs unearthed from the countryside dirt. He has the most amazing, unusual eye for  forgotten details, textures and finishes. I’m honored to own one of his pieces.

TIME WARP

Me with my family back in my mom’s Cal Arts days. Although I look quite different now, my mother, 20 years later, looks exactly the same.

STAINED GLASS BODY

[Albert + Gillian Maysles at their home in Harlem, via The Selby]

Gillian, why is maximalism better than minimalism?

Because you can collage everything you ever have been given by all your friends + family + visitors in all your life. It’s not about possessions, it’s about memory + attachments.

 

QUARTER LIFE

Then

Guys, it’s my birthday today! I’m so busy at the NEA Institute (we saw the NYC Ballet perform Glass Pieces yesterday!), I won’t be blogging until it’s all over in a week or so. In the meantime, I’ve been busy brainstorming where to eat in NYC for my birthday. Any ideas?

[top photo by Mom; bottom photo by Adam]

ROSY OUTLOOK

It’s no secret that I love botanical gardens, and I’ve been super excited to post these photos ever since I took them a few weeks ago. Months after finally realizing with that Portland is named after one of my favorite flowers, I made an overdue visit to the famous Portland International Rose Test Gardens. It is one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever visited. I also love hanging in the roses at Ladd’s Edition and Peninsula Park, but the mega garden that is tucked into the side of the West Hills has one of the most vivid, concentrated and exuberant displays of flowers I’ve ever seen. We were running very late to dinner after dawdling too long at a wine store, or else I could have easily spent all day nestled among the petals and perfume and the golden late afternoon sunlight.

Wandering down the endless aisles of prickly blooms we spotted this amazing Ren Faire girl in a poofy pink ballgown in the midst of some sort of photo shoot. I couldn’t stop laughing. Only magical things happen in botanical gardens, I’m sure of it…

FINAL STRETCH

[Photos from PULSE exhibition we visited in Singapore.] Helloo + sorry for the long-ish blog silence. After what feels like an eternity posting photos from my trip, I’m so eager to share post-Singapore Portland recipes — failed blueberry crumbles, addictive raspberry jam scones, cherries for breakfast, tomato and red onion salads, salmon on grilled bread, fried lamb livers in bacon fat.

TANGERINE DREAMS

My mom recently bought a scanner and surprised me this morning by emailing me amazing old photos from my childhood. I love my mom’s thick braid and my tiny ones and the field dotted with tangerine-colored poppies. The last photo is of me with my childhood best friend — but how amazing is my vegetable bikini! I remember being obsessed with that thing. If it fit me, I would still wear it today!

Happy happy happy Sunday. It’s finally getting HOT as hell in Oregon. Finally.

xoxo