morning walk
since my return to California after my trip to Portland, i’ve sworn to exercise more. i started with a ten-day trial to our local Bikram Yoga center, which has proven to be quite exhilarating and inspiring. additionally, on a morning that i skipped yoga, i took myself on a long solo morning walk through lower Bidwell Park. it was so nice to be there before the world had awoken completely; so nice to warm myself through movement rather than a heater; so nice to walk through the trees.
the year of the dragon
i hope everyone’s lunar new year was clear and beautiful. cheers to all that lies ahead.
- new year altar with mandarins, red candle, incense and red flowers
- new moon bonfire
- fire & light
- bonfire boy
Portraits from Portland
I’ve been on the road not that long yet, but it feels that I’ve been gone from home for ages. Far away seems the landscape of California, and I am entrenched now in moisture and moss, tall trees and fog. Though to be fair, Oregon, like much of our dear West coast, has not has as much rain as it should by now, and things are brighter and drier than they usually are in January. Asher and I stopped for various visiting adventures in Eugene and Corvallis, and then we’ve settled into Portland to stay for a bit. I still feel, even far from home, that my mission right now is to rest my wings, to be aware of the season, and to love. When we fly home, things will begin (ever-so-slightly) to unfold, in preparation for the distant Spring.
Here are a few photos from our adventure so far.
- sweet kellee
- beautiful boy
- mama, by Asher
sleep-overs
vending machine mustaches
the beauty to behold, the heart that beats
i am drinking my last cup of tea before my trip, about to pull a few last things out of the dryer to shove in my over-stuffed suitcase, and then (after making oatmeal for the boy), we will leave on our trip. so excited! i plan on blogging and photo-ing as much as i can from the road, finding treasures and capturing images in every town i visit. this morning, i leave you with a feast of beauty for your eyes – these gorgeous photos of my dearest friend in the City of Roses (and also in my heart) and her handsome honey. i thought this is a perfect post to launch my trip, as this trip is, in part, a pursuit of beauty and love. i’m loving the mellow monochromatics of these photos, as well as the body language (and of course these stunning models).
styling: Robin Hilleary
photography: Sammuel Hawkins
Revolutions
And so another trip around the sun begins again. Though I am not one for new year’s resolutions, I feel quite deeply the significance of the metamorphosis symbolism of the new year. It simply cannot be missed; I actually experienced it quite profoundly and am still deep in the midst of it as we speak. transformations can be time consuming, but are always well-worth the effort.
tomorrow I am setting off on a grand ole adventure with Asher, wherein we will head north together to see old friends and some family. we will stop at our favorite places and eat our favorite food; we will listen to music and revel in the expanse of time and space before us. i am, needless to say, very excited. i plan on finding a few select treasures along the way to list in my shop, and will keep you all updated as my journey progresses.
this season of winter winds and solstice light is such a time of rest and hibernation, of silence and observation, of simply sitting and letting it go. i hope that you are all able to do a bit of that, in your own way, even as the daily hustle goes on. drink tea and keep your feet warm, it is a sure way to strengthen your heart.
Beauty in the trees
Please take a moment to go visit the beautiful Laura over at Violet Bella today… she is as stylish as ever, and this time she is wearing a pair of custom leather earrings that I made for her a while ago as part of a trade that we did. Laura is such a warm-hearted soul and it really shines through in her writing and images.
she also was kind enough to remind everyone of my 50% off moving sale off all vintage in my shop. i think i’ll keep the sale going through the weekend and then i’m going to close down the shop for a while during my moving adventure. so if you see something you like, swoop it up now (thanks Laura for these images).
a big part of this move for my is going to be letting go and simplifying. i am going to get rid of a lot of stuff….a big adventure in and of itself. i already took down my photo studio – the end of an era (and the beginning of the next).
Onward + upward
Holy holiday season! I can’t believe what a swirl it is already. aside from cooking, crafting, baking cookies, and cleaning (oh housewifery, how i love you), i am also moving.
during this time of wild dream-chasing and cold-winter packing, please send me lots of love and lots of emails; be patient with my internet absence, and know that those of you who i love are always in my heart.
and if you live in Chico and have any boxes, call me. xo
December
December is upon us and with it comes the truth of winter. The plants all sit in stasis, their roots slumbering as the season descends. The winds are colder and our eyes glisten with the freshness of such air. My persimmon tree is leafless, and its branches hang bare, save for the rich fruit that ripen, still, waiting to be picked, or waiting to fall.
it is the time now to celebrate stillness and light, wind and fire. value and honor this time of inward-ness and hibernation, as it is just as important as the warm bursting of spring and the amber glow of autumn. it is this season that determines what will root and blossom when the next cycle begins.
Infrared
mirror mirror on the wall
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| porcupine quill and deer antler necklace |
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| mixed metal alchemy bracelet |
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| at the show (mari in the middle, me on the right); photo via three sixty ecotique |
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| on left, me with Amber & her ladies |
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| cocktails & bathroom photos |
