How Killian Mansfield's Dying Dream Turned into the Making of a Miraculous Album - NY Magazine
A beautiful article, reminding us that life is fragile, but also that if you're going to do something - do it well. Do the work, and do it out of love.

If the work is born from deep inside you, it's going to wail on it's way out.

CoLab, part one

Back in Los Angeles after two incredible weeks away.

I'll start from the end of the trip and work my way backwards from there.

Sunol, California. CoLab 2012. Maddie (Hart & Sol West), Emily (Emily Takes Photos) and Jonas Seaman (like a sailor) hosted a handful of photographers at various stages in our careers at Maddie's real, live pony farm. (Ok, it's not hers per say, but she lives on it, and it's bananas).

I flew from New York to LA on Sunday, hopped in my car at 5pm and spent the next seven hours driving up to Fremont.

We spent the first day talking about building a photography business, about art and resistance, about discovering and cultivating the soul of a creative small business. We also photographed an adorable couple whose love for each other had its own presence - cast a warm, safe shadow around them as they experienced the absurdity that is posing for 10 photographers. While three of them are trying to teach the others tips & tricks. On a pony farm.

One of my dearest friends is getting married in 11 days (Holy F!). We've been friends for almost four years now - we worked side by side for two of those years, and have since made time for Friday dinners, fancy breakfasts, morning hikes, and one ill-fated landscaping attempt. One of my favorite memories from our friendship so far comes from one of the most traumatic nights of my romantic life. She picked me up and drove me to the top of Los Angeles, where we looked down on the lights of the city, knowing I would be more at peace if we had a view. She let me cry, she let me make large, sweeping proclamations that I would soon after contradict. She made me laugh. And when I had enough of the crying and enough of the view, she took me for frozen yogurt. A Perfect Friend.

Next week, I'll fly to New York and drive to Boston to watch her get hitched to the man of her dreams. I can't wait.

Instantly

So I did it. I ditched my blackberry. It changed my life. Not only am I loving Siri (as a former assistant I so appreciate her hard work, and try to be very patient even when we have a hard time communicating), but it allows me to flex my creative muscles so much more often than I have been lately.

the weekend (feb 26 & 27), f. Parallel Print Shop

in june, my friends Karintha & Double are getting married on a beautiful ranch in annapolis, california - i'll be doing the day-of coordination. i flew up to marin county at the end of februray to plan, brainstorm and visit the ranch with them. the sick logistics lover in me had a blast pinpointing exactly what details need to be fretted over now (and which should be fretted over later), and that sick logistics lover in me is actually looking forward to doing all the fretting on KT & Double's behalf. 

the highlight of the weekend for me (as paper/design nerd and someone who admires artists who create a business around their passions) was meeting Monika & Nate and visiting their letterpress studio. this husband-wife team is hilarious, talented and generous - a one-two-three punch that moves them pretty quickly up the list of People I Dig. i dig them, deeply. 

Parallel Print Shop is committed to using the most earth-friendly materials and practices in their studio. i loved learning about their rescued inks - every single canister on this shelf was rescued from a closed studio that was planning to throw them away.

Nate demonstrated how both of their printing presses work - watching him man the Heidelberg felt like traveling through time.

Parallel Print Shop is planning to team up with Nicely Noted - a subscription service that Monika's college friend dreamed up. it's brilliant - subscribe to Nicely Noted and you'll receive three gorgeous, handmade cards each month, carefully curated by Austin-based Perry Nelson. i got my first three cards last week. so thrilled to see what's next! (if you want to subscribe, use invitation code PARALLEL).

the moments

i'm in school right now for photography. my goal is to be shooting weddings by june 2013. there are a lot of reasons why i'm drawn to photography, and to weddings, to photo-journalism. for me, it's about my love for story-telling, for true love (romantic & familial), for beauty and for pain, and ultimately, my love for honesty and reality.

i just stumbled across moment junkie, a blog dedicated to the little Life moments in between the big Wedding moments. this is why.

image by brett maxwell, via momentjunkie

 

image by chenin boutwell, via moment junkie

painfully adorable

had an epic girls night last night, starring tasty veg lasagna, magnolia bakery's banana pudding, and woolbuddies. they slay me. 

 l-r: baaron, smelli, smirky & happy. not pictured: madge, the hottest geriatric crocodile in town.

 wendy wins! first to finish.

 masterpieces.

a million bucks

i had a long night at work, but kicked the day off with a badass hang with my friend Hannah. Hannah's the most amazing stylist - i never, ever, ever, liked a thing about my hair until i was introduced to her. she's pint-sized perfection; hip, gorgeous and full of inspiration. i knew when i emailed her last week, "i'm coming in on Friday, i think i want to chop my hair off.. i don't know..", that she'd know exactly what to do with me and my vague desires. i couldn't have imagined it would feel so good.

if you find yourself in LA or Nashville, Hannah works out of Serge Normant and Parlour & Juke (which looks like the coolest place ever.. barber shop/salon/music venue? yes please! can't wait to visit).

pimpin' things

i have a few minor "grown up" projects on my slate. my brand new bedroom is waiting patiently for a hanging swing shelf lined with airplants. my brand new patio is looking forward to a wild flower garden and some string lights (and then friends, and wine, and dinner parties). the wall behind our tv in the living needs some spackling and painting (no fun).

and my camera is about to get a big girl bag and this gorgeous, sailor's knot inspired strap.

  

a monday

with school starting and my role at work evolving, a morning off has turned into A Rare Thing. 

  

  
breakfast at milo + olive, with girls from home and one of their roommates.

 

  

the venice canals.

in love & ombre

yesterday was full of good friends, great food, and so much god damn love. highlights include the macarons at bottega louie, a steve urkel sighting, and a bromantic dinner with two great girls at vito's. the lowlight of the day was missing the wonderful wendy wang's performance at the mint. her music is heart-breakingly beautiful.


playlist: things fall apart by the sweet hurt.

the world, below

 

 from august to december 2007, i worked on the mv explorer. along with 195 other crew members and 690 passengers, i circumnavigated the globe. i spent time in vietnam (my favorite), istanbul, egypt, croatia and more. i spent a lot of time by myself, trying to figure out what it meant - to be just out of college, moments away from moving across the country and entering "the real world", yet stuck on this moving, living, breathing ship of possibilities. of wonder. of adventure.

now, i live in los angeles, one block from the beach. not such a bad trade.  i'm still trying to figure "everything" out. i think that's what life is for. i'm still searching for all the possibilities. all the wonder. the adventure.

if you want to read about my travels, i'd start at the beginning. four and a half years ago.