into the mineral forest

pamela love

2011-12-11T13:26:00.000-05:00

the spike cuff reinvented. by pamela love

thanksgiving hangover

2011-11-28T15:30:00.000-05:00

phew! november has been almost a blur, mainly because it was spent for the most part in california running around between orange county and l.a. doing an art show, celebrating 11-11-11 and the aquarian age, celebrating birthdays galore and of course thanksgiving. no matter how much time i have back at home with family and friends, it never seems like there is enough time to just sit back, relax and enjoy the sunshine. we're either on hyper-speed doing things and seeing people, or we are recovering from all of the above. nonetheless, it was heart-warming to spend this time of year with loved ones and kicking it all off with an intense tour-de-force at the 11-11-11 show has re-invigorated my inspiration and i'm thinking up all new visions for mineral forest.

we came home to tons of fallen leaves and rain last night and the cozy feeling that we are back in our little cocoon. but a whole new adventure is upon us: we bought a house and are moving this weekend so there is plenty to do between now and the holidays in time for our family to arrive!

the 11-11-11 portal

2011-10-22T18:07:00.001-04:00

mineral forest exhibiting on 11-11-11 in glendale, ca!!! hope to see you there.

afghan style

2011-10-05T14:27:00.001-04:00

a couple weeks ago, i was thinking about the days when i attempted to get into knitting - almost a decade ago actually. jeez, time flies. there was a really cool knit cafe on melrose blvd that has sadly since closed, but i got totally into it and started a baby blanket project for the first friend of mine having a baby. i never finished the project, but i am not giving up. there are more babies to be had, hopefully one of my own one of these days! and as the universe has a way of telling you things, just after i walked down memory lane, i opened up my email to find a message from my cousin about her new blog. i am so excited for her and can't wait to get my hands on some of this stuff. this afghan is uhhhh-mazing. and she managed to include all of my favorite colors. big-time score simi!!!

so now let's get down to business. liz, you WIN the carnelian mineral specimen!!! it was so hard for me to wait the week out when there was a winner practically right away, as i did say it would end tonight, but that was my fault for not realizing that there could be a winner immediately and waiting so long could prove to be a buzz kill. nevertheless, THANK YOU to you all for participating. i wish i could send you all carnelian treats. but stay tuned for more giveaways to come! this was fun and i hope you enjoyed the anticipation as much as i did.

season for giving

2011-09-28T13:39:00.001-04:00

because it's finally fall and so much to be thankful for and because it feels good to win and also to give, i'm excited to announce that i have a special giveaway treat lined up for y'all! the colors are starting to get deeper, warmer; trees are shedding their leaves whose dance down to the earth is so dainty and gracious; nights are cooling; birthday season for family and many friends is always happy; and the best festivities halloween and thanksgiving are around the corner. what could be a better way to celebrate this transition than a good ole' shopping spree? i encountered one of those "must get to the mall asap" moments last week while in CA when the weather severely changed for a couple days (perhaps it also had to do with the fact i was in the desert in 100 degree weather the days prior and i was under-prepared in the wardrobe department). all i needed was one pair of pants, but what a delight when i made a selection of these awesome colors and entered the dressing room to find a line-up that was out of a fashion mag: aubergine, caramel corduroy, burnt orange and currant.

to the first person who can guess which pair i did NOT buy, a beautiful carnelian mineral specimen will be awarded.

associated with the sun, carnelian is a chalcedony. it physically purifies and cleanses the blood and encourages the formation of new blood cells, stimulates creativity and organization and protects against negative thoughts and energies. 2" tall and 1 1/2 " base, this little pyramid fits snugly in the palm and is a great nightstand or desk piece. leave a comment here with your answer for a chance to win! from left to right in the picture of the pants, the colors are aubergine, caramel, burnt orange and currant. the contest will end wednesday, october 5th at 9pm est. regardless, may the warmth of the season unfold for you in the most delightful of ways, happy fall!

tree fashion

2011-09-08T12:14:00.000-04:00

fall is almost here: the temperature dropped from the high 90's to the low 70's and even the trees are ready for it to cool down! spotted earlier this morning on the boulevard.

food poetry

2011-09-02T20:01:00.053-04:00

i am on hyper-overdrive reeling with excitement about food in the blog and online magazine world lately. some truly innovative ways of presenting food as art have been spawning and i want to share because they are so delicious and delectable. not only are they about food, but food in the context of entertaining and lifestyle. pure love.

kinfolk is an online magazine that at first glance is abstract and so dreamy. what concept are they really trying to sell? it is a state of mind. gathering, sharing, imbibing, inspiring. this clip is a new way to recipe:

ribboned asparagus salad from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

roost evokes editorial style genius when it comes to the simple pleasures in life:

spoon fork bacon is a riot of a blog. the eye candy is amazing, the recipe ideas are fun and the script is cheeky. bravo!

new finds in the neighborhood

2011-08-19T17:26:00.001-04:00

designer's bliss is surrounding me. within just a few short blocks of the loft, some of the area's most talented architects, designers, artists and style mavens extraordinaire are conjuring up amazing eye candy. i could feel it in my bones that pulaski heights and the boulevard district have hidden treasure, but after digging around a bit, it turns out that these gems are not so secret.

architects and designers to die for:
lori burk

d.o.c. unlimited

robert segrest

diggin' the artists:
mary engel

carol john

stan mullins

curiosities galore:
montgomery rag

canning love

2011-08-11T13:32:00.000-04:00

two days away from can-it-forward day - celebrate with canning across america this saturday the 13th and get your jammin' and pickling on! i have a recent new-found love for bon appetit magazine and found saving the season in this month's issue. weck jars are on the way and georgia peaches are in the fridge awaiting....

sign of the times

2011-08-08T13:24:00.000-04:00

words from my teacher and my teacher's teacher...

national treasure

2011-08-05T17:54:00.000-04:00

trip out on this superman-like cave found deep beneath mexican soil in naica. gypsum + water from hot springs = selenite. the cave's chambers are so huge, a car can drive through! these formations are so unique, scientists are petitioning the mexican government to claim unesco world heritage status to protect them for future generations.

mr. farmer

2011-07-19T16:22:00.000-04:00

i don't know if it is because the season is reaching its peak when all of the most gorgeously vibrant and luscious veggies and fruits are out on the market, if i just happened to catch the buzz around that is bringing this topic to light in the form of numerous documentaries, if i just started reading the book homegrown yesterday for the first time since my move from l.a. that i got from the author's little green grocer in echo park or if i stumbled upon some great blogs last week like small measure or the road to the farm but whatever the source maybe, i have caught the farming bug, it's official!

tonight at our favorite movie theater, a film about small farmers in america is being screened as part of the taste your place week here in athens. when i saw the trailer for farmageddon, it sparked my memory bank that there was something else i had to research - it was about young farmers that are sprouting up all over the country - i had seen something about this topic in an article i read a couple months ago, but couldn't remember where. after a simple google search, i ended up finding not only the documentary i had in mind, but also another film on the same topic. wow - how super inspiring!

it may just be a trend that is sweeping the nation, which i think is fantastic, it could also be that i find myself in the middle of the american heartland, surrounded by people that love what nature provides us by way of nourishment and comfort and are constantly innovating and coming up with inspiring ways to bring people together and share. whatever it is, i am loving it and want to end on the happy note that my sweet husband left me on while sharing my finds with him...

crystallizing

2011-07-13T17:02:00.000-04:00

bjork is doing it again....

"crystals grow like plants"

"listen how they glow"

"listen how they grow"

jammin' on the one

2011-04-28T16:19:00.000-04:00

every so often, something of the outer realms of the pure genius-sort captures my fancy and i wish so badly that i could be "that person" that came up with the idea. this one so happens to be in the food category, one of my all time favorites: jam. for a few years now, my mantra has been to get whisked away to farmland to have a family and bake pies and/or make jam all day. i am serious. but sometimes i am so inspired by my very dream when i come across something that is sheer perfection, that i almost have to give up on in because how can i ever make anything remotely comparable or try to compete? i know, this is a bit of a defeatist attitude, but you will see what i mean...

one of my all time favorite spots to pop in while on my daily route between the office in los feliz and echo park, was the cheese store of silver lake. great sandwiches. yes, the cheeses are fantastic, but what made those sandwiches come to life was the jam. jam on a ham sandwich? hell yeah. and this is how i came to discover the all-time best jam in the world by welovejam. even the name is perfect. not only was it jammin' on the sandwich i ate, it was apricot jam which is my favorite. and, it is of the blenheim varietal which is going extinct, so it is extra special. i immediately purchased a jar of the apricot jam and one of the fukushu kumquat marmalade. a couple weeks later, back to the cheese store for more. this time, plum jam! but which kind? elephant heart or mariposa? my head was spinning. ever since, i have been addicted, as is apparently everyone else that has tasted this wonder of a product. last week while back in los angeles, i did my ritual stop over in silver lake to pick up some essentials and the cheese store was on the top of my list for jam. to my heart's content, there was a new one to be discovered: montmorency cherry and blenheim apricot.

what i really can't believe is that it took me one year to look up the welovejam website. i knew whomever was behind this delectable product had to be cool, but when you read their website, you really get a sense of who they are and how they are 150% behind the cause: to make the most amazing jam ever. they dedicate their heart and soul to producing the highest quality and for that, i am grateful and rest assured that whenever i am inspired to get into the kitchen, i too will come up with a stroke of genius that will put a big smile on the faces of those around me, if only in a simple meal :)

a helping hand

2011-03-30T17:53:00.003-04:00

i have been meditating on how i can help out japan. for some reason, this time around, i did not rush to make a donation to unicef or the red cross like the other times mother nature stomped her foot down and shook the earth in places like haiti and sent mad tsunamis to sri lanka and thailand. every little bit counts, not matter how it is given, and although japan of all places holds a special place in my heart, i felt stuck and wanted to make my donation a little more focused and specific. i knew that the right moment would surface so i decided to go about my business and focus on myself and the answer would come - patience pays.

this afternoon, while jumping around in my inbox a bit, i came across an email from materials and applications and decided to open it and see what the upcoming fund raising event for japan was all about: heartbeat drawing. i was so bummed that i am not los angeles that weekend to be able to attend, but the answer finally came to me: the fund raiser is a benefit for architecture for humanity in japan. bingo! this is where i knew i had to donate. i immediately followed the link to their website and not only do i think that the cause is a most noble one - actually aiding in reBUILDING the city of sendai, i was also greatly moved when i found another worldwide effort has been launched by students: paper cranes for japan.

it amazes and humbles me to see how many people around the world, starting from my circle of friends and their businesses, to other small business owners on a global scale, as well as non-profits and corporations alike, are helping out however they can and donating some or all of the proceeds from product sales or services. we need to remember that even as an individual, our help counts too. so if you haven't found your favorite way to give a helping hand yet, hopefully you will be as inspired as i am to help rebuild japan!

be careful what you wish for

2011-03-25T15:47:00.000-04:00

in light of the new season that is upon us, i, like the blooming buds on tree-lined streets that surround, am emerging from transition. i now live in athens, georgia. it's official! and i am proud. when i first got swept up in love and realized the impending challenge that was ahead of me - getting very involved in a romance that was headed south, the deep south that is, i was a bit skeptical, i have to admit. although i now know to trust in the universe more than ever, and all it brings, i still never in a million years envisioned myself living in georgia. what the hell? i had total faith in the man behind the plan, but there was still some undefinable irking inside - my whole life is in so cal - and after all the years of travel and adventuring off into the unknown, for some reason, it was unsettling to think that now that i got my cake, i have to move to the other side of the country to eat it, even though both of our families and many friends are in the greater l.a. area., and start a whole new life there. oh woes me!

so i packed up everything (almost) and stuffed it into a 6x7x8 cube and off it went, my car having left days prior on a massive enclosed 18-wheeler. miraculously, all made it, mostly unscathed, and i am all the better because of it. my mind skips back to the frame of a tai chi posture: "change is difficult", and the voice of master zi rings in my ear, explaining the challenge of leaving the old behind and shifting our weight to what is new. and then i remember all of the times when i would wish to run off and get married, move to a farm (of the glamorous sonoma sort), leaving the often hectic or humdrum and sometimes risqué l.a. lifestyle behind to have babies and make pie and jam. so far, i seem to be right on schedule, only i landed in this most quirky concoction of southern hospitality meets college frat/sorority house culture and pub-lined streets, with the roots of the beginnings of alternative music and deep mountain hippie food coops and a damn good restaurant and sustainable agriculture scene to boot.

i now believe more than ever in the power of words and how when you direct your intentions and put energy behind them, the world is your oyster and magic really does exist - we are truly the creators of our reality. just believe.

not on a dime

2011-02-11T00:37:00.000-05:00

lichen covered granite egg by blackman cruz

smoke chair by moooi!!!!!!

ghost busting by philippe starck at kartell

dutesco art

2011-02-02T03:29:00.000-05:00

roberto dutesco

gorgeousness

2011-01-28T02:19:00.000-05:00

when the beauty is so perfect, it hurts
via the vamoose

why i must make it to iceland

where i want to sink into ecstatic bliss
via canvas

looking forward

2011-01-12T02:29:00.000-05:00

happy 2011. on this day of double elevens, we are being super charged for elevation. up, up and away, i say! last year whizzed by in the blink of an eye and i can't even recall properly documenting what i accomplished in this here blog. yes, i was preoccupied with falling in love, not a bad excuse, but i by no means want to neglect the part of me which is blossoming into a new being and that means backtracking a bit. as they say, tell me about your past and i will tell you your future...

so last year, i finally finished the coffee table i had set out to create using a trunk from indonesia and my parents ended up buying it for their family room. it could not be more perfect for the room:

and let's not forget about morris, my bonsai tree project, compliments of my friend tyler:

with my spirit totem cat dubbed morrisette:

the echo park cottage:

the family picture wall was finally brought to life:

this year has so many thrilling and utmost highly anticipated events i can hardly contain myself. travel, moving across country, marriage, the unknown and beyond. with last year's events in my back pocket, i predict more creations and designs of the delicious and edgy sort, discovering gardening and landscaping, more portraits to add to the family wall, and then some.

here are some bits of amazingness that i am bubbling over with excitement about discovering :

austin: hotel saint cecilia

paris: le bellechasse

east hampton: c/o the maidstone

baxter

blackman cruz

cheers to a new year and renewed life!

love song

2010-12-15T03:21:00.000-05:00

"are you looking for me? you will not find me in the stupas, nor the shrines, nor in temples or mosques. you will find me in the tiniest house of time
i am the breath inside the breath"

-kabir, 15th century. varanasi

dreaming in blue

2010-12-15T02:46:00.000-05:00

christmas is swiftly approaching and all i can think about is a magical wedding day and registering for the new nest....

the dress

the jewels

the collectibles

salk institute

2010-11-14T01:46:00.004-05:00

the most important architectural landmark in san diego and most beautiful place in la jolla

all glass works by dale chihuly

bejeweled

2010-10-09T19:33:00.000-04:00

if mineral forest designed jewelry (which it should), this is what it would look like. unfortunately for me, but bravo to these amazing designers who are representing the true nature and spirit of gem stones in their raw form and creating awareness about the energetic properties while they're at it!

sonya ooten gem bar in larchmont village is my heaven on earth:

stilbite ring

apophyllite cluster ring

aphrodite aquamarine and multi-chain bracelet

aphrodite rose quartz multi-chain necklace

pave champagne diamond bead with matte black onyx on cord

kindred stones is an up and coming designer on the l.a. scene:

season of miracles

2010-09-23T00:32:00.001-04:00

today is the autumnal equinox. my favorite time of year is upon us again, bye bye summer. but i have to say, I sometimes almost catch myself feeling a little jipped that i never got my fill of hot summer nights and sea breeze days at the beach in sunny california. actually, who cares? despite the fact that the season whizzed by before I could blink and that it was probably the most unseasonably cool summer, i have to say it was a god-sent and i am not complaining by any means. my worst fear having moved to the cottage with all of my stuff stored in the shed was that the 100 degree + days would destroy and melt everything i have in there. so the overcast and cool days we had were actually a miracle.

another miracle was that my sister Joana finally finished her training in Seattle and is now ready to launch into the work force full-fledged and harvest what she has sewn for 17 years. we celebrated together on a trip up to the San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula, totally magical and breathtaking vistas at what seemed like the edge of the universe. and so i got my sunshiny summer days in washington state, go figure.

but the grandest miracle of all this summer was the miracle of LOVE that has entered my life. and this time, it's for good. my prayers have been answered and i am blissfully content knowing that my path is unfolding in all the right ways.

i am bubbling up with excitement for what this fall has in store. the creative juices have been percolating and are soon ready to overflow onto the scene! thank god for miracles and the magic they bring. happy fall.

the yoga of letting go

2010-07-16T15:41:00.000-04:00

life is a miracle. ever since i moved, i have been confronted with nature and its ways head on and it has given me a new perspective, like through the eyes of a child discovering something for the very first time. it is no coincidence that i made my way to summer solstice the week before i moved. honestly, the last thing on my mind was gearing up for a full blown camping expedition in the high desert in new mexico, but naturally, the major lesson that unfolded for me there was the yoga and meditation all week long. and i'm not just talking about sitting on a sheep skin under a huge tent holding mudras and chanting mantras for several hours in a row. i am talking about the meditation of having to weather the elements, get down and dirty pitching a tent, being ok with the dirt and dust constantly blowing into every crevice and crack, carrying all of my toiletries to and from the showers via the porta-potties and keeping everything held in tact, warding off insects and creepy crawlies from the tent at night - to name a few. it literally makes you slow down and feel and experience this earth and what it means to be human.

so i get back from new mexico and the very next day, after not having packed a single thing, moved to my now so-called abode - and i have brought the roughness and toughness of camping with me and it has kept me sane and able to cope with these otherwise unsuitable conditions that i have and continue to undergo. firstly, i now live in a shoe box and my bathroom is a match box. fine. i have down-sized to a third of the space i had before. fine. sent all of my fall/winter apparel and shoes to my parents' until there is need for them. fine. let go of clothes i no longer wear or need. hmmmmmmmm. a little harder. and then came the fleas.... and the spiders. WTF. the previous tenant mentioned the spiders and since i lived in a basement and co-habitated with the daddy-long-legs, i didn't even think twice about it. but when i started seeing red spots on my ankles, then shins and calves, i knew there were critters invading my space and immediately i flashed to the previous tenant's adorable pooch and the random cats in the back of the property and realized there are fleas doing jumping jacks in my pad. not cool. now i commiserate with those little guys, those furry friends of ours that suffer, especially now in the summer heat. and then coming home to gigantic charlotte's webs every night spun across my entrance. WOW. now that is a sight. i just stand there and stare at this miraculous event. how the hell does it get clear across from the tree to the pillar, clearing at least 3 yards of free-fall? ok, i thought it was just one night when i was lucky to have a flashlight and thank god for it because otherwise, i would have walked straight into it's bull's eye. but it is every single night, at approximately 8:45pm to be precise, that these creatures come out to spin their dinner's fate-ridden tomb. who will be the sucker to get entangled next?

not me. i have learned to slow down, observe and reflect back on all of the signs the universe has given me as warnings and to listen to my inner voice telling when to watch out. little did i know that Anastasia, a book i read a few weeks prior, would be my guide book to really getting back in touch with all things natural and god-given. we are a collective breath, all interwoven out of the cosmos, and although the bites suck (pun intended) and having to embrace arachnids was something i hadn't planned on, i get to hear a sweet bird sing her song every day, see butterflies dance and prance around, and look out of my bathroom window to see glorious purple trumpets. when we learn to let go, the universe indeed takes care of us. and that is why a little discomfort at the end of the day makes life the beautiful miracle that it is.

mineral forest makeover

2010-06-11T00:14:00.000-04:00

summer is almost here and the sun's peaking energy is catapulting mineral forest to a new location. goodbye to angelino height's enchanted underground victorian era bachelorette den, hello sunlit decks, mediterranean gardens and craftsman cottage charm in the heart of echo park! outdoor living and nature-inspired design is flowing in the veins:

Jodi Fuchs

Kranen/Gille

Ostrea by Annika Göransson

Dror Peacock Chair

industrial modern meets bohemian chic

2010-04-21T12:31:00.006-04:00

final project a complete success!!!!!

inspirations by:
tom dixon
a long weekend
fieryeyed books
wonderwall
huset

healing himalayan ice quartz

2010-04-20T01:53:00.000-04:00

i knew there was a reason I was particularly drawn to these babies...

Himalayan Nirvana Quartz Pale Pink Ice Point

This unusual icy white quartz wand is a type of interference quartz formation with a powerful, nurturing and protective energy signature known as Nirvana Quartz or Himalayan Ice Quartz, which is new in the world crystal markets. Nirvana Quartz originates high in the Himalayan mountain ranges of northern India. Late in 2006, Nirvana Quartz was discovered in extremely high altitude areas which had formerly been covered in ice 365 days a year. Exploring where glaciers had recently retreated, rockhounds discovered deposits of a unique type of rosy quartz never seen before. Nirvana Quartz appears in wands and in chunks composed of aggregates of irregularly shaped, convuluted smaller crystal formations which have grown into a single larger specimen over millennia of geological time. Himalyan Ice Quartz almost invariably lacks the more common six-sided shaft and well-defined termination tips characteristic of much clear and rose quartz found around the world. Nirvana Ice Quartz is an extreme example of the type of crystal formation known as growth interference quartz. Growth interference crystals are created when calcite or other mineral formations adhere to the crystallizing quartz formation, then disappear over time. This results in the creation of indentations, grooves and other irregularities along the prismatic faces of the quartz crystal. Growth interference crystals are typically used to enhance understanding of blocks we encounter in our quest for emotional, physical, or spiritual growth, and to gently remove these "stuck" energies, representing old and outdated mental conceptions of the world, recurring patterns of negative behavior manifesting in relationships, negative emotional reactions to life conditions , and physical impediments to health and well-being. The growth interference crystal can be used to help remove blockages in the chakra system, facilitating the flow of Kundalini energy throughout the human energy field. Nirvana Ice Quartz tends to heat up quite rapidly in the hand. One notices a strong flow of warmth and a surge of Universal Life Force energy up the arm and into the chest, centering in the heart, and then rushing down the trunk into the lower chakras, providing support, centering and grounding one's being. . Nirvana Ice Quartz is a wonderful stone to hold or place under the pillow when entering dreamtime, and provides a feeling of security, warmth, protection and well-being.

ode to iceland

2010-04-19T00:31:00.001-04:00

beauty...

meets the beast

svenska style

2010-04-19T00:17:00.000-04:00

once upon a story hotel... inspirations from wonderwall

rebirthing

2010-03-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

it's officially Spring. happy Norouz! - Persian New Year. here's to new life! ironically, i have had revelations about this auspicious time of year as i sit at home, buzzing on antibiotics, slowing down the pace of life as i nurse myself back to recovery from being hit by a nasty bug. i've had time to kick back and revel in things i LOVE : reading one of my favorite mags Food & Wine cover to cover and discovering amazing people and things they love doing and doing well (Scribe Winery), meditating on a glorious gift from my friend Jamila which could not be more of a dead-on metaphor for mineral forest - the proper care and nurturing of this little fairy plant requires daily water dips - so true of the attention i need to pay to this little business concept i am trying to get off the ground and sprout up!

and realizing more and more the importance of blessings - of spreading hope and joy and health to all those around us - if even in just the few words "feel better". i could literally feel the vibratory effect of those words as friends, family and even the pharmacist bid me a swift recovery.

so here's to taking time out to smell the flowers,

creating gustatory bliss,

digging color coordination,

and new ventures in enchanted settings.

happy spring.

fabricating light

2010-03-12T01:04:00.000-05:00

project #1: pendant luminaire. components: chord kit & compact fluorescent bulb.

felt four-leaf clover mobile

project #2: table luminaire. components: LEDs & battery circuit.

the mock-up

soldered circuit

glowing gems

tibetan quartz crystals on wood

some classmate projects:

acrylic and color

bolder, brighter

stuffed LEDs

inside out

nylon

flipping out

towards the light

2010-03-12T00:32:00.000-05:00

sounds, smells, the sun, the stillness just before new birth. you can feel it in the air. this weekend we spring forward into daylight savings. i took a long-overdue walk up in Elysian Park this afternoon and wondered why i don't go so often. it's the seasons changing. and i'm in the mood for the outdoors. to top off an already inspiring flirt with nature, i just watched a documentary that was highly recommended to me: Rivers & Tides. downright breathtaking.

hospitality heaven

2010-03-08T20:25:00.000-05:00

someone get me to NYC quick! the Crosby Street Hotel is TOTALLY up my alley.

into the forest

pretty in pink

the great outdoors

lobbying

this is a planet...

...of sound

golden tiger

2010-02-13T21:43:00.000-05:00

happy Chinese new year of the metal tiger! i am so excited yet again for what this year has in store, as i myself am a tiger. passion, courage, strength, speed - all combine to bring radical life changes in this new year. this all sounds extremely seductive and inspiring - and kicked off on none other than valentine's day!!! so step into your power and be bold and brave!

expanding the light

2010-01-25T13:11:00.000-05:00

i have so much to be thankful for this year, and the first month is not even over yet! i just completed my first weekend of KRI Kundalini Yoga Teacher's Training Level 1 with the best teachers ever and am beyond exhilarated with what is about to unfold in my life as i enter this journey of self mastery. i also started taking my first ever industrial design class at the Art Center in Pasadena in lighting design which is beyond cool. i am already stretching my mind in ways that i did not think possible in terms of perceiving light and what can be done with it. mineral forest will develop and grow into something even more beautiful and amazing than i ever could have anticipated with the help and guidance of these classes and inspiring teachers. hooray for light, both inner and outer!!!!

one more inspiration from someone who has totally caught my fancy...

D.A. Trailer from DAVID BLACK on Vimeo.

new light

2010-01-11T18:09:00.000-05:00

new year's day sunset at griffith park was pure magic

2010 - warp speed

2010-01-11T17:46:00.000-05:00

i don't know about you, but for me this year started off with a bang and it feels like i finally reached some sort of cruising altitude after taking off abruptly on january 2nd and being catapulted back into work at light speed.

usually the beginning of the year is a time of contemplation, as well as setting goals and intentions and mapping out short and long term plans. i certainly have not had too much time for reflection, although i have to say that the deeper i get into my spiritual practice , the more it becomes a way of life and cycles and rituals of seasons changing seam to automatically and constantly give rise to new vision, desires and dreams for what is to come.

i came across this letter that my friend jamila shared on facebook and want to proclaim it my credo or manifesto: the 2010 new year letter "sparkling through application"
it is laid out so succinctly and beautifully and captures the essence of where we are headed. so i am spreading it around and hoping it touches your hearts as it has mine and that you take with you love, sparkle and magic throughout the year and have inner peace that new light is upon us!

trees + light + crystals = mineral forest

2010-01-11T17:16:00.000-05:00

i just came across the work of this genius photographer/videographer David Black as he was interested in a magical house i have listed up in the hills of echo park. i was floored to see his style and cinematography matched the mineral forest concept so beautifully in this au revoir simone video...

Au Revoir Simone "All or Nothing" (English Version) from DAVID BLACK on Vimeo.

reinventing the wheel

2009-12-29T00:15:00.000-05:00

it escapes me how time has whizzed by since my return from India, not a single blog entry to be found since and here we are on the dawn of 2010, only a few days left to go....

through the highs and lows of wonderment in the Himalayas and the Golden Temple and being down for most of the season as a result, it seems like i have finally found a renewed vigor and am AMPED for this new year to be rung in!

in a nutshell, what i got from my voyage to the other side of the planet, is that less is more, quality always over quantity and there is always something new to be found in the tried and true.

most recently, i just returned from a most sacred Christmas of laying real low in Seattle with my family at my sister's apartment overlooking Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier in glorious sunshine and 40 degree weather - so much to have been thankful for, even though i got slammed with a nasty cold/allergy attack. it was a blessing in disguise as i loved every minute of pajama and tea time, reading Spontaneous Evolution by Bruce Lipton and being with my family and eating none other than my Mom's famous stuffed cabbage rolls, polenta and salata de boeuf, sans boeuf, Romanian-stylie.

so far, we have this tradition every Christmas and no matter where we are in the world, my Mom brings the goods with. i wonder how i will ever take over this culinary extravaganza one day when my Mom won't be around to make the magic happen. and that is why i have come to the conclusion that "making it your own" is just as beautiful as keeping to the strict tradition.

i have already improvised one of the staples in Romanian cuisine - mamaliga cu brinza si smintina - polenta with cottage cheese, feta and sour cream. basic peasant food, really. and add a soft boiled egg and you've got a meal. so homey. in the spirit of comfort food with a twist, i have come up with my own version of this that only takes 10 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to eat!

-Pre-made polenta from Trader Joe's - 2 or 3 1/4 inch slices - sauteed in olive oil in a frying pan until ever so lightly crisp on top and bottom
-steamed lentils from Trader Joe's, just add some red wine vinegar, sea salt or himalayan salt, fresh lemon juice and olive oil and mix in a bowl
-place polenta cakes on top of lentils
-scrambled, fried or sunny side up eggs, whatever your mood on top of polenta
-top with the bomb ingredient: Mediterranean cheese style yogurt from Trader Joe's - this is like magic - the cottage cheese and sour cream taste all in one!

what i love about this reinvention is the lentils. and the kick from the lemon and vinegar is the key to what makes it so great - the traditional preparation is so heavenly fattening and to-die-for tasty, but tends to be really heavy and fatty. the acidic layering on the texture of the lentils cuts the heaviness of this dish and scrambling or frying the eggs is so much quicker than trying to perfectly time soft boiled eggs.

i know 2010 holds unbridled creative potential and i definitely intend to take everything to new levels of exploration, in all realms of creative endeavor!!!

rise of the scorpion

2009-10-21T11:51:00.001-04:00

i know that it is birthday season when the pumpkins start to appear on doorsteps and i start to feel like changing my look. maybe because i was born on halloween or because scorpio is the sign of transformation, ruled by pluto, god of the underworld managing death and rebirth. this season, i landed the deal of the century when i found my alain mikli starck biocity eyeglasses at the bargain basement discount of 75% off! way too cool for school.

since I will be in India for halloween this year and won't get to play with the trick or treaters for my birthday, i got to go to the pumpkin patch with my dear friend and her babies - the cutest ever!

more inspiration has followed as pomegranates outside my window are ripening and I am discovering this mystical fruit it seems for the very first time by actually picking it from the source to opening and wondering what will unfold...

ask and you shall receive

2009-10-21T11:08:00.000-04:00

this morning the lesson in yoga was a reminder that we are all creators of our own reality and that if we know how to ask for what we want, it is really just a matter time before our wish becomes true. i had to smile as i sat with my newly smooth and polished 'do, not worrying at all if i would break a sweat because no matter what, my hair will not get frizzy and will look "just like I stepped out of the salon" for the next 3-4 months.

about a month ago when I last went to get my hair cut, I posted an entry about my fabulous hair dresser and how I wished I never had to leave the salon because I wanted the look to last forever. Well, miraculously, the universe AND my sister heard me. For my birthday present (a little early as I am soon off to big escapades in India for my birthday), my sister arranged a smoothing treatment for my hair with her hair stylist Ani down in the OC at Tease iT Studio. It's called the Brazilian Blowout and it is pure magic. Basically a solution is applied to the hair after it is washed and then it is blown out straight. The secret is then flat ironing the hair as straight as can be to remove any curl, wave or frizz. The hair is rinsed out and then voila! Let it air dry or blow dry naturally without any fuss and the hair will miraculously sit smooth, straight and frizz/curl-free - for 3 to 4 months!!!!! my sister has really thick and wavy hair and this would be perfect for her. She understands the pains of getting a good blow dry. so I almost felt like she should spend the money on herself because i don;t need this nearly as much as she does with her crazy schedule. but i graciously accepted the gift and now when I am off galavanting in India, I needn't worry about not having the perfect hairdryer , or having one at all! thank you for an utterly fantastic birthday treat Joana!!!

mission accomplished

2009-09-21T18:35:00.001-04:00

two years ago, i not only fulfilled my dream to take a woodworking class, but also embarked upon an endeavor that was quite an ambitious undertaking. i decided i was going to build a dining table that was featured in an Elle Decor article, and recreate the kitchen island/bench that was a part of it. at that point in time, we had broken ground on the construction project where said dining table & kitchen island/bench would be housed and projected another 6-8 months until it would be habitable. i figured 3 months for the class to complete the project plus another 3-6 months until the building was ready for the table to be used, no problem! boy, was that a major miscalculation!

here we are, 2 years later, and the table has finally come out from its hibernation in pieces, awaiting final assembly. and boy was it worth the wait. luckily, i had help with this, as being the visionary and perfectionist that i am was not enough to manifest this dream. i was told by contractors that the island/bench could not be done, as well as my parents asking where i would find a table to fit this so-called island bench and me responding with, "i'll make one!" (yeah right!). soon their disbelief was toppled by shear wonder as to how this was actually happening - their daughter and her then boyfriend, driving out to Otis College of Art & Design in El Segundo out from Huntington Beach 2, sometimes 3 times a week - me, an absolute beginner and him, having had some exposure observing as a young child in his grandfather's wood shop - a total recipe for success if i don't say so myself!

not only did we take on the largest project the teacher has ever seen, especially by beginners, but we also made something work that the teacher was not totally sure would! i had the magazine cutout and the will to make it happen no matter what and Conor had the engineering mind (it helps that he is a guy) and good sense of adventure. together we made it work and finally this weekend we put it all together: a 7 1/2 ft. long solid walnut table with stools. tada!!!!!

architect's paradise

2009-09-16T19:46:00.000-04:00

today i had an hour and a half between appointments downtown. i finally made it to the los angeles central library, a work of art unto it's own, to check out the richard neutra exhibit of sketches and drawings. wow. so inspiring. an hour was not enough and i must go back. it made me so happy to see his renderings in pastels, one of my favorite mediums.

i also had my nifty polaroid on me and snapped this amazing chandelier of the globe hanging from a magnificent dome, celestially hovering above as if we were in outer space perceiving the constellations from beyond.

leaving the library, i noticed so many details about the architecture of the grounds and surrounding cityscape. i love my polaroid. and the iphoto editing feature.

hail mar(c)y

2009-09-12T01:38:00.001-04:00

tonight i was reminded yet again how much i love getting my haircut at hairroin salon in hollywood. the haircuts just keep getting sweeter and sweeter. my hairdresser marcy rules. i wish i never had to "step out of the salon" so i could keep the perfection going for eternity. the haircuts are always exactly what i want at the moment and I never have to worry about a thing because marcy knows how to please. but i am especially in love with the latest and greatest and had to capture the moment in the salon boudoire:

striking a pose

so shiny

seeing this makes me smile every time

next time?

which inevitably may lead to...

late summer days

2009-09-08T23:44:00.000-04:00

the overwhelming heat has simmered down (at lease for the moment), labor day has passed and the light crispness of indian summer air is awakening to welcome fall, my favorite time of year.

a few highlights from the last days of summer:

girls gone wild - our san diego getaway! (pre-polaroid days cheating with poladroid)

steaming hot mamas in our hotel room shower

sipping tea at the spa

i actually bought the Polaroid SX-70 SLR Vintage Land Camera i set out to get almost 3 weeks ago and have been getting acquainted with it, especially at my parent's new home, the one we have been laboring over for 6 years!

garden oasis

my friend layla's baby girl came with the full moon on september 4. name yet tbd, although i have a hunch it may have something to do with lily, the moon lily...

sprouting up

2009-09-05T18:56:00.001-04:00

i can't believe i have not been to the silver lake farmers' market yet. today it happened. it could not have been more perfect. on my way home from the office today on labor day weekend, just as i approached the market, i thought to myself, i want to go to the market!" i saw a guy carrying a watermelon on his shoulder and i have been insanely craving watermelon lately and wanted to buy some. magically, a car pulled out from a parking spot on sunset blvd. right in front of me. i had to pull in, there was no excuse!

wandering down the market, the first stand that drew me in was the display of sprouts - all varieties, and i had to check it out. the lady proceeded to tell me all of the different kinds of sprouts she had, but honestly, i was so engrossed in the idea of having finally made it to the market and how it brought back so many memories of being in Healdsburg and being inspired by the daily fresh pickings, i phased out what she was saying. i remembered the mustard greens we used to make sandwiches and salads with. fading back into the present moment, i managed to record a couple of the names - alfalfa, bean, spicy mix - she said they would be great in a salad with tomatoes and I asked if she could prepare a mix for me, thinking of the last bits of butter lettuce i had in the fridge. i love simple salads. the simpler, the better. herbs and lettuce are my favorite. why not sprouts and lettuce?

off i went to venture through the rest of the market and then i saw these cherry heirloom tomatoes that looked divine. remembering the sprout lady's suggestion, i grabbed a bag of the mini tomatoes.

i am so thankful for that inspiration. why don't i do this all the time? the salad was perfection.

-prepare a simple vinaigrette in your favorite bowl large enough for the whole salad:
-red wine vinegar, olive oil, fresh cracked sea salt and the secret ingredient: fresh cracked citrus pepper
-cut cherry heirlooms in halves and toss in bowl
-add mix of sprouts
-tear some butter lettuce leaves into bowl
-toss all together

fashion forward

2009-09-04T02:19:00.001-04:00

i have been meaning to post something about this magnificent store Confederacy in los feliz for some time now. ever since i bought my Vena Cava dress, Opening Ceremony shoes and Whitely Kros jumpsuit, i am totally in love. it just keeps getting better and better as i unravel the inner makings of this fashion world unto its own.

for starters, ilaria urbinati co-founder of confederacy and style maven extraordinaire, is beyond inspiring. secondly, i just came across Vena Cava's blog, by way of ivanhoe books blog and connected the dots that i have one of their designs, purchased in Confederacy! but my heart skipped a beat and my jaw dropped when i came across this on Vena Cava's blog - utterly mineral forest! the crystalarium collection

diamonds in the rough

2009-09-04T00:19:00.000-04:00

echo park may still be a little rough around the edges, but when it comes to fashion and design, step aside. the new kids on the block are going to blow your mind (i know they have mine!)

ladyboy (6 years in the hood) is the perfect example. just visiting the website alone makes me smile, but if you ever catch yourself on Echo Park Avenue, you must stop into Megan & Robbie's world - the dynamic duo owners have captured everything rad about the 80's when it comes to foot ware. I can't wait to buy my own pair, or two!

i have not yet been to mohawk general store and i know i will beat myself up about it forever when i finally do manage to make it because i know in my heart of hearts that this place will rock my world. the shoe collection alone is reason enough to shop here. but the rest of it is equally amazing and i think the blog is pretty awesome as well.

design therapy

2009-09-03T22:12:00.000-04:00

there's nothing like stepping into the quintessential design boutique. i feel like i grow wings and take flight as every corner has it's own unique feng shui. everything is perfectly placed and it all flows. i am in heaven. nothing can go wrong when i meander through the mock living spaces and treasure all of the accessories, the way they are arranged. it brings me back to my childhood, when all i would love to do was play "store" with my sister. we would set up shop, so to speak, and our bedrooms would be the the playground, the boutique, if you will. anything was up for grabs and we would barter. it was the exchange of stuffed animals for little trinkets, books, even furniture pieces. I couldn't wait to play store. the anticipation elated me. i would arrange my book case as if it were a display cabinet in a chic designer boutique. i would dust and place everything just so, as if i were the proud proprietor of this imaginary storefront.

i found one of these enchanted kingdoms on my trip to Seattle, in Ballard, my favorite neighborhood. it's a family run business with a fantastic selection of modern vintage and recycled furnishings and home accessories.

Collective
5339 Ballard Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 782-1900

i've always fantasized about living in Silver Lake, in a mid-century modern home nestled up in the hills just off Silver Lake Blvd. and within walking distance of the reservoire. since the early years when i first discovered this alluring neighborhood (back in college!), i knew there was something to this place, and sure enough, it has blown up in terms of trendiness and is now officially on the map of advante-garde design. funky and ultra cool retail stores have then since sprouted up and i am speechless as i am discovering these gems one by one.

last week it was Yolk - "free range design" is their slogan. i absolutely fell in love. i immediately went into "nesting mode" as i dreamed of wedding and baby shower registries. everything is darling, adorable, and just plain rocks. leave it to those swedes to know how to do it up!

but when it comes to serious design, of the not so "within reach" kind, (ie. for the serious connoisseur and serious pocketbook), there is lawson-fenning. this one caught my eye two-fold: i had seen the storefront on my way back to the car from Yolk last week and saw books - really neat and groovy books, of the coffee table sort. i mentally filed it in my "places to go" but didn't realize how urgently i needed to make a visit to this place until today when after stopping in Yolk to buy a wedding present (thank you Jamila & Patrick for a reason to shop there!!!) I noticed the words "lawson-fenning" stenciled on the window. this rang a bell and like a dog zeroing in on just the right spot to mark it's territory, i marched straight in and was entranced from the very moment i entered. (cue angels singing accompanied by harp) not only is this the most orgasmic design boutique I've been into in a while, there is a killer bookstore in the back to boot: ivanhoe books : art and design. pure bliss.

and the lawson-fenning website has several links to equally glorious and like-minded designers and artists like this one: atwater pottery. i think i was a potter in a past life, because something inexplicable happens to me when I see this work.

portland inspiration

2009-08-29T01:07:00.000-04:00

here's the run down of the highlights:

*Stumptown Coffee (OMG)

*the Southeast Clinton neighborhood:

*Limbo Inc. (wall of herbs)

*Press Club Cafe (lunch - prosciutto, egg and brie croissandwich)

*Broder Cafe (breakfast - aebelskiver!)

*Savoy Tavern & Bistro (dinner) - same owner as Cafe Broder

*Detour Cafe (brunch - cardamom french toast!)

*the Pearl District (Downtown)

*Ace Hotel (lobby hang out)

*Clyde Common (Ace Hotel restaurant - lunch!)

must do on my next trip:

*Selby (antique district)

*Living Room Lounge Cinema (have your cocktail or coffee in the theater tableside)

*Stay at the Ace Hotel

great finds:

*Eat Shop Guides (awesomely presented little books on the most important information one needs to know when traveling: food and shopping!)

polaroid mania

2009-08-21T14:41:00.000-04:00

more pics from my walk in Portland! finally, I figured out how to use this super rad polaroid image maker and I am obsessed (thanks again Jamila for your awesome tips)! not to mention that I am about to venture off to Downey (where I was born), to pick up a Vintage 1974 (year I was born!) Polaroid SX-70 SLR, the same model that Jenifer Altman uses to create her dreamy shots. for now, here are simulated versions. once I learn how to use the real deal, I'll get down to business...

in limbo

2009-08-20T21:15:00.000-04:00

my first moments in Portland were incredible, starting with the amazing lunch I had at the Press Club Cafe - a simple croissant that was way too perfectly flaky and golden and crispy on the outside and pure buttery goodness on the inside, with a perfectly fried egg, prosciutto di parma and brie. who would've thought brie with that combo would work? it did, and it was heavenly. the egg yolk was just runny enough to make you want to die and go to heaven and the whole sandwich held together magically. i love breakfast sandwiches, any time of day. this one must be one of the best I've EVER had. plus, the ambiance, selection of magazines to chose from and the beats were sublime. it's located at 2621 SE Clinton St., fyi.

the next adventure was to the "wall of herbs' at a place called Limbo. but first, the walk there was enough to hold me in limbo - I was transported to another plane as I walked the neighborhood streets and stopped at almost every house to be completely enchanted by the landscaping, the color schemes, the wind chimes. it was pure bliss. every moment was perfect. I was completely mesmerized.

the park on the way. you could see and feel the trees breathing. splendid.

kissing cars

flower power

feng shui

color theory

herbal heaven

land of portals

2009-08-19T11:47:00.000-04:00

I got back a little over a week ago from my journey to the Pacific Northwest and it has taken me this long to process what I saw, felt, and lived. So much was compressed into a few days in sensory stimulation that I need to break up my experiences into different topics with so many photos to share! It seems as though the theme of the trip was stepping through portals, and what a better place to start than "Portland"....

morning inspiration

2009-07-30T15:09:00.000-04:00

I just found this awesomeness while looking up the store hours of Reform School- a super cute craft & design boutique in Silver Lake: Year of Mornings 3191 miles apart. It has tickled me pink for a few reasons. For one, I was just recently inspired to do a photo series on my morning walk to yoga, as well as of random things in my great studio. Then, it's a collaboration of two women that are from Portland! One is from Portland, Oregon and the other is in Portland, Maine. What are the odds? I am beyond excited for my upcoming vacation to the Northwest and I have never been to Portland. Mostly, I am excited about this concept because despite their distance (3191 miles apart), they seem to be in sync on any given day with the subject matter they are inspired to shoot. I LOVE it. And I can't wait to buy this book immediately, as well as register for Photography 101 at the Art Center and buy my new camera.

prosperity

2009-07-30T12:05:00.000-04:00

alchemy union

Infinite 8

The number eight turned to one side is the symbol for infinity. There are also eight limbs of yoga, which are practical guides from Patanjali (a saint who is considered the father of yoga), to a person’s personal development to achieve the harmony of the mind, body and spirit. The number 8 is also considered a very lucky number for prosperity and everlasting abundance. The beginning is the end and the end is the beginning.

Peacock

Peacocks are revered around the world as a symbol of wisdom, love and luck. The Tibetans consider the peacock to have alchemical powers due to its ability to literally eat and be nourished by poisonous plants. Because of this the peacock is a powerful symbol to help us transform the poison in our lives into something beautiful.

Lotus flower

The Lotus flower symbolizes divinity, fertility, wealth, knowledge and enlightenment. The Lotus is also associated with the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, who brings prosperity, purity and generosity. The Lotus flower grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty. Om Mani Padme Hum, meaning, “Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus” is the sacred mantra of the Tibetans..

Lady Bug

Ladybugs, or Ladybirds as they are also known, are best known as emblems of luck and overall good omens. They are considered symbols of protection in Ireland as well as a harbinger of true love. It is said when a Ladybug lands on you, that your wish will come true.

White Elephant

White elephants are revered symbols of power, prosperity and good fortune.

A white elephant also appears as a guardian of temples and of the Buddha. The white elephant is also considered to belong to the Hindu god Indra. He leads the Devas (the gods who form and maintain Heaven) and the elements such as fire and water.

Horseshoes

The horseshoe invokes the crescent moon, the sacred shape of the moon goddesses Artemis and Diana and so invites their protection. The Moon is a female shape for receiving blessings. It is a fertility sign (for the wealth of your wallet!). The seven nail holes in a horseshoe invoke the traditionally lucky number 7. The Horseshoe is also positioned facing up the gather the luck from the heavens.

Evil Eye

This nazar or “evil eye” is a powerful symbol of protection common in Turkey. It offers the power to shield the wearer from negativity by stopping and reflecting the energy back to the source.

Dragonfly

Native American’s believe that dragonflies are a symbol of renewal after a time of great hardship. They are a sign of prosperity. In Japan dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness. The dragonfly symbolizes change ..They are fantastic flyers, streaming light, turning and changing direction always heading somewhere better.. Their colors are a result of reflecting and refracting the power of light. Dragonflies are reminders that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways. How we see the world is a reflection of how we think. Shine your light in all the corners you encounter for life illumination.

music of the spheres

2009-07-29T12:03:00.000-04:00

I am so excited- coming back from yoga this morning, I had a feeling I should check the mailbox. I ordered a demo CD last week from Music of the Spheres, Inc., "the Stradivarius of Windchimes" and sure enough, there it was in a beautiful glossy black CD cover envelope. I want to add chimes to the blog so that one can drift off further into the ether as one steps into the mineral forest. Hooray!

sesame seeds & coffee

2009-07-29T11:36:00.000-04:00

today is day 38 of my 40 day Kundalini Yoga bootcamp and meditation. I only slept 4 hours. I am proud of myself that I have come this far and was able to get out of bed and go to the Rec Center for class. but the last days are the most challenging and it's where it counts the most. I have done a 40 day meditation before and there is always something that surfaces to challenge your commitment. I succeffully completed 40 days last year in September-October and even managed to stay committed during a trip up to San Francisco and Sonoma to get my Balinese wood.

this time it's different. I am waking up monday-friday at 6 am to go somewhere and practice. and I continue on the weekend on my own. the challenge of getting out of bed no matter what time it is has always been my weakness. I love sleep. dreaming is my world. but since I have stayed focused on my mission to complete these 40 days strong, I have found that my days are turning into a dreamland playground and life is magical all around.

I treated myself to comfort food Silverlake Coffee Co.- style after class this morning: a perfectly toasted sesame seed Brooklyn Bagel with egg and cheese and a mocha. i'm finally getting used the the idea that it's ok to indulge in life's little pleasures, even after a cleansing yoga class. it's overcast outside and the moisture in the air is cooling. but in my world today, the energy and light that I have been cultivating is carrying me through, along with a little caffeine buzz and yummy goodness to boot. "may the long time sun shine upon you, all the love surround you and the pure light within you, guide your way on."

local art

2009-07-24T11:55:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning earlier to walk to yoga - finally I did it! I got to walk by the lake, hear the ducks quacking, see them take flight in a group over the glassy water. It was 6 am and there was activity all around. It took me the whole 15 minute walk to adjust and become present. All of the sights and sounds were sensory stimulation overload. I needed to focus on each step and make sure I was not going to step in a surprise left from Fido on the walkway. Through my yoga and tai chi practice, I am learning that there is always magic around the corner when you least expect it because you "show up" - even when it's most difficult. This morning was not particulalry hard to get up at 5:45 am, as opposed to the other day when I ambitiously set my alarm for 5:30 and it felt like a weight was dragging me back into deep sleep. But the surprise was there waiting for me anyway when I approached the Rec Center.

There are murals everywhere in Echo Park. Grafitti as well. The colors are especially bold and bright, paying homage to the local Latino heritage. On a brick wall of a buidling just west of the Rec Center, radiating blue and purple and gold, was Shiva with her swirling hands opening and welcoming me to my morning meditation. I wish I had my camera. And, I wish I would have listened to the voice this morning telling me to put the camera in my bag as I reloaded the battery from charging overnight. But ego stepped in and said, "I don't need the camera for anything, I'm just going to yoga." It's always that nudge that tells you what you need to know in order to be prepared. But I didn't listen.

It's ok. I am waking up. I am taking the step. Now I know. Always be prepared. And as I walked home, I happened upon so many other inspired would-be photos and then that is when I decided that my next endeavor will be a photography class. And I will treat myself to a good camera. It's time.

summer scents

2009-07-23T00:28:00.000-04:00

anyone who has been in my boudoir will attest to how much I am a sucker for fragrances. It's definitely a personal style and especially a seasonally inspired fetish. this summer, I am addicted to:

* this beautifully packaged dual roll-on perfume oil by Sage: Garnet & Amethyst. How perfectly mineral forest! I actually bought this in San Francisco about 5 years ago and it has always been eye-candy in my collection, however I haven't completely fallen in love with it until just a couple weeks ago when I broke it out for the first time this season. it's one month into summer and the heat is on. these perfume oils are highly concentrated and you only need a little to go a long way. they are sensual and natural and the fragrance adjusts to your skin as different layers and notes surface throughout the day. it is simply a delight.

"a sensual floral with Moroccan Red Rose and Blackberry layered with sweet Lilac, Gardenia and African Violet."

* Premier Figuier by L'Artisan Parfumeur. If you want a fancy French perfume but without it being heavy, overwhelmingly potent and alcohol based, this is the line for you. Natural fragrances is what this line is all about, yet totally luxurious at the same time. Over the years, I have moved away from classic French perfumes and have grown totally obsessed with the more natural and essential oil based fragrances, mainly because I have developed allergies at different times of the year for some odd reason, or even maybe just depending on my mood, but for whatever reason, they are too overpowering and tend to make me almost nauseous.

scent family: under the fig tree

"Green like its sweet-smelling leaves, milky like the sap of the tree, fruity like the soft flesh of the fig; woody like its branches and trunk…It is unique as it conjures up an image of the entire tree. As surprising as a first kiss, as caressing as shadows on a bright, sunny day, Premier Figuier has captured, in its bottle, a whole host of summer memories… exactly under the fig tree!"

* Bulgari's Eau Parfumee Au The Blanc (White Tea) will always remain a quintessential summer scent. totally romantic and feminine and will make any guy purr like a kitten.

olfactive family: woody floral musk

"artemisia: reassuring; white tea: precious; musk: inner soothing"

* Jo Malone has scents for every season and I am quickly amassing quite a collection of her bottles. British designer extraordinaire, she travels the world in search for the perfect blend of herbs, fruits, resins, and spices. layering them is the best part about them. White Jasmine & Mint was my springtime fancy (so fresh and clean), however layered on top of Blue Agava & Cacao (think Mexico: cacao, cinnamon, agava nectar), this is the perfect summer combo. ay caramba!

design overdose

2009-07-22T17:16:00.000-04:00

OMG, my brain is hemorrhaging! I found the link to Design*Sponge and have died and gone to heaven. I have been glued to the computer for an hour and must get up but can't seem to peel myself away. There are endless links on this blog and I could literally get lost in cyberspace and never come back. Thank you Jamila of eleven eleven for turning me on to this!

the cloud that followed me home

2009-07-21T00:06:00.001-04:00

i stepped out of yoga at the Golden Bridge last night and the most enchanting sun-lit cloud was hovering in the sky before me. when I got home, there is was - it had followed me home.

the simplest salad

2009-07-20T23:07:00.001-04:00

summertime calls for light and simple preparations. it's just too damn hot to create elaborate meals, and it's really hard to digest heavy foods. i got to make my favorite "3 herb salad" the other day for my parent's house warming party and indeed, it was just the perfect combo of simple and light and yet so tasty, it was a huge hit! i snagged this recipe from a french girl i worked with at the Beverly Hills Hotel. basically it goes like this:

-tear up butterleaf lettuce leaves into a bowl (washed of course)
-chop italian parsley, fresh mint and cilantro and sprinkle over the lettuce (don't be afraid to use plenty of herbs)
-drizzle your favorite olive oil
-squeeze fresh lemon juice to taste
-freshly crack some sea salt and black pepper (also try himalayan sea salt or lemon pepper if you're feeling funky)
-toss to coat and enjoy right away so the leaves don't wilt.
-yum!

now i had no idea how simple salad can really be until i went to a yoga class at the golden bridge last night, a sunday night class, and was so pleasantly surprised that we were served a well deserved dinner after an incredilbly challenging class! mung beans and salad. utterly simple, and completely divine. it doesn't get easier than this, however it may require a bit of effort to procure a couple of key items that make it all worthwhile. of course, the goodness in "simple" is derived from the quality of the items, so this is where a bit of effort comes into play. here are the only ingredients you need for this impeccably delightful garden treat:

-organic field greens (baby greens or a spring mix will do, however doesn't "field" sound so summery?)
-your favorite olive oil
-apple cider vinegar (i guess it should be organic, right?)
-now here's the secret ingredient: Braggs Liquid Amino Acids - replaces any need for seasoning, plus it is packed with nutrients and gives the dressing the most delectable flavor ever! you can get this at whole foods or any natural food store.
-it's that easy and it's to die for. toss some alongside a cheese omlette, a piece of grilled chicken, a grilled cheese sandwhich, whatever you have in the fridge!

and finally, day 3 of being inspired by simple salads - my friend Ellie gave me some salad seasoning called Goya salad and veggie seasoning and told me it is the best dressing ever, just add fresh lemon juice and oil and presto! so i had some fresh butterleaf lettuce, live on the root and some grilled corn left over from the weekend.

-butterleaf lettuce, tear up leaves
-grilled corn, cut off the cob
-olive oil
-fresh lemon juice
-Goya salad seasoning

triple yum.

summertime

2009-07-20T11:33:00.000-04:00

I have neglected my creative flow the past few months and as summer expands, I am finding that I have been on hold for some time now, but for what? There has been so much to be inspired by: Chinatown, night-blooming jasmine overhanging my entryway, my 40 day Kundalini Yoga Bootcamp practice and meditation at the Rec Center in Echo Park (hooray!), ice cream at Pazzo Gelato, the Hollywood Bowl with friends, moving my family into the new Ratsiu Residence in Huntington Beach, potential love around the corner, my blooming business as the Rental Girl, and heading out to Portland (for the first time!), Seattle and San Diego for a long overdue vacation. I met my new yoga teacher's wife Jamila the other day and fell in love with her website, blog and business concept eleven eleven. I was so happy I got to tell her how much she inspired me and how dedicated she is, it's no easy feat to keep up a blog with so many exciting and beautiful bits of random things. So I am committing to keeping up with my creative side and no matter what, remind myself (and anyone else who cares to read along!) of what makes life so beautiful, big or small. It doesn't have to be a long blog entry - even if just a word about what makes my heart sing. Just to stay connected to the Source. And with that, I will note my latest new find today at one of my favorite coffee stops: Cafe de Leche in Highland Park, the "chai-chata". Chai and horchata mixed - could there be anything more delightful? And it was iced. Yum. Definitely worth trying, as I was on my way to get a Mexican Mocha which is to die for as well. One last thing, I finally stopped by the Fifth Floor Gallery in Chinatown and talked to Robert (the owner, who works in the tool crib at Otis and who I know from the wood working class I took there a couple years ago) about mineral forest. Crossing my fingers for whatever there is in store for me there!

inspiration knocks

2009-03-09T03:52:00.000-04:00

The more I think about mineral forest, the more the forest comes alive. I went to the launch party of Stoned Immaculate at Lightopia in Laguna Beach last week and was so happy to see that more and more people are understanding the need to incorporate natural materials in design. As a side note, Caleb Siemon, a glass blower, also launched his line at the showroom, so there are so many inspiring and unique pieces available now in this seemingly "down economy" that people are really excited about.

A little further down PCH in downtown Laguna, the monthly Art Walk was taking place (first Thursday of the month) and I stumbled into the coolest gallery of all: The Crystal Image. It had some of the most amazing specimens I have yet seen. If you want huge, life-sized rocks that shimmer to your heart's content, and high-end quality, this is where you want to shop. It's no New-Agey store that's for sure. This is the real deal and the prices reflect it too. If anything, it's a great place to wander into and dream a little.

Another place that sounds really cool but I have not yet ventured to is The Crystal Matrix in Atwater Village. I had come across it one night when it was already closed, next to Canele. That is the next stop on my list of field trips. The website has so much information and along with the Wellness services they offer and the classes and workshops, there is also an online oracle with Dragon Stones that is quite interesting and a great way to learn about the properties of stones little by little. Overall, it looks like an amazing place to get sucked into and return a different person!

, minerals

peeping tom

2009-02-18T02:54:00.000-05:00

I meet so many fascinating people and have glimpses into their lives if only for a fleeting moment on a daily basis as my alter ego the Rental Girl. I live vicariously through the glamour of being an artist, a music producer, a film maker, a photographer, a shoe designer, as I wander through different properties with them, helping them on their search of their fairy tale dreamscape, a place to call home. A lot of these people inspire me immensely. I met a French Canadian shoe designer Jerome Rousseau (who by the way happened to be a friend of a friend who is now in London studying shoe design) and I almost met Chloe Aftel, a photographer (and still might), who had to cancel an appointment but stumbled into her world by clicking on her website. I am in awe of how much talent there is all around me and am forever grateful I have moved to my own dreamworld to make it happen.

the art of re-arranging

2009-02-18T01:58:00.001-05:00

I was given some flowers and they were not happy in the vase they were put in straight out of the plastic wrap. They simply wanted to be in another vase. In my past life as a geisha, the art of floral arrangement must have been one of my fond past times, as in this life, I often contemplate bouquets and how I can recreate something I have seen in a floral boutique or in a magazine or as an event centerpiece. The next morning, I swiftly took to snipping the flowers and placing them one by one delicately into a smaller vase that seemed to call out to them. Voila! Still life.

pictures of you

2009-02-17T23:54:00.000-05:00

I have recently gotten the photo bug. Well, I always loved taking pictures. And with my pretty nifty 8.1 Mega-Pixel Sony Cyber-Shot, I have been able to point and shoot at pretty much anything and get a good snapshot of the moment. On my travels, with friends and by my lonesome, I have been a self-taught photographer. I love the angles, the depth, the asymmetry in a glimpse. But when I was asked to help my friend snap her in her Mom's vintage Versace and Escada ball gowns from the 80's, my little digital dream didn't do the deed just how I would've liked. Not until I discovered the simple edit function on my Mac and played around for a couple hours with the shots did I realize that I really love telling stories with photos.

My last big story was my China trip - over 500 photos that captured the magic so intensely, only could anyone else but me feel that emotion portrayed? One of my friends who is a great photographer, and is Chinese, shared with me that I should enter some of the photos in contests. And from that moment on, I was hooked.

I need a good camera - I mean a really good one. The kind that takes multiple frames per second. The kind where you capture the slightest mood shift, and it makes all the difference. I wish I had one of those when I did the photo shoot of "the dresses". But back to the magic of a little color saturation and enhancement with the iPhoto edit - I literally felt like a photo genius. I don't know much about photoshopping, although I know I must learn at some point. I just wonder what I could do with a professional camera and a little color editing?

After 2 hours and 30 photos later, I put together a story about "the dresses" that I wish I could publish. That's how proud I was of figuring out how to edit. And the very last photo took me less than 1 minute to manipulate and it was done -- and it was perfect.

My friend recently updated her facebook profile picture with this one and had a flood of comments on where this shot was taken, how, etc... and how it looks like it's an ad in a fashion magazine. I am pretty proud of it, if I must say so, and it has definitely given me the inspiration to take this hobby to the next level.

it's all in the name

2009-02-01T13:58:00.000-05:00

I have a thing about picking wine off a list that I have no clue about, except for being intrigued by the name. It never fails - and last night at Canele in Atwater Village, a total gem with great ambiance and fantastic food, I did just that. I can't give myself all the credit because it was kind of a joint effort. I was asked to pick out one of several that had really cool names and see if we had made the same selection. I loved the anticipation - was I going to pick the same one he had in mind? I just went on my gut feeling, and bingo! We were curious about the same one... The Prisoner, a 2007 Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Napa. It was divine. It complemented the Beef Tenderloin perfectly and finished off so beautifully with the creamy cheesecake topped with sour cream. Even the label is rad. Thumbs up!

my mineral forest

2009-01-24T01:47:00.000-05:00

Something is growing inside me. A seed has taken root, pushing its way out and cracking the shell of fixed ideas, old patterns of being, fears of what next? In my mineral forest, I am one. Dreams expand, visions arise and illuminate my path out of darkness. This is how it always was meant to be. Every decision leads to the source. All adventures, successes, deceits, misfortune and loves gained and lost have guided me to this wrinkle in time. Painting, designing, visualizing, writing, sounding, space creating, fantasizing . Here in my solitude, everything is imaginable. And so I begin....

I moved to Angelino Heights on a whim - the off chance that everything might just work out. I didn't make enough money, had no assurance love was a sure thing, the state of the economy might never support launching this new design idea I had, but I did it anyway, and for that I am a better and more blissful human. The setting is perfect: a loft studio tucked away on an historic lane of Victorian Era houses with views of the downtown skyline. It doesn't get any better than this - at least for now, in my world. I am a city girl at heart and have no shame when I say "I Love L.A."

Beyond designing, here in my mineral forest writing is the means of expression for this creative outlet. I recently discovered that I love writing in the virtual world, exposed , yet still behind a protective shield otherwise known as the computer screen. In my journal writing, totally uninhibited, I scribble my thoughts, knowing I am protected from criticism. No editing involved. But there is only so far mere satisfaction of unleashing pent up emotions can take you. Upon returning from a trip to China last year, the letter that I wrote with my personal experience was used in a newsletter to promote the trip and my deepest and most sacred thoughts were shared with the public and somehow, I liked it. I wasn't afraid. All of the sudden, I felt if only for a fleeting moment, what it must feel like to have people you don't know read your words and be inspired. So I'm gonna take a stab at it and see how it goes.