in the works

 

there has been a lot brewing in the studio lately, mainly getting the new house well appointed! it is still a work in progress and we are enjoying each new addition as it enters the scene, transforming the space into a veritable design paradise that we feel so blessed to create. the custom framed coral fans are the latest mineral forest design. contact me for your own personalized custom framed coral fans!

balancing blocks

resembling natural quartz specimens, these balancing blocks by fort standard are the coolest design accent that also double as a great way to keep your children occupied! available for purchase on their website or where i found them at this super cool shop the supply room which is my favorite new obsession.

ok universe

while back in l.a. end of january, i had the pleasure of meeting a beautiful soul and sharing an incredible experience doing the khalsa way pre-natal teacher training with her at golden bridge. i spotted her on the first morning and new that there was something extra special about her (although of course all the participants had their own glorious glow about them) and if anything, it was the universe telling me to pay attention. we ended up being partners for our practicum practice and i got to learn more about her and her amazing talent throughout the week. turns out she is a ceramic artist and photographer and has her own jewelry line that is sold at mohawk general store. i was hooked. and i told the universe, "ok, i get it". we exchanged ideas, i got to meet her angel of a daughter, and i look forward to this friendship blossoming beyond time and space.

 ok universe

thanksgiving hangover

 
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

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

afghan style

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.

new finds in the neighborhood

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

not on a dime

lichen covered granite egg by blackman cruz


smoke chair by moooi!!!!!!


ghost busting by philippe starck at kartell

gorgeousness

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

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!