Hello 2017! I've been a little neglectful sharing my monthly favorites, but with the new year comes a renewed commitment to the blog.
Watch: I got wrapped up in Black Mirror (Netlfix) over the holidays. Each episode is its own standalone episode exploring "techno-paranoia." What is the dark side of the technology that controls many aspects of our life?
Listen (Music): Every year I create a playlist of my favorite songs from the year. Here's my favorite songs from 2016 (opens in Spotify).
Listen (Podcast): I don't know how I had never listened to Reveal before until about a month ago - it's amazing! The podcast, from the Center for Investigative Reporting, is much like a piece of longform journalism. Each episode explores an issue in depth and from multiple perspectives.
Read: I usually like to juggle one non-fiction book and one fiction book at the same time. I just wrapped up The Case Against Sugar by Gary Taubes and The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis. Taubes' latest work is an extremely well-researched and fascinating read that tracks the rise of the sugar industry, the impact it has had on our health over the years, and how the industry has attempted to influence nutritional science and government programs. The Dollhouse is a lighter read that alternates between the Barbizon Hotel for Women in the 1950's and the present day. Part murder mystery, part gender study.
Follow: I love love love @urbanjungleblog. So much lovely plants and greenery spotted in beautiful nooks.
Shop: When I moved to Colorado almost two years ago, I pretty much had to overhaul my skincare routine given the change in climate and altitude from my former home of Austin. Over the past year, I've given even more thought to the products I use and, through much research, have begun replacing many items in my daily routine with organic or plant-based ones. I won't go into all of the details behind why I replaced each product (you can read more about that here and here), but wanted to share some of my favorites since many are from more obscure brands. I've always had fairly normal skin, but I must admit since switching to organic and natural products, my skin has been in the best shape ever. Favorites include:
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I can't believe it's already September! I've spent the past two months stitching up a storm, trying to get a headstart on the holidays, and enjoying the last few weeks of summertime. Here's what's been on my radar lately.
Watch: I've been flying through The Americans, FX's series about KGB spies posing as Americans living in the DC area in the 80's. It's fast paced and intriguing. I can't wait to catch up to the current season.
Listen (Music): I'm loving the new songs that Bon Iver is sharing ahead of the new album release.
Listen (Podcast): In one day, I binged on Reply All's four-part series "On the Inside," a Serial-esque series of episodes about a man in prison for a murder he says he didn't commit.
Read: I love my Kindle, but ended up ordering a number of actual books this summer and am happy to report that I finished almost everything on my summer reading list! It's quite an eclectic mix of fiction and nonfiction. Here's what I read:
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I Saw the Light: The Story of Hank Williams by Colin Escott
Death of a King: The Real Story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Final Year by Tavis Smiley
Modern Lovers by Emma Straub
The Psycopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Follow: I've been stitching little blue and white vases full of flowers and was thrilled when I stumbled upon Botticelli House, an Australian shop with the most vases and jars. Serious eye candy here.
Shop: I've been addicted to acai bowls ever since I visited Kauai last February. They are so delicious and wholesome. I've been making bowls for lunch all summer, topping them with almonds, coconut flakes, and fresh fruit. The best brand I've come across is Terrasoul Superfoods. I usually mix two spoonfuls of acai berry powder with two bananas, a little coconut oil, almond milk, and some almond butter. Blend, add toppings, and enjoy!
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Well, it's been a crazy June. We moved houses (and my studio) and I've been busy getting settled in my new abode! Here's what's on my radar this month.
Watch: Lately binge-watching Showtime's Masters of Sex. Very intriguing show about Masters and Johnson, who pioneered research on human sexuality.
Listen (Music): The new album from Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) and Jesca Hoop, "Love Letter for Fire," is just gorgeous. Watch their NPR Tiny Desk concert here.
Listen (Podcast): I've quickly become addicted to "Untold: The Daniel Morgan Murder," which chronicles the investigation into the death of a private detective in 1980's London. It's kind of like a British version of Serial.
Read: I love a good mystery and already finished two at the top of my summer reading list: I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh and Before the Fall by Noah Hawley.
Follow: I can't get enough of @flora.forager, the beautiful feed of botanical artist Bridget Beth Collins. A must follow!
Shop: Having just moved, I raided The Container Store's online shop to buy so many random items from my home - soap dispensers, drawer organizers, knife holders. It's probably a good thing we don't have a Container Store here in Durango because I would be stocking up on a lot more!
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Holy moly, it's almost summertime! Here's what I've been liking lately...
Watch: There are a handful of television shows that I've been watching while stitching: The Family (so weird, but so intriguing), The Catch (the latest from Shondaland), and The Night Manager (kind of like The Bourne Identity meets The Thomas Crowne Affair meets Hitchcock).
Listen (Music): I've been revisiting an old favorite lately - The Traveling Wilburys. The Traveling Wilburys, formed in the late 1980's, is one of the original rock super groups, comprised of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne. I've been listening to their albums on repeat.
Listen (Podcast): Terry Gross' live interview with one of my favorite creative minds, Questlove, is a must listen.
Read: I'm about halfway through The Nest, a novel that centers around four siblings and an inheritance they've had been led to believe they will receive as adults.
Follow: I am completely in love with Tiffanie Turner's amazing paper flower creations. They are astounding and just about larger than life.
Shop: I've been scoping out furniture for our new home and have been eyeing a number of modern and mid-century modern pieces at some of my favorite home stores: Design Within Reach, All Modern, and Y Living.
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March was a whirlwind of releasing new work, celebrating great press, and designing my next paper goods collection. Here's what I'm loving lately...
Watch: This mesmerizing video showing how Spode Blue Italian china is made (first discovered on Design*Sponge).
Listen (Music): Andrew Bird's new album, Are You Serious, is on constant repeat. I haven't really listened to anything else in the past 72 hours.
Listen (Podcast): I've been learning more about the history of Old Hollywood via the podcast You Must Remember This. The multi-part series about Charles Manson is both incredibly disturbing and quite riveting.
Read: An interesting read on "The Copycat Economy" in fashion and what impact knockoffs have on the marketplace and the original designers. I think a lot of the claims and ideas put forth in the article apply to the creative/art industry as well. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a cheap knockoff of someone else's work.
Follow: I'm entranced by the detailed and delicate work of papercut artist Georgia Low.
Shop: I just bought my first pair of Allbirds merino wool shoes. I love the premise behind the shoes and the thoughtful design. Can't wait for my new sneakers to arrive on my doorstep!
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It's hard to believe that it's already February! January was one of my busiest months to date between some major press, completion of some big projects, adding new wholesale accounts, and more. I'm trying to settle into a groove with February and focus on some ideas brewing in my head. Here are my favorites of late:
Watch: I could watch Tian Tian, the National Zoo's giant panda, rolling around the snow all day. Pure bliss.
Listen (Music): This new video from Langhorne Slim is just wonderful. He performs his song "Changes" in a church in New Orleans with beautiful gospel singers.
Listen (Podcast): Last month I mentioned how I was reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic, a book about creativity and the creative process. I've just begun to work my way through her related podcast series, Magic Lessons.
Read: My favorite chef, Michael Anthony (of Gramercy Tavern - my all time favorite restaurant), released a new cookbook at the end of 2015. V is for Vegetables goes through various vegetables from A to Z and Chef Anthony's favorite preparations. The recipes are soooo good. My husband and I have prepared carrot coconut soup, roasted leeks with tangerine vinaigrette, and kale with potato and leek soup. His preparations are straightforward and not too complicated. I look forward to working through more of his recipes.
Follow: The Instagram account of La Maison Pierre Frey (@lamaisonpierrefrey) is chock full of swoon-worthy patterns from the French design house.
Shop: I want to pretty much add everything from Uguisu's online shop into my cart. I'm longing for a drawer-full of these letter sets. And how cool are these airvases?! I'm dying to visit the Tokyo boutique in person!
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Happy New Year! I took a few weeks off blogging as I traveled for the holidays and took some much needed time to rest after the busy holiday season. 2016 has been off to a stronger start than I anticipated and I'm looking forward to what this year holds. Here are some of my favorite things of the moment.
Watch: I did a lot of stitching over the holiday break and a new series that I plowed through was Jane the Virgin. Honestly, it is one of the most clever and entertaining shows I've come across lately. It's a play on the telenovela genre with a fun mix of characters and storylines.
Listen (Music): Every year I put together a personal "Best Of" mix that I send to friends. This year, I'm sharing it with you, too! You can find the entire playlist here on Spotify.
Listen (Podcast): I've been catching up on episodes of The New Yorker Radio Hour. The interviews and stories are usually intriguing and sometimes flesh out New Yorker articles I've already read. I especially loved this week's interview between David Remnick and Serial's Sarah Koenig.
Read: I just got a new Kindle (thanks to my old one mysteriously disappearing over the holidays) and I'm currently juggling three books right now: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande, and Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff. Quite the mix!
Follow: I follow many creatives, makers, and independent businesses on Instagram, but lately one of my favorites is Samson the Goodendoodle (aka @samsonthedood). I just adore him and the posts always put a smile on my face!
Shop: Everlane has become one of my go-to online shops for everyday essentials like t-shirts. I received one of their cashmere sweaters for Christmas and it is awesome. Everlane's motto is "radical transparency." They give you all the details behind the factories that make their products and how they produce everything, from the actual factories that make their items to how they mark up their prices.
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November is here and with it comes the crisper weather and the slight anxiety about the busy weeks of holiday work ahead. Here's what's been on my radar this month!
Watch: I'm so excited about Aziz Ansari's new show, Master of None. It was released on Netflix last week and I have slowly been working my way through the first season (resisting the urge to binge so I can savor it!). It is smart, thoughtful, funny, and totally on-point with how I feel many Millennials like myself are navigating through the modern age.
Listen (Music): Lately I've been listening to a lot of mellow Billie Holiday. This album has I work on packaging and preparing holiday orders. So soothing.
Listen (Podcast): My latest podcast find is Only Human, a really interesting program about the human stories behind various health issues. There are only a handful of episodes so far, but they are very engaging and make you think about your own mortality.
Read: I'm currently in the middle of Mindy Kaling's second book, Why Not Me. After reading some heavier titles lately I've loved having something a little more lighthearted to dig into at night. I adore Mindy's witty storytelling and learning more about how she rose to fame.
Follow: Some of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow are those of textile designers. A few favorites doing some amazing work: @matsonpalmer, @shibori_textiles, @blockshoptextiles, and @susanconnor_ny.
Shop: I have been seriously eyeing a number of products from Terrain's new holiday collection. They have some of the most unique Christmas lights that I've come across and their collection of wreaths make me eager to get one to adorn my front door.
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It's hard to believe that we are halfway through September! The air is getting a little cooler and the leaves are just starting to turn. Here are some of my favorite finds over the past month!
Watch: La Blogothèque's Take Away Shows are some of my favorite videos to watch on YouTube. Singers and bands perform their music unannounced around the streets of of Paris. Soul singer (and fellow Texan) Leon Bridges recently did one you can view here. He is just so good!
Listen (Music): I've had one new album on repeat lately - Glen Hansard (of The Frames and The Swell Season) has a new solo album called Didn't He Ramble. It's a mix of pensive, brooding ballads and more upbeat, smile-inducing songs.
Listen (Podcast): Hidden Brain from NPR is my favorite new podcast. It explores "the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, the biases that shape our choices, and the triggers that direct the course of our relationships." I especially like how it's broken down into different segments and injects a sense of humor into the complex topics it breaks down.
Read: If you've ever come across a display of Mast Brothers chocolate in a store, you have probably oogled the amazing ariety of patterns they use on their packaging. This interview from Sight Unseen with Mast Brothers' creative director Nathan Warkentin about what influences the packaging design is a must read!
Follow: My new favorite Instagram feed is @thepostalproject. They post a photo of one post office each day. I love seeing the variety and uniqueness of small town post offices!
Blog: Maybe it's the changing season and the cooler temps, but lately I've been bookmarking a lot of recipes for soups, muffins, and other savory and sweet dishes. In particular, I've been all of the delicious recipes on Joy the Baker's blog. Apple Pie Biscuits, anyone?
Shop: I can't make it to the Victoria and Albert Museum's new exhibition on The Fabric of India (so sad to miss!), but I have been eyeing everything in the museum's webshop. This poppy scarf is a favorite.
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It's hard to believe that we are halfway through September! The air is getting a little cooler and the leaves are just starting to turn. Here are some of my favorite finds over the past month!
Watch: This is the coolest mini documentary from Refinery 29 looking at how a Dior haute couture dress is made from start to finish. It's amazing to see the care and detail from so many makers' hands that goes into the production of one dress.
Listen (Music): I am completely enthralled and charmed by Jon Batiste & The Stay Human Band. Batiste is the new bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and such a joyous presence. Dance party for one in my office? Yes, please. Learn more about him in this article and watch this clip as a starting point.
Listen (Podcast):I love a good crime show and find crime-based podcasts even better (Serial, anyone?!). Criminal is my go-to podcast for tales of true crime. The episodes are just the right length - about 22 minutes - and completely engaging.
Read: I recently finished Bob Dylan's autobiography, Chronicle: Volume One. It is a fantastic read. Rather than following the typical chronological structure of your average autobiography, Dylan shares the details behind key moments in his life - from his arrival in Greenwich Village in the 60's to getting over creative slumps in the late 80's.
Follow: Justina Blakeney's @TheJungalow feed shares serious eye candy and gives me some major inspiration for interior decor and style.
Blog: I've been listening to a lot of older episodes of The Jealous Curator lately and have been turning to her blog more and more. It's an awesome spot for learning about more established and up-and-coming artists. I can't keep my eyes off the colorful work of Jen Stark!
Shop: I'm pretty sure I could quickly create a Christmas wishlist entirely from Leif in a matter of minutes. The shop, based out of Brooklyn, presents a colorful collection of some of the most delightful goods I've come across on the web. I'm particularly smitten by this fern print, a rainbow striped linen hand towel, and these turquoise earrings!
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I thought I'd share some of my favorite finds over the past month. I'm hoping to make this a regular series on the blog where I'll share what I'm loving at the beginning of each month.
Watch: Tig, the new Netflix documentary about comedian Tig Notaro. I've been a longtime fan of Tig (stop everything you are doing and watch her Taylor Dayne bit if you haven't heard it before). The documentary is raw, gripping, hilarious, inspiring....I could go on. It documents Tig as she deals with a series of terrible life events and how she has used her comedy get through everything.
Listen (Music): The two songs of summer that I cannot get enough of - Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweat's "S.O.B." and Langhorne Slim & The Law's "Strangers." Turn the volume up!
Listen (Podcast): I am loving Mystery Show, a new podcast where host Starlee Kine solves mysteries that can't be solved just by Googling. It's equal parts funny and endearing where sometimes the side stories that arise become as intriguing as the main mystery being solved.
Read: Every Friday I look forward to Longreads' weekly email blast featuring the latest and best pieces of long-form journalism. I couldn't put down this article about a fugitive on the run who spends years on the Appalachian Trail.
Follow: I've recently begun following a number of florists and flower enthusiasts on Instagram - so much beautiful eye candy! Here are a few favorites: @floretflower, @swallowsanddamsons, and @flowersofvisalia.
Blog: I really appreciate and enjoy reading The Merchant Home's weekly posts about independent makers, artists, and shop owners. The photography is beautiful and it's a wonderful place to feel inspired and to learn more about the process that goes into making beautiful products.
Shop: I have my eye on a number of items in St. Frank's online shop, which features work from artisans around the world. These indigo dyed pillows from Mali are swoonworthy!
