Happy {Sparkly} 4th

I'm taking off for Vermont for this lovely holiday weekend and I can't be more excited to be back in the north east (not to mention be in one of my best friend's weddings!). Here are some of the colors of independence day in forms that make me smile. I hope you all have a wonderful red, white, and blue [and sparkly] weekend!

Cheers!

Images via modern-decor.com, Pintrest, and Atlantic Pacific blog.

Feeling the need for a little adventure

I've been looking over my calendar and seeing what the summer has in store for me and I couldn't be more excited. I hope you all have a little adventure planed for yourselves as well.

images via wit+delight, unfaithfully-yours, and Design Crush.

Monday

A black fruit + red lips kind of monday...

image via wit+delight

Time for salad..

I think I look at this article from The New York times, that I found a few years back, at least once a summer when it gets to be about a hundred degrees outside - not kidding - for those of us in Austin. 101 Simple Salads for the Season has so many (one hundred and one, to be exact) awesome salad ides so that you can limit your time in a hot kitchen and use fresh ingredients you may pick up from your local farmers market! Check it out, and enjoy!

PS1 MOMA :: Young Architects Competition

This years winner for the PS1 Young Architects Program competition are a Brooklyn based design studio, Interboro Partners. Their design for this years installation is clean and simple and actually quite elegant. Having seen many of the summer installations, in person, this is one I am sad to miss. The installation, named Holding Pattern, will feature a twisted rope canopy stretched over the courtyard. I enjoy how it's a bit more interactive from the dance floor for the Warm Up Parties where the people can enjoy the summer music series and the art at the same time. Take a look below for images of what PS1 will turn into for the next few summer months (opening this June).

 

Images via Dezeen magazine 

Take me Away :: Ace Hotel

Every now and then I will see a hotel design that makes me want to to go vacation JUST to be able to stay in the hotel - Luckily the Ace Hotel's are also located in a few great cities across the US. Check them out and tell me you don't want to visit Palm Springs just to hang out in that hammock.

New York.

Portland.

Palm Springs.

{I should also mention I love their website design.}

Words

Sometimes people can steal the words right out of your mouth. Sometimes someone else can simply say it better...

Pen Pals

I have few friends spread all over the country and a few more moving away for the next 7 months or so on residency programs. As much as I miss them all, I find comfort in knowing I am an exceptionally diligent pen pal. For keeping in touch, I am gushing over some of these lovely correspondence cards from Rifle Paper Co.. I can't wait to send these to my friends, full of my written word, to keep them up on the news!

Flower Love :: Bornay

Very beautiful and unique flower design from Bornay out of Barcelona, Spain...

 

Unconquerable Soul

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

- William Ernest Helney -

Photography from Leeta Harding

Mom love

I know this is a few days late - but that doesn't mean I don't want to send a little love out into the universe to all the wonderful women and mother's I know and love out there. Especially the woman who is so supportive and understanding of me and my sisters' dreams. Our family is so close and I always feel so loved - here's to you Mrs. Penny Clark.- Happy {a little belated} Mother's Day. xoxo

Beautiful Mother's Day cards from Rifle Paper Co.

Before I Die

The Before I Die project took a sad building, set in New Orleans, with nearly no life left and transformed it into a temporary work of art to help bring its surrounding community together - at least in making each and every person who passes by to ask themselves the same single question: "What do I ultimately want to do with my life - what do I want to do before I die?"

Once the wall is filled, the artist washes the board with water and start with a clean slate again. All responses are documented in a book before they are wiped away.

The artist, public installation artist and urban planner Candy Chang, is making stencils that can be shipped across the US so that the Before I Die project can temporarliy be placed on any building, in any neighborhood, anywhere. What an amazing project.

My personal favorite... "evaporate into the light".

New Kid on the Block

For Austin locals I am excited to say that we have a new movie theater that just opened up on downtown's second street district. The Violet Crown is a locally owned and operated cinema devoted to art, independent, documentary and international films. I love the Alamo Drafthouse as much as the next guy (or gal), but having a new venue to satisfy my film cravings can't be a bad thing.

Violet Crown tid bit: "The City of the Violet Crown" is one of Austin's oldest nicknames.  Famed Austin resident and local author William Sydney Porter - also know by his pen name as O. Henry - has long been credited with using the name in his short story “Tictoq,” published in 1894.

Map Love

I just stumbled across these quilted map systems from Leah Evans Textiles. They are so beautiful and magnificently crafted - I would love to add these to my collection of vintage maps!

Happy Humpday

This Wednesday I'm feeling relaxed with a little glam-western flare...

Who's up for a mid-afternoon cocktail? I sure am.

Jcrew Medina platform $275; Anthropologie Poise & Repose Romper $98; Need Supply Co. Number One Crazy sunglasses $180; Need Supply Co. Arrowhead Amulet $135; Madewell Bamboula ltd. market tote $58.

Muse in Black & White

Recently I have been stepping out of my realm of known movies, films, directors and designers and have landed myself with a whole new point of view on the powerful woman and appreciation of the muse. Though, I'm feeling good about where I am in my life, it's always nice to have these remodels around to look up to when you're down - or to help you stay motivated to be a strong woman when you're ready to become a muse yourself.

 Audrey Hepburn.

 Brigitte Bardot.

 Grace Kelly.

Françoise Dorléac.

Monica Vitti.

 Jean Seberg.

Catherine Deneuve.