Leyla Rzayeva
Love the beautiful paintings and drawings of dear friend, Leyla Rzayeva, owner of The Clubhouse, a lithography studio in Baltimore, MD .
In Collaboration
It's been a pleasure collaborating with husband and wife team, Alicia Rosauer and Robert Segal of Unison. This family-owned Chicago based company specializes in timeless textiles for the modern home, which makes for a playful pairing with my dense folk-inspired imagery. Above are photographs taken in my home by John Sturdy for Unison, featuring many of the textiles we've worked on together. Shop the Heirloom Bedding, my latest collaboration with Unison, here and learn more about our collaborations here.
Jessica Hans: Ceramic Scuplture
I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Hans years ago when I was living in Baltimore. I picked out a few special pieces to carry at Specks & Keepings. I remember carefully studying each of her vessels, finally resting my eyes on a table full of ceramic beads. Color, coils and holes draw you into her organic forms, which seem rooted in nature, but in the most unnatural way.
Katy Krantz: Upcoming Studio Visit
I've long admired the work of artist Katy Krantz, so you can imagine how excited I am to pay her a studio visit tomorrow.
Japan
After years of dreaming about visiting Japan, my mother and designer, Debra Weiss of Rebe, and I finally went. We spent two weeks traveling, taking in city after city. Modern structures with screens lined Tokyo as flocks of people, dressed alike, quietly went about their business. The countryside was beautiful as was the Buddhist temple we stayed in at Mt. Koyasan. Walking the streets of this peaceful mountain village you couldn't look in one direction without spotting a meticulously cared for shrine or temple. Our hostels were far from shabby during our brief stay in Osaka and Kyoto. Everything was clean, well designed and efficient- toilets, doors, trains. I loved it! Beauty was everywhere; small potted plants lined the entrance to nearly every home, gardens were tucked inside nooks and crannies just begging you to peer in, and the textiles were bountiful and beautiful. I loved our recent visit to the Boro Museum in Tokyo, the beautiful garden we strolled through in Kanazawa's city center, the broom and brush shops stocked full of useful treasures, the neighborhood bath house that welcomed us in Kyoto, and the wonderful antique markets cobbled together outside temples. We found everyone kind and helpful and are quietly planning our next trip...
The Hammer Museum
I spotted these beautifully upholstered furniture pieces during my last visit to the Hammer. I love visiting the Hammer Museum when I'm in Los Angeles. The museum shop is filled with beautiful objects and the museum is a perfect size; big enough to get lost in the work but not so big you can't find your way out.
The Home Studio
Working from home is a mixed blessing. No commute, total freedom and home cooked lunches. With that said, making work at home can feel a bit tiring and lonesome. There are days I dream of waking up and going to the office, just so I can remember what it feels like to come home- returning home after a long day away is like a warm embrace.
As I've grown older and spent more time in the homes of others, I've come to realize that my favorite homes are the ones that are used well. More important than appearing well designed or thoughtfully curated, a home feels most welcoming when it meets the needs of it's inhabitants. If one enjoys cooking then one's kitchen should be functional, filled with all the necessary tools and spices. I make a point to place my drawing table in the sunniest room in my house. The sun invites me to sit down and begin work each day and for this I feel grateful.
Specks & Keepings
I am pleased to announce that my Story Blankets are now available at Specks & Keepings, a beautiful shop that features handmade garments by textile artist and clothing designer, Debra Weiss. Check it out!