Vena's sister Viva getting over the winter bleus

I can't help but feel refreshed after visiting Vena Cava's sister Viva Vena.  At the office, we were just talking about how it's so hard to get up and get motivated this time of the year.  Well, Viva's collection did just that - now I feel completely awake and ready for adventures how ever small or large they may be.

And how great is it that Viva is also friendlier to your bank account?  Thanks Lisa and Sofie!

Kokun Spring 2013 Shoot

This week we had our spring 2013 photo shoot at my mom's family's cottage in Connecticut.  It was hard work and a very long day but well worth it for the amazing shots we got!  Here are some behind the scene photos taken by Mr. Z.

Get-a-way on a rainy day

This weekend Zach and I went up to our friend Emi's family's place near Westerly, RI.  It was a lazy, sleepy time with lots of good food and sleep.  Oh, and of course Olympics watching!  Although the weather was mostly overcast I still enjoyed being on the beach.  I think I'm meant to live on a beach.  However my friend Emi reminded me that there are hurricanes so I should be on a hill next to a beach.  Sigh, one day!

Into the night

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago while Mr. Z and I were walking around lower Manhattan, after a friend's party.  Summer late nights in Manhattan {seriously} have a special place in my heart.  There's nothing like it.  I think if I ever moved away, that would be the first thing I'd miss...  The characters lurking about in dark corners, the flickering yellow street lights, the crumbling concrete, and over graffiti-ed walls.

Summer style

It's about 90 something outside so it's hard to know what to wear.  I think Tiffany figured it out with her outfit today <3!

Friday the 13th continued...

After vintage shopping, I met up with my girls and had a lovely dinner in the garden of Kif, a low-key Mediterranean restaurant.  We sipped rose and nibbled on lamb burgers, got bit by mosquitoes and saw a rat or two... ah New York.

And then an unexpected fortune happened...

Terri found a $100 on the ground as we were leaving!  Whoa - Friday the 13th style!

Friday the 13th

Yesterday I had a half day from work so I went over to my old hood, Bushwick, to do some cheap vintage shopping.  Specifically I was on the look out for a denim jacket I can turn into a denim vest.  For those of you who don't know Urban Jungle, it's exactly like its name.  There was a moment, when rummaging through the racks with no a/c, I thought - why am I here?!?

 However my persistence paid off in the end.  I found 3 gems and spent only $18!  I'll show you what I do with the jacket tomorrow...

 

Liberty print mini dress

This dress was supposed to be a romper - but I couldn't get the shorts part of it right, so I just made it into a mini dress.  It's really mini so I have to wear shorts under it.  But then... just today I got the idea to wear it with a short sheer skirt - since the skirt needs something under it anyhow.  I love versatility especially when it comes unexpected!

I suppose it would be a good day to night look, if you're into that kind of thing.  For some reason I {personally} don't separate what I wear from day to night.  Doesn't that sound strange for someone who makes a living out of designing clothes?  Usually when I change clothes after work to go out, it's because I want to get comfortable or the clothes I wore that day feel stale.  Does "night" really mean "comfortable"?

Happy weekend! (the second time)

The break in the middle of the week through me off a little, but I'm happy that it's the weekend again AND summer time!  Here's a funny moment between my cats - they're always fighting - cat fight!

 

Red white and blue

I had the best beach day yesterday, celebrating the day off Americana Style.  Hope you had a relaxing day too :)

Summer in the city - it's a jungle out there

It's hot hot hot in the city!  Lots of people are griping about the heat, and weather reporters are all saying if you are old or have a heart condition, you should stay indoors where there's air conditioning.  Does it seem like our summers are getting hotter and winters getting milder?  Could this be the effects of global warming?  Sort of scary if you ask me...

All I know is that I sort of love it when it gets so hot that everyone in NYC moves around like slugs - as if all bets are off and people are just accepting the slow delirium.  It's a Jungle out there.

Which is why I fell in love with these leopard print wedge sneakers by Rebecca Taylor.  We all know that comfortable shoes for walking around are a necessity here.  I've once said that shoes in New York are like cars in LA - your shoes and feet get a real beating on these streets.  These wedge sneakers are perfect for running around on errands ~so comfy~ and cute!

  

I found this cool free desktop background here:
 (I think I'm a bit obsessed with cats and Africa.)

African influence

If I had a lot of money to spend on a trip, I would go on a safari, possibly in Botswana, Zambia or... Kenya?  Africa is one of those places  that I want to visit but am intimidated to do so.  I suppose a popular place like Tanzania might be better to go first - but I'm guessing that with all of the tourism comes higher prices and the feeling of visiting an amusement park.  There have been times when traveling to other countries where I don't feel as vulnerable or out of place when I'm with other tourists.  However, most of the time I want the opposite - I don't want to see other tourists and at least feel like I am getting an authentic experience.  Though sometimes that's absurd because when I'm traveling, I am in fact a tourist and I suppose I would be getting an *authentic* tourist experience.  Here I go talking myself in a circle again... One day a safari will happen in my life!

I LOVE animals.  I can't help to think {when I'm observing my cats} how similar they walk, run, and jump like the big cats in Africa.  At least from what I've seen in the zoos and on the Discovery channel.  To be able to see the big cats and all of the other animals in the wild would be *amazing*.  Oh, and aren't these African Pygmy Hedgehogs cute?


For now, African influenced clothing will have to do.  I found this amazing kanga fabric at the Dekalb Market last weekend by Yamerra and made a summer dress out of it.  The fabric is really air-y with a dry {but soft} hand which keeps me cool in this summer heat.  I love the bold print and intricate border too.

Picnic outfit - happy summer time!

the Masks

Summer is in full swing this holiday weekend and the air in Brooklyn smells of grilled meats and charcoal fires.  I'm still trying to summer up my apartment and wanted to show you these masks I got in Costa Rica.  I love that they have tortugas on them.  I learned that word from Breaking Bad... do you remember that crazy scene?!?  Anyhow speaking of; I can't wait for the 5th season of that show...  but am nervous that it won't live up to the 4th season, which I thought was a perfect ending to a series.  Happy grilling everyone!

I'm so ready for the beach... already

I'm designing for resort season already... for next year!  Can you believe it?  What year is it again?  I can't keep track.  Anyhow, here are some pretty inspiring images - I can feel the sun and smell the salt just by looking at these... mmm...

Images from here

Naomi Kazama

I'm finally out of jury duty and back to my regular life!  OK, so it's been about 2 weeks since I've been released from my civil duties, but life has been really busy, you know?  My little attempted project to build a cat toy-wall-sort-of-sculpture didn't pan out.  I ended up making one part of the toy and experimenting, see here.  But as you can see, it was sort-of-a-flop.  I was trying to lure the cats into playing with the fancy scratch pendulum (I admit the shape ended up being suspect).  They were more interested in the laser pointer (no surprise there).

Luckily last Sunday, Naomi Kazama showed up on my block to live screen print his art work, and inspired me to stop making such complicated project choices.  Oh ya, and he also got me excited enough to post about it.  I really should be better about this posting business... though {I think} not too many people read this, I enjoy doing it.  Maybe I'm just a record keeper at heart?

Anyhow, back to Mr. Kazama.  He was the coolest!  We brought some of our old plain t-shirts and he printed some of his art on them, using his marble technique.  Immediate art to go, just around the corner from my apartment.  Need I ask for more?  Check out more of his work here.