Neighborly Love

When I saw that Madewell was coming to 19th and 5th, I literally let out a squeal of delight and started skipping down the street. An unexpected and embarrassing reaction to my love for the store that is a cross between Anthropologie and JCrew.  On opening day, I was one of their first 'customers'. Not that I bought anything, but rather ogled the product, the beautiful displays, and the inventive way they transformed the vacant space where Nine West used to be.

Travelogue

Whether home or abroad, I used to carry a sketchbook with me all the time.  These days I take the time to sketch mostly when I'm traveling. It's the unfamiliar landscapes, people and architecture that inspire me.

I find that when I'm drawing I relate to my surroundings in an intimate and tactile way;  listening to the bells and hushed whispers at Sacré Coeur, breathing the earthy scents on the beach in Goa, feeling the sun beat down on my back in Colonia del Sacramento... in those moments I feel the most present and connected to the space around me.

Sewn Salutation

I really enjoy yoga, but sometimes I get lazy and need a jump start to get myself to class.  I too often find excuses why not to go like  1) I'm hungry  2) there's something good on TV or  3) I don't have a tote for my yoga mat and get the skeevies when I think of borrowing one from the studio.

One night last week (instead of going to yoga) I stayed home and sewed a tote for my mat out of red-striped Yuwa fabric and natural cotton cord. Now one of my best excuses has become my favorite reason to go.

Field Trip: Infinite Variety

Silka and I skipped out of work early on Tuesday to see the "Infinite Variety" exhibit at the Park Avenue Armory. Six hundred fifty red & white quilts from one woman's collection hovered overhead in spiraling formations, seemingly weightless. The sight literally took our breath away. It was impossible to absorb the overwhelming amount of texture and detail, leaving us feeling slightly unsatisfied, yet incredibly inspired.

Greenprints

It's finally time to start plotting a garden for this upcoming season. The bleak balcony over the winter months has left me eager to plant even more this year, with a focus on easy-to-grow edibles.

Aloha, Spring!

Picture Perfect

Ronak and I spend a lot of time together, but we also spend a good deal of time apart due to his travel for business. As I type, he is on en route to Switzerland, followed by Singapore, Hong Kong, San Francisco and back to New York. He is literally going 'round the world!

Thanks to modern technology we communicate frequently via email, text, phone, skype and the occasional postcard. For this particularly long trip I wanted Ronak to have a physical reminder of home-- a little memento to warm up the cold and unfamiliar hotel rooms.

I made him this portable, bi-fold frame out of heavyweight cardboard, Japanese rice paper, and cotton for the spine. To protect it from wear & tear I sewed a small linen pouch, finished it off with a button, snap and two photos from our recent travels together.