Afterglow

Inspirations and the finished product...

Death doves and love angels

I was in Spain a few weeks ago for 10 days of sun, sand, the Mediterranean, sangria, old friends, ethnic shops, mountain hikes, and laughs that made me feel like my old self.

I spent the first two days in Málaga, which is far from a picturesque Spanish city. It had a sort of grungy and industrial thing going on, but I dug it. The beach was chill, and I finished Junot Diaz's latest book and listened to Mayor Hawthorne, B. Alone, and Lee Fields & The Expressions.







Then it was off to Barcelona where I stumbled upon some very cool Indian and Turkish clothing and jewelry. This somehow set me off into the most intense whirl of ethnic inspirations.

Right now, for me, it's all about India, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. I'm drawn to dark smoky eyes, oriental florals, silver and gold bangles, head wraps, huge chunky rings, drop-crotched pants, tissue-like scarves, and gladiator sandals.

Chains and bling and all that glitters

Vintage Chanel chains, found objects, feathers, fox tails, and collected vintage charms, all to be whipped into headdresses, body jewelry, belts and bracelets...


My favorite pendants and vintage necklaces, especially the Cancer astrology pendant.


Headwraps and earrings and, concert stubs and pics dangling over my desk.


Skinny scarves and sunglasses, my summer staples.

What you decide to swear by

Reunited with my Libanaise lover at the Beirut concert at Bataclan. It was fabulous, and everyone should download their new album, March of the Zapotec and Realpeople - Holland. It's verrrrrrry good and my fave is "My Night With the Prostitute From Marseilles".




Some more songs I'm lurving right now,
"Good 'Ol Fashioned Nightmare" by Matt & Kim
"The Band Marches On" by Ghostland Observatory
"Painter in Your Pocket" by Destroyer
"Northern Whale" by The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

On a somewhat unrelated note, check out Fleetwood Mac back in the day. I love these hairy boys and the denim and the velvet and the ocean... Give it to me. Give it to me. I want.

You're a seasonal beast

My trip back to Texas was marvelous and wonderful and I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bummed to be back in Paris. It's always hard for me to get back into the swing of things and to readjust to new (well sort of old) routines. So to keep myself from feelin' low, I'm focusing on making some awesome new body jewelry, complete with headpieces and anklets. I'll put some pictures up soon! I've also been rifling through some of the goodies that I thrifted while in Texas. What treasures! I stumbled upon some store in Houston that was selling all blazers for a dollar!! Whaaaa?? I'll post pics of those finds soon.

Anyway, Texas was a lot like I imagined it. I spent the first few days by the pool,

Brought along my bronzing spray, "Sonnets to Orpheus" by Rainer-Maria, "L'Étranger" by Albert Camus, my trusty iPod, my Tom Ford wayfarers, a Calypso top, and my floppy hat...

The rest of the trip was spent driving from city-to-city, seeing all of my dear friends and family, remembering strange things that I love about Texas (like being called "Darlin'"). I know that I'm biased, but I have to say that Texas can be so charming, and that Austin is a badass city! It's got a great energy and is full of so many special people and places... There's no place like it. To all of my Texas (and American) babies, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH and thank you for a fabulous visit. You're missed already!!

MUAH

What's in your bag?

My favorite gunmetal city tote...


*Sangria-flavored Orbit. NOT recommended.
*American Spirits
*Vintage eel skin wallet
*My grey mare toy, an Easter gift from MissK
*My notebook - full of phrases, quotes, stories, lists... Never leaves my side.
*iPod, of course. Right now I'm into Antony and the Johnsons
*Violet lip balm from Barcelona
*Tibetan cross pendant
*Tom Ford wayfarers
*Flower of Narcissus hand cream
*Juicy Tubes lip gloss
*Cigarette extender

Where would we be without each other?

Two unembraced and lonely lovers.

I'm back in Texas, in a city full of collected memories and past lives. I drove in at sunset, windows down and spring breeze wafting in, past the places where I used to live and the spots that I frequented. I forgot how pretty this city is, and how full it is of that good, chill Austin energy.




Sara and I checked out the "Corner Store". I love this place. Last time I stopped by, I picked up a rattlesnake spinal cord. This time I got some rabbits furs, a fox tail, lizards skins, and rabbits' feet for good luck... This is Texas magic.





Then off to see old friends and tattooed babies: