shades of spring + summer

i rarely paint my nails, but right now i need a little pick-me-up. just because it refuses to act like spring outside, doesn’t mean i have to. i’m putting away the taupe and navy staples and thinking about shades of coral and blood orange for spring, and pretty pepto and neon pink for summer. (1) scotch naturals, highland fling, 3 for $48; (2) mac, coral wave, $14; (3) butter london, macbeth, $14; (4) essie, california coral, $8; (5) chanel, rose insolent, $25; (6) illamasqua, collide, $19. (wearing, essie, chubby cheeks, $8)

(photos by: erin)

natural allure

this beautiful spring 2011 collection by los angeles based designer heidi merrick is all about fabric—mixing in vegetable dyed, hand woven silks to create an earthy and delicate feel to her classic silhouettes.

moments in life

photographer and graphic designer salva lópez acquired his first camera in 2007, and in roughly 4 years he has learned to capture a lifetime of emotion in every single frame.

new life

recent work by artist dane lovett combines ordinary objects and early electronic technology, capturing their unique beauty in his acrylic and watercolor paintings.

sugar shack

despite the gray skies and unpredictable cold in minnesota this week we were able to get a little sap so that my dad could teach me his maple syruping ways. all that work for a cup and a half of sweetness hardly seems worth it, but once our jars were filled, it was a proud moment. we always take on big projects when I go home and this trip was no exception. i love my family and our northwoods cabin, and will always find an excuse to visit. but for now, it’s back to michigan and back to life and definitely back to regular blogging next week.

(photos by: erin)

roundabout

amazing series of globes by young swedish artist rasmus emanuel svensson.

homegrown glam

this week, my sister and i decided to take a quick trip to our hometown in minnesota for a little family tlc. although i’ve been working the entire time, it’s nice to be doing it here. the ice is melting on the lake and yesterday my mom made her famous molasses bread. this weekend, we’ll be tapping the maples and boiling and bottling our own syrup. whenever i’m home, i like to be casual and comfortable. here are a few sweet and simple spring looks that i wish i was wearing right now: (1) le mont saint michel, stripe crew sweater, $177; (2) j.crew, straw, farmers market bag, $42; (3) howies, marcia cardigan, $95; (4) madewell, suede skinny belt, $40; (5) vanessa bruno, floral print skirt, $315; (6) rag & bone, high rise skinny jean, $180; (7) marais usa, slingback wedge, $115; (8) chinti and parker, gray t-shirt, $100; (9) suzanne rae, chambray shirtdress, $448

metal head

the hand-cast arrowhead pendant necklace in luv aj's spring/summer 2011 collection is one piece i want around my neck this season. actually, make that everything featured in their new lookbook.

making the move

sarah seilbach, brooklyn-based designer and creator of clothing line edelweiss by sarah, finds inspiration for each collection from 1940s hollywood glamour and her love of vintage. from there, everything evolves. the fall 2011 collection mixes nostalgia with modern details in earth-toned, mid-length dresses that can really move. check the adorable dance video the crew put together during the fall shoot.

taking the time

london photographer, tommy forbes, is currently on a year-long trip seeing, experiencing, and photographing as much of the world as he can.

resist nothing

nyc-based artist landon metz is constantly exploring different mediums and new ideas in his work, either in paint, print, sculpture, photography, or graphic design—constantly making and creating.

something for the walls

i have a confession to make. at the moment, every single wall in our house is bare. seriously. this fall we finished giving each room a fresh coat of paint and now we’re either too scared or too indecisive to pound the first nail. my goal for this spring is to buy a few inexpensive framed prints or photos to make our home more homey. here are some of my current favorites around the web: (1) marco suarez, coast, $60; (2) carly waito, amethyst IV, $1000 (a splurge, but i couldn’t resist); (3) studio kmo, paris map print, $35; (4) stymie, a shifted alphabet, $45; (5) debbie carlos, hand cloud poster, $50; (6) amanda kavanagh, blue wave print, $30; (7) lydia bassis, wtr #22 print, $30; (8) nama rococo, random geometry wallpaper sheet, $126 (i don't remember where i saw this idea, but i love it); (9) ikea ribba frame for a favorite polaroid, $10; (10) s and s, lava dome print, $25

searching for our own

japanese clothing label, lyricis m, draws influence from the 60s and 70s for their spring/summer 2011 collection "age of aquarius," with gathered gauze and hankerchief maxi dresses, jersey rompers, and lace slips. photos for the collection were taken by acclaimed fashion photographer, mark borthwick.

h&m hasbeens

in case you missed the announcement, h&m is teaming up with swedish hasbeens to create 6 new be-still-my-heart budget clogs for $60-$70 on april 20. the catch, they will be released in a select 150 stores worldwide. limited release means there is no chance these red beauties will find their way to the briarwood mall in ann arbor, michigan. i guess there's always e-bay—come on 8.5!

getting restless

beautiful images of sweet solitary moments by 24-year-old boston photographer kelly burgess.

the way it used to be

the recent work by queens-based painter, clare grill, is almost as lovely as her statement on 20x200. “my sister and i pretended we were birds in the fall and made giant nests of sticks under the bushes in our front yard. in the winter, covered in snow, they were reindeer nests. we drew maps to take on walks around the block so we could look for the wolf we imagined was hunting our house. we spoke pretend languages. we believed whatever we wanted and trusted everything we were told…” her words make me long for my childhood imagination.

a winter break

last week, ben and i went out to colorado to spend some time with his parents at their cabin in south fork and ski at wolf creek. on tuesday morning we got some sad news. ben’s grandma had passed away. she was 96. his mom came in to our room to let us know just as the sun was coming up. you could hear coffee brewing in the kitchen. that afternoon, we left for minnesota. i'm glad we were all together.

we made it back to michigan late on saturday night. i wanted to share a few photos from the trip, but unfortunately i didn't take very many during our first few days in colorado. here are some of the highlights—a group of deer wandering through the front of the cabin, the blinding sunday snowfall on the mountain, and some views from the chairlift and at 11,000 ft.

(photos by: erin)