getting ready!

Get ready Los Angeles the Unique LA show is coming this weekend. Me and my elf are busy stuffing cards and other goodies that will be for sale this weekend. Did you know that everything featured is Made In America?



have you been watching the Made In America continuing story line on ABC News? This morning ABC reported that if you spent a fraction of your holiday dollars this season on Made In American products we could create 200,000 new jobs. Surprising, to even me.

I hope you come out to have some fun shopping and support independent vendors.

where, when and all the details are HERE

Give Thanks

I have a lot to be thankful for this year



heading out for the long weekend, which for me is tainted with work but before I do...finally got some of our photos back from the wedding today. Here is a sneak peek.

xo
richie

new in the studio - BACON POSTER!

these babies are gonna go like hot cakes [and bacon] available here $25

Dear Santa

These are officially on my holiday wish list



finally available [just today] Coffee Joulies. What are they I can here you say? from the site:

Tired of burning your tongue on coffee only to have it get cold a few minutes later? With the Coffee Joulies™ Gift Pack your coffee will be ready to drink in minutes and will stay that way for hours. Each polished stainless steel shell is filled with a special phase change material that melts at 140°F. Put them inside the custom-printed thermos and they absorb heat from your coffee when it is too hot and release it back into your coffee to keep it at the perfect temperature.

available for $100 for the set Wonder if one pack would cover two people's coffee?

I think this is it

I've never wanted a tattoo.

I'm too fickle. I can't decide, I will want to art direct the whole entire thing and ask WHAT? every 3 minutes. I think that even Kat Von D would poke me in the eye.

Source: blackv.tumblr.com via Richele on Pinterest

but THIS, this ampersand....is something I would love forever I.just.know.it

It's been a wee bit busy here.

Source: Uploaded by user via Richele on Pinterest

our [mine and Chris'] final party two weeks ago...BBQ here at the house for 75 of our closest friends [I actually mean that] + 10 kids, a pinata, margaritas, strawberry infused vodka and a taco guy. I worked my ass off from 730A to midnight.

It was fun but I don't want to throw another party for maybe ever. That's three if you're keeping track...our mini wedding to kick off October, we flew back east to celebrate with Chris' family and all the lovely folks back there, then the bbq at our home for all of our west coast peeps.

I might also add that I was in production for a client's photoshoot on top of all that. If you've ever done one of those [involving pets and children no-less] you'll know for sure when I say that I'm tired. that I'M NOT LYING. We did it, it was hugely successful and I can't believe the cuteness that we captured [this photo above is not one but reminded me of]

Source: 500px.com via Richele on Pinterest

Sorry to leave you darlings but the bathtub is calling me now.

-richie

oddly enough...

My Double Dog card got featured in a dog magazine The Bark this month.

Dear Los Angeles...

please mark your calendars for the Los Angeles Unique LA show coming up. What is Unique LA? The very best of handmade goods from the So cal region, food trucks and other fun items. I'll be there...it's my very first show [and I'm a bit nervous - a lot really] come by to say hello if you're there?

there are over 300 vendors [clothing, beauty, paper, and more] displaying the best in indie and handmade goods. Apparently there is quite the good people watching / movie star sightings, not to mention, the most amazing holiday shopping ever.

December 3rd and 4th
downtown LA at The California Market Center
110 East Ninth Street 90079

11am - 6pm both days

$10 to get in but you get all sorts of goodies in return.

new Shepard Fairey

100 signed prints of the new Fairey poster "The Future is Unwritten" will go on sale today at artnet.com/auctions for $1250. Proceeds will benefit a nonprofit organization Coalition for the Homeless.

read more about the project here

in the midst of crazy be back in a week or so.

photo via> pinterest

Tintype Photography

In San Francisco a new portrait studio called Photobooth SF opened recently touted as the "world's only Tintype and Polaroid portrait studio". They had me at Tintype.



via photobooth.com Tintypes are made by the wet-plate collodion process, which was invented in 1851 and requires each plate to be individually prepared, exposed and developed within just a few minutes. Tintypes are unique direct-positives made on metal plates, meaning that a positive image is resolved directly on the original plate in the camera (much like a Polaroid). There is no negative intermediary or subsequent printing involved. All the materials we use are prepared by us, from their most basic chemical ingredients. It is truly a hand-crafted process.

I've been in love with that type of photography through Chuck Close's work [though I'm not certain his is tintype] it has that rich tone and some-what eerie quality to it. I REALLY want to go have my photo taken next time I'm in SF.

in addition to their portrait work they also hold Polaroid Rescue Workshops: This class teaches you how to find, buy, and repair Polaroid Land Cameras and, of course, how to use them properly to take amazing photos. You’ll learn which cameras to seek out on Ebay and in second-hand stores, and which ones are junk.

The studio is open 1-9pm Wednesday through Sunday. No appointment necessary, but call if you want a special time or private booking.

And The Winner is....

The good ol' pulling a name from a bowl trick happened today and congrats to Janice for winning the Shabby Apple dress giveaway.



Janice picked out the L'Opera dress. I must admit I didn't see this one and I'm pretty jealous about now.



thanks to the rest of you for playing along. Hopefully the folks at Shabby Apple will let us do a new drawing very soon.

Wallis Simpson & George Clooney

I've become obsessed with Wallis Simpson. I can hear you say who? Did you see The King's Speech? Remember the woman who convinced the King of England to step down and marry a divorceé S.C.A.N.D.A.L



I didn't give much thought to her until I just read an article in this month's Vogue about how she left her second husband for The King...and then regretted how she got into the mess in the first place. Vogue has some of the letters she wrote her second husband during that time telling him of her regrets. Have you ever got into the middle of something [Hum - my first marriage] and not know how to get OUT? I sympathized with her a great deal.

I also am quite interested in her style of course. She was apparently fond of a certain blue that was later named after her "Wallis Blue" I can't tell you how jealous I am of this. I want my own color, I say, stomping my feet like a 5 yr old. I am not a fan of abdicating the King to get such a thing though.

Interested in the scandal as well? The NY Times blog has a diddy about her today. I think it's this book and then of course Madonna's new movie coming out about her that have caused my curiosity.

.....

What does this have to do with George Clooney you ask? Nothing. I just wanted to tell you I had the MOST exciting dinner in this little tiny place in the Hollywood Hills Saturday night. George was there with his super tall girl, Russell Brand minus Katy and a couple others as well. In all of my days I've never seen anything like it. No, I won't tell you the name of the place. It's my secret. You'll have to come to LA and take me to dinner to find out.