One artifact

One of these three. Which one got broken?

It survived a tumble in a suitcase across the ocean. It managed to escape breaking at the grabby hands of my 4-year old. It also teetered on the edge of the bed one morning thanks to my 2-year-old daughter, but never fell.

The hand-painted statuette my mom made when she was a little girl, it's pastel pink dress and creamy white angel wings, was like the traveling gnome prank, always showing up somewhere new in our house. But now it's gone to artifact heaven, that place where all the little tchotchke's go when they're broken. Fitting that the word tchotchke is from Yiddish* - my mother's family spoke it, and I wonder if my bookish, clutter-oriented grandmother would be dismayed I have so few of them now.

At a time when I'm paring down stuff, it surprises me how hard it is to accept that the ceramic is gone.

How do you say goodbye to an object that is emotionally laden?

It's timely that the theme of the inaugural issue of MOTIF Mag is Nostalgia. It's cover is graced with a retro feel, but a quick peek inside shows nostalgia can take on a fresh look.

I'm proud to have designed the logo and title of this enticing and lovely free online magazine. Partnering with Lara Cory and Tegan Pasley, we created a motif, no less, for a theme-oriented magazine welcoming talent, skills, and ideas from readers related to the next issue. I hope you'll subscribe and seep yourself in the world of nostalgia. 

*The OAD says the first usage of tchotchke was in the 60's, Merriam-Webster the 70's. Regardless of when it came into parlance, the little effigy I moved from ramshackle apartment to apartment in the Midwest and then over to Turkey, was made in 1955, born just in time to fit the definition.

Ruthie clutch

Super adorable Ruthie Clutch from Anna Maria Horner. I always skip to her blog posts in my reader because of the gorgeous photography, and wonderful storytelling about her life and family.

The Moroccan Palette

Sephora's new Moroccan Palette was just the thing to pull me out of a Sunday blah.



I used to make paintings based on makeup colors, and even now reference cosmetics and adornment in my work. Taking a mental break from a marathon day of product photos and descriptions, data entry and attempting to get the children to bed at a reasonable time (plus meals and baths), I'm staring at these shimmery colors and thinking of travel.... which is exactly what they want me to do. I adore the gold pattern, and the hint of gold in the eyeshadow. Sephora is the sexiest cosmetic website, and a generous portion of my first real paycheck working full time was spent there, in person with a dear friend who introduced me to the world of eyeliner and the classic Poppy red lipstick. It is also where I discovered my fragrance, Hanae Mori. I wear others, but always come back to Hanae Mori.

Sequin Clutch in Good Houskeeping

Well, we've officially moved in and are dodging boxes and stuff everywhere, so pictures will have to wait. I found out that Sevinc's Sequin Clutch for Nest has been featured in Good Housekeeping's Holiday Ideas Gift Guide for Teens! One of the most gratifying parts of being a loan facilitator for Nest is seeing these amazing items get noticed abroad.

Angel Wings

Dreaming of drinking Cafe Au Lait out of these amazing Gold Wing Bowls by Sami Rinne.

Emily Dickinson

The Emily Dickinson silk scarf? Want it now ($35). Perhaps better in concept than reality, though - the design feels a little clunky and tries too hard to be readable. But still, I want to be swathed in the words of Emily this fall, from Poets.org.