inspiration: mood boards

i love mood boards…especially when they incorporate objects and fabrics in addition to just images. i think its why i’m always so drawn to my coworkers’ desk spaces, as they’re each like a little personal mood board. here are some that i’ve collected from around the web.

pamela love:

ksubi:
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charlotte ronson:
Charlotte-Ronson

nicholas k:
Nicholas-K

rag and bone:
rag and bone

rag-and-bone

rodarte:
rodarte

erin wasson:
erin wasson mood board

marchesa:
marchesa

i think i need to re-organize my desk space… again.

image sources: the selby, mr. newton, the cut and style.com

fp girls meet patti smith

i just got an email with the subject “patti smith and store 808” and i had to blink a couple of times and make sure i was reading correctly- but a couple of our fp girls in boston did in fact get to meet patti smith herself at a book signing and lecture that took place last week at the museum of fine arts. i am so jealous… since reading her book she has become a huge inspiration for me, and i wish i had known her story sooner and gone to one of her appearances because to hear her speak in person would be life changing.

luckily our fp girls took some great notes! here’s a recap of the event from ava, our MIT in boston.

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Last week Christine (our assistant store manager) and I had the opportunity to go meet Patti Smith at the Museum of Fine Arts for a book signing and lecture….. It was an amazing experience! We snapped a few photos, and jotted down quotes from her lecture.

We first went to the book signing – we could barely contain our excitement while waiting in line, along with our Sales Associate Kaly. We had the opportunity to talk to her at the table, and were completely star struck – she was so nice, completely approachable and laid back. I’m sure I mumbled something dumb to Patti about her being wonderful.

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After the book signing we went into the auditorium, and when we saw her guitar on stage – we knew we were in for a special treat! She read excerpts from Just Kids, told stories, took questions and even sang a couple of songs.

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patti’s guitar, from “objects of life”

I jotted down some quotes below that I was scribbling in my note book. When Patti saw Kaly holding her notebook, she asked her “Are you a writer?” and Kaly said, “No, I’m an artist.” and Patti replied “You can always spot writers and artists because they always keep their notebook close!”

A lot of Patti’s talk emphasized the importance of labor within the realm of art.

“The goal of an artist is to magnify one’s vision to make it flesh. … A true artist’s ultimate goal is not celebrity.”

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patti’s jacket with rimbaud pin, from “objects of life”

On Fashion:

At one point Patti was reading from her book, and came to a passage that mentioned a long blue raincoat and she stopped, and said “I had to mention that rain coat. I’m a coat freak. In fact, I was signing books earlier and I was coveting at least two people’s coats!”

“All my outfits had names… Actually, the whole history of new wave film I had in two drawers.”

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handmade tambourine, from “objects of life”

On Song Origins:

As an opening to her song Wing – she said “I always screw up when I do this song. I wrote it, but it sort of expresses my state of mind as a young girl of 20, before I met Robert Mapplethorpe…”

I was free

needed nobody

it was beautiful

it was beautiful

Talking about how she came up with the song Grateful, right before she sang it:

“I was feeling a little low– and I was standing there so sad and I had this vision of Jerry Garcia and he smiled at me and shook his hair, and this song came into my head so I named it ‘Grateful.’ It felt like a gift from Jerry…. Life is tough, but things work out.”

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suitcase from “objects of life”

Talking about NYC:

“I went to NYC the way I usually did things- not having any money, not knowing where I was going to stay, not telling where I was going. Truthfully I still often travel that way… It’s exciting!”

“We lived at the Chelsea Hotel. Everyday was an adventure… some people accuse me of name dropping in my book. I can’t help it everyone. Everyone was there in the late 60s.”

About Boston:

When Robert asked me to write this book he was here in Boston, so I always have a special sense of him when I am here.

Audience questions:

What do you think about audiobooks?

“I’ll never not love books. I love the paper and to hold it. However, there’s a lot of trash that is being written that doesn’t deserve to be a beautiful object….. I was against color tv when it came out. You people think I am so cutting edge, but I never want anything to change.”

She did reveal she’s doing an audiobook of Just Kids, even though she didn’t know what a Kindle was about a year ago.

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paintbrush from “objects of life”

I’m a 20 year old unemployed painter. How do I grow up to be as cool as you? (Patti’s response to this was one of our favorite moments!)

“I never knew a 20 year old employed painter!

The main reason I went to NYC wasn’t to be a rich, famous artist, but to get a job. We do what we can in order to survive. Work really hard to magnify your vision. Don’t worry about selling work. Just evolve. Work hard.

If you mean you don’t have a job – GET ONE! I was always aware that you need to work in order to have food, or materials. If you mean you aren’t selling it, don’t worry about it.

First thing: Do good work. Worry about selling it later.  Make it first.

People think “oh, if you are a punk rocker you don’t work….. Uh… sorry!

I got married, scrubbed floors, raised children, and I was still an artist everyday. Unfortunately, I was not a very good housekeeper.”

(She then sang My Blakean Year)

What historical woman would you consider to be punk rock?

“Joan of Arc!”

How do you feel about being called the Godmother of Punk?

“To me people worrying about who was, who is punk rock, it’s like when my husband and brother in law would make fantasy baseball teams  and argue for hours and hour about who was better… it’s all theoretical.

First it was Princess of Piss. Then Queen of punk, now Godmother. Next I’ll be the Dinosaur.”

Signed Book

In a room full of 400 people, it felt like we were sitting in a living room just hanging out. She ended her lecture by leading the entire crowd in an acapella sing along of ‘Because the Night’ (one of my favorite songs of ALLLLLL TIME) after reading the excerpt about hearing it on the radio while walking down the street- it was absolutely amazing!

“objects of life” images from here.

thank you so much for sharing your experience ladies!

Meet All for the Mountain

I have always been intrigued by the brand all for the Mountain. Ever since I stumbled across them from blogs last year, I have been hooked. There’s something ever so odd about the way they merchandise their line, and it excites me. I find myself immersed into another world – it’s powerful and warrior like!

There are no boundaries when it comes to putting across a visual thought, just stop by their website, and I’m sure you’ll get the picture. 

Their designs are strong and solid with an Egyptian touch, great to add a unique twist to any outfit.

The two designers (who seem like crazy characters that I’d love to meet sometime) are heading from Brooklyn to a new studio in Pioneertown, CA. They have adopted a salon that they are going to convert into their workspace.

Now, isn’t that awesome!?

drip crown ring  Solar Matrix Cuff

   

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fp corte madera

i may be biased by my love for san francisco and marin county, but our new store in corte madera, california is stunningly beautiful.  here are some gorgeous photos taken by our visual display manager on the west coast!

the view of san fran from marin county.

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our storefront at the village at corte madera.

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i love the stack of fabric covered suitcases!

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i love this photo :)

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display details.

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our fp girls created a beautiful “white shop” in the area of the store with this gorgeous tiled floor, keeping the theme of the white story currently on our website! looks lovely.

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and this…is just amazing.

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the colorful central display is illuminated by the sky light above it on sunny days.

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can you guess what day this photo was taken?

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one of our fp girls puts the finishing touches on a display…and the checklist is complete!

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and i had to include this photo… this is the superintendent dave who helped our team with the opening, standing next to a sign he made (that did not stay up long). love it :)

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one more shot of the beautiful bridge… congrats to our team for another awesome store, i can’t wait to visit next time i’m out there!

lemon pasta

i have a confession… i am a terrible, awful cook.  i burn everything.  but one thing i can do is pasta, and one of my favorite spring/summer dishes is lemon pasta. i know it sounds really simple – and it is – but i’d never had it until a guy made it for me and to this day i still can’t make it as well as he did, but i’m sure you guys can.

all i really do is make pasta as i would normally (my favorite kind is angel hair pasta), and for sauce i mix together some butter, olive oil and lemon juice  in a pan and drizzle on top, add some pepper and that’s it. but i was looking around online, and i think this would be amazing with some snow peas or edamame mixed in, and apparently some chopped parsley makes a great garnish :)

i found a few yummy recipes around the web if you want to try them, here, here and here.

image source.

temari

“temari is an ancient folk art form originating in china and later introduced to japan by traveling chinese monks. first crafted as a child’s toy from remnants of old silk kimonos, temari evolved into an art form adopted by noble women in japan’s imperial society and handed down from mother to daughter.”

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awesome. must learn how to do this. all of the above by julie and co.

tie dye cupcakes!!

one of our fp girls sent me these photos the other day, saying she was inspired by my vintage loves bag post last week me to make these cupcakes! she made them for the staff and customers at roosevelt field this weekend. don’t they look amazing?! i totally want to try to make some.

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here’s how to make them!

buy a box of yellow cake mix and separate the batter into 6 bowls. add food coloring for red, orange, yellow, blue, purple and green. fill the cupcake liners with a little bit of each color – but don’t mix the colors! and there you go… tie dye cupcakes :)

Office style.

Our lingerie buyer has teamed one of our latest bralettes with items that archieve a very fashion forward demure look. We couldn’t think of a more stylish way to
channel this lingerie as outerwear trend.

Teamed with a simple tea length black skirt a leopard belt and block heels. It’s a perrrrfect transitional piece as the warmer days are slowly creeping in!

lace back crop bra,ombre braided belt, treasured pearl necklace, ripped up maxi,