“experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing.” – oscar wilde
mendhi inspired spice cookies
i love these mendhi-inspired spiced cookies! they’re so pretty i almost wouldn’t want to eat them though…
the story behind these cookies is really cute too – they’re from the blog sprinkle bakes, and the blogger made them for a friend who was going through a rough time. she wanted to make something with a personal touch, so she decorated the cookies with mendhi designs – something she and her friend had always been really interested in. plus, the designs themselves have meanings so you can pick a design symbolic of peace or luck as an added touch.
if you happen to have a hand shaped cookie cutter, that’s great, but i think it’s even cooler that you can trace your own hand :)
after rolling the dough a little thinner, lay the template on the dough and cut around it with a sharp knife. transfer hands to parchment lined cookie sheet. with the back of your knife make lines between the fingers, being careful not to cut all the way through (so they don’t break off).
after baking the cookies (instructions below), you’re ready for embellishment! use a fine-tipped artist’s brush and a little brown/black gel food coloring.
ingredients:
3 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup (packed) dark brown sugar
½ cup molasses
1 large egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
instructions:
– blend ingredients together in large bowl, using electric mixer. gather dough into ball, divide in half. form each half into a ball and flatten into a disk.
– preheat oven to 350 degrees
– line baking sheets with parchment paper
– roll out dough between two sheets of waxed paper to about ¼ inch thickness. cut out cookies and transfer to baking sheets, spacing one inch apart
– bake one sheet at a time until cookies are firm on top and slightly darker around edges, taking up to 12 minutes. cool completely on rack.
enjoy!
the sweetest thing
i had surgery on my ankle yesterday and these flowers and card from my coworkers seriously made my day. thanks so much you guys – i miss you! xo
taciturn heart
we’ve posted some of marcelo gomes’s work on the blog before- his photos are breathtaking. he emailed me recently and told me about his new book, taciturn heart, so i took the opportunity to ask him some questions for the blog!
i was born in brazil, but i’ve been living in the u.s. on and off since i’m 15 years old.
when and how did you get started in photography?
i started shooting very casually when i first moved to new york, around 2003. i worked at a magazine called index here in new york, and i got my first camera then, just for fun.
where do you draw inspiration for your work?
more and more i find that inspiration comes from colors and music, both these things make me want to pick up the camera!
who are your personal favorite photographers/artists?
i love gerhard richter, donald judd, dan flavin, roy andersson, caetano veloso, there are so many…
if you weren’t a photographer, what would you do?
i think if i weren’t a photographer i would be a filmmaker (which could happen anyway) or a windsurfer dude…
what are some of your other hobbies?
music is a very big part of my life, even though i can’t really play any instruments (yet).
taciturn heart, published by hassla books, can be purchased here.
thanks marcelo!!
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have a wonderful weekend everyone!
canada here we come!
very exciting news! we just opened a new free people in toronto’s hudson bay flagship store – the first fp in canada!
free people officially launched its 1,000 sq. ft. hardshop on the much talked about contemporary floor, which houses brands such as opening ceremony, McQ, LnA, halston heritage, tucker, catherine malandrino, vena cava and doo ri.
reflective of our creative roots, this shop is truly one-of-a-kind. it is a beautiful blend of modern and vintage, mixing the earthiness of our teak tables and cane globe lanterns, with linear designed wood and metal racks. our fabulous team of artists worked their magic, painting columns and back walls with gorgeous green flora and fauna, creating that special free people experience that keeps our girl coming back for more!
canada is big country, so stay tuned for more exciting free people launches where hockey may be golden, but sparkles and crochet will always be the way to a girl’s heart.
xx
haiti cheri
space15twenty, where one of our newest stores is located, is holding a relief benefit for haiti this sunday, march 7 from 2-8pm. “haiti cheri” an artist for artist benefit for our brothers and sisters in darling haiti, will feature performances by l’esprit d’afrique and queztal guerrero along with DJs, special guests and visuals & photo exhibit from cine institute.
all proceeds go to: doctors without borders, cine institute of jacmel, sosenfant school, save the children.
for more info click here.
shine by three
our australian-based blogger friend, shine by three, posted an interview she did with our director of image and design and creative director. check it out here.
thanks, margaret!
item we love…the ruffle bottom slip!
this item looks adorable on its own but the best thing about it is you can layer it with other pieces to create so many different looks! check out these photos of our beautiful fp highland park girls in some awesome outfits they created with the ruffle bottom slip:
with the sunshine coast tunic & stripe ruffle blazer.
with the fp one floral tunic (similar to our burbank tunic).
with the remington plaid shirt & spliced grommet waist belt.
with the davenport beach tunic.
with the we the free scoopneck tunic and holster belt.
with the we the free butterfly shadows tank.
don’t they make lovely models? :) you can find the slip on our website, here.
with a little help from my friends.
Fp One
Here’s a bit of insight into one of our Exclusive Brands!!!
Fp One is a very inspiring ‘Gem’ within the Free People community. I chatted with the brains behind the Fp One brand on the phone the other day, about how this label came about and couldn’t help but be slightly overwhelmed by her tales and experiences.
The designer for Fp One has lived in India for 20 years. Whilst visiting, she became intrigued and inspired by how these beautiful Indian workers, worked so effectively from their homes using traditional hand crafted techniques. She found herself joining these workers and getting involved in the process alongside them “ It was very hands on, and became very effective with the design process” She helped them make traditional techniques modern, to create items that now contribute to Free people’s top sellers!
The design details used on the Fp One garments are ideas that came from the design elements in the Free People stores like the Hangers, Curtains, Cushion covers and the mannequins. The designer for Fp One would play around with found fabrics that were easy and accessible to obtain, to create one-of-a kind fashion pieces with amazing character to them. You’ll find that most of the Fp One items are never the same as another in its style group.
Click here to view Crinkled Skirt
With the crinkle items that are doing well for us at the moment a technique is used that has been inhabited by the Indian workers for over 100 years, it’s a traditional technique made effective.
When the Fp One designer finds fabrics that are great she likes to push them to the best of their ability. Say for instance the Muslin Voile fabric that is used for the shopper bag in stores – it is also used for the ‘ends in sequins dress’ and the ‘petticoat dress’ featured on the front cover of the March Catalog – yep the same fabric can you believe it.
The Fp one items have a huge exclusivity appeal about them, just like vintage items do. I love how crafted each one is, the raw-ness of them and the delicate nature they have.
They are precious in more ways than one!
romper room
i really love rompers right now. i definitely want to get a couple and will probably live in them all summer! i was thinking about these special pieces and wondering about when they first came to be… thought i’d share the little history with you.
rompers first became popular in the 1950s as beach/lounge wear! as the trend caught on, designers dressed them up a little so they could also be worn in more formal occasions too.
now, they’re everything from cute, casual, dressy, beachy, and everything in between.
they’re just a great look – and another reason i cannot wait for spring :)
check out our rompers here.