Friday, December 26, 2008

if you've got about 3 minutes.



the wind and yellow leaves
by me (and the flip)
music by jenny lewis ( i didn't ask permission. is that ok? i hope so, because it is so nice to listen to. it's "melt your heart" off of her rabbit fur coat album.)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

merry, happy.

first production from my favorite christmas present.
i'm still working out the kinks, but it's a start.

oh yeah, and a happy blog birthday to me. my first post was christmas day last year. appropriate reflection to come.

Monday, December 22, 2008

so sweet!


so sweet and so exciting. DailyCandy (officially now my favorite candy, move over kit kat) has nominated ban.do as a sweetest thing of 2008, for everywhere style. how cool is that? jamie and i are so thrilled. and of course we are humbly begging (please, please, please) for you to vote for us! just click on the daily candy banner on the right side of the page. any blog postings would be greatly appreciated, as well as fan clubs and grass roots movements . . . anything to help, really. and please pardon me if you are inundated with emails, etc begging you to get your vote on. it's just the last thing i won was an over sized stuffed bear (i think it was wearing a straw hat)at the local frozen yogurt shop in 1980). plus if you vote, i will actually go and find the photo of me and the bear, because i'm pretty darn sure that one exists and i am even going to go so far as to say it is a polaroid.

Friday, December 19, 2008

andrew and the giant christmas tree


i think the last thing i said to andrew before he left with my brother to go get a christmas tree was, "remember, something small, 4 feet or so." i even went so far as to hold out my arm at the height the tree should be. "yes, yes, i know." his last words. 45 minutes later the doorbell rings, and when i open the door i am greeted by an ENORMOUS christmas tree. i couldn't even see andrew. he and my brother pushed it through the door with such force that the thing literally took me down. i started to slip and then i backed into the open suitcase that has been on the floor since we got back from new york. i stumbled and then fell right in. part of me just wanted to stay down there for the rest of the night. we're decorating it tonight. i think i need more lights, and ornaments, and everything.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

ban.do caddy


it just so happens that i married one of the best gift givers in the universe. andrew's gifts are always very personal, usually customized and quite often a total surprise. this gift was no different from the rest. shortly after jamie and i started ban.do, my grandma passed away, so i flew to florida for the funeral and spent a few days with my family. while i was gone andrew went and ordered me a vanity plate. it's so l.a. in the 80's isn't it? well it finally arrived and he was nice enough to let me put it on his old caddy (as i thought it just wouldn't look as cool on a 7 year old jetta wagon). now all i have to do is drum up the courage to drive the darn thing. it's a tank, or a boat, or something that makes me feel like i should be sitting on phone books while in the driver's seat. i'll keep you posted.

Monday, December 15, 2008

combs


i hate to brush my hair, but i love combs and brushes. these were a great find at a drug store in florida. the entire lot came in a bag for $3.99. a lifetime supply of combs for $3.99 . . . that's a darn good deal.

Friday, December 12, 2008

swamped


i have been so swamped. i won't even bore you with the details. next week looks so wonderful from here. see you then?

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

for the bird


i wanted to capture thanksgiving moments with my polaroid, so as i cooked, i took photos. it was a race against time, as it is getting dark here around 5, which means the pretty light is gone around 3. i took the bird out of the oven, and it looked beautiful. the light was dwindling, but i thought i would give it a shot. got myself all set up and then the damn camera jammed (i was using my backup camera, as my favorite one is sitting in the ban.do studio). basically, what i'm trying to tell you is . . . i have no real thanksgiving photos, no turkey, no plates filled with all of the fixings. so i'll just have to ask you to imagine it. this picture might help. it is the makings of the maple syrup and orange juice glaze that went atop the turkey - - and it's good - - real, real, real good.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

my jeans no longer fit


and these potatoes are the culprit. thanksgiving was an amazing adventure in cooking. i forgot how good it feels to cook, and take photos. two things i hope to do more of in the coming year.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

happy thanksgiving


just starting to set the table. i'll let you know how it goes.

Friday, November 21, 2008

i heart jupiter


i just sold this image for stock through jupiter images. maybe we will see it on a book cover sometime in the future. that would be so cool.

also, how great is this blouse?

Thursday, November 20, 2008

she's popular


recently my friend here has become very popular. and how could she not. she's beautiful, stylish, and eternally young. oh, and let's not forget those lips. i have always wanted to be able to wear red lipstick like that. all the time. i think i would look really put together. people would respect me. i would probably become wealthy and very, very famous. i just have yet to find a great red that stays on, but doesn't dry your lips. any suggestions??

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

when all of my polaroid film is gone . . .


maybe i will become an apple isight photographer. andrew bought me a new laptop for my birthday and it has a built in camera. i did a little shoot to show off our new belts. hmmmmmmmm.

ps. isn't the dress cute? it's this one.

pps. if you click on the image you can see a larger view. oh, and there are lots more belts to come.

Monday, November 17, 2008

nyc


so we are heading to nyc for a trunk show at henri bendel dec 4 - 6. i can't wait to bring my polaroid back to the big apple.

Monday, November 10, 2008

isn't she lovely?


went to the rose bowl swap meet on sunday and picked up this little gem. oh, and the inside is hot pink . . . in case you were wondering.

Friday, November 7, 2008

i think my birthday is officially over


i say that because the beautiful birthday flowers i received from my in-laws have died. i think that marks the official end of one's birthday. not too bad, really. i rode it out for two and a half weeks.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

cinderella shoes


they were too small for carin and too big for lisa, but they fit me perfectly, so i just had to buy them. 20 bucks at the swap meet. i swear i saw rachel zoe wear some like this with black tights. hmmmmmmmm.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

HOPE


IS HERE!!!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

this picture


has nothing to do with my post, but i like it nonetheless. people looking at the winged victory at the louvre.

i'm back in l.a. i think the job in san diego is done. time to break out the polaroid. and yes, i still have film left. i just gotta get back into the swing of things after 5 or 6 weeks of going back and forth. here is something for you to look at while i get myself together. kolo (the cool photo album company) has started a new blog called koloist, and they asked me to contribute. they sent me lots of cool kolo stuff, and just encouraged me to be creative. they posted my first attempt on the blog today (or yesterday, depending on when you read this). hope you like it. oh, and this is a post about my "kolo weapons of choice."

Monday, October 20, 2008

silver and gold


there was quite a long stretch of time that i stopped going to the swap meets religiously. well, guess what . . . i'm going to the swap meets religiously, again and i love it! i love waking up early on sunday, strolling through the aisles of awesomeness, drinking coffee (decaf), sifting through old photos . . . all of it. i usually go with my brother, but yesterday i went it alone. probably good for him as i was in a super sifting mood. he's not a sifter (most boys aren't). i found a ton of great stuff. i actually had to leave before i finished walking through the entire swap meet because i ran out of money. i found these silver shoes for $5 and the gold purse for $10. hope you like them, too.

ps. my out of town job is almost over. i work tomorrow (my birthday) and then next monday. hopefully after that i can get back into the swing of things.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

pretty & delicious


a fantastic combination. don't you agree.

we ate macarons from paulette yesterday. i couldn't resist taking a picture. the background is a vintage french crepe paper napkin. i wish i could use them all of the time, but if i did, i wouldn't have money for food. hmmmmmmm.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

still away


hi. how are you? i'm still away on that job in san diego. i've convinced them to let me come in early to the studio and use the computer here to blog. they made fun of me. they always make fun of me. i will try to post again this week. and jamie and i have been posting over here.

this was the wall outside our neighborhood market in paris. ahhhh. i miss paris.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

death becomes them


i do say these carnations are much prettier dead. is that morbid? hmmmmm. well, on a much lighter note.

Monday, September 29, 2008

napa nest


my brain is not awesome. i totally forgot to tell you that i have two photostrips in a show at napa nest. lots of my friends from for the love of light are a part of the show, too. it runs through the end of october. i think you can see a larger version of the image if you double click it, and if not, it's here.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

my new dress


this weekend i was struck with urge to buy dresses. lots and lots of dresses. well, six, actually. is that a lot? would you feel better if i told you they were only $12 a piece. it sure made andrew feel better when i told him. this is one of my favorites. oh yeah, and that news i was speaking of. i guess i shouldn't have said news, because news seems huge especially in the blog world. it usually means a big move or a baby or a new job. nothing like that here. i just wanted you to be the first to know that jamie and i started a blog for ban.do. it's called i heart ban.do and you can find it here. that's the news. is that anti-climactic? i hope not. we just thought it would be fun to let everyone come along for the ride. it has been really exciting thus far and i feel like if it wasn't for all of my blog friends and family this wouldn't have happened. so thank you, and please check it out and spread the word.

happy monday!

ps. i am taking a vacation from becoming a foodie, so as to prevent my head from exploding. rumor has it, that is a very messy situation.

Friday, September 19, 2008

where have i been?


i'm working on what may be my very last styling job in san diego. i was there most of this week, and will basically be there until the middle of october. i'm coming home on the weekends to work on ban.do. i'll do my very best to post, but if they are a bit sparse. that's why.

my friend joanna was nice enough to ask me to be a part of this. i wanted to show you earlier in the week, but i couldn't blog from my laptop.

have a great weekend.

might have some news on monday. and will most likely have a new ban.do shop page. jamie and i have been keeping very busy.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

me and the sunlight


i figure why not make a week of it.
i officially declare this week - - lines and shapes week, so there.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

me and some sparkly water


this one made it in!

Monday, September 8, 2008

lines & shapes, vol 4 - - pairs


so this is one of those secrets that i have kept so long, that i actually almost forgot about it . . . almost. i was (and still am) thrilled to be asked to be a part of lines & shapes vol.4. our assignment was pairs. hmmmmm, pairs. we had the freedom to do whatever we wanted to with that theme, and although the stylist in me wanted to take that very literally and shoot pairs of shoes - - the emerging artist in me wouldn't let her. i ended up using old polaoroids that i had and paired them with brand new self portraits. 2 pictures = 1 pair. this pair didn't actually make the cut, but i wanted you to see it. i posted a few more on flickr, and will try and get the rest up sometime this week. sure hope you like them.

Friday, September 5, 2008

looking for an intern


wanted to wish everyone a lovely weekend, and tell you that jamie and i are looking for an intern. we are moving into our studio in hollywood on monday and we need help. it's a part time paid internship, applicant must be hard working, willing to laugh at our jokes (most of which are not funny), love to eat cupcakes and listen to boy bands. shoot us an email if you are interested at info@shopbando.com.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

half here


this is exactly how i feel.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

hi.


i'm still here. just in case you were wondering. our fun little project of making headbands has turned into a full fledged business. it has been so incredible, and it has been so incredibly overwhelming. but, i've missed you. and there are so many things i want to share with you. let's hope this week i can back into the swing of things. for now, enjoy this photo. it kinda looks like a painting doesn't it?

oh yeah.

we added a new page of awesomeness here.

and we are selling a limited edition ban.do here.

xo

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

coming up for air



so i came up for air after 2 really intense, exhausting, AMAZING days. jamie and i have been going non-stop. we are so thrilled by what the daily candy post has done for our brand new business. thank you for all of your kind emails and comments. sorry if i haven't replied. i am just incredibly overwhelmed. so much so, that i didn't even notice that the issue of small magazine that i worked on came out today. i really want to spend a bit of time sharing the photos with you and telling you about all of the amazing people that contributed to the shoot. i tried to post a list with links to their fantastic sites, but it didn't work and now i am crying because i am so tired and frustrated, and i really want you to see the list, but it just won't work, and i really think i just better go to sleep. i will post everything on monday. i promise. i think. yikes.

i wish every photo could have made it in, but i understand, the nice folks at small had to leave room for other people. i was getting a bit greedy. i have a ton of photos i want to show you from the shoot. i really hope i can get around to it. for now, you can just get started here.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The reason I am smiling right now!


I was dying to tell you, but I just wanted to make sure it was real before I did. Jamie and I (well, and ban.do, too) are featured on Daily Candy Everywhere today! How cool is that? Well, I'll tell you . . . Very, Very cool!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Frida


My friend Rachel surprised me with a book of Frida Kahlo photographs. Amazing! You should be jealous of me. I would be jealous of you. Oh yeah, it's called "I Will Never Forget You . . .Frida Kahlo to Nickolas Murray." If you want a copy of your own, I found one for you here. Happy Monday!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

they're here!


hip hip hooray. after much stress, and just generally (and specifically) annoying stuff. the tags are here! hip hip hooray. oh wait. i already said that. i guess i'm just really excited.

also, not much more time on this giveaway, and you don't have to be a bride to enter. plus if you haven't been to snippet & ink, you should. it's a wonderful place.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

feathers are pretty


i wasn't sure about the dead leaves, but i am pretty sure that feathers are pretty.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

dead leaves are pretty, too!


don't you think?

Sunday, August 10, 2008

we worked until our fingers bled


we worked until our fingers bled.
adding a second shop page, filled with feathery goodness.
monday starts a ban.do giveaway (yes, i said giveaway) here.
thank you for making our first week so AMAZING!!!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

hello!


i'm here. totally overwhelmed at the moment. the response to ban.do has been truly amazing. we've sold quite a few and have taken lots of custom orders. thank you, again to everyone who helped get the word out. we are already coming up with some new designs to meet the demands of our customers - - wow. we have customers. so crazy. oh yeah, if you can, email us here to get yourself on the mailing list. we will have some special offers and we will let you know when we put up new ban.dos - - and we may just email you to say hi. who knows. ok. i know i have more stuff to tell you, but i can't think. hmmmmmmmmmm.? i guess it will have to wait.

ps. this is another image from this month's issue of mankind mag.

Monday, August 4, 2008

speaking of fun for your head


erin just released her second issue of mankind mag. the hair issue. it is amazing! you have to go check it out. we collaborated on another story together. i think we are best friends.

more about ban.do later! thanks for all of your emails and comments. jamie and i are thrilled.

it's here


we are so excited, and EXHAUSTED! i have so much to share, but i have to try and sleep for a bit. we just launched the site. please check it out. more posts about ban.do to come. thank you for all of your lovely comments on my last post!

Friday, August 1, 2008

fun for your head


a little something that my friend jamie and i have been working on. these (and many more) will be for sale on monday when we launch our site. just putting the finishing touches on now, but i wanted to give you a sneak peek. we are both really excited. i'll be back monday with all of the details. hope you like 'em.

have a great weekend!

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

all shook up


i just wanted to thank everyone for their comments and emails about the earthquake yesterday. myself and all of my pretty things have emerged unscathed. i was in michael's craft store when it hit and it was very strange. people were just looking around as the very, very tall shelves (i never really noticed how tall) swayed and stuff like scrapbooks and glitter glue hit the ground. i thought for sure i would come home to a barn full of broken glasses, but no, nothing even moved. not even an inch (i know that because of the dust that surrounds each glass). i feel very lucky, very lucky indeed.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

white plates


i'm running around today looking for white plates for a shoot this week. hoping to have the scanner back up and running next week (when andrew - - my hero - - returns). until then i will just pull from the polaroid archives. hope you don't mind.

Monday, July 28, 2008

I took your advice.


Well, sort of.
I didn't actually leave the house in it, but it did help to just put it on for a bit.
It got quite hot, quite quickly,
so my time as a sheep was brief.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaa-d


That pretty much describes my week, without boring you with all of the details. I don't know what is worse, having a couple of bad weeks, or admitting to having a couple of bad weeks. I pride myself on staying very positive, even in the most challenging of situations and I am completely aware that a "bad week" for me, is still a pretty darn good week for a lot of other people. I remain very grateful for all that I have, cause I have a lot! It's just that sometimes, I can't help but get kind of pissed and want to break every plate in the cupboard. I didn't, but I really, really wanted to. I actually think I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Oh my God! I'm gonna break every plate in the cupboard. I am! I'm SERIOUS!!!"

PS. How great is this mask? Can I wear it out in public or is that weird? It's weird, right?

Friday, July 18, 2008

Real Simple


Before I say anything more, let me just say I am having an absolutely awful day (actually the last week has been a bit yucky). It started when Andrew's grandmother past away this past weekend. He traveled back home to Australia and I couldn't go with him. So everything seems a bit more intense without him here. I'm sure any and all of my circumstances could be cured with a little snuggle.

Well, our scanner doesn't work (as I mentioned earlier this week) and it is causing me a lot of stress and Canon isn't being terribly helpful. My self timer for the polaroid died, which makes it very difficult to finish a project I am working on for Erin. My .mac site is not working so I cannot send or receive emails from that account and I only had to wait on hold for an hour and twenty minutes to find that out (and no, we don't have a speaker phone, and yes, my ear hurts). I usually try not to dwell on any of this, but it has been tough. There actually are a lot of great things happening, too, they just seem a bit overshadowed today.

Now, about this post's title. I wanted to tell you a while ago that I shot something for Real Simple Magazine. I was so excited, but I didn't want to say anything until the issue came out. I love that magazine and I love the girls that work at that magazine, so I was thrilled when they asked me. The first issue that I shot for them came in the mail today (August 2008) and although super excited to see my name, I was a bit sad about the image. It got, well, cropped. I know that happens, a lot. Not a big deal, but I thought at least I have an outlet here to show the shot in it's entirety, because I thought it was pretty cute. Fingers crossed that the next one squeezes itself onto the pages of the September issue.

Oh, and did I mention I'm on a diet. I picked a bad, bad week to go on a diet.

ps. this looks great

and THANK YOU for everyone who either posted about my small magazine shoot or replied directly to me. It's going to be amazing!!

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Lost in the Shuffle


Hi. I'm still here. Just been kind of a weird few days. And that damn scanner of mine is still on the fritz. Not happy. I tend to be a big believer in everything happens for a reason, so I'm guessing when the time is right, it will be resolved. In the meantime, this is on hold, which makes me sad. Soon. On another note. I always kind of liked this shot, but it's one of those that just got lost in the shuffle. I guess that's bound to happen when you have thousands of polaroids. What do you think? Jewelry can be like candy, right?

Check out this new blog.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Help, please!


I know, I know. He is just too cute. I wish he were mine, but he belongs to one of my best friends, Megan (and I guess her husband, Ryan had something to do with it, too). Actually if I could be promised a little boy like this one, I would have a baby tomorrow (well not tomorrow, but maybe 9 months from tomorrow). But I digress. I am actually writing to you for some help. I am really excited to be contributing to the fall issue of Small Magazine, and I am looking for designers to loan me some products to feature for the shoot. I am primarily looking for kids fall/winter accessories (Belts, shoes, hats, glasses, gloves, mittens, scarfs, leg warmers, etc). I think it would be a fantastic way for independent designers to get their product out. So if you have a blog and would be willing to do a post on it, or if you know a small designer that fits the bill or if you are a small designer that fits the bill, let me know. I can be contacted by email at hello@jengotch.com. Let's talk!

Oh, and I received my copies of For the Love of Light today. Jen did an amazing putting it together. So if you haven't already -- go get you one!!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Can a kitchen counter be interesting?


Just wondering.