Anahata Katkin

Away We Go!

I'll be signing off for now while since we leave for Hong Kong today!  Keep your tips coming since I'll have some internet time.  Wish me deep, deep sleep on the 20 hour journey!  See you on the flip side. 

Gina Katkin

Many people are aware that PAPAYA has been a collaboration between my mother, Gina Katkin, and I since it's beginning. (And now many more people are part of this collaboration.) But what most people don't know is that Gina is really the mastermind behind it all.  She is the captain and the ship.  Today on the PAPAYA blog there is a wonderful interview with her and her journey.  Check it out for some wonderful stories and sound advice. Here's a snippet from that:
What advice would you give to aspiring business women and artists in this industry?
Believe…..and when you don’t…close your eyes, take a deep breath and believe.  See and feel “it” inside of yourself first, then don’t let that feeling fade.  I remember spending Memorial Day week-end glittering cards and shipping orders after working a very long week at my “other” job….then I had to load all the boxes in the car and take them to the UPS store.  I fell down the stairs, I dropped the boxes, I was tired and I started to lose it………something inside me said “QUIT – This is the difference, right here, right now”….and all the FEELINGS of my vision of PAPAYA! flooded in and it was easy to believe again – The rest of my day was great.  It may sound cheesy or like this is not the important stuff  to build a business, but it is how I did it.  

Stuffy Beauty...

Since we redesigned the booth and let ourselves dive into those deeper colors and slightly old world inspiration I've still not fully satisfied my recent affair with old, aristocratic interiors.  Mind you I couldn't actually live in them but the theatrics of it all make me swoon right now.  Curiosities, framing clusters, aged & framed images, dark and moody environments, musty surfaces, oppulence, 
We are preparing for our inspiration trip to Hong Kong on Saturday as well.  These interiors are chock full of Chinese influence and the interesting relationship that used to occur because of European fascination with Chinese interiors, art and traditions at the turn of the last century.  I think I probably get more inspiration from interiors than perhaps any other source. (If I wasn't designing for PAPAYA I'd probably be designing spaces.)  
I'd love to know much more about this topic. I look forward to seeking out the visual delights of old Hong Kong and of course be looking for new ways to interpret them back here.  I'm stuffing my notebooks full of magazine pages and scouring favorite books for new ideas to unlock while we are there. Sources: Upper two images from Romantic Homes, all others from the lovely book, Rooms by Derry Moore. 
Along the same lines I'm dying to get my hands on a copy of this book.  If anyone has it let me know what you think.  It seems like a realistic and beautifully photographed source!  Flowers for the Home.  

Easter Heads Up...

If you have children or you happen to be an Easter Family then I wanted to give you a Holiday heads up.   
Easter is in just a couple short weeks on April 4th this year.  
If you live someplace warm-ish it's a great day to make the most of yard blooms and something special for your family. Outdoor brunch or drag the branches inside and make the most of them at a spring setting.
We even have envelope sets you can use as invites.  They are imprintable in newer home printers too...
 These inexpensive prints are also a nice gift for childrens baskets or hidden at the park in trees for them to find! Each print has ribbons to tie them at the top.   Here's a couple that would be perfect: Crunchy, Trouble Maker (for boys), Love (above),& Jesus.   
 So if PAPAYA is part of your Easter Basket, or Easter Day plans make sure to get your web orders in this week so that you can receive them in time for Easter Weekend...Here's some idea links:  Love Letter Gift Tags as place markers, Specialty paper to cut as place mats or line an entire table, Water Bottles, sticker sets, or tins for a healthier basket gift, envelope invites for Easter Brunch, and these little cards are Easter Perfect: Bunny, Red Bird, Bunny Ears, Brown Bird.  

Well fine! Eat then!

I am on day three after having my wisdom teeth removed. Seems like I should be better but my bottom teeth where so stubborn the dentist was nearly having a cuss fit trying to get them out.  And considering i was sedated that's really got to stand for something since I can recall that part!  Woke up today feeling worse than yesterday. But I'm proud to have it over and done with.  I'm supposed to be getting some web design done for a new website launch coming next month.  We'll see how I do on pain meds.  This journal (coming next month) is kinda how I'm feeling I have to admit.  I'm giving thanks for all those bites I took for granted over the years.  But bless you Cream-Of-wheat!  At least I have you, tomato soup and movies on demand...

Sabrina Faces

Sabrina Ward Harrison has been offering up a beautiful stream of originals that she is making over printed giclee images.  You can purchase the lovely square shaped canvases in her Etsy shop. 
It's a rare opportunity to have one of her originals for yourself.  And keep checking back since she is replenishing them with fresh faces in this springy series.
   A sneak peek from her Facebook post...

Henna Cookies!

 I loved this post over at the Free People Blog- Building 15.  These Mehndi Cookies are so beautiful and clever.  They have the how too's in the original post!  What a great idea.  

Amateur Photo Shoot.

The other day the PAPAYA girls and I all had an amateur photo shoot here at my house. It was a fun, cold, spring day.  We played Martha for hours and tried to recreate various moods and experiences for new PAPAYA products that will be featured in the summer catalogues and new website.
These are non product related shots that I really liked.  So much editing to do on the pics still before sharing.  
Even though we had enough pastels and spring blooms to host a Mad Hatter tea party I've enjoyed mucking up the images and making them a bit more moody than the technicolor truth of the day.  
The whole day had a wonderful Alice-n-Wonderland feel to it. (which I saw Fri. I didn't like it. Not sure why)   Kathleen took this picture using her iphone!  Apparently i'm the last one to know about the incredible camera apps available.  This one is Toy Camera and I am instantly hooked!  What a slick thing.  Lots more photo's to come...
    

Origami Catering Design

It's been a couple years since I did some design work for a friend who was beginning a brave, sustainably run, sushi business.  Origami Catering.  I had completely forgotten about this project since we no longer have their freshie goods at our Ashland Markets.
Origami Catering is now a booming wholesale and catering company in the Portland area.  I still don't do custom design anymore.  But I'm always proud when I get to see a product with a secret stamp from my design kitchen! 
And in a more traditional, Japanese spirit check out these gorgeous postcard images from Cairlinn's Stream.  Cherry blossoms are blooming here in Oregon and somehow the idea of them in Japan sounds all the more exciting!  IS there anything better than giant, pink, flowery trees?