Anahata Katkin

New York...

I've just returned from a trip to NYC and Las Vegas mostly for work.  But my son was able to stow away with me to NY for some much needed adventure time.  Our dear friends where there with my sons lifelong playmate.  So play we did! We also spent a day at Coney Island which entertained me to no end.  What a crazy, kookie place.  We marveled at the characters, the food, the NY-meets-beach combo and the lost souls who use it as their stomping grounds.  We all enjoyed the day! Luckily I managed to avoid fried oreos and the freak show.  But we did jump a bunch of rides and watched drunk people dance on the boardwalk.  (no I wasn't one of them)
It's been a marathon summer and I'm really excited to be home. There's so much inspiration and excitement out there and taking that all home with me to digest and reinterpret will feel just right.  I have to admit I'm a little excited for fall, school starting and getting back to a little routine...and salads!

Primping PAPAYA!

It's been a long week of primping and playing in the PAPAYA! LIVING boutique.   A little time to dress the store up in the latest treasure.  I love this process with all my heart!

Jenny Land

(Jenny at Wisma Cafe) This past week we had a chance to go to Libertyville outside of Chicago to visit Jenny Sweeney.  An amazing friend whom I've had the pleasure to get to know through various creative adventures and travels. (Bali, Mexico, Belize, Paris!)
Jenny is one of the most artistic people I know.  And her vitality is highly contagious as is her prolific offerings.(sorry these pics are mostly from my iphone)  Her home is a sea of collected treasures and handmade pieces.  We even stopped by Wisma. A take out concept restaurant that Jenny designed with all reclaimed & recycled materials, AND on a shoe string!  It was outstanding.
From vintage home sales, event design, custom design both on interiors and graphic, as well as illustrator and artist...Jenny Sweeney does it all.  In fact every restaurant or bar had Jenny's graphic touches.  Logo's, signs, bathroom wallpaper, furniture, posters.  If I liked it in Libertyville chances are Jenny made it happen.

Jenny offers design services, a full line of greeting cards & stationery, recycled furniture, and other bits from the land of Jenny on her website right here. xoxox...

Home From Chicago

 I just returned home from a quick trip to Chicago.  A town I really know very little about.  But I sense the layers, the depth, the magic and the pride in the Windy City.  Which While I was there was more about heat and loads of great coffee, cocktails and good company! We had the chance to even hang out with my creative comrad, Jenny Sweeney!  Who was gracious enough to show us all her local haunts and even a secret farm on faraway country land full to the brim with rare finds from around the globe!! (of course she did!) Jenny has all kinds of wonderful talents and scouting is at the top of the list! (more reports from Jenny Land in the next post)Treasure!  Treasure I say!  Wonderful and exciting textiles from India, Persia and Uzbekistan. Over the past few years I have quickly become more seriously obsessed by textiles.  Particularly tribal textiles and those that tell a history.  Often textiles can indeed tell us much about our global history, migrations of ideas, and cultural hybrids.  So this place was just heavens closet for me to put it mildly.
 I waddled up as much wool, silk and cotton as I could muster and I'll have literally loads of rare treasure in the shop this month thanks to this masterful traveler.  So you collectors out there beware.  It's on the way.And while I was cruising for loot our wholesale team was showing at the Chicago gift show as well.  So I was able to hang out with my brother and good friends.  What a wonderful backdrop Chicago was for delightful food and company!  I look forward to exploring more of it!
But these beauties where waiting for me by the front steps of my house when I returned!  There's no place like home...