Anahata Katkin

First Stop: Honolulu

We've just returned from a wonderful adventure to Oahu, Hawaii.  For some reason the people I've known have always said, "Nah you don't need to do Oahu".  Maybe because of the hyped up
touristy-vegas aspects of Waikiki, (umm like these reality-tv hipsters who infiltrated us poolside one day!) or maybe just the fast paced Honolulu?  But I have to say Oahu was magical for me.
It was treasure island full of suprises.  Honolulu felt like a sea of options.  Caribbean blue ocean, third world, meets new world buildings,
a confusing and wonderful array of people, accents and personalities.  In a city that smells like tempura and plumeria, I was enchanted.  
We went to  Spam Jam Festival (no joke), local artwalk, marveled at the olympiad-like workout freaks, spotted Fabio selling vitamins at Whole Foods (God I miss Whole Foods!). There's something just odd and wonderful about Honolulu that I can really appreciate.

Geninne's Feathers

Just LOVE these images from Geninne Zlatkis whom I had the pleasure of meeting last year in Mexico!  Her world is stunning!

Mud Huts

Oh!  Would you look at this.  Can you hear my heart beating faster?  Sarah , one of our designers, sent me this amazing link today about these Indian Mud Huts shown on Moon to Moon.  And ever since I am dreaming about them! With so many booth projects coming up for PAPAYA! and for LEELAH this really has me inspired.  Last series of booths we did was based on Berber Tribal Tents, looks like I'm circling similar themes.
But then again maybe I'll scrap my house entirely and adopt a gorgeous painted home alltogether.  I can't imagine a more enchanted use of materials.  Do you think this is free hand or stencils? (I'm thinking free hand) I've got to do somethings inspired by these.  They are too gorgeous to ignore.

Missing: The Hippy Dress

Oh those talented folks over at Free People have me digging around this morning.  There Vintage Loves section has a lovely Festival Girl page that is toting fabulous old 70's dresses.  Which inspire me to no end.  And I would probably wear them daily if I where a size zero.  (since they poof in all the craziest places they're hard to wear). They remind me of my childhood and hold a special nostalgia for me.You've heard me talk about her before, but my mom, in the era I was born sported some seriously good hippy garb.  See her here in her homesteading clique in Alaska.  She's the one on the farthest left. (And my father is beneath her w the dog) She made clothing for me, herself and her...bellydance troupe.  She kept many in an old pink suitcase and as a naughty teen I would pillage her dudds and cut them into early 90's grunge outfits! (I ruined more than a few special pieces.)  As hard as I try at times to move into the new century my  heart still sings with hippy roots.  And even though this was their era, it feels embedded in my sentimental closet.

Painted Beach Rocks

Spring Breaks quick trip to the coast yielded an entire basket of lovely, smooth, flat rocks from the beach.  I've literally even tried to order such rocks on the internet with no luck.  So I was pumped to find them everywhere!  This is just a start.  Still need to get the right matte paint but i intend to paint 100 or so eventually while watching episodes of Game of Thrones and Shameless!

I Heart Burlwood

One of my favorite stops going to the coast on Redwood Highway is always the Burlwood Gallery.  An old school relic that grows every year.  New tree houses, new sculptures, new craziness! A collective of artists and free spirits no doubt have been building this place up for 30 years! Really UP!  I'm afraid to climb into their highest tree house. It reminds me of my roots in Alaska as a kid.  Where renegade buildings, cabins and crafts of the 70's lived side-by-side with their eccentric owners.If you make it to that highway make sure you stop for an enchanted snoop around the Burlwood property!

Attn Designers:

PAPAYA! is growing and fast.  We're looking for creative candidates right here.  We're proud of our brand and company vision, benefits and direction. We are looking for a new (downright fabulous) designer to join our creative team.
We're also searching for some key individuals to fill the roles of Web Maestro, Wholesale Sales Associate, as well as Retail Sales in our Brick-n-Mortar location.  Click here for our career listings. Please don't hestitate to share your work and interest with us!

Field Trip

We decided last minute to take a little field trip a couple hours from home.  The California, Oregon border was a nice break from the norm for spring break start up. A little bit of coast and a little bit of Redwoods made a couple days full of fresh air, treasure hunting and connecting. Jedediah State Park along Smith River. We came home with buckets of smooth rocks for painting on!  All of us had rock fever. And mad clover fever!  We searched tirelessly for four leaf clovers.

Other adventures included tree houses, real lions, tigers and leopards on the Redwood Highway, questionable dining, and even a show-n-tell from a talented Burlwood artist at the Burlwood Gallery.  (More on that later) All in all a great reminder that exploring in your own neck of the woods is worth the effort.  Especially around here.  All work and no play had made us bonified Netflix freaks!Happy Spring Break mommies!

I Won?

At Christmas time I ordered some prints from Blaine Fontana.  (Cuz I'm big nerdy fan of all his creations of course.)  Last week this arrived on my porch.  No note, just a signature, Blaine Fontana bird house that I assume was used as part of his extensive installations he does at events.  Anyhoo.  Turns out I WON this little guy from their site.  Go figure!  My first real win is on an arts site. How nice!  The moral of this story?  Buying art is good!