Anahata Katkin

Pinterest!

It has taken me years but I've finally joined the Pinterest club.  So far it's another online boobie trap that I find endlessly entertaining.  It feels like video games for creatives.  Hours go by and boards get richer but the house is still a mess and work calls.  But that being said I love it!  I'm still widdling away at collections and deciding just how best to use this archiving of interest.  Here's where my pins live if you'd like to see how I've been playing on Pinterest.  (the above images are from my Black & White Tribe board.  Click for sources)

I'm smitten...

with this beautiful image from Heather Smith Jones.

Cutting Edges: Gestalten

I'm so pleased with Cutting Edges.  A compliation of vintage style, modern collage illustrations.  It's refreshing to see publishers taking risks
and keeping "the weird alive" as I like to say... It's also a refreshing, alternative perspective to the mixed media collage circuit here in the Northwest.
 (though I am proud to be part of an area I believe has had a huge role and influence in the worlwide collage movement!) Also loving The Modernist from Gestalten.  A more design-focused collection of artwork that feels fresh and vivid.   I have to take books like these slow.  I am such an image hoarder that I tend to gravitate towards saturated images with lots of color and texture.  But what I crave is truly much simpler.  Books such as these help train my eye and expand my mind the way good literature expands vocabulary.  Sometimes I need a few sittings to fully absorb the treasures.  

Does that make sense?  If I flip right through them I don't enjoy the brilliance or even see it at first glance.  So enjoy these books and celebrate brave, artistic  publishing!

LEELAH?

Many of you have heard the buzz around PAPAYA's new clothing line, LEELAH.  We had hoped to launch our LEELAH site in July but with most of us on "the road" and complicated web development, we've been delayed. YUP!  It happens...However behind the scenes we've been busy bees making it all come to life.  Both at trade shows in NYC and Vegas as well as here at home.  Everyone at LEELAH / PAPAYA! wears as many hats as possible.  We've all been juggling roles and ideas this season and we can't wait to share them with you!
We are only days away from an online launch and we'll be sure you are in the loop!  (If you're in Ashland, Oregon you can stop by and see LEELAH in person at our flagship boutique, PAPAYA! Living.) Thank you for your patience as we launch our new baby...Here's some booth shots from this season for fun till then!

All Work and No Play? Never.

Papaya/ Leelah / Papaya Living teams have all been on the road this past week.  We had a whirlwind week between NY and Las Vegas.  Buying goodies for our lovely boutique, and showcasing our brands in both the gift and fashion industries in each city.  
Which means there's just the tiniest room for play while on the road with some great peeps.  super savvy designer maven Sarah above was cracking me up in Vegas in this faux piazza.  (she's off to Paris next week.  But who needs Paris when theres Vegas?)
Miss Zoe braving Times Square on a Saturday night in August! Here my brother, Eli wins the bribe for riding the unsavory mechanical bull and I conquer my first country line dance in Vegas! I recover while doing market research for PAPAYA! LIVING in me hotel room... A lovely rooftop experience at Jimmy @ the James Hotel with Alli and Zoe in NY. The heart shaped glasses are a hit for us all!

And after a lot of work and a little play we've all made it back safe n sound.  Another show season wrap!

Paper Chains

How insanely beautiful are these!?  Oh that Pam!  She is amazing.  You can read her full post on how to make them here.

PAPAYA! LIVING : Luxe Boho Boutique...

The flagship PAPAYA! LIVING boutique is brimming with treasure and layers of beautiful finds! Some of my favorites at the moment.  Summer Perfumes, Turkish jewels and yarn balls.

Stop by if you live in the area or come visit on your way through the West Coast this summer!

Creative Abandon: PAPAYA!/ LEELAH Credo

This is what has mattered since PAPAYA! day one in 2003!  And today as we've grown into new divisions like our flagship boutique, PAPAYA! LIVING and our clothing line, LEELAH (site launching next week)- it means more than ever...

PAPAYA! Trade Show Booth

This summers prettied up PAPAYA! booth in Los Angeles... Loads of good work our teams have been up to this year.  And all that lovely stuff in one place is a treat for us all to see!!

Home...For Real.

I've always been a nester.  Home couldn't be more important to me and the things I create and where I make life happen.  But this being my first home owner experience has made the transition a much deeper one.  It's only a few weeks in but I'm already revelling in the feeling that this one's permanent  (or at least personal). All the things I've been collecting over the years finally have a resting place and the ones that don't finally can move on.  A huge relief for a collector of too many treasures. I Also have been experimenting with restraint of all things.  Something that's farly unfamiliar territory for me.  I've been playing with color, texture and inspiration in a thematic way.  And sticking to it. 

 That's been a great process for me.  I've been longing for a more soothing atmosphere and the processs of editing my life and my things has helped.
I'm still chipping away at studio, office and closets but the longer it lasts perhaps the better.  It feels good that I know I have as long as I want to savor the projects around here.
But even better is the feeling of sunlight, windows, white walls and a place to share with friends and loved ones.  I couldn't be more grateful for this change in my life.  A home...for real. xoxoxo...