Steven Alan pop-up

I'm currently writing this post from a huge rental cargo van, on the way to pick up dozens of beautiful houseplants for a pop-up shop at the new Steven Alan home store this weekend. I'll be selling simple bouquets and fool-proof plants- a perfect way to welcome spring (and fund my post hit and run truck!). The pop-up has been in the works for months, and I'm over the moon excited for it to finally be happening. Please stop in and take a bit of nature home with you!

Truck troubles

The past few weeks have piled up a few small sadnesses. A month of sickness in the house, back and forth between Michael and I, and the senseless smashing of my beloved truck. It was totaled in the middle of the night by a teenage boy who, after wrecking both of our cars, just ran away on foot. We woke up the next morning to find nothing but scatted broken vases and flower buckets at the spot where the truck had been towed in the early hours of St. Patricks Day.

Trucks are replaceable. Humans are not. I've been through worse, so much worse, and yet I'm still heartbroken. Sadness, anger, guilt, sadness, anger, guilt! We are so very fortunate, if you have to be hit by a drunk driver, it's best not to be inside the car. The other driver's insurance situation is a diaster though, so everything is in painful limbo. But birds are chipping here and spring seems to finally be breaking through. Cars don't matter, breathe, cars don't matter, breathe, cars don't matter. Maybe now is the time to revive my hunter green jaguar e-type dreams?

Quick pics

A surprising amount of flowers have come through the studio considering it's winter. Too bad I've momentarily lost interest in photographing arrangements, the same super blurry depth of field shot, blahhhh. It's nice to let pretty things pass undocumented sometimes, good for the creative cycle. 

People frequently ask what camera I use, I have an old canon 5D, a little 35mm point and shoot and my currant favorite, my iphone. This is a camera shot- the reflection of Broome Street in the back window of my truck after a finishing a job at the St. Regis. I've found that shooting phone photos is my new favorite creative game- the limitations of the camera make it much more casual and fun. Inspiration is hard to come by, and as long as I don't shatter my phone on sidewalk again, I'll catch a bit spontaneity whenever I can.

Palm Springs Cactarium

Just when you thought our work here was done, I found a lost roll of film under my bed from Palm Springs. 

I had a pulled pork sandwich at the Ace Hotel that day, we took some photobooth pics and as it started to rain, Michael and I ducked into the Moorten Botanical Garden, a homespun 1 acre plot jampacked with 3000 desert plants. The day was finished off by a banana date milkshake and the long drive home to LA. I think the catci should be flowering soon, and I'd really love to go back to see it. 

California part 2

Before we move on from California, (how does one do that, ps?), let's talk for a minute about eye-popping west coast vegetation. Citrus, cacti, jasmine, eucalyptus, and date palms. Succulents, agave and avocados. Pomegranate trees in parking lots.

One morning, we snuck two ruby red grapefruits from tree branches so heavy that they seems likely to break. Back over the kitchen sink, we didn't even bother with plates or knives to eat them. A revelation for a girl from the mid-atlantic.

The most bizarrely wonderful thing about Southern California is that you're within two hours of the truest of deserts, the Mediterranean countryside, an overgrown jungle, a palm oasis or a snowy mountain top. Or Beverly Hills with a convertible full of shopping bags like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

I'm eager to go back and take it easy the next trip. Eat a few more tacos, go to the farmers market and Rose Bowl Flea. Sleep a bit later and sun a bit more. I won't be holding my breath for the convertible and shopping combo though, a day in the dirt always wins here.

Joshua Tree

I spent 10 days in Southern California at the beginning of the year. New Yorkers have this thing about California. We've internalized Annie Hall to the point where we're convinced that the effervescent sunshine out west must be hiding deep, dark secrets because how else could the weather be so damn nice all the time?

The only secret I found out was how happy and at ease I felt there. It was in no small part because of my tour guide and his highly selective greatest-hits tailored perfectly to a country yet city girl who likes getting dirty but more often than not needs a nice americano in the morning and wants to inspect up-close every cactus, leaf and flower under her nose. It was a whirlwind, and I think I felt the most inspired and energized during our time in Joshua Tree.
The Mojave and the Colorado deserts join forces in Joshua Tree and visiting it's rocky terrain is something of a pilgrimage for artists, hiking vagrants and U2 fans alike. I fell hard for the desert, so unfamiliar and fascinating. It was cold, even by East Coast standards. As we scrambled from rock to rock, our toes froze and required a thaw courtesy of some spicy indian food and the car heater on high. The next day it snowed, shattering many Southern California conceptions. Happy surprises, all around.

To describe the beauty in Joshua Tree as subtle, especially in winter, seems the easiest solution. A rocky abyss, brown, brown, brown and dusty enough to camouflage the blackest shoes in a matter of minutes. But subtle doesn't remotely describe the huge cactus spikes, hazy mountains, coral wildflowers and chartreuse lichen. Little fighting plants everywhere you look, huge boulders balanced, seussical trees for miles and banana date milkshakes at the local diner.

It's put me in the mood for geodesic domes and cactus gardens and while it couldn't be further from all of the things that speak of home to me, I somehow felt at home there, too. When expanding your horizons, an expansive horizon is always a beautiful backdrop.

Valentine's Flower Workshop

I'm hosting a Valentine's Flower Workshop on next Tuesday night, February 12th at my studio. Champagne, flowers, cheese, lots of inspiring ladies and gentleman- it's the Valentines Day present I've always wanted to give myself. The class is open to all skill levels and limited to 8 students. Handmade valentines included!

I've been trolling the flower market and forcing forsythia in preparation. Also doing intense creative calisthenics, my kitchen table is covered in vintage ribbon and hearts and flower scraps. Glue sticks. Last night's red wine. I'm ready for you.

For the past few years, I've fought celebrating Valentines Day. Hiding behind flower jobs and beating myself into the ground, running around past the point of no return. This year, I'm feeling relaxed. Happy. No beating. No running. No hiding. Just celebrating flowers and fun, and finally passing the halfway mark of winter.

I'm hoping to see some of your happy faces on the 12th, here is how you can sign-up for the class. 

2013

I've been quietly wishing you a happy new year ever since the thing actually happened a few weeks ago. I felt like I owed you a greatest hits of sorts, a highest highs and lowest lows. I fell in love, had a brief battle with bed bugs, I feasted and famined. You know- life happened. I've done a lot of private introspection and think I'll leave it at that. It was a ride, and I am still a little wobbly on my feet.

I want to ask myself a single question this year. What am I doing now, I mean now now, to actualize some of my wild, untended and half-formed hopes for the distant future. A lot of self-kindness and self-awareness are in order, too.  And now we march forward into the fray. 

Kinfolk winter flowers

In January, I worked on a photoshoot in my old floral studio (ahem bedroom) that has found a home in the current volume of Kinfolk Magazine. It was the first collaboration between Parker Fitzgerald and I, and while we've created some really satisfying stories together since, this one is still the favorite. We both were quite new in the world of professional shoots at the time, and I think it set the tone for what would end up being a very creative and successful year for us. A win just out of the gate, thanks in part to Francesca and Micha who graciously let me poke them with flowers all day.





While I was knee-deep in flowers that day, I got a phone call to style my first commercial advertising shoot. I hyperventilated a bit, and then went out for fried chicken with everyone. A practice in self-actualization that still makes me flush with unexpected happiness. It's been a great run, and while the year is nearly over, it's still only the beginning around here. I hope you spend the end of this one warm and surrounded by those you love. I'll be christmassing with my parents and new yearsing with Michael. The only thing that will be missing is a big, long hug from my sister who can't come home this year.

Open Studio Night

Attention New Yorkers! Saturday the 15th (tomorrow!) I am having a little open studio party and wreath sale. From 4 to 7pm, we will be swilling mulled wine and hawking all kinds of Charlie Brown wreaths in Greenpoint and I really hope you can stop by. My new perfumer studiomate Julia from Nova Perfume will also be selling custom fragrance gift certificates. I'm so excited to invite you to see the space and please, bring friends (and cookies). Till tomorrow.