Beatrice Wood had an incredible gift, was an artist by heart, a potter at 40.
With a natural organic feel, an often pitted luster glaze, her pottery seems to emerge from ancient times.
Her whimsical figural work, Beatrice called her ‘sophisticated primitives’.
A dynamic charming artist with a bohemian lifestyle, captivating in her colorful saris, lived a long impressive life. She died at 105.
THE MODERN TWIST ON TIE-DYE
Tie-dye has grown up and resurfaced as one of today’s most inspired looks. Whether dip-dye, shibori, ombré, or the traditional circle pattern,
the new take on tie-dye is amazingly fresh, fashionable, and fun.
In Tie-Dye: Dye It, Wear It, Share It, acclaimed fashion designer and artist Shabd Simon-Alexander
shares her techniques for creating the innovative styles that make her own hand-dyed collection so popular.
Japanese shibori, plangi from Indonesia and ancient India bandhani are shape resist dyed textiles.
When manipulating cloth by gathering and binding before dying, it creates a texture throughout the cloth with a sculptural distinctive pattern and appeal.
You can find great diversity in the contorted forms of tie dyed cloth with much relevance to its history.
Different forms of tie-dye have been practiced in India, Japan, and Africa for centuries. The earliest surviving examples, include pre-Columbian alpaca,
found in Peru, and silk from fourth century Chinese tombs.
Carlo Bugatti, Italy’s most important and innovative designer famous for his distinctive art nouveau furniture at the end of the 1800s and early 1900s. Blending Moorish details with a Japanese influence, Bugatti used inlays of exotic wood, copper and parchment in his designs.
“I use my face like a blank canvas.” Cindy Sherman
For a unique view of the artist photographer Cindy Sherman, you only have to consider her provocative portraits.
As her own model, the artist manipulates her image into a multitude of compelling characters, often evoking another era and always challenging the stereotype.
“Her work is challenging, funny, witty, smart. It is incredibly original. I think she will have a great place in art history.”
John Waters, Film Director
Hundertwasser, an Austrian artist/architect, known for his brilliantly bold colored paintings and unusual
flowing rhythmic architecture was fascinated by spirals, he called straight lines ‘the devils tools’.
“The colourful, the abundant, the manifold, is always better than mediocre grey and uniformity.”
“The work of the artist is very difficult, because it cannot be done by force, diligence or intelligence.”
William Spratling was a modern, forward looking artist and designer of silver jewelry, influenced by Mexican culture and pre-Columbian design.
He is known as ‘the father of contemporary Mexican silver’ and the developer of Taxco as a silver jewelry mecca.
It was the 1930s and Taxco, a prosperous silver mining town in the 1700s, was now a reduced, destitute pueblo. Spratling had an idea and a plan.
With his adventurous spirit and creative designs, Spratling put Mexico silver jewelry on the international map.
His sought after jewelry stands strong in style, incorporating native materials such as amethyst and rosewood into his designs.
Paloma Picasso makes a strong statement through her design.
I discovered Paloma’s bold gold designs at Tiffany’s in 1980 and I was dazzled.
Her large semi precious stones in brilliant colors with dramatic settings that shimmer their magic added something spectacular.
Sensitively written, an engrossing story of a passionate disciplined life.
I am a fan of Alice Neel the artist, a complex woman with a strong passion. Phoebe Hoban totally captures the artist’s colorful history.
Alice’s life was messy, hard, often tempestuous and tragic, yet dedicated and committed to the bohemian artist’s life, with no excuses.
A fascinating story of her lifelong commitment to realism, and how she developed her mature work under an intense critical milieu of the NY art world.
Neel stands revealed as a master portraitist, a ‘collector of souls’ who continued to define the modern realist style.
Neel with her tenacity and passion was constant in her beliefs, not following art world trends.
As a pioneer Neel was a bridge to realism.
Phoebe Hoban writes a rich, enlightening, well-researched biography, which keeps you curious about a compelling art world.
A Japanese kimono depicting and glorifying war
with a full striking military scene.
In the years leading up to WW2, Japan was in deep-seated pro-militarism mode
with the third largest navy in the world.
The inner kimono revealed this hyped state to encourage the men and boys
and indoctrinate with adventurous depictions of military glory.
This rare upper kimono available at Hot Moon Collection
Mark Herod is resourceful,
he seeks out old worn textural metals
with bold sculptural forms and vintage colorful glass globes,
reinventing his found treasures into intriguing hanging lamps.
With his distinct style, Herod draws his inspiration from architecture, nature,
found vintage objects and form that together makes a strong statement.
Driven by a love of antiques and a desire to upcycle rather than waste,
Mark’s strong eye for design and his play of color and light
make the perfect complement to his skills as an artisan.
At Hot Moon Collection.
Julie Krakowski, a French textile designer planted in Brussels, shows
her intuitive design sense, inspired by marks left by time and embellished
to highlight the notion and beauty of change.
Her remarkable Coffee & Cigarettes, the little accidents that she so
lovingly accentuates with intricate embroidery, showing off the unpredictible uniqueness of life.
A classic Ruscha shape #315, designed by Kurt Tschöner and introduced in 1954 with hand applied glaze.
This shape shows both the Bauhaus influence and the influence from Murano glass.
available at Hot Moon Collection
Sempli Cupa Snifter/Tumbler
The idea for the Cupa glass was born in a small wine-bar in Firenze, Italy.
Designer, Daniele Semeraro, born in Sweden and after moving to Firenze discovered the joy of wine and the essential role the wine glass played in the drinking experience. He saw that the glass’s stem was superfluous from both an aesthetic and a technical point of view. Designing without adding, became his philosophy and the result was the Cupa glass.
Staying true to the Italian tradition, the glasses are hand produced by the most knowledgeable glass blowers. The swirling rotation of the glass when posed on a table is both amusing and practical; enjoy your brandy in this glass, and smell the aromas as they dissolve into their surroundings, or let your wine oxygenate in the glass in a perfect manner.
The Cupa is produced out of the purest glass containing no lead or lead oxide, making it a 100% sustainable experience.
A pair of gift boxed glasses at Hot Moon Collection in the Living section
Taking a pair of vintage chairs, upholstered in a so soft antique Indian blockprint textile, makes an impression.
Loving the soft colors and the smooth finish of this antique textile combined with the naturally aged chair finish.
Available at Hot Moon Collection 1501 Main Street, Venice California.
This is why we love the adventure of travel and the bold hunt for treasures. Discovering Mywalit in Lucca, Italy was one of those inspiring quests for the perfect find. The inspiration is simple and fundamental, based on innovative design, inspired color combining and the finest soft nappa leathers. Explore Hot Moon Collection’s array of contemporary bags and wallets by Mywalit.
This season does not feel flashy, the mood, at best, casual & smart.
Let your wardrobe multitask for you, with a new way to dress things
up or down, from day to night, while making the most out of a few good choices.
In the mountains of Los Angeles we are having a perfect summer, less valley heat than normal, enough sunshine throughout the day, winds silent and the buzz of bees.
My friend Leslie had a swarm of honeybees in her garage attic, so Mr. Beeman captured the swarm in a box, and now I find myself an apiarist.
I am gathering thoughts on flower choices for my pollen loving bees, and to encourage our beautiful queen to lay her progeny. Considering flowering times so the bees will have a continuous supply of nectar and pollen throughout the season is yummy to my prowess as a gardener.
The sweet golden honey is what attracts me to keeping my bees happy while also helping to bring back this important pollinator that has been in decline. My honey harvest will promise friends and neighbors a jar or two of sweet ambrosia from one of nature’s wonders.
Bees are fascinating amid their industrious intricate community, and I like that they do their own thing and require of me only occasional tending. For that we shall enjoy the fruits of my bee’s labor.
My favorite gardening shirt at Hot Moon Collection
Know yourself.
Always follow through on commitments.
Respect everyone.
Hold strong convictions that cannot be altered by your circumstances.
Don’t make an enemy of yourself.
Live without regrets.
Be certain to make a good first impression.
Don’t cling to the past.
Never break a promise
Don’t depend on other people.
Don’t speak ill of others.
Don’t be afraid of anything.
Respect the opinions of others.
Have compassion and understanding for everyone.
Don’t be impetuous.
Even little things must be attended to.
Never forget to be appreciative.
Make a desperate effort.
Have a plan for your life.
Never lose your “Beginner’s Spirit”.
Visit the Elm Design Collection at Hot Moon Collection
Easter is about family, the beginning of spring, and a sense of rebirth, which we traditionally celebrate with eggs.
I love this time of year and I like to wake up to this indulgent Easter breakfast with dear friends to celebrate the change of season with this easy to whip up dish.
Eggs Benedict
Yield: makes 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 11 mins
1. Fill a large frying pan with water to a depth of 2 inches. Add the vinegar and bring to a simmer over medium heat. When tiny bubbles appear at the bottom of the pan, carefully crack 4 eggs, one by one, into each pan.
2. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and let stand for exactly 6 minutes. Remove the eggs, using a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels.
3. Meanwhile, split each muffin in half and toast.
4. Butter each muffin half and place 2 on each serving plate. Top each half with a poached egg and spoon the hollandaise over the top.
Thanks to Victoria Blashford-Snell
Brigitte Hafner for this delicious recipe
Hollandaise Sauce
1/2 lb. unsalted butter
6 egg yolks
4–6 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground white pepper
1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until it begins to foam, 15–20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, put egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into the jar of an electric blender. Cover, and blend on high speed for 2 seconds; then, with the motor still running, gradually add melted butter in a slow, steady stream through hole in blender lid, leaving milky solids behind. Adjust seasonings.
Thanks Saveur
by Domenique Stewart
The cold blowy winter days are upon me! This is the time of year when I begin to feel a little bit stir crazy. Okay, a lot stir crazy. Ho hum, ho hum. Oh summertime offers so many activity choices and taking advantage of the outdoor weather is certainly something I enjoy, while wintertime for me is a time to hibernate and bake cookies. Now, add that up and you have an extra five pounds by spring!
Some may say there are winter activities, and there are if you don’t mind strapping on some skis or snowshoes or whatever it is your favorite winter sport requires. I don’t have a favorite winter sport. I do sometimes take a walk in the woods or in the neighborhood on a lovely winter day. Lazy I am not, and snow falling gently is such a pretty sight, but something about this time of year really slows me down. Some may live where snow is not so much of an adventure or an obstacle, either way, when it comes down to it, my physiology seems to just want to hibernate.
So recently I have decided that I think I can sing. Yes sing, and I love to dance, just a fun version of carefree movements. I spend time searching through my shelf of eclectic music, choosing what inspires me emotionally. I then dance about my living room and sing along when the key suits me, and yes I think I can sing and dance. The point here is, “I think I can”. My dancing is an assortment of 80’s dance floor, jazzercise, my own version of ‘Broadway’ and a yoga pose here and there. Oh yes, it is quite a sight. I have a large mirror on the wall, which provides me with a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the show. And that is enough for an hour of fun and entertainment to lift my spirits and amuse my cats.
Can you remember your favorite dance tune and how you could not resist being lifted off your feet or breaking into song. So I step into this musical place and move my feet to the beat. I leave the outside world behind and offer myself this period of pure and simple joy. Today I am wearing my pearls with my favorite white robe, seems so fitting for the occasion. I think we all deserve some fun in our life. So lets all have a dance, shall we? It is good for the heart, it lifts the soul, and beautifies the body. Then I can bake cookies.
The first year of another decade to ponder, so ‘what was that about and 
where are we going from here.’
I believe we are hungry for new ideas with a new point of view. Always in search for that which reflects our personality and defines the activities of our lives, we yearn for a new opportunity for adornment. Design & style will relate to sustainable natural materials that reflect comfort and inspire a new journey with fresh possibilities, yet anchored in the simple and elegant.
Considering all that we have accomplished and experienced, which defines our distinctive style, let us indulge ourselves with positive thoughts and a bright ‘look’ for our creative choices in the future. With a vivid sense of adventure, let’s explore what makes us feel gorgeously exclusive and unique.
We transform ourselves and style into an expression of all that is important to us. We take into account our choices and make decisions that are practical, responsible and beautiful. The Romans called these principles of living; “commodity, firmness and delight.”
Times have changed and we need to adapt and honor this shift in time. Sometimes through the unexpected we discover a beautiful moment that will change our perspective and possibly make us happier in life.
Embrace with me what I hope will be a very Happy New Year.
From all of us at Hot Moon Collection
Since ancient times jewelry has been worn not only to adorn, but to protect, heal, attract energy and enhance moods.
“Born from a great appreciation of ancient art and cultures and a fascination with the magical properties of the stones, my pieces are guided by inspiration and spontaneity from my personal journey. The creative metamorphosing into modern jewelry that has it’s own personality and sensibility respective of social responsibility.
I hand-select high carat gold for its qualities of warmth and softness, it’s honey luster. I choose my precious or semi-precious stones for their shape, energy, and power.
My work is designed to be strong, natural, one-of-a-kind pieces that can enhance the spirit as well as the wearer.” Gabriela of Ilia & Gabriela
Each piece reflects the power and beauty of the stones and the warm luster and texture of the gold, creating a truly precious treasure to cherish.
available at Hot Moon Collection
Most of us grew up believing we had to live up to what society thought we should be. The struggle within ourselves, the not feeling good enough for just being who we are, breaks down our self-esteem. Most women are dissatisfied with their bodies and their image and are too critical of themselves. Acceptance of true self is a beginning.
We need to transform the idealized self-image. The impossibility of being as perfect as your idealized self is frustrating your ability to find your true self. The genuine desire to better yourself guides you to accept your image as it is. We look to strengthen that which is important. Confidence needs to be acquired from within. Avoid judgment from those around you; those negative thoughts can only defeat you. Healthy and genuine self-confidence gives peace of mind.
Embrace who you are and enjoy your shape, your size, your age.
Taking an account of what is important to you is taking a step towards making a positive change.
Feel and be healthy by taking care to eat properly, exercise, meditate to reduce stress and cultivate gratitude.
Healthy eating is enjoying what you eat and knowing that you’re giving your body everything it needs. As we age our metabolism shifts, small changes can make a big difference. It is not about depriving yourself of the foods you love but more about eating foods that give you energy and keep you healthy. Eat a variety of foods, watch your portions and limit sugars, salts and refined foods. Listen to your body, know when you are satisfied and not stuffed.
Exercise, you have to do what you like, otherwise you won’t stay with it; a sunset walk with your dog or a friend, gardening, yoga or learn a new sport, reestablish an old one. Exercise improves your energy and feelings of well-being.
Make a list of what is most important to you and what you value most. Start to recognize the possibilities for your life. Too often we conceive negative thoughts and fears that we hope to avoid and we try to defend against, we need to turn that around.
Change your language, words are powerful. Take responsibility for your negative voice and begin to erase your self-defeating thoughts.
Transformation will take perseverance and pursuit. Nurturing the mind and body you will become vibrantly alive.
Live grow and be.
Anti Aging Firming Hydrating Antioxidant
LA PEAU, a Swiss skincare line is the talk of the town.
The story begins in the beautiful foothills of the Alps in the most beautiful mountain country in the world, Switzerland. Irma and Carla Khanjian are the dynamic sister team that helped develop and launch LA PEAU skincare. The company headquarters are in Geneva, where biotech experts along with prominent scientists from Stanford University have researched and developed this exceptional anti-aging antioxidant skincare line.
This advanced skincare treatment’s visual results are compelling.
It’s secret, a proprietary molecular cocktail packed with vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and amino acids, helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In only 28 days skin looks dramatically firmer and smoother. We love the remarkable gel formula that melts on your skin to moisturize, nourish and stimulate your skin’s ability to regenerate, while hydrating and firming, improving the skin’s texture.
“LA PEAU is the best antioxidant product on the market today and the most efficient anti-wrinkle treatment, ” concluded Edel Therapeutics (Lausanne, Switzerland), after comparing this new line to 18 leading anti-aging products.
I love when my friends tell me my skin looks great and I know it’s because I use LA PEAU, all three creams religiously. LA PEAU skincare is a superb product, it has restored the freshness to my face. I love the texture, it’s feels light, not greasy yet I know it is working magic.
The 3 products of this remarkable skincare line – Night, Day and Eye Contour – are easily absorbed due to their non-greasy texture. All products are non animal and fragrance free.
Day Cream-Gel Hydrating Complex
Night Cream-Gel Age Defing Complex
Eye Contour Cream Soothing & Replenishing
Available at Hot Moon Collection
With her innovative flare, Gal Feldman has captured the spirit of the ancient Japanese art of origami in which paper is folded and pleated. Creating origami-like sculpt
ural evening bags using geometric folds and crease patterns in fine Italian leather, she enchants our romantic spirit, “An evening bag is like a jewel – it’s a statement,” Gal says. Metallic shades of earthy moody tones casts a nice dimension of lightness and movement.
Koyuki Cloche Bag
A new concept on a traditional garment, the tunic, by the Danish design house Buskvadum.
The style is from exclusive leftover designer silk fabrics from couture houses throughout the fashion world, all numbered by hand and all being unique, no 2 are identical.
By cutting the silk into squares of 15 x 15 cm, you achieve a fabulous patchwork with styles that come out in very different variations.
“I think this is what people love. Using beautiful fabric leftovers, not wasting anything. It makes this collection ‘green’ and reflecting time so well.” Charlotte Vadum, designer
15×15 by Buskvadum
now at http://www.hotmooncollection.com
Samantha Sung designs her exquisite textiles by painting her original prints. She is inspired by traveling the world and adapting traditional artisan designs, making each piece unique with both sophistication and comfort in mind. Her classically shaped tunics have instant appeal to the modern woman regardless of age.
“I find inspiration all around me. I really love to travel and for me, traveling and sketching are almost simultaneous – I cannot do one without the other.” Samantha Sung
It communicates an instant message and yet tells a compelling truth. We choose colors by our emotions and when you walk into that roomful of viewers you are saying something about yourself. Color has an emotional appeal, noted by expressions or phrases like green with envy, red-hot lover, moody blue, mellow yellow.
I feel color when I wear it.
Fall winter is my moody period and I project myself in mostly blacks and whites with teases of intense hues for what I like to call a laid back sophisticated style. While in spring I like to adopt a refreshing hue of lightness reminiscing of the blue sea, sand and crystal day sky, perennial yellows and oranges, orchid purples with silver accents, luscious blue-green, hummingbird iridescence. Indulge me in silky sheers and feathery light drapy linens with the luxury of movement that projects an illusion of a summer ocean breeze.
It all makes sense, with the staggering heat and sluggish humidity of summer or the deep chill of winter, you must feel a connected part in the midst of the elements of nature. My solution is to borrow from nature the colors in their natural surroundings. Wildflowers, mosses, the projected turquoise of the sea, the apple blossom with an array of citrus colors all lend a brilliant palette.
The lesson from nature is to trust the spectrum of color it offers.
When choosing your style colors be playful. I like to layer the same color in different hues and texture, showing dimensions of the color and creating a rich image.
If brilliant colors suit your palette and your style imagines a range that transforms your spirit to be more fun, alive and brighter, use nature to discover the stunning choices you can connect with intimately.
Patterns dazzle the color spectrum with movement and fantasy.
Often projecting a diverse style, they allow for a lively palette of personal choice. Spring summer lends a delightful opportunity to expand the color vocabulary while bringing a theatrical highlight to your taste.
Look around and discover the multiple color choices in bloom or on a rocky cliff or while walking a desert path, look closely.
Design is about transforming your shape; color simply identifies your soul.
By Gabrielle Ruvolo
This year is the beginning of a new era; a New Look in fashion will be characterized by the challenging time we now live in. What becomes unfashionable is influenced by this shifting economic change and what becomes fashionable will be an emotional reaction.
From the excessive gluttonous, ’take all that one can get’ years to a future of growing financial concerns and constraints, we have now entered into a time of more restrictions placed on our daily choices. How will this play into fashion. We live in an era of greatly diverse fashion choices than ever before, when just a few decades ago fashion designers produced a look by virtue of the times. Wars, economic boom times as well as downturns dramatically made their effect known on the world of fashion as well as the world of music and food, interior design, cars and gadgets.
‘What’s in, what’s out’ are determined by are value system and the new financial restraints dictated by this capricious time. The days of consumerism and opulence are over for now.
The monogram bag and showy studs, metal and tacky gemstones, silly frills are about out. Statements of worth by virtue of corrupt financial worlds are out and a more authenticity and simplistic styling are certainly gaining admirers. Society has a way of imposing what we wear by the changing times. What comes with a time of economic criticism of capitalism, possibly a greater independence from the social hierarchy with a growing emphasis on clean simplistic classical lines that avoids fashions excesses.
The 1970’s and the financial crisis of deep economic recession brought us longer hemlines, trousers for women, denim, thrift store hippy finds, and a retro return to the 30’s emphasizing the romantic nostalgia.
Time is right for denouncing gimmicks, monograms on bags and extolling a discreet minimal look with earthy hues. Hmmm, where are we going with this? This is 2009, fashions time for a transformation. So how does the fashion industry deal with this added constraint by consumer resistance to pay high prices for trendy looks. It may be a practical time but with women still holding on to elegance and glamour with a sense of power yet romance and allure while avoiding the unwelcome attention of gimmicks.
Women are admired for their intellectual and perceptive powers, their enigmatic clever wit, their good sense and their lively enthusiasm. Innovation is in the hands of designers to define this new era of fashion that will compliment the woman of today whether she is a housewife or a businesswomen, a doctor or an artist, living in the countryside or a cosmopolitan city. Fashion demands something new like elegance and practicability.
By Gabrielle Ruvolo
feminine silhouette . . .
As fashion trendsetters, female political candidates will have a new influence on fashion while becoming the new icons. We will see a new look ahead. With women standing forward in politics this could be a return to the classics, while drawing a fresh new distinctive style. What could that distinction be? Possibly a modernized version of the classics, with the focus on simple feminine lines; the opposite of frivolous, shabby, or funky. A chic, deliberate, confident, sophisticated, smart sense of self should prevail. The woman of today must be prepared to face greater conflicts, set new precedents, and this shall reflect in the new look.
This is the first time in history that women are at center stage in Washington. They are liberal, stylish, fashion-forward women. Could this set Washington as a major fashion capital? I believe it is the beginning of a new era and in this exciting new time a new image emerges.
Politics traditionally is a symbol of masculine power. The very notion of a feminine, liberating, social order among the conservative ranks of male politicians signifies a shifting movement. What can we expect to see as the new dominant trends of this new era?
Man style tailoring for women is not the answer; fashion will be inspired by a different power, a power that represents authoritative femininity. With this dramatic political change, the impact will profoundly affect the coming theme. Unlike the power dressing of the 1980’s, when women were excelling to the top of executive positions in corporations, this new era will create its own version of dominant fashion that signifies a more credible sophistication due to a more relaxed acceptance of that power.
This is the new era of positive change in a time characterized by excess and bullish behavior. The alternative exchange will be to honor new values and express a new identity as an active participant in a changing time inspiring fashion to evolve into a new culture. This movement will reflect different desires and will not be overindulgent in style or consumerism but be defined by forward thinking leaders of fashion acknowledging the successful independent political icons.
We can be assured that there will be a new defining characteristic of fashion, the feminine politician. Provoking symbolic power will bring clean simplicity that shows a courageous, pragmatic, uncluttered style. A return of sophisticated refinement, which launches a new trend for the modern time. Fashion will reinvent the new woman.
What emerges will reflect the individual designer’s interpretation of world politics and its influence on the fashion world. The inspiration comes from the celebration of mature women in power as intelligent role models indicative of the political woman’s will to rule.
By Gabrielle Ruvolo
