Design Sponge (Kneeland Mercado)

Very happy to announce that my photographs have been featured on Design Sponge!  I had the pleasure of shooting Joanna Williams shop/studio, Kneeland Mercado. You may remember Joanna from my entry about her physical shop's opening night. I can't say enough positive things about Joanna. She is amazing at what she does and exudes creative confidence. I am inspired by her drive and her sense of style. She also has really great taste in music (The Cure / Echo & the Bunnymen played in the background, while I framed my shots -click click click). Also, she is the most generous & nicest of people. 

Thank you, Joanna!

To see more on Joanna's space & more of my photos click here

In the photo above, you may recognize the little black match box? It's from one of my favorite sites, A Collection Of. Created by Stef & Gilda -without them, I wouldn't have known Joanna. Here is an interview they did with Joanna a while back.

Also, notice the Clare Vivier book? Below was a Christmas gift from my mother. That cozy looking rug? From Kneeland Mercado. My favorite thing is to stand on it with my bare feet - so, so soft.

all images © Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

A Feeling Like This...

This video for Blouse's new single is just breathtaking. The song  is so dreamy & mentions that feeling…you know, of never wanting a beautiful feeling to end. Hauntingly beautiful. 

I didn't know they were from Portland, OR. until now. I was just in Portland this past September, visiting my friends. 

Kneeland Mercado

Thursday night, I was invited to attend the grand opening of Joanna William's beautiful store, Kneeland Mercado. It's by appointment only, and is an extension of her online venture. I've written a bit about Joanna before in my entry, Seattle Bound. She is a very warm & welcoming soul. She also has great taste in clothing & an amazing eye for treasures from around the world. There was a plethora of art books, incense (which for some reason I forgot to pick up and smell // people were raving about the sent, cardamom perhaps?), hand woven Moroccan rugs, the brightest Mexican blankets/dish ware, artist made ceramic jewelry, antique oil paintings from France...giant pompoms (!!!), eye candy all evening! She even managed to get a sitar player. And if my senses weren't worked enough, below is a photo of the most amazing martini I've ever had (infused with lemon & rose water // topped with dried flowers) and dates stuffed with goat cheese. Divine.

This book, Into the Orient, looks amazing. On my list of wants. There are photographs from 1950s Iran that I am very interested in seeing. My father was just a little boy when he lived in Abadan during that time. He left Iran before the revolution, and migrated to the states, eventually meeting my mother at the Glendale Galleria of all places. 

Joanna, surrounded by her treasures

all photographs ©Ava Alamshah

L U S T    W O R T H Y

your friend,

ava

Was She Pretty?

This is the cover of Leanne Shapton's Was She Pretty?  A book about current loves and curiosities about their ex lovers.  I could not stop turning the pages.  Each one spoke about the insecurities, jealousy, and the wonder that enters a new relationship and those thoughts about your partner's exes.  Why didn't it work out? Comparing oneself to the former lover, and in a way, admiring them at the same time.  Would we be friends?  We clearly have the same taste in men/women.

It also touches upon connections and that cycle that happens when you find love, lose love, and then find love all over again.  Sometimes it lasts for a long time, and sometimes it doesn't.  Sometimes it's all about timing.

I stumbled upon Leanne's book through my new favorite site, BOOK STAND.  If you love books, especially artist made with a personal touch, handmade zines, beautiful/dreamy picture books to fill your shelves....then this is the perfect little site to fulfill your internet library fantasy come true!  The lovely Claire Cottrell founded BOOK STAND and she'll be at the LA ART BOOK FAIR tomorrow evening!  Here is an interview with Claire that I found on the Madewell blog. 

All work above © Leanne Shapton

It's very cathartic to skim the pages now on the eve of my breakup.  Life is full of bittersweet experiences, and I have to thank my former boyfriend for introducing me to the blog world.  Without him, I wouldn't be writing about my dreams and interests.  The funny thing about relationships is that they stay with you.  All the amazing times, the bad, the awkward, the disappointments/sorrows, and all the love and loss.  It is part of our every day lives and sometimes we grow and sometimes we don't, but it's all about the experience. 

your friend,

ava

L O O K

at these dreamy photographs 

Found while browsing through Miss Moss.  I can definitely get lost in these images.  Inspiration overload on the net.  Sometimes I get caught up for hours on end, searching and looking at beautiful things.  It's fun to discover new blogs and other artists just doing what they do best.  Motivation! 

your friend,

ava

D E N I M

  Great summer wardrobe. Cannot go wrong with a simple chambray button down and white slacks.  And that kitty!

 Lately, I've been on Brando kick.  My bf saw "On the Waterfront" for the first time.  He liked it, a lot. 

 I'm currently on the hunt for the perfect denim jacket.  This shrunken one on Debbie is so rad. She pulled off denim on denim. She could have worn a potato sack and still look effortlessly gorgeous. 

Traci Lords!

....yep

WWII beauties.  The coolest women ever. 

  I want to read the book she was reading.  "How to develop your Thinking Ability"

  Recently, I met a man who told me he is a denim designer.  I thought, how cool it must be to have such a creative job, especially in denim.  People wear jeans most everyday of their lives, like a second skin to some.  He told me that he considered many times, after shopping at the same store for ten years, that he would love to work for Trader Joes.  

 "It seems like such a fun place to work", he says.

  It can be, but when one has a Bachelors in Fine Arts, it can feel a bit too "normal" at times.  It is lovely when you meet a perfect stranger who puts things into perspective.  People are never happy with what they have.  I think we are constantly at odds with ourselves and the choices we make, or do not make.  I know that sometimes, all I need is a good pair of jeans to keep me satisfied.  That, and my day dreams.  

your friend,




ava

Beach Daze

Hello friends!  

I really wish life was in technicolor, don't you?!   I'm feeling so inspired by these classic beach photos, and cannot wait to frolic in the ocean very soon!  I absolutely  L O V E  vintage bathing suits, and find them the most flattering, not to mention very chic.  They look amazing underneath circle skirts, or paired with jeans.  I've been thinking about the perfect beach cover ups lately, like a cozy fair isle sweater (such as the one on Marilyn pictured below), or a light denim button down.  I have a few bathing suits from the 1950s/60s that I purchased on ebay.  It was an obsession for a while.  A few of them even have cone bra!  Cheeky!!  

That photo above makes me really happy.  I mean, how perfect are those women?  That pineapple! 

Beautiful Marilyn.  I bet that sweater was hand knitted. She looks so warm and peaceful in this image.  Taken in 1962 by George Barris.  His shots of her have such a California feel to them.  Check out this one, and this one!  

OH!!  THIS ONE!!!

Obsessed. 

This photo has some interesting commentary behind it.  I suggest you take a gander. 

I'd like to create a self portrait just like this!  ^

...or this one!  ^  What?

 Y E S

Lace and perfect eyebrows! 

Bettie had some glorious gams! 

I was named after this bathing beauty.  Ava Gardner rocked it!  Wow, just wow. 

Happy, breezy beach days!

your friend,

ava

All images provided by the google rabbit hole. 

Simplicity, Work, & Enjoyment

I came across this short film some time ago.  Beautiful, simple, inspirational. 

Film by Julia Warr
Music by Lola Perrin

juliawarr.com


xo
your friend,


ava 

Brow Beautiful

I really love that natural brows made a comeback.  As I work on a mix for my 30th birthday (more on that later), I give you some browspiration (yep, I went there). xo

 Arizona Muse is inspiring me to grow out my hair into this fabulous 30s bob.  She's killing it with those eyebrows. Just gorgeous. 

 I'm kind of in love with Lily Collin's brows right now.  The fact that she is Phil Collin's daughter makes it so much better.  Oh, Phil. 

of course

Going down the Brooke Shield's rabbit hole.  ! ! !   source

source

Eyebrows are beautiful. 

your friend,

ava

ps: feel free to send me more images of your favorite bold brow goddesses!