Los Angeles, I'm Yours

Okay.
It is July 4th, and I am typing this entry from Casbah Cafe, in Silverlake. I've always loved the beauty of this place, with it's Moroccan flair. Almost like being there (well, not really....I wouldn't know, but I can only imagine). My friend's independence day bbq was canceled, and I haven't had internet, so I almost went there with a huge watermelon in hand (sort of like that scene in Dirty Dancing!) I wonder if the bbq would have ended up with all of us gyrating our hips? One can dream, right?

It's been an overwhelming couple of months. Sad/new/tragic/wonderful/weird/lonely....I have been feeling somewhat out of place, going through a transitional period. May was a very hard month. It would have been three years together for Jeaux and I if we decided to stick things out. I went through a dog attack (a scar remains just inches below my left eye), and early last month, I moved into my own, little apartment. I've been adjusting alright to living alone for the first time. I've had maybe one or two little crying spells, which is pretty good considering I cry a lot, even when I'm really happy, or during a really good orgasm. Yes, it is true, I like a good cry. I'm happy to take this time to write again, and I am being awfully candid, but I haven't had this outlet in two weeks! 

Some positive things I'd like to share...

This photo of Katie

Katie, I hope you are not mad at me for putting this up, but I think you look stunning! Fun fact about Katie: I met her through my friend, Angie. Stef and Gilda blogged about her...AND through facebook, I found out that she is good friends with Mari Naomi. Cool thing is that I got to meet Mari in person for the very first time after being internet friends since 2010! Her and her husband moved to LA from San Francisco. I shot this photo of Katie at Mari's housewarming. Awesome small world! 

Palm trees at the reopened Echo Park Lake, which I live very close to. About a five minute walk!  Some friends and I had a picnic there a couple of weeks ago. It looks beautiful and I can't wait to take more photos of it.  I want to be there every day. My friend Taylor and I talked about that scene in Chinatown, which I think about every time I visit the lake. 

Some dear friends had babies...

 

 

plants in my kitchen window, an Assyrian rug from my aunt Violet, and the first tea at my new home...

 Lydia

Last Friday, we finally went to Ooga Booga together and got to meet DEATH! Look how happy we all are! More on that later, but I couldn't wait to show you. UGH..it was so much fun. Such cutie pies. Those pearly whites. MAGIC. 
Check this out. And this! And THIS!! Also this!!! 

xx So much love xx

That's me holding a signed 7" from their very first band, "ROCKFIRE FUNK EXPRESS"! They were a funk band. 

all images ©Ava Alamshah

Also, this blog is pretty great. And the song of the same name, by The Decemberists. That song came on the radio while driving to my apartment, and guess what? Yep..... I cried. 

your friend,

ava

Raclette Party

Last night, I went to Angie & Will's Silverlake bungalow for an intimate dinner party.  It was a raclette party to be exact.  I had no idea what raclette was until I arrived and saw the grill captured in the image below.

It's also a delicious cheese!  So basically, it's a type of grill and a cheese indigenous to Switzerland.  A further description here.  It was really fun and reminded me a bit of Shabu Shabu.  For our raclette feast, marinated mushrooms, asparagus, and onions cooked on the grill.  Directly underneath, in those little trays, we melted different types of cheese (gruyere, raclette...) onto bread and sliced potatoes.  Oh man, it was SO GOOD. 

Oh, hey dudes...

 Oh, hey ladies...

 <3

 Meet Roxy & Lucky!

Good friends = pure happiness

your friend,

ava

Influences

  William Eggleston has been a huge part of my studies as a photographer.  Before him, I learned about his predecessors, Walker Evans and Robert Frank.  I love their photographs, but it was Eggleston who I was mad about.  THOSE COLORS.  That seriously complicated sounding dye transfer processing.  He could make objects we see every single day look so otherworldly.  I felt such a connection to the way he saw things, I just wanted to emulate the way he photographed.  Of course I was always disappointed with feelings of self loathing because my images would never be as good.  Never.  If you haven't seen William Eggleston in the Real World, I highly recommend it.  You get to observe his process of going out and finding things to photograph.  It happens very organically, which is refreshing.  No studio lighting, no gimmicks, just him, his camera and the sunlight.

  In my last post, I mentioned both William Eggleston and David Lynch in the same sentence.  I just found this gem going down the rabbit hole!  The internet is wild. 

   This scanned image is from my latest issue of Lula Magazine #15 (thanks, Angie!).  This photo spread was my absolute favorite and looks like it was shot in Barstow or Joshua Tree.  I couldn't get the image above out of my head.  See anything familiar?  I wonder if it was a conscious influence for the photographers, or pure coincidence?

your friend,

ava

*Post* WORK/SHOP

  WORK/SHOP was a fantastic and inspiring event.  I had such a pleasure meeting so many lovely people and getting to take their portraits using my make-shift, diy, silly little back drop.  The artist in me felt sick to my stomach and overly critical throughout the process of putting this little back drop together, wishing I had a wider screen, and more fun props, but I got over that really quickly after seeing the joy in people's faces after photographing them.  It was love and positive vibes all around.  I feel grateful I got the chance to do this and to be amongst so many talented artists, like Bianca D'Amico of Chaparral Studio (she creates the most amazing terrariums/ jewelry / ornaments), and Kate Miss of For Me, For You.  I was recently on her site and not only does she make really elegant jewelry ( Angie's fiance, Will, bought her this Kate Miss necklace not too long ago), but her photography puts me in that happy place.  Humbled, dudes. 

  Thank you to all my friends who came to support me, and hang out.  I feel loved  x  a million  x  infinity.....

  

  Thanks to this kind man above.  He always puts up with my stressful tantrums.  I love you. OOOhhhh, and thank you, Stefani, for my pretty flowers! The irises are starting to bloom!

  Lastly, I wouldn't have been able to do this without the help from my mother.  She rocked it!  xx

polaroids  © Ava Alamshah

  I'm happy with how nostalgic these polaroids look, although they took about 20 minutes to develop completely!  It was a little nerve racking, but also kind of exciting(?) !!!

  

  You never know what you are going to get from Impossible Project, but I am SO STOKED they exist.  Polaroid Por Vida 

  This weekend I embark on a mini adventure.  Until then...

your friend,

ava

 

 

 

K O K E D A M A r a m a !

G E T   C R A F T Y

Photo by Lili Cuzor aka Tigers to Lilies (a new favorite)

  This is my hanging plant, or Kokedama in Japanese!  I had the pleasure of attending a kokedama making workshop with my lovely friends, Stefani and Angie.  It was at a place called Shelter Half, for their Midsummer Nights Crafts (the last workshop is T H I S Thursday, people!) Go get your craft on!

  Lili Cuzor was our kokedama extraordinaire and an excellent instructor.  She also has this rad blog called, Tigers to Lilies (! ! !)   L O O K

  She was the sweetest.  In fact, everyone I met that night were absolute dolls.  So welcoming as Stefani and I entered the room (we were half an hour late due to terrifying LA traffic, which led us through the mean streets of downtown during art walk...ART WALK....then over the hump towards the west side.....UGHHHHH, the pain and pleasure of LA life), we were put to ease immediately with the warm greetings and got our hands dirty right away while listening to the epic sounds of Peter Gabriel and the sweet melodies of Francoise Hardy (I need to add all her records to my collection).  So glad we made it to this class.  It was inspiring to create something new and make new friends.  Pure joy. 

  More photos below that Lili snapped throughout the night. Enjoy, and go make something!

Everyone looks so summery.  IN LOVE!

My creation!  He hangs in my mother's office, by her window!  Ps: See that necklace I am wearing?  That is a handmade beauty by Stefani.  See more necklaces she created HERE.  Let's all force Stefani to start a necklace making workshop!  I would go to that in a heartbeat!! 

Look at that mess we made!

  

  I have to thank Angie for inviting me to Midsummer Nights.  Thanks, Angie!  Angie also mentioned the wonderful evening HERE.  Blogging Buddies! 

your friend,

ava