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

rainy days...

Slowly coming back from a long hiatus and I'm really forcing myself to type this. I've been feeling a bit under the weather for the past week, and since I'm cooped up in my apartment, I thought the only sensible thing to do would be to stop feeling sorry for myself and focus! So here I am….

So much has happened since I came back from my trip and I wanted to share some highlights.

This is a one day art sale that I'm very proud to be a part of. So many wonderful artists - many CalArts friends / fellow alumni. Hope to see you there this Sunday! We got a pretty cool shout out from Los Angeles, I'm Yours !

©Ava Alamshah for Ermie x Weltenbuerger

 One of my photographs from an event I shot for the ERMIE x Weltenbuerger pop up at Arts (Re)Store LA!  Click here to see more photos and get an inside scoop from the event and future workshops. I can't tell you how happy I was to be a part of this night. Jennifer Parry Dodge is absolutely talented, and the warmest soul. Please check out her shop & support local! x 

If it wasn't for Joanna introducing me to Jennifer, I wouldn't have had this opportunity. Joanna, you are a gem. Thank you. xx

©Ava Alamshah

// This photo of Josephine //

I feel like our friendship has gotten closer over the years, and that makes me really happy. She lives in Portland, OR, and is married to my friend, Dave. Dave and I have known each other for 12 years. Dave & Jo met through craigslist! I love them, dearly. Good eggs.

Jo writes and curates. 

When I was visiting, I really had it in mind to do a couple's shoot for with you, today, but it rained so much and the timing wasn't right. I managed to get some good, random stills of my friends that I will share in the coming months. My boots were worn in that whole trip, and everyday my feet were soaking wet. It was all worth it. One evening, Dave made clam soup (delicious). We drank wine and listened to records. Her grandma, Katie, was also visiting and told wonderful stories of her childhood. She is an awesome, inspiring woman. I hope to be as independent & full of life in my 80s.

grandma katie © Ava Alamshah

Hey! I'm going to have a table at LA Zine Fest, 2014! Wassup!!!

Excited / nervous as hell. More details as the time inches closer.

your friend,

ava

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

Seattle Bound

So, I embark on a journey through the pacific northwest come Tuesday. I've never thought about visiting Seattle, until Ari moved there and has since talked about how wonderful it is. I wish I had more plaid in my wardrobe. I'd like to channel Bridget Fonda in Singles. I loved her style, and I just saw that that film came out in 1992 (I was ten). Now it seems like a 90s parody, with it's capitalization of the grunge music scene, Mtv era...casting Pearl Jam, and Matt Dylan's hair...GAH...90s!  People tell me that I am going there at a really sweet time (80 degrees, slim chance of rain), so I won't need plaid, but I am bringing a fuzzy sweater.  

I'll be taking the Coastal Starlight all the way up. I believe it's about 32 hours on the train. I won't have wifi, but plenty of time to explore. I cannot wait to photograph the epic scenery. Bringing my twin lens in the photo below.

I've been packing here and there. I am the worst packer and always take way too much. I need to really scale it down and don't know how. I only want to bring two bags. One containing all my toiletries & clothes, and another containing my wardrobe. 

I already got rid of the white button down, maybe I should lose the shorts, too. Not leaving behind the fuzzy sweater, though! 

I still need to fit two novels. Hollywood Babylon / The Invention of Everything Else (given to me by Gilda). Speaking of Gilda...

©Joanna Williams

P O W E R /// T W I N S

I swear we didn't plan this, guys! It was great to see you, G! 

This was earlier in the afternoon at Casbah Cafe. Had the pleasure of meeting up with G, Joanna, & Stef for a girl's date. It was lovely to finally meet Joanna in person. Stef & Gilda did a great interview with her on A Collection Of, and ever since I've had a girl crush. Her company is inspiring & I've been following her blog off & on, but it wasn't until Claire Cottrell's BOOK CLUB (more on that magic later), where we finally met face to face. Thank you for the photo, Joanna! x 

+ That list of things to do in Portland! 

Check out Joanna's shop <3

Before I finish packing, I wanted to leave you with some things that inspire me here, at home, in Los Angeles. I'm really going to miss my plants. 

...and the details that make my apartment feel like home

all images ©Ava Alamshah (image of Gilda & I, ©Joanna Williams)

Also, that book from Gilda, I had no idea what it was about until I just read the synopsis on Wikipedia. 

"a fictionalized account of the last days in the life of Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American electrical engineer."

Um...I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THIS

Speaking of Tesla, I leave you with Drunk History. Watch it, it's hilarious AND infuriating. You'll see. 

Also, you're welcome. 

When I write next, I'll be in Seattle! Until then...

your friend,

ava