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

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

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

Dish Inspirations

  Today's breakfast was inspired (more like stolen) from the beautiful blog, LA in Bloom.  I think I have to work more on my presentation, but it was the easiest dish to make, and I LOVE easy meal ideas because I can become quite scatter-brained in the kitchen.  I found Heather Taylor's blog site, by looking at THIS blog.  These women have amazing style and great ideas about food, art, dress, life...really inspiring.

 I plan on picnicking with Jeaux this week and am going to steal T H I S.   I already bought figs, and instead of basil, I have mint.  Can't wait!

 More meals to come! xx

your friend,

ava

I N T E R V I E W numero dos!

My boyfriend has been on fire this year!  He is, after all, a dragon.  


I'm so proud of him for working hard and stoked that two of the coolest sites have featured him.  A Collection Of and Chubstr.  C H U B S T R  is an online fashion resource for stylish men of all sizes.   If you don't already know about ACO, I suggest checking it out.  You will not be disappointed. 


Here is the handsome Jeaux Janovsky and some of his beautiful art.  I almost forgot to mention that he was featured on Chubstr once before. Click here to see, its pretty awesome. 

This photo was taken by yours truly at The Madonna Inn!  Click here to see more images.

your friend,




ava

oodles of poodles

Feeling kind of uninspired lately. I think this cold has really gotten me down.  My boyfriend sent me this photo of Audrey a little while ago because he knows how obsessed I've become.  How can I be sad when looking at this beautiful woman in her poodle blouse? 

Speaking of poodles, look what I found!

That's a young Joan Collins in the first photo.  When I clicked on the image, it led me to this woman's really cute blog.  I was happy to discover that Johanna loves vintage fashion, and from the looks of it, she makes her own clothes.  She is also from Sweden, collects Barbie dolls, loves Disney themed parks and paints. She's also cute as a button.  Check out her style.  Very retro.  Let's be friends. 


Also, how weird and awesome is that photo of Zsa Zsa Gabor?  That poodle cracks me up, I don't know how to feel about this.




your friend,


ava