Randoms...

A few random holiday pics from the old iphone...

Family time in Chicago!

excited to be heading home for the holidays

my nephews, cutest boogers ever. 

and my niece who I'm completely obsessed with. 

Gentle Man.

There is nothing sexier or more lovely than a gentleman. A well mannered man with grace and etiquette go further than all the money, looks and talent in the world. A gentleman has self-respect, depth and patience.  He respects women and men equally regardless of sexual preference or the color of his/her skin.  A gentleman has a well rounded depth and and doesn't flaunt his life across the Internet. In the modern world I must admit it takes some searching to find a true gentleman amidst the knuckle dragging Neanderthals we see so often. But trust me, they are around and they should be honored & acknowledged because it takes confidence and courage to be a gentleman these days.  In case you're looking for a little direction this is an age old reference that makes for a good start:

Grateful Wednesday.

After many days of rest and some calm weeks I am officially back in the fray and working non-stop. It makes me so happy to be back at it, rushing through the day and running against the clock. Today here's what I'm grateful for:

1. Sunny winter days. It feels bleak and 10 mental degrees colder when the sun is covered, today the sun was out & it made running around all day tolerable.

2. Soup. I can't get enough soup this winter. It's sort of like taking a bath in that it seems to warm you all the way through. 

3. Being back in Manhattan. After a few years in Brooklyn I just moved back to the city & I love it. For someone like me who runs all over the city all day long its wonderful and such a convenience.

4. Seeing my collection pulling together. There's been a lot of fits and starts, a few major duds but mostly some smashing successes and at last I can see it coming together. 

5. Having down time. I usually feel like I have two speeds: mach paced & horizontal. Lately work has been intermittent and allowed me to learn a new, unfamiliar gear: steady & calm. It's been great to learn how to adjust and take it easy and also helps me really be ready for the crazy times. 

Empire State.

I've had a love affair with New York since I was 13. Maybe even before, watching An Affair to Remember and all those Astaire & Rogers movies as a kid and having this romantic vision of THE city. The city of all cities. The city where you can fall down a different rabbit hole around any given block and will when you're least expecting it.  The city where anything you want to be, do and see opens its arms (with some blood, sweat & tears) to you. And if you work hard and keep your head up and keep pushing you see the magic, you get caught up in the giant wave of magnetic energy that gets into every single one of your cells and keeps lifting you when you feel you can't go on another second. It humbles you, it comforts you and when you need it it will give you the power to rule your world, but only when you're good and ready. This city is not for the weak, the faint of heart or the easily shaken. This isn't a city for the complacent, no sir, stay in your hometown for that. This city is for those who want to push, they want to fight for what matters in life, they want the best of everything: the whole world in one city.  This is a city for people with depth & dynamo, gumption & grit. It is a life force, it is contagious. It is a drug that once you taste it you will never be the same and you can never get it out of your system.

New York, I love you. 

If my cliche testimony doesn't convey the spirit, Woody Allen nails it in what is the best opening sequence in the history of film: 

Bed time.

It's winter, my pace has calmed a bit and I'm in the midst of moving in with my boyfriend...so essentially I'm in nest mode. This is what I'm dreaming about these days:  

Collection

I've been working on my own collection slowly over the last few months...a small collection of beautifully made basics in gorgeous fabrics. Here is a sneak peek of one of the first finished samples:

I'm getting excited!