Black Amber Balm

Inspired by pow-wows, black magic and Led Zeppelin, LA-based artist Emmelie Brunetti has recently launched a line of beautifully packaged, all-natural solid perfumes called BLACK AMBER BALMS. The collection consists of 8 unique hand-crafted scents that are so delicious they will have you nibbling at your own skin. Emellie has also collaborated with HEYOKA x NOMAD to create a collection of one-of-a-kind hand-made leather medicine bags, each containing a unique sterling silver Navajo pillbox filled with Black Amber Balm.

into the wild

Spell Designs free-spirited 2011 collection... love.

recycle what you love

i love to take apart old jewelry that i never seem to wear anymore and re-use my favorite beads and pendants to create sentimental charm necklaces.

bone + spirit

bjorg jewelry 2011 collection... amazing.

ain't nothin like the real thing...

I pulled these images from a random blog the other day and I was really bummed to find that there wasn't any information about where they came from or who these beautiful people are... A few days later, I was having dinner at a friends house when I opened up one of her coffee table books "Taylor Camp". The book was filled with these beautiful images and I was so excited that I was finally going to get the real story. I was amazed to learn that the people in the photographs were actually members of my friend's family, a band of thirteen refugees from campus riots, vietnam war protests and police brutality who had fled to Kauai to live in peace in 1969. Soon after, this tribe of men, women and children were arrested for squatting and sentenced to 90 days of hard labor. Howard Taylor (Elizabeth Taylor's brother) who was appalled by these allegations, bailed them out and gave them refuge on his ocean front property without any restrictions or supervision. Before long, waves of hippies, surfers and Vietnam vets made there way to these peaceful shores, creating a clothing-opptional, pot-friendly, tree house village that rejected materialism and worshiped the healing power of nature. The camp flourished for 8 years before it was finally destroyed by government officials in 1977. However, this awe-inspiring book still captures the incredible stories, photographs and memories of the members of this utopian community. A beautiful story...

true romance

These shots are from a fun little photoshoot that I worked on with Daeja Fallas last year. I styled the shoot from my closet and my sexy friend Joe came over and modeled with me for a few shots.

Tie-dye top by Young Fabulous and Broke, cut off shorts from Top Shop, black tank by American Apparel (cut-up by me), wrap bracelet by Chann Lu, shell ring from Bali.