Cathy's tattoo was a fun one. And what an delightful word to have inked! Of course any mention of joy reminds me of Ingrid. Here's what Cathy has to say:
joyful: experiencing, causing, or showing joy
Sometimes we need a little reminder of the joy that surrounds us every day. I wanted my reminder to be tangible, visible and beautiful. It brings me joy each time I look at it.
Thank you to Cathy, Rene at Liquid Amber Tattoo (Vancouver, BC) and photographer Gary Bremmer.
I've been looking forward to sharing Mikkel's tattoo story with you. I'm so impressed she took the plunge and worked with a non-English speaker to translate the artwork. It came out beautifully! I'll let her tell you all about it.
The decision to get my second tattoo was somewhat spontaneous. A week before I was headed to Japan for a two-week vacation I had a dream I got a tattoo abroad. I woke up feeling the need to follow through on the vivid image I had: “explore” in script on my neck, just above my back, in a slight arch.
I set out to find the style I wanted on Pinterest. Having tagged Mara’s work before, I found myself linked to her site knowing she was exactly who I wanted to create the piece. It was a tall order to get the design done in just 5-7 days but I reached out to Mara, hoping it was possible. To my delight, it was.
There are few art forms that emulate the sexy, sinuous, graceful lines of calligraphy. No one does it better than Mara and I truly gravitate towards her work. I wanted the word “explore” for several reasons. Firstly, traveling is so important to me - but the word “travel” doesn't evoke as much emotion for me as "explore" does. I say this one word and my heart swells. It encompasses travel, my wonder with the world, my desire to examine things (for better or worse) and to put myself out there. What better time to get it than on a memorable trip to Japan? Secondly, I love the word’s simplicity and the potential for design with the word’s "x" at its beginning and “e” at its end. I was excited to see how Mara’s hand and creative mind translated it into artwork.
I fell in love with it once she sent me a few. So much so I needed to upgrade it to a tattoo on my arm so I could always look at it!
Getting a tattoo of an English word in a foreign country, whose alphabet is nothing like America’s, is a challenge but I was ready to face it! I did some research before I left and found Hyperspace Tattoo. Through the use of Google Translate (they spoke no English, and I don’t speak any Japanese) we were able to communicate and discuss my tattoo. The end result is beautiful.
I cannot thank Mara enough for her willingness to work with me and for making the process enjoyable. It truly added to the wonderful memory I’ll forever carry with me surrounding the entire experience.Thank you so much for sharing, Mikkel! And for Hitomi in Osaka and photographer Allan Zepeda(!). (Also, PS, Neither Snow's tattoos were featured on BuzzFeed recently.)
My cousin-in-law sent me this link to the unaccompanied track of David Bowie and Freddy Mercury's "Under Pressure." You can read the entire remarkable story of how we came to be blessed with this song here. There is so much to say about it but the one thing that strikes me is how little we hear about genius collaborations like this being difficult and gut-wrenching. And especially with two strong (understatement) personalities like these two. I'm so glad they slogged through it.
Every once in a while the internet magically brings together kindred sprits, and such was the case with Deb, the designer and visionary behind Cococello studio. I was so honored when Deb asked me to create her tattoo, and I've been surprised by how often the words she chose cross my mind. Here's more:
Early 2010, my husband and I found ourselves both self-employed. It was scary. It was stressful. We made the most of it by sacrificing a lot of our favorite things and the luxuries we had once believed to be necessary. It was a humbling experience.
The year I was to turn 40, I decided I wanted to do more. I had no idea what "more" meant but as if the universe was listening, I was offered the opportunity to teach design as an Assistant Professor in the Multimedia Photography & Design department at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Teaching. Seriously, never in a million years did I ever imagine.
"Be Bold" is a phrase I share with my students, my clients and during speaking engagements for independent creatives (mainly photographers). I encourage people to be bold, be awesome and be you. It's about allowing yourself to dream, overcome fears and give yourself permission to define what success means to you.
My tattoo is a reminder for me to do the same.
Thank you to Deb; to James at Halo Tattoo in Syracuse, NY; and to photographer Mike Davis. What words to live by.
It is always such a pleasure to collaborate with Rylee Hitchner and Joy Thigpen, two of my very favorite ladies. For the latest little project–notebooks for workshop attendees– we did a variation on what we've done in the past, this time a black notebook with striking gold decals. Joy has a few workshops lined up for this summer and fall. I hope to enroll myself one of these days. Thank you, you two!
{Photo courtesy of Rylee Hitchner Photography}
It was such an honor to be commissioned to create this tattoo for Karl. I'd worked with Karl and Gina of Kymera Studio on this branding campaign for Cantadora Communications. I love the work they create. Here's the story from Gina:
In celebration of our 10th anniversary, my husband Karl decided to get a tattoo to commemorate the occasion. He decided on his beloved name for me, gina bella. Even though our love began 10 years ago, it has never been stronger. We absolutely love spending every moment together, which is good since we also work together! Our life is a wonderful adventure, and we look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries together - maybe we'll mark each decade with another tattoo!
Thank you to tattoo artist Gemma Pariente at Full Circle Tattoo in San Diego, and to Gina for the photos.
This weekend we had a pretty glorious visit to Umbria, my first. The very impossible thing about this country is just when you think you've discovered the most beautiful place, you suddenly find another. Such was the case with Orvieto, Todi and Montepulciano. We were invited to a memorable lunch at Fattoria San Martino where Karin and Antonio have created a paradise on earth. Karin lead a tour through her garden picking wild herbs (which we sadly missed) that she then used in an lunch that highlighted each delicate flavor. Karin is a designer and artist originally from Copenhagen and her impeccable eye for beauty shines through in everything she touches, from the food to the farmhouse decor. A lot of ink has been spilled on their collective gifts. If you have the chance to pay them a visit for an overnight stay or meal, you will never forget the experience. I promise. What became clear from this weekend, after a revelatory meal at Antica Hosteria de la Valle in Todi, where the chef is from Scotland, is that the mix of a northern European precision and creativity infused with Italian spontaneity and informality is, for me, a perfect combination that I now actively seek out. So: if you know about any northern European doing awesome things in Italy, please email me. I definitely want to meet them. Many thanks to Karin, Antonio, Helene and all at the Fattoria. We're already planning our return visit.
Yesterday was a glorious, unforgettable afternoon. I went a bit overboard at the specialty Asian market, made a rainbow summer roll feast, and invited friends over for snacks and calligraphy. Simone and 7 year-old Polly were in from Paris, Helene and Oscar came up from Montepulciano, Melissa traveled from Arizon, Stacey from Cape Cod, Julie from Canada and Betty and 2 year-old Alma from around the corner. We frolicked in the sun, picked flowers in the courtyard, Betty gave the girls neon pink tattoos and we spent a leisurely few hours with ink, pens, flowers, strawberries and lots of chatting.
Adding to items 1 - 10, here is the next installment of my favorite Florence spots, 11 - 20.
11. A Piedi Nudi Nel Parco is a clothing shop featuring Florence designers where everything costs four digits. If I had a bottomless bank account, this is where I'd shop.
12. Perche No gelato is in the top five. Their coffee crunch and mint are to die for.
13. Puimelli gloves has adorable designs, and end of season sales
14. Fabriano Boutique sells a favorite gift: a rainbow set with a different type of paper in every notebook.
15. Mario Volpino beyond the rhinestones are some simple suede heels and flats in bright, unusual hues not found elsewhere.
15. Eleanora shoes has a nice selection of earth tone shoes in silver, gold, gray, brown and black. On Porta Rossa, right next door to Napapijri.
And as for things money can't buy:
17. San Martino Oratory is a heartbreaking church that has historically served the poor. Inside are frescos depicting the work of the benevolent procuratori: paying for a funeral, settling a prisoners debts; giving out clothing and food. There are two donation boxes, one on the left where people can request anonymous financial assistance and another on the right where you can donate.
18. The safe in the Napapijri shop is one of three confusing experiences where you go into a very modern clothing shop to seek out beautiful secret treasures. Head in, up the stairs and towards the back where you will find a stunning 15th century safe built in to the wall.
19. In the men's clothing store Cornlinai you'll find a gorgeous little 14th-century fresco chapel to the Madonna (pictured above). Head to the right and by the dressing room.
20. Next door at Murphy & Nye you'll come upon a full wall of the remnants of a scene depicting wool production.
I'm having a bit of a panic attack thinking about our departure from Florence in three months. I imagine the scene of me kicking and screaming as I'm dragged away in a tangle of ribbons, pasta and gelato spoons. This will be painful.
I'm going to do my best to make a list of my 100 favorite things and experiences, in addition to updating this more comprehensive map that I'll be adding to. Here goes:
1. &Company Shop. We can't even talk about it.
2. Zeb Restaurant, where Giuseppina and her son Alberto have treated us like family.
3. Le Volpi e l'Uva, our neighborhood wine bar
4. Mark the Librarian at the British Institute
5. I Tatti. Again, we can't talk about it.
6. The Boboli Gardens, and hearing the announcement of its closing every afternoon.
7. The display of fresh fish every day at the Golden View Open Bar
8. The Orpheus Fountain at Giardino di Pal Vivarelli Colonna (pictured above)
9. The salted walnut Greek yogurt at Il Re del Gelato
10. The fettunta celebrating the new olive oil