More materials!

I've been stocking the studio with a bunch more goodies.

I'm drooling just from the thought of what will soon be made out of all that's inside of these jars + boxes + rolls of everything wonderful.

Hang tight...  I'll be sharing some new designs in the coming weeks.
For now, it's back to organizing the stashes.

Oh, Monday.

Today it'll be soft soft pink + billowy cream...

+ some tea

That should ease me gently into a brand new work week.

Photos come from here + here + here

Into the weekend...

This weekend I'll be in project mode, as friend Steph calls it, mixing it up between orders (including a really unusually awesome custom bridal headpiece... more on that later.) and finalizing details for the Fall/Winter designs.  I think I'll also take Mars the Dog for a nice walk up to the Rose Garden + people (and dog) watch.
But, for now, for the mothers + mother figures of both humans and non-human animals, alike... I wish you a love fest from those around you on Mother's Day + beyond.

Scooter, Big Sitting Dog, African,  Dog Hug, Migrant Mother, Bardot,

Oh my gosh.

How awesome.

Photo HERE.

Luminous goods.

A mix of pretty somethings...

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Things I love today...

... some flowers

and Amy Poehler...

She's so wonderful.  Have you seen Parks and Recreation?  I'm re-watching the earlier seasons and I'm constantly chuckling. She's a great woman, that one. (AND she's from my home state of Massachusetts... what's not to love?)

[Photo 1 + 2]

Wooden Toys

Sometimes I wonder if my friends + family would just rather I not get their children gifts because nine times out of ten I'll buy something educational or art oriented or (mostly just) a toy not requiring batteries or remote control.  I dig the wooden ones with natural dyes + paints.  Besides, there's also just such a sense of nostalgia in wooden toys and I can't break my love for them.  Here are some neat ones I found here + there.

My favorite toys as a child were chalk boards, juicy markers, and things with buttons.  Oh, and my Strawberry Shortcake doll that blew strawberry kisses.  And a Big Wheel.  Okay, and forts.
What were yours?

Click here to be directed to their sources:

Wooden Toys by catherinemasi on polyvore.com

Pink + Black

            For your Monday...

Pink + Black by catherinemasi featuring shorts

Into the Weekend...

This weekend, I'll be finishing up on some custom orders.  But I'll also be encouraging myself to play hooky + take a drive down the coast to visit with friends.  The sunshine is kind of dancing today.  I like that.

Enjoy a beautiful one, friends.

Love,

Cath

Source: katespade.com via Erin on Pinterest

New vs. Vintage: Tomboy

Have you noticed the insane variety of stylin' outfits floating around?  I'm a picker and chooser- which means I don't typically aim to recreate an exact outfit I see, but certain parts of them might woo me.  In this more delicate version of a tomboy, for example, I really like the blouse + dark cuffed jeans + the red lipstick.  So then, for my own personal aesthetic, I'd likely switch out the shoes + purse + jewelry.  But I thought it might be fun to lay out a recreation of this outfit so you can pick and choose for yourself.  What catches your eye?

New + Pricey...

Vintage + A Happier Wallet...

I'm thinking of making this into a blog series... switching it up with a totally different outfit each week.  Let's see if I can get my act together for this.

TomBoy: Two (New Designer version) by cathmasi featuring low boots

TomBoy: One (Vintage Version) by catherinemasi on polyvore.com

Something sweet + tender.

+

It's the sort of day wherein these images need to be appreciated.

Source: [1] + [2]

Eat. Drink. Now.

Sea salt + rosemary soft pretzels (I'm salivating as I type.  I am.)

...with lemonade in mason jars.

 {click on images for recipes + sources}

Into the weekend...

This weekend you'll find me gift wrapping birthday gifts, devising new ideas, phoning a couple of my favorite people who live too far away, and taking a walk in pure solitude.

Have a lovely one, friends.

Cath

P.S. For dog lovers -> THIS made me laugh out loud. 

Photo found HERE.

Thoughts on Home.

Our home is filled with a hodgepodge of art and knick knacks either made by us or given to us from friends + family.  We rarely buy anything new.  But, once in a while, I like to mix things up and now I'm daydreaming about painting all the walls in the house a perfect white or maybe ivory to give it all a whole new look.  I figure it'll make all the colors pop.   I like these examples...

But, then again... colored walls are pretty cool...

{click on photos for source info}

A secret tip.

When life gets tricky.  When doubt sets in.  When all you can do is wonder about the outcome of a total unknown, choose this...

    

                            It'll remind you of your great beauty + set you back on track.

Source: amateurcouture.com via Catherine on Pinterest
Source: startnow.stockphotosweb.com via Catherine on Pinterest

So hungry.

I'm kind of a creature of habit + routine when it comes to food.  I am pretty content as long as bread, cheese, and a good drink are involved.  The lovely colors don't hurt, either...

Source: bsinthekitchen.com via Pennyweight on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Pennyweight on Pinterest

Into the weekend

This weekend, I'll be seeing + visiting with a few of my favorite people and hopefully hitting the beer garden at our local earth day fest. I'll also be doing a crap load of organizing around the house + studio... this makes me oddly excited.  But, in the meantime, my thoughts will drift back to the images above (the Paul Newman + Joanne Woodward one makes my heart flip) and THIS QUOTE that I can't get out of my head.  I've been told that I am in love with being in love.  
I suppose that is very true. 

Enjoy a weekend wide open with possibilities.

Love,

Cath

Source: imdb.com via Catherine on Pinterest

Source: hannasroom.com via Catherine on Pinterest

Color!

      Why the pink with me lately?  I'm not real sure.  Probably just making up for lost time.

                  

.

                                                                                                                     

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Catherine on Pinterest;

Source: shopbando.com via Catherine on Pinterest

Oh my.

I have an article from WSJ Magazine (now about a year old) that I tore out + saved, neatly taped in one of my journals.  I go back to it often because it listed out the Paris based ateliers used by Chanel.  These workshops house, likely, the most incredible materials to construct + create:  metal adornments, flowers, feathers, shoes, buttons, and millinery.  I flipped out.  Then I went into dreamland and pretended that these were my home ateliers.  Such a rush.
Here's a peek ...
Guillet (established in 1896)- also in first photo of this post...

From
Lemarie (established in 1880)

Maison Desrues (established in 1929)

Neat, huh?

Five Things of Beauty

Sometimes I find that I've just stared off at a random detail of beauty, something usually gone unnoticed or ignored, and I come-to like I just snapped out of a trance or a mini-seizure.  They could be mini-seizures, but still; totally worth it.  Here are five things of great beauty that I've recently come across and that I just can't stop looking at....

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Oh, Monday...

Today is the most gorgeous sunny day.  I can hardly contain my love for it.  It also marks mine and Sebastian's seven year anniversary, so we are heading out for a yummy lunch at our favorite Italian restaurant in town.  I look forward to the bread + olive oil, but then will dig into an incredible ravioli dish that I actually have dreams of, often.  Today, I am thankful for this and so many many other things..


Source: google.com via Catherine on Pinterest