Bringing Nature Home by Ngoc Minh Ngo (Rizzoli)

I've been trying to carve out time to put up some book posts this week, but I've been swamped with activities and apologize for my slacking off. However, today I have a great new book that I hope will make up for my absence. You may have heard of this one already as publicity for it is popping up everywhere, and deservedly so. Bringing Nature Home is the new photo book from phenomenal interior, food, and garden photographer, Ngoc Minh Ngo. Her passion for the seasons, plants, and the home are all on display in this Rizzoli-published book, which she put together with help from well-known floral designer, Nicolette Owen, of Brooklyn's Little Flower School. There a million places to get full-on reviews of this beautiful book, so I'm going to let you follow those links at the bottom of this post for those. But first, here is a taste of the breathtaking photography of idyllic tableaux you'll find inside.

If you are in the New York Area, you are in luck! There are several opportunities coming up to meet Ngoc Minh Ngo and Nicolette Owen. They've teamed up with West Elm in Chelsea for an upcoming book launch party, a floral pop-up shop, and a flower arranging class- all of which are open to the public. For details click here!

To read more about Bringing Nature Home, be sure to check out the current issues of Martha Stewart Living, House Beautiful, and Garden Design. Of course, to purchase the book itself, go here, or purchase a signed copy at West Elm next Tuesday, April 10!

*All photos from this post are by Ngoc Minh Ngo from Bringing Nature Home.

TGIBannerman

 

It's been a crazy, busy, last-minute, project-filled Friday for me, so I haven't had the time to write a proper post. Instead, I'd like to share photos from fantastic plant photographer and highly regarded landscape designer, Isabel Bannerman. Her incredible botanic portraits are currently featured in this month's issue of Garden Design, along with her work in the landscaping trenches. May these exquisite excerpts of her her work start your weekend off with a breath of inspiration! And if you love them, pick up a copy for Garden Design for her full story.

*All photography by Isabel Bannerman

History is Translucent with House of Z

Over the holidays, my younger cousin came to visit from England. I don't get the opportunity to see her very much, so I wanted to give her something really special to hold on to from our visit, something that would be uniquely Brooklyn. When I came upon House of Z sea glass jewelry, I looked no further! House of Z by Amy Burchenal collects sea glass from the shorelines of New York and takes the weathered antiques and turns them into beautiful, wearable art.

Kelly Green Sea Glass Earrings, Oxidized Copper Findings

House of Z sea glass jewelry is lovely and delicate, and best of all, each piece tells it's own story. Sea glass is made from discarded glass that tumbles around the oceans for at least 40-60 years. Fascinatingly, according to HofZ you can approximately date sea glass by its color. Because certain types of glass were only manufactured during certain eras, you can get a sense of time and place. For example, according to HofZ the Rare Purple and Light Green Sea Glass necklace below has to be at least 100 years old, given that manganese (the type of glass that turns a light purple color) was no longer manufactured after 1915. It's literally like wearing a bit of history! 

Rare Purple and Light Green Genuine Sea Glass on a Sterling Silver Chain

It's fun to imagine what the former life of each glass piece might have been, and HofZ does a very good job of passing on everything they know about each piece of glass. This multi-hued necklace below has a number of different glass stories all in one strand. Evidently, the Citron Yellow piece in the middle is only found in 1 of 500 pieces of sea glass and is usually from ink bottles.

Sea Glass Necklace, with Rare Citron Yellow, Blue and Green, 

Two Tier Oxidized Copper Chain

This ring probably started out as a canning jar or medicine bottle around the turn of the century. Now it's a lovely conversation piece that would light up any outfit. Can't you see wearing it with a light, summer dress?

Sea Glass Ring, Soft Blue on Sterling Silver Wire

Get to know House of Z's jewelry at their Etsy Shop! The prices are quite reasonable, and the workmanship is really exquisite. They even have really cool sea glass kaleidoscopes that you don't need to be a kid to enjoy. In fact, I actually bought one back in December that I meant to give as a child's gift, but selfishly I couldn't let it go. I love looking through the finder now and again at the gorgeous dancing glass.

Sea Glass Kaleidoscope

Make sure you also explore the House of Z main site, you'll find lots more interesting art projects by Amy Burchenal: her Black and White photography, her poetry, and then some. She's quite a talented lady!

Photo by Amy Burchenal

Do you have any favorite pieces? Or maybe you have some sea glass stories of your own? Feel free to share!


*All photos were taken from House of Z website, Etsy page, and Amy Burchenal photography website.

Kari Herer Photography: Romance is Everywhere

When I first moved into my apartment, I went on a hunt for some interesting artwork for my newly painted kitchen.  While trolling Etsy (if you haven't noticed by now, it's something I do regularly) I discovered the photography of Kari Herer.  I was smitten.  Kari sees romance in everything she photographs.  The purity in her imagery transmits an aura of ease and innocence.  It's not naivete.  It is an ability to view ordinary objects with grace, whether by honing in on their color, form, or texture.  I find it so uplifting.

I purchased the three prints above for the kitchen- The fork with Protea, knife with Protea, and ladle with robin's eggs.  Kari printed them on a really lovely, lightly textured, acid-free paper.  They are perfect in small, black frames.

When I visited the official Kari Herer Photography website, I learned that Kari doesn't only photograph still life.  She shoots weddings, Parisian streetscapes, and animals, and photographs lots of kids, including her own whom she features regularly on her blog.  Nevertheless, her still life remains the magnetic attraction for me.  This Magnolia Bug no.6657, pictured above, has been captivating me for months.  I love this mixed-media concept of a botanical illustration.  The soft white background allows the textures to tell the story.  The bug's body comes to life under the velvety magnolia petals.

Above:  Fairy-tale-like rabbits made from roses and ranunculus.
Below:  Rich colors and deep textures make this botanical piece feel simultaneously vivid and elegantly decadent.

  

I can't get enough of Kari's work.  I could literally fill an entire room with it and still never get tired of it.  Why?  Because I love romance, and because Kari's photos find romance in everything her lens settles upon.  It's contagious in the best possible way.  Bravo.

All images in this post were by Kari Herer.