COLOR CANDY

just a bit of color candy from a recent photo shoot with dear gina, who is headed today over the sea to egypt to photograph some of the cultural antiquity. 

when you travel, you find yourself

alone in a different way,

more attentive now

to the self you bring along,

your more subtle eye watching 

how what meets you

touches that part of the heart

that lies low at home:

how you unexpectedly attune 

to the timbre in some voice,

opening a conversation

you want to take in

to where your longing

has pressed hard enough

inward, on some unsaid dark,

to create a crystal of insight

you could not have known 

you needed 

to illuminate 

your way. 

when you travel,

a new silence

goes with you,

and if you listen, 

you will hear

what your heart would love to say. 

images photographed by gina bower

design by lisa o'connor

word by john o'donohue 

WHIMSICALITY

i actually had to ask my heart to slow down when i looked at 

mina perhonen's spring 2012 collection.  i think there are some 

japanese designers who's work  invoke such pleasantries. mina

perhonen being one of them.

 

image and video source

 

SHIRTDRESS

i have always loved the cozy practicality of the shirt dress.

i love how fog linen work has interpreted this classic for the practically 

minded, hard working, style loving gals out there. 

image source

THE UTILITARIAN FASHIONISTA

so by this time, you might be thinking, DAMN, i WANT one of these bags.

truth is I WANT TO MAKE IT FOR YOU!

there is a queue, and the process is that of slow design, made well, designed to last, crafted to support the most rugged and frivolous of affairs... and well worth the wait ~ promise.  Get yourself an LMO USA Bag while the work is still bespoke. each piece is custom made to the Nth detail, from re-purposed vintage leather jackets and up-cycled hides.  custom crafted to suite your unique style and tastes, each piece is one of a kind, always a stunner.  contact me should the urge be effulgent.

LMO Design Table

sitalisa108@yahoo.com

608.347.7417

photo by gina bower 

 

TINY TRIANGLES

i am really absolutely ~ completely ~ bonkers for triangles.  

years ago it was the circle, now it is the triangle.  

stable, dynamic, charged.

image sources: one / two

BAITING THE MUSE

how is it that you bait your muse? for me the answer has always been creativity.

baiting the muse ~ designed by lisa o'connor photo by gina bower

NOEMA'S VALENTINE COOKIES

WATCH THESE BEAUTIES VANISH IN NO TIME.... TASTE THE LOVE!

i suppose i should give you fair warning here... cause you will definitely eat way more of these than you ever planned to, this recipe is really classic and divinely delicious. 

• 1 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups raw sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 5 cups spelt flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 big fat heap of love

      ~ cream butter and sugar

      ~ add eggs and vanilla

      ~ stir in dry ingredients

      BAKE AT 400 degrees for 6 minutes (no longer)

      we use heart shaped cookie cutters but any old shape will do because you will probably  be making these throughout the year.  

we always have a grand old time throwing flour around here in our kitchen, hope you do too!!!

SCATTERING HEARTS

here we have one of my all time favorite valentines ever!!!

made by the wildly talented noel bennetto. 

i purchased this from her 5 years ago while living in viroqua wisconsin, 

where i lived when my baby was first born... i celebrate this piece all year long.

check out noel's blog for a bigger glimpse into her fantastic visions! 

 

BESOS

a little valentine from the LMO Design Table.

my daughter and i carved potatoes and stamped the white hearts 

onto red construction paper. then with markers we went over top with 

embellishing lines, and cut hearts out of the master sheet. a quick and fun way to dash some love to someone you adore.

LOVE LETTERS

we have been making all manner of valentines at our house these days. 

here's a little something old style and new style for ya.

               image sources  one  two  / three

THE KISS

good ol' saint valentine ~ thanks for givin us another reason.

image sources one / two

SPLENDID

ahhhhh.... jumping out of my skin with readiness to wear something springy. 

i am currently coveting basically everything in this colorful, boyfriend inspired,

madewell lookbook.  

           image source

 

TOILING AWAY

                      image source

 

MAKIN IT

playfully sensuous - iiiiiiiiinspiring.

found over at nowness.

PINA

i want so much to see this film.

the trailer is amazing, and the dancing, well, no comment required.

the music is for keeps too.

             

                image source 

 

CURRENTLY CAPTIVATED

i love it all... down to those candied white details! white floors, white walls, white ceilings...
sign me up. 


i work out of my home as a designer and always love an artful representation of a multi- functional space.  a place to get the work done that is also a work of art itself. 

CLEAN is the word.

image sources: one / two

CHURCH BOY

my oh my this one steals my heart away.  artist nick kenny performed some finely crafted magic on his renovated, 19th century, "tin chapel" home in historic faversham. i have always had a thing for the temple aesthetic, and this place is the best of all worlds... 

first of all, the palette is simple and rich and the well curated collection of antique and flea market scores are so tasteful. who can deny that a spiral staircase is enduringly awesome? and that kitchen, full of bits and bobs, made cohesive by the industrial white tile. 

well done nick.

image source

THE WARP AND THE WEFT

for as long as i can remember, i have been devoted to the tread. i learned to sew at a very early age and hold vivid memories of my grandfather sitting at the table with me, his large, strong hands, so nimble with needle and thread, showing me the good way... techniques i use to this day. my love for fabric, textiles, and all things sartorial, is hardwired into my dna. 

i come from a long line of both women and men who have articulated artistically and practically in this way. in this lineage we have lace maker, tailor, designer, seamstress, and baseball maker to name a few.  when i work i feel sometimes connected to my people, on the thread, amidst the craft.

one form i have had enduring appreciation for are the indigenous textiles. through the ages i have collected indigo pieces from the west coast of africa, monochromatic and multicolored pieces from the backstrap looms of guatemala. there was a day when i would wrap my body in these creations and feel quite at home... these days i have taken to upholstering victorian era furniture with these beauties.  the multiplicity of steps involved in textile art is both humbling and inspiring to me. 

THE WAY IT IS

there is a thread you follow.

it goes among things that change.

but it doesn't change.

people are wondering about what you are pursuing

you have to explain about the thread.

but it is hard for others to see.

sometimes it's hard for you to see.

while you hold it you can't get lost.

tragedies happen; people get hurt or die;

you suffer and get old.

nothing you can do can stop time's unfolding.

you don't ever let go of the thread.

                                            ~ william stafford

image source: one  / two / three / four 

 

 

OH MY

whimsical elegance.

THE ONLY REAL ELEGANCE IS IN THE MIND; IF YOU'VE GOT THAT

THE REST REALLY COMES FROM IT.

                                                                               ~ diane vreeland

                       image source