a gray summer.

We were introduced to him by his well-known series of photographs of Marfa's Prada "store," of which I own two gorgeous prints, but I am here to tell you that his newest collection is just as wonderful, if not more so. Strap me into an open helicopter, ask me to take pictures, and we'd probably end up with a roll of film (sorry, memory card) documenting my mental descent into crazy town. Or I'd just drop the camera. Put Gray Malin in a helicopter and you come back with some awe inspiring stuff. Available on both One Kings Lane and his own website, it's worth your dollars. Knowing what to frame is the talent here, and the end results are creative, artistic, and make me happy in the same way that sunshine and warm weather make me happy. "Bondi Beach" will soon be hanging up in my apartment, bringing year-round summer to my corner of Chicago. Now that I've ordered my third print, I'm just going to go ahead and consider myself a collector of Gray Malin art.

Get over to Maison Gray to see the full series.

the process.

the outcome.

Bondi Beach

Miami

Rio de Janeiro

I should also point out that his print sizes are easily accommodated by standard frames, nixing the need to spend a few Benjamins on a custom job.

It's as easy as Googling "44x32 frame" - thank you for that, Gray!

a dose of dose.

This probably isn't breaking news to any of you Chicagoans, but there is now a great way to inject some variety into your weekend on one Sunday each month, and they call themselves Dose. It's a marketplace with various sellers hawking (not to be confused with 'hocking') their merchandise, be it housewares, fashion, food, or miscellaneous, and it's difficult to walk out empty-handed (yesterday's damage: jasmine tea and French macarons, on the tame side because we were so overwhelmed by the amount of goodness). The line-up changes every month, meaning you can justify going every month. Works for us, since there aren't many things we love more than a good justification!

Vendors of note include Babushka Bakery, Mineralogy Jewelry, Dinner Party Shop, Zora Jewelry, and Industrial Evolution. There was also complimentary beer on hand, but it was 10:45 in the morning and we are no longer those carefree and perpetually tipsy girls in Boulder, Colorado. Cue sad face :( We concluded the morning by taking a short stroll along the river (it was 65! and sunny! in March!), and upon B's arrival home Penny insisted she get some relaxing outdoor time as well, so the little princess claimed a deck chair. And ate a small spider.

And so begins another week.

mr. alexis.

Meet Alexis. No, not on the left.. on the right. Don't you know who that is on the left? What's wrong with you?! Sorry, that was rude.. Okay, Iris Apfel (who should probably get her own dedicated post somewhere down the line) is on the left and Alexis Bittar is on the right.

He is a connossieur of the pretty and the lighthearted, and I am completely unable to figure out how we aren't yet best friends forever.

If you were curious, the way to my gaudy, child-of-the-1980s heart is a) bright colors, b) sparkles, and c) metallics. Together.
The inspirations for his new collection are the sad and the fabulous, whereas the stuff he creates is just plain fabulous.

Little Edie and Big Edie of Grey Gardens, the original "GG."

Miss Havisham, another glam recluse. 

Georgia O'Keefe, painter of the Southwest.. among other things.

Speaking of fabulous, this is what we have to look forward to for Summer 2012!

AB does AbFab

I recommend beginning the penny-pinching at this very second so you can start to acquire as many of these mood-elevating and eye-catching beauties as humanly possible. And my birthday is in October, so you have some time to save for that as well.

all other images via pinterest

the girl with the non-dragon tattoos.

If you are of the tattooed persuasion nowadays, chances are you don't qualify as any of the following: gang member, circus performer, drug dealer, lady of the night, hardened criminal, and/or societal outcast. Maybe you're a little less buttoned-up than the average bear, but having a tattoo won't define you. They've been mainstreamed, and all the cool kids are doing it ;) I got my first in 2003, my most recent in 2011, and (sorry, family) always have the next in the back of my mind. You'll get to see pictures of my collection one day, but for now I am going to offer up some words of wisdom. If you're considering it, my advice would be to start small and simple, maybe a bit hidden, and definitely not where the bone is close to the skin. Holy ouch. In other words, do the opposite of this. But most importantly, have a sense of humor about it. Sure, perhaps I could do without one of mine, but who cares? If a tattoo is my biggest regret in life then I'd say I've done pretty well for myself (unless I'm the chick with the face full of stars.. that was a major foul if I've ever seen one), and if nothing else, it will be a reminder that mistakes can be made and life will go on. I like my silver lining to be a bit more philosophical, so there you go. And take it from me, the world's biggest wuss, when I say that it will not hurt as badly as you think it will. Now go forth and prosper, and.. happy permanent body altering!

I'm guessing it's a tramp stamp.

Everlasting
little
lovelies,
not just
for the
trailer park
set
anymore.

So what are your thoughts? Do you have a tattoo, want one, wish you didn't have the one that you have, or did I just lose you all together?

inky images via pinterest