Du er smuk og klog (you are beautiful and smart)

Today I have been thinking a lot about the beautiful, smart, creative, brave and delightful women in my life. The ones that I lean on when tough times like this come about. Take a look. They are all lovely.

I could walk for miles

Ten days into my Copenhagen sabbatical, I found out my dad was in the hospital and very sick. I knew immediately what I wanted to do. Come home and help him. 

This beach is at the end of my dad's block and although I don't get to go for long walks on it every day, we try and walk down to look at it at least once a day -- taking a few minutes to sit quietly. 

I have been coming here since I was a kid and of all the places I have been, it will always be a favorite. This beach has magical healing powers, I swear.

Candy for my eyes

Over the last 2 weeks, I have had the time and opportunity to go and see some pretty incredible art in some pretty incredible places. Having this free time to do what I want kind of makes me feel like a kid sneaking into a candy store and taking everything I want (i.e. guilty). I have been surprised how hungry I have been to look at things again and it feels a bit like an alarm clock has gone off and that little part of myself has woken up and remembered how much I love it.

There are a few artist and pieces I keep seeing over and over in my head:

Vilhelm Hammershøi, Dust Motes Dancing in the Sunbeams (1900)

Vilhelm Lundstrøm, Still life with White Jar, Orange and Book (1932-33)

Marlene Dumas, The Woman of Algiers (2001)

Ad Reinhardt, Abstract Painting, Blue (1952)

Doug Wheeler, RM 669 (1969)

Oscar inside RM 669

Blink

I stopped by the offices of Blink Production last week to meet with my new friend Tina about how to get CLAREVIVIER bags into the Copenhagen/Scandinavian/European market. While I was there, I poked around the offices (which were gorgeous and simple -- my favorite) and came upon this photo of my beloved Helena, taken by one of the studio photographers.

I fell in love with 3 other things while I was there: an amazing chandelier, a retro red refrigerator (partnered with a fantastic photo of the White Stripes by photographer Søren Solkær Starbird) and a beautiful fur jacket made by Copenhagen Fur (yes it was real, yes it was delightful and yes I want it). See how happy I look?

Danish design and soul dusting

My days are like walking into one of those bouncy houses that seem to be at every child's birthday party I go to in LA. I step into it, wobbly legged, silly and in between high jumps and laughter, I usually fall down and hit the corner of my head on something that isn't supposed to be there - and maybe pee my pants a little too.

Today, I went to the Danish Design Center and saw 3 exhibits. Above and below are photos of my favorite parts. I love seeing what beautiful stuff smart and creative people can make. I loved the installation by Vibskov & Emenius. It's description says: Project 10 is like a soul wash of sorts, a rite of passage-machine consisting of five majestically turbulent spruces brushing the dust of the world off of you.
Here is a video I made:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QKn0rq1Dooo

Return to my Mother's Land

Ten days ago, I arrived in Copenhagen for a month-long visit. Arriving in the coldest and darkest month was intentional. I wanted to feel what it was really like to be here without the distractions of being a tourist in the beautiful summer light.

To say that this trip is organic and unfolding in it's own way, is more than an understatement. All that I came with in mind, and planned for, has fallen away. And, despite all that, I am experiencing a warm happiness and peace that I didn't know was inside of me and each day continues to bring completely unexpected interactions, emotions and adventures. So here I am, 5-something am, revamping SMUK & KLOG to try and find a way to track this journey I am currently on.

From Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies:
And he said -- gently -- that they [Tibetan Buddhists] believe when a lot of things start going wrong all at once, it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born -- and that this something needs for you to be distracted so that is can be born as perfectly as possible.