The flower whisperer

I’ve had this and other arrangements by Natasja Sadi (she also goes by Cake Atelier Amsterdam) stored in my Inspiration folder forever! Is there anything more beautiful than a joyful, sprightly bouquet in a chinoiserie vase?

Natasja is a flower whisperer. She makes them sing, in all shapes and forms. As a floral artist she creates arrangements with luscious roses, peonies & tulips, that are stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous. And as a baker, she skillfully crafts extremely life-like sugar flowers that make for extraordinary visuals on wedding and occasion cakes. I don’t think I’d ever eat ‘em if I were fortunate enough to have a cake baked by her!

Sharing her amazing work on the blog today. This is talent. Enjoy.

A sweet, blooming garden wedding cake

A flowering cake with the prettiest peonies.

Sugar forget-me-nots

Sugar lilacs!

Natasja Sadi

Day 30: Original & beautiful

Discovered these mini floral plaster reliefs by Ronni Nicole today & I'm instantly in LOVE. She creates what she calls "Floral Inspired Fossils" by pressing just-picked, and found botanicals into plaster or paper reliefs. I love the muted colors (see further down) & the aesthetic overall.  So stunning.

Particularly in love with these mini ones. She's shared a few videos of her process as well on her page which are equally fascinating.

That’s a blueberry branch

These colors … sigh.

Some resources to grow & learn

With recent events transpiring, I wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts and some resources that may be helpful in a meaningful way. I feel that while it’s important to voice your thoughts and stand in solidarity, it’s equally important to have a personal investment in wanting to change. For me, this meant educating myself on the history of the black community, how it relates to the South Asian community, and digging into & learning through resources that connect with me. I feel that you have a chance at changing if you’re able to feel and empathize with someone or something. Books, film, art & design help us do that.

I’ve compiled a brief list of resources (books and texts, series & documentaries, artists and designers) that are helping me continue to grow and learn. A hat tip to By The Way Bakery that put together an incredible & exhaustive list with lots of great resources here, and that inspired me to create this list. I’m also super grateful for the incredible artists & designers I’ve discovered in these weeks. SO inspired by their creativity and their work!

READING

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee (PDF)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (PDF)

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (PDF)

How to Be An Ally to BLM as a South Asian by Nabela Noor (Instagram)

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Film

When They See Us by Ava Duverny - Netflix

The 13th by Ava Duverny - Netflix

Zora Neale Hurston Fieldwork Footage - Youtube

Hassan Minhaj - Patriot Act - Youtube

Incredible Artists & Designers

Ronni Nicole
Floral plaster reliefs after your heart.

Natasja Sadi
Cake Atelier Amsterdam
She makes flowers sing!

Daryl Carter Design
So inspired by the work of the legendary Daryl Carter, who creates spaces with refinement and restraint

Sheila Bridges
Harlem Toile Girl
A pioneer in the field of interior design

Corey Damen Jenkins
Classic, livable, luxurious homes that reflect each client’s personality

Saudah Saleem Interiors
Love Saudah Saleem’s warm, textured, colorful interiors!

Day 29: Black lives matter

I had a different post planned for today, but with everything going on in the country right now, it didn’t feel right. This quote by Martin Luther King Jr. resonated with me - “There comes a time when silence is betrayal.”

Black lives matter. George Floyd matters. Say his name.

Sharing an article that gave me perspective on current protests - here.

Day 28: Cooling off in summer

Photo via Dreams and Jeans

Something I’d shared a while back, but thought it’d be useful to repost, given the 100 degree temperatures we’re hitting here in the Bay. A  cooling beauty ritual.

This is a simple, all-natural face mask from The Paris Bath & Beauty Book.  It’s a smoothing & brightening grape face mask, that also cools the skin - which I love.  Grapes, supposedly, have all the good stuff in them - antioxidants and Vitamin C that help revitalize the skin. For me, it's important to find beauty routines that are simple, otherwise I may never get around to doing them. This one's super simple. It’s got three ingredients & takes a total of five minutes to make & apply.  

Ingredients:
8-10 red or black grapes
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons gram flour 

Steps:
1. Mash the grapes in a bowl (you can use a potato masher or a hand blender, but set it to a low blend, so it's more pulp, less liquid)
2. Add the olive oil & gram flour to the grapes
3. Mix everything into a nice thick paste.
4. Apply it on your face (preferably leaning over the sink :)) and leave it on for a good 15 minutes.
5. Wash off with warm water.

It’s very refreshing!