Dressed for Tea: January 2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Guest Blogger Keisha Harris... Holiday in Africa

My dear friend, Keisha Harris, went to Gambia over the holiday and took some beautiful photos during her stay. I was lucky enough to retrieve them and share with all of you... Enjoy!

Keisha's commentary:

"Turbans! I love how almost every woman tied beautiful fabric around her head. I especially love when the pattern of the head wrap and that of the rest of an outfit mismatched. Lookout, Seattle, I brought 17 scarves home to do this with."

"This elegant woman stood out to me immediately upon entering the village. I couldn't take my eyes off her gold on gold outfit she wore to listen to a lecture on farming. Total babe."

"Pastels."

"You know you're a real lady when you can be sexy without showing skin."

"I set out with the intention to document more West African fashion then I ended up with. Most of my time was spent in urban areas that were more westernized (boring), but in rural villages, the attire was traditional (kind of a trip). As someone who spends life in neutrals, the intense color combinations and patterns were overstimulating and such a foreign concept to me. The film that I used was a few years expired and the shots turned out dull and grainy, so you can imagine how vibrant this would be to the naked eye."

"Ha. Christmas morning. I love my friends and family dearly, but there is something to be said for skipping the holiday all together and drinking tea on an empty beach. I still haven't done my Christmas shopping... "

Thursday, January 26, 2012

An Afternoon with Piper Lauri Salogga

Piper Lauri Salogga, Interior designer. Seattle, WA.

Describe your profession

I'm a sustainable feng shui interior designer. I've been doing it since 1998.

How did it start?

My father was an architect and so was my mother. My grandma was an artist. I originally wanted to do professional theater. I went into the visual arts world-- ran an art gallery in college. It didn't fit, it felt too high brow. One day, when I was at the airport I picked up this really dry and traditional book on feng shui and it all of a sudden just clicked. Within two years I was making a lot of recommendations and everything turned into a design solution. In 2004, sustainability became a huge role. There was more mindfulness about sustainability as a practice.

Where did you run a gallery?

South Oregon University. The school had a bunch of professional opportunities. It was so fun to push the envelope with booking artists. I got to work with a lot of great people over the years such as Lynn Basa and Linda Hodges.

Do you still do theater?

No, but I'm doing Living Sensual (3-5 minute videos interviews) with my husband about what lights people up and makes them happy. We want to expose people to really inspirational people in all walks of expression and send a message of conscious beauty.

If you could be anywhere, Where would you be?

India. I have a huge interest in Indian spirituality. I would love to learn more about Vastu-- the indian form of feng shui. It has many of the same principles of the Japanese feng shui. A lot to do with how toy think-- shifting an environment has a lot to do with positive mindset.

Are there any fashion designers that inspire you?

Donna Karen for her casual sophistication. Betsy Johnson for her wild flare. Chanel when it felt like Chanel, it doesn't feel like that to me anymore. And of course Alexander McQueen because of the way he pushed his ideas to the edge and his artful expression.

What's the trait you admire most in a friend?

Authenticity.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Inside the World of Meghann Sommer

Meghann Sommer, Creator/Founder of &c. Jewelry.

Where are you from?

Ohio river valley

What brought you to Seattle?

Adventure! I moved out here less than a week after graduating from college.

How did you start making jewelry?

I got a job at a bead store and learned how to make jewelry there.

What's your sign?

sun sign leo moon and rising both scorpio

One of Meghann's pieces

How did you start &c. Jewelry?

I knew as soon as I started making jewelry that I wanted to get it out there, that it was something I wanted to do. I come from an art background so the ultimate goal is to always to be able to hopefully support yourself off of what you make. It seemed natural.

What inspires your jewelry line?

Some of my influences are Alejandro Jordorowski, mythology, and my grandmother's choctaw. All of these things tie into the history of jewelry making and what it's function is.

Where can people find your jewelry?

In Seattle I sell at a handful of stores; Cairo, Object, Velouria, Ghost Gallery. Rad Summer in Portland is one of my favs and the newly launched Craft & Culture website is beautiful, so happy to be doing work with them.