New Collection

We'll be having a little gathering at the shop tomorrow to celebrate. There will be sake and sopporo for all, as well as sweet tunes & a selection of items from last months collection at half price. 

Big huge thanks to our talented friends:

Todd Blubaugh - who took the beautiful photo above

Emily Bogen - the pretty lady pictured in the beautiful photo

&

Razi Bhatti - who did the layout & design for this months zine...

which you can pick up a copy of tomorrow night at the party ;)

See ya there!

- Ria -

Complementary

All images Style.com

It was hard to narrow down my favorites from the Jil Sander A/W 12 collection (side note: Raf Simons is exiting and Jil Sander herself is coming back to the line, interesting no?) 

I was drawn to this collection for the obvious reasons: shape, color, simplicity, elegance. But what stood out to me most was how the hues and vibe of the collection are akin to our very own New Family. The bundles of picturesque flowers, the completely white backdrop and of course the idealized woman Jil Sander so effortlessly depicts. Throw a floral dress on, one of those coats accessorized with a piece from Ria's Soft Geometry collection...done and done.

New Family will be leaving the shop in a few days. But if you have yet to see it, don't worry we're posting the collection to the interwebz next month for all to enjoy.  

Happy almost March (which means almost Spring, we can't wait!) 

-Mackenzie-

Two

David Park, Nudes by a River, 1954

Then I think of you in bed,
your tongue half chocolate, half ocean,
of the houses that you swing into,
of the steel wool on your head,
of your persistent hands and then
how we gnaw at the barrier because we are two,


How you come and take my blood cup
and link me together and take my brine.
We are bare.  We are stripped to the bone
and we swim in tandem and go up and up
the river, the identical river called Mine
and we enter together.  No one's alone.


December 11th, by Anne Sexton

Oh, friends, feeling a little nostalgic and romantic this Sunday evening.  

love,

sophia

70's Sesame Street really is the best

- Ria -

BabyGirl

Ria, Mack and I had our field trip to the Grimes show in Ballard on Monday.  Our outfits might have coordinated, and we just might have been channeling a taupe-New Family-esque version of Destiny's Child.  Can you say House of Kaleidoscope Vision?  

Below is my favorite song from the lovely lady Grimes' new album.  (And that rad gif is from Gorilla vs Bear.)

XOXO

sdp

Spring Beauty

Emily wears: 

Medium Tan Cross Body Coach Bag- $42

1960s Pearl Knit Mini Dress - $52

Abstract Wood and Composite Necklace - $36

Swedish Hasbeens Super High Peep Toe in Cognac - $200

We're longing for some sweater-free, tights-free, boot-free weather here at KV. To tide us over, we hollered at the lovely Emily to come down and play a little bit of dress up the other day. A girl can wish, right? 

And look, the sun's out today!  Come into the shop and get outfitted for spring with the New Family Collection.

XO

Mackenzie

Darling

Absolutely charmed by this series of photos, taken by NAGANO TOYOKAZU, of his adorably charismatic daughter. To me there's nothing cuter than a precocious child. Thanks for the tip-off NPR.

- Ria - 

This Weekend in the Cosmos

(post originally seen on girl-guts.com)

This Friday the 17th, Moon trine Jupiter sets the day off with optimism and positivity, but as the day progresses you may notice a switch of moods thanks to the help of Capricorn. By nightfall you may be feeling a little detail obsessed and serious. Try your hardest to think more "LOL @ my bank account" then "WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE!!!!" although this may be difficult seeing as even later in the evening, Moon square Venus is going to make it even more difficult to (dare I say) chillax. I have a hunch this mixture of aspects is bound to make for a weird bummed out restless freak out sesh, but fear not! If possible, allow yourself to get overwhelmed, and then allow yourself to move on. There's nothing wrong with a bad mood, there's nothing wrong with being upset about it, and there's nothing wrong with moving forward.

HBD, Pisces babes! On Saturday the 18th the Sun is shifting into Pisces, the ruler of all things sensitive and trippy. Take note of the ways in which you may be letting your emotions make descisons for you, instead of your dome. This can be a really amazing and positive thing as (generally speaking) we aren't really taught to make choices coming from a place of feeling rather than thinking, but this aspect can also leave folks more prone to being hyper sensitive and depressed. Utilize your dreamy vibes as a way to touch base with your personal beliefs and your sense of self.

 This day is also especially excellent for folks trying to get a grasp on where they're at and what the future will bring, thanks to Sun trine Saturn. Aquarius and Pisces folks, I'm looking at you in particular- this aspect is A+ at setting boundaries with yourself and creating structure in your life. It brings me much joy to type this, as I (an Aquarius) recently came to the realization that I will most certainly reflect back on this period of time as the television as I literally have no idea what I'm doing with my lyfe. Fuck yes to moving forward! 

In the spirit of dreamy inclinations of the future, Sunday the 19th promises to be a flurry of self reflection and idealism thanks to Sun conjunct Neptune and Moon sextile Uranus. Embrace your imaginative mood and run with it, because this aspect is golden for finding a Spiritual Path (in whatever form that may mean to you) and running with it.

<3 lily

Soft Geometry

This winter, between building out the shop & working on my quilts, I spent a few free afternoons sitting with Ari at our kitchen table playing around with clay...quite a wonderfully soothing tactile activity for both her tiny 2 year old hands and mine.

 I made two big batches of things, including some hanging plant pots, candle holders & a bunch of beads. Unfortunately only the beads survived the firing process. Whether that was due to some mistake on my part, my mothers old kiln or the fact that the one day I chose to fire it just so happened to snow, causing the pieces to go from freezing to scorching far too quickly...I suppose I'll never know. But I guess that is just how it goes with such creative processes. 

On the bright side I was very pleased with the way the beads turned out, I strung them on natural waxed cotton cord and secured them with simple knots. I'll be putting a few of them in the shop next month, but for now you can take a look at them here. 

- Ria - 

Forest Bed

To compliment our monthly theme and curated collection, KV makes a limited edition perfume and essential oil.  

This month, to go along with New Family, we created a real cozy scent, "Forest Bed."  Warm, inviting, and yes, quite sensual, it combines fragrances of Juniper, Indian Sandalwood, Peru Balsam, Musk and Vanilla.  

Come stop by the shop! Say hi and smell da new fragrance!

Happy Friday.

Love always,

SDP

This Weekend in the Cosmos: Valentine's Day Edish

(post originally seen on girl-guts.com)

Friday, February 10th through Sunday, February 12th 

The history of Valentine's day is sort of dumb. It turns out that the name Valentine refers to up to 14 martyred saints in Rome, and that one happened to be buried on February 14, but that's about it. Romantic!! It wasn't until 1382 that we are able to get our grubby hands on the historical references to love in correlation with that date, via a mini poem that talks about birds finding their mates. Luckily by the 15th century, folks had embraced the frothiness of it and started forming their own traditions, and somewhere along those lines Valentine's Day became a Huge Fucking Deal. 

My predictions for V Day this year are kind of a grab bag. Thanks to the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio, it's likely that something from the past might be dug up, which can be a good thing or a not so good thing depending on how you utilize it. Use this aspect to barf some stuff up and more forward with your newly released self, and don't get tripped up over past weirdness. Later in the afternoon the Moon is entering Sagittarius, which is a good time to affirm enthusiasm and optimism, in yourself and in your relationships. Finland's version of Valentine's Day is actually called "Friends Day," wherein you are encouraged to celebrate the buddies in your life, which is cool. Take this day to acknowledge everyone in your lyfe that gives you their employee discount or takes the hair elastic right off of their wrist for you, and not just the reason you get UTI's, although that person is hella important too. 

Shout out to my favorite planet Uranus for opposing the Moon this Friday the 10. It's bound to provide some rambunctious and rebellious tendencies, as Uranus is the teenager who knew about zines before you and lent you their eyeliner when your math teacher made you throw yours away because you were putting it on in class. Expect to feel impatient and excited, embrace your erratic behavior, and prepare for the night to get a little Susan Sorandom, if you feel me.

Saturday the 11th there's a dreamy blend of Sun in Aquarius and Moon in Libra, promising light moods that focus on beauty, compassion, and creating beauty in your surroundings, which is good because Sunday mid afternoon you may find yourself fretting over something relatively irrelevant, or totally on someones case without meaning to be. Later in the day once the Moon fully enters Scorpio you'll settle into your intense mood with a bit more ease.  Embrace the heavy depth you're feeling, but also be hyper aware of power struggles, which are common around this time. Put on your favorite black satin and listen to some Coven til you feel chill, which will be soon.

<3 lily

Late Winter Dressing

The Sartorialist, Streetpeeper, Dressed for Tea, Street Style Aesthetic

You know, it can be tough living in a city that experiences eight months of winter. Especially tough on the wardrobe. But hey, if you've got the right layering pieces, a sturdy/chic pair o' boots and a good vintage hat from time to time (as exhibited by all the lovely folk pictured above), being bundled up isn't so bad. 

Shout out to our local fashion/lifestyle blogger Kirby of Dressed for Tea!

PS Grab some last minute winter pieces at KV Bazaar. Some of my favorites include but are not limited to:

The Fur Bomber

The Golden Ankle Boot

The Black Wool Hat

The Fuzzy Argyle Sweater

If you happen to be in the Seattle area, avoid shipping costs and grab any of our online items in store.

-Mackenzie-

Elemental Appreciation

Sara Phillips AW/2012

Lautner House

Cylinder Shakers by Ladies & Gentlemen

On Monday the ladies and I celebrated our first day off in ages with a long leisurely stroll along Alki and around the bend toward constellation park. The day was unseasonably warm & bright and there were treasures a-plenty strewn along the beach.  I can't quite sum up the feeling the day gave me...so I'll let the images above do the talking.

- Ria - 

Tuesday fit

Brown felt wide brimmed hat-$24

Diane Von Furstenburg Waterlily wrap dress-$215

Black Swedish Hasbeens Sky High Slip-ins- $218

Come peruse our pre spring New Family collection and get yours!

-KV Ladies-

Happenings

I can't find the direct correlation between the beginning of February and the fact that the past three days have been sunny, but whatever it is, it's doing wonders for my psyche. In between working and grasping desperately to any beam of sunlight I can grab, here's what I'm up to.

- So I've never actually been to Radar Hair and Records, but seeing as it's a combination of two things I hold sacred to my heart I can't imagine it's anything other than perfect. Beloved Radar stylist Betsey Hansen was recently diagnosed with cancer, and it's incredible how quickly the community has taken action: this Monday the sixth the Sunset Tavern is hosting a Stumptown Employee Talent Show/Betsy Hansen Benefit Show  to help with her medical bills.

- Thursday, February Ninth Haruki Murakmai's literary masterpiece turned film Norwegian Wood is playing at the SIFF Cinema Uptown. With a plot that manages to be a lofty mixture of whimsical, emotionally jarring, and sweetly nostalgic, I'm excited to see how the book is translated to film.

- I'm excited to celebrate Spurm's last show (SAD) with fuzzed out garage perfection Unnatural Helpers and grungy weirdo freaks Uzi Rash at the Black Lodge on Friday the Tenth.

- Over a year ago I was running errands when I walked by a porch filled with attractive people casually shotgunning beers and selling clothes and records. I bought a beautiful citrine yellow 60's babydoll dress for $8, and I've been infatuated with the house since. This Saturday the 11th they're having a party, with some local favorites including Haunted Horses and White Coward. 

<3 lily

Workin'

So we had our first official day of business yesterday, and a party to celebrate. The turn out was spectacular and the whole neighborhood was so welcoming...so much so that all three of us got a bit verklempt. We all feel very thankful for all the support and can't wait for more opportunities to interact with the community.  On that note, we invite anyone and everyone interested to join us for our first ever workshop. We'll be constructing terrariums and bottle gardens. We'll provide everything : plants, containers, soil, sand, crystals, stones and other interesting natural elements. We're even gonna teach you guys how to make your own tools (special little instruments to assist you in getting a plant through the narrow neck of a bottle). You can sign up here or you can come into the shop and say hi! Either way, we're looking forward to seeing you! 

- Ria - 

This Weekend in the Cosmos

(photo by We The Living, astrology post originally seen on Girl-Guts)

Friday, February 3rd through Sunday, February 5th

Today I was talking to my best friend about Ancient Alien theory. Seeing as she's the the Skully to my Mulder (if you catch my drift) we fundamentally disagree on most aspects of it, yet we landed on a mutual agreement re: the vast potential of the future. 20 years ago, the internet was in its humble beginnings. Now, it's a LIFESTYLE. What will technology provide us with, and how will we utilize it, in five years? Ten years? SIXTEEN YEARS? This is relevant to you, because for the past 16 big ones Neptune has been in Aquarius, the sign of technology, revolution, and swift change. As of Friday the third, Neptune is returning to its home planet of Pisces, a shift that will stay in place until 2026. Neptune rules water, dreams, mysticism, spirituality, and ecology. Pisces also rules water, as well as intuition, self trust, emotional bonds, art, and sensitivity. The jury's still out for me re: The End of The World, but I can say with total confidence that I hold truth in the idea that some huge great shifts can (and will) occur in the next sixteen years, and I'm thinking it'll relate to themes surrounding natural events, human intervention and mama Earth.

Wednesday inevitably pulled some strange moves in the relaysh realm thanks to a clash of Venus in Pisces and Mars in Virgo-  Pisces being hyper devoted, ever-loving and ever-giving (as well as a barer of gaudy emotional debauchery at its worst,) mixed with Mars in Virgo as the over thinking dweeby weirdo, connections may have felt a bit skewed. This mixture is A+ at aiding in obsessing over details and excogitating your interactions with loved ones, two things I, for one, am already super good at. I hope you powered through it, and I urge you to utilize your capabilities as a self trusting and super grounded human when in a hole of self-doubt.

In other (better?) news, Friday's Moon is in Gemini which is golden for social interactions and lightheartedness. Gemini is all about being Hella Flirty and Fun, which is cool because much later that night the Moon is switching into sensitive, brooding, home based Cancer, promising for an emotionally driven weekend. Saturday might feel especially intense, thanks to Pluto oppostion the Moon. This may magnify the darker and more intense aspects of your emotions and intimate relationships, aka resist the urge to shoplift from Hot Topic or confront someone who's wronged you via text message after three whisky sodas. This too shall pass, and you are fucking strong and smart! Remember what I said about self trust. As if you need me to remind you.

<3 lily

Related

I watched a documentary on Alice Neel the other night and realized that her work had a huge subconscious influence on me when I was coming up with the vision for our latest collection. Its crazy to think about the multitude of things our minds take-in on a daily-weekly-monthly and yearly basis. So many things come in, seemingly unnoticed, or are registered briefly in a passing moment, sometimes it may seem as if those observations and appreciations get lost, or fad from memory, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Every little thing we encounter gets absorbed into us, we take it all in so seamlessly that we fail to recognize the distinction between our thoughts and an other's. Becoming conscious of this occurrence gives me a feeling that is almost on par with the feeling I get when some random chain of events reminds me of a long forgotten dream. It's a magical rush of remembrance that all at once makes me feel humble and omniscient. As if for a brief second the secrets of the universe are unlocked and I suddenly see the undeniable connections between us all. 

- Ria -