A closer look at my studio

I shared a small studio tour when I first moved into this apartment here. I am moving out of this apartment on the last day of July of this year. I am REALLY going to miss this space. It's a place that is all my own... and that is something I am not going to have for a long time. Happy Sunday to YOU!

love, polly

peek-a-boo

I've been experimenting more and more with every day life and it's really been inspiring me. Life is so good right now... I couldn't be more thankful. Thank you for being here. Happy Thursday! Any weekend plans for you? XO!

love, polly

lunch is my favorite part of the day

   

This is the yummy salad I made today on my lunch break! I'm starting to feel a little better, today! I've been listening to Rocky Horror Picture Show ALL DAY.... AND I LOVE IT!

Happy Tuesday to YOU!

love, polly :)

On the daily

I've been meaning to take more photos of what life is like every day for me. Breakfast, packing orders (I wish this was every day.... soon!), my cat, Joao, and random decor around my apartment. It's these moments that I often forget.... but they can be so beautiful..................

love, polly 

The beauty in decaying

It's no secret that I adore hydrangeas and have an obsession with them. You know how they are sometimes white in the summer? Well, these were dried on the stem when I plucked them... and I spray painted them white. An illusion, you may say? Wintery white dried hydrangeas. My breakfast from yesterday and a photo of my little fluff ball baby Joao made it in the post, as well! 

 Thank you to my wonderful friend Anna Longworth who gave me this nail polish :) 

love, polly

Joao's Soiree to Welcome Him Back Home!

Last night I had a little "Welcoming Back Soiree" in Joao's honor. He's come back after 3 months living on a 100 acre farm after this shoot! Read about his story here! This was the first party I've ever thrown on my own... and it was so nice! Thank you so much to everyone who came! WE LOVE YOU!

love, polly and joao

Lost and Found: My Cat Joao!

About three months ago, I took my cat, Joao, on the Fall Paulie Antiques Vintage Lookbook shoot. See the lookbook here and here! I knew a lot more people were involved in the shoot than normal... but I just insisted on bringing Joao to the shoot because he's a big part of my life and I knew he would look beautiful in the photos along with my models. I have a VERY soft spot for this cat and I am so thankful to have had him in my life for over 3 years now. He makes me so happy and is literally my baby..... but he loves to be outside. I had him in his carrier while we were on location, but he was getting very antsy and fed up with wanting to relax with the girls on the blanket I'd provided for the shoot. He kept getting up and heading towards the cornfield we were shooting beside. I was getting tired of constantly looking after him and saw him lay down in the cornfield in plain view. I figured he was happy there and wouldn't stray too far. 

I took my eyes away for about 5 minutes and glanced over to where he was lying and he was gone. I started to feel a sharp pain in my chest as the models continued to pose for photos. I went up and down the cornrows and back and forth without seeing him and my heart sunk further into my chest: I had lost Joao. I tried to mask my panic and heartache in front of the news reporter for our local newspaper, the photographer for the newspaper, my two photographers, and the four models. I didn't know what else to do... but I had an OVERWHELMING intuition that my relationship with Joao wasn't over.

(The last photo taken of Joao before he ran off into the cornfield and became feral for three months!)

After the shoot, the models and photographers went into the cornfield and yelled his name, but he was no where to be found. I knew this feeling all too well... and I knew that Joao LOVED to be outside. He was having the time of his LIFE! So, we decided to pack up everything and go home. We drove to the only house in the area and I introduced myself and told them I had lost my cat. Their names were Thena and Robert... and little did I know that they would play a huge role in finding Joao. I couldn't escape the incredibly overwhelming feeling of being alone when I returned to my apartment. I was in a very low place and I just wanted to forget about everything. As the weeks passed on, I visited Thena and Robert's farm about 12 times with flashlights looking for Joao. It became very clear that he wasn't coming out. Eventually, the farmers harvested all of the surrounding corn down and Thena and Robert spotted Joao for the first time! This gave me so much hope because I knew he was still alive and still in the area! I rushed out to their house thinking that I would definitely find him... but he wasn't ready to come home yet. Last night I got a text from Thena saying that she kept seeing Joao around and she knew he would eventually come inside. The next thing I knew, I was driving to their house and holding him in my arms. Baby Joao is back and he is safe! I am so relieved and so is my family! Thank you to everyone who helped me look for him and consoled me when I lost him.... it means so much to me. Special thanks to Thena and Robert who looked out for Joao and helped rescue him and return him back to me. Our friendship is only just beginning.

*first three photos taken by the astonishing Nathan Adhikari

love, polly :)

wandering with the wind: a story of loss

Could that be the last time I will ever see her again? I can barely even write. She left a handkerchief which she embroidered my name on and also a Haiku of Basho poems book. Years ago when we first lived together, she also gave me her cat, Joao. She trusted me with him and I lost him last Sunday in a vast cornfield. After the two week stay with me this summer, she left to pursue the west coast of the U.S. I heard from her about a week later and then no more. She's traveling dangerously via freight trains and hitch hiking all on her lonesome. She hasn't contacted any of her friends or family for quite some time now.... about a month. My mind runs wild every day with what she is doing and hoping she is okay. I've been talking to her sister asking if she's heard from her for the past couple of weeks and she's heard nothing. Emily's new cell phone says it's not receiving phone calls and I have NO idea where she is. Last thing I knew... she was heading to Colorado. I've lost all connections to her but I knew I had Joao. He is an explorer like Emily, too... wild and feral at heart without apology. I pray to the universe every day that it will bring them both back to me... but waiting takes time.. and patience is a virtue worth practicing. Until then, I will read the poems she left me.. and pray for both of their survival. For they cannot be caged... this I know.

Emily and Joao in 2010.

There is a hole in my heart for both of you..... please come back to me.

love, polly

Apple earrings DIY

I had an itch to make some Apple Earrings to join my other fruit earring collection I've been making. They are really lightweight, I got the two apples from Goodwill, and I already had all of the supplies I needed: 1. E-6000 glue, 2. Your two matching future earrings (in this case, two small apples) 3. Your earring posts and matching backs.

This glue takes quite a while to dry, so don't try to wear them for at least 30 minutes or more after gluing to ensure that they will stay intact!

Here is me via instagram right before I fled to work!

Also, here is a video I took of Joao while I was making my earrings.... he is such a cutie... He is back to stay at my house, and I am so thrilled about being reunited with my cat!!!!

love, polly and joao!