tota press {october 2009}

Inspiration

October makes an arrival with a hint of what's to come {winter} soon. But without getting too ahead of ourselves, this month's design is dedicated to the lovely autumn season here on the east coast. Introducing a new paper type {dark exterior with a light interior so you can still easily write on it}, the duo of cards create 2 very different moods.

This month was eventful. I had an amazing trip to the Euskal Herriko/Pais Vasco/Basque Country - both on the Spain and France sides - to celebrate my best friend's wedding. She got married on the coast of Guethary - a small, quaint and charming village between San Sebastian and Biarritz - with a ceremony along the sea and a reception at a local inn/restaurant. Trailing into the amour-filled wedding festivities, I got to travel to La Rioja wine region {having a glass of wine before lunch is fantastic!}, the desert dunes of Bardenas Reales, the film festival of San Sebastian, the countryside of Bidarray and much more. I could not help but notice the leaves changing colors as I strolled through vineyards and countryside. Food is such a significant part of the culture there {and for me personally!} and much of the cuisine and dining experience reflected the seasonal foods of the autumn. Everything was so fresh and I loved + appreciated the embracing of the new season.

Here in NYC, we have hints of fall too. Our days are getting shorter! But I did get to photograph some really amazingly pretty sunsets of the NYC skyline - taken from Queens. The bright orange sun lighting up the clouds and creating a sillouette of the skyscrapers is something we can never get bored of. Fall also means Fashion Week to show Spring/Summer 2010 trends. I can't quite get my mind that far advance, but in terms of trends, I notice SO much plaid motifs. Shirts, sneakers, scarves...and for types - tartan, buffalo, delicate, bold...all of it. So there is a little bit of deconstructed plaid that has made its presence on this month's design.

Also, I wanted to capture a sense of wabi-sabi that can be felt from a visit to the Noguchi Museum in LIC Queens. Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic that when defined is probably the beauty of things imperfect, modest and humble. Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, simplicity, modesty, and the suggestion of natural processes. The Noguchi Museum highlights a collection by the artist with pieces of stone, metal, wood, and clay. It is such a peaceful experience to walk through the museum and adjacent garden - and the falling leaves there is a definite mark of the fall too.

So with a single leaf - 1 dark and 1 bright - among falling squares, I hope that you all enjoy this transitional season...


Many much more photos on our Facebook page - October 2009 album »

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