Hello Lover!

So I've been keeping busy working on my boutique with my sister Janet.  

You can follow us on our adventures on our Marlowe + Wren Blog.  

And visit our e-boutique on our Website!

Love you darling!

xoxo

Catinka!

 

Random image from Chado Tea House

FYF and the weekend

Went to the FYF festival this past weekend.  I didn't know any of the bands in the lineup but still had an awesome time.  It was at the Los Angeles State Historic Park (I recommend taking public transportation if you're ever headed to that area).  I parked a good 10 minute walk away which was fine, but places were charging 20 dollars for parking,  almost the same price as the tickets to the festival!!!!
Bands that I fell in love with are: Best Coast, Panda Bear, The Rapture, Cold Cave, Local Natives.  I'm a big junkie for music, so new 'fresh' music always make me happy.
I wasn't too in love with Sleep (hard metal band).  I felt my brain melt away but it was surprisingly soothing at some points.... Also saw the hottest metal couple in the crowd.  I don't think I can dance like metal rockers with the head banging, I'm more of a hip swaying kind of gal.
Also, my girlfriend and I both had heat stroke because we didn't eat a proper meal that day and were just under the sun, so we had a moments rest under the shade.  I don't know how we did Coachella, but I guess I put myself in the right mindset when going to the 3 day festival.  Not ready for burning man yet.

Didn't go to crazy this Labor Day but hung out with the little sister.  Went to see Scott Pilgrim VS. the World.  It had a video game like quality to it that made me fall in love.  I couldn't help thinking of Speed Racer and Zombieland. Those kinds of movies make me feel like i'm 8 again... and I'm always making my way back into my inner child.
Other than that... I've been hiding under the covers...

J'aime le scuba!

My lovely sisters and I went to an introductory scuba course down in San Pedro at the Pacific Wilderness.  Prior to this I had no particular interest in scuba diving because I thought snorkeling sucked because a) you can't really go to greater depths b) it's basically glorified swimming.

So when my sister asked if I wanted to scuba, I had no objections because I love trying out new things.  So after our session I fell in love.  And I think we're going to be getting certified in the month of October (knocking on wood).  I'll have to take a camera next time to have a photo shoot in the pool with our gear on.

Yay for Underwater life!

Season of endings and new beginnings

This month has been a crazy busy one.  I've just recently finished my design internship at a design firm.  I feel like working in a such a crazy work environment has depleted me of all my creativity, but I feel that creativity trickling back in.  I'm now working full time with my sister on our new venture...

So next week I'll be designing and making patterns hardcore before my sister gets back to LA.  Here are some of my inspirations:

From Getty Images by Betsie Van der Meer

I love Van der Meer's clean aesthetic in all her photographs... 
But I particularly like the cake photograph because you would find me 
doing the same thing in the kitchen licking the frosting off an unsliced cake... 

This time I'll be bulletproof

My MP3 connector broke recently and I've been listening to the radio a lot more often and they've been playing songs of artists that I saw in concert and I have to say that I've fallen in love with La Roux and The Temper Trap. 

I had no idea who she was when I went to see her at Coachella, someone on the radio was like you should definitely check her out.. and I'm glad I did.  She kind of looks androgynous like if Clay Aiken and Tilda Swinton were to have a child... it'd be her... but I'm glad that there's a whole 80's revival in today's music ranging from Lady Gaga and even just the Madonna episode of Glee.  I <3 the 80's!!!

 I also love Temper Trap because I think he's the first Asian guy I though was really hot.  He's the lead singer in the band and his performance aura was so powerful.  I was really moved.  I loved them in person at the conert... and I've started listening to their music on lala.com and I really like them... Falsetto for me is usually a turn off for me in music unless its Thom Yorke... but this guy i can deal... so go Temper Trap! (also this picture doesn't do them justice... they're really cute in person)

However previously i've been in a rut with music because I was only listening to Ke$ha and Rihanna and got musicly depressed...
Exhibit A)

 and Exhibit B)

So i'm glad i've found new folks to keep my music library company.

On a random note I was searching for the 80's song Major Tom and I couldn't find it on itunes or lala.com because they only have the German version.  I didn't even know that the song was originally German.  I guess it's just a fun surprise as 99 Luft Ballons was.
I <3 the Germans (sometimes)... and I <3 the 80's (music not the fashion).

And I might be taking an aerial suspension class with my girlfriend Ara this Saturday... I'm very excited!!!

Weddings

A couple of months ago, J and I went to her High School friend's wedding at a remodeled vintage auto garage that is now a 'Green Venue'.

A photo of the Marvimon Venue
via Prairie Mod


I was surfing the web and I stumbled across this blog called snippet & ink and saw a post of a 'real wedding' that took place in San Luis Obispo. You can see all the photos from the event:
Brooke & Raf's Wedding
Their wedding was very simple shabby chic at their house, and the bride, the groom, and their families all participated in preparing for the wedding by making their own invitations, dessert (she had her friends bake all sorts of cupcakes), gifts for the guests (cold processed soaps and a mix cd), and bought local flowers for the arrangements.

Weddings don't have to be outrageously extravagant and expensive.  Brooke & Raf's wedding captures the most important thing about weddings, having families and friends come together and participate in the union of two persons.  I feel like with all the wedding reality shows like Bridezilla and all the celebrity weddings we've been seeing, the essence of marriage and its celebration has been lost in translation.

I hope when I get married  I have a ceremony similar to theirs ;)

Soap Packaging

As we are busy working on launching our e-commerce website, we are also designing a line of organic natural soaps for every body.  We're right now researching packaging and I discovered this blog called www.lovelypackage.com
I've always forgotten how much I enjoy perusing down the aisles of drugstores, beauty supply stores, department stores, etc... happily decorated aisles full of products all promising a happier life.  I always underestimated the power of packaging, the color combination or the design of the packaging can emulate a certain lifestyle and completely alter what the actual product is.

But it's been challenging looking for a packaging because there are so many beautiful options.  But because we are going back to the basics with our soap line, it makes sense for the packaging to be simple yet elegant.

Here are my favorites:

Boots Original Packaging


Detaille Paris


Perricone MD (it would be interesting to have all the ingredients on the package like an olive tree/branch/or a couple of olives and the package)


You Smell... the name just makes me gigggle... I like the old vintage style labels on this product.

What do you guys think?  Any recommendations for looks, scents, or textures?