Dear God...

I have been a very good girl! I really want a new Volvo but I'll settle for a new Kronan bike, please send me lots of money! Love, Lavona



The Kronan Bicycle was developed (over 60 years ago ) in 1940 for the Swedish army. When leaving the army, soldiers often took two army objects home: the comfortable military underwear and their bicycle on which they spent so much time. Describing himself as a "bicycle missionary," Wahlbäck is president of Kronan Cykel Svenska (KCS), a company that bought the design for the Kronan bicycle from the Swedish army almost four years ago. Since then, KCS has produced more than 70,000 Kronan bikes, and the Kronan's surprising popularity has turned it into something of a cult item. Now available in the United States! www.kronanstoreusa.com

Smells like a Gypsy up in here!

It's time for a new fragrance! I've been rockin' the same scent for too long...so it's time for a change! I've been wearing a bit of Vanilla oil mixed with a dab of Amber or Sandalwood resin. I need something lighter for Spring/Summer I want to try this perfume by Raffy called American Gypsy! "A perfectly harmonized floral oriental made of the finest essences with tropical top notes, a floral heart with a gentle jasmine middle note and a soft and sensual woody vanilla finish." hmm...sounds enticing!



During my early High School years...I drenched myself in Dior's Poison! All that all changed when I walked into a Head Shop for the first time! I discovered Perfume Oils! I quicky converted to a perfume solid called Krishna Musk and experimented with many other "hippie" oils after that. Shortly after high school, my boyfriend at the time bought me a bottle of Calvin Klein's Eternity. I guess that's what he wanted me to smell like...he loved it...so I wore that to death for at least three years. After we broke up, I tried out Amarige by Givenchy...it smelled sooo good on a friend of mine, but didn't seem to mix well with my body's chemistry...so I switched back to perfume oil...this time Egyptian Musk, that one really seemed to get a rise out of people...it's so ghetto fabulous! Sometimes I would just add a few drops of Ylang Ylang to my bath water if I wanted a light scent. Then this Rastafarian guy started coming into the club I worked at selling quality attars, oils, and resins... so I started buying real Sandalwood, Oud, and Amber. All which have been loved and treasured for thousands of years, by mystics and romantics alike. Lovers use it as an aphrodisiac. Oud is proclaimed as a aid to spiritual meditation. I lost contact with him though...and now my supply of Oud is gone! I've tried the Rich Hippie line, which is lovely but fades into an alcohol scent after a few hours, might just be my body chemistry's though. I've also tried various blends from the cult perfumers Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab...which is totally hit or miss, I reccomend ordering samples first! A few years ago I fell in love with another perfume oil line called Sage Perfume...each fragrance corelates a gemstone fragrance with each month, they all smell soooo good! I bought Carnelian (tart tangerine, sparkling pink grapefruit, luscious blood orange, juicy mandarin and tropical mango and papaya) but I want them all! You can purchase the lovely vanity bottle or the carry along, roll-on bottle! I will be ordering again soon!



I'm also coveting this Frankincense/Myrrh/Rose Maroc oil by Regina Harris...I love the bottle! "This is a decadent and resinous perfume oil filled with the scents of rituals both sacred and profane ~ of imagined opium dens and warrior pirate queens, of gilded mosques and ancient religious ceremonies. Rich, thick and dark as an Arabian night, Harris built her creation around the ceremonial incense resins of frankincense and myrrh, while the costly and precious "oil of passion", rose maroc, adds a rose-tinged spice and deep honey accord." Wowza...I want it!



I'm also totally intrigued with this Gypsy Water by Byredo! (This one will have to go on my Wishlist though, because I can't bring myself to throw down $195 for a bottle of perfume!) "Gypsy Water is a homage paid to gypsies, thanks to the artistic director's fascination for Romany culture. It was conceived of as "a fictional glamorization of this lifestyle filled with mystical woods and earthy influences." It features top notes of bergamot, lemon, pepper and juniper berries; middle notes of incense, pine needles and orris; and base notes of amber, vanilla and sandalwood."



Has anyone tried CB I Hate Perfume? I hear good things... What do you wear...please share!

William Lemon

A few years ago I had heard Devendra Banhart was working on a project called Moon and Moon. It was a family affair, in addition to Devendra, the album boasts contributions from members of An Albatross, Lewis & Clarke, Barkus Born, Stephonik Youth with guest appearances by Gibby Haynes, and Bat For Lashes. The project was spearheaded by William Lemon, aka Natasha Kahn's boyfriend. Due to her rising success it should be noted that her Alchemical romance with William must have something to do with it! Not only is he a brilliant musician, he's also an amazing artist! He has his own clothing line and has brought his signature "body printing" to the couture fashion world. Below is the Moon and Moon album cover where you can see his fabulous body painting...and yes whenever you see Natasha all painted up, yep William did it! Moon and Moon is an epic tale of a King lost at sea...it's comprised of 7 Acts. The album is accompanied by a supplemental companion guide, where William has created a woodblock print for each act...you can see/hear it all on La Société Expéditionnaire!



"Reflections of timeless struggle, self-fulfilling prophecy, and age-old triumph, with flashes of modern affectation. A fluid and evolving seven-act performance; an epic tale of angst, hunger, tragedy, failure, and ultimately, hope. The dramatic opening of this musical/avant-theatre piece begins with the young voice of our seven year old narrator. She describes in 2 short lines what we are about to witness: seven perspectives of one king's war with himself. Moon & Moon provides the framework of a journey through an eternal human battle, borrowing from religious heritage and a colourful quilt of belief that draws upon the root myth of our collective humanity. Our story re-creates an archetypal battle that is not only historical fiction, but our own contemporary fact which exemplifies our self-destructive nature. Through the journey of witnessing a different character's perspective in each act, our king comes to the realisation that he is not only the walls which he has built, but the walls that have been destroyed by his own hand and command."

Clothing Line...fabulous...I know where to get my next hoodie!



His woodblock prints and collage works rock but I really dig his illustrations the best!



more body printing goodness...oh yes, sequins and bones!!!

Spring Cleaning Sale!

Final markdowns on all Black Forest Relics! Prices slashed $20-$30 off! Gotta make room for new things! xo Lavona

hmm cozy...

I know hibernation season is over...but it's a cold, rainy Sunday morning here in Chicago...I just want to pull the blankets back over my head and sleep all day! Wish I had one of these sleeping bags to curl up in! **Designed by Eiko Ishizawa, found via feathers and skeletons**

Jennifer Tzar: The Last American Fairytale

I think I have another favorite photographer!!! Jennifer Tzar's online gallery just rocked my world! I've unknowingly admired her editorial work for a while...but I didn't know who was responsible for the camera magic! And did you notice the girl on the very last, bottom left is wearing a Black Forest Relic!?

Shop Update!

I finally have one of these fabulous toothy pendants I get so many questions about! Check out my Etsy shop! xo Lavona

Full Moon Magick Medicine Bag No.2

I made another medicine bag...this one is fancy with fringe and fur and feathers! This Witchcrafted deerskin medicine bag contains herbs and gemstones that promote strength and wellness and ward off evil/harmful energies. The bag is adorned with coyote fur and guinea feathers! It contains White Sage (purification/protection), Lavender (peace/clarity), Agate 'Eye', Hematite, Citrine, and a Coyote Tooth. Check out the listing in my new shop for more details!



"Great Coyote, Trickster, Shape-Changer, keep me from danger...Cunning magician, teach me your ways...Of magical fire, of Powers much higher...Lead me to new life. Brighten my days."

SPRING SALE

So many reasons to celebrate: Spring is in the air and today is a Full Moon, Easter/Ostara is this weekend...and I've finally reached my 200th Sale! (a small feat...but it makes me happy none the less) I'm having a little Spring Sale...I've marked down all the Black Forest Relics in my Etsy shop! (They have been reduced by $20 each) Have a wonderful Holiday everyone! xo Lavona

Faun Fables

Faun Fables is coming to Chicago April 15th...I can't wait! This photoshoot was styled by Selene of Gibbous and captured on film by her creative co-conspirator Peter Hinson!



"FAUN FABLES is Dawn McCarthy's vivid imagination come to life in song and theater, made to explore human pathos amid an animate earth with musical & physical storytelling forms. It has been attracting a devoted and eclectic following since 1997 with numerous performances throughout North America, Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and four record releases distributed worldwide on Drag City Records: EARLY SONG, MOTHER TWILIGHT, FAMILY ALBUM and THE TRANSIT RIDER."



"Dawn McCarthy is a writer, singer and theater artist whose work is a sea of gorgeous elemental nitty gritty; haunting melodies, breath, stomping, and natural theatricality led by the voice, rooted in the physical body. It is a crossroads where ancient ballad, art song, physical theater and rock music meet. Her lyrics speak to people of all ages about things like rugged housekeeping, street kids, growing old, sleepwalking and exiled travelers returning home."

GASOLINE

Did you buy Dame Darcy's new graphic novel, Gasoline yet!? What are you waiting for!? I finally got my copy and I can't put it down! I was reading a really great interview she did with Jared Gold of Black Chandelier fame, and she said she wanted the design of her book to be like old-timey illustrated novels like Alice in Wonderland or the Wizard of OZ series. Mission accomplished...the quality of the book is marvelous...it's a hardcover and the text and colorful illustrations are printed on really nice thick paper! Timeless...



"In a post-apocalyptic world, the search for precious gasoline pits a family of orphaned witches against conniving nihilists who lurk in the decaying urban sprawl. The family must learn to shed a life of materialism and adopt new, alternative means of living in order to survive. Written and illustrated by artist Dame Darcy, Gasoline is a fantastical and eco-conscious gothic tale of danger, heartbreak, and the perseverance of magic and love."



Dame Darcy’s published works include graphic novel series Meat Cake (Fantagraphics Books) and The Illustrated Jane Eyre (Penguin). In addition to her published works she creates all kinds of other art like drawing, painting, animation, crafts, sewing, doll making, ect.. She's a professional Witch and offers services such as Tarot, Palm Readings, Spell Consultations, and other misc. Hocus Pocus! And she is also the frontwoman of the dark wave/sea shanty band called Death by Doll!

Fever Ray

Karin Dreijer Andersson of The Knife just released her first solo album under the name Fever Ray and it's soooo incredible! These amazing images are from a photoshoot with Johan Renck.






The video was directed by Martin de Thurah...make sure to check out the equally amazing video for 'If I had a Heart' here!



"When I grow up...I want to be a forester...run through the moss on high heels...that's what I'll do...throwing out a boomerang, waiting for it to come back to me..."

Monica Canilao: Dream Weaver

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Monica Canilao is most definitely one of my favorite artists! I've been meaning to write about her for a while...and apparently she's friends with Mike Brodie, the photographer I featured in my last post...birds of a feather! She just finished a show in Minneapolis called 'Our Starry Universe' with another AMAZING artist, Hardland/Heartland! Wish I could have been there! She creates large sculptures and structures using found objects and discarded materials. She weaves the past, present, and future potentials together creating installations that speak of Utopian Dreams. She did a collaborative installation with Kyle Ranson that I wish was installed in my apartment! "One Long Funeral Song addresses the clashes and minglings of two magicks. the black, vampiric conjurings of colonialism and the nature magic of indigenous, poor and creative peoples... the contrast between secret societies and open-armed, cooperitive communities. Monica Canilao and Kyle Ranson build a world around the hope that perhaps a third and beautiful magick could be born from this long and bloodied struggle." Follow this link for detailed photos of the installation! I neeeed a magical teepee!















"Monica Canilao’s interest in the ideas of home, community, and the passage of time are sewn delicately together in her large paper and fabric structures, installations and sculptures. She uses found objects, paper, printing, and fiber to juxtapose the profundity of simply having a home with the ephemeral nature of spaces, community, and life itself. The beautiful privilege of a home, while fortified by a supportive community, is often examined near the hum of the electrical wires or the headlights of bulldozers making way for ‘development’. But Monica keeps things simple: she understands that even the most fleeting moments can be the most poignant ones, and so she is fearless in her use of disintegrating materials such as paper, fiber, love, and hope."