Global Goods

Every time I return from a trip I entertain the fantasy of traveling around the world, buying treasures and then selling them back home. I love opening my suitcase to an explosion of colors and textures - all prized purchases from the trip. My only wish every time is that I'd bought more.

Baba Souk and Proud Mary are two small businesses where my dream of travel treasures is a reality - except instead of stuffing suitcases, each of the shop's proprietors are in close relationships with local artisans, so their offerings are top quality and so unique.

Here are a few of my favorites from their online stores:

Bracelet Trio from Baba Souk

Clutch from Proud Mary

Tote from Proud Mary

Amazing pillows from Baba Souk

Huarache Sandals from Proud Mary

Patterned pillow from Proud Mary

Towel from Proud Mary

Little baskets from Baba Souk

art on the road

One of my favorite recent internet finds is the Drawn the Road Again blog by Chandler O'Leary which features her incredible sketchbook work documenting her travels. Love her style, love the subjects, love the blog.

Here are a few of her recent entries, but click over to read more.

Canvas Weekender from Lo and Sons

I have always been and huge fan of Lo and Sons bags (I think they've made their way into plenty of gift guides) and this Catalina canvas weekender is no exception. It's the perfect thing for late summer excursions, I wish I was packing one this week.

India In Pictures

I'm back from two weeks in India with all of the usual jet lag (hello 5 am wake ups and 7 pm bed times) and totally enchanted with the country. It was a fascinating visit filled with incredible sights, smells and shopping. The following are a few of my favorite pictures - for more please check out the full album on flickr.   

My next destination

A Day in India from The Perennial Plate on Vimeo.

I'm headed to India this afternoon for two weeks. This video is all the inspiration I need, and I can't wait to explore a place I've dreamed of visiting since I was a kid. So much food to taste, shopping to do and pictures to take.

 Daniel and Mirra from the Perennial Plate have some amazing work. Definitely worth looking at the rest of their stuff!

Brazil in pictures

 A little less than a month ago, I spent two weeks in Brasilia. It's a strange city, reminiscent in many ways of DC as a government town, but a mid-century space age government town.

Brasilia is a master planned city, designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer and built entirely in only four years between 1956-1960.  We spent our days exploring the swooping grey and white concrete buildings and the surrounding wilderness filled with streams and waterfalls perfect for swimming in.