new peeks: meleana peapod

fans of meleana's gorgeous handbags will be delighted to know that the online shop has been freshly stocked with an updated selection of the peapod design. one look at the latest offerings and you must agree the happy peapod is the antidote to a long winter . . . especially for all the friends just shaking off cozy sweaters and celebrating the arrival of sunny season and the chance to wear all those pretty summer frocks waiting in the closet.

the bright tropical colorways and cheery florals are available in limited quantities in a mix of vintage and new fabric.

click over to the online shop to take a peek at the current inventory of patterns.

photo.phile: wag and snap photography

hawaii pet lovers now have an adorable photo service catering to their four-legged friends. wag and snap officially launched its website last week (designed by h|h friend kat uno) with a gallery filled with playful modern pet portraits taken on-location by manoa photographer steve czerniak.

get ready to ooh and aah at sweet images of pets frolicking outdoors, being pampered by their parents, or playing hide and seek from the camera.

darwin

moki

honey

kiwi

{photo.phile notes}

what inspired you to pick up a camera and start clicking?
everyday life inspires me. you just have to be more aware of your surroundings to see the interesting details.

photography muses that spark your imagination?
love these photographers: matt stuart, cow belly pet photography, serenah, shine pet photos, scruffy dog photography. there so many others that i'm inspired by.

favorite island moment caught on "film"?
my boys on kailua beach.

any simple tricks to share on how to capture a charming pet photograph?
get down on their level. and please turn off that flash. creepy green eyes does not make a cute photo.

which camera stays close by for everyday shooting?
my leica d-lux 4. oh, and my iphone.

pay it forward with the best photography advice shared with you:
be patient. the best shots come when not forced. oh, and never stop shooting.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?
fresh mango, papaya and mauna loa honey roasted macadamia nuts.

mahalo steve!

toying with the portrait possibilities for your favorite paws? wag and snap is currently offering an introductory package on bookings made through august. 

p.s. click over to the w+s blog for behind-the-scene stories from recent commissions.

etsy scout: ccdoodle

today's etsy find has been hiding in my favorites for quite some time and a peek of the latest designs from ccdoodle were just too lovely not to share with the h|h 'ohana. the indie line first caught the attention of fans for its handmade screenprints based on honolulu designer christy chung's fancifully romantic and artfully abstract sketches applied on everyday basics.

simple silhouettes from alternative apparel and american apparel become lightly refashioned with sweet screenprinted kisses of flowers, birdies and butterflies, and assorted whimsy plus the occasional handsewn embellishment. the mostly o.o.a.k. looks (one-of-a-kind in etsyspeak) mingle with vintage flair by way of budget-friendly obi belts sewn from upcycled fabric discovered at local thrift shops. simply tie one on and, voilà!, a lovely way to whittle your waist and add a pop of prettiness to your outfit. 

rounding out ccdoodle's current collection are screenprinted onesies for little ones and dreamy pillowcases which add a hint of indie charm to tired bedding. and, all of ccdoodle's printed designs are made with water-based inks which is happy news if you prefer to avoid the sticky feel of traditional screenprints.

sweet dreams

am i the only one besotted with the juxtaposition of botanical prints layered on stripey backdrops in all its girly loveliness?

custom orders are always welcome and are typically ready within a week. brides-to-be stumped on that oft-repeated wedding day custom may want to consider ordering a vintage obi which would allow you to check off either something old or something blue.

oahu readers can find ccdoodle at split obsession and ai designs in kaimuki or simply click over to the etsy shop which is in the midst of a buy one, get one half off sale in the obi department:

• expires: sun, jun 27th
• fyi: convo christy prior to checkout to reserve sale obis and receive an revised invoice

ohanapod getaway

while waiting at my acupuncturist's office yesterday, i had a moment to flip through the summer issue of readymade and chanced upon architect craig steely's latest creation - the ohanapod, a modern guest cottage getaway located a few steps away from the main residence built on the big island's lava fields (thus the name lavaflow 2).

the family splits their time between sf and hawaii so the main components were fabricated in california and shipped over for assembly. friends were wooed to the island to help complete the partial pre-fab design which was constructed in three and a half weeks with volunteer labor (my kind of peeps!). jalousies received a modern makeover and the main design element plays on the ubiquitous window treatment with galvanized steel which both shields the structure while allowing the tradewinds to circulate. a few colorful plexi panels were added for peeks outside and to bring in a little sunshine.

the space measures a mere 144 square feet which is just enough room to keep friends and family comfortable without sacrificing too much land. and, wouldn't the ohanapod make a fab office or studio in between house guests?

the ohanapod, alas, is reserved for friends of the steely 'ohana but you can spend your big island getaway at two other projects commissioned nearby - hale balleja and the monkeypod treehouse which are both located on the puna coast.

p.s. a quick tutorial on making the plexi louvers is shared online as well as a step-by-step gallery of the ohanapod's three week build.

{photo credit: john granen for readymade}

and the winner is . . .

teena from pasadena who will be rocking heather brown's fabulous green with aloha tote all summer long.

many mahalos to all the readers who filled out my little survey! while i suspected that you all swooned for style and design, discovering that eco-friendly finds was third on your list of favorite features was a delightful surprise. let's hope our designer friends heed our call for more sustainable goods from hawaii!

if you simply must have one of heather's organic totes to call your own, you can scoop one up on heather's website as well as at mu'umu'u heaven's kailua outpost.

congratulations teena!

be back tomorrow with some fabulous big island design!