It’s already the end of July? Where is the time going?? I start so many posts with this question. I am forever amazed at how fast time moves and how it seems to be spinning faster and faster. I was on such a ‘blog roll’ (hee hee) earlier this month with the PLAP project (which is still going on!) but then a big creative and work push came in and it’s just been nose to the scent stone ever since. I’ve been working… working like MAD!!! It’s been great, I have to say, albeit intense.
Something new and wonderful just now is this very cool correspondence I’m doing with Mandy Aftel called “Letters to a Fellow Perfumer”. It is a series (I am number 3 in the line) hosted at Nathan Branch’s blog out of which Mandy and I will each create a perfume while exploring our process of creation and materials. It’s proving to be an exciting and lovely exchange. Another biggie on my plate has been working out the full-fledged conceptual scope and materials for Carrie Meredith‘s bespoke creation. I don’t want to go too far into the details of this just yet, but I have “broken ground” and the first samples will be sent off to CM this week, so there will be much more on that, you can be sure. 🙂 Then there’s the new DSH website that is full steam under construction, plus, are you ready: the construction the ArtScent Museum room is complete. I’ve hand-painted and worked on this room (with a lot of help, you can bet!) all July and it’s finally ready to have the display cases brought in. Oh joy! 🙂 My labor of love is moving forward at last.
the room that will house the ArtScent Museum: all hand-painted gold. It's a jewel-box... with lovely prism-rainbows reflected on the wall. pure magic.
But what’s really topped my list this week is not a current work that I am designing or a new project but the official launch and beginning ‘reception’ if you will, of a collaboration that started almost a year ago with Jane Schub, a fascinating mind and exceptional designer. Jane has been involved in many creative endeavors over the years and her latest work is creating remarkable nail colors under the name ‘StrangeBeautiful‘. I have had the pleasure of making manifest some of Jane’s incredibly creative ideas in the past, but our latest mingling of the minds produced “Richly Perverse”, a true perfumed nail polish. Richly perverse is a clear coat nail polish that has a fully designed fragrance; it’s not the kiwi or pear or bubblegum scented stuff you might find in regular ‘scented nail polish’. It’s a richly perverse dream.
This week it launched at anthropologie.com and has already made it to the Today show! How rad is that? I am sure you are wondering…what the heck does it smell like? Well… it’s an outrageous violet / leather with notes of absinthe, tuberose, orris, ylang ylang, sandalwood plus incense and tobacco in the drydown. The leather note is black leather; yep, like a motorcycle jacket. And the violet is powdered candy violet, all French and demure. Mixed with the boozy breath of absinthe and narcotic tuberose, oh yeah, it’s a badass. It’s sheer elegance riding a Harley. If that messes with your head it’s par for the course. That’s what happens when Jane and I get together.
Check out some of the ‘brief’ Jane sent me for inspiration:
“Richly Perverse
As we removed our clothing then inched our way into the unknown dark inky lake the conversation escalated, she said you don’t get it nor comprehend what I am saying; this is not a philosophical perspective but a way of life. Only when it is strange do I see something beautiful. She then said; I may not respect someone when they do not see it my way but I will never forget your thoughtful act of delivering my request for a freshly boiled lobster shell. Her ideas were a concept that took everyone by surprise.”
Oh, yes, Strange is Jane but so beautiful. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
DSH notebook 