From Loirinha

More Sparkle Please

When I was a little girl, there was a rule of thumb when we stayed in any hotel during family trips, that there had to be a chandelier in the lobby.  The shinier the better.  It was a bold statement I made to my father early on in life - I was about 5 when I was bit by the design bug.  Of course, I never dreamed I would grow up and make a profession of playing with sparkly crystals all day.  When I had the honor of becoming Windfall’s agent for the US in January of this year, it was like I was a little girl all over again.  The samples arrived and there might have been tears of joy.  Okay, there were tears.  I have a pile of crystals on my desk that distract me in a good way every day.  Even better - I now travel with a suitcase packed full of crystals lined in velvet.  What else does a girl need?  Here are some Windfall favorites:

Lula Mini

The Loop

Jewel Three

Flowers

An absolute favorite

The New Decadence

By this point you can call it an obsession…with all work Rimi Yang.  I’ve posted about her before since we acquired one of her pieces last summer - but this new exhibition at the Fabien Castanier Gallery in Los Angeles, The New Decadence, has made my admiration for her work even stronger.  Absolutely incredible - had to share.  The exhibition is March 10th-April 1st… if you are in LA, GO!

Goodbye 2011

From the beginning 2011 was a year of heartbreak, challenges and loss.  Yuri and I both watched our parents fight cancer, and while my dad lost his battle in June, we are blessed that Yuri’s mom won the good fight and is still cancer free.  With the battle came endless flights back and forth from our home in LA to be bedside to our parents in Brazil and Texas.  In 2011, family became priority.  We uprooted our life in LA to move to Houston in June, and I think I can speak for both of us when I say that was the best move we ever could have made.  We battled through 2011 together, through the ups and downs - the moving and cleaning out, and being there for one another when we missed dad so much it hurt.  I have reconnected with childhood friends and met some incredible new ones.  We finally have a house that feels like home, and are both fortunate to be doing what we love.  I pray that 2012 brings love, prosperity and above all good health.  And to 2011 - good riddance.  

K-a-r-m-a

I’m a big fan of Karma.  Like a huge fan.  The whole what comes around goes around theory - I have faith in it.  A previous employer of mine who put myself, and dozens of others, through psychological and emotional abuse (see my very first entry) has recently been fired from her own company.  Her own company.  A testament to her as a business woman and person.  For the past two years I have been trying to get over my contempt for this woman, running through my head over and over all of the horrible things she said to me, and all of the panic attacks and vertigo spells she induced.  I really couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel for getting this woman out of my life.  

I am happy to say that the light appeared Tuesday when the call came that she was being fired.  I would never wish harm upon anyone, but this woman, she was asking for it.  She has been running her business like a criminal for years, and finally every single person she hurt over the years has been able to find resolution through her demise.  Knowing that she isn’t doing to others what she did to me puts my mind at ease, and knowing it is unlikely that our paths will ever cross again gives me peace.

Honesty and integrity will always bring a good night’s rest.

From the Houston office

The new office is starting to come together, I wanted to share a few details:

Rampazzi Chair bought in New York at ICFF, silver ombre curtains and purple ombre lampshade on a tripod base. 

Hollywood Regency cabinet Yuri and I found at a great vintage shop in LA, and yes…more ombre!

Gold gilt antique mirror found at a little shop in Houston - perfect fit to add some glam to my Missoni bathroom