Here is a video we did for Etsy showcasing some stunner rings. I hadn't prepared myself for the possibility of falling for them, but there I was at the end of the shoot trying to rationalize why I would need a back up wedding ring or two. or three. Fortunately the voice of reason stepped in and all rings were shipping back to the loving arms of their creators, but my aren't they all beauties?

Olive Us

We are a little late posting the news, but one of the reasons we headed out to France is now ready to be shared. Meet Olive Us. If you have a child in the house, or one outside getting dirty the way only little kids can, I suggest you gather them around and let them meet the Blair children. No joke, these kids are just the kind you want your kids hanging out with. Funny, friendly, well versed in all things Harry Potter, and some of the best knock knock joke tellers around.


To be honest we had some reservations about having to direct 6 kids - it sounded like a task meant for finger shaking mothers and dads who meant business; not a sans child couple who primarily work with inanimate objects like flour and butter. There was some definite boot-shaking going on. Turns out all that worry was for nothing, the kids were a dream. Not to say the long days of shooting didn't get to us, every night we found ourselves worn out and feeling a little fried - but then baguettes, cheese, chocolate, and a hilarious game around the fire always perked us up. 


Many thanks to Ben and Gabrielle for dreaming this up and then letting us be involved. No wonder these kids are a dream, it must have something to do with apples not falling far from the tree....


If you like what you see be sure to subscribe to the shows or check in weekly here. 


(images from France - our first encounter with a real tiger in a jar via the blair kids, the best hot chocolate for breakfast every morning, and the beginnings of spring popping up)

france

We just got back from our trip to France and we are still reeling from it all. There is nothing like going somewhere new to help you find all the places in your mind that you haven't explored yet. 

We spent a week in Normandy with Gabrielle and her family working on a new project that we are really excited about. We couldn't believe what great hosts they were (not to mention good cooks!) and by the end it was hard to leave their beautiful place. We were also lucky to spend some time with the amazing mother/daughter duo behind The Cook's Atelier; a few days of good food, friendship, and inspiration that we will never forget. 

To wrap up the trip Rubi took us around Paris and showed us a side to the city that I have never seen before. We walked lesser known streets, craned our necks to see flying buttresses, mossy roof tops, and keep a watch out for head-diving pigeons. We also had a magical dinner tucked in the back of a dark restaurant; dream music playing, all of us leaned forward with our utensils in constant motion and conversation floating and digging into why we do what we do.  


We feel blessed for new and old friends that shared France with us - many thanks to you all.  

We have had a lovely bushel of roses cheering up our house lately, until today when I realized they had achieved a rather droopy existence; of course that was nothing a craggy old ram skull couldn't remedy. I swear, he can make anything look good.

to China

This project is not like any we have done before. We actually consider it more of an adventure than a job-an adventure that happens to come with its own chinese-infused soundtrack. We look forward to long van drives through China with the band as we seek out places to play; wind in hair, instruments in hand, and spontaneous songs aplenty. Magic.

If this project interests you please visit our kickstarter page to learn more about it. There are some very generous backer rewards if you choose to donate; the cover of your favorite song being my choice - check out their version of one of my favorite songs here.

As always, many thanks for supporting us, our appreciation runs deep.

A little peek at what we have been up to lately. Have a lovely weekend!

matteo

We have never enjoyed hanging out in a cold basement more than we did this morning. Rich tones, vibrating strings, enthusiasm that made instruments sing-all of this far outweighed any temperature discomfort. Meet Matteo - a mind-blowing band who is graciously sharing with us their life-defining, thank-our-lucky-starsing trip to China to document them playing on tops of mountains and down roads we have never traveled before.

Video coming soon-in the meantime imagine the most perfectly impromptu outburst of this song, accompanied only by a robust bass and two echoing voices. It was talking-heads-infused magic.