Vena Cava

NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

At ladies night the other evening my friend Tina declared she only puts products on her face she can eat. All the ladies agreed. Looks like hippy beauty products are more covetable then the latest Chanel.

Check out some of our favorite secret products.

Aztec Secret Healing Clay

Olbas Therapeutic Bath

Jojoba Oil

Avocado Lip Balm

IKEBANA

06/01/12 7 notes

Ikebana artist Toshie Yokoi practices the Japanese art of flower arrangement with fruits, vegetables and other readily available plant life to illustrate that you don’t need expensive and exotic flowers to make a gorgeous floral arrangement.

All images via: Ikebana: Fruits and Vegetables by Toshie Yokoi

BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY

05/18/12 7 notes

Found at the downtown LA Public Library

VINTAGE MATCHBOOKS

05/15/12 11 notes

(via ebay)

(via: imgfave)

(source unknown)

(Florsheim)

(Moda)

(Troncos)

(source unknown)

It’s great no one smokes anymore… but it’s sad that cool matchbooks are becoming extinct.

VENA CAVA GARDEN

05/01/12 5 notes

After moving to Los Angeles from New York, I quickly planted a garden.

It’s been one of the best things about living in California. Someday, one day, it would be amazing to do a Vena Cava gardening line. The line would consist of amazing metal sheers, elegant shovels, straw visors, canvas gloves, and wire baskets.

Until we make that line, here is some inspiration…

(via: remodelista)

(via: Svpply)

(via: fine tools)

(via: Svpply)

(via: terrain)

(via: anthropologie)

(source unknown)

(via: city farmer)

(source unknown)

(via: gardens without soil)

(via: Svpply)

(via: etsy)

(via: garden people)

VENA CAVA FRIENDS

04/26/12 6 notes

Meet our friend Lillian Gallay.

Lilly lives with her husband Charley, and their dog Roosevelt in Los Angeles.

Currently Lilly is studying Psychology and writing her dissertation on where Artist’s Block comes from. We can’t wait to read it…

Lilly is an amazing painter, gardener, wife, and friend. When we started Vena Cava eight years ago Lilly would spend all of her money at our first sample sales. She has been a VC patron for a long time, and has a serious Vena Cava archive that dates back to the early 2000’s.

I Still Love You, Fiona Apple

04/23/12 10 notes

We were both obsessed with Fiona Apple in high school.

When we designed our 90’s collection a few season ago, what we were actually doing was designing our “Fiona Apple” collection.

I think anyone that was remotely depressed in high school loves her.

And the best thing about her, is that she still wears baby tees and too much eyeliner.

Somethings should never change. Can’t wait to get her new album.

(All images via: FuckYeahFionaApple)

Peter Shire is the Man

Teapot with Lid, 1978

Teapot, 1983

(via: I’m Revolting)

Teapot, 1984

I stumbled upon Peter Shire’s LA studio in Echo Park one day after Yoga. He was born in Echo Park in 1947 and still lives and works there. He is associated with a group of postmodern designers called the The Memphis Group. They were known for designing intentionally bright, colorful, shocking and futuristic products in the 1980’s as a response to the humorless minimalism of the 70’s. Memphis reminds us of Esprit and sophisticated Saved By The Bell!

FROM THE VAULT: EXTERIORS

03/27/12 8 notes

(source unknown)

(via: vanityfair)

(source unknown)

(via: Wary Meyers)

(source unknown)

(via: Horst P Horst)

(source unknown)

Louise Bourgeois… Avant Garde Quilter

03/27/12 11 notes

Louise Bourgeois did some amazing quilting. Any one of these would make an amazing print. The images below were made between 2002 and 2008. This was the period when she did most of her two-dimensional works with fabric. She is quoted as saying…”I always had the fear of being separated and abandoned. The sewing is my attempt to keep things together and make things whole”

Untitled, 2005

Untitled 2002

Untitled, 2002

Untitled, 2005

Untitled, 2006

Untitled, 2007

(All images and quote via: Hauser & Wirth)

Helmut Newton Color

03/15/12 9 notes

Recently we have been obsessed with Neo Noir. Our bulletin board is filled with old Helmet Newton shots. Newton is known mostly for his black and white work, but we are really attracted to his color photography. Such great saturated images….and butts.