Great Panda bear show at the beautifully renovated Fox theater in Oakland, CA. Must go to
experience this wild spectacle of Indian, Moorish, Medieval, Baghdadian and Art Deco -
influenced space. Tons of great shows lined up too!

lovely and delicious macarons at Intelligentsia coffee made by Bottega Louie.

A collection of birthday presents received... all blue! I love it!

Q&A SERIES II / ON ZA LINE

For our second edition of the Chariots on Fire Q&A series, we introduce you to Ai and Kiyomi, the designers behind ON ZA LINE. Their ceramic jewelry is made entirely by hand and only in limited, numbered, editions. Their first collection "She needs a treasure", continues to inspire us; we adore their magical and playful
aesthetic that translates into powerful, memorable and wearable pieces.

ON ZA LINE is run by Kiyomi and me (Ai). Kiyomi learnt ceramics at university and she is mainly taking
care of making ceramics. So, these answers are mixing mine and Kiyomi’s.

Chariots on Fire: Porcelain is the main medium of your work, what attracts you to this material?

Kiyomi: Beauty of the porcelain itself. And also I can form directly by hand without tools. That fits me.

Chariots on Fire: What time periods have influenced your work?

On Za Line: Kiyomi and me are totally not nostalgic types.

Chariots on Fire: Is there a reason why you create your work in editions?

On Za Line: Yes, there is. We are making the molds by using an original model. For each piece made,
the mold is worn down by each new casting. So we can make only 30-50 pieces from one mold. And
we love to work for new ideas more than copying a mold and keep making the same stuff.

Chariots on Fire: How do you start your day?

Kiyomi: Spend 30mins doing nothing.

Ai: Start making some coffee.

Chariots on Fire: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Kiyomi: Could be cooking. That sounds good.

Chariots on Fire: 1 thing you can't live without?

Ai: If I don’t have any inspiration, I don’t know how to live...

Chariots on Fire: Diamonds or rubies?

Ai: Both! But don’t need so much.

Chariots on Fire: Do you consider yourself a collector? If so, what do you collect and why?

Ai: We both are also not a kind of the people who collect something. Even I long for collector sometimes.

Chariots on Fire: Is there a piece of jewelry you wear everyday or that is very special to you? If so,
tell us about it.

Kiyomi: Usually I don’t wear any jewelry. But “Necklace Queen” is still very special for me. Because
the necklace was exactly the first piece, we made it together as ON ZA LINE.

Chariots on Fire: If you could have access to any materials in the world to create a piece or a
new collection what would those be?

Kiyomi: I don’t know any more fascinating material than porcelain.

Chariots on Fire: You live in Tokyo, what are some of your favorite "secret places"?

Ai: I haven’t been yet, but there is secret place in Nakameguro. It is bookshop only open on Saturday
on a rooftop... secretly...I will tell you exactly where it is, when you visit to Tokyo next time.

I celebrated 4th of July in an all American weekend hosted by friends & Generic S. crew at the Ace hotel in Palm Springs - which is worth checking out if you are ever in the area. Yummy: french press Stumptown coffee & chilaquiles with chorizo for breakfast, BBQ burgers for lunch. A massage at the Ace is a real treat - (ask for Ana or Dwayne) and be sure to pick up a pair of Generic Surplus' mesh sneakers at the lobby which is perfect for the city during those hot summers or enjoy by the poolside.

John Baldessari invites you to get inspired by the fleeting things in life, 17th-century style. Create
your own still life. By ForYourArt

John Baldessari: Pure Beauty at LACMA: June 27, 2010–September 12, 2010

I've known DelRae since I was a little girl. Her fragrance is as modern, refined and inspiring as she. Her latest fragrance Coup de Foudre, from Parfums DelRae has captured the ultimate beauty of the rose as you would find in nature - deep, luscious, fresh and completely intoxicating.

"I used the famous Rose de Mai France from one of the two remaining rose fields in Grasse. These rose fields have been tended by the same family since the 20's and are world renowned. The rose oil was processed in a new way that gives us a raw material of spectacular beauty, and immediate vibrancy - recreating the same experience that you have when you inhale a rose in the garden, and you are totally captivated. The superlative, modern rose perfume." - DelRae Roth

Notes: Baie Rose, Bergamot, Italian Lemon 'sfumatrice', Pink grapefruit, Rose de Mai France Orpur absolute, Purple peony, Egyptian Jasmin absolute, Magnolia Orpur, Geranium bourbon, Tonka Venezuela, Vetyver, White moss, Velvet musks.

I first came across the Kusshi a few years ago at the Swan Oyster Depot-my favorite place for oysters, cherry stone clams, crab & perfect cup of clam chowder in San Francisco. Kusshis are sooooooo good, I would often walk over to Swan and have them for breakfast (best time to go to avoid the crowd.)

Kusshi means "ultimate" in Japanese and they really are - not too big & not too small like the Kumamoto. They have a deep cupped shell and the oyster is plump and meaty, mineraly & sweet. Kusshis are cultured in British Columbia.

Captured at Tate Modern, London, England

Captured at Tate Modern, London, England