Something I'm so nervous to share
Also in here: the Grinch
Only eight more days til Thanksgiving, hooray!
Funny story: on Sunday we had a family picnic, and my sister Sarah casually brought a huge batch of insanely good fried chicken. Everyone is sitting there smacking their lips and my dad goes, “Forget the turkey, just make this for Thanksgiving dinner!” Maybe a new tradition is about to be born?!
How are you doing Thanksgiving this year? If you have a favorite recipe or long-standing tradition, I’d love to hear.
heirloom portraits
Over the summer I started working on a personal project I’m proud of but have been weirdly nervous to share…
So you know that thing where we have 1,000 cute photos of our kids and zero nice photos of ourselves? Well, I feel strongly that that is enough of that, so I started shooting heirloom portraits of mothers.
I make these portraits on film in my garage studio in 15 minutes or less. The moms have each shared one sentence they’d say to their children, all very different and very powerful.
Beyond the joy of a “famous photo” to share with future generations, I love handing a woman a photograph that shows how beautiful she is at this age, in this very magnificent and complicated season of raising children.
If you’d like an heirloom portrait like this that you’ll keep forever, or you’d like to give one as a gift, message me and I’ll send you pricing info.
today’s bouquet
Obviously, I could not buy just one but three butters shaped like a turkey, and then I went down a “vintage butter mold” rabbit hole on Etsy (great fun), and that’s how I ended up yearning for this wooden heart.
Mayday, red alert, my BFF is famous: the one and only Rachel from Austin is now a featured artist for AllModern. Her signature block print artwork is available for purchase! I’m so proud I could explode!
Update: a few of you asked where to stock up on Instax film. I get mine on Amazon; as a rule of thumb, it’s usually a dollar per photo, so anything cheaper than that is a good deal. It’s on sale here (plus 6% cash back).
This fish boy t-shirt made me smile.
NYC readers, especially with little kids, pleeease mark your calendars to go see the Beatrix Potter collection at the Morgan Library. (via Lizzy)
So grateful these historic photographs didn’t end up in the trash.
Fun project to work on with family if you’re headed home for the holidays: family photo ornaments
What we have here is a sweater I’d like to hibernate in.
Now I know what I’d get Nate for Christmas if my budget was $2.5m!!
re: tomorrow’s gift guide
Tomorrow is the final gift guide: for ourselves! I’m very grateful to each of you who shops my links and earns me a commission. Sometimes it’s only 14¢, but it all adds up!
If you need help finding a specific gift this year, message me here.
ICYMI, two other gift guides:
deck the halls
Skip this part if you’re waiting til after Thanksgiving!
One thing about me is I L.O.V.E. the Grinch (the individual, the book, and the 1966 Boris Karloff cartoon), so I am obviously buying this pillow and this crib sheet and this mug. Tomorrow is Christmas. It’s practically here!! (via Emily)
Okay, this vintage Crayola ornament?!
Don’t you love these lace snowflakes? I decided to start collecting snowflakes this year. I bought this $10 garland and this paper one. And we love making our own!
Hand-carved tree star: breathtaking.
This glass menorah is so simple and beautiful.
last thing
Most clicked link from last week: Yumi Kim dress
Most clicked link from the gift guide: color wheel necklace
Readers today: 1,335
Reminder – usually Handpicked is a Wednesday-only endeavor, but tomorrow you’ll get an extra email from me: a Gift Guide for women we love.
Have a beautiful week.
Wish I lived in LA or was visiting LA anytime even remotely soon so I could get my portrait. This is such a beautiful idea, Alex.
I am interested in your heirloom portraits of mothers. Hoping you do older moms like me! Please tell me the pricing and how close you ever get to Long Beach, CA. Thanks so much!