True Inspiration for a Monday: The Projects of Pippa Small

Dhongria of Orissa India
images from Survival International by Jason Taylor

To say Pippa Small's projects inspire me is an understatement...She makes me feel that anything is possible with an open-heart and commitment to the belief that what you create and design can go beyond a simple transaction. She's taken big dreams and followed her heart to make them a reality, using her talent to inspire, contribute, give back...she is a role model in the finest sense.

Take a few minutes or promise me you will when you get the time...watch the short film about her project in Kabul, Afghanistan, and her projects working with Survival International to help the threatened Dhongria tribe of Orissa, India, read an article about her in the Telegraph, more videos about her work with tribes in Botswana and in Panama.

I've always had larger plans for Bonbon, and reading about what Pippa Small has done has only cemented my belief that I can do anything I put my mind to. Wow. How's that for a Monday Dose of Inspiration? For now, I am starting small, where I can...here... and here.

sunday thoughts: spørg eksperterne

Fotograf: Anitta Behrendt

I am not exactly sure what that means but I'm guessing it's "Everything is cheery in Denmark". I'm going to keep all pretty bottles starting...now.

From Bolig Magasinet via Desire to Inspire (thank you...you have inspired)

New Calling Cards

by Kaelea Sim, artist extraordinaire...

Kaelea: I am making my niece personalized cards and stickers. Apparently when you're two and you need to give a gift, you need a card with your name on it.

Me: I want ones that say "Swine Flu".

Ask and you shall receive. Thanks Kaelea. Way to take the ball and run...I am taking 'em to the printers just in case.

The Week in Bonbons: Over the Moon

I have to admit, I get really excited by seeing people in their "bonbons"...for example, take a look at Marichelle, above, in her new Buddha Necklace...she's the sexiest do-gooder I've seen in a loooong time.

And somehow, I just found this incredibly sweet post she wrote back in February about the Oiseau packaging. Flattered (and then some!) because...a. I am obsessed with our packaging. (My assistant rolls her eyes) b. I am always trying to come up with better, more wonderful ways to create an experience for the, uhh, opener of the package. Maybe I can get some sleep now. But we did make some changes since then (told you I was obsessed.)P. wrote about it too in full support of cherry blossoms and mother's day...I saw this one right away and was really over the moon at P's gorgeous photos and overall feelings of bonbon satisfaction...I need to pay closer attention to what people are saying...

because then, when I was looking for that post again (disorganized=me), I just came across this from Modish: how cool! And then this by Two Brunettes over on Design Lovely which also made me super happy- they put bonbon together with...other pretty things! So nice!
Sometimes running a business can be a little less than fun, it can be hard and tiring and the pay-off isn't always apparent. But seeing my work making other people happy sends me over the moon. It's a real "oh yeah" moment, "this is why I do it". It feels great, I'll just admit it. Thanks for indulging me...

pssst...tomorrow I'll be at the glorious Brooklyn Flea allll day so come on over and say hi!

Hans Christian Andersen's Paper Cuts

The Paper Cuts by Hans Christian Andersen from here

Sprawled out on the grass, eye-level with the flowers, early morning tea or just before bedtime, I am lapping up this new translation of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen. It's kind of taking the Danny Kaye out of the whole affair for me but reminding me of all the great stories I loved as a wee lass: The Ugly Duckling, The Princess on the Pea and The Emperor's New Clothes...lost to imagine other very far away lands, and what might happen next and how funny the princess could still feel the pea with all those mattresses! I'm all fueled up to tell some stories to Sophie and as it turns out Emily, who might too old to believe in fairytales but made me tell her the story of Thumbelina anyway...

But look at Hans' paper cuts. Imagine him with his sharp scissors in his pocket, turning the paper round and round while the children waited to see what happened! These little fantastic fantasies, little visual synopses of his stories, little stories themselves, unfolding as little bits of paper drifted to the floor! I am lost in his world right now, cutting little stories and floating them out into the world to see...

thanks Ada for recommending this book...

Monday's Inspiration: Darjeeling Light

photos by Jehad Nga for The New York Times

I miss India and am not sure why I haven't gone back for so long. Possibly because if I did, I'd want to just stay forever. I went once for a quick trip to Darjeeling and ended up staying for over two weeks, partly because it was a bit difficult to get way up there, to the top of India itself, mostly because I got to love the quiet hill-station towns of the Himalayas,with buildings clinging to the sides of hills, distant views of mountains, large landscapes of mossy green-ness, tropical and alpine at the same time, the rusty corrugated raj-era rooftops, low silvery clouds with a palpable dampness equaling more green, more rust. I loved the afternoon light, the afternoon tea; the seriousness of tea and the vastness of the golden light.

Mom, a story

My mom showed me this picture last week. It was taken in her home town of Wanne-Eickel in Westphalia in Western Germany,on her way to school. She was just 5. Look at that little trench coat and her little beret!

My mom came from Germany to the U.S. from Germany in 1938 on the Kindertransport, all by herself on a ship that landed in NY. Her brother had arrived six months earlier, and was in St. Louis, with a kind family who agreed to take him. He had talked them into to taking her too and so she came on that ship and traveled by train to St. louis and slept on a cot in the corner of the family's living room for a whole year. Then finally, in 1939, her parents, my Oma and Opa, came to the U.S. and moved them both to Jamaica, Queens. (They might have gone to Uruguay, but then I might not have been here!) This is how the story goes.

How scared she must have been, how strong she had to be, how many family members and friends were lost to her. The way she always felt so happy to be in America, the way she took care of us so well, the way she never let any of her past break her spirit. She is warm and kind and has always been so generous...sometimes I am so moved by her spirit and her bravery and imagining the person she was before she was my mom...I am honored to have such a wonderful and strong mother and a very best friend.

Happy Mother's Day Mom, a few days early. And Happy Mother's Day to all all my beautiful and strong women, a few days early, mothers or no....oxo

It's really time for a Picnic

Don't you think?

pictures from Square America

Bonbon loves Gleena with a capital L

Secret: I am in love with Gleena Ceramics. I've done shows with Asya, the artist behind the line, over the years and always want to take one of her pieces home with me. I finally got to meet her at the Brooklyn Flea a few weeks ago when I was lucky enough to be her neighbor. I got to stare all day at Asya's beautiful work.
I finally got my Gleena collection started with two of these little petal nesting bowls...No. 9 and No. 12. I love the sensual feeling of the work along with the delicate old graphics and lettering she picks...I'll see her again on the 16th and I think I'm going to finally get some platters and bowls and cups and....oh man...help!

More favorites and her blog and her etsy shop. Good for Mother's Day huh if I don't keep it all myself?

Hey! I'm here today on reading my tea leaves one of my new favorite blogs (!) and also here (scroll down to the bottom!)

Mother's Day Bonbons

stills taken by amy

A little gift for Mother's Day. A sale in the Bonbon Shop: 25% off all necklaces, bracelets, and earrings--the sale is extended until noon tomorrow, May 6th for all you slowpokes. and our BB hotline will be open! Just write MD25% in your subject line and we'll be there...

photo by P...

And congratulations to the sweetest P and fauxhawk...Hoo-RAY!!

Rain at Work

Took these at my parent's house. My mom was surprised when I came back inside all wet. I love to watch Spring at work.