Mimi & Meg Loaded Trunk Give Away

I'm giving away a vintage Suzani pillow over at mimi&meg. Leave a comment by June 4th over at their blog and the winner will be announced June 5th. If you're not the lucky winner, don't worry, I have more at the shop. These fabulous pillows add a great Bohemian vibe to any home. Good luck!

the sweet spot

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate...

We have no Trader Joe's in Kansas City. Can you hear us Trader Joe's? I opened my pantry this morning and saw that I was down to one large dark chocolate bar. Then, I turned on the radio and our local NPR station was doing a piece on the history of candy in Kansas City.

Who knew Kansas City had such a history of these wonderful indulgences! Valomilk, Christopher Elbow fantastic artisanal chocolates and ice cream, Russell Stover's, Bitterman's, and Andre's where they have the most delicious marzipan.

Have a safe and thoughtful holiday weekend.

Ikats and baskets (pictured above) are available at the loaded trunk.

Eastern Visit

I have lived all over the world and I travel continuously for The Loaded Trunk, my global boutique; yet every time I go to the east coast of the USA, I feel like I have arrived home. Perhaps because both NYC and Washington D.C. seem like I could be in one of those countries across the globe I often find myself in.

I am visually excited by the people, art and architecture. I get dizzy by the selection of amazing food from every country and yes the biggest draw, my family.

This trip crammed it all in-trunk shows, family milestones, graduations, art, people watching, and the unexpected wonder of Tibetan monks making a sand mandala at St. John's Cathedral.

Crocodile

photo by Oh Joy!

Over at Oh Joy! today, Joy posted about some cupcakes she received via post for her birthday. But what caught my eye was the silver crocodile eating that cupcake. We have gorgeous pewter crocodile staplers in the shop, they'd probably love some yummy cupcakes too.

Decorum

A little decorum would be nice, wouldn't it?

Signage from Katch Valley, Gujarat. Photo by Ryan Jaco.

The Art of Travel

Everything has a story. Every vessel, every painting, every rug, blanket and bead. Recycling art, keeping history alive and supporting new generations of artists globally is what keeps me off the tourist path to find the beauty in other cultures, their rituals, arts and celebrations. I love living out of a suitcase, exploring other cultures and collecting art and textiles that speak to me. 

Traveling as an army brat all over the world, my mother filled our home with the art, crafts and furnishings that captured the essence of the local culture. I developed a lifelong appreciation for the feeling you get when you are in a room that reflects your life experiences through treasures gathered along the way.

Now I get to combine my love of travel and shopping with The Loaded Trunk. I know the story behind every single piece in my shop, from the Vietnamese oil paintings to the vintage hand-embroidered suzanis I found in Tajikistan.  

Get ready to go on an global adventure, I am always inspired and always collecting, and can't wait to share it all with you.