Boho Circus

Create Your Own Sunshine | Natural Life

Happy Monday! Some days, like Mondays, you have to create your own sunshine!

We love the adorable designs from Natural Life! Available at our brick and mortar shop: A Rosy Outlook. Image found here.

Behind the Scenes | Marfa Collection Lookbook

Here's a behind the scenes look at our roadtrip to Marfa, Texas, where we reserved a safari tent at El Cosmico to shoot our new collection of bohemian home goods.

The crew got up at dawn, packed the dogs into the Wrangler, and drove west.

Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas, located between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park. Its official website claims: "Tough to get to. Tougher to explain. But once you get here, you get it."

Mid Century Minimalism meets Southwest Cowboy in this town of Bohemian artists, writers, and entrepreneurs.

 

We unpacked our new collection of home goods and set to work.

Chyna captured our models, Indigo and Jaxon, enjoying the new collection of Vintage Kantha dogbeds, now available in store and online! To create these repurposed bohemian home accessories, we patchwork antique Indian quilted saris.

Bren captured this beautiful photo of the sun setting on El Cosmico, then we sat under the fairy lights and enjoyed Hikes, a live band from Austin. The full moon shone and we set out to see the mysterious Marfa lights.

We weren't able to capture any good photos, but this lovely photo (via whatwasthen.blogspot) looks like what we saw. It was one of the most eerie experiences that we've ever encountered. We were expecting a hyped-up tourist attraction, but what we found was a desolate highway turnout, and more of a "Blair Witch meets Roswell" experience - very unsettling.

When we returned to the studio, Chyna whipped up the design for our new cacti tee - inspired by our trip to Marfa!

Tips for visiting Marfa, Texas: El Cosmico is a beautiful little retreat, with tents, teepees, a yurt, and vintage trailers. We always enjoy their hammock sanctuary, communal outdoor kitchen, and live music. After watching a magical performance under the stars and fairy lights, drive out to see the elusive mystery lights.

When you arrive at the viewing center, look for the blinking red light. The dancing mystery lights look so natural, it seems like there should be an easy explanation for them, like men walking around with flashlights, or headlights somewhere off in the distance, but after a century of research, no one has discovered what creates them.

Make sure to visit Marfa on a weekend as most of the shops and restaurants are closed during the week.

If you're driving through Fort Davis on the way back, visit the old lodge and take the beautiful, yet treacherous, hike through the Davis Mountains. (We don't recommend taking dogs or small children & make sure you wear hiking boots or the equivalent. A water bottle is a must) The trail begins at the back parking lot of the lodge.

Most photos are original BohoCircus shots, a few others came from El Cosmico, Marfa, and Pinterest.

Cactus Flowers | Texas Hill Country

After finding this treasure at East Side Succulents in Austin, we have become pretty obsessed with cacti.

The fine folks at East Side dealt with the spines and potted our fine prickly friend into a beautiful turquoise ceramic pot from Tillery Street Plant Co.

Although cacti are succulents, they require different care. We were told to drench it with water every two weeks and place it in full sunlight to get enough energy to bloom. Within a couple of weeks, new buds appeared.

Voila! Within a couple of days, they blossomed.

Excited to see some wild cacti, we packed the dogs in our Jeep Wrangler and headed for Enchanted Rock State Park.

These beauties were the best of our photo safari:

Cactus Fun Facts:

There are 1,500 to 1,800 species of cacti. The smallest grows to less than an inch, the largest grows to 66 feet.

The spines are actually leaves that evolved as protection from herbivores.

Cacti are only native to the Americas, ranging from Patagonia in South America through the U.S. to areas of western Canada. One species, Rhipsalis baccifera, is the exception, it is also found in tropical Africa, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka. It is thought that droppings from migratory birds dispersed the Rhipsalis seed to these other lands.

The New Bohemians by Justina Blakeney

Which type of New Bohemian are you?

Lush with gorgeous photographs, our new favorite book, The New Bohemians, is considered a 300 page Bohemian Bible. Showcasing over twenty creative homes throughout the country, Justina's story is a discovery of how one can define the  "New Bohemian." Have you noticed all the new terms that suggest the same eclectic mix of society? Boho hipster, gypster, hippie gypsy, boho hippie, prairie folk, gypsy nomad, and modern bohemian are terms that come to mind.

They seem to all refer to the same sort of person: THE NEW BOHEMIAN

Justina breaks down the New Bohemian into six categories: Modern, Earthy, Folksy, Nomadic, Romantic, and Maximal. Within each of these sections, she devotes pages to lovely home and lifestyle photographs, DIY projects, interviews with home owners, and healthy recipes. Here are a few photo teasers from the book that I found on Pinterest:

THE MODERN BOHEMIAN

"Whether they live in a turn-of-the-century craftsman-style house, a cabin in the hills, an urban loft, or a dome in the desert, modern bohemians mix the clean lines and functionality of classic modern design with the decorative exhuberance of a bohemian." - Justina Blakeney.

The dining room of Josie Maran & Ali Alborzi speaks to the sleek style of the Modern Bohemian. Their 1920's cabin getaway in the hills of Beachwood Canyon, in Los Angeles, is full of items found during their world travels.

THE EARTHY BOHEMIAN

"Nature rules. The earthy bohemian home is full of foresty fancies: rattan and wool, plants and pets, earth tones and weathered woods. Relaxed and airy, informal with rustic details..." - JB

The above living room is the Portland, Oregon bungalow of Emily Baker & Kerby Ferris. "The bright white backdrop is offset by layered patterns and natural collections of foraged finds." The homeowners describe it as a sanctuary for yoga, meditation, rest, and creativity.

An Airstream nestled in an overgrown garden oasis in Los Angeles, and a recipe to create your own home fragrance, were our favorites in the Earthy Bohemian section.

THE FOLKSY BOHEMIAN

"Packed with tales of adventures, treasure-hunting, and hand-me-downs, the folksy bohemian is a collector, a maker, an upcycler, and a storyteller." - JB.

This is the folksy bohemian casita of Mattie Kannard & Dennis Smith, Las Cruces, New Mexico. "A clutter of cats, wily little dogs, happy hens, and rogue roosters are all part of the Kannard-Smith household," - JB.

THE NOMADIC BOHEMIAN

"...A nomadic bohemian, whose vibrant home is packed with textiles, ephemera, and anything else picked up during travels in both the actual and virtual worlds. Their homes are about movement: Objects, furniture, and even entire room are constantly being relocated." - JB

Prop stylists, interior designers, fashion designers, and casting directors are creative free spirits who would gravitate toward change and several are featured in this section.

Amhalise Morgan lives with her two kids, Harmony Cree and Rebel Spirit, in a Brooklyn brownstone. She spent a decade creating her dream home out of internet-found worldly treasures.

THE ROMANTIC BOHEMIAN

"The romantic bohemian home is a theatrical space, full of dramatic moments, music, and circuslike quirks...These homes are glamorous and faded, considered and whimsical, worldly and otherworldly." - JB

Arielle Pytka lives in a loftlike space in Venice, California. She describes her home as "a perfect mess." Justine describes it as "a playground for creative pursuits."

THE MAXIMAL BOHEMIAN

"Whereas the minimalist strips things down to the bare bones, maximal bohemians surround themselves with eye candy. Every surface of the home is abundant with art." - JB

This is Justina's home in Los Angeles nicknamed the "Jungalow." You may find more photos of Justina's home at her amazing Blog.

After reading The New Bohemians, you may get an idea as to which bohemian style you may fall into. We found ourselves in lots of the categories, and you may to! That just seems to sum it up: Bohemians are eclectic free spirits who are amazingly hard to categorize.

For more on Justina, and to purchase her wonderful book, please visit her at justinablakeney.com.

Photography by Dabito

Boho Must Have - Squash Blossom Necklaces

One of the most impressive pieces of Southwestern Native American jewelry has made its way into the spotlight again as a staple in any bohemian wardrobe. This accessory has made an appearance in numerous photoshoots and editorial layouts, as well as a key statement in Leah Hoff's Nashville Wedding (pictured above, link below)-- wouldn't you love investing in a signature item like the squash blossom, instead of a bridesmaid dress?! We think yes!

“Turquoise is closely associated with Navajo jewelry, but it was not until 1880 that the first turquoise was known to be set in silver. Turquoise became much more readily available in ensuing decades. Coral and other semi-precious stones came into common use around 1900. One of the most important forms of Navajo and Southwestern Native American jewelry, is the Squash Blossom Necklace."

— Native American Jewelry Wiki Page

hoto Sources: 1 The Lane // 2  Sweet & Spark // 3 SRTA-PEPIS // 4Spell // 5 SRTA-PEPIS // 6 Spell // 7 District of Chic // 8 This Beadiful World

Be Yourself

This photo was taken during the BohoCircus lookbook trip to El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas. It's such a gorgeous resort of tipis, vintage trailers, safari tents, and yurts. An amazing destination!

Colorful Leaves - Happy Autumn!

"The Measure of Autumn" = photography by Knitalatte at etsy.  knitalatte

Boho Home - Anthropologie - Bohemian Style

Taking this living space as inspiration from YoungHouseLove,

I found these amazing products at Anthropologie:  Live Love Pillow, Quirky Heirloom Throw, Battersea Sofette in Fog Linen, Sari Throw, & Gloria's Round Garden Rug at Anthropologie...

Boho Home & Bohemian Fashion - Inspiration

Ludmila Crigan-Mihajlovic is the founder and editor of the blog Creamylife.com.  Taking fashion as inspiration for interiors or vice versa, I love what she has done with her blog post "Bohemian Charm."  All images via CreamyLife.

Boho Home ~ Unique Ideas ~ DIY ~ Fun Interior Inspiration

Ideas from others to decorate the bohemian home: From left to right: 1) A vintage wooden window frame with screen makes a fantastic jewelry organizer especially for dangling earrings. 2) Literally book shelves! Great idea! Simply choose your books and purchase metal angle irons from your local hardward screw. Drill screws through the angle irons and into the books. This would make a great step system for cats or simple shelving. 3) Vintage bicycle wheels replace the common bulletin board. 4) Wooden embroidery hoops from fabric and craft stores make great frames for lovely fabric. A collection like the one pictured makes a beautiful wall statement! 5) Vintage spice tins make great flower vases.

Idea/Image credit and more information at: Pinterest