Boho Circus

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.

Delicious Vegan Eats at Spiral Diner | Dallas, Texas

At Spiral Diner, you'll find friendly waiters in bandanas and beards cruising the 100% vegan restaurant in search of ways to make you feel right at home. The lovely chef with gypsy green hair may remind you of a mermaid who traded her tail for a magic spatula, and magic it is...you'll soon find out.

Even at 3:00 in the afternoon, with a small, quiet crowd, Spiral Diner oozes soul. Perhaps it's the photos on the wall, like the old Willie Nelson poster, or the well-worn literary works at each booth, or maybe the soul is coming from the authentic souls who staff it. It doesn't really matter, you just feel the combination of Southern hospitality and wholesome food when you walk through the door. At least, this was our experience.

After three long days of decision-making and bad carbs working at Dallas Market, we craved something healthy. We knew that Spiral was just the place to replenish, before roadtripping it back to Austin. Chris welcomed us to the self-serve beverage bar and kindly gave us time to settle into our booth, relax, and check out the menu: organic wine & microbrewery beer, fizzy drinks like agave limeade, ginger shots, dirty chai, and fair trade coffee. Completely void of anything animal or insect, the food menu is a fun feast for the eyes and palate. In other words, for vegans used to having one or two choices on a menu, you'll be overwhelmed with a vast assortment of options.

So tired of decision making, we opted for the easy way out: we ordered sides. The pyramid watermelon was crisp, sweet, and juicy. The pasta salad had just the right amount of basil and the creamy potato salad with fresh dill flakes was amazing. Spiral's idea of a green salad was pleasantly surprising, given the usual green side salads offered at other restaurants: fresh lettuce topped with black olives, corn, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers and added avocados, and the ranch dressing was impressive. We topped off our lite meal with the PB&J sundae: a large, warm cookie with peanut butter I-scream, strawberry jam, peanuts, and whipped cream. Unbelievably tasty.

It's refreshing to find a restaurant so in tune with what is good for humans, other earthlings, and the whole planet. The only negative thing about Spiral is that there isn't a location in Austin! Next time, we'll have to try the other location in Dallas' Funkytown. Oh, and did I mention that Spiral is also a vegan bakery? Yum.

The Spiral Diner Story, Menu, Location & Hours

Boho Circus Lookbook | Austin Street Style

Shop for these styles at Boho Circus!

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.

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!

Conversations | Maria | Salvation Pizza in Austin, Texas

When we think about Austin, many things come to mind: the world renowned ACL music festival, the live music scene, the most tattoo parlors in the world, outstanding vintage boutiques, and delicious food. Maria works at Salvation Pizza, nestled in the quaint neighborhood of North University. Maria's sweet spirit, ombre hair, boho boots, and raspberry tattoo caught our attention. A boho beauty both inside and out, she took a moment to share a bit of her life with us.

How do you express your creative spirit? 

"My family and I create Hispanic cultural art including paper cut-outs, homemade Easter eggs, and sculptures."

We love your boho style, do you have a favorite piece of jewelry?

"It was a gift...a thin silver chain with a gold-wired ball that symbolizes 'from chaos, comes beauty.' It was designed by Austin artist, Tracy Tenpenny."

So, what's the best item on the menu at Salvation?

"Build-your-own pizza, definitely. Also #1 and #9."

We enjoyed the brief conversation, super crisp salad (their Italian dressing is delicious), and the #1 - White pie of fresh basil, chopped garlic, and sliced roma tomatoes on a buttery crust. There are lots of great places to eat in Austin, and Salvation  is definitely one of them with al fresco seating and 4.3 Yelp stars.

Bohemian Style at ACL Fest 2014

Weekend One of ACL was amazing! Sandals, bracelet stacks, and 90's grunge plaid flannels, tied around the waist, were everywhere. Other bohemian fashion finds...

Flowy silk maxi dress, floppy hat & boho bag | Photo: Averie Bishop

Flower crowns, flash tats, and cute boho blouses | Photo: Hilarita Designs

Dylan-esque hat, vest & jeans. Photo: Cambria Harkey The Head and The Heart

Flash tat, boho embroidered blouse, and floppy hat. | Photo: Miranda Dawn

Hippie blouse, flower hairpin, headband, and Ray Bans. | Photo:  Dre La La

Headbands, boots, fringe purse, floppy hat, graphic tees | Photo: Sara McKinley

Flower crown, crochet top, dangle earrings, Ray Bans. | Photo: Ashley Earnest

Floppy hat, big sunnies, long chain necklace, serape. | Photo: Brooke Choate

Jenny Lewis in rainbow hippie threads. | Photo: Joshua Lewis

Phantogram keyboardist in gold statement jewelry. | Photo: Reagan Hackleman

Nikki Lane in floppy hat and boho print shorts | photo: Nick Simonite

Vintage festival bongo drums and Radiate Positive Vibes shirt available at BohoCircus.

ACL Weekend One Recap.

Red Bull TV  will air Weekend Two of ACL live.

Round Top, Texas - Antiques Fair 2014

Roadtrippin' east bound with the sun rising over the Texas hills, a sense of excitement filled the Jeep. We were headed to Warrenton and Round Top for the semi-annual Antiques Fair. Indie rock tunes, a Starbucks brew, and good conversation filled the three hour trip to the Warrenton fields where we meandered into a free parking space at the Bar W Field, our favorite spot to begin. With more than 100,000 shoppers and 60 barns, fields, dance halls, and tents, it's like an adult carnival for bohemians, gypsies, pickers, and cowgirls...

Warm days in the high 80's, sometimes rain, the weather can change by the hour in Texas. Come prepared with Hunter or cowboy boots, comfy flip-flops, converse sneakers, whatever floats your Bohemian boat. We captured this lovely Bohemian and her fun street style outside the Warrenton Grocery. Please visit her Bohemian fashion booth in Renck Hall.

Good eats like fully-loaded baked potatoes, kettle corn, peach pie, Texas BBQ, and grilled jalapeno corn on the cob are delicious pit stop treats. There are full bars and margarita machines in several fields and delicious iced tea refills at Royer's Cafe at Zapp Hall. And when your done for the day, visit the original Royer's Cafe in Round Top. Rich and delicious Southern dishes; Reservations required.

Shopping trends this Fall were automobile parts like doors, fenders, grills, and tailgates, Mexican pottery, metal letters, embellished apparel, skulls, antlers, mid-century vintage, and shabby anything.

We filled the Jeep with old tin, wrought iron, old barn wood, antlers, Mexican baskets and wooden bowls; everything we need for the construction of our Bohemian Gypsy Tent at Houston's Nutcracker Market.  (Booth 422, November 13-16.) With a Jeep filled to its brim, we headed west into a gorgeous purple sunset.

Alexa is wearing one of our new Texas Home Base Tees found at A Rosy Outlook at Etsy

Boho Style - Gypsy, Bohemian at Magnolia Pearl

Refreshing and inspiring!  The new Spring/Summer collection at Magnolia Pearl. Love, love, love the multicolored crocheted dress!   The music, the mood and the styling are worth a trip to the website.  Escape for a day in the country here.

Beautiful Flowers - Whole Foods Market - Austin

Aren't these flowers simply gorgeous?! I took this photo yesterday at the Whole Foods Market Headquarters in Austin, Texas.