“You ask whether your verses are good. You have asked others before. I beg you to give up all that. You are looking outward, and that above all you should not do now. Nobody can counsel and help you, nobody. There is only one single way. Go into yourself.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

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Beyond my window: a wind dance, white noise and branches. Sometimes misting silver rain, sometimes thin splinters of sunlight. Inside, in this kernel of quiet, I refuse to light my lamps, writing instead in the cool blue-gray dim of whatever the outside wants to give me. I don’t know when this happened, but I find myself dreading the artificial yellow incandescent. I’d prefer to accept nature’s seconds, its leftovers–whatever I can collect in this small oblong studio, at this old warp-legged desk that shakes when I tap too quickly at the keys, a frail surface for the operations I attempt to perform every morning. Operations of the mind, operations of the heart, pecked out on this clacky keyboard whose A, S, E, R, and T have gone blank with overuse. The I, D, O, H, and C are not long for this world, either. Will I lose my way once the entire keypad goes blank? Or am I to trust muscle memory?

A pack of synonyms, really: the derelict desk, the half-dressed keyboard, this dim room, my faltering at the clavier. Things that seem too frail and meager for the enormity they attempt.

But go easy, Jen. Measuring the trappings can distract from the thrumming heart of things. Who cares how small the voice? We are singing anyway.

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When to Create:

+When you’re curious

+When you’re uncertain

+When you need to wrap your mind around an unknown circumference*

*Which, for most of us, is all the time. Climb out of your head and onto the page!

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If you are local to DC, you must check out a pop-up featuring gorgeous rugs, pillows, jewelry, and art by female artisans/artists at 3144 Dumbarton St NW in Georgetown. It’s open from 12-5 today. I stopped by yesterday and came home with a beautiful floral painting by Tierney Gordon — many of them come framed! I almost got this one (you can also order online!) — I loved the matting/framing — but chose one of her one blue/green florals for our formal living room (the colors are perfect)!

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Sunday Shopping.

+Probably my best recent find: these cashmere tees from White + Warren, on sale for $129?! I wish they weren’t sold out in the petal pink (seen below) but the blue is gorgeous! Other great short sleeved knits: my go-to Alice Walk cardigan, these Quince tees, these Tuckernucks (love the chartreuse — more on that next), and this Guest in Residence.

+I can’t get chartreuse out of my head right now — I have a little shopping guide going live with lots of fabulous fashion finds in this on-trend color tomorrow, but a few items I’m loving in this general color: this Prada mini bag (!!!), this Antonio Melani striped skirt (! – under $200!), this cocktail dress, and this perfect La Ligne sweater (look for less here). I’m telling you, this is THE color; pair with tan, neutrals, chocolate brown. Gorgeous!

+These $78 earrings go with absolutely everything. I keep reaching for them! They aren’t as heavy as they look, but they look more expensive than they are. Use code SHOOP20 for 20% off.

+Two other statement fall baubles to pick up: this fall-toned beaded necklace (look for less here) and these mixed gemstone earrings (under $100).

+All my Shopbop hearts updated here.

+If you loved the motif on my scarf from last week but weren’t sold on the fringe, La Double J just released a smaller square version without the fringe detail. I love this to tie around hair, neck, bag handle!

+Bandana print dress! Very on-trend. Pair with tan suede boot/bag.

+I fell in love with the copy on this beautiful hazelnut-scented candle: “Following the hazelnut trails of the Langhe, a picturesque northern Italian region known for its autumnal colours, seekers uncover one of the region’s treasures—Nocciola envelops the senses in rich, toasted richness with a gourmand depth and autumn’s golden embrace.”

+Just restocked one of my favorite shampoo/conditioner sets. The smell and consistency are phenomenal — this is a lot like Oribe’s product line if you like that, but a little less $$.

J. CREW BANDANA PRINT DRESS // VALERE NECKLACE // CLOUD EARRINGS // SUEDE FLATS IN MY CART // TIERNEY GORDON ARTWORK // CASHMERE TEE // STRIPED SKIRT // PRADA MINI BAG // LA DOUBLE J SCARF // ROXANE ASSOULIN EARRINGS // ROZ SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER // ACQUA DI PARMA CANDLE

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