The Dragon Lady

The Dragon Lady-In-Training. Photo by Alex R. Kirzhner. January 2012.

新年快樂

Happy New Year!

It’s the Chinese New Year around the corner, celebrating the year of the Dragon.  It should be a year filled with boundless opportunities and bountiful promises for Roosters.  With such hope, I do look forward, with great resolutions ahead to fulfill.  Each year has been about growth, wisdom and self-discoveries.  And this year, it’s about fufillment and knowing (instead of searching) where happiness lies.  This year will be about reaching deeper into inner brilliance and letting it shine throughout all areas of life, and standing boldly without fear and taking greater strides.  Allow the Dragon to bring the good fortune to the risk-takers and to those whose focus is the development of a greater self.  It is time.  And 2012 is going to be such an exciting year.        

Merry Merry Christmas Matryoshka!

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Ivy Kirzhner. Taken by Alex R. Kirzhner. Mary Katrantzou “Lily Pond” Dress. Vintage Cloissone Jewelry. La Maison Kirzhner, Forest Hills, NY. Christmas 2011.

For Christmas this year, Alex and I are in full Russian mode.  Mr. Kirzhner presented me with Mary Katrantzou’s Lily Pond Dress, which sparked the inspiration for the Russian Matryoshka Nesting Doll theme.  (FYI, Mary Katrantzou is Greek.  Not Russian.)  After all, being married into a happy Russian family and lovingly spending half of my life with one already has given me the entitlement to be just like one, or at least dress like it.  I thoroughly enjoy learning, practicing and participating in my adopted culture, always borrowing a lot of rich pieces to incorporate into my lifestyle and art.  Though it’s a bit of a challenge, I’ve learned some of the language well enough for small cute conversations with my Babulyas and Dedushka.  I just learned a new term of endearment for my husband — (phoenetically) “moy mahknati schmil” or my fuzzy bumblebee.  ;)

Merry Christmas and have a blessed, jolly New Year everyone!

I ((heart)) Christmas

“Happy Holidays, Gazelle!” Self-Portrait. Ivy Kirzhner. La Maison Kirzhner. Forest Hills, NY. Holiday 2011.

With the “Flora & Fauna” Christmas Tree. For La Maison Kirzhner Holiday party, I wore this festive draped velvet blazer that has all of these curious  winter birds printed all over it.  I bought it during my trip to Shanghai, and thought it would be my perfect “Christmas” blazer.  I just realized that some of them are actual partridges in a pear tree!  Whoever designed this really thought of people like me, perpetually obsessed with Christmas.  I wish I had a matching giftwrapper, as it is such an excellent bird print!  I believe between me and my Christmas tree, I’ve completed the Twelve Days of Christmas Look, along with my new favorite pair of Giambattista Vallis.  They for sure make me feel like a lord about to go a-leapin’!

I truly miss being a child, especially around this time of year.  However, the difference now is that as I grow older, my expectations for receiving presents has infinitely decreased… Though I admit, it’s always fun to receive amazing gifts (like the fantastic trio of glass decanters that look like elegant perfume bottles that my twin brother, Paul of Dexter’s Kin, gave me and Alex!  Thank you, Paul!) 

My love for Christmas has always been about being able to share and getting people excited.  It is the hunt for the perfect present for all of those amazing people in my life that really gives the thrill.  It tests how well I know them, and finding that one or two items that can really spark such a delight within them is such a wonderful challenge which I feverishly take on each year.  If I can make people feel the same giddiness and excitement as they did as children on Christmas day, then that is mission truly accomplished!  As for me… I’m always so giddy!  

Now, where’s Santa?  I got milk and cookies waiting for him.

Ivy’s Giambattista Valli Patent Loafers

The Winter Bird Velvet Jacket

"Flora & Fauna" Holiday at La Maison Kirzhner

“Flora & Fauna” Christmas Tree at La Maison Kirzhner. Holiday 2011.

Holiday this year was inspired by a mystical woodland “Flora & Fauna” theme involving furry and feathery creatures and enchanting delicate flowery delights.  One would encounter several curious little characters nestling lovingly within the fragrant 8 1/2-foot tall Douglas Fir, surrounded with peonies, hydrangeas, silk bows, cherry blossoms, dazzling crystal and mirror ornaments, and playful lights.  They’re friends with our favorite little woodland critter, Bonkers, and they come in all range from other furry bunny rabbits, sleepy little kittens, curious owls, pheasants, doves, robins, penguins, chicks, squirrels, to a flying white little piglet for a tree topper!  As part of our gift-giving this year, beloved guests to our annual Holiday party would receive a handmade miniature butterfly terrarium, containing bunnytails, mistletoes, aromatic eucalpytus, and lavender in small handblow glass globes. La Maison Kirzhner has become a signature home that boasts our love and penchant for meshing antique refineries with touches of humor and whim.  Our home comes very much alive especially around this time of year, creating a brand of magic that’s truly our own. 

Butterfly Terrarium handmade by Ivy & Alex Kirzhner. La Maison Kirzhner 2011.

Bonkers, The Red-Nosed Bunny