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Stop & Smell the Roses
Posted on Apr 12, 2012
One of my favorite places to visit for inspiration is the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. The former home of industrialist Henry Huntington and his wife Arabella, the site includes their beautiful Beaux Art mansion, art galleries, and a world-renowned research library. But what I love more than anything are the Huntington’s amazing gardens.
The botanical gardens cover more than 120 acres and include a Desert Garden, Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Chinese Garden—and much more. Formal gardens offer a juxtaposition of the natural and the structured that I love. With plants labeled and landscaped in cohesive environments, there is an order to things that I find soothing. It’s like nature is being defined for your brain and your heart.
My favorite spot is the Japanese Garden. I love the delicate miniature leaves of the Japanese maples. When the scale and proportion of a leaf is changed it creates a kind of wonder; I think the Japanese really understand this. It’s the same with Bonsai trees.
Nature is such a wonderful designer. I look for patterns and color combinations—like stripes in a cactus or the wandering path through the Chinese Garden. In all gets tucked away for later use.
My mom and sister used to spend Sundays walking around the botanical gardens in Romania, and now I’m doing the same in California. It’s a perfect way to unclutter the mind—just breathe in and smell a few roses once in a while.
Eva Franco in the Press
Posted on Mar 21, 2012
Spring 2012 Collection
Posted on Mar 16, 2012
Eva Franco Spring 2012 Behind the Scenes from Eva Franco on Vimeo.
Floating Through Dreams
Posted on Mar 14, 2012
I found photographer Brooke Shaden’s work at the LA Art Show this year. Her work highlights three of my favorite things: water, women, and fabrics. Because water makes up about 90 percent of our bodies, I find there’s something very intimate about her work. The languid, romantic motion of fabric in the water is very inspiring. I wish we could achieve that effect without water! Maybe I just need more synchronized swimming in my future.