Notes from the Road Issue 009
Welcome to Notes From the Road—an inside look at desert happenings, things we’re currently into, and anything/everything in between, brought to you by one of our owners and founders, Janelle. We don’t gatekeep here in the high desert, so if we love it, you need to know about it.
Hwy 62 Art Tours
Years before we ever moved to the hi-des, we’d come out in October specifically for the Hwy 62 Art Tours. Back then, it was held over two weekends. Now stretched across three, you can visit more than one hundred local artists and makers in the hi-des, touring their studios—many of which are in their homes. It’s such a fun way to explore the desert off the (literal) beaten path.
Bathe in Nature
All summer, we’ve been making bath salts non-stop in our studio (y’all love them!). Selfishly, they’re also an outlet for my scent-formulation hobby. Last year, I took a perfume workshop with incredible local artist Emily Endo, and since then, I’ve been hooked. Perfume has always fascinated me. I love the process of starting each scent profile the same way I would a design: by coming up with a concept (the vibe), and then imagining how I’d like that vibe to smell. Every scent is rooted in nature and inspired either by the desert or by smells I crave when I leave it. I try to strike a balance between familiar and nostalgic, but always with a twist. We just released two new bath soaks, High Desert and Pacific Coast.
The Place (to be)
Our good friends are makin’ moves in downtown Indio. The Place just opened—a massive mixed-vendor shop featuring a record store, skate shop, bottle shop, vintage, and more. I got especially excited about the Lorem Ipsum design library: an incredible collection of design and art books that aren’t for sale, but you can sit and pore over them at your leisure. Also worth checking out is a mind-bending installation by Teenage Engineering, which transmits music without Bluetooth. And don’t miss Rosemary Hi-Fi bar across the street—our friend and former collaborator Adrian of Hermano Flowershop just opened it.
Creative Visualization
Years ago, when I finally left my decade-long career in the corporate fashion industry, I read the 1970s classic Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain. I was shocked when I visualized my goals, wrote them down, and…they happened! Fall has always felt like a transitional season, and for me, it’s the true start of a new year. High season returns to the high desert, holiday shopping madness ramps up in Q4, and my birthday all mark the turning of another year on my personal calendar. Lately, I’ve been thinking it’s time to reset and set new goals for the next one to three years. I’m ready to revisit Creative Visualization and let the ideas sink in again.
