For our latest installment of Show & Tell, Alexis Smart – expert in Bach flower remedies, a classical homeopath, and founder of her own eponymous line – shares some of her favorite travel finds, collections, hand-me-downs, and new furry friends.
I am a flower remedy practitioner, which is kind of like being an archaeologist of the spirit. My work gently and painstakingly uncovers the emotional layers that cover up the beauty of our true nature. I live in the desert in Joshua Tree and have been spending the last year renovating a little guest house and traveling to Greece. I am a Cancer, so I am a true homebody and I love nothing more than having a friend over and cooking a nice meal of farmer’s market veggies, playing guitar and chatting over some ouzo. I love old things with history, things that connect me to my travels and make me feel like I am on holiday. My style is simple, always comfortable, tom-boy with a touch of feminine.
TEA SETS
My parents are English and got me addicted to tea at a young age. I’m collecting tea sets... The blue and white is Spode and it was made in the town in England where my mom was born. This one I just found with palm trees and cheetahs is perfect for my English tea meets Casablanca life.
SEASHELLS
I brought these back from my recent trip to Greece. My diver friend emerged from the sea with these little gifts for me. My favorites are the bottom ones called “Aphrodite's Ears.” They do look like little goddess ears!
SUN MOON ROOM SPRAY
This is my Sun Moon room spray. The label was made from an illustration I did when I was fourteen. I made this beautiful spray with scents of bergamot, frankincense and orange blossom and flower essences to cleanse and protect and I couldn’t think of what the design should be... I wanted something cosmic and romantic... then I found this painting in my old box of drawings and I thought that’s it!
MY GUITAR
I’m a big Nick Drake fan and I was so excited when I found this! This is supposedly the kind of guitar he used on Pink Moon... 1961 Guild M-20.
OUZO
I am usually not really a drinker but I just fell in love with ouzo. It’s got a lovely licorice taste and it’s nice to sip with Greek food. (Don’t smash my plates after!)
TRAVEL FINDS
This dancer is one of my favorite things. It’s a little embroidered postcard from Spain that I found at a thrift store when I was a teenager.
MY MOTHER'S DRESS
This was my mom’s antique Syrian dress and she wore it all through my childhood. I have coveted it for years and she finally parted with it! I think it’s from the 40s or 50s. It’s one of those magic dresses that can go anywhere and always feels elegant.
NEIGHBORS
It’s so hot and dry here, so I started putting water out for the wild rabbits. I have a whole bunny family who comes in the afternoon and hangs out. This is a new baby that has shown up.
We grapple with consumerism everyday – we are a store that sells stuff that hates waste and too much stuff. So you can imagine the collective cognitive dissonance brewing around the KB office. Our mission, for ourselves and for our store, is to dial back the urge to consume mindlessly and voraciously for no other purpose than to own lots of stuff. The opposite of a throw-away culture – a society that feels connected enough to what they own to keep it, keep it nice, and pass it on. More simply put, people save things when they feel connected to them. For our new series, Show and Tell, we’re taking a different approach to the classic Q&A and asking friends, family and followers to introduce us to some of their things, and through those things learning a lot about the person behind the piece.