Essential oils rule!

Hi there,

I discovered someone very special a few months ago. David Kopler is a master at creating custom fragrances using nothing but organic essential oils. He came to my studio for a scent-a-thon which included a fantastic box of oils from all over the world that he had me experience. Ever the careful teacher, he divided the session into top, middle, and low notes, replete with pieces of wool and coffee beans to cleanse the nose.

As I told him what I thought I was sensing, and on a scale of one to five my ratings, he quietly took notes, sometimes giggled at my enthusiasm and after an hour of tea, conversation about botanicals and smelling some wonderful, and oft challenging fragrances, he got to work. Two weeks later I had a custom fragrance that was absolutely perfect. Perfect I say and, well, I can be hard to please.

David joined me for one of my famous seminars at the fabled Mayacama Golf Club last week. The ladies were in awe as he expertly guided them with a sampling of his oils, in creating a fragrance of their own. It was all great fun...cocktails of course and lots of laughter. Though suddenly the room fell silent. "What" I said, ever anxious to keep everyone enjoying themselves and laughing...."what is going on?". It was concentration and enthrallment. The ladies were seeing the subtle differences achieved by adding Virginia Cedarwood to Lavender....Pink Grapefruit to Pimento Berry. The evening was lovely.

You can reach David at davidkopler.com for information about a private session. From custom fragrances to soaps, to atomizers...you name it. I am lucky to have found him and it is my joy to bring him to you.

Have a great holiday and remember the key to a beautiful holiday centerpiece can be right outside your backdoor.

Much joy and abundance,

John James

BERRIES

What do you do this holiday? Clients are confused. Some of them quite privileged and unwilling to be garish and tacky with an exuberant and yes expensive holiday party. This economy is sure hard to swallow. Seems almost unreal coming off a decade of such amazing advances....such conveniences. No Catholic guilt here....just looking for a way to see the good in a world gone mad.

I say berries. Fake and real, styrofoam and plastic, from the vintage store or from the craft store. Thread them on the chandelier and be sloppy about it. Nice and asymetrical. Up and around your favorite mirror or piece of art, or bend them around an existing wreath for a whimsical accent. By the way, if you use real ones from your yard, or the local flower market, they will last "ok" for about 2 weeks. If real is what you crave, wait until the 12th or so to do the decorating and prepare a couple of weeks later to be sweeping and vacuuming like a mad person.

My apartment, outside of a charming little tree, is decorated with red berries. Red red red. I found that a simple arrangement or two of red flowers and lots of candles (ringed with red berries of course) was indeed an elegant and lovely approach.

It is indeed a time for reflection as stories of insecurities and fear temper the joys of a season whose true meaning is often obscured by such difficulties, and clouded even more by the wreckless acumulation and giving of....stuff.

Berries are fruit for the birds, a metaphor for the future, So with the garlands and sprigs of berries in hand, think of the future that lives bright in all of us. We are gonna make it. Innovation and our hard working spirit demands nothing else.

Happy Holidays to all of you.


John James