on her morning routine
I wake up pretty early, at 7:30, without an alarm. As much as I wish I didn’t, I spend a few minutes on my phone before I get up. I wash my face, brush my teeth, and throw on whatever is easy, usually a jumpsuit or jeans and whatever shirt I was sleeping in. I head out to my favorite coffee shop. Walking there is my favorite time to just clear my head. No phones allowed. I create a plan for the day, and have imaginary convos with people...you know, normal stuff.
on getting into ceramics
I started making ceramics about two and a half years ago. I was down in the dumps and lost about what I was doing in life. I had always done art, mainly charcoal drawings. Learning new crafts was really fun for me, so I was trying to teach myself as many as possible. For my birthday, my parents got me a 6-week ceramics class at Choplet in Williamsburg. I spent every second in the studio. It was like therapy! I loved the medium. I can be such an impatient person and there is no room for impatience in ceramics. It's taught me so much, and as cheesy as it sounds, it’s made me a way better person, I think. I just went with it by reaching out to stores, and then more and more after that. It’s just snowballed, and I never want it to stop!
on finding her passions
I feel like I wasn’t meant to do one thing. I get bored easily, so it’s a way of keeping myself entertained. All the different things I do, quilting, embroidery, ceramics, whatever is going to come next, are all because I wanted to make something for myself. It’s always been a test to see if I can even do it, to try and figure it out. Then I'm like, "Oh, shit this is cool. Let me make one for a friend," and so on and so on.
on her style and shopping habits
Ninety-five percent of my wardrobe is from Beacon’s Closet. It’s on my way home from the subway, and sometimes if I'm not paying attention, my body will take me there. I used to be into thrifting, but my style has evolved. Yes, Beacon’s is pretty much thrifting, but it's also curated. They have some amazing designer and vintage items.
My aesthetic is pretty simple and tom-boyish. I feel most comfortable in fall and winter clothes. I am constantly on the search for the perfect jeans and white t-shirt. That to me is the best outfit. A jumpsuit is heaven. I used to welcome any and all jumpsuits or overalls, but recently I'm looking for a little more feminine cut while still being workwear. I've never met an oversized navy blue sweater I didn't immediately love. For when I need to dress up, I tend to go toward floral dresses. I love Indian cotton dresses, and in my mind that’s all I wear. In reality, they're more for special occasion dresses.
on home decor and collecting
I’ve always been a bit of a hoarder. I get super attached and ascribe deeply emotional feelings towards certain objects. I'm create little dioramas on every surface in my room. I have bowls of rocks that for some reason or another have travelled far and wide with me. I have weird little things I've picked up in thrift stores across the country. I have stacks on stacks of books that I've read, and ones that I need to read. The older I get, the more deliberate I am in choosing things to bring home with me. If I find any wicker furniture or a wall hanging, I'm toast. It's mine. No questions asked, and I don't care if there’s no room for it. I'll make room, or I'll store it somewhere until I have my dream house. I even have a beautiful woven hammock stored somewhere for this aspirational dream home that lives in my mind. It's an aspirational hammock.
on her skincare and beauty routine
I have cystic acne, which is the worst. I would never wish it upon anybody. It’s painful, physically as well as emotionally. My main focus is clear skin. Everything else is just icing on the cake. Every few months I find that I've got to mix it up. Let me tell you the thing that has changed my skin the most is Paula's Choice products, specifically the Resist BHA set with Paula's Choice Resist Weekly Retexturizing Foam Treatment and Paula's Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment. If I have good skin, I could be wearing a trash bag and feel great. Egyptian Magic is also great. I put it around my eyes at night to stop wrinkles. If my skin gets sunburned or chapped, it clears it up overnight! Also, Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Lotion and Glossier Super Pure Serum
For make-up, I'm a light concealer, mascara, light cheek color, and full, thick, untamed Glossier Boy Brow kind of gal. My hair gets super dry so many oils are necessary. I like Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Oil, or just plain argan oil. I also recommend Davines Hair Serum. For scents I wear Burnin’ for You Candle Co’s Mojave Daydream and/or Olo Dark Wave.
some makeup tips
Honestly, wear whatever makes you feel good. When I wear a lot of makeup, I just don't feel like myself. You just need to be able to look in the mirror and recognize yourself. If that means no makeup, then that's awesome! If that means a ton of makeup, then thats awesome, too! If that changes daily, thats awesome!
ivy's favorite books
Native Funk & Flash: An Emerging Folk Art by Alexandra Jacopetti Hart, The Journey is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon by Dan Eldon, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante
ivy's favorite movies
Annie Hall, Spirited Away, Almost Famous, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
ivy's favorite records
Talking Heads: 77 by Talking Heads, My Aim is True by Elvis Costello, Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads, Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen, Mad Dogs & Englishmen by Joe Cocker, Parallel Lines by Blondie, Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen.
ivy's favorite places in nyc
All I want is to get ramen from Samurai Mama, go to a movie at Nitehawk, and then an ice cream sundae for dessert.
I get all my home stuff from Dobbin Street Vintage Co-op
I get my candles and witchy stuff at Enchantments
I love Crest Hardware for everything, plus they have a pig
If you're feelings sick, then get the curry chicken noodle soup from Nha Trang One
Loren denim fixes all my jean issues. I have many.
Photography by Anastasia Lafond