LOVE + HONOR + RESPECT

We love LOVE. We also love taking part in in the selection of the perfect expression of that love. Most often that love-token is a ring. Many people are choosing a more non-traditional keepsake to express  the love, honor and respect that is the foundation of a successful union.  New rings are online + in-store now.

We are happily ensconced in our new space on Main Street in Venice.  Half a mile is not much, but we feel a world of difference in our new location.  More light, soaring ceiling height, and an incredibly warm welcome have made our transition a great one.  I hope you will come and visit us.  

One of my favorite things in the new space has got to be the antique games table that I had been long coveting.  Backgammon, anyone?  Simon, one of our new neighbors, stops by weekly to see if anyone has time for a match.  

I am excited about the incredible Dracaena Arborea tree in the front window.  It has long been one of my favorite trees, as it has a certain exotic and almost Dr. Seuss-like feeling.  It is so happy in its sunny spot,  that it sprouted a new frond within the first few weeks of living here!  

We have a cheeky monkey, if you can spot him!

We are so happy that we bought these beautiful 19th century antique French carriage house sconces from our friend Ray before he moved into his amazing new building in Culver City. We could not have hoped for a better provenance, as the spirit of Obsolete is here with us every day.  

In addition, we have had so much fun collaborating with our friends ZenBunni and our neighbors, Pamela Barish and Mona Moore, on delicious private label chocolates. Our flavor is the exotic Kathmandu, a heavenly Nepali Chai treat.  Zen and Bunni take so much care with their confections.  They are organic and biodynamic, and simply amazing.  Come have a taste! Boxes of the three flavors are available for sale in store.

As an accompaniment to the beautiful silk and French lace lingerie collection, we are proud to introduce the Swiss cotton and LFrank bridal collection of lingerie, Love Honor + Respect. This collection is perfect for everyone who prefers the lighter weight of cotton for these hot summer months. Trimmed with French lace, these pieces are every bit as luxurious and gorgeous as their silk counterparts.

Come have a look and enjoy!

a rendering of our new front window

Finding True North is essential for accurate navigation…

So with that in mind, we are delighted to announce that we will be moving less than a mile due North at the end of this month.

Our new address will be:

LFrank

226 Main Street

Venice CA 90291

(between Rose Avenue and Navy Street)

310.452.0771

 

We will be occupying the former home of Ray Azoulay’s Obsolete, along with our friends and current Abbot Kinney neighbors Pamela Barish (224 Main Street) and Mona Moore (222 Main Street).

Our beautiful new space boasts soaring arched ceilings and incredible natural light.   All of the signature LFrank elements will be coming along:  the steel circle gate, the perforated metal wall, and the ancestor portrait.  We will also be incorporating a few exciting new features, such as a lovely lingerie dressing area, custom concrete planters from Buddy Rhodes Studio, and an inherited work of art by renowned artist Ethan Murrow.

There will be plenty of parking in the neighborhood, and of course Kendra will be there to welcome you as always.  We are very excited about this new chapter for LFrank, and hope to see you in our new space very soon!

xxLiseanne

our vitrines will look amazing through our new custom storefront window!

our new space in process… and last but not least, a sneak peek at the LFrank Lingerie collection that will be available in our new location.

LFrank Lingerie, photo by Dan Monick

LFrank Lingerie, photo by Dan Monick

Goodbye Abbot Kinney, our home for over 7 years!

Liseanne picks a few new favorites from the LFrank Jewelry collection which would all make exquisite holiday gifts. Black Diamond Double Arc Stud Earrings I love these earrings as a holiday gift, as they are both festive and flattering. They look great on everyone, and frame the face while adding a bit of dark glamour. They look especially lovely at night, and have the added bonus of being quite versatile. The backs can be worn behind any pair of studs, and the shorter arc studs can be worn alone. Guardian Angel Necklace This little angel was inspired by a request from my friend Doris, who is an expert on all things angel or guru related. It took me years to actually get around to it, and I am so happy that I finally did; the process only enriches the product, so that and the inspiration are what I think of every time I see this piece. Additionally, the chain is hand made, making it truly special. Tatiana Necklace This would be especially nice to wake up to on Christmas morning! This necklace is both feminine and modern, and the grey diamonds lend a subtle sparkle and perfect counterpoint to the green tourmalines. I like to play around with a bit of negative space and historical inspiration when I design, and this is what came of a recent sketch. Diamond Pave Infinity Ring I think that this new ring would make a truly lovely and sentimental holiday gift.  The bright pave diamond outline mimics that of an infinity symbol, and looks both delicate and strong on the hand. That echoes the infinity concept in an elegant way, and would make a very special engagement or wedding ring. Leaf Stud Earrings These are my favorite stud earrings.  They are simple, yet the way that the leaf lays along the earlobe is quite striking.  I also make them with a diamond stripe along the center, but I always reach for this pair, as there is something so natural and soft about them. Everyone needs a pair of interesting studs in their jewelry wardrobe, and these are both classic and unusual. Double Lotus Ring This is an updated version of my Double Lotus Ring for the holiday season. I added the black diamonds to give it a bit more of a geometric look, and Iove how it came out. It's a great combination - the angles of the lines of diamonds with the curved shape of the lotus leaves. I like this ring on the index or middle finger, as it is incredibly comfortable to wear. LFrank Jewelry Gift Certificate If you still can’t decide, why not give the gift of an LFrank Jewelry Gift Certificate, available in any denomination. Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat I’m obsessed with these chocolates, and am giving them as part of Christmas presents… I always give chocolates along with whatever gifts I'm giving. These are exceptionally good, and I love that they are made in Vietnam. It's unexpected and the packaging is absolutely beautiful. (note: you can read more about these extraordinary chocolates here)

Baking as a holiday tradition is something that my family really looks forward to. Years ago, I was introduced to this Persimmon Pudding recipe from Emily Luchetti, and it very quickly became a holiday staple. I don’t think we’ve ever since had a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner without it. In fact, a dear friend hosts a persimmon party every year in her garden, beneath her extraordinary persimmon tree. She makes it a competition, and the first year I won with this recipe. The prize was a kumquat tree, which to this day grows in my garden and bears the most delicious kumquats. Persimmon Pudding Serves 8 Ingredients: About 5 ripe Hachiya persimmons 3 large eggs 1 cup granulated sugar 4 ounces (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to warm 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cups of half and half (or 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of heavy cream) Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan. Remove the stems from the persimmons and cut the flesh into pieces. Purée the persimmon flesh in a food processor until smooth. Strain the purée through a medium-mesh sieve to eliminate any bits of skin and seed. You should have 2 cups purée. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until blended. Whisk in the melted butter. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves onto a piece of parchment paper or into a bowl. Add the salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. Slowly pour in the milk and cream, stirring until combined. Stir in the persimmon purée. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving. The pudding will sink as it cools. Serve the pudding warm, scooped into bowls with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. It can be reheated it in a 325°F oven for about 15 minutes.

“I have always loved working with beads, both precious and semi-precious, and have used them from the very start of my career in jewelry design.  African trade beads, and antique beads in general have long captivated me, but it was my friend Billy Steinberg who really opened the floodgates to my deeper appreciation of them. Billy has a truly awe-inspiring collection of beads, and through his network of contacts I was able to start a little collection of my own. I am especially fond of the pieces I have purchased from Joe Loux, who is based in San Francisco, but travels the world with his wife Katie gathering tribal jewelry and artifacts.  In a contemporary sense, there is a lively and very special enduring tradition of bead making in West African countries, where the knowledge and skills are passed down through generations. The particular beads that I use are made using recycled glass, which is all done by hand using age-old techniques of pulverizing the glass, adding color, and then firing them in kilns made of earth. These beads are not only beautiful, but they play an important role in the many different rituals of West African society. I also use many vintage and antique African trade beads in my work, some dating back hundreds of years.” “Some beads are chosen for color, some for age and pattern, but all for how they will look layered together with the 18k gold beads that I mix in. I like asymmetry in these pieces, so I try to find a balance of colored beads to gold that makes sense and lets both the beads and the gold share the spotlight. These are so easy to wear, and everyone looks good in them,  as the length is adjustable. The colors range from muted to vibrant… so, there is something for everyone. I think seasonally, with the lighter and brighter colors making a splash for the spring and summer months, and the darker, more saturated colors predominating in the fall and winter. I offer these classic necklaces on leather cords, with an adjustable 18k gold bead at the back of the neck, so the wearer can find the perfect length.  I also have begun making longer African trade bead necklaces, which I have strung on the LFrank signature violet silk cord.  For these pieces, I mix in not only 18k gold beads, but also stones:  moonstone, labradorite, and Tahitian pearls as well.” “I am inspired by anything that has a history, and a sense of sentiment and purpose, while existing also as a beautiful creation. That basically sums up these beads perfectly. I have always been drawn to the idea of a culture creating beauty, and when I imagine these beads being made, it always makes me smile. I wear an antique African trade bead necklace everyday, and have done for years. Mine has a single 18k gold bead, and also a single dark gray Tahitian pearl. The beads are a dark blue and gray pattern, and are over 100 years old.” Glass beads adorning the vintage art deco leather sofa in Liseanne’s office.  The indigo cloth is also from Africa, as is the vintage Kuba cloth pillow. As an exclusive to LFrank clients, if you purchase a Glass Bead Necklace online or in-store throughout the month of November, you will receive a Frankincense Beeswax Candle as a gift from us.

Despite the ever-evolving nature of Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, LFrank remains unique. It is more than just a store, it in an extension of Liseanne's home. “I started sharing our library with the neighborhood after a conversation I had with Sara Van Der Mijnsbrugge. She told me of a storefront that she used to walk by in Europe…she didn’t know what sort of business it was, but they always had an interesting book in the window, and that she would purposely walk by it, even though it was a bit out of the way, so that she could see what book they were displaying that day. It made me consider the idea of having a dialogue with the neighborhood, of sharing some of the images that inspire me. Some recent favorites include ‘Metonymy’ by Cristina Iglesias, ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ by Andrew Bolton and ‘Bulgari: Serpenti Collection’ by Marion Fasel.” “Near the front of the shop, opposite the incredibly high bookshelf, is a lone shelf where a few items from my personal collection live. There is a Kina shell necklace, which I adorned with African trade beads and 18k gold beads on leather, and the Gabon ebony bangle. I used to wear these pieces all the time, but now they live here on this shelf next to one of our custom Frankincense beeswax candles (my favorite, and more about them later). There is also a beautiful horn bowl, given to me by the artist and equestrienne Baby De Selliers upon the occasion of my store opening. She brought it to the party wrapped in a page from the New York Times, and filled with Satsuma tangerines. I immediately put it upon the shelf, where it has lived happily ever since. Someone had given it to her, she told me, so I imagine that one day I shall do the same, passing it along to someone else.” “The ancestor portrait is a traditional piece of Asian art from the 19th century. My mother-in-law was an incredibly talented decorator, and this piece had passed into my husband’s collection before we met. It depicts a wealthy merchant, and most people of Asian descent who come into the shop claim it as their own. I had been told that it is Mongolian, but these were popular across these cultures, so it’s really hard to say exactly where it comes from. It was in our house for years before I opened the store, so I especially enjoy continuing to live with it every day.”

Here, Liseanne shares with us the stories behind a few of her favorite pieces, and an insight into her creative process. “The 100% beeswax candles are a very popular item at LFrank. The Frankincense is my favorite scent, not only for the spice and subtle sweetness, but also for its historical context. Many ancient cultures and religions used frankincense in blessings, initiations, and for marking the transition into new phases of spirituality. I find the scent particularly grounding, and the negative ions that are released by the beeswax actually help to purify the air. Unlike soy or paraffin candles, these are actually good for you.” “This rope of pearls has always been a favorite of mine. The range of colors is completely radiant, and the way that they quickly warm to body temperature when worn feels incredibly comforting. They always make me feel confident when I wear them, as they are both timeless and rare. This strand is quite long, allowing it to be wrapped up to three times around the neck, or many times around the wrist, which I’ve often done for a dramatic bracelet. Pearls this long, this lustrous, and this size, are actually quite a luxury.” “I have definitely had sapphires on my mind lately, and these earrings make me so happy. The multi-color sapphires look especially bright and sparkly, and the symmetry within the asymmetry of the shapes is something I am particularly pleased with. They look so beautiful at night, picking up the low light really well. I also love the length and delicacy of these earrings, as they are so feminine and playful. The Elephant Ring is the first in a series of pieces where I am exploring fauna as opposed to flora. I am thrilled with the outcome, and am truly obsessed by this charming little creature. I need one for myself, as I truly believe in the power of the elephant to shower us all with good fortune! There are other pieces coming soon, with a fabulous serpent ring up next.” “I’ve been reading a book about the Romanov daughters, and was contemplating the jewels and time period when I came up with the design of the Compass necklace. The tourmalines are so lovely with the black diamonds, and are evocative of scenes from the winter palace in pre-revolutionary Russia… the jewels of the Romanovs were truly extraordinary, and have always held a great interest for me. The scale of this piece feels modern, while the composition feels timeless to me.” “The architect Greg Lynn designed the inviting and expressive Ravioli Chair for Vitra in 2005. His office is also in Venice, so when I opened the store I borrowed the actual prototype for it, (as well as one of his blob wall pieces) to adorn the space with a bit of architecture. Passers-by were always inquiring after the chair, wanting to buy it. When Greg finally decided to part with it, I raided my house, taking one of a pair that we have to take its place.”

As an established artistic community, and home to many creative types, Venice is the perfect location for LFrank.

“I went to New York City in the fall of 2007 to show my collection to buyers and editors during fashion week. The biggest revelation to me over the course of those long days, was that I needed to open a store. I wanted a space where my pieces could be presented in full – in an environment that I designed – as opposed to being seen in the selections made by buyers in retail stores. My collection is so personal, so my goal in finding the right space was to be able to create an extension of my house.

I chose the location of the shop as it was my favorite spot on my favorite street. It’s my neighborhood, so I’m particularly attached to Abbot Kinney. I remember when it was known as West Washington Blvd, and the only places to eat were Hal’s, A Votre Sante, and a little Mexican place called Saboroso.

I love the artistic and eclectic nature of Venice. John McCracken once used the space I am in as his studio. The sculptor Fred Eversley still works out of his studio two doors down, and I still see my artist friends wandering around the neighborhood. As Abbot Kinney continues to evolve, my space still feels as good to me as it did when I first moved in.”