Bowls of rocks

I have been finding the most amazing 1970's ceramic bowls and vases at the Goodwill I frequent. You KNOW I just can't leave them there. I will give most of the vases away. I have changed from the big wooden bowl displaying my rock collection to these smaller, ceramic collection of bowls. The bowls are interesting shapes, colors and glazes. You know how you when at the beach, around really large boulders, the rocks collect in between them. Hidden in little pockets of small collections? That is what this reminds me of.

Rain = nap

It began to rain and quickly became the kind of afternoon where only a nap makes sense! Add in a cuppa tea and a cookie.

Interesting week

Not sure where my time is going the last couple of weeks. Still applying for lots of jobs. Viewing many tutorials, especially InDesign on Adobe TV. Learning how to make an ebook. Seems like something I should know how to do.

Had a great interview with a very fun company that didn't go my way. So reading Interns over 40 for more tips on how to interview. I fear I am doing something wrong. Also thinking I should color my hair again. The old fart look isn't working for me ;)

Shake Your Tree Today on Chase Jarvis Blog.

The No. 1 Habit of Highly Creative People

Leo Babauta book, focus, on simplicity in the age of distractions.

Not carving as many pumpkins as in previous years. Not feeling in a very festive mood this week, maybe once I start carving ... my mind will go with the fun.

And finally! I listed some cards on Etsy, artist having fun. It only took me 6 months! Haven't started promoting it yet, since it feels so new to me. So, today, I step away from the computer and clean, make sculptures and focus on something else besides employment, or the lack of. ;0

My other thought this week ... to blog or not to blog. Not sure I can live without my blog. But whether or not, I am definitely going to revamp, look and all.

Shannon Koszyk

I am so in love with Shannon Koszyk's jewelry and chandeliers. Her blog, Trend Style. The best part, she is in Seattle. Remember when I bought my mom the religious metal brackelet on Ebay, so many years ago? I still have a love for them.

Thinking of shapes

I was thinking about the perfection of Pyrite ("Fools Gold") which lead me down the internet rabbit hole of geometry, complex polytopes and other stuff that is mind blowing, a little hard to understand but nevertheless very interesting to look at.

Rhombic dodecahedron

Pyritohedron

Flower and Seed Spirals Wolfram Demonstrations Project and NUMB3RS Episode 418: When Worlds Collide Wolfram Research Math Notes.

List of regular polytopes

Frightfully cute lanterns!

Thrive blog has the most adorable, affordable Halloween Lanterns, go have a look! Via Sassy Sites.

Spooky thoughts

Time to start thinking spooky thoughts and carving some pumpkins!

Patch Watches

PATCH paper watches by Altanus. Brilliant! Via Eat. Sleep. Work.

Sherlock updated

I hope everyone got a chance to catch Sherlock on Masterpiece last night. They pulled Sherlock and Watson into the 'here and now' and it was marvelous! You can watch it online if you want.

Smash Cake

Natick chocolatier shared her secrets on Barefoot Contessa and then Brigitte Browney brought out the Smash Cake - is a Chocolate “Pinata”. Oh, my!

Sand art

Sand art by Jim Denevan.

Rives controls the Internet

Been watching TED this morning.

The Oldest Living Things in the World

Rachel Sussman documenting The Oldest Living Things in the World and talks about it.

Happiness

Cool big letters/storage from Set25 found via Seattle's own ** Happiness Is...** blog.

GAP redesign contest for fun at ISO50 found via Design Curisoities.

Things Organized Neatly, is addicting.

Happiness is ... the last blooms in the garden. Trying to catch up on my CSS tutorial this morning.

Playing and puttering

I am playing and puttering around in the studio. I have a bunch of wire I bought at a garage sale for a dollar and trying to figure out what I can do with it. I wanted to make a font but that hasn't turned out. So am making leaves, some I covered with velum. Also decided to use a couple as package decoration.

Birds on a wire

Found this wonderful video titled "powerlineflyers" by Wes Johnson at OneTwoPunch!. It is mesmerizing.

powerlinerflyers from wes johnson on Vimeo.

Lovely letters

Letters at my Feet by Shash. Wonderful!

Bathed in sun

The garden is popping in pink this morning. Bathed in sun and awash in dew. Okay, I am off. ;)

Floating away or to reality?

I feel like I am floating in a time. I am telling myself to use this gift for reflection, rebirth and re-tuning. Discover what I should do with the rest of my life. Just trying not to float too far away from reality. OR am I flying closer to reality? I keep telling myself it has only been 11 weeks. And I feel like I am losing any skills or confidence I ever had, if I ever had them at all. But I think this is part of the process of losing your identity of being a 'worker bee'. I question myself, my future, my past choices these last couple of weeks. I think the big question is -- Who am I? Need to keep focused on my projects, my art, my quilts. Get up and go clean house! So to speak ;)

I am constantly taking online tutorials and signing up for online classes. This one I am really enjoying (although very behind), Practical CSS taught by Russ Weakley.

Yesterday the cable, hence, the Internet vanished. Leaving me sitting in front of dark computer screen and for a minute, I had no idea what to do. Looked at my reflection and said, this is a sign. Stepped away from job searches and tutorials and made my way to the studio where I stayed all day and most of the night. Cleaning and discovering art I had done in some previous life. Finding stuff I have done, drawn, written, scribbled and wonder ... what was that all about. Going through bits of paper, cards, images torn from magazines that sparked some thought. Threw many items in the trash yesterday. Giving myself the 'get organized' talk. Get organized so I can actually use my studio. Will be stepping away from the computer more from now on. Online classes and tutorials fine, but in limited time. I am making that promise to myself!

Unworn

Nidhi Malhotra's unworn blog is simply beautiful!

From Orchards, Fields, and Gardens features writing from 11 authors, and photos and illustrations from 21 artists, you can order it now. ;) Thank you, Shash!

Eyvind Earle®

Eyvind Earle® created luscious backgrounds illustrator and styling for Disney animated films in the 1950's. This is a nice piece about the artist. The color, shapes, patterns takes my breath away.

Old jeans

How to sew a curtain using old jeans. Love that!

The Value of a Dollar

Jonathan Blaustein's The Value of a Dollar project.

Tsunagu Wall Project

The wall, roughly 9 feet x 6.5 feet, has multiple shelves on which sit small transparent boxes containing more than 4,000 small objects, such as a piece of brick, concrete, or metal that Miyamori had harvested from a tree root from an urban construction site, The Tsunagu Wall Project 2004-2012.

A few blooms

Dahlias are blooming. Volunteer Cosmos are about to pop open if the rain can hold off a couple of more days. And fall cleanup is about to start.

pinkshirtsandcarwrecks

I like this Libby Hegtvedt's place, pinkshirtsandcarwrecks.

2010 collaborative desktop calendars

I adore Shanna Murray's 2010 collaborative desktop calendars.

So much to do

My Aunt and Uncle left yesterday ;( and they took with them a special gift back to Texas from us (our colds). In return they gave us much lovelier presents. Mucinex is keeping us all going this week. I just want to sleep! But I have so many things to do this coming week. Not to mention, I am so behind on my online css class I started last week. C'est la vie!

Window shopping without spending money:

Arche Daya Truffe Fugado

Frye Oliver Inside Zip

Aquarian Roses or L'Invisible or Fire and Cream

Horsemania 2010

More Horsemania 2010. They are fantastic!

Dick McGowan

Isn't this image by Dick McGowan fantastic? I can feel and smell the air!

Photoshop´s darwinian evolution

Marketing and Inspiration: Photoshop´s darwinian evolution. According to my career consultant, I shouldn't own up to having learned on 1.0. ;0

Design Police

Design Police Bring bad design to justice download kit, everyone needs one!

Raw Tuscan Kale Salad Recipe

Doesn't this look good? Raw Tuscan Kale Salad Recipe from 101 Cookbooks.

Fonty things

Matt and I were talking type last night. He has a lesson incorporating type and has also been practicing calligraphy with real pen and ink. I love Horst type.



IHOF Chai Tea Pro and Panopticum are also favorites. But the next font I will purchase will be Dear Sarah. Have you looked at my Fonty Things on Pinterest?

Been busy

D and I are finally getting over the cold that Matt so graciously shared with us. My Aunt and Uncle are in town from Texas! So we are having fun visiting, eating, sight-seeing. So that is what I am up too ;) They visited the Bonsai Garden in Federal Way. I missed it, I was appealing my unemployment decision. We are thinking of driving NORTH tomorrow, maybe La Conner?

Help-Portrait

Help-Portrait event 12/4/2010 ... sounds like so much fun! Wonder what I could do to help and could I do it without a laptop?

Paper is Lovely

I love this lovely person and her even lovelier blog. (And I didn't say 'hoarder' in my head.)

Alphapet

The word Alphapet popped into my head a couple of minutes ago and I thought, it must be taken, it is too cute not to be. And there you go. All the alphabets, from A to Z changes to an animal created by Shiho Ishikawa!

A Journey

A Journey Seoul continues in the Journey series by Kimchi and Chips, looking into ways that people can build up their personal journey box using their own memories. Is magical!

 
A JOURNEY : SEOUL - Design Process from Mimi Son on Vimeo.

A Case for Singletasking

A Case for Singletasking: The One-Task-At-a-Time Method. Thank you, Tara, I needed that.

Horses mania

Horses mania is wonderful. Too many wonderful ones to pick just one  that is my favorite.

DJECO

DJECO is the most fun website, found via the talented Blackbird Design.

Time flies

Still cleaning out ZIP disk and I still run across these precious photos of Matt when he was in his 'skating phase'. Mom, David and I spent most of our time at skate parks with him. I never could catch  him motion successfully. But my God, how time flies. It feels like yesterday we were at Rain City.

Late bloomer

D bought some Dahlias at the Flower Show but planted them late. They are blooming now!





I have been feeling a little down the last couple of days. Honing my resume into a sharp point that could be used as a weapon.

Trying to figure out who I am and what I want to be. I am getting a clearer idea of what I don't want to be doing 8 hours a day. You know, I am not a schmoozer, I find it difficult to sweet talk everyone I meet. Which I guess can come across as being anti-social. I really am a 'loner' and would prefer to work alone, in my own space, my own office, not crammed in an office with 30+ sitting 3 feet apart. I don't like going to endless meetings. I don't wear high heels and never will again. I really just am, who I am and I don't want to make excuses or apologize. I want a combination of working in my shop with tools and on my computer. Not always on the computer. I want to keep learning new tools and applications. For instance, I got an email about Barnes & Noble's PubIt! and can would love to convert my book. I am going to figure out how to do that. I love having a paint brush in my hand and have so many ideas for paintings. I have been working on assemblage art the last couple of days. And my other 'secret projects'.

I think I am between anger and depression in the five stages of grief. The post office is hiring temp jobs for the holidays, and D said, "you are postal already".

Stepped away from the computer the later part of the day. Cleaned up some in the yard for fall. Cutting back peonies, pulling weeds. There is so much to do back there, I hardly know where to begin. I really, really need to figure out how to prune the snowball viburnum that is growing out of control. It is a very large tree now with very thick trunk.

I ran into a couple of folks from my previous place of employment. And the awkwardness is exactly why I try to avoid those that aren't my best buddies there. There a couple of sentences about the weather, how you doing. Then an uncomfortable silence, then everyone needs to run off to meetings. Impersonal or just awkward?

When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping ... and D bought me a Band Saw today. I spent the rest of the afternoon cutting my little skulls and sanding them on the Belt Sander. Fun, Fun, fun! I should have about 30 made in a couple of days. More to come ;) Simply can't wait to have enough to sale, just to see what happens.

Have been watching lots of fun tutorials online. Trying to remember how to do things I did everyday many years ago and the reasons I love Adobe Illustrator so much. Also changed out my Twitter background again (with a Halloween feel) after reading Chris Kaufman's Effective Twitter Backgrounds: Examples and Current Practices. Will start using it more as a marketing tool adding my Etsy (nothing for sale for yet) address on there. So there you have it, my mind running amuck the last couple of days. ;)

And, I think I caught my son's cold. Fever and cough. Thank you, Honey Bunny!

collectively skated

collectively skated - the boards.

Hire me

Well, I guess I could give this a try. ;)

Modern Dog

Modern Dog has a set of playing cards to add to my collection. ;0 Would be great to go to Modern Dog Poster School.

Bordo Bello

Bordo Bello's Skateboard Art Fundraiser, I wish I could have seen those in person.

The Nabokov Collection

This is from John Gall - "Nabokov was a passionate butterfly collector, a theme that has cropped up on some of his past covers. My idea was also a play on this concept. Each cover consists of a photograph of a specimen box, the kind used by collectors like Nabokov to display insects. Each box would be filled with paper, ephemera, and insect pins, selected to somehow evoke the book's content. And to make it more interesting for readers — and less daunting for me — I thought it would be fun to ask a group of talented designers to help create the boxes." Go have a look at The Nabokov Collection.

Feeling very depressed today. Trying not to fall in that black hole. ;0

Art as Business

Alexandra Hedberg writes about Art as Business: Year 2. Glad I stumbled upon it.

Smart Glass Jewelry

Kathleen Plate reuses coke bottles to make Smart Glass Jewelry and it is beautiful!

One step at a time

I didn't get the freelance opportunity I was wishing for ;( But I know in my heart there will be others.) I was thankful for the interview and exciting thoughts of getting back to work.

I have almost 'honed" my résumé into submission. Went to a career counseling workshop this week. Learned many interesting things. Mainly drove home a little depressed. But I am still in my 5 stages of grief. Not sure what stage I am in presently. I think I jump between one or another.

Have been conjuring up illustrations depicting unemployment after 50 and with other friends in the same predicament, I think we have come up with a great idea for the internet. Exciting. Fun. More to come.

Driving home yesterday, I decided to step away from job searches and résumé honing for the weekend and go to the garage for some manual labor working on my favorite project.

Sent more ring ideas to my buddy and he says my ideas are easy to laser/etch. So will be sending him new files on Monday for a new set of rings. More to come.

Will upload some of my cards on Etsy, finally.

Made a another little book of my art as a portfolio to hand out. Tried to make a movie but it needs editing.



Am going to clean my bathroom and use those lovely hand thrown pots I found yesterday for my rock collection. You know, change things up a little.

Need to stay focused on Wordpress skins for Rick.

It gets better project

I have really tried not to get too involved in the news the last couple of months. I feel like my soul was absorbed in all the bad news for the last, what, 20 years? And I seriously need a break from it. But I can't help but weep and get outraged (outraged is really too weak of a word for what I feel) when I hear and read these stories about kids committing suicide over being bullied. I say prosecute the offending bullies to the the nth-degree. They know the damage they are doing. The schools can't turn a blind eye to these situations. There has to be a solution outside of home schooling.

Tyler Clementi is thought to have committed suicide, days after video of him was secretly webcast on the Internet. Clementi's roommate, Dharun Ravi and another classmate, Molly Wei, have been charged in the case.

Asher Truong bullied to death?

Bravo Dan Savage for "It Gets Better Project."

Lace-Patterned Pumpkins

I am going to make Lace-Patterned Pumpkins this year. You know I am addicted to carving pumpkins!