Monday, February 28, 2011

Light it up

Kathleen Mullaney incredible lamps! Via this nice piece by Becky Teagarden via Seattle Times.


Z-Power LED Floor Lamp and I love this solar-powered sun brick (and really need it for my entrance stairway)!

Shapeways' Lightpoem: "Sculpt with words and turn your favourite saying into a Lightpoem. Dress up your home with your own words."

Sunday, February 27, 2011

'Green Trick'

Discovered Green Trick Dianthus at the Northwest Flower and Garden show. Definitely something I want to grow or buy! What can I say? I am in love! I finally found an image online at Modern Petals Blog, see below.


Growing with Plants: "This amazing new cutflower may mark the end of those green-dyed Carnations we all shriek at on St. Patrick’s day. Finally, a true green Dianthus is hitting the market.
First, this is not a true carnation at all (Dianthus caryophyllus) but rather, it is a Dianthus barbatus cultivar, or Sweet William, But a Sweet William that looks more like a ball of moss".

Check out Plant Society Magazine, Issue 4 - The Japan Issue.

David promised he would stay clear of the Peonies since we have no place to plant any more. But he did bring home some dahlias that I think we look so sweet growing together. Little Scottie, Willo Borealis and Lupin Britain. Don't you love Jeannie Leroux, looking like a delicate sea urchin.

I didn't take my camera, I am thinking now that was a mistake.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Wow Cow!

More cows on parade - Wow Cow! at My Itchy Fingers. You do remember I love Cows on Parade?

Friday, February 25, 2011

Open

Open challenge for Photo Friday.

bright yellow poppy

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Seeing the world

It is good to see the world as it truly is. Sorry, this is a good as I can get with my macro lens. But the flakes are so large!



Alter Ego

Doug Chayka explores his Alter Ego. Also has a nice piece for Demo Night.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Dots and full stops

Dots and full stops 2007 - 2010 by Alex Dipple. "Hundreds of dots, full stops and bullet points cut out of newspapers, compiled into a single image and stuck to board." Don't you love it?

Christchurch

My thoughts are with people of the Christchurch quake.

Some before and after photos. Shocking destruction that you can never get use to.

Video of emotional scenes as locals, tourists flee Christchurch

Animated Christchurch Quake Map showing activity in the last week.

CHAOS AND STRUCTURE

Loving CHAOS AND STRUCTURE by Tatiana Plakhova.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Working my way to clean

On and off snowing today. The furnace is going out so we have a good fire going, thick wool socks on. Mom is baking banana bread and D is listening/recording his old albums. I am continuing to clean, got a great start yesterday.

Every time is starts snowing the birds go crazy and head for the interior of bushes. Our neighbor dog, Willy, is visiting for the afternoon. I am doing a little "real" work in between mopping and cleaning.

Did I mention how much I love Primitive 64 Drawer Apothecary Cupboard made by Red Rooster?


Sleeping beast

Or should that be "sleeping beauty?"

The cold weather makes Pixel very sleepy. She does rather blend into the upholstery, doesn't she?

sleeping beauty (beast?)

Monday, February 21, 2011

Left-overs

Lunch:  left-over Indian from Vatika, a new restaurant in Edmonds that we had for D's birthday dinner last night. D spent a good amount of time at Borders, looking over reduced-priced books. I hate to see Borders close! We rediscovered of a couple BBC oldie-but-goodies, Monarch of the Glen and Father Ted. Also found a new one the other night, Peep Show ... boy I needed some good laughs like that!

I am observing the holiday, by not applying for jobs today ;) Cleaning house instead, hoping to clean all the way to the studio.


One corner of our house, Old West- Cowboy and Indian + a little junk store. Oaxacan carvings and Bruce Morrow Blue Rider print. Junk store Indian and Buffalo painting. Rusty metal box filled with type and my treasured Oaxacan Bear by José Hernandez.


A couple of the totem collection, carved cedar feathers by Cowlitz tribe member Robert Harju and a Corn Maiden totem by Dwight Mahooty. The large totem D bought me many years ago, small black, carved fetish from my S-I-L and a beautiful ceramic woven pot with lid from Bo.


 

My S-I-L gave us the little Cowboy and Indian metal figures, a toy gun found at a flea market and a souvenir teacup and saucer from Livingson, Montana (D's favorite place).


Souvenir cups

Sunday, February 20, 2011

F is for Future

My horoscope for the week: "You will be inundated with strong vibrations this week. Mercury enters Pisces on Monday. Your imagination will soar. You will be able to visualize a new future. Mars enters your sector of self on Tuesday. You will consider revamping your appearance. Your new style will dazzle the world. Be realistic about a situation on Friday. You may decide to save a companion from bad habits. You aren't a miracle worker. You will have a bit of good luck on Sunday."

Something from my studio: F is for Future

Current library book that Christina suggested: Personal Power Through Awareness.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Miniature Artists Books

Elsita's Miniature Artists Books. Via Miss Moss.

Living underground

Underground Home is amazing.

O is for Overcoming

Something from my studio: O is for Overcoming.

2011 Call for Art

2011 Call for Art, Call for Functional Designs & Call for Trash Fashion from the ReStore.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Green Tunnel

Go have a look at the Green Tunnel, Photographer Kombizz Kashani. Wouldn't you love to have on in YOUR yard? Via Pinterest.

Also A Photo a Day from Planet Earth.

Federico Uribe

I am blown away by Federico Uribe art/sculptures using all kinds of elements, pencils, chop sticks, plastic forks, pennies, wood. Truly amazing!





Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Music, connect the dots

It is weird to think how much Gregorian Chant music I have. I use to listen to this all the time (late 20-30's)! I should dig those old tunes out now, I think I need them! Although I am not Catholic, I love the repetition, the Latin (back when they spoke Latin during service) and observed traditions. Matt says the chants sound like someone breathing in and out, hence, soothing. My little musician theorist. I really wish he would pursue his music a little more. His beats, his mixing, his trombone ... he has such a gift with music that I think he is just ignoring. His dad is music-obsessed! We listen to all types of music in this house. M has been exposed to it all. Of course, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rap, C&W, Pop and Rock. Well, we run the gamut here.







And along the way feel in love with Enigma. I am sure I ran across them on The Mission. That is what D thinks, anyway. I am sure he is right. Something about their music almost puts me in a trance.



I can't listen to Gabriel's Oboe without crying.



I also have lots of American Indian music and Bird song cd's which I play at the same time in separate rooms. This drives my family insane!





And I guess, while I am talking about my favorite beats, I should include this. From the 5th Element. The first time I saw the Blue Diva singing Lucia di Lammermoor's aria "The Mad Scene" sung by Inva Mula Tchako, I immediately starting hunting down the artist, the opera, the aria ... when I really need to feel emotions, I dig out my 5th Element cd ...



And lastly, since I talking about my music obessions, is to include my favorite duet ... Lakme's Flower Duet. From the minute I heard it on the soundtrack of Someone to Watch Over Me, I hunted it down and I own every version of the opera. I made all my friends listen to it until they were mad at me. So when D bought me tickets to the real Lakme, I was thrilled to hear in person. From the minute they begin singing until curtain call, I cried, tears of joy for having heard an opera I had heard so many years on my cassette player and later cd's ... in person! A highlight of my life!

Pascale Palun

Pascale Palun studio, Vox Populi via Haute Home. Be still my heart!

Organic lovliness

Stunning jewelry by Nora Rochel. Makes me so very happy!



Sabrina Meyns "creates incredibly delicate and intricate jewellery and sculptural pieces using handmade paper and precious metals, crossing boundaries between these two materials by combining them in innovative ways." I think they are exquisite!





Ana Hagopian's Accordeon rings. Well, I love everything this woman makes!





Tuesday, February 15, 2011

NOVA scienceNOW

Working on Brantlers most of the night took a break to watch NOVA scienceNOW on PBS. I love this program! How Smart Are Animals? series is wonderful

Barbara Wisnoski

Really lovely textile work by Barbara Wisnoski via Another Shade of Grey.


Also the Contemporary Textile Studio Co-op and Modern Studio Quilts.

Danna Ruth Harvey

Seriously beautiful landscapes using oil, wax, cloth by Danna Ruth Harvey.

Swap it

Swap it and become a swapaholic.

Sally Mankus

The Tower and The Wall sculptures are a brilliant use of old objects by Sally Mankus via Robyn Gordon.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Chris Sickels

Chris Sickels of Red Nose Studio video on how he created his new book, The Making of "Here Comes the Garbage Barge!" A must see.

Happy Valentine's Everyone

I know I am running a little late with wishing you all Happy Valentine's Day!  Lots of love!

hvd

A really big one for you to download

LOVE blocks

More LOVE here

Philip R. Goodwin

D and I didn't find too many interesting things at the Antique Fair last weekend. We did run across some magazine prints of American Painter, Philip R. Goodwin (1882-1935) that we both fell in love with. The other night, David was Googling him and I swear at that very moment ... a painting of Philip R. Goodwin popped up on Antiques Roadshow. I told D to come look at this wonderful painting and it was indeed the same artist! Estimated value, $120,000 and the woman hated the painting she has inherited and kept it in a closet! Argh! D and I just looked at each.

Examples of his work and portfolios and here

We thought the National Museum of Wildlife Art might be a fun trip.


Save NPR and PBS (Again)

MoveOn.org Political Action: Save NPR and PBS (Again). Please go sign the petition!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

LoSiento

LoSiento skater and Empo! Love! Found via partfaliaz, Portfolios we love.



Concrete chrome by Zeitguise. Isn't that wonderful?


Crazy and cool

Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba designed some crazy cool stuff! See table below.


Fairytale furniture by Be Reudler.

Discarded drawers carefully measured by Entwurf-Direkt via dornob. Seen below. What would you give to have a piece?



I might need the Cocoon Chair, but afraid I might not ever leave it!

Richard Pearse

Wow and double Wow! My eyes wobbled and swirled around in my head. Wooden quilts by Richard Pearse via Pinterest via my love for you is a stampede of horses.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

String-Ring

String-Ring a cue to remind yourself and those who notice it, to be kind to one another. To do a kind act, say, or even think something kind. Each color of string represents a specific kindness reminder. A great, simple idea!

Complete Publications

Public Collectors is wonderful! Documentation of Complete Publications in PDF form. I always wanted to peek inside of Handbook of Lettering, and now I can. Found via Freaky Fauna’s Tumblr via Camilla.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Todd McLellan

I dissemble stuff all the time but it doesn't look as great as Todd McLellan's Disassembly project. Wow. Love. Found via Lost At E Minor. Todd's website, so you can see him in action.

Today

630a - my son wakes me up to remind me we have jury duty today. It was canceled. But a cup of coffee, I was awake and could not go back to sleep. He made Bri the sweetest birthday cake last night. It went all wrong but looked so cute!

It always happens like this ... the minute I decide, I must leave the computer and go work in the studio ... something comes through email. Today was a little freelance job. I worked on that for a minute and now waiting for new text. Excited to have some freelance coming in.

Then decided I should put slideshows on my portfolio. While I was interviewing this week and watching people scroll through my work on my portfolio page (note to self: put those slideshows in!) Also waiting to hear about that contract gig all day. Fingers crossed.

Mom feed me lunch about then. My neighbor called me on Skype/Go To Meeting to try and figure out a audio problem he is having. I talked, he recorded and we tested. We talked Wordpress. I love Skype!


Another recruiter called me about a very interesting job. I applied for two more jobs that looked interesting. Worked on my list for sending out a printed piece for freelance. And gathering art for such a promotional piece.

More organizing images for more slideshows. Worked on my rings designs. I thought I would send them off today but I guess it will have to be Monday now.

And now it is 530p ... and NOW I am going to the studio. I did clean up my Brantlers mess in the garage this week. That made D very happy. A clean slate to dirty once more. Also worked on my Brantlers website ... it is not close to being finished. Still a work in progress. Investigating PayPay buttons.

Also email back and forth about ASU and my art teacher, Otis Lumpkin today with Faith and Ben (ASU alumni and art students). So goodnight, internet!

Famous, in a very small, newsletter way ;)

Just received Teesha Moore's newsletter for her upcoming 9-day extravaganza of art journaling in Portugal retreat and there on one of the posters, is, uh, my avatar. Fun!

Living on the ouside

Decorating a fence with Hang-A-Pot Hang flowers and plants anywhere! And make some plantable seeded paper flowers.

Would love to have this studio, not the secret garden, but the secret studio via Happiness is ...

Or this I would go for this great garden office! Escapod.

Thinking of when the all is green again.

Calligraphy

They make it look so easy!

Modigliani

I Watched Modigliani (2004) when I woke up in the middle of the night. "The story of Amedeo Modigliani's bitter rivalry with Pablo Picasso, and his tragic romance with Jeanne Hebuterne."


I miss my art history class with Dr. Prestiano. And am always missing Otis Lumpkin! I don't think there was a art student at ASU that didn't adore him. See his work below.



Thursday, February 10, 2011

Font love

Some new font loves!

Clip font



Majordomo by Jennifer Deangelis




Henparty serif by Crystal Kluge, Stuart Sandler.


Free Renaissance fonts

Land Art

I love this Flickr set, land art by Fiona Watson. (And all of her art too!)

Public Broadcasting

I saw this writing on the wall months ago ... take action ... 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting. I donate and I want to have something other than main stream television, ie. Real Housewives, Entertainment Tonight ... I would rather watch NOVA, Mystery, Masterpiece, Antique Roadshow, News Hours, Frontline, American Experience, Nature ... come on, Congress! This is television worth watching!

The Lighter Side

Remember The Light Side popped up in my email from Daily Om. And when someone asked me yesterday, what was your last illustration, well, I had to think. I have been spending most of my time on Wordpress, Word docs, making patterns but not doing many illustrations. Go see what I have been up to lately in my studio. I have not completely lost my sense of humor.

Love mail

I love getting emails like this! 

"You won't believe this ... but we went to a paper speciality store here in Tokyo that was 4 times the size of Packaging specialties AND there were EIGHT floors! Yes, EIGHT floors!!

And yes, I got you some goodies.......

Love you!!!"

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

3D Graffiti

I remember telling my son to explore 3-D graffiti many years ago and he looked at me as if I had no brain. ;) Now it looks hot and wonderful! Listen to your mom, I'm just sayin' ;)

Guardian Graffiti Art

New Graffiti

3-D Graffiti

Graffiti Technica is dedicated to the progression of hardcore electronic art and 3d graffiti.



3d graffiti - 'After from Graffiti Technica on Vimeo.

Graffiti-esque sculptures at Peeta, I love this subtle wall piece!

Crossing Lines - Conor Harrington in Israel and Palestine at Wooster Collective (below).


Crossing Lines from Andrew Telling on Vimeo.

Graffiti Better Than Good Flickr pool.

I love this piece at together

Gamestorming

Dave Gray talks about Gamestorming, his new book. The Gamestorming website.

Creative Thinking slideshow.

Lateral Action - The Four Most Powerful Types of Creative Thinking.

Go get creative!

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Bee-zee times of Fred Birchman

Looks like Fred has been Bee-zee getting ready for another show.


Ben Garrison

My ole pal (not in the sense that he is old --- but that we attended the same college, then worked at the same newspaper years later), Ben Garrison, is now on Artists Wanted. I am loving his new work!



For Once in My Life

In case you missed Independent Lens on PBS tonight, For Once in My Life, a Documentary on Spirit of Goodwill Band is so worth watching!

Monday, February 07, 2011

Playing around

Probably need to purchase JAQK Signature Playing Cards to go with my collection!

Alan W George

Alan W George's domesticated series is delicious for the eyes. Via Thayer Allyson Gowdy blog. Via Anthology Magazine.

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Life In Megapixels

LifeInMegapixels is a photographic gallery by William Hall. And time lapse sequences.



Found via Mando Gomez's groups. Mando site full of wonderful desktops, mandolux.

It is time to garden dream


When I see crocus shooting through the dirt, I know it is time to start dreaming about what the garden could be. Way back when, D and I would page through seed catalogs and talk about what we wanted the backyard to look like, what would grow, what we would do. We planted, killed, gave away, moved so many things in the last 15 years. And no matter how full the garden is ... you always think, there is some room for one new plant! A few we are looking at:

Ostrich Fern

Bunchberry

Black Lace™ Elderberry

Weigela

Japanese Primrose

Swamp Milkweed or Butterfly weed

I am actually leaving the house/computer tomorrow. D and I are going to wander over to the Puyallup Antique Fair. I really need a day out.  It is really early, I am listening the Earth, Wind and Fire. Thinking I should lay back down and get a little more shut-eye.

embrace the pretty

How did I miss this wonderful post by Elsa at embrace the pretty about my Flickr set - Beautiful Afterlife? It is so fun when someone else sees the beauty. Thank you so very much, Elsa!

Friday, February 04, 2011

Six-Word Story

Six-Word Story on SoulPancake via my S-I-L. Thank you! That is a tough challenge!

rebooting life at 54, new beginnings

I am not done creating yet

my life anew with endless possibilities

What is your Six-Word Story?

Robin goes to the dogs on Ellen

In case you missed Ellen yesterday, my amazing photographer friend, Robin Layton, was mentioned by name while Jennifer Aniston was talking about the photographs Robin shot of her beloved dogs. Woo Hoo for Robin, good job. Next up, Ellen needs her animals "Robinized".

Australian criminals of the 1920s

Australian criminals of the 1920s found on How to be a Retronaut. I must say, I find them very stylish!

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Pomellato

Delicious window shopping only at Pomellato.