on line inspiration

studio corner (in progress)

I've been slowly setting up a studio for art making and sewing. I'm completely unpacked, and now the next step is to organize and create a tidy and inspiring space (without clutter). Since moving in, I have been constantly shifting around furniture trying to find the right balance.  This room is a real challenge, and my guess is that it will take some time before I'm content with the set up.  So today I decided to go in a different direction, give the furniture moving a rest, and add a visual element.  I've always wanted to create an inspiration board, or inspiration line, and that's what I did.  I got out my book binding string, tiny clothes pins, opened my box of goodies, and got busy.  It was so much fun!  The best part is seeing my old art postcards and ephemera out of the box and in the open.  I'll be making more :^)

Another form of inspiration board... A few days ago I joined Pinterest.  I've been collecting virtual images for a while and thought it would be nice to get them out in the open and share.  Check it out...

Pink and Blue

 Glen Park, San Francisco

We walked from Glen Park to Noe Valley and then back again.
The scent of blossoms was intoxicating.
It was warm enough I could take off my sweater,
the grey one I live in with the rhinestone pin.
It felt a little odd shedding my layer, it's still February.
 
 

weekend

I know it looks like summer above but it was just yesterday.  I can see the jam purists shuddering.

Last summer we moved house which put the kibosh on jam making.  Even though I managed to get a small batch in before moving, I still had an abundance of fruit left.  It was hard to stop, but I had to.  I cut up the remaining fruit and moved it from one house to another where it's been waiting for me in the freezer, ever since.  I'd meant to get back to it sooner but you know how good intentions go.

Finally it felt like the right day.  Yesterday I defrosted the cut-up apricots, gathered my equipment, squeezed the lemons, and began.  Now I'm flush in jam again with 24 small jars to be exact.  I didn't have high expectation for this batch but it really surprised me...it turned out really really well.   I can't help making happy sounds when I eat it.

Photos courtesy of Mr. D.

Jam labels to follow.

follow the gypsies

...because where you find gypsies, you find great music.  Fanfare Zambaleta, a local Roma brass band, dropped in on Goorin Brothers Hat Shop in North Beach for a free concert.  The music began with a stroll in the park, passing the cathedral, passing cafes... the musicians ended back at the hat shop where they played two generous sets.  Live music in a hat shop?  Yep, a perfect pairing. 

Goorin Brothers Hat Shop
1612 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA   

le daphné

This could be why my allergies are going crazy. I've been picking fresh daphne and putting it in jars.

I discovered daphne on a trip to Portland a couple years ago when I happened to walk by a bush in bloom. It stopped me in my tracks.  It was like walking through a waft of flying angels and harp music.   Enchanting.  I never knew.   To me the scent is like an old fashion garden flower, and very strong. We got lucky and inherited a few bushes out back.

Daphne is poisonous so I have to keep it up high and away from curious kitties.  This kitty below in particular.  Molly, the most curious one.  She lured me in with her coy poses as I was taking the daphne photos.      

This weekend we're going to see the animated film, The Rabbi's Cat(La Chat du Rabbin), by Joann Sfar.  I'm looking forward to it.

Quiet rain

Just finished raking leaves before the rain started. Another couple days of wet, then sun, then rake again.

I like spending time out in the yard though I'm a bit overwhelmed by it. It's very different than what I'm used to. Not a lot of direct sunlight blazing down on heat loving plants like before, but terraced and dappled with evergreens. Sometimes it reminds me of a Japanese garden and sometimes like the yards in Hampstead, London. Overgrown with green hiding places like a secret garden.  I've decided to wait a year and observe it before making my mark on it.  I've learned my lesson not to act too fast.

Looking out at the rain now.  It's so dark.  Think I'll make a cup of tea.  The floors need sweeping and the bed is unmade but that can wait.

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The sketchbook drawing? My meditation, and my obsession (again), and one of my resolutions to draw everyday in 2013.

follow the sun

The rain finally stopped and I couldn't be happier.

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Anyone see the movie Life of Pi yet? I'm thinking of going soon though I'm hesitant. Do I really want to put myself in that world today? I remember really loving the book though having to skip over some violent parts. If I see the movie I'll have to cover my eyes. I just convinced myself I'm not in the mood for that today. I want to keep my eyes open.

So I'm potting some little plants today.

I recently caught the succulent bug and now I'm hooked. I resisted buying them at first because I saw it as trendy, rolling my eyes whenever I saw a magazine article or post on succulents.  Now I'm full on into it and feeling kind of silly for being so judge-y.  Oh well, la di da.  So here's a few photos of my trendy succulents paired with my ever growing tea tin collection.  I'm shame faced and proud at the same time, though I love them ...  they're like small pets.

Speaking of pets.  I leave you with Miss Molly taking in the morning sun.

Happy New Year all.

Cheers and hoorah to lightness and beauty.

to everyone,

everyday of the year

...

 xo,j

sparklies

small treasure in the winter sun

Through the years I've collected inexpensive rhinestone brooches. I don't have many, maybe a handful. Sometimes it's nice having a bit of flair on a coat or sweater... a little theater, a finishing touch.  A long time ago I put them away feeling the days of pinning on shiny things was over.  Enough of the sparkles, my style had changed.

And changed back...  I'm feeling sparkly again :^) 

Speaking of sparkles, Anna Karenina is a must see. Keira Knightly is GORGEOUS and the combination of cinema and stage is amazing. We all know the story, but don't let it stop you. This is a fresh presentation. Costumes, theater, drama...go!

I've missed the ink smudged finger tips. I've missed the small boxes of vintage pen tips. I've missed how calligraphy moves like music across the page (and how my hand feels like the conductor).  I've missed the ritual of early morning lettering practice under a warm lamp...
         
This winter I will be making a brochure to reintroduce my calligraphy as a business.  Calligraphy is not something new for me.  I've been doing it for years and a long time ago I did it for hire.  I'm looking forward to getting back into it.

Now that we have moved and are settling in, it's time for projects that were on the back burner.  Setting up my calligraphy is first, then setting up our etching press for printmaking is next.  I like how one descipline compliments the other - not necessarily on the same surface, but you never know.  I've missed turning the wheel on the press as well ...   
  

Post Thanksgiving

 The day after Thanksgiving we needed a quiet walk to clear our heads. Thanksgiving was a hoot but holy cr*p my family is LOUD. We are two quiet people with quiet voices and it becomes more obvious during holiday dinners. Maybe I should clarify the "them" are actually my sister-in-laws. They are 10 circuses and a Macy's parade all wrapped up in two little bodies. So funny and lively. Daniel and I always crack up retelling their stories on the way home. Love you madly my sistahs, what would I do without you. xo

H o m e

Okay, so now I'll tell you why the long blog absence last summer.  We finally found a house *hooray and whew* and moved in just down the hill from where we were renting.  You might know how difficult moving can be, STRESSFUL, but I'm here to say we made it in one piece and are grateful to be home.

So now it's time for setting up and settling in and I've been thinking about how a single house takes on a different personality as the occupants change.  The previous owners were India-philes who had been collaborating on a cookbook with their guru.  The guru would come over from India and stay here occasionally while translating and refining recipes.  When we first walked in the house we were greeted with a light scent of turmeric and incense and noticed the decor of beautiful Indian textiles and artifacts.  Very exotic and romantic...  Now that the house is ours, it's a different story.  One might call it sorta flea market or urban farmhouse, and the is scent a mixture of coffee and pasta sauce (garlic and tomatoes!)  Maybe not so exotic, but still romantic in our own way :^)             
                                    

ha cha cha

Frida style headdress, 2012

crepe paper and silk fabric

The Day of the Dead celebration was last week and I made a new headdress for it. How did I choose the colors?  They chose me really, it was the only crepe paper I had around.  I usually resist using saturated purples though for making a Frida headdress the colors worked perfectly.  So I got busy.  As I worked I became more comfortable using the colors knowing that with this project I was on the right track.

I completed the Frida outfit with my embroidered jacket, colorful scarf, and big earrings like last year - though this year I omitted the nerdy glasses.  An improvement.

while walking

I went for a long walk today to absorb the fall weather. Here are a few photos I snapped along the way. It took 1 hour from one town to the another (about three miles).  I walked slowly savoring the autumn weather one step at a time.

Wondering about the ice cream flavor at Scoop (above)?  Prop 37 (label genetically engineered food).  We have a Right to Know.  It's about time don't you think?  Love ya Fairfax lefties.

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I'm here and I'm back. That was a very long break I know. Missed this virtual place! I'm going to post this now and share what I've been up to later.  This daylight savings time makes me sleepy...

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note:  I'm a little rusty using blogger and still working out the kinks :^)

 

BLOG BREAK

Even though I'll be away from the blogshere, I'll be checking email.
So keep in touch!
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Have a wonderful summer everyone

   

farmer's markets, hippie parades, longer days and shorter nights.

the gardens the roses the everything

.....

I'm jamming bucket loads of apricots and strawberries today.

more on that later.

x

anandamayi arnold

Last week I saw Amandamayi's paper dresses at Fort Point. What amazing craftsmanship. These are not only works of art, but they are art pieces made for wearing. I would have loved to see them on the Fiesta Queens at the celebration... though I did find a video by KQED that shows Anandamayi modeling her dresses. It's great to see them in motion and more peeks of her work environment. She's pretty cute in her paper frocks! If you watch the video, her segment starts around 46 seconds in. Worth seeing.

Anandamayi Arnold's paper dresses at Fort Point, San Francisco, until October 28, 2012

Happy 75th

Even as a native to the bay area, I still get excited crossing or seeing the bridge in the distance. It's a symbol of energy to me, much like the city itself. Energy, hope, possibility ... I'm feeling the love.

Happy 75th anniversary Golden Gate Bridge!

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Paper Artist Anandamayi Arnold has created historic dresses for the GGB celebration using crepe paper. See an interview of Anandamayi in her studio and dresses here.

Musician Courtney Lain of Lady Sea and the Golden Ocean Orchestra has composed music for the GGB celebration. See her hip accordion and orchestra here.

clucks to garden design

Hearing the neighborhood chickens cluck this morning inspired a post of
wooden garden structures including a coop, from the Commonweal Garden in Bolinas.
Love the clucking, only wish I knew the neighbors enough to gather some eggs too.