mixed bag

six weird things

2007-02-09T09:43:00.000-05:00

I was tagged by Suzanne to come up with six weird things about myself. The difficult part in this of course is selecting the six items that are weird enough but not so weird as to make people write me off as a total fruitcake ;) So in that spirit, here we go:

I can write legibly forwards and backwards with both my left and right hands.
In high school, my friend Sharon and I used to fake monumental arguments at the lunch table just for sport. The fact that people thought we were serious made it all the more entertaining for us.
When I was a kid, I was a closet reader - literally. My bookcase was in a small well-lit closet and I would sit in there for hours looking through my books and rereading my favorites.
As an adult, I have been mistaken for a teenage boy on more than one occasion - usually, but not always, when I've had short hair and was wearing no makeup - the curse of being a tall girl with a boyish figure I suspect.
I still have my braces in a little plastic container that my orthodontist gave me. I keep the tiny metal torture devices, bits of cement still clinging tenaciously, in my childhood jewelry box. I hesitate to explore the psychological implications of that one.
I used to have no feeling whatsoever on a 1" square area just above the inside of my right ankle after I was cleated during a soccer match when I was 11. Now I can feel my fingernail if I press in really, really hard.

So now you know some of the sordid truths about me. Suttonhoo and litwit, you can consider yourself officially tagged. In the meantime, I'm going to think some more about getting rid of those braces ;)

Nutella Alert

2007-02-08T08:40:00.000-05:00

I just found out via Ivonne of Cream Puffs in Venice (her debate of knife vs. spoon is not to be missed) about World Nutella Day.

I had planned to start my new year's resolution of abstaining from sugar and chocolate today.

Dang.

Another resolution bites the dust.

[photo credit: Cream Puffs in Venice]

creative ties

2007-02-06T13:14:00.000-05:00

This weekend I checked out Crafting Out Loud, "Tampa's original urban craft fair" at the Viva la Frida Cafe y Galeria. It was a tight squeeze but I managed to fight my way to the back corner and score a very cool bag made from vintage neck ties. The bags are made with great attention to detail by Orel Edry of One Off Designs.

Of course, you know I'm not one to be swayed entirely by looks; a bag has to function to be worthwhile in my book. The four generously-sized pockets made from sturdy fabric with a vintage feel keep everything tidy and accessible. Just as it should be.

glasses | gecko

2007-01-23T12:22:00.000-05:00

Last week I came across an interesting drawing exercise at Mithi's Creative Journey (via Suzanne over at AN [OPEN] SKETCHBOOK) and knew I had to try it out.

The point of the exercise is to recognize the importance of drawing as a medium for working out ideas - visualizing forms which, through a process of editing / refining, become more removed from their intial source material. Basically you start out with two objects (I used my glasses and a ceramic gecko) and work on a series of drawings, using formal methods and combining elements to end with a final four.

This is my set:
First 16 quick line drawings of my glasses and then another 16 of a ceramic gecko:

Next, 64 quick drawings based on the original 16 - using the formal methods of exaggerating, distorting, simplifying, enlarging, reducing, repeating, rotating, combining, cross-referencing, and layering. Glasses first, gecko second:

Next use the formal methods again to make a single set of 32 new drawings, combining the glasses and gecko drawings:

Refine again to 16:

This time, paying more attention to layout, negative spaces, blocking out spaces, etc., reduce to 8:

and FINALLY refine and reduce to four final "complete" drawings:

It was really fun watching the transition from those initial simple drawings to the final four. Highly recommended!

weeee!!!!!

2007-01-22T14:35:00.001-05:00

goldilocks
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

When's the last time you had this much fun?

it's the lens baby

2007-01-21T10:38:00.001-05:00

arrrrr....pirates
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

There I was, minding my own business, when I looked outside and saw a package from Lensbabies sitting on my front porch - an unexpected birthday surprise from my sisters!

Lensbabies are selective focus SLR camera lenses. They're small and bendy and give you a "sweet spot" surrounded by graduated blur. You can move the sweet spot to any part of your photo by bending the lens, creating some very cool effects in the process.

I took it out for a test drive yesterday at the Gasparilla Children's Parade in Tampa and all I can say is WOO HOO!

the intellectual life

2007-01-16T11:12:00.000-05:00

I love cruising the bookshelves at antique stores and book fairs, keeping an eye out for interesting titles. That's how I found the Tall Girl's Handbook and, another favorite, "The Intellectual Life" which consists of a series of letters that "consider the possibilities of a satisfactory intellectual life under various conditions of ordinary human existence" written by Philip Gilbert Hamerton in 1879.

Some choice selections from the Table of Contents (organized according to addressee) show just how various the conditions of human existence were at the time:

To A Muscular Christian
To A Moralist Who Had Said That There Was A Want of Moral Fibre In The Intellectual, Especially In Poets And Artists
To A Moralist Who Said That Intellectual Culture Was Not Conducive To Sexual Morality
To A Country Gentleman Who Regretted That His Son Had The Tendencies Of A Dilettant
To A Young Gentleman Who Had Firmly Resolved Never To Wear Anything But A Grey Coat
To A Young Gentleman Of Intellectual Tastes, Who, Without Having As Yet Any Particular Lady In View, Had Expressed, In A General Way, His Determination To Get Married
To A Young Man Of The Middle Class, Well Educated, Who Complained That It Was Difficult For Him To Live Agreeably With His Mother, A Person Of Somewhat Authoritative Disposition, But Uneducated
To A Young Etonian Who Thought Of Becoming A Cotton-Spinner

Suttonhoo and I almost came to blows in our quest for said intellectual education at the Printers Row Book Fair in Chicago a couple of years ago ;) BTW, if you're interested, you can find copies of The "Intellectual Life" at Amazon but it will cost you from $95 for a first edition to $195 for an early reprint. FYI, I got my first edition in mint condition for a steal at $20.

random thoughts for the tall girl

2007-01-15T17:37:00.000-05:00

Nothing looks handsomer to average people than a tall person standing up straight, as if he or she came from a race of gods.
Just because you can't be little in physique, like your cute neighbor down the street, don't be little in spirit. Get over any tendency towards the "I didn't ask to be born" attitude. Neither did any other living being, human or otherwise, ask to be born. Shakespeare didn't ask to be born. Jack the Ripper didn't ask to be born. Neither did the Siamese twins, nor the village idiot.
Dress, as nearly as you can, like other people. You will hear short friends tell you that you ought, for instance, to wear nubby tweeds, bulky fabrics, capes, or enormous hats. Don't listen to them, for they are in error. If capes and pictures hats are currently in style, well and good. If not, why be out of style just because you're tall? You will look freakish and doubly conspicuous.
Never worry about looking awkward and peculiar on the dance floor. You can look grotesque only if you are grotesque.
The trouble with women is men. And the trouble with tall women is-small men.
Whether your husband be tall or not, he is likely to be above average in intelligence. He married you, didn't he? The fact that you are not the typical "little woman" of conventional jokes did not bother him. He cannot be narrow and stupid, afraid to be conspicuous, always wondering what other people will think.
If you are looking for a job or contemplating a vocation you may as well face this fact from the beginning: one career that is forever closed to you is a life of crime. It's no use thinking you can escape the FBI or pick a pocket and slip off unnoticed in the crowd. Even dark glasses are no disguise.

and last but not least

No one but a masochist would be glad he had to suffer. No tall woman will tell you truthfully that she was glad to have had her particular handicap. But the mature ones will say truthfully that they no longer mind it as they used to. In many cases they will admit that it has been, if not a blessing in disguise, certainly not the worst thing that could have happened to them.

More insights from "The Tall Girl's Handbook" by Gwen Davenport, published by Doubleday and Company, Inc. in 1959.

high society and the tall girl

2007-01-13T11:47:00.000-05:00

More wisdom from Gwen Davenport's 1959 "The Tall Girl's Handbook" (hereinafter referred to as TGH)- from Chapter Seven, "High Society" under the heading "The World Around Us":

There are dozens of such ever-present petty annoyances, inconveniences, discomforts, and irritants that have to be put up with in the course of spending a life in an environment scaled to creatures of smaller size. On the other hand, there are almost no known advantages to being extremely tall.

Let us first take up the subject of these advantages, such as they are. They number exactly five.

1. We can see over the heads of the crowd at parades, which comes in very handy whenever there is a parade - that is, providing you like parades and have no objections to crowds.

2. Conversely, we can be easily located in the crowd by paraders. This advantage also holds good when meeting someone in any crowded place of rendezvous like a railroad station, a hotel lobby during convention week, or a football stadium after a game.

3. We can breathe with relative freedom in crowded elevators - a minor enough convenience most of the time, but beyond price should a crowded elevator get stuck for any appreciable length of time between floors.

4. We can reach things on high shelves. (Oh, good!)

5. We are in less danger than small women of being the victims of criminal assault, not nearly so likely as they to be attacked or robbed, either in broad daylight or in some alleyway on a dark night.This is true not only because of our inevitable conspicuousness, but because smaller people have a mistaken idea that tall ones are automatically stronger, more powerful, and more muscular. This is of course not true, but it is a misconception greatly to our advantage as possible victims of thuggery.

It will be clear to everyone that these privileges, although undeniably advantages, offer very little real help in getting through the average day. On the other hand, consider the constant, daily, wearing away of the disposition, the continual erosion of the nerves, going on all the time in the form of dozens of petty annoyances.

I'm just glad I wasn't growing up in the 1950s because it sounds like being a tall girl back then meant you were a freak of nature, offering nothing but heartache save those exactly five lackluster advantages. Ms. Davenport goes on to list some of the petty annoyances ending with this gem - a true classic and important information to know:

...and if ever the whole business is too much and we should decide to drink ourselves to death, it's going to take a lot more alcohol to do the job, our blood streams being just so much longer.

advice for tall girls

2007-01-12T10:43:00.000-05:00

Where it is desirable for all girls to have neat, clean clothes and shining hair, and to bathe daily, for you it is mandatory. Because everything about you is noticeable, it just has to be right when noticed. There is no charm in disarray on a grand scale.

From "The Tall Girl's Handbook" by Gwen Davenport, published by Doubleday and Company, Inc. in 1959.

I guess I need to be a little more careful when I go out in public. Yesterday morning one of my neighbors said I looked like the unibomber when she saw my dogwalking attire of baggy gray sweatpants, my husband's oversided gray windbreaker and a dark "Life is Good" ball cap covering my unwashed hair.

the gang's all here

2006-12-28T11:06:00.000-05:00

Three generations of my family (and our pets) from Florida, New York and England have descended on my parent's house in rural Virginia to celebrate the holidays. All those kids and dogs in one place can be more than a little chaotic. To make things even more exciting, Kimbo decided to roll in something *fresh* in the yard just before we started breakfast yesterday. Or, I should say, just before everyone else started breakfast because Kimbo and I spent that time bonding out back over a little shampoo and frigid water. Two rounds in fact. Plus a later swabbing with listerine. I'll be keeping a closer eye on her after that.

The kids have kept me busy drawing their new toys. It's been a fun way to try out some of my new supplies. Here is what we have cataloged so far:

More to follow....Happy New Year!

sing it baby

2006-12-18T21:21:00.000-05:00

Do you have a theme song?

What would it take for you to know you're exactly the right person, at the right place, at the right time to get what you want? What song would you hear and sing when you've decided to be energized, unforgettable, and irresistible - and you hve only 15 minutes to figure out how? Here's what it takes: You have to find your song and sing it. Sing it for all you're worth. Why not? This is exactly the right time for you to step into the limelight. The world has been waiting for you to knock 'em dead. So, what's your song?

- from Gail Blanke's the motivator column in the January 2007 issue of Real Simple magazine

putting it all together

2006-12-10T23:14:00.000-05:00

I've been finishing up my portfolio this week - deciding what stays and what goes. These drawings were from my freehand and perspective drawing class for a residential project. That was over two years ago and now I'm down to less than two weeks until graduation. Time has truly flown by.

But even though it's nearly here, it still seems an eternity and many, many hours at the computer and at school away in order to finish up our final team project. It's going well; there's just an awful lot to finish. Poor Kimbo, she's been sorely neglected.

Needless to say, I've been too busy to blog, too busy to think of anything interesting to say - even too busy to read my favorite blogs - which is oh so frustrating! Looking forward to being a free woman again ;)

Our Paris...

2006-12-04T23:10:00.001-05:00

Guide France 90,91
Originally uploaded by Jan and Roly.

Whenever I need a mental break, I cruise sketch blogs to get inspired. I especially love travel journals as it mixes two of my favorite things: travel and art. And if food enters the mix then I'm in heaven.

Tonight's big winner for me is the "Guide France" series by Jan of the blog...in my spare time. Not only do the drawings make me want to dig out my passport but also her creative self-made journals have me itching to poke around musty old book stores in search of the perfect cover.

Now I'm off to bed for sweet dreams of foreign travels, sketchbook in hand.

gang in the 'hood

2006-11-28T22:07:00.000-05:00

I’m not one to have total down time very often. If I’m not actually physically on the go, my brain is on the go for me – making lists, analyzing everything, planning for the future. So on those rare occasions when I am able to take a mental break it’s a much needed respite. Well tonight was one of those nights and I just want to officially thank the members of the South Tampa Porch Society (STPS) for helping me make it happen.

The “Steppers”, as they’re known (ok I just made that up, but it’s kinda catchy isn’t it, or wait, does it just sound like a group of addicts? Hmmm, maybe I should rethink that. But I digress. OK where was I? Oh right, as I was saying before this parenthetical interruption, The "Steppers"...), consist of a core of two couples - we’ll call them JP and JS – on one of my favorite corners in the neighborhood (the same place Kimbo and I have our morning confabs with the cats). The Steppers are all funny and smart (witness the brilliance of Kelly Headband) and there’s an easy and welcoming camaraderie between them that draws you in.

And on beautiful nights like tonight when the stars align and we all happen to meet up on the corner at the same time, an impromptu gathering will occur where drinks and words flow freely (no question is too personal), the worries of the day fade from memory and Kimbo gets to spend quality time with her feline friends. I’m still smiling.

Oh, and for future reference, John (1/2 JP), I like my donuts with chocolate sprinkles.

a fresh start

2006-11-21T11:56:00.000-05:00

The saga of the missing pencil case continues. OK, it's not really a saga anymore because I have replaced my old case with a brand spanking new, indestructible (rip-stop nylon!), fabulously organized (separate compartments!) little number from Baggalini.

It’s actually a roll-up jewelry / cosmetic case but that can be our little secret. It’s available in a lot of fun colors but I got the practical black to hide the marks of all my (also new) pencils and pens. Now I just need to find some batteries for my new electric eraser and I’ll be back in business.

one small step

2006-11-16T23:57:00.000-05:00

Several months ago I picked up Danny Gregory’s book "Everyday Matters" and was totally inspired to start sketching. But, being the perfectionist that I am, I’ve had a hard time getting started. The idea of using my precious moleskine as a practice ground for quick and imperfect sketches has contributed to my reluctance to put pen to paper.

Instead, I’ve been cruising sketching blogs of talented artists like Suzanne Buchanan and Tommy Kane and checking out Danny Gregory’s site.

But all this time, the urge to draw has been nagging at me to just DO IT. So this morning I finally did. I opened up the cheap little notebook I keep by my bed to unload miscellaneous thoughts and knocked out a quick little sketch while I was still groggy and before my rationalizing mind could interfere.

It's just a baby step, but at least it's a step in the direction I want to go.

fall color

2006-11-14T08:20:00.001-05:00

Fall Color
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

This tiny leaf is the lone bit of seasonal color to be found in my yard. Everything else remains perpetually green, including the rest of the leaves on this tree, so this little guy is special.

ready for her close-up

2006-11-11T20:03:00.000-05:00

Kimbo got a new toy today and as usual has been keeping it close at hand (er...paw). This afternoon I hid the object of her affection for a game of "smell it - find it" (basically tracking exercises) and my fearless companion quickly rousted it from its hiding place. I had to run for the camera after she plopped down in the front yard and ever so carefully placed her prize between her daintily-crossed feet.

Click on the photo for the full Sears portrait studio effect ;)

what next?

2006-11-08T23:17:00.000-05:00

Dang. There I was Tuesday morning, feeling all relaxed and happy after making it through a major milestone on our team project the night before when I suddenly realized my pencil case was missing. The case with all of my drafting tools - the electric eraser, the miniature scale, the very fine point expensive drawing pens, highlighters, mechanical pencils...at least a couple of hundred bucks worth of stuff - and (sob) the functionally elegant bag itself. And of course no one has seen it or turned it in. Sigh.

suburban dictionary

2006-10-28T15:45:00.000-05:00

Kelly Headband [kel-ee hed-band] –noun, plural -s, Slang.
SUV-driving mom

When I heard this nickname from one of my neighbors I had to laugh. We have a private school in our neighborhood and every morning and afternoon are subjected to a long line of SUVs dropping off and picking up kids, often making U-turns illegally in the middle of the street, barely missing pedestrians and other cars as they jockey for position in line. In this classic old Tampa neighborhood with an average 3.07 people per family, fully-paved streets and no off-roading opportunities, I think that’s just a wee bit of overkill, don’t you?

getting things done in style

2006-10-26T09:54:00.000-05:00

I have a new obsession and its name is Circa.

Because:

I'm trying to work myself into a GTD system and the Circa seems flexible enough to work for that.
I’ve been salivating over the eye-candy at Levenger for years but have yet to actually purchase anything from them.
I like my organization and I like it pretty.

The decisions:

What size do I really need? Letter-sized would allow me to easily insert documents (like my portfolio) but it's awfully big for carrying around town. A junior-size will fit in most of my bags, including my crumpler 7 million front pocket, but I can't include my resume / portfolio in it (but then again, isn't that what digital media are for these days?).
Do I want leather or the plastic translucent cover? The leather is gorgeous, provides a firm writing surface and has pockets but the plastic weighs less and is bendy which makes it easier to fit in a cramped space (and it's cheaper).
OK, there is no three but you really need at least three items to have a decent list.

Clearly I have a lot to research and think about over the next few days (because I really need to heap one more thing to my already overflowing plate). I’ll keep you posted about my final decision and will include some annotated pics (natch) when my system is fully implemented.

[photo credit: Levenger]

temptation

2006-10-24T15:37:00.000-05:00

Gah! The universe is sorely tempting me. Suddenly all kinds of fabulous totes are parading across my computer screen, magazines and catalogs. Case in point, the latest issue of Metropolis magazine includes a special discount of 15% off any Crypton product. I love this Tuscan Garden Marina tote from the Michael Graves Collection.

Sigh. So many great bags, so little closet space ; )

[Photo credit: Crypton Super Fabrics]

Liora Manné

2006-10-23T19:56:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness, I’m all aflutter over this Horizon Swirl Bouquet Lapis tote from Liora Manné. She integrates art and technology to create truly fabulous textiles, rugs, housewares and accessories. When I’m ready for my next big bag splurge, I’m headed straight for her shop.

[photo credit: Liora Manné]

coffee break: meet up

2006-10-20T17:28:00.000-05:00

So Happy Together
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

Kimbo, our 10 year old bionic boxer, likes to start her day catching up on the latest neighborhood gossip (i.e. smells - her feline buddies get around to a lot of interesting places).

Sylvester, the cat in the foreground, is what I like to call *aggressively friendly* and goes out of his way to follow you for a little contact - dogs included. Kimbo was pretty freaked out the first time Sylvester tried to rub up against her, having grown up with our cat Maggie, who tolerated her at best and swiped at her at worst.

It didn't take long for Kimbo to settle into a comfortable relationship with this odd little pack of dog-loving cats. Now, instead of jumping away from them, she sniffs and deposits a little trail of drool down their backs as the cats say their hellos.

pass the handiwipes

2006-10-19T11:02:00.000-05:00

Dirty Shoes
Originally uploaded by der_dennis.

You might want to think twice next time you think about putting your handbag on the kitchen counter. According to a report earlier this summer, your purse is equivalent to a pair of dirty shoes in terms of the quantity and variety of germs that hang out there. Ew.

bare necessities

2006-10-18T13:15:00.000-05:00

Two items are staples in my handbag – hand cream and lip balm. Without them I feel naked and parched. Of course, being a maximizer, I’m constantly on the lookout for the perfect product.

Yesterday I picked up a tube of high intensity hand cream from bliss and it has already won me over. It has a light fresh scent that’s not perfumey and you only need a tiny drop to cover both hands. After a full day of use, my hands feel nice and soft but not too greasy. And the full-size container is just the right size to slip into my bag.

For lips, I’ve been using Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF 15, an important consideration when you’re subjected to the blazing sun 365 days a year. It’s a little pricy but proved its worth to me with quick healing after a painful burn to my lips from a reaction to latex during a root canal. Plus I love the screw on top of the metal container – no worries about a missing cap making a mess in your favorite bag.

coffee break: life is sweet

2006-10-17T10:19:00.000-05:00

Cream Puffs in Venice has my sweet tooth humming once again. Here's a yummy little cake to go with your coffee.

[Photo credit: Cream Puffs in Venice]

Lake Mirror Classic

2006-10-16T23:03:00.000-05:00

Amphicar
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

The Lake Mirror Classic Auto Festival is being held this weekend, October 20th – 22nd in beautiful downtown Lakeland, Florida (between Tampa and Orlando). The folks in charge put on a fantastic show - it’s well worth the drive if you’re in the area. Even if you’re not an aficionado of classic cars you’ll be impressed with the variety on display and how well they’ve been preserved not to mention the sizzling colors and sparkling chrome.

You can check out a slide show of my photos from last year for a taste of what you’re in for. If you click through the photos individually you’ll find information about each of the cars and, if you look closely, you can see my reflection in one or two : )

Marie Ricci

2006-10-16T18:33:00.000-05:00

When I finally get around to creating my dream workspace, one of the first things I’m going to order is one of the gorgeous monogram plaques from Marie Ricci to hang above my worktable. I love the illuminated quality of the letters - like the decorated initials of a medieval manuscript - and am in awe of the meticulous detail in her original hand-carved designs.

She also carries designs for clocks, mirrors, garden plaques and ceiling medallions for children's rooms and adult spaces and has recently added this stunning new Mediterranean Vine design to her chandelier medallion collection.

That’s item number two on my list of must haves!

coffee break: misunderstanding

2006-10-16T11:14:00.000-05:00

misunderstanding
Originally uploaded by snailbooty.

From snailbooty over at flickr:

"the studio photographer misheard Edgar's request to be photographed reading a poem..."

Check out the peanut gallery for more fun and games.

Fall - Florida style

2006-10-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

pumpkin patch
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

There's something about shopping for pumpkins when it's 85 degrees and sunny that doesn't feel right to me. Capris and a t-shirt are just not appropriate garb for manhandling giant squashes - that's the domain of corduroy and sweaters and, at the very least, closed-toe shoes.

It's this time of year in Florida that reminds me how much I miss the chill in the air, the colorful leaves and the hot apple cider of a fall day in Virginia.

there's no place like home

2006-10-12T18:51:00.000-05:00

Where to begin? It all started innocently enough about ten days ago after the purchase of my first digital SLR. Like any new parent, I wanted to protect my baby and give it a beautiful, welcoming home – someplace special, not cheap and generic and boring. Thus began my quest for The Perfect Camera Bag.

If you think this is an easy task, then you obviously haven’t been shopping lately. There are a lot of camera bags on the market in various sizes and configurations – backpacks, holsters, sling bags, messengers, and duffels ranging from minimalist neoprene covers to compartmentalized monstrosities. And if you are a perfectionist bag / organization freak, as I am, deciding on what you really need and then researching the options are time consuming tasks - as in hours and hours of "maximizing".

I cruised forums and flickr and google and quickly realized I was not alone in my compulsion. A lot of people are obsessed with finding the perfect home for their cherished photographic equipment. A LOT. We were all searching for something other than the standard black “I’m a camera bag” container; we wanted the functionality with more chic.

In the end I was won over by the fabulously-designed Crumpler bags - the 7 million dollar home to be exact. It arrived this afternoon and I think it will be the perfect bag for day trips when you need to carry more (e.g. snacks, notebook, wallet, an extra shirt) than just your camera. I loaded it up and took some shots for those poor souls who are just beginning the hunt. Fair winds and following seas my friends.

Crumpler 7 million dollar home:

Fully Loaded (extra shirt goes on top):

In my bag:

workspace envy

2006-10-11T08:52:00.000-05:00

The folks over at Decor8 and fabulous stationery are in the final stages of their workspace contest.

My studio
Originally uploaded by Geninne.

So far this one from Geninne, a graphic designer/illustrator in Hacienda Jajalpa, Mexico, is my favorite. Great colors and organization (!) and I love the idea of the magnetic wall.

Ten semifinalists are being showcased today and tomorrow – check it out!

(almost) clutter free

2006-10-10T17:05:00.000-05:00

I’ve had another fun-filled week of sorting, filing, shredding, and paring down using the clutter test from Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston as my guide:

Does it lift my energy when I think about it or look at it?
Do I absolutely love it?
Is it genuinely useful?

Whenever I go through this process I am astounded / horrified at the amount of stuff I have managed to accumulate and/or hold on to well past its useful life to me. In fact I had a headache most of last week which I attribute to a) inhaling paper fibers, b) increased tension from deciding what to spare and what to tear and c) relief of tension when I finally took three huge bags of trash to the curb on Monday and loaded up my car with:

One file cabinet and six large bags of household items, clothes and travel gear that went to The Spring of Tampa Bay.
One box filled with eight handbags, one winter jacket and some surprise gifts that should make it to my sister and her family on Thursday
Four bags of my reject samples that I donated back to the resource room at school

I still have a bunch of loose ends (i.e. filing) to finish up but can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and that’s a good feeling.

In celebration, I stopped by the mall on the way home from school and indulged in a chai latte and a slice of yummy lemon cake at the Nordstrom ebar – a nice little reward for a job well done.

Um, and in the spirit of full disclosure, I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I topped off my day with a new Kipling bag (summer clearance – I couldn’t resist). I do have a lot more room in my closet after all ;)

respectfully submitted

2006-10-03T15:47:00.000-05:00

My husband is on month 10 of a 12 month deployment to Iraq. His ability to maintain a sense of humor helps us, his family, laugh more and worry less. Here’s one of my favorite tales of his Baghdad exploits from an email he sent a couple of weeks ago:

We received a request (Letter of Technical Direction or LOTD) to have someone do an estimate for a grass soccer field in one of the driest (if there is such a thing) parts of Iraq for military folks on base to have a sports field. Always trying to be helpful, I provided my recommendations below:

In accordance with the attached LOTD [deleted], specifically the provision to give a recommendation of the type of grass to use on the XXXX soccer field. After consultation with our horticulture staff, we recommend the soccer field be planted in dirt. Attached is a photo of a similar field planted in dirt.

Advantages of dirt are:

Highly drought resistant – dirt can go many seasons without rain or watering and will still make a full recovery.
Economical – adequate dirt can be shipped from many European countries and provides all the coverage necessary for a lush brown field.
Low seeding rate – the dispersion of dirt seeds can be set to a very low number of dirt seeds per sq meter. After only a short period of time, dirt will expand to fill the area between the seeds and once a strong root bed is initiated, dirt will continue to thrive for many generations.
Resistant to high traffic – dirt can withstand the abuse of large amounts of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic prone to many soccer fields. Dirt is unique among the considered options due to the fact that after heavy periods of traffic, only a small amount of neglect is required before dirt returns to its normal state.
Discourages grazing from livestock – there are very few cases of stray livestock grazing dirt beyond its ability to repair itself.
Low maintenance cost – dirt grows very slowly and as a result, only requires infrequent trimming to maintain a healthy brown color and to prevent it from creeping into neighboring fields.

Disadvantages of dirt are:

Under extreme cases, dirt can undergo a chemical change when mixed with ordinary water. The results are a thick, dark, and slippery substance that can be spread to the surrounding area by vehicles, humans or animals. However, this is not a permanent change and the condition can generally be reversed by the application of direct sunlight.

Other viable ground coverings considered were:

Gravel
Sand
Shale

Very Respectfully,
...

coffee break: cheesy goodness

2006-10-03T12:42:00.000-05:00

I’m one of those annoying people who, when they are late for a meal, have to have food, any food, RIGHT NOW or else they will surely perish. If I wait too long to eat I get weak and cranky - a deadly combination for all in my presence. Add a migraine and a little Excedrin to the mix and I start to get the shakes, which is how I found myself inhaling half a bag (2.5 servings) of cheese puffs from Barbara’s Bakery. They’re made with aged cheddar and blue cheese and, in my humble opinion, are the best cheese puffs on the planet. And that’s not just the hunger talking ;)

worth a thousand words

2006-10-03T09:32:00.000-05:00

orange line
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

Wisdom teeth extractions on top of my self-imposed filing torture haven’t left much time or energy for blogging lately. But my new camera, an early Christmas/graduation/birthday gift courtesy of my hubby, has given me a boost and the motivation to get started again. I’ve had time only for a couple of quick shots on full-auto but am excited to get to know the ins and outs – just in time to take some new portfolio shots. Woo hoo!

Fileapalooza 2006

2006-09-24T17:18:00.000-05:00

I crave order and simplicity. Without it I feel unsettled and scattered. I’m compelled to make order out of chaos, which is one of the reasons I’m often tagged for project management duties. I whip things into shape. It’s what I do. I derive so much emotional energy from putting things right that I even considered changing careers to professional organizing at one time.

However, working and going to school and managing a household and a rental property and taking care of Kimbo while my husband is deployed to Iraq means I sometimes let the paperwork and projects stack up at home. That leads to added tension and, apparently, teeth grinding according to my dentist.

So, in order to maintain my mental and dental health, I have commenced “Fileapalooza 2006” during my fall break from school. The heavy-duty file cabinets I had delivered three weeks ago have been unpacked and put in place in my office. Three hundred manila folders and extra label cartridges are at the ready. Now, after a trip to the chiropractor to get me physically prepared, it’s time to buckle down and get it done.

In two days I’ve already waded through three flimsy file cabinets worth of stuff, filled up a trash bag with old manuals (Windows NT, a broken toaster, etc.), created a huge “to-be-shredded” pile and used up one label cartridge and half a box of folders. I still have a long way to go – I haven’t even started on the enormous mountain that is my in-box – but I can already feel the kinks in my neck and shoulders starting to loosen.

And seeing those rows of neatly labeled files standing at attention in their shiny new cabinets...well that my friends is a Good Thing.

in my library

2006-09-16T21:59:00.000-05:00

I love books. When I was a kid, I was at the library so often the librarian had my card pulled and waiting for me by the time I got back to her desk with my latest stack. These day I don’t have much time for reading, but I still find myself craving the experience of cracking open a fresh page and burying myself in a new world.

If I had the room I’d create my own library complete with those little ladders that you wheel around from shelf to shelf. Some day, I’m going to make it happen. But for now, I keep my collection pared down to the essentials. Most are references that focus on design, languages, travel and business but I also keep well-worn copies of my favorite fiction and autobiographies.

Today I started cataloging my library online at LibraryThing (using my opiliones moniker), a new site for book lovers. From their website:

LibraryThing helps you create a library-quality catalog of your books. You can do all of them or just what you're reading now. And because everyone catalogs online, they also catalog together. LibraryThing connects people based on the books they share.

Pretty cool concept. Thanks to suttonhoo for sharing the link!

on my wish list

2006-09-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

MoMA is selling this brilliant and ultra-hip Layered Bag featuring interchangeable pouches by Sakurako Kaneko.

I’ve said it before but it begs repeating: bags + function + organization = must have. Just thought I’d mention it in case, you know, anyone was in the market for a graduation, Christmas or Birthday present for me ; )

coffee break

2006-09-11T22:49:00.000-05:00

Whenever I run across something funny, disturbing, or otherwise interesting I send an email to my friends with the subject line "coffee break" as an enticement/warning. So my friends, this is today's coffee break:

After reading about nutella panini from Cream Puffs in Venice, I’ve determined that I simply MUST have a panini press. So, as I always do when I need information quickly, I googled for reviews. Maybe it's the late hour, but this one for the George Foreman Grill had me laughing out loud.

That’s it. Just wanted to share. I figure we could all use a little more levity in our lives right about now. I’m off to explore more reviews from janteloven and have a few more laughs before I fall into bed.

check one off the list

2006-09-11T12:10:00.000-05:00

For the last week I’ve been chained to my drafting table, finishing up a mess ‘o drawings for my senior project which I have to present to a jury in about a week and a half. I found myself procrastinating on some of the details:

Three weeks ago:
Me: I LOVE this graphic print for the office chairs, it will really add a pop to the room!
Classmates: Oooh…very nice, you should definitely use that.
Me: You think?
Classmates: Oh yeah – you HAVE to use it.

Two weeks ago:
Me: Hmmm…how am I going to render that fabric? Maybe I’ll just work on this other drawing first until I get inspired.
Classmates: Hey, what’s with those big white chairs in the middle of your drawing?

One week ago:
Me: ARGH!…why did I include those chairs in my perspective?
Classmates: Man, that really sucks. Glad I don’t have to render it.
Me: Wonder if anyone will notice if I just tape the fabric to the drawing?

Anyway, yesterday I finally buckled down and put marker to vellum to finish up all those nagging details. I’ve included a few section and elevation close ups (um, chair fabric from above not included) for those of you that are interested in these kinds of things.

maintaining the continuum

2006-09-06T12:46:00.000-05:00

One of the things I appreciate most about my husband is his sense of humor. He’s quick-witted and has the enviable ability to spin a good yarn on a moments notice. It’s mostly innate talent, but he honed his skills over many years as a semi-professional pun-meister.

He doesn’t labor over the puns - they come to him quickly and without struggle. It’s just the way his warped brain works. When we first started dating, he *punned* me constantly. It got to the point that I could see a pun coming from the first twinkle in his eye. I enjoyed, then put up with, then finally threatened physical harm if I heard one more of them. Now we live happily in a relatively pun-free household and he saves that part of his wit for friends and coworkers who don’t know him well enough to recognize when they’re about to be had.

Which brings me in a round about way to the purpose of this posting. Yesterday at work, I received an email from my beloved that gave me a good laugh when I really needed one so, with his permission, I’m passing it on to you. His caveat - "I know nothing about computers which makes the fact that I was asked to get involved with a computer problem all the more ludicrous." And now, on to the email:

We had some problems with our computers today. Files on the server mysteriously disappeared, but in no random pattern. Documents out of certain files were gone. Very mysterious. They searched for malicious code and found nothing. My boss was stressing (fiscal year end this month and 0 room for error). He asked me to get PERSONALLY involved (neither of us trust our IT guy).

I talked to the Help Desk and they were puzzled for about an hour and then found a very simple problem (it was not the server, but the viewing rights. Stuff was there, just not visible; 5 minute fix). So I told the boss all was fixed and OK. He was thrilled. He'd been thinking we were going to have to install the backups. He asked me what they did and I told him the "flux capacitors were failing and they replaced them with an ion drive; now the continuum is rebalanced." He looked at me and asked (quite seriously) "do you really understand that computer stuff?" I instantly knew by his question that he did not.

do the math

2006-09-06T08:19:00.000-05:00

8:30 to 5:00. That’s the window of time I was given by my office supply store to wait for the delivery of my new file cabinets.

Um, can you narrow that down a bit? If you could just give me a probability curve of delivery times based on where I fall in the order of deliveries, that would be swell. A simple bell curve would be fine.

Is that asking too much? I don’t think so.

time well spent

2006-09-03T16:01:00.000-05:00

Raggedy Ann
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

A long time ago in a bedroom far, far away, I spent the summer of my 17th year working on a drawing of my beloved Raggedy Ann. I propped her up in a chair facing my window and, for a couple of hours most every afternoon, sprawled out on my burnt orange carpet and carefully recorded with my No. 2 pencil every flower on her dress, the lace on her bloomers and grain of wood on her chair. I was so absorbed in my study, the shifting light was my only indication that time had passed.

Drawing is one of the few ways I truly find myself lost in the moment. Many of my design classmates look at rendering as a chore and often comment on how much effort I put into my work. What they don’t understand is that I actually enjoy that part of the process. While I can’t take the time to detail to the extent that I did with my old Raggedy Ann, I always try to spend enough to do a respectably thorough job. Seeing my design vision come to life in a perspective drawing is what finally brings it all together for me.

And rendering with markers takes me back to being a kid with my well-worn box of crayons (btw, the mixed bag banner pic is my box of 48 from the 4th grade). What’s not to love about that?

small packages

2006-08-31T10:24:00.000-05:00

When you’re six feet tall with a boyish figure, finding clothing long enough that gives the illusion of curves is a rare occurrence. I’ve learned the hard way to not let them get away when they cross my path. And that is how I found myself forking over full price at Anthropologie for a wool knit jacket with fabulous detailing even though I live in Florida where it is currently 95 degrees with 95 % humidity and will likely continue as such for a couple of months. I know if I wait for future markdowns or cooler weather my size will have long since been scooped up by someone else and I will sorely regret it. So, there you go.

Now I was already pretty happy with my purchase, but when I got home and started removing tags I fell in love. Tucked away under the armpit, where it had escaped my previous notice, was a tiny and exquisitely executed “dressmaker kit” attached to the sweater with a satin ribbon. Sliding open the wee box revealed one shiny button and neatly wrapped yarn atop a lining of miniature sheet music. That’s when I knew this was meant to be.

I should explain. I’ve held a fascination for containers for as long as I can remember – boxes, baskets, tins, purses, portfolios, you name it – if it’s beautiful and can be used for containing and organizing all the stuff in my life, it is to be appreciated and admired. I’m not positive how I arrived at this compulsion, but I suspect I inherited it in part from my father whose worktable is precisely organized with labeled bins and from my mother whose eye for color and design influences me to this day.

So, while I’m sure the sweater will take me through a few winters in style, ultimately, this little throw-away box will find a special place in my house for the long term as all good and useful things do.

foodie heaven

2006-08-30T07:34:00.000-05:00

Apricot-Almond Coffee Cake
Originally uploaded by creampuffsinvenice.

I so wish I liked to cook as much as I like to eat. But then again, maybe that's a good thing because if I did I would probably double my size in short order trying out all the recipes over at Cream Puffs in Venice.

Not only does Ivonne artfully walk you through each recipe, but she also takes mouth watering photos of the end result. She's the latest addition to my blogline feeds. I'm hoping she'll inspire me to do more than my usual arrabbiata and pasta e fagioli (a girl does need variety after all).

[Photo credit: Cream Puffs in Venice]

preoccupied

2006-08-28T21:04:00.000-05:00

Too many distractions have left me unable to think of anything to say. Namely:

Ernesto

a trip to the endodontist tomorrow to reevaluate two root canals

a trip to my regular dentist next week to be fitted with a replacement crown for the permanent one that fell out a couple of months ago

a phone call to the oral surgeon to schedule two wisdom teeth extractions

a huge list of things to finish for school projects

The only fun on the near horizon is a trip to Tribeca Salon on Wednesday for a cut and color. I might just have to do something radical to get me out of my funk.

The awesomeness of small

2006-08-26T23:15:00.000-05:00

a found poem

In a world of
Unyielding Giganticism,

The power of small is Enormous.

Discovered in "a dizzying look at the awesomeness of small", a top secret publication exclusively for Mini owners, by Dr. C. M. Terivoni, Esquire including the decryption process, decoding basic parameters and maintaining clarity of vision on the phenomenon of small.

cooking with love

2006-08-24T23:03:00.000-05:00

My husband has a philosophy that cooking with love makes the meal; without it the result is mediocre at best, inedible at worst. Here's his advice for foolproof risotto:

A proper risotto should not be runny; you must nurse the precious starch from the unwashed grain through a combination of flavored liquid, gentle heat, and love. If it is too runny, you have not added enough heat or love. Of course, if you are adding cheese, that will reduce much of the apparent liquid and thicken it up. In this case you can reduce the amount of love by 1 Tbs for each palm-full of cheese.

End result, slightly sticky, not much liquid. You can always sprinkle more love over the top when done. Garnish with affection.

All I can say is I'm not complaining :)

letting go

2006-08-22T21:28:00.000-05:00

Years ago I took some classes in Life Drawing at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. It was quite an eye opener. Life drawing challenged all my self-taught need-to-be-in-control habits. In my youth, I spent many hours sprawled on the floor with a sketchbook, slowly and meticulously constructing drawings with a keen eye for detail and precision. In life drawing, we worked at a much larger scale standing at an easel, using the whole of our bodies, to crank out drawings with messy charcoal on newsprint in 5 minutes or less.

It was tough letting go of my need to over-analyze and just let the drawing come out naturally. Tough, but exhilarating. The short timed sketches got my heart pumping – performance anxiety I suspect – still craving that perfection at my core. I learned to quickly settle into the moment, becoming so absorbed in my work that the three hour class would be over, long before I was ready to go.

One of my favorite drawings was one of my least complete. It was a one minute study and I managed to sketch in only the head, back and part of an arm. But still, I felt it captured the moment, the tilt of the model’s head, her relaxed posture. It wasn’t perfect but it spoke to me then and still does today - let go, let it happen, let it be.

latest addition

2006-08-22T10:19:00.000-05:00

So, I stopped by Nordstrom yesterday to check out the ballet flats (no luck) and figured while I was there I’d see what was happening in the clearance bin over in handbags.

A quick dig through the leftovers yielded nothing of interest but then I spied the fall collection of bags by Orla Kiely on a nearby rack. Did I mention that I’ve been salivating over her fun print totes and purses since I first saw them last summer?

Well yesterday I finally found my perfect color / pattern / style combo! Love, love the grey, blue and khaki – subtle and so versatile – and the pattern is not overwhelming.

Other things that drew me to this bag in particular:

rubber feet
holds its shape
can be wiped clean (basically impervious to daily rain and grime)
adjustable strap (over the shoulder to cross body)
room for all my usual stuff plus a notebook / sketchpad
not too big / not too small, and
last but not least, fabulous organization!

Yeah, I realize I have a *slight* obsession, but given my current lack of time for extracurricular activities of any kind, blowing my monthly fun money on handbags feels good and is pretty low on the list of possible vices. Besides, eventually my closet will run out of space and that means my friends and family get first dibs on the bags that don’t make the cut. I like to think of it as a win-win situation.

made to order

2006-08-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

a found poem

Wigmaker to the stars
now designing for
little people in fur coats.

old-fashioned glamour,
a cascade of curls,
good choice for hairless dogs

"Peek a Bow Wow"
movie star style for,
you know,
a sexy dog.

Hairpieces for doggies?

I don't see why it would be
different
or
strange.

Found in an article about an eighth generation wigmaker to the stars, originally published in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Thanks to suttonhoo for clueing me in to the world of found poetry.

coffee break: Virginia home cookin'

2006-08-20T16:52:00.000-05:00

For me, a visit back home to Virginia is not complete without a stop at Whitley’s Peanuts. They’ve been in business for 20 years and my family has been devouring their “home cooked” Virginia peanuts for just about as long.

I LOVE the butter toffee and chocolate covered peanuts but I’m addicted to the super extra large salted variety which have a perfect amount of fresh and savory crispiness. Once you’ve had Whitley’s, all other nuts will pale in comparison. Seriously. Check ‘em out.

travel journaling

2006-08-16T18:01:00.000-05:00

Travel Journaling
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

My last attempt at travel journaling was a miserable failure. I blame it on the whirlwind schedule – 2 weeks: London / Paris / Milan – and the cold, rainy March weather. It’s hard to stay motivated and on task with frozen fingers and an umbrella clamped between your teeth.

I’m always on the lookout for motifs to include in textile designs and I did manage to sketch a few in London at St. Paul’s and the British Museum at the beginning of the trip while I was still fresh. But, by the time I got to Paris, I had abandoned both my camera and my sketchbook in favor of shopping and eating, scribbling down only a couple of quick notes:
- fabric shops near Sacre Couer (Anvers Metro)
- Gérard Mulot - CAKES, St. Germain

That was my last entry. The cakes at Gérard Mulot had finished me. I had abstained from sugar and chocolate for years but one bite of fruit filled chocolate delight and I was addicted (still am over a year later). I went back and got a box of four to take with me to Milan but devoured them all before we made it to the Italian border.

Before my next big trip I’m going to undergo an aggressive workout regime: -weightlifting to prepare for lugging around my gear; and sketching in random spots around town in various weather conditions holding said gear to prepare for, well, sketching in random spots around the country in various weather conditions holding my gear ;)

drawing from life

2006-08-15T19:14:00.000-05:00

Feeling exhausted and under the weather today so I called in sick and spent my day on the couch alternately napping, reading and sipping emergen-c. The good thing is I finally had time to make my way through Drawing from Life: The Journal as Art by Jennifer New which gives a behind the scenes look at the visual journals of a broad range of contributors.

I love this book. It looks and feels like a journal; the cover is firm yet flexible with a waxy veneer and the hefty grid-lined papers have the look of a scientific notebook. The contents have been organized logically according to the journals’ perceived function: observation, reflection, exploration, and creation. Every section shares some background about each journalist and then shows examples from their books. This glimpse into the processes behind journaling is what makes this book notable and inspiring enough to compel me to drag out one of my many sketchbooks and start making journaling a daily practice. Starting tomorrow when I can muster the energy to look for them ;)

museum day

2006-08-14T15:26:00.000-05:00

Only Giraffe
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

My friend Susan gave me a heads up that the Smithsonian is sponsoring Museum Day on Saturday, Sept. 30. You and a guest can visit a participating museum for free at locations throughout the U.S.

Check out their website for more information on which museums in your state are participating and to print out your Museum Day Pass.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota Florida is one of those taking part in Museum Day. If you go, be sure to check out the Circus Museum and Cà d'Zan Mansion.

speaking of color

2006-08-11T18:39:00.000-05:00

In which our fearless heroine learns the true meaning of metamerism - of the illuminant variety…

There I was during a group critique, reviewing a design drawing I had spent HOURS carefully rendering when it was politely pointed out that the green in my drawing did not match the green in my laminate sample. At all. The same greens that had matched perfectly at home under my OTT-lite had decided to go their separate ways under the banks of fluorescent lighting above my head. Oh the humanity!

It’s back to the drawing board (literally) for me this weekend.

color challenge

2006-08-10T00:22:00.000-05:00

I sit in semi-darkness, trapped in a translucent plastic container. The first few days of my youth, I was but a mere wisp of mossy fluff. Now, as age settles in I have turned dark and foreboding, spreading like a malevolent plague over the landscape of your leftover macaroni and cheese.

I’ve never been what you’d call “popular.” I’m unobtrusive in a primeval, earthy way, unlike the attention-seeking Granny Smith with her tawdry hue that screams “PICK ME! PICK ME!” Nor can I compete with the grassy herbs of summer and their fresh appeal. From my cell, I hear your exclamations over tropical lime beauties and delicate lettuce ruffles and it pains me. I know your praises will not be extended to me.

I live with the certainty of my fate – the day when my hiding place, wedged into the shadowy recesses of the refrigerator, will be discovered. A quick glimpse of your horrified grimace will be all I see before my sanctuary is sealed shut and tossed hurriedly back on the wire shelf to be forgotten and rediscovered on another day.

Rejected, once again.

An old exercise from Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers in which we were to write about a color, 200 words or less. It was a fun class – worth checking into if you’re interested in trying something new.

I'd love to see what suttonhoo and litwit would do with this challenge ;)

soul food

2006-08-09T08:46:00.000-05:00

All this talk of books reminded me that I need to go back and thoroughly explore the Soul Food Café, a portal for writers and artists. Heather Blakey, “purveyor of creative stimuli and cognitive archaeologist”, is the mastermind behind the interconnected sites that make up the Café. Her vision was to create a nurturing environment to promote the therapeutic value of daily writing.

Along with the tips, techniques, references and encouragement found on the site(s), there is a complex imaginary writing world called Lemuria (complete with GPS guidance) which may take some time to figure out. In the mean time, you can flex your writing muscles with creativity exercises and projects at the café.

tag, you're it

2006-08-08T12:01:00.000-05:00

In response to suttonhoo:

A book that changed your life:
Well, I don’t know if I could say it changed my life, but Karen Kingston’s Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui certainly changed the way I look at my stuff. I inherited pack-rat tendencies from my father and this book helped me let go of a lot of things I had been keeping “just in case”.

A book you’ve read more than once:
When I was in elementary school, we had a book fair every year. As I remember it, you would preorder from a catalog and then go to the library to pick up your books. I always had a huge stack.

One of my selections from the 4th grade was the 1962 Campus Classic edition of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It was 1973 - obviously the publisher had overestimated the book’s popularity with students.

I, however, was intrigued by the description – “A dark deception stands between the shy, plain governess and her handsome, moody employer…What is the strange, crazed laughter she hears in the night? What forbidden secret is Mr. Rochester concealing from her – and the world?” I was big into mysteries at that time – Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Agatha Christie – so this sounded right up my alley.

When the books came I couldn’t wait to get home. Finally sequestered in my room, I plopped down into my bean bag chair (it was the 70s people) and began reading Jane Eyre. I was hooked. The mystery drew me in but the romance and Jane’s triumph brought me back again and again.

The spine has been permanently cracked at page 278 where I thrilled to Mr. Rochester’s proclamations of love:

You-you strange–you almost unearthly thing!—I love as my own flesh. You—poor and obscure, and small and plain as you are—I entreat to accept me as a husband.

That passage was underlined with a blue ballpoint pen – I managed to use it later in a high school term paper.

A book that made you laugh:
I think I actually snorted in public while reading this story from Sand in My Bra and Other Misadventures: Funny Women Write from the Road.

A book that made you cry:
Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead, the diaries and letters of Anne Morrow Lindbergh from 1929-1932 takes you from the excitement and flying adventures during the early years of her marriage to Charles Lindbergh through the tragic kidnapping of their first child.

Sunday, September 25, 1932
The wind howls at night. I think of last winter. I will never accept it—cannot accept it or get used to it or get past it. It is not like a death—not like Daddy—which I knew would happen sometime. It is not a “normal” sorrow. Back of it is always “It need not have happened,” and that is a torture. I suppose I can only swallow it whole. It will not be absorbed but always be there, and always hurting, like something in your eyes. Nature does not absorb it but gradually provides a protective covering which numbs the sharp pain, but you are always conscious of it.

Gets me every time.

A book that you wish had been written and a book you wish had never been written:
I’m drawing a blank on this one so I’ll just move on.

Books you’re currently reading:
Still working my way through the pile on my nightstand.

A book you’ve been meaning to read:
My husband has a copy of A Cook's Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal on his bookshelf. I love food and I love travel and think Anthony Bourdain is a hoot but am not sure my stomach can handle some of the more *descriptive* passages re. food preparation. I’m trying to work up my courage to read it.

In the spirit of passing it on, brigita, tag, you're it.

mental calculations

2006-08-07T23:42:00.000-05:00

a + 3b + 4c = d + e

where:

a = migraine
b = caffeine-laden products
c = slices of pepperoni pizza
d = insomnia
e = indigestion

adventure girl

2006-08-07T09:36:00.000-05:00

I you have even the tiniest bit of wanderlust flowing through your veins, you should check out the website of Nancy Pellegrini. Nancy is a writer and photographer originally from New York, but currently living in China teaching English language classes. Prior to China, she taught English in Korea, studied and worked in England and Ireland, and traveled around Europe. We *met* and bonded through an online travel writing class a few years ago and keep in touch sporadically via her unreliable internet connection from Beijing. One of these days I need to hop a plane to China for a face to face chat.

A description of the overwhelming darkness and misery of learning Chinese in general, her Chinese class in particular, and the all-consuming horror of a using a Chinese dictionary was selected from her essay "A Monolinguist Abroad" (InsideOut Travel, Jan 2005), and published as a one-hundred word sidebar in the 2004 Traveler's Tales China: Anthology.

full disclosure: I totally lifted that last paragraph from Nancy’s website ; )

salve

2006-08-02T22:50:00.000-05:00

Morning Reflections
Originally uploaded by Opiliones.

I've spent most of my life living in coastal towns - in the Pacific Northwest, Hampton Roads VA, and Naples Italy to name a few. The smell and the sound and the sight of the water is so ingrained in my psyche that I have a hard time imagining living happily without some bit of it nearby to wash away my worries.

This goes out to suttonhoo who's headed to my home state in a couple of days to say goodbye to a dear friend. Safe
travels.

favorite place

2006-08-01T09:08:00.000-05:00

di ceramica
Originally uploaded by true nature.

My husband and I spent a few unforgettable years living in Italy and are often asked by friends for recommendations for places to go. At the top of my list is the small medieval town of San Gimignano. When we last visited, there were few tourists so we were able to spend a quiet afternoon roaming the city.

For a great description of what it's like to wander those streets, head over to Jenny Vorwaller's blog, True Nature, and read her posts from her month long painting sabbatical in Italy with her mother.

I hesitate to bring this up but on the off-chance that you go and happen to run across a sign for the Medieval Torture Museum and decide to check it out, do so on an empty stomach and steel yourself. I'm usually pretty unflappable, but this one got to me.

Maine anyone?

2006-07-30T16:02:00.000-05:00

Life is full of nice little surprises. Like today for example...I set out late this morning to buy a new pair of running shoes and stopped in at Monstah Lobstah afterwards for a basket of fish and chips. Mmmm….fried fish…oh wait, that wasn’t my point. Anyway, the owner of Monstah Lobstah was born and raised along the coast of southern Maine and decided to come to Tampa to bring the local community a real Maine experience and I thank him for that.

While I was waiting for my basket of goodies, I thumbed through an old copy of Down East magazine that was on my table and ran across an article about The Reverend Paul Plante, a priest and artist from Maine who creates small, beautiful oil pastels of bird’s and fish, focusing in on a single eye. He produces about 1000 paintings per year with his unique perspective and displays and sells throughout the northeast and online. I’ve never been much of a bird or fish lover, but his stunning creations have made me reconsider.

You can see some more of his original artwork online at mixed greens and The Firehouse Gallery.

penne all’arrabbiata

2006-07-28T17:11:00.000-05:00

I don’t know what I would do without this recipe in my bag of tricks. It’s another fave from Vera. In Italian, arrabbiata means angry or in this case spicy. If you order this dish in Italy, just make sure you linger over the n’s in penne, otherwise you’ll be ordering an angry, um,*part of the male anatomy used to make babies* (ahem). Ok, now that you’ve been forewarned, on to the recipe:

¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup butter
a couple of slices Pancetta, diced
1 onion, chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic, crushed
red pepper flakes to desired spiciness
½ cup white wine
28 oz. can of tomatoes, diced
½ cup parmesan cheese
½ cup romano cheese
1 lb penne

Saute onion, garlic, red pepper flakes and pancetta in olive oil and butter over medium heat until onions are golden brown. Add wine and simmer on low, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has reduced down. Add tomatoes and simmer on low heat for 45-60 minutes, stirring often. Cook pasta to al dente and drain. Combine pasta, tomato sauce and cheeses in one bowl and mix well. Serves 4-6.

Note 1: Quality of ingredients is ESSENTIAL to the success of this recipe. Do not attempt if you have only cheese from a shaker can, wine out of a box, or minced garlic out of a jar. And absolutely do not use margarine instead of butter. I shudder to think of it.

Note 2: I usually use more olive oil and less butter, then pat myself on the back for being healthy. I also usually leave out the pancetta just because I don’t always have it in my fridge unlike the rest of the ingredients. It still tastes delicious although I have to admit whenever I make the full blown version it gets a bigger thumbs up from my husband.

Note 3: I use whatever wine I have available – red or white. I think it’s just as good either way since it’s buried deep within the sauce, but then again I am not a complete wine snob.

Note 4: Since this makes enough sauce to serve 4-6 and I’m usually cooking for just one or two at a time depending on travel schedules, I no longer mix the pasta, sauce and cheese in a bowl. Instead, I just dollop some sauce on our pasta and then grate the cheeses right on top of the sauce. Sometimes we do a pasta, cheese, sauce, cheese layer if we’re feeling really spunky. That way, the extra sauce keeps better for leftovers (tastes great over grilled polenta with mozzarella di bufallo).

Note 5: The recipe does not call for additional salt because the pancetta and the romano cheese are both pretty salty. If you’re leaving out one or both of these, then I would add a small pinch of salt to the sauce. Just don’t overdo it because (trust me, I’ve been there) too salty = inedible.

wooly timbuk2

2006-07-26T15:03:00.000-05:00

Get ‘em while they’re hot! Timbuk2 has just released a limited quantity of extra-small messengers in wool, camo and lightweight x-pac nylon specialty fabrics. This lime green wool has your name all over it suttonhoo. They also have it in brown or light blue if you’re feeling less adventurous ;)

Los Angeles sketchbook

2006-07-26T08:06:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles sketchbook
Originally uploaded by velvetina.

This is what I imagined I'd do when I packed a moleskine and sketching supplies on my last trip to Europe. Instead I ended up with a few scattered notes on the run. Seeing this has me motivated to try again.

Check out the rest of Amanda's beautiful sketches on her blog.

retirement home

2006-07-25T13:26:00.000-05:00

My husband would like nothing better than to chuck most of our worldly goods and move onto the water. Now, a fair portion of said worldly goods are made up of my stuff – books, project materials, bags, etc. – that I could not imagine leaving behind for cramped quarters on some leaky vessel. That is until he sent me a link to Van Gorkom Yacht Design’s Villa Houseboat.

I think I could be persuaded to toss everything and take up needlepoint for that.

wishing for winter

2006-07-24T21:29:00.000-05:00

I have a very long neck which frequently gets cold. My strategy is to keep warm and make a fashion statement – no plain black wool for me thank you very much. Admittedly, summer is not the most motivating time for scarf shopping, but I’m always thinking ahead and keeping an eye out for something special.

Enter mogwaii, a contemporary furnishings and fashion design studio run by the very talented Sarah Campbell. Aside from the scarves, the shop also carries hats, bags, throws, cushions, lamps and blinds. I love the texture and dimensionality of her designs. Truly fabulous.

on my nightstand

2006-07-23T20:31:00.000-05:00

I love books, but unfortunately rarely have time to sit down and read one from start to finish. Usually I have about ten going at a time in various stages of completion. Here’s what’s in my stack this week:

“Paddy’s Lament” – research for an Irish heritage project; it’s a sobering read.

”First Impressions: What You Don’t Know About How Others See You” - who doesn’t need help with this?

”Visioning: Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams” - always looking for creativity sparks

”Collage Discovery Workshop: Beyond the Unexpected” - the author was featured in our local paper and I fell in love with her Poppet® designs. I SO want to go to her workshop in Cortona, Italy next spring.

”The Artist’s Sketchbook” - looking for ways to let go and speed up my perfectionist rendering technique

”Drawing From Life: The Journal as Art” - more creativity and visual journaling techniques…a bit of an obsession lately

”The House in Good Taste” - the Elsie de Wolfe classic which I can’t believe I’m only just now reading

”The Elements of Style” - because my dad said everyone should have a copy and my good friend suttonhoo sold me on the illustrations by Maira Kalman

”Interior Graphic Standards” - hardcore interior design specs

The Architect’s Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design” - because I’m a glutton for punishment

And last but not least:
”Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” - for obvious reasons ;)

mmmmm….sparklies

2006-07-22T13:30:00.000-05:00

I love T.J. Maxx. It’s where I scored my new favorite bag, a Donald J. Pliner Infinity Quilted Shopper at less than half the full retail price. Not only is the bag easy on the eyes with the fabulous stitching and subtle metallic color with fresh green interior, but it also is comfortably soft on your shoulder or in your hand and still maintains it’s shape when you set it down. But what really makes this my favorite is the zippered center section with interior pockets and the two open sections on the sides for quick access to my sunglasses, keys and Burt’s Bees lip balm. Form and function. Now that’s good design.

If you don't care for sparkle, you can pick one up in either white or camel for 30% off at Nordstrom.

travel rule #1

2006-07-20T10:30:00.000-05:00

Never pass up the opportunity to take a good, long, hot shower.

You may think it’s a good idea to wait until morning to be *fresh* for your journey but you’ll regret it sorely when you wake to find your hotel’s plumbing has gone belly-up then realize the shower at your next hotel is shooting hot salt water into your eyes leaving you crustier than when you started and spend the next week on a sailboat attempting to rinse off quickly with a shower wand while straddling a toilet, trying to maintain some scrap of dignity in the cramped space as you bend over to pick up the soap you’ve dropped for the 10^th time as crewmates on deck peer at you through the hatch skylight…until you finally abandon your standards of cleanliness altogether just in time for your return home to civilization.

Italian comfort food

2006-07-19T20:29:00.000-05:00

I’m a lazy cook and a food snob. There I’ve said it. I like delicious meals that can be made in one or two pots max with minimal supervision. Actually, what I really prefer is when my husband, the gourmet, whips up something magical in the kitchen leaving only one or two pots for me to clean up.

When it’s my turn to man the stovetop, I usually rely on my battered copy of “Cucinando con Vera” to guide me through tried and true recipes from cooking classes I took in Naples, Italy. One of my favorites is a one pot (!) dish that is standard fare in Neapolitan families: pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans).

½ lb. dry cannellini or white beans
2 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
7 oz. small tube pasta or tubetti
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
½ cup olive oil
2 qts. Water
2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
salt to taste

Soak the beans overnight and drain. Add all the above ingredients to a pot, except pasta and salt. Cover the pot and bring mixture to a boil. Keep mixture at a low boil continuously until beans are cooked (add water if needed) and almost all water has evaporated. Add the pasta and salt, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, adding a little water if necessary while pasta is cooking. Cook ‘til done. Serves 4-6

Note 1: The pasta and beans are meant to be cooked until a state of *mushiness* in the traditional Neapolitan fashion. It’s also served up pretty dry so it’ll stick to your ribs. However, I prefer it with the pasta cooked al dente and a little saucier so I usually add more water and keep a close eye on noodle firmness.

Note 2: After years of experimentation, I have pretty much doubled the main seasonings, i.e. basil, parsley and garlic, because I like stronger flavors. I sometimes even add in a couple of hot peppers to spice things up. Otherwise it just ends up tasting like paste to me. But that’s me, do whatever sounds good to you. There are no hard and fast rules with this dish.

Note 3: I cheat and use a can of beans 95% of the time. In this case, I boil everything but the beans, pasta and salt in a smaller quantity of water for a while before adding the beans. Then I let the beans cook long enough to soften up and take on the spice flavors before adding the pasta. This is a much faster method and suitable for last minute meals.

Enjoy!

art of the handbag

2006-07-19T08:27:00.000-05:00

I have two great loves: fiber arts and bags. So you can imagine how excited I was to come across the yahoo group AGirlCanNeverHaveTooManyHandbags, a forum for people who “make, buy, collect or just plain love handbags”.

The group is led by Prudence Mapstone, an Australian fiber artist known for her freeform designs. Attending one of her classes, preferably in Australia, is at the top of my workshop wish list.

You can check out some of the group’s creative handiwork at their virtual exhibit. My "felted hipster pursette" is featured in the March 2006 show.

world's longest yard sale

2006-07-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

It’s almost time. In a little over two weeks, hundreds of thousands of bargain shoppers will descend upon a 450 mile stretch of US Route 127 from Covington, Kentucky, through Tennessee and Georgia, to Gadsden Alabama for the world’s longest yard sale . The sale, which started in 1987, runs for four days beginning the first Thursday of every August.

A few years ago, four generations of the women in my family piled into a couple of SUVs for a day of camaraderie and a little friendly competition over custard dishes and folk art furniture. Sacks full of candy bars and peanut butter crackers were our only provisions. I was the designated driver for my grandmother, mom and aunt. My cousins manned the other vehicle and attempted to take the advantage with their eagle eye kids as scouts. But while they had youth and vigor on their side, we had 100 extra years of collective bargain hunting experience on ours.

At first we stayed together, relying on urgent hand signals indicating possible treasures ahead. As the day wore on we leapfrogged each other, scoping out territory and reporting back to the team. That year we braved scorching heat and torrential downpours but came away with truckloads of dishes, furniture, artwork, vintage linens, watering cans, glassware and the deep satisfaction of a job well done.

Most of my finds are in daily use while others, like the set of vintage ice cream sundae glasses that I had to have, still sit unused in my cupboard three years later. I suppose I should pass them on to someone else but, even now, I remember the thrill of peeking into a sodden card board box shoved under a wobbly card table and seeing them for the first time. For now, they stay - at least until next year when I need to make room for my haul from the 20^th anniversary of the sale.

Chicago to-do list

2006-07-17T11:21:00.000-05:00

Last spring I headed to Chicago to visit a good friend for a much needed girls only vacation. We were both exhausted from too much work and not enough play and planned to spend a few days of nothing but relaxing, chatting, shopping and eating (in no particular order).

To start things out right, we got rooms at the stunning and ultra luxurious Hotel Burnham downtown. Highly recommended - if you get only one chick weekend a year, you might as well go all out.

I had done some research before arriving and had two items on my wish list that were MUST DO’s. First was a visit to P.O.S.H., which advertises “an eclectic assortment of vintage Hotel Silver, Restaurant China & Flea Market Finds” from America and Europe. To me that represented a shopping trifecta – vintage goods, European pedigree, restaurant-ware. My only disappointment was that I had room neither in my luggage nor my cupboards back home for a set of dishes from Provence. Sigh.

The second critical item on my to-do list was a trip to the Lincoln Park shop of 1154 Lill Studio to create my own custom handbag. Opening the door to the vast array of colorful fabrics and handbag options sent a tingle zipping up my spine. If you’re into bags and textiles even a little bit then you know what I mean. You can order custom designs from their website but being able to play around with the fabrics in person is much more satisfying. They have representatives in select cities around the country for home handbag parties which, if you ask me, sounds a lot more fun than gathering around plastic ware or candles.

After a good hour of design deliberations, we staggered over to Ethel’s Chocolate Lounge, a brilliant concept, to recuperate with a dose of life-affirming hot chocolate and assorted truffle chasers. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to both of us, my friend had developed a nasty case of pneumonia and was able to hold it together just long enough to drive us back to the suburbs before collapsing into bed for the rest of the weekend. Had it not been for Ethel’s chocolate, I’m not sure she would have made it.

itch'n

2006-07-16T20:14:00.000-05:00

I have the bug - the travel / workshop bug that is. Just the thought of jetting off to Tuscany, paint brushes in tow, for a week of plein air painting and pasta makes me giddy. Packing my glue and scissors for a week of collaging at a historic 200-year-old farm in New England, while maybe not as glamorous, sounds relaxing and soul-fueling.

The search for the perfect art getaway is not an easy task. There are countless options to be found on the ‘net alone and that doesn’t even include the gems that are less well-advertised. Nevertheless, I’m on a quest to track them down. If you have any suggestions, send ‘em my way. I’ll post the workshops of interest as I come across them and when I finally make up my mind, you’ll be the first to know.

dinner of champions

2006-07-16T18:01:00.000-05:00

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as indulging a craving, is there?

Sure you might regret it later when you have to pop another antacid and stay up late sitting bolt upright watching "Forrest Gump" for the fifth time on TBS so the reflux doesn’t kill you in your sleep, but in the moment, when the nutella first hits your taste buds, it’s liberating to embrace the unadulterated immoderation.