Paper Sledgehammer

mailbox

2012-01-31T18:22:00.001-08:00

2012-01-30T09:23:00.000-08:00

The Scientific method

2012-01-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

With the push from the quote in the last post I began. A mock up of an idea. I remember making stuffed paper doves for christmas with my mom and siblings. I remember loving their fresh white bodies, and that's probably why I am so borderline obsessed with birds. 100% handstitched. I have to change the shape of his body and the length of his tail a bit, and the placement of the embroidered

The war of Art

2012-01-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

The Magic 0f Making a Start pg 122 Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would not have otherwise occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one's

January

2012-01-28T15:15:00.000-08:00

I'm fighting a cold this week. I took two days off of work to just stay in bed and watch movies. The truth is I go from working insanely hard to hardly working and my body is finally letting go of the anxiety, stress, responsibility, pressure, expectations, organizing load via headaches, sweats, runny nose, tired eyes. Yoga, fresh squeezed orange juice, sketchbook noodling, reading, napping

Winter

2012-01-15T21:05:00.000-08:00

This is the final version of a commissioned piece I had the pleasure of working on before Christmas. For Jennifer Emerling from Auroralady, it felt like a valentine more than a christmas present. Not sure why, but I've been collecting images of old houses lately, photocopies, torn pages from books, books with old black and white images of cabins and early american barns. Something about the

2012-01-10T20:08:00.000-08:00

Two years ago Zach and I were passing through Portland and stopped into the craft museum. Ai Weiwei just happened to be exhibiting a small mound of his sunflower seeds. I had just started to catch images of them in various places and Ai Weiwei wasn't yet on everyone's minds. Of all the works the seeds fascinated me the most; hand-painted, porcelain, exquisite. 2012. I'm thinking about

2011-12-21T18:16:00.000-08:00

Nothing and everything. The house has been pretty quiet, but we've been busy. Gearing up for the holidays, gearing up for probably the biggest exhibit changeout we've done so far at FAM and working some unexpected side jobs. Our insurance agent was shocked to discover we are artists and hired us on the spot for some murals his wife has been dreaming of for a long time. We were happy to make her

2011-12-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

Scout caught a baby mouse last week and put it into her box.

Cat naps

2011-11-21T16:09:00.000-08:00

Now that the weather is getting colder, not only do the cats sleep more, but they are hip to warm places. Yes, this is a scene from "Sweatgrass" a movie filled with bleating lambs, which may be the other reason Meg cozied up to it. Oh hey, yeah that's my new computer!

Watercolors

2011-11-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

As a way to stay warmed up I've been forcing myself to work on something, anything, for a few hours every day. I recently came across a stash of Daniel Smith watercolor paper samples. These are just a few of my favorites. Paper will always be my go to medium, that's why, when I was offered a thrift store's entire collection of dress patterns for $4 I had to say yes. This pile is 4' x 4'

Into the Woods

2011-11-15T14:11:00.000-08:00

“Always in the big woods when you leave familiar ground and step off alone into a new place there will be, along with feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging of dread. It is the ancient fear of the Unknown, and it is your first bond with the wilderness you are going into.” -Wendell Barry, naturalist Thank you Keri Smith for some gut-punchingly great quotes. I am currently

Insider/Outsider Art exhibit

2011-11-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

Zach and I ambled up to Walnut Creek this weekend to catch the Insider/Outsider Art exhibit at the Bedford Gallery. Many of the works blew my mind about what art is or about techniques and materials. As someone who works with art on a regular basis this exhibit was absolutely refreshing. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees, the young woman at the desk told us many people were horrified and

catnaps

2011-11-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not usually home to witness this part of the cat routine, but I could easily get used to it. Scout posed for this shot. She is not sleeping, just a real funny cat.

Sean Qualls

2011-10-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

I recently had the honor of working with the staff of the Arne Nixon Children's Library at Fresno State. In the main office was a small collection of original illustrations by Sean Qualls from a book called "Poet Slave of Cuba, I instantly fell in love with their mood and scribbled his name down. His smudgey lines and splotchy colors create a texture that is stirring. No wonder Qualls has

Park Slope and Dead Horse Bay!! NY part 4

2011-10-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

Click on any image to see a much larger version.A few things we realized after a week in NY. 1) Cats do not live in NY, well they do, but they have to live on the roof. We saw two cats the entire time and about 3,000 dogs. Both cats were prowling rooftops 2) NY women still wear the tight black leggings with knee high boots and 3) Even though it is illegal to leave dog poop on the sidewalk, you

Art smart in NY part 3

2011-10-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

Again, pictures from the interwebs because I don't take pictures when I'm hungry. Tom's Saturday morning breakfast was high on the list of must do's for Brooklyn. We walked over and jumped in a short line for some super yummy french toast and walnut apple pancakes. This was the line when we left. Does that prove how good it is, or what? We jumped on the subway, not really sure where we would get

We saw a lot of stuff in NY part 2

2011-10-19T22:07:00.000-07:00

Day two we walked over an hour to Williamsburg, birthplace of the hipster according to our host. On the way we walked through one of the Jewish neighborhoods to discover that it was Sukkot time. Sukkah's were constructed everywhere. Read the definition if you don't know. These are images from the internet. Sometimes when I'm walking I want nothing to do with camera's. After finding a few

Brooklyn and a marching band

2011-10-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

We spent the last week in New York, mainly Brooklyn, so I'm going to post a few posts on NY so you can see all the pictures we took and get a sense of everything we did. so much. The city, like most cities is exhilarating and exhausting all at once. You want to keep exploring, but your body and mind are pushed to their limits, needless to say I cried on the street once a day, we saw so much

Hey there

2011-10-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today felt like the first official day of Fall. I love it! Z. and I are gearing up for our art show at Max Fish in New York next week. October 16th is the opening and we lucky two will be in NY for a full week. I can't wait. Hold on, let me say that again, I CAN'T WAIT!! Let me tell you about this magic box. There is an old guy who stands on the corner who I saw pretty regularly on my way to and

Teal Cat Project

2011-10-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

Isa Chandra Moskowitz, of post punk kitchen fame along with Denise Muller and Anna Dorfman have created the Teal Cat Project it's a trap and release program designed to spay and neuter feral cats. Being the huge cat lover that I am ( and I know you all secretly adore those whiskers too) I could not resist getting behind a project like this. I came across their project in the latest issue of Bust

Ira Glass

2011-09-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work

A website all my own!

2011-09-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

Let the trumpets sound! After almost a year of pulling info and pictures and working in fits and starts the website is finally complete. I am so proud of it. The ever-so-talented and beautifull Jennifer Emerling was the magician to see this through. I gave her a lay out that I loved and she worked it out, nailed it and personalized it. It's better than I could have ever dreamed. The sketchbook

2011-08-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

Chain letter show!

2011-07-29T18:43:00.000-07:00

I've spent the last month making a mini installation piece for the Shoshana Wayne Gallery's Chain Letter show. (Check out this great review in LA weekly, Z. is in the 8th photo). Z. and I drove down to LA early Friday morning last week to deliver the work and arrived to find a mad chaos of cars that had traffic backed up onto the 405 and a line 350 people deep of artists waiting to check in

2011-07-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

Working on a new installation these past few weeks, cutting and folding repetitive things for hours on end requires some entertainment. A small film of the making of this project is coming soon so stay tuned. TED talks is one of my top sites for informative and inspiring talks. Here's just a few of my favorites from the past week. Z. and I are in the middle of our month long

Soundtracks for making

2011-07-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Shoshana Wayne Gallery's Chain letter show is coming up fast, they upped the ante by making it a no walls kind of show. This means all the work on the floor and easy to install. So rather than having a painting or drawing lying on the floor like a tile I decided to whip a sculptural thing together. I'm cutting and folding shapes in mass quantities, and work like this involves good music.

Getting in the mode

2011-06-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

Finally the woodburner has been getting some action. I've changed my approach to incorporate less planning and more just drawing from my imagination intuitively. I'm really enjoying the different style. For me, getting into creative artist mode involves a bit of dressing the part, I guess it's always been this way, I feel more free when I'm just dressed in silly clothes that make me laugh and

This post is for the cats

2011-06-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

Scout steals my seat at the drafting table every chance she gets. The allusive Megasus comes out of her underground lair just for food during the day, I think she has given up on meowing, now-a-days hissing is more her style. Typical teenager. Scout gets in trouble a lot, but she's also always telling jokes and knows when to put her innocent face on. At our Palace de Gato the cats enjoy a

YACHT

2011-06-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

This band has been getting major play at work these days.

The Night Stand

2011-06-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

Since sitting with the woodburner in this heat is not something I really want to dive into right now I've been digging into more books. I've added about 35 books to the library in the last few weeks, mostly thrift store finds, some purchased from our friend Adam Marler's yard sale and a few gifted from dear friends. An excellent book to read in sections, or whatever seems juicy at the time.

June

2011-06-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't been feeling the need to share very much lately and with this heat I'm too tired to even sit at my desk and draw which leaves me a little depressed with an over-analytical taste in my mouth. Lots of sitting outdoors with cats and books trying to suss out what comes next. Despite the doldrums happening at home, today I had Amalia Mesa-Bains sitting around my work table. We had an in

Sr. Forestiere

2011-06-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

Springtime is one of the best seasons to take a tour of the Forestiere Underground Gardens. All the foliage is grown in just right and if you time it right the fragrance of the blossoms from all the citrus trees wafts through all the tunnels and it feels like the most magical fort ever. And since Z. made the official move to the Fresno territories, I felt that this was the best first Fresno

Maker Faire 2011

2011-05-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

Maker Fair has been on my list for years. This year it happened to fall the weekend after my birthday so we made the trek to San Mateo this weekend. Happy Birthday to me! Maker Faire is incredible. There was a million people with kids and there was tons of stuff to see. Music, crafts, tons and tons of booths on DIY home, garden, food, electronics, crafts, music, gadgets, machines and the latest

Recent events and Maker Faire!

2011-05-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

Ugh. So at this point I feel extremely behind in posting, so much has been happening around here. I do still need to share images for the the Underground Gardens, and that will come soon, I promise. Get comfortable as I fill you in. Recently Z. and I attended a beautiful wedding for our dear Modesto friends, Tina and Brad. Their wedding was in the loveliest of gardens, and as usual I was

Ketchin'- up

2011-05-07T18:48:00.000-07:00

This past month has been filled with some nice adventuring. Easter Sunday, Zach and I excused ourselves from the usual obligations and spent the day at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. The zoo is about 1 mile from the house so we walked. I wish I would have taken a picture of Roeding Park because it was madness. It was the most crowded and insanely colorful day at the park I have ever seen. There were

Sundays

2011-04-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

Z. and I went out for an adventure today.

Spring around the studio

2011-04-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Just a glimpse of the workspace and daily sights here. The pomegranate tree out back seems to have sprouted lush greenery overnight. note the new drafting table. I have been dreaming of one for the last year and found this one at the thrift store up the street with Aurora. That's called an investment in your skills or a gift for the genius who lives in the shadows of the studio. I made the

2011-04-07T19:40:00.000-07:00

the temperature of time. Here. Grab a scrap, any scrap, and go from there with pencil and blade, typer and colors. You said lets jump and I said no, stay, and sit and feel the dust collect on your skin. Sit long enough and still enough the let the particles of the ocean and the farms and the planes and the cars and every exhale of every person in the city settle on you. The moisture in the

On Making

2011-04-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

For every great piece that feels like it just floats from your brain to the paper, there are a ton of things made that got scrapped. Or things made for completely different reasons. always collecting I sanded and stained this table Odds and ends, fits and starts, tips of tails or edges of claws just barely coming into view. Pieces you shrug off and easily discard or slice up and glue

drumroll please

2011-04-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce you to our newest family member. Scout. We found her near the art museum. well, technically Zach found her. She is about 4 weeks old, and Meg and her have become fast friends.

On the way to work

2011-03-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

I have three routes to work. The route that passes by this mural is my favorite. It's just a classical mural with beautiful colors, painted in a shopping center that is otherwise pretty dull. I love that it is painted on the side of a laundromat, where you can see everyone, even at 7am, doing their laundry.

Tip of the Iceberg

2011-03-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

I love when new pieces start popping up and demanding my time.

Domestic projects

2011-03-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

I am currently in the stages of sanding down a lovely little end table I picked up for about $2. I totally spaced out on making it a before and after or even a tutorial, but pictures of the completed project will come soon. This little GE clock is a proud favorite. I picked him up at an antique store hoping to simply rewire him, but when I opened it up to examine the damage it looked fried. So

2011-03-20T16:56:00.000-07:00

Work afforded a day trip to San Francisco last week to pick up some art in the dogpatch area. When we saw this we both jumped out of our seats I had to jump out of the truck and dash into the yard for a better glimpse. This second guy offered to take off his shirt for my photo. Driving home through springtime CA.

Nightstand update

2011-03-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

I read a lot and I like to keep an updated list in my profile page, but this makes more sense. I will post updates as the night stand reading selection changes. 1. Old Sculpture magazines 2. Teach Yourself to Dream: A Practical Guide. I've been reading this bit by bit. 3. Abundance, A Novel of Marie Antoinette by Sena Jeter Naslund. I just started this one and cannot put it down. 4. Joseph

2011-03-17T20:17:00.001-07:00

I am so in love with this. Also this bike blog is one of my new daily reads.

2011-03-15T21:47:00.001-07:00

At one point in time...

2011-03-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

Last week Z. said, " You haven't cried in awhile." I've been thinking a lot lately about the emotional highs and lows that I used to experience. At one time a large majority of my artwork was fueled by those intense emotional sensations and personal dramas. And now I don't know where they went. Everything seems OK and calm and content and fine and settled. It's like all that intense emotion has

2011-03-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

For a brief moment the poppies, lupines and wildflowers sprout up along the freeways. Lots of playing and noodling. I just discovered that the asian market up the street sells large sheets of rice paper and honeycombs ready to be melted into bees wax. I am so excited to play with new materials.

Bike Bags are now available on Etsy

2011-02-20T16:59:00.000-08:00

It's official Envelope handlebar bicycle bags are now available on Etsy. Even if you don't ride a bike, these bags make a great clutch or fanny pack.

Pace

2011-02-16T21:33:00.000-08:00

First I have to say that this domino effect of overthrown governments has me totally intrigued, but it tends to make everything else seem like self absorbed drivel, especially facebook. Listen while you read or turn it up and dance to that sax solo like you've just overthrown your own dictator! Working for the museum is totally insane sometimes. Today I climbed on what seemed like a

February

2011-02-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

Finally it feels like 2011 has begun. Maybe I'm operating on the Chinese calendar. Newest addition to the villa. TigerTiger rug found at a yard sale. For the last 2 weeks I've been playing and following leads. No Rules. What hits me in the gut? new sketchbook covers help postcards to friends

2011-02-04T11:07:00.000-08:00

Some things just hit the core and resonate. Theme song for 2011. Harlem Cultural Festival Central Park NYC 1969

The Bicycle Edition

2011-01-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

Part 1: The Winter Commute The Bike! My Bike! Yeah! So, in absolute honesty I really was counting down the days until I would be car free. (Damn the Toyotas for running forever) With the new job it was clear it would be an ideal situation to live closer to work so I could bike everyday. Done and done. I found an amazing apartment in the Tower District, less than 2 miles from the museum.

Michael C. McMillen

2011-01-24T21:17:00.000-08:00

One of the first treats of curatorial assistant employment was having the pleasure of being invited to visit the newly renovated Oakland Museum of California which I must say is a must see if you are in the area (near the lake known as Merritt) I was absolutely floored to find Michael C. McMillen's diorama entitled Aristotles Cage tucked behind a ragged screen door in a tucked away part of

walking

2011-01-24T20:08:00.000-08:00

I know I said bikes were coming, but this lingering fog made me giddy to walk to work and take photo's. Plus walking slows the tempo of the day. The caged lions first caught my eye

2011-01-24T09:10:00.001-08:00

Last days

2011-01-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

Post road construction this large hook was found in the grass near the skatepark. December 2010 had everything flipped on it's head. My car was officially towed away with an exhausted transmission from 14 years of traveling. Walking, biking and bus rides everywhere. Especially to my new job at the Fresno Art Museum as Curatorial Assistant. And thanks to my brother and K. for helping me move

carpet stains

2010-12-13T15:56:00.000-08:00

Are you happy with this? Not really, I wish I had more space. but I've learned how to settle and alter my expectations. What are you thinking about? The weight of everything I own. What are you going to do tomorrow? I'm singing taps on the curb as they tow my car, then I'll come inside and sew some more or read probably. I'll ride my bike later. Are you making anything? No, I had to give myself

read all about it!

2010-12-06T22:12:00.000-08:00

I was invited to be a member of the Swipple Collective this month. Slowly getting images on the site, but it's great to see my work alongside some very talented artists from all over. Here's a great article about the making of Swipple and it's founder Jason Wright. Please do visit Jim Damron and Zach Erickson's profiles, I wouldn't be there without them. In other interweb news, I'm also

Mary Oliver

2010-12-02T23:37:00.000-08:00

A new acquaintance shared this poem with me recently. I've read segments of Oliver's poetry in Sabrina Ward Harrisons books, but never on in it's entirety. This poem hits me in an incredibly deep way, as if I've known it since my childhood. The geese have always made me stop in my tracks, mid conversation. Most birds have that effect on me. Wild Geese You do not have to be good. You do not

maurice sendak

2010-11-22T21:26:00.001-08:00

Trashique

2010-11-14T01:19:00.000-08:00

After having lost my job I immediately went gang busters on this dress. It was a total challenge to get started. It came together really well and I finished it early. The night was incredible. My model Kristy ( sister-in-law) showed up at 2pm for hair and makeup and to get the head piece situated. We got her dressed at 7:30pm and hit the runway by 8:10. The dress was amazing in motion, the

2010-11-12T10:44:00.001-08:00

sweating in the winter

2010-11-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

technically I'm unemployed but this week has been busy. Hanging shows for the Art Museum is like a marathon. climbing ladders, math calculations, measurements, finding tools, finding pencils, painting, cleaning, hunting for..., Hardware run. I've been exhausted at the end of every day. Great news. I was asked to be a part of the Swipple collaborative. They have some amazing artists and some

permission

2010-11-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

As an artist, or maybe as a human, sometimes we can be so hard on ourselves. K. shared this with me from one of her old craft making books. I want it printed in bronze letters and posted to my ceiling. Permission It's OK to try something new It's OK to make mistakes. You will learn from them It's OK to take risks It's OK to take your time It's OK to find your pace It's OK to try it your way

2010-10-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

Now that my life is on a strict budget this resourceful little blog is inspiring me http://www.newdressaday.com/ Dregs of the thrift store, look out!

2010-10-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

OK, So I know I've been slacking on posting, but everything is kind of up in the air right now and I'm busy playing arpeggio's just to keep things suspended. The studio/living space is regularly a huge mess these days because I'm currently working on a huge project. The Fresno Art Museum is having a Trashique fashion show in November. All the artists must submit outfits made of trash within an

Unemployed

2010-10-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

Being unemployed, my first thought, was," How great. I'll have all this time to make things." But being as I'm a little out of practice from daily making and not currently inspired about anything in general, (filing for unemployment is a complicated pain along with devising game plans for what's next) I didn't know how to organize my time and when I would sit to make something I would think it

Vacation part 2

2010-10-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

I caught a fish!! My very first fish ever! From the friggin ocean!! He was a rock fish, brown with a bright yellow tummy. He was one inch under the keeper size ( 10" is dinner ) so he went back to the sea. Zach is great at setting up the tent. Getting dinner ready. We were really bummed that we had no fresh fish with this meal. For some reason I really really like this sign. Just after we

So much...

2010-09-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

There really is so much to post about and I've definitely fallen behind. Especially with the October faves section coming up too. So, first news first. The Etsy shop is up and rolling and I will do my best to keep it updated with fresh things. Here's a peek, but of course you can click the link over there on the right for the real deal. Vacation Part 2 should be up this weekend once I sort

Vacation Part 1

2010-09-24T19:32:00.000-07:00

The weekend after I was notified that I would be losing my job due to major financial cutbacks we went on vacation. I daydreamed about these trees the rest of my whirlwind week. Z. brought me camping here on our second date, just above the Russian River, along the rocky sea cliffs. This was the view directly in front of our camp site every morning. We arrived very early and everything was

New pieces: paper drums

2010-09-07T22:23:00.000-07:00

Wounded animals need assistance sometimes. This one stayed calm as I bandaged up his missing hoof. metal sewing hoop, found paper, purple thread and golden sequins wooden 12" sewing hoop, acrylic paint, pencil, watercolor I've been collecting sewing hoops with the intent of sewing small pieces, but after the tedious tasks of sewing birds one feather at a time I figured something else

September Faves

2010-09-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

I can not believe September has rolled in so fast. So, you know I collect only the things that really stir me up for this segment. Much love goes to the makers of the world. This segment is a big one so find a seat and some snackage. The Honey Gatherers, Beekeeping at it's best. This site features some of the most beautiful photographs of bees and beekeepers doing their wonderful thing all

2010-09-02T18:51:00.000-07:00

He came to us from the river.

2010-09-01T20:52:00.000-07:00

Every weekend we see these little budgies at the Stockton Flea.Can't you just hear their gabbering.

2010-08-25T20:49:00.001-07:00

For July

2010-08-24T23:07:00.000-07:00

you slept at the edge of my bed. I made you or you made me. We existed together like two moths, flitting against the same hot light. shaking our dust into the air.

boat details

2010-08-19T23:48:00.000-07:00

The sad thing about being an artist is sometimes you never have shows, and yet, you continuously make things that every once in awhile surprise even yourself. Once they are done you hang them up and admire their glow for awhile. Then after a few months, maybe years, you end up tired of looking at them. Tired of seeing them stacked behind doors and in closets or hauling them around

2010-08-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

The boats have moved back in. Lovely wall details behind Rasputin. Fresno seems full of scenes like these, maybe that's typical in any city though. yup. This is us at about 9:30 on a sunday. After our regular breakfast and drawing session at whole foods we rolled to Rasputin. First random stack of chairs, hidden in the parking garage of the Table Mountain Casino. K. and I took a

August faves

2010-08-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

Summer is winding down. + For the love of bikes, for a taste of cycling culture. + This American Life Georgia Rambler episode 413 + Atelierpompadour's rain cloud mobiles on Etsy + NPR's summer recommended reading lists. What did you read this summer?

2010-08-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

This has been my summer. As rough as it is sometimes, I really do enjoy summer camps.

Ride to Kearney

2010-08-01T23:49:00.000-07:00

2010-08-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

Jenn Emerling is just about fabulous with the camera. This is a pic of us from The Pringle Wedding down in LA last month. See her blog for more.

Die Tweeker Die!

2010-08-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

Friday night. Z. and I are making dinner and overhear some loud noises coming from the neighbors unit. We listen through the wall and hear someone who is clearly in a tweeked state, someone shouting and throwing things around the house, someone who doesn't sound like the neighbor who lives there. We continue putting away the dishes and every once in awhile wander back to the wall listening for

2010-07-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Etsy purchases get a lot of love before being sent. I'm in love with the look of this smashed out polaroid developer.

2010-07-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

Fresno, July 4th 2010. cycling diary

2010-07-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

The 72 degree air pushed me off the train and out into the evening. Biking through downtown Fresno on a sunday evening is like cycling paradise, no cars, no pedestrians, minor hesitation at red lights. At 8pm the sky is dusted blue to creamy yellow to orangish pink, it's no longer boiling hot and white glare. It is the fourth of July and as I'm moving into neighborhoods near Belmont there is

Greetings From HELL...

2010-06-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

...was what a postcard I received this week said. too true. Last week when I looked at my calendar I knew I was in for it, big time. And let me tell you it only got worse. Highlights were being able to ride my bike to school 3 nights of the week, my ass hurts, but nevermind that. Also having lunch with Eric and Jefferson was especially nice, although Luby was on a rant about the health

2010-06-08T18:00:00.001-07:00

My artwork, that is now up at etsy, was featured on thisamazing little blog today. This blog is all about finding the hidden treasures on Etsy. Check it out.

2010-06-07T23:40:00.000-07:00

Last and largest of the voyagers.

Bike make-over

2010-06-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves a good makeover story. So Z. totally reworked my bike. New paint job, new wheels, a flip flop hub ( freewheel or fixed if I so choose) New cranks, new new new. It's so absolutely gorgeous, so gorgeous someone stole the front wheel off it when we were in LA and so gorgeous, a neighbor, seeing me taking pictures, asked me if I was selling it. I've ridden this bike for 7 years and its

Tiny Voyagers

2010-06-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

The show is finally up! Come see it in person, it's much better live. June 24th River Center Ranch House on Old Friant.

birthday trip

2010-06-01T19:51:00.001-07:00

We went down to San Diego as a belated birthday trip. We bought some new artwork from Spencer Little and his amazing girlfriend, she does the embroidery with a sewing machine, free hand, and he does the wire. His pieces have been on my wish list for a very long time. We caught them at the Farmers Market in Hillcrest.This hamburger is one of many pieces at M+M's place, we were lucky they let us

sketchbook

2010-06-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

I've kept sketchbook/journals for the last 10 years. I mostly draw in them when I'm in class or meetings and sometimes during the weeks free moments.

2010-06-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

Projects

2010-06-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

I think every artist has projects in between projects, things they've been working on for months or years, taking breaks from and coming back to. 1) workspace 2)The series of illustrated bad album covers 3)Sewing projects 4)The daily diamonds installation 5)note the worry jar only has one worry in it, because worry jars really work.

what a spring!

2010-05-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

It's the last week of May and the weather is overcast and windy and then sunny with beautiful bounding clouds. My 30th birthday was last week, I've been expecting it for so long, and it was such a perfectly uneventful kind of birthday. Very low key. Z. is not only cleaning, painting and rebuilding my bicycle, but he bought me a lovely olive green cycling bag and on a full morning of yard and

Pyrography

2010-05-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

I've been getting bigger ideas for this woodburning technique I'm learning. But this morning I couldn't help doing some research on other pyrography artists.Bereznitsky has some awesome modern peices that look like they come from old movie scenes.Lance RusswurmOld timey style, but his technique is amazing!!Julie Bender does a lot of representational animal stuff, I absolutely adore her Avian