Lynette Miller

Inspired by the work of Welsh artist Lynette Miller.

Alphabattle on Lettercult

Alphabattle on Lettercult...

Animal Anomalies at Paxton Gate

Thanks to everyone who came out for the opening of Animal Anomalies! If you are in the Mission, check out the show. It will be up at Paxton Gate through March!

                          

The Pop Up Shop

On the way to happy hour at T Rex, the girls and I discovered this wonderfully charming little store called The Pop Up Shop which is literally that, a treasure trove of French finds that will last only 6 more weeks! From classic white ceramic ramekins to all things le petit prince, this store has wonderful and unique gifts. The prices are so reasonable and the proprietors are warm and welcoming! Check out their hours below...

located at 1316 10th Street off Gilman in Berkeley

A Tiny Treasure

I was given a tiny treasure today by a friend...

A little bird told her I collected nests and she made this for my collection. Its no bigger than a quarter and is truly precious!

Thank you!!!

Local Spots Perfect for Picknicing!

My friends Christina, Tracey and I were discussing all the local historical spots that are perfect for a Spring picnic. Our lunchtime talk inspired me to do a quick post on all the places I've spent summer days wandering in gardens or eating sandwiches and berries on an old quilt in the shade. The first to mind is the Filoli House I visited last year with MJ. This historic spot boasts beautiful gardens, pools and many buildings to explore. It's sister house, the Muckross House in Killarney, was one of the highlights of my trip to Ireland.

Ad I've said before... my dream kitchen. One of two at Filoli...

Second in my thoughts is Ardenwood Historic Farm. I've been on dozens of picnics here since childhood and even picked tomatoes in the summer with my Mom and Grandma in the fields outside the park. Throughout the year the farm hosts period appropriate activities like making ice cream in a wooden barrel, gardening, and going on hay rides among other things. The Victorian house on the property can be toured and there is often a beekeeper selling local honey. On my last trip I met their resident "wild" fox who has been hanging out for a few years. He was so close I could have touched him, but took this pic instead!

A place I recently discovered and loved, was the John Muir House in Martinez. The house is beautiful, and you can walk up through the attic all the way to a glass enclosed Widow's Walk which would be ideal in a rain storm with a cup of tea. The orchards beyond are spotted with persimmon, apple, quince and fig trees. At the back of the property is an Adobe house which is also a museum on local history. Its a true treasure!

If you are in Martinez you might as well continue onto Walnut Creek and visit Shadelands. The House here has a unique history and is quite beautiful. I discovered it because it hosts a biannual antique show which is one of the best locally. If you can swing a trip when the antique show is on, you are in for a treat!

Another goodie is the McConaghy House in Hayward. This is a place I haven't been to in years, but remember in fondly from childhood field trips and visit during Christmas when it was decked in greens and ribbons. There are so many treasures here in the Bay. You're only a google search, a car ride and a picnic basket away!

Marcelo in the Real World

Okay, so I love to read. I especially love to read children's books. From picture books to young adult, anything that has magic and mystery and wonder is for me. I find kids books to feature characters who embody these themes more frequently than adult books do, so on any visit to the library I am most often in the children's section than not. True to reading habit, I just finished a YA book called Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork. My friend Sarah, who heads up the children's section at Books Inc. on 4th St. in Berkeley, recommended this to me after we chatted about the best (and worst) kids books available right now.

Sarah was spot on. This story is so thoughtfully written and beautifully crafted I enjoyed every word. The protagonist. Marcelo, is a 17 year old boy who has something akin to Asperger's Syndrome and is forced to enter "The Real World" the summer before his senior year of High School. His actions over the summer will determine whether or not he is allowed to return to the school he has attended since first grade or be enrolled in the local public school instead.

Without being overly sentimental or preachy, the author creates a look inside the mind of a boy somewhere on the outside as he navigates his way into "The Real World." Next up.. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Happy Reading!

Animals!!!!!

I haven't posted for ages because I have been making these guys!!! Meet the animals for the Milk + Bookies story time event this weekend at the Skirball Center. Milk + Bookies is a wonderful children's literacy non profit operating out of LA. Check out their website for a the details! These woodland creatures were made from over 1700 dictionary pages reclaimed from the Recycling Center.

Here are the squirrels in their box which will make it's way to LA Saturday...

The alligator can hold a book or sign in it's jaw (or even a 7 year old's head).

3 owls tower above....
The animals who have been living here the past week left today (despite tears from little ones), on a journey to the Skirball Center. Wish them luck!

Alicia et Sylvain

Alicia et Sylvain

My friend Alicia was married this weekend in a beautiful ceremony at the Ralston Hall Mansion in Belmont. The garden, where the ceremony was held, housed this amazing bamboo grove and the reception was just steps away in the mansion itself. Everything was sparkling and dancing, friends and family, music and food. I was so happy to celebrate with her and Sylvain.  I'm still thinking about it a few days later! I wish them all the happiness and luck for their new lives together!!!!!

New Heather Ross Mendocino Line

My fabric arrived today! Its the newest line from designer Heather Ross. Its called Mendocino and comes in many color ways, but I liked the fuchsia, curry and plum on white best. I am making two twin quilts (one for each girl) for the new house. The image above is just the fabric straight from the mail; its not the layout of the quilt. I won't have them finished by move in, but with my new studio space I should be able to make them fairly quickly! I love Ross' sketchy style and the cotton poplin has such a richness to it. Mila is 3 and we call her the Mermaid Princess (Nadia is the Forest Fairy Princess and this whole thing started after Aaron dubbed me the Pirate Princess). She will especially like the mermaids!

An Autumn Day at the Park

A perfect Autumn day spent running in the park. A favorite pastime of small children? Chasing geese of course.

This is Nadia's scary face.
This is Mila's attempt at a scary face. Nadia has always been good at making scary faces, Mila has yet to master it. It speaks to their ages, but also their moods!

Tea Party

No crafting tonight, but an impromptu tea party instead.

Strawberry Jam

The last day of my three days off, and this morning my boy and I made strawberry jam. Atleast I can pretend that I'm Martha Stewart and don't have to go back to the duldrum of my work life tomorrow.

The process was fairly easy, but I had some help. We'll see how it turns out. The liquid takes 48 hours to set. Hopefully I'll being enjoying strawberry jam on buttermilk biscuits the day after tomorrow!

Return of the Plastic Camera

I love taking photos and have always been a bit addicted to buying cameras. I recently purchased a stereo camera from eBay (which I have yet to use), as well as a few plastic cameras. My most treasured new purchase however, is the Diana+ camera by Lomo. The Diana+ is a plastic camera, a remake of the 1960s version which failed in its day. This camera is entirely made of plastic, and creates these dreamy vignetted images because of its construction and light leakage. I have owned a Holga for years (a similar plastic camera that also takes 120 film), and it was too perfect, I rarely had vignetting, and I was too lazy to modify the camera. What's so great about the Diana+ is that it also has a pinhole setting, two masks that allow you to take either 12 or 16 exposure per role, plus you can take one continuous panoramic image. This image is of my boyfriend's daughter and is from the first roll of film I shot with the Diana+. Its shot with Fujicolor Pro 400 H, 120. When I picked up the pics from Sarber's Camera shop, I was immediately in love. Check out the lomo website for cool Diana+ pics from other Diana+ users, and flickr has some good Diana+ groups as well.

Am happy to say I made a dozen ATCs last night. In the beginning of my ATC discovery, I started making ATCs with rubber stamps. Soon after I moved into making them with original drawings and paintings, but I love stamps and like using them in combination with drawn images. I pulled out my stamps last night for the first time in months, and made a series of bird themed ATCs (did I mention I love birds)? I posted them on Flickr, and hope to start trading more regularly. Its hard to get back into doing things consistently, making time to build something back into your routine, and it has always been something I struggle with in my painting. I think I have art ADD.