VACATION PHOTOS: Columbus, Indiana

For Christmas we packed up the truck, Penny included, and took a four day drive that led us half way across the country to the midwest.

Along the way we stopped in Columbus, Indiana to see some notable architecture. It's one thing to read about it, it's quite another to experience a great building.

A standout is the library by I.M. Pei. One of the few building we were able to go inside. It is grand and intimate at the same time. I remember feeling the light. It has presence even on a cloudy, rainy, day.

But the real stars were two amazing buildings by Eero Saarinen. The North Christian Church is like a strange and beautiful ship sent here from another world. It sits quietly surrounded by the most serene and thoughtful landscape. We couldn't go inside, and on a rainy day the pictures I took just don't do it justice.

The Miller House was the star of the trip. I had read and researched this house extensively. I was not prepared for how much more incredible it would be in person. Every detail was thought about and designed to perfection. The two thing that surprised me the most is, how intimate the spaces feel, and how utterly connected to the landscape the house is.

We couldn't take pictures inside or out, so again I borrow from a professional. I wanted so much to be able to capture this place with my own lens, but alas the museum people did not allow it.

photo: Miller House byEzra Stoller

We also found some time to just grab some food at a local spot in town. Jill's Downtown Diner is such a find! It's the kind of place where the waitress knows the name of everyone that walks in...except us of course. But we became friends in no time.

 There were also random stops along the way; sleepy little town centers full of character. Time seems to have stopped here.

But, surprisingly, it was the driving that I loved best. It's meditative in a way, sitting and watching the landscape go by changing from state to state.

I hope you enjoyed these snapshots from our trip. More to come from our stay in Sioux Falls, South Dakota!

CAUTION: UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This is how life feels lately; a bit like it has been dismantled and is waiting patiently to be put back together again.
You may have notices the absence of new bags, or any creative endeavors. There have been few.  So instead of worry, I've decided to think about this phase in life (that will surely pass) as one where the structure is strong, but it's been stripped down to the studs waiting to receive new finishes.
Until reconstruction begins, I'm working on staying focused on teaching and enjoying some down time at home with my little family. It's hard for me to not always be creating, but sometimes I just have to be ok with letting things be in process.

NOTE: The photo above is of this amazing project. It is actually under construction and I'm so excited to see it begin to take shape in the coming weeks!

Twenty Thirteen

While overthinking what I wanted to say in my first post of the year (and the first after a long absence), I decided the photo above says it all.
It's been a great year filled with laughter and silliness with these two... I look forward to lots more in 2013!
HAPPY NEW YEAR and thank you for reading my blog and supporting my work. It means the world to me.

SNAPSHOT: November

The end of November has been about:

cowboy boots, a new leather and felt bag

church steeples, sleeping dog

wide brim fedora (Indiana Jones style), cupcake window shopping

foggy walks, tuna salad sandwich and white wine...for dinner

a pretty table, and a large bird

Thankful.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's all about time with family and friends. And it's an entire day devoted to food. For someone who loves to cook, it's heaven. There is the food of course, but also the table. I really enjoy setting the stage and atmosphere for the meal. It's, first, about picking the table cloth. I have a wonderful vintage collection inherited from my mother and grandmothers so I bring them all out and pick the one that feels right for the day. The table cloth sets the tone and with just a few little special details like a pumpkin for a pop of color and it's done.

 

This year's table cloth was my mom's from the 60's. It has a beautiful blue ribbon sewn in pretty stripes across the cotton fabric. I wanted some contrast so the deep orange napkins and a tiny yellow pumpkin where a great way to break up all the blue. No need for elaborate flower arrangements. I just fill little jars with fresh herbs! The aroma fills the air around the table.
Starting the meal with champagne is a must! And this year, I made my first pumpkin pie. It was good.

 A few years ago, I learned from Thomas Keller how to roast a chicken the correct way; high heat and less time. I figured applying that technique to a turkey would result in an equally juicy bird. Turns out, it does! It took 1 hour and 30 minutes to cook our 13lb. bird and it tasted amazing. No drying out from being in the oven for too long. And don't forget to brine. 

 My gravy is made with the poached turkey gizzards, fresh herbs, white wine, and a hard boiled egg.

And finally, this moment! My mom and I sharing notes on lipstick. We have very similar coloring, so we tend to "borrow" each other's lipstick when we forget our own at home.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

SKETCHBOOK MONDAY: a technical drawing

A little drafted piece I've been working on; it incorporates lines, color and text to tell a story. From a distance it's pretty abstract, but the closer you get the more it reveals.
Ok, this is technically not a sketch. You got me.
Hope you had a lovely weekend sketching, or drawing!

SNAPSHOT: Unseasonably warm

This past weekend was unseasonably warm. Of course, the week before brought storm Sandy, the elections and a dusting a snow on the ground. But back to the lovely weekend we just had. I spent it on Nantucket with my friend Kate. We had some girl time catching up, enjoyed the stillness of the beautiful beaches, and strolled the lovely downtown. Look for the full post later this week, but until then, here are a few snapshots from this past week and weekend. Hope you had a great one.

fall grass at sunrise, the MFA

wrapped in a warm scarf to VOTE, snow, really, already?!

solo friday night stroll after dark, gray swede booties

ferry to ACK, me and Kate

cisco brewery, stormy sky

stillness on straight wharf, cliff walk

NEW WORK: Logo and a SURVEY!!

Cafe Awesome is a sweet little project I'm working on. The best part, the client is my 8 year old niece, Tari! Last week I received a very official email where she asks for my design services in creating a logo for her newest project, Cafe Awesome. The instructions were specific. The name of the cafe as well as a tag line that reads "It's Awesome!" was to be included. So I went to work.
Below are the results.  I don't have approval yet from my discerning client. Actually, she would love your help picking the winner. So let's VOTE! It's easy.

Just select your favorite in the survey column to the right of this post!

1, 2, or 3. You have till Monday so check them out and let Tari know your pick.
We are counting on you...

1. (below)

2. (below)

3. (Below)

IN CONSTRUCTION: Trillium Signage and Lighting

Exterior signage is up and the lights are on. Trillium Brewing is coming to life. No firm opening date yet, but as soon as I know I'll pass the information on to you. Looking forward to seeing you there!

SKETCHBOOK MONDAY

On Sunday my girlfriend Alyson and I joined a small group of artists, drawing enthusiasts and novices for an intensive figure drawing workshop at the MFA. We arrived at 10:00 armed with charcoal and paper and went till 2:00. It was intense.

We started with 5 second interval poses. The model moved and kept moving and the seconds, we quickly realized, went by much too quickly. We learned that a good drawing starts with a single line that captures the longest gesture of a figure. 

I had taken figure drawing classes before, but I learned so much during this intensive workshop. Below are my drawings in order from the start of class to the last drawing I did. You can see the progress as you scroll down the page. At first they don't look like much. As Patrick said when I arrived home and showed him the first page in my sketchbook, "I could do that."

He's right. I believe anyone can draw. Like anything you have to be taut and most importantly you have to practice. And boy is it clear just how much practice I need.

Learning the proportions of the human body.

I assure you the model has all her limbs...not that you would know that from the drawings below.

Hm, not bad. Less is sometimes better.

Crazy alien head woman below.

Starting to understand proportion a bit better here.

And these are the final drawings above. Not bad. What do you think? Have you taken a figure drawing class lately. Would you ever take one if you haven't?