A hopeful future lies ahead!

 


Screen grab off of Netflix Watch Instantly, The Truth About Cats and Dogs

Yearning for the mountains

 The Jolly Roger at Fancy Land.

Photo taken from Fancy Land's blog, photographer not credited.

In my home, in my mind

I am very thankful for coming upon Mandy Gerth in the overwhelming sea that is the annual Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair. I bought this collage called 'Flower Stripe Dot' several years ago, when the fair was held in the empty McCarren Park Pool. It hangs in the bedroom now, and I go through periods where I barely notice it, to times of deep appreciation for its homage to fabric and texture and elevating the utilitarian life of the quilt square to art. How high and mighty! Obviously, I'm noticing it now, but I think Gerth's square has made its impact on me while in my peripheral vision, whispering in my ear about the sentimental qualities of fabric and sewing, and, how on paper, this media becomes a comment about itself that is sweet and giving. For that, it is one of my prized possessions, and I am very aware of it's influence in my own work.

This collage is part of a kind of preservation series that was inspired by the handmade quilts created by Gerth's family, which were aging from daily wear and tear. I am glad to give this small bit a home, where it looks much the same as when I first acquired it.

The photo is my own.

Free Spirit

Screen grab off of Netflix Watch Instantly, Mating Season

When a book becomes a person

The recent death of my golden retriever, 17 year-old Popcorn, has lead me to seek comfort from dusty relics of my youth. This book cover by Milton Glaser is an old friend I can see with my eyes closed. The book, by Hermann Hesse, belonged to my Dad. I read it for the first time in high school, when I would walk Popcorn up the hill and dream of leaving my tiny Vermont town. Rereading the book now, it is satisfying to discover how much of its spirit has rubbed off on me, but that I have also outgrown some of Peter's qualities that I used to fear were mine forever.

The photo is my own.

Llama Wisdom

Upon asking Jim E. the llama what kept him from grazing with his brothers, he replied, "It is a good practice to step out of one's routine every now and again to watch time move along in the form of a setting sun."

The photo is my own.

Anna Bond at Pink Olive

On Saturday I got to meet one of my heroes, Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. at an event hosted by Pink Olive in their East Village boutique. It was a real treat to meet her, buy two lovely prints and grab a scrumptious cupcake. The above sugar confection plaque was the topper on each cupcake, here's mine that I saved until I got home because I was so taken with it. The whole evite for the event was transferred onto each plaque by edible magic of some sort, sponsor logos at the bottom and all, which gave me a chuckle. I ate the rest of it shortly after taking this picture, truly tasty.

Anyway, Anna's work gets people very excited about stationery, which warms the cockles of my heart. However, I couldn't bring myself to tell her this. That's more of something I'd write in a nice note...