art dump

Lately every time I turn the internet corner, I feel like I'm being exposed to yet another mind-blowing visual artist. This says alot for me, cause I'm a snob y'all.

First, the work of AJ Fosik. Brightly colored, wooden sculpture and reliefs, painted meticulously using color palettes that are making me weak. This is a painter turned woodworker, and its obvious because they resemble illustrations from a frontal view. Hit that 3/4 view and they're growing out of the wall. Brilliant details. Found via Hi-Fructose Magazine.

Second, the work of Keetra Dean Dixon, found via the Anthology Magazine blog. Smart work. Man, and I swear I was going to make a quilt very similar conceptually to this blanket, so it shows I need to follow up on my ideas. Take the time to check out all the work on her site, especially the photo booth.


Third, the work of Loren Schwerd, found via here. New Orleans buildings constructed of abandoned human hair extensions, brilliantly woven together. Haunting and beautiful.

And last, if you haven't already, check out Black Swan in the theater. I lost myself in this movie, especially during the final performance. I cried afterward from its beauty as a film and for her passion finally realized. Embarrassingly hard. For an inordinate amount of time. The end.

thoughts?

I recently discovered a consignment shop in Virginia Beach right under my nose and it's been there for over a year. They specialize in younger surf attire, but there are some hidden gems - like an almost new pair of men's Toms for 11 bucks. Anyhow, I found this fantastic poncho/cape.



And this is where you come in! Any suggestions on what I wear with it? I was thinking dark skinny jeans and my riding boots, but am unsure what to wear on top. The weight and lining make it more like a coat, but would I wear another sweater under it? I'm lost...help.

song of the moment

I'm always a little late to the game, but I can't get enough of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, especially Home.

The singers' gazes are intense and convey such a sweet love in their performances.

I love Jade, the female singer. She reminds me of a hippie version of young Julie Andrews. If you don't believe me, check out this other video. Makes me long for a pixie cut again. Thoughts?

tartine



A friend of ours recommended we grab lunch at the Tartine Bakery while we were visiting San Francisco a few years back. A was a happen' small spot with large wooden community tables and overflowing with the most delectable baked goods imaginable. I fondly remember the sandwich as heavenly, only topped by the tart we took to go.

It's one of those trips I wish I could relive. I had just found out a few days before about my pregnancy and was plagued with anxiety. The thought: "I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant, oh my gosh I'm pregnant," was on constant loop, but man, that bakery made me forget all my troubles for the time it took to eat my lunch. And for that, it holds a special place in my heart.

The Selby is featuring some delicious photos of the bakery and its owners right here. Husband and wife owned - a bread baker and a pastry chef - how cool is that?

There is also another NY Times article here and a delightful looking cookbook sold here.

perk



A perk of having your husband tour with his rock band for 4 days is what he brings back to make up for his absence – a box of brightly colored macarons from a little French bakery in Brooklyn. We already ate half the box last night.

With the husband being gone, Ave and I packed up and spent the entire 4 day weekend at my parents' house. Now that I'm safely in my thirties, I can unabashedly admit I love hanging out with my mom. We exercised at Curves while my dad entertained Ave, we all went to their church on Sunday, and concluded the weekend with a trip to Costco. Sometimes it's nice to surrender and just go with the flow, which meant going along with everything my parents do on the weekends. I felt more like a daughter this weekend, instead of just a mother.

While Ave took his naps, I finally had the time to sort through my stack of "artwork" from college. I threw away more than 100 large drawings and it felt so good. I'm still having a hard time letting go of my ceramic pieces, even though most were a disaster. That'll be the next chore.

So, how do you guys feel about holding on to artwork you no longer value? Do we keep for sentimental reasons or just move on?

toadstools and woodland creatures

I had the honor of attending one of the most fun and nicely styled baby showers over the weekend. The lovely Amy is the mother of two boys and is expecting her first girl, Amelia Jayne, towards the end of February. She describes her nursery style as vintage woodland/storybook. So, with this in mind, let me share some details from the super stylish baby shower my talented friends threw for her (I had nothing to do with it, so allow me to gush):

Julie set the tone with the invitation.

Nicholle contributed the meringue toadstools and other delicious bites.

Marissa designed and arranged the woodland centerpieces. A floral nest atop a birch log. So perfect! There were numerous matching arrangements sprinkled around the house. I loved these because they set the tone of the table without taking up hardly any table real estate.

Richelle & Dave made super cute cupcakes and served them on a natural wooden platter.

And the lovely Richelle hosted the gathering in her Colonial Place bungalow. Richelle and I have eerily similar taste in home decor and art objects, and when visiting each others homes, snooping around is acceptable and even encouraged. Richelle found me in her bedroom leafing through her Anthology Magazine she keeps on her nightstand. I swear, I was in there just to get my coat, ha ha. She also has a shop featuring her vintage finds.



And lastly, as a party favor, each guest was given an owl soap made by Richelle. I don't have the heart to actually use it. And if she hadn't told me it was soap, I would've taken a regretful bite out of it later.

So, pretty cool, right? Makes me want to decorate my whole house with acorns and pine cones now.

recently viewed


I'm a documentary junkie. Bobby's gift to us this Christmas was a Roku, which is a little box that streams Netflix, Hulu and Amazon OD to one's TV. And with Netflix's large selection of documentaries to view instantly, my winter is definitely looking brighter.

So, last night we chose to watch I'm Still Here. I'll preface this by admitting I'm a big fan of Joaquin Phoenix, have been ever since Gladiator and Quills, but knew what I was getting into by watching this movie. Remember one of the final scenes in The Doors, where the older slovenly Jim Morrison attends a little kid's birthday party and he can barely sit up straight? This is the character Joaquin chose to become for this piece.

I'd like to believe the documentary is not a hoax, but an extended performance piece. Because if it were reality, what would be the point of watching what amounts to a celebrity train wreck?

It's hard to view. I cringed constantly and left the room for extended periods, but somehow the film was wrapped up beautifully following Joaquin navigate through waist-high swamp water. There were other moments in the film of sheer beauty, which makes it worth watching.

My theory is that Joaquin took on his toughest role yet, as a hyper-exaggerated version of himself – of the person he can become, of who perhaps his brother would have become if he'd lived. If my theory is correct, I give him and Casey Affleck credit for having the courage to risk their careers to make an experimental film. It also teaches us to never rely on a documentary to deliver truth.

So, I recommend this film for viewing with an open mind.

But Mom, don't bother.