And now for something completely different....

So, I was perusing the exhibitors for the American Library Association Conference

(working, yes...) and the first company I clicked on was blekko.

I was curious.

I watched the video. I was very curious.

I tried it out.

GENIUS.

I'm still new at it but I think it is pretty damn cool.

If you're going to invest in something....invest in blekko.

Hmmmm.....how do I link to this and get a commish?

Always thinkin'!

blekko: how to slash the web from blekko on Vimeo.

Back to Work

Alone in the house for 3 days and I feel like I've played hooky because I have been flitting about taking care of menial tasks (or not) and I have not been able to hunker down on a project. What is with that? I broke my routine by taking my laptop into the living room and dining room and started wandering on the internet, checking in on FB way too often, looking for shower curtains for my very preggo friend in NYC, hitting the 'next blog' button to see what was on the other side. I was literally a sloth eating Saturday night party leftovers out of the refrigerator. I watched so much Bravo and HGTV that I was in a self induced coma every night watching the same episodes at 11:00 p.m. (for details, yea right).

This morning I took my computer down to it's usual place and felt like I was coming back to the office after vacation. An odd feeling when I was literally walking past the room for 3 days on my way to the laundry or the loo.

In a way, I think I must have needed a mental break. I took care of immediate business during my sojourn, but there was a difference in the intensity that has been my M.O. for the last several days, weeks, months. I have been literally obsessed with work that I think I just shut down. I found myself completely incognito. What a windfall.

When starting to write this blip of a post, I was feeling incredibly guilty, sheepish, all the things you feel when you've been goofing off from important things like work. But now I realize that I needed to decompress. I mean, even my blog posts were just a picture and a caption. I was completely unmotivated to 'do'. In not doing anything I let my mind wander and ideas came forward. I am more motivated this morning with a direction that is clear. I feel refreshed and motivated. Finally. It feels good to be back.

Cabbage Patch

What a surprise on the way back from buying milk!

It's Tuesday Already!

The Fun Theory

Volkswagen has this absolutely awesome thing going on:

The Fun Theory:Driven by Fun

Watch this video.

Throw your head back and laugh!

Watch another one!

Share it.

Go Ahead.

I command you!

Herb and Dorothy: Art Collectors Extraordinaire

This first documentary (there are 2) of Herb and Dorothy Vogel is enchanting on several different levels. One, is an appetite for enriching one's existence. Ordinary people, walking to work and doing their jobs, shopping for groceries, cooking their supper. If you should see them at the many art galleries in the city you might wonder why they were there, looking out of place, very ordinary, un-artistic and seemingly lacking sophistication. The librarian and the postal clerk have the gift of looking. They have been looking for 30 years and have aquired an amazing collection of art within their means of budget and space. Herb and Dorothy Vogel didn't purchase art for the investment. They purchased art because they delighted in it. The color. The shape. The emotion.

Whatever.

They bought what they liked.
The director, Megumi Sasaki's statement says it succinctly,

"...art is not limited to the elite few. You don't have to be wealthy or an art school graduate to enjoy art. If you are interested in collecting art you do not have to follow trends or others' advice. Just listen to your own voice. Trust your eyes and instinct. Simply take the time to look, look, and look."

The other enchanting observation that endears me to them is their shared passion that has not only enriched their art appreciation and collection but also their marriage. Their devotion to collecting is clearly an extension of their devotion to each other.

Herb and Dorothy still live in their one bedroom apartment in New York.

See the film.

You can get it on Netflix.

Or you can order a copy for your library here: Transit Media

HERB & DOROTHY Trailer from Herb & Dorothy on Vimeo.

Chanel Etude

Living etc + Happy Birthday 10 weeks later

Some time ago...10 weeks ago, in horrifying anticipation of my often ignored birthday,

I bit the bullet and subscribed to one of my favorite British Home Mags as a treat for myself.

Living etc.

Yesterday, to my delight, it arrived!

I have flipped quickly through it but my focus is blurred...

Work comes first and I have not had a chance to sit down in perfect surroundings,

with a perfect cup of coffee or a beautiful Manhattan,

Pink Martini on the stereo,

and a guarantee that I will not be interrupted...

I want to savor every page.

Can you relate?

Summer in NYC

When I'm in New York, there is a reason why I feel so happy. The pace of walking and scanning everything in my path is intoxicating to me. I used to think that only rich people could enjoy the city, but I found out through friends that live and work there, that normal people survive quite well and inexpensively. One reason is that there is always something to see and do for free, all you have to do is read the paper or google and then go outside and take it all in. The food choices are endless. The rich tapestry of wealth woven with industry is fascinating. But most of all the people: the everyday office workers, street vendors, wall street suits, philanthropists, designers...they all mix together beautifully through rain, snow, heat, disaster.

Bill Cunningham cuts to the chase with this great expose' on Black.

Yes.

I could live there.

The List Part 2: REDUX

The pictures taken with my ancient and filthy Blackberry were, in a word, lame.

I've retaken the pictures with Ray's (my paramour) new point-and-shoot Nikon without a flash. Better.

Desk with fading Peonies...

Make-shift Bulletin Board fashioned out of discarded acoustic ceiling tile.

Drawing implement tray.

You can now see the pictures!

Tear sheets from discarded day-timers.

Basket storage for drawing paper and tools.

See Chocolate Bunny.

See Chocolate Bunny get his head bitten off.

Il Telephono.

Io non respondo il Telephono un Sabato.

My sunny atelier is also a guest room...

OLD POST:

I took some quick snaps with my ancient Blackberry:

Arranged Furniture CHECK

Fashioned a bulletin board from a found frame and discarded ceiling tile:

Handy clippings for future doodles, an inspirational WSJ expose' on Maira Kalman, a Chinese calendar from San Francisco, tween jewelry samples (the only place I can put them to keep from tangling):





Italian Seed Poster and handy basket for writing tablets...oh, zumba feet and my pile of mags.

Doodle paper and office tools organized in baskets.

My age is now exposed for the world to see.

Peonies on my desk. CHECK!

Santa Barbara always at my side.

Rescued pictures from datebook calendars from years past.....

Where Art Thou Happy Place?

The sun here in Seattle has started to break up the solid mass of malaise that was crippling my creative thinking. Hibernating indoors and taking cover from the elements outdoors seems to take a toll on my ability to 'lighten up'. I do feel as though I can actually move my eyebrows out of a furrow into an exclamation. ! Oh Gee Whiz Look at THAT! A smirk? A smile?

With the loosening of my facial expression it seems to have reduced the swelling on the part of my brain that controls my creativity. The organization part of my brain was overloaded because it wasn't delegating the tasks to the motivation part of my brain which then creates a traffic jam and nothing to show for all of that thinking. What a relief!

I made the LIST. My list was not willy nilly in my notebook like the last 5 lists scribbled in every direction whenever a thought could get transferred to paper....no, I made a list with BULLETS! in a straight line with indentions.

I have been pushing things around and doing all the drudgery of cleaning out closets but not in the usual Martha Stewart way that would have classical music in the background and a vase of peonies to juxtapose with a perfect photograph of a robin's egg blue painted closet with varied shades of creamy colored pottery. No No No. I'm cleaning out the ugly stuff that people throw in closets because they don't know what to do with them. The rummage sale stuff.

I need eye candy. I need stacks of my British Home Mags at the ready for quick shots of inspiration during my work day. I want those peonies on my desk! So. THE LIST.

Once I get the list of beautifying and organized projects out of the way today (ambitious yes I know but remember the sun is the inspiration here) I will be organized and motivated to enjoy the other list. The Other List is the creative project, personal fulfillment, big ideas, fun list that I get to look forward to every day. My happy place.