design-art-life

Josh Vogel's Reflections On Turning Wood

2011-12-20T19:01:00.000-05:00

Josh Vogel from The Scout on Vimeo.

This video was produced by The Scout on Josh Vogel of Black Creek Mercantile & Trading Co. Released this past fall and beautifully done, I have watched it many times and have recommended it to many people. Everyone comes back to me saying how much they love it.

What makes this video so special is how eloquently Josh talks about his relationship to the material of wood that he uses in his craft of turning. In a time when most people are so disconnected with the work they do daily, it is refreshing to see someone who works thoughtfully and with intention.

Enjoy.

McQueen's Reigning Exhibit at The Met

2011-06-15T07:00:00.003-04:00

Image pulled from The Met's website.

I cannot even begin to explain the influence this exhibit of Alexander McQueen at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC has had on me. I am still reeling two weeks later from seeing it.

I was able to go with my dear friend Jessica Cadmus of The Wardrobe Whisperer and her adorable baby. Let me say, I had no idea how hot it was going to be that day or what mothers, who live in NYC, have to go through with traveling by subway. It was no easy feat to make it to and from the museum. Jessica and baby were tough troopers and despite the craziness, I was so happy to go with them. Jessica is an amazing stylist, personal shopper, and fashion blogger. The whole ride to and from on the rockin' subway, while delicately feeding her baby, she dispensed wardrobe advice to me. I now have my summer look all planned out!

Image pulled from The Met's website.

We were lucky that we showed up to the museum mid week and early in the day. As we made our way through the museum, we started to see signs that denoted lengths of wait- 1 hour, 30 min, 15 min, etc. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait at all and breezed right in. By the time we made our way through the exhibit it was getting crowded. The show has been so successful The Met has decided to extend it through August and are opening the museum on Mondays with a $50 ticket for special viewings of the exhibit. I'm trying to figure out how I can swing going back for a Monday viewing...

Image pulled from The Met's website.

It has taken me so long to post about this exhibit because I am still processing everything that I saw. Alexander McQueen was exceptionally gifted and its a shame he decided to take his own life. His career spanned 19 years and I can only imagine the work he would have produced if he had given himself another 19.

His body of work is profound. The Met did an excellent job of transforming the galleries to suit his clothing. I can't imagine the money they spent to produce this show. While the environment was spot on, McQueen's work vibrated throughout the galleries. What was so overwhelming to me was his ability to evoke emotion through garments. Its something I have never experienced before.

When I look at fashion, I think about how clothing is used to express a person's personality. With haute couture, I mostly look at how beautiful the clothing is, how well it is made, and how it fits the wearer's body. The clothing is usually secondary to the person wearing it. The combination of clothing is what expresses the personality. I have never felt a piece of clothing to stand alone and inspire emotion. Somehow, Alexander McQueen did it. When I walked around the exhibit, I would look at a piece and feel anger, death, betrayal, serenity,... It was overwhelming and thoroughly inspiring.

In addition, the craftsmanship of the pieces are amazing. McQueen started his career on Savill Row as a tailor. The details of the stitching, the placement of a lapel, his use of materials was perfect and inventive. McQueen understood construction and material. What he was able to do with leather, fabric, and wood is incredibly impressive.

I left the show all fired up. I was reminded of what I have wanted my work to be to people. Like McQueen, not only do I want it to be well made, I want it to evoke emotion in the viewer. If you happen to be in NYC now through August 7th, check out the Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty Exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Trials and Triumphs of Coming Up With Creative Ideas

2011-06-11T20:09:00.001-04:00

Looking, researching, collecting, reading, watching....

I have been gathering and developing information, shapes, colors, and texture into ideas for my next round of work. Its all been going slower then I want for the final ideas to develop. My sister always makes fun of me when she asks how's it going and I respond, "I'm waiting for the idea to come". She'll giggle and start whistling like I'm hanging out in a rocking chair until miraculously an epiphany occurs. Listen, I know how funny it sounds when I say it, but I can't help myself!

In my head, it takes some time for an idea to develop. Until I have a concrete form in my mind, I do not go ahead and start building. I also usually don't start sketching until that form appears. This is completely contrary to how you are taught in school to design or make art. You are taught to do research and immediately start drawing and making models until the final product develops. I have always had problems with that method. While I understand how it can be beneficial and on plenty occasions have used that method, it mostly leads to me becoming frustrated. I usually feel like I am wasting my time because my lines don't make sense or the materials and composition are all wrong, and I give up on the idea. If I ruminate over an idea and give it enough time, it will start to materialize into a finished piece in my mind. When I go to make it, about 95% of the time, it will come out exactly as I imagined.

However, all of this doesn't really matter when sometimes, no matter what, you cannot come up with anything. Not one stinking idea or desire to create anything. Believe me, when this happens, it really really sucks. Sometimes, it can be years that go by and you feel like this.

Several years ago, a good friend of mine gave me a book written by Steven Pressfield called The War of Art. This book was a real eye opener and I have read it many times over the years. I could try to sum it up, but this excerpt from Pressfield's site offers the best summary. -

"What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece?

The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success."

I am lucky that most of my closest friends are creative and we are able to lament to each when we are in a state of war. It will usually take one of us piping up to say, "All right, suck it up and get in the studio." Which sadly, is the only sure way of breaking through the road block and getting creative. The truth that none of us like to admit is that we, ourselves, are what keep us from achieving our goals. Sometimes, me sitting around waiting for an idea to form is just an excuse for avoiding getting into the studio. So, when I am done with this post, I promise that idea that is forming in my head- I will get in the studio and start doing it.

Saugerties Artists Studio Tour Count Down - 10 Weeks To Go

2011-06-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

I just came out of our monthly meeting for the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour. Due to my work schedule, I have missed most of the meetings this year. Going to the meeting reminded me of the pending dates of the tour, August 13th and 14th; only 10 weeks away. I was also reminded, by looking around the room, of all the talented people involved in the tour.

One of the artists, Michael Nelson, put together the above video on about nine people who are on the tour. The video is really well done and captures the personalities and perspectives of the variety of artists that live in one town and one weekend a year, feel compelled to open their studios up to the public.

Barbara Bravo, who is featured in the video, is our fearless leader who connects the 40 plus artists together that make this tour happen. Have you ever tried to get a room full of artists to focus on one effort? Believe me, I would deem it impossible if it weren't for Barbara who gets everyone to help out, settle disputes, and unites us to make it happen. Besides all the hours she puts in year round organizing and promoting the tour, she is also a ceramic artist AND a master gardener. Barbara Bravo is a true compassionate unsung hero and leader.

This will be my second year on the tour. Unfortunately, because I am on the tour, I am unable to visit the other artists studios. The video is a joy for me to watch because I am able to get to know the other artists I am associated with. During our meetings leading up to the tour, we do not have the time to talk about our work. I believe I am still the youngest person on the tour. Most of the tour people have been working as full time artists for years. There is much I can learn from them and I love being around them. They have such wonderful personalities.

The tour is August 13th and 14th. For more information, visit the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour website for Artist bios, Tour Map, and general information.

Custom Nike Shox Design by Annick

2011-06-05T12:13:00.001-04:00

Check out the Nike Shox Turbo+ VI iD Running Shoe I designed at NIKEiD.com

I have been wanting to design my own sneakers for a while. My boyfriend and I are obsessed with cool trainers and are also very picky about the styles we wear. My current gym shoes are worn out and begging to be retired. I have been having a difficult time finding a style/color that I like, which is hard to believe considering how many stores I have been to.

Nike's online store has a Custom iD option which let's you pick out a style and choose every design detail. I have been wanting to try this out for a while. Today, I finally pulled the plug, designed and ordered these Nike Shox pictured above. I have found that Nike Shox work well for me at the gym. They have the right support and firmness for me. These will be my fifth pair! It was an easy process to design the sneakers, but a pain in the neck to get the order through. I had to call customer service and process the order over the phone. I should receive them in about four weeks. I will post once I get them.

Note: Nike did not sponsor this post. However,... if they ever wanted to sponsor me, I would be game!!! ;)

ICFF 2011 - Part Three

2011-05-18T07:00:00.002-04:00

Part Three of ICFF Coverage -

Timorous Beasties!!! I love this new collection of Nottingham lace. This company exploded onto the market with their wallpapers and I am really impressed with the textiles they are producing.

I also love this Wool Voile Collection. The patterns are incredibly interesting. The influence is from traditional designs but Timorous Beasties put such a perfect dark modern twist on them. I hope that I have the opportunity to visit their factory or studio someday.

John Beck's Paper and Steel line is super masculine and refined. He knows how to finish metal well and that makes all the difference in his work. A piece like the one above could be thrown into a Steam Punk, Motorcycle Club, or Aspen Ski Home interior and it would look good. For such a stylized piece, it has potential to used in a variety of ways.

Ok, I have real weakness for chandeliers. So, of course, I was taken by the Studio Baccarat booth. There is something mesmerizing and impressive about light being transmitted through cut glass. I am happy to report that I was not the only one oooing and aahhing.

I was delighted to see this installation/piece, called Marie Coquine, by Philippe Stark. I adore humor in design and M. Stark always has a joke for us. Although I am not M. Stark, I not-so-secretly dream that someday Baccarat will ask me to design a chandelier.... Please?

In the vein of traditional european design houses, I continued on to the spanish Lladro. Known for their themed collections of ceramic, this new collection called Naturofantastic is stellar. The combination of the shiny white pared with the matte gold accents exudes luxury. Sometimes, it feels good to just go over the top. Lladro can sometimes go way far over the top, but this collection shows just enough restraint to be perfect.
Part Four to come...

ICFF 2011 - Part Two

2011-05-17T07:00:00.002-04:00

Part Two of my ICFF review- As I mentioned in the earlier post, my photos didn't come out great. Here is a continuation of my notes, in no particular order.

I love the above set up for Heller. This backdrop image of Frank Gehry cracks me up! The booth was simple, but effective. Ironically, this collection isn't my favorite work by Gehry. It is made of roto molded polymer, which is a great material for outdoor furniture. I find that some of the forms look outdated. But, hats off to the display!

This isn't such a good photo, which stinks, because this collection by the British company Rapture & Wright, is beautiful. They make handprinted fabrics and wallpaper that are modern, bold and subtle at the same time. The weight of the fabric was really nice. If you like a pattern, but need it in a different color way, they can do it. The line is available in NYC at Lucy Rose Design.

Photo taken from Rapture & Wright website.

I had to add a photo from their site because the patterns need to be seen properly!

This wine display by Vin de Garde, called Nek-Rite, est formidable. It is such a simple, single part, but looks incredible in repetition. This could be a great solution/installation, for a restaurant or store, used on an interesting textured wall.

Manulution uses traditional hand carving techniques from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is shocking because I thought the carving details were all done on a CNC! Whoever is doing the carving is immensely talented. Unfortunately, a lot of the furniture line is overdone. The carving should be the highlight, but it often gets over shadowed by the billowing edge shapes and busy metal bases. Although, I am excited by the line's mix of tradition and craft with a modern sensibility.

There is a lesson to be learned from Groundwork's booth. They get it. So many companies worked hard on the pieces and forgot about the environment. When a client walks into a booth, they should be completely wrapped in the design. Groundwork literally worked their aesthetic from the ground up. When I looked at the booth, I thought- Here is a company that has it together. They have a distinct look and style and they are creating a story, with the environment, of what their products are about. It is the kind of booth that would make a person buy several pieces from it to create the same look for themselves. In most of the other booths, the pieces weren't strong enough to sell themselves. If the owners had taken more care to design the environment and create an overall experience, I would be blogging about the pieces. Only a very small sector of the show, got it. So, I applaud you Groundwork.
I will continue, tomorrow, with Part Three of ICFF.

ICFF 2011 - Part One

2011-05-16T07:34:00.000-04:00

I try to go to ICFF every other year to see what is happening in the USA furniture market. Some years are better then others. This year was neither here nor there. The satellite venues, throughout NYC, have been gaining momentum over the past few years. More of the experimental pieces and installations are being shown at the satellite locations then at ICFF. This isn't a bad thing. It is now defining how designers want their work to be received. ICFF is geared toward the professional Interior Designer, Architect, and Manufacturer. When at ICFF, its about the business of furniture. ICFF also guarantees that a lot of people will see the work. The satellite locations have a smaller more personal feeling and allow the ability to have a more expressive display of design. The work isn't confined to a booth. The environment (store or gallery) becomes part of the whole experience of the work. I didn't have time to explore much of the satellite locations. I wish I could have stayed for several days to explore all the venues. There is so much to see during design week. I was able to go to the Matter opening last night, which was wonderful. I will post about it this week. Below is Part One of highlights from ICFF that I found to be interesting. I should mention that a lot of my photos came out kind of crappy. I'm willing to blame it on the convention center lighting and not me or my IPhone 4. In no particular order -

These pieces are called Candy Pods, by Iglooplay. The furniture line, designed by Lisa Albin, is geared towards children and sophisticated enough to be included in adult rooms. I love all the colors and the matte and shiny mixed together. The stools/pieces are really playful. I can see them in a lot of environments.

In a completely different take on stools, here is a set by Tucker Robbins, the notoriously zen designer. The texture of the weaving on the bases is really interesting. The color choice also works well with the tone of the wood.

Balanced Design is line of fabric, rugs, and pillows. The line is designed and made in the USA using organic fabric and wools. I am especially drawn to the bold patterns on the sofa.

I was excited to see Sandback had a booth. I used to represent them at a showroom I used to work at. Sandback is known for their concrete pieces, which come in a large variety of colors and are perfectly priced.

This new work, by Peter Sandback, is a departure from the concrete line. To follow a designer over the course of a career is really interesting. These pieces are more refined and the proportions are more mature and elegant. Keeping in the Sandback tradition, they are extremely versatile and can be used in a lot of different style interiors. I'm sure this collection is going to do very well. Also, I finally got to meet Peter Sandback yesterday, which was a real pleasure.
Part Two of the ICFF review will be coming up later today.

Victoria Gardens - Nursery, Blog, and Consulting

2011-05-11T07:00:00.002-04:00

Photo from http://theshopatvictoriagardens.blogspot.com/

It has finally stopped raining for the moment and although it is slightly chilly, it finally feels like spring. As soon as the weather gets like this, I feel the itch to plant. I have two large planters on my front porch that I do up every year. For inspiration and my plants, I go to Victoria Gardens in Rosendale, NY.

Photo from http://theshopatvictoriagardens.blogspot.com/

This nursery and gift shop has the best selection in the area for unusual perennials, annuals, bushes, trees, etc. The nursery is situated on a rock outcropping that sets a natural stage for all the beautiful plant vignettes they set up. I could easily spend hours hanging out and looking at everything they have. Luckily, I have a great friend who works there and points me in the focused direction of what I want. My plant knowledge is limited and I base all my decisions on aesthetics. Being able to bounce questions off the friendly and knowledgable staff is a huge help. I have never been steered in the wrong direction. Every year, I get tons of compliments on my planters.

In addition to the nursery, they also have a landscape division and are available for on-site consultations. One of the best things Victoria Gardens offers is their blog, which is written by Kerry McQuaide, The Shop At Victoria Gardens. Besides the photos being stunning and inspiring all year long, the blog offers a wealth of knowledge. It's like reading a high end gardening magazine. I have it book marked and there is a link to it from my blog. It's a definite must read for anyone who loves gardening.

This past week, I went and began to pick out my flowers. Its a little early to plant, but I just couldn't help myself. Pictured above is the beginning of this years planters. I will need to go back to Victoria Gardens to pick out a few more plants to fill the empty spots. I will post some pictures in the middle of summer, when everything fills out and looks the best.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend visiting Victoria Gardens at 1 Cottekill Rd., Rosendale, NY 12472, 845-658-9007. If you live too far away, check out the The Shop At Victoria Gardens blog.

Knoll Textile Exhibit At Bard Graduate Center

2011-05-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

The exhibit, Knoll Textiles 1945 to 2010, is on view at the Bard Graduate Center from May 18th to July 31st. The show will be covering the history of Knoll's textile division. It ends up that most of the Designers were women. I plan on going to see the show. I am surprised that the opening is after ICFF, International Contemporary Furniture Fair, when most people who would be interested in the show will have already left town. Odd choice.

In the Chaise piece above, I used a traditional Knoll Boucle in Cayenne. Knoll fabric is a joy to work with. Its durable, thick, and easy to sew. This piece was made many years ago and shows no sign of sun fade or wear. I'm more concerned with the foam breaking down before the fabric gives out. Whenever you see an old Knoll furniture piece, usually the fabric has lasted strongly and is just in need of a good cleaning. Knoll has always understood what it takes to make a high traffic piece last. While over the years I have studied a lot about the company's furniture, I welcome the chance to learn about their textile department.

The Twenty Year Quilt

2011-05-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

Quilt laid out on my bed. It is made for a Queen bed, but fits on my King.

In honor of Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I thought I should showcase the amazing talent of my Mother. As they say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. People ask me where I get my ability to make things and I always say, my parents. Over twenty years ago, my Mother decided that she was going to make me a quilt and that I would have it to go to college. We went together to the store and I remember being so excited to pick out the fabrics for the quilt. College came and went and it was never finished. Mind you, she worked full time, raised three kids, kept a garden and house, and made every meal for the family. It started to become a family joke and a way to tease her that the quilt would never be finished. When she retired several years ago and said that she was going to work on it, I didn't think much of it.

Detail of the border, pattern, and overstitching.

A few months ago, I saw the quilt in some pieces laid out in her bedroom. She said she was working on it again. I told my sister that I planned to go home one weekend and help her do some over stitching. The quilt seemed years away from completion. A few weeks later, she came to visit me with my Father and was really adamant about coming that week. It was a little odd, but I didn't think much of it. So, I was completely surprised when she showed up and gave me the finished the quilt. I got really teary eyed and every time I look at it, I still do. It is beautiful.
What strikes me about it is that after all these years, I still love all the colors and patterns of the fabrics. I cannot believe how many hours and years she spent working on it. She over stitched, by hand, the whole quilt. If that isn't love, I don't know what is.

She made a bag to store the quilt and keep it dust free. I should also mention that she is a self taught quilter and sewer. She made this quilt from a pattern she found in a Better Homes & Garden magazine in 1990.
Maman, you are amazing and continually inspiring to me. I love you.

Getting Ready For The Saugerties Artists Studio Tour

2011-05-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

I am going to be part of the SAT this year. I participated in 2009, but took 2010 off because I thought I would be moving to New Mexico. The move, thankfully, fell through. However, by the time it did it was too late for me to be part of the tour. In 2009, over 200 people came to visit my studio. Although I had invited a lot of friends, about half the people who visited I did not know. It was a great experience and I met a lot of people. I truly enjoyed opening up my studio to people and getting their feedback on my space and work. I also sold some pieces, which is always nice. I'm excited about this year's tour!

I spent this weekend gathering ideas for new work I want to create. As I prepare for the tour, I will post on my progress.

Blacksmithing Class Number Seven & Eight

2011-05-02T07:00:00.003-04:00

I had to travel for work so much to my chagrin, I missed Class Number Six. The project for that week was to make a BBQ grilling fork. Jonathan Nedbor, the instructor and owner of Canal Forge, was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to do a make up session to forge one. The following two classes went by far too quickly. I can't believe eight weeks have gone by...

In the last two classes, we went over metal identification by grinding metal and studying the spark patterns. That was pretty exciting! I saw my first grinding wheel break, which caught everyone off guard. Unexpected events like that are why you wear safety glasses. We also went over tempering, which is the process of bringing metal to a certain temperature and cooling it properly to cause it to become harder. This process is used to make tools.

Our final project was to make a cold chisel out of hex rod tool steel. We used the tempering technique to harden the chisel edge.

This is my final product! Every tool box should have one and I never bought one. So, I'm excited to now have one I made. Anyone need something chiseled?

I wish I could give a link to Jonathan Nedbor, our instructor's, work. Unfortunately, he doesn't currently have a website. Once he does have one, I will update this post with the information. Jonathan owns Canal Forge in High Falls, NY. I highly recommend taking a Blacksmithing course with him. Besides being a great teacher, he is extremely talented and very generous with his knowledge!

Kickstarter, Fund and Follow Creativity

2011-04-30T17:13:00.000-04:00

I came across K ickstarter via WIRED magazine. In WIRED's April 2011 issue they did a feature on Kickstarter. It is a website where if you have an idea/project/concept you can get people to donate to your project and get funding to finally see your vision come to fruition. I know many artists, designers, and inventors who could be well served by this site. Get your video together and see if people like your project enough to help you out. Good luck!

Blacksmithing Class Number Five

2011-04-13T07:00:00.002-04:00

By popular demand, here is a photo of yours truly - forging!

Yup, here I am toiling away and working on an S hook. Jonathan Nedbor was kind enough to take a photo of me in action. The weather was pretty cold that class, so the shop was a bit chilly. Hence, the hat and scarf.

I got to use a gas furnace, which I love! The temperature is constant, you don't have to continually work your fire, and the whole unit doesn't take up much room, which is ideal for a small shop. I am going to look into purchasing one of these.

Et voila! Here is my finished S hook. Not too shabby...

I had to travel for work, so I missed Class Number Six. I am really bummed out. Hopefully I will be able to make that class up and get a lot done in Class Number Seven.

Dale Chihuly in St. Petersburg, FL

2011-04-10T20:12:00.000-04:00

When I was trying to find a restaurant the night before I left Florida, I stumbled across the Chihuly Collection presented by Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg. The museum was already closed. I decided to return the next morning when it opened, before I had to catch my plane.

Image from www.chihuly.com

I got to the museum early and still had to wait in line when it opened. There were at least 10 people ahead of me waiting to buy tickets. As I have mentioned in an earlier post, I did a minor in glass blowing when I was at Parsons. I have a deep respect for glass blowers, as it is a craft that takes years to develop. In the two years that I studied glass, I only scratched the surface.

Image from www.chihuly.com

Within the glass world, Dale Chihuly is an artist that glass blowers love to hate. It could be his boisterous attitude, fame, or the fact that he has a legion of blowers who produce his work, that have created this stigma. However, when you get beyond the man, the work is beautiful - breathtakingly beautiful.

Image from www.chihuly.com

The museum is small and really well done. They don't allow photography, so I couldn't take any photos. The finishes used in the interior are rough wood, blued steel, and lustrous plaster walls, which create a fantastic backdrop to Chihuly's installations. I pulled the three photos above from Dale Chihuly's site. The images are close to the installations shown in the museum.
The pieces are magnificent in life. The scale of the work is large and it makes the pieces dynamic. The colors are vibrant and he sometimes plays with texture. As I was following people through the museum, I could hear them gasp with joy as they rounded a corner and came across a new piece. It was fun! You feel like you are traveling through someone's dream, as you move through the museum, because the pieces are so surreal. I was able to make it through the museum and still make my flight with a little hussle. It was a great way to end my trip.
I highly recommend going to this museum if you find yourself in St. Petersburg, FL. If you can't make it to Florida, opening this week in Boston MA, at the Museum of Fine Arts, is Chihuly - Through the Looking Glass. April 10th through August 7th 2011.

Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL

2011-04-04T07:30:00.001-04:00

Un Chien Andalou (1928)

In preparation for my trip to Florida, since I knew that I would be going to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, I downloaded Un Chein Andalou on NetFlix. I thought it would get me the mood for going to the museum. This movie, by Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel, was thought to be shocking when it premiered in 1928. Seventy plus years later, and it still has an air of shock, humor, and the absurd.

I have been reading for several months about the opening of the new museum designed by HOK. It opened on January 11, 2011 at 11:11am.

Since a business trip had me in the area, I drove there after going to see the BOK Tower Gardens. The building is striking in person. I walked around it and there are interesting views from every angle. They also did a good job of landscaping the grounds around the public space.

Costing a mere 28.5 million dollars (ha!), it took three years to construct. The juxtaposition between the concrete and glass makes sense in relation to Salvador Dali's work.

Image via Google Images

He often had these balances between hard lines and soft or melting images. I think he would have approved of the absurd placement of the bulbous glass forms.

This is the only photo I got from inside the museum. One of the guards hunted me down and told me no photos are allowed to be taken inside. While I really like the exterior of the building, I am disappointed with the interior. The stats list that the interior is 68,000 sq ft. It is hard to imagine that is the actual size. When you first walk in, you enter through the gift shop. It seems inappropriate. You think you are there to see art, but you immediately feel like the museum has nothing to do with art and only with pushing merchandise. Then, you have to battle your way through the store to get to the counter to buy your ticket, which costs $25.00! I know they have to pay for the museum somehow, but it felt over priced; especially when I discovered that the galleries were only on the top floor and maybe covered 20,000 sq ft.

I was happy to see such a concentrated amount of Salvador Dali's work together. I have always been on the fence with his work. Sometimes I love it. Sometimes I hate it. What I did love about one of the galleries is that they showed his early work when he was a teenager. You got to see him trying out different genres and practicing his technique. It was tight connect to the large masterpieces he did later in life.

There is a living wall installation on the way into and exiting the gift shop. I mean museum...

Overall, the building by HOK does stand up to the positive press it has received. How the museum is set up and run stands entirely aside from the structure, but does impact a visitor's experience with the building.

Blacksmithing Class Number Four

2011-04-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

Now that I am taking this blacksmithing class, I am noticing ironwork everywhere! This gate is at the BOK Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL. I visited the garden, recently, while in FL.

The gates were designed and built by Samuel Yellin from Philadelphia. His granddaughter, Claire Yellin, still runs the business he started. The company does conservation, restoration and new work.

Detail of the latch. This is the notorious shot that almost got me bitten by a swan.

Detail of the end of one fence.

Mr. Yellin in his office. Photo via http://www.samuelyellin.com.

Yellin Forge Shop. Photo via http://www.samuelyellin.com.

I love these old photos of people working in shops.

This is what came out of my fourth class. I finished my Drive Hook! They were originally designed so that you could drive the point into mortar, such as a stone fireplace, and hang your pots and pans. Ironically, I have no fireplace. If I were to nail it into my drywall, my landlord would probably have a fit at the gapping hole I would leave when I moved out. So, I have been carrying around the hook in my pocketbook and whipping it out on a moments notice to show anyone who will listen to me. I'm awfully proud of my first true blacksmith product...

BOK Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL

2011-03-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

After leaving Daytona, I headed over to Lake Wales to visit BOK Tower Gardens. Located in central Florida, this National Historic Landmark is definitely off the beaten path. Since I have a love of architecture and historic buildings, I was determined to visit this place before I left the state. I make a habit of visiting as much interesting architecture and landmarks as I can when I am traveling for work or pleasure. It is amazing how many landmarks exist in the USA and how many are in disrepair. Fortunately, BOK is listed as a National Historic Landmark and receives federal money to assist in the maintenance and upkeep of this beautiful tower and gardens.

BOK Tower was conceived by Edward Bok, a Dutch born American, who was a wildly successful editor and Pulitzer Prize winning author. He built the Singing Tower in 1929 to give back to the people of America. To read more about Bok, click here and here.

The Singing Tower was designed by architect Milton B. Medary and made to house a Carillon. The gardens surrounding the Tower were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr.

There was an air plant exhibit at the gardens. They strung the plants with wire which made them look like they were floating in air. It looked really dynamic in person.

A section of the visitor center had a path where stones were set into concrete on end. The stones were sticking up about 3/4" from the concrete. It created a neat visual rhythm and felt good beneath the feet. If I had been barefoot, I might have felt differently about it.

Attached to the Tower and gardens is the Pinewood Estate. I took a tour of the house and the kitchen had this great overflow design in the kitchen sink.

Outside the house.

Tile fountain in the courtyard.

Walled garden attached to the dining room of the house.

Beautiful blooms while walking the grounds.

What is Florida without some oranges?!

Throughout the gardens are these rubbing stands. You place paper over the tiles and rub the image onto it. It's a fun detail to find throughout a walk of the gardens.

This view shows the typical English landscape style of the Olmsteads. However, to see it with South East trees and plantings makes it very different then the typical North East ones I am used to seeing, like the one below.

Boston Public Garden photo via http://www.imaginativeamerica.com/tag/parks/

And finally, here is a picture of one of the swans that tried to bite me while I was taking pictures of the Tower. Aggressive little suckers... Just as I yelped and jumped back from the blaring teeth of this bird, a group of white hairs exploded in laughter. Have I mentioned that when I go to visit these historic places, I am the youngest by about 40 years?! They're lucky my parents raised me to respect my elders or their canes would be floating in the water here....

Bike Week at Daytona, FL 2011

2011-03-27T12:37:00.001-04:00

I happened to be in Tampa, FL for business the same week my boyfriend and a group of friends were in Daytona, FL for Bike Week. Once I was done with work, I picked up a rental car and headed northeast to Daytona. I drove straight to the track, Daytona International Speedway, to see our friend Jake Quick compete in Flat Track.

In the first night of racing, Jake was feeling out the bike. In the AMA Pro Singles Finale, the next night, he took 4th place and had the 5th fastest lap out of 59 people during the day! I should also mention that Mr. Quick, so aptly named, is also 17. It is going to be a good season for him.

Flat Track is super exciting to watch in person. Its loud, dusty, brightly colored and brings a range of spectators that are a hoot to people watch. Most people think Bike Week is all about booze and Harleys. While there is that aspect, there is a whole other side of it that is about racing, exotic bikes, riding, and sunshine.

We went for a ride on Friday and ended up in this town called Cassadaga. It is a mecca for healers of all different types. I thought I might run into someone who would tell me some beautiful insight into my life. Alas, there weren't many people around that day. Only one old guy who muttered under his breath as he walked by the motorcycles, "Damn killers...".

Taking a break...

We ended up riding to Blue Spring State Park that had Manatees! I have never seen one in person before. They are awkward looking and graceful at the same time. Sadly, you can see the scars on their backs from boat propellers which are the number one cause of their death in FL.

As we were walking through the park, we also came across this armadillo. It was fun to watch him foraging for food. Being from the North East, it is a real novelty to see armadillos. So, you see... us Bike Week people... we also do other things besides party like animals and you probably will never catch us on Harleys!

Blacksmithing Class Number Three

2011-03-22T19:20:00.001-04:00

Although no one posted a comment, many people asked to see my finished project that I had forgotten to take a photo of at the end of Class Number Two. SO,..... Here it is!

It may not be very exciting to the casual observer, but I am very proud of it! I am making progress in understanding the basics of smithing. The object was to take two horseshoes, straighten them out, fold one horseshoe over the other and weld them together, and then draw the metal out to the original thickness of one horseshoe. The project makes you work on straightening, welding, moving metal, and forging a taper. The close up picture shows the left side is welded and how it moves to showing the three layers of metal; proof that it isn't one piece of metal!

Class Number Three, we spent the first part going over tools in the shop. The tool above is called a power hammer. Instead of hammering a piece by hand, a person brings it over to this machine and with a foot pedal controls a 'hammer head' that drops down to sandwich your metal between the head and a surface. Its loud, dangerous, archaic, and very cool. Plus, it keeps you from getting tired from hammering.

This tool is called a Screw Press. Its a little hard to see from the photo, but on the table surface you set dies, place your metal across it, then turn the screw handle up top. As the top portion compresses against the table it forms your metal into shapes. You can create waves, hard angles, divets in plate, etc.

We also went over anvils. Who knew there were so many different types? Italian pattern, London pattern,... I can only imagine a bad joke starting as, there was an Italian, an Englishman, and a Frenchman standing around a blacksmith shop... (I don't know where that goes. I need my friend Reed Karen around to tell me the punch line! He is the ultimate joke teller and also a super talented woodworker/designer.)

The second half of the class we started to make a drive hook. This piece started off as a piece of 1/4" round stock. I beat it into square stock and formed the right angle. While this looks pretty simple, it is quite tricky to get a right angle. The hook portion also is shaped into a taper on all four sides, which is hard to see in the photograph. I cannot wait to finish this piece.

Blacksmithing Class Number Two

2011-03-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

Because I will be traveling for work, I was going to miss my second blacksmith class. Luckily my instructor, Jonathan Nebor, let me come in over the weekend and he gave me a private lesson, so I won't be behind in class when I return. Again, it was AWESOME!

I continued to work on the horseshoe project. I tried to build my own fire and set up the chimney. I then worked on forging and learned how to weld with flux. Welding through a fire is very different then welding with a machine, like TIG welding. The principle is the same between the different methods. Welding is bringing different pieces of metal together to become one piece.

I kept laying the hammer down in the wrong direction on the anvil. The brush is to take the scale off when finishing a piece. It was really nice to be able to work by myself at the fire. I felt like I had the time to try different ways of holding the piece and working the metal. Jonathan is a great teacher. He knows how to give instruction and then to back off so you can take your time to absorb the information and try it out.

I got to throw some big sparks, which was exciting. I need to work on the positioning of my body in relation to the anvil and piece. I kept standing too far from the work and not having enough leverage to hammer properly. Because I am a small person, I have to be especially cognizant of where I am working so I don't have to do extra work to make a piece or tire my muscles out. I finished my project and forgot to take a photo of it! I did get some nice shots of Jonathan's shop.

One Forty Three Blog Post On DIY Potence Lamp

2011-03-09T07:36:00.001-05:00

Image by One Forty Three

One Forty Three posted on their DIY version of Jean Prouve's Potence Lamp. I like their interpretation of the original design, shown below.

Image found on Google Images

One Forty Three did a second post where they played with their design/interpretation.

Image by One Forty Three

I am really liking the white version. I think the proportions are better then the other two. I would like to see the angle of the top bend to the bulb be a little tighter. It's a tic too doughy in relation to the other bends in the piece. One Forty Three did a great job of pulling these lights together. Now, they should think about putting these up for sale!

My Sister's Birthday Cake

2011-03-06T18:59:00.000-05:00

For one of my sister's monumental birthdays, and since a lady never discloses her age we'll leave it at that, my family threw her a surprise party. I have to say, we did a damn good job! My sister was about as surprised as one can get and it was a pleasure to see her so happy and surrounded by so many great friends.

I was in charge of the cake and it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. My sister and I have always loved this cake by Martha Stewart, so I decided to use it as my inspiration.

Gail Watson cake for Martha Stewart

I really like how the flowers are grouped together at the top and fan out as they proceed down the tiers. I decided I did not want to cover her cake in fondant and made a chocolate buttercream icing. I also decided to play with the overall shape of the cake and used these oval pans.

The cake was eight layers tall and measured about one foot in height! It is hard to tell from the top photo what the actual size is because of the angle of the shot, but it looked impressive in person.

For color inspiration, I used this bouquet of zinnias I picked and placed in my beloved Meg Oliver ceramic vase. I piped the mum shapes out of royal icing and made about 100. This is a great thing to do while watching TV or listening to a pod cast. It took me several nights to finish them.

Overall, the cake was a success. My sister loved it and everyone enjoyed eating it. What more can a lady ask for!

Intro to Blacksmithing

2011-03-01T22:28:00.005-05:00

Last night was my first blacksmithing class and it was AWESOME! The class is being taught by Jonathan Nedbor of Canal Forge who has 35 + years as a blacksmith. There are only six people in the class, including me, so the student to teacher ratio is perfect. The students range from 14 to 70 in age. Its a nice mix of personalities. Jonathan has a great shop, albeit dusty. It ends up that as you heat the metal and then it cools, it can shed a scale that turns to dust when you strike it with a hammer. Everywhere you look within the shop, there is an interesting tool or project. I'm really looking forward to figuring out what some of the odd shaped tools and machines do.

By the end of the first night, Jonathan had us squishing metal. Yes, squishing is a technical term. I made him repeat it twice. Our first project is to take two horse shoes and straighten them out. My two shoes are above. I got through 1 and 1/4 of the second. In the next class, I will continue to straighten the second shoe. Then, I will weld the two shoes together and work on making it a bar of steel. Although it feels awkward right now to handle the metal with tongs, it is incredibly satisfying to see the metal glowing red and shaping it with a hammer on an anvil. It really got my creative juices flowing. 24hrs later and I'm still high off the experience! I will continue to post on my progression and I hope, by the end of the class, to have some finished projects to share.

KITKA Design Toronto Post On Visiting Craftsmen In Asahikawa, Japan

2011-02-26T14:06:00.005-05:00

Photo by KITKA

Via The Scout, KITKA Design Toronto posted on their travels to Asahikawa, Japan. They were able to visit craftsmen working in their studios. The photos from the post are inspiring. I can't believe that they were able to visit Professor Oda Noritsugu, at his house, and to see his Danish furniture collection in person. That must have been quite the experience. It also looks like they ate well!

They posted this video of Takahashi Hidetoshi making the above cup.

KITKA Design Toronto owns a Scandinavian and Japanese design store, called Mjolk, in Toronto, Ontario Ca. After reading through their blog and looking through their site, I definitely want to visit their store. They have a great eye for design and are interested in the whole design and creation process. They list that they ship to many locations, which I will take as internationally. If anyone has visited their store, let me know.

Jewelry Designer Shana Lee

2011-02-17T07:00:00.008-05:00

I was out with my friends, Lucie and Kerry, wondering through Hudson NY. We had just gone to Fredrick Church's Olana and were in search of a good meal. We happened across a very cool jewelry store owned by Shana Lee. How I overlooked this store before, I have no idea. The old building interior is painted all white with ornate black furniture cases mounted on the walls. The interior is both modern and edgy with a nod to the past, which sets a perfect stage for highlighting the jewelry.
Originally from Brooklyn, Shana Lee is a spunky designer with a killer haircut who makes jewelry that is a little rock and roll, a little raw, and a lot refined. Mostly working in sterling silver and vermeil, the price point is extremely reasonable. Most of the earrings I looked at ranged from $45 to $200. All the pieces have beautiful movement to them. I bought the earrings above and wear them daily. They are about 2.5" long, in the vermeil finish, and are no longer available- sorry!

That day, my friend Kerry bought ones similar to these Gypsy Hoops in vermeil.

A couple months later, my sister came to visit and knowing her love of jewelry, I brought her to Shana Lee's. When we went into the store, Shana Lee recognized me from my previous visit and asked how I was liking my earrings. It was a personal touch that did not go unnoticed. After deciding between three different styles, my sister ended up buying the above earrings in vermeil.

If you are in Hudson NY, stop by Shana Lee's on 315 Warren St. Her jewelry is also available at these locations. If you don't feel like leaving your house, you can also shop online at http://www.shanalee.com.

Crate & Barrel and CB2 Outlet in Cranbury NJ

2011-02-16T07:00:00.028-05:00

Who knew? There is a Crate & Barrel and CB2 outlet in Cranbury, NJ.

315 Half Acre Rd

Cranbury NJ 08512

The only reason I found out was by calling CB2 to ask a bunch of questions about the Alpine Gunmetal Bed. I have been deciding whether or not to buy this bed, for myself, for a few months now. As a furniture designer, it's always hard to justify buying a piece of furniture when you feel like you should make it yourself. It ends up being a real struggle of conscience. When I called CB2, the representative suggested that I go to the Cranbury store to see if they had one in stock. I was so excited to know that they have a store in NJ. I was surprised when I went there that it is actually a Crate & Barrel outlet with some CB2 items. The representative failed to mention that!

The store had a nice selection of items. It is housed in a HUGE warehouse in an industrial park area. It must be their major shipping hub for the east coast. The sales people were delightful, which is sadly unexpected in a store these days. Even at 10 minutes to closing, the sales force was going strong. Unfortunately, the 2 year old kid having a melt down in the dinnerware section was not.

If I needed these chairs or had a client who needed them, I would have snatched them up. There were 4 of them at about $40 each. They are called the Jasper chair, and usually retail for $150 each. A lot of the other inventory was partials, left overs, or damaged. They had a great fabric, outdoor, and dinnerware section.

I even came across a couple Petrie Apartment Sofas. People LOVE this sofa. It would be a steal to buy it at a huge discount. I personally am not a fan of two cushion sofas. Someone always gets stuck sitting in the crack and it sucks. So, I didn't even look at the price.
Overall, the outlet is definitely worth checking out. You never know what great finds await!

AMA Arenacross Races

2011-02-15T07:00:00.012-05:00

In November, Tom and I with our friend Gene, went to see AMA Arenacross in Albany NY. It was bright, loud, smelled like race gas, and I loved it! We've gone a few times over the years and it's always a lot of fun. The crowd gets super excited and they always have great announcers. In the video above, we got to see the half time Freestyle exhibition. It was the first time I have ever seen a quad do a back flip. We were all dumbfounded and then the crowd went nuts. It was an impressive mastery of riding.

I am always inspired by watching a motorcycle event like this. The colors and graphics on the motorcycles and gear are amazing. Motorcycling keeps getting more and more fashion oriented. Seeing young style trends making their way onto these kids and bikes is very cool. The interpretation of trends into different subjects, such as street fashion to motorcycling, are always of interest to me.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2011-02-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

A beautiful song about love.

How To Reupholster and Repair Danish Modern Chairs

2011-02-11T07:00:00.004-05:00

Every so often these Danish modern chairs come up for sale or for free from an older relative or friend. Because these chairs can now be anywhere between 30 to 50 years old, they often need to be refreshed and repaired. Over time, the interior foam breaks down, the fabric wears out, and the wood can be cracked. Other unforeseen issues can come up, especially if you buy them online and only see them in a photo. These particular chairs that I found, had to have been in the house of a smoker. As you can see in the Before photo, you cannot see that the wood was covered in a thick residue of grime. When I went to pick them up, my reaction was- Yuck. But, I got them for a good deal. So with a little patience and perseverance, they ended up coming out quite nicely.
Below is a step by step guide on how to reupholster and repair Danish modern chairs. Please let me know if you have questions on any of the steps.

Materials:

Clean area to work

Screwdriver

Chisel

Hammer

Pliers

220 sandpaper

Steel wool

Gorilla glue

Water

Murphy's Soap

Rubber gloves

Scotchbrite

Watco Danish Oil

Rags

Vinyl - 3 yd for 4 chairs

Black fabric for under the seats - 3 yd

1/2" thick foam - 2 1/2 yd

3M Super 77

Felt feet to protect floors

Staple gun

Staples

Scribe tool

How To Reupholster and Repair Danish Modern Chairs:

Step 1- Assemble all materials and prepare a large enough area to work in. An area will be needed to clean the chairs and another area to lay out the fabric and foam. My studio has a ceramic tile floor. While it is not the prettiest, it allows me to get the floor wet and to then mop it up or vacuum easily. As you start to disassemble the chairs, you will have a mess as the old foam crumbles and the fabric starts to shed. If you don't have much room inside, a couple of these steps can be done outside, weather permitting.

Step 2- Disassemble the chairs. Take photos or notes while you are disassembling. Everyone always thinks they will remember how they took something apart, but they never do! It will make your life a lot easier if you document your process.

With these chairs, you need to remove the wooden buttons to get to the screws that hold the chair together. The buttons will pop out if you place a Scribe tool in the corner and pry them out. Sometimes, you will have to sacrifice one that splits. They can also be repaired with glue, as they are just cosmetic. Put all your screws, buttons, and parts together with each chair. Label each chair and each part to that chair. This is very important. Wood can get tired and cranky when its old. Most likely you will not be able to interchange parts from different chairs and you will be just as tired and cranky if you have to try to make them fit.

Step 3- Clean the teak wood. Depending on the condition of the chairs you are working with, you may be able to skip this step. As I mentioned, the chairs I was working with had a layer of grime on them from cigarettes. I could run my thumb nail along the surface and scrape a black coat of filth off. Gross. Using hot water with a bit of Murphy's Oil, scrub the chairs with Scotchbrite. Change the water often. If you can get away with only using a rag, try to. It took a long time to remove all the dirt. Allow the chairs to thoroughly dry.

Step 4- Examine the wood for any cracks, splits, and damage. If the chairs are perfect, skip this step. Because teak is an oily wood, regular wood glue will not work for repairs. Gorilla Glue will need to be used. One of the chairs had a split on the side member. I dampened the wood and shoved the Gorilla Glue into the split. I then clamped two scrap pieces of wood on each side to hold the repaired piece in shape. I let it sit overnight for the best results. When taking the assembly apart, carefully use a chisel to scrape any glue that has oozed out of the crack and onto the surface.

Step 5- Sand the entire surface of the chairs with 220 sandpaper. Teak wood can dry out overtime and needs to have oil reapplied. Sanding the surface will ensure that there is no residue or foreign material on the wood. By creating an even surface, the oil will absorb nicely.

Step 6- Apply the Danish Oil or Teak Oil. Using a clean dry rag, follow the instructions on the back of the Watco Danish Oil can. I like to use the Danish Oil Natural, but feel free to use the Teak Oil. There isn't much of a difference between the two types. Between coats, let the wood dry overnight. Before applying the next coat, rub the entire surface with superfine steel wool. Put 2 to 3 coats of oil on the wood. After final coat, rub entire surface with superfine steel wool. It will bring up a nice shine to the finish and make the wood sing. Place wood frames to the side.

Step 7- Remove old reupholstery. Take the seats and remove the staples from under the chair with a screwdriver.

As seen in this photo, I put newspaper over my table. When taking the old upholstery off, a lot of it just crumbles and falls apart. When I'm done, I can gather up the paper with all the debris and throw it away. Follow the same method with the backs.

Often when I reupholster, I will find out that I am not the first person to redo the piece. It can become a mini excavation. Based on the different layers and fabrics, you can figure out the approximate time someone did a reupholstery. It's interesting to see the history of a piece.

Once all the fabric and foam is removed, use the chisel to scrape any remaining foam that may be stuck to the wood.

Step 8- Apply foam to seat and back. Carefully layout the seat and back parts on the foam. Cut the foam to size. Do this outside or in a well ventilated space.- Spray Super 77 onto the wood and the matching side of the foam. Place the foam on the wood and work the two materials together. Super 77 is sneaky to work with. Try to keep from getting any on your hands, or you will be amazed how everything that becomes stuck to you- lint, dirt, foam, your dog, etc. Let the Super 77 dry according to the directions on the can.

Step 9- Carefully layout the seat and back parts on the fabric. I used black vinyl because I find it to be era correct and desirable to the market. I chose a more expensive vinyl that looked fancier and was a better quality to work with. Vinyl, in general, is hard to work with because it is stiff. To make the process easier, choose a fabric without a repeating pattern.

Also cut out the pieces of black fabric for the underside of the seat. It is a nice finishing detail.

Step 10- Attach the fabric to the seat and back. This will be the hardest step in the whole process. Use a staple gun with the appropriate staple length. I use an electric staple gun because it is hard to have the strength to staple through all the layers manually. For the seat, start in the center of one side, secure your fabric in place and begin to staple around the perimeter, pulling the fabric tightly. Unless you have meaty hands, your fingers will be sore from this. Staple the corners last and try to work the fabric over the corners smoothly.

Applying the black fabric after will create a nice finish detail and make the underside of the chair disappear. For the back, start by stapling on the bottom edge. Wrap the fabric over the front to the back and fold the edge. Place the folded edge on the bottom and staple to secure. Then, wrap the sides and staple the sides cleanly. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of the back assembly. So, let me know if there are any questions. Sometimes the staples will not seat all the way down when stapling. Use the hammer to nail them fully in.

Step 11- Reassemble the chairs. Using your notes or photos, labeled screws and wooden buttons, put the chairs back together. Apply felt feet.

Step 12- Fini! Stand back and admire your work.

These Danish modern chairs, which have no official name that I am aware of, are really great. They have survived the test of time because the design is well thought out. It has minimal pieces and assembles easily with screws. Teak is a durable wood. The proportions are perfect. Whether you are small or large, you will fit comfortably in them. They also do not take up a lot of room and they are fairly easy to find.

Good luck with your project!

Stanley & Sons - Custom Aprons and Bags

2011-02-10T07:00:00.013-05:00

I believe doing good shop work requires an apron. The act of putting one on switches your mindset to- it is now time to work. I wear one to protect my clothes from paint, adhesives, wood and metal chips, dirt, grime, etc. I also wear one to keep my clothes from getting suck in machinery and to protect my body.
I came across this company, Stanley & Sons, who makes custom aprons and bags in Brooklyn NY. When I'm ready for a new apron, I plan on buying this one. Apron SS0929 -

It's made of waxed canvas with leather straps and has the perfect placement of pockets for pencils, sharpie, small tools, and notepad. I also like that its made of waxed canvas so I don't have to worry about stuff getting stuck in the weave of the fabric. Come to think of it, I might be ready for it now.

What To Do With Your Old Keepsakes

2011-02-09T07:00:00.007-05:00

I came across an article about a photographer at hippopota.com who takes photos of keepsakes, such as cherished stuffed animals and sentimental objects. I believe it was in the NY Times. I thought that was such a good idea. What better way to capture a fond memory and comfort, without holding onto a stinky torn up toy for the rest of your life.

(Don't worry, Pierot. I will never give you away... Come to think of it, I have no idea where you are right now...)

Ice Skating Locally

2011-02-08T07:00:00.008-05:00

Having the ability to ice skate outside, on a real creek, is amazing! The sad thing is,... I can't tell you where we go in fear that someone will try to make us stop. Mind you, we drill consistently and are very aware of safety. But alas, mum is the word.

A hot fire to warm up by.

As a group, we'll make our way two to three miles upstream. Try that on a hockey rink! The views are amazing and you get a great workout. It feels so good to be outside in the middle of winter. In addition to ice skating, we also race motorcycles on the ice. But, that is for another post.

Happy Valentine's Day - Meringues

2011-02-07T07:00:00.004-05:00

Using the Queen of the Domesticity's (aka the honorable Martha Stewart) recipe, I made Peppermint Meringues for Valentine's Day last year. I made the recipe to spec. Although, I decided to dye them a light pink and to skip the striping that was recommended. Everyone thought they were great!
This year, I'm not sure if I'm going to make anyone anything... I need to think about it.

The New Architectural Digest

2011-02-05T10:23:00.004-05:00

Image from the NY Times

The design world is abuzz with reviews leaking out of the new Architectural Digest. The NY Times ran an informative article this past week on Margaret Russell's (pictured above) debut issue and revamping of the prestigious magazine. I am also seeing posts popping up from various other bloggers who have seen the issue and/or have been invited to the opening parties. See Design Therapy's post. Even last night, I was having dinner with some design friends and we were discussing whether or not anyone had seen an actual issue yet; none of us have.
Now my curiosity is stoked. If the snow holds up today, I may go in search of the new mysterious issue. Have no doubt, I will report on my findings.

Chicago: SOFA Part 2

2011-02-05T07:00:00.006-05:00

Part two of the SOFA show from Chicago. While I find this piece to be bizarre, this 18" high kimono is made of mini glass beads. I cannot fathom how long it took to produce. The detail is remarkable.

This oil painting popped from the wall. The fabrics were beautifully rendered. The exaggerated proportions of the figures lends to the unsettling feeling of the image.

This was a large ceramic piece that looked like it should feel somewhat soft and at the same time had a rock like quality to it. I really had to keep myself from touching it.

This oil painting was about 3 x 5 ft. It was positioned so when you rounded a corner, it surprised you. The depth in this painting is disorienting. It is a strange interior to render, as the style isn't American architecture. This painting is about a well rendered perspective. To make it more effective, I feel like it should be an image/space that the viewer can relate to. Hence, it should be an interior style that American's are familiar with because it is being viewed in the USA. This image, as is, would probably be amazing in Italy.

Yes, this is a sculpture... While the realism is unbelievable, it is also a bit of a one hit wonder. I know it sounds harsh, but its also a little creepy in real life.

This is the piece that SOFA used for their promotional cards and marketing. I'm surprised they chose this piece because it is edgy. Although, it was probably a smart move as they got me to go to the show and probably brought a contingent that wouldn't usually attend. I wouldn't have been so convinced to go, if I had seen a more traditional folky piece. Overall, the show was good. There was a lot that was too crafty for me. I definitely appreciate the craftsmanship of the pieces. It is a breath of fresh air to see well made objects. That is definitely something that is lacking in the modern art world. I will probably wait a few years before I attend another show.

Chicago: SOFA Part 1

2011-02-04T07:00:00.004-05:00

This past fall I went to Chicago to visit some friends. While there, I finally went to a SOFA, (The International Exposition of Sculpture, Objects, and Functional Art) show at the Navy Pier. I have always shied away from going to a SOFA show because I was worried that it would be too crafty for me. But, I thought I would give it a chance.

I was surprised that there were a number of works that I liked. It was nice to see a variety of objects that were well made and smart, idea-wise. I did not take notes on who the artists are in relation to their work. If anybody has information on the works I am showing, please let me know so I can give the appropriate credit to the artists and galleries.

Although I am into knitting, fiber arts in general do very little for me. Often times, I find that they seem to be stuck in a 60's to 80's time warp. However, this piece had a tactile quality that drew you in and made you want to run your hands over it. It is off set nicely by the dark wall.

Corning Museum of Glass set up a live demonstration of glass blowing. I minored in glass at Parsons School of Design. Although I haven't worked in glass in a number of years, I still get so excited to see glass blowing. It's magical!

A ceramic piece like this is hard to categorize. On one hand, it is sort of ugly and sloppily made. On the other hand, when I look at it I feel like I am looking at a 3 dimensional representation of someone's dream or nightmare. Since that evokes a feeling, it must be speaking to me on some level. So, does that render is successful?

Shinya Kimura

2011-02-03T07:00:00.008-05:00

Shinya Kimura from Adam Richards on Vimeo.

Knowing my passion for motorcycles, my friend, Cheryl Paff sent me this beautiful video on Shinya Kimura. I have seen images of his bikes before, but I have not seen one in person. The motorcycle world is small, so I hope to meet him in the future or at least see one of his creations.
What makes this video effective is that the montage of images show Kimura's interests and inspirations. The lighting and color of the film sets the mood. A shop is a personal space and usually reflects the owner's personality. We are able to get this intimate view of Kimura's life. While he comes across as serious, the shot of him riding a kid's bicycle displays a last laugh quality. It is a quality that also seems to come from the motorcycles. - You don't think this old looking hand made bike will work. Its just here for show. Ha ha, I will show you... - And with that, off he goes.

Morning Commute To Work

2011-02-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

The days are starting to get longer. It's nice to have some daylight when I drive to work.

How To Use A French Press via Sproutedkitchen.com

2011-02-01T12:43:00.002-05:00

a french press method from hufort on Vimeo.

My sister sent me the link from Sproutedkitchen.com on how to use a French Press. This instructional video is incredibly well filmed. In fact, the whole site is a beautiful marriage, literally, of two minds. Sara Forte writes the content on food and her husband, Hugh, does the photography and film.
On this snowy stormy day, it would be wonderful to curl up with a warm cup of coffee. So, dear sister,... when are you going to buy me a french press???

Monday Morning

2011-01-24T08:21:00.002-05:00

Because this is what we wish we could do on a Monday morning.

Banksy and Mr. Brainwash

2011-01-22T08:00:00.006-05:00

Exit Through The Gift Shop is a film, documentary, commentary, hoax, i-don't-know-what. It is, though, genius.

Cat Power covering Rolling Stones Satisfaction

2011-01-21T07:30:00.001-05:00

I caught this song at the end of an episode of Brotherhood. I thought it was Cat Power and a little Shazam App action confirmed it. I think this is a good way to start the weekend.

Herb and Dorothy Vogel - Art Collectors

2011-01-20T07:30:00.003-05:00

Herb & Dorothy, a film by Megumi Sasaki, follows the story of a couple that started collecting art in the 1960's. On a working class salary, they amassed one of the largest collections of Contemporary Art in the world. Instead of selling their collection for profit, they donated the art to museums. Not only is their story inspiring on many levels, but it is unbelievable that these humble people have had such an effect on contemporary art. Vogels - you rock.

HERB & DOROTHY Trailer from Herb & Dorothy on Vimeo.

Patti Smith

2011-01-18T19:10:00.002-05:00

This book by Patti Smith about her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe is eloquent, surprising, and makes me want to create. So,... if I'm going to create, it only seems right to be blasting this...

Patti Smith, Gloria from Jc Stolen on Vimeo.

The Sartorialist Video

2011-01-16T18:28:00.003-05:00

I really enjoy watching videos of artists talking about their work and inspiration. This video is about The Sartorialist.

Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co. on The Scout

2011-01-04T17:31:00.003-05:00

Photo by Rose Callahan from http://thescoutmag.com

If you don't already read The Scout, then you should make it one of your New Year's resolutions to start. It is a beautiful online magazine that features creatives and all things well made. It's a breath of fresh air to the design world.
This week, they featured an extremely well written article, by Sarah Williams, on Blackcreek Mercantile & Trading Co.; highlighting the turnings of Joshua Vogel. The article captures the nuances and grace of woodworking and the talented woodworker.
I personally have the pleasure of knowing Josh and Kelly. Having visited their new studio, I can say that it exudes warmth and creativity. Josh is incredibly talented and has taught me a lot about woodworking. I look forward to seeing his new work!

Chicago: Part One

2010-11-20T15:20:00.004-05:00

I recently went to Chicago to visit some of my favorite people in the world. While I was there, I stayed in the Museum Park area. The views were amazing! Every time I visit Chicago, I fall a little bit more in love with the city. These are some of the photos I took while there.

Sail On With The Mast Brothers

2010-11-11T19:33:00.001-05:00

The Mast Brothers from The Scout on Vimeo.

Konstantin Grcic and Design Miami

2010-10-31T19:12:00.002-04:00

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In this video by TheCrane.tv, via NYTimes Magazine, Konstantin Grcic talks about his design process and inspiration. I have always admired his work and its great to hear him talk about it. He was just named Design Miami's Designer of the Year for 2010.

Rainbows and Fall

2010-10-30T19:36:00.002-04:00

The Front Porch '09 and '10

2010-10-28T16:00:00.003-04:00

Front Porch Summer 2009

Some years are better then others... for gardens, at least. In the summer of 2009, all the planters were lush, the grass was green, the birds were chirping,... everything was happy!

Front Porch Fall 2010

In 2010- work became incredibly busy, there was a record dry summer, hardly any time was spent at home, and I unfortunately picked out plants that were all monochromatic. It seemed like a great idea at the time. In May, I spent hours at the most wonderful nursery, Victoria Gardens, painstakingly choosing my plants- all in orange hues. Now that I look at the planters in the fall, they're boring and much too subtle. I'm so bored with them, I don't even want to water. Believe me, the plants are pissed and about to uproot themselves and move out. Secretly, I hope they do. I'm already thinking about what my scheme will be for 2011.

Hipstamatic- I'm so hip!- App for IPhone

2010-10-27T20:12:00.004-04:00

I downloaded the Hipstamatic App from Itunes for the IPhone 4 and,... I am in love with it! Despite its horribly corny name, which makes you feel like a Williamsburg poser, it has a lot of cool features and endless possibilities for compositions. I have just begun to play around with it, so expect many Hipstamatic photos in the coming weeks. For $1.99, this is the best toy I've bought in a long time.

Heath Ceramics

2010-10-23T20:26:00.008-04:00

While I tend to prefer tableware with thinner, delicate edges, I appreciate the simplicity and warmth of Heath Ceramics. Founded in 1948, this American company has been producing tableware and tile in Sausalito, California. I took this image in their boutique stand at the San Francisco Ferry Building. They have a great website that shows their full collection and now have a blog.

I especially love their Dimensional Tiles. (Image pulled from website.) Someday, I would love to do the full length of a hallway wall, in a residential space, with one of their tiles. I think that it would add such great texture and interest to a space.

Simple Hallway Redesign

2010-10-02T10:31:00.007-04:00

A client wanted to update their apartment, quickly and cheaply. They have a lovely modern apartment, in Brooklyn, with floor to ceiling windows. We ended up using some of their old pieces and mixing in some new buys. I wish I had a photo of the foyer before. It was all white with nothing hanging on the walls and no where to place keys and mail, when they entered. To give the entrance a little zing, we painted one accent wall Benjamin Moore- Stem Green in eggshell, $50.00. I purchased the BluDot Strut Console in olive, for its color, price of $399.00, and slim dimensions. I found this large mirror at Home Goods for $68.00. A total bargain for its size and detail. Then, I picked up the glossy vase at Pier One, on clearance for $10.00. Total: $650.00 with taxes and delivery.

Miette

2010-10-01T16:00:00.003-04:00

I had read a lot about Miette on blogs, in magazines, and on their website. Every time I looked at the photos of all those delicious confections, my mouth would begin to water. I had to wonder if those treats tasted as delightful in life, as I imagined them to. I finally had the chance to visit the Miette location at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, CA. In my mind, I had imagined that there would be a quaint little store waiting for me. I wasn't prepared for the jostling and jabs I would have to overcome to get my body into their small kiosk and up to the counter. As I un-patiently waited my turn, I was having a hard time deciding what to order. When the lady finally got to me, I decided- Screw it!- and ordered two desserts. I got a Pot de Creme and an Old Fashioned Cupcake. Both were delicious and a total treat!

Some of their cookies and confections.

Here is a bad photo of the display case. The beauty of the cakes still shines through.

Moss Donates To Museums

2010-10-01T15:00:00.001-04:00

This week, Moss announced that they will be-

"As part of our ongoing efforts to (advance the cause) expand awareness and understanding in contemporary art and design, Moss has been engaged in a dialogue with museum professionals and their patrons to place works of exceptional quality in Museum collections. This thereby allows public access to important art and design, gives the artists a foundation for future projects, places contemporary objects in an art historical context and increases the visibility and viability of contemporary art and design vis-a-vis museum acquisitions."

Moss is donating significant furniture and art pieces to museums, such as the Art Institute of Chicago, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Some of the pieces being donated are from the designers and artists Maarten Baas, Hella Jongerius, and Fernando & Humberto Campana.

If you have never been to Moss in NYC, you MUST go! The showroom is incredible and hosts the most amazing design pieces and shows. Every time I go there, I get a little teary eyed by how beautiful everything is. Murray Moss is a genius. He has done so much for the design world and for designers.

Some fun with Justin Timberlake & Jimmy Fallon

2010-09-30T17:41:00.005-04:00

Target Table

2010-09-29T16:00:00.003-04:00

I was shopping for a client and I came across this table at Target. I believe it was on sale for something ridiculous like $12.99! (I should have written the price down or just bought it.) Look how great it is! It would look killer in a fancy house mixed in with some high end pieces. No one would ever know you purchased it a Taaaar-jay for such a fabulous price. Sometimes, it just kills me to see a mass market piece done so well. I couldn't even think about making a table for this price.

Flower Arrangements- Part 2

2010-09-28T16:00:00.003-04:00

Here are some more arrangements that I put together.

Flower Arrangements- Part 1

2010-09-27T21:15:00.011-04:00

I went through a phase where I was cutting flowers and putting together flower arrangements on a weekly basis. I collected the flowers from a small unkept garden outside a furniture store I was working at. I had a lot of fun using the flowers and weeds that were in bloom during different weeks. The arrangements livened up the store and added a freshness to the ambiance. Here is a sampling of my favorite arrangements.

SFMoMA

2010-09-24T16:00:00.004-04:00

I was in San Francisco, for work, this past spring. I stole the time to visit the SFMoMA, while there. The new rooftop garden was worth visiting. Overall, I was disappointed with the shows they had going on. But, I stumbled upon this mini furniture exhibit that made me very happy. I love visiting old friends... Can you identify the chairs and designers?

Lucie's Wedding Cake

2010-09-23T20:12:00.007-04:00

I am very fortunate to have many friends who are talented artists. However, its always difficult to give them gifts because they all have such discerning tastes. So, when an incredibly talented ceramic artist marries an equally talented glass blower, what does one give to them as a wedding gift? After much consideration, I offered Lucie that I would make her wedding cake to celebrate her union to Chad. Luckily, Lucie accepted and was ecstatic! She made no requests as to size, color, theme, etc. She gave me the ultimate carte blanche.

I knew I wanted to make a cake that reflected their interests and loves. I decided to do a wooded outdoorsy cake, as Lucie and Chad had decided to marry on their property. They own many acres in upstate NY and live in an underground home! Did I mention that they are not only talented but also very, very cool. They have an enormous garden where they grow most of their food, a coop full of chickens with quirky personalities, and a beautiful natural swimming hole on their property. They live the life that hipsters in Williamsburg want.

To create the wooded outdoorsy cake, I started with the structure. I wanted to, literally, incorporate wood. I took a scrap piece of natural walnut wood and finished it to create the base. I then took a scrap piece of sycamore, finished it, and created the top stand portion. Lucie had requested red velvet cake. I opted for a buttercream frosting knowing that it would hold up better in the summertime heat then cream cheese frosting. I mixed a pale green frosting for the base of the cake. On the bottom two tiers, I piped on ferns. Their property has the most beautiful ferns growing everywhere. For the top tier, I did a basket weave pattern. I thought that it would compliment the country style wedding they were having. When it came time to cut the cake, I lit sparklers and put them on the top the cake, like you would do with candles. That was a big hit with the kids, both young and old!

Overall, Lucie and Chad were happy with the cake, which made me happy. The best thing to give artists as a gift, is something you made. They understand and appreciate the labor of love in creating something.

Hudson Quadricentennial Treasure Hunt

2009-07-29T22:30:00.007-04:00

The Saugerties Artists Studio Tour was awarded a grant to participate in the Hudson Quadricentennial Celebration. The Artists decided to devise a Treasure Hunt with artwork dedicated to the the themes of the Hudson River. Twenty four artists, including myself, have made boxes which have been placed in and around the Town and Village of Saugerties, NY. Each week, for the past few weeks, clues have been published in the local paper for people to find the boxes. If someone finds all twenty four boxes, they can win a gift certificate to a local restaurant. For details and images of the artwork, check out the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour Website.

SO, the whole point of a Treasure Hunt is to NOT tell where the Treasure is. BUT, I'm not really telling you WHERE it is if I don't verbalize it, right? I mean, can you even find my artwork in the image above??? Are you even sure you know where this is??? If I get kicked out of the Tour because you ratted me out, its all your fault. So, if you figure it out, keep it on the down low and tell Suzanne and Jordan I say hello and thank you!

Saugerties Artists Studio Tour

2009-07-25T21:38:00.006-04:00

This year, I will be part of the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour. It is the weekend of August 8th and 9th from 10am to 6pm. There are over 30 artists participating, and everyone has been working hard to make it a great event. If you have the time, come out and support your local artists! It isn't often that you can visit them in their environment and see them work. As we gear up for the Tour, many of the local merchants are showing the Artists' work in their windows and inside their stores. Check out the town for a preview of the Artists' work. For more information, visit the Saugerties Artists Studio Tour website.

The Mother of The Slow Food Movement

2009-04-09T17:00:00.004-04:00

I'm a HUGE Alice Water's fan. I found this interview/segment from 60 Minutes that aired in March. I wish I could hang out in her kitchen and eat from her gardens! Although I have never been able to taste her food first hand, my family did get to dine at Chez Panisse some years ago. They, of course, had an awesome experience. With this warm weather today, its making me excited for the openings of the local farmer's markets around here...

Elizabeth Gilbert: A new way to think about creativity

2009-04-06T19:48:00.006-04:00

My friend Melita Greenleaf sent this to me a while ago. I finally watched it and thought it was really interesting. This is the note she sent with the link: "Someone dear to me passed along this YouTube clip of a speech by Elizabeth Gilbert, bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love. Gilbert discusses the source of creative inspiration & the pressures and identity crises artists experience in a refreshingly candid and funny manner. She reveals her own fears about releasing a new book following the "freakish success" of her bestseller and she tells a great story about Tom Waits. It's 20 mins long, but worth the watching. I've seen it twice in the span of a few days because I found it so encouraging."

Oh Spring...

2009-04-06T15:34:00.007-04:00

I need some tulip warmth on this cold dreary Monday.... I cleaned up my planters and rearranged the plantings in the side yard, with the help of K, last week. Now, I'm planning what I want to plant this year and how I want to use the yard. I will post before and after pictures as the season progresses.

Emmylou Harris with Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin

2009-02-22T17:46:00.005-05:00

Last night I went and saw the "Three Girls and Their Buddy Tour". Well, their Buddy, Miller that is, was sick and didn't make the concert. So, the ladies rocked out accompanied by Malcolm Burn. It was awesome! Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, and Shawn Colvin sound amazing together and had a fun stage presence. I'm not familiar with Patty Griffin's work. But, she dominated the stage and made me want to go buy her songs on ITunes. It was inspiring to see these women play together and know that their age has allowed them to come to a point where they are mature in their art and it shows. Totally cool...

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T09:18:00.007-05:00

So, I got all Martha Stewart on this here holiday. Let it be known that I behaved myself and had only two of the brownies I made. I wish everyone a wonderful Valentine's Day! Do something good for yourself today. You deserve it! BIG love, Annick.

Say It Ain't So Domino!!

2009-02-05T09:29:00.005-05:00

So, Domino is ka-put... This news has been out for over a week and the more I think about it, the more bummed out I get. I'm still mourning House & Garden! AND, I was rooting for Cottage Living- the great underdog! But alas,... RIP. With all these magazines going under, it makes me worried that they are going to become more and more obsolete. And frankly, that stinks. There is nothing like holding a glossy in your hands and seeing a full article. I wish the people at Domino good luck and hope that the magazine world can restructure to stay alive in the future.

How To Whitewash Or Pickle A Wood Wall With Paint

2009-02-02T16:25:00.010-05:00

I have clients who have bought a house in upstate New York. They are a NYC couple who are transitioning their lives to working and living full time upstate and going into the city as they need to. They admired this house from afar, and when it came onto the market a year later, they snatched it up immediately. They are now going through the process of renovating it to become the home of their dreams. Like any renovation project, they are discovering all sorts of issues and dilemmas that are creeping up room by room.

This room, pictured above, is technically the third bedroom. They will be using it as their media room. While the rest of the room has sheet rock walls, this one wall with the fireplace is paneled in pine boards. Previous to the 'Before' photo being taken, the pine wall was covered in hideous layers of cracking paint. After going over various options for the wall, my clients and I decided to whitewash it. We had the wall striped with an eco friendly paint remover and then sanded down to 220 grit with palm sanders. From there, I rolled my sleeves up and got started on the Whitewash Project, which is sometimes called Pickling. Please note that this is technically NOT whitewashing. Traditionally, Whitewashing is a process that involves mixing water, lime, and various materials to make a thin paintable plaster. However, there is no technical phrase for the process pictured above. It is generally referred to as Whitewashing. (Confusing, I know!) Below, are the materials and steps involved.

Materials:

Drop cloth

Chisel (optional)

Screwdriver

220 sandpaper

Vacuum cleaner

Paintbrush

Rags

Water

Paint

Container

Steel wool (optional)

How To Whitewash A Wall With Paint:

Step 1- Prepare the area for painting by laying down a drop cloth or paper to protect the floors. If the trim and baseboard need to be protected, use blue tape to cover them. Also, make sure to remove outlet covers and light fixtures from walls.

Step 2- Since someone else removed the old paint and sanded the wall, I went over the wall to inspect it and remove any paint that was left over in the crevices of the panels or along the mantle and trim. I used a chisel to gently scrape some of the paint off. But in most cases, this step will not be needed. The cleaner your wall is to begin with, the cleaner the outcome will be. Whitewashing allows the grain of the wood to be highlighted. So, any imperfections will also be highlighted!

Step 3- Go over the wall and quickly hand sand it with 220 grit sandpaper to make sure the surface is smooth and the flecks of old paint are gone. Vacuum the wall with the brush attachment and then take a dry rag and wipe the wall down. It is amazing how much wood dust sticks to everything.

Step 4- MIx your Whitewash solution in a container using clean water and interior paint. In this project, I used Benjamin Moore's Aura Paint in Acadia, as the rest of the room is painted this color and we wanted a lighter version of the other walls. Most interior paints and colored wood stains, in flat to satin finish, will work for this application. I used a ratio of 25% paint and 75% water. Always start with more water and play around with the ratios until you are happy with the results. Remember to continually stir the solution throughout the project to keep it evenly mixed.

Step 5- Working in small areas, apply the solution to the wall with a paintbrush. As you paint the solution on, have a rag ready to rub the wall and pick up the excess paint. Beware of splinters when you rub the walls! As you move across the wall, you will notice that the solution does not look even due to the wood absorbing the paint. Don't fret! Let the wall dry completely and inspect the results, as it will most likely dry evenly. In the photo above, I did one coat of the whitewash solution. I am happy with the amount of wood grain showing through. As you add more coats of whitewash, the wood wall will become more opaque and show less wood grain.

Step 6- (Optional) Go over the wall with steel wool to make the raised grain smooth.

Good luck with your project!

Bubs Land Speed Trails- Bonneville Salt Flats 2008

2009-01-28T16:12:00.008-05:00

(photo above by Gregor Halenda)

This past September, I had the opportunity to go to the Bonneville Salt Flats for the Bub Land Speed Trials with the Markertek Race Team. To say that it was an amazing experience would be an understatement. It was unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. The whole trip was epic- from driving the rig out to Utah from New York, to capturing FIVE records, to seeing the full stream liners make their runs, to flying kites outside the Wendover Nugget Casino, to... I could go on and on, as everyday was filled with new experiences, new sights, and new friends. A major heartfelt thank you to Markertek! Without their support, our team could not have been as successful as we were! Below, are some photos I took out on the Salt Flats. There are more on my Flickr page. The very talented Gregor Halenda took these photos and the photos on the Markertek site.

Scott Kolb waiting his turn to make a run.

Scott is given the green flag and a starting push from Tom Romano.

There is a lot of time spent waiting in the pits.

After hours racing.

Take Control

2009-01-28T11:20:00.009-05:00

Oh how I wish I had taken a before shot!!! (I sometimes get so excited about starting a project that I forget to document it.) One of the services I offer clients is organizing. Often times, before you can get down to designing or decorating, you have to focus on getting rid of the clutter so you can actually see the room. This particular client has an awesome walk-in closet, but it was looking like a small pipe bomb had gone off inside it! She had boxes of stuff that she had not even opened in three cross country moves, bills and papers strewn over the floor, and stuff stacked on top of more stuff. So, how does this happen? Well, very easily. This client works a lot of hours and every time she moved she didn't have time to properly sort through her stuff. Her belongings got crammed into boxes and she kept shoving papers into bags to be sorted later. Every time she had people over, she would scoop everything up in her bedroom and put it in her closet. Out of sight, out of mind. BUT, not anymore!!! It took us four full days of going through her belongings and setting up systems for everything. We bought a filing cabinet to store all her papers and documents and set up a home office. We then tackled the storage situation and bought a bunch of containers. Now, like items go into particular containers. For instance, all her travel bags go in one container, her christmas decorations are in another, and so on. She still has some stacks of papers to go through, but she now has designated places to put everything. Best of all, she is getting rid of all this mental weight in her life. She now is not embarrassed to have people walk into her bedroom and she is organized in her personal life. It lifts a tremendous amount of stress off her shoulders. And better yet, we can now get down to the fun part of redecorating her space!

Go outside!

2009-01-20T16:50:00.007-05:00

A couple weeks ago, we got a snowstorm over a saturday night. We got about 4" to 6" of snow. That sunday, my friend Meg called and asked if I wanted to go for a hike. So, Tom and I ditched our snow removal effort and went along. It took us about 2 hours to make it to this view. It was sooooo worth it!

It felt so good to be outdoors and breathing in the crisp air. The light was dancing all over the trees and the silence felt good.

At the top of the trail, there was a fire tower to climb. Let me tell you, it was a little sketchy to get to the top since it was covered in ice and the wind was wild. Once you could situate yourself and hold onto the railing, the 360 degree view of the Catskills, Hudson River, and Berkshires was awe inspiring.

Superfine in 2009

2009-01-12T15:34:00.015-05:00

I had the pleasure of starting 2009 on Nantucket, Ma. My trip out there was delayed one day due to the Nor'easter we had in New England. We tried to make it out on Dec. 31st, but turned around after not even making it one exit and seeing a car in front of us do a dramatic 360 degree turn on the thruway. We ended up leaving the next day, and it felt great to be traveling to a new destination on January 1st.

It was so cold that ice formed along the shore and was intertwined with the seaweed and shells. The beach was absolutely inspiring in its forms, colors, and patterns. All the photos were taken during my trip. I look forward to returning to Nantucket and seeing the island in different seasons.

The wind made the grass spin and it created these perfect circle patterns.