40 Years of Art & Books

This is the kind of place I would like to be living in when I am old & gray. The seeds have been planted, but it will take a long time to grow.

"The walls are covered in the artwork of the Austrian artists Kurt Kocherscheidt, Brigitte Kowanz, Joannis Avramidis and Maria Lassnig; wooden floors and Oriental rugs are found throughout the home.

Also on display are artifacts like arrowheads and figures from Mr. Reder’s research trips to the Sahara, Afghanistan, Syria and the Caucasus. A drawing by Walter Pichler, an architect and sculptor, hangs above the fireplace. It is one of many sketches by an array of artists and architects hanging on the walls throughout the apartment — even in the kitchen, which is a cozy alcove with a Saarinen round table and Thonet chairs.

Thousands of books line the walls of almost every room, as well as the guest bathroom, where a toilet sits like a throne at the back of a long narrow hall. “We were running out of space,” Ms. Reder said. “So the books spilled into the bathroom. We put crates of wine here, too, since it’s the coolest room in the house.” "

Kiet's Kamer

Wouldn't this be such a wonderful room to grow up in? Look at that gondola! That lamp! Heavenly.
Kiet's kamer by esthermokka

Aesop's Fables

I have long wanted to create a series of sewn pieces based on Aesop's Fables. I love the strange imagery combinded with the sometimes harsh moralization.

The Cock and the Jewel: The ignorant despise what is precious only because they cannot understand it

The Crow and the Pitcher: Necessity is the mother of invention

The Ants & the Grasshopper: It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow

The Dog & the Shadow: Grasp at the shadow and lost the substance

The Bear & the Beehive: It is wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage

Images of old cigarette cards from the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery

Frank Habicht Photographs

Live it to the Hilt

Lost in a Dream (Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin)Via Tam Tam Radio

A Pattern Language

Varnum's Quarters in Valley Forge is a beautiful house.

It is restored to what it might have looked like in George Washingon's time, but breathed such a timelessness that it reminded me of the patterns in Alexander, Ishikawa, & Silverstein's A Pattern Language.

Pattern #207: Good materials

Pattern #252: Pools of Light

Pattern #211: Thickening the Outer Walls

Pattern #159: Light on Two Sides of Every Room

Studio dreams

my office
Originally uploaded by Castanet

One of my big goals this year is to carve out a little workspace/studio space that is just for me. Ultimately, I dream of this being a little space on its own with lots of windows & wonderful light, storage to keep my materials tidy & in one location, and to have a board to pin up ideas & inspirations.

With lighting like this, possibly?All images are out of my league and from YLighting

Until that day happens, I think if we move our bed & nightstands to the other wall, enough space will be opened up in the far corner to attach a small shelf to the wall for my sewing machine. I can use the bed to lay out my cutting board & fabrics. Also the light is wonderful in that room, which is an added plus. But really, all I really want is a permanent place for the sewing machine (currently kept on the top shelf of Baby M's bookcase) and a quiet place to work.

More fun with pins

White paper doilies with orange thumbtacks: brilliant.

From citipix via Fieldguided

A little window shopping

Though I can't say that I am 'in want' for anything, that is not to say that I am without want. Here is the proof. I have a million things to do & I just spent way too much time browsing the Huset shop. I am feeling a little bad now...

But here are some things I saw:

How tall are you now, little one? Our girl would reach the horse's snoot, I think.
A teacup with a wooden lid/coaster:

Lovely bowl with drip drops:

Beautiful notecards:

Pablo

I don't understand him, but Pablo Picasso consistantly fascinates me. A brilliant monster, a fragile egoist, incessently restless. I can't stop reading about him.

An old photo from Life Magazine via Nothing is New

Making Christmas Cards

It's begun!

Though I picked up a couple of boxes of beautiful letterpress cards from Vertallee Letterpress while checking out the East Austin Studio Tour last month, I couldn't afford to get enough to handle all our cards (every year, we seem to send out more! And more! And more!). So, it's handmade time again this year. I bought a stack of pretty, red stationary & am stamping them with my nifty stamp set from the Yellow Owl Workshop. Add a few tastefully restrained drops of glitter & voila! Done. Instant recession goodness.

Bird whittle

This makes me want to whittle. So perfect.