elmtwig

2011-10-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

Good-bye to: All my friends (who of course I will see again), the University of California, Irvine, (although I am still finishing my

dissertation), the Pacific ocean – even though we didn’t spend much time together, The 405 and the 5, I am not sure how much I like

you but we spent a lot of time together, the year round farmers market across the street, yoga across the street, Trader Joe's across

the street, student discounts, random celebrity sightings (just saw Jesse Tyler Ferguson at Café Stella!!), studying for comprehensive

exams at Zack de la Rocha’s house, Art Center College of Design, South Coast Plaza and that insanely good Nordstrom rack, The

Great Park, Santa Inez Valley, Paso Robles and all the amazing wine in California, palm trees, warm winters, Hi-Time wine

cellar, The Barney’s Outlet, KCRW, my nightly walking path with Bunni - but we will find a new path in Chicago!

I am in the middle of moving and will start my new job on November 1. For now, I will also say goodbye to this blog. I am going to

focus on establishing my life in Chicago, and I have reached a point in which I no longer feel the need to document everything. Who

knows, maybe that will change, but for now, it is good-bye.

[photo by Terry Richardson]

2011-09-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

Now for the reason I have been so busy the past couple of weeks, I got a really awesome job in

Chicago, and I will be moving there at the end of October! Life is going to be crazy until I move,

but I am so excited about all these changes. I probably won't be posting very regularly, but will

have more details about my new job soon.

2011-09-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

I am back from Lima. Actually, I have been back for a couple of weeks. I have been so busy

that I have not really had time to write about it or even go through my photos. Once things

settle down, I will write a story about the time there and some of the things I learned. The

above photo is a view of the slum where we worked, Cerro Verde. It is an informal

neighborhood that has only existed about 10 years, and does not have adequate physical

infrastructure including running water.

As you may notice, it is extremely hilly. Each day, people carry their water up and down these

hills (some of which have stairs and some that do not). The Art Center students taking this

class are working on design solutions for some of these problems. The premise of the course

is grounded in the theories of CK Prahalad and Paul Polak to design products that could

eventually help people overcome poverty. This approach challenges traditional models of

poverty eradication, which some argue have relied too heavily on overburdened, sometimes

corrupt federal governments and charity granting organizations. In this model, people are

treated as consumers and entrepreneurs, not those in need of hand outs, and products are

designed to suit their needs, empower them, and overcome poverty. This is not my area of

expertise, but I can already imagine the shitstorm of critique happening in academia over these

ideas. The public sector is often suspicious of the private sector. But I do buy two parts of this

argument - governments are generally way over burdened with problems to adequately help

those in need (this is even true in the US, think of FEMA post-Katrina), and, inspired by

Bourdieu's theory of symbolic violence, charity does create a sort of ongoing power dynamic in

which the giver enacts a dominant role over the recipient. A monetary exchange in which an

individual gives money for a product that is worth that amount of money, ideally a fair

exchange, will not necessarily perpetuate the cycle of domination (although now that I write it,

I am finding that hard to believe, seems like it would perpetuate an entirely new form of

domination - my Sociology friends can help me with this one). The leap I am not sure I can

make is whether or not products can actually help people overcome poverty. That part seems

to remain in the theoretical stage, especially considering no one has any good example of any

products that have truly done this. The theories about the base of the pyramid are new enough

that the practice has not had time to run the course from design idea to poverty eradication.

More about all this later...

And if you are interested you can read more here,

And there is a video here.

2011-08-29T00:03:00.000-07:00

I am off to Lima, Peru for the next couple of weeks to work on the Safe Agua Peru project

(as a teacher) in collaboration with the DesignMatters program at Art Center College of

Design and Un Techo para mi Pais. The above video tells a brief story of their previous Safe

Aqua Chile project. We will be working on something similar in Peru. I am really thrilled

the previous professors invited me to join them. I am also excited to return to Lima; I was

there about ten years ago and I loved it.

I am going to miss Bunni, but I did find her an excellent dog-sitter! I will try to post while

in Peru, but am uncertain about internet access.

2011-08-28T22:38:00.000-07:00

I saw this painting at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and was so inspired by it.

I looked up the artist, Luis Melendez, and he seems to be one of the most accomplished

still life painters in 18th Century Spain. Seeing these made me sad for the contemporary

processed diet. Maybe Michael Pollan should add to his rules, "eat foods that could be

in an 18th century still life painting." A rule like that would work for me because it

conjures up images of beautiful bountiful, colorful, nurturing food.

Here are more:

2011-08-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

My cousin Adam,

and his beautiful bride, Jen, got married last weekend in Ipswich. His maternal grandmother

has this expansive property on the marsh and it was an idyllic setting to get married.

They asked that we do not take photos during the ceremony, but I started right after with

this amazing brass band who, while I took this shot, were playing Summertime. They

were one of three bands Adam and Jen had at the wedding.

First food stop, the heirloom tomato stand that had a chef who would slice up the most

delicious tomato and top it with things like balsamic reduction and smoked salt. I went

back a few times. He even taught me how to make saffron salt! This is such a genius idea

for a summer party.

Our cocktail table with champagne, artisan cocktails and the remnants of the best corn

on the cob I have ever had (and I am from Minnesota).

The lounge tent where you could have delicious artisan cocktails. They also had one of

my favorite summer wines, the Ameztoi Txakolina Rose. Txakolinas are dry, crisp and

a little effervescent - perfect with salads. This one is a little hard to find so I was impressed

they had it for their wedding. Actually all the food and drinks were exceptionally good,

especially for a wedding.

Lanterns were all over the property.

The very dapper Eric (my uncle) on the left, and Jim Dow, who is an extraordinary

photographer. I got the chance to look at his book at my uncle's house and ask him

questions about his work. I had previously seen some of his photos a few years ago

in the Where We Live exhibition at the Getty.

My uncle Eric's shoes, which were the second most talked about thing at the wedding,

of course the bride and groom were the first.

Cousin Adrian.

Adrian and his girlfriend Iris.

Our table.

The now otherworldly lanterns again, but at night, illuminated with little LED lights.

The bride and groom.

The Confetti System inspired decor inside the tent. I loved how they moved with the wind.

For serving dessert.

The wedding cake, made with love by Jim's wife, Jacqui Dow.

My sister, Kristin, and her husband Jim. No, Kristin and I are not twins (everyone asks).

Cousin Nick and his girlfriend, Michelle. Nick is the one who made the Vans print.

And finally, my father, Adrian, with his brother, and my uncle Eric.

My only regret: I didn't get photos of my Aunt Nanny, Jacqui Dow, or my mother.

I was being spontaneous about photos, and should have planned a little better.

It was a lovely weekend in Boston (I forgot how much I love that city), a fabulous wedding

and always such a pleasure to spend time with my family.

2011-08-18T13:40:00.001-07:00

Off to Boston for a few days for my cousin Adam's wedding.

2011-08-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Russian Dacha interpreted by Vrag magazine in Issue 4 Russia. They explain: "A dacha is a place in the countryside

where Russians like to spend their holidays, especially in the summer."

2011-08-09T22:27:00.000-07:00

Birthday flowers from my family!

2011-08-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

For my birthday party, my friends and I went to a Branford Marsalis concert at the

Great Park. We had a lovely picnic on the lawn while listening to beautiful jazz music.

2011-08-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

Another great discovery on my road trip was a new perfume. Or at least a combination

of perfumes. When my sister and I shared a hotel room in Rapid City, before going out for

dinner, I sprayed my perfume and then she sprayed hers. When we got back to the room,

it was the perfume I have been searching for. The Eau d'Italie Paestum Rose had always

been close, but something was missing. Apparently that was Dyptique Eau de Lierre. I

loved it so much, she gave me her bottle. And then sent me the new bottle of Paestum

Rose for another silk road themed birthday present.

2011-08-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

An early birthday gift! A new Caucasian Gendje rug, probably from Azerbaijan.

Guess who else loves it?

2011-08-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

I recently bought this book, My Sweet Mexico, by Fany Gerson, and it is one of those books

that ignites feelings of wonder. She essentially did a massive research project on sweets in her

native Mexico, finding people who have made sweets for decades and tracing histories, including

her own. The recipes and the details are so thoughtful and beautiful.

This photo from the book is the Dulceria de Celaya in downtown Mexico City. I want to go

there. It brought up all these memories for me of a dream I had when I was younger. I wanted

to start a small cafe where I would serve sweets and drinks from all over the world. I imagined

it looking a lot like this place. Maybe when I retire it can be my little entrepreneurial venture.

For now, I will bake Gerson's Flan Imposible for my birthday this Saturday.

2011-08-02T23:46:00.000-07:00

My new obsession, Vadouvan. If you can find some, buy it! Or if you are ambitious,

you can make your own.

To really appreciate the spectacular flavor of this spice, I saute potatoes in a little olive oil

(if you use a Scan Pan you only need a teeny tiny bit of oil). Once they are browned and tender

add a teaspoon of butter and once that melts sprinkle generously with Vadouvan. Serve with a mango lassi.

2011-07-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

I bought this issue of Monocle magazine just for the photo of this Chloe dress. I loved

it and had this "dress" at home waiting to be transformed into something better. When

I saw this photo, I knew. On my road trip, I packed a box full of clothes to have tailored.

Why bring them all the way to Minnesota? Because my mother has a tailor who

worked for both the Guthrie Theatre and Prince, and who is a genius with clothes. Such

incredible attention to detail. She had previously transformed a few of my dresses from

things I liked into core pieces of my wardrobe. She did the same with this. She made

a version inspired by this Chloe dress, just shorter, that fits me perfectly. There was not

enough fabric left from shortening it to make the sash, so for now I will use a white belt

and be on the hunt for fabric I can send her to make me one. Still I love it and am so

excited to have such a beautiful basic piece in my wardrobe.

2011-07-25T00:06:00.000-07:00

I am still inspired by this Viennese apartment. I posted about it before, and I keep turning back

to it. Because I am not moving for another year (finally made peace with this), I want to spruce

up my disaster, I mean apartment. I like how their place is full and cluttered, but manages to

look modern and warm. Makes me think I can turn a mess into something wonderful. Having

those amazing windows would help.

[photo via NY Times]

2011-07-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

I saw this documentary last night, and it was really fascinating. I was obsessed with A Tribe Called Quest in high school, and still kind of am.

I have always wanted to know more about them. This film answers a lot of questions, but its making has also stirred up a lot of controversy.

2011-07-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

The best meal I had on my trip was at my cousin Colleen's house in Omaha. She made me the

most amazing spaghetti and meatballs, with a side veggie dish of grated zucchini and spinach

sauteed in butter. After two days of fillet-o-fish (which is a totally underrated sandwich) and

Subway, it was a nourishing and delicious meal. And as far as I am concerned, nothing beats

homemade.

My second best meal was at the Corn Exchange in Rapid City. I had read about this place years

ago in Gourmet Magazine. I must have mentioned it to my mother, because when I asked if she

wanted to go there for her birthday dinner, she said, "isn't that the place with the butterscotch

pudding?" My mom frequently mentions how forgetful she is, but butterscotch desserts are

probably not something she would forget. "Maybe", I said, and then looked up the article. It

was. More specifically it's the place that has butterscotch pots de creme. Let's call her memory

selective, not bad. I called the restaurant to be sure they would have them the night of my

mother's birthday celebration. They were so so accommodating. The chef and owner actually

answered the phone and had taken notes about how I heard about the place. She assured us

that there would be a pots de creme for my mom. And there was. And we (mother, sister and I)

fought over it! I am going to try to make some at home.

We also had the best steak any of us have ever ever had. And I was impressed with their wine

list. In the middle of South Dakota we drank a Domaine Tempier Bandol (yummy wine from

Provence, imported by Kermit Lynch, buy it if you ever see it and drink it with a steak!). They

also had a little deli connected to the restaurant that sold high quality cheeses, pastries and

espresso drinks. If for any reason you find yourself in Rapid City, do not miss this place. It is a

real treasure.

2011-07-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

A portrait of Korczak Ziolkowski, the Polish American sculptor who was selected to create

Crazy Horse. He was born on the same day (not year) that Crazy Horse died, which led the

Lakota elders to believe it was an omen and he was meant to be the scupltor. He started

carving the Crazy Horse Memorial when he was 40. Korczak, died in 1982, leaving his wife

and children to continue his vision.

2011-07-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

My friends Kristen and Rishi's Hindu farm wedding in Ankeny, Iowa.

2011-07-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

I had two really strange experiences on my road trip. The first involved a David Lynch-esque

hotel in Colorado that I think could have served as inspiration for Twin Peaks. The second

was in Utah, where I visited the Young Living Farms. I knew about young living because an

old office mate was a vendor of their essential oils. I was aware of their cult-like scamming

reputation, but when I saw the fields of lavender farms, and their large inviting signs, I could

not resist. I took Bunni for a walk around the beautiful grounds and then went into the store

where I bought Peace and Calming oil, lavender oil, samples of Theives (which I am going to

use for cleaning), and nutritious bars. It all seemed so healthy and restorative compared to

the landscape of fast food and gas stations. I didn't drink the kool- aid, but I did enjoy the view.

2011-07-05T19:06:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of my trip was spending time at the Crazy Horse Memorial. It is a

fascinating place and it was exciting to see how much progress they have made. It was

thrilling for me to confirm what a perfect comparison case this will be for my dissertation.

It was even better than I expected!

Bunni was a big hit at Crazy Horse. Children love her and she seems to love them too. Or

at least she is very patient while they pet her. This group of boys went crazy over her.

But who could resist this face?

2011-07-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

I am finally back in California after a midwest extravaganza. I had several 11 hour days

of driving, and I am really exhausted. I will post a few exciting things from the trip over

the next week.

Above is the lobby of the Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City, South Dakota. It is where

the cast of North by Northwest stayed while they were filming. It is also a really great

hotel. In fact, Rapid City has grown into quite an interesting place.

2011-06-22T00:09:00.000-07:00

I leave today for my road trip across America. I solicited music mixes from friends and family-and they

came through! I will have wonderful music to listen to and a little art/design project on my journey. I am the

most excited for a stop in Omaha for dinner with my cousin Colleen, meeting up with my family in Des

Moines (we want to revisit their amazing sculpture garden when it isn't covered in snow), and for my friend

Kristen's Hindu wedding on her parent's farm.

2011-06-21T00:02:00.001-07:00

I baked a loaf of bread last week. Baking bread is really good for you. It makes you feel

very human, very productive, and very talented, even though it actually quite easy.

2011-06-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my friend Paul and I went for Indian brunch in Artesia, CA, a.k.a. Little India. We

walked around after to look at jewelry and Sari fabric. The jewelry I loved was thousands of

dollars. Big surprise. When we came across an eyebrow threading shop, Paul couldn't pass it up.

And of course I had to get a photo. It looks like there are four different people's hands in this

photo, but is just Paul and the threader. I like how it looks like there is so much action - like he

is getting surgery.

(after seeing this post, Paul said he thought it looked like back-alley surgery)

p.s. I am going to be testing out some new headers. I decided my actual last name might be

more interesting in terms of type. "Q" is just so beautiful.

2011-06-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

Another woman to add to my list of heroes. I think what I admire most is fearlessness.

[video via StyleLikeU]

2011-06-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

I got this wonderful gift last week from a very talented and thoughtful former Art Center

student. He is working with this great bag designer. I also recently got this rug on ebay. It is

worn in the perfect way and the colors are beautiful. It is huge 3.5 ft x 10 ft. And for the best

part, I got it for $39.99 plus $10 for shipping. Only $50. When I look at it, I cannot believe I

paid so little.

Bun loves it! She thinks it is her special rug!

2011-06-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

I have really been enjoying the short stories in this book, Memories of the Future, by Russian author,

Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky, I heard about him a month ago when I saw Geoff Manaugh, from

Bldg Blog, speak at UCI. In his talk, he mentioned a Krzhizhanovsky story called Quadraturin, in which

existential fears are explored through a shape-shifting, ever expanding room. You can read Quadraturin

in full here. It's a fascinating read, as are the other stories in this book.

I am taking a typography class this summer at Art Center, and am going to design this story

for our next editorial assignment. It is ripe for visualization.

2011-06-12T01:02:00.000-07:00

Because I saw an article that said reading about bloggers perfect lives makes people depressed,

and because I am sick of reading how perfect all the bloggers lives are, I am going to show you what my

apartment really looks like. Check out my dining room table, A giant mess. I decided to turn my whole

living/dining room into a temporary studio, somehow I interpreted it as, let your place go completely.

I have to admit, the mess has inspired some great creativity, but now it has grown so bad, and I am still

in the thick of hardwork, that I am not sure what to do. I might need an intervention. Maybe from the

Health Department once someone sees my kitchen. For now I am going to keep working around the mess,

but once my deadlines are reached, I must clean it (this is just the tip of the iceberg). For now I might turn

to this book, A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of a Misspent Life, for some solace. My life has

clearly not been misspent

The good news is, Bunni doesn't mind as long as she has a nice place to sleep, and gets lots of treats.

2011-06-06T23:58:00.000-07:00

Sending wish lanterns into the sky in Newport Beach. The photos are in chronological order, starting the evening with an obligatory beach sunset photo and surreptitious wine/whiskey drinking. It was really hard work to get the lanterns ready so some took off and others fell into the water. The people at the beach cheered and booed. But it was so exhilarating when they did take off because we had worked so hard together.

You can find the lanterns here.

2011-06-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to get a tour of the print shop ColorGraphics in

downtown LA. . It was completely fascinating, and I learned so much about the

printing process from paper to ink, prints and plates. I was astounded at the complexity

of these large printing jobs, in particular the unbelievable care it takes to accurately

print color. There are people who spend hours making sure that the color in the digital

design is perfectly represented in the print. It seems like this would be easy, but it's not.

It is a complex process of translation.

Even though I forgot my good camera (which I have been doing a lot lately. It is big and

makes my bag even heavier), I will still share some iPhone shots.

Above: Rolls of paper running through a press. These are the fastest of the printers

because they print the front and back of the large sheets simultaneously, and then cut them

after. These are the kind that do million copy print jobs. Other presses use pre-cut paper

and the front and back go through separate runs.

A view of the rolls of paper.

Stacks of a competed Scion brochure. To be folded and bound at the bindery.

The Heidelberg Press. I love the logo.

Stacks of paper loaded into the Heidelberg Press.

This was one of the most interesting things - the offset printing plates.

The offset printing process is really fascinating and complex.

When you look through that little magnifying glass you can see the halftone rosettes.

They look like this and this.

Another view of the offset printing plates.

The largest ink cartridges I have ever seen. They were over six feet tall.

Old school device that helps them analyze the color so that the prints on the

press are matching up identically to the proofs. The newer ones are more

accurate and fancy, but I liked this analog technology. I reminded me of old

science fiction television shows.

I am so intrigued by the printing process, the culture in these printing

companies, and their relationship to graphic designers.. I would love to do an

ethnographic study... maybe in a few years after my dissertation has been

turned into a book and have enough energy for a new research project.

2011-05-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

Some friends and I went to the Art in the Streets exhibit at MOCA yesterday.

The place was completely filled with art work, even the walls and bathrooms

were covered. French graffiti artist, Andre Saraiva (aka Mr. A) likes to write

his girlfriends names in graffiti. At MOCA he covered the bathroom stalls

with his current girlfriend's name, Annabelle.

I have a lot of critiques of the exhibit, but I won't go into them here. I did

find a lot of visual inspiration in the details. My friend Silvia pointed out

that it allowed for this process of discovery and I always enjoy that kind

of challenge.

2011-05-30T00:46:00.000-07:00

Ira Glass on Creative Work

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through."

This quote might upset some creative people, but it really resonates with me.

Found via ck/ck

2011-05-29T01:56:00.000-07:00

Bunni at one of our Tuesday picnics. We go to the Japanese hot dog truck,

Dogzilla, and set up a blanket. She is always hopeful for bites of bacon and

hot dog. She looks blue in this photo!

2011-05-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Fashion Island in Newport Beach and parked next to this hot pink van. It is hard to read because of the glare of the sun, but it says, "Lipstick Bail Bonds" and "Kiss Jail Good-Bye." And who could miss the lipstick kisses all over it. They are for real. I looked them up online and here is there website (merchandise and all). I had to take a photo because I could not believe it existed. And I have the following questions:

Are they trying to be outrageous so people in jail will remember them?

Are there bail bond companies that cater to women?

Do they mean to cater to women?

Is this my inherent gender bias coming out?

Or are lipstick covered hot pink bail bonds vans really trying to target women in jail?

What kinds of women go to jail?

The first that come to mind are prostitutes. Does this company cater to prostitutes?

I also imagine that this van might appeal to drag queens. But who would arrest a drag queen?

Ok, I will stop with all the silly stereotypical questions. But I will say one last stereotypical thing, I cannot imaging seeing this van any where but in Southern California.

And what I really want to know is:

What were they doing at Fashion Island? What did they buy?

2011-05-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

There's a small chance that the following scenario will soon come to pass: You'll be invited to become part of a situation that promises to give you special privileges or inside information, but after you join you'll find out that your participation would require you to compromise your principles. But there's a far greater chance -- over 80 percent -- that the following scenario will take place: You'll be invited to join your fortunes to a group or circle or tribe or situation that won't ask you to dilute your integrity or betray your values at all. In fact, it's likely to activate a dormant part of your potential. The moral of the story, Leo: Be very discerning.
- Real World Astrology, Leo Horoscope, Week of May, 26 2011

For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Both of these are making me feel better about the world.

2011-05-23T20:43:00.000-07:00

This is the neckline of a new Mexican dress I bought on ebay for super cheap. I have a lot of weddings to attend this summer and I needed a couple of special dresses. I was so excited when it got here because it was so much better than in the picture. And it reminded me of this book cover:

from a collection of Czech cubist books. I bought it a few years ago in Prague. I scanned it and kept it in an inspiration pile. I love that the dress has some similar qualities. I especially like how Mexican dresses also kind of look like Eastern European folk dresses.

I also recently bought these Givenchy shoes. If you could see the detail in person, you would see they are like little works of art. I got them at the Barney's outlet. WHY IS IT SO CLOSE TO MY HOUSE? AND WHY DO THEY HAVE SO MANY GOOD THINGS? I have officially banned myself from going there. At least until the end of the summer.

Unless of course, they get one of these bright blue Celine clutches. Then I will be right there. It will go well with my new dress. This photo is from the blog, STREETFSN. Look at it. It has good stuff.

Like this photo of Bill Cunningham, who is seriously one of my heroes. I was deeply touched by his documentary film. I didn't even know how to write about it. I still don't. It hit a little too close to home. But you should see it. On the surface it is about fashion, but underneath it is about an obsession with beauty, loneliness and forces larger than us.

The trailer doesn't even do it justice.

I also want to see the new Miranda July movie. It too looks like it might have some familiar themes. I like the way she sees the world.

2011-05-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

I am completely obsessed with this book Pig 05049 by Christien Meindertsma. I am using it in my classes at Art Center as an good example of design research. It is project by a designer, in a book that has mostly images, but those images are not superfluous, rather they strengthen the argument. I get so tired of design books that have only beautiful pictures.

Essentially, her project was to trace every product produced by the slaughtering of one pig. My friend Marisa and I had similar reactions to this book. First, disgust. Second, amazement that we are using so many parts of the pig. Third, realization that the use of animal products is so systemic, it would be difficult to stop using them entirely. The pig parts are used in things like paper, glue, printing presses, jewelry and thing you would never imagine contain animal products.

2011-05-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

I am attempting to make an origami alphabet. Instructions to make all letters are here.

[Photo found here]

2011-05-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

A pack of postcards, purchased last year the Long Beach Flea Market. They are very small black and white photos. I am hoping to use some of these in a cover for one of the road trip mixes.

The last photo is my favorite of the bunch. My dissertation project on the Great Park has me collecting photos of "works in progress." I am especially intrigued when they are used as a selling point - "come see this world famous thing as it is being constructed." Hopefully I can collect a bunch of postcard ephemera for Crazy Horse, a monument in progress, on my road trip. Their logo is perfect for long-term projects with an uncertain future:

2011-05-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

An invite I designed for a tea party when I first got Bunni. I traced her head from a photo.

My friends Marisa and Mary printed it and even cut it out for me. I was very impressed.

2011-05-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

I am totally in love with this year's Cannes poster. Perfection.

Found via ck/ck

2011-05-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

(decided to add this song in because it is my favorite..)

My friend Marisa recently introduced me to tUnE YarDs. The lead singer appears to be connected to some of my friends (i.e. related to or went to Smith together). Her music reminds me of so many different times in my life - being in Africa, living in New Orleans, etc. Plus it makes me want to hang out on my porch and drink summery cocktails.

I have an interesting music/design project in the works. Or rather, I have a lot of my friends and family curating mixes for an upcoming road trip. I am going to listen to the music on my trek across America, take photographs inspired by the music and design covers for each mix. Then I will put together box sets and give the compilation to all the participants. I love doing participatory projects, and I like that I can give everyone something for the effort of making a mix. They can be a lot of work.

2011-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

Went with my friends to see Junip last night at the Detroit Bar. Katie got the tickets and I am

so glad she did, otherwise I wouldn't have gone, and it turned out to be one of my favorite

concerts. It felt very special to see Jose Gonzalez perform in such a small intimate space.

2011-05-06T15:37:00.001-07:00

I finally had to get rid of my ballet shoes. The holes in the bottom were so big that the parts of my feet poking out got hot on the concrete. How sad. I decided I am too hard on shoes to go for another pair of Repettos so I opted to get these Ferragamo Varas. They have the same feeling as the ballet slipper, and they have the 1 inch heel I love, but they are waaaaaaaaayyyyyy more sturdy. I can wear these for years.

2011-05-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

I am a little bit obsessed with Blingee.

2011-05-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Appreciating the mood of these interior photos by Elein Fleiss for Tourist Magazine.
The feeling of the first one reminds me of summer.

Found via Tomorrow Started

2011-04-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

THE ESSENTIALS

Sofia Coppola, film director
1. Acne jeans
Hex black.
2. My SC bag by Louis Vuitton
Navy, small size, I love it for everyday.
3. Prada silk pajamas
4. Charvet shirts
I love ordering shirts there with Anne-Marie Colban.
She has great taste and is a perfectionist. I like to have a bunch when
I’m shooting so I don’t have to think about what I’m wearing.
5. Louis Vuitton cashmere legging pants
Super indulgent, great for the airplane or whenever you don’t want to get dressed.
6. Brora cashmere socks
7. Alaïa ballet flats
8. Céline classic navy coat
9. Marc Jacobs men’s cashmere sweaters
Crew-neck in navy or light gray.
10. Alexander Wang t-shirt dresses
I like basic ones: white, black or I have a gray with navy stripes.
11. Smythson fuschia Soho diary
I’ve been using these for years; always happy when I get
a new one to start the year. I like that you can see the week
and have a page for notes next to it.
12. Contax T3 camera
I always try other cameras and come back to this one.
I know I should use a digital one, but these pictures always turn out the best.
13. Araks underwear
We used these for the title shot in Lost in Translation,
and I’ve been ordering them ever since.

Sofia Coppola' essentials via self service magazine.

I also liked the ipad version of their magazine. The adds are amazing. Watch here.

2011-04-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

I am not sure these are modern names, but I like this infographic showing the various types of collars. It would be nice
to have updated versions and to see things like sleeves, dresses, skirts, pants, etc.

2011-04-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

This egg reminds me of the Museum of Jurassic Technology.

2011-04-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

Things have been crazy the past four weeks. I felt like everything was coming undone. This culminated in my computer crashing on Wednesday morning, and me flipping out thinking I had lost some recent dissertation data and two important graphic design projects. A colleague told me that Mercury was in retrograde, and for some reason during this phase a lot of electronics go bonkers. It was kind of a relief because it felt good to blame an external force. I later looked it up and it turns out that this phase, has affected all fire signs (Leo, Aries, Sagittarius) since March 30. I don't really believe in these things, but it kind of makes me wonder. I have three other Leo friends who are also having a rough transitional phases. This idea really resonated with them too. And it is funny, because I can pinpoint when things started to get weird on March 31. Mercury leaves retrograde tomorrow so let's see if things start getting better.

This morning I read this piece about 'scanners', and it already has me feeling better! It is about people who love to gather ideas, want to experiment with everything, and have a hard time settling on careers. The author frames it as a gift and not a problem, even identifying political shifts that changed the perception of creative people into flakes.

p.s. My computer's logic board failed which is a known problem for that Apple computer model. Apple is going to pay to fix it and they don't think there is a problem with the hard drive. I won't know for sure until I get it back, but I am hopeful!

p.p.s. I found the new agey, unsettling gif on FFFFOUND

2011-04-20T00:05:00.000-07:00

J Morgan Puett, artist and Curator of Food Curiosities. I continue to be fascinated by ideas of curation. And that mundane things like dinner or the contents of the refrigerator can be approached as art.

2011-04-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

An infographic I am working on to show all the outfits you can make with just a few pieces of clothing. It still needs quite a bit of work, and I am not sure if it will make sense to people yet, but I love the rhythm of it and how everything is intertwined, almost braided. I think eventually it will need to become two. The dresses placed in between the outerwear doesn't really make sense. I will post the final version once it is done.

p.s. with these 10 items of clothing you can make 30 outfits. With accessories it could easily double!

2011-04-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

I never understood why Frenchies are called "frog dogs" until I got Bunni. It is especially noticeable in her back legs when she sleeps. They look like little frog legs. Things are going really well with her, so well that we have started obedience training. She can do a lot of tricks now like sit, watch me, leave it (even when a treat is right in front of her on the floor), drop it, and touch. She is a very smart and obedient little girl! She can't do shake yet because she falls over. She may be a little too top heavy to ever shake. Next week we are going to work on stay.

It is also really fun to go on walks because people often stop me and ask about her. They tell me she looks like crazy things. The most common are Yoda, Gremlins, and Stitch. I think that if you found her in nature, you might think she is small wild boar. Especially because of her round belly and snorting. For Halloween, I might make her little boar tusks!

2011-04-18T00:02:00.000-07:00

- Yvon Chouinard

I think this quote is supposed to be about the environmental movement, but I think it can be interpreted in so many ways.

2011-04-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

I finally got my iPad! Initially, I was very skeptical about iPads. Who needs another device? But I have been looking for the perfect tool for cooking, and it is incredibly useful. I already bought a bunch of food apps including How to Cook Everything (I think I have made it clear how much I love Mark Bittman), and I downloaded the Food and Wine app. Their healthy issue is so great- tons of delicious, flavorful, healthy recipes. I am also using the Dropbox app for my own favorite recipes. I have them all typed up on my computer and just store them in Dropbox which makes them very easily accessible.

I also intended iPad to be my TV. The Hulu plus app is so awesome! Now I can can watch TV (am am currently and embarrassingly obsessed with Law and Order SVU) and work on my computer. Perfect for when I am working on design projects.

All I need to do is get one of these and I will be all set.

2011-04-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

Today I saw a photo of baked oatmeal on the BKFST (all photos of breakfasts!) Tumblr. I was intrigued, so I followed the link and then stumbled upon a wonderful food blog, Lottie + Doof. There are so many recipes I want to try including, Marlow and Sons Sugar Walnut Shortbreads, the baked oatmeal, and simple homemade bagels (that are supposed to be the bagel version of no knead bread, just not quite as easy because they have to be boiled). In addition to recipes he also has gift guides from previous holidays. One of his recommendations was a book from 1911 called, The Plums of New York. It has the most extraordinary, very modern looking images of plums, which he describes as photos that were printed over in color. I seriously want to see this book for some design inspiration. If I can't find one I could purchase an antique print here and there is an entire digital version of the book here.

Also, how awesome is it that someone wrote such an elaborate book on stone fruits in New York? Graduate school has made me appreciate niche subjects, and those that pursue them.

2011-04-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

I like to hang clothes I love and magazine images on my wall, but I never thought of putting them up together.

[Image via the profile of Fiona Green on The Coveteur]

2011-04-08T17:43:00.001-07:00

I want to make this! Via The Selby

This is the second post he has done that makes me want to visit Tulum. Here is the first.

2011-04-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

I went to high school with this guy! I love what he has done with his rugs. See the article American Rustic, and more photos via the NY Times.

2011-03-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

I am really inspired by Tauba Auerbach's work. These letters might seem a little more extravagant than my usual taste, but I love them. I even used the "R" for a party invitation. See more of her work here.

2011-03-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

My mom was here for a visit last week. We had such a wonderful time! I am always revitalized after she visits. Actually, this time she was extremely helpful with Bunni. Over the last couple of weeks, Bunni had been having some incontinence problems, a.k.a. she peed all over the house. I thought it was just something I was going to have to deal with or even consider whether I could realistically keep her. I was getting so little sleep because I was taking her out to pee so many times in the night. My mom helped me realize this was not normal, so we took her to the vet. It turned out that she just had a urinary tract infection. All her accidents have stopped, she is back to being a wonderful dog, and I can sleep again!

Bunni enjoyed my mom's visit too. We also had a little getaway to Palm Springs, including some a marathon shopping trip at the outlets in Cabazon which resulted in some amazing finds. More on that to come.

p.s. you can see the "7" on Bunni's chest in these photos.

2011-03-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

A 19th century infographic by one of W.E.B DuBois students. See more here.

Found via plsj field notes

2011-03-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

The other day I made the decision to try to meet four or five new interesting people to invite to a dinner party at my house. It sounds silly, but whenever I have the intention to meet knew people, it inevitably happens. One of my favorite things is to have a diverse group of people over for lively discussion, good food and wine.

Yesterday, I fortuitously stumbled upon Leif Hedendal' s blog dinner discussion. Accidentally encountering people like him is the reason I love the internet. Each weekend, Leif hosts a dinner, inviting people to his home for food and discussion. He may not even know the people, but is interested in their work or ideas. Read more about his discussion dinners here. His dinners seem to be part of larger food and social movements with notes of performance art. Dinners approaching the realm of art resonates deeply with me. But mostly I want to run with his idea that one can invite interesting people they don't really know, but would like to know, to their home for an evening of good food and conversation.

2011-03-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

Last week, I finally found a thyme tea recipe that I wanted to try. I first learned about thyme tea at Stumptown coffee at the Ace Hotel in Portland. They purchase it from an Ethiopian restaurant, Queen of Sheeba. I completely fell for it (I am a sucker for elixirs and herbal teas). Now I could start making it at home, but needed some new spices.

The next day, my friend Marisa mentioned there was a new spice store at a strip mall near Sprinkles in Newport Beach. I usually drive to Penzy's in Torrance (a 30-40 min drive) for my spices. How exciting to find there was something closer.

It turns our the shop is called Savory Spice Shop. It is a small national chain and has an amazing selection of spices. I bought all kinds of good basic stuff like coriander and fennel seeds and then I got all kinds of new experimental things like fennel pollen, grains of paradise honey powder, tomato powder, and tamarind paste (to make this).

A major theme from last week was creativity with cooking. As part of this I decided to restart my CSA membership at Morning Song Farm. I really missed the fresh produce and the creative challenge of trying to decide what to do with all the new fruits and veggies. This week, I got all kinds of good things including oranges, lemons, Swiss chard, avocados, beets, carrots (with which I made soup), and two heads of cabbage (tomorrow I am making a meatloaf with grass fed beef and braised cabbage). I also got two big bags of fresh strawberries. In the same discussion about the spice shop Marisa told me about eating strawberries with cinnamon at a Moroccan restaurant. While drinking my tea, I tried this combination and added a bit of the aforementioned honey powder and it was so delicious. I would have never thought of that one on my own.

2011-03-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Franklin's daily routine. Perhaps we should all begin asking questions about doing good each day. I personally struggle with structuring my own time as I write my dissertation. Maybe a few days of extreme structure, like Franklin's routine, would do me some good - and Bunni would benefit too.

Found via Nubby Twiglet via Swiss Miss.

2011-03-16T00:02:00.000-07:00

My favorite belt, from Deskohan. It is actually four belts in one (see here). My sister gave it to me for Christmas. I originally wanted one that had a brown circle and black backing, but now I love this version more.

2011-03-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

A book cover I am working on. I am starting to like it. Am changing the type to italic. Hopefully then it will be just right.

2011-03-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has a Frankfurt Kitchen on display. The kitchen was designed by Austrian architect Margarete Schütte Lihotzky in 1926. My mother and I saw a model of this kitchen several years ago at the MAK in Vienna (pictured above). For its tiny size, were amazed at the efficiency and organization. While it is a model for modern kitchens, I wish they use more of its innovative, space saving features in apartment kitchens.

Here is the floor plan:

And here is the original model:

2011-03-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

Bunni and I had a photo shoot.

This is a common expression of hers. My uncle Eric said she looks like Yoda.

2011-03-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

I have been doing a lot of black and white designs lately with simple lines. Using just the basics. I am inspired by this painting - the grid, the variety of lines and shapes, and the African feel of the pattern.

I am not sure what the original source is, but I found it on FFFFOUND.

2011-03-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

I heard this OMD song on KCRW the other day and was like, "I didn't know the xx covered this song." Then when I went to investigate the original version, I realized that OMD actually covered the xx song. They saw the rise in popularity of bands like the xx as an entry point for a comeback. Such a fascinating strategy to reenter the music scene.

I also like the OMD logo in the youtube video and on their website. It seems they are being entirely updated and rebranded.

2011-03-02T17:53:00.001-08:00

Updates on Bunni!...So I am adjusting to life with a new dog which I have discovered is a lot of work, but mostly fun. Bunni is a really really amazing dog. She loves people, is extremely outgoing and affectionate. She will essentially lay down in front of anyone with hopes to be pet. She is the first dog I have met that could probably be successfully trained with affection rather than treats. I also made her a little doggie bed out of a wool blanket from Ikea and a nice fluffy pillow and she loves it. She sprawls out on and snores her little heart out.

She does have a couple of problems that we will work on over the next couple of months. The first one is that she doesn't like to walk up stairs. She didn't grow up with stairs so it is a new experience for her. I live on the second floor and have two sets of stairs to get up to my apartment - one set is regular old stairs, but the other set doesn't have backs. She will walk up the regular stairs, but she wants nothing to do with the backless ones. For now I have to carry her up, which makes her seem like a princess. She is very special, but she needs to be broken of this habit soon. I don't want to overwhelm her more the first week, but next week we are going to start training on those stairs.

The second issue is that she isn't really keen on other dogs. She can get along with them when introduced, but for the most part she dislikes them. We are going to start obedience group classes so she can start to socialize with other dogs because I think this is an issue we can easily address. She probably won't ever be a dog park girl, but I hope she can make a few dog friends.

Other than that she is a dream dog. She just needs a little bit of training and some time to adjust!

p.s. Bunni is the name she came with and I decided not to change it.

2011-03-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

Beloved graphic designer, Doyald Young passed away yesterday at age of 85. I love Young's graphic design work and am particularly smitten with his logo for Sea Smoke wine (a very cultish wine that is quite hard to find and extremely coveted). I am impressed they hired a designer of Young's caliber to design their logo.

Here he discusses his typographic work and his (extraordinary) love for detail:

He was a professor at Art Center, and the president sent out a message today about his death signing it, "with tears for Doyald's beautiful curves and beautiful heart." How perfect.

2011-02-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

So here is my exciting news....Meet Bunni. She is a French Bulldog that I adopted this weekend from the French Bulldog Rescue Village (a wonderful organization!). She is so sweet and lovable and really funny. She is currently napping (and snoring loudly!). We have gone on a long walk in the neighborhood and she seems to really like it. She is an older dog and has a good level of energy for me - active enough to go on daily walks, but not so hyper she needs to run everyday. In the next few weeks we are going to do obedience training and I am going to work on improving her cracked nose and dry coat (she had been living outdoors for the past couple of years and needs a little TLC). I will keep you updated on our progress, but I promise this won't become a dog blog.

2011-02-22T22:06:00.000-08:00

A very basic infographic I made to help my students with grammar. I decided to focus on their changing feelings, most likely toward their projects.

2011-02-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

I only subscribe to a few magazines, but I think apartamento is my favorite. It is always so simple and subtly beautiful and has such an interesting array of articles and points of view. They don't try to capture the ideal living environment, but rather celebrate everyday life. The most recent edition has a fascinating interview with Industrial Designer Leon Ransmeier. He articulates something that I have been trying to capture for a long time:

I try to avoid over-accumulation of objects. I have a hard time liking most things. I question my attraction to new objects, especially contemporary design because I question its longevity and aesthetic. I want to know that I'm going to want it in five years and I am going to cherish it. Jasper Morrison often quotes an Irish proverb that says, 'Keep a thing for seven years and you'll find a user for it.'

Apartmento and DesignMarketo also have this great pop-up everyday life market called FoodMarketo. I wonder if I can start an everyday life popup shop? I will have to come up with a theme.

I also may have some very very very exciting news this weekend. I am not writing about it yet because I don't know for sure, but it looks like it might happen. Less cryptic posts to come - with either good or bad news.

2011-02-20T21:40:00.000-08:00

I continue to be inspired by men's fashion. Robert Rabensteiner is one of my fashion heroes. His clothes are so subtle, but ridiculously stylish. He wears a lot of these Moroccan kaftans, and has recently been wearing them under wool winter coats. I would like to wear neutral color minimalist kaftans like this in the summer, but I am not sure where to get them. It might need to go to Morocco.

[Images via the Sartorialist.]

2011-02-15T00:02:00.000-08:00

The beautiful altar of the church at Mission San Miguel. This is the front of the church that Suzanne (and the rest of her team) are working to restore. It is a beautiful building that reminded me of churches in Latin America. Maggie said that if they had churches like this near her house, she would go to mass every weekend. I would too, and I'm not even Catholic! There is just something so special about these old sacred spaces. The first day we went to visit, they were having contemplative mass, and we couldn't really go in to explore because people were giving confession and lighting candles and, well, contemplating. I like the idea of purposeful contemplation.

2011-02-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

Back from Paso Robles! My friend Maggie and I visited her friend Suzanne who is an art conservator based in LA and is working with a team to restore a mission church in San Miguel (more on that tomorrow). They are staying in Paso Robles, and Suzanne was generous enough to let us stay in the house. And since we were in wine country, we couldn't pass up the chance to visit a bunch of good wineries. The overall favorite was L'Aventure. Their wines are so consistently well made and delicious. We all bought a rose because it inspired daydreams of summer and picnics when we tasted it and it was just really delicious. I also bought a Magnum of the 2008 Optimus. I don't usually buy magnums, but they didn't have any 750ml bottles. We made a plan that I would have a dinner party inspired by Optimus. It would be a way to drink it without wasting any, and to have an idea around which we could plan a dinner party. These LA girls even agreed to drive down to Orange County for this dinner party!

We also visited, Turley, Linne Calodo, and Tablas Creek (my favorite). More on those later in the week.

2011-02-11T00:13:00.000-08:00

My new accessories guru, Aureta Thomollari. She is Albanian, rediculously stylish, and also intrigued by gypsy style. Here is her blog, and here is a video of her on Style Like U.

I am off to Paso Robles this weekend. Hopefully I will have an interesting wine post next week.

2011-02-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

Making homemade vinegar using this recipe. All you need is a large earthen ware jug, vinegar mother, wine, cheesecloth, a rubber band, and water. I started with this wine (you are supposed to use wine you would drink). I will let you know in a few months how it turns out.

2011-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Maggie and I had a fun adventure last weekend. First we went to dinner at this amazing Thai restaurant, Jitlada, in Hollywood. I am still daydreaming about the food, and even tried to recreate their Coco Mango salad with a modification on this recipe. Mine was good, but no where near as amazing. Next we went to this concert at the El Ray. I hadn't heard of them, but Maggie had tickets and it was really fun. A little West Texas in Los Angeles.

Then on Sunday, we went to the Skirball to see the Maira Kalman exhibit. Her work is so charming and bright. You seriously could not leave that show in a bad mood. But what I find most amazing about Kalman is that despite all the difficulty and tragedy she has lived through she still comes out with these uplifting pieces, and even though they are uplifting, they have a lot of depth. She manages to transcend syrupy sweet and happy, by focusing on what is quirky and odd. Things that only she might notice.

The Skirball also had a show called the 1000 Journals Project. Essentially 1000 journals traveled all over the world, passed on to many different people and were eventually sent back to the artist (who I believe is anonymous because I cannot find any info on who it is). Through their journey they were filled with stories, collages, photos, drawings etc. In addition to many of the well traveled journals, they had a section with blank journals and art supplies so that visitors could make their own entries. They allowed us to take photos of our own work. I only had my iPhone camera, but above are our creations. Maggie's, on the left, is a lovely tribute to her parents. She had a photo of her parents in mind and was feeling inspired by Kalman. I love their facial expressions. Mine is on the right, not as charming, but a nod to a reoccurring theme in my life which is, "you will not necessarily be happier if (thing you have dreamed of) happens."

2011-02-07T00:07:00.000-08:00

A style story from Where they Create about the Jewels of New York. They describe their vision as a combination of the "love of cooking with the beauty of everyday things."

They also have me thinking, along with this New York Times article, that an iPad could be a very helpful kitchen tool. I currently use my laptop when I cook (because I store all my recipes on it), and always worry I am going to spill all over the keyboard. When I saw the last picture (above), I realized the iPad can be propped up, away from risky spills.

2011-02-06T00:04:00.000-08:00

To continue the theme of my super creative family, here are two wonderful photos I received from my Uncle Eric for Christmas. They are part of a fascinating series he is doing on Consumer Vernacular. I find this very inspiring because while he is a very successful market researcher, he has found another, more artistic, way to examine consumer points of view. I am going to get these framed along with Nick's print. How lucky I am to have such a generous and creative family!

2011-02-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

To continue the shoe theme, here is a photo my Uncle Eric (Nick's father) sent me after seeing yesterday's post. He took this photo in 1983 at Merritt Dam near Valentine, Nebraska. Eric said the white bucks were my grandfathers office shoes (he was a dentist), but because he had retired, he could wear them for leisure. The sneakers must have belonged to Eric.

Eric - Thanks so much for this photo!

Also, you may have noticed that I reformatted the blog. My (awesome designer) friend Maggie visited me yesterday and offered some really helpful critique about the layout of the blog. She pointed out how the large photos made things really off center, I agreed with her and because I like the detail in the large photos, I made the decision to change the template of the blog. The one I chose had some qualities that I wasn't crazy about (i.e. drop shadows below the pictures) so Maggie went into the HTML code and fixed them all. I really like the new format (but I might keep working on the header). Thanks Maggie for the ideas and technical skills!

2011-02-04T00:05:00.000-08:00

The other day I received a wonderful surprise in the mail. My cousin, Nick Almquist, has been working on various series of screen prints, and I was lucky enough to receive this portrait of his Vans. Above is just one small piece of the print because I wanted you to see the detail, but I couldn't capture the entire thing very well in a photograph (to photograph artwork you need things like good lighting and skills), but here is one attempt so you get the idea:

I just love it and need to get it framed ASAP! Thank you so much Nick!

p.s. My ballet slipper post yesterday was completely inspired by this print.

2011-02-03T00:04:00.000-08:00

I am totally crazy about my Repetto ballet flats. Well actually they are not really flats because they have a small 1 inch heel. They have always reminded me of Minnie Mouse shoes. I bought them a few years ago on sale at Creatures of Comfort in LA and was happy to find a pair of ballet flats that were not totally flat. I wasn't madly in love with them or anything, I just knew I wanted a practical pair of simple ballet flats. The funny thing is that over time I have really grown to love them. Like really love them. They are all beat up and perfectly formed to my feet. The problem is they have massive holes in the bottom (near the big toe), and the shoe repair man said he cannot fix them. It was rainy the other and I wore them and my feet got all wet and soggy. I will keep wearing them until they are completely unwearable. It just bums me out that sometimes things get really good when they are about to fall apart.

2011-02-02T00:08:00.000-08:00

Lamp posted by Brook&Lyn. It is a little bit minimal, a little bit ethnic, and a little bit luxe. That is the kind of look I want to go for in my next home. I don't dare start changing my current place because I don't plan to be here much longer and want to invest that energy in a place I will live for the next chapter of my life.

2011-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Rancho Gordo beans are my favorite. I order them by the boxful. My mom and I visited their little shop while in Napa last year and totally fell in love. Once I cooked the beans I was hooked. My current favorite are the brown Tepary beans in the center. Even though I eat meat now, I still think these little beans are so meaty and delicious. If you are a vegetarian, you should really really try them. I am also obsessed with their crimson popcorn and this is how I make it (look who else likes their popcorn!).

2011-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

Working on a design project related to Daniel Libeskind. He and his work are completely fascinating. Because he did not have one of his designs constructed until very late in life, he produced a lot of images, creating a rich graphic history of his work and ideas. Right now I am cutting up type (Akzidenz Grotesk) to mimic shapes he uses in his sketches. We will see where that leads me.

On another note, see those scissors? I have had those since kindergarten (Fiskars last forever). They are special left handed scissors that my mom bought me to bring to class (in kindergarten) because they only had right handed scissors. My teacher would not allow me to use them! She claimed they made me seem too special. She didn't seem to care that it is really difficult for lefties to cut with regular scissors. But I am glad I still have them. They, along with a couple precious necklaces, are one of the things I have owned the longest in my life.

p.s. I learned how to make bigger photos! They might be too big. Still experimenting. I am also thinking that now the text can go all the way to the right edge of the page. It might make it harder to read. Will see how it goes.

2011-01-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

Back to vapid. I decided to return the Rochas bag. It is stunning and beautiful in every way, but the handles where quite thick and hard to put over my shoulder. Plus, because it is so structured, I was worried about messing it up. It had no give and I am pretty good at beating up my bags. I have reached a point where I am insanely picky and if it isn't exactly what I want, I will send it back. But I found something even better. I have long wanted this Celine bag, but couldn't find it. I decided tonight to make one last attempt to find it, and I did at Barney's in Scotsdale. It was a bit more expensive, but worth it. Here is another image of it.

p.s. The cleanse was very hard. I officially think cleanses are a little absurd. I am not talking about fasting for religious purposes, that is noble, but I don't think I am into new agey juice cleanses. I think consistently eating healthy food is much better for you. I did it for the mental challenge, but I thought it began to mess with my relationship with food (which is good now), and I am not willing to sacrifice a healthy relationship with food to prove something to myself. But having said that, I did make it for three days. So maybe I did prove something to myself after all. I am just glad it is over.

2011-01-29T18:14:00.000-08:00

I have decided to use Crazy Horse as another comparison case in my dissertation. It meets all the criteria, 1) It is a very long term publicly oriented project, 2) It has a lot of hype, but is kind of disappointing when you see it, 3) It involves a mythical historical character and a spectacular imagined future. It is also in South Dakota. You may have noticed I am fond of South Dakota. Plus this means I might get to take a trip there. My other comparison case is the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

p.s. I don't know why I post about my dissertation. I think that since I mostly post about things like shopping and cooking that I need to convince you once in a while that I am not entirely vapid. I think I also need to convince myself that I will get this thing done!

2011-01-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Today I watched this movie and found it incredibly inspiring. I think some people might find it boring. There is very little dialogue, but I found this journey and the relationship between the shepherds and animals to be incredibly inspiring. I also found it really helpful to think about stories and how we tell stories. In this film, the film crew essentially follows the shepherds, their dogs, and sheep on a 150 mile journey over the mountains in Montana. The narrative is driven by moving forward and the challenges faced along the way. It unfolds so naturally across time and space with a few anchor points to help understand the changes. Through the story you can begin to see how this story might be relevant to other people and to your own life. I use narratives a lot in my dissertation, and realized that I have a very natural story with in it. I am going to spend the next few weeks writing out that story, identifying anchor points, and finding those details that might be relevant to others.

2011-01-27T10:48:00.000-08:00

My new Rochas bag. I made a rule: I can only buy three items per

season. I have already bought my three: this bag, Pamela love necklace

and an item that should be arriving any day from Luxembourg.

This bag was on sale for a ridiculously good price at The Corner. It

met all my criteria for a bag I was looking for (must fit my laptop,

must fit over my shoulder, must be structured must be black leather,

must have gold detail). And I like that it is from a classic, high quality,

but lesser known brand.

2011-01-26T20:21:00.000-08:00

I was sad to hear that Mark Bittman will no longer be writing the regular Minimalist

column for the NY Times. Actually, he has kind of ruined my Wednesdays. I teach at

Art Center on Wednesday and I always pick up a (free!) NY Times to read his Minimalist

column to find new recipes and ideas. I am so bummed my routine will be over. I guess

I can still read the Times, but I don't think it will be the same. Here is a link to his 25

favorite recipes over the years. And above he shared the insanely popular and genius

no knead bread recipe from Sullivan Street bakery. It has become a staple in the

Almquist house.

Hopefully he will be starting a TV show or some other new venture so we can continue

to get his amazing and simple recipes!

p.s. I am going to try the Socca (Farinata) recipe as soon as I have finished my cleanse!

2011-01-24T20:16:00.000-08:00

I decided to go for it (cleanse 2). I am doing this Baptiste yoga program and

it has been going really well. I knew a fruit/juice fast was coming so I decided

to embrace it (I do live in Southern California). I will let you know how it goes.

[image via Vogue]

2011-01-21T16:51:00.000-08:00

Richard Serra makes excellent circles. Once I earn enough money to

become an art collector, this will be first on my list! Have you ever

seen his interviews on Charlie Rose (Part 1 and Part 2)? They are so

good, especially Part 2.

2011-01-19T05:06:00.000-08:00

I really love Byredo perfumes. The packaging is especially beautiful. I have this

Gypsy Water perfume and I think this is one of the more accurate descriptions

of it. It is hard for me to pass up anything with the word gypsy in it. I got it

while on an adventure at Barney's with Maggie. It ended up seeming like a bargain

since we exercised restraint in the handbag department (see Celine bags).

Santa Maria Novella, Acqua di Colonia is still my favorite perfume. But I also like

the idea of having something ancient and something modern.