Third Thursday

 

Yesterday was an extremely relaxing and enjoyable evening after the 4th day in a row of stressful work blues. It was the perfect day to come home to not one, but two surprise packages! The first was a belated wedding gift from a dear friend and the second was a  cute felt floral pin from a total stranger!  

The rest of the evening included an impromptu picnic at a friends and Arts Walk adventures downtown...a lovely spring day in the Northwest.

He Took The Butter Off Her Knife

During half time of the World Cup yesterday, I walked through the street fair taking place next door to my friend Amanda's house.  I love checking out all the different tents from different vendors, but I don't often come upon something that I really like adore.  Yesterday I did!  I found Bonnie Jones Photography, she's a local artist and she was displaying her work at the fair.  I came away with a great little piece I'm saving for my sister (who doesn't read this blog, so don't worry) and her upcoming birthday. 

I checked out Bonnie's blog, Explore Daily, and saw that she is currently working on a project called Journal Portraits. Having been a the kind of girl who has kept a journal on and off since 3rd grade (all stashed in a box under my bed), most diligently when I'm traveling, I find a strong connection to her images.

The above photograph "He Took The Butter Off Her Knife" corresponds with this entry:

Friday, January 4, 1946

Canada

"She was at the table one day and she reached her knife and helped herself to butter. And her husband took his own knife and stretched his hand out and took the butter off her knife with his knife and put it back on the plate. It was as though the poor thing couldn't have any butter. Maybe it was no wonder she became queer - and maybe she wasn't the only queer one in that family. That was a queer thing to do, to take the butter away from her, right off her knife with his knife."

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*It made my weekend to find something like this in my own backyard, and it also gave me inspiration to keep working diligently on my own photography.

What Else Is There?

Röyksopp - What Else Is There?

{I don't know what more to say...I love this song, this video, this voice.}

Family Tree

I have often thought with curiosity about my ancestors and who and where I've descended from. My grandmother on my Dad's side was born in the states shortly after her parents emigrated from Norway. My childhood memories of her include a freezer stocked full of pickled herring, and the pungent smell of her gritty Gamalost (cheese) spread on toast with a fried egg. I don't know much about my grandfather on that side and where his family came from. On my mother's side I know that my relatives lived in Canada before crossing the border into Michigan.

After reading Half Broke Horses, for the Slow Readers Book Club, I have thought more about delving into my family's past and learning who came from where. Who are we if we don't know something about where we came from? It seems that today, so much of the stories from our past, the recipes and skills are lost in translation. Technology often replaces the need for these things to be taught from one family member to the next. Hopefully researching my past can help bring me closer to the people that I've never met but are responsible for my being.

{Silhouette Family Tree by Lepapier Studio}

Happy Birthday Katie!!

I remember the first day I met Katie, she was wearing the coolest vintage button up shirt with a butterfly pattern in burnt orange and brown.  She had moved to our high school from out of town.  We became fast friends.

Over 10 years later we are still very close even though we are so far apart, I'm on the West Coast and she's on the Gulf coast in New Orleans.  

So Katie...if you're reading this....I hope you have a wonderful birthday with lots of adventures filling your new year.

P.S. - The sketches are by Ms. Katie.   You can view some of her amazing paintings here.

Dolce Design :: Wallpaperie

My lovely friend Brittany over at Dolce Design :: The Dish, is so kind to share with everyone a charming desktop design for each month of the year.  I was delighted by her design for January which featured my favorite little creature            Mr. Squirrel. 

But Brittany...how I love your creation for February!

♦ ♥ ♦

Thank you B!

Lucha con memorias

Bimbo's Bitchin' Burritos was my favorite hole in the wall restaurant as a teen.  Love for me was the garlic mashed potato burrito with red sauce.  I spent many weekend afternoon’s drinking Jarritos and stuffing prom photos under the glass tabletops. 

I had my first taste of burrito love in years, this past weekend when I met my cousin Betsy for lunch.  It has since moved a few blocks away and now goes by Bimbo’s Cantina and they swapped the nude velvet paintings for photos and artwork featuring luchadors; but it still has the same atmosphere.

If in the area it’s definitely worth it and if you’re lucky you might get our waiter.  He’ll hook you up with extra guacamole for the price of a few compliments and once you’re square on the bill he’ll let you know his hangover has gotten worse and he’s off to the bathroom to puke. 

Nothing like an afternoon at Bimbo’s!

What are some of the unique haunts in your neck of the woods? I’d love to hear about them. 

{El Luchador print from firecracker press}

Shoes for thought

While walking around Ballard a few weeks ago, my sister and I came across multiple pairs of shoes screwed to telephone poles.  After doing a little research it turns out they were part of an installation by local poet A.K. Allin.  You never know what you might see when you're out walking...

Christmas gift ideas from Etsy

Wow! It's December already! 

I love exploring Etsy shops, there are endless amounts of wonderful gifts that would be perfect for many of the ladies in my life.  Check them out!
Swing back by next week for another round of gift ideas.

1. Photography postcards: alice b gardens
2. Vintage camera tray: acero studio
3. Petal Clutch: definition of self
4. Token necklace: japlish delights
5. Circle Coffee table: michael arras
6. Vintage silver charm: mamacitas bounty

Animal portraits

My husband and I spent a great weekend up in Bellingham visiting friends and celebrating birthdays.  Mr. Squirrel was the sweet gift I received from Brittany (complete in a cute vintage frame).  I've already decided he will go great above towel rack number one in our bathroom and now I just need to convince Mrs. Squirrel that she'd be oh so happy living above towel rack number two.  I thought the Skunk couple was also adorable.  To see more of these wonderful drawings from the imagination of Ryan Berkley check out his Etsy shop: Berkley Illustrations.

G is for:

      

Goodness Gracious!! With Christmas right around the corner I am thinking about my wish list as well as great ideas for friends and family.  This is definitely going to be towards the top.  The drawings are so inspirational, and what an awesome cover to boot!

{Found via Double Takes}

I heart Oly

So I'm in love again!  I haven't visited the wonderful Buy Olympia site in many moons.  When I was living in Oly and going to Evergreen I took full advantage of all the wonderful handcrafted treasures like this comfy reading is sexy tee (I love my boy-cut shirts).  I treated myself to the Nikki McClure  calendar each January, and I am still astounded by the amazing and intricate images she is able to create with her x-acto knife and construction paper!  The journals by Uppercase are a perfect place to jot down thoughts or new ideas...but my new favorite has to be the charming paintings by Paper Milk.  I want to frame Mr. Sweet-Pea and put him up in my bathroom! 

Did I mention that I love squirrels?

{Found via Buy Olympia}

Katie McMullin: beautiful oil

{Ian}

{Blue Self Portrait}

{Pan 1}

{Nate}

{Pan 2}

Katie has been painting as long as I have known her, and with each year that passes her work becomes more inspired.  These portraits continue to spark bright little lights in my heart each time I look at them.  If you were to meet her or any of her subjects you would see that not only has she  captured their likeness, but also a glimpse at their true nature.  You can take a peek at some of her other work on her flickr page Lamuchachabarbuda .