Thursday, December 6, 2012

cubic glove





"What can an artist do at the factory on the basis of industry?"

These might look familiar from yesterday. Process of production is so interesting from a design point of view. Old industry and craft reinvented through art and design. Like it's stated on the label, "cubic glove has infinite possibility!"

They were a lovely gift (thank you Xtina!) that's already so popular that it's made it to pre-school share twice.... safe to say this has been an item that is working on many levels!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

fable takes it on the road


Remember that table project from last summer? An extra design decal was dusted off and finally put to good use. One trip to drop-off will show you a minivan is positively naked without some sort of "domestic portrait" statement in the lower corner. And stick figures or skulls never quite seemed to sum it up for me. But these guys are alright.







Friday, November 9, 2012

Monday, November 5, 2012

assemblage

Organizing around here and some items become unearthed. These materials clearly date to the time when we had to put up a garden to fence to keep baby Anna from tumbling down the slope and stairs. A time when Sam was really into assembling scraps. Brown paper, a piece of fencing, red thread and plastic packing ties. And a very careful needle. That fence came down a year ago, and it has been a long while since Sam made objects like this. The artifact so precisely and elegantly dates itself and I love it so.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Monday, October 29, 2012

the night we saw the trading tortoise


The Trading Tortoise, project by artists Monica and Souther Salazar, came to town. We went of course! But what to trade, what to trade? Turned out our 100 year old, well travelled, well loved Dutch-Chinese rice scooper. It's been around the world and was a fitting time for departure from our (too) small home. And... an origami finger puppet born on the street corner in that very moment by the name of Han Foldo, who left Sam's possession the mere evening after creating it. An object from an old life departs, with one from the new.

(ps/ Sorry guys that the scoop is a tad big for a travelling, single sedan Trading Tortoise. I thought of that. But, it's a beautifully tough item. Chuck it around, stuff it full of treasures, strap it to the top of the car until it reaches it's next destination... the scoop will not mind.







































...But ok, next time I will follow Han Foldo's lead and stick with paper.)

We waited in line for enough time to make new friends, evolve a new chapter to our objects' stories, and in the end came home with a trade of a lovely handmade paper flower, and a doll called Martin Sheen. Hey, and books!....

waaaay past bedtime

Thanks Monica, Souther, and Mark too. You guys are awesome. We will always remember the night we gathered under the stars on a University Heights front lawn to meet the traders in the Tortoise. 

When our trades are logged I will post it here, but in the meantime, click here to know more about this delightful project.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

the plants : first rain, first new growth of the season

california broom
paradise manzanita

brittlebush

chamise

island bush poppy

mountain lilac, burned by heat week before but bouncing back.

nevin's barberry
blue eyed grass
pink flowering currant

 lemonade berry

electric blue sage

oak

bush poppy searching for sun