free wheelin'

the santa monica ferris wheel was sold recently on ebay (!!!) for $132,000. it's now headed to its new home in oklahoma city.

jess gonacha is selling her ferris wheel for under $100.
check out her new series of daily paintings.


:: photo from p-kittye

odes to new york

+ michael surteese records 36+ days of nyc sky

+ julie cloutier creates color swatch books of nyc streets

+ e.b. white's here is new york

There is not enough air and not enough light, and there is usually either too much heat or too little. But the city makes up for its hazards and deficiencies by supplying its citizens with massive doses of a supplementary vitamin—the sense of belonging to something unique, cosmopolitan, mighty and unparalleled.

oh and this little movie



[art links via swissmiss]

inspired spaces

some visual inspiration for the day...
1. chalkboard portrait 2. full bookshelf 3. reading railroad

blues are the colors i choose

exploring a 64-pack of crayolas

for a long time, my favorite color was cerulean.
i'm not so sure anymore...

dreaming of [chocolate] baked goods

unfortunately our oven is out of commission at the moment.

BUT if i could be baking, here's what i'd be making:

+ flourless chocolate walnut cookies. yumm.
+ heavenly chocolate cream pie. yummm.
+ nabisco wafer icebox cake. (oops! doesn't actually require oven)
+ supernatural brownies. oh my!
+ homemade oreos. !!!

possibly having a bit of a chocolate craving tonight?


:: images from for me, for you; bake and shake; and 101cookbooks

"dig whole"

the first issue of the whole earth catalogue was published in 1968, featuring information and directions on how to shape our own environment in the changing modern world. updated issues were published on & off into the 1990s.

now in the 21st century, we have the guide/website worldchanging (which is co-founded by the whole earth's final editor)--but i'd still love to get my hands on an original copy of the catalogue.

an excerpt from the introduction:

We are as gods and might as well get good at it. So far, remotely done power and glory — as via government, big business, formal education, church — has succeeded to the point where gross defects obscure actual gains. In response to this dilemma and to these gains a realm of intimate, personal power is developing — power of the individual to conduct his own education, find his own inspiration, shape his own environment, and share his adventure with whoever is interested. Tools that aid this process are sought and promoted by the WHOLE EARTH CATALOG...

and their closing:

stay hungry, stay foolish.

this is just to say

i have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

this is just to say
by william carlos williams


:: image by sputnik+

memorial day

enjoy a wonderful memorial day!

:: flag by jasper johns

goal #101: learn [modern] calligraphy

this goal comes sometime after build a terrarium; probably before open my own bookshop cafe; maybe alongside understand the basics of CSS and learn conversational spanish.

inspired by the amazing work of jenna hein.


:: image from jennahein

fly!

:: image from something's hiding in here

when the energizer bunny runs out

batteries don't belong in the regular trash (why?). but i've been trying to figure out where/how they can be properly recycled (not in the regular recycling). apparently recycling of rechargeable batteries is common--but household batteries are generally overlooked.

here in LA, it turns out to be simpler than expected! (the state has strict laws about battery disposal.) the city setup a battery recycling program [pdf] with local Targets, Jiffy Lubes, and fabulous B&B hardware. surprisingly convenient!


:: images from johnseb

every person in new york

left: josh polan, woman in rain. right: josh polan, man on subway.

josh polan plans to record an image of every person in new york.

20x200 (a great weekly online art shop/gallery) has original drawings from his project for as little as $20 (or $200 or $2,000). BUT within the first day of posting, they're all but sold out (those $20 ones are GONE).

i am so sad i missed this!
but so impressed at his crazy goal.
and love love his simple line drawings.

curb crawler

on my drives to/from work, i subconsciously keep an eye on the curb in hopes of discovering a great abandoned treasure--bookshelf, desk, chair, coffee table, etc.

not sure why, but i got it in my head this week that i must find out when official trash days are in the neighborhoods across LA. imagine the possibilities of trash day in Beverly Hills?

for los angelenos, check out the find-your-trash-collection-day search for LA.
good to know. i think?

+ how-to guide to dumpster diving (next step up from curb crawling)
+ mark your territory with handy dumpster stencil
+ celeb stalkers take trash picking to a new extreme

another morning at the farmer's market

this beautiful sunny morning was by far my best yet at the farmer's market...
i didn't buy much, but what i did get was absolutely perfect.
- five of the best EVER nectarines
- a bucket of sweet cherries
- an enormous ruby red grapefruit
& a bunch of lilacs

and then to complete my perfect morning, i went to booksoup and let myself buy one new book... the art of simple food. the author Alice Waters is a major advocate for farmer's markets & seasonal/local/sustainable foods, opened chez panisse in san francisco in 1971, and is pretty much amazing.

and this new cookbook of hers is just as inspiring.

from the introduction of the art of simple food:

I'm convinced that the underlying principles of good cooking are the same everywhere... They are the principles of a delicious revolution, one that can reconnect our families and communities with the most basic human values, provide the deepest delight for all our senses, and assure our well-being for a lifetime...
- eat locally & sustainably.
- eat seasonally.
- shop at farmer's markets.
- plant a garden.
- conserve, compost, and recycle.
- cook simply, engaging all your senses.
- cook together.
- eat together.
- remember food is precious.

:: image from thomas hawke

hot hot heat

hot hot heat wave rolling through LA this week.
a good excuse to lounge in the shade.
enjoy the weekend~


:: image from myflickr

los angeles, i'm yours

i've been waiting (too?) eagerly for this day to come.

the mapper/designer/miracleworkers at ork posters have finally released their LA neighborhood map!

squeezing in 111 neighborhoods, it's pretty huge (24 x 36") compared to the Boston map that I hoped to pair it with (oh well).

looking forward to finding a very large spot on the wall for this one.



makes me think of charming lyrics
from The Decemberists...

there is a city by the sea
a gentle company...
an ocean’s garbled vomit on the shore
los angeles, i'm yours

bowls

nina in vorm creates these beautiful organic-shaped, handmade bowls.
available in her etsy shop for just under $40!

plus she posts colorful images & interesting info on her blog~

desire path

desire path
a term in landscape architecture
used to describe a path that isn't designed
but rather is worn casually away by people
finding the shortest distance between two points

+ see the growing flickr photo group
+ or follow this metaphor in life

via dwell daily


:: photo by fin fahey

a pretty presidential affair

personally i am more than ready to move on from the reign of George W, but i was intrigued by a photo slideshow from his daughter jenna's wedding over the weekend. hosted at the family ranch in Crawford, TX, it was an intimate evening (ie no press allowed), but the white house presented this set of wedding pics.

hm! in my eyes, this wedding looks pretty fresh & colorful for a presidential affair! she has this simple elegance thing down! i love what they did here with colorful flags strung up in the reception tent and the paperbag luminarias lighting up the yard.

after the wedding, the president stated that they sure are "mighty blessed."


THEN to avoid feeling too warm&fuzzy about Mr. Bush, i also spent 10 minutes watching this Al Gore video by Spike Jonze. nothing extraordinary, just a day in the life of the gore family (circa 2000). so down to earth; good people.


PS i'm sorry if yesterday didn't post properly! josh krause is not to be missed~


:: photo from the white house

opening night: joshua krause

on saturday night, i had the pleasure of discovering Joshua Krause, a san diego artist currently showing at cerasoli gallery in culver city. his work plays with colors & shapes, maddening patterns of dots, and abstracted swirling images. all layered under an incredibly smooth lacquer finish. really gorgeous images.

also interesting to look back through his archives and see the natural progression that his work has taken.


:: images from joshua krause. top: pouring out & passing through. bottom: singing serpent.

cheers to moms!

a photo from one of the adventures that mum & i had in western massachusetts.

this view is not too shabby for an east coast sunset!!

(i love how both our hair is a little bit wild here.)

she's a great adventure buddy.

happy day to you, mum!

treats & treasures

marieke of treats&treasures has been recording her journal pages--sketches, designs, photos, clippings, polaroids--since 2006. she posts almost daily, and i am always always inspired by whatever appears on the pages from her day.

i love how it touches on everything from her daily thoughts & doodles to her world travels.

for more sketchbook/journal inspiration, check out:
+ drawing from life: the journal as art
+ the 1000 journals project

::all images from treats&treasures

some new favorites for the walls

i've been looking at these prints for the past weeks.
i really want to buy! but can't decide...

the top two i've seen in many blog posts & home tours lately... and each & every time, i fall in love a little more. below, i discovered devon kelley yurdin this week when i happened on charmingwall inc via decor8. and i saw dan-ah kim's work at project:gallery last month and wanted to take it home immediately

i'd be delighted to own any (or all!)... thoughts?

+ the bird lady by jess gonacha ($15)
+ flock by good shape design ($30)
+ october by devon kelley-yurdin ($20)
+ too alive to stay by dan-ah kim ($30)

paris in the springtime

two recent stories about paris caught my eye (and heart!) in the past week.
+
these amazing snaps that were taken on a quick week in the city.
markets. chocolate. street life. cafes!
+
this mini guide to paris.
the first image of the patisserie makes my mouth water.

both make me want to take off on a whirlwind trip there...
and take more (better) photos this time around!!



::photos from myflickr

animal lover?

i don't think of myself as a bigtime animal person.
i never had horse posters or furry backpacks or kitty notebooks.
BUT something about these little guys caught my attention...

wild book dividers [via happy mundane]
+
COINK! bank [via shelterrific]

spring inspirations

i'm loving a latenight cup of coffee and just pulled out a quart of trader joe's ultra chocolate ice cream (this stuff is amazing). looking through an endless circuit of great websites and feeling especially inspired & energized tonight. lots of good things in motion right now, and it's great to feel some extra energy.

so it seems like a good time to look up at my bulletin board again, and see what i've collected since my last pic in january.


a few highlights of my spring inspirations...

+ cloud formation by david o'brien
+ van gogh's almond blossoms
+ still rocking the hope
+ one of many spring gocco postcards that i haven't sent
+ pretty postcard from MOMA's color exhibition
+ an excellent mantra for spring
+ a polaroid from the neighborhood
+ love envelope & new life print from a visit to the Sister Corita Art Center
+ and lots of fabric swatches!

polaroid

the sunset sky on a walk in my neighborhood.

not your typical lawncare

david benner morphs lawns of clean-cut grass into no-maintenance moss. get a moss starter kits for $39. effortlessly lush & green!

for more grass alternatives, check out farming the front yard.
and explore edible estates.

there's so much untapped potential in that front plot!


::photo from nytimes, jane therese

opening night: takashi murakami

examining the art of takashi murakami at blum & poe on saturday night.


blum & poe
2754 s la cienega blvd
los angeles, 90034

sunny in the city

david hockney. mulholland drive, the road to the studio, 1980

it's a beautiful sunny saturday in the city.
this image makes me want to go for a drive through the hills.


...thinking of buying a poster copy for one of our blanks walls.

save our taco trucks

"Los Angeles, rare to rally cohesively around a local cause,
has joined hands around tortillas." - from the nytimes

i've only eaten at a taco truck a handful of times, but this article makes me want to scope out the city's top trucks.


:: photo from the nytimes

home inspirations (aspirations?) for the weekend

some visual inspirations for the home this weekend...

i love the pop! of these red chairs against the grey wallpaper. the fitted chairs & table set. and that awesome bubble turntable. [from design*sponge]


it takes a special something to create a simple space without it feeling empty. (i need to learn this.) [from design*sponge]


love the blue. the sofa. the big plants. those windows!! plus we're almost neighbors here in culver city. [from design*sponge]


more lovely blues + greens + splashes of yellow. i want this coffee table and the neat little puff-topped wicker seat/ottoman. [from blackeiffel]


here's to an inspirational & aspirational weekend!

may day!

catching up from the last two weeks...

highlights from a weekend with mom:
1. sunset & cocktails at the del on coronado island
2. visiting the zoo in san diego
3. exploring the flea market in long beach
4. shopping at the farmer's market in hollywood
5. lunch at moonshadow in malibu


and happy {belated} earth day!
a. inspire change with 50 ways to help the planet
b. buy an designer tote bag, 90% of proceeds go to environmental education
c. look out for the path to survival, the 2009 sequel to al gore's inconvenient truth
d. plant a tree--or at least, pot a plant!

my goal is to post each day for the month of may.