post it!

i'm trying use post mail more often, and these projects are getting me inspired...

- postcrossing connects postcard writers around the world. like a massive penpal/chainletter network, you sign up, send a postcard, and then someone else sends one to you. and on and on, around the world! (via photojojo)

- the postcard says is a new project by fiveandahalf. over 400 blogreaders received postcards with a little creative task to complete and mail back. from a recent sneakpeak, the results are looking great ~

- make your own photos into postcards with photojojo's 3 easy options.

more geometry!

i couldn't resist posting one more geometric creation...

just discovered aeik paper goods & design, and one lovely geometry card caught my eye. (via design for mankind)

these designs remind me of playing with parabolic lines in middle school math class. with some splashes of color á la aiek, these could be fun designs to play with...

geometry & art

shapes & connections...circle circle circle

1. maria of port2port & 3191 just launched her latest project--LINES & SHAPE--an artist collective that will publish bi-monthly themed volumes of visuals. the rotating group of artists don't communicate while they prepare their material for the book--and then it's all pulled together to create some beautiful mysterious visual parallels. theme of volume 1: CIRCLE.

2. i visited the brand new BCAM@LACMA yesterday (LA county's new contemporary art wing)... wow building, wow space, wow art. my personal highlight: richard serra's monumental steel bands on the ground floor. pictures can't do them justice, but walking through is awe-some. full of rusty grace.

3. spring is the perfect time for new apartment projects... and apartment therapy is the best daily dose of ideas & inspiration for small homes like ours. i love this chandelier of paper lanterns they featured in their weekly newsletter.

hidden gems

there's something so satisfying about finding new under-the-radar spots ~ especially in my own neighborhood.

first, fette's gallery [above]. tucked into a sweet culver city neighborhood, this house-turned-gallery has been hosting exhibits for over a year. behind the white picket fence, they've transformed the living room & all into this great open art space (a few pics). i love this balance of art gallery & happy home.

AND even closer to home, the mandrake bar [below]. it defines "hole in the wall"-- with just a no-name neon sign marking it from the street. but inside, it's a hip dive. their specialty cocktails are a unusual mix of flavors, like darky & stormy (black rum and ginger beer) and rosemary's garden (greygoose, mulled cucumber, and mint). it's a great space with room to spread out, contemporary art, faux wood tables, and an open backyard patio. definitely worth many a happy return. (yelp!)

fette's gallery
4255 baldwin ave
culver city, ca

the mandrake bar
2692 s la cienega blvd
los angeles, ca

[top photo via fette's gallery. bottom photo via kampy]

our moment is now

an excerpt from Barack Obama's speech on 01/09/08 in nashua, NH:

we know the battle ahead will be long,
but always remember that
no matter what obstacles stand in our way,
nothing can withstand
the power of millions of voices calling for change.

In the unlikely story that is America, there has
never been anything false about hope.
For when we have faced down impossible odds;
when we've been told that we're not ready,
or that we shouldn't try, or that we can't,
generations of Americans have responded with
a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes we can.
It was a creed written into the founding documents that
declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists
as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants
as they struck out from distant shores and
pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized;
women who reached for the ballot;
a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and
a King who took us to the mountaintop
and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.
Yes we can heal this nation.
Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can.

And so tomorrow...we will remember that
there is something happening in America; that

we are not as divided as our politics suggest.

that we are
one people; we are
one nation.

and together, we will begin
the next great chapter in America's story
with three words that will ring from coast to coast;
from sea to shining sea:

Yes. We. Can.


[watch the music video] [read the LA times]


[photo from threecee]

seeking inspiration

inspired by design for mankind's awesome new monthly e-zine of inspiration boards, i looked to my bulletin board of the moment. not wildly exciting, but an interesting collection of items from the past months...

yes, this is leading me to another list of links. i guess i'm in a phase of collecting & examining. soon to be followed by a period of creative action...

[counter clockwise from midright]
- "be kind to books," cuz you should
- food - hipster eating joint on pico blvd. their "market" has a great collection of iconic food items (heinz ketchup, grey poupon, morton's salt, etc.)
- snippet of a colorful lamp by heather wells, beautiful after dark
- card from nana with a print of her mariner's compass quilt
- sample of teal paint, my new favorite color
- old john lennon trading card
- button from LA's craft & folk art museum - check out their local event listings!
- wristband from the standard hotel - hiphip + interior design lust
- little green pin from phantomlimb
- leftover red ribbons from wonderful papersource
- print of matisse's basket of oranges. "One of the proudest moments of Matisse's life was when Picasso bought his Basket of Oranges in 1945. Matisse reciprocated by sending Picasso a crate of real oranges every New Year's Day." love this.
- matt's paused-for-now prntd.com

and obama 08 - spread the hope. [words & image]


[photo from myflickr]

not all who wander are lost

wrapping up my weekend again...

i came across this bit about the beauty of wandering at apartmenttherapy:LA that sums up my days off. my actions & thoughts get scattered in a a bunch of different directions--but (usually) that's the way i like it. bouncing between ideas. errands & organizing. projects & brainstorming. and wishing i spent some time cooking & reading.

five fave finds of the weekend:
- well-advised posters
- train from LA to SB for $20
- funky fat quarters (any ideas on where to find/buy a sewing machine?)
- one method for design
- an inspiring apartment

ready & recharged for the work week.


[photo via myflickr]

stormy night

the rain continues to pour in LA, with flash floods warnings, snowstorms, and even a tornado scare. after a long wet day, all i wanted was a sweatshirt and a hot bowl of soup.

i took advantage of the soggy night to catch up on some emails...and to sort through a biggg stack of old magazines that have been piling up. tearing out the worthwhile articles and photospreads (ohh that martha stewart and her pretty pictures). and then tossing (recycling!) the rest.


on the side, hot cocoa (the milk+cocoa+sugar variety) made with dad's special gradually-add-the-milk technique, in my barnswallow mug from mum (one of my favorite things).

now the electricity has gone out (third time tonight).

this city cannot handle precipitation.


[photo from myflickr]

winter project: complete

now that most of my packages have made their way across the country, i'm happy to present the results of my winter project: the companion cookbook.

the idea for a compilation cookbook started with a chain letter email ("send a recipe to these five people and..."). excited about a bookmaking project and the prospect of a collecting some fun recipes, i set to work mailing & hassling my friends and then collecting & organizing their recipes.

i scanned each of the recipes that i received and formatted them (roughly) in adobe indesign. i spent many days printing and shuffling notecards around, pumping out 50+ copies of the text.

then for the fun part! each book was handbound, starting from scratch with info & tutorials from fiveandahalf (thank you, judy!). with a big bottle of pva glue, a quality paste brush, and a bagful of clothespins, i was a happy bookmaker.

the bookcovers feature images from the blender way to better cooking (1965). the "blender" theme provides for some interesting (and some surprisingly appetizing) cover art.

finally, the whole bunch was complete.
wrapped with parchment paper & tied with red ribbon.
headed off to kitchens & friends around the country.


[photos via myflickr]

a short roadtrip north

pink grapefruit & hot coffee (and amazing drinking chocolate!).
discovering a collection of homey recipe books at santa barbara's oldest used bookstore.
of course, an excellent visit with peter.
plus two beautiful sunsets.