pinning

Not too long ago I started using Pinterest to collect images and inspiration I find during my daily regiment of internet-time-wasting. I'm quite pleased with it so far. I keep my usage pretty basic by just saving all my "pins" on one board instead of sorting them into multiple categories, I don't pin enough to require much strict organization. Plus, I like seeing these images that speak to me so loud and clear all together - it's easier to get a sense of how they relate to one another and to me. It's sort of like getting a glimpse into the mush that is my brain during a particularly creative or day-dreamy moment. Here's a peak at my pin-board:

You can see my full board here, or click the link near the top of the right hand column over there ➹. If you often come across images you're loath to see slip back into the internet abyss, or if you just have a collector's nature I totally recommend it. So far it works perfectly for its intended purpose and doesn't have the weird social-network vortex effect of sites like Twitter and Facebook. Odd that a site for collecting (hoarding?) images is the only one that doesn't make me feel like an addict.

seeing ghosts

A great friend of mine visited Vancouver BC for Chinese New Year and brought this back for me:

Look familiar? It's the sibling of my former and most precious art journal. WHOA!! Even the motif on the pages is the same. I've already started Journal No. 3 so this one will have to wait and be Journal No. 4 - how will it compare to it's predecessor I wonder?

Holy shit.

Jung-Yeon Min's work is like, f-ing incredible. And truly visceral. See more here.

 

Via The Storque.

Nature shrines.

I finished some new autumn light boxes at the tea shop. They're inspired by more of my childhood collecting; I loved to gather and stash rocks, twigs, shells, feathers, nuts, seed pods and anything else that caught my eye. (My bedroom and school desk were subject to occasional raids by my parents and teachers clearing out moldy, decaying refuse.) I found myself revisiting this old nature fetish and looked for a project to apply it to, the light boxes turned out to be a perfect fit!

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And yes, those are wood veneers that I ran through the sewing machine!

Look at these:

Thanks to my friend Renee I have become a great fan of the library, a library lover you might say. HmHmm! The library is so full of treasures!! Borrowing helps satisfy my need for treasures, while keeping my in home collection reasonable. This is my latest find:

It's a book of Native American folk tales with some really, really cool illustrations by Paul Goble. I love the simple lines and natural geometry paired with bold earthy colors and subtle textures. Here's a few more:

Look at those perfect little elk! Thank you Seattle Public Library!

something to soak in...

I usually try to mind my own beeswax when blogging, but this is too beautiful not to post. A short film by Jackie Davis with music by my very most favorite band Purple Rhinestone Eagle.


Who's Calling Water from jackie davis on Vimeo.

"It will seem as if you were making the visions banal -- but then you need to do that -- then you are freed from the power of them... Then when these things are in some precious book you can go to the book & turn over the pages & for you it will be your church -- your cathedral - the silent places of your spirit where you will find renewal. If anyone tells you that it is morbid or neurotic and you listen to them -- you will lose your soul -- for in that book is your soul."  -- carl jung 

I've been pouring myself into an art journal for almost a year now and its hard to express how saved I feel by it. I found this quote a few months ago in an article about Carl Jung's infamous "Red Book" -- he knows, and I have learned from him.

I got a snazzy new workbench for my press! Picked it up at the Fremont Sunday Market a few weeks ago. It came with a level and even has a vise - which doubles as a perfect red towel hook when I'm printing, as shown here. SO GOOD!

New Toy

So I take lots of walks in Discovery Park these days, and whenever I'm there I crave a dog as my buddy and camera to record my discoveries. Since a dog would be a fairly irresponsible acquisition at this point I decided to go for the camera. I don't have the commitment or the patience for a traditional film camera with all its developing and lack of instant gratification, and a digital just doesn't feel right - so I researched instants for a few days straight and ended up with this:

Its a Polaroid Automatic 100 and it takes Fuji FP 100c film -- which is still in production, yeah! When it arrived I took it apart and did a little restoration, and also coverted the battery compartment to take AAA batteries instead of whatever dinosaur battery was in there to begin with. its really charming and i love it.

Found!

Found on the sidewalk in Ballard.




It was kind of full of ants when I found it, but that was only because there was a piece of chewed gum stuck on the corner. It's a little dirty and water damaged inside, but it doesn't smell or anything so I think I'll be able to clean it up right nice.

Fremont Farket!

Some of our swag from the Fremont Market this past Sunday:
A large framed Audobon print, certainly not an original but still glorious.

And some recycled yarn from Smart Monkey. This woman unravels old sweaters to make some really neato balls of yarn.