Jan 042011
 
Studio Plastic Toys

my collection of rubber & plastic toys on display in the studio

The people you know who have obvious hobbies or things they are into are always the easiest to shop for.  For example, when I was married to an avid fly fisherman, everything we received had trout on it...it even influenced my business name!  Even when its not time to pick out a gift, I like those types of people, I enjoy their quicks and love to see what they collect.  I actually design for people like that...the critters are perfect for collectors, as are all of the vintage lucite, lockets, buttons, scarves and game pieces.

Japanese Fishing Ball Themed Arrangement

my collection of Japanese Fishing Balls have inspired my living room table

I tend to gather my quirky collections in subtle ways and keep them small.  I am however pretty jealous of those with massive displays of snow globes or pez dispensers.  I usually use my collected goods and have them spread out and tucked away most of the time...and never in very obvious places when they are out. I have two glass fish bowls in my studio filled with little rubber and plastic critters and army men and my living room table is adorned with a basket of what started as just Japanese fishing balls, but now include brass sea creatures and wicker balls as well.  Those are the two most obvious examples of my collections, but I kind of want to take it to the next level.

Wonder Woman Cup

Wonder Woman doing a great job holding pens in the studio

What amount makes one go from a casual collector to having the rights to really display the goods???  My sister Holly has been getting me Wonder Woman doodads for years now, she's given have the barbie, the pez dispenser, an address book and this year a vintage 1988 Burger King Cup.  Its awesome, and I have her holding the pens I sketch jewelry designs with...a very important job...but I'm wondering if I should take this collection up a notch?  I know that technically a collection is made once you have three of something, but how much vintage Wonder Woman stuff do I need to display it together proudly?

 
weheartitstars

image from We Heart It

I saw a Falling Star the other night while I was driving.  It was rather poetic.  I was the only car driving down a dark road and there in front of me it happened.  I made a wish.  It was awesome.

 
Austin_Texas

Austin, Texas

I swore about a month ago that I was not going to go on a trip this winter as the past two years I have gone places that were way too off season for my liking.  Luckily, both trips I was with great gals so I had a blast in Las Vegas with my sisters and friend Karen in March '09 and Cancun, Mexico with my college roommates Sheryl, Zoe and Jess in January '10.  I was planning on holding out until late Spring this year, but family love may have persuaded me otherwise.  It looks like I am headed to Austin, Texas to visit my sister Holly in mid January.  Not sure yet how many of us and who is going, but no matter what, I'm sure it will be a great time!

While starting to plan this trip, I started thinking about the places I have on my list...

Savannah_Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia for the history, the gardens, the ghosts, the plantations and oh the trees...and its only a short flight away, making it easy to take a quick trip when I can fit it in.

Amalfi_Italy

Amalfi, Italy

Capri_Italy

Capri, Italy

Positano_Italy

Positano, Italy

I have wanted to visit Amalfi, Capri & Positano for years...I need more time for this trip then I have at this point in my life, so this one is on the shelf for now...but I will make it there one day!

Greece_01

Greece

Greece_02

Greece

Greece_03

Greece

I am currently working really hard to visit Greece this coming year...crossing my fingers that I can get there for a week somewhere in late April to Early June.  This destination has become a bit of an obsession over the past few months, so I'm pretty sure I'll make it happen...somehow.

 

or at least sometimes I really, really want it to.  Ever since I read The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison in high school, I have desperately been wanting to see a room filled with 1,369 light bulbs.  I have thought about it rather often over the past two decades and am always looking for the perfect image to fit the bill.  I stumbled upon this photo tonight...

weheartithanginglights

image from We Heart It

and immediatly thought of that book.  I was pretty much satisfied that this may quench the desire to locate the perfect imagry...until I went searching for the exact number of light bulbs that were in the room.  That's when I discovered Jeff Wall, a photographer from Vancouver, BC.  Jeff managed to produce exactly what my brain has been wanting to rest upon...

1369Lightbulbs

image by Jeff Wall

I am mesmerized by the bulbs organic flow...like a giant honeycomb on the ceiling...or a living breathing layer of space.  It's perfect, it's beautiful and its pretty cool that I'm not the only one haunted by the need to see that amazing imagery brought to life.  Have you read the book...is this what you imagined?

Nov 092010
 
Tim Walker Dresses

photo by Tim Walker

Have a dress with a heater inside of it tonight!

Ok, I'll admit that I posted this photo back in 2008, but I was lamenting earlier that this crazy, cold wind outside has given my wardrobe a run for its money today and this photo will perfectly illustrate my wishes.  I realized that I don't really even own more the a couple of pairs of pants at this point, which caused a bit of an issue this morning resulting in a hamper dive to find a pair of jeans gently worn.  The fear of losing the battle between my skirt and the fierce wind while running errands was just too great to even try to stay warm with bare legs.  Wouldn't it be great if dresses had little heat units to keep you warm and toasty in chilly weather???

Logistics aside, its a good idea and you know it!

Nov 042010
 
Vogue Russia November 2010

image from Vogue Russia, November 2010

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this photo...is that a Wonder Woman bracelet?  The copy is in Russian so I know nothing about it, but man oh man, that is one spectacular wrist adornment!!!

Sep 172010
 

Blueberry Pie

It all started the other night when I went to dinner for bbq. I got this craving for Blueberry Pie...which they did not have...or maybe they did and that was where the idea came from? I was too full to consider the notion of dessert and apparently, my brain cannot comprehend why on earth I made that decision. The next day I went on a mission for Blueberry Pie...and I came SO close to buying an entire pie as there were not slices of blueberry for sale. Instead I had a slice of Strawberry Rhubarb which was actually my second choice...and it was awesome. The only problem was that it just made me want Blueberry even more.

I've decided the only thing to do is make myself a pie. Making the Super Epic Rainbow Cake got me over that obsession! I however do not have the time until Tuesday. Which means that later in the day, I will look like this:

Pie Face

Does anyone have a favorite Blueberry Pie recipe that they could either direct me to or share?

*my mom just wrote on my facebook wall that she is serving TWO kinds of pie at her house Monday night, yum!

Sep 092010
 

...and I REALLY want this chandelier...bad.  If you buy it for me, I'll be your best friend...

Kou Chandelier

Kou Chandelier by designer Emma Welsh

it is made from unglazed bone china...how cool is that???  You can buy one for me here.

 
Image from Vogue Nippon, June 2010

Image from Vogue Nippon, June 2010

My sister Gillian has always gone to the movies by herself...not to say that she doesn't go with friends as well, its simply that if she wants to see a movie and no ones around to join her, she just goes.  I have followed suit a few times and agree its a pretty great way to go...I get a cup of coffee, sit wherever I want, don't have to deal with anyone trying to talk to me and just get lost in whatever I'm seeing.  Its been ages however since I've taken myself to a movie...since Where The Wild Things Are in fact.  I like matinees the best...there is something a bit decadent and naughty to run off by yourself to the movies in the middle of the day.

The question however is...what should I see???

 

Love post It

Do you ever see something, read something or hear something that makes you think, sigh and utter "hmmmm, that is just so very, very true."  And then think that you could have saved so many hours of wasted heartache if you just realized that ten minutes in?  Oh well, we live, we learn...we try again.

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