Sometimes when you get to the end of something, there are mixed feelings; you are sad that it is the last one, or glad that it is finally done.

I had a busy but good trip out west for work, won some bucks playing blackjack in vegas, soaked up the silky summer beverly hills air, and caught a cold on the way back. It is the middle of summer and I feel like taking a blog break to finish up some side work, refresh and start drawing some new things, grill as many peaches and pineapple and stuff as I can. And to finally get started preparing the files for my new website. In about a month I am going to be crazy at work so I want to enjoy this time. I’ll keep on updating my photos on flickr in the meantime. And I’ll be back refreshed and with some new fun stuff soon!

Happy Summer!

Blurry? Transparencies, Multiplicity, Nature, Love, hate. Been thinking in the realm of extremes lately. From freezing cold New England winter to soon to be sweltering and sweaty New England summer. From Small town to Big city. I lived in Manhattan, I live in the second smallest town in New England now. From the two sides of us that definitely always exist. There is a side, fighting with another side. There is a part that is subordinated by another part. There are so many sayings I want tattoo’ed on my arm; “Wherever you go, there you are.” “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” Eek. Is that one puritanical? Sortof? And being thrust from one extreme to the next, and sometimes, feeling that even a slight shift in life feels like a massive one. And skeletons in the closet. All that good stuff. All the things that soaps are made of! Anyway, should this image be silkscreened on a tote bag? The “drops” seem to bother the boyfriend. But they don’t bother me.

I just cannot put my finger on where the time is going… it is just moving too fast! I just sold my piece SLOW from my etsy shop, to an old friend, whom I met when I was 15 years old in Palm Springs. After not really keeping touch for the past 15 years or so. We got in touch and he bought this piece, and I just re-read what I wrote about in my shop, and it is SO how I feel! “I guess I just see the world a little slower than it actually happens. i think the world should slow down just a little bit!”

What else. Check out my boyfriend’s new blog. Yeah! What a nice website too… Click on OS Ocean (the lobster) for the English version or OS Country (the Rooster) for the Italian version!

I am so busy at work. Incredibly. Planning all kinds of travel and corrections and all this and that. Meetings, deadlines, line closing, sales, this that and the other. It is a good busy, but I am coming home so tired! In 3 1/2 weeks I am going to have to be prepared for the Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair. I am so excited about it, I love that my sweet and extra talented friend Sarah and I will be sharing a booth, and I love what I am working on for it! Altered prints on wood panels, a coloring book, greeting cards, silk-screened tees. Yay! Cannot wait to share it all. I also really, really want to show you all the of the cute and sparkly shoes I have been working on, so many lovely things, tangerine and fuschia faux snakeskin gladiator sandals, baby shoes with embroidered roses and hearts and anchors, just so much cute. But, I will hold back until things go to retail… maybe I can show just a small segment to you? I am busy, proud, exhausted, and a little worried about sharing too much before even buyers see the stuff! Remember, it is 2009 that I have already designed… Actually, in 2 months, I will be starting on Fall 2009 footwear designs! For now, here are some quick things from the dusty crevices of my current state of mind… Been thinking a lot of duality, love and hate, all kinds of simple but narrative things. And also, just spending a lot of time looking at the beautiful texture of textiles, rope, yarn, knits, etc.


The stuff I’m doing…
Illustrations on wood panels with varnish.

Yay BBQ season! Our little copper fire pit on our new porch. It is so nice to eat outside!

We have started to BBQ these past few weeks and it is so great to be outside more! We found these buoys washed up on the beach. Stay tuned for a shop update!

Another quick drawing I did. I have these pens that I bought and never really liked, but I realized if I use them on thin paper they are pretty good. Nothing beats the Micron as far as I’m concerned. I have a grid notebook that I like to draw in all the time, but funny thing, most of the time, I never even really use the gridlines, but they sort-of keep me company while I’m drawing hahaha.

I just did my taxes, well all of my accounting for the year, in one marathon 5-hour session. It’s always like that, but each year I get more and more efficient so I guess I am allowing myself to procrastinate like this, because it does always get done. Anyway, for me, who spent most of the year freelancing, I account for all of my purchases and it is so eye-opening to see what we spend our money on. I have enough pens to last me quite a while, it’s definitely one of my favorite things to buy.

I made this cake from scratch for Easter. While it looks nice, it wasn’t really that great. Sometimes it’s risky to try new recipes when you really want something to turn out! Better stick to the old-standby!

I got this used wooden collectable shelf, but it needed something.

So I painted it white! Now it looks fresh, and like it doesn’t have to hold some granny’s thimble collection. I love small, insignificant things. And now, I have immortalized some of my little small things in my white trinket shelf!

We collect little trinkets on the beach near our house. I have collected quite the zoo of little plastic animals (probably from the kids down the street who leave them in the sand and then they wash over to the house here) but also nice little chips of ceramic fancy plates, the standard mussel shells and crab claws, driftwood worn smooth by the waves, rocks with holes, one-legged baby dolls, weird gear things that probably fell off of a boat, etc, etc. We recently found an oyster shell, and it stunk really bad but it looks cool. So now these treasures are bottled up yet easily viewed. Yay!

When we adopted Beppo 2 months ago he was a poor little malnourished, mangey 7 month-old orphan dog. (see photo below.) And we thought he was cute even then. Now, he’s gained some weight, grown some really soft lovely fur, and is happier and healthier then ever! We take turns squeezing him (lovingly of course) because he is too adorable to even know how to deal with. If I had to sum up Beppo’s personality in three words they would be; persistant, affectionate, and mischevious. The two dogs are best friends and don’t leave each others side for a second. It makes all those fun and trying (3am-type) puppy-rearing experiences worth it.

We’re in our second storm in the past 4 days, but honestly, it’s really beautiful. I’ll let you know if I still think it’s beautiful after the drive in to work tomorrow! We got our tree this weekend, and put the lights and ornaments on today. It’s smells amazing and makes me so happy to have a tree! The dogs both have handmade stockings, now on to ours! I have to admit, I haven’t even shopped for one Christmas gift yet. Nor have I sent out a Christmas card. It’s been a really busy time these past few weeks, but somehow it will all come together in time for the holiday. I just really want to avoid the frenzy and stress, seeing as though there is enough going on with two puppies, a new job/commute/car, and two winter storms in 4 days. Whew! Tomorrow we are celebrating a birthday for Salvi! Then it’s time to focus on the week left before Christmas. I love this wintery weather though!

We’re in the middle of a snow storm (6″ of snow already, another 6″ to come by the evening) and it is absolutely beautiful! And I love my new job! Really love it! More, later!

The dog is getting huge. He must be 60 or 70 lbs, and he’s only 7 months old. He sounds like a horse when he gallops by on the beach. But he is so sweet and loveable, a gentle giant. We played with him in the backyard today, a cool but sunny fall day. The crazy dog is still swimming in the water, it’s Fall! The water is freezing!