Momento

This pendant is a french coin that someone in Tijuana carved out. My husband picked it up for me when he was down there. I guess the guy had lots of different ones made from all different coins. What a great idea! So simple and unique.

Make fun!

My goodest friend is coming from Austin, to visit us in San Diego. As we were making a list of all possible wonderful places and things to do while she's here for the weekend, I thought how fun would it be to make a map.

Even though it's not accurate and I left things out, it was sure fun to draw and paint up something quickly without the hassle of sketching and planning and being all uptight. Like most of what I do is.

I had it laminated too so she can check things off as we go.

All that to say, bust out the __________ and mess around!

Growing

The highlight of the weekend was visiting a huge nursery here in San Deigo and wandering around for a few hours dreaming. I can honestly say I have never seen so many different kinds of plants for sale! And from what I can tell, you can grow them here. Because it doesn't freeze here (well, I don't want to jinx anything) and it doesn't get super super hot here. The climate is temperate. Plants like that!  

Also, our yard is irrigated. Also, the backyard is blank. There's nothing there. Not even grass. Not even a square of concrete patio. It's totally ready for anything. Which is an exciting and daunting task.

We started small today with just some succulents just to get our feet wet (not pictured.) But, wow. There is much growing to be done!

(Psst.. also.... blueberry bushes)

Not-Going-Anywhere Vacation

I'm daydreaming about my days off from work, this coming week. It's going to be nice. I have a list of things I would like to get done on the house and some fun stuff too, of course. And when you live in a town with a beach, it's that much better to stick around town and keep it low key.
 

Architecture + Films, CONTEMPT

I've mostly lost interest in modern day films (other than the HOBBIT) and have been watching more and more old films. Still narrowing down what country and era holds my attention the most but above all, I love a film that reveals some interesting architecture.

And nothing has blown me away like the house built on the cliffs of Capri, Italy in this 1963 french film, CONTEMPT.

Nice shots and a write up of it on arch daily, in their films and architecture series. Also, a trailer. It's totally artsy and moody and wouldn't be complete without the stunning Bridgitte Bardot. At moments, I was honestly ready to turn it off but so glad we stayed with it. You'll see what I mean if you watch it.


Another photo and article on Architectural Digest.


We taped it off TV - do a search and catch it if you can!

Lately

While I take a break from painting, these are some of the other things on my mind:

• Spotted this beauty at home depot yesterday. It's called Lion's Tail.
• Bought a $20 chicken at the farmer's market in Hillcrest when my mother-in-law was here. It was an American Bresse, which is a breed grown under strict regulations in France. You have to cook it long and slow, unlike the modern chicken. The skin was much thicker and the meat was somewhat stringy but not in a bad way. Definitely more flavorful and gamier.
• Bought some fancy beans finally. Got the Good Mother Stallard variety but haven't made them yet.
• Angry Orchard Variety Pack. Trying the Traditional Dry right now.
• Thinking about fall and wondering if and when it will feel like it here in southern California.
• Picking out paint for the new media room. Medium Grey I think.
• Just finished having the outside of the house painted white with dark grey trim.
• Ripping Harry Potter audiobooks CDs from the library and wondering if a subscription to Audibles.com would be easier.
• Probably time to get out the fiber optic jack-o-lantern

Hope you're enjoying some fall colors wherever you are. Enjoy them for me!

....and one more

As the paint was drying, this 5" x 7" work went in the mail for the annual RED DOT sale at Women and their Work in Austin, Texas. That show will be up from September 13 through the 26th.

In other art news, my paintings for the annual Enormous Tiny Art Show (ETA 14) at Nahcotta Gallery are up on their webstore, if you can't be there in person. I'm happy to be in the company of so many other wonderful artists.

That's all, and quite enough for now! And with that, I'm off for a well deserved break. Time to spend some weekends riding bikes, putting the final unpacking touches on my studio and making our new house look like home. At the moment, I think that means kitchen remodel and a few new light fixtures here and there. Sounds like fun and a nice change of pace.