"Hi, Atus!"

In keeping you all abreast of the myriad details of my life's comings and goings I just wanted to alert you to the fact that I will be absent for the duration of approximately seven days time. Or, to make a long story short, I'm taking off for a week.

My aunt is nearing the end of her visit from Nova Scotia (that's in Canada - our German-speaking neighbors to the west or is it south?) so I'll be spending this last week visiting with her and my parents. So, I'll see you next week.

In addition to Halloween happening this week I imagine various employers might well see a spike in productivity levels during my absence. To them I say...you are welcome. But in the meantime, let me leave this with you as the "Top Model" poll has come to a close - shout out to Heather our winner! Be sure to vote on the newest poll...the world depends on it! Keep the dream alive, People!

Cute...but just barely.

Just turned around to see this, Fergus, sleeping away on the pillows. Are you kidding me with how cute this is?! Its almost as cute as I am!

Me & My Shadow

Lara from Kirin Notebook posted this on her blog the other day...it really is amazing! A nice way to start a Monday I believe. 'Nuff said.

Viernes Gigante!

I know I'm on a bit of a YouTube kick but c'mon...it's pretty budget and totally brilliant! A lil' latin pick-me-up from Los Mono, a Chilean Hip Hop group. You're welcome. Have a great weekend Everyone!

What a Queen!

Home is where the art is.

I am thrilled that the newest installment of Art 21 is soon to be broadcast! This is the fourth installment of the program produced by PBS which features numerous artists talking about their work. As an artist myself, I was happy that there was an opportunity to hear artists speak directly about their work and process as opposed to having all of that information filtered through a journalist or art historian. It seems that often times they (journalists/art historians) tend to only add to the curtain of elitist mystique that keeps a great deal of people from exploring art. It both saddens and frustrates me when people feel no interest in art or are intimidated by it because they've been led to believe that they don't know enough. Art is not the exclusive domain of anyone but belongs to everyone.

As a professor once said to a group of artists and students, "Remember people, art historians only ride the bus...we DRIVE it!" Well put, sir, well put.

Beefy & Bainbridge

Sorry to be referring to myself in the third person but I'm a sucker for alliteration. Just sharing some photos of riding the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island (i.e., home). It is a beautiful aspect of living out here (ok, sometimes it's not). They say no man is an island but at least I can be a man "on" an island.

Part of the Seattle skyline in the distance, with Safeco Field, and the Bremerton Ferry.

The beginnings of sunset over Puget Sound.

Rolling into Eagle Harbor with the Olympic Mountains in the west.
My favorite mountain range...especially in winter.

(Aaaaaaaaand scene.)

We gonna party like its yur' birfday...

As you know, my aunt is visiting the Northwest from Nova Scotia. Saturday was her birthday so we all headed down to my parents' place to help celebrate the occasion (the hat (above) I made and that my aunt generously wore in the pictures! uh, those not seen here...). I decided to give everyone else a rest and get my cook on so I wrangled together the celebratory dinner. We had roasted halibut and crushed potatoes with a slooooow roasted (count 'em...4.5 hours) tomato and shallot sauce. You know, a lil' wine, a lil' champagne ("cham-pag-knee" as my father would say)...and on to dessert. Ooh la la! As it was a celebration, I busted out with what is known as a Mille Crepe Cake. Granted, I didn't make it to 1000 crepes, engineering difficulties assumed, and rounded things off at around 32. Each delightful layer filled with fresh vanilla bean-flecked kirsch-infused pastry cream. Delicious! This baby takes roughly 2 to 3 days to make with all the various steps. If it took 2 to 3 weeks...it would be worth the effort!

I got a bit carried away with my torch when caramelizing the top but it didn't hurt the flavor! I mean, c'mon...its burnt SUGAR for cryin' out loud!

The grand finale...the reveal of the 1000 layers! Heaven! Thank you France! (I will say this many more times in the future of that I am certain.)

Brown paper packages...

Just some sketches I've been working on to get the juices flowing. I like the coolness of the black and white contrasted with the warm coffee-brown background. Coffee-brown coming from the fact that, as you can see, I'm using recycled coffee filters. Reduce, reuse...

Red Letter Day

Some years ago, while still in school, I started this handmade book for a project. It was ambitious at the time given a last-minute deadline and no actual need for it as an assignment. But as you can see I came pretty darn close. Then it got boxed up with the myriad of other projects that would lie in wait for completion or use. But I discovered it the other day and felt for the poor little red thing. It's filled with mixed paper and mylar pages just waiting to be fiddled with and filled.

I think most creatives would agree that the hardest part is just starting. Facing a blank page does infuse one with a certain amount of pressure. "You know that first mark you make better be genius." And the freezing ensues. So...where to begin? How about the beginning? Any start is ultimately important. Any day a red letter day.

Dark Road

The first single from Annie Lennox's newest release "Songs of Mass Destruction". I do love me some Annie!

Looky what I found on the "intermet"!

Alright, I realize that today's two posts bear absolutely no relationship to one another. However, its Monday. And who couldn't do with a little laugh to start the week. Every community must suffer the indignities associated with local advertising. You feelin' m'flow? And while NOT providing any sort of commercial endorsement whatsoever...this just cracks me up! (This post will only stay up temporarily...promise! I just couldn't help myself!)

Fall Family Weekend

These are some photos taken around my parents' property in southwest Washington. Went down for the weekend with my sister as my aunt was in town from Nova Scotia. Just some photos of a couple of spectacular Fall mornings. I'll just keep it short and to the point.

There's no place like home...(love those shoes, by the way!)

While I have definitely begun the transformation into one who appreciates Summer more than ever, I am still a number one fan for Fall. There is something so magical about this time of year, Halloween aside. And today it cast that kind of spell that makes you so happy to be where you are in the world. (Maybe not happy to be trying to take a photo while dog-walking but happy nonetheless.)

Hope that today can be the same for you.

You ought to be sent to ReForm School!

For those of you who peruse the vast number of design-related blogs (e.g., sfgirlbybay (thanks for the pic!) or design*sponge) this likely won't come as any news flash. However, if you haven't heard, ReForm School an L.A.-based retailer has now launched an e-commerce site. Frankly, it's one of the best looking sites I've seen in a great while. (Thanks to designers Also.) It definitely takes one back to the days of oh, say, junior high/early high-school. Anyone who knows me knows that those are days best forgotten, but the site makes me even feel a little dreamy-nostalgic...now that's the power of marketing & design people!

Anyway, with a focus on handmade, artisan, sustainable (no brow beating here, however) design you're bound to find something to covet on this site. Or at least blow off a few hours surfing the site rather than doing your homework, I mean, office work.

Class dismissed!