pattern

| November 21, 2011

One of the benefits of having 4 sisters is the ease of sharing/swapping clothes. Thuy came home last Friday from Atlanta and she gave me this sweater she thrifted. I love the grey & yellow combo as well as the pattern, but I’m waiting for the 80 degrees+ weather to drop (come on, cold front!).

In a similar style, I picked up a rug from the Guild Shop this morning. This is my first time living with some much wall to wall carpet in awhile, so I’ve been looking for some affordable rugs to cover up the not so pretty spots. Things go quickly at the Guild I’ve learned- the one I had my eye on was gone.

 

 

can’t stop

| October 22, 2011

Not doing well with packing or grading. Only doing well eating sweets. Can’t stop …

 

the weekend

| October 17, 2011

Crossing my fingers for a calmer week than last. The weekend hopefully set the tone…

BJ made chicken soup and grilled scallions with almond pesto (From M. Batali. definitely will be a repeat), going through clothes to donate, quick trip to the Menil, coffee outside Inversion, toting around this bag from Mairead, brunch at Empire Cafe with friends, browsed antiques and books along Westheimer. Hope everyone has a good week!

just enough is more

| September 27, 2011

5
LESS IS NOT NECESSARILY MORE.
Being a child of modernism I have heard this mantra all my life. Less is more. One morning upon awakening I realised that it was total nonsense, it is an absurd proposition and also fairly meaningless. But it sounds great because it contains within it a paradox that is resistant to understanding. But it simply does not obtain when you think about the visual of the history of the world. If you look at a Persian rug, you cannot say that less is more because you realise that every part of that rug, every change of colour, every shift in form is absolutely essential for its aesthetic success. You cannot prove to me that a solid blue rug is in any way superior. That also goes for the work of Gaudi, Persian miniatures, art nouveau and everything else. However, I have an alternative to the proposition that I believe is more appropriate. ‘Just enough is more.’

Well put. Part of Milton Glaser’s Ten Things I Have Learned 2001 AIGA Talk

I rarely get a chance to go online during the day, but by the time I get on in the evening, BJ has added a ton of new things to our tumblr (Can’t take any credit. He does all the work!). I love checking Thuy’s too.

this weekend

| September 2, 2011

Only pic of the week. I got this dress in the sale rack from UO right before school started. It was a few sizes too big, but I like the print and the fit, besides the exposing armholes – nothing a cardigan couldn’t fix. I think I’m going to try printing on fabric soon, maybe make some scarves for the fall…

This weekend, I’m going to make time for all the things I’ve neglected – drawing, cooking, and taking pictures. My fil Bill sent me a roll of  ISO 50 film, and I’m almost finished with it. Most of the shots were taken indoors, so hopefully my hand wasn’t too shaky. I’m also looking forward to celebrating my sister’s 20th birthday and having friends over to watch the first ND football game.


 

 

grumpy

| August 29, 2011

I’ve been grumpy. I blame it on the 100+ heat, my dying mint plant, the lone commute to work, and finding time to sleep. It will past…

I like visiting my parents and seeing all the new illustrations Thuy has been making- there’s lot and lots more. I convinced her to let me scan her drawings and get prints made.

transitioning

| June 28, 2011

For me, summer is both relaxing and stressful. I have a hard time transitioning from working a high energy, fast moving school day to the slower pace at home. Finding things to do is not the problem – there are plenty of lessons to prep and personal projects that need attention. I easily get restless and managing time is something I’ve always struggled with and am still trying to figure out. Sometimes I wish I had people working around me to keep me motivate!

Besides playing around with jewelry, I’ve been interested in working with patterns. We got this little Marimekko cup recently, and I love the organic design. I signed up my mom, sister, and I for a shibori class this week, so I’m looking forward to learning something new.

 

Seattle

| June 17, 2011

After Portland and Yakima, we spent the last 2.5 days in Seattle and managed to have a full schedule (mostly revolving around food). A little planning would’ve helped since a few of the spots we tried to visit were closed for the day. But I guess that means we’ll have to come again…

Day 1. Clam Chowder from Ivar’s and a second helping at Pike Place Chowder and watched Super 8 on the iMax at Seattle Center.

Day 2. Explored Ballard. Bought shoes at Dolce Vita, had delicious halibut tacos and watermelon fresca at La Carta de Oaxaca, indulged in gelato at D’Ambrosio, amazed/stunned by the displays at Curtis Steiner, grabbed toiletries and chatted with a nice salesperson at Blackbird, watched boats pass at Ballard Locks, watched salmon traverse the fish ladder, grabbed slow-roasted pork sandwiches at Paseo, reconnected with my high school friend at Molly Moon (the salted caramel is to die for!), and ended with Beginners at the Harvard Exit Theater in Capitol Hill.

Day 3. Brunch at Portage Bay Cafe, spent time in the reading room at the light-flooded Seattle Public Library designed by Rem Koolhaas, browsed and pined at Totokaelo, Cajun lunch (gumbo, battered catfish po’ boy) at Kingfish Cafe, dragged everyone to Molly Moon for a second helping.

This guide from Design*Sponge helped a lot.