Last Week at Pot + Pantry

Wow, this is the last week the show is up at Pot + Pantry. I can hardly believe it. Any of it, really! This was my first ever show and I couldn't have asked for a more successful outcome. It started with so much love in the press. I was stunned to say the least to read so many kind words from folks at Anthology Magazine, Refinery 29, Eater SF, The Kitchn, Saveur!, and even The Bold Italic gave us a little shout. 

I by no means could ever find it possible to contact all these wonderful, incredible writers so thank-you for finding me and/or for all the 'little mice' that may have whispered in their ears. 
The show sold over half of the pieces on the first night and three quarters in the first week.  But there are still a few beauties left. In fact all four of these incredible pieces are still available. If you are interested give Donna a call at the shop.

Then there was the outrageous showing at the event. Thank-you to all of you incredible people that made it out. Friends, family (Hello surprise visit from Dad, who lives in Atlanta by the way;) and all of you I had never met, It was such a pleasure. 

And my host, co-conspirator, and inspiration du jour, Ms. Donna Suh I couldn't imagine doing this show with anyone else or anywhere else.  Thanks Donna!

On that final note. This isn't just the final week of the show but the final week of Pot + Pantry! I know!  BUT it's not goodbye forever, pot + pantry is just moving online giving Donna the opportunity to start new adventures.

p.s. Please email me if you want to be added to the mailing list for prints. 

Delicious

A couple of my favorite Bloody Mary's have made it into the famed Delicious show this year. I haven't been well enough (I was involved in an accident last Thursday evening.) to make it over there but if you are in the Bay Area I would highly recommend you hightail on it over. There are so many talented folks apart of it including Ms. Emily Proud. 

Harland Miller

 

I've had this image on my desktop for at least a year. I have no idea where it came from unfortunately (please do tell if you do) but I would click on it every once in awhile smile and close it. The main reason for pulling it in the first place was to use it as a reminder to not be afraid to create larger pieces. This is a goal I do have and will get to once I get all the smaller goals out of the way if you will. Then one day I actually read the title of the book and nearly fell off my chair laughing. For those who can't quite read the smaller type on the book cover it says...

"Incurable Romantic Seeks Dirty Filthy Whore" 

My next thought... is this book an actual real book? I suspected not and looked up it's 'author'.  Harland Miller is none other than the cheeky painter who created this piece. Have a look at some of his other works. 

FvF: Nir Stern Interview

So, let's get back to design shall we? Here's a little sneak peek into an interview I conducted for Freunde von Freunden. It will go live tomorrow.

As just as aside comment I have been trying to convince my clients for years to integrate the bath into their bedroom. Perhaps it was watching 'The Pillow Book' far too many times but I just think there is something completely natural and sensual about bathing not in a small configured bathroom but out in the open with the one(s) you love.

And then I met Nir through an anniversary gathering of my Ashtanga yoga studio (yes. I cringe a little bit at that stereotype of Californians but I take the view I normally do... let the people think what they will.) and then he introduced me to a 26 Bathrooms by who else but Peter Greenaway. Crazy, non?

Update: It's Tomorrow in Berlin! 

Pot + Pantry + Me

Yipp Yipp, so all this food/restaurant/painting/deliciousness decided to have an engine all it's own and once it started picking up steam I just couldn't seem to stop it.

Pot + Pantry seemed to be the perfect locale and lucky for me Donna agreed. So if you are in town won't you all please stop by the show and say hi. Have a look below for all the details and by all means invite your food loving friends.

The Reconstuctionists

Have you heard about Lisa Congdon's new project this year? Well, when I found out I felt like she had read my mind. I really had been thinking of wanting to do a series of influential women in my life so when I found out she as collaborating on The Reconstructionists with Maria Popover of Brainpickings I was seriously elated. I could not wait to view this series and unlike the project brewing in my brain this one will be a weekly endeavor which will surely introduce to us all an influential gal we didn't know of before. I look forward to every single week.

Niemeyer part deux

Remember not that long ago on this post I mentioned how my dear friend Jorge was hiding in the bushes trying to get a shot of Niemeyer's private residence? Well he dug them up for me. You can't see much of course which really is just fine but what I do love about these photos is they express a feeling I had the entire time I was in that beautiful city... a feeling like the forest was ready to take back this paradise at any moment. Watch out don't turn your back or you might have a tree growing right through your house. I must get back to this gorgeousness soon.

p.s. Don't forget that Jorge has begun his blog all over again with a new name. Album xyz.

p.p.s. Whoa I'm obviously a little spotty with the blogging and I have to admit that it will most likely be like that for the next two months. And I'll have a big announcement next week. 

photography by Jorge Soares

Happy 2013!

Whoa, 2013. What does that even mean? This year is certainly starting with a bang. Loads of new things to tell you but I thought I would start out with a little funny first. I first caught a look at it over on the Design Observer blog and it tickled my design funny bone and thought it would tickle yours as well.

As you may or may not know I usually look to a famous designer and his manifesto come this time of year to remind me of certain values I hold dear but I thought it was time to switch it up. Oh, I'll still be taking a peek at the Incomplete Manifesto but I've been particularly enchanted by Maria Popova over at Brain Pickings this past year and thought 'How to Find Your Purpose and Do What You Love' was a pertinent piece to add to the mix.

Point Reyes Lighthouse

As my final post of the year I thought I would make a push to finish editing the photos from my trip with Grams and my Aunt to Inverness and the Pt. Reyes lighthouse which as you will all soon see is quite a beauty. I might also add that it is not exactly easy to get to and from and you may not want to take your own Grandma on such a trek. 300+ steps plus several ramping sidewalks in between those steps along with the blustery Northern California weather make it a bit of a journey. But if you are able I definitely think it's worth it.

I'll leave it wordless from here on out except for a few highlights.

-those incredible orange patches on the rock that make you feel as if you are in some alien landscape are algae and contrary to their actual color are classfied as a green algae called Trentepohlia.

-In the 1906 earthquake the Pt. Reyes lighthouse moved 18 feet in one minute and was only without service for 13 min,

- It was built in 1870 and was retired in 1975.

I wish I had gotten to see and do so much more on this trip but I guess that means I'll just have to go back.

Workshop Residence: Jim Iserman

I was first introduced to Jim Iserman via L.A. Eyeworks. I was doing a case study for small independent retailers and he had a massive installation in the shop. It struck me as curious that the piece he created of repetitive mass produced shapes were more like architecture than the one off experimental architecture by Neil Denari that housed it.

From that day forward I was a fan as I am of most creatives that learn to cross boundaries with ease and confidence.

Iserman is currently in residence at the Workshop Residence where he is producing a collection of blankets of complex geometries.

Of particular interests are his Cast Stone I-Blocks (Bottom Photo) which can be used to build interior or exterior partition walls. They remind me of such disparate influences such as Frank Lloyd Wright's textile block system, the modern and ubiquitous CMU (concrete masonry unit), the mid-century concrete screens found all over Palm Springs and to a lesser degree Parametre by 3-form and several wall-divider projects by the Bouroullec brothers.

If you live in San Francisco I urge you to go visit if you haven't yet as the line-up of residents is really incredible. And if you don't live in the area I would get on a waiting list for some of these items as they will going on sale soon and when was the last time you could purchase a piece by a major artist for around $100.* Yea, never.

*The utility blankets will be on sale for around $60 to $110