Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas Movie

On Christmas eve we rented The Apartment a charming movie and great period piece (1960) with Shirley Maclain and Jack Lemmon. We've come a long way baby.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/12/29/arts/1194835382663/critics-picks-the-apartment.html?th&emc=th

Reap What You Sew

This is a cool project by San Francisco artist Michael Blaine.

http://www.kqed.org/arts/programs/spark/profile.jsp?essid=5030

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Merry Christmas


This picture was from the Feast of the Winter Solstice last year...it was canceled this year due to ice and snow.
One of my favorite things about the Feast is making these sparkly headdresses.


Ho Ho HO



More is more where Santas are concerned


Cory in her red Christmas cape and Kelly in her festive hat.

Kelly and Cory came over for Christmas dinner looking like colorful elves. We drove in the mushy snow drifts to look at Christmas lights and decorations.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Sunny memories





Needed a change from complaining about the snow so here are some pictures from sunnier times.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Cabin Fever


Lavender in the snow
We're now on our fourth storm in the last week. The news from "Stormtracker" is bleak. The streets are treacherous paths of ice and broken arms and smashed fenders are the theme of the day. I want to be able to get in my car and drive.

Took a walk the other day in the snow when it was still new and fresh and saw some enterprising young artists out making things....snow fences and such.


Snow Cones - Art Installation



Snow Brick Wall

The builder and his brick maker.




John, Monica and Gwen came over for a walk to Cafe Rozella on Saturday.




Ah winter. You are beautiful in the blue light.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Exciting Day at Work!



This was the view out my window today at work. Two buses slid down an icy hill into the embankment overlooking I-5. One came down first, then the second bus came down and hit the first bus pushing it further over the embankment. Three of my co-workers saw the whole drama unfold...and the kids who were in the bus pushed out the emergency windows and jumped out. Yikes! No one was killed or severely hurt and that's a miracle. Needless to say, not a lot of work was done and lots of looking out the window was.

Three Eyed Christmas Angel Kitty


This is my Christmas card for 2008. I used EZ cut rubber to carve the image and purple speedball ink. It's a fun process to fold and tear the paper, print the cards and send them out. I love getting cards in the mail this time (and every time) of year.

Winter Wonderland

Thursday was a snow day around West Seattle. The streets were treacherous and the snow was deep so I headed off with my camera to visit a neighbor and take pictures.

Here's what I found....

Highland Park Playfield up the street from my house.


Apple tree in Monica and John's back yard...still had apples on it.

My little Christmas cottage!


Snow Cat

Monica and Gwen chill out


Monica and John's new doggie, Gwen




Little Franklin rocks out! Neighbors across the street Billy and little Franklin. He could be a Gerber baby.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Fun with Lipstick


Speaking of the Museum of Contemporary Craft, they have a great exhibit on right now called Manufacture: the Conspicuous Transformation of Everyday Objects . This piece by Livia Marin was a favorite.

Mandy Greer's Show at BAM


This fall artist Mandy Greer had a show at the Bellevue Art Museum called Dare Alla Luce. Her work uses crochet and beadwork in exciting new ways. This show will be opening at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland in January. Don't miss it! Here are some highlights from the show.

Crocheted Red Gown

Stag with pearl encrusted horns.




Interesting rear view with sequins!

Friday, December 5, 2008

December Sunset


I started a new job this week in the South Lake Union neighborhood. One of the perks of my place of employment is the stellar view from the cafeteria. This was taken about 4:40 PM today right at sunset. Can you see the Christmas tree on the top of the Space Needle?

Tea Shop

We were in the International District last weekend to have ramen at Samarai Noodle (highly recommended) and stopped in to buy some tea. Lydia warmed our cups and invited us to sit. It's quite a ritual, the art of drinking tea with friends, and must not be rushed. We settled on Oolong, mild, yet good up to five times steeping it.
Lydia's dog helped her entertain us.

Lydia makes tea for us.


A piece of cake is next door to the tea shop...great neon.