I L.O.V.E. this video taken on the RIBA drawing day, featuring Ben Pentreath, George Saumarez Smith and Francis Terry. I think Piranesi would be proud.
The Three Classicists from RIBAJournal.com on Vimeo.
May 19, 2011
April 27, 2011
what I've been working on
Construction is underway on a small renovation I designed for my parents' home. The space pictured here will house an office and family room (the project also includes a new kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom). The previous space was dark and cave like and suffered from a leaky roof owing to an awkward renovation that was done before my parents moved in. It now has BIG!!! windows that will look out at my mother's beautiful garden and allow daylight deep into the space. It is so exciting to see the space come together!
April 04, 2011
Little Artist A
When A was around 20 months old, I introduced her to watercolor painting. I wet a piece of paper for her and taped it down on her art table next to a palette of cake watercolors. I sat back in amazement as I watched her play turn into this:
It remains one of my favorite things she's made and it mingles quite well with the professional art work on our gallery wall.
Now that A is a big three year old, I thought she might be ready to try out some acrylic paints. Last week, at the art store, I had her pick out four colors to use for her painting. She proudly carried her paints and first canvas to the check out line. She couldn't wait to get started. The next day, I set her up on the easel and was again amazed to see what she did.
She loved creating drips by loading up her paintbrush a holding it against the top of the canvas. She especially loved when one of her drips took an unexpected turn as it ran up against a previous layer of paint. Yes, she returned to the painting across several sittings by her own initiative. In her mind, it still isn't done.
Of course, there have been many paintings in between, but these are special to me because they represent a moment of discovery wherein A reaps the joy of experimentation yet remains tentative enough as she observes the results of her brushstrokes (read, not scribbling her arm wildly across the page) to really let the beauty of her hand show through. They will forever be among my favorites.
Colorado Spring
This past weekend was a bit surreal, owing largely to Colorado's fickle weather. Saturday was a beautiful day with a high of 84 degrees. We spent most of the day outside. Sunday started out equally nice. We walked to get our morning coffee in our t-shirts. An hour later, the sky started to darken. It wasn't long before it was snowing. Yes. Snowing. A enjoyed throwing on her snowpants one last time, and declared after about five minutes outside that it was time for hot chocolate. The joys of spring in Colorado.
April 01, 2011
Happy weekend!
Spring has officially arrived in Denver. Our daffodils are blooming and the 70 degree days are rolling around more frequently. This weekend, we're going to put the finishing touches on our Global Bucket kitchen garden so that it is ready to plant as the weather warms up (Peas can go in this weekend-hooray!). Anyone interested in growing a kitchen garden in a small space or urban environment should check out the Global Buckets website. These two Boulder teenagers have done some serious research and have come up with some impressive and easy to implement solutions for growing food in urban environments. I'll share the details of our implementation next week.
The Mr. and I also have plans to attend Cochon 555 on Sunday. How great is the pig graphic above? Cochon 555 is a cooking competition in which 5 chefs each prepare a 175 lb heritage pig head to toe to be paired with wines from five winemakers. The gusets (including us!) get to participate in the judging to determine which chef goes on to the national competition. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.
March 30, 2011
Paper Cranes for Japan
There are several inspiring fundraisers in the works to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, but this one is my favorites. Students Rebuild is soliciting paper crane makers to contribute paper cranes with the goal of amassing a lucky 1,000. The Bezos Foundation has pledged $200,000 ($2 for each crane received) to support Architecture for Humanity's reconstruction efforts. The project is being coordinated by Students Rebuild in partnership with DoSomething.org.
The cranes will be turned into a permanent art installation to be housed in a rebuilt school or other youth-oriented facility in Japan.
To get involved, log on to www.studentsrebuild.org/japan, or check out Paper Cranes for Japan on Facebook,www.facebook.com/papercranesforjapan. Origami cranes may be sent to: Students Rebuild, 1700 Seventh Ave., STE 116 #145, Seattle, WA 98101.
Image from Yuki's Origami Blog.
March 23, 2011
Concentration
O has been spending time with her Cheerios developing her pincer grasp.
March 18, 2011
March 17, 2011
My Heart is With Japan
After watching news come in about the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, I needed to quiet my mind and turned to some old photographs. I travelled in Japan by myself for a month right before I got married and I look back on the trip as a time of deep reflection that heavily impacted who I am as a designer. I left with a new appreciation of space and, importantly, materials.
I took this photograph of the floor of a temple I visited in Kyoto. After being walked on for hundreds of years by thousands of bare feet (including my own), this rugged looking wood floor was as smooth as glass. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen and a tactile experience I will never forget. It was impossible to walk this floor without gaining a deep appreciation for the rich history of the place, made all the more special by each and every person who had visited.
My heart is with Japan and everyone whose life has been touched by this terrible disaster.
