Merry Christmas!

From Daniel, Jessica, Levi, Olive, and Chester.

Blankets and Winter's Sea:

I love when I find just the right spot to work. How perfect does this one look?



This was Anna Emilia's spot to "hide, sketch, read and listen." It appears to have worked out too--look at the whimsy in this piece:

Favorite pastime:

window watching.

Crazy Grays.

Daniel and I just took a short trip to New York for Makoto Fujimura's recent work, The Four Holy Gospels. It was such a treat to be there; the series was visually remarkable and as Makoto spoke about it he called it his "life work." We had to pinch ourselves to believe that we got to be a part of such special night.

Besides that event, we bussled around New York. I may have gone to the best show of my life while there: Anselm Kiefer at the Gogosian Gallery. Whew...it blew my mind.

Standing close Kiefer's paintings, they looked abstract; a constellation of ash and dirt and paint. I was tempted to stay close, lost in weathered clay and crackled beauty. But stepping further back I was drawn into gorgeous gray landscapes of depth--they felt like they went on forever. His installations, so fragile and precarious, were encased in glass. These haunt me; they transported me into someone's sad world. I felt the horror in the pieces without knowing their specific story. So often I try to understand the specifics of a story or person in order to feel something for them, this time it was opposite and it seemed natural. I experienced a sort of visual empathy. Language did not get in the way this time.

Here are some images from the show:

Time flies.

I am going to join the ranks of mothers who say that time flies when you have kids. For a while, I was sick of hearing that from every other mother in the grocery store upon seeing Levi and I shopping together. And now Levi is nine months old and nearly every day I find myself thinking how fast time goes now that he's with us.

Here's to nine months of time flying; I imagine this is what it might feel like to look back on Levi's life after 10 years:

Feeling Christmasy.

These days have been a mish-mash of wonderful things and difficult things. And yet the Christmas season prevails; I feel that this morning. Here are a few things contributing in small ways to the Christmas vibe in our home....

Clockwise:
-Buy one get on free Christmas Blend as Starbucks today! In stores and online.
-Three Hour Fire; a short-cut I had doubts about, but is so worth it on days like today.
-Amy Grant's Home for Christmas--an old classic...cheesy but good.
-Volcano candle. My all time favorite candle scent (exception: pregnancy). It will transport you to Anthropologie. :)
-Slip/Moc/Boot--on sale at Nordstrom. I wear mine un-cuffed.

Wallpaper is the new paint,

I wish.

Lately, I have been wanting to wallpaper out bedroom with a subtle print. Yesterday I came across these beauties:

I like bright.

Artist James Marshall; he has rhythm.

piano man.

I purchased this vintage piano for Levi at a garage sale. I think I may paint it bright blue....or maybe chalkboard, but in the meantime Levi has been loving it!





All smiles:


And our sweet dog, Olive:

husband and wife team...

...interesting interview from couple, self-taught in interior design. I liked their ideas on creating modern spaces that are easy to live in, even with kids.

and a few images of spaces that they have put together:

Bush Family Winterizing

We'll be ready this winter:

Warby Parker

I am looking for new glasses and came across the Warby Parker brand (thanks Kate!). They have the same give-away-deal as Toms shoes; for every pair bought they give away one pair to someone who needs them. One of the best parts of the site is the "virtual try on." Levi liked the Finn style and I liked the Roosevelt.

Can I borrow your shirt?

I like this affordable seaman print down to his shirt. He looks like a younger healthier verison of Picasso's Old guitarist.

And look, I found this cute and affordable version of his stripes:


The shirt is even called "heart of the sea striped top." Perfect.

Done...

and another commission finished. on to the next.

Terrariums...

I love them. So much so that I have a series named Terrariums. Check it out here.



It often feels like we are living in our own terrariums, and if we could look from the outside in we would see things very differently.

Paula Hayes is an artist who creates intricate terrariums, among other beautiful things. I would very much like to have one of her works of art living in my home. Here are some of my favorites:










In the meantime, here is one that is beautiful and affordable.

HOOT HOOT!

Hoot hoot because Halloween was so fun and hoot hoot because Levi was an owl. Thank you Linzi for knitting this adorable hat for Levi! How cute does he look?





We met up with one of Daniel's sweet sisters and her girls:














And finally Chester, our cat--who looks festive without even trying.

fauna art

I have been enjoying art with animals. Here are some affordable and intriguing pieces:

(top left and top right, bottom)

Even some photography: