a magical geometry

PROGRESS REPORT

2011-08-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

A few little shots of what's happening over here in remodel land. Progress is feeling slow, but steady. Got water last week, rewiring happens next week, and then things should move a little quicker from there on out. Still searching for a few key items: anyone in Portland got a lead on cheap Velux skylights???

ON MOVING // MOVING ON

2011-08-05T19:53:00.000-07:00

When I started working for myself, almost 9 years ago, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. But I knew one thing: if I was going to make jewelry making my job, I needed a space away from the house to do that in. I needed to be able to get up in the morning, leave the house, and go to work. I'm lucky that studio space is still relatively cheap and easy to find here in Portland, and so since day one, that's exactly what I've done. And that's worked really well for me for a long time. I needed the regimen of getting into the car and going to work to keep myself in check. The studio was for work. Home was for, well, not work. And everything sailed along just fine. Until now.

Around the beginning of this year, getting in the car to go to the studio began to feel less like a daily routine, and more like a daily annoyance. When I moved into my current studio about 6 years ago, my business was in a different place, I had two employees and required a lot more space. And I have a lot of it there. Tons. Way too much for just me. What used to feel just right started to morph from a place that I felt good working in, to a cavernous enclave that was slowly making me feel unfocused, discombobulated, and cranky. Lots and lots of cranky. And then I started looking at my garage. A perfectly lovely, one and a half car detached garage that I've never put my car in. A garage that has been quietly acting as storage space for a whole bunch of stuff that I, quite frankly, don't need. A garage that I wouldn't have to pay any extra rent on. A space that would allow me to walk out the back door and work till midnight when I need to, without having to haul stuff back and forth across town and drive home late at night. A space that has massive potential for being pared down, light, and cozy. A space where I could put a wood stove! And that pretty much sealed the deal: You guys, I'm moving home.

Self employment comes with a myriad of both challenges and joys. One of the joys that I am trying to focus on lately is that working the way that I do really allows me the freedom to create exactly the life and schedule that I want, and this move feels pretty integral to that right now. As much as having that space away from home has been important to me for so long, the fact is that this is my career: after almost 10 years of self employment, I've got my routine down (I hope!), and I should be able to maintain that wherever I'm at. And at this point, it's much less where the space is at, and much more the space itself that matters to me. Moving my work home feels like a move towards much more flexibility, freedom, and most importantly, simplicity. (And, of course, a reclaimed barn wood ceiling...) I have the opportunity to build my dreamy dream studio, and it's time to go for it.

This move marks a huge change for me and my business. One that will involve all sorts of upheaval in the next month as the garage is transformed and I transition out of my current space. So shop updates and actual jewelry production will most likely be light as I comb the Rebuilding Center for doors and figure out what color to paint the floor. I'm super excited and all sorts of nervous all at the same time. It's a 'whole new chapter' kind of thing, and I'm so, so ready. I've already ordered the wood stove and everything...

VACATION

2011-06-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

Hello from Kauai!!! If you haven't gathered from my mad twitter posting and instagram-ing about it, I'm on vacation!!!!! Spending the week in Kauai with my very best friend, her amazing partner, and their ridiculously gorgeous and adorable baby girl, the tiny T. We arrived Saturday afternoon to a very tropical downpour, but were rewarded with a fantastically gorgeous day on Sunday. Staying in a rental house across the street from 'Baby Beach' (no, really, that's what it's called) in Poipu, and loving every single second of being here. Highlights so far include waking up bright and early (As in, 6 a.m. bright! Not my usual schedule, but traveling with parents of a young toddler means early to bed and early to rise. Somehow, it's working for me.), morning runs along the shore, sea turtle sightings at the beach, and reading the "Mr. Brown Can Moo!' to that baby over and over again.

Spending a couple hours this morning taking care of a little work from my 'office' on the wrap around porch. Work is so much more pleasant with a view of palmtrees and the sounds of the ocean as a backdrop. I'll be checking and answering emails periodically this week, but take note that if you place an order this week, it won't ship until after the 13th, when I return.

And with that my dears, I'm off for a swim...

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

2011-05-31T12:03:00.001-07:00

And we have a winner!!! Yel olde random number generator picked comment number 29. Christy, you'll be getting one pair of Metamorphic earrings to brighten up your spring! Shoot me an email with your address and I'll get em out the door to you by the end of this week.
Thank you all so much for your sweet comments, they truly brightened up my week. And stay tuned for another giveaway in another couple of months!

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!

2011-05-24T11:26:00.001-07:00

It's spring! Really, truly, spring. And this one is a good one here in Portland. We're getting some actual sunny days interspersed with the rain, the garden is flourishing, and the studio is busy, busy, busy! All of these things are putting me in an extra good (and generous!) mood!

I realized that in the haste to get the S/S 2011 collection out, I never really did a proper giveaway to celebrate! So it's time! I'm giving away one item of your choice from the S/S 2011 collection. This one is super simple: head on over to the site and pick your very favorite thing from the new collection, then just leave me a comment with your choice below. One winner will be chosen at random on May 31st, one week from today. I'll announce the winner here, and on facebook and twitter.

Now get to entering!

xo

these kids.

2011-03-31T16:32:00.000-07:00

today feels like this:

feeling this today.

2011-02-07T09:55:00.000-08:00

"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

- Ira Glass

earth + sky : a collaboration with satsuma press

2011-01-24T10:22:00.001-08:00

i'm so excited to be able to finally announce the release of this special collaboration that i've been working on with sweet lynn of satsuma press! i've long admired lynn's gorgeous letter pressed goods, so i was thrilled when she approached me about the idea of a collaboration. i've taken her original feather illustration, cut it out of solid sterling silver, and paired it with a delicate clear quartz point. each necklace will arrive beautifully packaged on a card designed and printed by lynn, with a complementary birds of a feather letterpress card. we're both so pleased with how this has all come together, and thrilled to finally be offering it to all of you! just in time for valentines day, or just as a little mid-winter treat for yourself. hop on over to the shop and get yours here.

maker monday (special tuesday edition!): isabel dammermann

2011-01-04T10:35:00.000-08:00

and we're back! ok, it's a day late, but hey, getting back into a routine is easier said than done sometimes.
i love the weight and utter simplicity of these pieces by isabel dammermann. they feel sculptural, and able to stand on their own in that regard, but i would also love to wear any one of them. a combination that can get somewhat elusive the farther you delve into contemporary 'art' jewelry. more isabel here.

in news a little closer to home, i had a crazy busy and wonderful holiday season. exhausting, for sure, but so fun to send so many little gifts out into the world. i took almost a full two weeks off for holiday break, which went by in a flash. i somewhat reluctantly rejoined the real world yesterday, and will be spending this week organizing, planning, and re-stocking the sad, depleted little website. i'm also excited about a couple things on the horizon in the coming month or two: i'll be releasing my spring 2011 collection in mid februrary, hopefully in conjunction with a new look for the website. new year! new things! can't wait to share them all with you.

a good show and a huge thank you!

2010-12-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

the only two pictures i took at ucu this weekend. meant to take more, but i was just too busy!

monday night and i'm giving myself a tiny break to recover from an amazing weekend in seattle. this was my fist time participating in urban craft uprising, and i'm still reeling from how freaking awesome it was. over the past eight years, i haven't done many shows (retail or wholesale) for varying reasons. and when i have tried to take my work out to shows, it's been less than encouraging. ok, fine: every single show i've ever done before this has pretty much totally sucked. there, i said it. i know that as a business person, i'm always supposed to keep my chin up and put a good face forward when asked how things are going. and i'm generally pretty good at doing just that. but here's a true confession for you: bad shows are haaaaaaard to deal with. like, really hard. maybe i'm extra sensitive, but i feel like when i put my work on display, i'm really putting a little bit of my self out there to be judged, and that makes me pretty vulnerable. and no matter how confident or upbeat we designers may appear, some of us are tender creatures. we just want you to like us. and there are few things more disappointing or discouraging than working your ass off to prepare for a show, and then feeling like your work has been poorly received. it can actually be a little soul crushing.

so on the flip side of that, a successful show/sale is nothing less than exhilarating. it is totally, truly radical. and this weekend was an absolute dreamy dream in that regard. all of my hard work and anticipation was so worth it, both financially and emotionally. i had a genuinely wonderful time at urban craft, and it was a true pleasure to meet each and every person who stopped by my little table. i spend a lot of time on my own in my studio, so getting to spend two full days getting to talk to (and sell to!) customers in person was such a valuable experience for me. it is so validating and encouraging to be able to see people excited about what i do. i feel revived, invigorated, and oh so excited for things to come.

and so, my dears, a huge thank you to all of my sweet customers and supporters. every single one of your orders, kind words and comments mean so much to me. you are what makes my job and the life that i have chosen not only possible, but also gratifying, challenging and amazing every day. thank you, thank you, thank you! i can't tell you how much i appreciate it.

xo, t

mirah: the forest

2010-11-30T12:57:00.000-08:00

MIRAH - THE FOREST (Official Music Video) from Lauryn Siegel on Vimeo.

so good.

maker monday? and a tiny preview...

2010-11-29T10:10:00.000-08:00

i know, i know, i've totally fallen off the tracks with maker monday posts. the holiday have overwhelmed me and i'm off my game. i super completely absolutely promise (myself) to get back on it as soon as life has calmed down a bit. it really is something i enjoy doing, and a good exercise/ritual for me. just gonna put it on hold for the rest of the year, unless i get inspired before then.
aaaaanyways! the good news about all this busy is that deadlines are insanely motivating for me, and in the midst of dealing with holiday orders and prepping for a couple of shows i'm doing next month, i seem to have somehow cobbled together the beginnings of a new collection. above is a tiny preview of new earrings. i think i posted the black/brass triangles before, but i super love them and this is a better picture so i had to include them again. i'll have a small selection of this work up at urban craft uprising in seattle next weekend, and again at an event i'm doing here in portland on december 17th. (save the date on that one! it's gonna be good!) i'm pretty happy with where this work is going, and excited to make more. as always, yays, nays, critiques gladly accepted.

getaway.

2010-11-21T00:22:00.001-08:00

dudes. the holiday madness is killing me already. it's late late saturday night, and i've only managed to cross one thing off the to do list this evening. but i'm beat. and calling it a night. luckily, i managed to sneak away to the coast for a fantastical 24 hours in lincoln city with my dear friend dana and a cadre of other fine friends. drinks were had, games were played, and the above is how i spent my morning. came home this evening to hop right back to the grind, but feeling lucky and loved and refreshed from my mini retreat. bed now. back to it tomorrow in between two birthday parties and hopefully getting to pop over to my pal azsa's art show and book release. ah, i may be tired, but busy times are good times!

CRYSTALS + GOLD = TOTALLY EFFING AWESOME.

2010-11-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

super excited about the most recent addition to our ring selection: clear quartz with gold! finally got it together to make up a little batch of these rings and send em in to get gold-ified, and i couldn't be more pleased with the result. we've got a limited number available on the site, just in time to warm up all of your winter outfits. check em out right here.

2010-11-10T22:09:00.000-08:00

in my dreams, i get to cozy up for the winter here. who's with me?
old chum always finds the best pictures.

i wanna be a quilter: part 3. i am obviously insane.

2010-11-08T21:27:00.000-08:00

so with quilt number one under my belt, i decided it was high time to dive right in to the deep end and get to going on a grown up lady quilt for myself. i could have started simple. a random patchwork or something from a nice pattern maybe. but, um, have you met me? (ok, maybe you actually haven't met me, but if you had, you would know that this is decidedly not my style.) aaaaanyways, a few months back, the lovely erin at design for mankind posted this print by bauhaus textile maven anni albers:

and i immediately fell in love. if you aren't familiar with anni albers' work, pop on over here and prepare to be thrilled. absolutely everything she made is magic. anyways! saw print, gasped with adoration, and thought: QUILT!
i mean, could it be more perfect? who knows, maybe that was anni's original intention. maybe there's a quilt of this exact design already floating around out there somewhere... in any case, i figured i'd try my hand at one too. imitation, flattery and all that. so here's my humble take on it:

that's a lot of triangles.
the original wasn't quite large enough to make a queen sized quilt with a grid of three inch squares, so i had to extend the design a a bit, which was actually far more difficult than i had anticipated. i've obviously switched up the colors and am throwing in a few yellow triangles for accents. i've got two blocks done so far, and many, many, more to go. this one is gonna keep me busy for a good long time. i can't wait to see how it shapes up, and i'll share more as it comes along.

oh. god.

2010-10-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

i don't really need to pay the mortgage this month, do i? i'm sure the bank won't mind if i just get this instead.
and with that, i wish you a lovely weekend!

maker monday: lina peterson

2010-10-25T10:28:00.001-07:00

i've been thinking more and more about incorporating textiles into my work.
lina peterson does does it beautifully.

mildly obsessed with fall...

2010-10-22T10:51:00.001-07:00

some days, you just have to play hooky and head to the pumpkin patch. tuesday afternoon was amazingly gorgeous, and the perfect opportunity to take my inaugural trip to the pumpkin patch out on sauvie island. there was a hay ride and everything! found the perfect pumpkin for carving, plus a couple wee ones for baking. also managed to pick up a few squash, an entire bucket of flowers (for $6! dana had a coupon!), and some local honey. i seem to be having a problem with amassing local, seasonal produce these days. i can't get enough of it! suppose there are worse things i could be into... which brings me to last night's dinner: this butternut squash + caramelized onion galette with a simple salad of spinach, arugula and herbs and balsamic vinaigrette. divine. i heart fall foods.

hello weekend

2010-10-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

on a little mini vacation weekend in the bay.
today: hanging out with the cutest baby in the world, who is down for a morning nap at the moment. todays activities include trying to sit up, eating some squash, and maybe even going for a walk in a bit. we are getting wild over here! she has already put her seal of approval on the new quilt by spitting up all over it. and if puking on something isn't high praise, i don't know what is.
tomorrow, my amazing friend elijah's second annual birthday pig roast. can't. wait.
above: melting rainbows by taisuke koyama, from the best time of day.

vintage color wheel

2010-10-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

love this.
via imprint.

scarf shop!

2010-10-06T12:24:00.001-07:00

i'm having a serious scarf problem lately, and martha mcquade's recently opened scarf shop isn't going to help any with curbing my desires for dreamy swaths of fabric to wrap up in. i love the light, gauzy look of these. perfect for the bright and sunny fall days we've been having over here.
i'll take one in every color please!

urban goats!

2010-10-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

happened across these little dudes yesterday on my way to lunch. went back by today to take a few pictures and feed them a little clover through the fence. they're mowing the empty lot a few blocks down from my studio for the next couple of days apparently. looks like there are about 2 dozen or so on the job. i love them. so much cuter than some guy on a riding lawnmower.

i wanna be a quilter: part 2

2010-10-05T16:09:00.001-07:00

after many a long night of cutting, sewing, pressing, squaring, and more than a few um, 'stern talks' with my sewing machine, quilt number one is all done and ready to head to oakland! i decided that before i jump in to the big huge dreamy dream quilt for me, i should do a practice run on a baby quilt for my favorite tiny friend (who also happens to be my namesake!). i did a zig-zag pattern with half square triangles, and machine quilted it to follow the lines of the overall pattern of the quilt. i hadn't really planned on making something this girlllllllly, but i think that all in all, it came out quite well for a first quilt, and is super appropriately baby-ish.

and with that, i am officially hooked. i think this is the part where i start clearing out my closets to make room for piles and piles of fabric, and dream of the day that i can fit a long arm quilter in my garage. next up, the big quilt: queen sized triangle madness based on a print by bauhaus textile maven, annie albers. should keep me busy for a good few months through the winter. i'll try and post updates as that one comes along.

hood river: or, how i spent the day in a crazy beautiful orchard harvesting tons (literally!) of organic pears

2010-10-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

pear harvesting was so much fun!!! even better than i expected it would be. gorgeous day, good people, and an all around excellent project. i really can't say enough good things about the portland fruit tree project, and if you're in portland i highly recommend you check them out. the basic premise is this: PFTP works with people in and around portland who have fruit trees that they either aren't going to harvest, or just have too much fruit to use themselves. groups of volunteers get together and harvest the fruit, which is then split between the volunteers and local food banks. simple, smart, and beneficial for everyone involved. lest you think that this is just some small time operation, last year, PFTP harvested a total of 15,000 pounds of fruit that would have otherwise gone to waste.
yesterday's harvest was really extra special, as PFTP was granted access to an entire d'anjou pear orchard in hood river. (harvest parties are usually just in people's back yards here in town.) there were around 40 volunteers, and we picked a total of about 4,000 pounds of pears from 50 trees. not too bad for about 4 hours of work.
we all got to bring home as much fruit as we wanted, and i can't wait to get to preserving, baking, and sharing. i feel super lucky to have been able to experience such an awesome day. extra thanks to my pal michelle for nudging me to come along with her. (and driving. and the drinking of post-harvest cocktails...)
now, what should we make with all these pears???

saturday is for pears!

2010-10-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

just returned from the last, and sadly meager, swifts viewing of the season. only a tiny handful of little birds made the trip down the chimney tonight. oh well. still a good excuse to sit on a grassy hill at sunset, eat snacks, and sip on fig bourbon. all in all, a pretty excellent way to spend a friday night.
tomorrow, i'm headed off to hood river with the portland fruit tree project for a full day of pear picking fun. then it's back to the homestead with my pal michelle to can the night away. what should we make with all of our pears???

image: old chum.

fall bounty

2010-09-28T12:25:00.001-07:00

my little garden is soldiering along into fall.
zucchini fritters and tomato salad forever!

maker monday (late edition): carmen herrera

2010-09-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

a little more geometry for your monday night.
taking a detour from the usual jewelry posts for a look at this radical lady painter.
ms. herrera sold her first work at the fresh young age of 89.
commenting on her work: "... to me sex is sex, and triangles are triangles.” smart lady.
more here.

and these...

2010-09-27T14:02:00.001-07:00

also spotted over at galore:
bespoke furniture by toby winteringham for patternity.
when do i win the lottery?

gimme

2010-09-27T13:51:00.001-07:00

via galore.

happy fall.

2010-09-23T12:02:00.001-07:00

the swifts are here! which means that fall in portland has officially begun, i am another year older, and it's almost time to stock up on this year's firewood. until then, i will be wholeheartedly enjoying all that fall has to offer.
oh, and don't forget to look for the harvest moon tonight!

maker monday: christine j. brandt

2010-09-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

yes.
please.

i want them all.
more goodness here.

maker monday: pia aleborg

2010-09-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

dear pia,
will you marry me? or at least go steady? hold hands? i think you're dreamy...

more of this lady's brilliance here.

some experiments

2010-09-01T12:45:00.001-07:00

sooooo, been trying out some new things at the studio in the past month or so. feel like a spring collection is very slowly being formulated in my little head. usually, when i put together a collection, i feel the need to make things really super connected/adherent to single theme/idea. i've decided to forget that formula this time around. just sort of making whatever pops into my head, let my materials be my guide, make a lot of it, and see how it all flows together at the end. here is just a sampling of some new ideas. would love to hear your thoughts/opinions/yays/nays.

a few things:

more to come soon!

dream studio

2010-09-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

been thinking more and more about changing up my work space. it's feeling clunky and cavernous and less than inspiring. if only i could snap my fingers and have this dreamy dream studio. or maybe i just need to move to sweden? that elizabeth is one lucky lady.

maker monday: marzia rossi

2010-08-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

yes. please.
that second piece kills me. so good.
more marzia rossi here.

oh. my. god.

2010-08-26T14:52:00.001-07:00

so. good. can't breath.
just won the lottery? then this little gem can be all yours.
here.

yes.

2010-08-26T12:46:00.001-07:00

this is my new mantra these days, and ashley g has summed it up nicely with this print.
ashley is good at drawing and painting and printing things. this print of hers was one of the first pieces i bought for my house when i moved in almost exactly three years ago, and i love it to this day. i've also been enjoying seeing her house come together on her lovely blog, here. thanks for the reminder, ashley!

i wanna be a quilter

2010-08-26T00:36:00.001-07:00

thinking about fall projects, and have decided that it's finally time to take the plunge and start making a quilt. something i've always wanted to try, but have never quite had the wherewithal to tackle.
the world of quilt making is infinitely fascinating to me. and i am constantly blown away by the amount of skill, artistry, and love that goes into producing a quilt, no matter how seemingly simple.
my pal michelle reminded me about the quilts of gees bend the other day and i am now obsessed. stunning. amazing. truly breathtaking work. these are only a handful of my favorites. they are all so fucking incredible.
more gees bend here.

more on my personal quilt project to come...

maker monday: djurdjica kesic

2010-08-22T23:55:00.000-07:00

djurdjica kesic's nomad series. reclaimed wood and other household items.
sublime.
more here.

in other news...

2010-08-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

... i had a really rough weekend.

maker mondays: annelies planteijdt

2010-08-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

i'm usually not too big on pearls, but annelies planteijdt makes some serious magic with them.
so enamored with the organic vs. geometric, and sculptural yet completely wearable nature of her pieces.
at galerie marzee.
more on ms. planteijdt here.

so dreamy

2010-08-10T18:52:00.001-07:00

c-prints mounted on aluminum by darren almond.
via i'm revolting

bench shot

2010-08-10T12:52:00.001-07:00

from the phoney

jewelry mondays: david neale

2010-08-09T09:56:00.001-07:00

as a jeweler/maker, the issue of how i relate to other people's work can get a little tricky.
i'm realizing that over the past few years, i've worked pretty much in isolation in my little studio. never really
seeking out the work of other jewelers to enlighten/inspire, but rather, almost avoiding intentionally studying other people's work for fear of ... what? being too influenced by it? feeling like my work won't measure up? feeling disheartened when i thought i had a great new idea for something, only to find that someone else has already done it better? sheer laziness?
what the hell was i thinking???
i've finally realized that a fool i've been, and in the past few weeks, have been voraciously devouring images of jewelry that i find exciting/inspiring/interesting/just plain amazing. and duh, it's led to me feeling more and more excited about my own work, and where i want to take it. it has made me want to learn more, take some new classes, and aspire to be a better maker in general.
so, in the interest of keeping this inspiration going i'm going to try and post regularly here with jewelry on mondays. the intention is to start my week off right, by taking a minute on monday mornings to share the work of some amazing jewelers that i've come across. fingers crossed that i can keep it up!
first up, david neale.

there are no words for how much i love everything this man makes.
more of his amazing work here.

almost time

2010-08-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

it's so close to blackberry time here. the neighbor's bushes have fully completed their foray into my yard. more berries for me! (i'm sure the chickens will get their fair share too.)

i am the worst blogger ever. have been doing lots of looking/thinking/making. will start to share it all here soon.

super giveaway for liam!

2010-04-22T23:14:00.000-07:00

i'm super happy to be participating in this giveaway for an excellent cause.

lynn from the lovely satsuma press has put together a really great giveaway to raise money to build an accessible bathroom for her sweet son liam. liam is 6 years old (today! happy birthday, liam!) , and has a neuromuscular disorder called spinal muscular atrophy type 2. this means, among other things, that he gets around town ( and the house ) in a motorized wheelchair. an accessible bathroom remodel is no small task, and lynn and her family can use a little help to raise the funds.

make a donation for only $15 ($25 for 2 entries, $50 for three!) and you could win a gift certificate good for $100 worth of jewelry from stone&honey, as well as an amaaaaaazing array of other prizes from a lineup of 50 fantastic designers! it's a pretty super deal, if you ask me!

to enter, and learn more about the giveaway, head on over to lynn's blog. you can also read an interview with lynn, and learn a little more about life with liam right here.

the giveaway will be running for just over 2 weeks, so you've got plenty of time to enter a whole bunch of times!
good luck, and feel free to spread the word! (anyone who blogs, or tweets about it to help get the word out is also entered!)

rainy monday.

2010-03-29T10:03:00.001-07:00

i am so far beyond in love with this work by katy horan.
perfect for a rainy monday morning.

lazy saturday

2010-02-27T14:59:00.000-08:00

it's been a million years since i've posted anything over here. shame on me!
lazy saturday and i cant stop listening to this... how cute are they?

elizabeth bauman

2009-12-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

just happened across these lovely prints by elizabeth bauman at sebastian foster gallery. there's just something about these guys that gets me.

it's been awhile since i've done a proper post around here. busy, busy few weeks, what with the holiday madness and all.
real post soon! promise!

rebecca ward. love.

2009-11-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

love, love, loving these freaking perfect installations by rebecca ward.
feeling it. [via pixiome]

yes.

2009-11-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

couldn't resist a quick re-post of these tulip fields in the netherlands.
because i want to look at them all day.
[via flavorwire]

tuesday night

2009-11-03T23:19:00.000-08:00

trying to get a handle on prizmatic photos. finally.
i gotta get this stuff on the website already! jeeeeez...

so. freaking. good.

2009-11-02T14:19:00.000-08:00

anxiously awaiting the arrival of a freaking amazingly awesome necklace from spinthread . her work is blowing my mind right now. can you even deal?
(via oh joy!.)

around the homestead...

2009-11-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

yesterday was the first day in ages that i've had to actually get some things done around the house/yard. i'm super lucky that i have my own place, and i adore my little house a little more than is maybe healthy. it's a work in progress over here, and the work definitely comes in fits and starts. but for me, that's one of the best parts about owning a house: there's always another little (or big) project around the corner, and it feels so good to put work and love into your space. my to do list has been growing for awhile now, so it felt realllllly good to tidy things up and feel a little more prepared for fall/winter.

the day started out well with serena vanderhensen laying her first teeny tiny egg early in the morning. which led to tidying up the henhouse, fixing the stuck egg door, and then deciding that i needed to paint the patched and primered spots on the back of the house. (it only took a year!) fixed that gate, put shiny new numbers on the house, and roasted three varieties of pumpkin seeds. the highlight of the day though, was getting and stacking my first half cord of firewood. i've spent two years getting wood from the grocery store for the occasional fire, and have always meant to get the stuff in bulk. way more cost effective, and so much more gratifying to have a stockpile in the backyard. so i stacked and stacked, and managed to make a new outdoor set up in the process. feels cozier back there now, looks cute, and smells so good.
this first morning of november is cool and misty, and i'm sitting in front of my first fire of the season as i write this. if i have my way, i'll get to spend the better part of the day right here. mornings like this make the gloomy stretch of northwest winter oh so worth it.
next up: adventures in chopping wood! stay tuned.

late night, almost gone....

2009-10-24T00:31:00.001-07:00

it's late. getting ready to head north this weekend. taking a mini vacation to the wilds (semi-wilds?) of canada to stay here for a couple of nights. we have a long drive ahead tomorrow, but i hear it's worth it. i'll be off the grid for a couple of days for the first time in a long time. looking forward to laying about, catching up on some knitting, doing a puzzle, watching movies, exploring the forest, and just generally taking time to breathe. all in the name of coming home refreshed and ready to tackle getting the new line up, and general holiday madness. how is this year almost over?! does time really go by faster as we get older? sure seems like it...

looking forward to slowing down for a minute.

friday goodness

2009-10-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

just happened across the super awesome portfolio of one mister mark weaver. lots of good things here. via notcot.

this sunday!

2009-10-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

just under a week to go! here's a little more info on the event itself:

CONTENT will occupy the entire 2nd floor of The Ace, allowing designers to take over each hotel room and transform it to their liking to convey the unique identity and vision of their individual brands. The event “is designed, in its curation of talent and selection of venue, to harness and highlight the individuality stemming from the independent fashion community”. Although How We Develop will collectively occupy one of these rooms, creating the environmental translation of their brand identities and visions together, this event will by no means be all about them. Designers of all types will be involved, from clothing to accessories, 38 in total, will be given a chance for exposure, under the Context of their choosing. Brand offering range from frilly dresses to carved wooden sunglasses to feathered hats, so the experience of drifting through the 28 rooms will truly be a unique and hyper-sensory one.

In addition to the fashion element, HWD has invited multiple fine artists to realize installations in the Cleaners reception space adjacent to the hotel, and has booked a diverse bill of musicians and DJs to play in the Cleaners and hotel lobby and mezzanine. There will be cash bars and refreshment tables scattered throughout the space as well, so those of age can enjoy a glass of wine as the stroll around and soak in the creative energy (although the event is all ages over all) It has all of the ingredients of an inspiring creative whirlwind of an evening..."

you can also watch a little video right here

hope to see you there!

good day.

2009-10-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

that's sivonna.
isn't she cute? she was super sweet and drove out to the country with me on monday so we could take some pictures of her wearing new jewelry in the middle of a grassy field. we braved the hunting warning signs, tromped through the grass, and were serenaded by bjillions of geese overhead. all in all, a lovely day for some pictures. thanks sivonna!

preview...

2009-09-30T20:58:00.001-07:00

here's a little sneaky sneak peek at a few new things i'm working on for fall/winter. feeling geometirc/prizmatic/psychedelic. black, gold and probably lots of purple. look for new goods at content here in portland in just a few weeks. full collection online by the end of the month!

getting ready...

2009-09-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

busy, busy days around the studio as we prepare for this.
super excited to be included in a mix of amazing portland designers at this first of it's kind event at the ace hotel in october.
if you're in portland on the 18th of october, come visit us in room 212 at the ace, have a drink with us, and get the scoop on our new fall goods. this promises to be an epic night for the portland design community.

dream house.

2009-09-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

crystal palace

it's official.

2009-09-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

the swifts are here! the swifts are here! which means that fall has officially begun. taking the picnic basket over to chapman elementary to participate in one of my favorite of portland's fall traditions. snacks, drinks, and watching thousands and thousands of tiny birds swirl down into the chimney to roost.

looking forward to other autumnal pursuits on the horizon...

best. summer. ever.

2009-08-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

pardon us while we have the best summer we've had in years... things have been a bit slow around the studio these days, as i've been busy going to the river, hanging out with the new chickens, making food, making out, and having a generally excellent time. back to business soon...