Photo Friday-Natural

Point Reyes, Canon 300D

Photo Friday's theme this week is "Natural"

I had the treat recently of going to see a screening of a new movie called "November" at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch. It is located in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Gorgeous hills for miles, endless sky, vineyards, deer peering out at you from the woods. Magical Luke Skywalker shit.

After the film and during the question-and-answer period, I had that familiar feeling of being too shy to ask questions. What if I ask something really obvious and stupid? People seemed to be asking advanced film buff type of questions... "You seemed to be influenced by {insert obscure film title} and {another obscure film title} and French noir..." Everyone nods in agreement.

My mind drifted back to a story my friend told me about the premiere of his own short film in Los Angeles. He was fielding questions from the audience when suddenly a little boy raised his hand and asked, "Do you have any cats?"

My friend smiled, surprised, and said, "Yes, as a matter of fact I do."

A few minutes later he raised his hand again, "Do you have any dogs?"

and I have to say I was tempted, sitting in that plush screening room at Lucas Films to ask the same...

clouds

clouds, Canon 300D

If you live in San Francisco you know that I took this photo weeks ago, because we haven't seen a cloud in ages. But I have been so damn busy I haven't been able to take a proper stroll with the Rebel. I miss you Rebel!

Off to Santa Barbara this weekend for more sunshine, a dip in the ocean, and a May Day party at an avocado ranch.

Gabriel

Gabriel, at brunch in the Mission, Canon 300D

Recent pleausures:
-Seeing Gabriel smear black beans all over his face as he ate them.
-Taking a walk along Ocean Beach last night until my legs hurt and my stomach growled.
-Playing "horse" with my friend Jeremy at the basketball court.
-Discovering Radio Paradise from my brother-in-law Steven. You can listen to a live stream of the most eclectic mix of tunes with no commercials! Hallelujah.

*If you're wondering what Gabe's shirt says, it says "Consumer Whore." You can find these at Baby Wit.

Glamour Puss Collection is here!

Cam, wearing "ginger lemonade", Canon 300D

The new Superhero line is here! For your cocktail parties, weddings, or any time you want to have an extra sparkly good time. Made of faceted cut crystal and blue quartz.

Also, grass & sky is back by popular demand and there are updated versions of other superhero colorways.

Free shipping (via Priority Mail) available thru Mother's Day (May 9th) in celebration of mom being our favorite superhero.

*Special thanks to Camella Bontaites, Christina Sanders, Jay Kim and Kim Indresano for modeling the new jewels!

Jen Gray

Jen Gray, Canon 300D

A beautiful entry from Jen Gray about tears. It reminded me that I cried the other night during Extreme Makeover Home Edition. My husband looked over at me, trying not to laugh and said sweetly, "Oh honey..."

Photo Friday-Junk

at the junk shop, Canon 300D

Photo Friday's theme this week is "Junk"

Of course, that's a sweet mustache and can hardly be called junk.

Bofax

Bolinas Fairfax Road, Canon 300D

As you might imagine, a lot of car commercials are filmed on this road. There is something incredible about its curves, green hills, and skyline that quite literally make you want to scream with happiness. Jen and I took turns watching for cars while the other lay down on the pavement trying to get the best shots. I hadn't laid down on the road in a long time. It felt good.

*
Random thought: It occurred to me yesterday that high school kids probably don't pass notes to each other like we did in class. They probably text message each other? I have mixed feelings about that.

candied poppies

Icelandic poppies, Golden Gate Park, Canon 300D

So many beautiful sights this weekend:

-My dear, beautiful friend Jen who came to visit me from Chicago. Seeing the city through her eyes was such a gift. Every new view made her tear up with joy.
-The fabulous Jonatha Brooke in concert at the Fillmore.
-Sugar snap pea risotto and salmon with artichokes at Viola's.
-The coastline beyond Point Reyes.
-A herd of elk grazing near the ocean.
-The gospel choir at Glide.
-A hand glider leaping off a high cliff above the water.
-The puffiest most delicious clouds against bright green grass.
-Icelandic poppies in Golden Gate Park.
-A baby goat named Moe who liked to chew on my superhero necklace.
-The "wrentit cam" at the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. My friend Grant set up a surveillance camera in a wrentit nest and you can watch the baby birds in real time on the computer screen. Amazing.

And finally, celebrating my friend Susan's 50th birthday in the Marin Headlands. Happy birthday Susan!

Photo Friday-Self Portrait

andrea, Burning man, Olympus Epic

Photo Friday's theme this week is "Self Portrait"

minding my own business

therapy poster by Michael Bernard Loggins, Canon 300D

My friend Michael Bernard Loggins created a series of posters in collaboration with Harrell Fletcher a few years ago. This is one of my favorites.

On the subject of the fierce energy we discussed this week, I thought of Michael and what he does on days like this. He makes a sign and posts it up on his desk. It says, "I'm minding my own business today" and he refuses to talk to anyone. He then gets out his Sharpie and writes and writes and writes.

Sometimes he makes lists of all of his fears. You can view them here.

*

On a completely different note, I found this handy guide where you can choose the safest fish to eat. It seems all of the fish I have been enjoying lately are chock full of mercury and overfished to oblivion. Very scary.

fierce

bride, Canon 300D

Today is one of those days when I feel really angry. About nothing in particular really, lots of things and nothing at all. I can simply feel it all bubbling below the surface... I am Mount St. Helen's about to erupt.

When I used to paint every day I would do my best work on days like this. I'd go to the canvas like I was going to slash it open and my strokes were bold, confident and sure. I usually wouldn't even remember painting, and would look at the finished piece and wonder, who the hell did that? The cathartic frenzy is such a gift.

I feel far away from that time now, but I have come to recognize this place for exactly what it is--energy. A fierce energy that I have choices about how to use. Some folks use that energy to lash out at others, or at themselves. {this is very tempting}

I would like to use my fierce energy wisely today.

Does anyone have a story about this to share?

*
Also, The Loft Cube project is fascinating. Maybe when I'm having a bad day I'll go sit in my Jetson's loft cube and serve cocktails.

Jay

Jay, Canon 300D

A sneak peek into the new line... This one is called Lush.
And this is my friend Jay who recently quit a fancy lawyer job to pursue her love of clothing design. Go Jay!

Elsewhere:
A gorgeous story from The Fray called Making Leta

Photo Friday-Discovery

hydrant, Canon 300D

Photo Friday's theme this week is "Discovery"
I discovered that fire hydrants are in fact very beautiful creatures.

Other discoveries:
I want to lie in this field of tulips.
A tree I'd like to meet
A beautiful essay.

conservatory of flowers

Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, Canon 300D

Put on your waterproof mascara! These stories are very moving...

The Forgiveness Project (via Rachael)

listening

antique bottles, Half Moon Bay, Canon 300D

Thank you for all of the excitement about the new jewels! (and the photo of my beautiful friend Christina. For the record, she was sitting on the loo which elicited squeals of laughter and hence, this photo)

*

I sometimes feel pressure to come up with something new every season. Retailers get excited and say, "Send us your line sheet for summer!" and I just cringe because it doesn't always happen that way for me.

I tend to work with new ideas as they find me and often my juice is for photos or stories and not for jewelry at all. This can be frustrating when I am trying to buckle down and create a new line.

I suppose I have an idea of what a "real business" is supposed to look like, how much I'm supposed to be working, earning, marketing, etc. and when I don't measure up, I wonder if there is something terribly wrong with me. Maybe we all feel like that at times? like we are just faking our lives, just pretending our way through them and wondering if we are doing it right.

When I was searching for my dream job almost 10 years ago, someone asked me, "You should start with what you're good at. What are you best at?" At the time I was doing a lot of collage art with photos and words and magazine clippings. I replied, "Cutting and pasting," half in jest. They looked at me like I was doomed.

A few weeks later I had a job working with SARK, cutting and pasting her words and images together to create greeting cards and calendars.

I have always been a believer in listening to exactly where the inspiration lives. It might sound silly or impractical, but if you listen to what interests you, to what makes your heart shriek with joy, it is probably not an accident. If you open your heart to the possiblity that maybe, just maybe you are listening to something that is divinely right, you might find yourself somewhere very interesting, fulfilling, and even profitable.

New superhero line!

Christina, Canon 300D

I'm cookin up a new line of jewelry at Superhero Designs. Coming soon...

Photo Friday-Atmosphere

dune as desert, Canon 300D

Photo Friday's theme this week is "Atmosphere"

Some new discoveries:
52: A Picture A Week for 2004
Sara Lovering
Jinky Art
Derek Powazek's new site Ephemera
Nicole Bruni