on the street outside of edo for lisa c's show

I got a chance to see lisa c’s show when I was in San Francisco
I loved it. 
How much wonderfulness comes out of her brain – it is pretty amazing. 
Before she left for Chicago to go on and win tons of metals…I tore her away from working in her studio to have some crepes.  It turns out that lisa and aiko have a teaching connection. (what a small small world!) 
It was invigorating to meet up with her to experience her life force.  Even for the short time we were there.
It made seeing her wonderful work all that much more meaningful. 
The collage pieces have so many layers and depth to them. 
The wood pieces are stark and lovely.
It was so much more powerful to see the work live, as amazing as the internet is nothing can replace the tangibleness of seeing it for yourself.
Lisa's work is amazing and fabulous and I feel so lucky that I was in town to catch a glimpse of the show.

dreams of snow
20" x 10"

Alright here is a REAL painting for friday…
from now on if I don't get my act together and have a painting that I have done I am only allowed to post a sketch or something similar…I have been warned in a loving and wonderful way!

Other news…that show I was talking about ages ago is up.
I hung it on Wednesday.
Now I am way more nervous than before the show.
Next Wednesday I am going to have a very mellow night, not really an opening, more like a time frame that I will be at the bar, hiding in the corner.
I would love it if you would come by and say hello, have a beer, and check out the paintings. 
Last Exit in Brooklyn from about 6:30 until 10ish.
Here is a map.

After a long drive with Aiko - (who just started a blog - go say hi because she is truly one of the funniest sassiest people I know) we made it to Johanna's lovely lovely home!

some flamingos in her backyard…

Cupcakes at saint cupcakes per the advice of Alicia, who I had the pleasure to meet while she was working at her store, before it closed…well have to see what she accomplishes next! 

First question…does anyone work in Portland?
I was there during the middle of the week, hanging out in the middle of the day with so many people shopping, eating, just out.
I mean it was hoppin.
So really does anyone at all work?

the layers and layers of posters…like trying to make your way back home, to become a tree again.

For me Portland was at the same time a big city putting on the airs of a small town and a small town totally dolled up as a big city. So for you left coast Portlanders - what is it? Are you big or small, or can you not be defined by my small parameters?

I loved the bridges. So many in such a small space. They were less like bridges, more like streets that just happened to travel over water.

My time in Portland was lovely and short.  Aiko and I were only there a couple of days…two actually, so we crammed in a lot of shopping…who can resist no sales tax…and much eating. 
A BBQ (I haven't had a yard in so long, I used to be a champ at lighting the grill) at Johanna's house with other great friends. Hopefully they will start hanging out and then I can begin to weave my friends together even more.

Aiko and I drove the whole way (from San Francisco to Portland, Or) in one day…well Aiko drove and I sat.
I was surprised how quickly it happened.
How time just seems to be flexible.
We talked for hours (literally) but it felt like the drive was over in no time at all.
It is amazing how friends can enhance time, and since she is one of the most amazing people I know time just glides.

On the road there were lots of trees, lots of trucks and lots of trucks carrying trees.

And when we finally got to Portland, we arrived at Johanna's new house.
More about Portland tomorrow…its like a get to live my escape all over again.

Here is a mailbox to no one.  The mailbox was for an empty lot…go figure 

This will have to do for my painting this week…
I AM painting it and it is friday…
a section of one of the pieces we are working on for the anthropologie job.

Have a great weekend…looks like I might be working…

getting ready to fly

A trio of the birds took the trip with me and had their own penguin escort. 

never win at bingo

Day one -
we went to the San Jose Obon Festival
and played the games
watched the little girls dance in their amazing dresses.

We stayed late, well until it got dark, and I took some photos of the fabulous lights…
There were rows and rows of people dancing Obon Odori (japanese folk dancing) around and around this huge circle
under the hanging lanterns…it was really beautiful

the colors of some of the backdrops for the anthropologie catalog (maybe for winter?)

jumped into the frying pan after such an amazing break from my real life…
The heat here is…I can’t even talk about it…
walked off the plane into thickness…
walked into the studio with a huge job for anthropologie…
I had a fantastic time in the left coast’s portland…
even more time in San Francisco, loving the crazy fog…
photos are developing…
refreshed and rejuvenated from some much needed time with friends…

Does anyone feel tentative and hesitant when beginning a new journal. My journal is…a lists of things to do intermixed with ideas, images I have cut out from magazines and sketches. But I find that when I do start a new journal it takes awhile. It is the same with ending…like I don’t know if my beginning or end will be worthy, but eventually I do and I have…new journal got some ink today.

No painting this week, I can't believe friday is already here, but check this out:
Hippily Bunny is too amazing for words (from mahar drygoods) and wait for a funny outtake at the end.

I am taking a quick girls only trip next week, I little road trip and little hanging out. Only next week would work with work, so I leave tomorrow and I'll be back in a little over a week!

Fiona over at hop skip jump made another batch of lovely bunnies that I think are going up in her shop soon but Peony here was snatched up ages ago.  Buddy gave her a little ride around the studio…

we almost had a little tumble, but buddy wouldn't let her fall! 

Peony just held on a little tighter after that… 

Now I am a big fan of mav & arc…who wouldn't (no couldn't) be…
but mav's new card society is amazing.
She continues to inspire me in a huge and encompassing way.
I love that about her.
If you haven't joined, or are on the fence…you can totally get right on down (from the fence that is). 
I mean who wouldn't want such fantastic treats to come in the mail…
even trixie wants to be a part of it…

thank you mav…