what we finished before I left
anna sui
1/2 of john varvatos
base of milly

what I hoped was finished
milly
other 1/2 of varvatos
snowscene for christmas commercial
baby phat

what is really finished
baby phat
milly
snowscene

what is left to do
marc jacobs
nanette lepore
annie leibovitz repaint
other 1/2 varvatos

what I did in lala land
hung out with some really amazing and fabulous friends
went to a tiki drive-in
saw a chouple of my favorite character actors
relaxed hard
saw some really great art: camilla engman, scott morse & jen corace
tried to help rearrange one of the power couple’s rooms

After working over the weekend I was in need of a treat. So I made a pie. I don't think I have made pie in years. I love making sweet things. It is very grounding for me. And I don't do it enough for my brain, but when I do I love it. I love having a pie in my fridge! I used a recipe recommended by Alicia who made the pie recently and channeled mav for my food pictures. I had extra, since my pie was smaller than it was supposed to be.  So we had little baby pies.  That way the Boy and I could eat it right away! Really really delicious.

I started one of my assignments.

return home from coney island with anne

For sometime now I have been trying to figure out an adventure I can take. An adventure that would move me into the path of life. Of what I want to do with my life. I think the plan has been stirring for quite some time. Since I read this book, then the feeling stirred again when I watched this on netflix. (both are fabulous by the way, I highly recommend them) But I am pushing too hard. Pushing too hard for an answer. I know the drill (well my drill)…the answer will come when I am ready. I guess I am not quite ready yet. Ready to go on my adventure.

I need an assignment. I do well with assignment. Even something as simple as photo tour. Something like my coney island day, but in a larger format. So would someone like to give me an assignment, or any ideas that you would like to see me undertake. Are you out there thinking, 'I really wish since Wendy lives in New York that she would see this…'

That is what I need to find out, what the this is for those of you out there that read…I can give prizes…for the winning choice…a robot softie…whatdoyathink?

My coney island day with anne.  I used to think I rocked at the water gun game when I was a young girl. Until I heard that the attendant just flicks a switch to pick one of the contestants. Dashed dreams…still love the game.

photos from coney island with anne

I realized a couple of days after a conversation with mav that I actually never answered one of her questions.
“why robots?” 
It was something I have never tried to answer, but as that question somersaulted in my unconscious, I realized why. 
Why robots. 
I felt with robots I couldn’t make a mistake.  I mean there are really no rules. 
And so I realized without naming it that I needed to try and make something that I couldn’t get wrong. 
Because that is hard for me – the not getting it wrong. 
I fight that battle on a daily basis.  The 'letting go' battle.  Letting go and thinking something is enough. 
A robot, for me at least, represents freedom. 
And that is quite a gift.  So thanks to mav for asking, so I could finally realize why.

Tomorrow photos of coney island sans softies… 

low-fi airport

I have been working on my greengirlart website, changing images, adding images, but it is slow going. Which actually works for me. I unplug my computer and extend the cable for my connection to the internet. The Boy calls it my low-fi airport…(since I am still plugged in) and it runs the length of out living room. It is a pretty good system (except for the possibility of tripping)…I can only work as long as I have battery power and then I stop. Then I don't go crazy trying to do it all at once.

I have been working on a new softie. I don't have any photos yet, because the head and body don't work for me. I think they need a new head and body, which means I might have two. I will try to fix that and maybe have some photos later in the week.

I'll leave you with a photo of trixie…sometimes she claims mail as her own!

Last week…I took this photo after I realized that I was alone in my train car (and after I ran up and down the length of the car). I felt a weird sense of freedom or like I had just picked up hundreds of lucky pennies.  I have lived in the city now for around eight years (I can't belive it has been eight) and never before in my train riding experience have a been in an empty car.  And not just the car I was riding in, the car ahead of me was empty as well.

Tonight is going to be my super informal opening for the last exit show (a sale has already been made!).  I'll be there from 6:30 to 9:30ish.  Come by afterwork, say whatup and have a beer. 

Johanna has some new paintings (she is getting prepared for tons of different shows)…I am in love with this one right now. (Click on the image to see it bigger!) 

On days like today when at 8am I am already dripping just by walking to the train, I wish I could be driving into this beautiful fog bank.
When it would be cool enough for a sweater…dreams, all dreams.
I think fog rolling in is one of my most favorite things in the world.

Since we are in the middle of the crazy heat wave, the Last Exit thing will be next Wednesday…hopefully when the weather is more agreeable! 

I was lucky enough to trade with Shari.
I got to try some of the wonderful beer T's always making and I am hooked. 
As soon as they switch from fun at home to more I am totally into what he has to sell.
(a brew society!!)
We traded for a penguin and the pale ale was named in honor of that trade.
Love Shari & Love T's brews.
One of the things I love most about the two of them is all of their instruments!

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.

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.

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…