Carcassonne, France

art thief

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I recently read The Art Thief by Michael Finkel, (and what a story!) I thought it would be fun to imagine the pieces I'd want if ever, in my wildest dreams.

• (top left to right) A Renoir, Study of a female nude by Henri Lehmann, Rodin’s Cathedral.

• (bottom left to right) Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni. Madame X, (who needs no introduction) and these sunflowers by Van Gogh.

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On the note of museums, some pics from the New Japanese Clay at SF Asian Art Museum

Works by Miyashita Zenji, Matsutani Fumio, Ogawa Machiko, Izumita Yukiya

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San Francisco is beautiful now. October is always a good time and I’ll be sad to leave for New York soon. Hoping all is well with you dear reader!

Manitoga House

Had a lovely trip to the Manitoga House in Garrison NY. My photos don’t do this place any justice lol, but it’s definitely worth the trip. We took the train from Grand Central to Cold Spring, (always a pleasant ride up the Hudson River.) From there, there is a cute little trolley that will take you right to Manitoga for just $2. The ride itself is beautiful with many stops around Putnam County.

Admiring the accomplishments of Russel and Mary Wright. They were such talented designers who helped shape American modern living. Their home was a beautiful culmination of their design philosophy- they believed in a more casual lifestyle, with open floor plans and a connection to nature.

I’ve been curious about their book Guide to Easier Living - as it has been referenced to being their manifesto. I am stoked to find that the Internet Archive has it here for all to read. Thank you, to the individual who put this online. I have yet to read through it, but will report back with any noteworthy takeaways.

Thanks for reading and hope you are enjoying your summer ☀️☀️☀️

Lavender Soiree- Governors Island NYC

Only a five minute ferry ride from Wall Street, Governor’s Island is a quick summertime escape away from crowds, chaos and most significantly… traffic! A car free island, I absolutely love coming here for a lazy weekend day.

So much to see and do here, but I’m focusing this post with a shout out to Earth Matter, an amazing organization dedicated to composting. You are always welcome to drop in and see the garden and chickens. (And don’t miss the little the Farm Stand.) They even have a lavender field where I harvested some lavender (with permission) at their annual Lavender Soiree.

This organization brings me so much joy!

Textures 101

Huge fan of Yifat Fishmans classes on skillshare. Highly recommend Textures 101. Digital art can sometimes come out looking a little flat, so it’s been fun playing around for a more tactile effect.

Also love Kristina Hultkrantz classes (also on skillshare) This focus was on creating a more traditional artwork digitally. More texture fun!.

Field Notes: NYBG

Long time on my bucket list! I finally made the trek to the Bronx for the New York Botanical Garden.

Happy Spring to all

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Floral Muse

I always love a Lisa Bardot tutorial. Her latest one, Inspired by the Masters- Brush Play with Monet is a new favorite. While I love learning via step by step tutorials, I like the encouragement to experiment and play around with an open ended outcome.

Thank you Lisa (not that she reads this blog lol) for another great class!

left: Monet, right: my experiment

Keeping with the floral, spring mood- this weeks flower bouquet was very purple-y

which inspired me to make this flower print inspired by Yifat Fishman Floral watercolor class

I’ve also been obsessed with my pocket flower press from Studio Wald for some time. Perfect for walks, trips. I pressed one of the tulips from a previous bouquet. Found some other petals from the past, (not quite sure what is going on with the pink one lol.)

Additionally turned my valentines day roses into potpourri (not the prettiest I know) but I love keeping them around the house.

One can really never get enough of flowers. I saw these cherry blossoms at the farmers market. So beautiful!

Happy Spring!

Spring arrives quietly

sleepy tulips from the farmers market

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Earlier this month, work sent me to SoCal for a conferences so I tried to make the most of being back in California

Hollywood!

Dipsea Steps in Mill Valley

XC at Lake Tahoe

Wishing you a lovely spring! 😊

Field Notes: Hollyhock House

What a gem- this beautiful home in Los Angeles was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1921. Named after the hollyhock flower (which appears in motifs around the home- can you spot them?) it was a favorite flower of Aline Barnsdall, whom this home was built for.

Imagining daily life here, connected to the natural surroundings with a view of the Hollywood Hills is inspiring. It’s no surprise UNESCO recognized this as a World Heritage site in 2019. Considering my obsession with the Francis W. Little House at the Met, I realize I’m long overdue to visit more of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. Wisconsin here I come? 😜

Visit the Hollyhock House

What I've Been Up To- Back Home in SF

Every time we return, our little tradition is to walk up Bernal Hill and greet the bay. These pictures were taken at sunrise, right before the new year. I still say it—San Francisco is the most beautiful city.

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In general, everything feels a little topsy-turvy, and it’s hard not to feel helpless at times.

I really appreciate the Americans of Conscious Checklist. Their vision: a kind and thriving nation.

They offer clear, well-researched actions—this week, it’s donating to Norcal Resist and emailing senators about various concerns. You don’t have to tackle everything, but the tasks are simple and straightforward. I’ve already checked off a few myself.

And at the bottom of their page, they always share some good news, which is a welcome break from doom scrolling.

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Hard to believe we’re already more than halfway through February—spring is just around the corner. :)