week 35 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:
The house next door with it’s neat row of forsythias and and my mothers magnificent pink rose bush.
the house next door
superchunk
I’m so out of the habit of sharing what all is going on over here – I blame Facebook – it has made me, or allowed me to be, blog lazy and that is a mistake in lots of ways. Way back in July , when it was very, very hot, I had an extra fun project working on a diorama for Superchunk’s new video for Me & You & Jackie Mittoo” a song from their brand new album ” I Hate Music”.
(click the image for a larger view)
The diorama is cut paper and features photos of lots people holding records. From Mac McCaughan: “‘Me & You & Jackie Mittoo’ is a song about bonding over records, & the role music can play in your life & relationships. We asked friends, family and some of our favorite record stores to collect photographs of people holding an album that is meaningful to them in some way — not necessarily ‘favorite’ though we’re sure plenty of them are.
The photos are incredible and there are hundreds of them. I was surprised by how sweet and touching they all are- they made me love people in general a little extra.
We shot the video in my tiny place in brooklyn on the hottest day of the year – lots of dudes and equipment. It was directed by my brilliant friend Phil Morrison and shot by Mott Hupfel – it was a blast – so much fun.
You can watch the video below or here:
sketchbook 8/21
small progress
week 33 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:
Small progress on my rosebush painting – just begun really.
sketchbook – rosebush
week 32 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:
A sketch for a painting I’m going to begin tonight – my mother’s marvelous pink rose bush and the house next door.
treasures from sri threads
I found a large unexpected box in my vestibule last tuesday morning.
Magnificent and inspiring treasures from Stephen Szczepanek. I spent the rest of the morning having a marvelous time, unpacking it very, very slowly. So much to think about.
There is a fascinating post on The Sri blog right now about stitched amulets. I didn’t know about this practice and Stephen writes about it beautifully, it begins ” In Japan, there is a certain magic associated with stitching”.
a strange little pond
week 31 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:
There was a strange little pond, deep in the woods behind Hennessey’s Grove, good for ice skating and tadpoles and salamanders. It sat at the bottom of a steep hill covered with mountain laurel and purple trillium. I remember the long walk home, up that hill, towards the sinking sun.
map
week 30 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:
Another little section of map – the substantial blackberry patch of the people across the street, and the burned shell of a house – set back from the road, black and charred, the lawn overgrown with grass and sumac, next to the far swamp, perfect gloom. And here it is in the context of my growing map.
(click the image for a larger version)
milkweed
week 29 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:
Milkweeds grew behind the house, by the bulkhead – a perfect spot for finding monarch caterpillars and observing the wondrous transformation in a mayonnaise jar. This time of year always makes me think of it.
Regarding my tardiness this week: I missed my Wednesday post deadline and I’ll tell you a little bit about why. I’ve been super busy all spring and summer, no breathing room at all, dancing as fast as I can. A few weeks ago a new project came up that I so wanted to work on – couldn’t not work on- so I did. I finished this week and it was really, really fun and worth the extra effort. I’ll tell you a bit more about it next week.
map
week 28 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:
(click the image for a larger version)
This is another little section of what will eventually be one big map. The end result is going to be much, much larger – even though I’m working as small as I possibly can- and more detailed than what I pictured when I first started. I can’t bear to leave anything out, not the dirt pile or the aluminum lawn chairs, or the raspberries or the poison ivy or the big rock or the little gate on the corner with a fancy latch or the tree near the asparagus patch where my mother so famously saw a great grey owl.
owl and songbird progress
I spent the fourth of july holiday way upstate sewing. It was misty and moist and super hot.
I worked on some pieces I started 2 years ago – made from antique garment linings.
Get the sewing patterns to make your own owl and bird:
I’ve also been working on some other songbirds, I’m finishing the teal bird this evening.
And this pink girl- also begun years ago then put away and finished lately. I guess some things need to percolate. She has a fancy bustled bottom.
hot air balloon
week 27 in my “this is where i am from” year long project:
One day a huge hot air balloon passed over our house – very low – you could see the people and details of the basket and hear the whoosh of the flames. We all stood on the back steps with my mother and watched it float past. It terrified the cat.
