Underwater Living

I was at the most enchanting Oregon Coast Aquarium last week. Where I got to contemplate all sorts of lifestyles so different from my own (and I don't mean sexual orientation or do I?)......

Strange and beautiful creatures of the sea -

The distinction between plant and animal seems all blurry underwater.

And everything moves in such a fluid way.

I beheld (and if that sounds a little biblical, it's because it was a transcendental experience) such a huge diversity of forms.

Mystery at every turn.

And I haven't even told you about the jellyfish or the octopus.

Dreaming is Good

So if I had eight weeks with nothing to do and no bills to pay and about $10,000 to do whatever I wanted with.....I'd take this class on classic and old photography techniques at Penland School of Crafts (in North Carolina) taught by artist Dan Estabrook whose work you can see above and click here if you want to see more of his dreamy pieces.

The View from Above

Sometimes, when I'm out a little early in the morning, I'll go about 5 minutes out of my way and head up to Skinner's Butte and take in the view. Kind of widens my perspective.

Good way to start my day.

Marcia's Memorial Service

Tomorrow at 3 in the afternoon at Opus VII Gallery will, what I am sure, be a very beautiful service with good people and good memories as we gather to remember our love for Marcia Macdonald. And I am also sure there will be good music. I remember Marcia walking to work one morning listening to her ipod, tears streaming down her face. "What's wrong? Are you OK?", I wanted to know. Perfectly fine, she was perfectly fine, just the piece of music was so beautiful, it had brought her to tears. Marcia was like that.

And here's something that brings me to tears. One of her last pieces she made, in which she was working through some of her feeling about having cancer. And which, with characteristic generosity she donated to a craft fundraising auction. I wonder who's wearing that piece now.

Many people will be wearing her work at the memorial tomorrow and I think that's a beautiful thing.

Remember this shot from Lark Press in Portland? Do you see the green and white print that is at about dead center in this photograph?

Well, I have another question for you.

Exactly how good do you think that print looks in my house? Well readers, that is what is known as a rhetorical question, because we already know the answer. I love everything about this print.... the color, the subject, the literalness, the mystery.......Also, and I know this goes against blog etiquette but I have to talk price here. This is a handscreened print by the artist, it's 5 out of 10 and it cost $50.......and that my friends, wether you shop at Goodwill or Gucci, is a bargain.....or maybe better known as affordable art!

The Jungle of Earthly Delights at Passionflower

While I was gone.....

We replenished our supply of butterfly wings....

got a whole slew of mounted

insects

and many more beautiful framed winged creatures......all of which I think inspired Becky

to raid our stash of fun papers and to cut loose with her favorite striped paper (vintage Target) so that she might dress her boy in some butterfly finery......

Could he be more charmant?

She calls him Jungle Boy......and I want to go on a walk with him.....

Late Summer Store Shots

It was fun coming back to the store after a week in New York and seeing everything with a fresh set of eyes.....(plates by John Derian)

I love the earthy organic vibe (driftwood sculpture & vintage Chinese cart wheel),

our hint of ethnic (Ethian Coptic Cross)

AnD OUr CaBIneT of CuRIosItIes (ceramic tumbler with spider image by Laura Zindel).

It's always good coming home.