My friend Erica developed this amazing semester-long project called The Creative Q for CCA's DMBA program. In an effort to get former creatives back into the spirit of making, Erica designed a couple of different assignments to get her friends inspired and motivated. The first project entailed making something (anything) out of a sheet of white copy paper within a 10-minute timeframe, using any materials on hand. Mine:



Cut paper of two-headed bird (post-its in the distance). The second assignment was then delivered in this incredible box that Erica made, complete with words of guidance and encouragement, as well as points for inspiration (string). The box:



Challenging, but totally satisfying and fun. (Bad photographs are forgivable, right?)

Admiring this old birthday card from Kristina.

Good evening! In the beginning, there were spires of zucchini and fanned tomatoes with a side of sliced onion...

Which eventually turned into a delectable tian on puff pastry generously topped with thyme. Thank you Ina (once again) and Smitten Kitchen for the inspiration.

Salt glazed stoneware plate (and bowl) by John Chambers.

Good afternoon and thank you Ina Garten for the lovely tomato feta salad recipe.

Good morning! Yogurt with blueberries, bananas, walnuts, and currants.

Sheets changed, bed made, quilt flipped. Same quilt from here but the reverse side featuring more striped organic hemp, plant dyed indigo fabric, and other patterns n prints I wish I had more of. My favorite is the light blue floral trim which you can see below. Such a small thing!

moleskin 02

moleskin 01

On an unusually balmy fall afternoon, we noticed something in the sky. At first we thought it was a flock of birds or a clump of dark smoke until Dionne (known as Eagle Eyes in certain circles) noticed the parachutes - small parachutes, the size of your average turtle shell and colored a striking shade of green. Beneath these tiny parachutes were small, black boxes. Naturally Cameron thought they were explosives, sent to destroy the very fabric of America. Dionne, however, assured us that these parachutes bore loads not of explosives, but of cameras. It was then that we heard a peculiar noise, like someone snapping their fingers to an irregular beat. Not only were there cameras floating lazily down upon us, but they were taking pictures! Astounded and with delusions of fame dancing through our minds, we began to pose, strut, and ape for the cameras. Soon the entire town, spurred on by our actions, came pouring out of their homes to join us in our lofty aspirations of 15 minutes of fame. Before we knew it, each of us was attempting to outdo the other with increasingly shocking exploits, all for the eyes of these floating cameras. The depravity knew no boundaries - genitals were exposed, copulation involving multiple partners and never-before-seen positions occurred, feces was thrown, blood was guzzled, and severed heads were juggled. Time lost all meaning and the depravity continued until the final floating, clicking camera landed lazily upon a park bench, its parachute collapsing over the lens like a curtain crashing down onto the stage. Caught in all manner of compromising positions, we blinked blankly at each other until, embarrassed, we collected our clothes, removed hatchets from skulls, and meekly stumbled back into our homes. The cameras, left where the fell from the sky, were eventually collected by a man in pink overalls driving an unmarked van with no windows. Things, to say the least, have never been the same in our town... - M.

moleskin project

In an effort to keep drawing and for M. to get writing, a Moleskin notebook was purchased for mutual motivation through collaboration. How does it work? Story content complements illustration or vice versa - length unspecified. Illustrations so far (still waiting for M.'s story)...

Currently in between projects and thinking about what to make next. Above, coasters made pre-holidays using recycled denim and stripe quilt remnants.

MoMA

A trip to MoMA to see the Tim Burton exhibit (where sadly, no pictures were allowed) turned out to be SO fulfilling despite the huge crowd, lines, and overall mayhem. I got a little camera happy with MoMA's other shows and works (forgive the randomness). Above, from the "In Situ" exhibit, a beautiful model on today's rural and urban landscapes. Can't recall the architect's name, but so lovely.

From "The Erotic Object" exhibit, Dali's bust of a woman made of porcelain, bread, corn, sand, feathers, and other media. Poor gal is bald on the other side.

Suspended room divider made of plastic "algae" with clip-on joints.

n.y.

Family time in NYC brings endless rounds of mahjong and nonstop dumpling-making. Not sure if it's worth the work, but so delicious when your mom and aunt are making them. Yum.