Success!

I mentioned yesterday our food for the wedding was a success.  

 Somehow it all went from this:

to this:

We can’t take all the credit.  Actually the wonderful caterer Tamara, of The Sunday Night Dinner, deserves a good deal of it!  She took our food shoved into tupperware containers, (and food from lots of other people) and turned it all into that magical buffet you see up there.  Not to mention all the delicious food she prepared, the wonderful bar tender, and her assistant (Melissa, I think her name was?)  They all worked so hard, and everything tasted and looked incredible. If you’re in the New York area and have an event coming up, I know everyone there that night would recommend them.

Konichiwa (aka Sammy’s in Japan!)

 

image from Sweet Grass productions

My little brother, Sam, touched down in Hokkaido, Japan two nights ago.  He’s there to work with friends and their company, SweetGrass Productions, on a snowboarding film sponsored by Patagonia.  Apparently Sweet Grass has been there for months and their teaser looks amazing:

 

In other, pales-in-contrast, traveling news, I’m headed to Brooklyn for my friend Lila’s birthday this weekend.  Should be good times…

I was in New York last weekend for a few days.  And we kept busy!  Dinner parties, brunch(es), playdates, Broadway, the Mister even spent the day at the office (–most of the time he telecommutes and works at home.)  Besides getting to see a bunch of friends–young and old– the highlights included:

Nice new friends: Carnivalesque Films

Brunch at Papacitos in Greenpoint

Will Ferrel (!!!!!) You’re Welcome America

My first Five Guys experience

Momofuku, Noodle Bar

Some really yummy frozen yogurt that I am forgetting the name of– it was like a dessert salad bar

Those notes above from my favorite girls…

I tried to make a trip to Sahadi’s but my heart wasn’t in it.  The thought of dragging around more stuff, delicious as it would have been, was not appealing.  

Did you notice that almost everything on the list was a food item?  We meant to make a list of foods we wanted to “visit” while we were there, but it turns out we did pretty well without one.  

One of the most notable parts of the weekend was WE DIDN’T GET LOST driving there OR back! It was a miracle.  And I conquered my fear of driving in the big city.  Incredible. 

Anyhow, now that we’re home safe and sound, I’ve been working on new drawings… for my shop!  More about those later…

 

 

Handmade Goodies, Part II

Here are some of the stores and sellers I got wonderful gifts from this season.  Going through the list I realize they are not all strictly handmade. But I did try to stick to smaller, cool businesses, for the most part.  

Oh the wonderful Tiny Showcase:

Gorgeous letterpress print, ”Goes to Show You What a Moon Can Do 2009 Lunar Calendar”, by Alec Thibodeau for my brother, Will. 

And another letterpress print, “”Homage to the Stamp” by Gavin Potenza:

(I was a smart cookie and ordered early, so we got “A Field Guide to the Stamps of the World” poster as well.  Its pretty sweet.)

Poketo wallet:

This one is part of a series they did in collaboration with 826LA.  It was for my friend Jane, which was perfect as the story on the back features a “girl named Jane…[who]was 18 and lived in New York City.”

 

The Curatorium is my new favorite store in Providence.  It is filled to the brim with amazing stuff– at all price ranges– and they must change the shop around almost every day, because every time I go, everything is in a completely different place. And I’ve been going a lot.  Here are the highlights:

Bamboo sporks by Bambu made for some great stocking stuffers.

Cardboard Deer Bust for my brother Sam.  Or did I get the moose?  Man, I am really wanting ALL of these.  (You can find them online at PopDeluxe.)

Twig pencils:

Hokusai paper diorama by Tatebanko.com:

It comes packaged flat and actually looks pretty cool even before its cut out and assembled.  From their site: Hokusai himself did “Tatebanko paper sculpture” in those days and we are celebrating this well-known masterpiece with our owninterpretation. Hokusai Tatebanko remix!

Another store I went to a lot is just up the street from The Curatorium: Benefit Street Antiques. (At least I think that’s what its called.  Unfortunately, I am horrible at paying attention to silly things like, um, names.  However I do know its on the corner, and next to Cafe Zog, and across the street from the more hip antique store on Wickenden Street.)  Its one of those stores that looks too pretty and upscale to be able to afford anything in.  And that’s kind of true, but tucked between the gorgeous furniture and sparkly chandeliers, were the coolest treasures. Small paper mache boxes, carved wooden deer figurines, teacups, handkerchiefs…. so fun! Definitely check it out if you’re in the area.  And I did not take pictures of any of it..

And of course a couple of Etsy sellers!  (For all my goings on about  buying handmade etc, you’d think there would have been a long list.  There isn’t a long list because I was a moron and forgot about shipping time. NOT because I don’t have a long list of people I love buying fabulous goods from. SO  I resolve to start earlier this year!  Thanksgiving v Christmas be damned.) 

The hilarious Six Pack temporary Tattoo from Temptuous Tatts :

They are even more hilarious when your brother returns from a party sporting said tattoo. Believe me.

And the gorgeous “Pocket Theater Pop Ups,  Night Journey” by Roadside.

Check out Roadside Projects Blog for more information and inspiration.  She does all kinds of cards, flat prints of her originals, and custom work!  I especially love the family portraits.

Alright back to the perfect drawing-gloomy-day.

ergh.

Ever have one of those days…? I had one today. NOTHING worked.  I didn’t get much done.  Very, very frustrating.  Especially since I started the day all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I did not see a basically wasted day coming.  

But this is making me happier!:

So cool, right?  Its from Anna the Red’s Bento Factory blog.  She catalogues her amazing bento box creations on her blog.  There’s even one of the Spirited Away characters.  So great.  I do a lot of cooking and tend to take special care in how everything looks and is plated ( ahem, picked that up from Top Chef.)  But obviously this is taking it to a whole other level.  Even past your typical, awesome bento box presentation.  I think I’d have a hard time eating these though.  It’d be kind of heart breaking, wouldn’t it?  Or just super fun…Thanks Shelterrific for the tip. 

And… Another late birthday post.  Happy, happy birthday, Mr Henry Lincoln Jr.  

I miss you and your lady friend.

Thinking about Gifts

Its after Thanksgiving so I can safely start thinking about holiday gifts.  I seem to have inherited my mother’s disdain for all things Christmas-Retail related before Thanksgiving.  It seems like every year the jingles and tinsel go up earlier and earlier. I swear they overlapped with Halloween witches this year. It makes me cringe.

Anyhow!  Back to present musing.  I basically did this last year, but this year its official:

Last year my brothers and sister and I agreed to only make gifts for each other.  And it was great.  Of course it helps to have crafty and artistic siblings. heh. Which I happen to.  

Lately I’ve been so eager to make things, I’ve decided to extend this to the rest of my list. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make everything myself, but I’m completely confident I can find handmade items for everyone on my list.  (Though, confession time, I will be including books.  While certainly not hand made [well, the kinds I'm talking about] they are books and books are always wonderful.  I have a book bias.) Etsy, of course, is a big help.  But I also live in a city of many artists, and have just left a city of many artists, and there are plenty of small shops around carrying such one of a kind items.  

There are also plenty of sales/events coming up.  I know there are tons in the Boston and New York areas as well, but in Providence:

This Friday marks the opening of Craftland.   I’ve never been, but know I’ve been the recipient of gifties from there, so I’m excited to check it out.  

RISD Alumni Holiday Art Sale is December 13th.  (Its $7 which seems annoying, but whatever.)

2008 Foundry Artists Holiday Art Sale runs December 4th-7th- and 11th- 14th. 

yay!

Countdown to T Day

I drove out to Rehoboth last night, where my friend Jane lives, and we went to go pick up our turkey.  Its funny to drive 20 minutes out of Providence and be in this little, sweet farming community.  Well, it used to be mostly farms, but it sounds like its quickly becoming just a suburb, with lots of sprawling developments.  Anyhow it looked like the country, and it was so close.  

Sunny Meadow Farms is technically the fenced in field behind Linda and Richard King’s house.  They used to have sheep as well, but afore mentioned housing developments have encroached on that, so now they just raise turkeys:

Our turkeys are raised on the finest grains, and receive no medication or Hormones or any other additives… We have raised turkeys at this location since 1980 as a 4 H project for our youngest daughter Jaimie.  The love for fine food free to additives has kept us raising them ever since.

After welcoming us into their house and giving us lots of cooking advice (much needed!) they hefted over my 25 pound turkey, who was “walking around earlier” that morning.  

I love this.  After being a vegetarian for ten years, I try to remember to not take eating meat lightly.  I think this is one of the best ways to do it:  Supporting your community farmer, who takes good care of the animal.   Obviously, I haven’t even tried yet, but the King’s were so friendly and helpful, I’m sure I’ll be going back to them for all my other turkey needs.

The mister and I got up early (ish) to salt it.  Oh man, those spices smelled amazing…

Business-y Books

My copy of The Boss of You  just came in from the library.  I’ve only read the first couple chapters, but so far its great.  Everything seems right up my alley.  I’ve been thinking a lot about my life and defining success and having goals etc etc.  Just trying to figure things out.  Right now my problem is focusing on one thing and going for it.  Actually, that’s usually my problem.  I guess I’m in the process of figuring out how all these different interests fit together.  Anyhow.  I’ve been doing a lot of reading.  

On the recommendation of RiffeRaff I read The Martha Rules.  

Its fun (and comforting) to read about how a mogul like Martha started out.  Not that I want to run a media empire, but obviously she has a lot of gems to pass along.  Incidentally, RiffeRaff’s blog Make It, all about her starting and running her craft business of screen-printed goods, is one of my favorite and constant reads.  Loads of information about starting your own business.  Gobs.  Plus her work is just lovely.  So go check it out if you haven’t.  

Has anyone read The Anti 9-to-5 Guide?  Its next on my list…

Working late with Ang Lee

I’ve been working way into the wee hours lately and so have been taking full advantage of hulu.com’s selection of films to keep me going.  Even if it does take a bit longer to get something done, I figure its worth it, as I’m actually doing it.  Having a movie going on in the background allows for working through the night.  Anyhow, I stumbled across Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility last night.  Its so lovely.  I love Jane Austen.  

If you haven’t seen it in a while and like those sorts of things, you should definitely check this one out again. Besides the amazing cast and the expected wit, its just wonderfully weepy and wrenching, with the dependable happy ending.  Which one appreciates at 2 am.  

One random thing that really caught my eye was their posture. Its out of control.  

  

See? Even there as they’re sitting casually in the grass…

I also was really drooling over the millions of pleats in their simple empire waste dresses.  I love pleats…

Ok back to work! I’m off to a screening tonight in Newport, RI of We Are Wizards, so I’ve got to get stuff done.

A Very Merry Un-birthday to Sammy!

My lovely brother Sam’s birthday was a few weeks ago in August. I didn’t have it together then to do any posts at all, but it wasn’t until after posting about my sister’s birthday last week, I realized I missed his!

Happy Birthday Sam! Happy Golden Birthday: 23 on the 23rd!

 

Sam is an amazing photographer, among other things. He shot our sister’s wedding and these photos are his as well. You can see more of his work at Flickr.