Landscape Hypochondria

Jan 6

I must say there's nothing like watching Radiohead perform. I'm watching a recorded performance of them on current and it's magic, especially over a cup of brewed loose green tea, if you have one.

I swore I'd post more often in this little space, but then only this morning I swore I'd spend less time on the internet unless it was somehow related to my school work. I also have wishes of buying a daily planner. Ah, let's all just hope for the best this New Year. Cheers to ya.

** And then I had to go back and edit this post.. because we're not in December anymore in case anyone was wondering.. **

Dec 25

I've been graced with something of an early Christmas gift this year. Jen of simply photo (also of simply breakfast) included one of my photos of snow in her post this Christmas Eve evening. Couldn't be more tickled. I hope there is something to tickle everyone's fancy tonight and into tomorrow.

A very merry Christmas to you all.

Dec 21

I'm certainly excited by the new park that will be built on Governors Island. I'm nearly one hundred percent certain that we'll be studying this, if not next quarter, the quarter after next - and it's sure to show up in the history of LA course offered each Autumn quarter (which I was a teaching assistant for this most recent quarter). I'm intrigued by the finalists, especially because West 8 was the chosen winner. I don't know off the top of my head, how many of West 8's designs have won major competitions in the United States, if any? I'll have to check that out. I've been waiting several months for West 8 to finally update and re-launch their website and it seems that they have launched it simultaneously with the announcement of their win. I'm happy with the re-launch, because the site features intensely vivid photo vignettes and diagrams. I live for the diagram and the photographic vignette. Congrats, West 8. Cheers.

Dec 20

Skipped a day. And it's all because of shopping and eating. But don't worry. With no shopping days left, and no room for internet orders to ship in time, I've shortlisted some things that I can't live without. And the best part is, one is from Scotland, the other is in Japanese and I can't read it, and the other is just plain rad and would look good hanging on my walls. I'd also enjoy something which can be pinned on a shirt or jacket.

Storm Ladder Scarf from PhatSheep Textiles

100% Linen Scarf (it's in Japanese so I'm making the name up) from foglinenwork

2008 Calendar by Rachel Bone of Red Prairie Press

Coral Series Brooch by Nervous System

:edit: This ribbon print by eshu demands to be also on the list.

Dec 18

Yay! My computer connects to the internet again. It took some time to figure out what was missing, but it's back. Now I can spend more time sitting in bed. Today was supposed to be a productive day of errands and shopping. But no. I've had a headachey thing going on since Sunday afternoon. I'm starting to worry a little, but I'm sure it will soon pass. And something that will surely help - men working on our roof. Yikes.

I mailed holiday cards today. No two cards are the same. Some are just stamped, some are stamped and stitched. I couldn't settle on one look, so I tried to keep the recipient in mind as I worked on each individual card. I hope everyone enjoys what I've made for them.

Dec 17

Genius path built in Norway leading people to the water. More info on the Dwell Blog here. The choice of larch wood is absolutely stunning.

Gift tags from artist Camilla Engman! I'm absolutely in love with the piggies! If only my parents' printer didn't huff out on me every time I try to print something.

Being back in school means having Christmas break again. It's a pretty nice treat, but it does lend itself to intermittent bouts of boredom, watching crap TV in the morning, internet shopping, nights spent at Barnes & Noble reading magazines. All things that I never have time for while school is in session. I'm in the process of making cards and gathering mailing addresses so that I can get the cards out to some dear persons. And quick! I should have prepared for this project a little more in advance, say, not the week before Christmas. The process has gone a little something like: fold, stamp, stitch, sign. With love.

Dec 14

Oh my. I read about The Whale Hunt experiment project in the Jan/Feb 08 issue of GOOD Magazine. An incredible project, and a glorious website to go along. I think you'll enjoy playing around with the different modes before getting to the actual content - I know I did!

Also in this issue, Jason Eppink's Pixelator project. The Pixelator website has diagrams, measurements, and materials for how to make your own. I'm wondering now how to incorporate this into christmas lights decorating...

The same thing

It keeps happening. I go away, get incredibly up until 6 in the morning busy, come back and vow that I will post something more regularly. This time I'm sticking to it. Till the New Year do us part. Something daily. Anything. School continues to be amazing and exhausting and invigorating all at the same time. And as much as I threatened during the quarter to completely drop out, I could never. In any case...

Today I waited until 2 pm to eat or drink anything. And when I did, I approached the counter at the coffee shop and asked for their very last bagel in the display case. Several minutes later, and they told me they had dropped half of it on the floor. Immediately I was upset and amused. And immediately I was rewarded on behalf of the barista's unsteady grip with a scone or muffin of my choice. Yummy cinnamon scone, you have made my day.

video

19 seconds in Kansas

For everything

Broadcasting live from KANSAS. I've been addicted to TV On The Radio for nearly the entire summer. In the car. Jogging. Flying. Sitting, standing, dancing. I can't find a great quality live video of the band performing "I Was A Lover" (one of my favorites from Return To Cookie Mountain), but I found this one shot in black and white, and I'm loving it. Something about all those glares.

falling water movie

A lovely, albeit sightly cheesy because of the instrumental accompaniment, graphic movie featuring Fallingwater via Design*Sponge. My favorite parts are the lateral, horizontal jutting out of beams and rafters.

Moving

I'm thinking perhaps that what has been slowing me down for the past week is my deep, deep craving for seeing things in motion at all times. This has given way to several obsessions for watching videos, perhaps you've heard of Clark and Michael? Perhaps you've watched all ten episodes of their show, and even gone so far as look them up on youtube. And re-watched whatever slim pickens you can find on there too. In any case, I was struck by the genius presentation of a clothing collection via video format and shared that in the previous post, and now I've been struck by a very simple, very lovely couple minutes of floating fabric. Something else that has satisfied my need for watching, is the movie Once, which I traveled several miles outside of the city to watch in a theater full of about as many people as I have fingers on my right hand. Really beautiful. I think I teared up every twenty minutes.

Also check out Megan Canning's work. Not in motion, but another one of those things I like to file under "dream come true" in my mental scrapbook.

I'll be in motion come Tuesday night when I hit the air for Kansas, then Washington, then back thru Kansas again.

Should share more often

With way too much free time lately, I've been really getting in to reading blogs, wanting to post links to some of the cool places I've been, but failing to do so quite miserably. But today I came across a small collection by Alyson Fox and wanted to pass it along. I think it's a pretty genius way of showing off one's clothing line. What else have I loved? wanderlust magnet set and beauteous jewelry by Betsy Carr at foundling.

Live or recorded

Well, it's been more than a while. The heat broke here today, and it's finally comfortable enough outside to where I can keep the front door open. I'm considering turning off the air conditioning; I can't stand having it on. But I wanted to break in and say, that hearing music coming through someone's windows is perhaps one of my most favorite things in the world. I can hear a neighbor playing guitar, and it settles so well with me. Guess it's time to throw open those windows.

Cranes home

A while ago I contributed to a nifty little project on Flickr. It started out sorta little, and evolved into an international phenom of sorts. Liz launched a pretty new site today where photos of the paper cranes are living. Check it out when you have some time, it's really gorgeous to see all the cranes she made and how everyone came up with a creative photo for their special one. This photo was my contribution:

More updates to come, like how I am finishing up my first year of graduate school in two days and leaving in less than two weeks for Europe!

ID feature

"The plant is so thick and the needles so prickly that it would be impossible to lob a cat through it."

Picea Pungens Colorado Spruce
p. 273, Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs

Seasonal Resolution: Spring

Visit the water as necessary. The body must come in close contact with the water, meaning not from the visibility of a car, but from the mobility of one's own feet.

Good morning, little bunnies and chicks. Happy Easter to you.

Meet

My new friends. Perhaps a regular thing I'll be doing around here... introducing you to plants I've been newly introducted to for my horticulture class. Here's the first week's bunch. Heaven help me if I don't italicize, capitalize, or spell something correctly. Common name followed by scientific (Latin) name in italics.

Spreading Yew Taxus x media 'Hicksii'
Corniliancherry Dogwood Cornus mas
Meserve Holly Ilex x meserveae
Colorado Spruce Picea pungens
Colorado Blue Spruce Picea pungens var. glauca
Norway Spruce Picea abies
Bird's Nest Spruce Picea abies 'Nidiformis'
River Birch Betula nigra *
Paper Birch Betula papyrifera
Japanese Spurge Pachysandra terminalis *
Boxwood Buxus
Paperbark Maple Acer griseum *
Witchhazel Hamamelis *
Mugho Pine Pinus mugho
Eastern White Pine Pinus Strobus *

* favorites worth looking up if you're curious