friday field trip (from the sketch book).

june 2011

nice, france

it is definitely starting to turn sandal weather ! i love this season, where skimpy shoes and little frocks are my daily costume. i'll be back in the south of france soon and i look forward to seeing (and buying) the new 2012 french sandal ware.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

september 2008

mount holly, vermont

we go to vermont every summer for 2-4 weeks. there, we really connect to nature and the earth, leaving behind busy long-hour days at our offices. when you are far away from your reality and completely surrounded by the most beautiful landscape, it is easy to focus on the small things in life, such as the amazing mushrooms that grow wild all around us. i look forward to vermont all year long.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

july 2004

stockholm, sweden.

i fell in love with stockholm while i was in sweden, attending the wedding of my friend lotta jansdotter. we stayed at this fabulous hotel called RIVAL. and right across the street was a beautiful cemetery. i find that most cemeteries tend to verge on the scary and creepy side, but this one was quite sweet and picturesque, with rows and rows of beautiful organic shaped and colorfully muted tombstones. stockholm is now one of my all time favorite cities. it is so lovely and inspiring and full of impeccable design as far as the eye can see.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

july 2004

cortona, italy.

cortona is one of the sweetest towns i have ever been to. this beautiful little town is built upon a hill and has the most amazing medieval architecture. cortona was made famous by frances mayes book, under the tuscan sun. and just by chance, while we were there they showed this movie (under the tuscan sun) on a huge outdoor movie screen. watching this movie under the stars whilst sipping limoncello was truly an epic moment.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

2010

emeryville, california

yes, it's true. i am one of those typical girls who LOVES shoes. but not just any shoe. i love sturdy, good leather, well made shoes. fiornentini + baker shoes fit the bill for SURE. ooooops, i left out the "i" on the sketch . . . fiorentini puts the "i" in I WANT MORE fiorentini + baker shoes !

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

2010

trax gallery

berkeley, california

i purchased this little ceramic bird at a trax opening last year. i was so drawn to it and now it hangs on my own wall. i love the detail and i love fowl. guess who ELSE loves fowl . . .

WILMA does. she loves this time of the year when the fowl is good + oh so plentiful. this was her thanksgiving dinner. a whole turkey leg.

she can't believe she ate the WHOLE thing.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

2010

berkekley, ca

painting/sketch on porcelain.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

may 4, 1993

the south of france

i sketched this in 1993 on the road from spain to the south of france. i can remember that trip explicitly. that was the year i started keeping a travel journal, only because i had lost my camera on a train (which was a fortuitous mishap). on monday, i leave to go back to the south of france for the month of june. if you want to follow along on my journey more closely, check my facebook fan page here, i will be updating frequently.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

2010

emeryville, ca

it's true. i love a squeeze of lime (or lemon) on almost everything. i keep our kitchen well stocked with these citrus staples. and every time i squeeze one on my food, i look at my husband and he says with a knowing nod, "i know, i know, . . . everything tastes better with a squeeze of lemon."

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

2010

emeryville, ca

i truly do believe in wishes coming true . . . well, it's actually more like *the power of positive thinking.* i have "wished" for so many things in my life that have panned out in ways that weren't ME forcing the issue or "trying" to make happen. i think there is SO MUCH to be said about positive energy and just believing, it can really shift things. and one day that "something" will just land in your lap when you least expect it . . . like this.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

2010

berkeley, california

friday field trip (from the sketchbook).

2010

berkeley, california

i used to love the sound of my aunties playing mahjong. i can still hear the clanking of the bone tiles and the chitter chatter of the women. it brings back such fond memories. later, when i learned how to play mahjong myself, i realized what a fun game it was and could completely understand why they would stay up all night playing. i even inherited my family's old set. mahjong, anyone ?

friday field trip (from the sketchbook).

2010

berkeley, california

here is a bright tart to brighten up this dreary weather (which i do love). i am not a big fan of the sweets (unless they are drenched in chocolate) but i really love to draw cakes and candies and pastries. i could easily spend hours in a bakery, just me and my sketchbook. to me, they are like beautiful little jewels perched behind their glass cases. and it's one of the few places where i am actually drawn to the colors.

friday field trip (from the sketchbook).

2010

berkeley, california

yixing teapots are so beautiful in their simplicity and functionality. my sister, who lived in china for a number of years, has a huge collection of them. did you know that traditionally, some Chinese would pour the tea from the spout directly into their mouths ? i love that visual.

though i fully intended to start my hiatus this year, i have been immersed in the studio working on collaborations with diva, jess, and terrain. i've never collaborated before, as i am the proverbial lone potter, but i am finding huge satisfaction in it. who knew ?

friday field trip (from the sketchbook).

november 2010

emeryville, ca

this is one of my favorite breakfasts (which i've been eating ever since my doctor reprimanded me). i do NOT like to eat real strawberries . . . i find those little pits quite annoying when they get stuck in my teeth, plus they are often too tart. BUT, i have ALWAYS loved fake strawberry flavoring. as a child, i would inevitably gravitate towards the strawberry soda and the strawberry milk. so for me, strawberry flavored kefir is the perfect way to start the day. i am also very excited about ODWALLA'S new strawberry protein monster drink. the flavor of it brings me right back to my childhood . . . and it's packed with protein, to boot !

(i also love these)

friday field trip (from the sketchbook).

(click on image for a closer peek)

2010

emeryville, ca

i love spoons. i have a large collection of sorted spoons, varying in shape, size and material. the form and function of a spoon is so comforting to me. you can see more of my spoons here, here, and here.

friday field trip (from the sketchbook).

(click on image for a better look)

2010

emeryville, ca

lotta and i met 10 years ago and became fast friends. she is without a doubt one of the most talented and creative creatures on earth. her highly recognizable line of fabric, soft goods, paper goods, and books are sold world wide. this is a pencil case that i use for holding my reading glasses in (which is always just an arms length away).

p.s. i was honored this week to have been featured on one of my FAVORITE blogs . . . read about it HERE.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

october 2010

new york, new york

there is a wonderful store in nolita called le labo. they make hand-formulated fragrances imparted into perfumes, lotions, massage oil and candles. to me, the best part about it is the packaging . . . simple + classy.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

berkeley, california

2010

this is my piece in the EMERYVILLE ART EXHIBITION which opens TONIGHT from 6:00 to 9:00. this is a juried show that features a piece of artwork (all medium) of 94 artists that live or work in emeryville. there is a lot of great talent in this tiny town, and it is a really FUN opening !

click HERE for more information.

friday field trip (from the sketch book).

emeryville, ca

november 2009

these might just be the perfect studio shoes. not only are they super comfy, but they are plastic/rubber and can be hosed down at the end of the day. and though they are not the cutest shoes in town (bordering on perhaps the ugliest ?), they add a bit of height and are easy to slip on and off . . . 2 of my shoe requirements. plus it doesn't hurt that they are dirt cheap !