Savages, mulling spices, drawing, green spider, Christmas, Sunset Love Cue, Temari.

1. Temari spheres. Look here. Be amazed.

2. Sunset Love Cue by a favorite former student, Nick Motyka, who is now in college studying film. 'From here' final song by another great talent, Casey Opal, that went to the school that I teach at.

 3. How our Christmas looks.

4. Green spider mum, hypericum and pine for our neighbor.

5. A drawing.

6. Mulling spices tied up with string and star anise for friends.

7. Savages. Listen to them. Rock your socks off. Thank you, thank you, Molly, for bringing me to see them at the Middle East in July.

Nikhil Goyal, on the table, this scene, Phoenix, sixty-five, leaf's heart, head in the clouds

 1. Fantastic structure created with gallon milk jugs. 16 ounce water bottles with blue colored liquids on the inside. At Governors Island, NYC.

 

2. I found this leaf with a heart shape in it while on a run with J-bird after my first day back at work. Indeed, what a sweet summer it was.

3. I made a drawing each day of summer vacation. Sixty-five. 

4. Xu Bing's Phoenix at Mass Moca.

5. This scene. It happens often. I am so grateful.

6. Tomatoes, sunflowers, a painting that belonged to my grandparents by an artist they were friends with when they lived in Madrid. My mom gave it to me last week.

7. Smart young people who take a stand on what they think is just in public education. Nikhil Goyal is simply brilliant. I can't wait to see what else he contributes to bettering our public education system.

 

48 hours in Miami

1. Brightly colored mosaic.

2. Beautiful architecture. Miami Beach Community Church.

3. Miami Beach art gallery.

4. Cappuccino and flan at the Van Dyke Cafe, Lincoln Road, Miami.

5. Seahorse weathervane atop the mansion at Vizcaya.

6. Light, color, texture, water at Vizcaya.

7.  Las tres Madridistas. 

What a great game and incredible time we had!

Conrad Hilton, wee Klee, Lemoncello crema, new creation, summer mornings on the porch, strawberry mint margaritas, an arrival.

1. Island Sandals handmade by Michael in Maui arrived!

 2. Strawberry mint margaritas.

3. Summer mornings on the porch- drawing on the porch, coffee.

4. A new, small creation.

5. Lemoncello crema and some other goodies for Rachel's birthday.

6. A wee Klee. Always a pleasure to see in person at the Met.

7. A stay at the Conrad Hilton (North End Avenue, NYC) featuring an enormous Sol Lewitt wall and some wacky string art.

7 bits of wonder from Hawaii last month: Westfalia, Island Sandals, Puupiha cemetery, espresso, Byodo- In Temple, Boston- Maui, beauty

1. A leaf inscribed with my word- beauty! Wailea, Maui.

 2. At the Martin Lawrence Gallery on Front Street, Lahaina, Maui. 

There is a  Martin Lawrence Gallery on Newbury Street in Boston as well. 

We spotted this from the street (just a few days after April 15th).

 3. At the Byodo-In Temple, Kahaluu, O'ahu.

 4. A delicious espresso on the drive up to Haleakala, Maui.

 5. A romantic picture at the Puupiha cemetery on the beach, across from the Jodo Mission, Lahaina, Maui.

 6. "Sandals while you wait" (3-6 months) by Michael at Island Sandals, Front Street, Lahaina, Maui. Michael is a kooky, loveable character. Can't wait to get my handmade sandals in the mail... someday.

7. Our home and transport in O'ahu. 1988 Volswagen Westfalia. J-bird was smitten.

Made us laugh, Yo La Tengo, espresso, Sonia, continuous line, JR + the High Line

1. JR on the High Line, NYC.

2. Continuous line drawing.

3. Reading: My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor.

4. Espresso with whipped cream at Cafe Fledermaus (Neue Galerie).

5. Sky, reflection of sky, texture.

6. Yo La Tengo at Town Hall.

7. Made us laugh: toddler bike with training wheels locked up with heavy duty chain.

An upcoming party, the gift table, beauty, gingerbread cake, space, to my sister, the mantle.

 1. Our simple holiday mantle. Featuring a cross eyed Mary. Every December that I unwrap this set that my mom gave to me when I was in high school, I laugh when I see the Mary statue.

 2. What I gave to my sister.

 3. Re-beginning. I am sharing a studio space once again with my fantastic friend, Sean. We shared this same space years ago. It's nice to have a  space away from home (a convenient 10 minute walk from here) for focused art making once again.

 4. The gingerbread cake that I made for New Year's Eve. You have to love a cake that includes a cup of stout.

 5. I chose the word "beauty" to guide me through 2013. I chose the word in honor of my friend, Karen, who passed away in the fall. She called many people- teenage students, fellow teachers, and friends, "Beauty." "How's my Beauty?"
Just a few days into the new year, this owl greeted me when I came home from work. A beauty.

 6. The Christmas gift table.

7. We are excited to be hosting a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.- Presidential Inauguration Day party this Monday.  Soup, oatmeal cookies, a fire in the wood stove.