Homemade Landscape Staple Earrings

After long hours spent blending dirt it was time for a fashion break. Lisa features major garden bling. Who says organic gardening can't be glamourous? 

Organic Newspaper Pots

We are in the early stages of garden rearing. Nan has been making 4" newspaper pots for the tomato seedlings. The New York Times uses soy based inks. This means that it can be used in the garden and composted. We have a low trash rule in Pine Plains which promotes recycling creativity. 

Today's Color

Iranian Graffiti

These images are from an intriguing post on Ping Mag about Iranian graffiti. I could go on and on and on... but go see for yourself.

It's Sunday, Let's Go To Japan

I just found the most exciting website/blog about all things Japanese! Hooray for the internet. These beautiful wrapping papers are from an exhibit of common papers used to wrap goods in stores. I am going right back to Ping Mag to look at the wealth of inspiration.

Timely Sign

Flickr surfing again...

Because It's Friday

A chunky gerbil wearing wedge heals brought to you by those industrious bloggers at Cute Overload.

French Tree from Etsy

French guy on Etsy. Nice moody trees and other stuff.

Case Study House for the Birds

In my continuing search for bird housing I came across this handsome hut at Velocity Art and Design. 

Recent Visitors

My copper mesh bird feeder holds sunflower seeds and has become quite a destination for the birds of Pine Plains. A beautiful red house finch stopped by on Saturday and 2 females and one very showy male wild turkey clucked around the ground below the feeder as well. Later that day a big gray bird appeared to be hanging on the feeder but as I came closer I saw that the bird was actually a tricky squirrel shaking the seeds out for a snack off the deck. This drawing comes by way of one of my favorite sites: BibliOdyssey.

Second Street

The marks left by people on second street between 2nd and Bowery.

New York Surface #0081

Week of the Fox

2 red foxes in one week. It must be red fox season. One on Shelter Island, strolling across the street and fox 2 was at the edge of route 199 in Pine Plains. They are so beautiful and catlike.

Big Canvas

Artist Jim Denevan makes amazing drawings with sticks and sand.

New York Surface #0082

Double Ed

Two Ed Ruscha pictures because I have been looking at his work. His pictures make me think in short stories.

There was a Conspiracy

Time Warner Cable conspired against my desire to add a post last night. After lots of unplugging, resetting, restarting, the futility finally took hold and I chucked the laptop to the floor, cursed the internet and fell sound asleep. While dreaming, I saw the above dog/man in front of an English Manor. Still trying to figure out what it means.

New Marcel

McSweeney's has issued a new Marcel Dzama book, which is actually a collection of loose pages of images. I have been following his work for a while and love his drawings the most.

Modern Workclothes

The title of this Gee's Bend Quilt is Workclothes. I think these quilts are fascinating (so does the rest of the world) and am always inspired when I see one. 

Phoebe Nest Update

When not working on my own nest, I often check out the nests of others. Our pair of Eastern Phoebes have returned to their nesting spot under the eaves of our house and are busy darting to and fro with mud and moss, building their nest. While not the most glamourous birds, they make up for their drab, utilitarian outerwear with agile and elegant flight patterns. We count on them to catch all the insects outside the kitchen window. Last Spring I saw Mom Phoebe delivering a Yellow Jacket to the little ones for breakfast. Yum, tasty.

Book Covers

Caught again, judging books by their covers... Lovely images from Reference Library.

Friday's Snake

This comes from One Stone Eye. I just got back from a meeting in Stamford. Maybe that is why this image is appealing to me?

Details: Country / City

Dreaming of the Garden

It's almost time to start planting the garden. Last year's carrots and straw hats are fresh on the mind. Nothing is quite as local as shopping in your own yard. We will save $50,000 by not shopping at Whole Foods for an entire summer!

Available, with Fur

These powerful beings are waiting for adoption at one of my favorite animal rescue organizations, Best Friends. They have done amazing work, saving pets and reuniting them with their owners in the wake of Katrina and providing shelter and care for all kinds of animals at their Utah based sanctuary.

New York Surface #0473

Swedish, of course...

I just found these simple, pleasant houses on Materialicious. Check out Arkitekthus.

Becher by way of Kahn

Appropriationist Idris Khan shakes up the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher. I love the stillness of the Becher's photographs and how Khan makes them vibrate.

Audubon for Today

Birds fascinate me and so do the bird drawings of Audubon. He had a remarkable life and left his drawings as evidence.

Pine Plains #104

I spend my time in two very different places, Lower Manhattan and Upstate New York. I take pictures in both places. Pine Plains changes everyday because it is rural and seasonal. Currently there are tiny buds and shoots of grass all over and insects have just returned. The pair of phoebes have returned to their nesting spot under the eaves, and it's chicadees v. titmice at the bird feeder. The soundtrack here is wind, birds, evening coyotes and distant cars, if the wind shifts. I like to photograph the way everything changes here without human interaction. My pictures in the city are about the exact opposite phenomenon.

New York Surface #0108

I have been working on a photography project about the street and sidewalk surfaces on my way to the studio. This is one image, I will be posting more from the series.

Today's Color Palette

Blog hopping from curious bit to beautiful bit....to this geometric moment.

Christopher Peacock Paint Arrives

I had the pleasure of working with Christopher Peacock on his paint line this past year. Christopher is best known for his bespoke cabinetry, which has always been beautifully hand painted. So the logical leap to designing a paint line was right in step with his sensibility. Working with Christopher and the manufacturer I spent a few months editing, sorting, reviewing, redoing and organizing colors until we all felt like the palette really spoke to Christopher's distinct and elegant relationship with color. Christopher Peacock Paint is available through their website. It's LEED certified, which means it won't harm you or the environment, and it is made from extremely high quality materials, making it durable, washable and very long lasting. I am happy to have been an integral part of the development of this new product and hope it is a smashing success. Cheers Christopher!

Secret Color Funhouse in East Side Townhouse

In the 5 floors above this vibrant playroom there are elegant collections of contemporary art and furniture from world travels, auctions, Chelsea galleries. But hit the bottom and wham - 26 different colors folding like an accordion, jogging in and out of plush and plastic play toys. It's not everyday that I have the opportunity to jump off the saturated color deep end, but brave clients decided to give the kids a break from the adult mood stabilizing palette featured upstairs. I think I'd call this a site and age specific palette. Actual adults must sign a waiver before entering the room and don color dampening glasses, or they must be funhouse certified.

Unwinding with a Twombly

Post Spring Cleaning Calm Image

After a feverish day of professional strength Spring cleaning here at the Studio, it's time to sit back and look at pretty, organized things. And apply some hand cream. It is amazing how possible it is to accumulate super crazy stuff. But it feels so deeply thrilling to give it away, junk it or pretend it's not there. A nice clean studio space....ahhh.

Misplaced Data from Space Fan

This beautiful map can be found on a blog that my space age friend, Libby linked me to: Space Collective. There are endless interesting images to tickle your eyes with. For instance, instead of doing paperwork, one could log on to Space Collective and float in the cosmos for a bit....

Thank You Stephen Scoble

This untitled diptych is from a series of paintings that I did from 2002 - 2006. 

The lovely Stephen Scoble, design genius at Food & Wine, visited my studio recently and bought these small paintings for his partner as a gift. Happiness all around. Thanks Stephen!

Today's Color Palette

This beautiful photograph is by David Burdeny. Look at his work at Lumas.