Friday, May 31, 2013

light stripes \ \\\\ \ \\ \\\

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my workplace is near the construction of SF's new transbay terminal. one benefit of this forever construction zone, is that on sunny days, there is a beautiful stripey light show on my walk to work. i did not catch the best part in my short video. i realized upon reviewing it, that the show happens more on people's backs (see seconds 10–8) than on their feet. (i was feeling shy about filming.) must try again. when there are a lot of people walking, it's the best, because everyone has these light stripes going across them, and the walkway is filled with moving stripes. a daytime disco walk, but almost more surreal. so pretty.
 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

pie ranch and swanton berry farm

pieranchkitchchicks
outdoor kitchen at pie ranch—looking in/out and mobile chicken coop

at pie ranch some very new goat kids jumped spaztically about, pigs very eagerly scarfed their food (they will get to be 300 pounds!!!!!), cows grazed. at another farm, we saw a peacock in all his unfurled tail glory. the peahen (the white visible behind peacock) could have cared less about her penmate's display. even when he shook himself and all his feathers, and we oood and aahhhd, she went about pecking at the ground. crazy how iridescent his body is. we also picked berries at swanton's, and i made some sweet and sour strawberry rhubarb jam.




Saturday, May 25, 2013

a new pattern

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sewed my first top from a pattern yesterday. the lovely jennifer serr helped me make a pattern from another top i brought to class. (normally she doesn't teach pattern-making in this class, but because the top was pretty simple—and she seemed to like it—she made an exception.) i am so pleased with the result. i had briefly forgotten how satisfying it is to make something that turns out pretty close to how you had envisioned that thing. excited to try more designs. i am trying to only purchase thrift store clothing or clothing that is not made by companies that exploit people/nature. unfortunately, fabric itself is also made by such companies. it's very hard to find fabric that is made in the US and made using sustainable (or even just non-toxic) practices.

some inspiring sewing ladies: jen hewett, christine haynes and jenny of wiksten made

Monday, May 20, 2013

lime pie

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eaten yesterday in the back yard in perfect weather. woodstock even joined us at one point, sitting on the bench like a proper chicken.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

there's a new pig in town

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in addition to lots of cool old cars, alameda now has two pigs! this little one was visiting bosco the pig (who is much bigger) when i walked by bosco's yard on saturday, post farmers market. the piglet was snorting up a storm. sounded like a grown up pig already. its owners say she will get to be 25–30 pounds. CUTE.

 

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Sunday, May 12, 2013

weekend bits

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mills mfa show/open studios and the barbary ghosts

Sunday, May 05, 2013

alameda chicken coop tour

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joan and dylan and aiden and i went on a bicycle tour of alameda chicken coops. fun to see people's different setups and back yards and chickens of all shades (soft grey, iridescent black, buff, spotted, fluffy footed). heard many breed names batted about, but don't remember many of those (buff orpington, wyandotte, bantam, araucana, ameraucana...) we determined that our chickens are some of the luckiest, space-wise, in alameda. all of the alameda chickens though seem to be pretty happyvery robust ladies. some sweet coops out there. also saw some beekeepers and goats and sheep. more photos

Thursday, May 02, 2013

black cat yellow eyes

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her eyes matched the roses.

i love keith shore's illustration style.

this new wildcraft studio school looks rad.

uplifting piece by naomi shihab nye

fresh air interview with author of overdressed about the high cost (human rights and environmental) of cheap clothing. in the 50's almost 100% of Americans' clothing was US made. in 1990, 50%. today 2%.