Revisions

The rents got me the CUtest Rabbit charm, a la Alice, for Christmas and while it was intended for my charm bracelet, I couldn't help but give it a detour for a little while first. I also had a monocle necklace from Urban that I loved, that sadly bit the dust a few months back so I was ever grateful to find a new one in the jewelry district. Voila, my new ornamental creation combing two beloved pieces. Tools.... Laying it out.. Checking  for length.... Finished.... Details..... You are next my pretties....

While working on a product shoot recently, I took some time to play a little once I was done with the "flat on white" shots. I know it isn't anything super crazy but I had some beautiful blue green glass and since I can't show you all the product yet as it isn't available I just thought I would offer a peak. BTW there stuff is AMAZING. Will share more soon.

I LOVE my new toy!! In keeping with my word for the year, CREATE, I have been working on a number of projects. Albeit some more slowly than others. I found some fabric the day after Thanksgiving on my way back from Upstate that I have been wanting to make a pillow out of. So while I had the fabric, I had no pillow form, no trim and at the time no sewing machine. So finally today I did it. Although in hindsight I think part of my procrastination was having never sewn a pillow before, (well other than a letter pillow in homec ages ago) much less one with chord trim. Oy. But I dove in and lo and behold, it's not too bad, as I pat myself on the back . :) Here we go... Sewing on the trim. First time around I didn't get it close enough to the chording so I went around again. My first time using a zipper foot. Whew that takes a little practice.  Pinning front piece and back pieces together.. Getting there!! All sewn up and turned right side out. I was going to pu...

My heart bursts with  love for this city and I only wish that I could articulate it as well as some others have. Not only in lyric but in Melody. Cases in point Elton John-Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters And now I know Spanish Harlem are not just pretty words to say I thought I knew But now I know that rose trees never grow in New York City Until you've seen this trash can dream come true You stand at the edge while people run you through And I thank the Lord there's people out there like you I thank the Lord there's people out there like you chorus While Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters Sons of bankers, sons of lawyers Turn around and say good morning to the night For unless they see the sky But they can't and that is why They know not if it's dark outside or light This Broadway's got It's got a lot of songs to sing If I knew the tunes I might join in I'll go my way alone Grow my own, my own seeds shall be sown in New York City Subway...

I love Nike Plus. They send you cool things like this. Yeah call me Type A. I don't mind. I have never claimed to understand Zen. :)

I find it endlessly fascinating that people put on makeup on mass transit. Today I was faced with two masters of the makeup brush on the train. I actually shot one of them for my other blog as you can see. The other one was sitting next to me so she didn't qualify for my photo project but she was amazing none the less. She sat down and I swear it was Rita Moreno but I didn't want to stare and girlfriend was deep in concentration. She whipped out an eye pencil and I noticed her mirror was propped in her bag just so. I giggled a little when I saw a standing gentleman raise his eyebrows as she set to work just as the train pulled away. HOW does she not jab herself in the eye?? I mean this was serious business. She lined the top lid, the bottom lid and pulled her lid down to line the rim even. This was not her first rodeo kids. I was trying to be cool but I wanted to turn to her and say "Have you ever jabbed yourself in the eye?" The trains are hardly a smooth ride. So...

Those of you who know me, know I do not like to take pictures of nature.  Not that I don't appreciate them on occasion, but they are just not my thing. But there are exceptions to every rule. Hence this morning when I went out to take my laundry to the fab little couple who does it for me, I took in the immense beauty that nature can throw down on an urban landscape. We had a snow storm kids and it was Fantastic. I couldn't help but run back home and grab my camera. I didn't want to miss this opportunity to shoot my hood literally blanketed in snow. It was gorgeous. Take a peak. Love this city. Give me 31 any day in January.

I am fleshing out another new project. Well maybe more of an exercise than an actual project. A colleague/mentor gave me an idea for a shoot where you break the 4-5 foot intimacy barrier and shoot a friend for a few hours using a short lens so you have to get close to them. Shooting pieces, parts, snippets etc. I am still figuring out the reasons and the why of it but thought I would share a few of the shots so far. I definitely want to explore this more. It was funny how my subjects said they felt really self conscious with a  camera that close to them while they did everyday things. It is challenging to find interesting parts to shoot when the temps are such that everyone is bundled up in massive layers. So stay tuned and let's see where this goes. Amanda Clifford And it seems I am fond of hands.

Amanda and I took off in the drizzle this morning to Union Square Green Market. Love supporting local farms and getting really amazing products in return. I picked up yummy yogurt drinks from Ronnybrook farms, some fresh tomatoes from a hydroponic farm near the city and some lovely little apples. We also hit Whole Foods and feeling the need for something healthy I grabbed a halibut filet and some baby potatoes. Once home with my bounty I went about my business of emails and admin. Lo and behold one of the emails was from Martha Stewart's site Everyday Food. It's like she read my mind. Here is the inspiration meal and how I tweaked it for myself tonight. Yummy indeed. Thanks Martha.                                                                              photo from Everyday Food MSLO

As you know I live in a VERY small space in the city. So the things I surround myself with have to be dual purpose and very functional. While my parents were here in September working on the bed, they came up with an idea for a table. We brainstormed and I shared that I had seen a piece of art in Macy's that I was quite fond of and we could incorporate it into the table. My rents went home and my stepdad "hummed" out his idea and built a table that is both functional and fabulous. By day it hangs on the wall as an art piece. By night, or whenever I need a place to eat, work or hopefully soon entertain guests (albeit a very small number of guests) it is a fully functional table. For big city, small apartment dwellers like myself this is a dream come true. Thanks Rents

I created a new blog.....check it out. http://acrossthetrainfromme.blogspot.com/

Create: The last two days I have been creating a new shower curtain for my bathroom. I have a tendency to get something in my head and then have a terrible time trying to find exactly what I want. So I search and search until I find exactly the right thing and sometimes that requires making something. Case in point, I have had a heck of a time finding a shower curtain for my bathroom. I had seen one at Target that I liked but the problem is that my shower rod is hung really high and my tub is quite deep so a standard curtain won't do. So then I got it in my head that I wanted a really thick black and white stripe to go in there. Almost a circus tent feel. So I looked and looked and you wouldn't think it would be that hard to find a stripe but I couldn't find just the right one. I wanted to bold stripe, no wimpy 1-2 inches. Give me 3-4 or don't show up. FINALLY on Monday Mom and I found it at Mood. (Thank you, MOod) So with 96 inches of fabric (that makes for a REALLY l...