Gardening Chemistry

I've been working on a Physics & Flowers series and it occurred to me the other day that I should add some chemistry and plants to the mix. This is just a test sketch for a mixed media canvas design that I'm working out in my head.

Ode to Polaroid and The Impossible Project

Today is THE big day!  The Impossible Project is releasing their new film for Polaroid cameras.  I've been anxiously awaiting this day for months.  The test photos they released with the big press announcement on Monday are amazing and I can't wait to try this new film for myself.  I've been collecting Polaroid cameras for just such an occasion.  Happy Polaroiding everyone!

Antique View of Asia Circa 1930

I found this antique book in a used bookstore in Denver a while ago called 'Carpenter's New Geographical Reader: Asia' from 1930.  It has some really great photos and provides insight into how our view of the world has changed since then.  I just thought I would share some of my favorite photos.

This is written on the inside cover of the book- presumably the owner of the book and student of Asian geography.

There are only a couple of color plates in the book but I wish they were all in color to get a better idea of what life was really like then.

I've traveled extensively through Malaysia but I don't quite recall the women being 'fond of jewelry' but perhaps it's still true.

This is a beautiful building in Bangkok that is just as beautiful today as it was then.  I have never seen so many golden buildings.

I would love to see a print shop like this.  What an incredible setup compared to how things are done today.

It seems some facets of the Chinese way of life have always been puzzling to westerners.

This pagoda reminds me of one that I saw near Dahli in China.  I really wish it was in color because generally the pagodas have really colorful and extremely detailed painting.

Early school uniforms?  If so, they've changed quite a bit....

The owner of this book made extensive notes and underlining all throughout the book, clearly making a careful study of the information it contains.

I don't understand why it was called a 'costume' if someone in a foreign country was wearing it.

I would love to ride my bike under this tree.  We spent a few months cycling through South East Asia and it was incredibly hot.  So I guess I wouldn't actually like to ride my bike under this tree, but I would like to ride my bike towards this tree and stop in the shade for a nap.

Ok, this might be my most favorite picture from the book.  Look at the little guy in the front with his arms crossed.  It just makes me crack up.  Some things just don't change through the ages, including how funny kids can be.  He's just so put out about something- I'd love to know what.

Where did all the exotic country names go?

PS- I apologize for the crazy formatting but Blogger is throwing a tantrum and there doesn't seem to be anything that I can do about it so you get crazy formatting, rather than no blog post at all.  sorry!

Cartoon Art

Quick little post because I'm on my way out the door but I wanted to share this fabulous little painting that I found yesterday.  I've posted it in my vintage shop but it's sitting in my studio staring at me and I cannot stop cracking up.  They're just so hilarious and BRIGHT! I call them the Rounder Family.

Postage Stamps of the Week!

I don't generally have much interest in U.S. postage stamps, because they tend to be less interesting to me than those from other countries, but I found these buried in my desk today and thought I would share.  Because you know I'm a bit obsessed with all flower related stamps...

The Impossible Project: It's Possible!

If you're not familiar with The Impossible Project  let me familiarize you with it.  The Impossible Project is a group that bought one of the last Polaroid instant film factories after Polaroid decided to stop making the film in 2008.  This group decided to take up the challenge of reinventing instant film for the thousands of old Polaroid cameras floating around in the world.  It's been a long project for them, but TODAY after many months of waiting they unveiled their NEW instant film and it's gorgeous!!!!  You can see some of their super fabulous test photos here. The film will be for sale starting March 25th- only 3 short days from now!

I've been not-so-patiently waiting for this big day.  I'm really excited.  I mean REALLY excited!  Here's my Polaroid camera collection just waiting to test out the new film:

Summer days are almost here again!

I live for summer wildflowers and with spring beginning, I know the summer wildflowers are not far behind....

I'm really lucky because I get paid to spend my summers wandering amongst these beauties and they never cease to amaze me.  I spend a lot of time making detailed drawings of flowers for my work and I can never get over how elegantly detailed and complex nature has been with such small and short-lived organisms.  Next time you get the chance, grab a hand lens and inspect her work for yourself- you won't be sorry.

Inspiration Abounds!

Thanks to Victoria over at www.sfgirlbybay.com for starting the blogger mashup of over 300 bloggers posting about what inspires them most!  You can find the schedule and links to all other bloggers here .  

There are a lot of things that inspire me such as colorful art, plants, the ocean, vintage looking photography, prints, books, my husband's poetry, live music, hiking above treeline, walking through the city on a snow day, riding my bike (preferably downhill of course...), interesting typography, birds and many more things too numerous to list but I've highlighted a few of my favorites.

Travel

Perhaps the one single thing, that encompasses a lot of other types of inspiration is traveling.  I'm slowly working my way around the world and I never cease to be inspired by new sights, hills to climb, languages to learn, culture to be immersed in and generally wondering what's around the next corner because you just really have no idea.  My travels inspire my life and art, so I thought I would share with you some of my favorite and inspirational places from some of my more recent travels.

My list of favorite books is ever changing and constantly growing.  These are just a few of my all-time favorites which inspire me every time I pick them up.

Poetry is a definite inspiration- my favorite published poem being: Mending Wall by Robert Frost and anything by Anna Akhmatova.  My hubdude has written me stacks of poetry which might be the first thing I would grab if my house was burning down.  Lately I've been inspired by the short, generally calming words of Haiku.

I also find a lot of inspiration in art, particularly earth art and wide open spaces like my summer 'office'.  It's hard not to be inspired on a daily basis when working in such a beautiful place where anything seems possible.

,

I find all things plant related to be incredibly inspiring because the diversity, resilience and hardiness of plants is simply amazing, not to mention their looks.  I gave up my 'career' and traded it in to study plants because I find them so incredible and I've never been happier.  These are some of the miniature beauties that I find so inspiring and have the biggest impact on my art. The colors shapes and texture are amazing, and all from a little miraculous seed. 

Tomorrow's 'blog it forward' blogger is Style Bust which you can find here: http://stylebust.com/  
and if you really want a big dose of great 'blog it forward' posts check out the full list on sfgirlbybay's schedule here  http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/blog-it-forward/