A little goes a long way...

Besides the sky turning dark at 5pm, this wreath is one of the few indicators of the upcoming Holiday Season.   Living in Southern California, I sometimes need a reminder about what time of year it is! 

Hoping to convince my Thanksgiving guests to help decorate the apartment for Christmas.

A Productive Sunday?

Although I wish I could spend today like this sweet dog I saw at Porter Bass Winery, I have to get down to work.  More procrastination tomorrow!

   

Living Green?

Inspired by Alice Water's The Art of Simple Food and the current economic state, I decided to try my hand at some herb gardening.  Luckily my mother was visiting from Virginia, so I had her experienced green thumb working to my advantage.  We went to the local nursery and picked out chives, basil, mint, lavender, sage, parsley, cilantro, and a few packets of mixed lettuce seeds. Together we pruned the existing plants in my patio area and planted the newbies. Everything was growing great and seeming to acclimate until I left for three and a half weeks.  I came back to find that although the plants in the ground were thriving-- 

Including two maidenhair ferns that I swear were beyond all hope when when we transplanted them from their pot-- 

And my little random lettuce seeds have sprouted making them a successful experiment so far--

My potted herbs were dried out and seemingly dead.  I gave them all a healthy dose of water and cut back most of the dead stems.  Keeping my fingers crossed that they will spring back.  

My bromeliad is on its last legs as well.  No idea what to do for this guy.

But this blooming rose bush gives me gardening hope and is the reason I've made the plants today's amusement.

Gardening advice welcome and appreciated.  I want to save my little guys!!  

Is this Taboo?

Two blog posts in one day...

  

I spent the other morning driving around in search of gorgeous vistas (procrastinating of course) and wound around Skyline Blvd -35- to La Honda -84- and up the 1 to Half Moon Bay.  At one point I came across this red barn sitting peacefully in a clearing:  

Stopped, sat on the trunk of my car, and quickly painted this: 

Obviously I took artistic liberties.  And although I planned to continue working on it, I like the innocent "folk arty" nature of the piece right now.  Three cheers for amateur art and exploring the outdoors. 

Letterpress

I recently took a week long letterpress course at the San Francisco Center for the Book.  The Vandercooks are absolutely gorgeous and have functioned for 50+ years.  In a world of built in obsolescence, these machines are refreshing.  

SFCB has drawers and drawers full of type.  We made a number of different projects.  For the one below, I mixed a few different fonts and used both wood and metal letters for my broadside.  

My broadside was inspired by the birth of my friend's little baby boy.   Typesetting can be tedious but I think the results are well worth the effort. 

Small Amusements

I am ever in need of new procrastination tools, so I have resolved to blog about the tiny things that make life wonderful.  Isn't this a great new way not to write what I should really be writing?!!  Yes, I think so.  

To begin, I am going to point out my lovely new sheets.   They are part of the Macy's Martha Stewart collection.  I have the pretty scalloped edge ones and would love love love the Trousseau Cloud set as well.  (Hint hint... Christmas)

The full sheet set normally retails at $260 but by some fluke (or good fortune) I bought them for a mere $50.  Now freshly washed, I can't wait to put them on my bed in Los Angeles!