Black Water

BABY SHOWER

2011-11-03T16:01:00.001-05:00

This afternoon, I’ve been drawing inspiration for a baby shower invite I am working on. The turnaround time is pretty short – 2 days. Needless to say, I’m extremely grateful for Pinterest today, as I don’t have much time for brainstorming completely original ideas. This friend has been a huge blessing in my life so I want the invites to be really special. I’m leaning towards water-colored imagery – blues and peach (it’s a boy!) – paired with a sans serif typeface. Hand-lettering would be ideal, but knowing my perfectionist nature, I predict a time crunch if I chose that direction.

Here are some of the images that I’m inspired by...

Final product coming soon!

Katie

MARY OLIVER

2011-10-31T19:21:00.003-05:00

When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it is over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

—Mary Oliver

KITCHEN FIRES

2011-10-24T10:37:00.003-05:00

In true October fashion, I roasted pumpkin seeds this weekend. This was my first go at roasting seeds and it was a thrill. This was one of the easiest snacks I have ever made, and everyone loved them. The time in the kitchen was less than 10 minutes! Click here to see a detailed recipe.

This snack recipe is vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free! Chili powder is high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Cooking Diary:

Purchased 2 cups of pepitas and a glass jar.

Spread the pepitas over griddle and started roasting. Mixing bowl ready.

Caroline got spooked by the popping seeds and took cover in Chris's arms.

Mixed the roasted seeds with chili powder, salt and oil. Cooled in fridge.

Transferred seeds to jar to store.

Enjoyed my new snack and a cup of tea on the porch!

WORDS

2011-10-12T09:49:00.000-05:00

MONDAY MUSINGS

2011-10-10T12:43:00.000-05:00

Inspirational images for the week...

Staying cozy with my Vagabond blanket

Warming up my mornings with breakfast tea

Giving thanks for the much-needed Texas rain

Rainy day updos

Try to stop buying books faster than I can read them

Keep dreaming of a sailing trip

FRIDAY DIARY

2011-10-07T09:32:00.000-05:00

The birds are back!

Girl time in the neighbors yard

Shootin pool listening to blues music

iPhone photography fun

AFTER THE FACT

2011-10-06T08:05:00.007-05:00

As summer comes to a close, I highly recommend listening to Fruit Bats album, The Ruminant Band. After-the-fact Newsflash: I’m way behind on the discovery of this album. Released in 2009, it didn’t fall on my delayed music palette until early 2011. I’m convinced there is some cosmic reason for this. Nevertheless, I spent this summer enjoying Fruit Bats and it’s not too late for you to enjoy a untimely listen either!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Enjoy!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

WORDS

2011-10-05T09:17:00.002-05:00

TEA

2011-10-04T22:17:00.002-05:00

My love for green tea may be a bit excessive. Most days I drink 4 cups, sometimes more. I have also grown to love herbal teas, most of which contain no caffeine. Some of my favorites are:

Detox tea - This tea usually contains licorice root which is known for detoxifying the liver. Drink some of this tea after a night drinking to speed up the hangover process. Also, detox tea is great for your skin. You skin is a peek into your overall heath. If your insides are clean, you’re skin will soon follow.

Chamomile – known for its relaxing properties can be used for insomnia and anxiety. Also can be used to calm the stomach. Drink some right before bed and you will sleep like a baby. Chamomile is often found in “Bedtime tea” blends.

Lemon Ginger – both of these ingredients work wonders for your digestive system. This tea is great for settling the stomach.

Echinacea – known for boosting your immune system. If you ever feel a cold coming on, spend a couple days day fighting it with this tea paired with Vitamin C.

MONDAY MUSING

2011-10-03T15:00:00.001-05:00

I should’ve kept a photo diary of last night. I was a walking cliché. I enjoyed takeout food, wine, chocolate, and a face mask while watching Serendipity. The only things that could have made my night more cliché are a aromatherapy bath, a book, and some tears. The good news is I feel well rested this Monday and ready to take on the work week.

These inspirations are setting the tone for my free time this week...

Buy flowers

Make more earrings

Draw some organic type

Continue kitchen-witch journal

Enjoy beer in nature (or wine for me since I'm gluten free)

Find a bathtub and relax

GUY ON A BUFFALO

2011-09-30T10:36:00.001-05:00

I'm not much of a YouTuber but these really got me going today.

AFTER THE FACT

2011-09-29T16:09:00.000-05:00

Today has been made better because of the new Feist album, Metals. You can listen to a stream of the new album here. Of course, this stream launched August 6^th but as usual, I’m a little behind. So if you have already heard about this, I apologize but I can’t promise my after-the-fact news won’t keep happening. Turn your Thursday around and have a listen!

You can purchase the album on October 4th and the tour dates are below:

OCT 15 AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND / CARRE THEATRE
OCT 17 LONDON, UK / PALLADIUM
OCT 19 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / CIRQUE ROYALE
OCT 22 BERLIN, GERMANY / TEMPODROM
OCT 29 PHILADELPHA, USA / WORLD CAFÉ LIVE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
NOV 02 BROOKLYN, USA / HOWARD GILMAN OPERA HOUSE
NOV 04 CHICAGO, USA / RIVIERA THEATRE
NOV 06 ATLANTA, USA / TABERNACLE
NOV 08 DALLAS, USA / MAJESTIC THEATRE
NOV 12 LOS ANGELES, USA / WILTERN THEATRE
NOV 14 SAN FRANCISCO, USA / WARFIELD THEATRE
NOV 16 PORTLAND, USA / ARLENE SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL
NOV 17 SEATTLE, USA / MOORE THEATRE
NOV 18 VANCOUVER, CANADA / PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
NOV 20 EDMONTON, CANADA / NORTHERN ALBERTA JUBILEE
NOV 21 CALGARY, CANADA / JACK SINGER CONCERT HALL
DEC 01 TORONTO, CANADA / MASSEY HALL
DEC 03 MONTREAL, CANADA / METROPOLIS
DEC 05 OTTAWA, CANADA / NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
DEC 06 QUEBEC CITY, CANADA / GRAND THEATRE du QUEBEC

Twitter: @fiestmusic

Website: listentofeist.com

WORDS

2011-09-28T14:56:00.000-05:00

Photograph by Cori Kindred

EL ANATSUI

2011-09-27T10:54:00.000-05:00

When I ventured to the El Anatsui opening in Austin, I had no idea what I was walking into. His work landed here in Austin by chance. The Blanton Museum of Art happened to have a gap in their schedule when another city cancelled on him. I’d like to call it fate. I feel so fortunate to have been able to see his work in person and to have befriended an installer of the show. I learned so much about the artist that I wouldn’t have found out on my own. El Anatsui intricately repurposes old milk cans, liquor bottle labels, and wood in Africa. For some of the pieces, he hired up to 50 people to work on it at the same time. Even with the help, these pieces took weeks to make.

My favorite part of the show was the way the pieces were installed. El Anatsui has his intricate work shipped to the museum with sufficient padding and protection. The installers spent days unwrapping each individual piece. He leaves very little instruction of how to display his work. Instead, he trusts the installers to use their artistic freedom to present it well. For the big “blanket” pieces, the installers spent half a day in white gloves hanging one piece. They decided how the blanket would fold and bend. They decided if it would drape onto the floor or not. Once El Anatsui arrived to Austin to prepare for the opening, he walked around his exhibit and made personal touches with his gloveless hands. The exhibit featured a video of the installation process, I highly recommend watching it if you go see this show.

The Blanton has one of El Anatsui’s pieces in it’s personal collection. He had never seen the way it is displayed. One of the Blanton staff members asked him if he wanted to make any changes to the installation or any personal touches to the folds. His reply: “It’s perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Art openings are a funny thing. I think half of the fun for me –besides the wine - is watching people try to care about the work or pretend to have some deep understanding of it. People who studied art years ago and feel they still have some connection to it. Or seasoned show-goers that are comparing it to their last experience. It’s a social experiment. I hadn’t been to an opening in over a year so it was a refreshing to say the least.

WEEKEND

2011-09-26T09:43:00.000-05:00

Hi! My name is Katie and I’m addicted to queso.

I think the word “weekend” is interchangeable with the word “queso”. Some people have a drug problem, some people have a drinking problem. But me… I have a much more rare disease. If I don’t have queso at least once a weekend, I feel like I need a redo.

My condition has worsened: “at least once a weekend” is not enough anymore. I need more. Sometimes I enjoy queso so much that it feels like I’m cheating on Chris. I look forward to it. I wait for it day in and day out. What confines my rendezvous with queso to the weekend? I think my love affair has gotten out of control because of this. Pairing the concept of weekend and the indulgence of queso makes for a cranky Monday. Love and freedom are nowhere in sight, 5 days away to be exact. That’s why I’ve decided to make queso tonight. Is my problem worsening because my queso addiction is now oozing into my Monday? Or am I on the road to recovery as the veil of denial lifts with this post? Either way: Please send queso.

This typographic poster was created by Simon Walker. And I need a copy. Not only is it very well done, but it is so relatable. Queso is the cure for the common everything. Check out the rest of Simon Walker’s work, he makes beautiful type.

WIlDWOOD

2011-09-22T12:37:00.002-05:00

Last night, Chris and I walked the Town Lake trail to Book People to catch of glimpse of the brains behind Wildwood, the first book in a new fantasy series for middle school children. The Decemberists’ lead singer, Collin Meloy, dreamed this little tale in words and his wife, Carson Ellis, translated his story into drawings. Last night, the two were speaking about the book and signing copies for those who stuck around. I caught my glimpse, listened as they explained the storyline, purchased my copy, and went on my merry way.

Illustration by Carson Ellis

Courtesy of Carson Ellis's website. Image from inside Wildwood

Illustration by Carson Ellis

This tale is by no means little. I went expecting a children’s book, with hopes to read short, two-lined pages to my future little ones while they sit on my knee. But this book is BIG, meant to stimulate a much older crowd. It won’t be another 15-20 years until my children will read this thing, and they sure as hell won’t be sitting on my knee. But after I heard the story, it sounds like a perfect book for me to read next. The story takes place in Portland’s Impassable Wilderness. No one has ever entered and returned to tell the tale. When Prue McKneel’s brother gets kidnapped by crows, she sets off on an adventure deep into the wild wood to find him. I think I’m going to join her this weekend.

My copy waiting for me at home

WILDFIRE

2011-09-07T11:57:00.002-05:00

Nearly 500 homes have been demolished due to the wildfires near Austin. The smog is currently encroaching the downtown area. Outside my office, smoke can been seen above the buildings and the smell is truly frightening. According to the news, the fire is only 30 percent contained. If you are interested in helping out the victims of the fire, please visit one of the dropoff locations.

Photo courtesy of Deanna Roy - click to enlarge

WORDS

2011-08-23T10:02:00.001-05:00

This has been one of my mantras for years. Makes me miss Emilia.

PINA

2011-08-19T08:55:00.000-05:00

This trailer is unreal (in a good way). Has anyone seen this?

CINEMAGRAPHS

2011-08-18T08:44:00.003-05:00

SALE

2011-08-17T11:26:00.011-05:00

We're clearing out the store to make room for new stuff. Grab some of these items below while they're cheap!

Suede Boho Purse

Vintage Blazer

Vintage hiking boots

DANCE

2011-08-16T10:36:00.002-05:00

Feeling uninspired on the dance floor? It happens to the best of us. Fear no more...

PLATFORM

2011-08-10T15:02:00.003-05:00

Okay, I’ve been looking for Spice Girls platform shoes since I was in the 5^th grade. I’m not ashamed of this fact, because I still think they are genius. Of course, if I had been able to find them when this thought first invaded my brain, it would have been a little awkward for my Presbyterian school teachers . Once I got to 7^th grade, I found some black platform boots and bought them on the spot. Unfortunately, I got sent home from school the day I tried to wear them. Apparently my new boots paired with a mini skirt did not meet the dress code. Woops.

I never really wore those boots much after that. Looking back, they were absolutely hideous. But here I am, over 10 years later, and these platform-inspired shoes are on every street corner and I’m still obsessed. Now you can find them adapted for any style. My personal style has morphed with age (thank god). I like clothing with less black, more vintage cuts and textiles, and vibrant, earthy tones. These are the inspiring shoes on my wish-list. I’m pretty sure I will never lose enough marbles to warrant buying shoes that cost more than my rent. But window shopping never hurt anyone…

From Far Fetch

From Free People

From Solestruck

Frye

From Urban Outfitters

The price tags on these shoes didn’t stop me. Over the past year, I’ve been on the hunt for affordable versions of these beauties. As a result, I have started my own collection of versatile and budget-friendly platforms. Here is the latest addition:

RUN AWAY

2011-08-09T10:22:00.005-05:00

Lately, I’ve been dreaming of a runaway. I often do this. Actually, over the years I think I may have become notorious for this. It’s not that I am discontent with my life, but because I am curious and I’m obsessed with change. What could life be like someplace else? If there was an entry level job for this, like “Dreamer Assistant”, I think I would kick ass in that interview. They would have no choice but to hire me.

Sometimes I wonder if I will ever stay in one place too long. I wonder if one day the wheels will just stop. I wonder if one day I’ll look around and realize that I’m finally home. Austin has won my heart in many ways but even still, I think of life on the other side. Maybe South America, maybe Europe, maybe just somewhere remote in Montana. Somewhere where life is slow. I would beat the 40-hour work week, grow my own food and read tons of books…maybe even write a book, or learn to sew. Of course, I would bring my mister friend with me.

In April, Chris and I started a runaway jar. Every day, we throw our loose change in it. Sometimes I sneak bills in there in hopes to speed up the process. I don’t know if we will ever actually use that jar, or if having it sit in my bedroom is comfort enough. I do know that if one day we decide to break the jar open, I’ll have an entire world of ideas on where to go, and what to read when we get there.

“You know, I believe we live two lives…

The life we learn with and the life we live after that.”

- Bernard Malamud

“In those days the Earth was still flat,

and people dreamed often of falling over edges.”

– Tom Robbins

“There are two lives that we have right now.

The first is the life we live. The second is the life that we really desire to live.”

– Bil Cornelius

“I was too curious about the future to look back.”- Patti Smith

“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring

will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
- T.S. Eliot

“We all need someone to look at us. We can be divided into four categories according to the kind of look we wish to live under: the first category longs for the look of an infinite number of anonymous eyes, in other words, for the look of the public. That is the case with the german singer, the american actress. The second category is made up of people who have a vital need to be looked at by many known eyes. They are the tireless hosts of cocktail parties and dinners. Then there is the third category, the category of people who need to be constantly before the eyes of the person they love. And finally there is the fourth category, the rarest, the category of people who live in the imaginary eyes of those who are not present. They are the dreamers.” – Milan Kundera (from one of my favorite books, The Unbearable Lightness of Being)

WORDS

2011-08-02T21:24:00.000-05:00