This year my Easter eggs were not quite as dramatic as past years, but here are three of my favorites. I didn’t do an ostrich egg this year, but my brother did and I’ve included a photo of his “Hokusai” egg at the end.

My brother’s ostrich egg margutis.

Clark – Secret (featuring Martina Topley-Bird)
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

While in San Francisco earlier this week I saw the amazing Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the de Young Museum. It is one of the best exhibits I have seen in a while and makes up ever so slightly for the fact that I missed the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met last year. I feel like I should not be posting photos and videos since if you see it in person you may not have the same surprised reaction I had, but I am posting them anyway for those who can’t make it to San Francisco before the exhibit ends on August 19th. More photos can be seen here.

Note: Clark + Martina Topley-Bird makes me a happy camper.

Loscil – Union Dusk
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

This past weekend I flew to San Francisco for a quick trip and could not sleep at all on the flight. My attempts were futile because every time I closed my eyes I thought I was missing some amazing views and would have to open them. I have spent a good deal of time on the East Coast and have taken a number of trips to the West Coast, but most of the middle remains unexplored territory (hopefully not for too much longer).

While on the flight, I listened almost solely to Loscil and it has become my favorite music to listen to while flying, especially over deserts, canyons and mountains. It felt like I was in the middle of some Koyaanisqatsi meets Planet Earth film, learning about drying up rivers and water cutting through rock to create various formations.

While in my enamels class this past session, I decided to do something a little different from my usual cloisonné and etched pieces. I give you my spinning blood orange pendant which is a combination of copper, silver foil, transparent and opaque enamels. To see it in action, click the brief video above.

Thieves Like Us – Marie Marie
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

What better time to knit a really warm baby alpaca/silk sweater than during the warmest winter of my life? I started this sweater way back in August and after putting it aside a number of times throughout the autumn and winter, it is finally finished . . . just in time to be put away until next winter.

Backstory: This pattern comes from a Debbie Bliss book I bought in Seattle a couple years back. It was a memorable purchase because my mother, sister and I happened upon this yarn store where Debbie Bliss was visiting from the UK, showing her new pattern books and yarns. I am by no means a knitting expert and don’t know all of the names in the knitting world, but I do know Debbie Bliss. I almost always look at her yarns first when starting a project and have bought several books of hers, so this was pretty exciting, especially since we had no idea she was going to be there.

Another broken ice photo of mine has been selected for this year’s DCist Exposed exhibit. This year’s photo was shot on my now deceased Mamiya m645 medium format film camera and was printed by my friend Aziz. Because one night is just not enough, there will be two opening nights limited to 500 tickets each. In the past, tickets have sold out ahead of time, so if you plan on going please get your ticket in advance. Tickets are $10 each and there will be an open bar sponsored by DC Brau and Churchkey (yum!). I will be there both nights and hope to see you there! If you can’t make it one of the opening nights but would like to see the show, it will be up until April 1st.

Long View Gallery
1234 9th St. NW
Washington, DC

Opening nights
Wednesday, March 21, 6-10pm (Tickets)
Thursday, March 22, 6-10pm (Tickets)

For more info, go here.
To buy the exhibition program, go here.

The Octopus Project – Music Is Happiness
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

Octopi . . . what’s not to love? They are super intelligent and have a unique and amazing look to which I am consistently drawn. If I’m going to do anything for Valentine’s Day, I generally like to make something rather than buy a teddy bear or some other item that expresses one of many canned sentiments. This year I wanted to make a card with a bit of depth, so went with a layered pop-up card/diorama idea that seemed like the perfect opportunity to test out my cutting and diorama-creating skills. I am pretty happy with the result and think I might start making more of these.

Note: My Valentine gave me a card with octopi on it as well. Good taste!

Dva – Nunovo Tango
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

Another World Nutella Day has arrived and I was lucky enough to spend it in New Orleans with a group of wonderful friends, from DC, Chicago, and San Jose, who surprised me for my birthday! They knew of my need to celebrate World Nutella Day and came up with the idea to take Nutella facial hair photographs. What better place to enjoy a Nutella moustache than at Cafe du Monde? We received some strange looks while we slathered Nutella around our mouths, but if there is one city that won’t question your motives it’s probably New Orleans.

Previous years:
2011
2010
2009

Ms Adventures in Italy
Bleeding Espresso

Matthew Dear – In The Middle (I Met You There) [feat. Jonny Pierce]
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

More photos from my test run with the Hasselblad 503CX on New Years day! Did I mention I love this camera? I shot two rolls on the 503CX and am really happy with the results of this expired Agfa Optima 100 film that was kindly given to me. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I love the saturation of the greens. In general I find myself shooting more black and white in winter because everything is a bit gray anyway, but am pleased that I chose to shoot the Optima film this past balmy New Year’s day.

Note: Matthew Dear + Jonny Pierce (of The Drums) makes me super happy. I’ve had this track on repeat all day. Pick up his latest EP here!

Clark – Com Touch
[Please visit the post to listen to audio, it will be worth your while.]

Hello and a belated happy 2012. My new year started off with a delicious brunch and a walk through Oak Hill Cemetery. Although I would love some snow, I can’t complain about the 60 degree weather on the first day of the year that allowed me to comfortably explore and test out the Hasselblad 503CX, which was kindly lent to me for the weekend. I am in love with the Hasselblad even though it takes some serious adjusting of the brain cells to get used to a waist-level viewfinder. It took a frustratingly long amount of time to line up photos and make sure they were straight, but it was a fun exercise and it gets easier with each shot. Here are a few photos I took on black and white film. Color photos coming soon.

Note: A new Clark album is coming out and this first track is available to download here! Super excited.