Made by Katrina

A Few Things, Mostly in 3 Parts...

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:11:00 +0000

Part One:
*i've been watching it open, day by day, ever since we brought it down from the garden. one could say, i'm delighted with the petals and that tiny line of pink.*

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Part Two:
*one vintage dress, one favorite pair of blue jeans, and just enough wind so the edges of the fabric ruffle and twist and curl*.

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Part Three:
*i dragged a few linoleum blocks from the studio cabinet and continued working on the postcard project which resulted in this little series here... lino prints, embroidery thread, water-soluble pencils, and a line of poetry or two. still keeping to the theme of a big bird, a little house, and medium-sized girl named, clover.*

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Postcards, Poetry, and Summertime Hues.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:10:00 +0000

(Hydrangeas from the farmer's market.)

(Two signs of summer: Bare feet & stone fruit.)

(A feast of local produce. Dear, California.)

(Artichokes line the driveway.)

(Our little peach tree, almost ripe.)

(Happy Bench Monday.)

(Blurry roses and clouds drift by, daydreaming all the while.)

(The beginnings of a postcard project.)

Hello, friends. A quiet holiday weekend over here with much needed daydreaming. It was a bit chilly but signs of summer are all around the garden, the farmer's market, and the neighborhood yards. I officially declare: Summer has arrived to Oakland! It's difficult not to find all the rose blossoms completely intoxicating, the peaches completely indulgent, and the tomatoes completely awe-inspiring as they begin to ripen into deep shades of purple and red. Oh, summery hearts.

In the studio, I've started a new collection of poems. Yes, after finishing my first poetry manuscript just about a year ago (and quickly deeming it "too long and too messy" to try to publish) I haven't written many poems at all. Quite a change from the few years previous when I wrote more than 300 pages! My goodness. So, it's good to return to a little poetic practice. I'm writing a series of poems based on these paintings which I found through Artkrush--subscribe if you haven't already--and also interweaving some theories of interior design and the infamous (and ever-entertaining) etiquette guidelines of Emily Post. Very fun. And very much in the beginnings.

Lastly, I just started a postcard exchange project with a dear friend in New York. One postcard a day for the month of July. We did a similar exchange about 5 years ago and I'm sooo excited to be doing it again. It's such a treat to find handmade postcards in the mailbox for an entire month! I highly recommend it. My postcards are snidbits of a story about a little house, a big bird, and a medium-sized girl named, Clover... I'll let you know as it progresses! xoxo, k.

Gaining Light (and Levity) by the Seashore.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:25:00 +0000

We took to the coast on Sunday afternoon, navigating the miles of beautiful twisty roads all the way to the beach at the Point Reyes National Seashore, just a few hundred feet below one of my favorite places on earth-- Pierce Point Ranch. With temperatures in the 90s this weekend--and after I finished making The Red Sweater book and my mister finished directing a video installation/ dance performance in a San Francisco theater festival-- we decided it was time for a little R&R.

So we turned away from our beloved studio, our bursting garden, and our over-ambitious to-do lists and instead packed up a picnic complete with a favorite striped blanket and two floppy sun hats. After a few hours of beach-combing, blanket-lounging, and magazine-browsing, we were energized enough for a round of cartwheels on the sand and a tiny bit of rock climbing complete with tanned shoulders and barely-there burns across our noses. The result was a little bit of levity. Thank goodness!

And so (exhale) a little bit of levity and sunlight were gained this weekend out by the seashore-- it simply reset me. Perhaps it was the baby seal that tumbled up onto the sand and then promptly scampered back out to the water again. Or maybe it was the wildflowers along the back roads, still holding on to their vibrant colors while the rest of the California hills have turned to summer's soft burned browns and yellows. Or better yet, maybe it was just the mermaids calling us to the ocean's edge.

A New Handmade Book & Upcoming Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:37:00 +0000

("The Red Sweater", front cover.)

(Front pages, opened.)

Hello friends and happy Monday to you! I've just finished making a brand new book. This project has been filling my studio hours with editing, scanning, binding, Photoshop battles, and a bit of sewing too. "The Red Sweater" is based on a series of TTV photographs I took last summer. When my dear friend, Marcie aka Zora Jane, invited me to join the One Stone Collective and create something for the inaugural "Compass" show, I knew this photo series was about to find its new home. The exhibition opens on Saturday and I've just finished my book, phew!

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There are all sorts of things combined into this one book: TTV photos, longitude & latitude locations, Gocco prints of taxidermy deer heads, a favorite red sweater, decorative flowery paper, salvaged wood, grommets, pretty brown ribbon, and an altered poem too.

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The poem is a twist on the famous William Carlos Williams poem, "The Red Wheelbarrow". This poem annoys and intrigues me to no end! My own version reads: So much depends upon a red wool sweater stitched by one woman beside the yellow porch. My own tip-of-the-hat to the current art/ craft movement, perhaps perhaps. So... there you have it: A brand new one-of-a-kind handmade book, this time infused with photographs, poem, scans, and prints.

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The other part of this book is the amazing collective behind it. The One Stone Collective is centered around two members being on long-term residencies at The Grail in the Hudson River Valley. As part of that residency, they've created and organized a women's art collective, renovated sheds into galleries, prepped fields and added stages for performances, and curated an exhibition based on the theme "Compass". The exhibition opens this Saturday and runs through August.

(Binding detail.)

Take a peek over at the One Stone Collective blog for more information about the other artists, The Grail, and a link to a delightful batch of photos over on Facebook. And if you are anywhere near Cornwall-on-Hudson on this Saturday, June 27 then please take a peek at the opening day festivities. Happy week to you, dear friends, and happy artmaking.

(Back pages, opened.)

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Almost Summertime: Bench Monday & Bougainvillea

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:06:00 +0000

1: up close, blossoms and blooms and whispers.

2: hello, bougainvillea...my finger in the photo is a lucky mistake.

3: blues and browns and looking down at what's weathered.

4: spilling, tipping, tumbling in pink and sunlight.

5: i picked this one for you, it's true!

6: my favorite view of our building, looking up.

7: oh, so summertime...

8. a little bit of quiet.

Hello, lovely friends. I have been in the studio all day today working on a book for an exhibition in the Hudson River Valley in just two weeks. (Eek!) Nothing like a deadline to keep me motivated to persevere to the finish line. (I hate to admit how incredibly good deadlines are for my studio practice. Eh hem, very very good!) I will show you tidbits and photos and details soon... I'm almost, almost finished.

Right now, I just wanted to take a few minutes away from my oh-so-very messy studio to tell you Happy Bench Monday! Yes, if you haven't already heard about it or posted your own fantastic "HBM" photos, you might want to go have a peek. There are dozens and dozens, even hundreds upon hundreds of delightful bench photos over on Flickr. I've been trying to figure out why the bench photos are all the rage and then I think I got it: Because it's super fun! So today's little post is a tip of the hat to HBM and also to bougainvillea and all things almost summertime-- the bougainvillea is finally draping and spilling across our livingroom window with intoxicating shades of pink. That means it's summertime.

I still have some woodland photos from our trip to NY that I'd like to share with you soon, not to mention a few other pretty random things that have me swooning over summer. Soon, so soon! For now, back to the studio to finish printing and binding that book. Happy (bench) Monday!

Brooklyn, Be Mine: Photos from a June Wedding & the Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:36:00 +0000

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Hello, friends. We have returned from our short & sweet trip to New York. Brooklyn is still bustling, humid, and amazingly beautiful--just as I remember. I've decided that a June wedding in a big sprawling Brooklyn park might just be at the top of my romance meter. A long white dress dusting the green grass, a beaming groom in a light pink shirt, a hundred or so guests cheering and tearing up and drinking and dancing and generally making merry. Yes, I think that ranks at the top of the happy romance meter. Sigh.

While our trip to Brooklyn was primarily for the wedding of our dear friends, we also managed to connect with just a few other beloveds, take a trip to The New Museum for an inspired tour of The Generational: Younger than Jesus show (So much stimulation, inspiration, and general exciting angst. Go see it for certain!) and we also took a tour of the Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair. My goodness! Just as I remember my years in New York: Saturated with people to see, events to attend, restaurants to visit, streets and watersides and parks to wander, and definitely artists & crafters & designers at every turn. Brooklyn, be mine!

I only spent a few hours wandering the craft fair on Saturday afternoon before dashing off to the wedding. But I did manage to find a few favorites, even on a quick tour of the masses. There were so many amazing artists and crafters that it was hard to chose just a few for a longer visit, small purchase, or short conversation. Afterwards, when I was thinking back on why some booths were just a tad more inviting, I realized that in the midst of such immense talent, professional products, and adorable crafters and makers, I was actually looking for something specific.

Yes, I think I was looking for the crafter's booth that was certainly adorable and immaculately designed, but also reflected an eco-friendly value. A nod to the environment, to reusing, recycling, or working with sustainable or biodegradable materials in the midst of amazing handmade consumerism. And so... I just adored the vintage necktie creations of Lilian Asterfield by Nicole Deponte; the wood, concrete, and silver jewelry by Tam Aura; the clever eco-political screenprints by Black Sheep Heap; the letterpress creations with soy ink and recycled cardstock by Sycamore Street Press; and the handcrafted green designs by Jewelweeds.

Oh, dear Brooklyn, you are just as exhilarating as I remember. Of course, you are! xoxo, k.

Well, hello there Brooklyn, it's nice to see you again.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:02:00 +0000

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My dear friends, by the time you're reading this post I will be roughly 3,000 miles East visiting friends and family in NY. A quick trip to western NY, near the Finger Lakes Region, to visit with my family and spend just a few days lounging on a dock, meandering with my 9-year-old niece through the woods with our cameras, and most likely sitting at my mom's kitchen table over many cups of tea. Sigh.

I will also be heading to Manhattan to visit with my newly-in-laws for a lengthy dinner before ultimately making it to Brooklyn for a dear friend's wedding. Phew! I'm simultaneously tired and energized just thinking about the upcoming week's activity. Nonetheless, off we go: Across the friendly skies to visit with our dear ones on the other coast. I wanted to leave you with just a few Polaroids to keep you company until I'm back online. Happy week to you! Can you believe it's almost officially summer? My goodness, it's moving so quick.

A Studio Visit and that Little Ball of Felt

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:29:00 +0000

(The latest issue of REFUELED launched earlier this week and this photograph is included. I'm honored to join Chris Brown and Cheryl Shulke for the third issue of this *gorgeous* publication. Go take a peek...)

Now then... snuggle in with a cup of tea, this post is a long one.

Friends, I've had a good week. I was notified on Tuesday that I was a finalist for a local art show, "Bay Area Currents 2009". The show is being hosted by two Oakland galleries and a San Francisco curator. I submitted a batch of photos a few weeks ago and got the phone call on this Tuesday. I couldn't believe it-- I'm a finalist! This doesn't mean I've made it into the final exhibition but this does mean that I was one of the 26 artists to receive a studio visit from the curator. My goodness, I was so nervous I wasn't sure what to do with myself.

So, the studio visit was this morning!

Bright and early at 9am before I went to work. The studio was clean, the photographs were neatly laid out in stacks on my work table, I had a few handmade objects placed around the walls of the room, some work in-progress resting on my desk next to my computer. The studio was all dressed up and ready for her big date! So I sat at the kitchen table, drinking my tea, eating my yogurt, taking deep breaths, glancing up at my sweetie who was lovingly trying to distract me from my nervousness with other conversation. Gosh, it felt like I sat there for several hours but it was only really about 20 minutes.

And then the curator came.

And then we went into my studio.

And then he quietly observed the work. And then we talked about the work. And then we talked more about the work. And then he made some great suggestions about the size of the photographs, the way they were framed, and the conflict of analog vs. digital. And then I talked about urban environmentalism, experimental nature photography, the size of the photographs, the way they were framed, and the conflict of analog vs. digital. And we laughed a little. And we agreed a little. And we disagreed a little. And it was all very lovely, in fact. My goodness, what a relief!

And so... now I wait again.

I wait to see if I'm selected as one of the final 7 artists to be shown in the exhibition. I wait to see if they want to include my photos, if they want more of them, less of them, bigger prints, different frames, or if they want to work with someone else. But you know what? It felt so amazing that I realized the benefits were not just about getting in the show or not getting in the show. (Of course, it would be nice!) But the benefits are about putting the work out there. Giving it a chance. And *amazingly* being selected for this round of 26.

And it was also about finding that little ball of confidence that rolls around in the back of my belly-- that little pretty felt ball that pushes up against my lungs from time to time, nudging from the center. It's quiet. It's careful. It's cautious sometimes too. But it's nice to notice it when it comes. (Hello little ball, I see you there.) And ultimately, I feel grateful for the opportunity to create the work.

To consider the world through the work.

To grapple with the thoughts and feelings and sensibilities in the work.

And to have the excitement to continue making new work.

Again, I come back to my friend's two little words: Be Brave! Maybe that little felt ball is also courage. And maybe we are sometimes led from the very bottom of our lungs, from the nudging up against our soft organs, from the feeling that reminds us we are full of possibility, opportunity, bravery, and courageous acts that tug us into the future.

Just maybe.

Strawberry Fields (Forever).

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:46:00 +0000

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Happy Monday, friends. I've been tucked away in my studio most of the weekend. Working on this new handmade book has me crossing my eyes for hours at a time! It's my first attempt at meshing my photography & Photoshop techniques with my bookbinding & hand sewing techniques. While it's going pretty swell, I've forgotten how much designing and redesigning it takes to make all the pieces fit together. Alas, my eyes have crossed.

I did manage to take a road trip down the coast on Sunday. We packed up the truck and headed towards the most amazing organic strawberry farm. Swanton BerryFarm is just north of Santa Cruz, right on Route 1 overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It's organic, it's gigantic, and it has the "u-pick" option too. This time we only piled up eleven pounds of strawberries versus last year's fourteen and fifteen pounds the year before that. So many strawberries!

Needless to say, we have surrendered our kitchen to the delightful mess of making homemade jam. The end result? Four batches: Strawberry-rhubarb, strawberry-raspberry, strawberry-strawberry, and also plum. The plum was an extra bonus. We've been reading about urban homesteading and urban foraging and we just couldn't resist the landlord's forgotten plum tree in the far corner of the yard.

And now: A fine little line of canned red jam dots the top of the bookshelf in the kitchen; they behave quite nicely standing up straight as they start to cool; waiting patiently to receive their little jam labels later in the week, once my eyes have stopped crisscrossing.

xoxo, k.

A Bit of Good News

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Good news! I've been awarded an individual artist grant from The Puffin Foundation! They've accepted my proposal and will generously support a fashion photo shoot, directed by yours truly, in the late summer/ early fall 2009. Eep! I'm tickled.

I'll be creating a simulated "high-fashion photo shoot" with live models in the dresses from The Dresses/ Objects Project. In preparation, I'll build a customized seamless backdrop, find myself some willing models, and scout out a lovely outdoor setting along the coast. I pitched the idea as phase two of a three-phase project, realizing that this phase will position me towards an installation at the end. Indeed, they agreed to help me complete this phase. Eep, eep!

I can't wait to stage this photo shoot, I'm off to tear favorite fashion images out of glossy magazines for inspiration. Thank you, The Puffin Foundation! I'm thrilled.

Be Brave: Sun tea, herbs, and a summertime garden.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:41:00 +0000

1. Peering into the potatoes.

2. Ladybug visits the chamomile.

3. A gardener and his goods.

4. Chamomile, high in the sky.

5. Just a little radish.

6. As the sage grows.

7. Garden guests & plant identification.

8. Butterflies and potato leaves in the afternoon sun.

9. A little something, from me to you.

Hello friends. I'm bursting at the seams with sun-filled magic at the onset of hot summery days. So much growing in the garden and in the studio. I wanted to share these two things:

1. SUN TEA & MY MOTHER-- We made a batch of sun tea this weekend and I was instantly transported to 25 years ago: My mother in a sleeveless, flowery sundress that hung just below her knees; rural, western New York state, about 95 degrees, the air was humid and sticky and thick; dogs and kids scurrying around my mother's feet, chickens in the backyard, the garden bursting with tomatoes and cucumbers and squash; my mother carried a huge glass pitcher out the front door, opened the screen to the porch with her barefoot, walked quickly across the hot stones and set the huge pitcher of light brown water onto the picnic table directly in the sun. This weekend I realized: The magical powers of sun-brewed black tea are possibly divine.

2. BE BRAVE: I submitted my photos to an exhibition on Friday. I debated for a few hours and then my decision came down to two words in an email from a friend: Be brave. I think I'll make myself a little sign with those two words and tack it over my desk. Those two little words, "Be brave" just completely sealed the deal. Photos selected, application completed, and I hit "send". Sometimes I just need a little loving nudge to help me through my last minute jitters.

Peace to you, dear friends, it's summertime here in Oakland and the bulging garden certainly proves it. Sun-kissed wishes to you... xoxo, k.

Yellow, Pink, Brown, and Dusk.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:49:00 +0000

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I have a new color palette this week: Instead of blue skies I'm saturated with mustard yellows, palest pinks, dusty browns, and the low-light of dusk. It's so exciting when the palette shifts and suddenly the entire world of artmaking is new again. Amazing, right? The effect of color?

I took over 200 photos this weekend (!!!) and I'm slowly editing through and reflecting on all the weekend's themes: moody sunsets, heaps of laundry, tangles of jewelry, delightful garden guests, a big red plastic ball, and a long hike to the seashore. I think this little batch of photos tells a story about the weekend that I quite like. Funny-- that girl was not in that field with those flowers and that horse wasn't a guest in our garden, but somehow this made-up world makes more sense. I love when that happens--when we get to pick the various parts and make-up a new story instead.

Is it just me, or is the month of May already remarkably busy? I am currently challenging myself with 3 art applications due in 3 weeks and one group show in June that has inspired a new handmade book. The dreamy days of our honeymoon have given way to a buzzing month of May and it's making quite a lovely mess of my studio, indeed. (I'll show you photos of the new book when it's further along, right now it's a series of ribbons, grommets, book board, and tiny deer antlers). In the meantime, a few rosy-colored photos and made-up stories to start the week.

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Take My Hand or Dance With Me in the Desert, Dusty.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:04:00 +0000

My dear friends: Dance with me in the desert, dusty! This is my last planned photo shoot of our honeymoon trip to the far reaches of the NM desert. Oh, I hope you enjoy. I think I saved the best for last, I'm curious to see if you agree.

My sweetie and I have a tradition of photo shoots on long windy roads on long windy road trips. We created our first series in 2002 on our 4-month road trip from CA to NY. And we did it again when we drove back from NY to CA in 2005. We've also managed to set-up a handful of photo shoots on shorter road trips around the NE and SW and West Coast. (And a few more I'm skipping on trips to Hawaii, France, England, Zimbabwe, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. I admit it, we're hooked!) It's a tradition, at this point. Something about the expanse of sky. The lack of traffic. The opportunity to set a tripod in the middle of the road and dance away.

*Thank you* for indulging me with your love and good wishes through our wedding planning and honeymoon process. I can safely say, I've never had such a romantic spring in my 32 years of being. It was as if all the daffodils and tulips bloomed around me all at once. All of April was daffodils and tulips and poppies blooming, wherever we went. Even in the desert, the cactus were blooming against that brilliant blue sky as if to whisper, "Dance with me in the desert, dusty". And so we did.

More New Mexico: Cloudscapes & Close-Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:23:00 +0000

1. Snowflakes and fingertips.

2. Movement, maybe.

3. I can see for miles and miles!

4. Woodwork/ing.

5. To keep us warm with.

6. Moody evening sky, I wonder by.

7. To wake you.

8. Self-portrait of a poet, making.

9. Something quiet, like thinking.

10. To remember.

Hi there, friends. I just couldn't help myself. I had to edit a few more photos from our honeymoon trip to New Mexico and share them here, with you. So this is my little secret extra post this week because I'm floating and dreaming and bouncing in images of the desert. This little set includes two of my all-time favorite things to photograph: cloudscapes and close-ups. I have one more little NM photo treat in-store for next week. Then I'll most likely turn my gaze back to the California homestead, a few upcoming shows, some good studio news, and anything else that inspirations. Happy weekend to you! (xoxo, k.)

23 Images of a Love Retreat

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:17:00 +0000

1. Where we nested.

2. Quite a view, supposedly Georgie O'Keeffe painted that mountain.

3. Sticks and stones.

4. A fallen star, found on the desert.

5. Rain clouds, releasing.

6. And then there was sun.

7. Our venture into the city of Santa Fe.

8. Late evening light, warming.

9. Even here, cherry blossoms sway.

10. Aflutter (of love and loving).

11. You just never know in the spring desert: Unexpected snow.

12. To travel with you, to adventure.

13. Hello, my new husband: Looking.

14. Kiss me in the desert, dusty.

15. Clouds called home by the sunset.

16. White birch: Two trunks reaching for the blue skies, tangle.

17. Shadows and texture and closeness.

18. Resting, to notice.

19. These colors forever and ever.

20. Even cactus bloom/ing.

21. Desert color diptych: My dress, someone else's sunflowers.

22. Each night, we'd return to this: Obama and the mountain sun setting.

23. My sweetie captured this one of me: Capturing a rainbow.

Hello, my dear friends! I feel like I've been a long time gone. My goodness, what an epic and amazingly romantic April. We are officially back from all wedding events including our dear, dear honeymoon. I feel like I've been on a love retreat. Yes, a love retreat! Similar to spending a month at an artist retreat or a few weeks at a spiritual retreat center, I feel I've returned from an intentional land of love. Ah, the romantic gets her way with me, after all. I concur!

I have a handful of pre-wedding photos but I'm going to skip right to the honeymoon photos in this post. I decided, after much deliberation, that I wouldn't try to take photographs on my own wedding day. What, with the reception room to decorate, the champagne to pop open, the bouquets to be bound and tied in ribbon, and a dreamy groom to swoon about, I decided to leave the wedding day photos to someone else. And I'm dying to get them back, oh gosh I just can't wait to see them! In the interim, I hope you'll enjoy this trip down our honeymoon lane.

Life feels alive with promise and opportunity. It's amazing when you check a life event off your major events list: marriage, check. I felt this way when I finished graduate school a few years ago too. Like I'd suddenly just wrapped a pretty red bow around a major event in my life and I could briefly look around at the other life events and think, "Okay, which one of you is up next?" I'm afloat with ideas about my studio life, my personal life, and my new married life too.

At some point during the wedding reception, I felt as if my sweetheart and I were physically being held up by a criss-crossing of hands. As if all 62 guests had been asked to cross their wrists and lock hands with their closest neighbor; making a criss-crossing of platforms for us to stand on. It was as if we were suspended by their love and support. Lifted. Held. Kept buoyant by this incredibly generous and gifted and loving community. As if, for just a few hours, we were physically closer to the stars, a few feet higher off the ground than usual, levitating on a love web. Yes, my dear friends, I feel aflutter.

More news soon! It's good to be back too, and find my familiar studio surroundings coated with a new shimmery sense of possibility. Happy day to you. After 10 years, my mister and I are now officially wed. Wahooey! (xoxo, k.)

Going to the Chapel of Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:08:00 +0000

My dear friends, after 10 years of partnership, we are going to be married at the end of this week! My goodness! I've been swimming in details for the past few months and I want to share a few of these things with you before I walk off into the sunset for a little while. In so many ways, this wedding has been our big collaborative art project since January. There are design elements; green, eco-friendly elements; indie, DIY elements; and challenging and gratifying moments just like any other creative project. But, of course, there's just one difference--this project is my wedding!!! So fun.

Here's a bit of a sneak peek. I really wanted to incorporate old family wedding photos into our reception. So I've opted for these vintage family gems (below). I'm scanning, resizing, and printing to fit various thrifted, gold, vintage frames. These little lovelies will sit on the tables and cheer us on as we cut our own little cake, take our own first married kisses, and share glances like these across the room. Our parents:

(My Mom and Dad: Let Love Reign.)

(Elation and Confetti: My parents leaving the church.)

(So Sweet It Is: My mama and papa.)

(My mister's parents, "Just Married".)

(Something to Toast About: My mister's side.)

Oh, they are so dear! The cars, the gowns, the glances and kisses and first firsts. Makes me all warm inside, all that love to fill up the room. But let's admit: the darling is in the details! And so, I've managed to round up some of the darlingest crafters to make our big day pretty. The wedding has developed a theme of black & white damask with bursts of bright yellow (Little bits of sunshine that sing, "I do!"). All photos are courtesy of the crafters' websites and online shops:

1. This cake topper makes my heart ruffle its little feathers.
Perfection, by Melabo. (It's Easter weekend, after all.)

2. I'll be adorned with feathers and flowers by Brenda's Bridal Veils.

3. Although, this black feather headband by Vie Moderne
was a close second. I'll save it for another time.

4. Adorable vintage earrings by Sprout Studio.
(So delicate and sweet. Thank you, Jen!)

5. Guestbook by Enji Beck. (The paper is so beautiful, good grief.)

6. And my mister bought me the most lovely gift from Bonbon Oiseau.
(Thank you, Deb. It's gorgeous!)

With an intimate gathering of just 60 folks, we'll be keeping the circle small that day but that didn't stop us from joining crafty forces with the best of them, including my dear mother. I've assembled an army of white vases from various thrift stores and I decided this would be my personal crafty moment-- the flowers. I've decided to assemble them all. Yes, the boutonnieres will be made the night before and stashed in my refrigerator. And my dearest, oldest friend has agreed to twist and tuck and fluff flowers like a pro. We'll be making 6 bouquets, 12 boutonnieres, and close to 30 arrangements for the tables at the reception. Oh, joy!

And a few little green tips I found out along the way: You can buy recycled gold wedding bands at places like this; You can order a bridesmaids dress instead of a bridal gown for a fraction of the cost; You can forgo the wedding favors and offer something like handmade sweets or vases full of local flowers; If you live someplace as green friendly as the Bay Area, you can find organic and sustainable caterers like these folks and these folks too; You can cut down on a fair amount of paper by corresponding on blogs, websites, and emails.

My bouquet will be something like this.
(Here, my maid of honor does the honors.)

And the bridesmaids will carry something like this one.

And my dear, dear mother has made many tablecloths
from this black & white damask fabric. (Thank you, Mom!)

The centerpieces will be a mix of sunflowers, ronunculous, gerber daisies,
calla lilies, and a few different greens.

The groomsmen and parents and musicians and poets will wear something very close to this. (That chamomile is from our garden!)

(Hello there, my dear. Soon, soon.)

And so. With that, I am going to sign off for a little bit. Ooooooh, dear friends, wish me luck! We'll be sharing our love in poetry and song and dance and dinner and photography and all sorts of romance and libations! The wedding is just five days away. I feel so excited. And nervous. And excited. And nervous. And mostly excited and full of romance and abundance and joy and discovery and courage and adventure. So, I will see you in about two weeks from today. Post-ceremony. Post-honeymoon. Oh yes, we'll be taking one week away in a little house tucked away in a little town in the high desert of New Mexico. I promise to take a zillion photographs and share them with you when we return.

Okay then, here I go...

A Few Pretty Things.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:39:00 +0000

one.

two.

three.

four.

Hello, friends. I've been intoxicated by spring! There are budding blossoms everywhere and I just want to indulge my environmentalist-want-to-be-naturalist side and take photos of them from every imaginable angle. Perhaps if I photograph them enough I will absorb all their botanical knowledge by some form of artistic osmosis. Gosh, I wish.

Maybe it's the upcoming wedding (nothing short of 2 weeks!) or maybe it's the intoxicating spring or maybe it's this delightful change in Bay Area weather. I'm not sure. I just know that love is in the air and it's intoxicating! My colleague was teasing us this morning that the warm weather made him wear pistachio. (Not the nuts crushed-up in some strange woven fiber but just the color of his sweater.) I agree, it's powerful, that mighty spring.

I hope you do not tire of my spring blossoms. I can't promise that they are over quite yet. I sense a bunch of flowery spring photos about to take me by storm. Not to mention, I have two lovely bouquets of flowers in my kitchen and they are also beckoning to the dear film. So, this weekend I managed to shoot a roll of film on the Holga, a second roll on the vintage Ciroflex and a couple of Polaroids too. While these photos are all waiting for the developing lab or the scanner, I did manage to take a few digital shots too. I hope you enjoy them.

And, because I'm feeling so light and full of springtime love, I wanted to point you to a few favorite things. If you haven't already been wowed by Mrs. French's Bliss blog then you should head on over and take a peek. (She also has a thing for spring blossoms, not to mention some fierce fashion and interior design. Swoon, swoon, swoon.) I also had to share some of this artwork with you, these ladies make me so happy. xoxo, k.

Blue Stitch Print by Lisa Solomon.

A Look Only You Would Understand by Ashley Goldberg.

Blossoms and Birds by Mrs. French.

Reaching for Your Hope by Heather Smith Jones.

Puppets Print by Alyson Fox.

Rain, Tea, and an Elevated Toe.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:29:00 +0000

10.

Hello friends, I think I've broken a toe! And I wish I had some epic story to tell about how I was running 10 miles and leaped over a wild turkey and lost my footing on the trail, but it's not that heroic. Sunday afternoon, I tripped getting out of the shower and seemed to mangle the middle toe pretty good. Last night I was all about ice bags and arnica cream but this morning it's quite purple, despite my best efforts. I seem to brake, sprain, or fracture my toes and fingers on a semi-regular basis. I've never broken a major bone (knock on wood) but I've busted up my digits more times than I'd like to admit.

Needless to say, I'm confined to the couch this afternoon aside from short hops to the refrigerator and stove. It rained yesterday and again this morning so I feel somehow cozied-up in my little nest. I did manage to poke my head out the front door and hop up the driveway to check out the flower box and big beautiful raindrops yet to slip off the petals and leaves. I then quickly hobbled back inside to heat up some tea and nibble on a scone. I'm going to edit some poetry this afternoon and maybe finish up a little collage I've been pushing around. I think I'll stick to the story about rounding mile 10 and dodging the wild turkey, it sounds so much more interesting than tripping out of the tub.

PS-- I went to the Handmade Nation screening last week. It was great fun to gather up with Mati, Shash, and Jen for an evening of crafty fun. Not to mention, quite satisfying to hear Lisa Congdon and Stephanie Syjuco speak amongst the post-screening panel. I'm quite sure I've fallen in love with the Little Friends of Printmaking thanks to the film. If the movie comes to your city, go take a peek! It's a great little view into the current American art + craft scene.

A Little Bit of This & a Little Bit of That.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:05:00 +0000

weekend: 1.

weekend: 2.

weekend: 3.

weekend: 4.

Hello friends! The White Elephant Sale was a great success. Yet again, I walked away from the Oakland Museum benefit with a handful of thrifted treasures including 2 new kitchen chairs, a tiny framed vintage farm print, and an army of white vases for our upcoming wedding. So much fun!

In other news, I'm about to spend a few more hours redecorating the living room tonight as my sweetie is putting a final coat of red paint on the new shelves. I've been studying the Apartment Therapy and Domino files and I'm inspired to keep moving the inspiration around our apartment until everything takes a deep breath and I know it just fits. I love that feeling! With the wedding just over 4 weeks away, we are finding pockets of time for rest and relaxation whenever we can. Pockets, that will have to do for now.

compass: 1.

compass: 2.

compass: 3.

compass: 4.

I'm gathering materials for a summer exhibition with some ladies at the One Stone Collective in the Hudson River Valley of NY, though I'm just in the beginning stages. The theme is "compass" and so I snapped these compass photos this weekend. I'm thinking about navigation and how I navigate as an artist, crafter, poet, and woman in the very modern 21st century. Read more about it over here, if you like.

selves: 1.

selves: 2.

selves: 3.

Lastly, I took a series of self-portraits this weekend too. My little attempt to reinvent myself a wee bit in my online profile photos. Do you ever get to the point where you just need a new look? Oftentimes it means I'm due for a haircut, a trip to a beloved thrift store for some junking finds, or it's time to move all the furniture around in the studio. This week, it was all three!

Regardless, some fun new photos to share with you. I always feel a tad funny about self-portraits but have come to embrace them with the rest of my art parts. Not to mention, there are so many amazing artists, feminists, and fashion photographers helping to pave the way. Among them is my dear friend, Emily Drazen, who has a myriad of lovely self-portraits. I sometimes think it's most important to make art that forces us to stretch outside of our comfort zone. Not to stretch so much that we hurt our selves, just enough that our imagination has to face the discomfort and dwell a bit in that new unknown. I'll be back soon! xoxo, k.

Photo Shop Update (And More).

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:48:00 +0000

(one.)

(two.)

(three.)

(four.)

(five.)

Hi friends. I've recently updated my Etsy shop with a few new photos. I'll be uploading more over the next few weeks as I have a bunch of photos that remind me of spring. (Spring, is coming, I promise those of you in the snowy northern states. It's on its way! As is the autumn to my friends in the southern parts of the world. It's that time of the year that's just full of change.) Anyhow, take a peek over here for a few new photo updates.

In other news, I've finally scanned the Holga photos you see here. When I picked them up from the developing lab weeks ago I wasn't so impressed--I'd been hoping for the bold, crisp, bigger-than-life images that come with medium format film. So, I tossed the prints on my desk and forgot about them until this afternoon when I found them again. This time, I decided I liked their soft edges and dreamy uneven ways. There are some amazing Holga groups over on Flickr, that offer endless inspiration. So, for now, I'm interested in these images and looking forward to trying my little Holga again.

It's been quite a week! I handed in the Dresses/ Objects proposal to said dear curator, I hung my N:AperTURE photos in a weekend show in SF, and I even managed to find a few hours for some poetry edits. But the most satisfying thing in the past few days? I organized my file cabinet in my studio! It's like someone came in and offered me this amazing gift by purging things that have been cluttering up my file cabinet and stacking-up on my desk. It's one of the more decadent gifts I've given myself in awhile.

I know, I know-- I could've bought a piece of jewelry on Etsy, found some lovely letterpress cards in a boutique by my office, or even a new pair of leather heels might be nice. But, trust me, this organization is a huge, huge gift and one that will keep on giving for months to come! And with that, I'm off to seal some wedding invitations, grab a cup of ginger tea, and retire for the evening with my latest (and sadly the last) issue of Domino. Oh, and if you're in the Bay Area this weekend, don't forget the White Elephant Sale to benefit the Oakland Museum. It's worth it, I promise.

N:AperTURE, The Interdisciplinary, and Yeses.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:06:00 +0000

(one.)

(two.)

(three.)

(four.)

(five.)

(six.)

Hello, friends. I love Mondays. I love Mondays because they're the one day each week that I can spend in my studio from beginning to end. The one day I've carved out in my life to focus on my art in whatever shape and form it might be taking. Don't get me wrong, I love my day job. I feel grateful for smart, creative colleagues, and for working in an arts organization with a gallery, theater, and concert series. But I love Mondays even more! I love the ritual that comes with having one day a week to focus on my art. And how that inspires pockets of time throughout the week to see projects through from Monday to Monday.

So, today is Monday and this morning I drove into San Francisco early to set-up in a cafe and write this darn exhibition proposal that I've been pushing around for a couple of weeks now. It's only a "darn" exhibition proposal because I had to push through the block of writing it and get to the other side of having written it. It's only "darn" because I'm thrilled by it and very enlivened by it and also very challenged by it. So, today I finally have a finished draft. Hooray! And I will escort my little package of writing, work samples, and sketches into the gallery office this week. Oh, heart!

Also, I installed the N:AperTURE show into a new space this afternoon. The Nature/ Aperture show is hanging in the lobby at Theater Artaud in San Francisco for a dance performance this weekend. It's funny to me that this is the second time I've hung that show in a performance space with a gallery in the lobby. It makes me giggle a bit--I always seem to find that "between" space to dwell with my work. I supposed I'm happiest there, in some ways. At the intersections of literary and visual art, or at the intersections of visual art and performance, or at the intersections of craft-making and artmaking. Yes, I like it there very much.

And yet, I want to keep pushing each art-part closer and closer towards the other. To keep stretching myself to cross boundaries and tolerate questions and discomforts and all sorts of "But what kind of art is this, really?" until it just is what it is. Period! Until one technique, or thought, or question fuses itself completely with another and they create a new loving home. Until I can firmly say, "Yes, this is poetry but it looks like fiction. Yes, this is a fine art installation but it looks like a dressmaking shop. Yes, this is a photograph but it looks like graphic design. Yes, this is a gallery exhibition but we are standing in the lobby of a theater." In other words, I'm aiming for that moment of, "Yes, yes, yes!"

Photos & Pockets of Time

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:11:00 +0000

one: And Berry Burst.

two: Let's Stay Here.

three: To Reach with Me.

four: Like Stars.

five: Like Star, Close Enough to Touch.

six: Metal like Feather like Wing. (Do you see the airplane?)

Hello friends! I spent some time altering these photos and wanted to share them with you. As you know, my life has taken a bit of a detour as my wedding is a mere 2 months away and I've also been invited to submit an exhibition proposal to a curator in San Francisco. (Such sweet news on both fronts, but certainly also distracting to a daily practice of artmaking. But, eek!)

This means my creative time is suddenly forced to be uber efficient and temporarily doesn't allow for the dreamy inspiration I like best--the kind that can wind in and out throughout the week and allows for art-making at its own irreverent pace. However, this too shall pass. For now, I'm indulging in all sorts of wedding designs from invitations to cupcakes to handmade tablecloths (Thanks Mom!) and also very heady and excited about just how to pitch The Dresses/Objects Project to a local gallery. So exciting, indeed.

However, I am still finding pint-sized pockets of time for photographs and poems because these things sustain me. They seem to tether me to the earth in very simple everyday ways when the big projects and deadlines and life happenings want to sweep me away. It's a little trick I learned when I was just a teenager --tiny bits of artwork spread throughout the week. It might just be a page worth of a new poem in my journal on my nightstand, a new design book tucked next to my favorite lamp in the living room, a camera on the kitchen counter with a half-used roll film, or a favorite art blog that serves as my homepage each time I start up my computer. It's these little things that keep me connected to my art parts when life gets busy and big.

I know many of you, like me, also manage day jobs in offices or schools or studios and night jobs where your creative ways can wander. You might even make a living off your artwork but spend half your day filling orders and managing emails and only half your day creating and making. Or maybe you spend 40 hours a week in a creative office of sorts but you tuck the art-making time into the after hours in a home studio. And then you add girlfriends, boyfriends, lovers, husbands, or wives and possibly even elderly parents or little ones of your own. And then you add in dinner and laundry and pets and maybe gardening or your favorite TV show and you have a very packed week, indeed!

But it's this multitasking that inspires me. It's the commitment to the creativity despite everything else. It's the determination and discipline to create the work and refine the work and share the work amidst our busy lives that I think holds a special dose of magic. It's that little voice inside the art-part that says, "I refuse to go away" that just fills me with encouragement and simple delight.

And so, today I share a few photos that pushed their way to the surface last week. I think it was about midnight when I started editing them which inevitably lead to me skipping my morning walk to catch another hour of precious sleep. Well... we make sacrifices, we make amends, we make adjustments, we make art--because what else can we do, really? Happy day, dear friends, I hope you are full and well and certainly inspired.

Three Things for Thinking.

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:10:00 +0000

One: Searching for wedding ceremony sites in Golden Gate Park.

Two: California poppies dot a hillside.

Three: Poppy bud in the foreground, one orange blossom in the back.

Four: My bike & my boy & his map, wedding site hunting on our bicycles.

Five: Hello, there tidy living room. (A sneak peek at spring cleaning.)

Six: My new favorite book, Apartment Therapy does it again.

Seven: Inspiration abounds. I think this is sfgirlbybay, no?

Eight: Ah, inspiration in the details like that "D".

Nine: Amazingly sparse and warm and wonderful, ooh la la.

Three things seem to be occupying most of my mental space this week. (Okay, so most of my mental space outside of the office or social settings or otherwise usually deemed "down time".)

Thing 1: Our wedding! I didn't realize quite the extent of details involved with planning a social gathering for 70 people and having that social gathering be as ceremonial, ritual, or full of tradition as a wedding! But, we are plugging along and making decisions on a daily basis regarding caterers, decorations, attire, invitations and all the other things that come along with wedding planning.

For example, I never thought I'd be so concerned with designing a wedding favor but it's one of the most difficult tasks! We're trying to maintain a DIY and eco-friendly flare with much of our planning but it's the one place I can't seem to come up with a budget-friendly alternative that is both artful and good for the planet. (Do you have any ideas to go artful and green for 70 guests? If it was summertime I'd be canning 70 jars of strawberry jam. Alas!) Otherwise, I'm scouring junk shops for vintage vases, researching bakers and cake-makers, and designing our invitations like a champion! It's fun. And nutty. And tender. And sweet. And maddening. And wonderful too.

Thing 2: The meeting with the curator went great! He was super interested in the project and invited me to submit a full proposal complete with time line, photographs, and sketches showing how I would use the space. (Hooray, dear dress project, hooray!) I'm eager to create a packet of Dresses/ Objects information complete with a plan to involve other crafters, artists, poets, and workshop opportunities into a big future installation.

The coffee meeting went swimmingly, all my pre-meeting nerves were unnecessary and we chatted quite naturally and he showed interest quite quickly and I am ever-grateful for this opportunity to propose my work. Nothing is written in stone, but it was so fantastic to meet such encouraging words. (See previous post for more details.) I'm brainstorming and considering and re-considering and putting my feelers out there to see just how this project might get even bigger than I had imagined. Oh, heart!

Thing 3: I should just officially deem January and February my interior design months. Yes, I found myself, once again, going through all my belongings and whittling down the clutter until there are empty spaces all over the house, ripe with opportunities for redecorating and dreamy interior design options. I'm also completely in love with the Apartment Therapy design book, Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People--a birthday present to myself--and Domino and Elle Decor magazines don't hurt when it comes to eye candy for rethinking one's home. (Not to mention, too many amazing design blogs to list in one post.)

The best advice? "Focus on what you love, shop in your own house, and blend old with new." I love it. I can't say the spring cleaning is entirely self-motivated. It's White Elephant Sale season here in the Bay Area and that is quite some junking inspiration to make space for a little something new. Okay, then, I'm off to work on this gallery proposal. Send me luck!

Coffee with a Curator: The Dresses/ Objects Project

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:06:00 +0000

(Prepping for the work sample photo shoot.)

(Dress by Yours Truly.)

(Dress by Marcie Farwell of Zora Jane.)

(Dress by Alison McLennan and Rebecca Overacre.)

(Dress by Kehren Barbour.)

(Dress by Moriah Carlson & Alice Wu of Feral Childe.)

(Dress by Pilar Nadal.)

(Dress by Ambra Sultzbaugh of Ambrella Design.)

(Dress by Vanessa Filley of Moira & Obbie.)

(Dress by Sasha Duerr of Permacouture.)

(The Brady Bunch group shot.)

Thank you for all your sweet notes on the last post about my upcoming wedding-- it's all very exciting and full of creative possibility and romance. Hooray! I've got another big moment coming up this week. I'm meeting with a curator on Thursday afternoon to discuss the Dresses/ Objects Project. As some of you know, this is a project I've been working on for a few years now. It's a multi-phased project and the first phase is complete but I'm now moving on to phases two and three.

In 2007, I letterpress printed poems from Gertrude Stein's book, Tender Buttons, on to recycled fabric. I then sent these fabric prints out to ten female artists across the country and they each turned the prints into one dress/ wearable art garment. (See photos above.) Then, they sent the dresses back to me and I did a work-in-progress showing w/ live performers and poets. It was great fun!

This December, I applied for my first grant for the project in hopes to fund phase two which will be a fashion shoot of models wearing the dresses. (Think: Live models wearing these dresses in front of a custom-built white fabric backdrop hung on a steel frame with the Marin Headlands in the foreground and the Pacific Ocean in the background. Can you see it?) From there, I'll print and frame the photos and be ready for phase three: An installation.

The final phase of the project will include an installation of the dresses, the photos, and also using the text from the poems as a third element in the room. (Imagine the dresses spread throughout the space-- some on dress forms, some draped from the walls, some on the floor, etc.-- and then fashion photos mounted on the walls, and lovely scripted text spilling over the walls, onto the floor, and generally coiling around the room so the room resembles a life-sized book.) This final phase will also include live performers wearing the dresses and scheduled fittings with interested art buyers.

So, I'm meeting w/ a curator on Thursday to discuss the project. Just to chat and connect and better understand if we could work together on the installation. And I'm equal parts nerves and excitement about this meeting. I've worked with curators to create shows, to install shows, and to be part of group shows but I've never worked with a curator on a solo show or on an installation of my own. My goodness, what a big old lovely dream. So, if you believe in magic, send me some good thoughts on Thursday around 2pm California time. Okay then...

My Next Big Project: Our Wedding!

noreply@blogger.com (Katrina) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Yes, it's true! My next big creative project is going to be our wedding and it's going to be soon! My mister and I have been together for 10 years, we've been engaged for 1 year, and we just decided in December that we're getting married this April. Eek! It's all very exciting. And very distracting, let me tell you.

So my studio is now dotted with guest lists, potential invitation designs, vintage family wedding photos, and all sorts of drafts for dresses, theme colors, and cake tops! No, we won't be making everything our selves and we won't be having a big traditional day. But, yes, we will be aiming to have an eco-friendly wedding and a DIY spirit for a small beloved gathering of family and friends to help us celebrate. And, I can't pass up the opportunity for a pretty dress, a good meal, and a bit of dancing all adorned in flowers and romance and dear friendships!

My two bridal bibles have been the Anti-Bride Wedding Planner and The DIY Wedding. Not to mention, a handful of smart crafty married friends with all sorts of pointers and references and good ideas. One of my favorite ideas? A vintage metal birdcage for the cards on the gift table. If the slots are wide enough, the envelopes slip right through. And another fun idea is somehow using vintage family photos in our decorating theme. Good grief, I'm going to be a bride! The great thing about planning a wedding in 4 months is the liberating effect of making decisions somewhat quickly and moving on to the next decision. Oh my!

Forgive me for a bit of dreaminess and distraction but 3 months is a only a little bit of time. And somehow, in these moments, the loose threads of life & art & love & grief & inspiration & creativity all seem to tangle together at the ends. Suddenly, my wedding invitation designs are scattered among recent Polaroids, tucked under my new Denyse Schmidt quilting book, all just next to the list of publishers I'm soliciting with my poems. (Dear studio, forgive me, in just a few months you'll be all cleaned up again. I promise!) I guess sometimes the lines get a little knotted and art becomes love becomes life. Oh, swoon. Dear friends, I'm getting married in April!