To sleep or to sunrise?

Looking through a few photos, I realized that sunrises are not necessarily more vibrant in exotic locations. They are a universal wonder...

A few of my recent favorites. Probably better than whatever sleep I was getting...

(In the passenger seat on our very own 520 bridge, looking over the Arboretum)

(On an early game drive in the Masai Mara, Kenya 2009)

(New Zealand Sheep Country)

(The Oregon Coast - there was snow on the beach)

Pies and Packaging

"If you are going to give a gift, why not make giving it a pleasure for yourself as well. Shop at stores you enjoy. Wrap with beautiful ribbons. Make it an experience worth a "Thank You" card from yourself to yourself." R.E.L.

Today I put together party favors for a girlfriend’s baby shower this weekend. The party is going to be hosted at an adorable hole of a pie shop on Magnolia, called the Seattle Pie Company. Since we’re going to be enjoying pie, and the invitations were cherry pies, I am sticking to the theme and giving everyone pie filling (aka: a crisp Washington apple).

I know, I know. Functionality of this gift is at a low, but I’m sure ladies will stash them and enjoy them despite that.

I'm a sucker for the planning of it, and took a lovely hour browsing at Packaging Specialties. This is why I love gift giving: I get to shop at Packaging Specialties, and paper stores, and floral wholesale houses. A word about this shop specifically – GO! There are a few locations around Seattle and the Eastside, and if you’re throwing a wedding, a holiday party, or just want some beautiful paper to frame and put on your wall, it’s a great place to start! It’s not all artisan, but it has all the tools you need to wrap to your heart’s content.

I started by getting out my calligraphy pen, a gift from The Non-Scotsman. It’s not the most practical writing tool, but I love the thick layers of ink on these gift tags:

I threw the heart-friendly fruit into tiny, organic-looking brown bags from Packaging Specialties,

Wrapped them in my favorite twine (used by the beloved Watson Kennedy)

And voila!

Nature’s apple pie.

Bailey Russel pays attention

There are many artists I admire. Most I hope to never emulate. I can appreciate masterworks born out of confusion and chaos. I enjoy art that is thought provoking, angry, disruptive, honest. But do I want live in an angry fog myself? Not particularly. And does that mood typically inspire me artistically, or nurture me to birth a creative piece? No.

Last night, imagine my “aha!” moment when I came around the angst-filled hallway corner and stepped into this small, seamless exhibit in Shift; a collaborate studio downtown on S. Washington St. & 3^rd.

Hello Bailey Russel.

With all the grace of seaweed waving effortlessly underwater, he showcases the everyday miracles falling all around us in Possession.

(I even love the simple display, paper hanging from clips on the wall)

Imagine now, these images are BIG. Each leaf is the size of a child.

Bailey says these beautiful enlargements of small and natural objects were inspired by the actions of a Judge in Cormac McCarthy's novel "Blood Meridian". I find that ironic, as supposedly the Judge was standing in for the Devil and would collect artifacts, sketch them, and destroy them. He did this to both posses them and erase their lives from the memory of mankind. Bailey seems to put them on a pedestal, drawing our attention to each microscopic detail, each hue. Instead of erasing the image, he has impressed me to the point of imprinting their delicacy in my mind.

(My sister-in-law, Alanna, at the exhibit last night before coming over for 7&7's)

Thank you, Bailey, for the reminder that it is worth paying attention. Period.

To the leaves on my windowsill:

(Seattle, 2010)

To the flaming red cab on the street last week (is that really a bullethole?)

(Georgetown, 2010)

To the most important things in life.

(A photo of a billboard The Non-Scotsman couldn't get over on our trip to New Zealand, 2008)