Frances Berry‘s photographs could almost feel all too familiar if you didn’t notice something… off. Berry seeks to “create alternatives to the traditional snapshot that reinforce rather than destroy our internal visualization of time so that one may revisit a moment in a more authentic and meaningful way”. Her mastery of not only photography but digital manipulation make a powerful combination.
That’s not a postcard.
For most of last week I was in Palm Springs for Alt Summit, a conference I’ve proudly spoken at more than a handful of times. I’ve grown used to heading to Salt Lake City every January for the event, so when it was moved to The Saguaro in southern California for 2017 I was more than a little excited. Five days away from the Pennsylvania winter? Sign. Me. Up.
I opted to fly into San Diego rather than Palm Springs because one of my best friends, who was also going to Alt, lives there. Fly across the country and then roadtrip for two hours? Yeah, sure. And even when it turns out to take three and a half hours because of rush hour it’s okay, because I got to see two Sizzler restaurants. (Did you know they still exist? I didn’t.) That first night there was a lovely poolside party that we lasted about a half hour at before going back to our room where I finished slides for a panel the following morning.
One of the biggest travel perks for me is not having to make breakfast. And in this case I got to eat it with a (different) good friend before heading over to hair and makeup for my 9am panel.
If you’ve ever wondered what I look like A) speaking on a panel B) after roughly 4 hours of sleep C) with too much bronzer on D) and my jacket falling off, well, here you go! Dreams do come true.
All joking aside, our talk on making old content new again went fantastically well. I always think a successful panel teaches the panelists as well as the attendees, and this one did just that.
The good thing about speaking first is that any pressure is off immediately and you’re free to explore and enjoy the rest of the conference. All of the colors of The Saguaro made for some amazing photo backdrops, and I busied myself popping in and out of other talks, catching up with blogger friends I rarely get to see, and chatting with sponsors.
Lunch was always held outside in the California sun, which was still blazing even in 70-something degree weather! One afternoon the parking lot was filled with the most amazing cars, each one armed with a small business owner ready to share their story.
The main portion of the conference ended Thursday evening with a great keynote by Todd Oldham. Yup, that Todd Oldham. I’m happy to share that he’s personable, down to earth, and very direct – three qualities I look for in everyone I meet.
I spent the last day hanging out with other longtime bloggers discussing the nitty gritty of our industry. Where it’s come from and where it’s (maybe) going, best practices and new concerns, etc. It rarely happens that so many of us are together and we definitely took advantage.
But my favorite thing, a bucket list item in fact, happened on the drive back to San Diego that evening. A stop at the Cabazon Dinosaurs! You might not know, but I am a deep down dino nerd. It was chilly and crazy windy when we stopped, I think we were out of the car for all of ten minutes and I managed to snap at least fifty photos including one of me hugging T-Rex’s leg. If you hop over to Instagram there’s more proof…
Until next time, one of my favorite places on Earth!
Posted In behind the scenes, my life
Isabella Nazzarri‘s art makes me feel so many things, above all else elation. But what fascinates me most is her definition of millennial art. Nazzarri essentially says that abstraction and figuration are things of the past, that these dated classifications are no longer functional or important. A read through of her Texts section goes much more in depth and I found it very worthwhile.
You know what they say – side table in the living room, nightstand in the bedroom! (Oh wait, I’m the only one who says that. I digress.) Tiny tables are a part of decorating that I especially look forward to. They can be relatively affordable and simply swapping one or two out can change the look and feel of an entire space. Check out these ten that have caught my eye, I’m really feeling warm metals lately.
Lune Watercolor and Ink Original by Louet Folk
On Moth’s Wings by Lauren Blair
T.S. Eliot Quote by Old English Co.
Orange Flower Fleurs by Sébastien Bouvier
The World is Your Oyster by Sugar Paper
We Welcome All Letterpress Poster by OKO Gallery
Vertical Cactus by Fox Hollow Design Co.
Posted In create, graphics, illustration, mixed media, painting, paper goods, photography, prints, round up, series
Basic House II by Martin Azua is a habitable space that’s foldable, inflatable, and reversible. The experimental prototype is constructed out of polyester and is currently part of MOMA’s collection in New York. This almost immaterial house self-inflates with body heat or from the heat of the sun, it protects from the cold one way and from the heat when reversed.
Sao Paulo, Brazil-based illustrator Adams Carvalho has been hard at work creating digital art, which is he then prints onto cotton paper. Adams’ choice of pastels really reflect the subject matter at hand incredibly well – surfer chic, millennial land! Check out his shop here.
Norma Lehmeier Hartie‘s art is a two part process, first she creates fiber felted balls and then she digitally photographs and manipulates them. Each ball is playful, vibrant, and invites you to explore the tiniest of details. You can’t help but feel happy just looking at them!
Marriage is all about celebrating your perfect match, and CADI Jewelry designed a way to wear it as well. Their minimalist wedding ring sets fit together when placed side by side to create special love-inspired shapes or initials. I love how inconspicuous they are when separate as well, not at all in your face.
I love a good bar cabinet, you might remember the one I made from an old depression era cabinet. It’s just such a classy piece of furniture, a bar cart taken to the next level that’s ready to welcome you after a long day or guests the minute they walk into your home. My favorites have always a mid-century vibe, but I’m also loving some of the more unique pieces below. How about you, do you prefer a bar cart or cabinet?
