Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

What Day Is This Again?

It actually got a little chilly tonight here in L.A.  A friend in Baltimore commented yesterday that her garden is looking a little "tired" and some leaves are falling from the trees. She wonders if this is signalling a change of season.  I walked past a store today with jackets and coats in the window.

Really folks.  It is July 25.  The summer officially started June 21.  It lasts more than one month, I'm pretty sure.  

A few weeks ago, this was me in New York, Washington and Chicago.  Sandled toes blistering on the cement in 100+ degree weather.  And now autumn is coming?  

I don't think so.

Do you?

However, on the art front, talking about seasons reminds me of a class Gina Armfield is offering online that sounds engaging.  "Journaling the Seasons". Check out the first one - "Smashing Autumn", using a Smash journal.  Ha.

Further Adventures of the Flea Market

So now that all the fluttering hearts have calmed down from seeing my fabulous alphabet set, here's the rest of the story.  The white backdrop is a damask altar cloth from Holy Spirit Church.

You're probably wondering what those huge bristly things are, as well you might.  I found a stack of these old wood backed circular brushes for industrial floor washing.  The backs are very interesting and the fronts are so architectural that I got three.  The plan is to hang them on the wall but I believe that may be a bit of a challenge. I love the old rusty candle holder - six cups all told.  

In the lower right are my usual watch faces that I use for book covers, yet another compass (have to figure out where I am going) and a Vulcan match box.  The vendor fully expected hoards of Star Trek fans to snatch these little boxes up, but apparently that has not happened.   I found a couple of wooden rulers and a round sieve (because I always need more places to catch things).

What is it about little bottles?  These are holding watch band spring bars.  I really love the numbers and the tiny bits of cotton.

And just to stay with that theme, a box of different bottles, numbers stamped onto the glass.

Hope you enjoyed the tour.  I enjoyed the Long Beach Flea Market and only wish I had one to go to this weekend.  

 

 

You know, we just had a weekend. And that means that somewhere there must have been a flea market. In this case, Long Beach. Lucky me - I knew where it was and there I went.  Here is my mystery find.

My extravagant treasure. You must know that I am a very CHEAP fleamarketer.  I have my $5 days and my $3 days and sometimes my $10 days. I always pass up anything $25 and up. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

The folks in this booth were so delightful and told me the the loveliest story about my find.  He had this when he met her and it has been with them for over 35 years.  It sat on their coffee table the entire time,  where friends and family would amuse themselves with it at every gathering.  But, they finally felt they had to let it go, as they are moving on with things and downsizing.

They watched me agonize over the price, convincing myself that there were other things I needed more.  They came down $5 but I just couldn't make up my mind.  I decided to leave it, knowing that if I changed my mind, it might be gone when I returned.  Should I?  Shouldn't I?  Sheesh, you'd think I was buying a car.

The woman encouraged me to leave, "..and let the universe decide."  I walked away, convinced that I was wise to save my money for something more practical.

How far do you think I got?

I managed to walk a whole three booths down the row before I turned around and came back, to the great amusement of the mister and mrs.  I realized that I would probably spend the same amount on 5 or six little things which might just get lost in the studio.  But not this. This is not getting lost. 

So there you have it.  But what IS it? An art moderne metal alphabet with a box of tiny magnetic cubes to hold up each letter. I love alphabets and typography. I am so very glad I decided to get it.

Here is what I made with it - for now. Who knows what will show up next. 

By the way, this is not all I got, but that is a story for another day.

 

 

It Started With a Violin

Rob is an amazing musician and songwriter.  Back in the day, his band was Mesa; now it's Brothers and Others.  But Dad (also a musician) always told him, "Music as a career is tough; you need a back-up plan".  So he worked at Dad's music store, under the tutelage tutelage of a master violin repair artist.  

Over the years, he acquired a wide range skills, mostly esoteric. He can do things with wood that are astonishing. He has his own shop now and while he is currently restoring a cello, most of his work is furniture.  Some of it is hundreds of years old.

He has a tool for everything.

Whatever tone or finish is required, he is prepared.  Of course, he also made the cabinet for these bottles.

This was my first time in his studio and I wish I had taken more pictures. Everywhere you look, there is something interesting, gorgeous - or weird.  He had a box full of little bottles and I happily went home with some of them.

 You really should bookmark his blog to follow his amazing work.  Check out the clock with the moon face and the trunk with the interesting provenance.

Waving the Flag

Think we have enough?

Apparently not.

It's a red, white and blue blow-out here at sister Katie's house every year.  And this year, I am lucky enough to be around for it. Not only that, but 7 of 9 siblings are here (miss you, Jim and Tom!).  And, all five of the sisters.  How lucky am I?

That's Katie on the far right.  She and her husband Tom have been throwing this shindig for 20 years so they have it down to a science.  It's a great day, despite the heat.  

Yes, it was really this hot at 3:30 when the party started. It's cooled off now, but the party is heating up.   It's far from over so I'll rejoin it and post later.  I hope your 4th is as good as mine.

Prepping for the Fourth of July

My sister Katie and her husband Tom have for years thrown the 4th of July party to end all 4th of July parties.  Katie works for Pier 1 and goes all out with the decorations.  The food is fabulous and the prep work started three days ahead of time. Brats.  Tradition.

This is Tom's responsibility and he takes it seriously. As well he should.

Can't wait for tomorrow.  Yum.

Chicago, Chicago

I'm done with my meeting in Chicago and now I can visit with family.  Now, you understand what that means, right?  There are 9 siblings, so that is a fair amount of visiting.

Brother Rob is a master woodworker and restorer of antique furniture.  Nan is an artist who is rediscovering the joys of watercolor.  I'm visiting Rob's studio later and will post pictures.

They took me to Lulu's for lunch in Evanston. Great place with a wide variety of Asian dishes.  Also this cooling and delightful ginger lemonade.

We also went to a delightful old bookstore that is going out of business, Bookman's Alley.  Well, yes, it IS in an alley and filled to the rafters with used books, collector's editions, antiques, old falling apart books, junk and, oh, did I say? books.  The quite old gentleman who has run it for decades sits behind his overflowing desk like some ancient pasha and receives his customers.  Everyone who comes in bemoans the fact that he is closing, but he seems fairly resigned to it.  

The good news is that all books are 50% off and he is selling fixtures and other cool objects.  Naturally, I had to acquire something that would fit into my suitcase.  That would be inside the extra suitcase I had to use to hold the Brooklyn Flea Market finds. 

This great book holder is handmade and has the nicest curved arms to hold the book in.   And this is what is inside the book. Fun.In addition, Rob gave me this amazing book with an interesting binding.  I've been researching that interesting library stamp. There was definitely an abbey in Bergholz in 1715, but that's about all I could find.

Isn't the little tinted engraving lovely?  I suspect it is not contemporary to the book, but old nonetheless.  There are also bits of mica falling out of the book and I have no idea what THAT means.

Livin' the High Life - or Line

Headed into Manhattan on Monday and made a bee-line for the High Line. I love this place!  If you haven't heard of it or visited, I highly recommend it.  What used to be an abandoned weedy elevated train route is now an oasis of beauty and peace.  

Beautiful flowers.

Restful greenery.

And some very strange plants I have yet to identify.

Add in the intriguing buildings and you can see why I look forward to the opening of the third and final section.

But, I have to say that the highlight of the day was the requisite visit to .....

Heavenly black and white custard shake.  Great burger.  Sigh. I wish they would come to Los Angeles, but then I would have to eat there once a week and I know that would not be good.  

Are there places you must absolutely go to eat when you travel?