Bodhisartva ..... Art/Spirit/Life

First Flea of March

The threat of rain kept many of the vendors and visitors away from the Pasadena City College Flea Market.  

That might explain why I spent $15 on flea market finds and $20 on Girl Scout cookies! 

I did have fun, though...and now I have more money for the Downtown L.A. Flea Market next weekend.

Favorite find -

 Each packet contains a lens of a different size.    I like the envelope.  My grandfather's name was Edward (close to Edmund) and he lived in Barrington (but in Illinois, not New Jersey).  For some reason now, I can't get the connection out of my head.  "Pop" was a machinist and I often wonder what he would think of me working with all the tools in my studio.  I remember his work bench and the vise and all the baby food jars full of bits and pieces.  He is in my mind often as I forge steel, solder and hammer away.

Here's some more metal, destined for a book cover, I think.  They are from and old cash register and a little too heavy for jewelry.

 

Finally, I picked up this old Army bag.  I've been told it was used to water horses, but I find that hard to believe.  In any case, it is super handy in the studio to hold some tools or rolls of paper.

So seriously, that's all I got at the much reduced market!  In Los Angeles, people are apparently afraid of the rain.

Not everyone minds the rain, however....the garden is loving it!

There are even buds on the dwarf Meyer lemon tree.

This makes up for the skimpy showing at the Flea Market.  And next weekend, it will be 80 degrees here, so everyone should show up.

June Brooklyn Flea

Remember back in July when I posted about the Pasadena flea market and said I was working backwards? I never got there, did I?

Here is a long overdue item from June. 

I had the great joy of squeezing in a visit to Katie in Brooklyn in between two business meetings.  She's such a totally cool woman and I miss her. But, we live to see our daughters fly on their own two wings, so I'm happy for her.

I'm also happy that she lives in a city where there is such a plethora (I just had to use that word) of vintage, old, funky...stuff.

Among our several journeys, we visited The Garage in Manhattan. The big find of the day was not mine, but hers.

Is that not a fabulous dress?!  She wore it to a party that night, paired with some great vintage heels and a yellow clutch found at the Pasadena flea market.  She wears vintage so well.  

I have loved the Brooklyn Flea Market but had only been to the Sunday one in Fort Greene.  This time, we went to the Williamsburg site, on the river.  It has a fabulous view of the city.

It has a lot more food booths with some very intriguing dishes.  Also, very wide open spaces and picnic benches.  

I understand it is the same vendors, but it seemed smaller. However, I scored some major finds.

I think those two typewriter platten wheels will make great earrings!  I may even have to keep them for myself.  I'm especially excited about all the old lenses.

 I will be setting them into metal book covers...who knows what they will reveal?

We had so many more adventures, but I can't find the photos. Maybe I'll post the rest of the story later...like next March. Sigh.

 

All in the Family

It's somewhat of a sad week for me.  My family is having our every-three-year reunion at the beach and for a number of reasons, I am not there.  This gathering of 2 parents, 9 siblings, spouses, children, grandchildren and significant others has been going on for 40 years now.  

Alas, the Delgados will not be in the group shot this time around.

I'm missing all the traditions:  the crab feast, searching in the dark for "ghost crabs", midnight meat, kites, trips to Outer Banks Fudge.

Another tradition, for the sisters, is to bring "sisty-ugler" gifts.  One must buy 5 of whatever, so we can all match during the week (and after).  So, how happy I was to find this in my mailbox yesterday.

How clever.  Sunglasses, crabs, fancy drink....looks like the beach to me.  And orange to boot.

And to open it to find this.

I'm wearing it now.  And it's "my" color.

But I still want to see who has what other color, as that is always part of the fun.  Let me guess.  Chris is turquoise blue, Mary is light blue, Katie is green and Lisa is pink.  Hard to know, as Chris is also a "green" and Mary can be a bit pinky.  And Katie..well, she's kind of rusty sometimes.  But Lisa will always be pink. Or baby blue.  I'll let you know if I guessed right.

A Duo of Delight

I've always felt so blessed and happy to have my three graces; my trio of daughters.  Girls are just the BEST and I would not have known what to do with a boy, in any case.

This weekend, my niece and her family came down for a visit and I must admit, I fell under the spell of little boys.

I mean, who wouldn't?

Max is chatty and smart and funny.....

Reuben is younger.  And older.  An enigma of a 4 year old.... 

He reminds me of our Sara when she was this age. We used to look at her and say, "I'm not quite sure who she is - but she sure is SOMEBODY!".  A man of mystery will be revealed in time, I'm sure. Until then, we'll enjoy his charm while we wait to discover who he will be in the world.  

And then, of course, there is this little guy, who lives near us with our niece Jennie and her wonderful husband Pedro.

James Brando.  He kind of looks like a baby Brando, doesn't he?

Boys. Suddenly, I'm surrounded by them.

Here There and Everywhere

I haven't been here in a while, have I? There is a reason for that.

I have been here:

And then HERE:

 And then HERE:

With THESE disreputable folks:

Obviously, there are stories to go with this, but I am waaaaay too tired to share them right now.  Patience.

 

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.

Brooklyn Wanderlust

I'm in Chicago now, working.  I'd much rather be back in Brooklyn, even though the heat was so bad.  Katie and I did our share of wandering, despite the rain and humidity.  Think of what we might have accomplished had the weather cooperated!

Breakfast on Sunday - Pies and Thighs.  I had already had their famous fried chicken and waffles, so this time I opted for the over-easy eggs on a roast pork hash. Pretty spicy, but excellent.

Katie had grits, fried catfish and eggs.  Now this is a breakfast.

Mimosa, anyone?