WEST – West Austin Studio Tour

Oliver was selected to participate in the first-ever West Austin Studio Tour (aka WEST). There has been a celebrated East Austin Studio tour for ten years (tons of artists have studios on Austin's east side), so it was exciting to find out artists working on the west side would get a little shine this year. Oliver was in the process of converting our garage into a studio when he learned about the tour, so the timing was perfect. He applied, he was accepted, he got to work to make some new art!

The "tours" are free and self-guided; the Friends of WEST published a beautiful catalog with all artists listed and created a handy website to make figuring out which studios to visit easy-peasy.

So, on May 19th and 20th, Oliver opened our recently converted garage-studio to the public! We had cold drinks on hand to entice visitors and keep them thirst-free:

We created seating for visitors, complete with maps: 

And let's not neglect the art!

Since there were lulls between visitors at times, Oliver left some works in progress out, so he could work on them during the slow times: 

A full-studio shot with visitor/friend/awesome musician, John:

And there you have it! I'll keep you posted on next year's art adventure! xoxo

Happy Birthday, Husband!

Ok, I have a lot to catch you guys up on, and who KNOWS how long it'll take me to do that, so let's just start with the most recent stuff: this weekend! Sunday was Oliver's birthday, so we decided to put aside most work-related things we knew we should do, and just enjoyed the weekend for the most part. As usual, we were exhausted on Friday night (these 60 hour work weeks make us tired!) so I don't have much to report there, but on Saturday we made a delectable brunch that included a special treat for Oliver: raisin scones and clotted cream (we are privy to The Devon Cream Company's English Clotted Cream). If you haven't slathered a scone with clotted cream and jam, you're missing out. I was introduced to it when I lived in England, and Oliver fell in love when we celebrated mother's day at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon a few years ago. Go have some; one little ounce will fulfill your daily requirement of saturated fat, so you don't have to worry about that! Whew!

Back in December, Oliver's parents gave us some old birdfeeders they weren't using any more and Oliver has been looking forward to refinishing or painting them ever since. This was the weekend! He decided to spruce up the yard with a bright red paint while I sat around in my bikini taking photos.

The birdcages:


Oliver does a light scuffing with sand paper blocks:


After laying out a plastic garbage bag, he got to spraying:


After letting them dry for about thirty minutes, he flipped them and painted the other sides:


We let them dry outside overnight, then filled them up with birdseed this morning before hanging them up:



After another yummy home-made brunch, we made our first visit to the Barton Springs Pool, a three-acre spring-fed pool in Zilker Park, framed by century-old pecan trees. A destination for Austinites and tourists alike, we decided we had to see for ourselves what the hubbub was about. We loved it! The water is clear and COLD (68 degrees year-round), which makes it incredibly refreshing, especially for 100-degree days like we've been having (which, by the way, we are LOVING. For real!). We set up camp near the diving board and watched some pretty impressive moves on breaks from our own dips into the water. We didn't take our own photos, but you can get a feel for it's inherent beauty from these photos:



Not bad, eh? After a couple of hours of sun, we headed home to get ready for a celebratory dinner at Austin's finest (and rare nationally recognized) restaurant, Uchi. We samples all kinds of delectable plates and were thoughtfully treated to a creative dessert in honor of Oliver's birthday. Here we are, feeling very satiated after dinner:

There's the birthday boy looking debonair in his no-socks-with-dress-shoes get up – very sartorialist – with newly-minted birdfeeder in the foreground:

The deck isn't looking all that debonair, but what can you do? We have a deck and that's good enough for us!

Thus ends one of our most luxurious and enjoyable weekends of late!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clotted_cream

The Anatomy of a Passport Photo

Oliver and I will be attending a wedding in Mexico in a couple of months (rough life, no?) and both of our passports just expired. Rather than spend time and money having passport photos taken by a grumpy non-photographer shooting flat pictures under fluorescent light, we decided to take a stab at it ourselves. In the end, after figuring out the lighting situation, achieving neutral expressions, standing at the correct distance (not too close, but not too far away) and editing the photos to look more washed out and evenly lit, per the gov's strict passport photo guidelines, it probably would have been worth our time (and money) just have the damn things taken by someone else. But then I wouldn't have a blog post dedicated to the outtakes, would I? Here's how we fared:


Just getting the lighting sorted out. I can't resist being a pain in the buttocks. Oliver hasn't shaved yet. Let's get the show on the road….


Killy: Too dark, not amused
Oliver: Too much shadow behind head, also not amused


Killy: Too much expression, not looking straight into camera
Oliver: Far too happy; crooked head (my fault, but on purpose)


Open mouths: not appropriate


Killy: These pictures are boring
Oliver: You're boring – I'm looking out the window


Killy: Are you sure that last one isn't going to work?
Oliver: You can't be serious


Getting into character...


Money shots (gross lighting courtesy photoshop, since it seems to be a requirement). Done and done! Mexico, here we come!

Heart Burn

A misleading title, indeed. Oliver stretched his arm over a pot of steamy rice the other night and woke up the next day with a burn in the shape of a heart. For whatever reason, we thought it was worth photographing and sharing with you. Art is everywhere, friends, and Oliver is living proof. Enjoy your Tuesday!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Two years ago today, Oliver and I were married. We actually started dating six and a half years before we got married, so I struggle a bit with our "new" anniversary date. It's weird how the clock re-sets when you tie the knot. When I think of our relationship in terms of years, I think about it from the beginning in 2002, not so much the "official" beginning, in 2008.

Regardless, today marks the second anniversary of our wedding. It was the wedding we both imagined. We had so much fun, once we got past the scary parts involving sharing our personal thoughts about one another with 123 of our closest friends and family members, and our first dance, which was completely nerve-wracking (but we pulled it off).

Unfortunately, Oliver had to go out of town, so we are not together today. We will celebrate when we're both in the same zip code again, but I thought I would dedicate this post to him. Oliver is a kind and loving person. He is my most trusted confidant, my strong and level-headed support system, my source of encouragement and inspiration, and my very best friend. Plus, I find him to be quite dashing. While we are always talking and laughing, and we never seem to tire of each other's company, he is a quiet, introverted person, and I know sometimes he would just like to retreat to a peaceful place that's all his own. Of course, we don't have space for that just yet. Someday, my sweet! So, today I'm sharing elements of Oliver's imagined "man-cave," in which he'll paint, write, brood, ponder, read (hopefully with a monocle!), fix antique watches, take things apart, then put them back together, smoke pipes (he loves pipes! He'll have to write about pipe design someday), cultivate bonsai, cacti, and/or succulents, and display collections of ancient ephemera, dried bugs, out-of-print books, rare gems, skeletons or some-such wacky bibs and bobs. You knew Oliver was a 19th century intellectual, trapped in the body of a spry and bouncy modern-day 33-year old, didn't you? Well, he is.

So, without further ado, the elements of Oliver's future man sanctuary, or "mantuary"(these names are ridiculous):

The basics: a large work surface where he can sit for writing and painting, a luxurious tufted sofa, antique rug, plenty of lighting, a bar cart, velvet drapes, an antique library card catalogue for paint and brush storage....

Clockwise from left: Chandelier by Lindsey Adelman, Paradise Blue sofa from Horchow, Gilt Sunburst Mirror from Avid-Home, Velvet Drapes from Restoration Hardware, Italian teacart from Newel, Green table lamp from 1st Dibs, Skull Chair from Baller House, Classic Pharmacy Lamp from Rejuvenation, similar drafting tables available at Restoration Hardware

The extras: You might remember that Oliver has a penchant for fine luggage. He also likes itty-bitty plants, tiny rare books, scale-models of ... anything, letterpresses, Moleskine journals, penny farthings on which to zip around town, bow ties and the like...

Clockwise from left: Succulents from Succulents Galore, pocket watch, Moleskine notebooks, antique globe from Pitt, a collection of bowties, sailboat model from Quirao, Globe-Trotter luggage, Penny Farthing bicycle, circa 1895, pipes from smokingpipes.com

Who knows, maybe he'll even grow a handlebar mustache?

Handmade mustache by Whisker Works

Of course, it's in Oliver's best interest to admit me to the man-tank on occasion, as no think-session would be fruitful without delicious refreshments from his lovely wife:

Happy Anniversary, Oliver. I love (and miss) you. 

Oliver's Paintings at From the Source

Oliver was recently asked to display eight of his paintings in the Chelsea outpost of a fantastic furniture showroom, From the Source. All paintings are for sale through the showroom. Send any inquiries to: customerservice{at}fromthesourceny{dot}com.

This is Oliver's first professional showing - a very exciting endeavor, indeed! The paintings work particularly well with the natural wood offerings of the showroom. A special thanks to Kristin and Chris for making this happen.

Photo courtesy From the Source, ICFF Booth

Based in Indonesia and Brooklyn, NY, From the Source is a leader in sustainable furniture hewn from reclaimed, vintage, salvaged and plantation-grown hardwoods. They offer a line of ready-made furniture and accessories as well as custom pieces, created from stocked elements in their Greenpoint, Brooklyn studio. The price points are outstanding – especially for a New York shop – and the quality is unbeatable. With a friendly, knowledgeable staff, this is definitely a store - and studio - worth checking out.

From the Source is located at 104 West 17th Street, on the corner of 6th Avenue. The closest trains are the F/L/V at 14th Street and the 1 at 18th Street.

To see more of Oliver's art, check out his website: The Vermilion Laboratory

Happy 33rd Birthday to Oliver!

Oliver's birthday, circa 2000

Today marks Oliver's 12,045th day on this earth, and let me tell you, I am glad he's here! From the moment I met him, I knew there was something special about Oliver. Boy was I right! I've spent the last eight years learning more and more about what makes this very unique human being tick, and something tells me the learning will never stop. Oliver is a treasure trove of contradictions, illuminations, new ideas, hidden talents, creativity and curiosity. To be with him is to learn something new every minute of the day, and I look forward to a lifetime of learning by his side.

Oliver, July 1984

Oliver doesn't ask for much on his birthday. In fact, he pretty much only asks for one thing: no nagging. I think you just got a little glimpse into our relationship. So, each year on the 26th of June, I muster all of my strength to leave the poor boy alone and give him a nag-free day. Not to worry, I always make up for it on June 27th!

Apparently, the stylin' jacket above was part of a matching faux denim suit. Pretty SWEET.

So, on his 33rd birthday, he can look forward to a sunny, nag-free day that will end with a delicious baked good.

Happy Birthday to me...AND spring forward!

Me, circa 2003, as interpreted by Oliver's illustrative hand

Today is a big day: my 31st birthday and daylight savings! I've been celebrating all weekend with a delicious family dinner at Le Relais de Venise, a super fun bachelorette party for my friend of thirteen years and bride-to-be, Becky (she actually gave ME a card at her own party. She is for real the most thoughtful person I know), and a scrumptious brunch at Balthazar followed by a stroll in the rain with my fine husband.

This was our first experience at the much-loved New York institution. We've been building up our expectations about the it ever since we received a gift card to the restaurant from Oliver's brother and his girlfriend. I'm no food blogger, and this place doesn't need another review talking about the intricacies of what makes is great, but the bottom line is, it did not disappoint. We ate like kings surrounded by stunningly accurate French bistro decor and impeccable branding and identity from the front sign to the menus.

Image courtesy Balthazar

Image courtesy Mucca Design

I've been excited about springing forward every since we fell back because it's sad to wake up before the sun and come home after it's gone down! I like to jog in the evenings, but not in the cold, dark winter. And with the brutal winter we've had this year, I'm more ready than ever for some outside time! To capture the dewy, clean essence of spring, a photograph Oliver took in 2004:

I love the colors (future blog post on blue and yellow in the works) and the freshness. I can practically smell spring when I look at this picture.

Love to you all xoxo

snOwMG

During an early morning Facebook exchange regarding the weather and all the hubub about it, one of our funniest friends gave us the gift of snOwMG and I just had to share. The exchange:

The weather has been nasty for the last few days, see?

Ok, it kind of looks pretty, but it's really ANNOYING. Especially if you have to be in it all day. For work. Carrying 20,000 pounds of stone samples, a computer and a can of paint to touch up a client's wall after a curtain install gone wrong. And you are really more of a warm weather person. Enough complaining! Back to imagery.....

Oliver, looking thrilled, on his way out the door this morning:

I'm heading out now, but you won't see a picture of me. I refuse to document myself wearing my horrible, floor-length sleeping bag coat.