A Little Piece of Good Advice

I choose to believe that this is referring to a spinning wheel. 

Signage! Around Portland, OR

I've been cataloging a few of the amazing old signs I run across in Portland. It's interesting, coming from the East Coast, to see the specific flavor still present in this relatively young city; it makes wandering about rewarding. Sidenote--the picture above represents a really good place to get pancakes.

Hey--guess what?

I'm 28 years old, and I finally learned to ride a bike! Life is good.

At Rooster Rock State Park. 

Studio update, summer 2013

When last I showed off my studio, it was September, 2012. Almost a year ago. Damn.

It looks significantly more lived in, now. As you'll see. I feel extremely fortunate to have such a happy, me-centered place in my life. And now, a photo tour. 

I'm still working on a genuine organizational system for the place; it's an ongoing process, for sure. Having been using this space for almost a year now, I've come to feel more than comfy here. Wish-list: install another pegboard; clean out some of the materials I don't need (unlikely); get a better lightsource for evening time. All pretty minor though, right? 

A quick weekend in Seattle

Have you ever been to/heard of the gum wall beneath Pike's Place Market? Despite having been to the market many times, I had not. It is surprisingly beautiful, and totally disgusting. Wonders never cease. 

Some little bits of summer, so far

From a visit to Philly, last month (above and below)

Multnomah Arts Center's ceramic studio, entrance.

Where I was lucky enough to spend my July 4th--Lake Trillium, in the shadow of Mt. Hound.

Detail shot of a damned sweet mural in Eugene, Or. 

Off-brand Barbies at the Goodwill outlet--$1.59 a pound, if you need any.

Pretty textures, of late

Carding, Spinning, and Metal-working. 

New labeling: the crazy-bright line

Just a little something new to look forward to, in the shop. 

Adventures in Nature--Marine Park, PDX and Mt. Hood

I recently had car access for awhile, which is somewhat unusual for us these days. And so some more exploring was in order. Marine Park is on the Willamette river, near Lewis and Clark College and the Sellwood bridge. It's very pretty, as you'll see. 

View of the Sellwood bridge. 

Somebody had the right idea--fires on the beach are undeniably awesome.  

And, we also got to go up to, or near, Mount Hood. Gorgeous; and how cool is it that I can go an hour outside of town any time of year and there's snow? It was sixty degrees in Portland, and winter on the mountain. 

I'm loving my new hometown about now. 

Studio details, of late

It is apparent that my Appalachian Ugly Face and my thrifted Alabaman owl mug do not really trust each other. Sadly, that mug lost it's tongue somewhere in my many moves...I still love it, though. It's in the studio in part because Peter banned from the apartment.

Green olive bowl, holding onto some freshly plied yarn in a boldly graphic sort of way. I didn't make the bowl, but I do appreciate it heartily. 

Don't read into it. It's from a New Orleans trip, several years ago. I haven't felt the need to use it yet. 

Last week was my birthday (so I acted like a child for awhile)

1. Avalon Theater and Wunderland Arcade (SE Portland, Belmont)

This game, Dirty Driving, is the funnest. Best racing arcade game ever.

2. Glowing Greens Pirate Mini-Golf! With blacklight fantasticness. (SW Portland/Downtown)

Around Portland, of Late

Now seems as fine a time as any for an around-Portland photo-dump. Ready?  

Nearby Southeast Division St. 

The Bomber Restaurant, Milwaukee OR

Columbia River Gorge--out on 84, about an hour from home.

And Multnomah Falls. Beautiful, and also only about an hour away from home. How I've lived here over a year and haven't checked this place out before is beyond me.