Printmaking: Winter Trees and Rosehips
I made a commitment to set aside more time to being creative (read: spend time away from the computer) in 2010 and so far, so good. Result? First prints of the New Year!
I was inspired by wintry flora, which turned into a tree series as well as a rosehip print.
Both of the prints were carved onto simple erasers and then printed onto white and brown paper. Need some printing inspiration? Check out the fantastic book Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin.
Public Art and Architecture: Creative Subways Around the World
One of my favorite parts about traveling is finding fabulous works of public art and design. I can spend hours walking around cities on the lookout for creative installations, which is why I am a sucker for interesting subway architecture. Stockholm’s subway system happens to be a personal favorite, but there are many other underground systems around the world that make taking public transportation more than just getting from point A to point B.
I pulled together a list of cool subways over at Been Seen, along with a number of photos. The list is long, going from New York all the way to Dubai. Here’s a visual taste:
Check out the full article here.
Snowflake Study
I’ve got snow on the mind, so had to feature this Graphic Study of the Snowflake by Andrei D. Robu.
[Via: swissmiss]
What I Learned on Vacation, or, Thoughts for 2010
I was asked to post something that I had thought about during vakay… so I came up with this:
The one thing they don’t teach you in school is that when you’re out of school, there’s no such thing as a Christmas vacation… at least not the two week kind. Which is exactly why I upped my nose at the real world, co-founded my own business and set out on a venture that let me plan my own schedule that has very little to do with 9-5. Hence the reason that I actually had a Christmas vacation.
That vacation kicked off with a four day backcountry snowshoe trip, during which I had a lot of time to think (you’re forced to come up with inspiring thoughts when you’re sludging through pouring rain and ice). 2009 was a year filled with many negatives — recession, climate change, reality shows — but the goal is of course to pull ourselves from the ashes and hit the new decade with a renewed sense of energy. So from the snowy slopes of backcountry snowshoes trails, here are my life conclusions that I’m taking into 2010.
1. Spend more time outside, and drag someone else along while you’re at it. Taking off on a four day backcountry adventure seemed like no big deal. Why? Because I grew up with a father that encouraged and inspired outdoor pursuits at an early age. Take a child, a cousin, a friend — hell, even an enemy — on an outdoor adventure and see where it takes them. We could all use a little more fresh air in our lives.
2. Watch at least one sunset and one sunrise every week. Experiencing this fantastic part of the daily natural rhythm is inspiring. And it doesn’t cost anything. (P.S. That’s my 62 year-old mother doing a Christmas Day warrior on a very rocky beach…)
A Garden Friendly Calendar
It’s that time of year when people stock up on paper calendars, most likely in the hopes of keeping their year organized. But think of all the calendars that hundreds of thousands of stores will be selling in the next few weeks… that adds up to a lot of paper, and you can be sure that much of it isn’t recycled content.
Albeit beautiful, calendars are certainly on the “eco unlist,” which is why I’m digging these Bloomin’ Calendars. Made with seed paper, as each month ends, you can plant the page, keeping you organized and waste-free and your garden happy.
Winter Sunset
Frost covered the ground for the larger part of the day, a white dusting remaining in cold corners protected by the shade of trees. Typical Pacific Northwest gray rain clouds were traded for clear winter skies, a brisk nip in the air. On beautiful days like this, it’s clear that the evening landscape shouldn’t be missed, and we packed up a thermos of tea and headed for one of the many rocky beaches of the Puget Sound.
Quiet and clear, as afternoon turned into dusk, the seasonal sun set, with warm colors reflecting off of soft clouds, turning the sky into a winter painting. With the setting sun, the air turned colder, and steam rose from our tea cups as we looked out over the calm waters and breathed in the winds of the season.
That’s how you should spend Christmas Day…
God Jul!
A classic Swedish Christmas in a Pacific Northwest home tucked away in the winter forest…
God Jul!
Copenhagen Bike Share
Digging the new bike share designs that won a contest sponsored by the city of Copenhagen. Good looking and functional; definitely a combination that should get more people riding.
We’ve posted more pictures over at Under Solen — go take a look!
Friday Photo: Stop… And Take the Train
My winter adventures kick off today with a train ride on the Amtrak. So I figured it was only fitting to make today’s Friday Photo train related. Taken at the Portland station, this small sign made me stop take a second look down the tracks. Hopefully it’s not the only thing helping to guide the trains as they make their way into the station…
