A GOOD REMINDER TO BE...

















HAMMERPRESS

ODE TO THE WINTER BEACH: Old Towne on a Sunday morning. Southampton, New York.

THE ORIGINAL BADASS... NOTICE FIXED GEAR.
I'm getting pumped for operation "sweet ride": Photos and explanation to follow...

CIRCUMAMBULATE THE CITY OF A DREAMY SABBATH AFTERNOON, GO FROM GORLEARS HOOK TO GOENTLES SLIP, AND FROM THENCE, BY WHITEHALL, NORTH-WARD. WHAT DO YOU SEE? - POSTED LIKE SILENT SENTINELS ALL AROUND THE TOWN, STAND THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF MORTAL MEN FIXED IN OCEAN REVERIES. SOME LEANING AGAINST THE SPILES; SOME SEATED UPON THE PIERHEADS; SOME LOOKING OVER THE BULWARKS OF SHIPS FROM CHINA; SOME HIGH ALOFT IN THE RIGGINGS, AS IF STRIVING TO GET A STILL BETTER SEAWARD PEEP.

HERMAN MELVILLE
MOBY DICK

Snap shot of vanity this morning: party aftermath.
Flourite, Nars: jungle red, Erica Weiner creation, vintage Timex, creaturish piece of drift wood.

BIG SKY; BIG NOSE

the hyperbolic crochet coral reef

This lusciously colorful and fuzzy exhibit, designed to bring awareness to global warming and the delicate predicament of the coral reef, landed in the gallery windows on the corner of 9th st. and Broadway last winter. I've thought about it periodically throughout the year, the concept of creating art that mimics the structure and patterns of nature itself in this benignly glorious way is so clever. I'm awe inspired on all sorts of levels and hope you are too.

Actually these hyperbolic forms can be glimpsed all around, in the ruffled edges of kale leaves, the ruching that “Project Runway” designers favor, rippling ballerina tutus and drugstore scrunchies that girls use to gather a ponytail.

Yet mathematicians hadn’t focused attention in their direction. It wasn’t until 1997 that Daina Taimina, a mathematics researcher at Cornell who had learned to crochet as a child in Latvia, realized that by continually adding stitches in a precise repeating pattern she could create three-dimensional models of hyperbolic geometry.

For the first time mathematicians could, as Ms. Wertheim said, “hold the theorems in their hands.”

Patricia Cohen. Want to Save A Coral Reef? Bring Along Your Crochet Hook. New York Times. March 4, 2008.

Matador: a study on silhouette.

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery- celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean Luc Godard said: "It's not where you take things from, it's where you take them to."

- Jim Jarmusch

December 13: bone beach booty.

This morning's procrastination called for a little roasting, and a redo of Bittman's upside down pear tart which was most excellent when I made it last week, (if I do say so myself)... except I ran out of pears so I substituted sweet potatoes, a last minute decision that seems to be working out well. The purple cauliflower head got a little burnt, but actually, it has a purply crunchy texture that is intriguing. I quite like it. Sometimes I really feel so lucky, what with all the curious accidents that happen around here.

Town Bike: part I

1. CAD plan and revisions.
2. Torch and tips
3. Custom forks.
4. Custom top tube lugs.
5. How they work.
6. Board for hanging tools, taken off an antique lathe.

My cousin Spencer Wright of Traffic Cycle Design hand makes insane custom bicycles. He's currently undertaking a Town Bike experiment. These photos represent many hours of careful crafting and dedication to the refinement of detail and function. I'm eagerly anticipating the final product, replete with Brooks saddle, curved crossbar and custom handlebars, though I'm trying to convince Spencer to leave the steel unfinished (I have a thing for raw metal). I've been told on several occasions this would be impractical as the bike would rust if left in the rain (even better). I'll keep you updated on the progress of the Town Bike as the components take shape.

See more photos on Trafficbikes Flickr account.

A thought I had after reading Matthew E. May's 'In Pursuit of Elegance':

"WHAT DO MOLESKINS, MACS AND MEDITATION HAVE IN COMMON?


... Elegant absence."

A collection of shots from my old apartment-cum-studio in the village last winter.

1. Blissed out playing with color combinations.... yes, that's a Marc Jacobs bootie that I bought on sale 2 sizes too small. Shoes never fail to make women do remarkably odd and painful things. Promptly sold on Ebay.
2. A muslin for an apre ceremony wedding dress.
3. Prints and inspiration.
4. My closet/foyer.
5. Procrastination by OCD object placement.

Apparently this is where they keep the water...

We had an impromptu photo shoot yesterday in Williamsburg that went so so well! I'm tres excited about the results... more to follow on the website. Isn't Prudence gorgeous? wow.

Jack Peñate - Tonight's Today

Jack Penate | MySpace Music Videos

Gentry Dayton's Chopper

The Radish:
Watermelon
Black Spanish Round

I'm magnetically drawn to the radish. It's vivid color, bulbous shape and oddly creaturish attitude are irresistible. I bring them home from the market with delight and let them sit on my windowsill so none of their glory gets stifled by the cold stale air of the refrigerator. Pretty soon feelings of guilt start to surface as I realize I'm avoiding the dubious task of actually eating the radish. Yes, they're easy on the eye but not so easy on the palette. Maybe I could figure out a way to taxidermy radishes, then I could admire endlessly.

Here's a delicate little spur of the moment recipe that's not half bad when you absolutely must do something about that guilty feeling:

Dice the radish up into very fine little slivery matchsticks, mix with a sliced avocado, a few snips of dulse, a handful of cilantro, a squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of olive oil and a crush of sea salt.
Toss gently.

Monday morning beach booty.

Discovery

Two recent discoveries that hit the sweet spot.

Passed along by my dear dear friend and mastermind behind Wear Headphones Tonight.

provisions

I was walking along Front St. the other day while visiting a friend in the financial district and I spied a little sign down a cobble stoned side street reading “provisions”. This, of course, peaked my interest due to the fact that I grew up playing hide and seek with my brother among the isles of another store by the very same name. Upon closer inspection it became clear that it was absolutely necessary to bide my time for a full hour at a nearby café for said shop to open. How could I not??? The façade was covered in black board paint! How brilliant is that? Plus I was on a mission to find some balsamic vinegar that was delicious but not painfully expensive… and 75 minutes later voila!! My prayers answered: a beautiful bottle of balsamic, plus a bottle of buttery melt in your mouth olive oil (Stonehouse, estate blend) and to top it all off, a bar of irresistibly wrapped Fleur de Sel Mast Brothers Chocolate. I could have gone on but it was necessary to edit to the essentials while surrounded by luscious goodness. Yes, I was sipping olive oil, discussing flavor subtlety, and getting excited about gluten free baking with Rachelle, the gorgeous brunette proprietress, before noon on a Thursday… hmmm, life is just so delicious sometimes. Besides recently opening Provisions, Rachelle is also launching her own line of gluten free baking mixes called Sweet Tallulah. Yay for gluten free loveliness!!! And for people who are doing beautifully crafted things with so much care it makes you want to tell the world.

provisions 150 Beekman St.