inspired by my friend korinne’s solution for saving her floor from table leg scuffs – she made table leg warmers with “feet” – i made a couple batches of snug fuzzy chair socks for all the chairs in my house and studio from some of the left-over stretch fur from my laptop case project. ahhh, no more grating plastic-on-tile-or-wood-floor sounds!

going through my pile of fabrics, i was also inspired to make a new tea towel by serging the edges on a piece of nifty 50′s screenprinted fabric i’ve been holding onto for years but never did anything with.

then, just to get uber-domestic i made beet hummus. YUM! if you’re ever wondering what to do with a few left-over beets i recommend this recipe [except i steamed the beats rather than roasted them, much quicker]. easy and delicious!

i moved to portland and the pacific northwest a few years back because i recognized it as a place i could live long-term economically, socially and emotionally, and much easier in the coming future years of uncertainties.

this was always one of my favorite places to visit to escape the drudgery, stress and franticness of the bay area or new york. and now i get to live here full-time! still, i sometimes need a reminder to enjoy my permanent [working] vacation. all the spring blooms and growth popping up in the neighborhood are a good reminder.

and “the most radical thing you can do: staying home as a necessity and a right” by rebecca solnit does a good job at characterizing what i’m trying to articulate!

some passages [accompanied by images from the spring bounty of my neighborhood]:

Will the world reorganize for the better? … Will we stay home and grow more of our own food with dignity, humanity, a little sweat off our own brows, and far fewer container ships and refrigerated trucks zooming across the planet?

Will we recover a more stately, settled, secure way of living as the logic of ricocheting like free electrons withers in the shifting climate?

Some of these changes must come out of the necessity to reduce carbon emissions, the unaffordability of endlessly moving people and things around. But some of it will have to come by choice. To choose it we will have to desire it—desire to stay home, own less, do less getting and spending, to see a richness that lies not in goods and powers but in the depth of connections.

foam magazine features fashion, ocean, art and music. last week one of the editors called me to chat about my tidepools and shoreline artwork. the results are here!

collages of cut out plants and flowers.

how can i not swoon over stephen’s work? especially when it’s tiny details rendered larger than life?

his flickr page is hours of entertainment!

these made me laugh all through the day yesterday every time i thought of them! by sapling press via the best part.

there’s a whole website devoted to this type of humor, dear blank, please blank. it’s been added to my bookmarks!

after a week of too much work, i took an hour out last night to peruse the blogs and found this! the rope/string seems a little wonky, but i love the idea of no nails, no glue!

“the wardrobe contains no nails, screws or glue. it all sticks together and the cabinets with the tiles are hanging in the cupboard to lock the construction, together with the elastics on the corners.” via mocoloco.

gisele, the new owner of rare device in sf found these long-lost posters i did for a show there years ago and was gracious enough to send them back!

originally an edition of 100, there are 8 left looking for new homes!

need another journal? going to target? while you’re there, you can pick up my new poppies and berries journal, or a mini journal 3-pack for $6.99 each!

chronicle books reworked some of my most popular designs into these more affordable versions especially for target shoppers, available in the journal section of target stores nationwide. [sorry they're not online!]

this morning i received not one but two lovely emails from customers that made my day!

“while i have always adored your delicate, beautiful work, i have only been able to purchase it in wee bits from time to time since i have many chronic illnesses and live on disability…..but recently i had a splurge moment and placed an order [for the nature drawing journal] with you which just arrived today…..what a delight!….such a spirit uplift in the relentlessly grey drizzle of [where i live]!…..while i too have always made art (am now 65), stranded as i am i seem to ever more delight in the small delicacies in visual experience: your differing page grids, the extraordinary choices of line, colour and rhythm…..every little detail is so pleasing….and your sensitivity to the natural world is gorgeous…..truly, i just appreciate your work so very much!….and the touch of enclosing your own card is a lovely kindness….all good blessings to you, and thank you!”

and

” just wanted to let you know how much I love your art. I truly find your works to be some of the most beautiful representations of nature ever created. I currently own two of your journals and have been using them to detail my experiences through college. The artwork inside of them is wonderful and I love the different styles on each page. I look forward to purchasing more of your journals and postcards in the future. I have been eying the drawing journal so perhaps that will be next! Thank you so much for putting your work out there for everyone to enjoy :)”

i have an amazing job and privilege!

please consider entering the raffle for HEARTS + HANDS, a community effort organized by satsuma press, bringing together more than 60 independent artists donating goods and services.

[i'm donating 3 of my most popular posters.]

100% of the proceeds from the HEARTS + HANDS raffle will be donated to relief efforts in japan in the aftermath of the march 11th earthquake and tsunami.

proceeds will go the the following organizations:

save the children

shelter box