…means work. I thought there'd be some consolation by having a belated cannoli at my favorite bakery but the baker called in sick. Waaah! Some years are like this. The good news is that the barn is shaping up nicely. Some details of the dining hall, still in progress:
Wall and ceiling 'Downtown' (Ben. Moore, Color Stories series). I did a custom mix on it. Makes me think of whipped cream with some cocoa powder added to it:
This is a Hollywood Regency clock that I found at an abandoned orchard. It's a grand three feet across:
Found here:
Office space (kitchen beyond):
(Click on any photo to enlarge)
Still getting organized:
My desk:
Blue wall 'Cableknit Sweater' (Ben. Moore's Color Stories series). I'll get a more accurate take on it for the final shoot. It's more teal, richer:
Birthday bouquet from a sweet neighbor:
Handmade leather bracelet from a dear one:
Adieu.
My beautiful Italian friend Paola is selling her Moroccan guest house, located at the waters edge, facing the Strait of Gibraltar. It comes furnished with local antiques, handwoven silk and wool textiles, Italian linens and Murano mirrors. It has been lovingly decorated with Islamic Moorish artwork, Arabesque patterned stencils on the walls and Berber designs hand painted on the ceilings.
Click on images for a larger view:
Please feel free to contact me if you'd like more information. I have the floor plans.
The world was softened around the edges for a time. A most romantic time. He was profoundly romantic. In the early morning light he would go out into the dewey garden and compose bouquets. Enchanting, passionate bouquets so vast in their expression as to obscure my view of him standing there on my doorstep…in love's full bloom.
And when he had plucked all of the flowers from his garden he searched out wildflowers, foraging through a field on the cliffs and when he'd reached the farside of that he went on to another field, his passion bringing him to a place so glorious, to find love's expression so exquisite and so moving.
Even on days when he had but a moment, on his way to work, he would honor me with that expression. Sometimes just a tiny delicate rosebud, so fragile, so meaningful in it's innocence. I wept many times from the purity of it all. Time stood still. Time seemed endless, immeasureable, unrestrained. I've never known anything like it.
The sad circumstance is that we had to say goodbye while we were both powerfully, passionately in love. Now time stood still in a different way. Time hurt. It constricted and narrowed in on me. I thought it would never pass. I felt I would never reach the other side of the pain. I saw him a few times in passing after that and we both tried to make ourselves into stones, frozen, without feeling. Finally, after some time, the sharp edges were dulled enough for me to have other thoughts besides those of him. Of us. Then a certain song that had meaning for us, for our dreamtime, would play and it all came rushing back, like love's ghost.
I found a book of his, a memoir, in the book shop one day but I wasn't ready to read it yet. That was about four years ago. He died unexpectedly a couple of months ago, a week after his birthday. His obituary was published in the paper on my son Marcel's birthday.
An excerpt from a tribute article in the local newspaper written by his best friend:
"Eric would often say, 'We are as good today as we will ever be.' And I would reply, 'And you are good, Eric, very good.' I can still hear Eric's knowing voice, and fortunately, I always will."
Time is fleeting and precious…and on the best days immeasureable.
Music is a religion in Nashville:
I'm very selective when it comes to following a TV show. There have only been a few over the years that excited me enough to talk about and that kept me hooked, eagerly awaiting the next week's episode. In the past it was Crime Story (Michael Mann director; they had great guest appearances, Debbie Harry, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis…), Homocide: Life On The Street (more great cameos) and Max Headroom (cyberpunk). So you can see it's been a while since I've had anything to follow. I should interject that I loved the contemporary Sherlock series, however brief (yes, I know season 3 is coming, but it's too far between seasons to sustain interest).
Deacon Claybourne:
Enter NASHVILLE!!! The show has some incredible talent on board – Callie Khouri (Creator) and her husband T-Bone Burnett (Executive Music Producer), and the whole freakin' cast, who perform what is mostly original music themselves. The writing is like one long poetic country song — that and the production values are tight. The music plays a starring role that translates into a culture that's immersed in it, where lives revolve around it, with great highs and lows.
Scarlett O'Connor:
Avery Barkley:
The characters range from seasoned veterans (Rayna James, Deacon Claybourne) and up-and-comers, some with money (Juliette Barnes), some starving (Scarlett O'Connor, Gunnar Scott and Avery Barkley), but they're all struggling within the framework of a calculating, dollar-driven industry. Something that's missing in that mix though are the street performers. There must be a ton of them in Nashville, and pretty talented ones I'm guessing. Since the show includes some of the popular and legendary locations in the city (Bluebird Cafe, Ryman Auditorium, Scarlett's neighborhood: East Nashville, and RCA Studio B…) it would be fascinating to see some shots that included street musicians. After doing a quick review it seems that the laws regulating street performers are very strict in the city. Sad as that is, it could make for some good drama.
Free Dirt on the streets of Nashville, photo by Gary Bowen
Rayna and Deacon have the best lines in the show. Unbelievably good dialog that has me reaching for a pen time after time to jot down the words. Deacon in a quiet moment with Rayna: "You can tell me everything, or you can tell me nothing, but you can't tell me you don't love me." And Rayna, being pressured by record company execs to make a decision, "Well you can kiss my decision as it's walking out the door" and she exits, stage right[eous].
Sam Palladio who plays Gunnar Scott was the first to be cast for the series. He auditioned by webcam, live from his home outside of London. Previously he played Joe Strummer in a British TV series called Little Crackers. He's currently in a band called Salt Water Thief (from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: "Notable pirate! Thou salt-water thief!").
Gunnar with Scarlett:
The great news is that the show just got renewed for a second season YeeHaw!
In the spirit of the show, my brother Kevin did a photo session with me and Marcel on Mother's Day. It was great fun in the sun on an old farm in California:
- Charlotte BrontΓ© (Jane Eyre)
Here's to inward treasures.
Florence Welch, singer with Florence + the Machine, has her home featured in the recent issue of Vogue Magazine. “It’s like being drunk or on a ship β I think it suits me.” And I think she likes turquoise…
Photographed by Angelo Pennetta
Living Room: turquoise wall, Keith Haring poster, custom upholstered down cushion sofa
Flo on the sofa: Dior pumps resting on Turkish Bergama rug
Her Kitchen: I need a hole in my ceiling like that
Her Bathroom: more turquoise
Her Bedroom: sleigh bed from Ebay, where do those turquoise doors lead to?
Wardrobe: lots of beautiful sensible flats
In the Living Room wearing St. Laurent by Hedi Slimane. Important: if anyone has contact with Hedi tell him to contact me regarding my Marcello
Books in the bedroom. I have that same sliding book holder thing, made in India
List of some of Florence’s books if you’re interested:
Excellent Women, by Barbara Pym
W.B. Yeats: Romantic Visionary
The Beautiful and Damned, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Will Oldham on Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Edited by Alan Licht
Bonjour Tritesse and A Certain Smile, by Francoise Sagan
Evelyn Waugh (not the same book as in her library)
The Impossible Collection, by Franck Giraud
Ballets Russes, by Andre Tubeuf
The Complete Postcard Art of Gilbert and George, by Michael Bracewell
Frida Kahlo: Face To Face, by Judy Chicago and Frances Borzello
After some research I discovered the inspiration behind the turquoise color choice. She was attracted to the Southall Gasworks building in the neighborhood…
She might be interested to know that a photo of the gasworks was used in an article on electro-pollution in London neighborhoods on the web site Multi-Cultural Politic.
Now, a heavenly voice:
February 2014 Update:
Missing Link Records is missing. They had to move out due to a rent increase and as of this moment they do not have a new space. I will update this info when they do. Also, Vitamin Planet/Vinyl Planet has permanently closed, due to high rent. So sad. So many property owners have no soul, no appreciation for preserving the integrity of a community and enabling an independent business person to thrive. We've lost so many wonderful small businesses to greedy landlords.
I would however like to add a shop in Santa Rosa that I visited twice this past week and mysteriously overlooked in my original post: The Last Record Store. It's adjacent to a good health food store so you can fortify yourself before going through the long rows of vinyl. Cheers and happy hunting!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marcel and I recently took a drive up to Trinidad in Northern California to visit family…and explore. Of course as collectors we were obliged to stop at thrift shops along the way and rescue the many treasures waiting to be found. Now besides my focus on vintage goodies Marcel is tracking the scent of vinyl, still in the vintage category, so we visited a string of record shops along the way.
One of the highlights was Missing Link Records in Arcata. The energy here was so warm and friendly, and so real. We could sense right away that this place was going to have some good finds. Yes!
It's a homey little shop complete with loveseat and so many piles around the edges that I had to look hard to find where I had put down my coat when we were leaving. Like our home. One of the owners, Adam, was there with his musically sophisticated son Henry (part-time DJ, part-time toy tractor operator). Very sweet peeps. Henry likes to hang out in the glass display case that he made into a little fort. This shop has great prices and killer taste. We love it!
Soul Boy Henry:
True to the history of indie record shops Missing Link hosts live music in the store and owners Adam and Matt are dance DJs, playing a monthly Soul Night at Humboldt Brews.
Mr. and Mrs. Missing Link holding a smaller Henry:
above photo: Buck Curran, Aroborea
Next we headed over to People's Records on the plaza in Arcata:
This shop has a big inventory with a wide variety of new and vintage. I shop by mood and that day I was feeling a funk/soul vibe, thinking I was out of luck, I didn't see that category. I was there for about twenty minutes when I realized that underneath the bins, along the floor, running the entire length of the shop was the funk/soul section. You know the saying: Be careful what you wish for!
We headed down Highway 101 to Eureka where we found The Works record shop in their new location.
They have an incredible selection. I was able to find my heart's desire that day, Revisited by the band Love (who have some of the best album cover art ever). It includes one of my faves, Alone Again Or. Somehow I got into collecting versions of the song. I also have it on vinyl by The Damned and Calexico. Here's the original by Love:
The Works, a big shop with lots to discover:
Must check condition, good boy:
Continuing our drive down Highway 101:
"There must be more out there…"
We ventured south to Main Street Music in Willits. I think we only bought two records here. It's still worth a stop. They're noted as having the cleanest bathroom in town and it's true.
Pushing on, we cruised down to Ukiah to Dig Music. This is a fun place. Records start at 50 cents and they do record repair for scratched vinyl. Great memorabilia on the walls and a cool selection of patches and buttons for sale. Michael the owner was very pleasant.
They host live music and it's a favorite stop for musicians who are in town. Rod Stewart's daughter recently sat a spell at the vinyl listening station (we always appreciate a station).
Mad River from Oakland, California performing at Dig Music:
From there we drove further south to Petaluma where we were tickled to find Vitamin Planet – slash – Vinyl Planet. Yes, they sell vitamins and vinyl. Music and magnesium! Also a small but eclectic offering of used books, some real gems. I picked up a 1976 paperback called Country Lesbians: The Story of the Womanshare Collective (in Grants Pass, Oregon). It's fascinating.
Great records at unbelievable prices, shhh. Nothing is alphabetized so plan on spending some time flipping through. We bought about forty records here, our biggest haul on the trip. Phil the owner is a very sweet person. We had a nice time here.
I found so many great and unusual records. Can't wait to go back!
While in town we decided to swing by the Goodwill. Marcel found a couple of good records and I found some beautiful antique bed linens and a vintage Scottish cashmere sweater.
"Ah, he got the velcros…"
So Marcel is now collecting vinyl? Hmmm, I seem to have gotten carried away. I did mention he bought some too, right?
It was that visit to Robert Plant's house way back when that got me hooked…heh.
P.S. Check out Marcel's Tumblr
August 2014 Update:
I have two San Francisco record stores to add to the vinyl roadtrip. GROOVES at 1797 Market Street (tel. 415-436-9933). They advertise records, posters, tapes, and books, but I also noticed some t-shirts, and vintage board games and lunch boxes.
This is one of those shops where every square inch possible is packed with inventory. You wind your way through stacks of vintage vinyl, from kitchy 50s vocalists to lots of great obscure 70s grooviness. Great prices and friendly staff can't be beat.
This is just one corner of the store:
Next up, the infamous Amoeba Music on Haight Street (they have 2 other locations in Berkeley and Hollywood). It's housed in an old bowling alley where they "stock hundreds of thousands of music and movie titles from every genre imaginable." They're not kidding: that's hundreds-of-thousands. You could easily spend all day here. They don't have the slogan "The World's Largest Independent Record store" for nothing.
24,000 square feet of music love, and you don't have to rent shoes.
Also on Haight Street check out Recycled Records.
"The pursuit of second hand records has been expanded into the hunt for the best in all manner of entertainment memorabilia from circus poster to theater programs, and to the acquisition of everything from19th century sheet music, to rock posters and rare travel books."
Welcome to Grazyna's world, Popielnik, where love birds and saints emerge from weathered pieces of wood, bright bits of promise hinting at the spring blossoms under a snowy landscape.
'Love Birds On A Wooden Cloud' :
The landscape outside of her studio near Crakow, Poland:
'Blue Angel' made by her husband:
Dear
Grazyna,
If
I were to do a blog post on the pieces featured in the shop:
Are
there other artists involved? Which pieces are yours? What can you
tell me about Popielnik?
Thank
you kindly, Sylvie
Hello
Sylvie π
I
am so glad you are interested in my work, thank you.
Everything
in my shop is only mine and my husband (sold blue angel). Now I live
in the countryside, before I lived in town. My husband is the
sculptor. My grandfather was the folk sculptor. His work inspire me
the most.
My
English is very badly – I'm sorry :(
Thanks
again.
Yours,
Grazyna
Her grandfather's carvings:
Your
work is incredible, your English is incredible! I had saved that Blue
Angel in the selection of photos that I would like to use on my blog.
Your husband is very talented too.
Do
you have any photos of your work space, even if it's just a table or
a corner? Also a photo of your home inside or out, and/or the
environment, the countryside where you live…
Anything
you would like to share that you think is interesting I am interested
in.
Do
you have a photo of yourself? And your husband…and grandfather?
I
hope I'm not overwhelming you, asking too much. just do what you
like, if it is fun for you.
Thank
you!
Sylvie
Grazyna's gallery:
Her studio:
Dear Grazyna:
Dear
Grazyna,
Thank
you so much for sending those photos. I love seeing your tools and
your work space. The stump is great, and your table and stools. Is
that a sandblasting machine in the corner on the upper left.
Your
grandfather's pieces are divine π
What
kind of wood did he carve?
What
kind of wood do you use?
Sylvie
My
grandfather used linden wood.
We
use mostly: linden wood, beechwood, spruce and pine.
Thank
you Sylvie π
Rrgards,
Grazyna
The
shrine house in the photo, white with blue roof top, is that yours or
your husband's?
In
the other photo, where you say, "before our gallery", I
just want to clarify, to be certain, do you mean "in front of
the gallery"?
Thank
you!
Answer:
Shrine
is mine.
In
front of the gallery π
Thank
you π
Her tools:
Wooden Fish:
Handmade Shrine:
Back of Shrine:
Wooden Love Birds:
Wooden Ark with Tin Roof:
What
does Popielnik mean?
Answer:
Ashpan
π
Wooden Shrine with Ceramic Flowers:
DziΔkujemy Grazyna!
About page on her Etsy:
"Popielnik" is a small atelier, in which, for a few years, we have been creating unique handicrafted artworks endowed with a rustic character.
"Popielnik" is also an art gallery located in Kazimierz (a district of Cracow), which displays and sales our handicraft. The pictures painted on wooden planks and metal plates, sculptures, shrines, cherubs, little birds, horses, boxes β made mostly from old materials, polychromed with acrylic colour and patinated β look as if they were found in the attic of a peasantβs cottage. We are inspired by folk art, art brut and everyday life. We
expose the beauty of wood and care about the uniqueness of each of our artworks.
Welcome to our shop : )
This is a San Francisco family home interior design job I did (cont., Part 1 here).
Click on the photos for enlargements.
Before:
Dining table off to one side:
Convertible sofa in the corner:
Sewing equipment everywhere, even in the china cabinet:
During:
Fresh coat of benjamin Moore 'Cloud White' on all of the woodwork and china cabinet:
After:
Table is now the central focus:
The cabinet now holds china:
Convertible sofa has been moved to living room:
…and sewing machine is in its place:
So Sylvie 