japanese headbands

This might need to be my next work look - japanese headbands called hachimaki. Usually decorated with a logo or slogan, Japanese people used to wear them to ward off evil spirits. Students wear them when they study to get them in reved up for an exam and pregnant women in labor for birth! I took these pics within a week of each other so I think it's a sign. The first shot is from Shin Sen Gumi - the best yakitori. The second is from the unique and delicious Beverly Hills imagawayaki bakery called Fulfilled.

photo shoot

I was an art director in a previous life and always anticipated the excitement of a photo shoot - grueling but fun, lots of preparation and production for one packed day. I helped a friend document hers on video these last two days. These are all assistants on the first morning at the studio setting up. (The car is not part of the shoot!! So strange that it was there.)

Room Loom

This is Julia Sherman's second installation of the Room Loom. I missed the first one, but I was able to contribute to this one. I added the pretty light aqua blue color. The material was scrap fabric screen printed with black and white test prints. I love how the black and white got scrunched (or beat down in weaving terms) as the weft. The grey furry material to the right is dog hair. Julia's friend has 2 sheep dogs that just got shaved for the summer. She tried spinning it, but in the end, decided to just weave them in whole. The yellow and orange bunches, so brilliantly open up two sheds that we could weave into.
The installation is at at a great space called Workspace 2601 in Lincoln Heights.

Nasturtium Flower

omg! a flower grew from nasturtium seedling! everyone else is also progressing nicely...

carved wood necklace

vintage carved wood necklace with school days dangle charms from oxford jewel!

Weaving a Pattern

So this is my very first time following a weaving pattern from a book. I've always been intimidated (or lazy) to even try because it looks like math! But it's really not that bad. I've been weaving at a studio in Highland Park called Pets with Fez. Baba, the instructor is a wealth of knowledge, not to mention entertaining! I wove the red pattern with a tabby in the last class...

and experimented with a few other patterns and techniques today. This will end up being a soft, cozy, long scarf. I know it's been in the 90's these past few days, but I can't wait to see what it looks like on, hopefully not too crazy looking. The stripe on one of my favorite skirts is the color inspiration. Ooo, I probably could've gone more yellow looking at it now.

Today, I also was reminded that weaving is truly one of those age old processes that takes time and lots of patience. It's quite the opposite of the instant gratification we get from our life with computers so I am grateful that with each project, I am gradually re-learning how to slow down.

Earth Day Art Project

This morning I was Ms. Emilyn to a room full of first graders. Today is Earth Day so I stopped by my sister-in-law's classroom to help make sculptures using recycled materials brought in by the students. These sculptures will adorn their organic garden for the week.My group of 6 assembled a brilliant tree house complete with ladder and slide. The bottle and basket on the side there are part of the rollercoaster, so fun!

Another group built a robot and another below is a sea garden. I forgot to photograph the fourth one that included solar panels that one little boy was so precisely able to explain as the sun making energy.

I was so impressed, mainly because these kids have serious imaginations! We could have kept building past the one hour time frame. The lesson - creative reuse, because we don't always need new things :)

Box Inversion Video

Box Inversion: giving a second life to used boxes
By: Emilyn Eto, Supercozy
Music: Samba De Una Nota (One Note Samba) by Stan Getz

Creek Restoration

This is Earth Month so we volunteered for Heal the Bay's creek restoration at Malibu Creek State Park. The goal is simply to rid select areas of invasive plants and replace them with native ones.
We spent 4 hours of the morning digging tall invasive grass and weeds out. Important to take it out from the root or else they will quickly grow back. There were about 80 of us out there. Great to see enthusiastic young people - including ourselves :)
This was our pile two thirds of the way through. It was nice to be outdoors, do some good, be a little meditative, and catch up with our friend Sabine.
It was our first time at the park, so after lunch we took a short hike to see the hills and the creek. The tv series M.A.S.H. was filmed here. These tubes are protecting newly planted trees.
Heal the Bay's truck full of our gloves, pitch forks and shovels. Next time, we will probably do the beach clean up and call on more friends to catch up on!

beet greens

Those are dark beet greens on my plate. It was my first time having them. They were so good. I always ask them to cut them off when I buy beets. Now I know to saute these bitter greens in garlic, salt and pepper. I wanted to note them as a sort of "reclamation" of what I would normally throw away. Via my lunch at Auntie Em's.

more reclaimed furniture

More really great examples of reclaimed furniture done right... front desk at the Dream Inn, reclaimed glass jar chandelier from Cisco Home, and reclaimed wine bottle chandelier from the Bonney Doon tasting room.

reclaimed cabinets

It's all about reclaiming. The wood for these cabinets were once a wall in the neighbor's garage!! The color, texture, the concept, and even the simplicity of the cabinets - brilliant! From photographer Leo Ribbens's house in this month's issue of Elle Decoration.

succulents in vintage vase

Succulents in a vintage vase I just love, from a shop in Santa Cruz.

Virginia Johnson at Beklina

Beklina is selling these summery tunics by Virginia Johnson. I want!

Ikebana International

Old issues of Ikebana International from the the 60's. I found them at a thrift store a few years ago. They have a minimal quality and and are printed on a matte cover stock. I am debating on whether to sell them or not. They would look really great framed in a series. The artwork extends to the back cover as well. I am documenting at the very least.

Santa Cruz snaps

Summer is definitely here in Santa Cruz! Dream Inn, clever recycling basket, Soif, sea lion, and the pier...

UCSC

Stopped by UCSC before heading home. Here, roads have deer crossings, your path to a class forces you to cross bridge surrounded by towering trees, the amphitheater is part of a query, buildings are purposely hidden inside redwood forests, and dorm housing have million dollar views.

Samovar Tea Lounge

perfect lunch at Samovar - chai tea and tofu curry for me. also loved the entire place setting of ceramic tea cups, bamboo trays, aluminum plates, and unbleached cotton napkins.

Ranjani Shettar at SFMOMA

Ranjani Shettar's beautiful sculptural installation at the SFMOMA.

SF Chinatown

Walked up to Chinatown for lunch. SF's is always so bright and bustling.

Creative Leadership

John Maeda sharing his ideas about simplicity, technology, and humanity here. He also eloquently lays out the Characteristics of Creative Leadership versus Authoritative Leadership.

Poem Store

With his bike and his pretty blue typewriter, this poet is out to service the community with his creative heart and soul.