A Break Through... relief

At long last, a break through. I guess we all go through creative blocks. I have been in one that has been HUGE! I mean, GIGANTIC like Godzilla. I did not have words, nor photos, nor interest in making jewelry, not even much interest in cooking anything fun. It's the end of a black year and a year that has been filled with mostly shit. But in the past week, I have rediscovered some old friends and gotten closer to people who have been in my life for years. Also, I have thrown off a gigantic weight. That feels AMAZING. I guess once the weight was gone the creativity began to flow. Unfortunately it did not come in time to make all the presents that I wanted to make for Christmas, but there are loads of birthdays in 2012, so I promise to catch up. It feels good to be back.

Here is something that I put together in the past 15 minutes. My fingers just flew as it came out of my brain. I had all the pieces in my bead box and sitting on my work table. The photo in the locket is hard to see (it's hard to photograph photos that are behind glass, let alone slightly magnified glass) but it is a photo of some old fashioned roses and is made with the vintage process called Van Dyke Brown. On the flip side is an image of a gargoyle on Notre Dame in Paris.

The next few days will be busy preparing for Christmas and a trip to the East Coast. I'm not sure if I will get to post again, but there will be photos from the trip and hopefully there will be snow.

Whichever holiday you choose to celebrate, I hope that it is a spectacular one.

Happiness is Halloween in Napa and a Warm Puppy

I love Halloween but I haven't dressed in costume in years. Halloween in San Francisco's Castro District became a bit of a drag when it got so crowded that crossing the street took 30 minutes. It became scary the year that people started shooting at each other.

I decided this year it was time to get back to celebrating Halloween. I wanted to go out to a proper party and have some proper Halloween fun! I wanted something that wasn't a bar but that had lots of dancing and some cocktails or wine - so adults only. Most importantly, I wanted to go someplace where everyone would be in costume. A winery in Napa offered exactly what we were looking for: a pagan costume ball! Perfect! There was dancing, a photo booth, lots of food and even more wine! The winery even turned the wine cellar into really scary torture chamber and haunted house! The owner of the winery, Dario Sattui,  greeted everyone at the winery's castle doors, and directed us through the castle to the festivities. He was dressed in a tuxedo, reminding me a bit of Lurch from the Addams Family television show. There were over 700 costumed party-goers dancing their behinds off, having a grand time! I can't wait for next year's party!

We decided to stay in Santa Rosa, which is in Sonoma, so we could go to the Schultz Museum on Sunday. I loved the cartoons when I was a kid, and still chuckle at the strip when I catch them in the newspaper. The museum is great, though it is more about Charles M. Shultz and less about the cartoon characters. There is just enough for kids though, even the kid in me. 

 

 

We stayed in an old hotel in the Railroad District of Santa Rosa. It's a really lovely place. Hotel La Rose is perfect walking distance to lots of shops, restaurants and a fantastic coffee shop, Cafe Aroma that served a delicious Voodoo Chai latte - a chai latte with a shot of espresso.

We drove through Napa Valley on the way home to the SF Bay Area. We stopped at a few places to taste wines. It was a slow day and the  workers at the wineries were happy to see us so we got extra pours of delicious wine. Weekdays off season in Napa are the time to go.

The sunlight on Monday was glorious all day. Just as the sun was starting to set, it was most gorgeous as it came through the grape vines at Twomey Winery. It was one of our last stops of the day and they let us wander through the grapes without supervision. They even let us pull some from the vines to taste. I think they were sauvignon blanc grapes. Tasty It made me realize that California's beaches aren't the only place that offer a gorgeous sunset.

Diana F images to follow soon. I'll be dropping the film with the photo shop tomorrow.

My Brain Hurts

During this year, I wanted to take the time to learn Adobe's InDesign. I have made a couple of books through Blurb.com with some success, but I have often thought that my books would be better with improved design skills. In an attempt to improve my skills, I registered for an on-line course. This is my first course that is entirely on-line and I am realizing that there are some subjects that I can consume and digest rapidly and some that take me much, much longer. I didn't expect it to be easy, but it has become quite a struggle. Maybe I am too old? Nah, I refuse to accept that excuse. Maybe I am too slow for something so technical? Perhaps. It is pretty technical. I am learning a new language and software while stretching myself artistically. Whatever it is, my brain is pretty exhausted. I can't wait until winter when I take a course in hand-made books.

Mission Santa Clara Cemetery

I have been playing with my Diana F quite a bit lately and trying to replicate some results. It might be tough to do as I am not terribly scientific in my approach and my camera is a plastic toy, not that I mean that as a negative statement, it is just slightly unpredictable, and my film is expired. But, I am persistent, I choose similar subjects, similar light and use the same film, Velvia 50. My subjects are all statues. One of the best places with plenty of statues near me is the Mission Santa Clara Cemetery. 


Today I brought my Diana F and shot off a roll. I also tossed my DSLR into my bag, just in case. Here are some photos from the cemetery. The film goes to the developer this weekend. I've got my fingers crossed that I have some success. I have also come to realize that cemeteries are really wonderful places to work when you need some peace and quiet.

Treasures

During this year of getting back to what is creative and what inspires me, I find myself wandering in San Francisco. Today I spent the better part of the afternoon with a friend walking along the Embarcadero, into Chinatown, North Beach, up to Coit Tower and back again. I love these long walks because I often find treasures. These treasures can be chance meetings of interesting strangers, new shops or restaurants or coming across, inspirational and heart-felt signs on lamp posts.

When you find treasures in the city I think that it's good to share them. Treasures don't necessarily mean riches. They can be simple things, like a park bench in the warm setting sun.

Where I Dream

I read once that if you can't make a beautiful picture in even the most seemingly mundane places then you can't expect to make a beautiful picture in the most fantastic. A bed can seem mundane, but this is where I dream.

I'm not sure where to start really, but I told myself that I would try blogging. The past year or so has been pretty crazy for me personally. As a photographer and a creative person that can be good or bad. For me, it hasn't been that great. I have lost my way creatively. I am not really happy with what I make and inspiration does not come as easily as it once did.

So, I am finally taking the advice of some friends and committing myself to taking some time to focus on my photography, getting back into making jewelry and doing whatever else comes to me that is creative. I will try to do this for the next year. Since photography is my main artistic outlet, I will try to focus on a couple of key projects that I am most passionate about and experiment a little bit when the mood strikes.

This blog is to be a journal of sorts to keep me actively involved in my projects; to keep me accountable in a way. For discussion, I'll toss in whatever creative endeavors I have going at any moment - photos, jewelry, paper arts, even cooking. Photos all along the way, I promise.