island life: new neighbor

So, I seem to have a new neighbor.  Meet Mr. Raccoon.  He lives in the tree that over hangs my deck.  Last night he was very interested in watching Jasper and I watching him.  

Sorry for the poor quality of pics, It was dusk and through the sliding glass door.  Raccoons can be mean and I didn't want to make him nervous by getting closer. 

Mr. Raccoon totally lounging out on a limb.

Staring down Jasper!

shoe-spirations: manolo

My collection o' Manolo!

Thanks to Sex and the City Manolo Blahnik is a household name, but I don't think people understand what an amazing artist he is.  I own all of his books of shoe sketches and flit through them regularly for inspiration and guidance from the master.  In all honesty he kinda frightens me.  He has done it all with no formal training in shoe design.  How can anyone top his genius.  But then I think of some of my other favorite shoe designers who each have a different "voice" and then I snap out of it!  There is room in every artistic medium for new "thoughts" and "spins" to be seen and heard.  So, I shall move my self doubt aside and be thankful for these books of exquisite shoe drawings.  
Merci Mr. Blahnik!

Structured architectural lines gives this shoe a fierce persona.

His drawings give me the chills. This wedge, ohhh lala!

Drawing to reality, definitely a fantasy based reality...

meow.

Sexy spectator reincarnation!

sshhhhhhh..... silent sundays

Being the 1st silent Sunday post, this will be the only one with text.  But from here on out just pictures.  I'm a visual person who likes my silence, some people don't like silence, I think they are missing out on what can be absorbed.  These pictorial posts might be totally random pics from the week, from travels long ago, texture, color, anything, but all will be from my cameras (though the button may have been pushed by a friend, otherwise you would only see my feet).

first weekend of summer

Meet Cow & Pig... They are totally ready for the long weekend!

Up here on the island Memorial weekend is the official start of summer season.  The resort is fully booked and the marina is bustling with boats of every size.  My fingers are crossed for an exhausting work filled four days, because the more I work the closer to London I will be!  The weather has turned sunny in the nick of time.  I hope every one's weekend is awesome.  

Roche Harbor Marina is filling up!

Boats, Schooners and Yachts... oh, my!

Also here in Washington this is the last weekend of state run liquor stores.  June is ushering in a new way of procuring our libations here in the WA.  Now like I did in Arizona I will be able to grab my booze and veggies from the same establishment.  

Cheers my WA friends!

Now we can shake up Coconut Mojito's at home!
That bartender is also my flatmate, Dan. 

mail, cat naps & cookie snacks!

Today was my day off this week.  While in town running errands I picked up a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie from one of my favorite lunch spots, the Market Chef.  Now that my library books are returned, fridge stocked, laundry being washed, I can sit down and enjoy my cookie & milk while checking out my mail.  I got a letter from a friend, there is nothing nicer to get than a hand written note in the post!  I also got a package from mom & dad. It was not much a couple of shoe lasts I had left at their house, a movie, sudoku book, and my renewed passport.  Very excited for the passport my old one had expired and left me feeling trapped.  So, now I can hop a ferry up to Canada when ever I want!  Ok, bank account permitting, whatever...

Mug o' milk, chocolate chip cookie, & a letter!

Doris caught dumping the peanuts out of my package from m&d!

 There are few things more adorable than a sleeping kitty, and boy do they do this a lot!  Needless to say there is no shortage of cuteness in my life.  They both can find anywhere to take a nap.  Some spots more conventional than others, but all nap worthy in there minds.

Yarn is so cozy for napping on, huh Doris!?

Jasper loves the security of the under the covers.

shoe-spirations: making my first pair

Way back in March of 2010 I made my first pair of shoes.  I was hooked like a trailer hitch! Every morning, of my four days with Tamera Lyndsay at the Shoe College in Jerome Arizona, I jumped out of bed "time to make the shoes"! I loved every messy, tiring, thumb hammering moment!  This experience was to help me know if shoe design is my passion before going off to London to a very expensive school, after the first day I knew.  

My first shoe design was inspired by a fabric sample from Paul Smith by Maharam interior fabrics.  This was leftover from my interior design career.  It's a fabric that I always loved but had never used it in any designs.  

From drawing to shoe! 

Being the first shoe ever made we made a few adjustments from maryjane flats to a low heeled mule for easy of construction.  I do hope to remake them again some day to my exact specs, but for now these are awesome.  

Putting the sketch on the shoe last (form). 

Making patterns and cutting the leather.

The fabric that inspired a shoe.

Starting to look like the drawing!

Stretching the leather onto the last and tacking it down.

Adding more stripe detail to the heels.

Removing the excess leather from the sole of the shoe.

Leather is formed, glued and smoothed.

Filling in the gaps with cork. Bottoms need to be flat before the finished sole is applied.

Tracing the recycled car-mat rubber soles.

Rubber cement is getting tacky for a good adhesion.

Stick! I love the tread on the soles!

Heels are secure.

Sock liner in and last ink touch-ups.

My very first shoes done!

This experience was a pivotal moment for me.  Thanks to my new shoe guru Tamera Lyndsey this all happened and I can't wait to do it for the rest of my life.  I hope to be in my shoe workshop at 85 still whacking my thumb & cursing whilst tacking leather to my last.  

mother's day hike

Since my fabulous mother is in another city for this Mother's Day I decided to spend it with Mother Nature.  I grew up hiking and camping with my family so I love a good sunny day on a trail. I rode my bike to the trail head and then let my feet take me around Briggs Lake and up Young Hill.  I saw 5 bald eagles (one taking off across the water, amazing!), woodpeckers, flowers, moss, lily pads, ferns unfurling, dragonflies and bumblebees!  Mother Nature is flippin' awesome!  Three hours later I was riding back home and feeling a bit sore already.  

I figure I will keep with this nature theme for the day by settling in for the evening with Birdsong from PBS Masterpiece Classic.  I know this is a stretch.  Birdsong, birds... nature?!  Ha.  None the less this is my nights entertainment. 

My trusty Golden Beam awaits my return at the trail head.

Briggs Lake 

Green green lush moss.

One Momma did not have a good Mother's Day.  :(

Brilliant fuchsia blossoms turning into berries.

Top of Young Hill.

kitty shenanigan's: like a cat to water

It was always my understanding that cats hate water. Then I met Doris, my darling orange haired girlie girl kitty. She actually comes running when the shower starts, jumping in between the liner and curtain to await the puddles of water that accumulate on the tubs edge. So, actually she probably just has a drinking problem. Like an alcoholic salivating to the sound of ice cubes in a highball, Doris too knows the sound of her next drink, the first burst of water through the shower head. I know what you are thinking, give her fresh water in a bowl. I do! Everyday! She comes running the second I pick up the bowl to clean and refill, meowing till it's replaced for her drinking pleasure. 

Awaiting her next drink o' bath tub gin

Did I mention she is a lazy drinker?!

No, Doris... that is mom's coffee, not water. 

In fact I can no longer drink water from an open glass. I have to use a double-walled glass with top and straw. Anyone else have a cat with a drink problem?!

Have a good Mother's day weekend!