i n s p i r a t i o n

Slowly getting acquainted again.

When it is unknown, be still and alert.

From David Garrigues

"...Be on the scent of it. That's enough. Don't neglect it..."

Pratihara - to look inward. All senses focused inward. Mastery of the senses. I am using my senses to track what i am doing - senses, nervous system, brain... in real time... asana research and pranayama... 

nearly anything goes

be kind

If you aren't following David, his instagram posts are so cool and inspiring. 

https://www.instagram.com/davidgarriguesyoga/

 

From the Archive

 S p r i n g 

Meals: 

salads every day. Especially a simple arugula salad tossed with fresh lemon, olive oil and parmesan. 

Journal entry from 2016

Excerpts from A Bourdain's Book on Japan

"... In Japan you are confronted constantly, almost violently with how much you don't know. I liked that feeling, I liked that steep, virtually impossible learning curve. I liked, it turned out, that strange feeling of  being a stranger in a strange yet wonderful land, not understanding the language, lost, every little thing a discovery." p x

"...It was a glorious and lasting derangement of the senses that first trip, and I've never been the same since..." p xi

"...The plan is to stay here as long as it takes to find stories like these -- deep, experiential narratives that tell us something about this country that only the food and its creators can...

 "...micro disciplines with infinite room for improvement...The concept of 'Shokuin', an artisan deeply and singularly dedicated to his or her craft, is at the core of Japanese culture... 'The shokuin has a social obligation to work his or her best for the general welfare of the people.' says sculptor Taiso Odate, The obligation is both spiritual and material in that no matter what it is, it is the shokiun's obligation to fulfill that requirement.'"

The Record

Happy 2021 and best wishes for a slow, thoughtful year ahead. I am traveling home to New Mexico after 10 days in Pennsylvania. 

Because my birthday is on New Year's Day there is some added pressure around resolutions and intentions for the year. Here are a few benchmarks that I would like to do this year. Some fun, some exploratory, and some just dogged work. January is going to be good. 

Art

• Quarterly studio visits (schedule TPS and Suzanne for March)
• Make my studio a residency with monthly and weekly goals
• Make 1 pen and ink drawings a month 40x40 or 30x30 or 20x20 
• Explore Flashe paints and start a new body of work on paper - with standard sheet size
• Daily morning pages 
• Get a maker's mark
• Meet with carver
• Make a birthday quilt +++++

Health + Wellbeing

• Cleanse on the seasonal changes
• Daily 20 minute walk with blue
• Daily yoga
• Daily meditation with Calm app
• Sunday hikes
• full moon camping quarterly
• acupuncture + facials or massage quarterly
• Cook 1 new vegetarian recipe a month

Business

• Make 8k a month
• Set up 1% to the planet
• Set up quarterly and monthly taxes
• Present and Propose
• Set up a shop page on Light | Space and list jewelry for sale quarterly
• Follow the principles of Profit First - set up P|l sheet
• Keep quickbooks up to date or hire a book keeper
• Investigate pitchbox or hire a drafter per project
• Stick to instagram goals 

Financial

• Eliminate debt 
• Have a 6 month emergency account
• Max IRA
• Don't spend
• Keep the car clean and maintained
• 6 month emergency account
• conference and festival fund
• Streamline all extraneous bank accounts 

Home life and habits

• Re arrange studio
• Build a wooden table
• Get a vacuum cleaner
• buy new coffee and water travel containers
• De-clutter 
• Make pots for all succulents
• make juice on Saturdays and freeze
• Weekly cleaning on Friday and Tuesday

Inspiration - Graphic tees

I love a good graphic tee, it can elevate a simple outfit. I live in black, so most of the designs that I am drawn to are strong simple graphic or typography. They are a great way to remember a trip, a designer or a favorite destination. Here are a few favorites, and one that got away. 

Maude Andrade cloud tee

the mañana tee

marfa book co tee

Opuntia Cafe Tee

The one that got a way is a die wilder limited edition by artist Tasya Van Ree. She came onto my radar through the socials, or an interview about fashion and art. interview-coveteur  The lesson is to get on those limited runs if they strike your fancy. I am thinking about getting the intergalactic girl's club hoodie for the winter ahead....

tasya tee

inspiration

I use tool boxes, trays and baskets to keep things organized, they are visually pleasing and remind me of all of the studios that I've had over time. I usually buy used ones - I have one that a previous owner taped the handle to make it really comfortable. I keep my grinder and glass cutting tools in it. My favorite in this list is the spare parts trays. The first basket is from La Boheme | Santa Fe one of my favorite places to browse in Santa Fe and where I discovered the Oaxacan baskets. 

My favorite in this list is the spare parts trays I would use them for papers and jewelry supplies. I prefer to have lids, but the orange color would be great in my minimal space. And incredibly helpful for coralling all the little things.

Take a look



the spare parts tray

nesting cases

 

the silver Japanese box

the Oaxacan basket

another Oaxacan basket

the record 9/29-10/6

ink on paper 2013

September 29-October 6th
Hello, how was your week? This is a way for me to capture some of the things that I've done and thought about, read and listened to each week. Things to look forward to and back at.

• I worked with Michael to get elevations and surveying on my clients property in the East Mountains. I will work with the client on minimal aesthetic choices that create focal points in a 10 acre property. These include groves of trees, stone boulder groupings and Japanese inspired pathways.

• I am starting to expand on my design philosophy as a way to hone the way that I discuss and approach talking to clients, reading a site and discerning the spatial and planting potential of each site and client. The intent is to listen- to the spoken and unspoken desires of the project owner, expanding the possibilities of what would work, and what they don't know they want. By looking at the whole project or site, style of architecture, lifestyle, present and future goals we can create a design that is timeless, grows well, settles in and fits well.

• I finished a 40x40 inch drawing, it's up on the wall. Its a big looming form. It catches me by surprise. I'm excited to have some work under my hand. So lovely.

• I need to find a photographer for the library project.
• I'm so excited to think about writing and publishing as a way of research that is separate from academia. That I drive, that I decide on. 
• We started a mastermind group to keep each other accountable and motivated, as well as working towards collaborative projects and competitions, we can each start working on articles, books and side hustles to support the cause. The cause is to have a profitable business. 
• I made my first turquoise square ring last week. It's not perfect, but i like it. I want to make about 20, and then post them on instagram for sale.
• I am writing morning pages, and I can feel a shift, a deepening, a commitment to my work and my life. Things are coming forth to meet me. What you sing to, comes.

Listening:

I listen to a ton of podcasts each week, when I'm driving, walking, working on production and filling time. I'd like to be more intentional and at least recap what I am learning and hearing, rather than just consume information because it is interesting and keeps me company. I listen to 2 ultra endurance based podcasts, as well as poetry, process, business and personal interviews. I would say that most of what I like to listen to is personally challenging. To be more consistent at working out, eating whole food and plant based, consistent in my drawing and yoga practice, and consistent in my business. I'm in my first year, and it is very easy to get discouraged. The learning curve is steep, it requires a lot of humility and patience. I am learning to ask for help. But listening to other folks in the trenches is really helpful too. As Chris Hauth says " You've got to do the work."

• The Moment, Bryan Koppelman | Steve Gorman | Black Keys drummer who just published a memoir
• Rich Roll Podcast | Ryan Holliday new book Stillness is the Key, I had never heard him describe his writing method before- he uses boxes and index cards that have a keyword at the top, I want to use that system for studying and for writing my first article on the library. There is something about the physical accumulation of cards and facts that appeals to me. I can shuffle them around in real space. I can see the gaps and themes, It will get me out of my head, and onto graspable notes. I can make boxes for each article and book that I write.
• Finding Mastery | Apollo Ohno- On competition and life, very interesting conversation, I remember watching him dominate in the winter olympics. Strong visualization techniques, In addition to being dedicated at practice he focused on mental toughness.
• Tim Ferris | David Allen | 384- The art of getting things done. He promotes getting things out of your head. 

 "That process takes, usually, in my experience over all these years, for the mid- to senior level professional that we actually coach with this process, it takes one to six hours, just to capture what has their attention. Not to organize it. Not to prioritize it. Not to make decisions about it. Just to identify it."

• Tim Ferris | Safi Bahcall | 382 - Hypnosis and incentives. Really fascinating insights through hypnosis, on focus and conquering insomnia. I want to try it with someone in ABQ.
• Metta Hour with Sharon Salzburg - Marc Lesser the seven principles. This really hit me. I loved the principles, and have them on my desk.

1. Love the work
2. Do the work
3. Don't be an expert
4. Connect to your pain
5. Connect to the pain of others
6. Depend on others 
7. Keep making it simpler

Reading: (in progress)

• Old Buildings, New Designs- Architectural Transformations | Charles Bloszies
• From Concept to Form in Landscape Design | Grant Reid
• Site Engineering for Landscape Architecture | Steven Strom
• The Professional Practice of Landscape Architecture | Walter Rogers

Numbers: 

Yoga  x 20 2

Walking x 30 4

Drawing 

Finished one

40 x 40 started

30 x 30 started

Morning pages x 45

3

Instagram daily average 104 minutes

the record
July 1-7

• Dogs make a road trip better. I drove from PA to NM, and it was slower than I wanted it to be, but better because I had to stop every couple of hours and take a little break.

• Things take as long as they take. I worked with my dad and Jay to install hardwood flooring into Frank's place. I love working on projects like this, because they force precision in an early 19th c brick row home that has quirky walls and floors. We worked with 4" wide oak, each piece was so beautiful and had some knots. I tried to take it as it came off of the pile, not placing too many. It will outlast all of us- it demands attention, slowness and steadiness. 

• So much to read - Looking forward to diving into some reading and writing this summer.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/26/books/best-memoirs.