{my little corner of the world}

three years.

2009-11-12T18:30:00.001-07:00

Our three-year anniversary was on Tuesday. We kept things pretty simple this year and spent some time together hanging out in Phoenix, which included a trip to Smeeks and dinner at Lola Tapas*.

Here's the 'cards' we exchanged. I sewed a little bag, embroidered a 3 on it, and filled the bag with love notes. Clint wrote me the sweetest thing I've ever read on a piece of cardboard and rolled it up; I loved that.

Being married rocks. Oh how I love you, husband.

*both are highly recommended, and (along with many others) need to be added to my list of Phoenix favorites

freewheelin'.

2009-11-08T18:00:00.003-07:00

The last several days have been a whirlwind of events, including a few noteworthy things like helping with the blogger's lounge at Blissfest (Christina is awesome - see what we [mostly she] did with the space here), finishing all the letterpress for Clint's album art, and celebrating our anniversary which is in a couple days.

The highlight, hands down, has been acquiring our vintage Schwinn StingRay bicycles. Clint surprised me with one and later we went back to get him his own, because bike rides are way more fun together. We've already taken a few cruises around the neighborhood in this beautiful weather.

I love it. Here's to banana seats and feeling like a little kid all over again...

let it run.

2009-11-02T21:01:00.004-07:00

Despite the fact that the little owl was the most festive thing I wore, we had a great Halloween weekend with friends and family.

Despite the fact that my hips are aching (apparently I'm an 80-year-old woman?), I'm going for a run outside tonight.

Despite the fact that life gets a bit crazy, I really really really love this time of year.

darling don't you go and cut your hair.

2009-10-28T18:00:00.003-07:00

Clint and I are both really lucky when it comes to our jobs; we enjoy what we do and get to work with awesome people. His most recent work adventure/fun: a moustache contest. So I made some little posters to hang around his office.

(Right now it feels like I design all day at work, come home and design all evening. That's what happens when your hobby is also your career. I can't complain though...more fun projects coming soon.)

the company i keep.

2009-10-25T22:30:00.001-07:00

hey husband:

I'm sorry neither one of us had a great week. But thank you for moping a little bit with me yesterday and spending the last 24 hours by my side, holding me and making me laugh and reminding me that we're meant for each other. You're right -- I fit in with you (and you fit in with me).

And here's to a better week...

the color of our planet from far, far away.

2009-10-20T12:35:00.004-07:00

Over the weekend we rescued a little mid-century sofa from an estate sale. I've been wanting a new couch (unnecessarily of course, along with other things for the house*), and this one has a great shape so it will do. I may get it reupholstered, but Clint keeps proclaiming how much he loves it. And I must say he's spent more time downstairs, away from his guitars, since it arrived.

In other good news, Phoenix Design Week commences this evening! I've got a busy five days ahead.

*Any time I think about decorating our house, I get out of control... first it's a couch, then rugs, then bedding, headboard, lamp, artwork, etc. Before I know it I'm completely overwhelmed and I force myself to stop and forget everything. Someday perhaps I'll have the time, energy and money to do it all.

i remember a summer's day.

2009-10-16T15:02:00.005-07:00

It still feels like summer when I step outside, but the pumpkin I brought home and my air conditioning turned down low are helping me pretend it's fall.

a few things making me feel nostalgic today:

- Earlier this week Clint and I saw Yo La Tengo play, and it brought back several wonderful memories of our dating years.

- I just had lunch with an old friend, my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. G. I can easily say she was the most influential teacher I ever had; I loved her then and I love her now. She instilled in me a strong desire to learn that I've kept with me all these years.

- Tonight I'll be watching this movie, which was one of my favorite books as a child.

Happy weekend...
p.s. thank you for all your sweet comments about my skirt

easy enough.

2009-10-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

I'm getting braver and braver with my sewing machine all the time. One of the many reasons I love thrifting is because I can buy something for a few dollars and not freak out if I try to alter it and mess up. I saw a dress last week and immediately loved the fabric, colors and pattern. The top was really ugly (huge shoulder pads, ugly sleeves, etc.) but I brought it home anyway and cut off the top portion.

A thick band of elastic and a few zigzag stitches later, I've got myself a pretty rad skirt.

the greenest grass grows underfoot.

2009-10-09T17:30:00.002-07:00

The closet in our master bedroom is really big. I always get teased because 80% of it is filled with my clothes, shoes, and accessories. Clint gets the remaining 20% which is all he really needs and wants anyway.

Recently he decided that his PF Flyers are the greatest shoes on earth. And that he needs multiple pairs of the same exact shoe in various colors. We're up to 6 already.

Perhaps I should be worried, but everything about the situation is just too awesome not to love.

hindsight's given me too much memory.

2009-10-02T14:48:00.009-07:00

I was hoping to relax a little today, but there's way too much going on in my head and on my to-do list. So much for a day off. To take my mind off this killer headache, here's my five senses Friday:

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tasting
avocado, cucumbers, red peppers, carrots, spinach & parmigiano reggiano (making a salad for dinner with friends tonight)

hearing
Built to Spill's new album (they're coming to Tucson October 28th... see you there?)

seeing
that cathrineholm lotus plate join my kitchen collection

touching
pencil, paper, keyboard & mouse as I attempt to work on husband's album art

smelling
my favorite candle burning downstairs

---------------------

Happy weekend. I'm especially looking forward to sitting down and taking in every word of general conference.

a thing of beauty is a joy forever.*

2009-09-28T19:48:00.009-07:00

aztec peak
workman creek falls, arizona

On Saturday, my older brother and his twins took me along to Workman Creek Falls and Aztec Peak (just two hours away). The road you drive up is appropriately named From the Desert to the Tall Pines. I admit I was surprised at how pretty it was.

I had a lovely time with Ryan, Lucy, Elsa, and that amazing pesto chicken sandwich.

*by the poet John Keats (I saw a good movie about him last week with new friend Kate. And then on the drive home from this trip, we watched Mary Poppins and she quoted the same line. It's been stuck in my head and isn't it so true?)

p.s. and some happy news from last week: SeeSaw was included in the Best of Phoenix for 2009!

little secrets we bring along.

2009-09-23T18:34:00.014-07:00

prescott, arizona

See it on the map?

We stayed at an adorable little place near Prescott called The Motor Lodge (highly recommended - the style and service were perfect). I sort of wanted to move into our cozy room for good.

I loved everything about the place - especially the porch and that bench.

A few scenes from our day of walking around:

Two thumbs up for Prescott. This state is full of quaint little towns and it makes me happy to visit them (obviously, as evidenced by our trip to Jerome and our drive through Bisbee).

the summer comes undone.

2009-09-21T22:57:00.004-07:00

We took a quick weekend trip to Prescott... more coming soon. Until then, here's a photo of an old map I found there. Look at that cute Arizona sun.

leave things to change on their time.

2009-09-18T13:00:00.008-07:00

Clearly I can never resist a vintage scarf: great colors, patterns, and an inexpensive way to add interest to an outfit. Perhaps this helps explain why I plan on wearing them almost daily this fall/winter (waiting patiently for that weather).

This week I worked four ten-hour days, and now I'm really enjoying my day off. I think I'll make this a permanent schedule.

Happy weekend!

music for you | The Dodos - Fools

golden weave.

2009-09-15T12:00:00.003-07:00

On our way to church Sunday, Clint turns and looks at me with a smirk on his face and says, "I can't believe you haven't noticed yet." I had no idea what he was talking about, but after a couple minutes I realized the gold tie he was wearing matched the gold flowers on my skirt.

For some reason, it totally cracks him up to get dressed a few minutes after me and intentionally match what I'm wearing. So if you happen to run into us and our coordinating outfits: yes, we (he) planned it.

seesaw + 2010 letterpress calendar.

2009-09-11T08:00:00.002-07:00

Yeah, I'm not really ready to start thinking about 2010 already....

But SeeSaw's 2010 letterpress calendar is now complete! Our design was inspired by nature and a love for classic modern shapes, resulting in a playful exploration of form and color interaction. The design also emphasizes use after the year is over: trim off the dates, and keep the four pieces as prints.

The calendar is available for purchase in our shoppe or our etsy for $28.

a wandering soul.

2009-09-08T22:45:00.002-07:00

And that's about as exciting as our Labor Day weekend was. We spent most of the time painting our bedroom, listening to good music, and enjoying each other's company (as much as you can do so while working on home improvement projects, anyway).

collect the moments one by one.

2009-09-03T22:30:00.003-07:00

We drive around and look at houses all the time. Mostly because we like to talk about where we want to live next, what our home should look like, etc., but also because it's painfully funny to see what we could have purchased now for the same mortgage. Except Clint doesn't actually think it's funny. At all.

This month marks two years in our first house. There are a lot of things we'd do differently if we were to do it all over again. Oh well... we've learned a lot for next time, and I guess it could be worse (just ask my sister).

On the bright side, every few days after my long commute home I realize how pretty the Superstition Mountains are as a backdrop, and I smile when I turn onto our street. The tree-lined streets (a rarity in these parts) are what I first loved about this neighborhood.

Today was one of those days.

you can't emphasize everything.

2009-08-30T11:15:00.007-07:00

unrelated musings & happenings from my week

Thinking I was meant to be a runner, wishing my joints agreed with my mind... hoping my new ugly running shoes will help.

Feeling under the weather, wondering if my new approach to eating sugar again here-and-there has anything to do with that, and missing the strong immune system I had for the past 4.5 months.

Sleeping in until the sunlight through the windows wakes me up, lying in bed curled up next to my husband, just being there together listening to music before the day begins. Deciding that's what all Saturday mornings should be like.

Spending evenings with good friends and a delicious dinner (thanks for cooking, Rome!), talking about where our food comes from, and remembering I still need to read this book.

Now: resting after a busy week.

to know exactly where we're from.

2009-08-23T21:12:00.002-07:00

During the summer of 2004, after my first year of college, I moved to Chicago. I was with a group of people doing summer sales, but I got to work in the office with a few really awesome girls. Most people don't know that it was also a hard time in my life. I had been through some big changes that year and suddenly found myself struggling to figure out who I was exactly. I felt surrounded by strangers who didn't understand me at all, and sometimes that meant I was really lonely. In short, I cried a lot.

Looking back on what proved to be one of the best periods of growth in my life so far, I mostly remember the good things. How my friend Melanie and I shared a room and all of our secrets, the days I got to spend wandering the city, letters I'd get in the mail from Clint who was on a mission in Pittsburgh, the shopping and the food, rain and thunderstorms like I'd never experienced before, and how I would always feel better after a nice jog listening to my music.

I also remember a small and sort of ridiculous detail about my first day there. When I was introduced to the group and asked my favorite color, I responded with grey*. Several people called me weird, which made me uncomfortable, and that was that.

These days I take weird as a compliment. I'm grateful to be who I am, to have my own identity, and to love what it is. And of course, my love for the color grey is still evidenced everywhere from the walls in my house to the polish on my toes.

*that's how i like to spell it; also, now my favorite color changes pretty much every week...

avocado, or alligator-pear.

2009-08-20T22:45:00.003-07:00

This Emily Post cookbook from 1951 is one of my favorite finds ever. The design, typography, and illustrations are amazing; the entire thing is letterpressed; the recipes are simple; and all the content is so entertaining and filled with tips for "proper" etiquette and manners. I could probably read this cover-to-cover and enjoy every minute.

One of my favorite lines (there are many) might be, "If when fishing you should catch an eel, don't throw it away." Good to know.

------------------------------------------------------

It will be so nice someday to be home to cook dinner every night. And you better believe I'm going to use this book.

you warm my elbows.

2009-08-16T21:58:00.001-07:00

We went down to Tucson so that Clint could finish up recording his album. He spent the day in the studio; I spent the day shopping and thinking about how talented he is. I've probably heard him play each song thousands of times at home so sometimes it's hard for me to appreciate the brilliance in his music. But lately, as I've listened to everything coming together, I'm loving it. A lot. And I'm really proud of him.

(I'm also excited to work on the album art for the CD -- which will, of course, involve some letterpress goodness.)

hearts mend.

2009-08-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

mom & dad :: may 1973

Amidst what has so far been a crazy (and to be honest, sorta terrible) week, some good news: my dad's heart surgery today went well.

It also happens to be my sweet mother's birthday. Love you parents... so thankful you're both in my life.

you'll see me hangin' in a new york gallery.

2009-08-09T09:30:00.001-07:00

modern art = i could do that + yeah, but you didn't

We think that equation is hilarious. And we also love this new painting purchased for our home.

you and i, i think we can take it.

2009-08-05T12:34:00.004-07:00

Here's something I really love: when Clint stops by and says hello to me during work. Because his job requires driving all over the valley, he's occasionally in my neck of the woods (Scottsdale).

My day is always better when it includes a visit from him. And I always make him take a photobooth picture with me. My computer is developing quite the collection.

Also, this song is sweet and I'm enjoying it today:
Wilco + Feist - You and I