MASS CR8IVITY DAY: New Children's Museum

Lots of fun things to see and do at the New Children's Museum today, including the participation of my friends: local artists Joe and John, Noe from Untitled Space, and Wendy with Sophie's Gallery.

 Joe Yorty is a craftsman like none other, creating nostalgic collections of work out of concrete, wood, and fabric. He rarely sells his work, but has a goldmine of ideas that are humorous, sentimental and well executed. Here we get to see his other half take part, in a collaboration with John Brady that makes you feel young again.

 Noe with Untitled Space

Noe Olivas can be described as welcoming, resourceful and humble. His collaborative nature gives an all-access peek of interests that are relatable and stimulating. Untitled Space exists within a 1967 Chevy Step-van, (currently trimmed with pom pom balls) and serves as both a living sculpture in itself, and a stationary forum for a variety of work. If you are looking for a cause deserving of a donation, this is the place and the person to gift it.

Sophie's Gallery

Before my current job, I spent 5 years working at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities called St. Madeleine Sophie's Center. They are a huge organization that serves over 500 adults in a setting which includes an organic garden, pool and art program. The Gallery Administrator Wendy (not pictured) is a brilliant light and has a great appreciation for hand crafted items, folk art and recycled creations. She has single-handedly brought the talents of the participating artists to the attention of the community for many years and gets very little recognition for it. This non-profit is lucky to have someone so invested in the growth and giftedness of each individual there.Today they brought a saori loom to encourage interaction between people of all walks of life.

The New Children's museum theme is 'think, play, create'. Young or old, it has much to offer and is definitely the perfect way to color your day.

Earth Intruders

I'm happiest in layers of clothing, outside, when there is a cool breeze and lots of trees. San Diego has been especially hot this year, so I thought I'd share some of my summer essentials for the fellow woodsy-type's, to get you through to autumn.

1. They eat. They speak. They move...
Bury yourself in some of my favorite classic summer reading selections.





2. Lightweight scarves are a summer staple. Besides obvious reasons they're great for using as hair ties and impromptu picnic blankets. I like to keep a wide variety handy, and most of my favorites are thrift store scores.



3. Bjork's Earth Intruder (Lexx Remix). Ecoute et répète.

4. The new Glade Rosemary & Sage collection... the room spray smells amazing when it's just too hot for candles!

5. My new favorite table decoration, Pistia, also known as Water Lettuce. Sweet little succulent-looking rosettes that float. Their roots look like feathers, making for a lovely display in a glass vase. You can get them locally at Pigment.
6. Microcosmos! (Now on Netflix instant streaming) French magic & whimsy.

7. All terrain Herbal armor for when the bugs are buggin'. Doesn't leave you smelling like Citronella either, a major plus.

8. I have an unhealthy fascination with carnivorous plants. This summer I supplemented my Venus fly trap with a Pitcher plant, which is supposed to help keep the flies away, but also looks pretty neat.


9. Spiked sweet tea drinks (with Lipton's blackberry pomegranate tea brewed in the sun) and/or the ever favored Whisky sours.

Just mix together and pour over ice, garnish.

• 4 cups orange juice (from 8 oranges)
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from 8 lemons)
• 1 cup triple sec
• 2 1/2 cups whiskey
• Ice (for serving)
• Orange slices (for serving)
• Maraschino cherry (for serving)

10. If I had a million dollars, this very well be my first purchase.

Woodhouse Natural Pools

"One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands out and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun--which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with the millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone's eyes.”
Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

A second run for the Summer Salon Series

Hard to believe it has been a year since last summer, when I was asked to participate in the Summer Salon Series at SDMA in Balboa. Josh and I collaborated on a social project we named Prescription Living, which turned out to be a hit, so much so that that we did not get to nearly half of the patient, waiting participants (a situation we still plan on rectifying in the near future).

Artist Lori Lipsman with her Prescription

David White, owner and artist at Agitprop, was asked back to co-curate another series of events happening again at the museum. This year however, has a whole new line up, which has already started and runs through September 1st. Every Thursday night from 5-9pm is a new event with a variety of emerging and already established local artists, offering responses to the civic conversation, "what does a city need?"

How do we build better cities, better communities, and in turn, better citizens?
Through shelter, dialogue, dignity of labor, identity and history, green space, creativity, economy and social consumerism, to start with.

More to consider at Agitprop's new website.

D.I.Y. Summer souvenir's

"A souvenir (French), for a remembrance or memory), memento, keepsake or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist traps around the world. But a souvenir can be any object that can be collected or purchased and transported home by the traveler. The object itself has no real significance other than the psychological connection the possessor has with the object as a symbol of past experience. Without the owner's input, the object's meaning is invisible and cannot be articulated"

Unless that souvenir is thoughtful, and unique, and (hopefully) free! Like the project I am working on with shells I just collected on vacation in Cape Hatteras.


So many beautiful shells washed up during low tide, it became addicting to scavenge the beach for gems everyday. Or sometimes twice... The Atlantic, with it's coarse sand, sea oat covered dunes, and dreamy skies made for a completely different "beach" experience for me and I want to preserve it!

Here is a little Do it Yourself project that makes a nice little memento for summer trips, and it nearly free. It just requires Ziploc bags, glass jars and a big flat space to work on.


The first step is the most fun... just collect! Either stick to a few themes, for instance a certain color ( in this case I was attracted to the black shells), or go for anything interesting. Use Ziploc bags to collect sand or gravel in an air-tight (airplane-safe) way.

Next, probably when you get home, wash everything to get the sea critters off. I enjoy the scent of the sea so I just lighted dusted off what I needed to.

Then, organize the piles of finds into categories so it is easier to put together. This is especially important if you are making several jars, or have collected for different people. You can group items together by a random mix, or by species, color, etc. This time, I am including a bit of the sea gravel, sand, and selections of special shells in each. I bought a 4 pack of small mason jars at Ace Hardware for around 5 bucks, plus found a few others at a thrift store.


Lastly, label the jar with the location of where it was collected. And boom! Nice little package for your special someone.

Happy Egyptian New Year!

The Summer Solstice, otherwise known as the longest day of the year, is here (and luckily the weather is cooperating!) And since I'm a geek I feel it is my duty to spread some necessary knowledge about it.

Solstices occur twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is oriented directly towards or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes. The name is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices the Sun's apparent movement north or south comes to a standstill.

The term solstice can also be used in a wider sense, as the date (day) that such a passage happens. The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with the seasons. In many cultures, solstices and equinoxes traditionally determine the midpoint of the seasons, which can be seen in the celebrations called midsummer and midwinter.


In Ancient Egypt, summer solstice was the most important day of the year. The sun was at its highest and the Nile River was beginning to rise. Special ceremonies were held to honor the Goddess Isis, since Egyptians believed that Isis was mourning for her dead husband Osiris, and that her tears made the Nile rise and well over. Accurately predicting the floods was of such vital importance that the appearance of the Sirius Constellation, (which occurs around the time of the summer solstice), was recognized as the beginning of the Egyptian New Year.

So, happy New Year! Since you have ample sunlight today, why not go shopping? Inventory has been updated at Lost & Found, inside Pat's. Although we don't have Amulets, we do have several picnic baskets, wicker chairs, and ladies espadrille and wedge shoes, perfect for the summer (with the recent cooperation of this weather). We also have a few mid-century coffee tables still up for grabs, night stands, women and men's vintage clothing, and much more!

What the what?!

JUNE and my Amazon purchases have arrived! I have around two more weeks till vacation and am trying to save Bossypants for my beach read, but Tina Fey has been seducing me a little each day with those big, manly hands... Can't wait to dig in! Both to the sand and the book.


In the meantime, it seems like the weather has mellowed out and summer is on it's way in. Which means, bikini shopping. ugh. On the bound for a cute 'kini if anyone can help a sister out and suggest a place to find something, um, supportive and cute. Too bad they're not made like this anymore...



Online ordering of a suit (with my kind of figure) is a no-go, so I am relying on local resources. Perhaps a synchronized sun dance will land the perfect fit, like the falling bottle in The God's must be Crazy. Wish me luck!