Belated Mother's Day

Mother's Day always hits me the morning of, when it is too late to get that gift or greeting card sent to the moms in my life.  I have lost my own mother 10 years ago and this day - among others - is an opportunity to share stories with my kids about the many likes and dislikes of my mom.  For example, she would never let a delicious piece of cake go bad, she loved to save on dish washing by eating the salad straight from the bowl, she was a bit serious, but when you could get her to laugh, it was a fiesta to be remembered.  She also loved flowers and rhododendron - for that she would have enjoyed a visit to the Pacific Northwest.  I am glad to say, though, that I have married into a family with very strong women and I enjoy being nurtured by the many role models of motherhood presented to me and my children.  Happy belated Mother's Day to all of you!

134/365, sent to Los Angeles, CA

135/365, sent to Los Angeles, CA

136/365, sent to Los Angeles, CA

137/365, sent to Tarzana, CA

pleasures of gardening

Last year have we discovered the pleasures of gardening.  It was then that we put in two vegetable beds in our yard, one of which produced incredible amounts of beautiful, luscious kale and lettuce.  This year, we relocated the less productive bed to a new spot in our parking strip.  We planted beets, peas and carrots and, alas, the seeds have transformed into starts and the peas are growing an inch a day.  What a lovely and exciting miracle to witness.  In addition, it has been our family tradition that each child gets one tomato plant that she/he nurtures throughout the summer.  This year, on top of the children's cherry tomatoes in individual containers, we have received three beautiful starts from an acquaintance.  Below are images of all the produce we hope to harvest this year.  Can't wait to taste the fruits of this years season!


129/365, hand-delivered in Seattle

130/365, hand-delivered in Seattle

131/365, hand-delivered in Seattle

132/365, hand-delivered in Seattle

133/365, hand-delivered in Bellevue

Picasso inspired flowers

Last week in my Kindergartener's art class, the children worked on imitating Picasso's bouquet of flowers.  I felt inspired to take on the theme and create bunches of flowers to be delivered as thank-you notes for friends, who attended our postcard-making brunch.  At the same time, Seattle is in bloom and the vibrant spring colors energize me.  These last days have been out of the ordinary hot and I just love taking a late night walk and smelling the fragrant flowers and plants recuperating from a long sunny day.  Bliss!


124/365, hand-delivered within Seattle, WA

125/365, sent to Seattle, WA

126/365, hand-delivered within Seattle, WA

127/365, hand-delivered within Seattle, WA

128/365, sent to Seattle, WA

What's on your desk?

Instead of reinventing the wheel every day, I have decided to explore a particular theme and medium for five consecutive days.  My first exploration deals with drawing and craft utensils.  I was inspired to draw anything and everything that lay on my desk and that I am using for my postcard project.  I used my fine sharpie and tried to render the object as truthful, but also as uniquely as possible.  In some cases, I felt inspired to add a comment that the object inspired.  To me, these everyday objects have become so essential and almost dear that they seem to be communicating in their own way.  My challenge to you is to draw one simple object that you use on a regular basis.  This does not have to be a master piece, just a small exercise in appreciation!


119/365, sent to Bellevue, WA

120/365, sent to Sammamish, WA

121/365, sent to Seattle, WA

122/365, sent to Seattle, WA

123/365, sent to Seattle, WA

120th Day of Postcard Making

Last Sunday we had a celebration in honor of 120 days of postcard making. We invited friends for a brunch and put them right to work. We placed colored markers and pencils, crayons, magazines and scissors on our large dining room table.   Kids and adults alike gathered around the table and created beautiful cards. The cards are meant as get-well cards for cancer patients at our local University of Washington hospital.   Later this week, I will deliver them to the waiting room of the UW radiation department, where people spend a lot of time waiting their turn for treatment. We hope that the cards will brighten someones day. The cards below are only a few of many wonderful cards created by friends and family!

Medieval dragons

In my previous life, I studied Medieval art history and I was fascinated by the drawings in the margins of old manuscripts.  Here was strong evidence of creativity by the scribe, about whom we otherwise no nothing.  Scribes were confined to the limits of their scribal art, making beautiful, perfect marks, without ever revealing their identity.  And yet, the monsters and odd creatures in the margins of Medieval manuscripts almost seem to be a spilling over of the scribes' personal style and creativity.  Looking at the dragons now and trying to copy some of them, it almost seems as if these creatures were forerunners of modern comic figures.  A satire invented by scribes to amuse their readers who otherwise might have been bored by the lecture of religious text.  While this all remains speculation, it is certain that the images in the margins of Medieval manuscripts are diverse and beautiful nonetheless.

114/365, sent to

115/365, sent to

116/365, sent to

117/365, sent to Seattle, WA

118/365, sent to Seattle, WA