Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tomato, Tomato
This past weekend Michael and I spent a good full day, with the help of some very talented friends, reconstructing the derelict raised bed that adorns his parents yard. They have an amazing backyard, complete with several types of grandfatherly trees and loaded with hundreds of fireflies come summer. In the middle of the yard a small, 7'x7', raised bed was completely overgrown and needing some love. So, we decided to implement Riha Family Farm and set to work ripping out the weeds and putting in some veggies.The weeds were relentless, some of them went down to what seemed like forever, and we ended up axing out a few of the tougher ones. After weeding and turning some of the topsoil back into the bed, we added a good amount of manure (thanks to Scotty's mom's horses) and made the soil perfect for growing some hearty veggies. As we planted we supplemented each hole with some loose potting soil, to give a little more O2 to the plant roots. Once everything was planted we topped it off with some rich organic mulch that will help to maintain the moisture in the bed.
The bed now holds 4 different varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, dark green zucchini, 4 varieties of hot peppers, one sweet pepper, cilantro, basil, lavender, purple sage, rosemary, Italian parsley, marigolds, nasturtiums, and some pretty purple flowers that I couldn't resist. Hopefully Michael's parents will reap a great bounty off the plot for the rest of the summer!
Projects like these reaffirm for me that we can complement the food system in a really positive way if we approach the idea with the right tools, and the right friends! This idea of small space farming, manageable to two people who work full time, is a continuing project for me. Round one, done.
Monday, May 25, 2009
some new inspiration
Recently I am very inspired by color in significant splashes and by silverware shapes, and french breakfast radishes. hmmm.
My next project focuses on to-go wares, containers, the idea of home cooked takeout, seasonal changes in diet, bento boxes, the small American farm and how we take "home" out into the worlds we live in. The project will, of course, be made via slipcasting clay. It is also inspired by my true love of stacking, something I can never get away from. Whether it is books by the bed, rocks on a shelf, papers in the kitchen, or dishes in the cupboard, I really love anything stacked neat and square.
Here's a few examples of inspiration...
bento box inspiration...
forks, spoons, red, radish....
My next project focuses on to-go wares, containers, the idea of home cooked takeout, seasonal changes in diet, bento boxes, the small American farm and how we take "home" out into the worlds we live in. The project will, of course, be made via slipcasting clay. It is also inspired by my true love of stacking, something I can never get away from. Whether it is books by the bed, rocks on a shelf, papers in the kitchen, or dishes in the cupboard, I really love anything stacked neat and square.
Here's a few examples of inspiration...
bento box inspiration...
forks, spoons, red, radish....
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Patience
The studio space won't be free and clear until May 17th. I'll move in a few days later. Turns out I'm more excited to move in than the last students are to move out. Figures.
Beginning delayed, by a week.
Not to fret, The General Assembly will march on, slowly.
Beginning delayed, by a week.
Not to fret, The General Assembly will march on, slowly.
Shift in thought, or how I began Grad School
So, I am now shifting this blog into being more focused on my ceramic work, and less just about me. I will still include snippets of what I am up to, and of course, what delicious food I am making. All of which feeds into the ceramic work that I make. But, the focus is going to shift more into what inspirations I am finding each week and how that is influencing my choices in the design studio. It's the more personal version of the design blog we have set up at HandinHandDesign.blogspot.com, which serves to show the collaborative efforts of Michael and I.
This blog will trail through the next few years of grad school, where I'll be focused entirely on ceramics and design; the interactions of the two practices, the historical implications of industry on them and how we can take the ideas of "slow" and small into the processes of manufacturing. This will all be explored under the name General Assembly, my new title for the design work that I produce both for myself and as commissioned pieces, all for the sake of bringing strong craftsmanship into ceramic design and production.
Today I am setting up shop in the ceramics department at SAIC, studio M152, I believe. The space is great and it's right next to the slip-casting room, which will make for great instant experiments and explorations, as well as access! I'll post photos of the empty space later today, beginning the documentation of life as a grad student.
This blog will trail through the next few years of grad school, where I'll be focused entirely on ceramics and design; the interactions of the two practices, the historical implications of industry on them and how we can take the ideas of "slow" and small into the processes of manufacturing. This will all be explored under the name General Assembly, my new title for the design work that I produce both for myself and as commissioned pieces, all for the sake of bringing strong craftsmanship into ceramic design and production.
Today I am setting up shop in the ceramics department at SAIC, studio M152, I believe. The space is great and it's right next to the slip-casting room, which will make for great instant experiments and explorations, as well as access! I'll post photos of the empty space later today, beginning the documentation of life as a grad student.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
OK, so it's been 5 months since my last post...I'll admit that that is sort of ridiculous. But, I'll catch you up. I've been working a lot on getting the farm at Uncommon Ground going. We've been working with the Waldorf School, planting, harvesting, winterizing, and planning and planning and planning for this next season to come about. It's been a long 5 months, but now that spring is on the horizon all that work will be worth it. Don't forget to link over to eatthisgrowthat.blogspot.com and follow along in the progress of the farm!
September: M and I travelled to Portland, OR to check out the scene there, but first stopped in San Francisco and visited my cousin and ate at Dottie's True Blue. Yum. They have the fast pancake flipper working for them, I was in awe. One day, I told myself, one day I can flip pancakes with the speed and agility that he can. Well, maybe not, but I sure will eat them.
We toured around the Mission, ate breakfast at Tartine, saw a lot of incredible murals, ate fantastic burritos and then shopped our hearts out at Paxton Gate, where we aquirred a lovely beaver skull and some Japanese gardening scissors. 
After taking the streetcars everywhere we could we hopped a train to Portland. Everyone should take the chance to travel by train through the Pacific Northwest, it's stunning. Although, M will argue that I slept most of the way, I actually saw a lot and took some pictures. He worked on the table design for the Deceptive Design show that he was in in October.
Portland was fantastic, somewhere we both want to move to, just not quite yet. The music, the beer, the insane farmers market (complete with a biscuits and gravy stand!), all of it was perfect.
We stayed at the Ace Hotel, which was amazing and we ate the Clyde Commons, which was also amazing. The food was perfectly seasoned and the wine paired nicely. We spent our days riding bikes and bookstore hopping and getting new haircuts in fancy barber chairs. What's not to love? 
One of the days we drove out to the coast and hung out on the misty beach watching the birds and the waves. We stopped at a roadside stand and bought salmon jerky and then fell in love with the place all over again. One day we will live there, I know it.
October brought a roadtrip to Austin with my dear friend Tim, he moved there, I drove the U-Haul. It was quick but fun and we had some fantastic cupcakes at an Airstream trailer, which is maybe the best idea ever. There is some nice architecture happening in Austin and the warm weather can't be beat. We also got a chance to see a fantastic burlesque-ish bluegrass-ish band called the White Ghost Shivers, which rocked our socks off.
November...hmmm...it was mellow comparitively, but lots of work....
December came with holidays spent in Wisconsin, skiing in Wisconsin (what a trip) and ENGAGEMENT!!! M proposed in the snow on a frozen lake in the middle of nowhere with a hand crafted procelain ring. What more could a girl ask for? It was dreamy and perfect and made me cry. He's a keeper for sure...
January, too, passed fairly quick and now we are at February. It is raining out (so strange) and I am loving it. I just switched positions at the restaurant and am now going to be the Farm Director. It's really nice to know I'll have my hands in dirt all summer and that I'm contributing to sustainable food systems in a really positive and real way. More on that at my other blog eatthisgrowthat.blogspot.com
Stay tuned...it won't be another 5 months before I post again, I promise.
September: M and I travelled to Portland, OR to check out the scene there, but first stopped in San Francisco and visited my cousin and ate at Dottie's True Blue. Yum. They have the fast pancake flipper working for them, I was in awe. One day, I told myself, one day I can flip pancakes with the speed and agility that he can. Well, maybe not, but I sure will eat them.
We toured around the Mission, ate breakfast at Tartine, saw a lot of incredible murals, ate fantastic burritos and then shopped our hearts out at Paxton Gate, where we aquirred a lovely beaver skull and some Japanese gardening scissors. 
After taking the streetcars everywhere we could we hopped a train to Portland. Everyone should take the chance to travel by train through the Pacific Northwest, it's stunning. Although, M will argue that I slept most of the way, I actually saw a lot and took some pictures. He worked on the table design for the Deceptive Design show that he was in in October.
Portland was fantastic, somewhere we both want to move to, just not quite yet. The music, the beer, the insane farmers market (complete with a biscuits and gravy stand!), all of it was perfect.
We stayed at the Ace Hotel, which was amazing and we ate the Clyde Commons, which was also amazing. The food was perfectly seasoned and the wine paired nicely. We spent our days riding bikes and bookstore hopping and getting new haircuts in fancy barber chairs. What's not to love? 
One of the days we drove out to the coast and hung out on the misty beach watching the birds and the waves. We stopped at a roadside stand and bought salmon jerky and then fell in love with the place all over again. One day we will live there, I know it.
October brought a roadtrip to Austin with my dear friend Tim, he moved there, I drove the U-Haul. It was quick but fun and we had some fantastic cupcakes at an Airstream trailer, which is maybe the best idea ever. There is some nice architecture happening in Austin and the warm weather can't be beat. We also got a chance to see a fantastic burlesque-ish bluegrass-ish band called the White Ghost Shivers, which rocked our socks off.
November...hmmm...it was mellow comparitively, but lots of work....
December came with holidays spent in Wisconsin, skiing in Wisconsin (what a trip) and ENGAGEMENT!!! M proposed in the snow on a frozen lake in the middle of nowhere with a hand crafted procelain ring. What more could a girl ask for? It was dreamy and perfect and made me cry. He's a keeper for sure...
January, too, passed fairly quick and now we are at February. It is raining out (so strange) and I am loving it. I just switched positions at the restaurant and am now going to be the Farm Director. It's really nice to know I'll have my hands in dirt all summer and that I'm contributing to sustainable food systems in a really positive and real way. More on that at my other blog eatthisgrowthat.blogspot.com
Stay tuned...it won't be another 5 months before I post again, I promise.
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