New finds: Shells and Bones

My collections keep growing larger by the month and I'm starting to run out of space to store them! My fantasy is to have a little museum in my house where I showcase all of the stuff I collected or found throughout the years. Just last week I added another piece to my shell collection and started a bone collection. In general I prefer finding items but in some cases I will buy them if I take a special liking to them.

Clear Sundial (architectonica perspectiva Linnaeus)

Coyote atlas from The Bone Room

Art in Nature

 A gorgeous eucalyptus leaf...it looks like a pretty watercolor painting!

Last week Rodolfo and I took a brief walk through Glen Canyon Park...no big adventures, but a very fun outing. I was struck by some of the beautiful designs and patterns I saw on trees, leaves, trees, and mushrooms!

I'm really intrigued by the markings on this log, they resemble trilobite fossils

I would love to have a bath mat made from moss, it would be so plushy, and it could use the moisture!

Turkey tails...I love the shades of browns and greens in this photo

I let nature inspire me, I love observing different patterns, textures, and colors. Right now I'm trying to improve my watercolor painting technique so I can start painting along with my field notes!  I want to capture every. single. detail. I even started a new sketchbook today so I might share some sketches in February!

Preparations: My final semester!

“If you are not afraid of the voices inside you, you will not fear the critics outside you.”
― Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within

I to remember this with all of my might, especially as I start to really draft my thesis and submit it by April. This is exciting! I've been in school for so long, I never took a break after getting my BA and instead I went straight to a Master's program. I intend to take a long break after I graduate--I'll probably work/travel for a year or so and then apply to PhD programs around 2014-2015.

During the semesters I get incredibly busy, and blogging has always been at the bottom of my list...until now. I think I've found a space where I can document the experiences I seek, and while it's not directly related to my academic goals, I find that many of my hobbies and academic interests somehow intersect and offer so much insight into my life. For instance, today in my art class we watched a great Ted Talk by artist Sue Austin, who uses her art to challenge our assumptions of differently-abled people. Sue also discusses the concept of spectacle, and how creating spectacles can disrupt our current assumptions of say, people with disabilities, and instead of viewing her wheelchair as a limitation she shows the world how she can experience the ocean in ways divers cannot. My thesis focuses on how creating spectacle may disrupt or challenge preconceived notions about violence against women. I was struck by Sue Austin's discussion of spectacle, as this was a great example of how spectacles offer a new lens, a new way of thinking about disability.

Sue Austin: Deep sea diving...in a wheelchair

I highly recommend you watch it--in addition to her art, she also goes deep sea diving in her wheelchair, which affords her an incredible experience drifting through reefs with 360 degree movement. I was in awe as I watched her talk, especially when she talks about internalizing other people's reaction to her illness--and how that deeply affects our own identity. Her resiliency really resonates with me and once you watch this, I'm pretty sure you will be mesmerized.

Home Inspiration: Converted Campers, Caravans, and Buses

[Tumbleweed Tiny House Company]

Ever since I first stumbled upon Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed tiny houses I have fantasized about one day owning my own tiny house. I like the idea of road-tripping in a camper or converted bus and not spending money on hotels and food. I'd camp in beautiful spots along the way and slow down a bit in the comfort of a small but spacious mobile home. The Fencl is my favorite, and if I ever won or saved up about $50,000 this would probably be one of the first things I'd purchase.

 [Tumbleweed Tiny House Company]

[Remodelista]

This converted bus is gorgeous! Unlike the Tiny Home which is more like a scaled-down house, this converted bus is more of a comfy sleeping/lounge area and can also act as an extra lounge/guest room when not in use. I love the look/color of this bus because it blends in nicely and wouldn't draw too much attention. You can also read about the process here.

[Lovelane Caravans]

These beautifully furnished caravans are perfect for long trips. I also love the idea of parking this in our backyard and use it as a studio/guest house/study when we aren't traveling. I also thought about purchasing an old camper bus or bus and convert it into a studio.

[adhesiveproduct]

Rodolfo and I spotted this beauty in Santa Cruz, CA. I am drawn to  tiny/mobile homes for many reasons--first and foremost I think our culture emphasizes home ownership and 'bigger-is-better' mentalities and I see that as another way capitalism continues to expand. Living in a small space also encourages me to be okay with less stuff. We are constantly made to feel that what we have isn't enough and we must buy "stuff" to fill our spacious homes. I am pretty critical of consumerism, and although I am bound to the system in many ways, I try to at least be critical of the values we place on ownership of goods and property. I'm still trying to figure out where this awareness fits into my life. I still fantasize about owning a home, although if I own property, I'd probably get an empty lot and fill it with caravans and tiny cottages--it would house a community of friends and we'd have space to grow our own food as well--my little utopia, I suppose. Another reason I like tiny homes is they are generally comfy and spacious, especially if you use space-saving techniques like hidden storage and shelving. Right now I live in a two-room back house about 12 x 24 ft, and for two people it's livable and comfy. We still have a lot of work to put into it, but right now I really like our space. Perhaps in the near future I'll be able to go on adventures in my caravan or camper.