you don't have to go to college

my cats are safe at home.

2011-11-18T19:55:00.000-08:00

i moved b-a-c-k to baltimore. jazzy came to get me. we slept in salt lake city, laramie, des moines, chicago, buffalo, and boston. when we got to baltimore we were homeless for over a week. living in my car with the cats was probably the lowest part of my entire life.

2011-07-13T23:43:00.001-07:00

dad.

2011-05-11T18:27:00.000-07:00

my rejection from pratt's BFA program, left, 2008/my father's rejection letter from yale law school, right, 1973

my rejection letter from a magnet performing arts high school, left, 2004/my father's rejection letter from cal tech for his bachelor's, right, 1969

true to others-precise-strong affection-faithful-emotional

adequate but somewhat weak

mexicali house

2011-05-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

finished! here are photos of photos of some of the final prints

crappy iphone picture of them installed:

2011-04-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

been working on this set of photos i took at the house my dad grew up in. as it turns out, i still love photo i just hate black and white. who knew?

2010-12-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

made this.

before it was finished:

2010-11-25T08:45:00.000-08:00

2010-11-09T14:01:00.000-08:00

hi, i still make things.

some things:

(go to college, stay in college, stay in a city you hate just so you don't feel like a "failure")

a book that doesn't make sense yet, or, why my embroidery teacher says i don't belong in art school.

california home on the left, baltimore rowhouse on the right

perry's shirt. and sweater.

i think i'm moving home and attending CCA after this semester.

2010-09-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

names and where they were found here

third day back to school and i'm already overwhelmed. all i want to do is this for the rest of my life.

2010-06-11T17:07:00.001-07:00

2010-06-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

peter lyon, henry lyon, and mary dwan came to visit for a few days on their way back from california. these pictures are from loch raven.

they were the best houseguests.

2010-06-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

finally got film processed and finally have a scanner. crappy prints+crappy scanner=ok with me.

2010-06-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

all of our pets are dying.

2010-06-06T11:18:00.001-07:00

found at cultural center light rail stop.

i envy this person's authority. i hope to be more bossy in 2010 (yes i treat every day like it's the first day of the current year. new new year's resolutions all the time.)

2010-05-29T16:34:00.001-07:00

2010-05-13T20:47:00.001-07:00

this is not my fault.

2010-05-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

thanks to marlo for being thoughtful enough to grab my camera and take these photos. valeska held a potluck and "graduation ceremony" for us at her house on the last day of school. i am going to miss that class so very much.

"boyfriend art"

2010-04-23T17:39:00.001-07:00

merit badges for perry

2010-04-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

drawing II assignment. (it was a stretch)

2010-04-13T09:12:00.001-07:00

2010-04-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

i live here.

things to work on:

not feeling stuck
being brave
letting go
never getting too comfortable
and learning to love that

i think the last two will help the first one.

2010-04-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

dear sonoma county residents,

i am collecting stories about tom waits. i have never met or seen the man and i don't even know what he looks like. i've heard many stories and would like to collect them all to make one very strange depiction of the guy. if you participate, i promise to send you a copy of the collection in the form of a neat handmade tape or CD. all you have to do is get in touch with me and i'll give you a call and record our "interview", or you can just leave me a voicemail here: 410 929 7842. it's a skype number, so don't worry about waking me or anything. no story is too small! "sightings" are enough.

thank you.

susie

2010-04-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

perry and i brought our pet toad back to where we found him last summer. it was sad, sad, sad. but we left him with hundreds of his toad friends mating in this swampy area so he should be stoked. this is him, caractacus:

the toads make this really cool mating call and when they do it, they puff up there throats like this

some toads doin it and laying eggs

vanessa and perry toad watching

really cool toad (fowlers i think?) he was sitting on a log as we were admiring his size and wishin' he'd come closer to us so we could catch him when he did just that! he swam almost directly into perry's hands.

this is a fox skull i found

perry caught a green frog. they are very tricky. he got away.

this is one of maybe 3 pictures of perry and me.

this is some audio i recorded of the sound the toads make

2010-03-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

2010-03-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

when we first got here.

i had thirty mosquito bites and a sweet tan.

i want it to be summer so bad. i want cicadas and sticky humidity and taharka brothers ice cream and mushrooms and fishing and bikes and bugs and bug bites and dirty feet and summer rain and thunder storms and and and and toads.

2010-03-07T08:46:00.001-08:00

spring spring spring spring spring!

maybe that's all i've been needing.

2010-02-24T10:28:00.000-08:00

(i ran out of the the right color thread)

my grandmother passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of eighty-six. i started this embroidery in november. i had no idea she was ill. i wish i would have spent time with her instead of trying to be close to her via a silly embroidery.

i spent the last few days with her in the hospital. i knew that she was "not doing well" and was "not herself", but there isn't really anything i could have done to prepare myself for the person i saw in that hospital bed.

i'm just glad she is at peace now.

2010-02-12T06:54:00.000-08:00

i've officially had an entire week off of school thanks to snow. i'm thankful for all the sewin' work i've gotten done because of it.

i was wanting to keep every bag i sold, so i had to make myself a bag to top them all. here it is:

it is huge.

i also put this bag on etsy. it's pretty much reversible.

2010-02-08T11:50:00.001-08:00

my street on the day the snowpocalypse hit.

2010-01-28T12:35:00.000-08:00

i made this bag! because i have a sewing machine again! i'm going to be making more bags and selling them on etsy for around $30. maybe more maybe less. probably the same.

oh, i also stitched this awesome hankie onto my cardigan!

2010-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

home! here are some pictures from the day we left california. we went to newt spot and caught newts (for keeps!)

2009-12-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

a good end to a good year.

2009-12-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

(yesterday)

(today)

oh yeah, it snows here. i wonder how long the honeymoon will last. it's already over for perry, who has to commute two hours to work tomorrow by light rail/bus/foot.

i'm leaving for california tomorrow. i'll be there for two whole weeks. here's a list of things i am going to eat:

1. sol food. when i get in. and as much as i can after that.

2. pupusas

3. a taco truck burrito.

4. in-n-out fries and grilled cheese

2009-12-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

the places we explored when we first arrived here in july are almost unrecognizable now. it's so strange to actually have seasons. we visited our #1 mushroom spot a couple of weeks ago an it was covered in snow. it looked so small.

i'm going back to california on monday. i'm excited. and nervous. i'm afraid i won't want to come back.

2009-12-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

part of my elements project. it doubles as a gift for perry.

2009-11-25T13:33:00.001-08:00

i have been meaning to draw/embroider this for over a year.

2009-11-24T19:26:00.000-08:00

i've been in a funk these past few weeks. i worry a lot. i have the constant fear that i am getting too comfortable--in any given situation. taking these silly pictures is the only thing that has made me feel calm and focused.

2009-11-11T12:08:00.000-08:00

been meaning to post these for so long.

2009-11-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

notsogreat negative scans from basic photo:

2009-11-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

belated halloween costume picture

stolen ideas from craft: and conor thiessen. i made my costume two hours before we went out. BY HAND.

2009-10-20T07:45:00.001-07:00

whew, so thankful for fall break. i spent the past two days embroidering nonstop.

(my mom)

2009-10-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

based on...

2009-10-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

we've been here for two months.

2009-09-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

cicada plush!

i still need to make three legs and another pincher and then decide if i want to attach all the pieces or not.

2009-09-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

some pictures from loch raven.

2009-09-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

i am unravelling. i'm ok during the day. but at night i get cranky and overwhelmed and inconsolable. i don't know what i need.

this is what my bed has looked like for the past week or so.

2009-09-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

i found this fox(?) skull at loch raven the other day. it is the first skull i've ever found! the teeth keep falling out, though, and i'm starting to wonder if it's even worth keeping?

and, related...our dead stuff box is growing...

2009-09-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

ah! as i mentioned before, mose's band, campfire, put out this tape recently. the picture on the cover is from perry's and my newt catchin' spot off of coleman valley road. the whole thing turned out really neat! i was so excited to receive these in the mail today, you have no idea. i actually whacked myself in my right eye with my apartment keys trying to get the envelope open while i was waiting for the elevator. i'm pretty sure it's going to bruise.

2009-09-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

more pictures i developed with kottie

2009-09-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

kottie, my dear roommate, taught me how to process color film!

this was taken at loch raven on my birthday last month.

2009-09-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

perry and i picked black chanterelles, red chanterelles, yellow chanterelles, and hedgehogs today all within baltimore city limits. yessssss.

2009-09-04T17:54:00.001-07:00

perry and i started an insect collection the first week we moved here. it's small because we don't want to kill the bugs we collect. the swallowtail was found dead on the side of the road, the cicada was found dead on the sidewalk, and the cicada exoskeletons were found on trees outside our builing.

in other news, i successfully made it through my first week of art school!

2009-08-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

perry and i went mushrooming today. we found red chanterelles and toads!

i start school tomorrow. eeeeeeep!

2009-08-26T21:21:00.000-07:00

new and improved chanterelle badge!

2009-08-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

mose put out a tape and made these really pretty casings for them usin' my picture! they turned out really great. you can get your hands on one here.

that's about as ~artistically~ productive as i've been. get it? get it? because i didn't actually do anything for that? yep. school starts in a week and i really hope i feel like making art by then.

2009-08-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

elliott's new favorite spot.

2009-08-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

that's perry catching his first fish here. this is him being bummed that it was a largemouth bass:

pumpkinseed!

rock bass!

tiniest toad ever!

2009-08-01T22:27:00.001-07:00

we made it to maryland. boy, cat, pacman frog, and (two!) baby toads included. i was sure elliott was going to die on the plane ride (he was drugged and looked awful). i spent the entire six and a half hour flight watching his fur closely through the carrier trying to figure out if he was still breathing or not. he's completely fine now. very cuddly and well adjusted.

we had an incredibly good start to our new adventure. in bethesda, MD (where we are staying with my aunt) we (perry) spotted: an american toad, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, a brown water snake, a snapping turtle, red eared turtles, sun fish, bluegill, a skink, turkey tails, cup fungus, a sugino tourny crankset (found in the creek behind my aunt's house?!), lamb's quarters, and a great blue heron. in baltimore, MD, we found purslane and shaggy manes (mushrooms! edible, delicious ones right by my school!).

we also got the keys to our new apartment. it's a pretty darn good one and we're paying half as much as we were.

yessssssssss.

2009-07-19T11:19:00.001-07:00

i made this. it took me months because i got really bored with it. it is my second version of this. i wanted to give it a go now that i know about embroidery hoops and all that.

i'm moving in less than two weeks!

2009-07-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

i am pretty sure my sx-70 is dead forever. what a loss!

2009-07-05T13:05:00.001-07:00

i kinda want to just spend the rest of my summer here.

2009-07-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

we put in our notice at 623 1/2 yesterday! it's happening.

2009-05-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

he said yes!

things i don't understand and definitely do not want to talk about

2009-05-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

i've spent the entire day at work researching maryland fishing and mushroom hunting in preparation for a power point presentation i'm making to convince perry to move there with me.
five hours. i'm not kidding. i had no idea until i looked at the time just now.
i joined a forum called "mushroom talk"
what if he says no?

i stole this idea from jen snow via miranda july. you should read jen's blog here.

2009-04-28T21:53:00.000-07:00

it's really, really happening.

(i'll need a new blog name now.)

2009-04-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

oh, newt spot.

2009-04-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

family

one more week, approximately, until i will have everything i need to make the big college decision by may 1st.

2009-04-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

i can't seem to think rationally no matter how hard i try. i either feel completely detached from my life here and want to run away, or i feel completely attached and don't ever want to leave.

2009-03-15T17:45:00.001-07:00

perry and i went to portland earlier this week. we stayed with matt harra (where these photos were taken) and had a lovely time!

2009-03-06T16:45:00.000-08:00

we got firebelly toads this week. they are really, really cute.

in other news, i was accepted to PNCA today!

2009-03-04T18:31:00.001-08:00

i brought my hasselblad to noise pop.

2009-03-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

i wish she'd come home more.

2009-03-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

i haven't ridden my bike since that week when my transmission exploded. now it lives in perry's dad's garage. i feel guilty.

2009-03-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

lost polaroid

2009-01-22T15:57:00.001-08:00

i love getting into my bed when it's been made, but i hate making it.

and i wish the focus of this was better.

2009-01-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

it feels good to be taking pictures again.

2009-01-16T11:04:00.001-08:00

i got myself a hasselblad at the end of december. this is the second roll of film i've shot with it.

all of those were taken on tuesday with miriam. we went to bodega bay and my beloved newt spot. i'm very happy we took advantage of the faux summery weather for once. it felt good to be outside.

2009-01-11T19:34:00.000-08:00

candy caps that perry picked

2008-12-27T00:19:00.000-08:00

perry's been picking all the mushrooms

2008-12-18T14:10:00.001-08:00

wrangler butt.

2008-12-09T15:21:00.000-08:00

amanita muscaria

lazy bones

2008-12-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

2008-12-06T18:24:00.001-08:00

christmas ornament

felt bolete

we moved!

2008-12-06T14:23:00.000-08:00

kitchen art

more pictures when we're done unpacking.

2008-12-03T10:58:00.001-08:00

mushroom hunting with djuna and perry

2008-12-03T10:42:00.001-08:00

2008-11-24T22:41:00.000-08:00

i ran away to portland on sunday and i am having a ball. i go home tomorrow! que loco!

2008-11-24T00:58:00.000-08:00

new embroidery

from:

it's not quite done.

2008-11-17T16:44:00.000-08:00

the art show was delightful. all of the good people were there and everything ran smoothly. here are some pictures.

(click to view larger!)

chelsea's his and hers pillows.

thermostat cozy (not part of the show, but i just made it and i'm excited.)

liz made cocktails

gabe's review here

2008-11-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

i'm getting ready for sunday.

2008-11-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

perry found more boletes!

2008-11-05T23:32:00.000-08:00

i'm making christmas ornaments!

i'm going to make lots more owls and some mushrooms. i don't know what else yet. cameras? maybe i can make more mario characters stuff like this.

2008-11-05T22:42:00.001-08:00

perry found boletes today!

look at how happy he looks.

and oh yeah, way to go america!

2008-11-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

i only take pictures of elliott and perry and my bed/window.

2008-11-04T11:33:00.001-08:00

this is the only exciting "adult" thing i have done since i turned eighteen.

2008-11-03T22:26:00.000-08:00

i finished the bjork dress. i didn't really get to show it off much though. perry and i just stayed in and watched grey gardens.

i'm so happy for the rain! a cozy day inside the house was exactly what i needed today.

projects:

1. plush christmas ornaments

2. flyer for the art show at my house nov. 16th

3. pins to be sold on etsy soon

4. scarves to be sold on etsy soon as well

5. patchwork quilt perry and i are starting

6. more embroidery!!!! i want to embroider some mushrooms for perry and also some insects!!

7. finish rag doll!

2008-10-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

i loved raggedy ann dolls when i was little. i called them "jane dolls." named after the lady who made me my first. i would make my mom buy me almost every doll we found. i still have about 10 dolls in a box at my mom's house, but i've been wanting to make one myself for a while now. i finally got to work today. she still needs hair, shoes, and clothes. the hair is going to be tricky. i have no idea where to start.

i also made pumpkin bread today! it turned out pretty good.

2008-10-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

perry has some pretty good fabrics. yesterday, i remembered that i have access to them.

so i made pins

and a shirt!

2008-10-15T21:32:00.001-07:00

i'm making a swan dress.

2008-10-15T21:25:00.001-07:00

red velvet