village mews

Signing Out...

2009-10-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

It has officially been a year since I started this blog. Village Mews began as a way for me to educate myself on Northwest art and design as well as share what I uncovered. The year of research and posts has led me to connect with new Northwest friends that I will surely be inspired by for years to come.

I will continue to post to my professional blog here, my meal blog (until the end of the year) here, as well as continue to be a co-organizer over at JOIN: Design Seattle.

Thanks so much for reading. Go West!

Northwest LOVE: The New Guard

2009-10-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than good food, music and art? Not in my book. That is why I am so in love with the concept of The New Guard here in Seattle. Curated by Whitney Ricketts, Damien Jurado, Sarah Jurado and Joey Veltkamp, The New Guard brings together an up-and-coming artist, musician and chef with a group of diners for a meal that celebrates "the arrival of a new legion of creators."

I haven't attended one of these events yet, but it is definitely on my to-do list for the new year. The next dinner on October 29th will bring together Eliot Guthrie, Kate Tucker and Gala Bent.

The above photo by Sarah Jurado is from The New Guard website. See more pics from the first dinner here. Sign up on their mailing list here for invites to future events. Hope to see you there!

Eye Candy: Marie Claire Maison

2009-10-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

A few of kitchen ideas that I have been stockpiling from one of my favorite interiors magazines: Marie Claire Maison.

Northwest LOVE: Brite Collective

2009-10-15T13:42:00.001-07:00

Had the pleasure of participating in an AMAZING collaboration, Eat My Story, organized by Brite Collective and Tricia Martin a couple weeks ago here in Seattle. Participants were asked to write a short story then select a few ingredients that related to that story. We all met at Via Tribunali in Georgetown with our ingredients and then spent the afternoon combining them into custom pizzas, sharing stories and drinking Montepulciano.

Brite Collective, an extension of JOIN: Design Seattle, is a group dedicated to providing "spontaneous and fun design events made to stimulate, inspire, and unite the Seattle design community for both designers and non-designers." Previous workshops led by Brite have included a lighting design project and a field sketching project as part of Park(ing) Day.

Trica Martin is an eating designer based in Portland, OR. She recently started Food Loyal, a business that links eating design to catered events. Read more about her work from my previous post here or on her blog, Eating Is Art.

The first five photos are from Tricia Martin's blog here. The rest are mine.

Eye Candy: Fall Harvest on Bainbridge Island

2009-10-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

Played hooky a couple weeks ago to help with the harvest at Bainbridge Island Vineyards & Winery. Above are the Pinot Noir grapes that were picked. While we were there we also got to check out the pumpkins and other squash at Suyematsu Farms glowing in the morning sun.

Seattle SEE: David Hamlin + Ron Lambert, NW Editions, The Old, Weird America

2009-10-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

There are some great shows in Seattle this week. Here are my favorites:

(1) Proposals for Acquired Taste at Catherine Person Gallery October 8th - November 14th. Above is Proposal for Unilateral Terrain by Ron Lambert who is showing with David Hamlin. Pictured below is David's No. 070 (neutral) made from meticulously cut recycled leather.

(2) Northwest Artist Edition Program at Open Satellite. The launch party, showcasing new work by Seattle artists Gretchen Bennett, Greg Lundgren, Jeffry Mitchell and Dan Webb is October 9th 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm with performances by Whiting Tennis and the Phantom Sons. Pictured below (third and forth photos) are works by Dan Webb and Gretchen Bennett.

(3) The Old, Weird America: Folk Themes in Contemporary Art at the Frye Art Museum October 3rd - January 3rd is also not to be missed. It is a traveling exhibition of a series of works, including those by Dario Robleto and Greta Pratt (pictured in the last two photos below), in which artists play with our understanding of American history - both fact and fiction.

Sadly, I've been out of commission with a cold/flu so I have only been able to catch The Old, Weird America. Hoping to make the other two in the next couple of weeks...

Northwest LOVE: Urbancase

2009-10-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to write something about Darin Montgomery of Urbancase, the Seattle designer I have been fortunate to get to know a little through JOIN: Design Seattle. Jean Lee and Dylan Davis, co-organizers of JOIN, just did an amazing profile of of Darin and his work at Urbancase. Check it out on the JOIN blog here.

Above and below are images of the Urbancase studio in South Park. Below is one of Darin's camera candles.

12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal.

2009-10-05T16:54:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce that Jean Lee from Seattle-based Ladies & Gentlemen Studio will be my guest diner for October over at my meal sharing project, 12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal. She is quite the feast-er, so watch out!

Along with Ladies & Gentlemen (vintage shop, studio and blog), which Jean runs with her partner Dylan Davis, she is also a partner in Chikabird with Chika Eustace. On top of all that, she is a co-organizer of JOIN: Design Seattle and Brite Collective.

Thanks Jean!!

Chase Jarvis's Seattle 100

2009-09-24T19:08:00.000-07:00

Above and below are a few of portraits from Seattle 100 by Seattle-based photographer Chase Jarvis. The selection is a result of a year-long project in which Chase and his studio attempt to document the leaders of Seattle underground culture. Five other cities are in the works for this ambitious studio.

Above is curator Robin Held of the Frye Art Museum. Below is Matt Dillon of Sitka & Spruce, Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo of Lead Pencil Studios, artist and entrepreneur Greg Lundgren, and wild edibles expert Jeremy Faber. Who would you include?

Northwest SHOP: Lambs Ear Shoe Boutique

2009-09-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

More than just amazing shoes, Lambs Ear Shoe Boutique has had its doors open in Freemont since 2007 and now offers a great website for those not based in Seattle. Each piece offered has been "carefully chosen based on material, craft and design." Their designers include Anntian (cardigan pictured above) from Berlin, Ariell De Pinto (three necklaces below) of Montreal and Loeffler Randall (shoes at bottom) of New York.

Northwest LOVE: &C. Jewelry

2009-09-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

Though I'm not really ready to rock crystals and geodes myself, I can't help but love the simple delicate jewelry of Portland-based Meghann C. Sommer of &C. Jewelry. I am especially into the chandelier crystal re-use (above and last photo below). Check out her work for yourself at Redux in Portland and Peridot and Cairo in Seattle.

Northwest SEE: Call + Response

2009-09-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know have been missing in action for a few weeks. Too much on the plate - including my vacation. I'm back and I have a lot to post so I'll make this short and sweet.

If you are in Portland before October 31st, you have to check out this little jewel box of a show, Call + Response at the Museum of Contemporary Craft. It links Oregon-based designers with Oregon-based art and design scholars/writers. Nice concept delivers rich dialog and a few stunning pieces, such as Studio Gorm's flow and the kitchen of terrestrial mechanics (above and below three photos) and shed/shelf (fifth photo below), as well as Jiseon Lee Isbara's Scattered and Feasible (last three photos).

They wouldn't let me take pictures. This is the best I could scrape together online via The Museum of Contemporary Craft website (really great, by the way) and their Flickr photostream here.

12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal.

2009-08-14T18:39:00.001-07:00

12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal. continues! Jessica is my guest diner for August. She is doing it all as she packs for a big move so expect some creative shots. Above is from the 2nd. And yes, Carl (July) still owes me a few photos...

Northwest LOVE: Becky Stern

2009-08-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

Seattle-based Becky Stern of Sternlab has a background in art, design and technology. Along with being an editor for both Craft and Make magazines, she has an incredibly diverse body of work that seems to be bound together by the way it plays with both craft and technology.

Above and below is my favorite: a recent sculpture called Iceberg. Becky writes: "This iceberg is made from cotton/linen yarn and then stiffened with acrylic. Inside is a polar bear made from ice which slowly melts down and out through the sterling silver drain on the sloped platform. The iceberg itself was made using a knotless netting technique."

Above is an embroidery piece that she is working on based on recent MRI slices of her own knees.

Above and below are Cell Phone Ski Mask and Laptop Compubody Sock, knitted works from her Body-Technology Interfaces series.

Above and below is LilyPad Embroidery: A Tribute to Leah Buechley which uses floss, electronica, conductive thread and custom software. Becky writes about the work: "I’ve been working with Leah Buechley’s LilyPad Arduino, and in true embroidery sampler fashion, have composed this circuit to see what I could do. The embroidery uses traditional floss and techniques mixed with lights and sounds generated by the onboard software. The amount of light sensed by the sensor changes the speed and pitch of the lights and sounds generated. Move your shadow or hand over it to experience the changes."

See more of Becky's work on her website here or blog here.

Northwest LOVE: Greg Clark

2009-08-06T14:14:00.000-07:00

With a background that includes Pratt Fine Arts Center, Rhode Island School of Design, Pilchuck Glass School and sculpture at the University of Washington, it is no surprise that Greg Clark, of Decicio Glass, has a body of work so expertly executed. I am amazed by the symmetry and precision but I am even more struck by the contemporary forms and color combinations of this Seattle-based artist.

Check out Greg's work in person at {far4} in Seattle. All photos are from the Decicio Glass website here.

Northwest LOVE: Heather Frazier

2009-08-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

When I first spotted these paper mobiles by Portland-based designer Heather Frazier on Daily Candy, I was immediately struck by how playful and modern they were (not to mention the sophisticated color palettes).

Each mobile is handmade from die-cut card stock shapes like circles, hexagons and flowers. Prices range from $75 for a 20" long mobile (pictured above) to $200 for a 72" long mobile. Heather also has great garlands (pictured below) that start at $38 as well as custom sculptural pieces.

Get your own through Heather's shop Frazier & Wing.

Seattle a center of up-and-coming American design?

2009-08-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

It could be thanks to JOIN: Design Seattle, the local organization that promotes "emerging American design by providing designers a forum to show work and get feedback." To date the group has hosted 3 exhibitions (most recently Ctrl+Alt+Design), started an online event calender and run a lighting design workshop through Brite Collective. The future holds more exhibitions, sales, designer profiles and a series of local factory tours.

Check out this great article from Core77 which highlights the efforts of JOIN: Design Seattle along with other emerging design clubs, like the American Design Club based in New York and Object Design League based in Chicago.

Above is the Ctrl+Alt Design exhibtion. Below is a lighting design result and workshop photo from Brite Collective. All photos are by Jean Lee.

Northwest LOVE: Egg Press

2009-07-24T18:02:00.001-07:00

Designing and handcrafting letterpress cards on their antique press since 1999, Egg Press is located in an old warehouse in southeast Portland. Known for their greeting cards (above image), their online store is also filled with goodies such as offset printed calenders (below 2 images from 2010 calender), and as seen in order below, die-cut cards, printed stitch kits and paper dolls.

If you live in Seattle, you can find their cards at Kobo at Higo and Watson Kennedy. In Vancouver, try Chickpea and Dear.

For more info check out their website and online shop here. For even more, here is a great film called Work & Wheel celebrating the 10th anniversary of Egg Press by Rob Tyler. It reminds me of an Eames film. So great. Here is to 10 more!

Northwest LOVE: Jill Bliss

2009-07-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

A Portland indie art fixture, Jill Bliss has an art and design background from both Parsons School of Design and California College of Arts and Crafts. Her website relates her work to that of a "lo-fi Martha Stewart," but I see her more as a pattern designer - a prolific and talented one at that. I love her delicate use of line and simple forms from nature.

See more of her work on her website here or in her Etsy shop here. All images are from her website or blog.

Starbucks goes "authentic"?

2009-07-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

Can't really say I'm convinced, but the potential power of a re-brand (especially one that includes environments) always gets me a little worked up. Above are some shots of 15th Ave Coffee & Tea, the "inspired by Starbucks" concept shop that opens today in a former Starbucks location on Capitol Hill here in Seattle. The interiors are re-purposed-o-rama. The espresso is being pulled on La Marzocco machines (baristas will have to be trained by Visions). The brewed coffee is made using French presses, old-fashioned ceramic-drip systems and a Clover machine.

The possible highlights for me will be the lack of frappacinos (so gross, really), and the sardines and Beecher's cheese plate that will be featured on future menus. I can't say I am optimistic that I will be deterred from local Vivace to haunt this new corporate experiment... but I'll probably give those sardines a try just to quell my curiosity.

The top photo comes from The Seattle Times' Greg Gilbert here. All other photos are from the Seattle Metblogs here.

The Greens: Flora Grubb

2009-07-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

I have been stockpiling these images of succulent vertical gardens from the Flora Grubb blog to use as inspiration for my own (one day). Succulents are my favorite because of their heartiness and low water needs. I also love the magic of being able to start new plants from clippings.

Landscape designer Flora Grubb is the co-owner and creative force behind Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco that I keep reading about in Sunset, Domino, Dwell and The New York Times. It seems to be known as THE green design-driven gardener's destination.

Above is the work of Kevin Smith (Flora's fiance) photographed by Caitlin Atkinson at Flora Grubb Gardens, below is a detail from the Sunset Magazine Cottage. The next two images are also the work of Kevin Smith. The last two are from the Ames Alley cottage by Seth Boor, Kevin Smith and Flora Grubb photographed by Marion Brenner. Love it. Love it all.

Northwest LOVE: Steve Davis

2009-07-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

Steve Davis is the Coordinator of Photography and an adjunct faculty member at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. His new works from 2007-2009 The Western Lands will be on view at James Harris Gallery along with artists Jeffry Mitchell and David Huffman June 18th - August 22nd in Seattle. Here are a few of my favorite from his website.

The Greens: iWood

2009-07-09T17:05:00.000-07:00

Designed by Stephen McMenamin of Louisville, Kentucky, iWood glasses (above and below) are made in the USA by high school students as part of an industrial tech program. The wood frames are fabricated from unusable scraps collected from an exotic veneer supplier in Indiana and are Forest Stewardship Council certified. They are an investment at $370.00 a pair but super tempting nonetheless. All photos are from the iWood website here.

The Greens: Pinball Publishing

2009-06-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

We are always looking for new green printers to work with so I was excited to get this link from J the other day. According to their website, Pinball Publising is "Portland's preferred print shop for sustainable, high quality offset printing." They offer all sorts of recycled papers and soy-based ink options.

I was most excited to see all the interesting projects that they have worked on with local artists and designers such a Nikki McClure (above). Below is an announcement for Portland's contemporary art space NAAU, a Scout Book by Brent Wick for Burke Decor, a bookmark for one of my favorite sustainable fashion shops Beklina, a poster by Scott Fray for SeaChange Global, more Scout Books by New York-based illustrator/designer Andy Pratt, and some business cards for Portland shop Little Urbanites. I am all about making my own Scout Books as soon as possible. They are my favorite way to collect notes.

All photos are from Pinball's blog CoinOp. Read more about Pinball's services on their website here.

The Greens: Sweetwater Bungalows

2009-06-19T15:46:00.001-07:00

I think I just found my newest vacation home fantasy: the canvas bungalow.

Above and below photos are from the July/August Metropolitan Home "Tentative Occupancy" spread photographed by Grey Crawford. These jewel box-like tents are stretched canvas supported by wooden frames and were built by a couple in Northern California that wanted a temporary place to live while their permanent weekend home was being built.

They bought the tent kits from Sweetwater Bungalows (also in Northern California) and upgraded them with a few details like flea market sourced french doors and an arched windows. The kitchen (second to last photo) is exposed to the elements and powered by a combo of propane and solar. According to the article, they use a leaf blower to clean it. To complete the little camp is a composting toilet and outdoor shower. Sweetwater Bungalows have a number of models to pick from and price out at a reasonable $25 per square foot.

Northwest LOVE: Brian Jungen

2009-06-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

I first saw the works of Vancouver-based Brian Jungen at the New Museum in New York about 4 years ago. I was most struck by these first four pieces (or versions of) shown above an below. The masks are assembled of Nike's and human hair. The below whale bone skeleton-like pieces are constructed of plastic chairs. Brian is Canadian with Swiss and Dunneza (Northwest Coast Indian) ancestry who is best known for his use of everyday materials to construct inventive sculptural pieces often referencing iconic Northwest Coast tribal artworks in their use of color and form.

Following the skeletons is a carved gasoline jug from 2008, golf bags used to construct totem pole-like sculptures from 2007, a blanket woven from professional sports jerseys from 2008, and a structure built from trash bins from 2009. Brian is represented by Catriona Jeffries gallery in Vancouver. See more of his work here.

Northwest LOVE: Jill Lindsey

2009-06-09T22:17:00.000-07:00

Loving these beauties by Seattleite Jill Lindsey. Jill got her fashion degree in Seattle, worked in New York for Temperly London and now calls Seattle her home again. I was pulled in by the dramatic necklines of these two (from her website here). Looking forward to seeing an installation of her newest work, Nautical Royalty, along with fellow Seattle-based designers bestgirlwins and Kimbery Baker Jewelry at Pulp Lab in Seattle June 13th - August 6th, 2009.

Northwest LOVE: Piano Noble

2009-06-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

I was reminded of Piano Noble by my friend Jamie over at Iacoli Mcallister tonight. Once I checked out their site, I remembered that I read a nice article, titled Connect to Craft, featuring their collective in Seattle Homes & Lifestyles magazine last year. I actually bought a copy of the magazine (first one ever) just for the article which also featured Seattle artisans/designers Laura Yeats, Gulassa & Co., and Meyer Wells along with one of my favorite shops in they city: Ornamo.

Back to Piano Noble... They are a Seattle-based (Ballard to be exact) collaborative studio. According to their website, they are "artists, designers, and builders." Their studio is "a gallery, a workshop, and a design studio." To top it all off, at least half of the six partners/collaborators are siblings!

Above and below are my favorites from their shop. Thanks again Jamie!

Ctrl+Alt+Design

2009-06-04T13:50:00.001-07:00

If you are in Seattle June 12 - July 12, 2009, you have to check out this amazing design exhibition curated by Join: Design Seattle featuring the following Northwest designers amoung others (27 total):

From Seattle: Brite Collective, Heath Bultman, Dreamlets, Forty-Five-09, G.S. Gartrell, Grain, Greypants, Iacoli McAllister, Jeff LaCoste, Meet Me Here, Ladies & Gentlemen, Paul Pitacitelli, Submaterial, Urbancase

From Portland: Tricia Martin, Erik Johnson

The opening is June 12th, 6:00-7:00pm (all ages) 7:00pm-Midnight (21+) at Ouch My Eye 1022 1st Avenue South in Seattle. Hope to see you all there!!

UPDATED 6/19/09: See photos from opening night thanks to Jean Lee of Ladies & Gentlemen here.

Eye Candy (part 3): Flake House

2009-06-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Loving the interior/exterior contrast of this "log cabin" called Flake House by Paris-based OLGGA Architects that I spotted on Inhabitat yesterday. The best part is that it is flat-bed truck ready.

Eye Candy (part 2): Sharon Montrose

2009-06-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

I am so not an animal person, but these prints from photographer Sharon Montrose are seriously doing it for me this afternoon. She is Los Angeles-based and these small prints (above and below) are for sale in her Etsy shop here. Large prints can be purchased from her website here. And, yes they are live animals. She shoots them (with her lens of course) at the Los Angeles Zoo. Enjoy!

Eye Candy: Mt. Rainier

2009-06-04T12:15:00.001-07:00

Erin Tyner is a self-taught photographer based in Atlanta. I love her Half Awake series where she creates little narratives using model train figures, but it was this Rainier series (above and below) from her trip to Mount Rainier National Park that I thought best to share here... The snow capped mountains feel good to look at on such a hot Northwest summer day.

If I were in New York this weekend...

2009-05-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the break in posts... I was in New York for about 10 days. Here are some of my favorites from the trip. Above and below, are large scale paintings by Gary Hume at Matthew Marks Gallery in Chelsea. The paint colors met each other with a nice ridge. Supper slick and shiny. The photos do no justice.

Below are two photos from an installation by a Chinese artist (sorry don't have the name on this). It was a large cast dragon/dinosaur-like skeleton held up by bamboo armatures. You could walk up into it until you were about 15 feet high and in its skull. It was rickety and perilous. The fear factor definitely added to the piece.

From the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, below is a stool/object called Big Knot by German designer Mirjam Huttner, followed by an amazing bowl with a feather interior called Perch by Andrew Mau, a Rhode Island School of Design furniture student.

The below chandelier is by Angus Hutcheson whose company, Ango, is based in Thailand. It looks like styrofoam peanuts at first but it is actually silk worm cocoons. I would have walked right by this if I hadn't been told to look out for it by a friend.

Below, also from ICFF, is a new carpet by Patricia Urquiola for Gandia Blasco. She is everywhere, but can do no wrong in my book.

The below bird feeder is a loaf of bread baked into the shape of a house called "Dough-Dough" by Jeff Miller at Indisposed. The concept is that it is made out of leftover bakery dough that would have otherwise been trashed. Not sure if old dough is really waste... but think this is a beautiful object at any rate.

The highlight of the trip, besides spending time with my dearest friends, was the below installation by Brazilian artist, Ernesto Neto (below three images). I have been a longtime fan. This new work, his largest to date, was overwhelmingly magical. It filled the Park Avenue Armory with tensile structures and hangings. It also carved out pool-like spaces that you could lounge in for hours. It was a nice mix of children and adults blissing out in the spaces with equally dazed and delighted expressions. The scents, that dangled above in various nodes included clove, turmeric, lavender and more. Total must experience!

Another major highlight was a tour of the almost completed first stretch of The High Line set to open to the public this June. I couldn't take any photos from above, so you will have to trust me. This space is going to transform the city. A new promenade/look-out/elevated lounge. Just wait. Its really spectacular that a city of this scale was able to pull off such a reclamation coup.

The below two images are from the Pink Party, hosted by my dear friends Emilie Baltz and Jason Orlovich. All guests were invited to arrive in pink, with rosé, and a presentation to make about the color itself. We were served an intricate menu, comprised solely of pink edibles, including the "Puberty Cake" below. This was one in a series of color-themed dining events hosted by Baltz/Orlovich. Look out for more!

My first visit to the New Museum of Contemporary Art by SANNA did not disappoint, though I think I was more impressed by the architecture and view than the actual exhibits, which were a bit hectic and self conscious. For me, the best was the view from the terrace, the sheet material used for the facade, the sleeping artwork, This is Anna, by Chu Yun from The Generational: Younger Than Jesus exhibition (where the artist has female volunteers take sleeping pills in nine-hour shifts), and the woven chairs in the lobby.

Finally, the simple pleasure of walking over the Brooklyn Bridge (dodging tourists) on a sunny day with an old friend.

Northwest LOVE: Pendleton Woolen Mills

2009-05-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

Matt Gross reminded me of these great wool blankets when he mentioned finding them at the Ace Hotel Portland. Pendleton Woolen Mills is a fifth generation family-owned business based in Portland weaving woolens in exclusively Northwest mills. Above is my favorite, the Glacier National Park Blanket, made of pure virgin wool since the 1900's and available for $160-200 on their website here.

Northwest LOVE: Frugal Traveler

2009-05-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

I kind of love Matt Gross, Frugal Traveler of The New York Times, especially when he is exploring the Northwest. His latest article Frugal Portland, is a new favorite with its food centric look at our beloved Northwest hot spot. Don't miss his Portland's Food Cart Scene video. Portland has been in the The Times a lot over the past few months (see here and here) but this has to be my favorite investigation.

For more, read his Sampling the Best of the Northwest article on Seattle from 2007 and watch his Pacific Coast video. All photos are by Leah Nash and Alan S. Weiner and are from here.

12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal.

2009-05-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that the 12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal. project continues! Lady E (mentioned in yesterday's post) is my May guest diner. She is a food enthusiast x 10 and I am loving all her contributions thus far...

Just 'cuz...

2009-05-07T23:51:00.001-07:00

Found these through my dear friend Lady E who spotted them here. Had to use every ounce of self control not to post the whole alphabet...

If I were in New York this weekend...

2009-05-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

I would be checking out the Fashioning Felt exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum. Luckily, I am going to be in town next week. If you can't make it, there is an amazing Design Blog coordinated with the show and all that is felt goodness. Here is the NYTimes review by Roberta Smith with a great slideshow (where I found the above and below photos) here.

Read my earlier post on felt here.

I want to go to there.

2009-05-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

An alternative to The Landmark Trust rentals that I wrote about here in March, Haven in Paris (originally read about here) has some beautiful rental properties in Paris, Provence and Tuscany. They are a little luxe, thus a tad more expensive, though depending on when you book and how adept you are at sharing, there are some tempting options. Above and below are images of a villa in Provence that sleeps up to 12. If you go sometime between October and May with 11 of your nearest and dearest, it can be all yours for 1,850 euros per week, which works out to about $200 per person per week! Did I mention they have an organic garden to provide all of your produce when in season? Check out all the properties here.

Northwest LOVE: Lead Pencil Studio

2009-04-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo clearly blur the boundaries between sculpture and architecture in their Seattle-based collective, Lead Pencil Studio. The above and below images (found on Flickr) are of their 2006 Maryhill Double, a three month installation in Biggs Junction, Oregon where the duo re-created a full-scale replica of the Maryhill Museum of Art from scaffolding and construction netting. Along with commercial and residential architectural work (both were trained as architects), Lead Pencil Studio has an impressive body of sculptural works that sketch out and hold space using simple materials such as string, dirt and tumbleweed. Read more about Lead Pencil Studio in a great 2006 I.D. magazine piece by Sarah Rich here and check out more of their work on their website here.

Vancouver SEE: Emily Carr Graduation 2009

2009-04-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

Congratulations graduates! Above and below are my favorite picks from the upcoming Emily Carr Graduation 2009 exhibition. The undergrad show is up May 3-10th and the grad show is up May 3-17th. Images above and below are as follows: Pleat by Nathan Martell, Stove Love by Rok Oblak, Sensory Pod by Sandy Hsiu-Chi Wang, Scatter Polts by Helma Sawatzky, Sweet Digs by Amanda Huynh, Anti-Cosmetic Campaign by Ching-Ting Tiffany Chiu, Flora: A Concept in Healthcare by Lydia Ellen Cambron. If you can't make it to Vancouver, you can see more of the graduation work here. Read more about the school here.

The Greens: Proud Mary

2009-04-22T13:54:00.001-07:00

I first read about Proud Mary on Design*Sponge. I hate re-posting but I just learned through Supermarket that they are partially based in the Northwest - Portland to be exact - so I had to add a little note here. Proud Mary is a socially responsible textile design company. They currently work with weavers and sewers in Guatemala. They pay their artisan collaborators double the average wage for their beautiful work and commit to providing them consistent and sustainable incomes. All of their textile works (shown above and below in photos from d*s) are available for purchase through the Proud Mary web shop.

The Greens: PURE

2009-04-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon PURE, an eco furniture studio based in Surrey, British Colombia via Poppytalk the other day. PURE is the effort of interior designer Ami McKay whose principles are: sustainability, health and awareness. PURE furniture pieces are made from biodegradable, sustainable, non-emitting finishes and internal materials and certified wood and fabrics. Above and below is her Hazel Settee and Coffee Table from the PURE AIR collection. See more here.

Seattle SEE: William Kentridge at Henry Art Gallery

2009-04-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

Last night was my first Rhode Island School of Design Seattle Alumni Club meet-up and it was actually really great! Organized by the new co-chairs Bill Gaylord and Kyle Gaffney, we met at the Henry Art Gallery where Henry director (and RISD alum) Sylvia Wolf and curator Elizabeth A. Brown took us on a little tour of the William Kentridge exhibition in the North Galleries. William Kentridge is a South African artist/renaissance man whose charcoal drawings transform into animated films in this little jewel box of a show. Above image, a drawing from the 8-minute film "Stereoscope," was found here. The exhibition is up until May 3rd. Don't miss it!

Northwest LOVE: Jeffry Mitchell

2009-04-18T12:25:00.001-07:00

What can I say? Total Northwest LOVE.

Seattle-based artist superstar Jeffry Mitchell is best known for his ceramic sculpture which is at once playful and sophisticated in its layers of reference. I joined the Jeffry Mitchell Facebook Fan Club the other day so I thought it was only fitting that I make a note of his work here. See him talking about his inspiration in a great little Seattle Art Museum video here. Images are from here and here.

Northwest LOVE: Chris Jordan

2009-04-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

I have been in awe of Chris Jordan's photography for some time. I think I only learned that he was Seattle-based a year or so ago. The above and below images are part his Intolerable Beauty: Portraits of American Mass Consumption series from 2003-2005 and include several images from the Seattle area. Above is Cigarette Butts (5' x 10') from 2005. The below images are Sawdust (44" x 75") shot in Tacoma in 2004, Glass (44" x 56") shot in Seattle in 2004, Recycling Yard #1 (44" x 56") shot in Seattle in 2003 and Cell Phones #2 (44" x 90") shot in Atlanta in 2005. I have seen a few of his prints in person. The scale - as you might imagine - is overwhelming.

On his website, Chris wrote the following about the series: "Exploring around our country’s shipping ports and industrial yards, where the accumulated detritus of our consumption is exposed to view like eroded layers in the Grand Canyon, I find evidence of a slow-motion apocalypse in progress. I am appalled by these scenes, and yet also drawn into them with awe and fascination. The immense scale of our consumption can appear desolate, macabre, oddly comical and ironic, and even darkly beautiful; for me its consistent feature is a staggering complexity."

All images are from his website here. Watch his TED talk here to learn more.

Northwest LOVE: Taste Matters

2009-04-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across eating design studio Taste Matters, the playful + delicious looking work of Portland-based artist and designer, Tricia Martin through Abby Try Again. Tricia's work explores how the sense of taste can be a catalyst for change. Her projects range from creative catering, educational workshops, to events. Above and below is a project titled Sweet Givings. The following photos are from a project titled Uprooted. It examines the American shared history of "uprootedness." I think my favorite project of Tricia's is Pietopia, where she asks Portlanders to create pies that taste like the current state of their lives. The project concluded with a flavor map of Portland. Read more about Pietopia in Edible Portland here. All photos are from the Taste Matters website here. Now it's time to get on the guest list for her next event...

The Greens: Vancouver Convention Centre

2009-04-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

The new Vancouver Convention Centre designed by Seattle-based LMN Architects with Vancouver-based firms MCM and DA expects to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold for its use of innovative green building technology. The six-acre rooftop garden of 400,000 native plants and grasses (see image below) is the largest non-industrial green roof in North America. Go Canada! Other green features include seawater heating and cooling, on-site water treatment and a fish habitat built into the building foundation. The Centre is thinking holistically about the 350 events they expect to have each year and have built a "scratch kitchen" that uses fresh local ingredients, donates leftovers to charity and avoids disposables. Read more about the Centre on Worldchanging here. Photos are all from the Vancouver Convention Centre website.

Bainbridge Island SEE: Bloedel Reserve

2009-04-08T23:24:00.000-07:00

Whether or not it sticks, spring officially came to the Seattle area this past weekend. I am sporting a pair of sunburned shoulders to prove it. Bloedel Reserve is a local spot that I love to haunt at each change of season. A 150-acre preserve at the Northern tip of Bainbridge Island (35 minute ferry ride from Seattle) open to the public Wednesday through Sunday by reservation, Bloedel is a magical mix of second growth forests, landscaped gardens, ponds, meadows and one spectacular view of the Puget Sound. The grounds also include a stately 1940's mansion and a Japanese tea house complete with Zen garden. One of the best aspects of Bloedel is that they only allow 20 people to be admitted every half hour - meaning you can often walk the self-guided trail (about 2 hours) without seeing any other visitors. A great adventure in any weather, I suggest bringing an incognito thermos of tea and snacks as picnicking is not allowed. For more information see the Bloedel Reserve website here. All photos were taken from here.

12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal.

2009-04-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

If you are into food... You may want to check out 12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal., a project that I started in January 2009 in an effort to keep connected with friends near and far over dinner. Every month I invite a new friend to join in on a month of meals. The photo documentation of these feasts are collected on the 12 months. 12 friends. 1 meal. blog each day. My photos are on the left and the guest diners' are on the right. So far guest diners have included James Minola, Nathan Thomas, Jolene Bolis and Aaron Johnson. If we can make it through the year, I will be compiling a book of all 12 months - including recipes and other good stuff. Check out the progress here.

Northwest LOVE: Nikki McClure

2009-04-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

Self-taught Olympia, Washington-based artist Nikki McClure has been making these meticulous paper-cuts with her Xacto knife since 1996. I am especially fond of her books, such as Things To Make And Do and Awake To Nap - my all time favorite baby shower gift - that was created while Nikki's son Finn was napping. Nikki's paper-cut originals, books, cards and calenders are all available for purchase at Buy Olympia Dot Com.

The Greens: reMade USA

2009-03-31T17:48:00.001-07:00

reMade USA is a San Francisco-based bag design company that just launched its website today. It is the effort of designer Shannon South who hand makes each one-of-a-kind bag from reused leather clothing or scraps from the furniture industry. She sources most of her leather from thrift stores and upholstery shops. Vintage scarves are used as lining. reMade USA will even make you an original bag from your own found leather (for a $25 up charge).

Shannon has quite the history in bag design so I expect that these beauties are worth the investment ($175-325). I'm saving up...

I want to go to there x 10.

2009-03-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

I have been drooling over The Landmark Trust Handbook since we ordered it a year ago. Whenever I can't sleep, I just flip through its magical pages to be whisked away to the Cotswold's, Bath or Lundy. Seriously, I'm addicted. The Landmark Trust is one of Britain's leading architectural conservation charities. It's mission, for over 40 years, has been rescuing historic buildings and giving them new life. Once impeccably restored, The Landmark Trust rents out these beauties. The income from the rentals sustains their ongoing operational costs and the acquisition of new properties. Total British preservation genius.

The most amazing part, is that these lovelies (think cottages, castles, villas, towers, forts, barns) are actually quite affordable to rent out. For example, lets look at Goddards (above images) in Surrey. It was built in 1898, sleeps 12 and is complete with its own bowling alley. If you rented it next week for a week it would cost $5153. Ok, time for some math... that equates to about $429 per person per week or $61 per person per night!!! The last time I checked, that is cheaper than staying at a Best Western. No offence to Best Western, but you can see why I am so excited about this.

If you don't have 12 friends/family that you can stand sharing a bowling alley with for a week, there is a huge collection of properties that sleep anywhere from 2 to 16 throughout the UK and also a few in Italy, like the Villa Sant' Antonio outside Rome (seen in the bottom group of images), and a couple in Vermont. To learn more about The Landmark Trust visit their website here. I also suggest ordering the Handbook if you are serious. It costs $25 and is worth every penny.

Nathan + I on Design*Sponge!!!

2009-03-25T10:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to Marichelle of Heart Handmade for the opportunity to share our friendship story on Design*Sponge today. Read our interviews here. Love you NT!

Northwest Inspiration: Ports 1961

2009-03-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

I was curious to learn more about Ports 1961 when I got an email from Seattle boutique Polite Society regarding their new spring collection. Ports 1961 is a New York-based luxury fashion house that gets its design direction from being part of a larger global village. Each season they find their inspiration from a different part of the world. Their spring 2009 collection, Beloved of the Sky, is all Pacific Northwest - drawing its inspiration from our totem poles (as seen above and below in photos from their website). Read more about the Ports 1961 spring 2009 collection here and check out their wares at Polite Society here.

MATTER: Tyvek

2009-03-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

I have been a HUGE fan of Tyvek for years... probably starting with Tord Boontje's Midsummer Light (very last image) from 2002. Technically, Tyvek is a spun #2 plastic that is bound into sheet form using pressure (no binders or glue). It's mostly known as a wind/waterproof housewrap material and as FedEx envelopes. The best thing, is that as a #2 plastic, Tyvek is totally recyclable!

Here are some of my new favorite uses. Above and below are the amazing Flake curtains/panels by Swedish designer Mia Cullen. I am kind of in love with everything she makes.

Below is a Tyvek hanging lamp from Serious Play 2008 that I found here.

Below are two hanging lamps manufactured by LA-based Artecnica (they also make Midsummer Light). The first is Anemone by Heath Nash. The second is Double Stray by Inga Sempe.

Below is simple tent that I found here. Not as glam as the rest, but it takes advantage of all of Tyvek's best qualities, like the fact that it is lightweight, durable, breathable and waterproof.

Below are a pair of Tyvek bags by Stefan Diez that I first saw on NOTCOT. See some of his other bag designs here.

These intricate laser-cut screens (above and below) are by Itlalian collaborative ToDo.

And finally... Midsummer Light by Tord Boontje.

Calling All Seattle Designers...

2009-03-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Jamie, of Iacoli & McAllister (see my previous post) and Join: Design Seattle, just sent me a quick note to spread the word on an upcoming exhibition that they are putting together with the help of friends Graypants, Inc. and Ladies & Gentlemen Studio at Ouch My Eye in Seattle celebrating innovative emerging American designers working in furniture, lighting, soft goods and home accessories. Learn more about the application process here. The deadline is May 8, 2009. The show will be up June 12 - July 12, 2009.

Also upcoming, is Design Within Reach Seattle's M+D+F show. Learn more about that one here. The deadline is April 3, 2009. Selected works will be presented on May 7, 2009 at the Design Within Reach Seattle studio.

The above photo is Iacoli & McAllister's Frame Pendants from the last Join: Design Seattle event in 2008.

Northwest LOVE: Jesse Brown

2009-03-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

Jesse Brown is a Seattle-based artist/designer who is showing with Aaron Harris in an exhibition called Anything Can Happen, But Probably Won't at Cairo in Seattle March 21st - April 26th. I believe the above and below works are new and will be shown at Cairo. The following images are just some favorites that I snagged from Brown's blog Plastic Studio. Really loving the beard/hair drawings. Brown also has an Etsy shop selling prints, books, bags and zines (all currently sold out). Check out new wares at the Cairo shop while your at it here.

The Greens: Matteria

2009-03-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Co-founded by my friend Monica Potvin, Matteria is a *fab* online shop dedicated to objects for living made as sustainably as possible. I love their new cork hangers (above and below) by South African designer Ryan Frank. The below two stools, Lower Slot and Isabella, were also designed by Frank. The bottom image, Vaso 2.0 cork pots, is by Berlin-based The Home Project. Sadly, Matteria only ships within Europe at this time.

Northwest LOVE: Emily Ryan

2009-03-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Must have! Emily Ryan is an independent designer based in Portland who was all over the blogosphere last week (last spotted on DesignMilk yesterday). The above (and below) Spiral Pleats dress kills me. Everything is handmade by Ryan and her intern team and sold via her Etsy site here. Prices are super reasonable considering the workmanship and the originality of her sculptural forms. According to her site, the spring collection is on its way...

Northwest LOVE: Iacoli & McAllister

2009-03-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

I first saw the work of Iacoli & McAllister at Design Within Reach Seattle's M+D+F show last year. The Seattle-based duo presented a great powder-coated steel and Corian chair. Since then, they have been serioulsy hard at work. Their mini pedestals (below image) are going to be in the upcoming Hue Are You? exhibition at Future Perfect in Brooklyn, NY. They have also founded JOIN: Design Seattle whose mission is to "bring together a furniture and product design community whose values and aesthetic reflects those of the global design world." See more of their colorful work on their website here and at their shop here.

Northwest LOVE: Jo Hamilton

2009-03-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

My brother just got back from Portland with a photo of these insane crochet portraits now on showing at Stumptown on 3rd in Portland. After a little research I found the artist: Jo Hamilton. According to the Stumptown blog, she was an illustrator and painter who studied at Glasgow School of Art in Scotland and now lives in Portland. The exhibition is called I Crochet Portland. The portraits are of the entire staff of Le Pigeon, a local restaurant where Hamilton works. I read that the portraits are a result of some bet. The cityscape (bottom image from her website) is a project Hamilton has worked on for the past 3 years! See more of her work here. I am totally in love.

The Greens: Bainbridge Island Eco Tour

2009-03-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

I attended the Eco Tour on Bainbridge Island yesterday featuring green buildings and sustainable gardens and wanted to share a few of my favorites here. Above and below (photos from his website) are James Cutler's Grace Church which was by far my favorite space. I wasn't really convinced of its sustainability features but as an experience the building - especially its light drenched worship space - was an overwhelming delight. Also included on the tour was the construction site of Matthew Coates' Ellis Residence and Peter O'Connor's Vineyard Lane project. I also had the pleasure of meeting Bob Fraik and seeing his Electric Composite Hatchback that I have read so much about. Read more about his electric car here.

I want to go to there (part 2).

2009-03-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

Also sent to me from J via SpaceInvading this morning. It is a live/work space in Great Sailing, Essex in the UK by Pocknell Studio.

I want to go to there (part 1).

2009-03-09T12:32:00.001-07:00

An old shop in the center of historic Bruges, Belgium converted into a weekend home by 51n4e architects. The vaulted dining space was added to the back of the shop keeping its presence on the street inconspicuous. J sent it to me this morning via OWI.

Northwest LOVE: Charles Krafft

2009-03-07T19:55:00.000-08:00

So I first learned about Seattle-based porcelain artist Charles Krafft in grad school when I was researching memorials. I was most interested in his series Spone Funerary Ware which is a line of porcelain wares made with the ash of human remains. It is a take on Spode china (or bone china) which is porcelain mixed with cow bone ash.

Anyway, I was happy to remember Krafft again when one of his guns, AK 47 (pictured above) from 1998 was featured in The Stranger's The 25 Greatest Works of Art Ever Made in Seattle (see my post on the article here). I love the delicacy of a domestic material like porcelain with its sweet Delftware style ornamentation used in this way. Makes me think of the more recent success of Dutch designers working with porcelain in a similarly provocative way like Studio Job and Hella Jongerius. Read more about Charles Krafft here.

The Greens: TOMS

2009-03-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

Crazy fan of Santa Monica-based TOMS. Above are some of their new spring looks. Since starting up in 2006, TOMS has given over 10,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina and 50,000 to kids in South Africa. They planned to give 200,000 pairs to children around the world last year. It's such a genius business plan. For every pair of shoes bought the company sends a pair to a child in need. The shoes are *fab* too. Really comfortable cross between Keds and Vans. Great colors/patterns. Prices are $44-$98 for womens shoes and boots. Perfect summer flat. Love love love.

Seattle Made

2009-03-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Jen Graves published a piece in The Stranger titled The 25 Greatest Works of Art Ever Made in Seattle. The list includes works by Northwest greats Jacob Lawrence and Dale Chihuly but also includes a few of my personal favorites such as the Nuekom Vivarium (above) from 2006 (still on view at the Olympic Sculpture Park) by Pennsylvania-based Mark Dion as well as a piece called Pickle Jar with Elephants by Jeffry Mitchell from 2007 (sold, but you can check out his other work at James Harris Gallery here) and Dan Webb's Little Cuts from 2006 that I was lucky enough to see when it was on view at Western Bridge in 2008.

It's a debatable list with some major artists missing but fun to flip through (see slide show here) anyway. I am personally missing the Olympic Sculpture Park by Weiss/Manfredi as well as work by Roy McMakin.

Read what Seattle's curators, art dealers and critics pick as their favorites in this follow-up Stranger piece.

The Greens: Mio

2009-03-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

I have started this new section to collect all my favorite happenings in eco-minded art and design. The artists and designers featured may or may not be located in the Northwest but are worthy just the same of some love for the innovative work that they do.

First up, I'd like to celebrate the new work of Mio, an environmentally and socially focused design studio based in Philadelphia. Above is a spread from the March/April 2009 I.D. Magazine showcasing Mio's new collection of garden supplies for Target. Mio was founded in 2001 by the Salm brothers (Isaac and Jaime) with a few green home products like felt lighting and flat-pack furniture. It is great to see them expanding their vision with these new works for Target.

I am a especially fond of the below composter made of polypropylene which will sell for $99 when it hits stores in April. We compost our food waste with garden waste these days but I would have love love loved having one of these in one of my old city apartments.

I couldn't resist including my all time favorite Mio product, Nomad System, in this post (below two images) as well. The 24-module pack is made of recycled double walled cardboard and prices out nicely at $54 for a system that could build a 4'-6" x 4'-6" partition wall. Again, another great city piece. Would have loved this for my old dorm room.

Northwest LOVE: Ace Hotel

2009-02-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

Founded in Seattle in 1999 by friends Alex Calderwood, Wade Weigel, Doug Herrick and Jack Barron, Ace Hotel now has four locations across the U.S.. Alex and Wade started their empire as co-founders of Rudy's, a barbershop also founded in Seattle that now has 14 locations on the West Coast. Ace Hotel Seattle, located in Belltown, was a Christian mission and rooming house that they transformed with the help of Seattle-based designer Eric Hentz. The Portland location (seen in the above and below photos found here) was opened in 2007 in a 1912 building that was once an inn. The Palm Springs location, with its tent-like interiors, opens this month and the New York location will open next month on 29th Street and Broadway complete with a Rudy's barbershop and Stumptown coffee shop.

From a design perspective, the interiors are surprisingly low frills and utilitarian for a boutique hotel. They "celebrate the everyday with utilitarian objects," says Alex Calderwood. For the New York location, Alex teamed up with Manhattan design firm Roman and Williams. Read more about the pair and their design decisions here.

See more images and book rooms here. Rooms in Portland started at $95 and bunk beds in New York at $179 last time I checked.

Northwest LOVE: Anthony Georgis

2009-02-25T11:49:00.001-08:00

I found Portland-based photographer Anthony Georgis while checking out the Life + Limb site yesterday. The photos above and below are from his website. Anthony also keeps an updated Flikr site which you can check out here. I am a special fan of his commercial work for NW companies like Nau and Hermitage (see bottom two sets of shots).

Northwest LOVE: Paige Russell

2009-02-24T18:30:00.000-08:00

Based in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Paige Russell makes these playful stoneware vessels which she sells through her own Etsy shop as well as at great NW shops like Life + Limb in Portland, Hermitage in Seattle and Provide and Room 6 in Vancouver. Paige graduated from Parsons School of Design and was selected as one of the "Top 20 Young Designers to Watch" by Wallpaper magazine in 2001. Along with her ceramics, she also runs a great little vintage shop called The Modern Hunter.

If I were in New York this weekend...

2009-02-20T17:21:00.000-08:00

I would have A LOT to see and do. After living in NYC almost 10 years there are many moments when it feels like I really need a trip back. This past week my dear friends Nathan Thomas and Aaron Johnson collaborated on an installation at Design Within Reach's Columbus Avenue Studio. The event was a benefit for Housing Works - whose thrift store supports AIDS and homeless relief. Nathan designed the above office space using pieces from DWR and Housing Works. He invited Aaron in to do the chalk drawing on the back wall (second image). I adore Aaron's line drawings - all his work really. The third image is a detail of one of Aaron's paintings. See more of Aaron's work here and Nathan's work here.

If I were in London this weekend...

2009-02-19T13:16:00.000-08:00

I would be checking out the exhibition of Seattle-based architect and artist, Roy McMakin at Established & Sons. The show, titled Another Kountry displays some of McMakin's meticulously crafted functional works - blurring the boundaries of art and design as he does so well. Read a review of the show in Wallpaper magazine here. All photos came from here. See my previous Northwest LOVE post on McMakin here.

Northwest SHOP: Chikabird

2009-02-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

Chikabird is the soft goods Etsy shop of Seattle-based (Ballard to be exact) designers Jean and Chika. Above image is their BOTE tote ($30) made from a recycled vinyl banner. Below is their XLG Letter Jumble Notebook ($32) - which happens to be my favorite. The silk screened print comes from their friends over at Slow Shirt on Guemes Island also here in the Pacific Northwest.

Ocean Shores SEE: Damon Point

2009-02-17T18:30:00.000-08:00

This pristine peninsula beach covered in smooth sand and small black pebbles, huge driftwood and foamy waves is a MUST weekend getaway (or day trip even). The drive is about 3 hours from Seattle and 3.5 hours from Portland. We spent the entire day and only saw about 15 people (on a holiday weekend). Including J, there were about 4 surfers out braving the winter waves.

According to Washington State Parks, the 61-acre state park is one-mile long and half a mile wide. It felt a lot longer as we walked the length. Can't wait to come back in the summer - maybe to camp as there was a campsite right along the park entrance. See directions from Seattle here and more of my photos here.