Thinking and Thinking and Thinking. (Also laughing.)

"I find you don’t think of new ideas, you discover them"

2011-12-22T23:52:00.000-08:00

A friend told me to take a look at Donald Sultan's work. Here's an excerpt from a 2009 article I found about him in the process: "Growing up in Asheville, N.C., Sultan at an early age got interested in all aspects of theater, including set-building and lighting. At the same time, his father — who owned a tire store — would paint on weekends as a hobby, and Sultan would watch. He found

Recent Conversations With Henry

2011-12-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

Henry: I want to make a card for Rocky Sand, Mommy. Me: For who now? Henry: Rocky Sand. I like her. She's my friend. Me: Um.....I'm just not sure...who.....is that a pretend friend? Or.... Henry: Rocky Sand, Mommy!!! Me: Wait, do you mean Sophie's friend Roxxann? Henry: Yep. ______________________________________________________________ Henry: I got a wack! I got a wack! Me: What?

Richard Tuttle

2011-12-10T21:36:00.001-08:00

Ran across artist Richard Tuttle. Want to know more. Richard Tuttle, Sum Confluence, 1964, Acrylic on plywood, 52.4 x 92.7 cm, http://www.haberarts.com/tuttle.htm - Ricahrd Tuttle, from the 20 Pearls series

Blabla, Sukie, Jenni Rope

2011-12-03T17:22:00.001-08:00

Blabla's blog. I was unaware of the level of awesome Blabla toys have achieved. The brother and sister fox (Sox and Suzette) are on their way to our house for Henry & Sophie's birthday. The Blabla Blog is also chock full of amazing goodness and fantastic links. Including a link to artist Jenni Rope (www.jennirope.com) whose paintings I like a lot. And a link to one of my favorite

Laura Veirs' Tumblebee, My Kids' Songwriting Skillz, and The Old, Weird America

2011-11-16T21:44:00.001-08:00

Been listening to the new Laura Veirs CD Tumble Bee quite a bit. Laura Veirs lives here, in the same town where I live, and occasionally I run into her. Once time I saw her at the supermarket. I came around the corner, and there she was, pushing a cart with her baby son, Tennessee, in it. I accidentally just went ahead and said her name out loud in a dreamy sort of way, "Oh.....Laura Veirs

On My Mind This Week

2011-11-16T21:16:00.001-08:00

1) 30 Rock hurts me a little bit. I mean every episode is so deeply hilarious. How could it be so good? "Werewolf bar mitzva, spooky, scary, boys becoming men, men becoming wolves....." I mean why is that so funny? And yet. And that's the tip of the freaking iceberg of hilarity. 2) Revisiting the deeply satisfying, mysterious, charming and whimsical Maira Kalman blog for the NYT, "

Blog Makeover

2011-11-16T15:11:00.001-08:00

I noticed I hadn't been here in a while. Just didn't feel like, uh, "home" anymore. So I've given the blog a makeover, and we'll see if I stop by more frequently. I'm quite sure everyone's waiting with breathless anticipation.

Phone Call With Ben Today

2011-11-16T14:53:00.001-08:00

Jessica: Hey. What are you doing? Ben: Serving Little Lord Henry. Jessica: Sounds rough. Maybe I’ll come home late. Ben: Henry keeps looking at me. Suspicious - like "What are you saying about me?" There he goes again. His head keeps whipping around. Jessica: What's for dinner? Ben: I’m going to put on a pot roast. Henry (yelling): What does that mean! Ben (to Henry): That means there

Free Download: Getting Ready For Giving Birth

2011-11-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

So I spent a lot of time figuring out how I was going to have a natural birth. Not because a natural birth was my deepest heart's desire, but becuase I didn't want to get gutted like a fish again with a repeat Cesarean. Yes, avoiding going under the knife for major abdominal surgery (again) was a powerful incentive to figure out what it was going to take for me (someone who was not necessarily

Clean As Bone, Clear as Light, Firm as Stone

2011-07-29T14:00:00.001-07:00

An anonymous poem Madeline L'Engle liked to quote - I had this up on my wall in my bedroom for a long, long time in high school (although I'm not sure I really "got it" at the time, based on the journals I kept). This is still what I aspire to:The written wordShould be clean as bone,Clear as light,Firm as stone.Two words are notAs good as one.

My 2010 In Facebook Statuses (Stati?)

2010-12-30T18:09:00.000-08:00

January 1 Top five crazy things Sophie said in '09: #5: "Hey Mommy, I became not clothed!"#4: To Henry: "You've got the smile head!" #3: "Mommy, I get upset about sugar because I want it. And I can't get it." #2: "Daddy, come look at this freakin' poop!" #1: During a game of Simon Says: "Simon says stop this freak showing!"

Conversation With Sophie Regarding Her Glass of Water

2010-08-25T00:37:00.000-07:00

Sophie: "Mom, I don't have very much water."Me: "Yes you do. How much is in that glass?"Sophie: "Half."Me: "Right, your glass is half..."Sophie: "Empty, Mommy."Me: "Uh oh."Sophie: "What?"

More on Exhaustion and the Creative Process...

2009-11-10T13:16:00.000-08:00

A (long) while ago, I wrote this entry about exhaustion and the creative process. Today, I stumbled on another take on the idea by Brian Eno. This site excerpted it from an interview Eno did in 1977 for a publication called "Melody Maker." Eno was sharing a conversation he'd had with his friend, the painter Peter Schmidt: "I describe[d] an experience I had in Scotland recently where I climbed a

How I Perform Demolition on Creative Blocks

2009-09-15T09:13:00.001-07:00

Someone recently asked or input on how a creative block looks and feels to me, and how I get past it. The first part was easy: a creative block for me is apathy. There are no interesting ideas in the world - and certainly none in my brain, which is both disheartening and depressing.The second part of the question, how I get past a block, was harder to answer. But after thinking on it for a while,

So who is this Henry, anyway?

2009-03-18T21:18:00.000-07:00

Henry — or Hensie, or H, or H-Dog as he’s come to be called — is three months old today. So far, he has been born, and gone on a lot of trips. When he was five days old, he rode in the worst weather conditions this part of our state has ever seen all the way to Salem (an hour’s drive) to be with Nona and Papa (my parents) for Christmas. When he was almost two months old, he flew with me to

Three Things Sophie Said

2009-03-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

Prayer before bed: "Dear God Thank you for the sky that it's always so bright. And thank you for the animals I see all around my town. Amen."On the day of Henry's baptism: "Henry is so cute, and so mysterious."On going with Lucy to the vet: "I do not mind if she goes ballistic. I will be brave of it."

Lois Jean McPherson

2009-03-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

My grandmother, Grandma Mac, died on March 4. I not only loved her, I really, really liked her. Henry and I flew up to go and see her about a week before she died. “I didn’t think I’d get to meet him on this side,” she said, and then they gave each other crazy big smiles. She was spending a lot of time sleeping, and was in some pain (she had ovarian cancer), but she was also making jokes and

In the Hills of Mystery

2009-01-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

2008 was the year of carrying Henry around on the inside. And I learned a lot during the year. Really, a lot. And the Bob Dylan song, “Born in Time” (the version from Tell Tale Signs, not the version from “Under the Red Sky” which is really different lyrically, FYI) has become capital-T The song. Below are some things I learned and some bits and pieces of the song. (I wrote this before he was

(One of the Many Reasons) Ben is Awesome

2008-10-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Me: "So I ordered Sophie her kitty cat Halloween costume. I just hope it's not too big."Ben: " Well, if it is, we can just alter it."Me: (Since no one in our house has any sewing skills whatsoever...) "Who's we?"Ben: "Us and our allies. A coalition of the willing."{Laurie and Caitlin, be on the alert: A kitty costume may be coming your way soon. If you're on our side, that is.}

Netflix Recommends What?

2008-07-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Weirdest Netflix suggestion ever: "We recommend 'Curious George Goes to the Doctor' because you enjoyed 'Delicatessen' and 'Down By Law.'" Somehow someone somewhere has profoundly misunderstood the nature of these films. Or someone at Netflix has a wicked sense of humor.

We Moved. I'm Pregnant. We Got Cable.

2008-06-02T22:36:00.000-07:00

Which of these is more momentous? Well, okay, the middle one. But the others feel pretty big too. The Move: We moved out of our little 875 square foot apartment and into a rental house that has 1100 square feet and a full basement. You'd think we'd be swimming in space, but really it's incredible how much stuff we fit into our apartment. Some things I will miss about our little orange home:*

Stores in Portland I Want to Visit

2008-04-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

Another post-it note that's been hanging out on my computer: Stores in Portland I Want to Visit. They are:• Canoe• Hermitage • Olio United• Life + Limb• Flora• HerbivoreDebbe Hamada's store Tilde was on my list - I crossed it off by going there. It is freaking awesome. I would highly suggest making the trip to this delightful corner of Sellwood. In the meantime, definitely sign up for Tilde's

List of Books I Thought Looked Interesting Several Months Ago...

2008-04-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

This morning while cleaning off our desk I found a list of books/authors/illustrators I'd written down while browsing some bookstores at the coast. The list is below - I'm throwing the paper away right now. I remember very little about any of these, so if anyone has any input on their worthiness, do tell...Suite FrancaiseThe Meaning of Night Saturday (Ian McEwan)Home From the Vinyl CafeDelectable

Kids Create Genius Outfits

2008-02-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

Purple sweatpants and a feather boa; a bumblebee Halloween costume with a pink tutu; shirt, pants and socks - all stripes but in different colors: these are just a few of the genius combinations kids come up with to wear. My friend Christina and I decided to document this (ahem) creative form of expression, and are inviting everyone who has kids or knows kids who like to wear kooky stuff to share

Judi Dench, Philip Glass and Me, or How I Ended Up Being Interviewed on New York Public Radio

2007-12-30T21:12:00.000-08:00

It’s another one of those crazy internet things. I saw somewhere that there was a flickr pool related to the new book Taking Things Seriously. I’d never seen the book in person, but I had seen and loved the book's cover image on the Web. The pool description said that they would be talking about some of the entries on an upcoming show on WNYC, New York public radio, and I thought it would be kind

"You Get To Eat the Cookies I Decorated" — Spoken Word Poem/Performance By a Two-Year-Old

2007-12-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

By Sophie, With Real-Time Transcription By Me I got a cookie for youand you can eat itcause…I have some cookiesfor myselfone for you and one for metwoa really big oneand I eat itand…[hunchback crane dance*]I ate some cookies.I got to get some cookies and decorate ‘em.*Performance element described as acurately as possible(Thanks to Todd, Angie, Brennan and Zion Fadel for making the evening of

San Francisco Notes: Navigating My Imagination*

2007-12-06T00:37:00.000-08:00

* The title of the Joseph Cornell exhibit at SF MOMA which was the impetus for my trip was “Navigating the Imagination.” So, yes, this blog post title is almost 100% stolen.It’s been over a month since my fairytale trip to San Francisco (getting to see the major Cornell exhibit, traveling with someone who actually wanted to go to thrift stores, seeing an art show about book covers, etc. etc. etc.

New Use For Pockets

2007-11-26T00:42:00.000-08:00

Put your hands in 'em when your child is trying to do something hard that you know they can do.

More Bloggery: Jewelry By Jessica The Blog

2007-11-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

Well, I've gone and done it - I've started another blog. I wanted a place to think/talk about running my little handmade jewelry business without having to mix it all in over here. So Jewelry By Jessica: A Spot to Talk Shop is up and running. Hope to see some of you over there...

A Super Great Birthday Day

2007-10-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

I had a super-fun birthday day, and thought I'd post a little record of my adventures here for posterity, and because you might want to do some of this stuff too, on any old day. It was basically an art and food extravaganza - two of my very favorite things. Here's the list of events in order of occurrence:• Birthday Waffles at Jacé Gacé - holy toledo, those are yummy. Mine looked like the one in

My First Ever Tutorial: Go Make a Shrink Plastic Flower Pin!

2007-10-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

I have made a tutorial - written instructions and a video - on how to make the shrink plastic flower pin pictured above. It was a heck of a lot more work than I anticipated (I now know how to use iMovie... sorta) and the video is pretty darn amateurish, but I think it does the trick.I got inspired to do the whole tutorial thing after watching a video of a fascinating talk: "The Global Microbrand:

The Prayers of a Toddler (or, Sometimes Things That at First Seem Silly Whip Around and Turn Deep On You)

2007-09-25T21:56:00.000-07:00

We pray with Sophie before she goes to sleep. I taught her the simplest prayer I could think of: “Dear Jesus, thank you, I love you, amen.”I pray after she prays, and usually start out, “Dear Jesus, thank you for this day, for the food you’ve given us to eat and the place you’ve given us to live,” and then go on from there. Eventually she memorized her prayer, and has now started using parts of

Trying To Remember What You Can't Know

2007-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

An almost daily exercise in resisting snap judgments of others: Near my house there is an adult video store right next door to a charity-run thrift store. As I drive by, there is absolutely no way to know which store the person getting out of their car is headed into.

New Stuff

2007-09-13T01:05:00.001-07:00

Finally, some new designs - must be that "back to school - time for work" vibe hitting me. Available at Etsy only for now: http://www.jessicapoundstone.etsy.com.

Beyond Symmetry

2007-08-29T23:39:00.001-07:00

Symmetry in nature gets a lot of press. But what might we learn about the creator when we see shapes like this in the sky?

Book List For Baby Expecters, Recent Baby-Havers and Baby Shower Gift Buyers

2007-07-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

For a while I've e-mailed around a list of books I found to be particularly helpful during the time just before, and for the year after I had a baby. And for a long while I've thought hey, wouldn't it be convenient if I could just send people to a link on Amazon wherein each of these books could be looked at easily? So here it is: Taking Care of You and Your Baby: Humor, Spirit and Good

Interior World of Music

2007-06-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

I expect a lot out of the music I listen to. I want emotional honesty balanced by a smart or funny or poetic (or all three) sensibility; I want a commitment to excellence (in whatever particular way an album is trying to be excellent), and I want there to be something I can fall for in the voice of whoever’s singing - I want their voice to be as unique as a fingerprint. There are many songs I

There's Been A Lot of Singing At Our House

2007-06-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

I’ve always really enjoyed singing, but have always felt pretty self-conscious about it. My dad is a performing, solo-quality singer, and I don’t have that kind of voice. I spent six years in a best-in-our-division-in-the-state jr. high/high school choir being directed by a man who demanded you use the best-sounding voice you could produce. As a result, I spent a lot of years using a cultivated,

Crafty Synergy Interview

2007-06-10T20:02:00.001-07:00

There's a quote by Kenneth Lonergan (I'm trying to find it) to the effect of: at some point in time in life you realize that there are people at every level of power who feel like they have no idea what they're doing. The fact that I'm a jewelry designer despite having zero formal training in doing so has made me feel like an imposterer at times. It's resources like Patricia Zapata's Crafty

Drudgery Is Almost Always Invisible

2007-05-10T13:43:00.001-07:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Jewelry By Jessica Production, originally uploaded by Poundstone. There is a certain amount of drudgery in every job. Even in jobs that seem terribly glamorous. Artists who create amazing work still have to spend time

Unlikely Flowers

2007-04-27T00:32:00.001-07:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Dogwood Tree Bloom 1, originally uploaded by Poundstone. I guess I never really noticed it before this year, but when flowering trees get going in the spring, their flowers arrive first, and then their leaves, which push

Why I Love The Internet

2007-04-09T09:55:00.001-07:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Sometimes Music..., originally uploaded by Poundstone. From: Stephen LambTo: jpoundstoneDate: Apr 6, 2007 6:21 PMSubject: Jeffrey Overstreet / Bill FrisellJessica,I found your website after reading Jeffrey Overstreet's book

“Breathing rarified air, special and pure, like on Mount Everest.”

2007-04-02T23:19:00.001-07:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Clouds 4, originally uploaded by Poundstone. I read an interview with Lucinda Williams a few years ago and remember her saying that oftentimes, the take of a song that ends up making it onto an album is the take she does

Judging A Book By Its Statistically Improbable Phrases

2007-03-17T23:05:00.000-07:00

Trying to find the URL for a blog a friend of mine just started, and which she calls "The Story Girl," (I eventually did find it; it's here) I ran across a mention of the novel of the same name by L.M. Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables fame. Curious about the book, I popped over to Amazon, where I noticed something I'd never seen before. Along with other book information, there was a list of "

You Are My Little Bird & Other Children's Music Gems

2007-02-14T12:36:00.000-08:00

Let me start off by saying that "children's music" no longer means what it once did (apparently): an endless, insanity-inducing loop of "The Wheels on the Bus" and "I Love You, You Love Me." In fact, I find myself listening to the "children's music" we have for Sophie even when she's not around. Most recently, I got my hands on Elizabeth Mitchell's "You Are My Little Bird," which I'd seen

Inuit Art - Where has this been all my life?

2007-02-14T12:17:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to find out more about Inuit art for years. Re-inspired by a photo of a print from a flickr contact, today was the day to do some looking around. And I am bowled over by the work I saw. Simple, yet full of personality and wit, it's exactly my favorite sort of thing. The lithograph pictured above is titled "Spring Morning" by Pitaloosie Saila - you can learn more about it and/or

"I love the idea of taking everyday images, and giving them a graphic sophistication."

2007-02-14T11:35:00.000-08:00

The title is a quote from Juan Gatti, who has designed titles for Pedro Almodóvar's films for the past 20 years or so. I just saw Almodóvar's "Volver" last night. Wow on so many, many fronts.I'm still processing the film, but the lush visual feast of it was enough to think about for many weeks to come. I was especially astounded by the Gatti's graphics during the end credits, and went to find

My New Online Image Scrapbook

2007-01-16T11:41:00.000-08:00

I've started an online image scrapbook over at Wists, and am having a lot of fun with it. My paranoid packrat side dictates that I also print everything out just in case a link gets broken or an image goes away. But at least now it will be easier to share some beautiful things I find around the web with other people, rather than hoarding them in a three ring binder in my office. My latest picks

Poem For The Week (Assignment From the Calendar of Lovely Things To Do)

2007-01-09T09:47:00.001-08:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Me & Lucy, originally uploaded by Poundstone. Little Dog's Rhapsody in the Night (Percy Three)by Mary OliverHe puts his cheek against mineand makes small, expressive sounds.And when I'm awake, or awake enoughhe turns upside

A Year Of Lovely Things To Do

2007-01-08T00:15:00.001-08:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } A Winter Walk 26, originally uploaded by Poundstone. I got the idea to use the features on Google Calendar to give myself fun little assignments to do throughout the year. I'll be receiving e-mail "reminders" of "events"

Top Three Favorite Anagrams of My First & Last Name

2006-12-31T12:23:00.000-08:00

Incessant judo poseAdjunct noise posseDispense cajun sootTry it yourself here.

Wonder Collecting

2006-12-30T15:24:00.000-08:00

Shadow Sophie Originally uploaded by Poundstone. I’m a little bit freaked out about the upcoming year in Sophie’s life. I waited to read about developmental stuff until after she turned one, and it seems perhaps I should have read it earlier so as to prep myself for what may lie ahead. In a nutshell, lots of willfulness, so-called “negativism,” and a desire to do everything by herself,

Hearing Richard Ford Read

2006-11-23T00:53:00.000-08:00

Night Driving 19 Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Every time I hear Richard Ford read it’s a memorable and enriching experience. His last reading at Powell’s downtown was no exception. Here are some of his words and thoughts. Oh, and his wardrobe is always exciting too. Last time he was wearing crazy socks. This time, the collar of a royal purple shirt peeked out over the round neck of

2006-11-22T15:22:00.000-08:00

Conversation TodayHeld by adults Ben and Patrick about Sophie, who is 11 months old, and her book-related habits:Ben: Sophie loves books, but she's not much interested in reading them. She'd rather just look through them.Patrick: Yeah...me too.

A Jewelry Project Of Mine In A Real Live Book...

2006-09-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

A Jewelry Project Of Mine In A Real Live Book... Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Thorugh a series of fortuitous connections, I was invited to contribute a project to the book Craftivity. Based on the sample pages I've seen, it's a really beautiful production. I guess that's what you get when the editor is also a designer : ) More information is here. Hope you get to see a copy, and like

Overwhelming Beauty All Around

2006-09-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

Succulent Planters Originally uploaded by Poundstone. • Trees beginning to turn colors - marking one year in the place we live and Sophie's first Fall • Werner Herzog's film "The White Diamond" - the music, the long looks at unexpected details in amazing landscapes, the way the people who live in Guyana see the beauty they're surrounded by...that Werner Herzog is using his considerable

2006-08-10T13:55:00.000-07:00

I've had a post-it note on my desktop for ages and ages, which I will now post here, thus finally erasing the post-it. These are snippets from a Babelfish translation -- from French to english -- of a review of the movie Dodgeball. I have no idea why I have these (did Ben try it out for fun?) but they make me laugh every time. (Speaking of laughing every time, and along the movie theme, go

Essentializing

2006-07-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

Breakfast Table Originally uploaded by Poundstone. A link to this via this brought me to this: Crown Point Press founder Kathan Brown talking about how artist Wayne Thiebaud talks about his work as a process of: "essentializing....as a sauce reduced in cooking"Now, normally I don't like fake words, but this one seems interesting and useful . By focusing our attention on *anything* we can "

From Love

2006-07-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

Skyshow 2 Originally uploaded by Poundstone. On our recent vacation, I found myself saying to Kortney: "I really believe that two people standing next to each other with cameras will take two totally different pictures if one loves what they're looking at and the other doesn't." Or something close to that. It sounds crazy. But I'm more and more convinced that it's true, and not just with

Nature Arranging Itself

2006-07-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

Palm Avenue 7 Originally uploaded by Poundstone. I love the beautiful ways nature arranges itself around all of the things we put in its way.

Talking About Beauty

2006-05-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

Pink Poppy 2 Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Pedro Almodovar kept an online journal during the making of his new movie "Volver," and it (the journal - the movie is not available to me yet) is so wonderful. I so admire people who can be so precise and incisive in their writing -- especially about things that are so internal; things it would not immediately occur to me to write down. "...a

2006-05-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

Searching for information on an Andrew Bird song, I came across RealFake, a blog that quoted this other blog, which the RealFake guy found via yet another blog. Entry is here. The quote, from blogger Paul Graham, is this: "I find every ambitious town sends you a message. New York tells you 'you should make more money.' LA tells you 'you should be better looking.' Rome tells you 'you should dress

I'm Here To Say Four Hours of Sleep Is Just Not Enough

2006-04-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

Baby Bundle Originally uploaded by Poundstone. The other night Sophie and I went to bed at midnight, after which she got up at 3:30 a.m. And then again at 5:30 a.m. This after having slept through the night pretty well for quite some time. Probably a growth spurt situation, but you don’t wake up at 3:30 and think, “Oh, just a growth spurt.” You think “Whyyyyyyyyyy.” After feeding her at 3:30

Everything Is A First

2006-03-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

Looking At The Light Originally uploaded by Poundstone. It's hard to keep remembering that practically everything Sophie sees, touches, hears, feels, smells and does, she sees, touches, hears, feels, smells and does for the first time. It's mind boggling. Yesterday she rolled over. How weird that must feel never having done it before. Today she touched her first blade of grass. Last week

Sweetness & Light

2006-02-28T23:26:00.000-08:00

Sweetness & Light Originally uploaded by Poundstone. I think there would be fewer violent acts in this world if we could all remember all the time that everybody was once somebody's little baby.

Always Do Your Best

2006-02-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

Always Do Your Best Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Made this for Penelope's "The Best Advice I Ever Got" project. "Always Do Your Best" was really all my parents ever asked of me. I'd come home feeling crappy because I got a low grade on a test or some other performance-related disappointment, and they ask me "Did you do your best?" If the answer was yes, then they'd ask what kind of

Uniforms, Fashion, and A Fond Farewell To Maternity Wear

2006-02-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

The Pregnancy Wardrobe Originally uploaded by Poundstone. I’m really intrigued by the idea of normal people developing and wearing uniforms. In the movie “The Gleaners and I,” narrator (and director) Agnes Varda features a friend of hers – a man with long Santa Claus grey hair - who has worn all white for years. One couple I read about decided to wear uniforms for a year. They stored each

My Photography Lessons Learned

2006-02-02T16:23:00.000-08:00

Contemplative Sophie Originally uploaded by Poundstone. I believe I've said this before here: I used to suck at taking photographs. The viewfinder on my digital camera changed my life. All of a sudden, what I saw was what I got, and photography became more like composing a little piece of artwork, which I'm good at, instead of a frustrating technical experience. But the other things that

2006-01-26T23:37:00.000-08:00

Conversation Tidbit From Today: Kicking The Ass Of MathI was talking with my friend Liz today, discussing the fact that math was hard for me in high school because I kept getting placed in advanced math classes. They assumed because I was good at all of the other subjects I could handle the advanced math, I guess. And I did, but not without a large amount of angst and the only D of my high school

A Little Survey...

2006-01-20T08:44:00.000-08:00

"Help The New Mom" Survey Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Answer one, answer all...send whatever you've got!

This Freakin' Adorable Baby Belongs To Me

2006-01-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

Major Grin Originally uploaded by Poundstone. It's been six weeks since Sophie crashed into our lives. My first words (directed at Ben) upon seeing her for the first time as she was lifted out of my belly C-section style: "Does she really belong to us?" I never knew whether I wanted to have kids. And then one day, I just felt like it was now or never. And I picked now. And Ben picked now

Little House

2005-11-28T16:48:00.000-08:00

House Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Watching 60 Minutes last night, Morley did a story on the houses nouveau riche Americans are building now. They're getting bigger and bigger. The folks he interviewed had no shame about the size of their homes - apparently 30,000 square feet for a family of two or three seems reasonable to them. One woman actually had to stop and count when asked how

Baby

2005-09-16T15:21:00.000-07:00

Baby Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Random thoughts on turning into a mom: I will be a parent every single second of every single day, Lord willing, for the rest of my life. No breaks. Pregnancy’s most life-altering effect has been the way it’s messing with time. Everything is moving toward one life-changing event: the birth. It’s like the longest countdown ever.During pregnancy,

Pier in Early Morning

2005-08-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

Pier in Early Morning Originally uploaded by Poundstone. I have a pretty bad habit of jotting notes down on random scraps of paper – whatever’s close at hand. Now that we’re moving (and trying to purge/organize) I’ve run across a lot of these bits and pieces. And it’s far from clear what to do with them. I’m working on some systems, and things are coming together. But I found these

Nose In Book

2005-08-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

Nose In Book Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Another one from the vault. Powells was having an essay contest back in July of 2004, the topic of which was to be "the most memorable books you’ve read in the last 10 years." I never entered, but I did write these bits and pieces and came up with the title "Books I’ve Kept With Me"* * * The most memorable books I’ve read in the last

2005-08-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

A Nearly-Lost Blog Entry from October 6, 2004Sometimes I write blog entries, and then I forget to post them. Or I write them, and think - oh, I'll edit that and make it better later. And then I don't. But here's one I just found and, in honor of The Daily Show releasing their coverage of the 2004 presidential election on DVD, I bring you this nearly-lost election related musing from yours truly.

Tranquility

2005-07-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

Tranquility Originally uploaded by Poundstone. This picture shows how I would like to be feeling, how I will focus on trying to feel. When I tell people everything that's going on in my life (baby due in November, moving in two weeks from a house to an apartment, working full time, running the jewelry business on the side, Ben's quest to find a full-time teaching job next year, etc.) they

Randomness

2005-06-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

Pink Poodle Puppet Originally uploaded by Poundstone. This picture is from the ladies bathroom at the restaurant "Macadoos" in Port Townsend. Thank you to Jeff and Anne and Ben for not thinking I was the craziest person on earth for going back into the bathroom with my camera to take it. Macadoos is also the place where I said, "I feel like I think about Bob Dylan all the time." Which is

My new site www.jewelrybyjessica.com is up and running!

2005-06-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

My new site is up and running! Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Quite a hiatus here, but this is what I've been up to: launching my new Web site! It appears to be all up and running smoothly, and the guy who built it for me is a saint. It's come a long way from the free Yahoo! site I originally built, with actual pictures of the jewelry rather than scanned (and therefore smooshed) pics. I

Heathery Tree

2005-05-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

Heathery Tree Originally uploaded by Poundstone. So haven’t been posting anything lately. I’ve been experiencing computer burnout I think. So I’ll post some lists. The blogs I visit regularly: :: Illustrator/Writer/Artist Type People :: Penelope Illustration Keri Smith Danny GregoryLori Joy SmithLoobyluSusie GIkastikos:: Friends & Family:: Jeff OverstreetTim PoundstoneKortney & Andy:: A

Fogged View

2005-03-25T14:55:00.000-08:00

Fogged View Originally uploaded by Poundstone. I’ve recently realized that I habitually visualize doing things before I do them. (Not everything, but certain things, like running errands, starting projects, work-related stuff, etc.) So, for instance, in order to decide whether or not I will go grocery shopping, I try to envision myself making the list, driving to the store, pushing a cart

Yellow Dog

2005-03-23T13:21:00.000-08:00

Yellow Dog Originally uploaded by Poundstone. I like this picture that I drew so much (if I do say so m'self) that I had Cafe Press put it put on a mouse pad for me. Now I really love my mouse pad.

Winter Trees & Clouds

2005-03-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

Winter Trees & Clouds Originally uploaded by Poundstone. According to the New York Times, Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses has been working on an album titled "Chinese Democracy" for nearly 11 years, at a total cost of more than $13 million, making it the most expensive album never to be released. And here you felt bad about that one project you didn't finish that one time.

Return Of Spring Collaborative Coloring Book Is Here!

2005-03-08T00:18:00.000-08:00

Return Of Spring Collaborative Coloring Book Is Here! Originally uploaded by Poundstone. It's here!! The "Return of Spring" Collaborative Coloring Book has arrived, and it is *so* fun! Another huge thanks to everyone who sent in pictures. Now for fun round 2: anyone who's intrested in receiving a copy of the coloring book just send me a note and I'll send it to you (it's a PDF file). In

Couple On Escalator

2005-03-05T16:05:00.000-08:00

Couple On Escalator Originally uploaded by Poundstone. This link via Jeff today:The story is about Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler (the couple in the band Over The Rhine) and how they chose to save their marriage (by canceling a tour and going home) rather than letting it collapse. I loved this quote from Linford: "A long-term commitment is coin-operated, it's lots of little

Alice In Wonderland "Softies"

2005-03-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Alice In Wonderland "Softies" Originally uploaded by Poundstone. A gaggle of Alice In Wonderland characters for the "Month of Softies" project over at Loobylu. The Queen, Alice, the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter - all made from paper, stuffed with paper-shreds and "sewn" shut with staples. Frankly, this doesn't seem like a terribly mature way to be spending my time. Perhaps that's why it's

My Crazy Footwear

2005-02-27T19:36:00.000-08:00

My Crazy Footwear Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Sometimes wearing black from head to toe just doesn't cut it anymore, at which time you might end up going just a teency bit overboard with the color. Case in point.

Collaborative Coloring Book Call for Submissions - One More Week!

2005-02-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Collaborative Coloring Book: Call for Submissions! Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Here's the info on the "Return of Spring" Collaborative Coloring Book project. I've gotten a lot of fun entries so far and there's plenty of room for more. What I don't have yet are any *activities* - connect the dots, mazes, etc. So if you're so inclined....1) Send me your jpeg file (around 400 x 400

Their Laughter Filled The Air

2005-02-12T17:46:00.000-08:00

Their Laughter Filled The Air Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Part of the wonderfulness of the Internet is interacting with -- not just reading or looking at the work of -- other artists. This is a picture I made for a swap with Cynthia Korzekwa - an enhanced version of it now lives in Rome! In the spirit of interacting - and given the many amazing art-based collaborations going on on

Sometimes Music...

2005-02-07T13:54:00.000-08:00

Sometimes Music... Originally uploaded by Poundstone. A picture I drew at the wonderful Bill Frisell concert last night, alongside a thought I had. For more pictures I drew at the concert (and elsewhere) check www.fotolog.net/jpoundstone...

Lucy

2005-02-04T23:44:00.000-08:00

Lucy Originally uploaded by Poundstone. Relationships with pets seem so simple, yet they're actually chock full of mystery and joy. And I'm *all* for mystery and joy.

Rocks on the window sill

2005-01-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

Rocks on the windowsill Originally uploaded by Poundstone. My photographs are finally becoming as meaningful to me -- as intertwined with my experience of a place and time -- as my drawings have always been. How did this happen? Perhaps it has something to do with vast improvements in the photographs I take now over those I've taken in the past. Improvements not only in composition (I've

2005-01-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

As some folks may notice, I've chosen a new template for this blog - one that includes comments. Frankly, I've gotten a teency bit addicted to comments on my other online homes (my Flickr site, my new Get Crafty site, and the site where I keep my drawings). Comments can cut both ways ("hey, how come nobody gives a rip what I'm doing?"), but even if it's only once in a blue moon, having someone in

2005-01-12T23:53:00.000-08:00

A friend invited me to join her and two other folks in a mail art project this year. Given my love of assignments, I accepted immediately! We're posting our completed assignments here. Why not start your own group project this year?

2005-01-03T16:37:00.000-08:00

I loved the show Northern Exposure when it was originally on the air. I was in high school at the time, and I had a television in my bedroom. I would get all ready for bed, go into my room, shut the light off, shut the door, get all snuggled under the covers and start watching. During the show, I would mute the commercials and look away, peeking only to be sure I un-muted before the show came

Villiers Metro Stop

2005-01-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

Villiers Metro Stop Originally uploaded by Poundstone. One of the France photos - for a few more, click the link "Pictures I've Taken" to the right.

2005-01-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

I am back, and it’s hard to imagine how the trip could have gone any better. This was the first big trip I’ve been on since I started making art again, and what an incredible difference it made. Every place we went was an opportunity to capture a new image. I have two full sketchbooks and three full digital camera memory cards. Speaking of the digital camera, what an amazing machine. I felt

2004-12-13T20:47:00.000-08:00

In two days I'm leaving for France. I always get anxiety-ridden before trips, and often while on trips. Travel is an uprooting, a break with nearly every aspect of your everyday life. And that can be highly disconcerting. It can also be an opportunity to learn new things, to think new thoughts (as I heard some guy on NPR say) and to be renewed physically, spiritually, intellectually. Yep. Now

2004-12-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

I can't tell if you would have to like Bob Dylan or not to enjoy his book. (Personally, I adore the guy.) But what I can tell you is that I'm only about 60 pages in, and I've already got about 12 little passages I've fallen in love with. Including: "I began cramming my brain with all kinds of deep poems. It seemed like I'd been pulling an empty wagon for a long time and now I was beginning to

2004-11-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

Stuff I’m Thankful For Yep, the requisite list of thankfulness, only two days late. * Going to France soon * Mr. Horvat wrote me back * Learned a lot about my graphics program * Started making jewelry that I really, really like (if I do say so myself) * Love my church * Dogs are healthy and happy (as far as I can tell) * English Breakfast tea with lots of milk and sugar (okay fake sugar,