Artwork of the Week: Permanent Sparkler

Permanent Sparkler by Alwin Lay 2012 

2012, 82 x 62 cm, C-Print, ed. 5

This coming weekend we will be celebrating Graham's first birthday. It's not going to be anything big---only a few family members will be in attendance. And we've decided to keep things simple since there's pretty much no point in going all out on an elaborate party theme or piles of thoughtfully chosen gifts because he won't remember any of it. But I have found myself getting super excited to make him a little cake and maybe hang a festive garland or two. If I can pull it off (and remember to use the camera), I'll share some photos next week. I know it's a total cliche, but I really can't believe it's been almost a year since this little guy arrived. In some ways it feels as if it's been barely any time at all, and in others, like it's been forever already (sheesh!). 

You can see more work by Alwin Lay at www.nataliahug.com

- Cathleen

[Image courtesy of Natalia Hug Gallery]

Mast Brothers

So, I know Christmas is pretty long past for most people, but Dan and I just finished enjoying one of his presents the other day. This year, like most other years, he found a couple of Mast Brothers chocolate bars in his stocking (from me) and we were both super excited.

Mast Brothers chocolate is one of my favorite things in life, combining chocolate with little else, wrapped in gold foil and then again in gorgeous Italian paper. Each bar has its own beautiful design printed on the paper and I often have difficulty picking the bars for their flavors as opposed to their wrapping. (I'm one of those people that do judge books by their covers.) A friend of mine has been to their location in NY and got to witness the wrapping of the chocolate bars. That image has haunted me ever since and I'm pretty sure it might be my dream job.

Apart from the aesthetics, the chocolate is amazing. Mast Brothers source from small cacao farms around the world and then they do the rest: sorting, roasting, winnowing, stone grinding, aging and tempering. The result is an amazing bar that usually has four ingredients or less: our Christmas bars had cacao, cane sugar, black truffles, and sea salt in one and cacao, cane sugar, and sea salt in the other. And they were incredible! So, new project for Swings and Arrows readers: try Mast Brothers chocolate as soon as possible!

Have a sweet weekend!

-Alissa

Ettore Guatelli Museum

I found this private museum over the weekend while Grace and I were doing our weekly Saturday morning internet surfing.  We usually kick the kids down stairs, force them to watch tv and try to get a little peace.  It doesn't always work perfectly but it's become our thing when we have the occasional free weekend.
The Ettore Guatelli Museum is located in Parma, Italy.  It houses a collection of roughly 60,000 "everyday" items arranged throughout the building in complex and interesting displays.  Grace pointed out that it wouldn't be as impressive if the items were not organized and displayed in the manner you see in some of these photos but that's what makes it such a great place.  Finding beauty in the mundane is nothing new but the shear size of the collection and the commitment they undoubtedly have to keep it organized and interesting is amazing.

-Brian

Artwork of the Week: Skaters

Skaters, 1953 by Mario De Biasi

I like these moments of stillness caught among the chaos. Groups huddled together on the ice, obviously discussing things of great importance, while their more frenetic friends cut through the crowds, weaving their way in and out of the conversation. 

I went ice skating once. It was for my 20th birthday. I convinced everyone it would be a fun activity to engage in on a cold December night in Boston Commons. Despite the fact that many of my friends gamely came together to celebrate Cathleen on Ice, I hated every minute of it. 

- Cathleen 

Grocery Shopping: Michelangelo Style

Ever feel like your life is so mundane? Day in and day out, all you do is complete the same chores without an ounce of inspiration? Well don't worry, mundanity is a part of life. Here's the unrivaled Renaissance artist genius's grocery list from 1518:

via

Thought to have been illustrated so his illiterate assistant could figure out what the master artist wanted. The list includes items such as two loaves of bread (pain dua), a herring (un aria), and a quart of wine (un boccal di vino).

So next time you're cruising the grocery store feeling bogged down by the boring things in life, just remember everyone faces boring tasks everyday. 

Read more about it here. 

- Grace

Neck Warmer

Mountain Blossom Furoshiki

35.4 x 35.4"

$48 from TheLinkCollective via Etsy

So last week's post was a bit of a false start, but this week! This week we are BACK! In full Swings & Arrows force! Bringing you more beautiful things to behold!

Since it's go GD cold outside, pretty much all across America, I went hunting for something that might brighten your grey and dreary days and keep your chilly throats from getting drafted.

This cheery furoshiki scarf is designed by illustrator Leah Duncan and printed in Tokyo by The Link Collective on cotton satin using traditional Japanese techniques. 

I know I just finished opening a butt load of presents for Christmas and birthday, etc, but I'm already thinking of putting this pretty on my wishlist for next year. I just can't get enough of pale peach and deep navy these days. 


- Cathleen 

Looking Forward

Seasons' Eatings 2014 Calendar and Recipe Collection

via Dear Colleen on Etsy

I don't think I ever REALLY got into the holiday spirit this year. Maybe it was because we didn't put up a Christmas tree for fear that Grabby Graham would rip the whole thing down. Maybe it was because I relied too heavily on Amazon Wishlists for my loved ones in lieu of spending the months leading up to Christmas finding the perfect gift for each of them. But I realized halfway through the season that even though I was, of course, looking forward to seeing everyone during those fleeting vacation days, I was more excited about the first of the year. 

2014! An entire 365 days full of possibility! Brimming with optimism! Overflowing with opportunities for improving oneself! 

Looking back I was surprised (though I don't know why) to see that what I resolved to do last year has pretty much stayed the same for 2014, but my list has gotten a bit more specific. 

So in the spirit of making public declarations so that there's more pressure to actually follow through, I put forth here that I resolve to work in my studio at least two nights a week, to drink at least 2 - 24 oz bottles of water per day, and to head to bed by 10:30 pm so that I can read an actual book for half an hour before lights out at 11 pm. And bonus resolution! I will set my alarm for 6 am so that if Graham sleeps in until at least 6:30, I can do a yoga DVD before he wakes up. (That last one is so dependent on the whims of an early-rising baby, that it may not happen, but I'll resolve to try!)

Very schedule-oriented, yes, but that's really how I work best. 


What are YOUR plans for the new year? I'd love to know!


- Cathleen