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Tillman’s in Bishop Arts
By Sarah | March 1, 2010
My family got together for dinner Saturday night at Tillman’s Roadhouse in the Bishop Arts District. Um ya, so I loved it! The decor alone was enough to send me into a happy place.
It wasn’t just the overall atmosphere of the space, but it was even in the small details….like having chocolate covered almonds delivered in little gold bird nests with the check.
And the food…yes, awesome! Goat cheese tater tots, enough said. Do yourself a favor and go enjoy a night at Tillman’s. I will definitely be back.
Topics: cool DESIGN, why we love Dallas | No Comments »
Nursery Progress
By Sarah | February 16, 2010
The nursery is slowly but surely coming together. The grand vision isn’t complete. I’ve still got mobiles to create, shelves to hang, and general decorating to be done. But a few parts are really starting to feel like baby’s new home. Here’s a few close-up snap shots of how things are coming together…
The rocking chair was my grandmothers (my mom had it refinished) and the quilt is from mom. She bought it in Eureka Springs, AR soon after I found out I was pregnant. The lime green is a toy box I repainted, but left some of the original wood exposed and the letter “e” from the name Alexander that was formerly printed across the front. The blocks were a gift from R. I love them! She bought them through Tiny Giraffe on etsy. We’ve also received so many wonderful books from friends and family! So we created a little reading corner with ohdeedoh inspired front facing wall ledges. I’ve started to hang some art above his crib, from my Zooburbia series.
I’m really ready to rush and get all the little pieces put together. Besides the due date fast approaching I’m afraid I won’t even be able to climb the step ladder for much longer! So if you’re looking for me on the weekends, you’ll find me busily working on “Project Nursery.” Hopefully before too long I can show some full pics of the finished room!
Topics: BABY land, we love ourselves | 5 Comments »
Veronica DeAnda Tosten
By Sarah | February 11, 2010
As a close friend remarked most aptly on the day of her passing, “Your battle was so long…get some rest now”.
My friend and artist Veronica DeAnda Tosten passed last Wednesday, Feb 3rd. I received a call telling me that she had gone some time early in the morning. On that day in the same morning I was aware that Jen was beginning the labor process to give birth to her little girl. I met both Jen and Veronica in graduate school in 2001. They were a year ahead of me and we were all working towards our MFA’s in painting. Their studios were 2 doors down from each other. All of the grad students became a close group of artists. I haven’t quite put my thoughts together and made sense of it all. But I feel that there is something beautiful and amazing or just profound that on the same day one friend passes, another brings new life into the world. So much joy and so much mourning on a Wednesday. Veronica will be deeply missed.
Please take some time to read the words of Jim Burton, another artist and friend from the grad program and 500X Gallery. He said it all so very well, here.
A memorial for Veronica will be at 500X Gallery this Saturday, February 13, from 2-5 p.m. A slide show celebrating Veronica’s life and art will be playing during the memorial. A eulogy written by Veronica will be read at the midpoint of the memorial. Veronica’s husband, Erik, would like donations be made to EASL in lieu of flowers.
All my love goes to Erik and the DeAnda and Tosten families. A facebook page in Memorial for Veronica has been started where you can see photos of Veronica and her artwork.
Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Dear Dylan
By Sarah | February 9, 2010
Dearest Baby Dylan,
Welcome to the world! I am so excited that you’re here. You are just beautiful as I knew you’d be. Your Mama worked hard to bring you here, and your Daddy had tears in his eyes as he spoke of your birth. You are loved beyond measure. I can’t wait to see your personality and your talents come out. We’ll sit down and draw a picture together one day. Your mom and I have had many conversations over the last several years dreaming about what it might be like to be mothers and artists. And now you’re here…the best work of all, the fulfillment of wonder.
Many congratulations and celebration goes to Jen, Stephen, and their families, for the birth of Dylan Mackenzie! Yeah!!!
Topics: BABY land | No Comments »
Wyly Theatre
By Sarah | January 29, 2010
Last night R and I attended the Wyly Theatre to see “Give it Up.” Our dear friend from New York is in town to stage direct the show. The musical was great, but I fell head over heels in love with the theatre itself. The space is located in the Dallas Arts District right across from the new Winspear Opera House (which is also on my list of buildings I’m dying to see inside). Check out these images from REX, the architecture firm that designed the space.
The theatre towers as a rectangular cube and you can see the elevators operating from the outside. The ramp entering the theatre reminded me of a mini version of walking into the Tate Modern. And the beautiful interior concrete reminded me of the The Modern in Ft. Worth. And I know its silly, but I loved the bathrooms….lime green gloss hallways that were painted floor, walls, and ceiling, led into a clean sterile white tiled bathroom…loved it. Even the theatre chairs are lime green. The whole space is just impressive, you have to experience it.
Treat yourself a night to with the Dallas Theatre Center at the Wyly….just another reason to love Dallas.
Topics: cool DESIGN, why we love Dallas | No Comments »
welcome to baby land
By Jen | January 26, 2010
So we are eagerly awaiting our little ones arrival. Any day now!! I had grand ideas on what I wanted her nursery to look like. But I settled on vintage birds, trees, wings and such…very baby but also magical. I have more ideas like including vintage story books in frames. I wanted to mix the old with the new. I have collected angels for a while so we put those on a vintage self and then incorp my artwork with a mural that I projected and painted on the wall….I think it will always be a work in progress. Hope you enjoy…
Topics: BABY land, we love ourselves | 1 Comment »
Resa Blatman
By Sarah | January 11, 2010
I came across a blog new to me this morning, My Love For You is a Stampede of Horses. I’m scrolling through the art and fall in love! Check out Resa Blatman. Its been a while since I got excited about seeing new work. I love the laser cut edges, the animals hidden in pattern, botany, and biology, and organism decorative goodness. Its like I’m looking at all that I think about in my own aesthetic, only she has done it so much better! See more of her work here…especially the cut edge paintings. I want to see one in person!
Topics: all things ART | No Comments »
Dwell Studio
By Sarah | January 8, 2010
I’m a huge fan of the textiles designed by Dwell Studio. Over my lunch break today I hit up Target and got some great deals on the Dwell Studio for Target lines in baby bedding and apparel. The Dwell line for Target is all 30% off at the moment and the best looking baby line for the price anywhere…in my professional opinion. I challenge you to find a cuter onesie for boys than the dwell studio line. I’m sick of seeing every little boy thing having a dumb looking puppy on it or a badly drawn monkey and saying “I love my mom.” Thank you Dwell for good taste and good design at a great price. See what I’m talking about here.
I also just started reading the Dwell Studio Blog. I highly recommend it! Check it out and have a great weekend.
images via the Studio Blog. I love their “How You Dwell” category, featuring Dwell products in people’s home spaces.
Topics: HOME sweet home, cool DESIGN | No Comments »
Studio to Nursery
By Sarah | January 5, 2010
The time over the holidays was a much needed break for me. I was most excited to finally make some progress on the nursery. My art studio is gradually making the transition to baby’s room. We had some great friends come over New Years Day to help us move my studio to a home in the garage. And as I have zero sewing ability, my friend Rozie helped me make curtains from the Alexander Girard fabric for the nursery. I’m in love with the finished product! Here is a before and after shot of the current state of the room:
You may notice that the curtain panels are slightly uneven from each other. I have no idea how that happened…again, I suck at sewing. But there is something about that I like. The baby’s room is going to be very much “hand made.” I’m not going for perfection, I want it be a room he can actually live and thrive and puke in. My mom was telling me about this amazingly handcrafted quilt she bought from an Amish woman. She noticed that a very small stitching line on the quilt trim was incomplete. My mom assumed it to be a flaw that was overlooked. When she asked to have it fixed she was told that the “flaw” was purposefully left in the quilt. The Amish woman believed that only God is perfect and the flaw was left to remind us of that. I love it when something handmade is actually allowed to look that way. I’m not saying that I don’t believe in a high aesthetic or craftsmanship. But allowing the flaw can be beautiful. So there, I’m leaving my curtains uneven. I’m just so proud to have actually had a hand in making them.
I debated over the room color thinking I may go with a gray or chartreuse. I finally settled on an Olympic paint color called ”Painted Parrot.” I was inspired by this Apartment Therapy post on the colors of Mt. Vernon.
The strong colors of greens and teals are just so appealing to me. It could also be the fact that I’ve been re-watching HBO’s John Adam’s series and looking at all of the historic homes and decor. Either way, I think the wall color sets off the fabric pattern perfectly.
There is a still a long way to go. I’ll try and post pics throughout the transition. I just keep walking into the room and trying to imagine a little boy sitting on the floor. I can’t wait to see Jen’s nursery for her little girl! I’ve heard a few clues about birds and vintage and a hand painted tree. Its sure to be beautiful!
Topics: HOME sweet home | 2 Comments »
moblies…oh baby land
By Jen | January 4, 2010
so I have been working on our daughter’s nursery and thinking about how cool mobiles are and why dont I have one over my bed. Here are a few images… but, my fave is the first two images from beatriz milhazes
Topics: all things ART | No Comments »