Crickets >> And Other Noises of Silence

Crickets. You hear 'em, too?

I apologize for the radio silence these past few weeks. It wasn't planned, and I don't have much to account for it. It's kind of like when you haven't talked to an old friend for awhile, and then you start to feel guilty, and then more time passes, and by that time it feels like too much time has passed for it not to be awkward.

But then eventually you pick up the phone or make a coffee date and when you get together it seems silly that you ever felt that way, because everything is just the same as it always is. So, yeah...like that.

Anyhow, I guess my quietude here is a reflection of a general un-inspired-ness, and un-focused-ness that has been prevailing my world since the end of Summer. No worries, it happens to us all, but the effect here is evident. I've also been settling back into a regular work week again, plus I've also started working a few hours a week at the yoga studio I practice at.

Other than that, life has actually been quite busy, with lots of fun little excursions and nights out. One of the highlights was a day trip out to the San Juan Islands to go whale watching, which was super amazing, and I'll share more from that adventure in a day or so here (maybe don't hold your breath? ha. :)). I also went to Vancouver, BC for a little overnight, harvested wine grapes out on Whidbey Island, went to a wine tasting party with friends, learned how to can and made my own jam, and have had more cups of tea in the last month than in the last six. The cool, rainy days have descended upon us here in the PNW. I've already made homemade soup a couple of times and right now I'm nursing a hot mug of apple cider.

Aren't these embroidered postcards the bomb dot com? They're by artist Shaun Kardinal, and they're another thing that's been rocking my world lately. Check out his website for more like this, plus lots of other cool embroidery art.

shanti >> sondra

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Exxopolis >> A Luminarium

Happy Wednesday! Today I thought I'd share a few pictures from something that is kind of hard to describe. One of my favorite summer things to do is to visit the Minnesota State Fair, which is always in late August/early September and ends on Labor Day. We made the usual rounds this year, but one thing that I had never seen or even heard of was this thing called Exxopolis.

via

My sister had seen a picture on Facebook and insisted we go. I was only half listening as she said something about colors and light, but she said she'd buy my ticket and that we were going. I didn't get a pic from the outside, but you can see it set up somewhere else above. Essentially it looks like a bouncy house for kids (which I would have been pretty stoked for, too!). But, as the guide firmly pointed out before we entered, NO BOUNCING.

You take off your shoes, and once you enter, it's pretty amazing and like nothing I've ever seen before.

It's basically tubes and "rooms" made of this really soft, plastic-y material of all different colors (actually, I just learned from their website that all of the colors are created from just four colors of plastic. Nuts!). It's zipped into all these crazy shapes, and then the sun shines through the outside of the plastic walls and it lights up into all of these dreamy colors. The whole thing is inflated with air to stand upright. The structures are described as interactive sculptures by the creators, Architects of Air, who describe them this way: "Each luminarium is a dazzling maze of winding paths and soaring domes where Islamic architecture, Archimedean solids and Gothic cathedrals meld into an inspiring monument to the beauty of light and colour."

The picture just above was of the "tree," which was an intricate system of branches and holes in the middle. It sort of looked like something from Avatar (which I hated, but did look pretty cool).

These last ones were of the Cupola, a room which featured stained glass-like Penrose tiling in the windows, and this crazy ceiling. Even though is was about a billion degrees out and humid the day we went, and there were tons of people inside this thing, it was still awesome. It would be a completely crazy awesome experience if you could have this thing to yourself, or at least just a few tranquil people. It was so calm and peaceful, I can imagine it would be pretty much the best place ever to meditate, get a massage, do some yoga, or just to drift away in.

Apparently the company that makes these has several, and they tour them around the world. Has anyone else ever been in one of these? If you ever see one, definitely go in! Now that I think about it, it sort of was like going to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit that I went to last month, but if you could actually go inside the glass sculptures. Trippy!

shanti >> sondra

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Chihuly Glass >>

I have been busy the last few days...very busy playing tourist with some family that is in town visiting. I had delusions that I would have time to keep up with my blog while they are here, but really, I should have known better. We've done a bunch of very "Seattle" things while they're here, of course, but probably my favorite thing that we've done was go to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit. It's actually just steps from where I work, and I've walked past it a zillion times, but it's pretty spendy to just casually pop in, and I wanted to wait until somebody visited to do it.

Anyhow, it was pretty sweet, and worth the wait.

If you've lived in the PNW than you already know who Dale Chihuly is, but in case you are uninitiated, he apparently has a big personality and an ego to match (legend has it). But you have to admit, his glass is pretty amazing.

Also, he has one of the largest collections of Pendelton blankets in the world. Whodathunk? There was a display of some of his other Indian trade blankets at the museum as well. I would have been happy looking at those all day long.

I will have to make this short and sweet, as I am about to be picked up for another stop on the tour: up the Space Needle!

shanti >> sondra

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Inspired By >> Inaluxe

Aren't these the best ever? They make me so happy when I look at them. The textures, the colors, the shapes! 1950s swooooooooon party.

And if they weren't beautiful enough, they are AFFORDABLE!!!!! All of their prints can be had for the crazy good price of $35 (shop here), or hold onto your hats kids, they have a set of TWO posters available at Ikea for $6. Whoa. Mama.

They also make a pretty bomber phone background. Just sayin'.

shanti >> sondra

{all images via inaluxe}

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Fairy Tales + Magical Worlds >> The Art of Phoebe Wahl

I was going to post about a little hike adventure we took yesterday, but I can't seem to be able to figure out how to get the photos off of my new phone! So instead I am going to share something else that I've meaning to show y'all - the art of Phoebe Wahl.

This was the first piece of hers, and I came across it on Pinterest. Basically, this picture looks like heaven to me. A cabin in the woods, with me meditating/doing yoga/communing with nature in front. Ahhhhhhh....bliss. But then I followed the link through to her blog, where I found a gajillion more amazing watercolors and illustrations!

They evoke the look and feel of Scandinavian fairy tales with a helping of a hearty love for nature and growing things. Looking at them makes me so happy... I wish I could jump right into of them and live there!

She is -unbelievably- still a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. I imagine she has quite a career ahead of her!  Swoonyswoonswoon. :)

shanti >> sondra

images via Phoebe Wall

Into Reflected Light >> I'll Stare

I recently came across the work of Canadian artist Lawren Harris, and thought it was very moving. One of his frequent subject matters is Lake Superior, one of my very favorite places on the planet, so of course I was particularly drawn to those pieces. I just loved the way that he captured the frozen, icy north, with geometric swaths of color that feel exactly like the 1920s, but perfectly contemporary at the same time.

For a girl who proclaims to mostly dislike the cold and snow, I sure do feel drawn to it (she says, from the comfort of her warm house with slippers on). I guess you can take the girl out of Minnesota...

Lake Superior, c.1926

Pic Island sketch, c.1924

Lake Superior Hill, c.1925

North Shore Lake Superior, c.1926

shanti >> sondra

images via

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