Honestly, I'm not sure what attracts me more to Ruth Asawa...the undulating shapes of her wire sculptures or the photos of her surrounded by her children as she works. Both Ruth's work + her life have an artistic quality about them that just seem to touch my soul. 

I've been thoroughly enjoying this book about Ruth's work + life. She training at Black Mountain College under Josef Albers who encouraged his students, "Open your eyes and see." Albers prized work and repetitive process over self-expression, believing that self-expression would be the natural outcome of the creative, hands-on process. Words + concepts like these make me stop reading often to write in my journal...and will inform my view of making art going forward. ​

Molesworth says of this photo by Imogen Cunningham, "In Cunningham's picture the central female figure is neither allegorical, nor is she a 'typical' mother. She is neither exclusively concerned with her children, nor is her identity as an artist in any way at risk. Rather, what the picture makes abundantly clear is that Asawa fully inhabits the role of artist and mother with seeming ease, without sacrificing one modality to the other. This interests me deeply, for it seems to offer a way out of the impasse of thinking that motherhood (and by extension other forms of labor historically gendered female) is either antithetical to being an artist, or is not a form of labor equal to the labor of being an artist."

Amen.

Love,
Jane

This rings true for me, + I appreciate that it highlights habits to nourish.
No safety measures in place.
Like many environmental proposals now, the bill is facing strong opposition from the executive branch.
Indigo.
​Climate change has become a defining factor.
​Buy + sell secondhand fabric online. (I'll add this one to the fair fabric post that can be found linked at the bottom of the ethical brands page for future reference.)
California, Oregon + New York...

After a trip to the fabric store this week, I think I'll be doing a little bit more sewing this weekend. We're also looking forward to spending some time outside in the springlike temperatures. Happy Leap Day! Hope your weekend is full of lovely moments!

Love,
​Jane

Reading :: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse + Fibershed by Rebecca Burgess
A favorite meal lately :: curried vegetable soup with jasmine rice
Also :: trying not to let frigid temperatures keep us from leaving the house

Working with what she has.
When we restore our attention, we make better decisions overall, and for the earth.
France is doing it. China too.
If we don't give it a try, who will?
​Car-free by design.

Enjoy the weekend, friends!

Love,
Jane

Often, by the time a book I put on hold arrives at my library, I've forgotten how I came across it. All About Love by Bell Hooks stands out as the book Brene Brown referenced in the piece I mentioned yesterday. It does not disappoint.

​Minimalist health.
A very good use of my time.
Sustainable.
Identity crisis.
Don't buy it if you don't need it.
A simple wardrobe.
Use what you have.  :)

Yesterday we wished we could send our rain to Australia. Today snowflakes are falling outside our windows. Wherever you find yourself this weekend, take good care of the world.

lots of love, 
Jane

Love is the only sane + satisfactory answer to
the problem of human existence.
~Erich Fromm
(via this read that I loved)

Not only are the photographs in Making a Life beautiful + transporting, but the words of the artists are thought provoking + stretching. This is a book about the why of making rather than the how. 

Simplicity often prods me to think about the necessity of objects being made + where sales come into the picture. Yes, I receive value from creating beautiful things, but do those things have value in + of themselves? Do they have value if they are not necessary? How much stuff do I need to bring into this world? 

At the same time, what do I lose by not making?

Lots of family's thoughts on values-driven holidays.
A reminder that we are teaching "Christmas".  :)

No need to feel guilty about celebrating the holidays with gusto! But also...there is still time to rethink (+ return) something.  :)

Lots of love + wishes for a meaningful, relaxing, exciting, joyous, light, holiday full of love + laughter + gratitude + good food + dear ones! You are loved + appreciated!
Jane

"We sought not merely to improve the world, but to remake it." The Water Dancer was a good read. I tried not to listen too closely to this interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates before reading it + enjoyed it again afterwards.  :) 

​Self-built.
Yes, there is something we can do.
We're actually paying more to store our stuff than we are to store ourselves.
I'm much more grateful for the items I own.
There were no safety features.
Person of the year.

Enjoy the weekend, friends!
Much love,
Jane

It's been a couple of weeks since I poured over A Garden Can be Anywhere by Lauri Kranz + Dean Kuipers, but these images have stuck with me. I mean...jumpsuits, straw hats + wellies...also gardens!  :) I wrote this book down in my planner, so that I'll remember to check it out from the library again in March for some garden planning inspiration. 

I also reread one of my very favorite books, Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston within the past couple of weeks (with Julia). I highly recommend the audio book brought alive by Ruby Dee...so good!

A plant-based house.
​"I personally like a disheveled, worn garment, " he says. "I like that patina things take on when they look well-worn."
Wear clothes? Then you're part of the problem.
​Feel the burden of excess + refocus.
We do not need that illusion of past unity in order to actually unify people today.
​Handmade.
​Winter coats.

We'll be celebrating a birthday over here this weekend! Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend too, friends! ​

Lots of love,
​Jane

The library has been good to me this week. I happily happened upon 150 Best Tiny Space Ideas + A Tree in the House while browsing there. Many of the homes highlighted in the Tiny Space Ideas book are familiar to me, but this is an impressive collection. Worn in New York is another offering by Emily Spivack that I felt focused more on story than clothing. Her first book Worn Stories is my preference of the two. I've also been reading The Great Gatsby all over again with Julia this week as well.  :)
​
This is the city where I'm from + where I'm raising my children, and putting that money back into my city is very important to me.
Some amazing (+ focused) secondhand autumn finds.
Inspiring grandpas + grandmas of the umbrella movement.
​Make it organic, please...or better yet...recycled.
An earth + trash house.
Is new clothing even an option anymore?
​An October playlist we're loving.
Truth.

Hope you are enjoying some lovely transitional weather this weekend, friends!

Love, 
Jane