- Tucked Away
- Sweet Little Home
- Another Big One
- Love These Upper Windows
- Full Range of Home Styles Here
- Early Island Home Design
- Extra Height and Lot Size
- Fresh Paint
- Holiday Joy
- Some Homes Take Up Multiple Lots Now
- Jungle House
- Newly Renovated
- What a View
- Another Quaint Cottage
- It’s All About the Windows
- Entry with Impact
- Vintage Two Story Home
- One of the Quaint Cottages
- Contemporary Home
- Architectural Styles Side by Side
- Christmas House
- Buddy’s House
- Home With a Front Yard – rare on the island
- The Whale House
A friend was visiting and I thought it would be fun to show her where my husband grew up. It is a tiny island in California and while I instantly fell in love with it many years ago I sometimes take it for granted. Until, that is, I took out my camera and really payed attention. In November and early December the island is a destination for holiday celebrations. The homeowners take decorating very seriously and I was able to spot some homes in various decorating stages for the season. While telling my friend the stories my husband and mother inlaw have shared, I began photographing details that stood out to me on our stroll. Many of the homes have been renovated or torn down and replaced with structures that occupy every square inch of their tremendously expensive lots but others remain as they were in the early 1900′s; quaint beach cottages with modest landscaping and furniture. Through my camera’s lens I re-discovered the wonder and beauty of the range of architecture that thrives through great craftsmanship, proper maintenance, and the financial freedom many of these residents have to create their own unique little castles.
When my son was two and a half years old I took him to the Teddybear Tea at a hotel in San Francisco. It might have been at the Ritz but what I remember most was the gingerbread doorway. While we waited for the tea room to open we marveled at the edible doorway. It was decorated with icing and candies and in the windows were giant chocolate sculptures. I felt as though we had discovered the real Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory. My son was thrilled with the entire day and I decided that this was a concept I would take home and do the following year. So, in December 1999 I collaborated with my husband and mother inlaw on the Gingerbread Baby Holiday Party. The day began with a reading of the story on my mother inlaw’s porch while I handed out goodie bags to the kids. They drank cocoa and listened intently. When the story was finished we opened the front door revealing the candy and cookie clad house. We did not have to explain to the children what to do.
I spent about the same amount of money on this entire party that I had spent the previous year on tea for just me and my son. The added bonus – he and many many of his friends got to celebrate together. The following year we changed it up to a chocolate gold coin filled Thomas the Tank Engine party. For several years I continued this “inverted piñata” theme for my children’s parties. I have always found with young children magic is relative.
- Home Made Thomas Party Train
- Process of Thomas Build
- Testing the Engine for the Thomas Party
- Construction of Thomas for Holiday Party
- Gathering Treats from the House
- Pregnant Nancy With Gingerbread House
- Gingerbread House Chimney Detail
- Entry view after
- Long view of shop after
- JP and all the new items for the shop
- Reception desk after. Reclaimed work bench sanded and cleaned by Sam Ball.
- Took this photo when I picked up the library ladder in downtown New York
- Brooklyn Bridge – a view my grandma knew so well growing up
- Sammy in Brooklyn
- Work station before
- Shower stall used as storage/dump
- Upper shelving and door to bathroom before
- Reception desk before
Last May I traveled to Brooklyn to redesign a struggling tattoo shop for Tattoo Rescue. The space was tiny but needed to accommodate three tattoo artist chairs and a reception desk. Fortunately it had a high ceiling. The show’s hosts, Joey & Sammy, and I discussed removing the drop ceiling and going up another 2-3 feet but our renovation schedule was too tight for the added demolition and clean up.
I often approach design of any space through four of my senses. Sight, smell, sound, and touch. Taste is for chefs so I leave that to experts like Gordon Ramsay. Morning Star Tattoo was visually compressed and cluttered through paint color choices and lack of storage. The bathroom had not been properly cared for so it smelled bad and the disconnected shower stall was filled with broken items and surplus supplies. The sense of touch was not in order as most of the surfaces had not been properly cleaned. Sound needed to be managed so clientele could communicate with the artists and have a soothing background to focus on during the painful aspects of the procedure.
By thoroughly cleaning the space, relocating unaccessible and unused wall shelving, adding a library ladder that tucks up to an unused wall, choosing a lighter and brighter palette to visually expand the room, and installing a better sound system (because Sammy is a big advocate for music in a work space) we really improved the design of this little business in Brooklyn. The design was driven by the local art scene. The street was filled with exterior wall murals and the small shops embraced a very urban style with reclaimed items for furnishing and fixtures. My vision was to bring Morning Star Tattoo’s design up to date and in step with its extremely artistic and creative community.
Twelve years ago on 9-11-2001 I was awake at 4:30am PST. My contractions had been steady and regular but not too bad. It was two weeks before my due date but that was fine with me as I had two other children and I was exhausted. I was lying on the couch watching television so my constant tossing and turning wouldn’t keep Jevon awake. Tired but so excited to see the finish line with my third baby, I channel surfed. TV was pretty boring and I was happy to find myself nodding off so at 4:45am I went back to bed.
At around 6:30am PST I woke up to much stronger contractions (and a few other symptoms I won’t share) and called my doctor. I told her the details and she said to meet her at the hospital. Then I woke up Jevon, my 6 year old, and my 18 month old to get them ready for the exciting day. The progression of my labor was not too bad so I dressed my kids and we sang songs as we gathered their overnight bags for the exciting trip to grandma’s. My husband called his mom and she said she was coming right away. He went outside to put our bags in the car and came back in with a blank look on his face. I had heard the neighbor chatting with him and only picked up bits and pieces of the conversation. Our neighbor had mentioned a bomb going off and for some reason my mind translated it to the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. It is amazing how your imagination can protect you when the truth is too tough to swallow. I thought how sad it was that my baby was going to be born on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing – such a sad day in US history. Little did I know….
About that time my mother in law came to the door and whispered something to Jevon as I was gathering up the kids with their packs. We said our goodbyes at the door and Jevon closed it after them. He took my hand and walked me back into the living room . ”We might want to take a look at this before we go to the hospital.” When he turned on the television it was on every channel. The accident or attack or whatever was happening was airing live. It was just before 7:30am PST. The North Tower of the World Trade Center was collapsing on television before our eyes. Information on two other planes began to pour in but at this time we needed to head to the hospital. As we drove past my neighbors’ house I saw their television was on and I felt for my friend, Danya. Her baby was due in 3 weeks.
The drive to the hospital was only 10 minutes but it was filled with an eternity of thoughts for both Jevon and I. What were we going to do? What would happen to us? Was the missing plane headed for the White House or Northern California where my parents live? How were we going to protect our family? What was next? We didn’t talk much but continued to hold hands.
When I checked in at the nurses’ station they eyed me carefully. ”I know what is happening”, I told them. ”Okay, do you want me to put on the television, while we see if you are ready?”, she said as she set me up in a multi-bed laboring room. Jevon looked straight at me waiting for my answer. ”Yes.” ”But I will tell you when it is time to turn it off.” I had no plan I just wanted to know what had been happening for as long as I could pay attention. I watched as flight 93 was discovered, I watched as the Pentagon fell, I watched as people were running from schools near the base of the Trade Center, and I weeped for all the children. When Jevon phoned my mom and dad I knew they could not fly down to be part of our day and I insisted they not even think about traveling to us at all. There was commotion in the hallway and when we asked the nurse she said one of the maternity ward mom’s was having a hard time. I dug deep into my head to find a happy place. ” My baby will be here soon”, I kept thinking over and over to block the chaos around me.
After a few minor complications, she was born at 4:56pm and with her came a flood of emotion. Tiny and sweet with a shock of dark hair and deep blue eyes our little burst of joy entered our uncertain world. Calls were made to family and friends and my husband wrote an announcement email that will always tear me apart when I read it even today. (see below *) Over the next few months we received more attention than I had expected for a third baby to seasoned parents. But I realized later that she brought our friends, family, and even strangers (who learned of her birthday) great hope. That is why to this day my youngest will always be my little Sparkle.
*
“Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 22:29:08 -0700
To: Baby News
Subject: The third and final installmentOn a day in which the harshness of our world seemed to surround us all, my daughter slipped unobtrusively into a Hoag hospital delivery room at 4:56 pm, weighing 6lbs. 14 oz., and reminding me and her mother of the preciousness of life.
For us at least, she has turned a grey and dismal day into a happy one. We all hope this email finds you and yours happy and healthy, as both our baby and Nancy are.
Much love,
Jevon”