blue bottles

Roll on

Fabric roller shades: a how delightful post at bohemian hellhole

Hello, Fall

Let there be lighting

When choosing lighting for my early mid-century house, I considered Rejuvenation, who have been offering quality period lighting for thirty years. I like their products, but was looking for even more classic, streamlined options.

Then I discovered that schoolhouse rocks. Schoolhouse Electric Co., that is. This company, also based in Portland, creates hand-blown glass shades from cast-iron moulds and laboriously shapes brass fixtures to craft beautiful lighting designs reminiscent of those used in schoolrooms, office buildings and homes of the early- to mid-20th century.

I chose fixtures and shades for five rooms (and shot crap photos of them).

Women’s votes, women’s voices

A couple weeks ago a dear friend of mine invited a group of us to visit the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. It’s one of those institutions I’ve been meaning to visit one of these years; I don’t get down to Tacoma very often. They were opening a new exhibit about Northwest women and the suffrage movement, and that piqued my interest.

I’m a thoroughly modern woman, and sometimes take for granted my rights and freedoms. This exhibit is a reminder of the extraordinary women who fought for some of those rights a hundred years ago.

Women’s Votes, Women’s Voices is on view at the Washington State History Museum throught September 27.

Design nerd meets science geek

Yep, it’s a periodic table of typefaces. With Helvetica and Futura prominently placed, as they should be.

But just like chemicals, if you combine the wrong fonts, you’ll be looking at a real mess.

Bitesize dissolution

Facebook is… the best social networking service  available, I think. It’s fun (and wastes a lot of time), especially for those of us vain enough to think (hope) that others will notice what we’ve put in our status updates and find it clever.

Recent developments in facebook’s security problems aside, I encountered something in the newsfeed today that bothered me.

When two facebook users who were previously in a relationship split up – unless they’ve modified their settings to prevent it — the shift shows up as a news item for all of their friends to see. Seems to make a significant life change into something pitifully trite.

Every little thing

My very favorite website right now is evri.com.

It’s a new search tool being developed in Seattle (with funding from Vulcan – thanks Mr. Allen). It shows relevant connections between all sorts of interesting people, places and things.

Go try it!

Typo of the week

What ever will we do for sinner?

I thought I’d clack in the word “dinner” but it came out “sinner.”

Not sure of the significance, but it’s an amusing typo anyway.

Peaceful transfer of power

The New York Times

This photo shows President Obama and Michelle Obama escorting former President Bush and Laura Bush to their helicopter following the inauguration.

I believe this is a day of hope for the United States and the world. And this morning I was particularly struck by something we may take for granted in this country – the peaceful transition from one leader to the next.

In the words of President Obama: “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”

And on a lighter note, I am delighted by the First Lady’s unique color choices – yellow dress, green gloves and teal shoes!