359: Guardians

 

358: Utensils

357: In progress

I started cutting and laying the tile for my next mosaic project today. This is the top for a side table that will go in the D.C. Design Center's 2012 Dream Home, along with several other items we are making. The interior designer heading this project chose the design at the bottom, and it will be worked in unglazed porcelain and opaline glass. The change in scale of both the design and the material from the backsplash to this little table is considerable!

356: Good fences

355: The babies

354: Soap dish

353: Curious

Wanna know how long it took me to realize that cats and kids popping into my shot do not ruin it and maybe even make it better? Much longer than I care to admit, although thankfully not  the whole year.

352: Butter

With just two weeks or so left in this project, I can't help but think about the other side of the year. The domestic images in this series developed out of my role as a mostly stay-at-home mama to two young children, in which I don't necessarily have the freedom to zip off to photograph whatever strikes my fancy, and it's a theme that I struggled with over the course of the year. 

At first I resented the restriction of my home as the source of inspiration, despite the fact that so much of my interest in photography was triggered by my interest in capturing the daily lives of my children. However, I have gradually come to embrace the challenge of finding a way to document the little moments around my home in an interesting, possibly even alluring manner. Whereas a year ago I "blearily wondered if I could do something" with a stick of butter on a blue plate, today as I cast about for inspiration, I felt excited when my glance fell on that very same scene.

351: Rocks and shells

A cold, rainy day in January is the perfect opportunity to take the kids to a little gallery of cultural and natural history objects tucked away on a university campus. The fluorescent mineral exhibit is, of course, their favorite.

350: Virginia yellow pine

I spent part of the day in the wood studio, rubbing out the finish on these reclaimed Virginia yellow pine counter tops we are making for a client. Rubbing out is the process by which a finish on wood, steel or another material is smoothed and polished. You may remember I used to work as a finishing assistant for a furniture conservator. It's been almost a year since I posted this series of images from that job, including one near the end of some small desk drawers and the sand paper I used in the rubbing out process.

For this particular surface, we used sandpaper and abrasive pads. The lumber used to make the counter tops as well as some shelving (seen in the background) originally served as floor trusses in the client's building. The original hundred year old trusses had to be replaced due to fire damage. We're thrilled to be able to put the wood back to use in the very same building from which it came.

349: Puddles and fog

 

348: Start

Sample material and new wheeled cutters for my next project.

347: Morning and evening

346: On the ground

 

345: Food court

Arriving at a food court play area mid-morning, I was struck by the vast sea of neat, empty seats and the juxtaposition of luxury and mass consumption. The placement of the cow in a pretty dress eyeing the giant bracelet couldn't be more poignant.

344: Calendar

Back to the daily grind.

343: Kitchen backsplash

We grouted today, the final step for the backsplash. No blue today, but plenty of green. It's satisfying to see this piece looking so comfortable and natural in its home after so much time working on it in the studio.

The design and tessellation of the backsplash were inspired by the commissioning couple's trip to Newgrange, an ancient monument in Ireland.

342: Installation

Today we completed the first portion of the kitchen backsplash installation. I've been working on this project one day per week for the last few months, and I'm so excited to finally see it in its intended space. The adhesive requires 24 hours to cure, so tomorrow we grout.

341: It's your day!

340: Vent

Sometimes I take a photograph with the intention of using it for this project. But on days when I'm taking pictures anyway, I often assume I can find one to use. Sometimes that requires altering the original to create some blue. In this case, I include the original because I like the greater level of detail and texture, and besides, "Before and Afters" are always fun. If you're wondering how I got this effect, I used the "threshold" feature in my photo editing program.

339: All in a row

338: Empty

After six years in this yard, with each additional season that passes, I am ever more surprised that I continue to find interesting moments to capture.

337: X

 

336: Cantina

335: View from my desk

334: Slide

 

333: Threshold

332: Basket

 

I learned about Martin Parr early on in this project through a technical manual that discussed his use of flash to emphasize saturated color. I feel strongly drawn to the revelation of the absurdity of the human condition in his work, but I tend to shy away from flash. This is one example of my attempt to work with my on-camera flash.

331: Intersection of children and adults

As I rearranged toy storage today to make room for the kids' Christmas hoard, I thought about the ways we make room for children in our adult lives. It can be tough at times, no doubt about it. But a feeling of rightness and satisfaction wells up when I look around the two or three rooms in our house that contain objects belonging to both the kids and to the adults and see those items snugged up together. Even as the hours seem to stretch into forever, especially during these long winter days, I'm so glad these two little people are in my life.

330: Photo album, reprise

Interior shot of one of my previously mentioned photo albums, complete with silhouette-trimmed portraits of my parents.

329: White