Robin Wade 9/18/11 Robin Wade 9/18/11

The art of mop buckets

This morning, I saw a beautifully designed mop bucket in our bathroom, all ready for business. Linda, being a big Target' fan, I was guessing it came from there. She confirmed that it's a Michael Graves design. Honestly, I don't shop. And I don't keep up with who the hottest designers are. But even I have heard of Michael Graves.

It's almost shocking just how far design has come in my lifetime. From a few people who have an appreciation for it, to the masses. From museums to Target. From paintings, now to mop buckets.

That doesn't mean I'm on board 100%. Yes, I think the design of that mop bucket is exceptional. And, to bring creativity into the mundane job of mopping, is quite amazing. On the other hand, is it functional? Does it work well, or better? Was it purchased only because it's beautiful? (I'll ask Linda when she comes upstairs). Or did we really need another one? If we tossed the previous (mop bucket) that was working perfectly well, we'd certainly be adding to mass polluting of our environment - for art's sake.

Then, we've got the how was it made, from what was it made, and where was it made? Gosh, that alone could probably take a theises or two.

I was always good with questions. Never had many answers. But I think if we as consumers could slow down a moment, before making each purchase, and ask ourselves (or the label) a few of these questions, it might be a good start (even if we don't find many answers). Remember, awareness is the first step toward sobriety/or is it recovery/or is it change????

The art of mop buckets

Robin Wade 9/17/11 Robin Wade 9/17/11

Florence Farmer's Market - peanut pumpkin

New find for me at the farmer's market this morning. The Peanut Pumpkin. If Mattie hadn't been there to educate me, I think I would have made a run for it.

Actually, I purchased it just for the amazing, natural design. Will try to get a couple of good still shots before we dine on it next month.

Florence Farmer's Market - peanut pumpkin

Robin Wade 9/17/11 Robin Wade 9/17/11

Trail of Tears Remembrance Motorcycle Ride

Driving back from Phil Campbell, it was quite obvious that this is the annual Trail of Tears Motorcycle Ride, from Chattanooga to Oklahoma. Thousands of motorcycles everywhere you look. Here, on South Seminary, right across from my studio, I took this video with my Iphone of a few of the choppers, harley's and unique individuals making this annual tribute each year.

Trail of Tears Remembrance Motorcycle Ride

Robin Wade 9/17/11 Robin Wade 9/17/11

Ran down to Phil Campbell this morning

In advance of next weekend's Oprah (producer) & Brooklyn Phil Cambell's visit to Phil Campbell Alabama - who will be here to video a short segment for her (Oprah Network show), I met with local videographer Andrew Reed. We confirmed what Phil Campbell Police chief Chief Merrill Potter information regarding an alleged tornado killed tree just across from City Hall. This big ole oak, which is still standing, lost it's entire limb structure.

I've been wanting to build a piece of furniture from a downed tree (from the tornado), to help the "I'm with Phil"

campaign in bringing support and funds to try to rebuild this desperate city.It's really amazing what "Brooklyn Phil" Campbell and all the Phil Campbell's have done to raise awareness to this local community. I'm honored and look forward to helping out in this small way.

Above, videographer Andrew Reed interviews the selected devasted tree.

Ran down to Phil Campbell this morning

Robin Wade 9/15/11 Robin Wade 9/15/11

It's all Cuban @ Puerto Sagua Miami Beach

Although I only seem to get down to Miami a few times each decade - I'm afraid I have been around a while. And, in addition to one of Linda's favorite restaurants anywhere (Joe's Stone Crabs - which is only open the winter season that hasn't begun), I usually enjoy eating (notice I didn't say dining) at one of the old, 1940's Cuban spots that are still around. Last visit to Miami it was the Versailles. I don't remember exactly where it was, but it was off the beaten path - and nowhere near Miami Beach. fyi: it is quite awesome as well.

Now Puerto Sagua might be a bit more of a sticky table and real dive feel, but this place is going to be hard to beat. The day's special was the roast chicken with fried plantain, rice and "real" cuban black beans. The roast chicken was so good. Must have had some lemon in the wonderful marinade. LOVE the fried plantains. - Good thing we can't get them up here. But the beans (not quite in the picture) are just amazing. I just spooned them over the rice, and went to town. Puerto Sagua, although quite a bit more of a dive, is every bit as good as the famous Versailles, and it right there on South Beach (700 block, just behind our Hotel-that was also really great - The old 1940's Beacon - right on Ocean Drive.

Again, it's a total dive, but just my kind of dive!

It's all Cuban @ Puerto Sagua Miami

Below is another Cuban specialty, the Café con leche, or "coffee with milk", which is a Cuban espresso served alongside a cup of steamed milk. These Cuban's seem to love their coffee even more than we do! There are walkup windows throughout South Beach where you can order a cuban coffee (or sandwich) 24hours a day.

Just as a side note. I've been wanting to get down to Cuba of quite a while. Gosh, around a decade ago, i went to the trouble of sailing my 33 Pearson down to St. Petersburg (FL), planning to join the Sailboat regatta that had been racing from St Pete to Marina Hemingway (Cuba) for a few years. It seemed to be a working work around the US laws that have been prohibiting US citizens from "spending money in Cuba". We paid an entry fee (to the regatta management), they in turn made arrangements for dockage, food, and fuel - that was included in the entry fee. Well, luck would have it, that, with my boat sitting at the marina in St Pete, only a couple of weeks before the race, we received notice from immigrations of a cease and decist order regarding the race.

So, so far at least, as far as I gotten to Cuba has been a boat in St Pete marina, a few visits to Key West, and this visit to Puerto Sagua in Miami Beach.

Should I ever get over there for a little visit, I'll be sure to take pics and let you know if the real Cuban food is as good as this amazing Cuban food in Miami.

Robin Wade 9/15/11 Robin Wade 9/15/11

Taschen Books, another amazing form of creativity

Although we haven't purchased many, Linda and I have been mesmerized by Taschen books for decades. To me, they are the Apple Computer of publishing - maybe better. They somehow are able to describe - through photography translated to the printed page, amazing three dimensional forms. And the limited to the forms they describe so eloquently seems to have almost no limit - other than beauty, creativity or art.

What a wonderful few minutes we shared with the lovely store manager at the Miami store in the Lincoln shopping district.

I love Taschen. Love their stores. Can't wait to visit their New York store that has library type seating. I've just added one to my list (previously of one) all time favorite retailers - Taschen.

p.s. my next photoshoot might just include one (of my three) Tashen's.

Taschen Books, another amazing form of creativity

Robin Wade 9/15/11 Robin Wade 9/15/11

Back from HD Boutique Miami

Just got back from Miami - and we are whooped. Miami's great fun. Really amazing that this unique city is geographically classified as "southern". But, I'm quite proud that it is.

This was an interesting show catering to the Hospitality industry. Kindof the little sister to the larger and more grand HDExpo in Las Vegas.

We made lots of new friends, and look forward to continuing to study the "Hospitality" side of things.

Back from HD Boutique Miami

Robin Wade 9/11/11 Robin Wade 9/11/11

HD Boutique Expo Miami 2011

Linda decided I needed some help on this trip and has agreed to join me for a quick two day excursion to Miami. That is, if I promise to take her to her favorite restaurant (at lease in Miami) - Joe's SC/South Beach.

We won't be exhibiting, just meeting with some customers and walking the show / with thoughts of exhibiting next year.

If you will be in Miami for the show Monday (tomorrow) or Tuesday, and would like to talk tables, or just say hi, just say the word! Miami's always fun. But we are over due a visit since it's been almost three years since our last visit. - Gosh, now that I think about it, last visit to Miami I returned in a wheelchair!

HD Boutique Expo Miami 2011

Robin Wade 9/9/11 Robin Wade 9/9/11

burley cherry console table just out of finishing room

Now here's a first - at least for me. Glad I've got a pic, because I really don't know how to describe this one. It's a cherry console table, and in the top is the opening to a little cave. We just used our hands, a metal brush, a little sandpaper flapper on the end of a drill, to get up and inside the little cavern to get it cleaned out. Much like we've seem to be making lately, this one has a flowing grain leg on one side and more traditional leg on the other.

burley cherry console table just out of finishing room

Robin Wade 9/9/11 Robin Wade 9/9/11

Another walnut root on the sawmill

another walnut root

Another walnut root on the sawmill

This glorious Friday seemed to help us reprioritize. We decided that sawing this fairly rough looking walnut root was the next project in line. Since it's been sitting around for a year or so, the glorious day was hard to argue with.

Unfortunately, we ran into a few alignment problems on the slabber before we could complete it. But it looks like it just might make an interesting piece in a few years.