california book events...a big thank you!

Just wanted to extend my sincerest thank you to everyone at William Stout Architectural Books in San Francisco and Heath Ceramics in LA for two wonderful book signings and slideshows last week. I get a bit nervous giving these talks sometimes, but I had such a great time! And thanks to everyone who came out and bought Handcrafted Modern. It was a joy to talk to so many of you and know that my enthusiasm and love for these people and homes are shared by so many.

Yesterday, my friend Michele and I decided to take the long way back to San Francisco. I have to say we timed it perfectly. Just as we were driving into Big Sur the sun was setting. California, how I love thee....

what is a "pic of the day"/

I guess it is pretty obvious - a picture of the day - but I will give a little background info. For quite a few years, I have been sending a group of about 20 friends and family (sometimes more, sometimes a little less) a pic of the day when the mood struck me. usually I was travelling, often I was shooting one of the houses for my book, Handcrafted Modern, or on a commercial job. Many of them were shot on my iphone. The idea behind it was twofold. 1) who doesn't like to see a pretty picture waiting in their inbox. A little mental vacation to take at some point in their day. 2) I just had to share some of the amazing things I was seeing when I was shooting my book with people who I knew would get it! I was pretty sporadic about it. When I was travelling there would be one a day and then everyone would know I was out of town, etc. With this blog, I plan to be much more consistent about it. Here is one I shot last year on my way to shoot the Eames house. I ended up driving the coast down through Big Sur so I could stop for a glass of wine and a really good meal at the Big Sur Bakery (super yum for those of you who aren't familiar!). The light in Big Sur is so indescribable sometimes. It is obvious why Edward Weston and Henry Miller and all those other icons of art and life settled on this part of the California coast. This is still a favorite shot of mine. When I look at it, I convince myself I can smell the ocean and the scent of cypress trees. A perfect picture to end the week.