Tonight!/Slideshow at Eichler Speaker event in Lucas Valley!

I hope to see some of you tonight in the grove of Eichler's in Lucas Valley! I am doing a slideshow and talk with Regina Connell of Handful of Salt and will share images from my first book as well as two houses from my new book. This is gonna be fun!
Click here for event details!

And don't forget my Kickstarter! Time is running out to pledge your support of the European project and pre-buy your book or some gorgeous limited edition prints.

Handcrafted Modern Europe Preview Slideshow/March 7 in SF!

daily life/I don't make u-turns for photos...

...but I just did for this one.
I was driving home from getting a coffee and glanced over at my favorite house in our neighborhood (the original farmhouse for our hill in Diamond Heights) and saw this hawk just perched there. I said out loud (in the car by myself) "are you kidding?!?" and I flipped a U-y. I was sure I would have scared him away by coming close but he was watching something in the grass and just looked at me. We stared at each other for awhile, actually. As we did, his chest feathers were blowing in the breeze and I could see how soft and downy they were. Wow...I really needed that!!
The Kickstarter is rolling along with a lot of tending and emails (pledge here, there is still aways to go!) and I am doing a bunch of slideshow talks and I am continuing to work on writing and perfecting the chapters of my book. It is a lot to handle for me alone. I know these are all wonderful opportunities to share my work that I love with people, so I focus on that, but still, I admit I am scattered. So my moments with this hawk just helped put me back in place - with the cycles of life and the simple things that are important...and I really needed that.
The hawks have actually been riding the air currents above our house a lot lately and I watch them then too...but that is another story.
Have a lovely day my friends. Take a moment to stop and be still. It really helps sometimes.

This Friday, March 1/Slideshow & Lecture/Eichler Speaker Event in Lucas Valley!

Have I mentioned I am doing a couple of lecture/slideshows? I probably haven't because things have been a bit busy with the Kickstarter and writing my new book. But it finally dawned on me the other day. The first talk is Friday in San Rafael!!! And all of a sudden I got so excited! I love sharing my work and talking about all these wonderful people and homes with all of you. So please come! I will be sharing a small sneak preview of my new book in support of the Kickstarter and Regina Connell, founder of Handful of Salt, with be asking me some questions. And apparently there are tacos! Here is all the info. I look forward to seeing you all.

scenes from Antwerp/light and sound

This was my view out my window in Antwerp when I was there last September. I have been saving it for awhile because I shot a series of views out to this square and I wanted to run them all together, but I just haven't had the time to do that. And then yesterday, as I was trying to get my head to a place where I could clear away all the thoughts and get to that quiet, true place I have to get to for writing, I heard the sound of these skateboards in my head and I was there. When I  first heard them as I was writing the Julia Kalthoff People Watching post and the sound made me get up and look out the window. It was late afternoon and the sun was raking through the square. Just look at this kid...doesn't he look like he is dancing? Just beautiful...

On another note I'm still plugging away at my Kickstarter for Handcrafted Modern Europe. I am almost half way!! Please take a look and pledge this weekend...and have a good relaxing one while you are at it!  ; )

giacometti/the louisiana museum, copenhagen

I decided to stray for a moment yesterday. I just needed a little mental vacation. So I looked through my images from Copenhagen and rested on this one for along while. Giacometti. Goodness I love him so...

The Kickstarter is ongoing so please do pledge if you are excited about my new book, Handcrafted Modern Europe. And it looks like if you live in San Francisco, you will be able to get a proper sneak preview of the new book. I am planning a sneak preview slideshow! More details soon! March 7. Save the date!

writing/kickstarter...hmmm...

Well, goodness me my friends! Doing a Kickstarter campaign takes a lot of time! I've been back a week and have not written one word for my book since I have been home. Just a heck of a lot of emails (which is fun too).
I am so grateful for all the support thus far, but I still have a long way to go. So please check out the Kickstarter and support in whatever way you can - pledge, tell your friends, all of the above... you get the idea.
Me? I'll get back to writing tomorrow about this place...one of my favorite houses I have ever shot.

love and kickstarter/all items loaded

Well...one more of my beloved heart puddle for your Valentine's Day pleasure. I watched it swell with a bit of rain and then slowly fade during my time in Mendocino. When it wasn't there I would walk past where it would be and still see it in my mind and silently give it a wink.
Today I am just overwhelmed with the amazing support my Kickstarter has received so far. $11,000 in one week is so fantastic! Thank you so much to all my backers. But I still have a long way to go. So please check out my Kickstarter and if you love your copy of Handcrafted Modern, sign up to pre buy your copy of the next in the Handcrafted series - this one of all the European homes.
There is actually a wonderful little interview with me and little film on Handcrafted Modern on the new website All Items Loaded. I am loving this website. Enjoy it and Happy Valentine's Day! xxoo

daily life/back in SF

As many of you know I have been up in Mendocino (see the pics today from my morning walk there) working on writing the essays for my new book for the past few weeks. Well, yesterday I finally drove back over the Golden Gate Bridge and am back home in San Francisco. Frankly, it feels rather strange to be back. Life in Mendocino was basic but focused to one thing...writing my book. And there is a beauty in that simplicity. The second I walked in my door everyday life hit. My ignored overflowing email inbox could no longer be ignored for one thing...
Alas, there is still much to do, most importantly is my Kickstarter campaign to finish the book. I also have a few lectures coming up in early march where I will be sharing a sneak preview of my new book live and in person. (One on march 1 in Nor cal and the other on march 9 in so cal). But for now please check out the Kickstarter and if you loved Handcrafted Modern, I need you to pre buy your copy of Handcrafted Modern Europe. It is going to be a beautiful book.

Kickstarter launched/prebuy my new book!

One of my favorite images of the Aalto house in Helsinki today to mark the launch of my Kickstarter campaign! As many of you know, I have been working away on my new book of architects and designers homes in Europe for the past year. Well, I've gotten as far as I can and I need a bit of help to finish.  So yesterday I officially launched a Kickstarter. If you have been following along and would like to learn more or would like to pre buy your book, please go here and help me get this book to publication. I would be very grateful for your help.
The nice guys over at The OEN also did a nice write up on the project and Kickstarter and I gave them a bit of sneak preview of the Aalto house, so check that out while you are at it.
Have a lovely weekend friends and please help me spread the word of this Kickstarter. I need all your help!  ; )

editing/heartbreaking at times

I swear sometimes editing feels a million tiny little deaths. I keep saying to myself "this is a good problem to have" this many good images, but Ugh! Here is one of my favorites from Gae Aulenti's apartment that I have just reluctantly cut away. Such a beautiful little moment, no?

I continue to write and edit away in this Mendocino cabin. Have a beautiful weekend friends.

I am in love/

I have always dreamed of living in one of these water towers or are they watch towers? What would you call these? Anyhow, yesterday I found my perfect one. It stand directly in the center of Mendocino village. I first spotted it when I was parking to get coffee. Then I walked around the block twice just admiring her from different angles. She is perfect! I could write here on the top floor...I know it! I am in love!

daily life/mendocino writing cabin

I think I have got my routine down here at the writing cabin in Mendocino. I wake up, head down to the cliff for a walk, get a cup of coffee in Mendocino and then head back to the cabin to write for the rest of the day. I'll break for lunch in the mid afternoon and a light dinner and if I am on schedule, let myself watch one hour of some type of downloaded mindless entertainment. Something light. It is a simple, intense routine, but it is working.
The other day as I got back to the cabin after my walk, I started laughing at myself because I realized that my routine when I get to the cabin is exactly what Mr. Rogers did at the beginning of every single one of his shows. (For those of you not familiar with Mr. Rogers, go here.) I put down my things, take off my shoes and change them to my "cabin moccasins". Then I take off my outdoor coat and change into my comfy sweater that my Mom hand knitted for my Dad in the 1970's. It has a zipper instead of buttons and for some reason, I always noticed that Mr. Rogers always had zippered sweaters. Maybe that is why this all came to mind. It is fascinating where your mind goes when you are alone in your thoughts all the time. I find myself remembering things I didn't realize were in this brain of mine. Sometimes these memories are discoveries unto themselves. I love it!
OK. Enough with the rambling. Back to work.
PS - this is another of my favorite images from my morning walks. There are lots more on Instagram. @lesliewilliamson

the flu and mortality/

I have been absent. I am one of the many who has had a bit of the flu - albeit a tiny speck of it - and now a tiny bit of a cold. It is more of an annoyance at this point since I am sinking into the writing of my new book pretty good now. Lots written and then chucked out.
"Does this have to be like the first book?"
"Can I even a write a book like that at this point? I am such a different person now..."
These are the thoughts running in my head. And then on Saturday, the flu.
The flu is pretty amazing. It reduces you to this primal state. I found myself having thoughts of my own mortality. Petrified my book would never be finished. I frantically tried to think of WHO on this planet could do it. I couldn't come up with one person. Not out of hubris or ego but just that I photographed everything - no one else can tell the stories!
So I got better. I was lucky, only a two and a half day flu. Now I have the sniffles which I just find so annoying! How dare they (those sniffles!), don't the know I have stuff to do?!?!
But at least you get a rambly blog post finally and some cuckoo images from Vienna. I can't even edit this properly... ah well. Nice to be back. Hope you all are keeping healthy!  xx

writing/aalto

I am steeped in all things Alvar Aalto today since I am writing his chapter right now. I actually posted this image on Instagram  (my handle is @lesliewilliamson) so I thought I would share it properly here. As I am writing about Aalto my admiration grows. Plus it is a pleasure to be able to relive and review the discoveries as I shot. His paintings, in this image, were one such discovery. How good is that white on white painting? Love, love, love...

just pretty/aubock

Just pretty light, don't you think?

just pretty/

Bowerbirds Kickstarter/treat yourself for 2013

As a lot of you know, music is really important to my life. This is doubly true when I am on the road, like I was for most of the 2012. During my first trip to Europe this spring, my sonic traveling companions were the band the Bowerbirds. To say I am a fan is a bit of an understatement. Some music just speaks to your heart to the point that it just becomes a part of you. When I left for my first trip in April, their album, The Clearing, had just come out. I honestly think I listened to that single album almost exclusively for 6 weeks straight. I started following them on Twitter as they were traveling around on tour at the same time. I thought about how lucky they were to have people to travel with since in some ways it felt like I was "on tour" alone. But their music made me not so alone, you know? When I found out they had a Kickstarter campaign up to help fund their next album and building a solar studio for them to record it in, I felt I had to share it with you. $20 for music that changes your life is such a tiny price to pay. So treat yourself and support their music. It is the perfect way to start this amazing lucky 2013!

shopping at castiglione/

It is hard to avoid. When I am shooting all these wonderful houses, in my mind I am kind of shopping. That lamp would be really nice in my living room, I will think. Or a sofa, painting, wall covering - you name it. I have a little (ok, it is big) laundry list of desired objects. Sometimes I even play the "If I could have one thing in this house what would it be?" At Achille Castiglione's studio, I would probably choose these packing crates. I know, this sounds crazy, but I just freaking love them! They are so sturdy and who knows what is in them! I would use them as a headboard for my bed - yes, they are that big. To be honest there are quite a few more things at Castiglione I would love to have, but my love for these crates knows no bounds...

I see love/

Photography is so much of the time merely a projection. Does that make sense? What I mean is that when I take pictures of things in houses, I tend to see something more in them. On a psychological level, it could be more about me than it is about the person whose home it is. Hopefully it's about both of us. I have been thinking about this a lot with all the editing I have been doing for the European book (really need to figure out a title!). This image is the perfect example, although not from the book. It is from Věra Janoušková's atelier in Prague. It seems innocuous - a bookshelf with some pipes. But I saw this and I saw love. I had seen a couple of photographs of Vera's husband sitting around smoking pipes. It is clear that these were his, but he passed away years ago, so clearly she kept them beyond their "use". So to me they were a symbol of her love for her husband. How much of this is about me and how much is about Vera? I honestly have no idea...