radio silence/

  There will be a bit of radio silence on the blog for awhile - just pictures every now and then. I am reworking the writing for the chapters of Modern Originals and the deadline is breathing down my neck. So I am putting blinders on...

Be back asap.  xx

notes from the writing cabin/habits

I am a creature of habit. I know it sounds so very boring, but I have learned from traveling so much and just my general temperment that one way to get acclimated quickly into any foreign place is to get the routine down quick. For me that means 1) where can I take my AM walk and 2) where has the best coffee and opens early enough for me. Returning to Mendocino to the same writing cabin I used in January ended up being a great thing because the habits were in place and so "settling in" took no time at all. And yesterday I was reminded of another perk of my habitual tendencies - feeling known. At this point the coffee guy sees me and just makes me an Americano (bless him) and that gave me comfort. I am remembered. When I thanked him for remembering my order he said that not many women drank Americanos. So apparently that is my identity to him - "the Americano drinking woman". It kinda makes me laugh, but it feels nice...
Just an image from my other habit - my morning walk. Not bad, eh?

notes from the writing cabin/wind

I am blaming it on the windy conditions that have been in place since I arrived in Mendocino last week, but I am a bit scattered in my thoughts. I am thinking about the beauty of small objects and my love of brass and copper beyond the big "trend" in those two things right now and of course all this leads back to Carl Aubock which is the chapter I am working on at the moment. Every chapter ends up being a excavation of my experience, and even though I take notes and write in my journal about my experiences, my true notes are my images. So I look and look and look at my images - especially the ones I would never show - because they jog my memories loose better than anything else.  But alas...still lots of notes and not even a good opening sentence. Ah well...back to work...

castiglione/editing

Argh! I am in the midst of editing and writing the chapter on Achille Castiglione's studio and I am just a touch frustrated. This small warren of rooms is turning me upside down! I cannot figure where to take the reader first and so I can't seem to put the images in sequence. It will all come to me, right? I know there is a logical answer but at the moment I can't see it.
Ah well...don't worry...I'll keep working. The answer is just under my nose I am sure... This image is a little preview - just another one that has been edited away.
Have a lovely weekend friends!

mendocino/writing

Just arrived back in Mendocino for finish up the chapters for my new book. Things are blooming and there is a breeze outside and the sun is dancing in and out from behind  clouds...perfect writing weather.

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!  ; )

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.

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

daily life/morning walk in Mendocino

So I have been holed up in a cabin in Mendocino for the past couple of days writing these essays for my new book. Quite honestly, I am feeling the pressure now and it has been a bumpy ride. But yesterday, I finally hit a groove and completed what feels like the first solid chapter. I went to bed feeling good for the first time in awhile.
So this morning I wake up and just throw on clothes to go out for a walk. It was sublimely beautiful in Mendocino this morning, no other way to put it. I headed off down the cliff trail and literally within the first minute of my walk this is what I see. You can see it, right? You can call it a heart puddle if you want. Or a puddle of love. All I can see is a sign telling me I am on the right path (with everything - writing, photography, life, love) and to keep going! What an amazing way to start the day. I absolutely had to share this right away.  ; )
Hope your weekend is full of beautiful signs like this. xx

PS - you can see a few more images from my morning walk if you follow me on Instagram @lesliewilliamson

daily life/morning walk in Mendocino

Just a couple of shots from my rainy morning walk in Mendocino today. I am sequestered in a cabin writing the chapters for my new book. Apparently this is the only way I can effectively concentrate. So morning walks and then intensive writing for the rest of the day.

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...

mankas/martha stewart living

Two more from Mankas in Inverness today because I am so in love with that place. I dream of writing part of the new book there when I get to that point. Can you think of a better place to write than at this table? More of Mankas in the February  Martha Stewart Living.

PS - does anyone know exactly what type of net this is? Just curious. It is fascinating and beautiful, isn't it?