Repurposing ... Yesterday I brought out the shoeshine box my father made when he was a kid. Being the resourceful sort he built it out of an old tomato crate. See the little tomato man inside? I remember my father buffing his wingtips every morning before work, his large foot on top of the box. The polish, the rags, the brushes, all of them still inside, left the same. I have the box now.
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Cotton and string ... I'm hoping to open my online shop again in the spring. The other day I was making a chain with string and thinking back to when I was around eight selling my handmade bracelets door to door. Even back then I loved the idea of playing shop and selling things. And today, still, nothing's changed. Love peddling my wares.
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Just have to say... The King's Speech is best movie I've seen in years. I'm not one to emote out loud at movie theaters, but this movie made me squeak all kinds of little audible sounds. Helena Bonham Carter was brilliant as ever. Go now!
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Cv peeps - didn't have time to get it together, and frankly there are so many artist that I love and inspire me that it would take a lengthy essay. Can't do that, so instead I'm keeping it simple with current loves and inspiration... William Kentridge, Cy Twombly, Richard Diebenkorn, Alexander Calder, Mark Rothko, Paul Klee.
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Oh so chatty. I suppose that's what happens when I've been away for a while. Computer says yes. xo
20 comments:
wauw
that shoeshinebox is very special
nice to 'see' you again!
happy day
Nice to have you again here...and maybe your father could be the artist..or maybe yourself..
I'm having a laugh here! "computer says nooooo" (what a great character)
Geoffrey Rush is genius, I love him, Calder too and your father's shoeshine box is beautiful and a big hurray for your shop!!
xoxo, my friend:-)
a wonderful post Janis...
from the photos of the shoe-shine box (with that great tomato image!) to the fabric and string. And the thoughts that you pull us in with!
Love that the box has travelled across time like that... from the hands of an 8 year old boy - your father! Sometimes those things are the most precious of all. And there's something about old wood. I've an odd little stool bought 20 years ago... it was old then! Without fail small children see it and want to sit on it!
That film was indeed wonderful... an interesting story to have come to light I must say!
Spring...a couple of months away now.. have fun with getting things ready for your shop Janis ...love the image of you as an child selling your wares... funny how that simple joy can remain ... may it be a productive spring in your shop!
S xo
I LOVE the shoe box! This is indeed a treasure AND your father was a fine artist!! It is funny to see the little tomato guy. I just found out last we the house we grew up in and was torn down. I was so sad, one of the things that came to mind was how we found an orange grate between the walls when my parents remodeled the bathroom. On that orange crate was a little man just like your tomato man!
Please let us know when your shop is open. xo
Like the box and the memories that come with it, look forward to seeing your shop! Oh and we really enjoyed (kids and I) looking at the work of Alexander Calder and William Kentridge!
You're back! Yesssss!
It seems we are brothers in soul, even for the shoe box ;)
Now, I have to see The king's speech. I know I'll love it.
so nice to have you back Janis!
that shoe box is a treasure.
the movie I will go asap.
I'm quite fond of Cy, Paul and Alexander too.
: )
ciao
x alessandra
nice to have you back in the cyber world janis! love the shoeshine box AND the brushes. i saw a man the other day who had made his own cat carrier. i was mesmerized!
haven't seen the movie yet but definitely will!
oh good! computer says yes. he he!
string and a shoe shine box, now that is tempting.
shall be looking forward to your grand opening...
that movie is on my want-to-see list. look forward to seeing you shop :)
I say "yessss" to your posting! And I agree to your artist-list, absolutely adore Calder, but also found it hard to choose one artist, when I could easily have filled pages with inspiring artists! ;)
coucou Janis
Welcome back around
nice to read you again...I love the story of the shoe box ...
And The king Speech is on our list for weeks...soon...
I cna't wait the spring ...I mean the one you are talking about not the one we have outside since few days...
Lots of kisses to you
Emma from San Francisco
What a nice thing to have, handmade by your father! Good luck with making things for your shop, it sounds like a wonderful plan.
PS - I really enjoyed your chatty post :)
Hi Janis and computer, welcome back!
I just saw the King's Speech and thought it was extremely good. The acting by all 3 main characters was amazing.
Love the shoe shine box.
Can't wait to visit your store in the spring.
Yeah, nice to hear your chatty post, and to see that you were always you:)) That's quite something!
The movie you mentioned hasn't come around here yet, will look for it when it does. I love many of the same artists, you are close "physically" to Richard Diebenkorn, the California colors, I used to look at his work often, ahhh the breeze wafts through...see you got me chatty too! Happy weekend!
What a wonderful shoe shin box. Your father is my favorite artist! (today)
I say yes too!
love your shoe box. It makes me remember that my dad have a kind of ritual: every morning before he get his shower, he clean the shoes that he'll use that day... and of course he have a wood box too..
xo
Hi Janis, beautiful photos and it's wonderful that you have something your father made as a child!
Okay, love Tomato Man. Why does he remind me of a young Jack Lemmon? Totally agree--The King's Speech was so good. Several years back, when Kentridge had Tide Table at SFMOMA, I'd stop in, go directly to the room with the short film looping, watch it once, maybe once and a 1/2, and then be on my way. I cannot tell you how many times I did this.
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