Happy New Year

Goodbye 2010 Hello 2011

 

Happy Happy New Year!!

image 1 - kate spade via pretty stuff, image 2 - , image 3 - little of that, image 4 - kates papiere

The Five Skandhas

I rather like this presentation of the five heaps: http://bodhi.sofiatopia.org/skandhas.htm

Taken from it:

1. "rûpa": embodied phenomena, having form, corporeal;
2. "vedanâ": feelings;
3. "samjñâ": recognition, assimilation of perceptions;
4. "samskâra": putting together, forming, synergy, process, volitional dispositions;
5. "vijñâna": distinguishing, discerning, understanding, comprehending, skill, proficiency, consciousness, thought-faculty, sentience.

Snow-pocolypse, & my bad!

I have had nothing to say.
Which is new for me. One of the reasons I write here (usually) every single day is because I want to share all the cool ass shit we can do while living sustainably, off grid, eco, primitive or whatevs label you enojoy giving it.
I havent been saying anything on here, because I have been in a sort of limbo that may not end till Spring time - when decisions must be made. I like to only write about good stuff, positive feelings, i like it to motivate, be happy --- none of which I could do the last few weeks in all the snow storms because everything I did to prepare here, kinda.... well.... started falling apart.
*
The plumbing does something new every single day. I told ya'll about the filter-splosion in the cabin that flooded it, but there has also been intermitten times of no water, then water, then no water in the outside pump even, only water up the side of the mountain, then water again, then drain pipes freezing so i had to stop dripping water (aka no water again) - drain pipes de-frosting and coming apart, flooding the floor again, no running water?
I DONT fucking get it anymore?!!!
And i can tell you it's not sustainable water anymore (even though gravity fed) cause unless i put "heat tape" on the pipes (which uses bunches of electricity) they will stay frozen all winter long.
......
So i was talking on the phone with a friend who was ready for me to stop complaining and buck up - she said something to the effect "you wanted to be off grid" ---->
but these problems are not related to being Off Grid. They are problems of location, lack of immediate help, and did i mention NO SUNSHINE whatsoever during the winter months.
Yep, i found out the hard way that my cabin is between two ridges and during the winter the sun is behind a ridge and i get none. Even cutting back trees wont do enough good, and i would have to cut back hundreds of them, ones not even on my land.
My Mistake :::::::::::
not knowing the sun pattern before buying the Luck Cabin.
I thought it got enough sun, even though it doesnt get tons... i had no idea the winter would mean utter darkness. And the reason I have said nothing for quite a while now is because i have been sitting in my rocking chair in front the wood stove comtemplating whether I can spend the rest of my life half a year in darkness. This prospect, after all i have put into being here at the Luck Cabin, and it's utter perfection at all other times of the year make me feel heartbroken in a way there have been and still are no words for.
I don't know many or really any people who could live without sunshine half a year.
------ the other part of this, is just right down my driveway is another climate. I literally am just a few hundred feet from a warmer climate. My driveway marks some kind of elevation change, where the tempature drops a significant amount, and i got twice as much snow & cold as people just a lil' ways below me. Yesterday I took my Jimmy truck dangerously down the road, only to see that I really was in some kind of isolated world, one that had a storm much worse then those just hop, skips, and jumps away - and this was a bit of a shock.
*
Two things I can NOT fix :::::::::::
the sun
the micro climate at the Luck Cabin
*
For many weeks I could not put my finger on it, I could not put into words how i was feeling. I only knew I was getting no sunshine here and was feeling really depressed. I had no intention of ever revealing this dirty little secret, my big sustainability mistake.... but eventually i began crying (thanks PMS) and had to confess to the first person that rang my phone in the middle of the nervous breakdown.
*
I think living this way alone is quite hard, but do-able. But if you choose to live off grid in a harsh winter climate alone, you are either brave, crazy or the uni-bomber!!! It's grueling. There is no question about it.
I now have a greater understanding of why re-wilders like Urban Scout are preaching community. Everything is much easier with a lil bit o' help. Especially in any climate that may have harsh storms during the winter.
*****
Western North Carolina used to not have this kind of weather, not the last ten years I have lived here until last winter. I hear from locals it's been over 20 years since they have seen storms like this. So although I am kicking myself, at the same time how was i to know about the micro-climate PLUS the strange climate changes?
What would you do, if you were me?
*
Xoxoxoox

Enough is Enough!

sigh. Haulin' out the soapbox again, girls...

This post originally appeared on my personal blog last winter. But since the subject is such a hot-button issue and affects so many design professionals, I decided to post it here on my Retail Design Blog. I'm placing it in a high-priority spot here because I think people need to hear more about WHY this is so important. OK, on with the post:

____________________________________________________________________________

I just heard from a friend today that her fabulous business idea is being copied. By someone she has gone out of her way to help with their business.

Today I also read a blog post by an artist who was announcing that her own design has been picked up by a major chain. When I saw her design, I realized that another person, whom I know of, has been copying it and selling it as her own recently.

Last night, I read another blog post by an artist who was ripped off by the company she had licensed her art to. This woman has been through a nightmare - and it ain't over yet.

And last week, on Facebook and Twitter, I read that two friends' product designs are being ripped off - one domestically, one in Europe.

I've had my own run-ins with this over the past year - from having my design blog 'scraped' to make someone else money from ad revenues {generated from the content I wrote that he posted on his blog} to having my product designs for Retreat oogled at shows, 'covertly' photographed {um, yes, I saw you do it} OR had my photos snagged from my blogs, and then seen my products reproduced and presented as someone else's 'original design'. I even had my Facebook Fans & Friends falsely lured to another Page by someone using my name - and I wasn't the only one these particular people targeted. Oh, yeah, then there was the client/frenemy who took all my submitted design ideas and told her coworkers and the corporation who employed her that they were HER ideas. {Ahem.}

There's even a blog devoted entirely to link ups where people can show off the things they have copied after seeing them somewhere else. ??

{Warning: Rant Ahead}

I'm done, girls. Sick and tired and DONE with these people. 

I am tired of people thinking it's ok to copy, borrow, lift, reproduce, 'appropriate', steal, and whatever else you want to call it. IT'S NOT OK!!!! Immitation is NOT flattering, it's not 'inspired', it's certainly not nice, and it's most definitely not LEGAL.

BTW, I'm not talking about Debbie Sue who reads a blog and sees a cute thing and decides to make it for herself. Creating is often inspired or jump-started by something we see - we start there and it evolves into something reflecting our own style. I'm referring to the deliberate taking of an original, unique product/idea/service and reproducing it for sale as your own design.

What ever happened to manners? To ethics? Morals? Doing business based on the skills and talents that you possess - not by stealing ideas and product designs from other people? I am tired of people taking advantage of other people. They've been getting away with murder, we've paid the price, and it's time to put a stop to it, for God's sake!

Owning a business is HARD WORK, my friends. It never ends. But all that hard work and late nights and no vacations and sometimes no pay for yourself is worth it when you come up with a great product or service, and people want what you have.

Unfortunately, some of those people who want what you have are untalented and underhanded, and simply steal it from you. They start a duplicate business, or they lift your design and start selling it as their own. And usually, they manage to market it to the very people who were actually looking for YOUR product or service, so the impact doubles. These are hacks, theives, slackers who want the buck without the work, the fame without paying the dues, and the limelight no matter how they get it. It's disgusting. It's wrong. And it's spreading like a freakin' epidemic - H1N1 has nuthin' on creative & intellectual property theft.

Here's what I'd really like to see:

A watchdog organization for creatives, designers and artisans that will publicize the illegal activities that these unscrupulous people have been undertaking. Something along the lines of 'the 3/50 Project' - but instead of promoting a 'shop local campaign', this organization will promote a cooperation amongst creative businesses to stop the rampant theft going on. Something like 'Blog With Integrity' except on a larger scale - not just blogs, but web sites, B&M's, shows, etsy, ebay, twitter, facebook, everything. Something with viral visibility, worldwide distribution, and a spitfire spokesperson like Cinda Baxter who will grow this thing fast. I ALSO want Wonder Woman and her rope of truth - 'cause they all deny it when they get caught.

I don't know how to do that. I'm trying to make a living running not one but two businesses, and I am not as proficient at getting the word out about 'causes' as I'd like to be. But I am compelled to do something about this mess, so I am going to do some research to find out what is already out there.

My question to you all is this: What can we do?  

I know there is something we can do. I know the power of a group is far more moving than the ire of one person. I know we can move mountains and change the landscape of business if we stand up to this.

Any ideas, brainstorms, or fingers pointed in the right direction will be gratefully accepted! Leave me a comment below, send me an email, hit me on Facebook ... just let me know what you think about this. Have you been a victim? Do you know of a growing movement against intellectual & creative property theft? Let's get together on this issue and make a change for the better. Climb up here on the soapbox with me....

I've added a few links over in my right sidebar - these are other professionals who share their opinions on the creative copyright issue. Check 'em out! And many thanks to Cinda Baxter of the 3/50 Project for linking to my original post in support. Rock ON, Sistah!

NEW INFO January 2011: 

Please visit the newly created web site, blog, & facebook Page 

Be Your Original Best 

to join with creative designers & artists 

in the effort to promote a 'copycat free' artistic industry.

Image Credit: photo used by permission from design*sponge Biz Women Series 

{I wrote a blog post for them and have permission to use it!}

The Uniqueness of Humans

This is incredible; wait for it. Its conclusion requires its body and its body its inception. Thanks Davie for bringing this to my attention.

The Ones That Stand Out - Best of 2010

I selected these 15 images to be my favourites for the year as they involved an interesting story to shoot and are relevant to my time spent working and traveling a small part of Asia. They are the ones that stood out and I thought I’d share them with you as 2010 draws to an end.

The end of 2010 is not a milestone or specific date that determines some kind of change or the start of something new for me. I’ve been viewing some interesting “best of 2010’s” this past week on leading news websites and thought I’d give it a go to re-publish some of my favourites too.

This blog has been my creative outlet for some time now and I hope you are enjoying the photos and stories I share.

Here are some of the images in no particular order for 2010:

1. Seokmodo Landscape

I drive past this house everyday towards school, but I never have the opportunity to stop and take a photo. One late afternoon in summer I decided to leave school and go for a walk to this view point to shoot this image. It is yet another reminder of where I am currently finding myself teaching out on a rural island in South Korea. This image will always stand out when I think back of Seokmodo Island and the commute to school.

2. Kaohsiung by Night

I stayed at my cousin Xenia and her husband Estienne in Taiwan before coming to South Korea. This photo was taken from the roof of their apartment building. Estienne and I climbed to the top with some beers and a chair each. I placed my camera on the chair for this shot as I had no tripod. I also ended up going back for more shots during the day. Estienne was my ‘Kaohsiung tour guide’ and was always keen for an adventure. It was his idea to go shoot photos and drink beers on the roof.

3. Exploring Bali’s East Coast

Clementine and I rented a scooter on our last day in Indonesia to explore Bali’s East Coast. This was one of the best days in Bali. We took the back roads through rice paddies and gravel roads and took this shot just before sunset. I took many photos here which resulted in us driving back in the dark dodging trucks and stray dogs.

4. Over Night

South Korea is growing at an enormous pace and new apartment skyscrapers seem to appear over night. I see this growth weekly when I take a bus into Seoul, but I never have the opportunity to stop for a photo. This was taken when I came back from China. An acquaintance picked me up with his motorbike and having our own set of wheels allowed me to stop on route for this shot.

5. Palm Trees and Rice Paddies

This image was taken in Bali Indonesia. It was one of the images I had in my mind of what I thought I might see while visiting Indonesia. It’s a cliché image that will probably appear on travel websites and in coffee table books, but it was still an amazing sight to witness.

6. Chained Dog

One of the first and most prominent things that stood out for me upon my arrival in March was that almost all dogs were chained to their kennel and lived outside in harsh conditions. I walked around my town before spring to shoot some of these dogs and found many to be just as cautious and curious as me. This dog at first looked as if he wanted to attack me but he soon calmed down and allowed me to come closer. This is not a common sight in the urban parts of South Korea, but here on the outskirts it is.

7. Taking Shelter While Viewing the Forbidden City

It started raining on the day that I visited the Forbidden City and hundreds of tourists took shelter under their umbrellas. I did not have an umbrella and took this shot just before the rain came down hard. I tried to capture the size and attractiveness of this palace with all its visitors regardless of the weather.

8. Carrying the Load

I took this image on Gili Trawangan Island in Indonesia. We did not stay on Trawangan Island, but had to take the ferry from there for Bali. This image was taken from the main tourist drag, though you wouldn’t think so. I tried to capture the non-tourist aspect of the famous Gili’s as I waited patiently for the women to walk past the boat with their load.

9. The Changing of the Season

This image was taken on the ferry that I commute on daily. I see these birds every weekday and have grown tired of them. The landscape changes frequently though and was what drew me to the ferry deck on this autumn day.

10. Mount Rinjani

Rinjani was truly one of the most spectacular sights ever. The photo does not do justice for the sheer size and beauty of this extravagant volcanic crater. Getting to this view point took a grueling one day hike and we camped at the top near the rim. The weather on the day before was miserable with downpours and no visibility, but on this morning we were lucky to be treated with a clear view of the crater. It was a memorable sight, though a wider lens and more time at the top could have helped to justify the size of Rinjani.

11. A View of the North

This is an image of North Korea taken at the DMZ (demilitarized zone) on one of the only clear days in April. I used to take my camera to school every day in the beginning of my contract and on this day our school took a field trip to the controversial DMZ. The soldiers on duty said that we were lucky to have a clear view of the North as the days before had no visibility. This image is not great, but it would have been useless if I didn’t have a 300mm lens in favourable weather conditions. Getting a clear photo of the north was difficult with all the photographic regulations in place. Tensions on the Korean peninsula between North and South have increased since my visit and my experience of this strong divide and sightings of the North have added to my understanding of this sensitive issue.    

12. The Great Wall of China

Not much to say about his image other than I had the opportunity to hike 8km on one of the seven wonders of the world on a perfectly clear, warm day outside China’s capital Beijing.

13. Forbidden City Wall

I visited the Forbidden City in Beijing on an overcast day with the possibility of rain. I found this big red wall towards the end of my long walk through the palace grounds and waited for a local to walk past. I took this image of a man pushing his motorbike only seconds before the rain came down.

14. Clementine’s Visit (s)

I’ve been extremely grateful and lucky to have had Clementine visit me three times in Korea. I took this image of her feeding Seagulls during her first visit in May. It was taken on the ferry that I take to school everyday and I see Koreans feed these birds daily. What makes this image special is that it is not just any Korean feeding the birds. It was Clem having fun and sharing these experiences on the outskirts with me.

15. Giving Assistance

This image was taken near Ubud in Bali Indonesia. Clementine and I went on a cycle tour through the small villages of Bali and I took this image of the locals doing daily work in traditional wear. I made use of my 300mm lens and waited for them to start loading the rice.  

Stephen Batchelor - Response to B. Alan Wallace's Critique

http://www.mandalamagazine.org/archives/mandala-issues-for-2011/january/an-open-letter-to-b-alan-wallace/

B. Alan Wallace - Critique of Stephen Batchelor's Views

http://www.mandalamagazine.org/archives/mandala-issues-for-2010/october/distorted-visions-of-buddhism-agnostic-and-atheist/

All Over Red Rover

 

Well, that's it.  I'm finished for this year.  It has been one of the biggest years of my life.  I've had a beautiful baby boy who I absolutely adore, I've renovated our store, I've imported my very first 2 container loads of Stuart Membery furniture for Black & Spiro, I've moved house, I've started renovating our new house, I've decorated lots of wonderful homes and met lots of lovely new people, I've made new friends and I have to say I haven't cried as much this year...that in itself is a huge achievement for me as I tend to cry when I am stressed so that must mean I haven't been as stressed this year!!

I've had a wonderful year and I am looking forward to spending some much needed time with my boys.  I am looking forward to reflecting on all the things I've achieved this year and I am very much looking forward to having some time over the holidays to make plans and goals for the year which lies ahead.

As I move into the 5th year of posting here on my blog I hope to be able to continue to inspire you as I lead you along my winding road.  I am also looking forward to following the journey of my very talented and kind fellow bloggers in 2011.

Thank you for your interest and for continuing to read my blog.  You are all so wonderful and very supportive.  This really is such a happy and positive community and I am so thrilled to be a part of it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

See you soon.

Anna

xxx

image - black & spiro, elouise van riet-grey

Shared The Growth

Almost There...

Today I delivered this armchair to one of my lovely clients in Toowoomba.  The orchid printed linen we covered the chair in is actually one of my favourite fabrics at the moment.  I can't wait until tomorrow night as we will be completely finished our pre-Christmas installations and deliveries.  It certainly has been a wonderfully hectic Christmas season and I can't wait to have a couple of weeks away with my boys!!

Gumby Holiday - Santa Witch

***
So, lately things at the Luck Cabin have been... what some might describe as bad, stressful, when the shit hits the fan, when the going gets tough and downright UNlucky....
I am escaping into the world of GUmbY and PokEy for comfort from this hell-a-cious winter. With no running water for almost a month and one chicken dead, I am ready for a one way ticket to the island of BALI.



Xoxoxoox

Loving

I am completely in-love with these images...especially that lovely pink!

image 1 - sara hicks malone via decor8, image 2 - paule marrot {image source unknown SORRY!}, image 3 - miles redd

Thanks FFF!

Thanks Fashion Food Fatale for including me in their wonderful global guide feature on their fab website!!

RIP Ms Buttersworth the Chicken, I Love You!

I brought Ms.Butterworth back in my cabin before the last few bad storms. She was not doing well. She no longer perched.
Tonight though, i knew she had stopped eating or drinking. She slept all day and I waited for it to come and when the time seemed near I picked her up and put her in my lap next to the warm wood stove. She would open her eyes to look me in the eye, the kindest look a chicken could ever give was reflected in the blackness. A thank you. Then she would close them again.

She always was happy, she never showed any sign of pain or suffering just the steps it takes to leave this world when you are done.

At the very end her head moved round and round, like she was in some kind of voodoo ritual, her wings opening up and her head then moving inward to point straight up into sky. A crucified pose, an opening, and flight of the spirit from the body.

She then layed her head down in my lap and was gone.

MS. BUTTERSWORTH YOU ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Xoxoxoxoxo

In All Societies

Anonymous

E Gene Smith August 10, 1936 - December 16, 2010

http://blog.tbrc.org/?p=910

I am incredibly sad to report that the great and incomparable E Gene Smith passed away on Thursday, December 16, 2010. Please refer to above link for more information. His inconceivable kindness to us comes in the form of, among other things, www.tbrc.org.

I met Gene at the AAR conference in 1993 or 4 and later had the great good fortune to work for him through Wisdom and later again with his amazing staff at TBRC in 2003. Gene's unstoppable generosity and patience, humor, depth, ethical refinement and kindness, will ever be missed, to say nothing of his vast knowledge of Tibetan literature.

Anyone who ever emailed Gene probably got a helpful, thorough, and brilliant reply moments later; he never missed a chance to extend himself whether or not it was 3 a.m. He would drop whatever he was doing to help whoever asked for it. His knowledge and memory were encyclopedic. You could mention the remotest village in Tibet and he could tell you which monasteries, lineages, and masters were associated with it. You could mention a text and he could unfurl for you a blanket of associations: geographical, biographical, historical, philosophical, political, textual, sociological. He was a polyglot and polymath. 

Gene's standards for excellence in the preservation and archiving of Tibetan texts were unparalleled. He truly single-handedly helped save a wisdom tradition, starting long before TBRC, and he never let you know he was doing it himself, with the outstretched arms of his devoted and exceptional staff. He didn't have a trace of an agenda other than to rescue, preserve, and make readily available the great texts of Tibetan sacred literature. He shunned politics and posturing. He was one of the most unpretentious persons I have ever had the sublime privilege to know.

Gene's easy lack of self-reference combined with an incisive and vast mind made him a joy to spend time with, and if you were lucky enough to, you would likely witness the many big and small ways in which he cared deeply; he could drop a generous bill invisibly into the hands of a homeless person; he would often pass on flowers brought to him to the Rinpoches and Lamas that would visit TBRC; once he instantly burned a CD of the late great Ngulchu Dharmabhadra's collected works when he heard that his young Tulku had arrived that evening in New York for a visit with the touring Tashi Lhunpo monks. He did this sort of thing regularly. There was a magical dance of spontaneous goodness issuing from him always.

He was utterly unrehearsed in that goodness, and such was his mastery, that he played down the enormity of his accomplishments completely, always making others feel perfectly at ease on the one hand; and totally challenged on the other because he worked harder than anyone I know. He resisted delegating if he could do it himself.

Gene could always be found praising masters of all lineages, and finding the exquisite qualities of every religious tradition; but he was also unafraid to point out injustices and lapses when they were in gross opposition to the truth or the founder's intentions. He never allowed himself to become polarized by the controversies and uninformed opinions that often rock Dharma communities. In fact, he often made light of such things, and donated the grand perspective of true humility. For this alone, I will ever regard him as a true bodhisattva, great leader, and impeccable role model.

In Gene's presence you were brought in direct contact with what it means to consider and deeply engage multiple perspectives. To me this ability is the distinction of profoundly mature individuals, but never exists apart from an equally playful and self-ironic mischief and ease that in his case would crease his face and crescent his eyes with the rays of that unforgettable smile.

As my friend Jeff C. aptly put it in an email, "He was a giant, an uncommon scholar of the highest reputation; a mentor and no doubt a friend -- but ever, a giant." 

Norman Park House

The Art of Hanging guys do a wonderful job of hanging pictures...I think they almost die everytime they see a booking from me as they know that a cluster wall will be involved!

Every week for the last couple of months my lovely client has been visiting black & spiro picking up bits and pieces for her beautiful home. I was so excited when I walked into her wardrobe and saw all of our black & spiro shopping bags! When we first opened black & spiro 10 years ago we couldn't really afford to have the printed shopping bags so whenever I see our shopping bags now I smile!!

Look at this fabulous wall vase we hung on their cluster wall...I love this!

I've been trying not to post photos of the lovely jobs I've been working on lately as I am attempting to save them for our new black & spiro website which will launch in 2011. But, I had to share these photos of this job I have just finished working on as I absolutely LOVE it! It's so bright and so happy and so fresh and my lovely client {who has just been the best fun to work with} is thrilled...phew, nothing more wonderful than a happy client especially at this time of year!! One of my favourite things in this house is the multi-coloured vintage bentwood dining chairs we painted up for her. Enjoy your gorgeous house HB!