Tessellations are regular patterns of shapes fitting snugly together to fill the page, without overlapping to form a symmetrical pattern. M.C.Escher had tessellations of people and animals neatly fitting together making interesting patterns. I drew this tessellation of the cobra pose, and after a few hours today at the Northern California Regional Yoga Asana Championships I have confirmed to myself that the human eye is good at seeing things which aren't really there and yogis are good at contorting the body into shapes that don't seem possible. Both create a feeling of well being and balance for the mind and the body. It is a beautiful thing.

Contemplating 2009

It is the time of year when we think about the past and plan for the future. All my life I have had a plan - for each day, week, month, and year. Oddly, my current reality is nothing like anything I ever imagined. 2009 was the year that I came to grips with my new reality - one that I had not planned - I am a creative person that I did not know existed and learning so many new things. Sometimes it is exhilarating and sometimes it is so frustrating when my brain just won't work the way I want it to.

New Year's day I was watching "Marley and Me" and Owen Wilson lamented to his editor that his plan was to be a reporter not a columnist. The editor told him "sometimes life comes up with a better idea." As I sit here with tears rolling down my face I am so glad "life had a better idea." I have many exciting things "planned" for 2010 - an internship, an design contest, new classes, perfecting my drafting and drawing skills and guess what - I am leaving one door opened for the unknown.............imagine that!!

Stanfield is Completed!!

Stanfield is completed and will go to the new owners tomorrow. I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed designing it. I created a little rendering of the family room and placed it on the fireplace mantle with a thank you card.

I am busy finding my next house to design and already researching the latest trends in finishes and colors. My creative juices are flowing and it is exciting to be excited!

Wallpaper

I wallpapered two of the walls in the entry on Friday. It had mean about five years since I had wallpapered and now I remembered that it is fun, but a lot of work. Climbing up and down the ladder is literally a pain. Wallpaper adds a lot to a space. It gives it texture, color and a visual pattern. I choose a pattern that is a modern baroque with a gray background and silver print. I choose this fancy pattern to offset the stainless steel and marble finishes in the kitchen which have a smooth tactile appearance and although the wallpaper is smooth, the pattern adds just the right amount of texture. The silver color contrasts nicely with the wood floor.

Thank goodness Brian helped me. I would still be wallpapering if it weren't for him! Afterwards we were both pleased with our work and we had fun.

Interior Completed

The interior is completed and it looks beautiful. I am happy with the finishes selected and everything has come together nicely.

Landscaping

Landscaping should be completed this afternoon. Arrived at 7AM and placed all the plants around for Victor to plant. Gotta love that Stockton dirt! After about 20 minutes I had a inch of dirt stuck to my shoes and they weighed a ton!! Several yards of bark and decomposed granite were delivered and should be spread around and finished by this evening. I love the smell of fresh bark and the granite in place of gravel looks so nice. I am putting decomposed granite in the walkways in the backyard and on the utility sides of the house. It is softer and cheaper than concrete, but is just a durable for these purposes, plus it is an unexpected, but special touch.

Wood floors have been installed and it looks wonderful. The fireplace is getting started this afternoon. Victor is tackling the landscaping. The appliances will be picked up tomorrow and carpet is scheduled for later this week. Whew, it is all coming together. I have to get busy with all the fun stuff - like wallcovering (entry), window coverings (wait till you see the drapery), mirrors and towel bars. It makes me happy.