A New Blog!

Another unidentified piece from a photo album. Where is this from?

Yesterday I had a brainstorm while on my treadmill (perhaps I should get on my treadmill more often). Why not launch a blog about great-grandfather's work? I will still continue to post about my discoveries on this blog, but the new blog will be solely concentrated on his work. Don't want to inundate you all with every piece of information I find!

Still have a lot of "tweaking" and adding to do to it, but thought I'd share the beginning stages with you.

Take a peek here if you'd like!

Copenhagen Denmark

Denmark's capital rarely gets the attention it deserves, so it's been quietly focused on sensible city planning with comprehensive bicycle paths, free bikes, and a new metro line in the works to deal with the expanding city center. Residents are also trying on a host of new public buildings -- an opera house, a cutting-edge library, and a concert hall -- and an environmental program that's turning the rest of Europe green with envy. And despite the often gloomy northern climate, residents are routinely rated as some of the happiest people in the world. They'll have the opportunity to show off their city when it hosts the COP 15 Climate Change Conference in December 2009, a high-profile, international assembly of politicians looking for ways to reduce greenhouse emissions. They won't have to look much further than the host city for compelling ideas.
Copenhagen City
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen

Copenhagen Denmark

Denmark's capital rarely gets the attention it deserves, so it's been quietly focused on sensible city planning with comprehensive bicycle paths, free bikes, and a new metro line in the works to deal with the expanding city center. Residents are also trying on a host of new public buildings -- an opera house, a cutting-edge library, and a concert hall -- and an environmental program that's turning the rest of Europe green with envy. And despite the often gloomy northern climate, residents are routinely rated as some of the happiest people in the world. They'll have the opportunity to show off their city when it hosts the COP 15 Climate Change Conference in December 2009, a high-profile, international assembly of politicians looking for ways to reduce greenhouse emissions. They won't have to look much further than the host city for compelling ideas.
Copenhagen City
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen

Travel To Tunisia

While northern Tunisia is a hot spot for European tourists, it's still new to Americans, who tend to visit Morocco instead. Tunisia -- and especially the areas around the capital Tunis -- are a microcosm of North Africa's charms: Islamic culture mixed with Mediterranean spirit and beauty, modern colonial remnants from the French and ancient colonial remnants from the Romans. The capital Tunis has the best of both local architecture, exemplified by its sprawling and bustling medina, and colonial remnants of wide boulevards and straight lanes that stretch eastward from the Porte de France.
Tunisia
Tunisia heritage
Tunisia heritage
tunisia beach
tunisia beach
Holidays in tunisia

Travel To Tunisia

While northern Tunisia is a hot spot for European tourists, it's still new to Americans, who tend to visit Morocco instead. Tunisia -- and especially the areas around the capital Tunis -- are a microcosm of North Africa's charms: Islamic culture mixed with Mediterranean spirit and beauty, modern colonial remnants from the French and ancient colonial remnants from the Romans. The capital Tunis has the best of both local architecture, exemplified by its sprawling and bustling medina, and colonial remnants of wide boulevards and straight lanes that stretch eastward from the Porte de France.
Tunisia
Tunisia heritage
Tunisia heritage
tunisia beach
tunisia beach
Holidays in tunisia

Lights, Camera, Action!

designed and fabricated bus stop for a San Francsico photo shoot

I just stumbled upon this San Francisco-based company, Scene 2. I think it was this photo above of a Grey Poupon bus stop in the middle of San Francisco that caught my attention.

The young hipsters at Scene 2 have a full service design studio that specializes in 3-D media. From small scale models for a photo shoot, to large scale installations for music festivals and concerts, these people are very talented indeed!

Do you like a carnival? Mister Gnogiurzauchshoff’s Traveling Midway of Curiosities and Delights has been traveling the dusty roads of America’s great carnival past. Conjuring up memories of the traveling circus and images of America's small towns, transformed by the arrival of the carnival.



Check out M.T. Pocket's 2009 tour (above) that traveled from San Francisco to Austin, Texas!

If you're looking for set building, model making or custom fabrication, be sure and check these folks out!

Scene 2

1335 Yosemite Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94124-3319
(415) 822-2020

photo credit: Scene 2

Oceania Cruises Releases 2011 Alaska Itineraries

For the first time ever, Oceania Cruises will be sailing Alaska in 2011.  Its Alaska season will featuring 10, 12, and 14 night cruises with departures from May 12 to August 26, 2011.  Itineraries will be port intensive, and will include 14-night San Francisco round trip; 12 night San Francisco to Vancouver and reverse; 12 night Vancouver to Anchorage and reverse; and 10-night Vancouver round trip cruises.  As always, Oceania's introductory rates are the lowest they will ever be, and are offered at 2-for-1 rates and free airfare from select gateway cities across the United States and Canada.

Preferred Oceania Cruises' travel agencies likely have enhanced amenity offers that include prepaid gratuities and shipboard credit.  Cruise Holidays Luxury Cruise Counselors is offering these, plus a complimentary shore excursion valued at up to $100 per person if booked by May 15, 2010.  Click here for details.

Rates are valid until August 31, 2010.  Given the anticipated heavy demand for these new itineraries, many expect these itineraries to sell out much sooner than August 31st.  Guests can book with a deposit of $750 per person.

Endless Inspiration: Fiona Richards


I've been obsessed with Cartolina Cards for a long time now. This line is designed and produced by the talented British Columbia-based graphic designer, Fiona Richards. And, I have quite a large stash of her cards in my drawer, ready for the next occasion!

Fiona's designs are influenced by exotic curiosities that surrounded her growing up in Scotland with her grandparents in their 300 year old stone house, filled to the brim with strange and curious mementos from their lives as textile dealers in old world India.

The odd collections of things that filled her home were items that her grandfather brought back from India and South Asia. Everything from books & pictures, to silverware and ornaments. Since childhood, Fiona was exposed to a world of curiosities that have influenced her design work.

Fiona's family photographs are a bizarre collection of elephant riding, pith helmet wearing, and family swimming in the Indian Ocean wearing pointed grass hats.

Elephants play a leading role in imagery for Fiona's cards. They are always a favorite for buyers.

(above) A couple of Fiona's favorite pieces of ephemera that her grandfather collected from India and Asia.

These old French letters sit in a glass jar next to Fiona's computer. The handwriting inspires her every day...

Fiona's studio is filled with artful treasures and design relics she collects on her travels to the markets and shops nearby and abroad. She has amassed quite a collection of vintage items that give her endless inspiration such as her "favorite little tins."

She loves their typography and handpainting...

Curious collections of Fionas include these 2 miniature drawings from Switzerland from a local farm sale, hand-carved wooden boats found in the walls of a Victorian house; tortoiseshell eyeglasses; extra-long paper scissors; rubber stamps

Ancient patterns, colors, exotic images and textures make Cartolina Cards one of my favorite lines...And they're printed on recycled paper of the highest quality!

Even the back of the cards are so beautifully detailed...

Cafe Cartolina cards can be found in shops all over the world, from the U.K. to the U.S. Or, you can purchase them online here at Modern Paper Goods.


Wait! Did I mention that Fiona has one of the most beautiful blogs? Cafe Cartolina is a feast for the eyes. Join Fiona on her latest quests from travel & collecting to design & fashion.

Thanks Fiona for your endless inspiration, and for giving me a reason to visit my local gift shop frequently!


photos from Cafe Cartolina & Cartolina Cards

Banzai Pipeline - Best Surfing Beaches

Banzai Pipeline is the world's most spectacular tubular wave found in the North Shore of Oahu. It is the tube that every expert surfer of shooting that when surfers compete for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, they'd patiently wait for days and weeks for the sea to curl into the world's most challenging surf reef break.

To view the waves, locals and tourists have to go to the home of the Banzai Pipeline: the Ehukai Beach Park. Ehukai Beach Park is located on Ke Nui Road off Kamehameha Highway in front of the Sunset Elementary School. Ehukai, which means "reddish tinged water" in Hawaiian, is a white sand beach is fronted by an acre of green grass and shady trees.
Because of its world-famous , the 1.2 acre Ehukai Beach Park gets hordes of visitors especially during winter months.
Spectators, journalists, and photographers crowd the beach as well to watch the surfers ride the world's most dangerous waves.
The beach's pounding waves are for experts only; inexperienced surfers and swimmers have to wait for spring and summer waves to enjoy the waves over the sandbar. Even in summer, however, the waves breaking near the shore and the rip currents are something that swimmers have to negotiate.


Services and amenities: lifeguards, restrooms, showers, parking, picnic areas and tables, phones
5 unique things about Ehukai Beach Park
  • Banzai Pipeline got its name in 1961 when surfing movie producer Bruce Brown stopped at the yet-unnamed surf site up Ehukai Beach Park. Coincidentally, a pipeline was being constructed on nearby Kamehameha Highway. California surfer Mike Diffenderfer who was with Brown at the time suggested to name the wave Pipeline. The name was first used in Brown's fourth movie, Surfing Hollow Days. Since the beach that fronted the pipeline was then known as Banzai Beach, Banzai was appended to Pipeline; hence the compound name Banzai Pipeline.
  • Ehukai Beach Park is the home of the world's hardest and deadliest surf break, the Banzai Pipeline. More people (surfers and even photographers) have higher statistics of death or serious injury than in any other surf spot.
  • Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the world's greatest and most challenging surfing competition, is held here.
  • Ehukai Beach Park covers three areas: the Ehukai Beach, Banzai, and Pipeline.
  • The sub-plot of the Hollywood film "Blue Crush" starring Kate Bosworth was about shooting the Pipeline.

Banzai Pipeline - Best Surfing Beaches

Banzai Pipeline is the world's most spectacular tubular wave found in the North Shore of Oahu. It is the tube that every expert surfer of shooting that when surfers compete for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, they'd patiently wait for days and weeks for the sea to curl into the world's most challenging surf reef break.

To view the waves, locals and tourists have to go to the home of the Banzai Pipeline: the Ehukai Beach Park. Ehukai Beach Park is located on Ke Nui Road off Kamehameha Highway in front of the Sunset Elementary School. Ehukai, which means "reddish tinged water" in Hawaiian, is a white sand beach is fronted by an acre of green grass and shady trees.
Because of its world-famous , the 1.2 acre Ehukai Beach Park gets hordes of visitors especially during winter months.
Spectators, journalists, and photographers crowd the beach as well to watch the surfers ride the world's most dangerous waves.
The beach's pounding waves are for experts only; inexperienced surfers and swimmers have to wait for spring and summer waves to enjoy the waves over the sandbar. Even in summer, however, the waves breaking near the shore and the rip currents are something that swimmers have to negotiate.


Services and amenities: lifeguards, restrooms, showers, parking, picnic areas and tables, phones
5 unique things about Ehukai Beach Park
  • Banzai Pipeline got its name in 1961 when surfing movie producer Bruce Brown stopped at the yet-unnamed surf site up Ehukai Beach Park. Coincidentally, a pipeline was being constructed on nearby Kamehameha Highway. California surfer Mike Diffenderfer who was with Brown at the time suggested to name the wave Pipeline. The name was first used in Brown's fourth movie, Surfing Hollow Days. Since the beach that fronted the pipeline was then known as Banzai Beach, Banzai was appended to Pipeline; hence the compound name Banzai Pipeline.
  • Ehukai Beach Park is the home of the world's hardest and deadliest surf break, the Banzai Pipeline. More people (surfers and even photographers) have higher statistics of death or serious injury than in any other surf spot.
  • Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the world's greatest and most challenging surfing competition, is held here.
  • Ehukai Beach Park covers three areas: the Ehukai Beach, Banzai, and Pipeline.
  • The sub-plot of the Hollywood film "Blue Crush" starring Kate Bosworth was about shooting the Pipeline.