Off the beaten path

Some blogs I want to share with you:

First is Open Door Studio. A number of years ago, I met Gary. When we were in college he was like the guy version of me. We were both transfer student to the college, same age, both married, both from San Diego, and seriously, we just got each other. It was art school, which I think is actually pretty different from "normal college" especially when is a very tiny private liberal arts college and there are only about 5 students per class and you are almost the same age as some of your professors.  All of us there were pretty tight. Anyway, after we all graduated I was only able to keep in touch with a couple of my classmates, and Gary was one of them.  AND Gary has a brilliant wife. Her name is Terra and she is the most ingenious designer I have ever met. She can take just about any old, disgusting, nearly condemned hunk of structure and make it the coolest place you have ever had the pleasure of entering. This couple bought this old run down brick building in downtown Reno a couple of years back, that was a legit crack whore haven. mattresses all over the basement, needles and used condoms and shit all over everywhere, old underwear from like the 20's thrown into closets, I mean the place was freaking sick! They have pictures. . . but the two of them worked together and gutted everything that was not worth keeping, while saving all the bones and things that were so unique and charming about the original structure, and transformed it into this amazing apartment building worthy of the pages of a magazine! The greatest thing is that they did it all on the STRICTEST of budgets.  They have now moved to Washington and I was very sad to have lost them, but to my delight, Terra has started a blog! Now I can see what they are up to every day practically, their new projects and ideas! Its great!

Next is my very first girl crush in college. You know what I mean when I talk about girl crush right? She was just so cool and dressed cool and her art was cool and she had this thing for old revolvers and did pantings and prints of them, and, I mean, she was dating the #2 Gun Slinger in the WORLD when I met her (and had done a painting of the guy who was #1)!! Who was this chick right!? We transferred in at the same time and we graduated at the same time and after graduation, completely lost touch. Until like 6 months ago. She found my blog and sent me an email! Since I am not on Facebook, these things don't just happen to me like they do to when you are on there, and people from like elementary school look you up and friend you. I actually don't think anyone can really search and find me from my past through this blog, so it took some resourcefulness on her part. Anyway, I was thrilled that she had a blog too: Hey thanks, you too.  She has a whole different thing going on now but is still so cool. And when I read her posts I know what her voice sounds like and how she smiles and moves her mouth. Its so nice to have that extra element when reading blogs, and to be back in touch with someone I had a soft spot for.

Now this next girl, I don't actually know very well yet, but we have recently been acquainted and there is just something about her illustrations and patterns that I love. Her color ways, the way she draws the body, I don't know. . . She designs prints for fabrics which has always been a secret talent I wish I possessed, so I have been keeping watch over there at scribbles and schemes.

Terri is a blogger that I have been interested in lately as well. There is just something so honest and real about this woman. The first time I found her I think I read one of her comments on someone else's blog and it was a reference to a writer that I have only recently discovered, so followed the links and found her old, maybe abandoned blog, and read for probably and hour about random things, things she was just doing on a daily basis like finding cigarettes cheaper or chickens or whatever but it was how she wrote and her voice that really struck me. She has a new blog she writes now, but it still feels the same. She is just writing, without ego, or requiring attention. Just the truth. and not necessarily in the profound sort of way, (though her post telling the old story, Emperor's New Clothes, was certainly a bit profound to me in relation to fashion blogs and blog world in general), well, here is an example of a post I particularly liked. Her whole blog has this certain quality I can't quite put my finger on, but really enjoy. RAGS against the MACHINE.

I like bad guitar for many of the same reasons that I love Terri's blog.  The way I found this one is, well, I am slightly obsessed with Zoe, and just wanted to know how on earth this girl came to be the way she is. Who influenced her? Where did she come from? And well, this is her Dad's blog. He just blogs to blog. He loves to write and cook and play music and eat good food and he has created this space that is just HIS place to put things out there. I really want my own dad to start a blog since I feel like he is needing a place of his own to share his thoughts and engage in conversation with others on, so I have this tender spot for my friend's dad.

I am not really sure why I felt so compelled to share these with you today. I guess the common thread between all of these blogs is that they are all just blogging to blog. Not searching for popularity, or anything like that, just blogging for the sake of it.  I know that sounds simple, but I think sometimes I lose track of that in my own space. Lately though, I have been really getting back to the root of why I love blogging so much, and each blog I mentioned, possesses a little part of that truth.