So I’m taking a printmaking class and it’s really awesome.

I’m currently working on a drypoint print. Yesterday I went into the shop area and put my arms (and lower back) to good use beveling the plexiglass. I regret having such an ironic attitude towards shop class in middle school, because I’m pretty positive I would sincerely love it now.

Here’s a sneak peek of the drypoint in progress.

Here are my Japanese wood engraving tools. I was so excited when they arrived.

I can even prop them up in their case and put little stickers with my name on it on them. Wonderful.

I got kind of obsessed taking photos of our family’s (and a few from others on the lake) amazing fireworks display this year.

Some people might think, “How many pictures of fireworks can you take or look at without it being boring?” My answer: I don’t know because I haven’t gotten there yet.

To me, there’s something beautiful and captivating about each image. Maybe it’s my fascination with space, or the concept that with a click fire is frozen in the sky or just the aesthetic beauty of such bright lights against the dark night.

So if you’re like me, below is a link to 108 photos of fireworks to gaze at in wonder and awe.

fireworks oh nine!

Recently read books: The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta, An Invisible Sign of My Own by Aimee Bender, after the quake by Haruki Murakami, Birds of America by Lorrie Moore, and I finally finished the last 30 pages I had to go in Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain.

I’m currently reading Conversations with Woody Allen: His films, the movies, and moviemaking by Eric Lax, but I like to have a fiction novel as an alternative to switch off with a non-fiction book (a newer habit). There are plenty of books on my list of books to read, but any suggestions?

Here are some photos from friendly friends Amy Morin and Rob Quinn art/space/music/awesome collaboration at Empty Room called Beastbox. I only wish I had more time to hang out there.

This was their last day in the space, but if you want to hire them as interior designers or check out their stuff, go here for Amy/Plaiderpillar’s stuff and here for Rob’s.

Here’s Amy and Rob basking in the glow of their creation: