NEEDLES & PENS

We found a cute shop named "NEEDLES & PENS" in San Francisco. They have lots of art zines and cute crafts. We purchased a zine "STROM" by NIGEL PEAKE. The drawings on the shop windows are his artworks from his last show there.

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

This is another farmers market in front of the San Francisco's Ferry Building. We didn't buy anything here this time, but we like some shops in the building. We tried sea bass sandwich and coffee from the fish shop and the coffee shop. We really like them.

right hand side of the building

left hand side of the building

 mushroom shop

 fish shop

coffee shop

Art and Nature

Hello! This is Karin! We stayed with her in Istanbul. She is Danish. She is a graphic designer and art teacher but her past work includes Turkish restaurant owner and chef in Germany, children's book illustrator and Primary school teacher.

She now runs children's art classes in a studio in the front of her house along the Bosphorus in Istanbul.

Her class ideas are based around Art and Nature. All materials are recycled. She gathers inspiration from her love for animals and nature and is passionate about nurturing children's creative freedom. We were so inspired by what she was doing. Thanks Karin!

This is where old containers are kept and recycled for later projects, it says:

"Don't throw anything away, there is no 'away' "

Grand Lake Farmers Market

On the way of our morning run in Oakland (CA), we found a local farmers market. We purchased some organic veggies and handmade pasta for dinner. They are so fresh and yummy! This market has lots of energy.

http://www.splashpad.org/farmersmkt.html

Every Saturday at Splash Pad Park in Oakland, CA, U.S.A.

Mustafa's Atelier

We were very lucky to meet Mustafa through a friend. He is a Moroccan Artist living and working in the old medina of Casablanca.

We spent a day with him starting off with mint tea at a cafe, then a stroll through the medina and some art making in his atelier. He works on projects and his own art making during the day and teaches children in the afternoon. He is very passionate about spreading the love of art to children who may not have access to it, it was really inspiring...even to hear some local kids come knocking at his door that afternoon... Mustafa!

This is Mustafa.

The picture above and below is his favourite building. We don't speak French or Arabic, and he doesn't speak English or Japanese, but we had Italian in common. He would say "come bellissima é questo blu....é bellissima'

The atelier.

He is very inspired by the colours of the medina. The old walls with layers and layers of peeling colour, tiles and his own childhood memories growing up in the medina.

Grazie mille Mustafa!