je t’aime

beret baguette

This clip was filmed in Paris for the 2011 Beret Baguette.  It’s a dress up bike ride + picnic.

Béret Baguette 2011 from Benjamin Donadieu on Vimeo.

homebody

a few shots from around my cozy apartment. since I don’t venture out much during the winter.

across the universe

a visual tour of places I’d like to visit + revisit in 2012.

This post inspired by think kit.

this one’s easy

What new skill do I want to learn in 2012?

this:

because this:

This post was inspired by think kit 2011.

making something

I came across this image on Pinterest the other day…

and it reminded me so much of a place I spent a lot of time as a child.

That’s me, with my great aunt Hanlo.

Another shot of the family. My late cousin Susi on the left, my great uncle Henning, and my mom on the right with the curly (permed) hair. That painting in the background was by Otto Weil, Hanlo’s father, a portrait of Hanlo when she was very young. I have my own Otto Weil oil painting in my apartment.

Aunt Hanlo and Uncle Henning’s house was full of wooden sculptures, prints, and oil paintings done by family and friends.

My mom’s house:

These sketches and wooden bust were done by my great grandfather, York Fischer. I have a painting of his, of a dancing girl. It was passed down to me by my own grandfather, also named York Fischer, whose home is also full of art created by loved ones.

It’s hard not to be heavily influenced by this. And I decided to hand-make all my Christmas gifts this year. I’m really not an artist, just a dabbler. The same goes for music, singing, dancing, etc. I often boast that my greatest talent is “being mediocre at everything.”*

Nonetheless, I have been trying my hand at oil painting, praying that some tiny part of my artsy lineage would come through… I’m not quite ready to share that adventure with the world, yet. I did, however, have a back-up plan, using medium I know very well. The internet.

I made a Tumblr for my mom, armed with a scanner and a shoebox of old pictures and ephemera belonging to her late mother, Violet. My Nana.

I scanned in about 40 photos so far, and I’ll keep adding to it. My mom is excited to add her own thoughts and captions.

And I made one for my dad, too. I scanned in wedding announcements and old love letters sent back and forth between his mom and dad during WWII. The letters are rice paper-thin and full of emotion.

This post was inspired by Think Kit 2011.

* My mom disagrees.

hip to be square

It’s been a while since I’ve written about my city, much less my neighborhood. That needs to change. There’s certainly plenty going on in Fountain Square: construction controversies, bike lane growing pains, new shops and eateries coming… and going.

I live and work here now. My “neighbors” are Jen at IndySwank and Joe at Joe’s Cycles. So many people have invested their lively hood in this place. Gives me an extra dose of neighborhood pride.

I’ll keep this post short on words and heavy on the visuals, because that’s one of my favorite things about FS. There’s so much to look at.

I walk to work every morning, when it’s quiet. When it has the most grace. I spot details in the architecture, street art that’s sprouted overnight. Greet a feral cat or two. At night, I bask in the glow of neon signs, the haze of cigarette smoke. I spend a lot of time just gazing at Fountain Square, like a sleeping lover. (And yes, I meant that in the creepiest way possible.)

Your turn.

this post inspired by think kit 2011.