Bulbs.

Stephen gave me a very special Christmas present this year: bulbs. A backyard (cement New York slab of a backyard) full of bulbs. A hundred or more. Tulips, narcissus, fritillaria, crocus, hyacinth, all sorts. Out our kitchen window will be a popping sensation. Stephen is sort of the bulb expert. He instructed us with precision and the bulbs seemed happy in their spots. You'll see the results when spring lands. Soon!

Moonman.

Stephen's Moonman is on display in a gallery in Hudson! If you are in the area, the gallery will be open October 28, November 18, December 1 and December 8. If you are not and want a piece of moonman (who wouldn't?)...you can buy prints here: moonmanprints.com (framed or not). So thrilling. Having traveled a bit with him, I can say moonman is one inspiring gent.

Balloons for Stephen.

I was really hoping the baby (if she is real - starting to doubt) and Stephen would share a day together - today. The truth is that the day is probably not grand enough to bring forth two such creatures. I know the one very well and he is a triumph of a human, my brother Stephen. On Saturday, his very lovely beau, John, hosted a party featuring these balloons (bathtub below is the crest of their appearances).






This was the dancing room and if you know Stephen, you know how he can dance.


One of Stephen's gifts - decorated just so for him. A great look for him. I think he is seriously considering the hair - and the earring addition goes without saying.


My dad circulated this photo of Stephen today - taken just after he was born. It made me feel really tender about my brother and the little baby who is coming. Look at those wrinkly knees.

Behind the scenes.

Shooting Moonmandotcom.tumblr.com

Do you see him?

Moon man.

Stephen has a new blog. The concept is one man: a moon man (I will take the credit for giving him gift of the small figurine. I never could have imagined this little man's potential though). Hilarious and so brilliant. A sample photo of his from the site: http://moonmandotcom.tumblr.com/.

Back at Stephen's apartment, mother hen is clucking with the new time machine hovering.



The relinquishing sun ensnares - can't help mulling over compressed days and their slanted light.

Blocks.

Stephen has done a project. His floor - painted cubes. I think he has always been a little preoccupied by them - I remember in 3rd grade when he would draw and shade them endlessly. They were quite good. Now, he has fashioned himself a stencil by which he has transformed his hard wood floor into a geometric kingdom come.











Stephen's little apartment in the West Village is transformed every time I go there. The classic cast of the doe and the hen preside over new foundlings all about. It is like Stephen's head: magical.

Chez Stephen.

Petite soirée chez Stephen last night. Stephen just recently moved into a new apartment in the West Village (lucky boy) and given his line of work and his brain material, festooning this place is a royal activity - it looks sublime already, every detail pondered.


John looks perfect in the apartment. A compliment to both.











Stephen is the kind of guy who takes his decorating so seriously that he will live for a very specific (rather long depending on your slant) period of time with paint swatches all over the place - each painted in several locations to shed light on the color's various renditions. He lives with the squares in different lights and moods and cloud conditions and will one day choose one of these hovering colors to cloak the walls of each room. (His biggest piece of advise for me when we moved into our house: "Don't make any decisions too quickly, just live in it and see how it feels." Like - don't do anything drastic! Too bad Xavier and I are about as impetuous as people come...).



But Stephen has a whole crowd of people who also use a decision-making tree when decorating or, rather, show other people how to use them and decorate for a living. Chris, for example, here explains the different emotional states one might experience if choosing the top color versus the lower two, or the one over there on that wall.




So many sample cans.

pterodaktulos

For more like him, go here.

Joyce Series II

Stephen, Emilie, Julie together again. We took niece Joyce to Stephen's office and she charmed the whole team. Roosted on the center of a table, co-workers thronged around, smiling with glee at Joyce's baby capers - throwing things on the ground, smiling, waving and orchestrating the clapping around her. She was a such a star.