Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.

I realized that I did not post a Stroll Through the Hood in November and so ..you get some travel back in time…which then is kind of a review isn’t it ?LOL. The picture above is from a stoop concert we attended …socially distanced and masked up …it was wonderful. I miss live music and those outside gigs were the best – alas in the colder weather now there is now way there will be much.

We did a Bicycle Halloween tour through the neighborhood. I loved this guy’s selfmade costume!!!

One of our wonderful neighbors gave us her orginal Eastlake door which in the same style used to grace this area in our living room. We had to buy the hardware for it and obviously I screwed up on the door handle – wrong side …and then we said …”yeah we kinda like it upside down” and also …2020. So if the house still stands in 100 years and the door is still in, they will wonder what was going on here hahahah.

And here is the door. The transom is orginal to our house and I am soooo stoked how the door completes this. What a wonderful gift this was. Every day I walk by I am super duper happy. The vestibul you see through the glass needs an update as well – some other project and one of the stained glass panels is missing- we will have that also replaced some time.

Look at the Bauhaus like stained glass light show I get now everyday on the livingroom floor- makes me want to paint this.

First snow storm of the winter – Pretzel was very interested in this. I love the light …the cable salad …crazy – one of the things still after 7 years in the US I shake my head at.

Opening the door the next morning – Never is snow more beautiful when at that stage and then …especially in a city -it goes down hill quick – LOL.

I played with a template and painting with acrylic markers on our garden door. It was super fun and I like it …but boy …it is not easy to do this through double glass hahaha- need more practice. I have some ideas for future ones …stay tuned.

Meet Thelonious, our Christmas Tree – best tree ever- we met friends at a Christmas Tree Farm and spent a fun day outside cutting our own tree. This will be for sure a new tradition and having the opportunity to see our friends …even though it was REALLY freezing – was amazing.

I think Mingus heard Santa – LOL. Our fireplace with some wonderful cards – all those cards made me happy.

Some festive decoration in the neighborhood. Actually goals for next year- those wreaths are so cool – and the garland looks a million bucks …versus our …kind of sad one hahaha.

Even the No Parking Signs were festive this year!

Although…this one not so much

And I loved seeing this wreath put up on the door of the abandoned warehouse I love so much. It made me think of hope ..here is hope for 2021.

This year was a tough one for sure- for many of us! But I am also grateful for many things – like my father -in-law who contracted Covid19 in the hospital being well again and finally home after 7 months in the hospital and for many – even if only on zoom- wonderful hours with family and friends. I am grateful for my husband, and our dopey food stealing kitties , our home and that I was able to paint a lot this year in my studio.  I am grateful for you, my dear readers and students for all your support and your comments. It meant a lot to me this year, you kept me going and gave me purpose. I hope I have brought you a little bit of light and joy as well in 2020 and I am determined to be here for you in 2021 as well either on the blog here, in my classes or on FB in Nat’s Creative Hood.

Farewell 2020 …don’t let the door hit you in the face …or maybe actually why not – you deserve it ;) 

Nat

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.

hehehe what can I say? Mingus is the worst thief ever- here he is after we caught him stealing frothed milk ….but he is pretty funny no?

I loved this picture at the Secret Beach – the Family was running around in the sun and I thought it was cute how they had lined up their shoes on those tiny horseshoe crab shells.

this view from the beach to Lady Liberty gets never old for me.

Funny flying critters :) I love how all construction plywood is always instantly turned into something colorful in this city.

Weird orange car- I wonder what this was …like a little electric car or so? I feel this car could be a model for a comic and should speak :)

We got a mini portable fire pit and have been enjoying it in our little garden on the cooler nights already.

A new bakery opened in my neighborhood and I love their decoration and the baked goods are also very good :)

I voted. And I am not actually giving you a stink eye (not sure what is going on there) but if you haven’t voted yet I might ;) This is my first presidential election as a U.S. citizen.

This house looks like it should be in some Bavarian forest LOL.

These are the judging faces of cats when you left the house for a long period and they are not used to you being outside for a long time anymore. I wonder how they look if we travel some day again.

Still enjoying the weekend jam sessions – and this little guy is the cutest. He was so fascinated by the drums and could not stop looking at them. I think he will ask for a drum set. I saw him again two weekends later and he is still as entranced.

I must have walked past this little window on the side of a corner a couple times but never noticed it until now- I also love the brick inlay – so cool!

We got a new handrail and I am so excited about the little rosettes we picked out as they are very similar to the ones that are in our banister

Nat

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.

This is a gorgeous statue on the waterfront of Jersey City.

For the first time in a long time the train station on Liberty State Park was open again . This is where the immigrants that came through Ellis Island would set out to their new homes all over the U.S. Unfortunately this historic landmark has been hit hard by Sandy – but I still love all the lines and shadows when I walk through.

Low tide and a wonderful view of Jersey City to the left, Manhattan and Brooklyn and the Statue of Liberty – it was a wonderful early morning bike ride with my hubs.

Lady Liberty and some really big Hibiscus flowers – gosh red and green – speaking of natures color scream :)

I still love love love this gorgeous sign of this old store front in Jersey City’s little India – I put this building on my list of “paint some day”

Fabulous mural!

Got a new mirror for the entrance which also leads to my studio. Love the cool shape. I think it is time to repaint our old radiators. The things you notice when you take pictures LOL- Old houses – never a dull moment.

Mural down town – it is one of the things I love most about street art and murals – how they are a reflections of the time we live.

This guy showed up recently on relay boxes.

Big storm knocked out a lot of trees and branches in New Jersey – we also lost power for about 6 hours which is nothing in comparison to some other areas of New Jersey. Of course my nifty husband took the opportunity to get some fire wood – LOL- we just bought a little fire pit for the garden and I cannot wait to sit in front of it in the fall.

I looooovee this brick cornice- usually the cornices around in my neighborhood are made of wood and it is the first time I noticed on those houses that they are made with brick- and how beautiful it looks.

you might remember from a former stroll this really cool building that I also painted – now it is right next to a Black Lives Matter Street Mural. I have to go back now that the artists are finished with it .

Definitely tomato season – I am loving it. Lots of roasted tomatoes, tomato sandwiches, tomato salads …well …they call Jersey City the Garden State and we do have for sure amazing tomatoes.

Love our city coming a little bit back to live. One section of this street has been closed off to traffic on Saturday afternoons and there is a jam session with a lot of amazing jazz musicians. Mary, who is in the red t-shirt singing, is a Jersey City institution and boy it was so wonderful listening to music an seeing them all.

This last shot is a weird one- it is an old power plant and we drove by on a bike tour – I had never really noticed this place- took a picture and two days later I – along with thousands of other Jersey City peeps woke up at 5.30 am because of a huge implosion of the place. A little warning for us would have been nice. Anyway- it is gone now – not really a loss- although the structure was interesting.

I hope you enjoyed this little stroll through the hood. Until next month :)

Nat

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks – as New Jersey and New York are slowly going to Phase 4 after the lockdown.

What a heat wave week – wowsers. Early mornings are the best for bike rides and stroll through the hood right now for sure :) The picture above is showing an old Cigar Factory – the Parodi Company. The Parodi’s were a brand of cigars made in Jersey City up until 1929. The company was started in 1913 in New York City, in the Village by three Italian immigrants who came from a wealthy family in Northern Italy. In 1916, they built this factory here in Jersey City.  

We spent a nice time at the Deep Space Gallery– now open again – appointments only. The painting above by Rebecca Johnson was very touching.

If I Die Too Young , or the Gunmen Come, I’m Full of Love, 2020

Acrylic, lime wash and mirror on linen

Mazunte – also by Rebecca Johnson – this is a close up of a wonderful painting. Love the usage of little mirror pieces.

Interesting facade – the little balconies are funny- and nothing seems to fit together.

A wild style of architectural fun back then :)

X-actly. Dog Poop is after parking the most discussed issue in this neighborhood.

This was a walk bye poster project with artwork and poems written by school kids in Jersey City.

Very powerful – and it seems as if it is now moving from park to park throughout Jersey City.

Oh my oh my- I cannot stop taking photos of this magnificent Art Deco Entrance …Swoon.

Speaking of ..I love those Art Deco Fire Escapes – It is funny because the building itself is a bit plain and boring but those curved escapes – so awesome.

Another Stunning Art Deco Building in my neighborhood.

I see this sign every time I go to drop of packages at the postoffice and it makes me laugh ! I think this neighborhood is boom box free since 1983 …LOL.

This guy visited me one afternoon on the deck – pretty pretty big and apparently had a little fight in his live as the right wing shows. Made my day.

I hope you are all well – sending you Love!!! Until next month with hopefully more strolls through the hood.

Nat

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks – while we are still on lock down, I started on some nicer days to venture out very early in the morning on my bike and with a mask. Not the most pleasant task but it feels good to get some fresh air and exercise.

This warehouse has been abandoned for as long I as I live here- I am not sure what is going to happen here. It is an interesting building for sure.

This made me laugh – in the middle of marina at Liberty State park . Love the rust and the font.

So glad I caught a glimpse – even though at the end of the cherry blossom – so pretty.

There was a sense of grieve and joy upon seeing the so familiar scenery … for an hour I felt as if everything will be ok … we all need a little bit of social distanced escape once in a while

A paste up by Dylon Egon at the Jersey City Medical Center. It was weird to have no cars and no people around on those intersections that are usually bustling.

Definitely kept my distance from those very protective parents taking their cute kids out for a stroll.

At Lincoln Park – they reopened the parks and it has been such a nice way to get out. Walking in the city with people has not been fun- but the bike really gives a sense of freedom and normality and the possibility to get away from people.

These gorgeous daisies that open up in the morning and close in the evening make me very happy.

I painted these pots a while ago and finally put them up- a nice little colorful spread on the fence.

Kim gave me a bunch of Allium bulbs last fall as a gift and since I am such a sucker for those gorgeous flowers – I am super super excited to see them grow. This one is going up to my chest now.

Another early morning bike ride.

Went all the way to Hoboken and went through the usually totally crowded train station. No -one there – the waiting room is closed off and while there are still trains leaving there were maybe two people in the traing station waiting. The positive thing about this was that for the first time I was able to take some pictures without being elbowed out of the way.

It is an impressive and beautiful building.

Another view from Lincoln park – I think this factory used to be a paint factory but I am not sure. I think I might want to paint this one day.

Still baking bread …What a science LOL. I am not a big baker but something about tending to the dough and smelling fresh baked bread through the house gives a really nice and comforting feeling. Do you have a smell that makes you feel homey and feel comforted?

I hope you are all well – sending you Love!!! Until next month with hopefully more strolls through the hood.

Nat

Strolls through my hood usually get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. But …there is not much strolling through the hood lately due to the Lock down and so I thought …I take you on a stroll through the house :)

This is what happens a lot of times in the morning – as soon as we are done with breakfast the cats climb on me ..I am not sure why and what this means …maybe they just see me as a living cat climbing tree.

This is Bobby Pretzel supervising the masks I sewed for us, family and neighbors. I think he did a good job.

Here are some that I made with the fabric I sun printed a while ago with my stencils.

And here are some of our neighbors, cleaning up the street – because it has been a while since street cleaning occurred, and some assholes think it is cool to just litter the streets with their rubber gloves…and yes I said assholes…there is no nicer word- sorry.

I wanted to show our new stained glass window too – I am sooo in love. We had it made by a local artist Keith, aka TF Dutchman– he makes amazing contemporary artwork with stained glass and a while ago he came and checked out our fireplaces and the other stained glass window we have to come up with this design for us.

The window makes me just so happy and the colors and light through it are different at any time of the day- it is the best thing :)

Like many people I have been baking more and more bread. Well …I am a German and I do love bread for breakfast-and since our artisanal bakery closed I knew I needed to get into this because that is also one of the things I miss a ton from Germany. This is still a no-knead bread as we were lucky enough to have yeast at home- but now I am out of flour and there is no flour …we shall see when my order online is ever going to arrive. Weird times my friends, weird times.

Easter was a bit sad without the usual family gatherings- but I put out some decoration – to make me feel happy. The tulips are fake …there are not tulips to get this year -but these are from my friend Birgit Koopsen in the Netherlands, and she brought them with her a while ago. They fake people out all the time thinking these are real LOL. The eggs are wood – aka also fake to make sure the cats are not destroying them…you see…lots of fake things going on this time hahahah.

Here are Bobby Pretzel and Mingus not really social distancing – LOL- They are bringing us so much joy!

I am so happy for our garden and I cannot wait for more flowers to show up and warmer weather to finally sit outside with a cup of coffee and breathe some fresh air.

We have been sitting outside some evenings after work with a lots of layers of jackets to just feel the air and listen to the birds. Every day there is a beautiful cardinal visiting- I assume he was there before but it is the first time I noticed him as a regular visitor. It is a beautiful sight and like a gift. You notice a lot of things to be grateful for that you usually take for granted in a time like that. That is a good thing. 

I hope you enjoyed this little stroll though the house and I hope you all are safe and sound. Until next month! 

Nat