The Sabrina Hirsch

hope springs eternal

2011-07-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to taking more photos, which resulted in dropping off film, which resulted in picking up an old roll from the spring. Remember that feeling in spring when you are so excited for the change of seasons, and after spring comes SUMMER!!! Yeah, about that...summer never really came here in Seattle, we have had a few nice days, never in row and always followed by rainy ones. These photos reminded me of how promising spring is...

::my neighborhood:: spring 2011::

will it last?

2010-03-04T12:18:00.001-08:00

Confession:
forgive me knitters for I have sinned. I have been a major knitting slacker, major. Although I have been teaching knitting lessons, I have not had a project, a real, get-ur-knitting-fingers-all-arthritic-and-calloused, knitting project. But today, I stumbled upon this...

I ordered the pattern, downloaded it, and will go yarn shopping...asap!
cant wait to have a project on the sticks again!
xoxo,
SH

new post

2010-03-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog,
I have been very engaged in trying to be responsible and get my life in order. Read: career, finances, cycling. In the past little bit, I have moved my business to a new facility, Eremon Farm, have found a separated at birth BFF, Lisa, and have fallen in love with another aloof and unavailable individual.

What is on my mind, besides unrequited love? Cycling! I have my first race this coming Sunday!
Check out how cute our team is!

::photo credit:: Motofish Images::

with love,
SH

Decembrrrrr

2009-12-21T10:21:00.001-08:00

weej on ice :: december 2009, arboretum, seattle

on ice :: december 2009, arboretum. seattle

nest hole :: december 2009, arboretum. seattle

shiny ice :: december 2009, arboretum. seattle

self-portraits are tough with a long focus :: december 2009, arboretum, seattle
Just a little view of what Seattle is like this winter. We had quite the cold snap, no snow, but freezing temps. One evening the lighting was really beautiful so I headed to the Arboretum with my Holga and Weej!
happy holidays!
S.

Finished Objects

2009-11-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

1. A Circular Scarf of my own design:
Can be worn like a necklace wrapped around your neck once, twice (shown here) or three times (shown below)

2. A Habu Scarf, felted to perfection.

developed

2009-11-11T10:16:00.000-08:00

These are the last of my photos from summer...

::grassy weasel:: golden gardens, seattle. september

::tree tunnel:: golden gardens, seattle. september

::bird feeders:: golden gardens, seattle. september

::overpass north:: I-5, seattle. september

::overpass south:: I-5, seattle. september.

The end.

finders keepers

2009-10-20T13:34:00.000-07:00

I found this photo while on my bike ride today, it was in the ditch, all wet, on the side of the road. I could hardly believe how picturesque it was. Someone's memory, maybe from a road trip down the coast, sitting, discarded or lost in the ditch. Sad, but also a cool find for me!
xoxo,
S.

Sew, Sew, suck your toe, all the way to mexico

2009-10-19T10:51:00.001-07:00

I really, really want to re-learn how to sew! I have even picked out a project!

found the pattern, fabric, or kit here!

xoxo,
S.

Weej vs. Pillows

2009-10-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

I found these great pillows for my couch, which was previously pillow-less, and below is the reaction I get from Weej.

And I thought he would like them, he has been pouting on the other side of the couch all morning. Weird!

In other news, the Ick weather in Seattle has officially begun which leaves us native Seattlites with a few options:

1. stay on couch day and night with new pillows and watch movies, preferably alone to insure proper hermitude :: check, done this.

2. consume copious amounts of 'comfort food' and chocolate to combat seasonal affective disorder, then complain about excessive weight gain :: check, done this

3. complain about the weather, like it is unusual, or unexpected :: check, done this.

4. head down the slippery snowballing vortex of depression (options 1-3 are to avoid option 4) :: not going here this year due to amazing new job and renewed outlook :)

I have some projects in the wings, art projects, to be revealed at a later date!

xoxo,
S.

Progress, photos and finds!

2009-09-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

First, a little preview of my scarf knitting progress, I am almost finished knitting, then I will felt it and reveal the finished product!

Second, some of my latest photos:

Pike Place :: Sept 2009

I-90 @ nite :: Sept 2009

Homeless Park :: Sept 2009

Indie :: Sept 2009
And finally, a cool find:
Christien Meindertsma, an amazing artist and extreme knitter from the Netherlands

Back on the Needles!

2009-09-06T17:56:00.001-07:00

Wow, it has been way, *way* too long since I have knit. I started a new project this week!!! It is the Kusha Kusha Scarf (Habu) . I am loving this yarn, the first yarn you knit with is a thread-like blend of stainless steel (!!!), silk and wool, it knits up amazing, and is sculptural (b/c of the stainless steel), so cool. I had to order the super fine merino for the main body of the scarf, and I am chomping at the bit! I just want to knit knit knit!
cheers,
S.

Dog Days

2009-09-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

I hate to say this, but I must admit, after this amazingly warm and sunny summer I am ready for fall. I know all Seattlites would curse me for saying this, and in a couple months I will look back on the summer longingly, but I love fall. I love apple season, cool mornings, falling leaves, and it's my birthday time o year!
Weej and I have been out having adventures, he is pictured here posing in front of Lake Washington at a park near our home. In other news, I may have an exhibit of my Holga photos coming up soon, I'll keep you posted. And I am picking up the knitting needles again!
cheers,
S.

July and Early August in Seattle

2009-08-16T18:51:00.001-07:00

...Just a little sampling of what I have been up to and where I have been as seen through my HOLGA camera...

::Uni Bridge:: Weej, posing on the University Bridge

::ice cream truck:: there was some weird transaction going on at this ice cream truck while I was at the beach one day during our heat wave. I took this not knowing if if would capture the creepery of it all, but I think it did. This was the day I taught Luigi how to swim!

::Kitty in motion:: this is Kitty, my retired show horse, I spent more time with him during my formative years than almost anyone else, besides my sis. He is so cute retired, with his long mane and all <3

::Kitty as a Breyer Horse:: this shot was an accident, but I like how it makes him look very plastic.
more to come,
xoxo,
S.

Holgas and things

2009-08-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

Why is it that the things that keep us most sane, and most ourselves our so easy to put last?! I used to put horse time last, it was easy to not do (besides when I was competing), and then I would go out to the barn and think, "where have I been?! this is where I belong!"

I do the same thing with art. Whether it is painting or taking photos, it is so easy to put last on the to do list, and then when I finally break out the palette and paints or the Holga, I think, "what have I been doing?! *this* is integral to me as a being!!!"

So, that being said, since I have my dream job of working with horses, now I need to incorporate my arts into my life again. Here are some Holga's I took this summer. (Stay tuned for some paintings, i may have an exhibition coming up!!!)

Oregon Weekend!

2009-07-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

NWX Criterium, Bend, OR 2009
I had the most fantastic weekend last weekend! I went to Oregon for three bike races in three days, Friday in Bend, Saturday in Portland and Sunday in Salem. Que Fantastico! What made the trip even more amazing was the teammate I traveled with, he is an outstanding cyclist and won two of his races, we had a really great time!

So on goes the cycling season, I can't explain how much I am enjoying racing. It fills my need for speed, competition, and just enough pain to distract me from the pains of the real world.
Oh, and check out those muscles!!!
xoxo,
S.

Shaking it up

2009-06-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just gotta shake it up, like instead of wearing our team prescribed outfit, wear, oh, i don't know, all pink! This amazing outfit was given to me by my friends Shane and Julie who used to own Discover Bikes in Hood River, Oregon. To them I owe my addiction to cycling, my amazing bike, great friendship, and dozens of great rides in the Columbia River Gorge.

Cycling is my fuel these days, when I am feeling out of sorts, or lost in terms of career paths, a good bike ride always helps :)

xoxo,
S.

Uphill battle

2009-06-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

I never know what the difference between struggling, and feeling sorry for myself. The truth of the matter is that I am not sure if I have recovered from my store going out of business. I am training horses and teaching lessons professionally, but there is a part of me that thinks that is not 'good enough' or not a 'real career'. And while there in nothing on the planet I would rather do with my time and self than train horses and teach, I am having trouble justifying it as suitable.

The search for a career worthy job is discouraging to say the least. And while I have experience coming out of my ears, and can do anything, it is nearly impossible to translate that onto a resume.

So here I am, in this fuzzy transitional phase, trying to make the most of where I am and what I have. Much of that time I have spent on my bike, which, while therapeutic, I am afraid I use it as an instrument to punish myself for not being 'good enough' at anything and everything. Fortunately, my race result are the one thing that is reflecting the amount of work I am putting into cycling.

No one said it would be easy.

picture this

2009-05-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

::Transitional Objects I-VII:: 2005:: Clay, glaze :: senior thesis, by me!::
Before I 'saw the light' I was a biology major, this was a short lived, but intensely passionate period in my academic history. I clearly remember walking past the art building on my way to the bio department and thinking, 'look at those cool kids and that amazing creativity hub, i can't even imagine walking in there and being an art major'.

Six months later I was walking in and out of the art building as an art major, not thinking twice about it. Funny the paths our life takes and where we picture and do not picture ourselves.

Anyways, I guess the moral of that story is that if you build it, they will come, ops, I digress into field of dreams, what I meant to say is I catch myself putting limits on my own potential all the time, and they are mere constructs of my own imagination. Just as the art building and art major life once seemed so out of reach, I wonder what I am placing 'off limits' now?

Hooves and Wheels

2009-04-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

My days are pretty much occupied by hooves and wheels these days, and I couldn't be happier. Rarely in our lives, unless we are a professional athlete, do we have time to really work at a sport and become the best we can. I am lucky enough to have that opportunity right now, in both riding/training horses and cycling. Two of my passions.
::Sadie::

I am loving my horse clients, both the riders and horses. I also never imagined how much I would enjoy, and how rewarding I would find instructing.
::All Smiles::

Photo courtesy: Tom Kelley
I have devoted so much time this year to cycling, and it is great to see it starting to pay off in results (I place 5th last weekend in a road race!)!
xoxo,
S.

Well I never!

2009-04-22T12:01:00.001-07:00

Speaking of things I never imagined myself doing...I picked up my contact sheets/headshots yesterday fromTara Gimmer so I can start modeling! Tara is an amazing woman and was an absolute pleasure to work with. We tried to showcase my sporty side since I am do not exactly have the 'high fashion' look. Funny because with the size of my behind these days I was a bit concerned that I might not even have the 'sporty' look anymore. If nothing else it should be fun and chalked up to life experiences. I have already had a job offer too, for a Thule commercial! I will keep you all posted!
xoxo,
S.

Walla Walla Stage Race

2009-04-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

::Im in the front, in yellow:: this was the 2nd stage, on Sat, a criterium::
This past weekend I competed in my first cycling stage race; three different types of races in 30 hours. It was amazing! Five years ago I never imagined I would be into cycling as a sport, I would never have imagined I would spend 10-15 hours a week on my bike fully clad in spandex, I would never have imagined I would be competitive in women's cycling, and I never would have imagined a top ten finish at my first stage race, never.
I had some mechanical problems with my bike in the Road Race, which was on Sunday and ended up riding for 30 miles all alone, dropped out of the main field and no longer in a competitive position. A year ago I would have given up, thrown in the towel and hitch-hiked out of the race. But this year I had this amazing attitude, which is most unlike me, where I though to myself, "I am going to finish this f*&$ing race if it kills me!", and so I did, and when it came to the finish, at the top of a 5km long hill, I sprinted it, passing people left and right, with a big smile on my face. So while I may not have finished with the place number I wanted, I finished with an attitude that surprised even myself!
To see a video, check here!

Open Window

2009-04-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

::new business cards::
I am usually one of the least optimistic individuals I know, a tendency I am working on changing, and one that improves with the change of season in the summer direction. Contrary to my nature, I have however, noticed a general trend: THINGS GENERALLY WORK OUT. I find this fact to be comforting beyond belief.
In that line of thought, as I change careers from business woman/enterpreneur to horsewoman/etc, I have again realized that as a door closes, most often there is a window that opens.
I hope to document ideas, concepts that I come across and some of my experiences in this new blog. I will no longer be blogging at smfsportychic.blogspot.com, so stay tuned over here!
xoxo,
S.