Studio Notes #64

Happy Holidays, Friends! Here's issue #64 of Studio Notes™—quick bits delivered to you each Friday. This week's issue is an abbreviated one, while we're recovering from holiday shenanigans and festivities. I hope you're wrapping up 2025 with good vibes and peace.

📡

After finishing the season, I'm still not really sure how I feel about the Apple show, Pluribus. Episode 1 was fantastic, and if a movie or show begins with interstellar messages being decoded here on Earth—I am 100% in. The pace then becomes incredibly slow, which was frustrating and felt like entire episodes were focused on unimportant, mundane things. Having had some time to think about it more, perhaps we need more shows that just slow down without feeling the need to satisfy our short attention spans. In hindsight, maybe that was refreshing? Spoiler Warning: This interview with creator Vince Gilligan and actor Rhea Seehorn helped me make sense of the show and appreciate it more.

🛹

Daniel Barousse makes beautiful art and furniture out of recycled skateboard decks. I want it all.

🏎️

One of my favorite toys when I was a wee lad was a Tonka A.J. Foyt IndyCar and action figure. I remember watching Foyt in the Indianapolis 500 on network TV and then trying to recreate the race with my BMX bike doing circles in the driveway with friends (long enough to make big rubber track marks from the tires). That memory is likely why this 80s-era Formula 1 toy car from Playforever was one of my favorite gifts I received this year from Mel. I love the simplified designs and focus on quality.

• • •

We'll see you back here next week—in 2026! I don't usually make concrete resolutions, but I do always love the optimistic, Fresh Start Feeling™ of a new year. I'm looking forward to making more things, growing this tiny little business and community, and being present as much as possible. Wishing you a Happy New Year, and continued thanks for following along here 🙌✨

Cheers,