Wednesday, September 30, 2009

butterflies gathered around..


when i first saw this painting
i have to admit to you
that it brought tears to my eyes
with it's beauty
and it's hope..


my emotions are often stirred though, with amanda blake's work.
she creates a seemingly endless stream of vignettes and stories


often visiting the characters over and again
so over time we get to know them
and wonder about them


and love them.



rich in color and depth
they have the power to simultaneously
make you feel calm and still spark the imagination
lead you into a dream
or take you on a journey for a moment
(a journey that is sometimes surprising but somehow always seems familar..)

this one though...with the angel butterflies..
i just want to climb in to
and stay for a while.
i think we could all use butterflies surrounding us
sometimes.
don't you?

enjoy more of her incredible paintings here, here and here.

happy wednesday.
xo

*ps. tomorrow (thursday) my photo store is being featured on one of my favorite blogs
where they're giving away two of my prints!
more info and a link tomorrow..

Friday, September 25, 2009

i really do


how perfectly sweet is this image?
and how lovely it feels to read (or hear!) this sentiment
a sweet and simple thought..
but with deep and happy effects.

looking at this makes me smile from the inside out.
take a second to stare at it
does it do the same for you?

i hope so
and i hope you have a refreshing weekend
full of even
more smiles too.
xox

see you next week
with sneak peeks of....
owls!
(there's a whole flock of em coming to my shop in early october)
xo


*you can find more fresh playful work from alyssa here and here

Thursday, September 24, 2009

a little press..





so, my little secret that i wanted to blurt out to you guys
a few months ago
is in print now and i can finally reveal that i am the featured artiste
in the fall issue of bead & button magazine

it's been a few years since a magazine has featured me,
and so it was nice to be interviewed again.
it puts things in perspective for you as an artist, i think,
to revisit your journey..to look at changes and new directions
by looking back at where you started.
it's quite a nice long article
with large lovely images..hehe
(except i really wish photo credit had been given..)

yvette doss did a great job writing it..i like her perspective and intuitive writing style

she (happily) mentions
the wonderful 'san gabriel bead company' in los angeles
where all of this crazy clay bead business started for me


and also peppers the article with mentions of 'etsy'
(which i was also very happy about)
and salmon and cemeteries and guadalajara
and all sorts of things that inspire/inform my clay work.
it's always interesting to see yourself through someone else's eyes, isn't it?
(and funny enough, it's really not embarrassing at all..!)

if you want to see a copy, it's on newsstands and in craftstores
and bookstores all over the world
(how cool is that?!)
and please contact me if you want me to autograph a copy for you..
haha!

wishing you a really happy mid-week..
see you tomorrow
with more fun.
xo

Friday, September 18, 2009

coco avant chanel



i love that this week has turned into an accidental tribute to france!
(not a bad way to spend a week, i'd say)
and what a better way to end it
than to talk about something completely and undeniably french..

an upcoming film
that explores the beautifully artistic
and gloriously indomitable spirit
of the quintessential french fashion icon


.coco chanel.
it's release date
is one week from today here in the states
(friday september 25..yes my calender is marked in red!)

the exciting part,
other than it starring the gorgeously easy to watch
audrey tatou
(amelie!)

is that it follows coco's life before she was chanel
before the fame and fortune..
she had such an interesting life.
i never knew she was an orphan, or that she tried to become a singer..
oop. stop me before i reveal too much.
(i'm one of those..i research everything feverishly when i find something i love)


her unique vision and strong spirit are incredibly inspiring
and really,
whether you go in knowing her beautiful story or not,
the movie is going to be one poetic frame after another.
...french countryside, early 1900s, paris,
the clothes, the colors, the sets...


a true feast for the eyes.


so in the meantime,
i hope you have a wonderful weekend
full of inspiration.
we're going to lake ontario...apple picking has begun in ny state!
what are you going to do?
i'd love to hear
xo

*all photos via imdb

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

speaking of things french...

in between ballet lessons
playing the piano
and drinking tea
in her 200 year old house

has been creating beautifully poetic
new clothing and handbags
for fall


each piece is romantic and modern
and
although she lives in boston
i swear each time i look at her work
i feel like i'm in paris
(it's happening a lot these days..)

you can find her sweet new items
in her etsy shop
rennes le chateau
ohh la la
how i love you so.


*all photos via rennes le chateau

Monday, September 14, 2009

memories of eating truffles in paris..

we stepped out of the chocolaterie
onto the cobblestone street
just below montmartre
just as the rain started falling

laughing and looking up to see the dark clouds
old iron work from the old metro
curved and gorgeous
caught my eye
between trees hanging low with drops of rain

windows boxes filled with soft flowers
just beyond
and stone walls filled with time
smiled down at me with their stories
of life and love


maybe it's because it's been almost 4 years to the day
that i was last in paris
(much too long if you ask me..)
..or maybe it's because i have a serious case of wanderlust
but
lately i've been dreaming remembering and fantasizing
about paris (a lot)
and
have been making jewelry and plotting photographs
inspired by these *dreams*

it's just an indulgence i happily allow myself..
going there in your mind (and heart)
is *almost* as good as being there..
n'est-ce pas?

***one of the little creations inspired by memories of beautiful old
historic dreamy paris

hope you have a happy and inspiring monday!
xo

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

into the trees


and now we interrupt our regularly scheduled program
with a moment of utter gorgeousness..






i love how relaxed and inspired this makes me feel..
i want to dive right in to those images.
ahhhh...such a nice way to start the work week after the long holiday weekend
(you have to ease back into these things sometimes..don't you think?)

and now, off to translate some of these images into clay..
xo

Friday, September 4, 2009

happy weekend




wishing you all a very happy weekend
full of adventure
rest friends food and all the things you love best.
xo

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

postcards from sweden..

oh the lush greenery..
(so wild and still somehow kept and not messy..a perfect combination)
the quaint houses and lanes..
the bright cheery colors..



the adorable signs and packaging..
so perfectly and sweetly designed




oh the utter charm and quaintness


all brought to us in the form of photo postcards
by the lovely chelsea over at frolic
while she travels through sweden
(..chelsea is also one half of urbanweeds..one of my daily haunts..)
how lucky are we??



and she's promised a tour through a swedish house..
oooh i'll definitely be there for that one!
won't you join me?

wishing you a happy wednesday!
xo

*all images via frolic
(tack så mycket, chelsea!)

*ps. a big huge blitz of new work is coming to my bead/jewelry shop over the coming weeks..
sneak peeks to follow..
(heheh..i love building anticipation..)