Learn, learn, learn and teach

This is the last post of the month for the Self Portrait Challenge of resolutions. I am kind of glad to be starting on a new theme, but think that this last post is pretty poignant and important. For my birthday I was given a sewing machine by thoughtful and observant friends who had heard me say over and over again how much I wanted to learn to sew. (One of the great surprises that sparked my post last week.) I patiently waited a week, not opening the box, for a date with my good friends Tyn and Kari so that they could teach me how to turn the machine on! They generously volunteered to teach me, and the fabulous Denise, how to go about threading our needles and make our first projects! I have never sewed before, and it seemed like a very complicated affair. One look at these ladies own sites, and you KNOW that you can learn from them!! OMG!! What a rush! I love the possibilities of sewing!!!! The photo above is of my first stitch! It was hard for me to keep my eyes on the fabric and not get caught up in all the fun we had in our mini class!

I got to make a pillow at the class. A 9-panel patchwork which I thought was really a great way to wrap my brain around the process of sewing and assembling. I feel really excited to learn more, and will be making a valiant effort to incorporate the sewing into my art! I can't wait. Practice, practice, practice!! Learn learn learn!!

My final resolution is to do the things I have always wanted to do. To not be held back by fear, and doubt in myself. You never know. . . . Learning a new trade or material could actually be FUN! I also vow to try my hand at teaching. The thought makes me very nervous, but I have to branch out and get over it! I want to share and there is nothing more fun than seeing the look on someones face as they get it! Kind of like in the photo above. I will teach. I promise.

(Thank you Tyn for recording the moment!)

IF: Red

This is an oldie, but a goody! This is To Vera, one of my favorite pieces. She hangs in my home, and is very special to me. I think that the piece is romantic, and soft, mysterious and, well, RED. By far one of my most bold works. I dont really use color like this often. I think that I may try to be more bold this year! Add that to my resolution list that seems to be growing longer everyday! I figure I have until Jan 31st to get them all together! LOL

January 25th!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH-nananana!!!!!!!!!!

SPC-resolutions 3

I just finished uploading all of the pics from this weekends birthday festivities. What an amazing time I had at the party! OMG! It was a fabulous evening, not too cold, and an extremely lovely group of people! I couldn't have asked for anything more!

I did realize how nice it is to be surprised! Normally I get into a mode where I have to know everything, or someones asks me a question that clues me into a surprise. I was so proud of how well secrets were kept from me! My girls, and hubby, really did a great job!

So I am adding a goal to me resolution list. I want to be less in control of every detail, and more open to the unexpected. You heard it here first! I know some of you who are picking your jaws up off the floor right now! You really did get me, and I really loved it! Thank you just isn't enough!

If you so desire, you can see all 1,000,001 photos from the party here.

IF: Super Heroes

I think that our most important modern day super heroes, are our teachers. I was lucky to have a few in Jr. High who were amazingly dedicated to us students and inspried us to learn. They worked so hard and sacrificed extra hours to help make sure we understood the material. Teachers dont get 1/10th of 1% of the acknolwedgment that they should. So if you child, or you yourself, have an inspiring teacher, let them know how much you appreciate what they do!

30 for me, 30 for you

I am having a special birthday blowout sale. I am trying to save up for a new computer as my laptop screen has literally exploded (of course!), and would like to take this opportunity to do us both a favor! On Sunday, January 21st, my 30th birthday, you take 30% off everything in my Etsy shop, INCLUDING the sale section! I have pretty much everything in stock online, so this is a great opportunity to score a larger piece you may have been hesitant to check out in the past. The sale is one day only, midnight to midnight. Purchase what you like, and I will send a revised invoice.

(This sale applies only to the Artwork and items in my Etsy shop. Gift Certificates and Commissioned work are not included.)

January Photo Competition

Fun, Fun, Fun! I think that we can all agree that this is not your typical January! I live in the San Fernando Valley, in a spot where in July on the 22nd the temp. was 122 degrees, way above normal. Compare that to almost 6 months later exactly, and we are in the middle of some crazy deep freeze. All of my plants have turned brown from the cold, pipes are bursting all over town. The So. Cal. girls have their Uggs pulled up to their navels! Through all of the weirdness, we are being treated to some unusual sites such as ice and frost. Occurances that just dont happen in Los Angeles often!

To have some fun in these odd times, a fab new blog called The Year of Living Gorgeously has launched a monthly photo contest! The theme for Jaunary, are you ready for this . . . . .is "January"! What does the month mean to you? How does it look out of your front door? I am going to take advantage of this weekends birthday festivities to take some primo drunken photos. That's January in my world. How does it look to you? You have until January 30th to submit your images.

Just a side note, The Year of Living Gorgeously is brought to you by Paola Thomas, the wit and wisdom behind MirrorMirror (pee your pants funny!). Even if you aren't a photo bug, you should click on over and take a look at the new blog. It is fabulous!

Showcase Showdown!

Have you by any chance seen the new Showcases over at Etsy?? A few weeks ago this fantastic way to shop was launched and all spots sold out almost instantly! Each day 25 sellers are featured. It is the most fun way to advertise you shop, and a great way to find and peruse sellers you might have missed otherwise!


For Valentines Day, 2 additional showcses have been put together to help you find the perfect gifty for that someone special. Click to the right or the left on the above image(on the Etsy homepage) to either find gifts for boys or girls! They will be up through Feb 14th, and very worthy of a glance! I have a spot today, and several coming up in the next few weeks. I have fun playing with the functions of the showcase. You have to see for yourself!

New Year, New Reflections, Part II

It's funny. Turning 30 is not something I ever thought would effect me in any kind of way. To me, age is just a number. A way of denoting who can drink, who can drive and who can vote. But really, no one is a standard 23, 47 or 62. My dad just turned 70, which is scary to me, but you would never guess his age. He is not shuffling around the grocery store (unless he is trying to embarrass me anyway). I try not to discount the benefits of wisdom that come with age and experience, but the thought that I can say I have known someone for 25 years really makes me a little queasy. Have I really been alive that long!?

I think that for part of this years new years resolutions, I will be a little easier on myself than last. You see, I made myself a promise last year that by 30 I would have so many things under control i.e.: nail biting, weight loss, organization, etc. I focused on very me things. Things that on the surface make my life a bit messier, and things I felt that weighed me down psychologically (no pun intended). As it turned out, last year was amazing in other ways, career wise, and relationship wise, and strength wise. I still need to let my poor nails grow, and to cut back on the chocolate, but that will come in time. This year I resolve to let myself be human, to laugh a lot, to dance even more, and to enter the next decade clear, driven, and focused on the
positive. . . . Now I hold all of you to hold me to it! LOL

To see more resolutions, check out the Self Portrait Challenge.

Womb Poerty

The first ever issue of an awesome new online zine has gone live today! Womb Poerty is intended to showcase the diverse and intriguing work of contemporary women poets. Volume 1 is titled Hives & Covens. In addition to the written poetry, there will also be a few visual artists and poets featured in the "sparkle" section. I am very proud that 5 of my collages are included in this first edition! Go take a look and click around!!

Latest Commissions

I took a little time last week to finally upload some photos and created a new Commission set on Flickr. It was a busy holiday!!

Doubling up! SPC & IF

IF: 80's

1/12/07: I am doubling up on the use of this image! Unexpected, I know, BUT, this is actually the only photo I have ever done a portrait of from the 80's, which happens to be the IF theme this week!! I am not quite sure what year, but I was maybe 8 or 9? Maybe 7? I have no idea, but it is my favorite photo of my father and me. Keep reading for the full story.

SPC: Resolutions

1/9/07: This is my first Self Portrait Challenge post for 2007. This is a big, huge year for me. I am ebbing into my 30's and am a little shocked and awed at where I am compared to where I thought I would be when I actually hit this age. I have promised myself that this year will be clear. I will be focused and work hard to push myself out of my comfort zone. I will make sure that everyday I remember how lucky I am to be healthy, and how lucky I am to have have a healthy family. I will have authentic relationships with my friends. I will recognize what I can and can't do. I will allow myself to be human.

(This photo is my favorite picture of my father and me from my childhood. He recently turned 70 and I created this for his birthday gift. It is the first time I have done an actual self portrait. I presented him with the gift earlier this week and he was surprised and really liked it. Happy Birthday Stinky!)

Illustration Friday: Buzz

A little late, but better than never! This weeks IF theme is buzz. I have chosen Gail for this post because I love this photo! She is hanging out on a chaise in her backyard, all proper in an argyle sweater. What you cant see is that her socks match the sweater and she is fully relaxed with her feet up. This image makes me think of a good friend who I used to visit in LA before I moved back here from NYC. We would sit in the backyard and hold on tightly to our warm coffees and tea around the Chiminea. We would talk non-stop for hours and munch on cinnamon raisin toast. We would end up with major caffeine and sugar highs and then crash on the sofa! We had so much fun hanging out in that yard! Then I moved back here, and she moved to NYC. We switched, which was a buzz kill! Ha!

Purging

I have spent the last few days adding pieces to Etsy that I have never had up for sale before. Most of these pieces are ones I have been attached to and wasn't ready to list, but I am ready! In February we are planning on starting a little home construction and the walls wont be so available for storage! Most have never been offered, so click over and check 'em out!

Tagged! Ugh!

In mid-December I was "tagged" by my dear friend the ShandyKing in a regrettably revealing game of blog tag. I am supposed to list 5 things you never knew you (probably never) wanted to know about me. Honestly every inch of my being tells me to keep my mouth shut and let you all go on thinking I am a normal well-adjusted young lady, when in reality I am just a foul mouthed rebel girl who yells in traffic and goes hermit 6 days a week. Thanks Shandy!

So many images run through my head . . . What shall I share?

1). I sucked my thumb until I was 11 years old. No joke. It was a hard habit to break and every now and then I think about it and have a small urge to try it out again, just to see what was so alluring. I haven't yet succumb to that urge, and if I do, I wont be announcing it here!

2). I was born in London, England and at 3 my family moved to Monte Carlo. We moved to the States when I was 6ish and have lived in CA ever since. I lived in NYC for 5 1/2 years, San Francisco for 2, and now have been back in LA for 2.

3). I had to repeat the first grade twice! When we moved to the US my parents enrolled me at the Lycée Français for grade one. After my first year I was only learning French so my mom yanked me out and made me re-take 1st grade at a local public school. I did have a French tutor for years, and took French in high school, and in the first years of college. I can still can't make a phone call in Paris. I know this for a fact, I tried. It was sad and embarrassing.

4). I hate crackers and melon. Saltines make me wretch. Cantaloupe makes me gag. This will never change, stop asking me to take a bite! (you know who you are!)

5). I love Doris Day movies especially Please Don't Eat The Daisies, Pillow Talk, and The Man Who Knew Too Much. I am a Doris fan and always sing along. I also adore Thelma Ritter, and if you don't know who she is, watch Rear Window. Please!

So Shandy, is this good enough for ya? Better late than never!

I am now supposed to Tag 5 people to reveal 5 things about themselves . . . so Hannah, Kim, Tyn, Jessica, and Alicia, you are IT!

Happy New Year!

It has been so nice to take a mini-vacation at home with the last week off to relax and be mellow! I am seeing movies, having lunches, catching up with friends, and finishing a plethora of knitting projects that were supposed to be gifts, but . . . . It is lovely!

I wanted to share this lovely email card I got from the very talented Leigh Wells. Her work is one of my biggest inspirations, not to mention that she is one of the nicest women on the planet! Her style and sense of humor rock! Thank you Leigh!

I also want to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has been so super supportive and read this blog these last 9 months! This online comunity we crafters and artists have established is just the best! I am inspired by your comments and photos. I really feel like participating has helped me to keep pushing myself, my work, and my awareness. The emails and contacts I receive have been amazing. My dream to be a working artist, is coming true due in large part to this
community. Thank you for all that you do!

So, have a very safe and Happy New Year!!! I promise to be back next week!! For now, back to my cup of tea and knitting!

We wish you a very Merry!

A quick post to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! We are having a lovely dinner tonight that I have been slowly cooking today in between cleaning the house. This is my first big hoiday meal, and although tonight will just be me and Tom I am a little nervous that it will all be timed correctly. i am the kind of cook who likes to make things up, so I hope that my guesstimates on oven time pan out!


Of course the cats want to lie in the last place you want them too! Best wishes to all!! Be back next week!

Time flies!

I can't believe that it is already December 19th! WOW! This month has flown by! I have been busy getting through all of my holiday commission orders. I have been given some AMAZING photos to work with! I am really proud of all of the new works and cant wait to hear about the recipients reactions! These two pieces above are a very old family friends mother and father. Such gorgeous pictures! So elegant and debonair! They were commissioned as a Hanukkah gift.

I hope that everyone is having tons of fun during this festive time of year. Enjoy your shopping, even though the stores are INSANE! In and out by 11am, that is my motto! What I can't do today, I will do tomorrow! The crowds are just too huge for me! Better yet, get over to Etsy, and buy indie! I am so excited to say that 75% of my gifts this year are from indie artists. It is so nice to be able to support people, just like me, who are trying to live off of their crafts! And while shipping time is getting very slim, you can still get that perfect something overnighted!

**Reminder: Tomorrow, the 20th, is the last day to take advantage of my Holiday Sale. I want to make sure that all items will have time to ship!**

(Images courtesy of the Glicksman Family)

Illustration Friday-Help!

I was pretty stumped by this weeks IF theme help. I started thinking about what will be going on in our home in the coming months and in February we will be starting to rip down walls and redesigning our kitchen. In my head I am sure I will be screaming HEEEEELLPPPP!!!!! While I know my husband and brother-in-law are very proficient in demolition (Heck, I can rip down a wall!) and in framing, etc, I do worry about the electrical and plumbing work! I am of the opinion that if the result of not knowing what you are doing can either burn down or flood the house, hire a professional!

So there you go! This is John2. He is an proficient in the electrical arts . . . and kind of hunky too! I wouldn't mind having him over to rewire some outlets! Ha!

Have a happy weekend!!

Holiday Discount!

I have worked closely with a couple of my closest blogging buddies to offer a discount code opportunity on all items in my Etsy shop for their readers! I think it is only right to extend these wonderful savings onto all of my loyal readers!! This is a great opportunity to snag some cool original art for yourself, or to give as a gift to your best bud!

All you have to do is to enter the code MCAP in the "message to seller" box when you make your purchase on Etsy. Then wait for me to send you a revised invoice! This offer is good through December 20th, so don't just sit there! Get shopping!!! There are only a few holiday shopping days left!

(**Please note that this discount code only applies to my Etsy shop, and not to the Holiday Shop**)

(Special thanks to Holly of decor8 and Jessica of Funky Finds for posting the holiday specials!)