IF: Grow

This weeks Illustration Friday theme is grow. There are so many new babies and little folks around me, that I cant help but immediately envision a child and its mother. The bond between parent and child has been something I have marveled at for a long time. From a tender touch, to knowing the subtleties of a gurgled sound, mothers have such a strong bond with their children. Fathers too. They both do all they can to ensure that their child grows to be as happy and healthy as possible. Those are my heroes!

Tooth Pillows!

I dont know if this is a British thing, or a European thing, or what, but when I was little, I had a tooth pillow. I would put the recently lost tooth in the tiny little pocket of the pillow, and in the morning, the "tooth fairy"(who am I to burst anyones bubble?) would have switched out the tooth for coins. I loved my little tooth pillow, and after deciding I was going to create some with my childrens artwork incorporated onto them, I asked my friends if they had had one, and they looked at me like I was insane.

Well, let me tell you, tooth pillows are awesome! I loved mine, always displaying it on my made bed! I have no idea what ever became of that pillow, but I am very proud of these ones! It was definitely a sewing victory in my studio to have designed them and made them a reality!

Now they are all on Etsy along with a couple of other regular pillows I made. Hope you like them! Now I am off to figure out what my next sewing project will be. . . .

SPC: Food

This months SPC theme is food. Fall has started to cool off the days and has slowly brought our tomato growing days to an end! We had a huge bounty this summer from our tiny tomato patch in the back, and I will miss it! There were 5 varieties, and each was delish! Till next year my juicy little friends!!

Pieces of Us on Etsy!

1. Stop Worrying, 2. Roots, 3. Momentum, 4. Solitude, 5. Anger and Fear, 6. Inner Workings, 7. Matter, 8. Loss, 9. Balance, 10. Ray of Light, 11. Pure Excitement, 12. Pins on the cards, all assembled!

Today I had a chance to upload all of the remaining artwork from my Pieces of Us show to Etsy. Each piece will ship with a pin set from the show. Click on over and check it all out!

My newest model!

Oh my goodness! Can you stand how cute this photo is! Jamey sent me this pic of Abby sporting her very first custom onesie and I am loving every inch of it! My brand new love! She is just too good to be true. Those folks of hers really delivered an angel!

NoHo was a blast!!

Last weekends NoHo Scene was awesome! There was a lot of great music and we were entertained all day long as we were positioned directly across from the stage! Also, there were a ton of great artists on hand, so there was a ton of eye candy! I dont generally spend much time in NoHo, but I really loved the area, and the art vibe going on there is just yummy!

This was an event that I dd solo, and so the thought of filing the tent on my own was daunting. I put my head down and plowed through everything, and all of the hard work certainly paid off. I am very proud of the pieces that made it to the show!

Because it was just me doing this show (without Hannah) I recruited my hubby to help me set up and hang out. He was taking candid pictures of me and the tent with his back turned and the camera under his arm. Sneaky little shit! He says that the pics would have been nice, if I didnt have poopy pants. Oh how I missed Hannah! But dont tell her . . . I dont want her to get a big head. LOL ;)

Thank you to everyone who came out and said hi! It really was an outstanding experience.

Bath Chick and her baby chick!! Welcome Abigail Jane Sussman! Our extended family's newest member! She is just divine, with her mommas trademark red hair!

(Movie via the proud papa)

NoHo Scene

Another week, another fair! This weekend is the NoHo Scene Arts Festival in North Hollywood, CA and I will have a booth in the Artists section along Lankershim Blvd @ Magnolia (booth #17). This fair is a city wide event with activities for everyone int he family!

NoHo’s theatres, arts groups and local businesses are opening their doors to Greater Los Angeles to experience this unique Arts District - An All Day . . . All NoHo celebration! Enjoy theatre, dance and music performances, art exhibits and film screenings, acting, art, music and dance workshops, and an array of discounts, samplings and promotions provided by local merchants. Relax at our wine and food garden enjoying great wine, cuisine and entertainment on our outdoor concert stage.

WHEN: Saturday, October 6, 2007: 11AM to 10PM
Artists section is open until 6. Hope to see you there!

Map & Directions

It is going to be a very busy week for me as I try to fill my inventory back in and prepare for Saturday. Blogging may be sparse!

Thank you!!

What an amazing day we had on Sunday! The Abbott Kinney Festival was just incredible!! There was music and dance and food galore!! I just cant thank everyone enough who came into our booth and showered us with kindness! This was one of the most amazing days Hannah and I have ever had in the booth! I was just so overwhelmed! Cant wait for next years AK fest!

Abbott Kinney Festival 2007

I am really excited for this weekends Abbott Kinney Street Festival this weekend in Venice! The AK festival is huge and well known throughout LA, and I have never even been, let alone set up a booth!!!!! I know it is going to be an amazing day with lots to see and do. My partner in crime (Hannah) and I have been anticipating this show for weeks!

I am going to be offering a lot of "show only" prices on larger pieces to help make way for a ton of new work I have been creating. I am thinking some things may be up to 50% off, so be sure to find us if you can make it that day!

OK-our booth number is AK331, and it will be near Palms and Venice on Abbott Kinney (duh right!) not far from the awesome Vanessa De Vargas's Turquoise LA Showroom!

(About the poster artists)

Robin & Todd

This was a fun project! My friend Robin asked if I would do a portrait of her wedding as a gift for her husband Todd on their anniversary, which is today! Just got word that he loved it! It was easy because their story is fantastic, and the photos . . . OMG, gorgeous doesn't describe! I was honored to be asked! Happy Anniversary guys!

New work to share!

I have been working really hard to get every available canvas covered and ready for all of the upcoming shows! I am going in waves and will be uploading a new batch to Etsy later today, but in the meantime, new pieces can be seen on my Flickr.

SPC: bathroom-only one for this month!

This months SPC theme is "bathroom" which I am not so sure about. My bathrooms are hideous and the opposite of relaxing, and I have no desire to share them. However, last night I got to hang out with my niece and give her a bath. My sister snapped this shot, and it didn't occur to me until this morning while I was downloading from my camera that, Ah Ha! I do in fact have a bathroom picture that I can share. So here is my baby burrito! Little Emma, who is getting bigger and bigger everyday! I just want to eat her up!

IF: Wedding

I love every aspect of this image of the bride, in her gorgeous dress, with a glowing smile! She is the quintessential image of a wedding!

Birthday Gift Tags!

I am realy excited to share that my Birthday gift tags are now available in my Etsy shop! The back ha a simple birthday wish, leaving plenty of room to write in your own message! I love the way they came out! This little boy just makes me smile!

Rudy and Helen

One of the commissions that I recently finished was of my client Nicole's grandfather. Shortly after his death she contacted me to ask if I could do a piece that would commemorate her love for him. The connection that Nicole had to her grandfather was palpable, and it was so much more than an honor to have been trusted with such a touching portrait. Thank you so much Nicole, for sending me pics of the piece in it's home!!!

September Artist at p!ay

I have really had mush for brains for the past week 2 weeks or so! I am so scattered all over the house and everything is a mess! I completely neglected to blog about my pieces being on display for the month of September at p!ay Hair Lounge in Simi Valley, CA.

Let me tell you a little bit about p!ay. Depending on how often you read this blog you may have heard me talk about the über-talented Miss Brig who was responsible for my blond-ness, and more recently my, my brunettey-ness. She is so good at what she does that I only have to say a sentence or 2, and I am all set. This is the easiest my hair has EVER been, and I have some annoying hair, so that says A LOT!

About a year ago Brig opened her own salon taking a fresh approach to the boring old salons. Each station has personalized Barbie that represents the stylist who calls that spot home. (This one's Brig!)

Everything about the place is personable and awesome. No wonder it is a wild success! All of the stylists in the joint are totally funky fresh, and at the tippy top of their game. Every time I am there the place is jumping. Because Brigs approach to her business is so new and fresh, she and the folks over at Bumble and Bumble are BFF's, so much so that they just flew Miss. Brig out to the B&B Headquarters in NYC to give a speech. She is just too much!

What was my point. . . . oh yeah, so, I am the featured "Artist Every Month" for September. Every month there will be something new and cool hanging in this area. It is lots of fun to check out the newest installation while your head is wrapped in foil! If your in the area, get over there and check out p!ay!

Opening Success!!

A quick THANK YOU to everyone who came out last night to check out the show! I am always so nervous at these events and I had a really great time! The feedback was super positive which made my leap out of my "portrait box" a lot easier! (duh, right!) Sometimes you just need to stand in a room with complete strangers and hear a nice comment to feel like all is well with the final outcome!

I want to make sure to say a HUGE thank you to Kelly, owner and genius behind Regeneration, for all of her kindness and support! I am really flattered and proud to have been asked to hang in your lovely shop!!!

The totally awesomely talented CJ Metzger came out to see the show and I am so honored that she decided to add this piece to her personal collection. The surprise bonus of the night is this picture, of CJ with antlers. When I put the camera card in the reader and this popped up, I laughed out loud. It is kismet!! I love it! Thank you CJ!

1. Pieces of Us flyer, 2. Roots, 3. Momentum, 4. Solitude, 5. Swing Love2, 6. Anger and Fear, 7. Georgette, 8. Sexology, 9. Mother and Child, 10. Man, 11. Inner Workings, 12. Stop Worrying, 13. Heart, 14. Love and Marriage, 15. Balance, 16. Ray of Light, 17. Growth, 18. Amelia2, 19. Love, 20. Pure Excitement

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Sneak peak

I just got home from hanging the show, and I AM SO EXCITED! The collection came together really well. I can't wait to share it!

If you are local, I hope to see you tomorrow night at Regeneration. If you are interested in a piece, they can be purchased remotely by contacting Kelly at Regeneration via email through the site, or at 323.344.0430.