Monkey Musings & Such

New blog, new look!

2011-04-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

Well...we finally took to plunge and started a whole new Etsy shop, look and blog.

Simon et Cie is my new love. It means Simon & Co in french. My new shop will include all of the neat vintage supplies you've come to love as well as my handmade illustrations, collages, jewelry and everything else in between! Basically, you'll find all kinds of little treasures to inspire your heart and imagination. Come visit us here:

http://www.simonetcie.etsy.com/

http://www.simonetcie.blogspot.com/

We'll start blogging again on our new blog soon.

Gone fishin'

2010-10-19T01:41:00.000-07:00

I am on a long hiatus that has been a long time coming and I love it. It does feel quite weird not having to wake up for my day job every morning. I have been off from work for 2 weeks and still can't shake that feeling that I am supposed to "be somewhere." I bet that by the time I get used to it it will be time to get back to work. Ha!

Cuteness to the nth degree

2010-09-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

This video is just so cute it makes me happy.

Alice in Wonderland

2010-09-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Antique Caldecott Picture by Treasureisle

I was perusing some of my favorite stores on Etsy recently and came upon this quirky little pitcher from AlicesLookingGlass. Never mind that the store is super aptly named! Doesn't this little pitcher remind you of one The Mad Hatter might pour some cream in your tea from? I fell in love with it.

Pitcher from AlicesLookingGlass

So I decided that I am going to have a virtual vintage tea party of my own. Let's see...what else do we need...how about a nice little teapot?

Tarnished antique silver teapot available at Katybitsandpieces

And we need cups of course! These will do nicely...

Ruby tea cups available at suesuegonzalas

But I bet I have more than just the Queen of Hearts and 2 minions over for tea, so I probably need a few more cups. How about these...

Teacups available at Kristinenoeldecor

And it just wouldn't be a great party without everyone getting their own crown!

Santos crowns available at sadieolive

Now, I can't forget the coffee...yeah yeah, I know...it's a TEA party, but with a name like Coffeemonkey how could I not serve coffee? There's enough room on the table for both...

Great antique Reed & Barton coffee pot available at 1900sBride

My best friend The White Rabbit will definitely be joining us...

Vintage white rabbit soft sculpture available at ReuseRecyleRedux

I am going to have to get going on invitations here pretty soon...Any ideas?

Black & White

2010-09-22T18:58:00.000-07:00

Available in my Etsy shop

One of my lovely vintage rabbit targets was recently featured in this lovely black & white inspired treasury. What a great collection, don't you think?

Curated by magalerie

Check it out in its full beauty here.

Esta Soledad

2010-09-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

I am probably the last to know about this wonderful artist. If I am not, then you must hear this. Carla sings in Spanish and her lyrics are really beautiful. If you don't speak Spanish, the melody is enough to keep you entranced, so listen away anyway!

For the office supply enthusiast

2010-09-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

Vintage red fountain pen available in my etsy shop

There's not much more satisfying to me than a fantastically old fountain pen gliding over some A4 sized paper with some other European characteristics such as those really neat grid patterns. Or maybe just some beautifully aged vintage paper will do too.

Vintage Globe notebook available at SaturdayAMvintage

Ok, I am an office supplies geek. I'm not sure where that came from, really. I am just enamored with anything related to writing, typography, fountain pens, old typewriters, fonts, paper and everything else in between. I must have picked up the nerdiness from all those books I read.

Lovely bright orange Hermes typewriter available at SarahAnntiques

I search Etsy high and low for office supplies because I like them so much. One day, I stumbled upon this shop that wrapped a lot of the things I love in one package. I fell in love.

Custom A5 Organizer available at Bubbo

Natasha, the shop owner, is one of the nicest individuals you'll ever come across. She made me a custom organizer complete with all my specified geek necessities.

5 Bulldog clips available at Bubbo

Not only that, but she also included one of her neat little "fake NYC" prints. Aren't these awesome?

Fake NYC print available at Bubbo

Please do check out her shop for other beautiful prints and customizable and/or printable organizers and notebooks of your own.

Bubbo note book

And check out all other Etsy shops in this post too. Great stuff!

Jar of Hearts

2010-09-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

43 mini red heart buttons available at TheBestCraftSupplies

Since I am on a "mood" kick, I thought I'd share this song. You've probably already heard of Christina Perri as she's been climbing the charts since she was discovered on youtube a little while back. But just in case you haven't:

Mood

2010-09-12T10:10:00.000-07:00

Vintage darning egg available at thecathedral

I was recently featured in a fantastically moody treasury. It's amazing how a few pictures can create a certain mood. Doesn't this one say "Hitchcock" for sure?

A Hitchcock Storyboard curated by thecathedral

It was curated by a fellow Etsian, thecathedral whose shop I am super excited to have been introduced to. You should see the photographs!

Vintage globe available at thecathedral

I love myself some complicated photos sometimes, but simple is always what I am most attracted to. The simplicity in thecathedral's shop photos make me happy.

Vintage brass hunting horn available at thecathedral

And especially because they also evoke a great sense of moodiness (which I really like). Perfect photos for a great shop with a great name. Check it out here.

Tin church incense burners by thecathedral

And of course, the shop wouldn't be complete with great items. Which is the point, right? I mean check out this awesomely artsy book for instance.

The Frenchman book available at thecathedral

And for that matter all the other items in the photos in this post. Fantastic items, aren't they?

Vintage monarchy jubilee and coronation mugs available at thecathedral

I heart you

2010-09-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Curious by Artmind

One of my favorite things, whenever I am financially able, is to support other artists by purchasing their art. I love all artists, but I have a little weakness for artists from Belgium as I was born there. Artmind is one of my favorite Belgian artists on Etsy.

Empty by Artmind

Her work conjures up such emotion! And I love that she manages to do so with such a limited palette of color. Her simple, lovely babushkas are embellished with nothing but her raw talent, imagination and strategically placed ceramic textures, carvings, or tiny props here and there (such as a little red rubber band, a syringe or barbed wire).

Tense by Artmind

However simple her sculptures are, Artmind succeeds in making you "feel" her work by just looking at it.

Hungry by Artmind

Ok, I have to show you one more for the road. I just can't help myself. It's so hard to pick just a few of these to post!

Sick by Artmind

And don't forget to check out her cute little greeting cards here. Just looking at the lovely simplicity of them makes me happy!

I heart you greeting card by Artmind

Hallelujah...

2010-09-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah by itselemental

If you've never heard this beautiful song sung by Jeff Buckley you must do so now. Hallelujah was originally recorded by Leonard Cohen in the 1980's. I believe. Jeff Buckley's version is just so much more emotive (don't worry Leonard Cohen fans - he's still pretty cool in my book). But Buckley's version is just so hauntingly lovely! It was a sad day when Jeff Buckley lost his life. The world lost a great talent.

Cover art for Jeff Buckley's Grace album

If you like "Hallelujah", check out "Grace" and "Lover, You Should Have Come Over". Please do sit through the commercial and the long intro. Once his angelic voice starts singing you won't be sorry that you did.

The TAFA list

2010-09-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

Autumn Afternoon by Ann Brauer

I am very excited to be a member of the TAFA list (the Textile And Fiber Art list). Rayela is one of the founding members of TAFA and I could not be more thrilled that she asked me to join!

Wall art by Chandra Stubbs

TAFA is a fantastic community of fiber artists, businesses and galleries. Some very talented people are included in the lineup.

Beautiful Bones by Arlee Barr

You can check everyone's work out here. Featured in this blog post are some of my favorites in fall colors. After all...it is fall now, isn't it?

Earth is the Sum of Its Parts with Strings Attached by Bonnie Samuel

Moss & Moss

2010-09-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

Moss & Moss

In the great town of Mill Valley, California, on a quiet corner, sits the loveliest little shop called Moss & Moss. It's a shop that will transport you out of the place into a different time. A time when things were much simpler and life was unencumbered by the technology that tethers us to the rat race of life today. Stepping into this lovely little shop will take you away from all of that into a world where you are only limited by your imagination.

Come on in!

It's like stepping into your grandmother's attic where you will find unique antiques to jumpstart your collection if you don't already have one. Or like stepping into the fine goods store where you'll find lovely little gifts to highlight your "Happy Birthday"s. It's even like stepping into the old general store where you will find great gardening items to make your tomatoes happy. Or like stepping into your local artist's shop where you can find handmade goods and art. And best of all, it's all wrapped up for you in one little shop with the nicest, kindest and most fun proprietors! (Don't believe the fun part? Just ask Larry about his piano while you're there. He'll even play it for you!)

Julian at Moss & Moss

Marjorie and Larry are the owners of this lovely shop and are great patrons of the arts. They kindly adopted some of my little worry dolls to display and sell in their shop. And so I said goodbye to my little loved ones (Quinn, Peetey Daniels and Finnegan Quigley) and sent them off to sojourn with Marjorie and Larry at Moss & Moss at 1 El Paseo Lane in Mill Valley, California 94941. So come on by when you're in town...

And tell them I sent ya! ; )

Cairo Blues

2010-08-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of La Blogotheque. I always seem to find some great artists on there that I immediately have to download from itunes. Check this one out. It's Leif Vollebekk's Cairo Blues. I do love that bluesy sound.

Very talented friend

2010-08-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

Bottles and Bottles by Anne Regan

Anne Regan is a super talented friend of mine. I am so excited to introduce her to you. Her art can be found in galeries all over the San Francisco Bay Area as well as on her website here.

Since we live near wine country, it's no coincidence that we are both inspired by bottles. First the bottle is full, then I get inspired and next thing you know, the bottle is empty... ; )

This is one of her paintings that is now hanging on my wall. I walk by it every day on the way to the kitchen and just love the colors and texture of it.

Anne also does a lot of beautiful animal paintings on marble that are so unbelievably realistic. I can only imagine the amount of talent and the numerous hours necessary to paint one of these.

Lovely treasury

2010-07-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

My good friend from childhood has a lovely store on Etsy in which she sells her gorgeous jewelry. It was recently featured on Etsy's front page. Congrats, Auka!

Sweets

2010-06-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a meringue is just a meringue. And sometimes...well, sometimes...it's a work of art. Not much else to say than that except...mmm...yummy!

Julian

2010-06-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

This is Julian. Julian has a penchant for old writing instruments. From fountain pens to typewriters, Julian is always engrossed in restoring something or other. (He has used one of his favorite writing instruments to author a special little message dedicated to you. He has hidden it in his little vial and can't wait to share it with you)

As peculiar as Julian's little hobby is, he never lets it get in the way of his real job. And this is quite fortunate because he has a really big job to do. You see, he's a worry doll. He has trained for this job his whole life. His personal motto is "be prepared" and he proudly embodies it every day.

He even wears it stamped on his "wings". It allows him to be there for you day or night. Just project your worries onto him and he'll do the worrying for you so you can get some sleep.

(don't worry, his little heart can take it)

Julian is 9 inches tall. His body is handknit and his legs handsewn with vintage thread out of vintage corduroy. He was then stuffed with polyfill. His hands, feet, head and heart are made of clay painted with acrylics. He was then embellished with a vintage Boy Scouts pin, an antique watchmaker parts vial, vintage metal buttons. Inside his vial is his little note written on a vintage cursive font typewriter.

Julian currently lives in a little cubby hole in my studio but he's ready to find his real home. He can be found here at the moment.

OOh la...

2010-06-04T22:16:00.001-07:00

More fantastic music recorded by La Blogoteque...

Sebastian

2010-05-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

Meet Sebastian. He's a worry doll. He enjoys learning about history especially anything related to Magellan's voyage. Sebastian is an adventurer. He dreams of far away places one can only reach by sea. His active imagination allows him to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground though. And this is quite fortunate because he has a really big job to do. You see, he's a worry doll. He has trained for this job his whole life. Even earning him a #1 badge which he wears proudly on his lapel.

Along with his mariner badge sewn tightly to the back of his jacket and his unwavering will to help anyone in need he enthusiastically sets out to help you get some sleep. Just project your worries onto him and he'll do the job for you so you can move on to better things.

Sebastian is 10 inches tall. His body is handknit and his legs handsewn with vintage thread out of vintage corduroy. He was then stuffed with polyfill. His hands, feet, head and heart are made of clay painted with acrylics. He was then embellished with a vintage Boy Scouts pin, a vintage armed forces badge and tiny vintage shell buttons thread.

Sebastian is currently available in my etsy shop

The archives

2010-05-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

Been digging through my personal archives from when I first started painting and found this cute little chair painting I did after a long love affair with a green chair I'd found in a second hand shop. I was just so smitten...

Helicopter maple

2010-05-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

Between the Library of Congress and the US Supreme Court in Washington DC sits this beautiful tree. I was immediately drawn to its colors and then an old memory popped in my head. Helicopters! As a kid my siblings and I picking up the dried seeds off the ground and desperately threw them up in the air in abundant handfuls to try and get them to spin in flight. All the while we wouldn't stop shouting: Helicopters! Helicopters! ....Ahh...the simple things in life.

This is a photo I took while in DC. Contrary to "popular" belief..this is not a helicopter tree ;) It's actually a species of maple. And for those trivia lovers amongst you: Did you know that Washington was known as the "City of Trees" in the late 19th century? People flock to DC annually to see the cherry blossoms, but on your next visit to DC take a good look around for poplar, sycamore, ash, elm, maple and many more! What is your favorite tree?

Little hearts

2010-05-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

Nope, they're not cookies and it's not Valentine's day. My worry dolls need their little hearts as finishing touches so I took some time to create a few for some upcoming dolls that will be listed in my etsy shop really soon. This is Milo who got his own heart a while back and now lives with and worries for my family on the East Coast.

I was struck by how lovely a few of these little hearts look in a bunch when I was making them so I decided to take a picture. Or two ; )

I ♥ DC

2010-04-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Washington DC. What a great city! From the little attached brick homes to the expanses of lovelyl parks, it's such a beautiful and inspiring city! We stayed in the Adams Morgan district which is quite an amalgamation of different people and cultures. This was evident in the different culinary experiences we shared: american diner fare, lebanese, italian gelato (couldn't resist), sushi, falafel in a super cool joint modeled after a falafel house in Amsterdam - yes. Amsterdam. Really!

Washington DC on recycled wood by cherielester

And all of in just one week-end. Yes, we're crazy, considering we live on the west coast. One long red eye dotted with short bursts of sleep left us craving some rest as soon as we arrived, but that really wasn't what we were in DC for now, were we?

So after dropping off our baggage, donning some comfortable tennis shoes and grabbing some much needed coffee, we headed off to use the nearest metro station a few blocks away and started our whirlwind visit. The Capitol building, the Library of Congress (me surrounded by books = me in heaven), Union Station, then walking along the national mall to the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial then headed back to the Adams Morgan via a nice little stroll through the George Washington University campus and back down to the metro. Our feet hurt.

Washington Monument Through The Trees by raceytay

We woke up on day 2 as early as our west coast circadian rhythms would allow, but could our feet really handle another day of this? Well...yes...I mean, there was way too much to see and so little time. Our shoes were back on for visits to the Sculpture Garden and the National Art Gallery which I really couldn't tear myself away from but when they kick you out because they're closing I guess you don't have much a choice. Then, to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (we still had 2 1/2 hours before they closed so of course we were going to "fit" it in!). After a nice dinner, we topped off the day with a nice cup of coffee and chocolate cake at Tryst. Our feet really hurt.

The National Archives photo by charmingmittens

We were also going to make the most of day 3 considering it would be our last day there. Our feet couldn't handle much more walking but the zoo was only about 1 1/2 miles away so why not walk it? Lions, tigers, bears (the sloth kind - they're so cute!), monkeys, pandas, meerkats (cute, cute, cute!) But ugh...our feet really really hurt. Oh, but it was all so worth it!

Elephant Love by artzyfartzyd

*note to self* please train your feet before your next whirlwind, week-end escape, please!

Polaroid 31 by friction

Boy scout fashion

2010-04-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet visited seesaw's blog, you should check it out here. It is a constant source of inspiration to me. Some of the latest J Crew fashion was posted and I was intrigued in particular by this model's hat:

Don't you just love the boy scout look with the flower embellishments on the cap? I think it's so cute. I have the perfect little boy scout cap up for sale in my etsy shop to make your own with too!

Ingenious design

2010-04-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

via dezeen design magazine

This is ingenious design by Oscar Diaz. Not everyone agrees with me (see comments on dezeen), but who needs a spaceship made of toast anyways? I can always use a calendar even if it doesn't "work" and is to be used as a beautiful piece of art.

Forget where it comes from

2010-03-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Imagine by timssally

where in the world does inspiration go? I've known for days now. No. Weeks. My mojo is gone. I've been fighting the thought. With tooth and nail. I mean how could I possibly have lost it? Once one is inspired are they not inspired for life? Well...no, I take that back. I know that's not true. But me? Really? I've always been so creative...maybe not always acted on my creativity, but you know at least having creative thoughts. And if not thoughts at least...um... intentions. Is that even a word? See? I can't even craft a sentence! How can I craft anything else!

Fear not...I have finally figured out why my inspiration is gone:

My studio is a mess.

I Can Make A Mess by WhisperingActually

There...I said it...And THAT my friends is why there won't be any pictures in this post (at least not of my own mess). Yes, it's so messy that I am embarassed...and therefore won't be showing you what I mean. But trust me. TRUST me.

Now the good news is that they say the first sign of recovery is admitting you have a problem. So there you go...now if I could just get up the courage to tackle the mess... I mean I am sure my inspiration just sort of rolled underneath my cabinet here...

HELP! If you have any organizing ideas that you've used for your own studio, I'd love it if you would share...pictures would be awesome too so if you wouldn't minding leaving a link to your blog on my comments, that would be great!

**Off to get some heavy duty extra strength ideas of my own...**

Mr. Clean by dmkirwin

mmm....

2010-03-28T11:14:00.000-07:00

Now, I am not a self-professed connoisseur of coffee making. I just love coffee. Viewed through a barista's eyes, there's probably 15 different ways that I messed up the making of this cup of coffee. I mean where's the swirl for crying out loud! (among other things). But, it did taste darn good. What a great start to any morning...mmm...coffee...

Paper love

2010-03-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

I am not sure what comes over me sometimes when I photograph paper. I just can't help myself...I always end up arranging it in a stack and photographing it. What can I say, I love paper. Good paper makes me happy. And so does photographing it. It doesn't really have to be the best quality paper or the most expensive. Just a nice piece of interesting paper, really...New, antique, colorful, plain white, vintage, yellowed, printed, handmade...it really doesn't matter! Ah...the simple pleasures...

Here are some of my pictures for paper items I currently have available in my etsy shop Two Angels In Paris:

J' ♥ Paris et J' ♥ Phoenix aussi!

2010-03-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen these take away concerts at La Blogotheque you're missing out! This happens to be one of my very favorites. I really like the band and it was shot in one of the best places in the world!

Because spring is for cleaning...

2010-03-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

And I wasn't feeling particularly inspired to create today, and frankly, because I need some space! So, I decided to get a sale going in my art supplies and vintage goodies store. So check it out and help yourself to some cool stuff!

There are over 50 items for sale in my shop! Here are but a few:

Books. I just love books!

and that book would be great to read with something I'd brew in here

And I might be inspired to write my own novel with this

Or if the brew is too strong (or frankly, too good), I might be inspired to fly like this little guy

Because she rocks...literally

2009-11-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

Since I'm on the "writing about talented friends" kick, I really couldn't end it without showing you this wonderful video by my awesome friend, Reagan Richards. I always did feel a little self-conscious singing our very own rendition of George Michael's "Heal the Pain" in our college days with her (listen to the video below and you'll know why I say that). Her voice is amazing!!! (Can't wait to see you in SF soon, girl!)

We never used to dress up much for our impromptu concerts in the dorm, but ah...there was that one Halloween we decided to go trick or treating...I'll stop there...don't want to scare the little ones...Our costumes were really cool, but (no offense Reagan) that box I was wearing couldn't hold a candle to the costuming in this video!!! I love the characters that emerge in this video from careful consideration in costume and make-up design! The shiznit really...(is that even a word anymore?)

Ok, get to it...listen up right here!

I TOLD YOU SO!

Best friends

2009-10-03T17:36:00.000-07:00

Beach ring by Auka

It seems like in the last few weeks, I've been surrounded with reminder after reminder of the concept of being "best friends", so I've been quite preoccupied with thoughts about what a best friend actually means. I've mulled it over and over in my head and have realized that there's only one person in this world that I truly associate the world best friend with (besides my husband of course). The funny thing is that we haven't seen each other in years. We haven't even really talked, I mean REALLY talked in years. Much of it because we're on separate continents and also much of it because our lives have sort of diverged as the lives of people who you lose touch with during those formative late high school and college years often do.

Sunbather ring by Auka

We grew up together in Spain. And boy, was it a great childhood! On account of our parents being good friends, our two families seemed to be but one. We'd go out to dinner together, vacation at the beach in southern Spain together, go hiking in the mountains, have potluck-style tapas at the neighborhood pool together. The kids would climb up in the trees and build forts, build a snowman after the first snow (yes, it actually snowed in Madrid a few years!), spend hours and hours in the pool perfecting the art of "dolphin diving", listen to music together, play games, read lots of books together. Many summer evenings were spent playing Sorry! on the grate of the pool's mechanical room since the grate would remain warm throughout the evening from the sun's beating during the day. We would romp around in the grassy fields near our homes finding stuff to make things with. A branch here. A nut there. It seemed we were always making "things". In fact, Ana was always super talented. She could draw amazingly. People, faces, designer sketches. She was always doing something of the sort. When my own family would be away on vacation or visiting relatives we'd write to each other and I'd always look forward that beautifully illustrated letter that I would get from Ana. I have very fond memories of our time together when we lived in Spain. Then, my family made the move to America. Our lives were never the same. New continent, new country, new climate, new language, new culture, new school, new opportunities, new friends (although that took a while because of the language barrier and a lot of culture shock). The distance and time eventually just pulled my best friend and I in different directions. But somehow, we never really forgot each other. Our circumstances have changed, our high school and college years have been apart and our lives are completely different. Yet I still hang on to the thought that Ana is my best friend. That spark of friendship still exists. It may be faint, but it still exists. And will probably bind us forever.

Bzz...bees go to honey earrings by Auka

I mentioned Ana was always very creative and quite talented. It didn't surprise me then, that one day, I'd find her on Etsy. Her work is gorgeous and amazing. Her rings are so fun! And surprise, surprise! The pool and beach that were so much of a part of our childhood have made an appearance in her work. Check out Ana's beautiful store on Etsy: Auka. Go ahead! Carry a little piece of beach on your finger...

lil' people ring by Auka

Life's a beach!

Sad friends?

2009-04-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

People often ask me why my dolls look so sad. Although I am not a sad person in general, I have been known to give in to melancholy from time to time. It's just part of my personality. I get in a pensive mood that eventually leads me to answer the question "Why are we here?". No, not really. No matter how much thought I put into it, I can't really seem to find an answer for that one. But isn't everyone a little melancholic once in a while? No? Ok...It's just me then. But I digress.

My melancholy is the place my little doll friends come from sometimes. While, in some ways, my dolls are the expression of that melancholy, they're also quite the opposite. This is because my little worry doll friends are made for the express purpose of chasing the blues away and those blues are not necessarily always mine. All my dolls have a very important job to do that takes a lot of their concentration, but don't let their worried or sad looks fool you. They're all very good at their jobs. And they've had ample training. They love their jobs. They enjoy helping you get through a tough time when you're a little sad, worried or scared. They'll be there to support you until the rain clouds pass. They'll be there to catch your nightmares and direct them away from you so you can get some sleep. They'll be there when you're worried or when you're stressed. Or they'll be there when you just need some quiet from the negative self-talk in your head. They'll even be there to remind you of your worth when you forget. They'll be there absorbing all the bad that surrounds you. And most of all they'll be there to love you when you don't know how to love yourself. That's why they look so sad. It's a difficult job, but someone's gotta do it.

Go on. Say hello. Let one become your hero.

It's been waaaaay too long

2009-03-14T21:29:00.000-07:00

Macaw wing feather quill pen by SomethingWiccan

Ok, so I know the first thing on the docket is that I absolutely MUST apologize for not posting in several months. Well, it's been a little hectic in my life, but I won't even use that as an excuse. Truth is, my inspiration has failed me. My writing muse left me for a while. Well...to be honest...she moved out is what happened. She must have found a more attractive brain to make her dwelling in. One with less cobwebs and possibly even less crickets chirping...

And, the thing is, she's not really back yet, so this post will probably be short. But I was so inspired by this blog that I found while visiting my friend Andrea's blog that I had to tell everyone about and post a link on my own blog. I love the message that Melissa from Operation Nice brings to the world. Although the name Operation Nice definitely hints at what you can expect to find in this blog, it doesn't begin to touch on its greatness. Check it out to get the full extent of what it has to offer: Operation Nice.

Ok...Off to make a phone call to my writing muse to beg her to come back to me. *note to self: try begging (and being nice)*

Airplanes

2008-12-05T21:56:00.000-08:00

Red airplane knobs by knobs

My yearly frustration with airline ticket prices has set in for this year. Gas prices are down...way down from their high this past summer. So why is it that when I want to go visit my family on the East coast prices of airline tickets have skyrocketed higher than they were when gas prices were orbiting the moon? Couldn't possibly be that I want to visit my family during the busiest time of year. Say...Christmas perhaps. Whatever.

Flying High by teaforbini

I think airlines should take into consideration what we actually ask of them for what they make us pay. I mean, it's not like I am trying to get transportation to the moon. It's only half way...well, ok...ALL the way across the country that I want to go. But come on. That's a far cry from the moon. It's not like I expect to be fed on the plane, either. They can hold the peanuts. And it's not even like they have to transport any of my luggage or anything. I will take a carry on only thank-you-very-much.

Plane patch by stiksel

And it's not like the airline is expected to pay for my parking, nor my dog boarding...so the way I figure, the price breakdown for an airline ticket should be as follows:

$650 (price per ticket that they're trying to charge me)

-$400 (for not having to take me to the moon)

-$20 (for not consuming any food - not even peanuts)

-$100 (for two suitcases I am not taking - just a carry-on for me)

-$14.50 (two days worth of parking at the airport)

-$400 (10 days worth of dog boarding)

______

+$284.50 is what the airline owes me for picking them to fly on. Priceless.

I'll let you know how my argument works out for me at the airport ticket counter, but you probably shouldn't hold your breath.

I can dream can't I?

GO airplane by hemgoods

Hearts & Urchins

2008-11-25T17:36:00.000-08:00

I am doing a quick fly by today. Not really writing a lot. Getting so busy! I'm surprised my head isn't falling off. It's been jerked so many different ways in the last few weeks. Anyways, just wanted to share some of the beautiful pieces of art that I acquired from some of my fellow Etsians. I recently photographed a few of these pieces on an old trunk I bought at an antique store a few months ago that I am using as a coffee table. I think the rusty, dusty and antique look of the trunk really show off the lovely, smooth lines of the ceramics. And the contrast of the soft leather of the trunk and the "spiky-ness" of the urchin bowls is amazing. What can I say, sometimes I really have a flair for the dramatic. Here are some pics. By the way, you really really really need to check out my friends at Etsy that make these gorgeous pieces. The urchin bowl is from elementclaystudio.

The shopowner & artist, Heather Knight, is not only an amazing artist, but she is very professional and warm person. I had seen these urchin bowls the minute I first layed eyes on Etsy and I just knew I had to have them. They are just wonderful. Their spikes' "dangerous" look is so beautifully contrasted with the softness of the bowl itself! Don't take my word for it. Buy one (or two, or twenty) here. The balloon heart was from bridgemanstudios and I thought it was one of the most lovely ways to depict a broken heart. Jim, the shopowner and artist, was extremely nice when I asked him for a custom order. Unfortunately, by the time I went to make my purchase of the heart I wanted, it was gone. Jim went out of his way to help me with my request. And all the while, he was super nice even though he had just put in some major time at a large show he did that week-end. Do you want your very own broken heart? Well...ok, bad choice of words, but check out Jim's hearts here.

And voila! That's my post! Longer than I thought, but then I do tend to ramble...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Mea culpa, Mea culpa, Mea maxima culpa

2008-11-17T22:16:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I haven't blogged in a while. And I feel guilty about it. I really do. The thing is...it's not like I don't have anything to blog about. So many exciting things have been happening with all of my shops: natuure, coffeemonkey, twoangelsinparis !!! The problem is that there's one in particular that I just can't share. No! Really! I can't. To protect the innocent. Me? No, I'm not innocent...but I've been staying away from the blog so that I wouldn't tempt myself to say anything about it. And yeah...truly... I can't share. I wouldn't want to get myself into any trouble. Go ahead, convo me and tell me how bad you want to know. I maaaaaay tell you, but you might have to share a secret of your own. And I won't take just any old secret. It's got to be a juicy one. I don't trade secrets about any old thing. Come on, you gotta make it good. And I won't tell anyone. Well, maybe my blog, but no one else will have to know. Here's a secret that I CAN share. Introducing one of my very favorite soap companies on Etsy. Introducing...Annie's Powder Room by Anniepoo. Yeah, super cute name huh? Well, Annie wanted to feature some Etsy artists on her blog so I jumped at the chance when she posted a thread about it. She sent me these questions for me to answer so that I could be featured on her blog:

1. How did you start creating what you create?

2. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not creating?

3. Can you name three of you favorite etsy sellers?

4. What is your favorite food?

5. Please give us three strange, interesting or otherwise unknown facts about yourself!!!

I loved Anniepoo's store so much that I decided I would feature her on my blog. So I thought a bit about how to make this feature somewhat different from the others that I have done. And I thought about it, and thought about it, and thought about it some more (a little slow, I know) but finally Eureka! I thought: "Wouldn't it be nice if we could meet the artists through their very own questions to other artists? Wouldn't their own questions in and of themselves give you a little glimpse of themselves?" So I decided to experiment with Anniepoo and lo and behold, she was game. And she was really cool about it too! And here are her answers to her very own questions:

1. I started creating soap about 5 years ago. My husband quit his job and started his own business...I stayed at home with our little baby girl. I inherited my mother's inability to sit still and seeing as I don't really like to clean my house I needed to find something to do with my hands ; )

2. I homeschool my girls so that pretty much takes up any spare moments that I may have to myself....but when the girls go to bed me and the Mr. like to stay up late...listen to great music and watch TV occassionaly and umm...make soap ;)

3. There are so many great shops on etsy! EarCarma has the BEST carmels EVER!!! I love Alphotography, and greybrocket's shop is always fun to look through!

4. I love lettuce wraps! ummm...I could seriously live off of chips and hot sauce and think that Root Beer is quite possibly the greatest liquis ever invented!

5. 3 interesting facts...I am having to dig deep here because I am really not that interesting-

I had my babies at home ala naturale! I think that officially makes me superwoman :)

When I am alone I like to speak in a british accent...I can't believe I just admitted that!

and...um...from kindergarten until the 6th grade I never missed a day of school! boring I know but I warned ya!

And there you have it! And not only is she super cool, but she makes the best soaps around! Check out her shop here! You will love it!

And after you've checked out her cool shop, convo me and tell me one of your most prized secrets. Why should you? Because I may just share mine. I have a seeeeecret! Neener, neener, neener! **BTW...I've been talking it up so much, it's probably going to be very boring to you at this point, but I may STILL share it! See how dedicated I am to all this blogging stuff?**

Ok! Lather up!

All photos courtesy of and all soaps for sale at anniepoo

Laundry day

2008-11-08T07:54:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of and for sale at brownrose

I love laundry. Not doing laundry, silly. Just laundry. Like the fresh scent of newly washed clothes. Or the sight of newly laundered white towels stacked up high in the closet ready for use. Or the snapping of the sheets on the clothesline as the wind plays with them.

Photo courtesy of and print for sale at sarahkdesigns.

Ok, I don't hang-dry anything, but work with me here. I am trying to set the stage. There's a feeling of "newness" in all of these things. Everything is bright, shiny and clean and your senses are hightened to another level. All colors are brighter somehow. The sheets are whiter, the sky is bluer and the poppies are redder. The scents around you are more fresh. Everything smells clean and flowery. But in a very subtle way as if the breeze is conspiring with those smells to tease your senses.

Photo courtesy of and candles for sale at miltonandmargies

There's also a feeling of home in laundry days. Laundry days are filled with reminders of what it was like as a kid to be lulled to sleep by the hum of the washing machine, the tinking of a button on a pair of jeans in the dryer or the warmth of those towels when they came out of the dryer. There was something soothing about it in those days. And even today, even though I don't particularly love doing laundry, there's something about laundry...see for yourself in the very first treasury that I put together.

I was a real noob at putting it together (only took me a few hours to figure out that I had snagged one - had no idea how that worked) but I think that you'll appreciate the wonderful etsians that I included. Check out their great wares:

shanon1972, brownrose, foodfabricandpaper, MichelleBrusegaard, miltonandmargies, VinylDesignandDecor, sixhours, delight, sarahkdesigns, sisterowl, creativespring, bannerbabe

Oh! And remember. Enjoy laundry, but don't kill yourself doing it.

Photo courtesy of and for sale at sixhours

Meet Sam

2008-11-06T17:28:00.000-08:00

Sam's picture may be a bit worrisome. But have no fear. He's a worry doll. Judging by his expression you may think there's no way he can do the job. Trust me. His little heart can take it. He's been training for this his whooooole life. Just project your worries onto him and he will take it from there. He'll do the worrying for you. So you can go on and get some sleep. Go on. He'll protect you from yourself.

Sam is the first in my new series of art dolls that I am calling my worry dolls. The original worry dolls are made in Guatemala. They are tiny dolls made of clay and very colorful thread that children place under their pillow at night so that they can sleep better. Folklore has it that the dolls absorb the children's worries during the night.

I worry. A lot and all the time. To assuage my fears and worries, I create. One day I stumbled upon a wikipedia page that talked about these worry dolls and I was intrigued. Rather intrigued...by the possibilities. And thus Sam was born. How apt is it that I made my own worries go away as I created him? Serendipity. I know...

Sam is completely handmade. His head, hands, feet and heart were made with polymer clay and acrylic paint. His body was handknitted from colorful yarn I had in my stash. I used vintage buttons to decorate him and vintage thread to sew on his little red heart. He is stuffed with polyfill.

You can have your very own Sam and/or a bunch of his friends in my coffeemonkey store on etsy. Come on in and take a look. 'Til next time!

Balls, balls and more balls

2008-11-05T17:57:00.001-08:00

I mean the holiday decoration kind...Not sure what you were thinking, but well...let's not go there. I will just get myself into trouble. Anyways...the holidays are upon us. Yeah, I know, it's still too early. I hate it when stores put that stuff out early. But honestly, the shops around here were already putting holiday decorations out before Halloween. I am actually quite late! As much as I hate it, I succumbed to the tempting pull of the holiday vortex. Every year since I was old enough to start buying my own Christmas gifts rather than have mommy and daddy buy them for me (you know, when Christmas stopped being an exciting time of year because it meant I'd had to spend my own money) I have managed to completely ignore the holidays. I managed to scrooge my way out a lot of things.

Putting up decorations was out because I would have to be "out of town" for the holidays. Being out of town = no need to buy gifts. No gifts = no need for gift wrapping. No gift wrapping = no need to brave the store isles full of commercialized holiday junk. No store visits = no need to hear the same obnoxious fa la la la la la la la la...scrooge enough for you? I had it all worked out. Well...not this year...no siree...THIS year, this gal has found her way back to the cheeriness that is Christmas. The holiday season has begun and this gal is ready for it. Yup...this year everything is different...THIS year, I got bit by the holiday bug. Not sure where he came from, not sure where he's going. I am not even sure where he is right now. But I felt him stick me with a dose of holiday cheer right there, as I browsed around one of my favorite vintage stores.

As my eyes honed in on a brown box on the shelf that was in tatters, I felt him bite me. And he hungrily sucked the scrooge out of me like a mosquito in the middle of a humid Florida summer day as I peeled back the top of the tattered brown box to display a set of beautiful red vintage holiday ornaments. These things were so shiny that I could see myself in them. They were so red they might have been mistaken for Rudolph's nose. They were so old that they might have been older than me (unlikely but whatever). These things were so beautiful they rivaled an unblemished snow covered river bank at first light on a Christmas morning. Yeah, THAT beautiful. The bug was full and satisfied. He flew away to find his next scrooge victim. I was left empty to be filled with nothing but love and affection for that distant yet oddly familiar sense of "the holidays". I bought the ornaments and ran home to do what I always do when I am happy. I create.

You can find these lovely ornaments in my etsy shop natuure but for a very limited time. I will still be "out of town" for the holidays.

Chocolate mountains

2008-10-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

They exist! Yes, they do. I have finally found proof. And here. Today. I am sharing it with you. Yeah you. Here. Right now. If you haven't seen my listing on Etsy (shameless plug here, I know) for my Suchard Chocolate Mountains painting do that here first. Now....a little background. I was born in Belgium so I've had my share of awesome chocolate. You can taste it now can't you? hmmm...yeah, those fancy white chocolate pralines with the hazelnut creme inside and a little hazelnut to top it all off...hmmm... yeah, well, when I was a kid my favorite were actually the chocolate bars you could find in any grocery store. It wasn't the chocolate (although chocolate in any form was and still is pretty good don't get me wrong). But it was that soft lavender purple packaging that got me every time. It had a picture of a little pasture just below these huge mountains capped with snow. Cute little white and purple cows were standing around in the pasture.

Photo courtesy of and for sale at shutterstitch

But those mountains...those mountains were impressive. They were just so majestic. And their presence was so serene. I could see myself in the pastures just looking up at them. So that was what the packaging looked like, or did it? You know how sometimes your reality forms from several different memories all jumbled together in that wierd unconscious way? And you swear that things happened exactly as you think they did but someone else who was there saw it completely different? Or that a favorite something you remember as a kid looks exactly this or exactly that and then you run into one in some vintage shop somewhere and it actually looked somewhat different than you remember? I mean, I really can't be sure that the package was a soft purple, nor that there were cows in the pasture, but that's exactly what I imagine when I think of chocolate. And what about those majestic mountains? Were they just a figment of my imagination? I have always associated chocolate with those mountains and the name Suchard. It never really bothered me enough to do some research or anyhing. After all, our memories are sometimes better left "unresearched" so that they hold their magical surreal quality. There's a certain happiness in that. I mean, your childhood home never quite looks or feels the same way it did when you were a kid. The idea that you can never really go back to the way things were really holds some truth. I digress (as usual). Enter my "proof". I was shopping in a small antique shop in town and found this postcard:

Proof! Proof it wasn't just a figment of my imagination. So they are not cows. They're horses. And there's no pasture. And it's not lavender purple but I can fix THAT!

So maybe there aren't any cows or pastures. But those mountains...so majestic. So serene. So chocolaty. Well...um...maybe not, but check out this etsy seller who has the same love for chocolate mountains as I do: The Chocolate Mountain Candle Co.

Photo courtesy of and candles for sale at http://cmcc1.etsy.com/

Check this beauty out!

2008-10-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

So a long, long time ago...in a land very far away...no, not really, it was about a year ago and I was on my computer in my house and probably in my pajamas...but I digress. I came upon one of the beautifulest. Stop here for a moment. Yes, I know beautifulest is not a word, but it's very apt. Trust me! Again, I digress...I came upon one of the beautifulest shops that I have ever seen on Etsy. Here's where I get mean. I am not telling you the shop's name. No! I won't. And the reason is that I really don't want you to go buy up all the stuff in it. That's right. I want it all to myself. So what if I am being selfish. Haven't you ever been selfish? Come on now...I won't believe. I CANNOT believe that some time in your life you haven't felt like being selfish was...well, justified!! YEAH! J-U-S-T-I-F-I-E-D!!! Justified. No? What about the time that you...mmmmmm....when you...*concentrating*...when. You know....*furrowing brows*...when you...well, ok. I guess you've nev...mmmm...*enter the confused look* ...really? ...ok, you're right. I guess I should share. Ok...here goes....there's this awesome shop called ....mmmm...can't remember how to do this...how do I position this awesome shop? I mean I can't very well tell you about everything that's in the shop that I like or I would have to blog for hours! My dog needs to eat for crying out loud. I can't just sit here for hours and just ignore everything else that goes on in my life. I mean not that I go out much or have much of a life or anything but well...I mean I have lots of friends and we go out a lot. I mean to dinner and stuff. Yeah, you know and there are some really cool restaurants around here. I mean, what do you like to eat? No, I am not the biggest fan of ....awwww shucks! I'll spill the beans....It's nestahome! NESTAHOME! NESTAHOME! NESTAHOME! Am I getting obnoxious yet? Seriously, check out her cool photographs and paintings and everything else in between! You'll love it there!! And check out the beautiful treasury she put me in with some super talented people the other day! I even got a a really cool comment on the treasury about my photographing skills. Oh and one more thing, have you SEEN the other talented people in the treasury with me? Here they are: theStarcraft, HelloCrafty, natuure (ahem...shameless plug), heatherjeany, BackThennishVintage, GetReadySetGO (repeat fellow treasury featured shop here folks! Because it's awesome!), kitsandcaboodles (you already know this is one of my VERY favorites), donina, ziazia, katsai, robynski, noemiah. Back to my photographing skills. I have always had trouble with getting my item photographs for my shop to turn out just right. I mean the light is always kind of wierd and I don't ever seem to be able to get my items positioned just so. Then, one day, I was checking out the forums and I checked out this post that talked about how to use...blah blah blah blah blah...

*shut me up please - I can't hear myself think!*

All photos courtesy of and for sale at nestahome. Please also check out her other shop at nestausa.

Treasury time!

2008-10-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

YAY! YAY! YAY! Made another treasury! I looooove treasuries. I seem to be drawn to a lot of the monochromatic ones myself. And I've always been a fan of the black and white theme. So thank you Rachel at secrethistory for including me in yours!

Incidentally, dear readers, if you haven't seen Rachel's shop you must do so now! She's one of those talented photographers that can turn something everyday and ordinary into something amazingly beautiful, serene and poignant at the same time. I mean, seriously...it's a chair. But have you seen anything more beautiful? I think not. Have you ever felt what you feel when you see the way the light hits the room just so. Casting the shadow of that chair onto the wall ever so slightly visible. And that large patch of light on the ground inviting you in. And the white of those curtains mingling with the white of the banister but petulantly ignoring the white on the wall behind it. Striking, isn't it, what Rachael can do with a camera? I rest my case (of books).

Ok now, check out the great treasury she put together. Dark, edgy, yet peaceful in a way. What a great showcase of extremely talented etsians. Don't forget to check out their shops!

etceteramedia
KeysandMemories
ara133photography
ThePeachTree
nestahome
natuure : )
PixiePrints
Xenotees
stephaniegibson
f2images
purposedesign
Earmark

Top two photos courtesy of and prints for sale at secrethistory. Thanks for hanging out!

For the love of paper!

2008-10-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

If you haven't yet noticed, I love paper. Any kind of paper. From the kind one can find at a specialty art store to the kind I would find in your recycling bin. From new to old. From colorful to bland. From dictionnary pages to magazines to cereal boxes to junk mail...well, you get the picture. And there are a lot of Etsians who love it too. Believe me.

One of my very favorites is a lovely gal by the name of Mollie whose shop royalbuffet is a paper lover's dream! You should really check out her stuff even if you're not a paper enthusiast like myself. Because you will be, after you check out her shop and see what paper is all about. You really really really should check out her stuff if you DO like paper. C'mon! You can never have enough of it! Especially the way she uses it...the paper just comes alive! She has an amazing sense of composition that she uses in putting together every garland and every mobile that she works on. The vintage french magazines will have you speaking french the minute you take home one of her lovely decorations. Go on...have yourself a meal (of paper) fit for a queen* at the royal buffet. Let them eat cake!

*For the record in case you've read my earlier post - I know that the expression is actually "a meal fit for a king". I learned that one once when I exclaimed: "Wow! That was a king's meal" after having an especially delicious and very filling meal. Someone was of course, nice enough to correct me. And below you will see a beautiful wreath made by Mollie that unfortunately I would pronounce reath as in breath. Oh for the love of all things that are holly! I mean holy...*blush*

All photos courtesy of and items for sale at royalbuffett

1984

2008-10-14T22:22:00.001-07:00

Photo courtesy of and T-shirt for sale at nodemo

1984 is the year my life started. Well, not really. I am not THAT young. But it IS the year that starts my consciousness of the world in which I live in today. No, this isn't a reference to some kind of "zen" thing. It's just that before 1984 I lived in a culture completely different from the one I live in today. I moved to the United States in 1984 not knowing a word of english besides "yes", "please", "thank you" and "sun." (Don't ask me why I specifically retained that last word from all of the other words I was made to learn in my English class in elementary school, but I did).

Now, imagine walking into your first day of 7th grade in some foreign land where people don't speak a lick of what you speak, don't wear one item of clothing that is in any way similar to what you're wearing (frilly dresses that in this culture kids stop wearing at age 4), and people eat some wierd concoctions that you couldn't even think of putting together on the same plate let alone on a sandwich, Peenah baddaah jalleee (photo courtesy of and note cards for sale at exquisiteimage). And all eyes are on YOU! Oh come on, it's not that bad is it? No, it's not. The worst comes later. When you're 32 and you can't for the life of you remember that darn expression people use for not caring about a certain incident. Uh...water over the bridge...ice under the bridge...ice under the water over the bridge over the ice in the water? And you don't have an accent when you speak english so when the person you're talking to turns to you with a raised eyebrow wondering what is wrong with you, you shudder to think what their thoughts are on your mental acuity or lack thereof. You just look stupid.

Then you join a water cooler meeting in progress in your office where people discuss the finer points of that super popular show from before your time that everyone knows everything about everytime it is mentioned. You know, that show everyone loves to remember from when they were kids (photo courtesy of and stickers for sale at samann1121). Remember when so and so did this? And so and so said that? Blah, blah, blah. You try to pretend you know, but inevitably you end up making some faux pas and mixing up trivia from different shows trying to pass off like you know something. And all eyes are on YOU and you're just lookin' stupid.

That's when you try to to find someone in the water cooler gang to help you recuperate your "cool" status and you say: "Remember in 1982 when so and so won Eurovision?" And all eyes are on YOU and that's when you know stupid is not quite the word you were looking for to describe yourself. You're just plain, well...what's that expression? One fry short of a combo #5? Ok, but at least I recycle.

Photo courtesy of and tote for sale at andyeatsonlycandy

Honored

2008-10-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

I will be posting again later today with a regular post, but I was just featured in a Treasury and I had to share. Royalbuffet (more on her lovely shop in a future post) was so sweet in picking one of my Edgar Allan Poe playing card paper dolls! I feel so honored to be featured in a treasury with such talented individuals!! Check out their great shops

Leap

2008-10-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Rozart

So, I have this day job. Yeah...everyone knows how hard it is to make a living as an artist/crafter so I have sold my soul to devil that is capitalism and I have a 9-5 job like many other Etsians I know. It's actually a great job. I work with really awesome people in an environment that is nurturing to my goals and dreams. My job allows me to use my degree while helping others at the same time. I am able to make a difference and enrich peoples' lives. Literally. It's fun, it's exciting, it's challenging...and it's $%@#$% stressful!! You guessed it. I work in the finance industry. That's all I will say about except that with what's happening to our economy now I think I may need to see either a priest, a psychiatrist or a fortune teller before the year is over. Yeah. It's that stressful right now. But it pays the bills and pays for my art supplies which afford me the luxury of making stuff which in turn helps me deal with my stress which is caused by the fact that I have to work to support my art. Hmmm...sounds like a catch 22.

Photo courtesy of and painting for sale at Rozart

Anyways, so everyone has stress right. So how does one deal with it if they aren't artists themselves or maybe they are artists, but don't do that kind of art. Or maybe they do do that kind of art, but not like that! Well, then they should buy art. Buy that piece that speaks to you. That piece that makes you feel good about life, about yourself, about the message embedded in its beauty or maybe just because you like it. That's how I feel about this piece by Rozart. The freedom of "letting it all go" depicted in this painting is palpable. My stress dissipates as I feel myself soaring through this beautiful thing we call life. There's no way I could paint THAT! Now, if I could just make more money at my etsy job to support my art buying habit...I'd be golden! (and certainly much less blue)

Photo courtesy of and painting for sale at Rozart

**A special thank you to Suzanne at Bliss Soybean Candles for featuring a great artist named LoriMirabelli on her blog (that I've been following for a while now). Lori turned me onto Rozart's beautiful art as well as her own. Check Lori's art out here. And here's one of my favorites of hers!

Love is...monkeys

2008-10-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of and for sale at brookeanndove

Now I am no literary genius or anything...I mean, I read. I read A LOT. But I can't sit here and purport that I am some kind of highly intellectual individual with some radical literary acuity. I mean...if you were to ask me what biblical allusion or Judeo-Christian reference or what is allegorical about something in a story that I might be reading, well...I wouldn't know my head from my...But...I DO like words. Thus, I read. Did I say that I read A LOT?

So where does that take me? Oh, the point of my ramble is this. There's this cute (that's a technical literary term) little story that I just reread in Kurt Vonnegut's Welcome to the Monkey House that I really enjoyed. It's about a computer (EPICAC) that falls in love with a mortal. Some of my favorite lines in the book are those in a poem EPICAC wrote titled "The Kiss" after he learned what a kiss was:

Love is a hawk with velvet claws;

Love is a rock with heart and veins;

Love is a lion with sating jaws;

Love is a storm with silken reins....

What's the moral of the story? There isn't one. Or if there is, I don't know what the allegorical allusion is metaphorically about. I just like words. Kurt would be so proud. Oh, and the monkeys really aren't here allude to anything either. I just love monkeys. Who knew?

*Rushes away to get the Thesaurus back on the shelf*

Photo courtesy of and monkey for sale at sarubiz

Kindred spirits

2008-10-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

Have you ever stumbled upon an Etsy or other online store and you swear you KNOW the person who is running it? I don't mean that you actually know them, know them. I mean that the store is such a reflection of you, your feelings, your favorite colors, your favorite style, your favorite everything? I mean, in a different life you might have even owned and operated this store yourself! Well...introducing Kits & Caboodles, my alter ego.

It's no secret I love paper. I mean have you checked out my stores lately? (natuure, coffeemonkey, twoangelsinparis, monkeymind) I mean, I just couldn't possibly LIVE without paper in my life! But Kits & Caboodles takes paper to a whole different level for me. Andrea's beautiful handmade paper flowers make my heart beat faster. Her scrap packs are (unbelievably) chock-full of paper that I have never seen before. And that's saying a lot for a paper enthusiast like myself. Even her business cards and packaging are works of art! I am so drawn by the simplicity and beauty of her designs that I can't wait to check out her shop almost every day (it's not stalking - it's shopping). I can't help it. In her shop, I feel at home. See for yourself! And you can read Andrea's blog at The whole kit and caboodle.

Spidey sense

2008-09-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

Photo print courtesy of and for sale at poppydot

You can bet there's a spider lurking out of camera range here...my spidey sense on! This time of year my spidey sense gets heightened. No, I don't start squirting my webs at the walls, nor do I start fighting crime. Well...I'd love to, but I am no hero and definitely not that brave! What I mean by "spidey sense" is that I start getting a whole lot more conscious of the little creatures. They DO seem to come out of the woodwork around Halloween! Take this little guy from Jodie Flowers for instance. He's got some teeth on him, but he's cute as can be! He just wants to come home to live with you.

Photo courtesy of and spider for sale at jodieflowers

Maybe you'd like some of these little creatures for your fridge. That's right...your fridge! No, not inside, but they'll hang outside and hold your shopping list for you too! And that color! What is it about that beautiful pumpkin color that makes me think of Halloween too...mmm...*scratching my head*...well, if YOU figure it out, go check them out at DaisyMaeDesigns.

Photo courtesy of and magnets for sale at DaisyMaeDesigns

Ring Ring!...Ring Ring!...

2008-09-22T21:21:00.001-07:00

No, it's not a telephone ringing...it's a vintage button ring! This week-end I found myself drawn to my stash of vintage buttons and just HAD to do something with a few of them that were quite beautiful. They were so unique I thought they should be displayed in a special way. What better way than to make rings out of them. And here is what happened. Ring ring...ring ring...

October

2008-09-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

Boy, do I love the month of October. I just love the colors that autumn brings even here in Northern California. The weather finally cools down a bit. Dark gray clouds make and appearance and the fog starts rolling in. It's "darker" out there somehow but not quite so much as to not allow the sunshine to peek through here and there. And the crows visit. I have a thing for crows. Just like I have a thing for thunderstorms and lots of rain. I like their ominous quality. The way they "darken" life a bit. I can't really explain it. It's that sense of danger without the risk. I am not life's greatest risk taker, so I like crows. haha.

For some reason, I am reminded of that "dark" quality when I read Edgar Allan Poe. It's probably just me, but his stories always seem to have an ethereal quality to them. Like something ominous is always happening. His words always make me grasp for the next in almost quiet desperation. I am almost at the edge of my seat wanting to know what's next or...do I? So there you go. I equate the month of October with Edgar Allan Poe with crows. And this is how I internalize all that and mull it over, swish it around in my subconscious and then personify it in my little playing card paper doll angels. This one says: "Her heart told tales of love unlike the story he told of the tell-tale heart."

I started this series recently and then found myself on the Mixed Media Monday website. The theme kind of fit so I am going to submit this one. You should definitely check out Mixed Media Monday. It is such a wonderful way for artists to share their work.

The mermaid and her lovely family

2008-09-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

The nice mermaid I recently wrote about actually commissioned me to make some of my paper doll angels in her family's likeness. She had found my "Little Angel Boy" with windblown hair in my shop and said it really personified her son. So she immediately brought him home and requested I make the rest of her family in angels as well. They would all have to have an ocean/water/sea theme. Well, that was obvious..she IS a mermaid! So here's what I came up with.

Mom, the mermaid

Dad, the captain of the ship

And sis, the Star of the Sea

And they say mermaids don't exist...

2008-09-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

Put Yourself In My Shoes by flyingdreampost

Well...I just met one on We Love Etsy! That's right. A mermaid! Yup...she drifted in on a blue moon high tide. She told me of her beautiful family and how she came to settle in beautiful Virginia. She was the nicest mermaid I have ever met too!...Ok so she was the ONLY mermaid that I have ever met. That's unimportant. The important thing is that besides being a very nice mermaid she's extremely talented too!

This Is My Journey by flyingdreampost

Her etsy shop flyingdreampost is full of beautiful collages, cards (see above), journals and more! Her cards are so lovely with their cute little sayings and those great matching envelopes with unbelievable detail. Her collages are nestled in beautiful custom frames or shadow boxes. And again...she's really really really nice!

Now, be good and go get yourself something from her shop!

You Have Been Very Very Good by flyingdreampost

Bangles galore

2008-09-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

ONE by natuure

Just finished four of my natuure wood bangle bracelets made out of cool vintage pattern paper. Each on is truly one of a king pieces of art. The vintage paper I use is so thin that it allows the gorgeous natural grains of the wood to shine through while giving the bracelet a really nice matte shine. Each one is unique and really beautiful. Check them out in my etsy store natuure. Here a the photos of three I just listed. I will be listing the one at the top of this post tomorrow.

<-- "Cut Me, Stitch Me, 7 Pieces"

<--"Leave Open Above Notch, Mm 23"

<-- "To Lengthen, To Shorten, Cut, Fold"

Today is a sad day

2008-09-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

Today is a very sad day for many. Hopefully, as time passes, our wounds heal a little bit at a time. It was 5 am on Tuesday morning on the west coast. We were up early because we were still jet lagged from a trip to Spain where we ate, drank and frolicked on the beach with friends and family for 10 days. It had been a great trip. My folks were still there enjoying a few extra days of sunshine. We, however, were getting ready for work, our thoughts still on that sunny country we had left behind and flown back from on Sunday, on a United flight, through Boston. We stared at the T.V. not quite sure what to do next. I told my husband that I wasn't sure I wanted to drive over the Golden Gate bridge to get to work that day. He shrugged. Somehow we hoped it was all some kind of joke. But it wasn't April. Certainly not April fool's day. It was September. September 11, 2001. The roof caved in our world. We no longer understood it. We no longer lived in it but through it. We were at a loss for words, and at a loss for silence. The world stopped and yet flew by at a frantic pace. Our collective thought was "Where do we go from here?". I wasn't sure. I just wrote. And waited:

The azure stands forever split in eternity by the crimson lines

diverging from a single point above as if

bleeding from a wounding cut

It stands suspended

stands stands amended

To the landscape of the bay as if painted in

as an afterthought clearly taught

to stand as if normal.

Or so they thought.

The men who labored so long ago

endlessly

precariously

balancing on the beams of red never knowing

the perils of a

terrorist threat or the thread of fear

to be woven through our lives just as the

looming cover of the fog

Yet we still jog....

Yes, our worlds may get shaken, they may get broken or threatened but we will go on and live the lives we were meant to live because we are human and the alternative is bleak and dreary. The alternative is to give up. And we won't give up on life.

My heart goes out to all the people have suffered loss on the morning of September 11, 2001. Don't give up.

YAY!

2008-09-02T21:51:00.000-07:00

The paper doll I made for the mini book challenge by sewphisticate was just posted on her blog! Check it out here!

I am so excited about this. This was my first challenge and it was great fun! Not only was it a great way for me to "exercise" my creative brain, but it also brought a lot of people together from the wonderful community that Etsy is. I have made great friends of people on Etsy. Come join us! And be sure to check out the forums for more exciting challenges and contests! (after you check out Sewphisticate's etsy shop and buy some of her mini-books so you can challenge yourself). It's great fun! Try it!

By the way, the stamps used in the making of this paper doll are up for sale in my supplies shop on etsy: Two Angels In Paris. Come check it out too!

I can't contain myself...

2008-08-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

I am jumping out of my skin. OH YEAH!!!!! I was just featured on the front page of Etsy! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! This is actually the second time that I have been featured on the front page of etsy, but I unfortunately missed the first time. I was crushed.

Tonight...it's a different story. I signed in as I usually do and thought to myself: "How strange! That ring looks familiar..." It didn't hit me until I had already left the front page! (I've been known to be a little spacey sometimes, but this was full time cadet here!) Well...I was lucky enough to get a screenshot of it anyways. The ring from my shop natuure was bought within minutes and dropped off the page very quickly, but I recovered nicely, I think : )

Here's a screenshot of it. I am so very grateful...and I could probably get hit by a bus right now and not feel a thing. Note to self: Look into the possibilities of bottling up this "high".

Oh...and check out the talented artists that were featured in the treasury with me!

Destashing...

2008-08-25T22:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's time. I know I've said it once before, and I DID destash. Some. I just couldn't help it! I was secretly hoarding some of the very things I was supposed to destash. But it's sooooo hard to get rid of some of this stuff. What can I say? I am a hoarder. You heard it here first folks. Don't tell my husband (he has no idea...ahem). But, like I said, it's time. I decided to make a fun little project out of the destashing. I created some fun little paper pillows out of lovely vellum paper that I have left over from my wedding invitations (long long ago). I had fun sewing them together with thread, or vintage ribbon or even raffia, yarn or cord that I had in my stash. I then created some more little envelopes that contain glitter, findings, charms, buttons or anything else that could strike my fancy. I then included those in the larger envelopes along with all kinds of vintage paper, newer type, or old type from vintage mags, pages from old books that were falling apart, even many of my own crafting scraps (copies of old photographs, playing cards or pieces thereof, little paper envelopes I made from vintage music sheets, copies of illustrations, test stampings from my very own handcarved stamps, fun! fun! fun!). I just love these little pillows. I call them pillows because I stuff them with so much that they puff up like pillows. I have made several sizes and put them up for sale in my "destash" shop two angels in paris. Hopefully you'll see one you like. As they say, one girl's destash is another girl's treasure. Bring me your tired, your cold, your hungry destashes any day...oh, wait...I am supposed to be DEstashing....

Eggs and Doggs in Photoggraphs

2008-08-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

Some dog by Christy at under the leaves

Spelling is not my strongest suit, but I do know how to spell dogs and photographs. I am not so sure about the spelling of Eggs though. Why do we need two Gs in there people. Does the second G do anything for that word? Do we pronounce the G twice when we speak it? Did we need another 4-letter word in the English language so we tacked on an extra G? Does the extra G give it flair? Does it make the word more aesthetically pleasing?

Well, I don't know, but I will tell you what can make your WORLD more aesthetically pleasing. Introducing one of my new favorite Etsy shops: undertheleaves. You want to know more about eggs and dogs? Check out her photographs. They will speak to you. You will feel these photographs. The sun warms your skin as you watch the light glinting on this porch. Life around you stops. Your legs suddenly tingle at the thought of sitting. But you feel yourself not wanting to disturb the calmness of this place. You won't sit on the chair, but by it. With your back against the chair. Life is good. You need nothing else. You feel a presence. A little soul. A mischievious one, but one that is kind and full of unconditional love for you. He's languidly watching your every move. Not sure what to do but lay there and watch you in case you have something for him. A treat? A treat like the one you're about to get for yourself in the kitchen. Tasty blueberries just picked from you garden. You can already taste them. Juicy with a slight crunch. You can feel their plumpness through the white dish towel you're holding. Wow! Speaking of dish towels. How did this dish towel get so white!?! The gorgeous light bouncing off of it has such a beautiful blue hint to it. As an artist, you know that white isn't just white. That is, unless you're looking at the white of those eggs sitting there on that blue table. Your senses are on overload as you experience this shop. Isn't life grand?

By the way, one of the things I love about this shop are Christy's photo blocks. Many of her photos are mounted on a solid wood block that you can hand or set anywhere. They are a convenient, beautiful and unique way of brightening up any place in your home. Check them out in her shop at http://undertheleaves.etsy.com/ and for really really really really really great jewelry visit her shop at http://forqueenvictoria.etsy.com/.

*off to make an omelet*

All photos in this post are courtesy of Christy and are available for purchase in her Etsy shop @ http://undertheleaves.etsy.com/.

Dress forms & angelic jewelry

2008-08-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I was surfing through etsy (I had just been to my friend Julia's shop on Etsy http://thebeachcottage.etsy.com/ and was in a very "beachy" mood. So yeah, I was surfing.) Anyways, I was checking out some talented artists on etsy when I stumbled upon keeshagirl4's shop Lemoncholy (http://keeshagirl4.etsy.com/) and came upon a really nice black paper mache mannequin/dress form. I immediately had to have it, as usual, having absolutely no idea how, when or for what I would use it. But whatever, that's a minor unimportant detail. This thing was too good to pass up! So I got her and she's been sitting on my windowsill ever since.

She gathered a little dust but didn't complain. She just quietly watched my every move in the craft room to see what I would create next. One day, I found these beautiful necklaces in one of my art drawers that I put together a long time ago. They too had been very still and quiet...just watching...and waiting. I had meant to sell those necklaces a while back, but had never really had a way to display them. And I really didn't want to take photos of them unless I could do them justice. So I'd lovingly packaged them and put them away for a day when I would display them as nicely as they deserved. And today is the day! I have not listed them yet, but will soon. In the meantime, spend some time here: http://keeshagirl4.etsy.com/

You'll love her supplies...oh! And her gorgeous jewelry. Have you seen the Love's Song necklace? (pictured above) and I don't care whether you like birds or not. Aren't these the cutest?

Two Angels in Paris

2008-08-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

Who has a stash? Me? Moi? I think not. I just have a very well diversified panoply of items that crowd my crafting table, my bookshelves, my closet(s), my shoes and any other available nook that I might be able to find in my house. Thank god I have a house and not an appartment or I might have had to move out by this point into the adjacent appartment keeping the old one for my stuff. Yup, it's THAT bad.

So I decided to take a look at some of the great items that I have 2, 3, ahem... 50 of and set up a new etsy shop to share my stash with other artists. And, NO, you don't get the ones I store and hide in my shoes because those happen to be my very favorites and I am keeping them.

HA!

Visit my shop at http://twoangelsinparis.etsy.com/ and all kinds of treasures to inspire your heart.

The Green Chair

2008-08-02T23:14:00.001-07:00

My day job requires me to be so left-brained that I have to sneak out on most days for a little right-brained activity. Most of my lunch hour is spent perusing the little isles of three of my favorite second-hand shops down the block from where I work. I just love the way the old unwanted vintage items speak to me of their adventures. About two years ago I stumbled upon this green chair in one of these lovely little shops and it really had something to say. I took it home and listened intently until one day, I was ready to tell its story. I picked up a paint brush, some green paint and went at the canvas with abandon, all the while thinking of that lovely green chair and the stories it had to tell. It took me a while to get the courage to post the painting on Etsy, but I eventually did, knowing full well that the chair would continue to tell me its story and I would continue to paint it.

Here's my Etsy listing:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10371380

Full Title: "The Green Chair and Other Nonsense Stories"

Specs: 9 1/2 X 6
Acrylics Hard Paper Board

I like to frequent second hand shops for the stories that are told there. You heard me right. I walk in and listen to the many tales that are told by those discarded, unwanted, unloved and "unshiny" things there. They are mainly boring as these things take me through their lamentable existence as ordinary household items. Like the pair of socks that silently brood because they were so despicable the tag was still on them, their owner never having worn them. Or that lovely wooden spoon that couldn't get over the fact she would never again feel her owner's lips tasting spaghetti sauce from her. Or the angry boardgame upset that it had been sitting in a dark, damp closet for 8 years, his owner having moved onto computer games. Oh, but that chair...that little green chair. That green chair of wood with accents of gold and woven seat of twine with accents of stains. THAT was a chair with purpose, whose life was not wasted nor whose story was sad. Now...SHE had a story to tell. And it was beautiful. She radiated with joy and I listened intently as she wove for me a tale of the little child she once seated.

Housework

2008-07-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

Photo by Shelby Nycole

currently available for purchase at

http://shelbynycole.etsy.com/

blog: http://www.shelbynycole.blogspot.com/

Bah! I @#$^&$ hate housework...

I am one of those people who really would rather find something else to do with my time than clean anything. Listen to me. I start out with "I am one of those people" as if there are others like me. What can I say. Misery loves company. The truth is (I'll lay it out here, but only for you)....the truth is that there's no one out there like me. I am a slob. I admit that there's nothing less important in my life to me than keeping house. There. I said it.

The curious thing is that I didn't use to mind it all that much. Didn't love it. But I didn't hate it either. Always chalked it up to one of those necessities in life. Just something you HAVE to do. If there was some enjoyment in it for me it was the satisfaction of being able to check something off my "to do" list or finishing a particular task. I even found some slight enjoyment in the fact that I get home and not trip over 5 things on my way in. Somewhere along the way, I lost my housework mojo. The little satisfaction or enjoyment I felt just left me. I have no idea what triggered it, but something did. Well...today, my friends...things are a-changin'. Today, I was featured on a blog that sparked a little flame in me. Here's what happened. I got home from work and tripped over one of my pairs of shoes, my husband's pair of shoes, set my mail down on the evergrowing pile of mail on my built-in library, tripped over my purse (there since Saturday) on the way up the stairs, sighed about the laundry that should have been done two weeks ago, dropped my stuff on the bed and ran to my study to check my e-mail and hibernate in an attempt to ignore the mine field I just waded through. A very kind Etsian had featured my sewing pattern tray (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13536363) from my etsy shop natuure (http://natuure.etsy.com/) on her blog! I was sooooo excited! I clicked on the link for her blog (http://the-linen-cupboard.blogspot.com/) and started reading. I WAS HOOKED! Not only are her posts super informative, but you should read her "About me" and her "Note on perfection" on the bottom of her page. Exactly! Her blog made me realize that it's not about being perfect, but about reconnecting with the little things that make life so enjoyable. The little things that make you feel alive, such as the crisp folds of fresh linens as you tuck in the corners while making the bed each morning. Or the scent and snap of those same fresh linens as you take your time folding them after they've been laundered. Or the look of that clean and organized refrigerator as you're taking things out to make dinner. And what about that feeling of having accomplished your "chores", of having actually ENJOYED them! Not to mention being able to invite house guests over for the week-end because no mines are left to trip over. Yup! I've got my mojo back!! *goes off chasing the dog with vacuum in hand*

The Beach Cottage

2008-07-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had a couple of wisdom teeth pulled. Yeah, it hurt. Between dry heaves (compliments of the anesthetic) and bolts of shooting pain (compliments of whatever the heck it is oral surgeons do when they pull teeth out) I wanted to be anywhere but where I was right then. So, I tried to focus my reveries on more pleasant things. The week before my oral surgery, I had, of course, visited Etsy. What else could a person do to calm their pre-surgery jitters? Well, this person, visits Etsy. Never mind that I visit it every day. Just humour me. So on that particular day, I stumbled upon a super little shop called "The Beach Cottage" http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5605974. I "walked" through The Beach Cottage and felt I was there. Right on the beach! I felt the sand sliding through my toes and the wind was whipping through my hair. My tongue was teased with salt and the sun warmed my skin. And my nose tickled with so many of those beachy scents - coconut oil, salty air, algae. Really! I was lounging on the beach with a cool drink in my hand watching the surf come in.

So, lying there on my couch thinking about the pain I was in and the solid food I hadn't eaten in 3 days, and the pain killers I couldn't take for fear they'd burn a whole in my stomach (Vicadin is overrated, folks) and the pitty party I was hosting deafening my senses, I really just wanted to go to the beach. So I fired up the laptop. I waited for Windows XP to load. And waited...and waited...and...what the *&$%# happened to FIRED UP the laptop? And waited...finally, I signed into my account at http://www.etsy.com/. Clicked on My Favorites and walked into my very own beach cottage.

Ahhhhh.....all was well in the world.

By the way, I conversed with Julia, The Beach Cottage shopowner a couple of times and she is a truly amazing individual. She also happens to be really really really nice. Check out Julia's shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5605974 and her blog at http://thebeachcottage.blogspot.com/. All photos on this blog posting are by Julia at The Beach Cottage and can be seen in her etsy shop or on her blog. Most items in the photos are currently available in her etsy shop.

Man, these disolving stitches taste nasty.

Ouch!

2008-07-15T18:20:00.000-07:00

Wisdom teeth are comming out folks! Won't be blogging for a few days....

Tomorrow...

2008-07-10T22:22:00.001-07:00

Feel your soul get lighter. Forgive someone.

Oh, this book!

2008-07-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

I admit it. I am an Etsy addict. I also am addicted to vintage stuff (especially books). So you'll often find me perusing all the vintage supplies pages on Etsy - generally hours and hours on end. What can I say...I can't help it.

A couple of weeks ago, I was doing just that when I stumbled upon this great little Etsy store called Blacksheepyarns (http://blacksheepyarns.etsy.com/) full of vintage items that are just my bag if you know what I mean. I clicked and clicked all throughout the story and couldn't stop hearting every item, but then, just then....BINGO!...the most beautiful book that I have seen in a while filled my screen. I about jumped out of my seat. It looked like an old (very old...middle ages old) book...you know, the ones with the illuminated text and the thick, watercolor-like paper with the frayed edges? The illustrations were in gorgeous red, orange and yellow inks. The writing was that scroll looking stuff. Oh my god...I was in heaven. My fingers clicked on every available picture, my palms started sweating, my eyes grew wide...I thought I would die if I couldn't have this book. Then this thought popped into my head. A quick look at the heading "1900 Paris Book made with handmade paper rare book to frame pages" gave me hope. I thought that maybe, I had a chance, but then another thought popped into my head. IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL! It would cost a small fortune for my little hands to be able to feel its pages...I was getting distressed and my soul started remembering what disappointment would feel like. My eyes, afraid of what they would find, slowly wound their way up my computer screen to the area on the top right where I knew they would find the place where prices were born and died. Oh, my heart started racing...please please please...let it be ok. Let me be able to pay for this piece of art that would otherwise crowd my dreams and nightmares every night for years to come. Let me rest my eyes on those beautiful pages in person. Let me smell the must and feel the dimples on that paper. Let me taste victory!

Yup, boys and girls! I OWN IT! Thank god for great etsy shops and small miracles.

P.S. I also have to tell you about the superior customer service experience I had with the seller at blacksheepyarns. Not only did my package arrive super well packed and extremely fast, but I was pleasantly surprised by the extra goodies I received with my purchase. I was so floored that I actually had to send her a convo to let her know that I thought she had included someone else's order in mine. She nicely convo'd me back to say that the extras were her gift to me. She thought I could use them in my own art and specifically my paper dolls. WOW! If you're reading this and need vintage supplies visit http://blacksheepyarns.etsy.com/ right away! You never know what treasures await you and you definitely know the type of customer service you'll get. Take it from me!

Mini Scrapbook Challenge

2008-07-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

I recently was lucky enough to stumble upon a forum on Etsy ( http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5678811) from a fellow Etsian who decided to put on an awesome little contest. Sewphisticate http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5318640 decided to find out what would happen if she sent approximately 20 artists some her beautiful little Mini Origami Scrapbooks (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11185302) to have their way with them. Yup! I was definitely lucky to get in on this! So, in keeping with the art I am currently ensconced in making, I decided to make one of my angel paper dolls. I recently worked on a bird theme for one of my customers so I decided to keep that theme going. Can't wait to see what the other participants have done. They're such a very talented group of people!

And here she is! The mini book was turned into "The Angel's Pretty Little Encyclopedia of Birds". Her wings say: She loved to research all the birds of the world in her small, little thing of a book. Her heart was handmade out of wax and painted red. The inside of the minibook shows vintage bird illustrations and a stamped image of a fancy little birdcage made with a stamp handcarved by me. She is backed by pretty art papers. Hope you like her as much as I liked making her!

Paper dolls

2008-07-06T22:04:00.001-07:00

Well, yeah, it's been a while *bows head in shame*. I know there's absolutely no good excuse, but I had a lot of fun slacking off because I was busy making some cool paper dolls for some Etsy peeps recently. I was convo'd by a couple of people on etsy asking whether I would make them custom paper dolls. The themes they each chose got my creative juices flowing! I was so excited! Believe or not, 9 times out of 10, when I am asked to make a custom piece I end up making 3 of each theme - I get so carried away!!

One theme I was asked to dabble in was a "sewing theme". I was particularly psyched about that theme because I had recently purchased a 1950 copy of "The Wise Encyclopedia of Modern Sewing" at a small second hand shop near my "day job" for a buck. That's right, folks...ONE DOLLAR. Uno punto zero zero!! The vintage images in color within those pages were to die for. Hey! Guess what!?! I got it for a buck!!! I loved using those images in my paper dolls. The illustrations were just so 1950's, ya know? Anyways, above is an example of one of them. I will post the others soon as well. Or you can see the other sewing themed paper dolls in my shop at http://www.coffeemonkey.etsy.com/ .

The other theme I got a custom order for was all about birds.

This one was also exciting in that a while back I had received one of my own Etsy purchases and it was packaged so beautifully in this stringy paper that reminded me so much of a bird's nest that I saved it all until I could use it in my own art. I'd been wanting to work with that stuff for so long that when someone said "birds," I said "How High?" Just kidding, but the lightbulb did go on (however dim it might be) and I just knew what I would do. It was a really exciting process and I loved being able to use bits and pieces of vintage ribbon and vintage thread to hold it all together. I just love creating these cute little creatures! Anyone else out there want to throw out a theme? C'mon...you know you want to.

Will be posting more pics soon of my other themed angels. In the meantime, you can see some in my etsy shop at

http://coffeemonkey.etsy.com/ .

I also have some other cool "papery" type gifts in my other store at http://natuure.etsy.com/

and supplies at http://monkeymind.etsy.com/

Goodnight y'all! 'Til the next posting! haha...promise it won't be too long.

Cortez

2008-03-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

Why is it that dogs just somehow manage to stop time when you're around them? What is it about their just "being" that can make you smile and forget the day's troubles. Sometimes I look at our little Cortezzie and wonder what our lives would have been like without him and I just can't even imagine it. He is just a dog, but really...is he? I swear there's a beautiful soul in there that could make the world a better place if it was just allowed to roam free upon the earth rather than be contained in that little guy.

Just like kids, they grow up fast! I was reminded today of when we first got him at 6 weeks and can't believe how much he has grown. Here's a picture of his first few weeks on this earth. Check out that potbelly!

Of Magicians & Angels

2008-03-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

I have been super addicted these last few weeks to making my paper dolls. I just can't get enough. Ideas flow like rivers through my head and I just can't stop myself.

I needed to make more space in my studio so I am starting to list some of them. I have a couple of series going: The Fallen Angel Series (angels who are a bit tortured by their inadequacies or their unfulfilled wishes), The Inept Magician Series (a magician's quest to being a success but somehow always falls a wee bit short). I am now working on a series of flowers that I have been commissioned to do by a very talented Etsy artist that will be using them in her own artwork. Check back in my etsy shop at http://coffeemonkey.etsy.com/ or right here in the near future for additional information about my collaboration with this artist.

Be nice, first and foremost, to yourself.

2008-03-21T18:59:00.001-07:00

2008-03-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

Ok so I went and did exactly what I told myself I wasn't going to and that is ...forget to post! It only took me a day...yup! I posted on Monday and forgot about it on Tuesday. Story of my life.

Anyways, here I am on Wednesday trying to make up for it and I am at a loss for words (maybe the reason why I don't blog? I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY!!!

I might take the time to pass along some admiration for some of my favorite artists on Etsy until I think of something better to say. I fell upon this first artist on my first day on Etsy. Her work is so beautiful that when I am in a "buying" mode, her shop is the first that I check out. I have already purchased several items from her shop and can't wait to sell more in mine so I can buy some more of hers. Check her out at http://stilettoheights.etsy.com.

2008-03-19T20:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I've finally come to terms with it. EVERYONE blogs these days so I have finally caved. But I gotta tell you...I'm liking it already! There's something about being able to blah blah blah about yourself without having to worry about someone asking you (politely) to "Shut the F up!"

Well, I guess I will start with what got me here to begin with. I have been an Etsy member selling my art for several months now. You can check me out at http://coffeemonkey.etsy.com or http://natuure.etsy.com . Check out my art and tell me what you think! C'mon...don't be shy!

It's just dawning on me that this blogging thing is going to be pretty cool, but I hope to come up with enough material on a daily basis so as not to bore you to death. Anyways, I leave you with this one thought today:

If buttered toast always lands buttered side down and a cat always lands on its four paws, what would happen if you tied a piece of buttered toast buttered side up to a cat's back? hmmmm?

Think about it! Til next time!