A work in progress..

2012-01-31T13:07:00.000-08:00

In my kitchen, the first tulip for this year really brightens things up. Go out and get yourself one!

Thanksgiving came and went...

2011-12-06T10:10:00.001-08:00

My sister's Puritan Thanksgiving table decor detail. Leaves and pine cones found around her yard.

To get the Puritan 'look' she used wood, white and iron. Traditional Italian Olive Salad in wooden bowl.

My niece photo styled this shot of us as we walked off the Thanksgiving feast on the Highline Canal.

Bringing Autumn In

2011-10-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

This shot was taken at sunrise this morning. There was a soft amber light (thanks to the trees outside my window that were ablaze in yellow) and I was attempting to photograph the beautiful rustic leaves I had gathered over the weekend. Kind of hard to see them here, they are glowing in real life. Photo did NOT capture it as I had intended. I think I need the photography class on "how-to-capture-a-glow-in-pictures."

For these branches I combed my parents yard for a small gathering so that I could bring a bit of Fall inside my apartment. I think it was Leo Bascalia (remember him?) who during one of his inspirational lectures talked about how he would rake the leaves in his yard and then bring them all inside and dump them all over his floor. It was a sweet story about how much he loved the Fall and wanted it in the house as much as he wanted it outside. What an inspiring soul Leo Bascalia was. So, here's to bringing in the Fall, and here's to Leo Bascalia!

I couldn't resist bringing Fall into the office today either! These berries were gathered on trees and bushes around the office building I work in.

Chimayo

2011-10-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Just back from another wonderful trip to Santa Fe. Here I am with my mother and sister at Chimayo which is about 30 minutes north. Chimayo is a wonderful old village, very small, with a few dirt roads and a Catholic church that has a history for healing visitors with it's sacred soil. We loved it there. It was so quiet, so many stunning views. The scenic by-way you take to get to Chimayo is breathtaking. And this year I remembered to photograph some of the exquisite jewelry I saw and decided to focus on my mother's beautiful creations. She was such an easy target! My mom has an artist's knack for arranging and designing and making it her own. Sometimes she'll attach pins to beads, or wear a cluster of pins, and other times she'll go for the simple statement of one sculptural piece all by itself. All of her beads and pins have sentimental meaning to her. Many were given to her by her mother or her kids. It's a celebration when she wears jewelry, it's a celebration for everyone. Countless people come over to her to admire what she is wearing and tell her, with a big smile, how much they love it! She's spreading the joy of living and inspiring everyone, everywhere she goes. Everyone who knows my mom loves this about her!

Red Pear and Tomato Salad

2011-10-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

I'm still cooking up a storm in my kitchen, but at least now I can say that I'm painting in between meals. The tomatoes and pears in this photo are history. They made up a lovely salad (sans the lettuce) when I sliced them and added feta cheese, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, Celtic salt and pepper. Delicious fuel for an afternoon at the drawing board!

Meet Chaucy

2011-10-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

I found this sweet bowl at a craft fair over the weekend. The potter is smart because her creations have charming imperfections. So happy I found this artist! You can visit her here.

Old Mexican Tourist Pottery

2011-09-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

Once a year our small library hosts an antique appraisal fair and this year we took advantage of this free event. We were allowed to bring 2 items each and I brought in these two pieces of pottery that I've had for quite a while but have never really known much about them. I thought maybe they were Native American but instead found out the pitcher is Mexican, circa 1930's - 40's and the bowl is probably from Peru, 1950's; both were made specifically for the tourist market. The expert that looked over my items said they were very nice examples and gave a dollar amount of about $50. each. Considering I bought them for a buck at the Goodwill, I'd say I did OK (big grin). We had great fun watching all the characters (and I'm sure they were watching us too!) and couldn't help but feel like we had landed on an episode of Antique Roadshow. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for more of this fancy Mexican tourist pottery, you never know when it might show up at a garage sale, flea market or thrift store.

New from Shabby Chic

2011-08-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

My on-line catalog of the new Shabby Chic Couture Shop arrived today. Beautiful stuff! The Shabby Chic line has always reminded me of the comfortable English homes I've seen on Masterpiece Classics, a Jane Austen novel come to life, but with ruffles, pastels and pretty accents that they didn't have back in the day. I love the well worn look, makes me want to pour a cup of tea and relax. And I especially adore this new catalog for the original art it sells; floating, dancing garments = haunting paintings (see below by Laurence Amelie). Everything is feminine and pretty in this shop. Give me a guy who can live with some pink!

Visit Shabby Chic Couture here.

Painting by Laurence Amelie - Tutus

Lunch

2011-08-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

This is a make-shift pasta dish I invented over the weekend. Was so delicious, I wanted to pass it onto you! If you look closely you will see that I used two kinds of pasta, no fancy reason for that, I just discovered I had a little penne left in one bag and threw it in with the new bag of rigatoni. The rigatoni is a slightly heavier noodle than the penne, but the cook time didn't change. I like my pasta firm, usually 10 minutes in a high altitude kitchen and I always add salt to my pasta water, seems to bring out the flavor of the noodle more. While your noodles are cooking, heat some olive oil in a shallow pan, add grape tomatoes that are halved, thinly sliced garlic and scallions (with some of the green part) and some chopped fresh parsley (I had a tiny bit of zucchini, about a 1/4 of one, that I cut up and threw in too). Cook this until the vegetables are soft but still colorful, this will take about 10 minutes like the pasta. Let vegies cool while you strain your noodles. Let the pasta cool slightly too. While everything is cooling off, wash and dry and trim a bunch of watercress greens, and by a bunch I mean a lot of it! Watercress is the latest food I am crazy about. It has a distinctive bite that reminds me of a radish (watercress is in the mustard family). To plate your lunch place a bunch of watercress onto a serving plate. Place the warm pasta over the watercress, top with the sauteed vegetables, add some chip-like slices of asiago cheese, drizzle with a little more olive oil, sprinkle on some Celtic salt (the only kind I use), and give it a few turns from a pepper mill. A few weeks ago I made something similar but added chicken strips to the vegetable saute. That was good too, and more filling. This fresh pasta salad is super easy to make. I can whip this up in my studio, when I should be painting, I'm cooking and eating instead!

New Art

2011-08-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

I've been in a void lately, as far as producing art goes. But recently this painting came as a memory of times spent in our Rocky Mountains during autumn. If you haven't been to Colorado in the fall, it really can be this colorful and vibrant. Granted, my artist eyes see things a little differently, but it is spectacular. On a typical autumn day in the Rockies the pine fragrant air is light and crisp, a cool breeze is blowing, the high altitude sun is summer hot, not a cloud is in sight, snow fall from last winter lingers in the distance. (Our colors are dazzling and bright, sunglasses are required!)

Colorado in the fall. Acrylic on canvas. Copyright Thea LaVigna 2011

Fun Facts About Fifty

2011-08-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

Turning fifty is like being popcorn. Someone turns up the heat and suddenly you become something much larger than you were before.
At fifty dress rehearsal ends and the real story begins.
Fifty has the guts to say what she thinks, wear what she wants, and be who she is despite who she was.
Fifty makes you a good listener and someone who is worth listening to.
After fifty all the little things become beautiful and all the big things become small.
When you are fifty crows feet fly south for the winter and laugh lines say you've lived strong.
At fifty Love becomes the most important thing in the world.
After fifty your nest gets bigger and there are new eggs to hatch.
When you've hit fifty bold becomes your middle name, and adventure is always hyphenated.
And finally, fifty defines success as how happy you are and how happy you make others.

**Summer Vacation

2011-07-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

You can drive from Denver to Santa Fe and back to Denver all in one day, but why would you?!
I was looking for adventure last week and I found it in the form of this grueling day trip. Six hours getting there, six hours spent there, six hours back. I know. Loved ones discouraged me but I wanted adventure with a wide open road ahead of me, and I got both with this awesome trip. I'd do it again in a heart beat but next time I'll bring along a few more heart beats to share the drive and the panoramic vistas.

**I've been visiting Santa Fe every autumn for the past 18 years so I know my way around this wonderful place like the back of my hand. When I pulled into town I felt I had arrived home away from home for the afternoon. First thing I did was visit all of my favorite bakeries. Santa Fe is known for its food and it's no wonder that some of the countries best bakeries (or so I hear) are in this Boulder-like New Mexican town. I knew I probably wouldn't be back until October so I snagged as many goodies for the road as I possibly could. Boxes of the huge and impossibly good Cinnamon Melts from Sage Bake House and delectable Butter Cookies from Clafoutis found their way into the back of my CRV. Early the following morning I delivered these pastries to my Colorado people so they could enjoy them with their breakfast coffee. Service with a smile.

Community tables are a super fun alternative to dining alone!
I don't know about you but up until this solo trip to Santa Fe I had never dined alone at a restaurant community table. I had my chance last week in Santa Fe when I was hungry for lunch and found myself right in front of my favorite Cafe Pasquals. Those of you who have been there know that this place is an institution. Pasquals is a farm-to-table cafe over flowing with New Mexican decor and flowers and filled to the brim with diners from all over the world.

** I decided to take a chance and try a seat at the community table. Luckily several others were seated at the same time so we actually shared a meal together. Once we were all seated there was a shout out from a gentleman who smiled at us "I'll be your Uncle for the next hour" that's when I knew I was in the right company! Also at the table was a young woman who is a chef at the Swedish Embassy in Rome, along with her adorable brother who was in from Sweden, both here for a pending family wedding in Pecos. Then there was the silver smith from San Diego with her mother from Phoenix, the ladies from Crested Butte; our temporary uncle and his wife were from Amarillo.

What do you talk about with strangers? We talked about the food of Santa Fe compared to the food of Rome and the fact that our chef friend was so tired of pasta! pasta! pasta! all the time (I've never seen anyone happier to see chilies and avocados). We talked to the young Swede about how he wanted to move permanently to the american southwest and snag a job in finance as he was so determined to do. Our 'uncle' from Amarillo must have told us every one-liner joke he knew, he also showed us a photo taken while he served in Vietnam in the 1960s. My mind declared him the character 'King', he was endearing and enthusiastic in every way possible. There was chit chat about the pending wedding in Pecos, the profuse wild flowers of Crested Butte, and the upcoming Indian Market. There wasn't a moment we didn't learn something about each other or Santa Fe. Time flew by, good byes were said. What an amazing experience.

**I started writing this last week. My week off was actually the week of July 4th. It is amazing all the things I squeezed into my 'stay-cation'. The day trip to Santa Fe was a highlight, for sure, but there were many other bright lights too!

Coyotes in Littleton

2011-07-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Saw a coyote in my front yard this morning. Exciting indeed. It's nice feeling like I have a bit of the wild outside my door. Sometimes, however, that nice feeling is interrupted by concern for the safety of our dogs and cats. Encounters with coyotes have become legendary in my neighborhood and now the folks who walk their small canines do so with rocks in their pockets and whistles around their neck. I've been told stories that were pretty scary, especially the one about the time a lady grabbed her Chihuahua in her arms and ran home with a coyote following her. He was obviously not giving up. She was fortunate that a man driving by saw what was happening and stopped his car to help her. The coyote finally gave up and ran off. This morning even the squirrels were scared as they ran in numbers from the bottom of a Spruce tree in my direction. I think they thought I could save them from being breakfast. I was glad that they felt safe with me.

Chicken Poop Lip Balm?

2011-05-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

Every once and a while my friend Kristie and I like to tell each other what the other has found to be their current favorite products. The three in the photo above are my recent picks, and I wanted to share them with you too.

* The Hazelnut Oil is not as pricey as you might think. I found it for $4.99 at Whole Foods and if kept refrigerated it will last a long time. This oil gave a perfect nutty flavor to my salad on Easter, everyone loved it! A nice change from the Olive Oil that I usually use. I'm going to do an Internet search for more recipes that call for Hazelnut Oil so I can add it more often.

* Wax Paper Bags, boy do I love these! They are even cute. Cute?! Yeah, they are cute little waxy brown bags. I like to try to be environmentally conscious so they are a perfect alternative to plastic bags for packing up snacks and sandwiches for the road, and for wrapping up things for the fridge. This Natural Value brand has a few products to pick from using the same waxy paper. I bought mine at Natural Grocers but Whole Foods also carries this line.

* And are you on the look-out for a sunscreen for your sensitive face like I was? Well, I've found it with MyChelle Sun Shield. This is such a great product! They use Zinc Clear so you get the natural coverage that zinc provides without looking like a chalky ghost.

Now, Kristie has some explaining to do since she casually wrote me a note saying her next favorite product is "Chicken Poop Lip Balm". I'm curious, what must she mean? I'll let you know when I find out!

Small Town Girl

2011-04-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

It doesn't take much to make me happy and these new signs posted all over my small town definitely put a smile on my face! Wow, I just love the design of this sign. It's such a charming reminder that Spring has arrived in my historic village. Now I will know where to walk, bike or drive to get the most of these 40 year old trees while they are flowering, which isn't for very long! Makes it much more precious, don't you think?!

Annie's Glass

2011-03-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this beautiful glass by my 17 year old niece!

Thanks to her parents, she and her brother went from pre-school thru12th grade in an arts based school. This school has a rigorous but fun curriculum that focuses on the arts by preparing students for life in college (in high school they are doing college level math) and beyond (in early childhood they learned math and science by baking bread, knitting, gardening).

Once they are seniors in high school these kids are so appreciative of the arts and sciences and so confident with many subjects that you can literally feel their enthusiasm.

And last Friday night we all watched

as the seniors presented their final projects to family, faculty and friends. For senior project each student (Annie has 10 classmates!!) picked a subject that they wanted to study in depth. We saw presentations on Stone Carving; Fashion Design; Photography; Mind & Body and Spirit;... and Glass Blowing. Annie picked Glass Blowing because she loves the work of Dale Chihuly. Her adventure began last fall when she found a local mentor who she took private classes with. The pieces she made below were on display while she gave her presentation which gave us a glimpse into her experience with this craft.

I am awe inspired.

March is Green

2011-03-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Spring arrived on Sunday and green is on my mind. The grass outside my office window is beginning to wake up and stretch toward our high altitude sun and I do believe I see some green! I feel like celebrating this moment of green, so I've found some Spring green on Flickr that is as fresh as the green outside my window.

Bottom row, center: The glass wall makes me want to build one like it, and I know just where to go for my supplies. When I was in Rocky Mountain National Forest a few years ago I found a secret little rock shop tucked away in the small town of Estes Park. It was there that I discovered they not only sold rocks but also big chunks of industrial glass. I remember digging through a big huge box of the stuff looking for just the right pieces and colors. I was wondering why they had big, heavy worker gloves next to the box but it wasn't until later when it was too late that I also saw a sign that said "must wear gloves to handle glass". That was AFTER my hands had cuts and were bleeding. But it wasn't so bad, I just washed my hands off and put on some band-aids and traveled home with my treasures. Next time I'm there I will be a seasoned buyer and use the gloves to find my glass chunks. And by the looks of this wall, I will need the gloves in order to survive.
Be sure and click the links below for more information and a closer look at these stunning images.

1. macro art , 2. Green Top, Booties and Ushi, 3. The Green Fairy, 4. Green., 5. Art Glass, 6. Green Eyes Folk Art Angel Painting

Princesses really do wear hiking boots!

2011-03-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I was in the small mountain town of Edwards to take in and photograph the

Princess Party at The Bookworm.

The Bookworm is now my favorite bookstore in Colorado, and that says a lot!! What a charming, charming store/cafe, with staff that is equally great. And, who knew that the mountains were filled with so many princesses? Those girls just love my sisters book "Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?" and the store was launching her new book "Do Princesses Have Best Friends Forever?" with a princess party. Many little fans came from the neighboring towns of Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek for this event where they made friendship bracelets out of construction paper and ate mud pies made of chocolate. And they were clamoring to meet my sister. Wow, I've never seen so much pink in one place! Or so many crowns, as each girl (and some moms) wore their best princess costume,... some wore hiking boots with their costume, some high heels and one 3 year old was wearing silver platforms (I had a photo of that one, but she moved and it blurred).

Carmela read from 3 of her books and she signed copies for bright eyed moms (and dads too!) writing personalized inscriptions to their children.

This mom told me that her daughter picked out her tiara and matching earrings.

This little one stole my heart. She was shy but was the true princess wearing hiking boots as there was hardly a stitch of pink on her, she was in a plaid top and jeans and really did wear hiking boots along with this smashing tiara. It was the perfect outfit and my favorite of the day.

These girls were thrilled to pose for me. Sisters that reminded me of my sister and I when we were their age. So adorable.

Not only do they stock great books and magazines The Bookworm has a riverside cafe. The items on the "organic" menu are named after famous authors, the Jane Austen is a plain butter and sugar crepe. And can you believe the wonderful drawing on this mocha latte? The guy "John" who works in the cafe told us that he uses a tooth pick to decorate all the lattes when he has time. We were impressed by that...and the crepes. Delicious.

Visit The Bookworm here and my sister here.

Contemporary Indian Art

2011-03-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

Two Women, oil on canvas by Narayanan Ramachandran

Nude 2, Oil on Canvas, Narayanan Ramachandran

During a recent artist search on Flickr I came across the work of Narayanan Ramachandran. I am impressed by the colorful images and unique style this

artist has. His work reminds me of the contemporary painters from the 1950's, who after they learned traditional techniques, began work that infused their own spirit onto the canvas turning traditional subjects into breathing living work. And the work of Narayanan Ramachandran breathes life. I guess when I am deciding if I think something is good art, that's the quality I am looking for: does it "breathe"?, does it move me to love more deeply? Is it fresh and does looking at it refresh me or drain me? I think that Narayanan Ramachandrans work refreshes. He calls his paintings his "Visual Poetry". And perhaps one of the most wonderful and startling things about him is that he is completely self taught. Never had a lesson, just started to paint and experiment and express himself.

Aren't we glad he did!

Narayanan Ramachandrans paintings will be exhibited at the International Contemporary Art Exhibition in Florence, Italy in December 2011.

Return from the market, Oil on Canvas, Narayanan Ramachandran

Rajathani Woman, Oil on Canvas, Narayanan Ramachandran

Untitled, Oil on Canvas, Narayanan Ramachandran

Please visit Narayanan Ramachandran here.

Foodie fun and my blue lamp

2011-03-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

The Kitchen in Boulder, Colorado

Dined at the wonderful Kitchen restaurant last night in Boulder. We were celebrating my sisters' birthday with a late dinner and driving to Boulder meant her CU son could join us. What I appreciate about Boulder, in general, is that you can dine exquisitely but always in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. We had an amazing AMAZING Endive Salad. It had a goat cheese, yogurt and grapefruit dressing, who'd have thought?!? Everything was delicious, including the bread before AND after our meal (an insider request). The menu is imaginative, and in the past I've equally loved lunch and brunch. The chefs here are committed to using fresh, local and organic whenever possible. Oh, and they make a mean French fry! (what a great way to begin a meal).

I'm looking for a lamp shade for this unusual lamp. Lucky me that it had been re-wired before it was donated to the thrift store (a nice touch that I'm going to copy next time I donate one). Made of pottery, it may be from the 1950's since "Cowboy" decor was popular then. Needs just the right shade to spread the light. I'm currently using it without a shade and considering leaving it this way. The shade would need to be a matching white with simple lines, otherwise keeping it bare will look best. When I drove home with this lamp I had to laugh to myself as I was thinking of all the people who would call it an "ugly lamp"...maybe even my own family. I felt like Charlie Brown bringing home a Christmas tree, or Jack bringing home beans. And yet I love it. I think it's because I'm loving the blue.

Rambling Blues

2011-03-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

As you know, I'm into blue! Blue skies, blue twilight (actually purple, but that's another post), blue oceans,blue lupines, blue birds (mountain blue jays to be exact).

I love many colors, but blue, being over head in the sky most days, always feels warm, safe. I want to cloak myself in its' calming goodness.

My Madonna statue wears such a phenomenal blue. Almost an icy blue. Blue is the color most often associated with "Mary". The Virgin in a fresh and fashionable blue. Did the Renaissance artists choose 'blue' for Mary because it was the stylish color of the day?
I think so.

To give my Madonna a wispy look, I took some wire that had crystal beads threaded throughout, molded and shaped it to my liking then draped it over Mary and her Precious Boy, Jesus.The end results are a lace like netting, a fortress, a protective universe of swirling beads.

Which brings me to another 'blue'. Blue lace. Yes, I insist. The lace in this dress is not black, it is a dark, navy blue.Indigo Mist...or call it midnight blue. I always choose blue over black when I have the chance. And here you can see that blue looks great with....brown

Indigo Mist dress from B H L D N

To have and to hold

2011-02-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

Anthropologie is such a creative powerhouse.
It never ceases to amaze me how season after season they can set my heart a flutter.
Whether I'm strolling their store or flipping through their catalog, I've got a smile on my face.
Swirling skirts, abstract knit wear and fabulous shoes; butterfly dishes, retro aprons, pillows galore.
So, it's no wonder that they have created a whole new version of "romantic" with their new store:
B H L D N.
If you are in the market for creating the perfect wedding, this is a fantastic place to start, even if it's just to get ideas. Just look at what their stylists have done to this statue! And there's lots more to see when you click here. Poetry and pearl-ish wisdom.
For those of us who are not headed to the altar but like a festive atmosphere, the photos in the link are a great source of inspiration for parties and entertaining at home for the holidays.
I am smitten.

Not a Lemon

2011-02-22T11:17:00.000-08:00

A page straight out of the Sketchbook Project.
Lemon lore.
I changed the word lemonade to lemon"aid".
I thought it more fitting. Why was it ever spelled differently?
All those lemons are in fact 'aiding' her as she ventures into biz.
Starbucks started small too!
All possibilities.
What have you done with your lemons?

Toasty Goodness

2011-02-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

Elodie Textured Pullover

My Toast catalog has arrived from the U.K. and it is beautiful!
Super fun that they have an 'artist' theme for this Spring.
I love the casual and comfortable designs.
But are they really work clothes?

I wouldn't wear these in the studio. They are too nice!
My work clothes look a lot like this.
But mine are time worn, paint splattered, and mismatched.
It's important to be free in the studio.
No fuss, no fluff.
.
I've designated a special drawer for work clothes.
Not everything makes it into that drawer.
Comfortable, loose fitting, sleeves that stay put.
It has to be special to graduate to work status.
If it ends up there, it's been promoted.

Double layer cowl neck tee

Jacqueline Chemise

Vintage LaVigna

2011-02-15T16:05:00.000-08:00

I've taken the fashion illustrations that my dad did in the 1950's and made them into bookmarks, gift tags, and note cards. My dad would draw while often times my mother would model the clothes for him. His illustrations were for the designer department stores of the day, including Bergdorf Goodman in NYC. Please visit our new Etsy shop "Vintage LaVigna" by clicking on the photo in the side bar on the right. We'd love for you to stop by!

Crazy for rocks

2011-02-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

The first thing I see when I walk through my front door is my nature table.
*...there's the slice of wood I rescued from one of the oldest Cottonwood trees in Littleton. I sanded it, gave it a light stain, some clear varnish.
*...then there are the rocks that my sister and I collected on the side of the road at Raton Pass. Her car broke down, help wasn't coming for hours, we saw the side of a mountain, we did what any self-respecting, nature-loving young women would do, we went rock hunting! And wow, we found some beauties.
*...there is a giant black bug (still researching what the heck "he" is); the birch wood tree trunk (now that's a story!); a chunk of Amazonite from our family cabin, gifts of minerals and crystals from loved ones who know me well.
Maybe I should move outside.

Mental note of the day: "Wear bracelets"

2011-02-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

A pretty vintage crystal bracelet on one wrist, and an animal print cuff on the other. Wearing bracelets reminds us that we are beautiful, just like they are. Look at your bracelet often. Adjust it, shine it with your fingers, notice how beautiful it is, how it sounds when it moves. Mental note: "Wear a gorgeous bracelet more often than not."
You are what you see.

Blue Monday

2011-02-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

I'm finally back in blog ville. You would think I have been to China and back, but no. I've just been unable to get my post-a-day butt in gear. So, here's to a new beginning!! I am ambitious to keep it rolling, at least 3 days a week, maybe more...we can only hope.
Today I'm contemplating all the blue that I love. Luminous blue, Santa Fe blue, Royal blue.
Take a look at these BLUE-tiful (sorry) pictures.
What's blue in your world?

This is from the Rochas Spring 2011 Collection. I am in love with this dress. Royal blue.

I collect blue glass. They have to be the perfect 'blue'; not quite an aqua, almost a teal. I like the way these looked after I stacked a few and snapped a micro shot of them. Luminous blue.

When I found this map at a thrift store I was thrilled. Not only is it dotted with 'blue', but it shows where all the best Turquoise mines are in the Southwest. Santa Fe blue.

The Sketchbook Project

2010-12-29T11:05:00.000-08:00

I'm currently in the throes of working in my sketchbook for The Brooklyn Art Library tour (thank you Noma!) I have picked the theme "Happy Thoughts". The due date is January 15 and I have many MANY pages left to sketch in before I will be done.

Will I get it to them in time?

Who knows. But I'll sure try my best.

And maybe I'll even learn a thing or two....

about myself...

along the way.

Inspired living in Santa Barbara

2010-12-27T14:52:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite memories of the trip to SB was the quiet morning that Kristie and I spent taking snap shots of her house. Here is a glimpse of her spirited home all dressed up for the holidays.

I was really just trying to capture her table-scape and it ended up being a pretty cool self portrait too!

This is a photo of an antique statue that belonged to Kristie's husbands' Grandfather. Probably from the 1920's, it looks so great cradled in their industrial type shelf system.

One of our favorite past times is thrifting and here are some fanciful thrift store finds from this trip. Photo by Kristie.

Kristie's living room with her really cool red mohair vintage chairs. Photo by Kristie.

The fireplace mantel decked out for the holidays. Photo by Kristie.

Santa Barbara Light

2010-12-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

As an artist I'm always attracted to the way light expresses itself and how it touches everything it falls upon. These three photos capture the essence of the different types of lighting I observed while I was in Santa Barbara. The beach at sunset with its' natural light of soft and misty corals and grays; the Christmas lights of a Rue de Lille vignette which to me mimics the look of all the many festive lights we saw on everything in and around town; and a glimpse of the candle light tour at the Mission captures the honey-like warmth and glow of the Spanish colonial architecture that abounds in Santa Barbara's historic downtown.

One of the many beaches of Santa Barbara with Santa Cruz Island in the distance. Photo by Kristie.

A vignette at Rue de Lille in Summerland. A store with wonderful French inspired merchandise. Photo by Kristie.

Candles light the way through the old historic Santa Barbara Mission. Photo by me.

Santa Barbara Dreaming

2010-12-27T13:54:00.000-08:00

These wonderful photos of Saints and an Angel were taken by my friend Kristie when we toured The Santa Barbara Mission during The Feast of Saint Barbara on December 4th. After we enjoyed the ceremonial presentation in the church, candles lit the way for our passage through the historic parts of the Mission. At the end of the candle light tour there was a Feast of sweets and traditional Spanish dancers entertained the crowd. It was a wonderful, soul stirring event that we will never forget.

A Peaceful Noel

2010-12-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

My dears, Christmas is almost upon us. How will you be celebrating?

The Olive branch, a sure symbol of peace. I adore this photo of prayerful hands tied with ribbons and olive branches. From the Christmas 2010 issue of Jeanne D'Arc Living magazine where there is always an abundance of French inspired design tips. See more photos from the Christmas issue here.

For the past 15 years the LaVigna girls have enjoyed sitting on that very park bench (above) in The Plaza in the center of Santa Fe, New Mexico. But, we are usually there on a bright autumn day, people watching, eating chocolates from Todos Santos! I love to see the park in this winter white photo where silence and peace abound (probably taken just before sunrise, as this park is usually bustling with people). Found here.

This giant head of Jesus Christ is waiting to be attached to the body of the Jesus statue on the hill. Such a cool photo!! According to the builders of this statue, when completed, this will be the biggest statue of Jesus Christ in the world. Constructed in the Polish countryside, near a small town of 20,000 people, it's sure to draw lots of worshipers and tourists to his side. Read more about it here.

Images of Christmas

2010-12-21T11:22:00.000-08:00

I am awe inspired by these Christmas images from Flickr. Bottom right is the chocolate case from the super tiny and charming Todos Santos in Santa Fe. Todos Santos is a chocolate boutique about the size of a walk-in closet and it is filled to the brim with wonderful holiday decor. When I'm in Santa Fe I always visit Todos and leave with some amazing chocolates. And, middle left, is a window display at Anthropologie. Did you know that they hire a team of "artists" and their full time job is to constantly design and redesign their vignettes? Magical merchandising.
I love all these images for their quiet beauty. Be sure and click on the links below to get a closer look and more information about the talented person behind the shot. I hope to be back to post more holiday images tomorrow and Thursday too. Merry Christmas!!

1. christmas decorations, 2. christmas decoration, 3. NYC - Metropolitan Museum of Art: Pablo Picasso's Girl Reading at a Table, 4. Anthropologie Paper Link Chain Store Window, 5. IMAG1631, 6. dining room, 7. Our Dining Room, 8. Constructivist apron and tea towel, 9. Todos Santos Chocolate Shop in Santa Fe, NM (Feb. 18, 2008)

Vintage Santa

2010-12-20T15:46:00.000-08:00

What do you think Mrs. Claus would say? An off duty Santa here, relaxing in the frigid snow as only Santa could, enjoying his guy-hood. I like his warm coat, it's something perfectly Kris Kringle-ish. And his Christmas hat...much more authentic than the typical Santa hat. Yeah, I think this Vintage Santa may just be the real thing. What a great photo! (I found this on the Internet as public, no further info about it; when, or where it was taken...hm, it's gotta make you wonder, don't you think?) WHO is he REALLY?

Chinese Inspiration

2010-11-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

At the Design Boom blog I found this spirited work by Chinese artist and architect Pei Zhu. These photos are of his art installation for the 2010 12th International Architecture Biennial in Venice, Italy. Studio Pei Zhu created this soaring wonder with more than 1300 acrylic bars arranged on a sandy grid. It's not just the soaring work that inspires, but also the words of wisdom: "Art is not the final goal; art is a process to personal refinement and growth." and this: "Art is the immaterial content of space that stirs the heart and sparks humanity's dreams." -studio pei zhu see it all here, and here.

Drawings to make you smile!

2010-11-17T15:23:00.000-08:00

In my most recent work I've combined my love of art with my love of humor resulting in what I like to call "Hidden Message Artwork". Can you find the hidden message within each drawing? Color pencil and water color on French charcoal paper. (click the image for a closer look)

Santa Fe Charmers

2010-11-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

Every year we look for new treasures in Santa Fe. This year we discovered 4 new spots to share with you.

My mom and sister sitting in the rock pavilion. Santa Fe, October 2010

At The Chocolate Smith on Cerrillos Road, we found a delicious and highly unusual chocolate bark made of white chocolate, tamari almonds, lemon zest and culinary lavender. This was the first time I have ever consumed lavender flowers and I loved every bite! A unique snack, for sure and it's something you can order for home delivery on their website. You won't be disappointed.

Hotel St. Francis was our favorite hotel of choice for many years past. They recently went through a dramatic restoration so on Saturday (day 2 of our trip) we decided to revisit our old friend for Afternoon Tea in the lobby. If you are looking for a traditional Afternoon Tea of scones and little tea sandwiches you will be disappointed because you'll find neither of them here. Here the unique offerings with tea are a cheese plate which included the best St. Andre ever, a few local goat cheeses that were also wonderful, rice crackers, and fresh fruit, all very beautifully presented (and super wonderful of them to serve rice crackers instead of ordinary wheat ones). Also included were their chef's pastries honoring some of the local revered Saints including St. Francis himself. Everything was delicious and artistically arranged for sharing.

Everything in Santa Fe is within walking distance which always makes this trip so great. After a 5 to 6 hour drive from Denver, the last thing you want to do is get in the car again. So, shortly after we arrived we decided to stretch our legs and walk across the street from our hotel to visit The Monks Corner. Now, I'm not Catholic, but no matter, the minute I walked into that store I was swept up by Gregorian Chants and by the delicate hand-made items made by local artisans, and monks too. And these monks have a sense of humor (see the classic saints below). When I was making my purchase I told the saleswoman that "I'm not Catholic, but this stuff really moves me!" We laughed because she said to me, "I'm Jewish! So I know what you mean. It's all the same God anyway." So true, and I think that's why I felt so comfortable in that store. It's all the same God anyway.

Lastly, we've finally discovered Bittersweet Designs which is a delightful little boutique on Canyon Road. Tucked into an adobe courtyard we entered the turquoise wooden doors and then said a lot of oohs and ahs. Exquisite necklaces, crowns, vintage home decor. Let me just show you!

The owner of Bittersweet, Laurie, with her daughter. Laurie designs the Bittersweet paper line and all the necklaces.

Actress Ali MacGraw is a Santa Fe resident and she wore one of Laurie's necklaces (above) during her recent TV interview with Oprah.

The paper flower garland is a Laurie signature. Sometime she wears one like a scarf. In this photo a garland is attached to a white garment.

I'm a sucker for crowns...not to wear, but to adorn my Venus statue, so Bittersweet won me over easily. They had many crowns, some vintage and some reproductions.

I hope this short travelogue inspires you to take the trip to Santa Fe...it's so worth it, especially if you have never been there and live close enough to drive it. Wishing you a wonderful week filled with creative projects!!

Say it isn't so!!

2010-10-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

I am recently back from Santa Fe!! and as usual, I was so inspired by the necklace art we saw in the shops and on the people around town. In Santa Fe everything has a festive flair, and the ladies will wear amazing,sometimes incredibly huge necklaces with ballet tops, jeans and cowgirl boots. A look I LOVE and want to emulate...but, unfortunately I have no photos!!! I was having such a good time, I forgot to take pictures.(Can you believe it?) So, I've collected a few similar things from flickr to show you here. I would love to wear any one of these with a t-shirt, jeans and boots for a fantastic look. (Yes, I'd even wear the corsage necklace with jeans) Commentary and links below. Click on photo for a closer look at necklace.

The black and white photos (bottom right) are attributed to Fashion Stylist, Angel Phillips, who is known for her wonderful necklaces. The theatrical corsage-like necklaces were made from reclaimed plastic and fabric flower parts and both are by the talented artist/designer, Casey Dwyer . Aren't they such a super great example of how recycling can lead to artistic expression?!

The zipper necklace (in the center) is hand sewn by Alice Pleasance in Italy...and I think if I had to pick the most creative of the bunch, this zipper necklace is truly a stand out.

The acai fruit beads (middle far right) are from Brazil by Justine Standaert who lives in Mexico. She says these beads are energy boosting to the person wearing them.

The fairy pendant was made in a class with Tim Holtz. Rubber stamps and a vintage soda cap are both part of the finished product.

But I've saved my favorite for last (top left). By Jacob Schere of Lucid Communications...a statues head draped with shell necklaces. Love it.

1. In Prayer wth Shell Necklaces, 2. Candy Thief Treasure Necklace, 3. Montezuma Necklace, 4. Candy Thief Treasure Necklace, 5. Zipper Necklace, 6. Large Red Acai Necklace, 7. Tim Holtz Lemon Soda Pin/Necklace, 8. ......................., 9. ....................

Mystery on Boulder Creek

2010-10-04T12:25:00.001-07:00

Stones and Flow
Originally uploaded by Zane Selvans

I managed to snag a magical day in Boulder on Friday with my sister and my nephew Nick.

First we enjoyed an inspired lunch at Mateo (19th and Pearl).
I ordered the Mac and Cheese, tasted Nick's gnocchi and Carmel's side of French fries all of which were "not the ordinary".

Good thing we all considered our cholesterol and also ordered the super fresh salad, mine made with arugula, basil, mint, and raw asparagus. It tasted so healthy, it was a perfect off-set to the richness of the fries and the cheesy mac.

(Mateo was recently mentioned in Bon Appetit magazine article "Boulder, Foodiest Town in America 2010". This restaurant and those similar are one of the many reasons we all love Boulder so much!! )

After a lunch like that, we needed to get moving - and for that we took a walk along Boulder creek (westward bound). There we were entertained by a surprise show of exquisitely stacked river rocks, some seen here in this photo.

(To view these rocks, park in the library lot off of Arapaho and go to the bridge looking over the west side.)

Someone told us that he saw a tall, skinny guy working his magic to put these rocks together, and another told us that it was the students who practice Tai Chi on the library porch who are doing it.

But my favorite suggestion is from the photographer, Zane Seivans, who suggests that it is any one, Tom, Dick or Harry (or Sue) who wants to add to the rocks (people like you and I)....a community offering....like a cairn (pronounced: karn) marking a trail. That's my favorite scenario....that it's humans working together to mark some place they have been. The original marker gets added to...and again, and again...using nature, natural rock, marking this space as sacred, as a sacred place "I've been to". Wonderful.

So, although it remains a bit of a mystery as to who is actually doing it, I'm almost convinced that our photographer friend here has it right. If you are a Boulderite and know the answer, or have a theory about it, I'd love to hear from you!

No matter, it is an awesome sculptural garden of rocks that have been brilliantly gathered in the river. (Water level is low right now, so you can really see the rocks). If you live local and you have the chance, don't miss this exciting exhibit.

And finally, no trip to Boulder would be complete (for me) without a stop at the Whole Foods Bakery on Pearl St. for a loaf of the Jalapeño Cheddar Figasse for only $2.99 each. You haven't really tasted bread until you have tasted this pretzel like crusty creation. Only the guys at the Boulder bakery make it for me (yeah!), and I always buy a loaf, or two as I head out of this very special town.

Mom Rocks

2010-09-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

My Mom wearing some of her rock crystal beads. Summer 2010.

I have been collecting rocks and minerals since I was an infant. Okay, a slight exaggeration. Let me rephrase: I have been collecting rocks since I was 3 yrs old. That's when we moved to Colorado from New York. From that day forward my awe inspired parents packed us up and out into their Rocky Mountain backyard virtually every weekend. It was on those numerous outings that we found an abundance of rocks: moss rocks, red and white quartz, fools gold and the super beautiful and showy, amazonite. Treasures, some small and some really, REALLY big, that still dot their yard to this day. I can remember outings where we were surrounded by the majestic Rockies and all we did was look down, so as not to miss a wonderful rock for our collection. And there were the times that the old Falcon was so loaded down, it couldn't make it up the highway pass, so we would have to get out and push to give it a little encouragement. My dad at the wheel, chomping on a wet cigar. Ah, memories.

Well, today, I continue the tradition in my own small way. As does my mom. Here are a few of her "small" rocks and minerals, some found, and some bought, but all artistically displayed on silver trays for everyone to enjoy.

Natures' Abstractions

2010-09-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

If anyone ever tells you they don't understand Abstract art, tell them to go take a walk in the woods. This isn't the same as telling that person to "take a hike!"... I literally mean for you to tell them to take a walk in the woods and look around a bit. Nature is very abstract. Here are some "marbleized" leaves created by Mother Nature herself. I collected them on an early morning walk over the weekend. These specimens are from the Birch tree...shapes within shapes, colors within colors, layer upon layer of abstract goodness.

Inviting all readers!

2010-09-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you haven't become a "Follower" of my blog, I invite you to press the "Follow" button on the right to make it official! I'm always on the look-out for art related things to post that I hope will inspire and warm your heart. I'd love to have ya join me! Photo credit here.

SOLD

2010-09-15T13:18:00.001-07:00

girlie zebra and angelic lamb
Originally uploaded by thealavigna

Woohoo!! I just sold the "Angelic Lamb" painting today!! I'm gonna miss her...but I still have her Zebra buddy to keep me company, until she sells too! Many thanks to my generous buyer.

Early September Mosaic

2010-09-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

A few of my "September" favorites from the talented artists of Flickr. I've selected each image for their honest and rich character, that, for me, conjure up the essence of late Summer and early Fall. The tree, by the way, was done by a 4th grader in art class in 2007, isn't it great?! It has such depth, I think we are witness to a future artist here. I hope you enjoy all of these pictures as much as I do, and please click on the links below for a closer look and to learn more about these super "fantastical" (Yes - a word? no? so, I make it a new word) artists.

1. Red Pear (detail), 2. autumn tree, 3. New artists. SPANISH PAINTERS. Contemporary Art. Expressionism Still Lifes. merello.-Regreso del mar (92x73), 4. Colours of Provence, 5. Bird in Hand Journal, 6. Peacock feather in macro, 7. upcycled art book envelopes, 8. Peaches, 9. many fruits

New Art, Inner Peace

2010-09-02T15:54:00.000-07:00

I'm always so inspired by the gentle disposition of the Native Americans in Santa Fe. They sit in front of the Governor's Palace daily, selling their jewelry, pottery and art wares. Those who are lucky and have visited New Mexico's capitol as frequently as I, know of whom I speak. They are a proud bunch, and it's hard to believe that they are a suppressed Indian Nation. It's heart wrenching to know what they once had, compared to what they have now....in the way of land, and respect, and freedom to practice their beliefs. It's all pretty much gone for them, except in ceremonial opportunities that the city affords them, and of course, in the freedom of their own homes. There, in the privacy of their homes, I'm certain you will find them hanging onto all they can of what their Great Grandparents taught them...in hopes that their culture will not die out entirely. What I've noticed about these forgiving people is that they have a quiet sense of peace about them,....especially the ladies. And that's what I hope to have captured here. It's from my minds' memory of these kind people, out of which this painting was born. She is a gentle soul, radiant, forgiving, quiet, colorful, introspective, and above all, peaceful.

Inner Peace, 2010. graphite pencil, water color, acrylic paint on archival board.

Friends Forever!

2010-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Carmela LaVigna Coyle is my sister and story book author of the "Do Princesses?" book series for young readers. Her latest book, "Do Princesses Have Best Friends Forever?" is due out later this month and is available pre-order on Amazon.

This new title is the fifth book of the series. In the past 4 books the "Princess" learned that indeed Princesses do wear hiking boots, scrape their knees, count to 10, and kiss dogs instead of frogs! In the new book she learns the importance of being and having a good friend.

The charming illustrations for each book are by the ultra talented team of Mike Gordon and his son, Carl Gordon. Their humorous artwork is a perfect fit for the imagination and antics of the small lead character and her ever faithful dog.
To learn more about Carmela, Mike and Carl please click on their names above.

Fashion as Art, Jewelry

2010-08-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

The silk, wearable art cuffs, above, are from Dries Van Noten. I love the African inspired design, and they look super comfortable, which is always important. Each cuff is unique and piled with embroidered beads. Ethnic and wonderful! I'd sure like to get my "arms" on those!

Well, I just like this photo so much. She must fancy herself as some kind of nature loving bride. And, although I would forgo the tiara, that necklace with a white blouse and jeans? Smashing art! The birds are a nice touch, and if they promised me "no bird poop" I wouldn't mind having them nest in my hair, either.

Forget the earrings, these crystal bracelets are stunning! Made by the artists at Swarovski, they are Vintage, circa 1980's.

A pretty bracelet with a simple top and slacks, always comfortable and easy, and a nice way to "frame" a bracelet that is really a piece of art in and of itself.

Doesn't need to be a Swarovski, though. I once found a vintage crystal bracelet, different, but as nice as the one above, at the Paris Street Market for 5 bucks.

Okay, her head aches either because those gorgeous pearls weigh a ton, or she's in buyers remorse as it must have set her back thousands! Want the look without the pouty headache? Just wear fakes.
Coco Chanel wore fake pearls, so did Helena Rubinstein,...heck, they invented fake, and they were artists, indeed.

Resources: Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, Dries Van Noten, Mary Howard, Swarovski, Reem Acra

Summer's almost over!

2010-08-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

We'll see you later summer!
photo credit here

Pretty Summer Projects

2010-08-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

I've started painting on fabric and I love it! This is an experimental table cloth...I used Italian linen (are you surprised?) and acrylic paints that were mixed with a special solution. Then I washed and ironed to make sure it was color fast. Kind of pretty, don't ya think?

This is one of my inspiration boards which I made on the cheap thanks to Office Depot. I painted the ugly frame pink using some of my acrylic paints so I could mix the exact color I wanted. It's crammed full of promos and brochures that are colorful and whimsical...and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

A collage of French fashion photos....in preparation for the "magazine" I am designing for friends.

More inspiration, this time I hung a wire over my fireplace and used tiny clothes pins to attach images that inspire me with their color and subject matter.

Pretty pictures of Summer

2010-08-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

Venus wearing scarf

At Monastery in my neighborhood

Outdoor mural at local Monastery

Vicci Sperry

2010-08-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

When I was a young adult my Mom introduced me to the book, The Art Experience by Vicci Sperry. Vicci's book was awe inspiring to me at an age when I was very impressionable. Mom knew the impact it would have on me and others too. She had a vision and bought 10 copies at her local bookstore in the early 1970's; she gradually give each one away when the spirit moved her in that direction.

I ended up with her copy because she had given them all away, and when it was my turn, she didn't have any left! I love having her copy, because she wrote her name in it, so when she gave it to me, I wrote my name, under hers..... "Art is the joyous and spontaneous evidence of man's capacity to express his deep feelings for beauty, order, life and love." - Vicci Sperry

Painting by Vicci Sperry

Vicci Sperry was first an artist and then an educator of the art experience. She taught and lectured extensively on the subject. Part Two of her book is devoted to taking the reader through the art lessons she used in her classroom.

"There is much that is cold and lifeless that poses as art, but the great works of Bach, Shakespeare, and Rembrandt ennoble us and make us feel more loving." - Vicci Sperry

Love, harmony, joy, these are all commonly referred within Vicci's book as hallmarks of an artistic experience. What I love most about the message of this book is that you can have an art experience, either as the doer or viewer, either way, art engages you to become part of an expansive idea. The theme that you don't have to be an artist to arrive at the exquisite truth that art is Love really speaks to my soul. This is probably one of the first "Self-Help" books written for my Mom's generation.

"Lesser artists add embellishments. If there is ornament it cannot become more obtrusive than the whole. It should be like a breeze that belongs to the total atmosphere." - Vicci Sperry

Painting by Vicci Sperry

Over the years I have read this little book many times, and now its' pages are soft and buttery with time. The book was printed in France in 1971, it has stiched pages and vivid images of Vicci's paintings. Vicci was American and studied under Abstract and Color Master, Hans Hoffman, in the 1950's.

Quite a few years ago, I tried to find a copy of Vicci's book so that I could give it to a man I once loved. He read my copy a dozen times, had moved away, and I thought it would be the perfect thing to send. I looked and looked for a copy of the book and after I couldn't locate one, I "made" a primitive Xerox copy of it, and sent that instead. Love will make you do funny things like that. And even though we didn't love each other, we both still loved that little book with passion.

I'm fairly certain my copy is a First Edition, although it doesn't say it is, but it doesn't say much of anything about the printing except that it was done in France. I'm not sure how long it's been out of print. Occasionally there are copies available on eBay. I'm waiting for some visionary person to publish it again for a whole new generation of lovers to enjoy. Oprah, are you listening? Can you imagine??!! This book would be perfect for her Book Club pick. Oprah? OPRRAAH?

Painting by Vicci Sperry

"We may respect the skill of commercial art, but we recognize the difference of motivation. That which is called fine art evolves from the highest originality and expresses timeless individual freedom. Great art, although it includes technique, transcends technique." - Vicci Sperry

Olive Oil = Old Friend

2010-07-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

(Updated from a few years ago....)

Olive oil has been an old friend of the family and a staple of my diet since I was a baby. I use it on my lips as a balm, on my bread instead of butter and always, ALWAYS on my salads.

Greek vs Italian: Many years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a family of Greek immigrants who settled here in Colorado. And boy, did they love their olive oil! I thought MY family was into olive oil, until I met this colorful, and slick family (yeah, a pun). They taught me the art of dining like a true Greek and the difference between the Greek habits of using olive oil and my old Italian ways. The Greek habit is to use WAY more of the stuff than the Italians, who tend to be more delicate when adding olive oil in the kitchen or at the table.

I especially enjoyed the Greek breakfast and to this day I strive to recreate it when I am feeling particularly nostalgic for those old world flavors. I rack my brains here, to remember those first memories of breakfast a la the Greek Isles:

"Lightly toasted bread with lots (and I MEAN LOTS > think Everest) of feta cheese, onto which you pour a rich, fruity, olive oil until you have an enormous pool (think the Atlantic) and then sprinkle all of that with some dried oregano, add on the side a few slices of thinly sliced ham (or if you are like me, smoked turkey), with all of this enjoy a very small, but WOWS-ER-hits-you-an-hour-later cup of Turkish coffee and you have the complete picture. It was always such a fun way to start the day, I loved it! And without the olive oil this breakfast would not be as special."

Don't you think that olive oil has the romance of wine and the mystic of Europe rolled into one liquid paradise? Take for example the vintage poster above by the Italian artist Boccasile 1948....that salad bowl is fantastic! where can I get one? and her dress! I want that hanging in my closet...but wait...is she dressed in a maid's uniform? aah! Those Italian designers even know how to dress the maids! And look, she's so happy pouring the olive oil onto the salad for the family. Squisito! Romantico!

And I personally like the idea of having a throw pillow that has an "Olive Oil" label design sewn onto it and the good people at Pottery Barn don't disappoint with their new charming pillows. Pottery Barn is custodian of all things homey and classic and in celebration of their new olive themed merchandise they provide all the details needed to throw your very own Olive Oil Tasting Party. What fun!

I feel proud to be an American when I purchase Certified Organic Olive Oil from California. It's important to buy organic olive oil as much as possible because it guarantees no pesticide residues will be in the oil. When olive oil is not organic, you rely on the processors to wash the olives before they excrete the oils...leaving one to wonder how well a job they did washing off the crap. I'm not opposed to the brands that are not organic, some of them have wonderful flavors, but with the organic version I can rest assured that I am serving something truly healthy. I usually cook at home with the organic oil and when I am out I enjoy whatever is available.

The logos below are fresh new designs for bottle labels and I just love what the artists have created. Cliff Olive Oil is a product of the Cliff Bar Family Winery in Northern, California. And the sunny California biker girl is a design by artist Sheryl Chapman, who worked up this label for the Olive Oil Co.

I once read that adding 2 tablespoons olive oil to a salad is enough to make you loose weight without changing the rest of your diet....are we dreaming or what?!!

French Miss

2010-07-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

Annie at Tres Jolie.

Tres Jolie is a fun, French inspired boutique in the heart of Historic Downtown Littleton. The girls in my family have been gathering there since it opened in 2006. We go for the scones (house-made, to die for) and in the summer, for the Frozen Hot Chocolate (their own recipe, a must have summer treat).

The trio of ladies who had the concept for **Tres Jolie (think Anthropologie Store on a more intimate scale) have created such a thoughtful atmosphere, it's truly a sanctuary for everything French and Chic. They keep their small cafe/store stocked with candies and chocolates from Europe, hand made Italian linen sundresses, and the Shabby Chic furniture line and linens. The staging is always fresh with inspiring ideas for your own home, so you will want to come back often to see how they have transformed the place.

**Tres Jolie has 3 small tables available and 2 places at the bar for their Tea service, (reservations are not accepted).

Sculpture at Twilight

2010-07-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Last night, I took my niece and nephew for a stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens. It was awe inspiring to see the massive work of Sculptor, Henry Moore mingled with the lush garden scenery. Between the 3 of us, we must have taken over a hundred photos.

Here are a few twilight shots from my Nikon CoolPix of the outdoor exhibit. I think, considering I'm not a photographer, that they turned out very interesting, and I'll tell you why. On this outing, I also received a valuable photography lesson from my nephew, when he offered up some intelligent advice to his auntie.

Here's how it went down: I exclaimed (with great frustration) "It's so beautiful, my photos never do it justice!", to which he replied, "Don't try to capture exactly what you are seeing, don't try to make the photo into a memory, but instead arrange what you are seeing in an interesting way."

So, perhaps, that's what has happened here. I took these photos focused on making each frame interesting, and magically, they're not bad. Thanks Nicky, great advice!

Recent Abstractions

2010-07-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

A recent abstract drawing from my sketch book: "Summer Flowers in Full Bloom"
I used a drafting pencil on lovely French paper.
Inspired by my balcony flowers, a mellow sunrise,
and a gentle breeze.

Art Pinajian's Museum Debut

2010-06-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

Our old friend, Art Pinajian, will have his paintings featured at the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum in Woodstock, New York from July 24 - October 11, 2010.

I browsed the website dedicated to Arthur (or Art, as we fondly called him) and found so many paintings that I just LOVE. It was hard to choose the ones to show you here, so you simply must go to the site and see more by this profoundly gifted artist.

Art was such a colorful person, always with a joke or two to tell. We miss him and wish that he could have been here to see everyone fuss over his paintings, at last!!

P.S. In 1953, during their "road trip" honeymoon, my parents dropped Art off at the U.S. Mexico border. They watched as their friend walked away, with only a small back pack, into the Mexican landscape. The town painting and the beach painting below are 2 of the pieces he did while he was on that adventure, wandering that country for many months and getting inspired by all that he saw.

The Art of the Ball

2010-06-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

I'm a proud Auntie, and my Niece, who is not only a young artist and design talent, is also a Volleyball Champ who puts her whole heart into the game. Last weekend in Vail, CO, she and a friend won 1st place at an all women's tournament when competing against 34 other teams of 2 - Bellisimo!

Photos by Mike Coyle

Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

2010-06-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

Thea with Grandma LaVigna at the Garden of the Gods, 1965

My first "food memory" involves my Italian Grandmother. Grandma LaVigna was one of many Italian immigrants whose ship docked safely in NYC in the early 1900's. She was from Sicily and arrived with many siblings to begin a new life. When I knew her growing up, she had a raspy way of speaking in broken English. Later I found out that this raspiness was a common Sicilian sound.

I realize now that many of you are probably thinking this is going to be a post about all the amazing pasta dishes she made, and all the family recipes she left us with, but, sorry folks, not this time. This time I want to tell you about something else she was very good at in the kitchen, and that was squeezing oranges.

My fondest memories of my Grandmother are from a time when my mom and dad put me on an airplane to visit her in NY, all by myself. I arrived prior to the big event of my aunt's wedding (the rest of my Colorado family would follow later). It was my Grandmother's last daughter to marry, so this was going to be a BIG event.

And along I came, in the midst of this most busy time for her. I often wonder what my parents were thinking by sending me alone, a hyper little girl, during such a hectic time. But it was too late. There I was, in NY, around 8 yrs old, visiting with this little lady I knew little about. All I really knew was that she was my Grandma and that she talked funny (I was 8!).

But it was on this trip that I found out something more. This trip I found out she would do something for me that I didn't see her do for anyone else....

And this, I am sure, is where I get my love for fresh squeezed orange juice. Every morning, I would sit in Grandma's teeny-tiny kitchen to watch, and listen (read on) as she would make me a glass of o.j. and the performance would begin.

And I couldn't believe my ears. Beautiful Italian songs were hummed and sung (with words I could hardly detect) as she slowly picked out oranges from the sack. During this process I noted that she used a diamond miner's eye because some oranges that seemed perfectly good to me went back in the sack, her singing notes accentuated when a "bad" orange was thrown back in.

After she carefully chose each orange, she would rub each one clean in the sink, and with this she did a little jig. One has to assume that this was a kind of Italian jig because a little hip action was involved, along with waving arms.

But it was the actual squeezing time that amazed me the most. Because that's when I realized this was hard work. It was labor intense for her, and even my young eyes felt the great gift of gratitude as I looked on, her knuckles white, her breath heavy as she twisted and turned each one to get every last bit of juice she could, for me.

And now I too try to create some of the magic that my Grandma showed me on that trip, many years ago. She taught me that by taking the time to turn the simple act of squeezing oranges into a fun and meaningful event, we elevate it to something higher. I've even been known to do an Italian jig or two, while I hum a tune from a favorite aria. Orange juice never tasted so good.

Taking time off....

2010-05-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a few days off, but it's been such a long time since my last post that I thought I would leave you with my latest collage.

I used lots of different things here: the face and torso are the image from an Italian pottery maker, her wings are avocados from a local produce flyer and the flowers are stickers I arranged into a floral bouquet.

Then with both yellow and sepia felt tipped pens I added my own artistry and the word "Bravo" just seemed like something that would come out of her mouth.

I am thinking of using this collage as thank you notes....I'll probably color copy it and be a little different by punching a hole in her head (no pun intended) and feeding a ribbon through the hole. Then the person who receives this will be able to hang it on a Christmas tree or use it as a book marker. It's a thank you note that is a gift too.

And now I'm on my way to the land of no phones and no computers called: STAY-CATION!

See you the week of June 7.

Madame Alyn's Lid

2010-05-05T11:25:00.001-07:00

Madame Alyn's Lid
Originally uploaded by Alyn Carlson

Hey everyone, meet Alyn Carlson, an extraordinary artist and designer.

Alyn paints wonderful abstracts, is a stunning graphic designer, an actor, and a chicken rancher living in a converted church in New England.

But wait, there's more. She also designs and makes imaginative paper hats! And these aren't ordinary paper party hats, these are amazing, wonderfully designed and wearable festive hats like none you have ever seen before.

Made entirely of paper scrapes (Alyn is photographed here in one of her creations); she uses things like old tickets, magazine pages, maps, candy wrappers to complete each one-of-a-kind piece. Her whimsical take on cloches, bonnets and fedoras are sure to make you smile.

Alyn's hats are truly 'Green' products; good for our environment by turning trash into collectibles. Be sure to stop by her Etsy site and click on her photo here to see more from this prolific character.

Am I Aunt Tallulah??

2010-04-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com: Thank You, Aunt Tallulah! (9780873588911): Carmela Lavigna Coyle, Bruce MacPherson: Books

This book is for any kid, young or old. A FUN adventure about the fine art of gratitude! Written by my sister, Carmela LaVigna Coyle, with wonderful illustrations by Bruce MacPherson. Buy it for all your little ones on Amazon today!! It's easy, just click on the link above and you will be able to look inside the book, read a few pages, and click to purchase. (More adventures with Aunt Tallulah coming soon to a.........near you)

Busy Weekend....New Art

2010-03-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

Two abstracts I finished last weekend....above is Glowing Plant, acrylic on board,...and above that is part of a larger abstract painting, Golden Plant Life, mixed media on paper with varnish finish.

A Golden Still-life

2010-03-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

Part of an abstract floral. Acrylic paint on paper. By Moi.

inspiring cottonwood trees....

2010-03-03T14:19:00.000-08:00

taken on a walk during my lunch break.

Emily Dickinson quote

2010-03-03T10:59:00.000-08:00

"Some keep the Sabbath going to church, I keep it, staying at home." Emily Dickinson

photo credit: me

Weekend Scene

2010-03-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

oh my goodness, i am such a dog lover. and for being such a dog lover, it is sad, SAD, i tell you, that i don't have one of my own at the moment (thank goodness for my little doggie niece, lulu, and her hugs and affection) this shot was taken, thanks to my sister, who said, "thee, turn around." and there i saw them. couldn't resist. driver and passenger, eyes glued forward. i think they really wished they could have started that thing and gone for a joy ride. loyal friends waiting for their beloved owner in the parking lot of Snooze, Denver.

Fashion as Art....

2010-02-25T13:44:00.000-08:00

Vera Wang has a knack for making "strange" look elegant and comfortable. Her pieces make me swoon.

The cool and breezy dress and necklace below is a yummy page from my Nordstrom Spring Catalogue. Made in Italy (of course). It's so light, looks like she could take off if she had wings. Love it.

I think I favor "Italian" fashion because my blood is flowing in their gene pool. The necklace from Bottega Veneta, paired with the cute little tank, makes my Italian blood boil. In a good way, not in a raging maniac way.

Anthropologie always leaves me breathless for more. The top here is really so unusual, it should have the honor of being called 'Art'. I love that the vase of flowers is designed to make the persons' head the featured flower. I want to be a flower.

And lastly, I can see myself wearing this....I already have the bauble necklace and a gauzy little dress similar to the one featured here. Better yet, this would look smashing on my niece.

Sources: anthropologie, bottega veneta, vera wang, nordstrom, vogue, harpers bazaar

the window of my world....

2010-02-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

.....the view from my balcony this morning.

the sun is trying to shine (it was a success).

i love the effect of the screen door thru my lens.

....not a bad view to take in while sipping on a hot chocolate.

i love snow.

Batik Chic

2010-02-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a beautiful silk scarf my niece made for me in her art class. She learned the difficulties of batik and ended up with a great finished product. I love her creative design and the color she chose. My fingers are crossed that she pursues a career in art and design...she sure has the talent for it. My niece glows, she really glows.

....a busy weekend

2010-01-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

I feel drawn to sheep and lambs,....and this little guy was just screaming to wear the crown. I tried to tell him, "No, it's just too big for you!" but he persisted, and won. Oh, and how I love African animals, like Tena the giraffe, above, and the girlie zebra lower right....it never ceases to amaze me how abstract and dazzling our planet is! And, finally, it's nice to have a bowl of organic lemons in my fridge; comes in handy when I want a cup of tea or to paint a few of them instead.
Hope you enjoy the sample of what's new off my easel this week!

....a few snap-shots of home (click the link for details)

2010-01-21T10:15:00.000-08:00

1. Italian linen curtains, 2. Shah, 3. Little guardians, 4. Venus wearing chains

2010-01-19T15:18:00.000-08:00

Inspiration board.....In this mosaic I've brought together a few of the talented photographers featured in my flickr favorites. I'll often turn to flickr when I'm in need of a jolt of inspiration I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, and be sure to click on the credit below to find out more about the talent behind the photo.

1. Winter Welcome, 2. collares en San Telmo, 3. The Sweet Life, 4. Mother Mary and a snowy background, 5. pain d' amour, 6. Happy new year! Bonne année! Frohes neues Jahr!, 7. cake box, 8. Untitled, 9. little blue fruits

2010-01-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

...tree #4, painted during a typical spring snow storm in Colorado; my take on an cherry tree that I pass in the park where I walk most days. Tree in Spring Snow Storm, 2009.

2010-01-13T10:26:00.000-08:00

This tree grows on the side of the road in a wild part of the neighborhood. I love the unusual way it blooms!! Wild Crabapple - Early Spring, 2009

2010-01-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

Another tree close to my heart....tree #2. Glowy, showy and ready for winter to be over.

Tree - Late Winter, 2009

2010-01-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

...the first in my series of 4 trees. (I'll be showing you one each day this week) I know all of the trees that I paint/draw....this one is of a tree that I see when I'm pulling out of the office parking lot, which is usually right around the time of the purple twilight. I'm always struck by the glow all the trees emit. Here is my translation.
Winter Tree in Purple Twilight, 2009.

2010-01-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

....made this fun postcard using bighugelabs, they have some nifty tools. (the photo was snapped when i was on was a bike tour of the park in 2005.) The bridges in that park are sculptural gems....and this one is my favorite.

2010-01-06T09:58:00.000-08:00

Sunny paintings to warm you up on this wintry day; new drawings from 2009:

2010-01-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

Genevieve Pfeiffer is a former school teacher in Canada who, after retirement, decided to take up a new career in art, and I'm so glad she did!! Take a look at these charming, CHARMING examples of her work; a few of my favorites:

2010-01-04T15:53:00.000-08:00

Jose Manuel Merello; I am loving his flamboyant use of color and shapes....and this quote:

"Everybody asks themselves what art is. I think that art is any human creation that is able to lift the spirit to a higher plain of emotion and wonderment." - Merello

2009-12-23T14:50:00.000-08:00

I'm kinda liking this spontaneous Christmas collage, made up of things found around the office on this cold snowy day before Christmas Eve.....snippets of my winter hat, a Starbucks Peppermint-Mocha cup (the contents of which are now history), cards recieved from business associates, a flower from one of my blooming geranium plants...and a few other tid-bits.....

POSTER GOODNESS

2009-11-19T14:41:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest addition to my poster collection. I found this last weekend in the oh-so-charming boutique, 5 Green Boxes on Pearl St. in Denver.

A parody of the 1960's anti-Vietnam poster, "Make Love - not War", it is a fun reminder that the creative alternatives to conflict can be very real.

If you are itching to have your own copy of this poster, 5 Green Boxes is currently offering 15% off any one item in their store....but you have to go to their website and print the offer and bring it into the store. If this poster doesn't suit you, I guarantee you that something else in their store will!

Poster is $14.00, unframed. ...I grabbed an inexpensive poster frame at Michael's on my way home and had it hanging in my studio, pronto.

Bright and Shiney

2009-11-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

Mid-October in Santa Fe - now our favorite time of year to visit. Temperatures were cool, mostly locals running around, and serious art in abundance for serious collectors.

Can you believe I purchased my first Santa Fe art? and that the artists were so generous, that they parted with their treasures at only $1.00 each?!

Exactly, and here they are. This is the work of "young" artists, Finn and Sophie, whom we met while they were peddling their wares at their lemonade stand on Canyon.

They did a little jig when I asked them to sign their pieces, and sign them they did!! Nothing subdued and small, NO. Their signatures became part of the whole; bold, free and full of confidence.

An inspiration for us adults!! We must express loudly and with passion.... Remember what it was like to be a little kid?

ROMANTIC, FUN SCULPTURES FROM ENGLAND

2009-09-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Coming to you from Cornwall, England, the husband-wife team of Abbott and Ellwood allow their art to strike up a charming pose of eloquence and good humour. Check out their endearing one-of-a-kind sculptures (the British term for one-of-a-kind is "one-off"). They use found objects and images printed onto metal to create each story laden piece. Whimsical.
for some reason my link-age isn't working....their website: www.abbottandellwood.com

Barbara Padilla * 2nd Semifinal * America's Got Talent 2009 HD

2009-09-09T09:00:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday nights I often indulge in a little TV, and I've got to tell you, this was SO moving last night....I'm so glad I tuned in. This clip is approx. 7 min. long, but it's the prayer she sings for the competition that truly ties it all together. Grab a tissue and enjoy!

PEARL ESSENCE

2009-06-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

Photographer and artist, Dave Ryan, has asked me to let my readers know that he has a blog now, and a book he is working on titled "Genius is Easy". In the book, Dave explores his thoughts on the creative process and how we can tap into our God given abilities that motivate us to make stuff and inspire others. Space, silence, a deepening of the creative experience, are all things Dave is passionate about and in his blog and his book he shares his own experience in awakening to his abilities for all types of artistic endeavors.

Dave's photo above is "Pearl", and it is just a small sampling of the lovely work he has done and catalogued throughout his blog. I urge you to take a look at his very unique collection.

Living with Art, my house

2009-06-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

I frequent the thrift stores and here's a sampling of some of the things I have gathered over the years. The collage upper left was made from found magazine scraps which I touched up with a bit of my own artistry; you can't see it in the photo, but I made a small paper "bowl" and attached it to the bottom - my first try at 3D collage! The photo of the Venus statue was taken for Christmas 2007; the fake pearls she wears are one of my favorite thrift store finds. The "Island girl" bust has some wonderful rustic chips on her and it was nice to know I rescued her from a certain demise. And last, but not least of all, we've honored the sweet but small vintage bust with her very own bejeweled crown, somehow she just screams "royalty". Call me sentimental. More later.....

Living with Art

2009-04-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

I love to see how other people live with art:

This image below is from House Beautiful magazine and was snipped years ago; I resurrected it from my studio file labeled "inspiring art and artists".

I do not know whose collection it was, nor who the quote is from, or the photographer, but what a cool idea for displaying a collection as sculpture, or as a table-scape. "No matter where I put my Mexican milagro crosses and Italian ex-votos, they work. Keep only what you love when you're starting over...."

The photo above is from the January '09 issue of Architectural Digest. The dandelion sculpture in the forefront right dates from the 1960's; I love it because it is so whimsical, and who doesn't like a dandelion? (artist unknown). The table runner is a Japanese obi; the prints or paintings in the background leaning on a long bench are also by an unknown artist. These paintings remind me of 2 large acrylics that my mother did in 1972; many years later she gave them to me when I moved into an apartment in Boulder, she saw that my new place had vaulted ceilings, and her huge paintings were perfect for that space; big paintings demand lots of space.

The dining room photo above from Vogue Living Australia, is the perfect example, I think, of how much flowers mean to a room. The flowers on the table and in the fabric of the comfy, modern chairs add a live able warmth that the room would be void of without those floral touches. Flowers always make a room homey and cozy, and in this example you would otherwise feel like you were in a conference room of some cold, corporate headquarters. Painting is a fun stunner (artist unknown); the red enamel "wall sculptures" (artist unknown), are wonderful!

Be like a child....

2009-04-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

(This is the first part in a series of short essays about art.)

Children can be such great artists. If a child is allowed to just be, to be free from adult expectation, then what you will get is a picture or painting that is purely that child's expression and it will always be beautiful. What makes it beautiful? It's beautiful because spirit soars onto the paper as the child gets lost in a project with heart felt innocence.

In Colorado Springs recently, I saw an exhibit of abstract paintings by renowned expressionists. At the end of the exhibit they had another collection of abstracts, these were a little bit smaller, all were carefully framed, they were quite impressive. Upon further inspection it became clear that these were paintings by 2 year olds, some 3 olds. The curator was making a point that we (as children) have this art stuff within us from an early age, not because we are genius, but because as children, we were, in most cases, unconditioned and in tune with our natural state of being.

The drawings here by Dale Chihuly illustrate my definition of being child-like and letting your spirit shine in your work. His drawings are brilliant accidents that were intended to show his team of glass blowers his conceptual design for his art glass....but these drawings end up being works of art in themselves. Why? Because they have spirit, he was having great fun when he made them, they actually breathe. Dale has breathed life onto a blank piece of paper, he was in the moment, just being, much like a child expresses himself.

The word "Art" could translate as spirit and in my imaginary dictionary it does. There's lots of art that appears devoid of spirit, but I want to suggest that it is impossible for a work of art to be devoid of spirit. Perhaps, in many instances, the artist's spirit is conditioned, crushed and heavy. The art from this artist can be disturbing for the viewer. When you observe a piece of art you experience the space or conditioned mind of the artist at the point of creation. That's why some art moves you in one direction or another, and why children's art tends to be so delightful.

Original and multiples by Dale Chihuly at Pismo Glass Gallery, Denver, Aspen and Beaver Creek.

Authors@Google: Dale Chihuly

2009-04-02T10:43:00.001-07:00

On June 19, 2008, glass artist Dale Chihuly visited Google's Mountain View, CA headquarters as part of the Authors@Google series.

It's fascinating to hear how he and his team create the installations....I love the "wall of ice" in the desert. Watch when you have about an hour to spare.

New Art - Fabric, Detail

2009-03-26T10:21:00.001-07:00

New Art - Detail

2009-03-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Super Brain Yoga

2009-03-16T14:56:00.001-07:00

A simple "yoga" position for us all.... Fascinating.

MARKET BAGS....

2009-02-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

Here in Colorado it is warmer than usual. The weather people are calling it "La Nina", they said Coloradoans can expect warm and dry weather conditions for the next 3 months! Hopefully, that won't mean snow in May....but you know Colorado, it could happen.

All this warm weather has me looking for Market Bags (some women look for sandals, I look for market bags) and I found this collection of absolute winners. In the summer, I'll be filling mine with vine ripe tomatoes, eggplants, peaches, basil, scallions and freshly cut blossoms. Take a look and see if you don't agree....these are really cute.

The bags above are from an unlikely source, a guy! That's right, and this guy sure has an eye for beautiful things, and he sews! Brian Vann works from home in San Francisco. Many of his bags are made with Vintage fabrics, so they are one of a kind. I'm crazy for this guys bags.

And here's a really cool example of a humble Market Bag. From Bean Blossom; I can't imagine a better bag, really, it's so user friendly, since it already has a worn look it is very utilitarian....no worries about messing up this bag. And that's my kind of bag, no fuss, no muss.

Okay. I confess I love all things Midwest Modern and this bag really does it for me. This is from a pattern and fabric available on their website....so if you want, you can whip one of these babies up for yourself in no time at all (and maybe one for me, while you're at it?) Though it doesn't REALLY fall under the Market Bag category (it's just not big enough to haul all that stuff around) I thought I'd throw it in the mix because, well, because it's "French".

Do you speak Dolce & Gabbana? This beauty can hang on my door anytime, and I think it would be somewhat practical too....I mean, come on! it's black and very roomy....I'd be able to add a giant baguette, and 2 arm loads of flowers instead of one. Lovely.
The Mexicans have something we don't, color sense that is riotous. These are made in Mexico from oilcloths. They have many more designs to choose from on their website. Very cute indeed.

I'm dreaming of summer even though it's still February!

favorite tear sheets from....

2009-02-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

Vogue Living Australia November/December issue 2008..... Amazing and fantastic bubble designs above.....

I love the sofa here where the owner Pamela Bell let her children decorate with drawings 'a la graffiti'.....total charm! Maybe we should all let the kids write and draw on everything!!

Installation art remains one of my favorite forms of artistic expression....in the installation above, Swedish artists Gerda Steiner and Jorg Lenzlinger brought together found objects for this Venice exhibit in 2003.

The wall in this kitchen is covered with several "samples" of wall paper that the owner had collected for a while. Great idea, huh?!

Big Hair makes come-back....

2009-02-04T10:40:00.001-08:00

Wonder what she's saying? I think it goes something like this: "I found this flower on a bush growing on Mars, stuck it in my hair and now I can't get it off! Oh well, looks like "big hair" is making a come-back anyway....I hope I can eventually get it off - when the trends change. Otherwise, I will have to have it removed surgically!"

Collage credits: big flower and chair, anthropologie. Chanel Spring 2009 Collection. Hawaiian dress and turqoise necklaces, Nieman Marcus. Sunflower Market sales promotional. Angel Sanchez, Flowers.

New Paintings....Abstracts

2009-02-04T08:52:00.001-08:00

What's on your refridgerator door?

2009-01-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

I don't know many people who use their fridge door like I do, but I know you are out there.

My fridge door is a mesmerizing mess and only "I" know how to navigate and find what I'm looking for.

Not only does it double as a bulletin board (art openings, movie listings, sales) but it also holds coupons, restaurant reviews and how to's: get the stain out, open a pomegranate, make the best Risotto (stir in the direction of your heart).

This is a snap-shot of a current "area" on my fridge. The teeny photo is of my beloved niece when she was very little; the Mona magnet holds a price sheet for the local Rec center and you'll see my only fast food splurge of Papa Murphy pizza coupons standing "poised-and-ready" for my next greasy craving.

Nick Vujicic

2009-01-28T09:01:00.001-08:00

Feeling down? Watch this!!