Zazu Faure/Los Angeles ...handcrafted animals from recycled materials

Zazu's motto is summed up in one word..."repurpose". Using all the little scraps she hoards away, she's inspired by nature, architecture, fashion design, fine arts & misshapened vegetables :D

She uses her scraps like a sculptor uses clay. She sees her job to strip down to "essential" forms & employ minimal moves to convey a creatures characteristics with simple sculptural forms & clean lines, so evident in her Etsy shop.

Zazu is a LA based building designer focusing on residential remodels...as she explains, practicing architecture with a lower case "a".

More creatures can be seen on her Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zfla/sets/72157623898662762/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zfla/sets/72157605755463097/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zfla/sets/72157605755258839/

Please mark your calendars for (2) upcoming shows:

May 15th (LA area), 9am-5pm... Red Rabbit Spring Arts & Crafts Market,
Glendale Civic Auditorium

May 22-23 (Bay Area)... (showing & teaching a class as part of Etsy Plush Team)
Maker Faire at the San Mateo County Event Center

Also sells locally in Sierra Madre at the artist's co-op, Belles Nest

Now....please 'Let it Be'...(a prayer)

'Across the Universe'...Let it Be

Bonheur at Etsy.com...follow-up on Krista Raak

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A needed follow-up on Krista Raak's earlier article...

I had tried for days to contact Krista via email, BUT after a few days of my mail returned to me, I thought I would never reach her so I used her website for information and was able to gather (2) pics of her work from a public access source...both of which i remember to be older works.

Today, I received an email out of the blue from her, giving me permission to use some current works (see video above), some more links where you can enrich your senses viewing her many talents as; embroidered jewelry & accessory artist, digital artist, and art doll creator. She has hinted that the on-line work may slow-down just a bit to allow her more time to discover the world of art dolls & couture fashion.

If that wasn't enough, she has a wonderful blog, though she confesses she doesn't have as much time as she wishes to make regular entries.... still check it out. It is filled with inspirations & rich examples of her works to come....I CAN'T WAIT!

Queen Size Bed vs. Cal King Size

Lately my husband , John, has had a "metro-sexual" bug up his ass... wanting to paint every room in our house, starting with our bedroom. So for the past 10 day's & counting, we've been sleeping in the guestroom which has the queen mattress we first did the "evil deed" when we first met in 1999.

So this experience has started a mental checklist in my mind of the "pros & cons" of queen size vs. cal-king:

(pro) the queen seems firmer & more comfortable.
(pro) the king is a sleep number bed so i can adjust it firmer.
(pro) the queen bedding is so soft & fluffy & warm.
(con) the king bedspread smells slightly of kitty pee...a gift from 'stella'.
(pro) the queen only allows space for one cat to sleep with us.
(con) the king allows for all the cats to sleep with us BUT the terriory fight in the morning is scary.
(pro) for some reason, john doesn't steal the queen size blankets.

.......BUT when all is added up, (2) basic 'truths' come out:

(1) though the queen size was more than ample when John & I were flexible, lean, & world-class acrobatic practictioners, the queen was sorely lacking space for us now.

(2) my sleep number has grown from 35 to 60 in 11 years.... in 10 years, i'll be buying our bed from "Posture Pedic Cement" bed company.

Krista Raak, one of my favorite websites...

I first discovered Krista's website about 3 or 4 years ago, through a wonderful entry in 'Modish' blog. Back then she was making mainly bags & clutches, decorative cuffs & brooches. She's now added more to her repetoire.

In 2001, she began her journey by embellishing handbags for the most practical reason...she couldn't find one that was suitable for HER eveningwear. After that she started to make these bags for her friends as gifts.

As a former jeweler, she was intrigued by an idea to make jewelry out of scraps of brocades, silks, lace & beadwork. Combining her love of hunting in antique stores & secondhand boutiques, she collects vintage pieces of fabrics, laces, ribbons & buttons...washing them, cutting them into pieces and sorting by color & materials.

She uses her skills in ribbon embroidery & millinery techniques combined with hand embroidery & beading. The connecting thread is literally a reverence to the past eras...Baroque, Victorian, & Art Nouveau . It is not uncommon for Krista to study pictures or old movies where elaborate vintage gowns & accessories are shown with fantastic fantasy flora. Please feed your eyes with her website... and leave wanting MORE.

Miriamdema at Etsy.com

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From the window of Miriam Dema's studio...

All of Miriam's work is handmade or screen printed in limited editions at her studio in the mountains of Los Angeles. As she says, "I read lots of old books and magazines while I breath the musty smell deeply and sneeze."

She's not limited by color or imagination...as she straddles between a retro post-war styling & our modern world, to present strong visual & current subjects more poignantly.

Check out her Etsy shop for extraordinary buys, her blog site for her brand new things & frequent musings, and her website that shows her earlier work.

Please mark this on your calendars... Miriam will be participating in THIS WEEKEND's Spring Brewery Artwalk... a free weekend of open artist studios at the world's largest art colony located in downtown L.A. , the BREWERY ARTS COLONY.

Open 11am- 6pm, Sat.- Sun. April 17th - April 18th, 2010
2100 N. Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Ph# (323) 223-6089
email: info@breweryartwalk.com
website: http://www.breweryartwalk.com

Unmasked at Etsy.com

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Unmasked at Etsy.com...a remarkable artist & shop

Peggy is a remarkable artist as her work speaks for itself. She has (2) online shops; one at Etsy & the other at 1000Markets, where you can buy her ooak ceramic mask wall hangings as well as smaller proto-types which originally are used to work out the logistics for larger works, but with forthought become pendants & wall hangings.

If you dare to expose your child-like wonder with your mouth gapping open at every piece you are exposed to, you should view her website & blog site to get a more spiritual sense of the woman behind the mask.

Peggy has also been published in the collector's section of "American Style" magazine... i was impressed, i can't even afford a subscription :D

OMG! Mother's Day is just around the corner!

If you are like me, you owe so much to your Mom... she was the first one i turned to for advice...okay, okay maybe the 2nd or third, especially on advice about sex or boys in general...BUT after my peers told fairy tale stories of where babies came from, i always knew my Mom would tell me the truth (& maybe a little lecture with it).

She was also the one who I totally dumped my adolescent angst on and she still loved me!

She deserves so much more, BUT we can start with a hug & a kiss and a day long celebration of a life well lived & maybe something well thought out about to commemorate your love.

Go to CCC (California crafter's club) of 1000Markets.com ...and view the fabulous Mother's Day Gift ideas the market has come up with.

Vicky Riley Weddings at Etsy.com

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Exceptional Handmade Bags by Vicky Riley

With special ocassions just around the corner... from weddings, proms, formal events, and those well deserved romantic dinners out with someone very special...those oversized purses or ackward clutches just won't cut it.

Vicky's classic evening bags are exquisitely made and are the perfect accessory to a lovely dress or gown that needs just the right compliment.

Visit Vicky's Etsy site to shop on line and also her blog for inspiration & her inspirations behind her work.

Announcing the winner of the "SUPER_DUPER GIVEAWAY"...

Due to some technical difficulties, there will be some changes to the final giveaway.... you see it was raining "cats & dogs" (in California...i know that in itself is weird)....BUT i got a graving for Chinese food...dim sum to be exact and when i reached into the hat to pick out the winner....i did grab a definitive winner, BUT i also had (2) other names stuck to my fingers...lesson learned ...always wash & dry hands thoroughly before picking names from a hat :D

The definitive winner is "Annie"... remember you have 24hrs to email me back with your identity & mailing address. If no contact is made you forfeit your prizes to one of the other 2 runner-ups... "Lu" & "Irene".

Now the winner will receive the giveaway prizes as well as the "super-size" extras randomly choosen from my studio..... the "sticky finger" selectees (Lu & Irene) will receive a consolation prize selected from my studio.

So Annie, Lu & Irene...email me at: ellen@ellenikemotodesign.com with your mailing info within 24hrs.

My first this year...SUPER-DUPER GIVEAWAY!!

We are excited to announce our super-sized, "SUPER-DUPER GIVEAWAY" which starts, April 5th, Monday (day after Easter) and ends April 12th, Monday, 6:00pm PST.

Anita from Monkeyminddesign09 at Etsy has generously donated a set of her handmade cards…and along with her “giveaway” gift, I’m adding my own necklace to sweeten up the pot for our “Super-Duper Giveaway” winner….BUT WAIT…there are twists & turns to this giveaway… MORE ways to enter and INCREASE YOUR CHANCES TO WIN…and with “Spring Cleaning” on the brain, more additional items to win as well.

So here are the Rules:

please make sure to leave separate comment for each entry;
In your comment, please include contact info & whether you are a multi-entry participant...so i can reach you & know you're eligible for the "SUPER-DUPER GIVEAWAY".

Winner of this giveaway will be chosen April 12th, Monday, 6:00pm PST

Winner has 24 hrs. to answer my email OR new winner will be drawn.

Here's how to enter:

MANDATORY ENTRY: please visit anita’s shop, Monkeyminddesign09 AND my shop, Streetnoodles…choose (1) item from each of our shops and report back to this blog and tell us which (2)pieces you like.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
add Monkeyminddesign09 OR Streetnoodles as your “favorite” on Etsy (leave your Etsy user name)…will get (1) extra entry for EACH shop you favor.

Follow Monkeyminddesign09 OR Streetnoodles on Twitter…will get (1) extra entry for EACH shop you follow.

Tweet this giveaway (leave your tweet link)... will get (2) extra entries.

Follow my blog …will get (2) extra entries.

Post about this giveaway in your blog (leave link, worth 2 entries);

Purchase from Monkeyminddesign09 AND/OR Streetnoodles and let me know (5 entries).

Remember to leave your contacts in the “comments” area and leave separate comment for each entry.

***Now the Super-sizing of this giveaway***

The winner of this giveaway will be chosen on April 12th... if they made multiple entries, we will add an additional random item from my studio... so if you won, and in total, have 5 entries, you will receive not only the original set of cards from Monkeyminddesign09 & my necklace from Streetnoodles, but also (4) additional randomly selected items from my studio... which will be selected from handmade scarves and jewelry….my attempt at “spring cleaning” :D …so let’s get started …good luck to everyone!

p.s. for those followers of "made in canarias", if these rules sound a little familiar, it's because i think ave has the best blog for "giveaways"...amazingly organized and well thought out. so i mimicked to a certain extent some of her guidelines...please checkout her blogsite..

Monkeyminddesign09 at Etsy.com

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Talented Etsian of unique paper expressions...

Anita of Monkeyminddesign09 is the creator of these wonderful handmade greeting cards, calendars & note cards.

She recently left the Ad world as an art director & graphic designer to get back to her "love"... designing & making things by hand. Though now based in Denver, Colorado, Anita is originally from Sante Fe, New Mexico which generously shared it's rich cultural heritage & artistic diversity. Along with it this rich inspiration & of the Etsy handmade community, she has developed her own creative style.

Check her out on Facebook & Twitter too.

Frankideas at Etsy.com

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Frankideas...a colorful & talented etsian from "down under"

Rowan, a New Zealander living in Australia for 20+ years now, started a collaboration with a friend fresh out of Interior Design studies and called themselves Frankideas which still sums up Rowan's shop ethos, "simple straightforward and a little off beat".

After 2 kids and life in general that came at Rowan & her friend...they adapted and plans changed to designing furniture...then to designing clothing...and now mainly jewellery.

Now all we have to do is enjoy the fruits of a well traveled life.

Batty's Bath at Etsy.com

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Batty's Bath...bath & body products

Jamie is the Etsy shopkeeper...along with being a university student finishing her B.S. in Psychology and a minor in visual arts. She has a deep passion for star-gazing, tree-hugging, animal welfare (she has 3 rescued dogs), and a clearly defined Halloween obsession.

You can find her at her Etsy site and her blog , where she's sponsoring a "giveaway" right now!, check it out.

The Antonio Treatment.... I'm in "hot crush mode" !

If you are a HGTV fan, you must have been blown away when the "Design Star" contest came down to the last (2) designers standing...Antonio Ballatore & the handsome "smiley guy". The odds and past selections gave the "smiley guy" a big advantage BUT THANK GOD FOR THE JUDGES & HGTV for seeing the intrinsic value of this man named Antonio (a name to revere & easy to remember) with unconventional handsomeness & far less white teeth :D

An "original" who can combine function & style together beautifully... leaving NOT a "boutique hotel" looking living space, BUT an actual modern take of space for people who "live" in every inch of it. The most recent "Antonio Treatment" project was the revamping of an artisan seamstress' livingroom/workspace, diningroom & nursery... (see the past program on www.hgtv.com ) ... you'll know why i wish i lived in L.A. so i could get an Antonio Treatment too.

Zemphira at Etsy.Com...

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The Colorful Life of Etsian, Zemphira!

Are you shy of exuberant colors and patterns???? ....then "please step away from this entry...DO NOT CLICK this video".....okay, okay...i gave you fair warning...at least see it with a friend or family member ("buddy system") so if one of you become mesmerized, the other one can "talk you off the edge"... :D

Checkout Zemphira's Etsy shop

A Very Special Etsian, Reflectionsbyds

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Special lady...Special Etsy shop

Deniz's Etsy shop, Reflectionsbyds, holds an exquisite array of unique, one-of-a-kind (ooak) knit & crochet wearable accessories....chic & cozy items that can be worn everyday & EVERYWHERE, making EVERYDAY very "special".

what i couldn't believe was that Deniz ONLY started knitting/ crochetting about ONE YEAR AGO! ...around the time she discovered ETSY.

Do I dare call myself "green" when i'm really just in love with "small"?

i'm a native californian..i was a "half-ass hippie" in my college days...tried to understand why my vegetarian friends were snippy when i pigged out at either Carl's, McDonald's, or the Colonel's (what i call the "holy trinity")....and NOW i do what every responsible "earthling" does...conserve water, recycle trash & pressure my husband to replace our "gas-guzzlers".

as with all my "new age" experience there was always an element of hedonism...i was a dam good-looking half-ass hippie in those long peasant dresses.... AND CONFESSION... i think those electric cars are soooooo CUTE.

SpringDream ...a video

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SpringDream... Etsy shop by Stephanie Orange

above i made a sample video of just a few of stephanie's pieces. as you can see, steph is not a newcomer...she had a really successful wedding line for years. but after so many crystal beads and pale blue accents & making the same necklace over & over again, she just got BORED (haven't we all been there).

so it was about that time when her "thrill tank" was almost empty, that the economy tanked as well...and her day job was demanding her to travel more. so what's a girl to do?...pull up her bra strapes and make some changes!

though she has been reading up on the adventures of "wholesale" possibilities, her passion is creating a daytime jewelry line of one-of-a-kind pieces, yet still keep a toe-hold on her "grassroots" in the wedding arena.

i love her delicate pearl hairpins & white hydrangea tiara...makes me want to get married AGAIN :D checkout her etsy site AND feel free to contact her about any questions and/ or maybe a special order.

My "Bird Series" revisited...

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I Dreamed I Saw... a unique & bountiful resource blog

i confess i'm not the best blogger in the world. i don't write in it everyday, only when the spirit allows. when i do go blogging, i want to be entertained and inspired at the same time and this wonderful blog fills the bill.

when you're at the home page you'll be awed by the witty intros and skillfully selected items that paint vivid "stories" for us. you'll find yourself spending hours looking at a majority of etsy shops that easily scale the author's parameters of "the most beautiful, strange, & whimsical items available on the web".

dare to get lost in this most addictive resource and you'll find a number of "categories" like; furniture, lighting, gifts, accents, wallpaper, ceramics & glass, books & art, and jewelry. pick one and you'll be presented with an abundant number of thumbnail pics...click one...then DARE to click the "Buy" button and you'll be transported to the website where you can read about the treasure or buy it.

what is so wonderful about this blog is that there is a strong sense of communal creation... tho Gay created the blog, the blog is sustained and grows with the generous links & ideas shared by it's readers..... THANK YOU GAY for such a wonderful site.

Streetnoodles....revised

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Turning a new leaf...

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Alyn Carlson & My Fall Into "Recliner-land"...

I recently started to read the Etsy blog section and was delighted to read about a former “Berkeley-ite” named Alyn Carlson who seems to be a bit of a Rennaisance woman; a devoted follower of her “muse”, an artist extraordinaire, graphic designer, actor, one of those people you want to hate for being able to easily assess her talents in a multitude of directions, BUT you can’t because she’s so NICE (damn it!).


Her write-up in the Etsy blog was attributed to her style of décor as reflected in her 28 year renovation of her idyllic "church/house"… you can see pics of her renovation in her Flickr photostream, BUT when you read her blog & Etsy shop you’ll realize there is far more involved.


NOW the reason for this rather lengthy article… it’s my confession, that I have an abnormal LOVE for my Lazy-Boy recliner I recently got...my husband says that i'll be talking to him & in mid-sentence will fall fast asleep...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz





There was a time I was like Alyn… having a love of art, design, structure, lines…I would cream just walking close to a low profile Italian sectional or a classic comfortable English wingback…(omg) even just talking about such things makes my juices simmer a bit….and when I see just a sneak preview of Alyn’s pictorial of her Church house, tears well up as I realize “it can never be…” for me since I finally crossed the “recliner barrier” AND have CATS (4 of these little suckers).




We have 7 sofas & love seats which are all at different stages of destruction. We have used blankets, slipcovers, plastic containers, & disposable bedliners (one cat likes to pee when she’s "horny"). I’m seriously thinking of vinyl or concrete sofas vs. crocheting little “kitty-booties” to protect the furniture ...plus satisfying this desire to drive the cats crazy running around on the wooden floors & sliding into walls… I think that is called passive-aggressive behavior on my part (my shrink would be proud).

Before I show my really demented side going through my repertoire of “kitty-torture-jokes”, let me tell you, I do love my cats, they are all rescued cats, BUT that doesn’t make me trust them….IF the kitty bowl should ever go empty, and I have the misfortune to fall unconscious on the floor, I KNOW I will be next on the "kitty food chain of life".

Congratulations to our new "Giveaway" winner...

Congratulations to "mymothersgardens" for winning the giveaway!!! It has been a pure pleasure to host these last 2 giveaways (of the year)...it surely will not be the last :D

Have the very best & happiest of New Years! ..... wooo! 2010!!!

Another "Giveaway"??? Are You Insane?

i'm sponsoring another "giveaway" before the year's end...crazy i know!!! it will start Christmas Day & end New Year's Eve...Dec. 25th - Dec. 31st....the contest will close New Year's Eve midnight & a winner announced on NEW YEAR'S DAY.

the one thing i always noticed as i became an adult was that if you are the female of the species, there always seems to be a "double-edge sword" with every "good thing" that comes along.
.
puberty comes along & wowy-zowy you're finally growing breasts (a good thing) just as you're told that "aunt flo" will be visiting you every month for the rest of your productive YEARS!
.
christmas which was soooo special as a child (a good thing) is now such a chore...cleaning the house for family & friends, while making a zillion course meal as delicious as any "quick-fire winner of top chef" could do.
.
this year we'll have a "giveaway" contest to look forward to AFTER Christmas...Yeah!
.
ENTER as many times as you can for the best chance to win...
.
MANDATORY ENTRY: Enter all (4) things to count as one mandatory entry (if you have them):
(a) enter your etsy shop
(b) enter your blogsite
(c) enter your website
(d) enter your contact (email) info
.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
**most of these entries will be based on finding things about other participants & in the end promoting each other's shops, blogs & websites.
**in the beginning, use either my info to create your entries OR FOR MORE FUN...use info from shops, blogs, & websites that are only known to you :D
**try to spreadout your entry info to include as many shops, blogs & websites as possible.
.

• go to ANY participant's etsy shop (except mine), and report back with the shop name & 2 items you like from the shop
• go to ANY participants etsy shop (except mine) and add to "your favorites"...report back with the name of shop.
• go to ANY participant's website (except mine) and request a "link exchange"...report back with the name of shop.
• go to ANY participant's blog (including mine) and "follow" them...report back with name of shop.
• go to ANY participant's blog (including mine) and add their blog to your "favorite blog list"..report back with blog site..
• go twitter and tweet about any aspect of ANY participant's etsy shop, blog or website that you liked...report back with link.
• IF you write an entry in your own blog about ANY participant's shop (except mine), that would be worth (3) official entries.
• IF you make a purchase from anyone's shop, you earn (5) official entries.

AGAIN at the start of these "comments" we will be in need of one or two participants to start adding extra entries...here are my mandatory information to start...don't forget that in a pinch or just to add some spice add an ETSY SHOP, A BLOG, or A WEBSITE you like:

• My Etsy Shop http://streetnoodles.etsy.com/
• My Blog http://nineandahalfdesign.blogspot.com/
• My Website http://www.ellenikemotodesign.com/
• Email ellen@ellenikemotodesign.com

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!! ...i will be "super-sizing" the prizes as i did before, BUT will hold off laying-out the criteria until i find out what i have left in my studio :D

"Super-sized" Giveaway Winner

FINALLY! THE WAIT IS OVER!... the winner of my very first giveaway is... KayzKreationz !

So Kay, you have 24 hrs. to answer my email announcement....if after that period I don't hear from you, someone else will be drawn for the winner.

Just so you all know, I had a blast doing this giveaway...reading the responses and being excited everyday that there were people finding my blog & shop and taking the time to participate...thank you all so much.

So in celebration of this celebration I'm adding another layer to this giveaway... any participant who didn't win BUT managed to contribute 5 or more entries will be contacted for mailing info so I can send them a "little-thank-you" prize :D

Happy Holidays to all !

The Super Bowl of Giveaways ! Dec.6th to Dec.12th

i've always wanted to sponser a "giveaway", but always procrastinated saying i wanted a theme or reason for it ... well, it finally happened. this winter i've noticed how the cold has penetrated my bones, how my glasses still can't help focus my vision, and my back looks more like a question mark as i work over my studio table.

I wish i could streamline my body... but instead i'm streamlining my Etsy shop, concentrating on my jewelery design... clearing out my studio bins filled with purses, scarves, cards, and art dolls.

So here are the Rules:

• please make sure to leave separate comment for each entry;
• In your comment, please include contact info & whether you are a multi-entry participant...so i can reach you & know you're eligible for the "SUPER GIVEAWAY".
• Winner of this giveaway will be chosen December 13th;
• Winner has 24 hrs. to answer my email OR new winner will be drawn.

Here's how to enter:

• MANDATORY ENTRY: please visit my Etsy site, Streetnoodles. Look at all of my items and then return here at my blog and let me know 2 pieces you like.
• EXTRA ENTRIES:
• add Streetnoodles as your favorite on Etsy (leave your Etsy user name);
• Follow Streetnoodles on Twitter
• Tweet this giveaway (leave your tweet link);
• Follow my blog
• Post about this giveaway in your blog (leave link, 2 entries);
• Purchase from Streetnoodles and let me know (5 entries).
• Remember to leave your contacts in the comments and leave separate comment for each entry.

***Now the Super-sizing of this giveaway***

The winner of this giveaway will be chosen on Dec. 13th... if they made multiple entries, we will add an additional random item from my studio... so if you won, and in total have 5 entries, you will receive not only the original earrings, but also (4) additional randomly selected items from my studio... which will be selected from handmade scarves, purses, cards, & art dolls.

if you work it right, a large portion of your Christmas list could be filled.

Good Luck !

p.s. for those followers of "made in canarias", if these rules sound a little familiar, it's because i think ave has the best blog for "giveaways"...so organized and well thought out. so i mimicked to a certain extent some of her guidelines...please checkout her blogsite (see my blogroll).

I'm on a New Treasury West !

I normally don't present any of my treasury entries in my blog, BUT i thought i would just mention this one because of the lovely creator of the treasury.

I checked out her blog and was immediately carried away to this violet bellas world...so much creativity & joy in what she's doing. As i've said before i'm fascinated with technology that brings ideas to life...some day i want to have my blog warm & welcoming as this one.

So please visit laura's lovely treasury as well as her blogsite.

New Lockets in my shop

I just love the look of these locket-like pendants. they actually should be called amulets. you remove the top jumpring and you can fill the piece with whatever you like. it allows for fairly thick 3-D objects to be placed inside... i've thought of charms, crytals, secrets...maybe the name of someone you secretly love ? :D

Shhhhhh! a BLOG SALE...20% off !

I pride myself in having great everyday low pricing...BUT between November 23rd & November 30th, i'll be holding a blog sale on everything at my Etsy & 1000Market stores.

Just mention this blog sales notice during the ordering process...usually in the "message to the seller" area. I'll then credit your Paypal account 20% of the purchase.

I Dodged the Bullet... :D

well i dodged the bullet... my in-laws decided to host thanksgiving this year. i don't have to "fake" making a turkey. come to think of it, i don't even like turkey...i'm a chicken or ham gal, maybe even a medium-rare steak fan.

i will be making a sugar-free apple pie and oatmeal cookies and bringing them to the table, not because i want to, BUT because it's my Thanksgiving survival plan.

i don't know why, but my in-laws all know i'm diabetic, BUT they will never make any consession for that "weakness"... in fact they go out of their way to make it harder for me. i don't take it personally though. over the years i've noticed something strange about them... a true phobia against the OLD & SICKLY. may i define this a little clearer... age is not the factor alone, but it is being old and what they perceive as "needy" in any way... needy for financial help, emotional help, physical help... total oblivious to the human condition that very few escape, including themselves. maybe if they "deny" it hard enough the "aging gods" will bypass them.

so until they realize denial is not a fool-proof plan... they will probably be administrators of a "solent green" factory in a future life :D

Scared again!

I'm scared again...going in for some emergency laser eye treatment this early morning...can't sleep.

My eyes tend to bleed at times, nothing ghoulish, just tiny bleeders that leave what the doctors call "spider webs". If you looked at my eye you would not even see it, but looking outward, I do...in normal people they usually disapate & fade away so the vision isn't effected for long, but for some reason (probably due to my diabetes) my bleeders don't act normally & stay & I'll get more bleeders until my eye is filled with these little "spider webs" that float about like thick algae floating through sea water.

It's time like these that I become scared & disgustingly maudlin...trying to think of what I could do if I lost my vision being an artist most of my life...Monet painted well into his blindness...his figures becoming more abstract BUT those amazing colors could not be restrained.

I know I'm no "Monet", but with technology, maybe I could see a bit longer or at least clearer...I hear that fonts can be enlarged :D

I'll try to sleep now...crossing my fingers & toes...knocking on wood.

Peace & Love Market of 1000Markets is wearing it's heart on their sleeves with a great Benefit Auction...

One of my favorite markets at 1000 Markets.com is again dispalying their hearts on their sleeves by sponsoring a Benefit Auction for "A Place to Bark"...an animal rescue facility located in Tennessee.

Bids are being taken Sunday Nov. 8th thru Saturday Nov. 14th at the Peace & Love Market Forums.

Just make a comment with your bid. If you are a member of 1000Markets that's all you need to do...if you are a newcomer & don't want to join at this time, just make your bid and leave your email address so you can be contacted in case you win.

If you are like me... a generous heart BUT with a hole in my pockets right now, consider making a donation, leaving your contact info :D

Wonderful Christmas theme jewelry has been donated and it will be fun to see how high bids will go... Winner will be announced November 15th ! ...Let's come an support the people who listen to the creatures who have no voices.

Some of the talent at "Wear It Out" market at 1000Markets.com

The talented Artisans of the Video (above)

the artisan from "wear it out" market who participated in this video:

headband shoppe, tissage, streetnoodles, tickled pink knits, hyena, storybeader, a stone's throw,
the pila shoppe, silver river metal, moxie and oliver, briana e., vigilante labs

Streetnoodles...October entries...

Cat Lovers or Haters...just in case you missed it...

i had seen this site about a year ago and my immediate response was "LOL"...but as i thought about the fact that my cat, grayson (who looks like the gray cat above) likes to eat his own hair...even likes to consume the "dust bunnies" that i breed to my husband's horror...talk about the HUGE synthetic hair ball he would have to endure!

here is the site if you missed it on the explorer front page: kittywigs.com

Gift Wrapping on the Cheap...a few ideas

One of the best ways to use up scraps of treasured gift wrap is to use what i call the "obi method"...imagine a plain unadorned gift box and add two different but compatible (complimentary in colors, similar decorative elements in both) decorative papers. i chose 2 graphic papers, both have a metallic gold that runs thru and the red & purple are from the same color family. my theory is that we all have a sense of style and we tend to pick items that just seem to go together.

once i figured this out, i stopped buying anymore papers...okay, maybe ONE extraordinary one once a year, only on a close-out sale tho :) ...my goal is to use up all my papers...that should take me 5-10 years!!!

the second & third pics, show two ideas for tags that are fun. the one in the middle are from japanese playing cards called "hana". they are beautifully made and already have unique pictures you can leave for the tags...but if you like you can replace the pics with your own...i've even used these cards for creative business cards since the opposite side is pure black. i've made little labels or in one case i actually hand wrote my business info. in white ink. you can usually find them on line or if there is a "japantown" where you live, checkout their gift shops.

the bottom pic, you can use any pics you have...xerox them, glue to card stock and cut into tags...here i used my prized "official beatles fan club cards" from the 60's.

i collect different papers, images, old stamps, graphic designs, beads, charms...i even have collected the plastic faux grass-like foliage that you find in take-out sushi bento boxes (you just never know :)

the above is just a small sampling of what you can do with the collectable scraps you have...on a simple kraft gift box is one of those gold-leaf sheets the chinese like to burn as offerings on special occassions (you can find them in your local "chinatown")...over that is a transparent sheet of paper i got at a stationery store, i like it for it's dreamy quality...i've used a paper punch to make cut outs displaying the different layers...added a portrait of a pretty lady. you can use your rubber stamps on the transparent paper to add more design, convey a message, or just leave it simple like i did.

i get all sorts of things in the mail for free that promotes this & that. lately i've been getting fake credit cards that i think is such an "icon" of our civilization...so i've used it here as the main focal point to a small jewelry gift box...but it could also be used as a gift tag.

i also like getting the "publisher's clearing house" stuff...i like to use the colorful magazine stamps on my tags and as part or all of my gift wrapping.

Big Mouth Bass at His Full Potential...

Chantal, GPS...and the "Panel"

the above shoe art is from a young artist (marina dempster) who probably wasn't even born when the fresno feminist art experiment came about, but i think she may have benefitted by it's subsequent movement.

after my participation in the gallery 25 show (an off-shoot of the feminist experiment..35 yrs later), i was able to get in contact with another founding member & friend, chantal gadd trauner, a very talented painter. we arranged to meet at my house to catch up with our lives (hers in georgia & mine here in california) as well as to take a short trip to the college, CSUFresno, where it all began to listen to a few speakers from the first wave of the feminist art program, that judy chicago brought to life.

i had long since had quit driving due to health issues and she volunteered to drive. admitting that she wasn't the best of drivers & horrible with directions...so of course her son provided her with a rental with GPS...and of course with a female voice with a british accent :) ...which we quickly infuriated with our own instilled creative directions at times.

we only heard 2 speakers; suzanne lacy, more of a conceptual artist w/ great talent in organizing & documenting large communities of people...she was a bit dry in her presentation. the other speaker, faith wilding, was so natural & charming in the lecture hall and disarmed us with her sense of humor towards that era that we had come to see a glimpse of.

after lunch, chantal & i went to a rather disappointing panel discussion consisting of quite a few of the original 1st wave (fresno-cal arts) group and a couple of additions i wondered about....one a neophyte organizer who was tripping over her tail between her legs, basking in all the "glorious women" around her; and a well deserved woman from the 2nd wave of feminist art group who i questioned only because there was a long under-appreciated professor who continued the feminist art program for 20+ years after judy chicago & rita yokoi left it, who was sitting in the audience.

after a short while, both chantal & i realized that this so-called panel discussion was just a "self-love fest" of the original group...even the questions were from the panelist themselves...only allowing questions from the audience when the group realized the "disconnect" between them & the audience. the speaker only holding general short commentary on questions that reflected a contrary opinion or an acknowledgement to others beyond the original group, who played a huge part to carrying on the energy of the feminist art movement and also helped to pull off the multi-venue & events around campus & the community that they were invited to.

as you can tell i'm a little mad...years ago when camille paglia came onto the scene & questioned the feminist norms, questioned the liberal media, hell just questiioned everything...i for one applauded her. i remember watching a panel of some heavy hitters in the feminist movement at that time...betty friedan & gloria steinem to name a couple...and a young enthusiastic woman in a non-confrontational way brought up the writings of paglia and asked a question about what they felt about it. all of the panelist down-graded paglia, spewed their own aged propoganda...it was if, they all "drank the same kool-aid". i was appalled that they, some of the most influencial women of our times could not see or make room for another opinion other than their own...their own ideas that had narrowed with age, with comfort, with a whole life & lucrative careers based on their stale idioms.

though not on the same international level...these panelist were suffering the same narrowing of opinions & thoughts. i guess it is true, that the glory of the revolutionist is that they will enviably become irrelevent AND that the new revolutionist to follow will need to remember their history BUT NEVER be afraid to question & disguard.

where have all the thongs gone???

i recently had to bite the bullet and buy some underwear..."panties" if you will for the sexially tintilated. as i log on to "target online" and looked under "old lady undies" (luckily they don't call it that), i started to think about all those sexually provocative matching bras & panties i use to love to get from "victoria's secret"...they always made me feel sexy...hugging me in the right places...lifting me up and out where no asian woman had been before.

when i was a single woman living in the bay area, i prided myself for having 30 pairs of sex panties (of those 30, 15 had matching bras). it wasn't because i had a "thing" for collecting them, BUT that i hated to do laundry...so instead of going to the laundromat weekly i just did a massive wash every 30 days.

so when was it that "victoria's secret" was replaced by "lady jockey" at target? or maybe a more important question is "where did all the thongs go?"...a few were lost under car seats, movie theatres, restaurants, and hiking trails...(got those pantie lover's a cheap thrill)...BUT where did the others go??? a mystery i'm quite sure...maybe i can make up a game similar to "where's waldo?" :)

why are we afraid of "i love you"?

facebook is an amazing & baffling place for me. remember bruce, the first boy i ever danced with in high school, who in an early entry i describe a 40+ year old "seed" of kindness (see "my first" high school dance entry). he is going thru a personal challenge and has gathered round his friends & family to ease some of those potholes on his journey.

bruce hadn't heard from me for a long while...what can i say, social networking is hard for me...i know it's necessary for my business, but i'm horrible about keeping up with it...adding friends, keeping my "wall" updated.

we recently got to talking again, going over mutual old friends & aquaintences, talking about everyday silly stuff...and in the middle of it he said he loved me...i thought how nice & didn't think much about it till the next time we spoke...he was concerned that he might have scared me off with that innocent declaration of friendship.

when you're young & in the dating scene...those three little words can be like bullets or roses depending on the situation...BUT i had to think to myself, at our age and what we all have been thru in our lives, the battles & triumphs we all have had, the knowledge of the hard road ahead, those 3 little words have more significance...

a life well-lived will always have regrets, but if we're lucky we'll make time to acknowledge them and to make amends... for bruce to share his "love" briefly with that ackward girl at a high school dance some 40+ years ago to a woman who only really knows him thru that wonderful chance encounter...that innocent declaration of "i love you" is his 40+ year "chip".

i love you too bruce :) ...for the boy i still see in my memory and the man you've become.

Gallery 25...a 35 year journey

When I look back on my life, I remember my mom telling me never to boost about anything. It is an old Asian belief, maybe even a generational belief that if you brag or boost about something you risk the “powers-that-be” to become jealous and send bolts of lightning to rain on your parade.

I’ve mentioned on several occasions, my association with Gallery 25, the extension of Judy Chicago’s Feminist Art Experiment (celebrating it’s 40th anniversary) and the hard-earned co-operative gallery space that Joyce Aiken made real for so many (now celebrating it’s 35th anniversary).

There was a core group of 21 women who made up the gallery, in a time when you couldn’t find any acknowledgement of women artists except minor additions that stated that they were married to a famous male artist, had a liaison with a famous male artist, or were suspected of being gay.

The original group felt that to even the playing field, a space had to be created to allow for the female perspective to be studied, created, and seen as valid…not only to the public, BUT to the artist, herself. When your views & talents are placed on a secondary shelf labeled “hobby” rather than “profession”, your hardest challenge will be to change that mindset.

I was lucky enough to be part of the original founding members…went to the artist’s exhibition which was a combination of young emerging artists, along with a few samplings from the founding members. I was pleasantly surprised to notice a social dynamic that very few see, maybe because it takes so long to see the progression.

I noticed as the young emerging artists stood in front of their work, they talked about their inspiration, their manipulations of different mediums, and how they felt about each piece….then the exhibition director brought out feminist points or images that she saw that the artists didn’t even imagine. I had to smile a little since I use to do the same thing with my own art pieces way back then…trying to find a feminist tie after the fact.

I then noticed that all the founding members there had a strong sense of personal perspective (classic feminist ideal) …also a feeling of freedom that I think only age gives you. When I had little talks with each of my former colleagues, I was so proud of where all of us landed. I did notice though that there were some strong “radical feminist” views of a few of them, because they could still see how much more has to be done…BUT all I could see, were those wonderful young women artists, who were never berated by their male professors or peers, who never felt any limitations where they could exhibit, who never hesitated fleshing out their ideas with old & new techniques & JUST MADE ART….dare I say, I’m so proud to be part of the Gallery 25 past & future.