Bloom, Grow, Love

I was blog swimming when I came across the fine photography of Alicia Bock. I almost fell out of my chair when I read that she is a completely self taught photographer. Some people just have the knack. Here's a little something I snagged from her blog as she dreams of summer in the dead cold of winter:

She also does some amazing portrait work - http://www.aliciabockphotography.com

Mustard

I'm a fan of mustard...the condiment and the color. I mean, who isn't? I have a sweater that has inspired me to bring more mustard into my work - the color, not the condiment. I've come up with this so far...the birds are confident because they are parading on mustard - the color, not the condiment. Hearts float around them because they are in love with mustard - the color and the condiment. In fact, they are thinking, if they had a bottle of Gulden's Spicy Brown right now, they would devour it, but would be sure not to get it on their white feathers.
(I'm really tired, which is causing me to be punchy. Apologies.)
I call it - "For the Love of Mustard"

Treasures of India

Here's someone to check out...internationally renowned home textile designer John Robshaw. He earned a fine arts degree at Pratt and studied traditional block printing in China. He then travelled to India to find natural indigo dye for his paintings. Instead, he fell in love with the local artisans’ fabric-making traditions and he has been developing amazing art ever since.
His mission statement: (which reminds me, I want a mission statement) "Our mission is to create original, handcrafted textiles from around the world. John Robshaw Textiles employs traditional printing, dying and weaving techniques, while reinterpreting them in ways that respect the integrity of the method to create original textiles. Every textile represents a story, a drawing of an adventure in a far–off place–from Yogakarta to Rajasthan, Bolivia to Vietnam. Arriving at textiles from painting and printmaking, I am interested in the mistakes, overlapping prints and the miss-registrations of woodblocks that record the human hand."
His work, not only has he mastered textiles, he also has a new line at Barnes & Noble, in stores and online.


The John Robshaw Collection portrays the beauty of India on items such as a tote bag, journals, note cards, accessory pouches, gift bag, and eco-friendly colored pencils. With each handmade or hand painted fabrication, John Robshaw shares his experiences of traveling through the rustic villages and exotic jungles of India. I love it.

iHeart

I always keep a sketchbook and pen nearby. Today I tried to keep the pen in my hand all day as I was brainstorming for new B&N product, while simultaneously brainstorming for the Kid's Yoga Book. How I came up with a little girl wearing heart shaped glasses...I don't know. It fits neither requirement, but she's cute, right?

Quite Unfinished

Have you missed me?? It's been almost 2 weeks since I've blogged. Can you tell how busy I've been?? Sadly though, I don't feel like I've accomplished anything. I have, on the other hand, started many projects and have been jumping from one to the other. I'm not here to complain, but life has been so hectic, I haven't been able to give my full attention to just one thing. It's pretty frustrating.

Here's a quick self portrait I did in the car on the way to my godson's 1st birthday party in upstate New York this weekend. Even this isn't finished! But at least you can get the gist of my new sunglasses. Aren't they rad? I got them at the rest stop...very classy. What can I say, I can't afford designer.

The Sally Jean Collection

I just spent the last hour or so gobbling up Sally Jean's entire website of Art Collage Charms...I love it! I can't get enough! She describes her creative style much like having "ants in the pants"! Each one of Sally Jean's master collages are created by hand, using antique photographs from her private collection along with vintage ephemera (most from the 1800's). The pieces are all so charming and some very humorous!

I couldn't decide...I wound up buying 3 pieces:

Sally Jean has a philosophy, much like my own: Do what you love. Sally Jean does so...and I hope to be just as successful one day! Visit her website: http://www.sallyjean.com/ You will love her world!!!