TREAT YOURSELF ROYALLY

Since Royal Wedding fever has struck, even here in the U.S., I thought it fitting to post this silhouette from my shop today. You can find it, along with others, here. I remember watching the countdown fanfare and wedding almost 30 years ago with my grandmother when I was a kid and then becoming an ardent fan of Princess Diana for many years.

Here's hoping you enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Best wishes to the royal couple!!

HOUSE OF FIFTY PREMIER ISSUE

Another exciting new online design magazine is making its debut!

Janell Beals of Isabella and Max Rooms design blog has created a great design magazine that came out just 2 days ago.

I was very honored to be included as one of 2 artists featured in the inaugural "Art We Love" feature.

Thank you, Janell!  Please click here to peruse House of Fifty for yourself - I am sure you will want to add it to your regular reads! It is fabulous!!

HAPPY EASTER

Easter is a great celebration and reminder for me of renewed hope and life taking the place of death and hopelessness. I wish all of you a wonderful weekend, whether you are celebrating Easter, Passover or just eating candy. May peace, hope and joy enter your lives this season!

1 Peter 1:3-5

A NEW HOME FOR TONIC

Here is a rendering that Tonic Home commissioned me to do of their brand new charming storefront. If you own a boutique or business, consider having it captured by me for a unique public "face" for that's perfect for ads, stationery and business cards. It creates a more custom, personal public "face" for your company that people will visualize when they hear your company name.

Please feel free to contact me here for more info and pricing.

MAKING MARKS

 

Famed British designer Sue Timney and her firm Timney-Fowler have recently released a new book documenting their history over the last few decades.  Pointed Leaf Press sent me this book and it opened my eyes to the Timney-Fowler aesthetic for the very first time.

Timney-Fowler is know for their bold graphic patterns and the celebration of black and white. This would be a great collector's book for those who love the eclectic and are not shy about introducing bold pattern into their homes. You can read more about it and purchase it here.   

I hope that your week gets off to a great start!

IDEA LOG

The other day I received a very cool notebook in the mail from Knock Knock, the witty papergoods/stationery/gift company. This was perfect for me, as I sometimes drift toward that occupational hazard of an artist - too many wandering thoughts and inspirations, too little time to do it all. This notebook breaks it all down for me and helps me corral my many scattered thoughts and random inspirations. One of the coolest things about it is the little elastic loop on the front where you can trap that errant pencil or pen without having to slide it down the spine of the binder. I hate doing that - as the pen always slips out OR paralyzes the notebook so that you cannot turn the pages! You can find this or the perfect notebook for yourself here. 

I hope that all of you wonderful readers can enjoy a restful and rejuvenating weekend - I know that I plan to!

ANNECHOVIE IN DC DESIGN HOUSE 2011

The 2011 DC Design House is open now through May 8th in Washington, D.C. and benefits the Children's National Hospital. I was honored to have talented designer Iantha Carley feature one of my prints in the beautiful dressing area of the master bedroom she designed. Iantha used a cheery wallpaper by British designer Nina Campbell that coincidentally coordinated perfectly with the colors in my print, which is available here.

Iantha said that she wanted to create a glamorous but fun space that even the least girly-girl (such as herself) would enjoy.  She started with the incredible Nina Campbell wallpaper.  Since the paper is rather bold, she used a taupey gray on the trim and closet doors in a high-gloss finish to add glamour.  The pink chair is from Duralee and the ceramic foo frogs were a loan from a friend. She had the base of the parsons table made by her woodworker (SCB Woodworking) and she and her husband (who is also her contractor) had the mirrored glass cut and glued it on themselves.

Holger Greibl of GlazeArt painted the piece above the credenza

All photos by Alain Jaramillo

Iantha says that she "always pays attention to the details.  All of the light switches in the dressing area and bedroom are from Forbes and Lomax (http://www.forbesandlomax.com/).  The company is in England and they have recently made their product available in the US and Canada.  They are known as 'invisible' switches because the back plate can be painted or covered with wallpaper and give a seamless appearance.  I have been coveting them for years!" I love these, too, Iantha!  Many thanks to Iantha for including a piece of my art in her design and for sharing her wonderful work with us!  I'd also like to thank Michele Ginnerty of My Notting Hill blog for her great posts on the DC Design House and her kind mention here. Take a moment to check out the other fabulous designers' work on online or even in person!

MINUS THE BURN

My high-tech candle in the daytime and.........

the ambient, yet safe, glow at night.

I get a million PR pitches in this blogging business. Most are totally off the mark and some are so crass that I don't even care to mention them. I sometimes think that these people 

1) either don't have a clue about the slant/subject matter of this blog or perhaps

 2) they just don't care and are trying to meet an "emails sent" quota??

 Either way, most pitches get deleted, and fast. I do occasionally get an opportunity to check out something that my beloved readers might actually like or benefit from. On these rare occasions when I actually like a product enough to recommend it, I don't mind giving credit to where credit is due.  Now, I love candles, but sometimes safety can be a concern (especially if you're a forgetful type!) 

These LED candles are amazing. They give you the same warm glow and flicker, minus the heat, smoke or fire hazard. You can put them on a shelf without worrying that anything will go up in flames. Simply flip the battery-operated switch on the bottom and voila! you have an instant restful glow.  They come in many shapes, sizes and colors (and even scents). They look real because they are made with wax, so you won't get that tacky, fake appearance that I know you hip style makers all find so appalling. Check out the exhaustive selection here.   

A LA CARTE


Pointed Leaf Press sent me a recent release by famed Long Island decorator Sherrill Canet.
It's called "A La' Carte - The Elements of an Elegant Home". This 176 page tome is chock-full of lush photos encompassing all the necessary elements to pull together a home with a distinctive and warm decor.
Design aficionados will be sure to enjoy adding it to their library.
You can find it here along with a sneak peak and more info.

HAVE A STELLAR WEEKEND!!

THANKS!

Richmond Thrifter

Brilliant Chic

Pagoda Press

The Fashion Magpie

Primitive and Proper

Kate & Oli 

Stylish Serendipity 

CKL Inspiration Board

I hope that your week is going well so far.  I want to thank all of the blogs above for the recent mentions and features. As an independent artist, I rely upon the friends and connections I make in the blogworld and beyond for support and promotion. I am very grateful for all of those who take the time to share my work or blog on their website/blog.  It's all about supporting one another and I am thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community. Please check out some of these great blogs and let them know you heard about them here on Annechovie.  Have a very nice Wednesday!

COOKING WITH JULIA

 

I love to cook and have always loved Julia Child. I was very sad when she died, as she was one of those people like Mr. Rogers - when you grow up in the U.S., they were two of those cultural figures who were always just "there" and a part of your life. I was probably one of the few grade school kids who tuned in regularly to watch her show.  My brothers would tease me because it used to be my job to clean the kitchen after meals and I would take the leftovers and act out my own little cooking "show" when I thought no one was around or listening. I found this charming painting

"Bon Appetit ... Ode to Julia Child and her favorite ingredient butter" on Etsy

by Philadelphia-based artist El Lohse.

Gotta love Julia and the "butta" - her favorite ingredient (we share that in common!)

El creates fascinating works based on cultural icons. You will love checking out her fun shop here!

FANTASTIC BOOK SALE TODAY!

Calling all design and book fans!  Ideeli is having a Taschen book sale today featuring some great titles with fantastic savings - some books starting at just $5!

Click here to join for free and save big!

APRIL FOOD DAY

I am happy to be participating again in what has now grown to be an annual event for bloggers - April Food Day.

We take every April 1st to recognize that there are so many right here in our own country with not enough to eat.  Please consider making a donation to your local food bank or Feeding America here. 

Thank you so much!!

Have a terrific weekend!