NEW QUOTE PRINTS!

Here's a look at the first in a series of new brightly colored quote prints I have designed. This is in a sunny orange with one of my all-time favorite quotes: "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves". Great for a cheery and positive reminder to brighten up any space or give to that special person who is a ray of sunshine in your life! Print measures 11x16 and is printed with archival inks on archival paper with a margin for framing. Signed and numbered by artist. It is available on my Etsy site.

SUNNY MONDAY

Hi everyone! I've been a bit preoccupied with work, but wanted to check in and leave you with these cheery and upbeat illustrations by Izak Zenou. I found them in a book I've had for a while, but just rediscovered. It's "Essentialy Lilly - A Guide to Colorful Entertaining" featuring some great photos, recipes, tips and, of course, Izak's adorable illustrations for Lilly Pulitzer. I am really loving the way he infuses so much color and spunk into them. There are also some very tasty looking recipes I need to find time to try. Hope your week gets off to a great start and I will be back soon!

P.S.

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, I wanted to give credit where credit is due. The chair that inspired my rendering was none other than Chapman Radcliff's "Kelly" wing chair. As many of you know, Ruthie Sommers is the owner of LA based Chapman Radcliff and is definitely one of my favorite decorators. She designed this gorgeous piece that I couldn't resist painting. I also wanted to thank my friend, Courtney Barnes of StyleCourt for posting my painting yesterday as part of a post on chinoiserie chairs. Courtney is like a walking encyclopedia of design knowledge. If she doesn't know the answer to your question or the origins of a piece in a photo (which is almost NEVER) she will not rest until she discovers it!

THE LATEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY....

Gouache/ink on Arches 9x12

CLICK HERE TO BUY!

This is the latest addition to my ever-growing chair collection. I painted this lady in red with a complementary green cushion. Some of you may recognize this beautiful chinoiserie chair. Let's see if you design sharpies out there can guess it's origins?? When I first saw it, I knew I just HAD to paint it at some point. It is now available for purchase on my Etsy site.

*As a footnote, I would love to invite some of you many lurkers who I KNOW read this blog EVERY day to leave a comment. I would love some feedback from you. Let's liven things up a little....

REDACTED RECIPES

I wish to say "thank-you!" to Ann Fisher of Redacted Recipes for her kind mention and post on my work. Ann and her partner, Jack, (a transplanted Brit) write a fascinating food-related blog that you will enjoy visiting. They are based in Brooklyn, NY and feature some very exotic and creative recipes that will either inspire you to cook or make you hungry (or both). Never the same ol' same ol' on their table! They are both gifted writers with a very creative bent. Ann is also a talented quilt artist and art aficionado. Periodically, she features art and artists on her blog with an "Artful Kitchen" post. I am grateful to have been included in one of these. You can check it out here.

TAGGED AGAIN!

Me and my sister-in-law, mom and little sis

I know I did this a few months back, but in the spirit of good sportsmanship and because I can't refuse such a great painter as Liza Hirst, I will comply. Liza tagged me and a few other artists a couple of weeks ago and here is my belated reply. Liza is an incredibly talented artist who lives and works in the South of France. I will be featuring an interview with her soon here on my blog. Sorry it took me a while, Liza!

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

5 Weird/random facts about me
I am the second of four children
I actually like to clean
I am usually in the process of reading 2-3 books at once.
I love lemons!
For many years I was the only girl in my family and I wanted a sister. When I was 11, my little sis was born and now that both of my brothers have married, I have a total of 3 sisters.

5 People I am tagging
Erin Gates
Patricia van Essche
Melissa
Erin Loechner
Ann Fisher

THANK YOU, ELEMENTS OF STYLE BLOG!

Thank you, Erin at Elements of Style blog for the nice post on my work today and welcome to the world of blogging!

Erin has recently started blogging from Boston and is an interior design consultant and events planner. Thanks and welcome, Erin!

COTE DE TEXAS CANINE

This is the second in a pair of dog portraits I painted for my friend, Joni Webb, of Cote de Texas. This is her adorable and odor-free (see earlier post"Gone to the Dogs") dog, Sammi. I thoroughly enjoyed painting Joni's dogs and I would love to paint yours as well! Inquiries are welcome. Feel free to contact me here.

THE WASHINGTON POST

Washington Post feature


The blog banner I created for StyleCourt

Staff writer Terri Sapienza's feature in the Washington Post (above) and online: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/09/AR2008010900901.html

Courtney Barnes of StyleCourt sent me this scan from the Washington Post. The photo features a computer with the StyleCourt home page and the blog banner I created for Courtney with my painting of her chair (featured for sale as a print on my Etsy site). Congratulations to Courtney, Shelteriffic, and This is Glamorous for being featured in Terri's "Blogwatch".

A big thanks also to Alkemie and Newlywed Diaries for their mentions this week! I appreciate it!

ASHLEY WHITTAKER COMMISSION

My painting of the room Ashley Whittaker designed
Gouache on Arches 8x10

Ashley's beautiful design in Southampton

Here is a commission I recently completed for New York designer Ashley Whittaker. Ashley is a very talented designer who was named in the Domino 10 last year. Domino magazine chooses the top 10 up and coming designers and Ashley has more than established herself in that position with her stellar work. She is a former protege of prominent interior designer Markham Roberts and I know that we will only be seeing more and more of her work in leading design publications in the coming days. She is a delight to work with and I was honored that she chose me to immortalize this scene in one of her projects in Southampton, NY. Her work is featured in the current February 2008 edition of House Beautiful. Jennifer Dwyer of Peak of Chic has featured her in a post today, so please check it out. As always, Peak of Chic offers gorgeous photos and fascinating text to accompany them.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL THINGS

A special thanks to Anna of Absolutely Beautiful Things based in Brisbane, Australia for featuring my work (above) in her post "An Etsy Addiction" today.

PVE DESIGNS BLOG

I just wanted to mention that fellow artist and designer Patricia van Essche has finally joined the "Blogging Sisterhood" with her new blog PVE DESIGNS BLOG. Her blog features her work and musings on living an artful life. Welcome, Patricia!

GONE TO THE DOGS.....PART 1

"Georgie"

I just wanted to let you know that I have now ventured into the world of pet portraiture. I know you've all been waiting on pins and needles to hear this. Not!! (did I really just use that beyond stale term?) Yes, I know. I, too, have heard the proverbial jokes and defamatory jibes applied to the "desperate" artists who resort to painting pets. Truth is, pets are a big part of people's lives and sometimes loved even more than humans (especially here in Florida). The illustrious artist George Stubbs certainly didn't think animals too lowly a subject!

I'll be honest with you, I don't have any pets. My olfactory is far too sensitive and I have allergies to pet hair and dander. I am the type of person who sneezes, on average, about 5- 7 times in a row (yeah, I know - fun!). Now, I have known some people with such dirty and vile smelling animals that keeping my food down when I was around them posed quite a challenge (the animals, not the people -well, mostly the animals). I can tell you that experiences like that are not ones your senses quickly forget and furthermore don't help any to get me on the pet bandwagon with the majority. However, I do have my moments when I see people like Patricia Gray and her adorable little Yorkie, Nicole, and a wave of pet-envy sweeps over me. Then there is my fellow blogger and friend, Joni Webb of Cote de Texas, who has two dogs, Sammie and Georgie, that are adored by her family. I can't imagine that she lets them get gross. I can see it.... a furry, loyal and adoring creature who guilelessly looks forward to nothing more than waiting for you to come home (besides being fed, maybe). I recently had the honor of immortalizing Joni's dogs in gouache from photos. I am now looking for some new subjects, so please don't be shy and feel free to contact me about painting your favorite little (or big) furry friend or giving a pet portrait for a special occasion.

INTERIORS NOTECARD COLLECTION

The 4 interior paintings featured in my new notecard collection

It's a new year and, as promised, I am introducing some new items on my Etsy site. Today, I've added a new set of notecards. Featured in the collection are 4 of my most popular interior paintings: Aqua Interior, Lulu Guinness' Tea Table, Lily's Desk and Tented Conservatory. There are 8 notecards/envelopes in each set - 2 of each painting. They are a very nice way to write a thank-you or let someone special know you are thinking of them. Buy one box for a friend and another for yourself! Check them out here on my ETSY SITE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A recent painting - gouache on paper 8x10

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had an enjoyable Holiday Season and that this year holds many good things for you. I, for one, am not a big fan of making New Year's Resolutions. My experience is that a lot of people (including myself) can spend more time making lists and less time actually taking action to meet their goals. In the end, the list can serve as more of an indictment than an inspiration. Case in point: the sudden increase of fitness memberships in January that result in fervent devotion to exercise that diminishes by the day and ends 11 months later in Holiday feasting and added pounds (how's that for a run-on sentence?) Then, there's the things we THINK we want or need, that, when we pursue, often result in our ultimate disappointment or injury. On the reverse side, many times our most difficult and heart-wrenching experiences can be the crucible by which the greatest growth and blessings in our lives come forth. Treasures can come forth from difficulties and challenges that we would never have chosen to go through and even avoided at all costs, had we known what was ahead. As human beings, we have definite limitations on clear foresight and there are a million things that can cloud our perspective. Let's face it, some things in life are just out of our control, no matter how much we'd like to deny that fact. We are human and fallible. As much as hindsight is 20/20, oftentimes foresight is equivalent to legal blindness or worse. That said, I am hardly espousing accepting the status quo or settling for mediocrity. I've learned that, for me, it's better to just pursue what is important rather than talk about it or make promises to myself. There are certainly things I can discipline myself to strive for, but then, inevitably things will crop up to challenge or delay even my most ardent efforts. However, I do believe that life should involve constant re-examination and that it is very worthwhile to establish your priorities and continually seek ways to grow and develop. It is important to take stock of life and find ways to pursue what is truly worthwhile and will help to enrich the lives of others. So whether you want to label them resolutions or, like me, just keep a mental list before yourself of what you are going to invest your efforts in, I sincerely wish you all the best in the coming year. I will be heading in some new directions, including featuring more interviews with artists and expanding both my Etsy shop and commissions into new areas that will be fun to share with you. Thank you for enriching my life in 2007 and I hope that my blog will continue to be a small source of inspiration or cheer or something good in your life in 2008.

POST CHRISTMAS POST

A commission I just finished painting last week

I hope you all had a nice Christmas! It was a gorgeous day here in Florida - sunny and in the mid 70's. For Christmas dinner, seafood replaced the traditional turkey (or worse still - ham! hate that stuff!) Instead of feeling groggy and slug-like post-meal, I felt energized and decided to take a turn around the neighborhood and get some exercise. For someone that used to have to wear socks to bed in the Winter, I am not about to take for granted the sheer luxury of wearing flip-flops in December. The ducks were out on the pond and the breeze was gently rustling the palms. Perfect! As much as I love my work, it is nice to have a couple of days that I don't have to pick up a paintbrush.

GLASSFORD HILL GIRL

A special thank-you to Brandie of the new Glassford Hill Girl for her post on my work! Brandie is another young 20-ish interior designer who has started blogging. Welcome, Brandie!

STYLECOURT COMMISSION

A somewhat belated thank-you to the style-savvy Courtney Barnes over at StyleCourt for her post earlier this week. Things have been so busy here that I haven't had a chance until now to mention it. Courtney and I will be collaborating once again in the New Year when I paint one of her favorite new acquistions. Her famous chair (above) has already sort of taken on a life of it's own and is my most popular piece in my Etsy shop.

FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS

My alternative Christmas in the tropics. Yes, my tree IS made of PINK tinsel and surrounded at the base by coral and sea shells. Hey, cut me a little slack, I am an artist, after all.

Here in Florida, all the traditional Christmas trimmings are present, but fake snow and hot cocoa seem a bit seasonally anti-climactic when it's still in the 80's. The funny and beautiful thing about celebrating for the first time in a tropical climate, is that you begin to realize that much of what Christmas is made out to be is not at all important. Living here and celebrating Christmas just serves to accentuate and deepen the real reason for Christmas. Don't get me wrong - I am all for Christmas and even the more kitschy and traditional trappings that go with it - they're fun. However, for me personally, there is something so much more precious and sacred about this day I celebrate. If you take away all the gifts, the decorations, the traditions, the music and the food, there is really nothing left TO "celebrate". Unless, of course, you are celebrating because the essence of Christmas to you is a very real person and not things. I am celebrating the day my Saviour set aside all that He had in heaven with God and humbled Himself to come to this earth as a tiny, dependent baby and live a very difficult life that had at it's end a most torturous and humiliating death, followed by a glorious resurrection. All because He loved and valued all of us enough to want to give us this gift of being restored to a relationship with our Father and Creator and have a real purpose in life greater than just living our lives for ourselves. So, here in Florida, even amongst all the non-traditional Christmas beauty, I am reminded that there is a greater gift I possess. If you take everything else away, the fact that Jesus has come to be not only my Saviour, but my best friend, comfort, purpose and joy, everyday of the year AND throughout my entire life is the real reason I celebrate Christmas. Regardless of whatever reasons you have for celebrating or not celebrating Christmas, I wish you ALL love, joy and enduring peace this Christmas and in the New Year!

100th POST AND.........

Nothing spectacular to feature! I am, regretfully, bringing shame on my fellow bloggers! They have all managed to dazzle us with outstanding 100th posts of their own and I will now receive the prize for the under-achiever! LOL. I have never kept silence this long since I started this blog and I apologize. I just haven't had the time the last couple of weeks to do much of anything other than work. Santa is indeed a slave-driver. In the near future, I will be able to share with you some of the fruits of my labors, but for now I have to keep these works under wraps until the people they were intended for get to see them first. And so, I leave you with a photo of me with my current "dazed from deadlines" expression in my best Christmas dress (yes, the Florida sun is bringing out my freckles and aging me prematurely! Yay!) I am heading back to the grindstone (er, drawing-board, in my case). For now, I leave you all with the very best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and/or any and all Holidays you might celebrate!