A SURPRISE PARCEL FROM LONDON

The other day had been "one of those days" and I was feeling a little less than chipper. The long absence of sunshine here in Florida due to Tropical Storm "Debby" wasn't helping matters any. 

Cabin fever was setting in. 

Then I heard the door bell ring.

I opened the door to find a huge package from London sitting on my doorstep.

After opening the box and several layers of protection (by far THE most thorough packing job I've seen to date!) I uncovered a beautifully framed print.  The gift was from none other than Liza and Hubert Hirst of  Tusch und Egon Gallery in London. They sent me the framed version of one of my limited edition Jubilee prints with the diamond dust on the crown. They had chosen a perfect mat and mounted it very tastefully in a large white frame. I was surprised at how generous the proportions were (27x27 inches), especially with the frame and mat. Included was a lovely note on one of Liza's own cards featuring another of her fantastic paintings. (below)

It reminded me of how wonderful it can be to connect with like-minded fellow artists who share a love of beauty and a respect for one another in this crazy cut-throat world. I was touched by Liza and Hubert's kindness and generosity and it was one of THE nicest surprises I have had in a long time!

As an artist (emerging or emerging wannabe or whatever I am) there have been many collaborations through the years, some were great and worked beautifully. Those involved mutual respect, kindness and benefits for both parties. Others were with people who were less than honorable, less than truthful and less than respectful. In short, people who were out to prostitute another's talent or hard work for their own personal gain and leave you on a pile of ashes. I was what got incinerated.... 

In this collaboration with Liza and Hubert, it's reassuring to know there are still good people out there who are fair, honest and then even take it even a step further - they are gracious, giving and generous. Some may call it karma, I call it the law of sowing and reaping. Whichever label you may you give it, how you treat others IS of utmost importance and you WILL get the same payment you give out, only multiplied and most often, later on down the road. That can mean a promising future for some and a cause for dread for others. 

In Liza and Hubert's case I am praying that their lives and business will flourish and be full of blessings on all fronts.

I can assure you that if you order a piece of art from them, no matter where you are in the world, your purchase will be protected well and arrive safely and you will be delighted and impressed with the quality and beauty! 

So, please take a moment to browse their online store, or stop by their charming gallery if you're in London. You can find both versions of my limited addition print here.

Sending out a huge thanks and warm hug to Liza and Hubert in London. This couple has true class!

Have a wonderful weekend and be sure to cherish and thank those people in your life who go above and beyond and do the unexpected kindness! 

NEW PRINT!

I have been working on many new prints color combos for my store and here is the first, my Royal Worcester Porcelain Jar in blue on an aqua background. It's available in 2 sizes in my shop and custom oversize prints by special order. Check them out here!

GOLDEN BANGLES

Loving these amazing raw brass bangles from etsy designer Sweet Auburn Studios

This cool shape grabs me

and then these a la carte pieces that you can mix and match.

Great style at a beyond reasonable price. Another opportunity to support indie art.

Find them here.

NEW SPONSOR - C. BELL PALM BEACH

See these gorgeous lacquered mahogany cockpen chairs in this photo of Veronica Beard's home?

The same chairs are available through C. Bell, a new sponsor of Annechovie.

in white or

in a cheery orange.

and look at this classic campaign dresser. A variety of gorgeous pieces and accessories are available to dress up your home, so if you're looking for some classic Palm Beach style, look no further -

go directly to C. Bell!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

BLOGGERS ARE THE BEST!

The ever-stylish Beth Connolly at Chinoiserie Chic featured my Chinese Vase print below in her terrific
post here

I'd also like to thank Australian designer Frances Russell for the kind mention and photos of my canvas and matches in her home. The striped Designers Guild wallpaper makes for a great backdrop.

and Jane Gallant of Modern Jane for her gracious post on her Annechovie collection

Jane is based in Prince Edward Island, Canada and writes a very charming blog. 

Thanks to all of you for reading and blogging! Check these out and please tell these bloggers I sent you if you get a chance.

MY GLAMOROUS WEEKEND

A little shop browsing 

A little work

Some seafood salad rolls I made with a side of Summer squash

Discovering the world's best cottage cheese 

(Whoa - exciting!!)

Admiring the custom painted dressing rooms at Lilly Pulitzer

and

last, but not least, celebrating Father's Day with my terrific Dad by making him Chicken Piccata and 

having some of my Mom's homemade cheesecake.

I don't know about you, but sometimes in this age of Facebook, Twitter and blogs, I get the feeling that many seem to be starring in a production all their own. Desperately vying for attention and competing for the envy of their friends (or, should I say "contacts"). It's like people are reality show wannabes. Hungry for attention, eager to show photos or videos of themselves doing everything and nothing, whether or not anyone is really interested. Along with the voracious hunger to be on display there's also a certain measure of trying to portray  their lives as something they may not be or as more exciting than the next persons'. Aspiring for celebrity status. All of these people documenting their every move?? I don't get it. They must either be very confident that their lives are exciting and enviable or they are totally delusional.

I'm the first to admit that people are interesting. I am a born people watcher and I do enjoy the human-story side of things and lifestyle voyeurism to a degree. Personally, I am a fairly private individual and am not keen on showing photos of myself for the heck of it, especially since only 1 out of 50 turns out decently! That's why in the 5 years since I've started this blog I have shown only a few photos of me and try to strike a balance between being open and over-exposing myself. However, I also realize that it's essential, especially in the art/design/blogging business to have a website and make a connection with people, put yourself out there a bit and not remain a complete mystery a 'la the unibomber.  Just as I enjoy reading about other folks, sometimes I need to open up and show a little of my own world. But I ask myself, where do you draw the line between being accessible vs. making people sick from your personal trivia?  The pressure of "sharing" can make you feel like you need to present your life as more exciting than it may actually be and what is exciting to one person may seem pathetic and mundane to another. Kind of like show & tell in school when the next kid made what you shared seem dumb by comparison. What ever happened to being yourself and contentment with reality? Why do so many people feel the need to be a star and be so affected? Well, I am certainly no star with an exciting life, but hey, I am perfectly ok with that. There's great freedom in anonymity and tremendous joy in the simple things. Perhaps there's value, just even living YOUR own life as it is, rather than the life of a person who is a figment of your imagination or someone elses'? Ya think?? When did we start attributing more value to someone's existence based on the numbers in their viewing audience??  

What do YOU think?

Hence, a few pics of my totally un-glamorous but perfectly satisfying weekend. 

I hope that you had a great weekend, too!  

BACKYARD OASIS

I have NO idea where I got this, but it looks like a perfect place to spend a nice afternoon, doesn't it?

Have a beautiful day and a really nice weekend.

Thanks for making this blog part of your day!

WHEN AN ACCIDENT GIVES YOU GREEN TOMATOES......

FRY THEM UP!

When a large branch snaps off your tomato bush and the cluster of tomatoes hasn't had a chance to ripen yet, what do you do?  Fry up some green tomatoes, baby!  They were so incredibly tasty that now I may be harvesting these beauties before they get the first tinge of pink in them. Next time around, I am spreading them with some goat cheese before I coat them in cornmeal and fry them up. 

I will let you know how that goes.....

(P.S. don't let my incredible photo styling intimidate you....)

Simple how-to

Heat approx. 1/2 inch of canola oil in saucepan

Mix a half cup or so of cornmeal with a little salt and pepper

Slice a few green tomatoes

Dip tomatoes in shallow milk bath

Dredge tomatoes in corn meal until lightly coated

Gently place coated tomatoes in oil (with tongs)

Flip over after about 2 minutes until both sides are lightly browned

Remove and place on paper-towel lined plate to drain and cool a bit

Feast and enjoy!

I LOVE YOUR CRAZY - ANNECHOVIE INTERVIEW

I want to thank Shannon Darrough of the blog I Love Your Crazy for featuring my work and an interview here

Shannon is a very talented writer and designer - you may have seen her work, as she is a contributing editor at Matchbook Magazine.  You will love her blog!

A STEAL!

Don't be koi!  Add this cheeky 18x24 framed poster to your digs - great pairing at a great price. (please ignore the faint reflection of me and the ceiling fan in the pic)

Find it here.

Please have a stupendous weekend and don't forget

that if you still want to take advantage of free shipping from Tusch & Egon Gallery in London,
you can find my Diamond Jubilee silhouette prints here.
Use code AHJUNE2012 at checkout. Free shipping ends June 10th!

BRIGHTON FOLLY PILLOWS - NEW!

 The most recent addition to my pillow selection - Brighton Folly in 4 colors.

Find them all here

FIVE SIMPLE STEPS TO CREATE MORE SPACE IN YOUR KITCHEN

photo - Dittepigen on Flickr

If your kitchen is cramped, it can make cooking and cleaning a real chore.  So, if you want to create a more spacious kitchen that really works for you and your family, read on to find out how. 

The illusion of space

If you've got a small kitchen, there are lots of ways you can create the illusion of a more spacious area. Make sure you pick your wall coverings and units in a light color and keep the flooring light as well. Choose reflective splash backs and make sure the lighting is good.

If you have wall units, removing them will make the room seem much more spacious, although this will inevitably, reduce the amount of storage you have. In reality, there are lots of items in the kitchen that we rarely or never use. With some clever planning, it's definitely possible to live with less storage.

Clear the clutter

A well organized kitchen is much easier to use, and if you want to give yourself more space, it's a good idea to clear the clutter. Set aside a day to take everything out of your kitchen cupboards and get rid of the things that you don't need. Have you got a waffle maker you've only used once? Let it go. Has your electric mixer ever seen the light of day? Say goodbye.

When you drag out all of the bits and bobs that have been shoved to the back of the cupboards, you'll be amazed at just how much f it you've never used.

photo- Boligmagasinet.dk

Clever cupboards

One of the main reasons our kitchens get so cluttered is that we make too many purchases. Things gradually get shoved to the back of cupboards where we forget about them, before we end up buying more. There are plenty of cupboard solutions that are ideal for storing kitchen items neatly, and you'll actually be able to get to items easily! Carousel cupboards are ideal for corner spaces and perfect for storing dry goods or herbs and spices. The circular shape means you can fit far more in, and a simple turn will give you easy access to everything you have in store.

Keeping cool

If you want your white goods to take up the minimum floor space, look at the range of 

Littlewoods Beko fridge freezers for some options. They have slimline models with plenty of storage - perfect for slipping into tight spaces and blending into the background.

ADORE - JUNE 2012

I adore ADORE magazine. So much eye candy, so much inspiration. 

I was excited when Jody Marsden of Beach Vintage sent me this page from the magazine and I saw that she and her business/blogging partner, Simone, had kindly mentioned my work. Jody is a client of mine and I cannot wait to show you what I created for her (hopefully soon!) Check out Beach Vintage and you will be inspired with  the talent and style Simone and Jody wield! They own an online fabric store as well and whip up all sorts of amazing and colorful creations you will love! 

KAYCE HUGHES

I'd like to introduce a brand-new sponsor of this blog, Kayce Hughes.

Kayce Hughes is a name many of you may already be familiar with as she is quite a presence online these days representing classic style. This amazing woman and the brand she's created have left an impression on me for quite a while. Kayce is a very talented designer, entrepreneur, wife and mom to seven children (who all look like models).

You need to visit her site and check out the classic styles she is famous for, all served up with a dose of refinement and a kick of spunk.  

Kayce's charming store

adorable kid's clothes

nostalgic toys (this really brought back memories for me!)

and some fun and totally unique gifts, accessories and pieces for the home! 

Please take a moment and visit her webstore. Kayce is generously offering all Annechovie readers a 10% discount on any purchase when you use the code "annechovie" at checkout.

Have a great weekend and check out all of the style HERE