HAPPY EASTER

I want to wish you a contemplative, restful and joyful Easter weekend.  There's so much to this holiday I celebrate every year that I often neglect to focus on and cherish. 

I don't want to miss the opportunity this year.

If you have some time for a very hopeful and provocative message, listen here.

EATING YOUR WORDS!

Call me impractical, but I just found this gadget I spotted on Pinterest very charming. 

You simply write a note or message on the top screen and this device burns it into your slice of toast! 

 How clever!  It's called a "Toast Messenger"

BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN FURNITURE

Casual dining, breakast bars and kitchen islands are increasing in popularity all of the time to accomodate busy lifestyles and smaller spaces. With these trends follows a need for seating and bar stools are a great solution.  There are a myriad of styles, colors and materials available. Something for everyone!  Leather is a practical and comfortable option, especially for eating areas.  A pop of color as an accent is a way to enliven a neutral or all white space and I think that these green stools would look fresh and lively in an all-white, contemporary kitchen setting. With plump "ribs"" this stool looks extremely comfortable and would add a dose of "hip" to your space. Which type of stool suits your style?

AWESOME ETSY

Today I am just posting a few of my latest finds on Etsy.

Lately I am really into this color, and with gold, it only gets better.

Click here for more details.

Pretty cool. All here

Beautiful party decor items here

Cheery beach photography here

Etsy has some cool stuff, folks AND you are supporting the underdog and providing creative people with a way to survive. You could very well be sparing them from utter despair as they might otherwise have to toil at a cannery or worse yet, be a garbage collector!!

Have a restful weekend and thanks for reading this little blog.

YOUR PET SILHOUETTE

This is a custom silhouette I painted of a charming dog in Dallas.

Just click here to commission your own in a custom color combination.

It's as easy as purchasing the listing and then emailing a photo!

TOUCHES OF CHEER

Not much surfing takes place here in my neck of the woods, but nonetheless, I dig the look of surfboards and saw this at my local Trader Joe's. With my frequent mentions, you probably think that's the only place outside of my studio that I go.

A girl's got to eat....

I never tire of Palm Trees and have a mild fixation with them.

This is a new nail color I picked up while in Honolulu that I am sporting on my toes at the moment. 

It shows up glowing neon under UV light.

This is the only photo that I did NOT take (*that probably accounts for it's clarity and great lighting)

but it's in Greece and I am crazy about the bougainvillea against the white with the brilliant blue shutters mixed in. I want to visit the Greek Isles. Badly.

Ok, that's random stuff - is it not? But don't you feel warm and sunny? Hope your day is terrific.

I am painting away in my studio this fair Monday.

SAVANNAH ROMANCE

These are just a few photos my photographer brother has published of late.

They were all taken in Savannah, Georgia

I am loving the ornate and graceful architectural details seen here

Is this not a gorgeous floral swag by Maria Taylor for Amy Osaba Events?

Check out the entire spread here

Have a wonderful weekend!!

RECENT & RANDOM

Hope your week is shaping up to be a good one so far! I'm still adjusting to Daylight Savings time myself....Here are a few random things that have been on my radar of late.

Love this top I ordered from JCrew 

- it's called an artist's boatneck (how apropos) - and it's in Caribbean Green here

Brussels + Bacon pizza from CPK. Out of this world....

Spunky little glasses pouch

A girly-eyed car I spotted while in Kailua, Hawaii. 

Wouldn't do this myself, but I have to give them credit for creativity.

Enjoy your Wednesday!!

TROPICAL ESCAPE FOR SALE

My stylish and creative sister and her husband have just renovated a home in the Florida Keys and it's now on the market!  If you're looking for a base in Islamorada where you can soak up the sun and spend your days on the water, then look no further!

The home has 2 separate levels with 2 apartments complete with their own kitchen and baths. Ideal for large family gatherings or as rentals.

You can keep a boat in the backyard on your own dock with canal access to the Ocean!

Lushly landscaped with palms and low-maintenance tropical foliage

Complete with beautiful acacia wood floors

Premium appliances, marble countertops, subway tiles and flooded with light!

Find out all the details here.

SPRING FEVER

I don't know about you, but I am a nursery/gardening addict. Something about roaming a round a nursery with the pea gravel crunching under my feet puts me in a great mood. Here in Florida, we have a year-round growing season, but that still doesn't diminish my fervor for planting, even though the thrill of seasonal change might heighten other folks' enjoyment of gardening in colder climes. I have a real weakness for braided or plaited trees and plants.

Bougainvillea is de rigueur here in Florida and I simply cannot get enough of it. Maintenance, schmaintenance. Sometimes beauty requires work!

Standards and......

Climbers

This place has a particularly good pot selection and I am partial to these deep blue glazed numbers.

Now, as for this creation, I can't say I found it beautiful, but I bet my nephews would love it. Nothing like a gator head half submerged in a forboding-looking black caldron with smoke rising off the surface. Looks like something perfect for a redneck outpost in the Everglades or a Goth-themed residence belonging to a person who sports black nail polish and lipstick.

This espalier style potted plant was right up my alley. Plants with architectural interest. Very cool.

Some more tropical plants and smallish bougainvillea standards with wispy woven trunks.

Loved this gorgeous yellow bloom. Too bad I was remiss and didn't check the name of it!

Tons of orchids - a staple fave of mine. These were very pricey, though and no better than the great picks at Trader Joe's!

I just looked down and spied some color inspiration for a new painting!

Do you get the fever for gardening as Spring approaches?

Have a terrific weekend, all!

JAMIESHOP.COM - NEW SPONSOR!

Master Bedroom designed by Jamie Herzlinger

Chic office designed by Jamie Herzlinger

Serene bedroom designed by Jamie Herzlinger

I'd love to welcome JAMIESHOP.COM as a new sponsor of Annechovie! I'm excited to partner with designer extraordinaire and fan of Annechovie Jamie Herzlinger. Jamie is a talented and world reknowned designer specializing in luxury residential design. She maintains offices both in New York and Scottsdale, AZ. Her firm was named by Traditonal Home as one of the top 20 interior design firms in the country. Now, Jamie connects you with all of the best design sources for a fraction of what it costs to work with a designer.

JAMIESHOP.COM provides exclusive access to luxury "to the trade only" manufacturers at designer wholesale prices. Their fee structure is 25% above their designer wholesale net cost, to facilitate orders for customers. You will receive a copy of the manufacturer's original invoice.

REQUEST A QUOTE

If you know what item you are looking for, request a quote from their ordering department. Once a quote request is acknowledged, you will receive a quote for your item(s) within 48 business hours. Your itemized quote will include manufacturer's price, their 25% fee, estimated shipping charges, and sales tax (if applicable). Quotes are valid for 20 days.

Once your order is placed, JAMIESHOP.COM is happy to provide a scaled drawing showing the item or items purchased in an existing space. Please feel free to contact them for information on how this works. 

This is a service provided exclusively by JAMIESHOP.COM and is at no additional charge. 
Please take a moment to check out the incredible site here.

ANNECHOVIE IN STYLE AT HOME MAGAZINE

I was excited to find that my Chanel No.5 Print was featured in this month's Style at Home magazine (Canada). It's always a morale boost to see a mention in a magazine. So many times, as an artist, a magazine promises to publish your work, requests free samples for a photoshoot and then tells you to look for your work/product in a specific issue. You excitedly receive or find the magazine, thumbing through the pages with heart palpitations, scanning like a crazy woman only to realize you were cut in the final edit. Trust me, it's an education in humility, patience and handling disappointment. That said, it's even sweeter when you get a feature that's a complete surprise! This mention came via MadeByGirl who carries my black Chanel No.5 print on their website. Below is a direct link to the issue.

Style at Home - March 2013

This is the "snapshot" of the mention

(photo courtesy of MadeByGirl)

My print and another skull print available at MadeByGirl

(photo courtesy of MadeByGirl)

You can find my print here

ANNECHOVIE ALOHA

Oversized Chinoiserie Ginger Jar (had to pose with this!)

I just returned from a relaxing Winter get-away to Hawaii. After a very hectic beginning to 2013 with a move and lots of crazy work days, I was able to spend a couple of weeks in Honolulu and relish some quality time visiting my boyfriend.

World's best snack (notice the bag is almost empty - a common occurence)

Kiteboarding in Kailua

My gracious host takes me to some terrific eateries - this night it was Italian at Auntie Pasto's

Lots of sun, great food, meaningful conversations, beautiful scenery, good walks, fun smashball matches (we made it to 285 this time!) laughter and rest.

Sandy Beach, Oahu

Just what I needed! My smile says it all.

Thanks to my wonderful boyfriend and the warm, restorative atmosphere of Hawaii, I am now refreshed and ready to get back to work! I hope that all of you have been well and I look forward to catching up with more posts and visits to your blogs soon. Happy 1st of March and have a great weekend.