My Owl Barn: Free 2011 Calendar

I came across this today through Decor8 blog and I love this free OWL calendar you can download. What a great idea/gift! Any one can go to Shivani's blog called My Owl Barn read about this great idea and cool gift to give.

Songbird the place for cool gifts!

Jennifer of Songbird is now carrying my work! woo-hoo!

Songbird
2240 E. 4th Street
Long Beach, CA 90814

Patchwork Indie ARTS & CRAFTS

COME SEE ME AT:
patchwork indie arts & festival showcases over 75 local independent artists, crafters and designers in an outdoor setting. come down and eat & drink from local cafe & restaurant booths as you listen to tunes and peruse goods from the best southern california creators. look & shop... clothing for men, women & kids, handbags, accessories, art, ceramics, home goods, garden finds, plushies, jewelry, paper goods, edible treats, pet gear, crochet & knit goods, kits & patterns, bath & body goodies & more. check out our bike valet, eco-gift wrapping station & diy crafting tables for adults & kids.


WHEN & WHERE:
PATCHWORK LONG BEACH
NOVEMBER 21ST 11-5PM

MARINE STADIUM- BAYSHORE @ APPIAN WAY

PATCHWORK SANTA ANA
NOVEMBER 28TH 11-5PM
2202 NORTH MAIN STREET @ BUFFALO SANTA ANA, CA 92706

go to www. patchwork.com for more info. 

Dwell on Design 2010

I was finally attending my first Dwell on Design exhibit and as the media (woo-hoo for my blog) and (woo-hoo for my gal pal Kristen over at Rage Against the Mini Van for turning me onto this).  I had no idea what to expect and can tell you I wasn’t disappointed.

I went into this as a person who was going to blog about my experience and not covet the next great modern design element or walk away envious that I could not own every single item I saw or that my home wasn’t a prefab or from the ground up a mastermind of some known architect. Yes, I have to admit I can easily fall into the madness of materialism and get caught up in the “my house isn’t good enough if I don’t have blank or blank…... so lame I know. Instead, I went in as an avid admirer of all things modern, so with my little camera, note pad and pen (oh and my husband and two sons) here is some of what I unveiled. 





Planters by Wallter

 

Planters are powder coated aluminum-available in wall mounted, hanging, or on

A post. Yes, there are holes for drainage.

Pivot Furniture: Bloom Table Playset

 

Luxury organic nursery furniture-innovative design combined with eco-friendly manufacturing to create safe products.

Idea Paint

If you are a fan of chalkboard paint then you are going to love this paint by Ideapaint. It's a special dry-erase paint. Ideapaint turns virtually anything you can paint into a dry-erase surface and any room into a hub of creativity and collaboration from work, to school to the your home. I love this.  Everything wipes away clean and any dry-erase markers work. 

 

We couldn't drag our boys away from this area in the Modern Family zone. 

Rabbit Ring by HaoShi 

I fell in love with this ring. It's so whimsical and I like how I could play off of it, do I see myself as a rabbit? Is this playing to the inner Alice and Wonderland in me? Or what other animal would I dare wear?

Ring is handmade from silver, metal, and plastic. 

Green-Form

Amazingly cool forms for the outdoors. Natural, durable and lightweight. 

Vessel by Architectural Pottery

   

From organic forms to geometric shapes Vessel pottery is sure to help carry your modern aesthetic throughout your landscape design. 

Last but, certainly not least is modern photography by Sara Wert. Sara and Stephanie were located in the Modern Family zone at Dwell on Design. I was so excited for her to snap a few shots of my boys. I can't wait to see them up on her blog. To see more shots from the weekend visit www.modernkidsblog.com or www.modernkidsphoto.com

I will be posting more next week on some cool on-line stores I was introduced to and companies who are helping shape environmental awareness and also what's hot in home design. 

ART ADVENTURES FOR FAMILIES

Are you looking for something fun and educational to do this summer with your family AND for free? I know I am and was so exited when the new "The Getty" newsletter arrived in my mailbox.  I forgot completely about the summer programs they offer. Here is what is happening this summer for kids/families.

Garden Concerts for Kids:

The summertime tradition returns with another great lineup of kids' music! Don't miss this free concert series in the Central Garden for kids and their families, featuring some of the best children's musicians from across the nation. 

 Sara Lee Guthrie 

  Milkshake  Elizabeth Mitchell

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, August 7 & 8, 14 & 15, and 21 & 22, 2010

Time: 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Admission: Free; no reservations required.

Art Adventures for Families 

Get creative with Art Adventures, a one-hour gallery program that's part tour, part art lesson, and part family teamwork. You'll join a small group led by a gallery teacher, who will introduce you to a handful of artworks revolving around a theme, such as portraits or artists as storytellers.

Working as a team, your family will use what you see to tackle fun, hands-on drawing, writing, or drama projects that help you look closely and think creatively about works of art. Whether you sketch royalty or script your own dramatic performances, you'll come away with your own artistic treasure.

How to Participate
Sign up at the Museum Information Desk beginning at 1:30 p.m. on days when Art Adventures is offered. The program is geared for families with children ages 5 and up. 

There are so many programs to choose from. For more information and more insight to what The Getty has going on this summer go to  http://www.getty.edu/ and click on Museum.

Bravo’s WORK OF ART The Next Great Artists

About a year or so ago I heard a rumor that they were casting for this new show Sara Jessica Parker was involved in creating.  A show based on artists. As and artist I was immediately intrigued yet totally skeptical too. It could be totally cheesy ya know, however, upon watching I think I really like it. What do you think?

I love these types of shows; reality shows where they put people’s skills to the test, in an arena that is their specialty. (Top Design, the Next Design Star, Top Chef, etc.,) Each challenge pushing them selves to create something in a time constrained event. Ugh, that would be the hardest part, being limited to time. 

So far the challenges have been interesting. I love this latest one (episode 3) “Judging a Book By Its Cover, the contestants are ask to create an innovative cover art for a classic novel to be judged by author and artist Jonathan Santlofer. I was trying to imagine which book title I would have picked and what I would have created. I would have loved to have chosen “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. Which book would you have hoped to pick? What would you have created? 

 

Here is the winner …… John and his cover art that was selected. The Time Machine by HG Wells for Penguin Books.

Of course, as with every realty type show there are people you like and easily dislike. People you come to root for and ones you can’t wait for the judges to see what you see and give them the boot. I thought the judges were accurate in sending Judith home; I wasn’t getting any of the work she created so far on the show. Do you think the voted the right person off? 

To see the all the works from episode three go to work: Bravo TV 

A peek into some new work......

I LOVE Mondays!!!

Monday Eye Candy

Work of Art - Season 1 - About | Bravo TV Official Site

Work of Art - Season 1 - About | Bravo TV Official Site

MomStyleIcons Blog

 

I came across this blog today called momstyleicons.blogspot.com you have to see it. You can send in a photo of your mom this week and post something special about her. I love this idea and I love looking over all the hip moms from all eras.

I couldn’t sleep. So, upon my early morning escapades on the internet and browsing my favorite design blogs I came across 2 designers whose new work I love!  With spring slowly making it’s way out what 2 better ways to showcase it via design.

First off, is rug guru Angela Adams. I love this rug. It’s called  NECTAR. She states “nectar celebrates the birds that are busy during sunny summer days.”  The second rug is called “RUTHIE” Ruthie is Angela’s mom.

   

My second treat is from a young designer named Nina Bruun. She’s based in Copenagen. I need this chair! I use birds in almost every single piece of art that I do- so the fact that this chair is titled “NEST” was just the icing on the nest I mean cake!

  

  

Main - Great ideas for garden accessories - Photos - Sunset.com

Main - Great ideas for garden accessories - Photos - Sunset.com

Building castles and other collages

 

  

James Castle (1899-1977) never learned to speak, read, or write-and yet he created a wide range of extraordinary works. Upon viewing some of his work I instantly became enamored.

I have been cutting out and saving images from magazines for years. Some are art idea s for paintings or sculpture, some are modern design inspiration and “wouldn’t I love to do buy that or remodel my home like that” inspiration, and others are recipe’s or party décor ideas.  No matter how small or large the article I keep the portions that I love.

Well, then what do you do with all the fragments, all the pieces, and all the images that evoke something in you? Some time ago I started neatly taping or gluing them into folders so I have them all together, lately, they moved me into making collages out of them. I’ve been recycling older (I’m talking 1988 to 1994 old) sketchbooks and reusing the scraps I have to make newfound inspiration.

And upon this collage induced mania I am on I came across James Castle the artist.  And even though James Castle’s work is not solely collage I was blown away by his work and wanted to share it with you. One day, when I get a new camera I will be able to share the collage work I am doing. 

Happy Valentine’s Day (home and more)

 

I was browsing through some sites over the weekend and stumbled upon some cute and cool Valentine themed items. I love how they are not your traditional Valentine decor or gifts.  Enjoy. XOXOX

 me & you pillow cases (urban outfitters)         home doormat (chiasso) 

Alexander Girard Love Heart Art (urban outfitters)      Love Poems by Pablo Neruda (anthropologie)

 

Cuff My Heart Bracelet by (Hapagirls/etsy)        Happy Hearts Mobile by Torben Nielson (modernseed)

Mr. Darcy Proposal Towel by (Brookish/Etsy)     Mr. Darcy Quote by (the LOVE shop/etsy)

Its Here It’s Here!

This past weekend at the New York International Gift Fair, Jonathan Adler debut his new children’s line “Jonathan Adler Jr. Home Décor.” Can I just say I LOVE IT! I admire and love his work so his children’s line is icing on the cake for me! 

I think my kids’ room is ready for a makeover! 

Check out Jonathan Adler for more info and designs.