We just returned from another wonderful weekend in Maine.  While we were away we experienced a spectacular July 4th fireworks display while lounging around barefoot at the beach.  Watching the fireworks explode against the hazy dark sky, above the incoming ocean waves was an exhilarating experience…one that will stay with me for quite awhile, I’m sure.  Prior to this amazing evening, we attended Bill’s uncle’s wedding which was actually the highlight of our trip.  This wedding was lovely in every way with lots of family, friends, good food, music, etc.  Unfortunately, I left my camera at home so I wasn’t able to capture any of these special moments.  I’m hoping that the other wedding guests were better prepared so that I can beg some photos from them. 

Although I don’t have photos to share from our holiday weekend, I thought you might like to see some other photos of our Maine place.  For our getaway place, I wanted to create a more fun vibe by filling it with bright graphic colors and vintage pieces such as these:

I found this sunny yellow chair at a local flea market for 10 bucks.

This is my home away from home studio chair.  And it also doubles as my vanity table chair until I find just the right table for our bedroom.

The vintage colors of these mini-chairs grabbed my attention right away when I came across them at a yard sale. 

I found these two pitchers way back when I was single in my 20’s.   I think I paid just a buck or two for each…crazy cheap!

More yard sale finds with a punch of color.

I like how a little blue can go a long way.  This is especially appealing when you’re trying to decorate on a modest budget.  For instance, I found this vintage iron crib for $12 at a yard sale (I used the head and foot board side-by-side to create a headboard big enough to suit our king-sized bed.)

I made this baby-sized bathing suit that hangs in our hallway in Maine using a bit of imagination along with some vintage red trim.  This piece was published a while ago in Somerset Home (volume 4), but the issue is still currently available.  If you’re interested in how to make my mini-bathing suit, I’ve included the directions in the article.   This is a quick and easy project that can be whipped-up in no time, plus the materials don’t cost much – quick and inexpensive…I love this combination!

Our home in Massachusetts is very different from our place in Maine.   The colors are quieter, the furniture is a bit more formal, but it’s still very cozy and comfortable.    I guess that overall, Bill, Brook and I are casual people with casual tastes.  We like things simple, easy and relaxed.  What about you…how do you like to create a fun and/or relaxed environment?

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Lately I’ve been craving the simple softness of white, cream and tan.  These gentle colors allow texture to take center stage by complimenting, rather than competing for your eyes’ attention.     Here’s a look at some recent photos that I took that showcase this quiet yet stunning color combination.

Slinky silky gowns in a Soho shop

Luscious layers from inside my closet 

Vintage lace covered eggs from a previous project

Stack of tea-dyed used dryer sheets, waiting to be transformed into something sweet or sassy

A handful of beach pebbles from the Nantucket shoreline – of course I couldn’t resist bringing home a pinch of sand as well

Necklace that I created using Nantucket beach finds

I love the word, “be” –  it can be interpreted in so many ways…such as “be” in the moment, “be” relaxed,  “be” kind, but most of all…”be” YOU.  And let’s not forget “be” in love.   I created this necklace with Bill in mind – he is my best moments, my total relaxation, my kind and caring sweetheart.  As our thirteenth wedding anniversary approaches (July 19th), I feel as though I am knee-deep, wading in a sea full of gratitude, I feel immensely blessed to be married to someone who lets me “be” me, and loves me just as I am.

A few years ago, to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary I created this mixed-media collage for Bill – this happens to have been the very first article I wrote that was published by Stampington and Company.   Isn’t it grand how love inspires art?

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A few days ago, on our back deck railing, I noticed something going on behind these leaves.

A bird kept zipping back and forth all day long, to and from this four inch wide railing.  And when I figured out that this bird was building a nest, I couldn’t believe my luck – I was so excited that I was going to get to witness this part of nature taking place right on our deck, just steps away from our family room windows.  BTW, these windows are very large (practically cover an entire wall), perfect for prime viewing.  And I couldn’t help wondering if the little birdie on the other side of this window, looking in, would see Bill, Brook and me like fish in a bowl.  This brought up other thoughts, but I’ll tuck these away for another time. 

Here’s a closer view of what the bird has built.  Can you imagine how many trips it must’ve taken for this bird to gather all of these twigs and grass clippings, one tiny beakful at a time?  And on top of these dry pieces, it appears that the bird used something else that looks like mud to keep everything packed together.  As far as I could tell, this bird worked alone building the nest.  This kind of diligence and commitment is awe-inspiring.

Besides the fact that this bird was able to build this sturdy home all by its lonesome, if you take a closer look you’ll see the amazing sculptural artistry.  The cascading tendrils of twigs absolutely swept my breath away.   And it looks like the bird used a lighter, more whispy-like plant material around the bottom, outer edge.

Here’s a view of the nest’s  interior.   Doesn’t it look so cozy and cocoon-like?  And at the same time it has a light, airy-feel – the open top lets in plenty of sunshine and allows the fresh air to circulate.

And speaking of breathing space, I didn’t want to disturb the bird too much so I tried my best to stay away.  This lasted a whole 4 or 5 hours before I gave in.  After making sure that the bird had gone out  (I saw this from our family room window)  I went back for one more quick visit.  And look at what was nestled inside…a bright, blue, beautiful, teeny-tiny egg!

What an awesome sight to witness.  I wasn’t expecting this at all (can you tell I grew up around the city?)  What else would the nest be for, right?  Anyway, because I spent most of my years as a city girl, I’m really quite behind on my knowledge of nature, but I’m getting there.  Perhaps my inexperience with nature makes me that much more curious and fascinated by it, since I’m literally seeing things for the very first time.  Getting a closer look at the many wonders of nature often inspires me to create tangible objects and art pieces – it’s my way of  showing appreciation.    I’m in such awe of this little, hardworking birdie – I can hardly believe that it accomplished this mighty task by creating this masterpiece all through instinct…now that’s following your gut to the max!

For the past few years I’ve been obsessed with these winged-creatures, and they’ve often been the inspiration behind my various art projects.    For instance, here are some bird figures that I created using Das clay (air-drying clay.)  These pieces were published in a previous issue of Somerset Life.  Within my article, Blissful Adornments, you’ll find the how-to instructions to make these charms.

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I love going to the beach on the day after a big storm.  I’ve noticed that after strong weather, there are often magical surprises to discover such as shimmery shells, driftwood nuggets, and sand-worn rocks and pebbles.  However, what I found on our last trip to the beach really blew me away.

Below are some unexpected masterpieces that I discovered in the sand. I loved them so much that I wanted to carve out each scene and cart it home, but of course I couldn’t, so I took these photos instead.  I think that these trees in the sand are nothing short of miraculous…thank you mother nature!

Here’s a look at the first tree that I spotted.  The branch details are so incredible.

And look at these little trees, all standing in a row like a forest meeting the edge of a field.

Notice how the trunks and limbs of these trees appear to be so strong – they just kept on growing despite the rock obstacles.   Looking at these trees, thoughts of resilience and the human experience occupied my mind.  We all know that life can be difficult and that there will always be obstacles.  And since it’s impossible to completely avoid these obstacles, we must learn to deal with them.  Like these trees in the sand, when things get in our way we need to figure out how to keep going…how to keep growing.  We must grow stronger no matter what, reaching determinantly towards the sky with roots planted deeply into the soil.

The image below looks less like a tree and more like a burning flame.   This robust flame conjures thoughts of passion and the intense desire to create.  I believe that a flame burns inside of each of us and in order for it to keep burning brightly and powerfully, we must allow it some air…to breathe.  And at the same time this fire needs fuel.   It needs to be stoked and constantly tended to.  This is similar to my need to nurture the artist in me.  Because if I slack off, the flame will inevitably die down, become weak and less vibrant…less full of life. 

To keep the flame burning strong I need to create things, anything, many things…all of the time.  What about you, what makes you feel most alive?

This week I’ll be sharing my personal Art Saves story at Crescendoh.   While writing this story I had a chance to dig underneath the surface, uncover some roots and for the first time recognized exactly how art helped me get through an especially challenging period earlier in my life.

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These past few months I’ve been working on creating a jewelry line that would reflect my interest in spreading good messages.   I think that wearing jewelry, specifically necklaces with positive words, can help one maintain an optimistic mindset.  Here’s a look at some of the pieces I’ve come up with recently.

Remember this piece?

 This one has become my favorite everyday necklace.

Come August I’m planning to offer eighteen different necklace styles which will be available through my website.   And just in case you’re wondering, the price for each necklace will range between $32 – $46, with complimentary shipping for domestic orders. 

Before I get this all set up on my website I’d love some feedback.  Please share whatever comments or suggestions you may have.  For instance, which particular word (s) speak to you, which stones or bead colors make you the happiest or do you favor a certain chain style or length?   Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated…thank you!!

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With the many distractions of everyday life sometimes it’s difficult trying to stay in the moment.  Sometimes, and more frequently than I would like, my mind wanders off.  And when this happens I’ll feel disconnected from the present.  Knowing that this obviously isn’t a good way to live, I’m always trying to re-focus my mind. 

Have you noticed that when you’re away from home, perhaps on vacation or travelling for work purposes, the eyes and mind are more tuned into your environment?  You tend to notice more details in general, and the imagination gets revved-up.   I think that when you live in the moment, life can be more fun and interesting. 

For instance, Bill’s convinced that there’s an old man following him everywhere he goes.  He spotted this old man while having a snack in a local eatery in Abu Dhabi. 

Later that year, he saw this guy while in Laguna Beach, CA…check out the spiky hair!

The old man made another appearance last month while he was away in Sydney, Australia. 

I think it’s funny how Bill keeps running into this old man.  It makes me wonder if he’s looking for this particular silhouette and if so, why this strange attraction?  This might be a stretch, but a few years back Bill took a charcoal drawing class.  And after a few classes we noticed that he was mostly sketching faces, male ones in particular.  Do you suppose that maybe in real life, we see what we’re most naturally drawn to?  What about you…do you have someone or something that follows you around? 

Here’s a cuff that I knitted using a pair of extra chopsticks that I had lying around.  It’s a little reminder to myself to “Be in the moment.”  I can easily keep this message more private by wearing it turned inside-out, or I can leave it in the open.  And the paper sleeve that I created for the chopsticks is a nod to my past – growing up I spent countless hours at Chinese restaurants with my family.   

The removing of the chopsticks from its paper sleeve signifies the beginning of a meal (at least for me it did.)  And in Chinese tradition, the meal (especially in a restaurant) would be more like a feast since there are usually course after course after course of delectable dishes.  Yum!  You bet I was always in the moment during those special mealtimes…some things never change.

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In the new issue of Somerset Studio Gallery (Summer 2010), you’ll see a few projects of mine using regular supplies.

Here are a few mixed-media collages (on canvas or wood) using string.  The string lends itself perfectly to the straight lines of a star. 

And here’s another mixed-media collage that uses string to create a curvy bird silhouette…I love how versatile string can be.

If you enjoy using recycled materials like I do, here’s a dress form that I created from an empty dish soap bottle.  Whenever I look at the shape of these bottles I always see and think about dress forms.   I think that one of the reasons why I see a dress form in a dish soap bottle is because when you turn it to the side, the top 2/3rds of the bottle potrudes ever so slightly, hinting to the shape of a bustline.

The directions for making any of the above projects are available in Somerset Studio Gallery.   And BTW, if at any time you come across a published project of mine and have a specific question regarding technique, where to buy, product details, etc., please feel free to send me an email or leave a comment on my blog…I’m always happy to help.

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I’ve been craving some change lately so last week I went for a haircut, hoping to get a new “do” with a little more polish or pizzaz.  Although I had this goal in mind, I didn’t intend to go short, exactly.   However, when I first arrived at the salon and found out that I had enough ponytail length to donate to Locks of Love,  I couldn’t pass up on this opportunity just because I didn’t want to lose a couple of extra inches.   It wasn’t very easy letting go of 10 inches of hair, which by the way took me three years to grow, but my nervousness was eased when I thought about how much more this hair would mean to someone else.   Since I was looking for a change anyway, deciding to cut it all off wasn’t purely motivated by unselfish thoughts.  I think that very often, when we do something that benefits others we are in turn doing something for ourselves (it feels great  knowing that we’ve made a positive difference.)

With shorter hair I feel lighter and more energetic.  Plus, this new style is easier to maintain and I’m saving money too by not having to buy expensive hair conditioners.  If you’ve been thinking about going lighter and would like to donate your hair, please visit Locks of Love (requires 10 inches) or Pantene (requires 8 inches).  

BTW, last weekend while at the beach I unexpectedly felt the breeze blowing on the back of my neck again.   Ah…the simple pleasures…they are free, yet priceless!

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In the new summer issue of  Sew Somerset (June) you’ll see my article, “Making Due.”  The project covered in this article focuses on reinventing readily available resources.  Stretching the imagination while staying within budget…what could be better?
The idea behind this project came to me during a recent visit to the Strawberry Banke Museum in New Hampshire (a 10-acre outdoor history museum that interprets four centuries of American History.)  While I was there I spotted a handmade quilt that used handwritten notes, religious tracts, and advertisements as stiffening for the squares/backing.  Since resources were so scarce back then, it makes sense that they would come up with this clever way to use everyday scraps.
Here’s a look at what I created using what I had in my scrap bin.

The photos above didn’t turn out as clear as I would like so it’s hard to read the messages.  Behind several of the pockets (made from used dryer sheets and/or tulle fabric) I tucked tags and papers with positive messages such as “share, uncover your bliss, grow, etc.”  I like to surround myself with things that highlight good energy.  I’m not sure exactly where I’ll hang this piece yet, but I’m pretty sure that wherever it’s placed,  positive thinking will come from it.  If you’d like to learn how to make this feel-good quilt the directions are included within my article, available in Sew Somerset through Stampington.
BTW, I grew up in a household with very little means so we didn’t have money for any extras like art supplies.    This being the case, I learned how to make due with what little was available.   After many years of seeing the possibilites in all the things around me, I realized that I didn’t need the fancy stuff to create.  And although I can now afford to buy “real” supplies, I still gravitate towards using found objects and spare parts…out of habit I suppose.  However, I think that some habits are worth hanging on to.  This habit keeps me connected to who I was and who I will always be, no matter how far I go.

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For no particular reason, this morning I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.   This doesn’t happen very often, but it happens.   And when it does there’s nothing like going for a casual walk around the neighborhood with a good friend.  I’ve just returned from one of our walks and I feel TONS better.  Not only did I get in some much needed exercise, but I also had a chance to enjoy some quality chat time.  The key here is quality, which to me involves back and forth sharing.  We each take turns talking while the other one listens…truly listens.  Taking the time to attentively listen to others is very important…it shows that we REALLY care.   And when others sincerely listen to me as well, this has the power to instantly chase away the morning blues.  So thanks to my friend this morning who helped to turn my day around.

Last month this very same friend wasn’t feeling well.  It wasn’t anything serious but she felt pretty worn down and rotten and not at all like her usual, happy-go-lucky self.   To try and help cheer her up, I put together this apron kit (she’s crazy about aprons!) using a bunch of supplies gathered from my own stash.   I wanted to get something to her ASAP (hoping to jump start some happy vibes) so it made sense to look for items already in my sewing room.

It’s unsettling to watch our friends go through rough stages no matter how serious the situation is.  We always want our friends to feel good.  And if we can do anything big or little to help, we would rush to do so, right?  It felt great to hand deliver this “I care about you”  kit. 

For this kit I bundled together a yard of pink and brown striped fabric for the apron base and a square foot of cheerful floral fabric for the pockets.  I pre-washed and ironed both fabrics so that the making process would be less laborious for my friend.   This way, if the feeling strikes she can immediately start sewing without having to deal with any washing or ironing.  In addition to the fabrics I included a package of vintage bias tape and a chocolate-colored leather button.    And speaking of chocolate, I added a handful of  these pop-in-your-mouth treats just in case she’d like to munch on something sweet while sewing.

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