retro-modern-art: July 2010

30 July 2010

Cabin

I am off to the cabin - to enjoy the fresh air and pool and lakes. I'd love to say it's going o be a relaxing vacation, but I know better. It will take probably 10 hours to drive there with my adoring husband, and three babies. I am excited to swim and just spend time with everyone. Arnold, California, here we come!

This is my uniform - what I wear daily....

Stacys everyday uniform by srajab1 featuring Splendid tops

Not me...

I don't cook. I don't camp. I eat out or my husband cooks. Sometimes I make mac + cheese or pb+j. When my husband is traveling for work, I feel bad for my kids. But I hate to cook. Camping - not my thing. Why would I want to sleep on the ground in the middle of nowhere. Doesn't sound like fun. At all.

Amazing Crafters at this BNR

Yet another wonderful selection of creators...

Heather, an amazing photographer, at Heather King Designs has made this treasury:
Treasury by Heather King

Here are a couple of amazing items:
A vibrant purple pendant by Sovereign Seas Sovereign Seas at Etsy

This beautiful photograph is an example of Heather King's work. Seriously, check her out. Heather King Designs

These are beautiful earrings by Morning Blossom MorningBlossom at Etsy

And such a fun zebra frame from Something Crafty SomethingCrafty at Etsy

29 July 2010

New Workspace Organization + Office Area

cozy work and live spaces

savvy-solutions

creative work spaces

Here are three office/work spaces I am in love with. What I like about them is that there is a lot of color, everything has a place, but they aren't too perfect. My husband and I now share a workspace - baby # 3 took my husbands old office - forcing him to now work from home in my tiny office space. Since he is the one paying the bills, I am essentially in his office. So, I am looking forward to organizing my corner of the room so that I can be on the computer, paint, and create the crafts I love to do all the while he can work on his computers and take work calls. I will post some pictures of what I end up creating to make this all work in a couple of weeks.

BNR

Heather over at Heather King Designs has a wonderful BNR (buy and replace) treasury going on. I'm actually featured over there....Yaah! Heather is an amazing photographer. Check out her great designs. Actually, everyone on today's BNR is amazing! Here is Heather's info: heatherkingdesigns

And here is the BNR Treasury:

shop-of-the-day-bnr-round-5

28 July 2010

Lovin the Heels and Socks

I am seriously in love with the look of heels and socks. What a great way to dive into fall without having to leave behind those fun platform heels or clogs from the summer? And gladiators? No problem. Just to get you in the mood..... Heels + Socks

Heels + Socks by srajab1 featuring mango socks

Mango Knitted Socks
$19 - asos.com
More mango socks »

Mango Knitted Socks
$34 - asos.com
More mango socks »

Sonia By Sonia Rykiel Striped Socks
$20 - asos.com
More Sonia by Sonia Rykiel socks »

Strawberry Top Ankle Sock
$18 - freepeople.com
More Free People socks »

Emilo Cavallini Cut-Out Toeless Stirrup Sock
$3.66 - asos.com
More ASOS socks »

Gap Angora Wide Stripe Crew Socks
$8.50 - asos.com
More GAP socks »

socks and heels
stylespeaker.com
More socks »

Socks and heels: picture inspiration > photo 6883 > fashion picture
fashionising.com

26 July 2010

New paintings I just finished

25 July 2010

Mother of the Year

No eggs, milk, or food, in general. We are getting ready for a trip to the cabin at the end of the week. I haven't been grocery shopping in a few days because I don't want a ton of extra groceries to go bad while we are gone. So, this morning the kids got left over fruit from the fridge with some frozen trader joe's strawberries and vanilla ice cream mixed in the blender - for milk shakes. For breakfast. Even the one-year-old ate up. The worst breakfast, ever. Luckily they were ecstatic. Happy Sunday!

24 July 2010

A little style

Is amazing. Just imagine wearing it with jeans (of course) or even a dress in the evening. So chic. Thank you, miumiu. We love you prada. miu miu coat

I love a funky/clunky boot with a crisp shirt, sweater or slouchy sweatshirt. Just imagine...A simple knit striped scarf, over a white tee, jeans and these lovely boots. Even with the swing coat above, these boots would look great. clunky boot

23 July 2010

Obsession

I am obsessed with books and book shelves. Check out some of these:

bookshelf/room

luxury-home-designing

uk book room
Doesn't this one just look so comfy and yet clean? And the book shelves filled to the brim with amazing books just looks smart. It is amazing how books and bookshelves can change any room into a comfortable place to put up your feet and read and have a chat. One huge goal for decorating my formal dining room has been to make it like a library - with the books and the huge long, long, table.

Apartment Therapy shows some wonderful homes with bookshelves in the Chicago area. The photo below is from the Chicago House Tours. They are all so lovely. Check them out.

22 July 2010

My dad

When my dad was 13, he began by sweeping floors in a jewelry store. By the time he was 18 years old, he had learned his trade and opened his own shop. He works in yellow and white gold and sometimes platinum. Everything is custom and handmade. He doesn't advertise or sell on-line. He is old-school in the way that people only go to him if they have been referred to him - word of mouth. His advice for being an artist:

You have to love what you do.
You have work hard.
Don't charge for everything. Give away or do some repairs/things for people and they will come back and they will bring everyone they know.

In today's day and age, is this sound advice? And will it work for artists selling over the web (like me)? Anyone have any advice?

Summer inspirations

This dress looks so fun and festive for summer! Doesn't it just make you want to have a early evening picnic or outdoor party? It's made from bamboo jersey.
gracie dress

Fun Wedges!

And drinks (gin + tonic or maybe even a malibu bay breeze) while reading and just feeling the nice breeze in this rocker.
rocker

21 July 2010

Working in Jeans

Here are a couple of my latest using recycled (actually, well worn by me jeans). I painted gesso on each canvas board, painted with acrylic paint, then added texture and a little bit of undertones, lastly adhering the denim onto the canvas with gel liquid medium.

19 July 2010

New Toy

Cricut Provo Craft Machine

I finally bought it! I bought a Cricut Provo Craft Machine!!! I have been wanting my own dye cut machine since I first began teaching - and now 12 years later - I finally got my own!!!

Here is what I plan to do with it:

Make my own cards. I already mostly do this, but now they will have a different vibe to them
When I do paintings for children, babies and custom work, I can use the dye cut machine on the recycled brown paper bags to create the monograms or personalized names
Have fun with the kids creating letters, pictures, and just mixed media pieces
?? Anyone have any other good ideas?!

Check out another artist

My Sketches
A good friend of mine, Christine Head, creates beautiful posters that she sells and then donates a large percentage of her profits to dog rescues. Its a great concept! She is who I give complete credit to for giving me the idea to donate one homework bag to children in need for each painting that I sell. Check out Christine's artwork!

18 July 2010

Juice

Why, oh why would someone want to go to one of those juice places??...If I had an extra 500 calories to waste, I'd never waste it on juice with carrots and wheat germ. Yuck! Give me chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies...

15 July 2010

Denim

I collect jeans. Yes, you heard it correct, jeans. I love my jean collection. I have hundreds of pairs of jeans. I wear them almost daily. Did I say, I love jeans?! Specifically designer jeans and classic collectors jeans (like 1950s Levis, etc).

I went through a phase a year or two back, where I created mixed-media pieces where I painted acrylic canvas with deep colors and then adhered cut denim onto the paintings. I'm inspired again to do this -- lets see what happens!

Canvas

I like to use stretched canvas for my work. Unfortunately, I HATE to stretch my own canvas. Not only do I dread to do it, but I also am terrible at it. Hence, I either buy stretched artist canvas (at rip-off prices) or use canvas panel (which actually works better when I am using brown paper bags) or now I've been using masonite boards.

12 July 2010

Time

Ok - since this is the main question I am always asked....."how do you find the time???" I will answer you....Here is a breakdown of my day:

5-5:30am kids wake up, breakfast, shower, get ready for day....

7am - 1pm - Run the kids as hard as humanly possible....in other words, sports camps, parks, gymnastics, more parks, jungle gym in backyard, etc etc.

1pm - 3pm The little two nap. Sophia sits in the office with me while I paint, do e-mail, clean house, do laundry, dishes, etc.

3pm - 7pm Run and run some more. All three of my little angels are VERY active and need to get their energy put.

7pm Kids bedtime:) Time to clean, clean, clean some more, paint, e-mail, and spend much wanted and needed time with my husband.

9/10pm Read and go to bed. :)