28 October 2010

Before and After with Eddie


Behind the Scenes of The Nest

One of the things I love about design blogs is the opportunity to see a "before and after" scenario. Here is a room done by Eddie Ross (eddieross.com) using flea market finds on a shoestring budget. What's new? Everyone has a tight budget when renovating an old room, but it certainly doesn't have to look cheap! Eddie is a master... Behind the Scenes of The Nest

22 October 2010

function as one with Clothes4Souls

Remember the online clothing company that I painted the table cover for? 

You know... We did the Tomato Arts Festival together?

Well, now function as one is partnering with Soles4Souls new clothing charity, Clothes4Souls.

Check out Soles4Souls blog about the great new charitable deal.

For every shirt that is purchased, one article of clothing will be provided to a child in need!

21 October 2010

What do you think?

The other day, my brother-in-law sent me a link to this photo of Munkiana Devil Rays moving in a massive group. It has had me thinking about how the earth changes and some animals just know what to do instinctively... The photographer said that even the pilot of this aerial expedition had never seen anything like it in 20 years of surveying this area. What do you think? Rare occurrence? Or just never recorded by humans? Either way, it's simply amazing.

CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year 2010

19 October 2010

Speaking of original art to buy...

If you're looking for a quality original 5"x7" painting, you can check out Paul Ferney's commission project. I follow his wife's blog, Oh Happy Day! and she posted about the project this morning. What a great idea... Send Paul a photo and $200, and he'll send you a painting by December 1, just in time to adjust those Christmas lists. Hurry though, the first 100 people get the deal. After that, the price goes back up to $350. I love this guy's style.

Jordan Ferney | Oh Happy Day! 

If I had a studio, a nanny and a production assistant, I would love to dream up a venture to paint for people on demand. Hmmm, that's three strikes so I guess I'll have to keep living my own life.

18 October 2010

A Positively Crafty Fair Find

There are times when I want so badly to be positive. I try to look at the situation from many angles in order to come out with something good to say, even if a day turns out to be only 10% of what I hope for.

Well... I must say, Saturday was a tough one. My husband and I have been wanting to take a trek down to quaint little Bell Buckle (and I mean, "downtown" is all of one cute block) that touts an annual art show, sponsored by the local prep Webb School that has been there since 1870. In years past I have seen indications of a juried exhibition, but this year the town was proud to host "over 500 other booths...with something for everyone."

Silly me, I looked at the web site for the wrong year. Apparently, the Webb School Art & Craft Show used to be a bona fide show, even as recently as 2006, accepting juried applications for "high quality, hand crafted work in the traditional fine craft media." What happened in the 34th annual show? It turned into a giant festival, flea market, bizarre bazaar of knock-offs, cheap goods and manufactured holiday notions. The art show? It was hidden in the park, and didn't seem to attract a host of magnificent artisans.

Sorry, Webb School.
Sorry, Bell Buckle.
You need to rename the event, the "Bell Buckle 10% Art and 90% Craftlike Almost-Goods Fair."

My ounce of positive? We found a very friendly craftsman that made wooden spoons, just around the corner from the doggy hair bows. My lovely spoon and oven rack tool are handmade from South American hardwood.

my new oven rack tool & spoon
Score! A lovely gentleman (whose name I failed to acquire) also gave us directions to the few artisan booths that were really a part of the Webb School Art Show (you know, hidden in the park). We found a few interesting booths, some good pottery, but not anything we wanted to come home with.

Oh yes, and it was a positively GORGEOUS day spent with my family.

13 October 2010

Everyday Minerals: DEAL ALERT

Hey, I've been shouting about this make-up for months... If you aren't receiving their promotional emails then you'll just have to keep coming back to Do that for some inside info. This week they have a fantastic deal. Check out the cute NEW 100% hemp make-up bag, then fill it with the Autumn Love Triangle Kit. $18. Seriously!!!

11 October 2010

Travel Size

I've been on vacation for a week so things have been slow on the blog front. I thought about taking some photos and sharing some things but I traded that idea for a true vacation. I didn't check my email more than once, checked facebook maybe twice, and didn't bring a laptop with me (airport security is plenty of work with kids, without having to take out a computer).

One thing I can share from my trip is the great travel size toiletries that I found at Whole Foods last month. I wanted to test some products before buying so I gave Aubrey Organics a try. I liked it so much I've purchased the regular sized bottles! It worked out perfectly because they had a trial size gift set for sensitive skin, which I have typically found to be appropriate for my skin. I still had my mini bottles so I refilled them for my trip.

Giovanni Organic Styling Mist, L.A. Hold Hair Spritz, Packaing May Vary, 5.1 fl oz Bottle (Pack of 3)I also can add some hairspray to my "Products I Use" page. I found a nice little bottle of Giovanni Organic Styling Mist that didn't take up much space in my bag and worked great for styling in the humidity. Yes, San Diego felt like Hawaii when we landed!  

There were plenty of great highlights on this trip so I may share more this week. California weather is typically predictable, but this trip went from hot & humid to cold & rainy. Then after the rain, perfectly sunny in the 80s. What a great way to end the week!