The Very Happy Chair

Whoooosh!

2012-01-03T15:10:00.001-08:00

Wow! Is 2011 really over? Was my last post really in August? Is it reeeealllly January? Wow again!
So much has been going on since then: not only my full-time freelance illustration work, but painting 3 murals, painting a bookshelf, mommy stuff, helping out my senior citizen Dad, and school volunteer opportunities. No wonder the time went by so fast!

But it all came to a screeching halt on December 1st. My community had a severe windstorm that left our power out (ours was for 4 days, but others were out as long as a week). I was leaving the house with my 6 yr old daughter when I missed a step on our back porch and I tumbled down, rolling my right ankle into an almost unrecognizable mess. After texting my husband to hurry home (which he did) and literally dragging myself back into the house, it was decided that it was wiser not to try to move me to the car ourselves (to go to the ER), and we called the paramedics. One surgery, 3 metal plates and about 10 screws later (internal "bling", if you will), I was back in my hospital room for the next 2 days. I am not only grateful for the hospital because of its excellent care, I am grateful I had a warm place to sleep as our house was still without power, and the temperature in the house had dropped to the 40s (F). Luckily a family member was able to watch my daughter for those few days; my husband, however, was valiant and stayed in the house with a roaring fireplace, battery operated camping lanterns, and tending to all our pets who camped out overnight with him in front of the fireplace.

And may I offer some unsolicited advice? If you are not a fan of keeping fit, this may hopefully help you stick to what is for many of us a yearly New Year's Resolution. I proclaim myself the poster child of why you should exercise. I have for many years been a sporadic exerciser. Sporadic meaning, once or twice a week for 3 or four weeks, take off for 9 months, 5 times a week for 2 weeks, 3 months off--you get the picture: neither serious or consistent. I am paying for that lack of activity now. The first two weeks of recovery,well, to put it nicely, made me think I had taken a trip to Hades. Not only did my ankle cause tremendous pain (even with prescription meds)--imagine feeling like a bulldozer ran over your foot every time you had to get up to go to the bathroom--but (and this is where the lack of fitness comes in) every muscle being fatigued from using crutches, getting out of breath easily just from trying to maneuver around on the crutches, developing carpal tunnel-like symptoms all the way up my arms, my leg muscles in my right leg burning from having to carry the weight of the cast (I was not allowed to put any weight on my right foot), and my left leg muscles burning form having to basically hold up all my body weight all by its lonesome self. And I'll be in physical therapy for weeks and weeks. There. See? Not worth it to make excuses or be lazy (which was my habit).

So why am I sharing all this on a blog that is more about creativity, home, and crafts? Because it's important. Not my own personal story mind you, but what the message of it is. Take care of yourself. Both mentally and physically. I've always pretty much tended to the "mentally" part of it--I like to explore, create, read, and learn; but the "physically" was always lacking. And I think a lot of us don't realize how important the physical part is because as long as we're feeling fine, the matter doesn't seem so urgent. But if (and hopefully for your sake never "when") you have a type of accident that leaves you impaired, you will almost surely regret not taking care of yourself. I personally believe my recovery has been hindered by the fact that I have not been physically fit for quite awhile.

So if one of your New Year's Resolutions is to become more healthy (however you define it for yourself: eating better, losing weight, gaining muscle, etc.), stick to it! Do not let yourself down! Take care of yourself. You really are worth it, and your loved ones around you think so, too.

Have a fantastic, creative, healthy, happy, successful and prosperous 2012!

I Need Your Vote!

2011-08-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

Here we are, starting the season of political gobbeldy-gook where we have to start considering who we will vote for for public offices. Well, if you're too overwhelmed by choices (or lack thereof) then vote for something you like, like fabric! Connecting Threads is having a contest; vote for your favorite new design, and the winner gets to design a coordinating line of fabrics that will be produced and sold to the public!

It has long been a dream of mine to be able to design such a line, and this just might be my chance--that is, if you VOTE! Click here and vote for the Orange Owls on the Green Field, by me, Leona Jaeger. It is a far more fun to vote for cute fabric, isn't it? And Thank You for your support!

Finally--A Project Completed!

2011-08-02T18:43:00.000-07:00

So as I was putting a stroke of paint on, an ethereal light surrounded me and covered me in warmth. Am I dead? Nooooo!--not now!!--I've got a chair to finish! .....Oh, wait....silly me...it's just the midday sun starting to swallow up my painting spot on the patio. So after I regained my sense (I'd say "senses", but I'm not sure I have more than one), I looked again and realized--it's DONE! The second chair is finished! The set of chairs that Friend Nicole has been patiently waiting for is finished! So here they are, waiting so patiently, as did Nicole, to be shipped halfway across the country. Let me know what you think!

Tomato, ToMAHto

2011-07-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

So, I go over to a friends house for a barb-e-que over the 4th of July weekend. She lives a little far away, so I don't get to her house often. She has a large yard with a pool and 2 or 3 seating areas--it's large and cozy all at the same time. And quite honestly, I'm surprised anyone could fit in her yard at all--because of her huge tomato plants! Gorgeous and easily 4 feet tall (the little girl in the photo is 4 yr old Gianna), the tomato plants were so full of tomatoes that Angela had to tie the plants up to the neighboring tree branches for support! I asked what her secret was, and she said "Seaweed". It's a highly concentrated form that takes a lot of dilution, but apply every 2 weeks and you'll never have to go to the market for tomatoes again. If it's not too late to bump up your garden's output, then I suggest you run down to your local garden or hardware store and get yourself some seaweed. And enjoy those lovely tomatoes....or to-mah-toes.

Have a Seat

2011-07-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted any furniture projects lately, simply for the fact that I haven't been able to work on them. But here is one of a set on which I'm finally making a little progress. The other chair in the set will be the same colors, but with a different henna-inspired design. I enjoy doing patterns and colors that are not necessarily expected to go together, but somehow come together in the end. A kind of happy surprise maybe? What do you think?

A Cozy Space

2011-07-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Finally fed up with our random clutter on a section of our patio, we reorganized the area to contain our little bistro set, shade umbrella and some peaceful little plants. It's so nice to have a spot where you can enjoy your coffee, tea, or other delightful concoction of your choosing. Now it's a cozy and peaceful space. (Much cozier than my computer space which, along with my ankles, happens to be being attacked by a "ferocius jungle cat"--a.k.a, kitten). Looks like it's time to stop typing and start walking toward that little bistro set--with a concoction and without a kitten.

Some Photo fun

2011-05-30T03:26:00.000-07:00

this is just a little quickie: I was playing around with a new app I got for my iPhone called "Hipstamatic" which will take your photos and add slight effects that give the photos a different feel. Sometimes a slight blur that gives an ethereal feel; sometimes it really saturates the colors; sometimes it gives a vintage-y feel.
Here are some shots from my garden for you to enjoy. If you have a phone that accepts apps, try Hipstamatic--it's a little addicting and a lot of fun.

A Little Progress...

2011-05-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

For anyone who has noticed posts about my working on my friend Nicole's chairs, I've revealed a possible color palette before, and now I'm going to give a hint at what design I'm going to paint. I absolutely love the delicate, intricate, beautiful lines seen in henna tattoo designs. Florals, swirls, paisleys, etc. all dance around each other to create truly lovely patterns, and no two are totally alike. So here is a sketch of a partial design that I will be painting on Nicole's chairs, inspired by traditional henna tattoos. Although the difference is, from what I understand, in traditional mehndi each design symbolizes something. I don't pretend that mine symbolizes anything other than pretty, swirly flowers and such. Enjoy.

Mother's Day Flowers

2011-05-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today is Mother's Day, and as a Mom, I must say that it is the hardest, most mind numbing, energy draining, craze-inducing, most rewarding, and lovely job I've ever had the opportunity and been blessed to have. So this message go out to all you Moms and Moms-to-be: May you always feel as appreciated and loved and as special as you are. You will definitely get back what you put into it. There are days it doesn't feel that way, but please know that it is true. So I'm posting these beautiful photographs by Maria Kalin as an appreciation and honoring of you--the Mother--may you continue to be honored and blessed!

More Color, please!

2011-04-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

If you can still find an April 2011 issue of House Beautiful magazine, or if you'd like to go to their website, www.housebeautiful.com/, the have some fabulous photos of an apartment that has me coveting and drooling. It's a beautiful decor that is both bohemian and classy, chock full of one of my favorite inventions--COLOR! Although the colors are bold, the hues that were selected--a carribean blue, aqua, plum--keep that room serene. There is also another room highlighted that has a fabulous raspberry wall that lovingly hugs furniture of complementary color (an olive-colored couch accented with vivid patterns). Take a look at the photos below, then head on over to the House Beautiful website for more mouth-watering eye candy. One of the descriptions has put it better than I ever could: "It's an artistic twisting of a kaleidoscope, turning a collision of colors into a tour de force." Magic.

Waa waaa wahhhhhhh

2011-04-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

If you didn't quite get the title of this post, it's that droning "musical" sound of disappointment that is played when something just doesn't pan out. Like my getting around to submitting a fabric to Project Selvedge (see previous post). I kept wanting to submit something new, as the designs I already have on Spoonflower aren't "boy" enough, really, and the contest was for a boy fabric. I had sketched puppies, frogs, and snails for it, but just didn't find the time among my plethora of other projects to get it done by the deadline. But if you'd like to view the finalists who did get their designs submitted in time, go here. Enjoy!

Project Selvedge, Here I come ( I hope)

2011-03-20T03:43:00.000-07:00

If you mosey on over to Spoonflower, you'll find yourself eye-to-eye with this little logo glaring you down, just challenging you to a duel. Can you do this? What shall you do?

Do you join the ultimate fabric smack-down? Of course I will. Naturally, I have been über busy with full-time work, freelance, and family, so haven't been able to work on this yet and the due date is next week--what is life if not challenging, right? But I will enter, and if I even make it to the first round of choices,

I'll be all happy-drooly and stuff.

Wish me luck!

And good luck to you, if you decide to step up to the challenge! But most of all, have fun!

Another Cozy Quilt by Tina

2011-03-20T03:29:00.000-07:00

My friend Tina at Little Blue Cottage has added another lovely quilt to her repertoire! I love this quilt, and I I commented to her on her blog, "it makes me all squealy on the inside". I love the simple-but-fun and frolicky design. Hand-stitched in areas, machine stitched in others, it has a balance that I like. As much as I appreciate a pristine edge, I love the look of hand-stitching and "raw" edges. To me, it adds to the slightly worn look of a quilt with a bit of age and a lot of love. And that's what Tina does, is quilt and sew with a lot of love. It is apparent in everything she does. Congrats, Tina, on another fabulous work of art!

Fresh...Like an Orange

2011-03-01T03:35:00.000-08:00

You might be able to gather (by my logo, and by my business cards, if you saw them) that my two favorite colors, especially together, are orange and aqua. I love the energy that the color orange evokes, and the serene calm and just plain "prettiness" of aqua or even turquoise. I know a lot of people are thrown off by orange--don't really know what to do with it: too bright for some, hard to find a complimentary color for others, just too plain "loud" for many folks. But I love it--I feel refreshed every time I see it, and even more so when I see it put to good use. So I thought it'd be fun to find some good design samples for the home--the least likely place people may use the color orange, because they are not sure what to do with it, other than accent pillows. In the photos below, the use of orange ranges from all over (quite literally) to accent areas, but I love them all. Happy, energizing spaces!

What do you think? Do you think you could take a color as bold as orange and "run with it"? What other colors do you think you could use with it? (View my previous post, and you can see what might work to your liking....)

Just for fun...

2011-02-13T23:37:00.000-08:00

Just for fun, I thought I'd share a peek into the color possibilities I've decided upon for my friend Nicole's chairs. I don't want to give it away completely, as she wants to be surprised, but I will say that 3 of these colors will be used in a design reminiscent of an Anthropologie fabric design that I came across. Sorry, that will stay a secret, too. Are you surprised at the color choices? I hope so! I like to take colors that one might not think go together, but then make them work as a pleasant surprise. When I'm done with the chairs (and the last coats of paint are going on this week), I'll post the photos. Until then, you'll just have to wait--just like Nicole.

In the Meantime...

2011-02-13T23:13:00.000-08:00

If you read this blog with any regularity, you'll know I love fabric. Designing it "for real" instead of as little hobby projects is a goal of mine. I would love to design a whole line--like a real fabric designer would! Occasionally, however, I do get to do it as a portion of a larger project. For example, for a toy food kit that has a little apron in it. These are samples for a client for a different project. I did a total of 25 possibilites, and some did get chosen. Here are a few to peek at. Let me know what you think!

Live and Learn

2011-01-25T19:23:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since the last post, but this is one of the things I've been up to--Learning this little Lesson: If you choose a dark color somewhere in the spectrum of reds or purples, make sure you get the primer tinted, or--Streaksville! I have chosen a lovely shade that, when cured will be a rich, dark color. Unfortunately, it will take about 5 coats of paint to get there. I have had this problem once before with a deep red, but I was trying to be practical and use some primer I already had purchased (as opposed to getting a new one tinted). I also didn't want to have a bunch of tinted primer left over. Sigh. More work for me. Oh well--on the bright side--good thing I love to paint!

The Start of Something...

2011-01-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

Hello! It's been a while since I've posted, and even longer since I've had a chance to work on some new furniture pieces. Well, here is the start of a new project. I've started sanding these two and have a 3-color design planned for them. The young lady who is commissioning these is a friend of mine. We knew each other in college and thanks to Facebook got reconnected. Thanks to Facebook as well, she's been able to view some of my projects and decided she wanted one. The fun thing is, she wants it to be a surprise as to what they'll look like. I fished around and was able to find out what kind of color palette she likes, but she still doesn't know what colors I've gone with, or what the design will be. I love the fact that she wants it to be a surprise--because I love to give them as much as I like to receive them. Okay, Nicole, here goes....

'Tis the Season

2010-12-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

And speaking of Red: Since the holiday season is filled with this fabulous color, I decided to peruse the ELLEDecor website to see what they had to show about this passion-filled hue. And sure enough they had a whole section on designers and examples of the Happy Hue used in interior design. They also have another section where they discuss Red and how to use it called "Code Red". Take a look and be inspired!

Ode to Joy

2010-12-18T08:17:00.000-08:00

Ode to Joy--I sold another chair. This time it's what I named "Royal Red", since the chair had a throne-like feel. So excited that people are enjoying my work. It's fun for me to refurbish these chairs--even more fun when I see someone else enjoy it, too! Besides, who can resist that lovely shade of royal red?

Oh, Joy!

2010-12-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Wow--more than two weeks since my last post. Well, two fun things: My sister-in-law and friend signed up to sell our handcrafted wares at the Rose Bowl Flea Market tomorrow. It's the first time there for all of us, so we are pretty excited at the possibilities. It's a HUGE event, a lot of foot traffic, and has a fabulous reputation for a variety of goodies, both old and new. So I've been sorting my stuff and getting it ready to pack up. I don't have a huge quantity of inventory, but a good amount to start--4 chairs and a couple tables, but since I can't fit it ALL in my car, I typically go with trying to sell the 4 chairs first. I took a break to check my email, and was surprised to have an Etsyy sale--of my Red Dahlia chair, which I was planning to take to the Rose Bowl. Well, one less thing to load in the car! Yay! I'm so excited--I've always gotten tons of compliments on it, but, alas, no one actually would buy it---until now, of course. So Yay again! Here it is:

Spahhhhh goodies....

2010-11-25T09:32:00.000-08:00

So I have been crazier busy than just my usual "crazy busy". Why this time? Well, the usual freelance work, going to craft fairs to sell my furniture and trinket boxes (and a little jewelry), and now--handmade body scrubs (with lotions coming, too).

I used to (a few years ago) make my own (very small) line of handmade lotions, body scrubs, and lip balms. Business was good, but it was hard to make it profitable because my batches were so small. But I loved doing it and coming up with various formulations, having my friends test and rave about them, and designing the packaging. Well, this Christmas I decided to make some as gifts, and the demand is starting again. And I can't say no to my fans (no matter how small a group they might be). I've renamed and revamped the label to a fresher look, too.

But here is a sample view of my brown sugar body polish. I love it because it leaves my skin really soft; and it's really easy to use in the shower because it stays mixed (rather than the oil separating out and having to re-stir). This batch is a sultry tahitian vanilla scent--Yum! Next will be my "Shea Butter Love" lotion (comes in an amber colored bottle)--nothing less than luxurious, if I may be so bold to say so!: )

But to move on: if you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope that you have a most blessed time with friends and family and a fabulous time that leaves with you happy lifelong memories!

Hoot Hoot

2010-11-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

My friend Maude at Stop Your Circus is at it again--makin' stinkin' crazy cute woodland critters! She sews these fabulous cute-but-edgy Owls, and now she's adding Squirrels to her menagerie. I LOVE her combinations of colors, from vintage fabrics to the color of stitching!

Please take a moment and check out her blog and her Facebook page--"Like" her, too! She has an Etsy site, if you're interested in seeing a larger selection. Contact her and I'm sure she'll be happy to show you more--before they all fly out the door (pun intended). She's super nice and talented! Enjoy!

More Boxen

2010-11-06T23:42:00.000-07:00

So I received two big orders for the holidays of my hand painted trinket boxes. I still have about 20 to do, but here's the starters. With all the freelance I've been doing, I was starting to wonder if I'd get to work on these again. But good thing I'm a creative juggler. : ) Good thing, too, that I plan to be a vendor at a couple upcoming craft bazaars for the holiday season. Wish me luck--and Enjoy!

All Work and No Play...

2010-10-22T00:34:00.000-07:00

...makes for a dull brain and a dull Leona. So--I played! Of course that can mean a 15 minute break on Etsy for me, so that's what I did. I wandered through Etsy and I found Wild Woman Jewelry. Lovely designs--many of them in the shape of pretty glass orbs and jewels. (Again the CovetMonster was sitting on my shoulder whispering sweet everythings in my ear.) From smoky aubergine glass orbs to perky and vibrant pink and orange (one of my favorite combinations) bead ensembles there are many things to admire in her jewelry shop. Go ahead and take a break to browse (aka, play)--maybe the CovetMonster will leave my shoulder to alight upon yours. Enjoy!!

A New Favorite

2010-10-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

I discovered a new favorite fabric artist--Valori Wells! I don't know why I didn't discover her earlier--her aesthetic reminds me of Anna Maria Horner and Amy Butler. I love her fresh color palettes and beautiful designs! Her quilts are fabulous, too--not just your Granny's quilt--fresh, modern designs. Go to her site to also view her photography and painting --some of my favorites are below. Enjoy!

Ethnic Influences

2010-10-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

I came up with another little fabric design, kind of influenced by the beautiful embroidery you can find on Indian fabrics. I wanted to try the muted colors to see what they turn out like when I buy a swatch sample from Spoonflower, to test the results. If you go to the shop "VeryHappyChair", it will come up with my design library, and you can click on the fabric to get a better idea of what it looks like in a larger swatch area (like a fat quarter). Let me know what you think! Constructive criticism welcomed, too. Just be nice about it. : )

Happy Tomato

2010-10-06T11:03:00.000-07:00

If you like to garden you know that there is quite the feeling of reward when something you have nurtured has come to (literal) fruition. Beautiful flowers, yummy fruits and veggies--all appear because of your hard work and meticulous TLC. It just adds to the feeling of fun in life.

And sometimes Nature likes to have fun back. Like the zucchini we grew to the size of our (then) 6 month old baby. And like the little guy below. It's a little hard to see by the photo, but this tomato has a face. A rather comical face. A very small tomato "twin" started to grow near the stem, which looks like a nose; then a split in the skin lends itself to a bit of a mouth. Nature having a bit of fun, hence my Happy Tomato. Hope it makes you smile.

Pretty as a Picture

2010-10-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

As you can tell, in addition to sharing my projects, I love to share photograph, fabrics and design. This time it's photography's turn. One of my favorite photographers on Etsy is Maria Kalin. She's from Sweden and her photos are often of the beautiful flowers and foliage her lovely country has to offer. Her work has a soft, ethereal, other-worldy (is that redundant??) feel to it--like you are looking at her images in a dream. This one is no exception. I was perusing her etsy site and this was the first one, and it grabbed my eye. I think you'll love it too. She also has a flicker site here. Enjoy!

BoHo Chic

2010-09-26T23:20:00.000-07:00

Let me start out by saying I might have to rename my blog "The Covet Place" because I feel like that's what I've been doing most lately is coveting. Next, let me say that I love my house. It could be a little bigger--or maybe I should just purge the clutter better--but it's cozy and welcoming, and I'm grateful for it. But would I be human if I didn't just wish a teensy-weensy bit that it could be kind of different? If it were entirely up to me (an of course if budget were bountiful), I'd treat my home like a never-ending palette of playful colors and objects (minus the clutter, of course). Turquoise or royal purple walls? You bet! An eclectic mix of Indian, Moroccan and Scandinavian textiles? Why not?? An african mask set next to a silver candelabra and an orange Bauer vase? A bigger mantel on the fireplace, pleeease!

Don't get me wrong--I love a beautifully designed room in any style. But my "druthers" scream "Bring on the Bohemian!" There are so many wonderful things from fabulous cultures it seems so hard for me not to want to dabble in them all. And I love putting things together that don't seem like they'd fit, but do. It makes for a pleasing surprise every time I look at it. Here are some sample images I stumbled upon that are examples of what I mean. I hope they inspire you to bring color and joy in your own happy habitat!

Monsters galore!

2010-09-21T20:29:00.000-07:00

So once again I was perusing Spoonflower (if I had a pipe, I'd smoke that site), and I came across this adorable Blue "Monsters on the Loose" fabric. Simple, sweet little monsters that you'd be glad to have under your bed (or on it, for that matter--on a cozy quilt). So I asked the artist/owner Jessee Maloney of ArtSchoolDropout if I could do a little blurb on my blog. In going to her site, lo and behold, there is the same monster fabric, but in PINKS. How fantastic that it is so versatile. I thought TWINS! How fabulous that the monsters are so friendly, both for boys and girls, it would totally work in either a solo kid's room or even a boy/girl twins room. Especially if you're tired of the princess/trucks themes. I love it so much, I wish I had twins....okay, almost. Take a look at her shop and her Spoonflower page--you won't be disappointed.

Guilty & "The Long Arm of the Law..."

2010-09-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

So I am guilty...again....of coveting. Tina Michalik has yet again made my insides all squirmy-in-a-good-way with her beautiful and fabulous quilting skills. In her post on her blog Little Blue Cottage Tina describes how she put together her beautiful king-sized quilt and the fabrics she used by Anna Maria Horner (one of my personal faves). Tina is very focused in this photo--I'm used to seeing her all smiley and stuff! : ) Take a look at her blog, I think you'll like what you see. And take a couple moments to browse through her site; she has an abundance of samples of her wonderful work posted. Congratulations, Tina on yet another delciously pretty project!

The Magic Word

2010-09-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

So my friend Tina piped up and said the "fabric" word to me again, so I came up with this little number:

Then she dared mention the upcoming palette trends, so I changed it up a bit:

What color palette do you like? I've posted the blue one to Spoonflower; we'll see what where my endless tinkering will go!

Axelhoney

2010-09-15T01:25:00.000-07:00

So I was trying to think of more creative people I know who I could brag about on my blog--someone whose creativity inspires me....hmm...(clanging sound in my head followed by slapping my hand to my forehead)...Duh! Melissa Contreras and Axelhoney.

Melissa and I used to work together in an art department of a highly successful educational toy company. She was a diligent worker and typically rather quiet, so it wasn't until after she moved on from the company that I witnessed her own personal art and style. While perusing a craft fair in L.A. I stumbled upon Melissa in her booth selling a variety of her unique and beautiful creations. Jewelry, mini-sculptures, and paper goods were all lined up, and Melissa's smiling face peeked up from behind the table. I hadn't seen her in several months so not only was it a pleasant surprise to see her, but a pleasant discovery to see, in art, what Melissa was all about: Talent, tons of it. Here is just a sample view. I encourage you to go to her site and visit all the links possible as she has a very wide range of art that she does. Her style is distinctive, colorful, unique and refreshing. Take a look--what is your favorite thing she's created?

Coveting This

2010-09-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

I covet a studio space. A lot. Visions frequently go through my head as to what that would be--rent an office space (out of budget); buy a small wooden cottage kit? (again, out of budget and space in the yard); convert the garage (sighhhh, again, budget and space). I'm surprise I haven't been in a car accident (knock on wood) from craning my neck around while driving thru my hometown, scoping out and fantasizing how the perfect little bungalow or cool loft space would make my nirvana-esque art retreat.

So when I see this post on Poppytalk Handmade. It gets my brain flowing again on the possibilities---oh, the possibilites--if I just had the budget and space. In the meantime, I do enjoy finding and being inspired by the spaces people are able to convert into something cozy and oh-so-useful. What would you do, if you could?

Cielo Roth Photography

2010-09-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

And as long as I'm highlighting photographers whose work I love, I have, have, have to mention Cielo Roth Photography. I will admit I'm a bit bit influenced by the fact that Cielo took some stinkin' super precious photos of my little girl; and I'm admittedly influenced by the fact that I know Cielo is a hard, honest worker with a shiny personality that I love; but I must say that I truly love the moments she captures such as the one below...

Or this one:

Cielo does both color and B&W and has a wonderful portfolio filled with moments and precious faces. Browse at your leisure and prepare to smile! If you live in the L.A. area, I know she's having a special this weekend on photo sessions! Give her a call! Here's her Facebook link, too:

http://www.facebook.com/cielorothphotography

Thanks for sharing, Cielo!!

Melrose Trading Post

2010-09-11T00:33:00.000-07:00

So I received a last minute call from Maude of "Stop Your Circus" and we hopefully will be sharing a booth at the Trading Post, located on Fairfax and Melrose, by the high school. I've never been there, but Maude is pretty confident that my furniture and trinket boxes will go over well there. I'll post how it oges! Wish us luck!

If you love B&W Photography....

2010-09-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

After college, I did a short stint in an internship where I met Mel Cardenas, a very talented graphic designer, passionate about design. Well, over the years that passion must've spilled over into his personal life (without getting too personal), he married the equally and fabulously talented Katie Settel. Katie has been expanding her professional photography portfolio over the past few years and here is an example of why she has been successful and loved. Beautiful composition and light, and here's the tricky part: emotion. We all know color film can capture a lot, but for some mysterious reason black & white photography (to ME) captures even more. Below is a couple photos proud husband Mel posted to facebook, but browse thru Katie's site and you'll see some gorgeous moments and faces.

Stop Your Circus

2010-08-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

So I have gotten some lovely comments on the little owl fabric I created; I have to give credit to the inspiration of the little owl. Meet Maude, the creator behind Stop Your Circus, a lovely boutique chock full of fabulous little owls, purses, apparel, and more. She has an alternate website address, which I will post soon, but for now this is the link to her etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/stopyourcircus. Here is the specific one--I love the shade of orange, and she has a fun and fabulous way of mixing different fabrics that work together. She uses a lot of vintage fabrics as well, which is fun. Stop by her shop and enjoy--it's a HOOT (slapping knee)!

The Royal Red

2010-08-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here is the finished "throne" style chair with Anna Maria Horner's (from her Garden party collection) fabric on the seat. (I blogged about this project in previous posts). Let me know what you think!

Heaps O'Fun and Fabric

2010-08-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

Miss Tina, who I mentioned in the previous post is the author of the Little Blue Cottage blog, which is about her passion and love of all things fabric & sewing, creativity and fun. She is an excellent author and she has a continual flow of creativity that, if a river, would outflow the Nile--no, the Amazon-- I'm sure of it. We'll for fun she is having a giveaway of a fat quarter of some of my fabric designs, which can be found on Spoonflower (under--what else: veryhappychair).

Go take a peek and leave a post for Miss Tina, and you'll be entered to win! Some of the fabric choices will be these (some are pending, but will be available in a couple weeks):

Could be a "Contendah"

2010-08-08T03:11:00.000-07:00

So my friend Tina barely mentioned that maybe I oughta try to design fabric. A mere mention is all it takes to get the hamster turning the wheel in my brain. So...I love owls, and even though they are border-lining the saturation point, I decided to try my hand at some cutesy-but-modern owl design. I'll still probably play with it, but I just thought I'd share.... I might upload and make available at Spoonflower. I still have to get a test swatch to make sure all the colors are like I want them to be, but if all is good, I might even add it to my Etsy shop. And then I'll make more and more designs--just for the fun of it! That poor hamster in my head is never gonna get a break.

Another Little Corner of Heaven

2010-08-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows I love fabric and would like to design it someday. In the meantime, I look for fabrics and designs that others do, so I can covet, covet, covet. Here's a designer I just found: Pat Bravo and Art Gallery Fabrics! Yummy! Love the color palettes! Here's just a quick sample link to her upcoming line called Modern Affair, and here is one sample block from it....

"Lime Flirt Dance" by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics

Here is another from the same collection (coming late summer/fall):

"Orange Peacock Eyes" by pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics

Peruse her site and ENJOY! She has links tow here you can find her fabrics both online and in stores.

I, in the meantime, will continue to oogle and be inspired!

I Kind of Like It

2010-08-06T22:05:00.000-07:00

I have been seeing a lot of fabrics and other design items with these fabulous, simple, sketch-like art on them. They usually come in unusual color palettes as well. They have such a wonderful appeal, that I thought I'd try my hand at sketching one, even though it is not exactly my own art style. And I must say I'm kind of pleased with it for a first attempt. I have been thinking, too, of adding to my VHC line; adding simple, smallish art canvas designs, similar to what I find in the fabrics I use, and in the patterns I paint on the little trinket boxes. Hopefully they will appeal to those people who don't need/want the furniture, but would like some accent-sized art to freshen up a room or workspace. I plan to make the sketch below into a painting, my homage to the fabric designers I love. What do you think?

Next up....

2010-07-30T01:16:00.000-07:00

So this little beauty is just a couple details away from being done, but will be attending the Majestical Roof's Alternative Art Market on Sat, July 31st. Come by and say Hello, as I'm sure she'll want to meet you! : ) She's a pale dove gray, and the seat is a cloth I bought from Anthropologie a couple years ago, and I've been waiting for the perfect place to use it. I might be using a bit of the yellowy color on the dove grey as an accent color--just as a couple small embellishments-- but haven't fully decided yet.
What do you think?
Happy Friday! (and Saturday, too!)

Majestical Roof Art Market

2010-07-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

And speaking of selling our wares, there is a fabulous shop in Old Town Pasadena called Majestical Roof, where original, non-mass produced/commercial items are displayed and for sale. It's a cool little boutique with a huge variety of items from jewelry to one-of-a-kind clothing items, to furniture, to fine art, to kids stuffed animals--you get the idea--all by indie artists. They can be a bit hard to find, but they are in a very cool little courtyard area off Holly St and Fair Oaks Ave. (for those of those who live local to Pasadena). Well, the last Saturday of every month they have a great little art market in that courtyard, and sometimes they add a jazz performer for ambiance, and wine tasting for flavor. If you live in the vicinity, stop by!! Laurie and I will have a booth there, too, this July 31st. Come by, stay awhile, and enjoy yourself in a very hip, cool, Majestical place!

Little Willow Studio

2010-07-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it just occurred to me that, for as much as I love my sister-in-law Laurie, I have failed to write about her shop, Little Willow Studio. She creates beautiful jewelry items, many of which I covet on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, I have been eyeballing this set of earrings for while now ( love how simple they are, yet still manage to have a pretty unique shilouette....

Stop by her site. If you don't see something you covet (I doubt that), I know she takes custom orders and will do her darndest to make you happy, and create something just for you or your friend/loved one. Talented is a mild term.

LA Flea Market at Dodger Stadium

2010-07-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick post with a photo of Laurie (still setting up--all our stuff was hidden come opening time) in our booth at the flea market. We had a pretty good day despite the searing heat. (Maybe I should have pitched my two side tables as "part frying pan--no skillet required"!) The space was 10'x10'; I obviously need to finesse my set-up area, but I have ideas brewing for the next show. I'm open to suggestions, if you'd like to offer them.

What draws you into a booth area? What would you like to see to catch your eye? (For example, we put the table to the back, thinking it would draw people into the shade from the heat and to keep our items out of the sun; but in retrospect, we maybe should have put out tables closer to the front, as maybe people don't like to be drawn in--lest they feel like a fly in our crafty web!) Looking forward to hearing what you think!

Fit for a Queen

2010-07-19T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of the next chair in line for re-vamping. I've have it sanded, am replacing the finial on top and will soon be painting it a GORGEOUS deep crimson color, which I'm pulling from a fabric I posted earlier by Anna Maria Horner (LOVE her!) The fabric shown will be used on the upholstered seat; the large flower will almost fill up the seating area.

I actually have 3 of these chairs--the one here, shown with the low arms, and two with no arms, but still have the high cane back throne-like feel. All are in good condition, especially after a couple minor tweaks. My plan thus far is to make the two w/o arms a similar look to the one with arms, but use a slighty different color palette. I'm excited to being able to move forward on all 3 of them! I'll post more "in progress" photos as I, well, make progress!

On a side note: If I met you at he LA Flea Market yesterday, thanks for stopping by and chatting, and for your interest in my work! Thanks for all the lovely compliments! Keep checking back, as I will be adding more. (These types of projects for me are addicting, and I love to keep planning new ideas, and hopefully create more things that bring a smile to people's faces. Hence the name "Very Happy Chair"). Make a fabulous day for yourself, and thanks again for stopping by the booth (and here, too!).

WooT!

2010-07-18T21:08:00.000-07:00

Well, today Laurie (my sister in law of Little Willow Studio) had a booth at the first ever L.A. Flea market held at Dodger Stadium. Despite the 100 degree temperature on an asphalt parking lot, and the beginning of the event being in need of serious organization (kind of like my desk), it eventually ironed out and became a rather satisfying day.....Because I sold one of my chair sets! If you've followed any previous posts on this blog, this photo may look familiar:

Well, it came in a set of two, and I sold both! Granted, it was for a bit of a discount, but I was excited to meet someone who enjoyed them so much, I couldn't resist.

I also sold one of my new little trinket boxes to her. AND--she's putting in an order for two similar chairs designs. Thank you, Cydney--may you get plenty of fun and coziness from your new chairs.

Boxen

2010-07-17T17:44:00.001-07:00

Here are just a few of the little trinket boxes I've made to sell at the L.A. Flea Market. Wish me luck! : )

The Quickie

2010-07-10T17:52:00.000-07:00

Well, usually I try to pick chairs that I think I can slap a couple coats of paint on, but this one I loved as is. Picked it up from CraigsList a couple days ago, and finished it already. (There's a lot to be said for not having to do the gritty prep work). I just femmed it up a bit with a swirly flower in a fun color and Voila! Now I just hope some one likes it as much as I do. (Note: in the "before" picture there is one orange paint stroke I had started; I was so eager to work on this one I almost forgot to take the "before" photo!)

Impulse Items

2010-07-09T23:17:00.000-07:00

Every time I go to one of my regular errands, I always take a glance across the street to a beautiful little boutique called "Penny for Your Thoughts". They have a nice variety of original and vintage items, all of a truly artistic nature, and a very cozy ambiance. And they have reaaaaally good coffee (their Mexican Mochas ROCK).

Quite awhile ago I had approached the owner with the idea of selling my furniture on consignment there. Although open to the idea, and liking the photos of the furniture, she expressed concern with carrying too many large items, and that it would simply just depend on the piece. So I hadn't approached the topic since, as I was trying to create more pieces for her to view; and as mentioned before, that simply doesn't happen as frequently as I'd like. But since I've meandered into trinket boxes, I thought I'd try again, since little trinket boxes don't take up much boutique "real estate". So on impulse, I darted into her store and showed some photos I had taken of some boxes I had recently painted. She expressed interest, asked me to bring some in the following week--and so I did. Today. She loved them! Yay! She is starting them on consignment first, and If they get a good response, she'll consider wholesale orders. Here are the ones I dropped off to her. Enjoy--do you have a favorite?

I Can Tell the Future...

2010-07-01T02:20:00.000-07:00

...and boy am I gonna be busy! Laurie (my sister-in-law and partner in craftish crimes) have signed up for the first ever huge Craft Fair/Flea Market which will be held at Dodger Stadium on July 18, 2010. I think it's the promoters goal to have it rival in size to the famous Rose Bowl Flea Market (which is like the Disneyland of flea markets). We are so excited to have the opportunity to sell our items; however, naturally, we are scrambling to make sure we have enough inventory, should our items charm the masses (crossing fingers). Decorating enough trinket and jewelry boxes doesn't have me worried, nor does having my jewelry--I want to make sure I have plenty of my unique repurposed hand-painted furniture on hand. I love revamping the furniture, but I certainly don't get to dedicate the blocks of time it takes to complete a piece. Ideally, I'd have a piece done in 2 or 3 days, maximum. But, alas, it usually takes me weeks.

Right now I have a fun vision of taking a high-backed wooden chair, with low arms and rattan caning on the back from a drab old ivory (nothing wrong with ivory, it's just that this one was well-worn), to a fabulous deep crimson--a color that I want to "pull" from a beautiful and bold Anna Maria Horner fabric (from her Garden Party line) called "Guest of Honor" (scroll down when you get to the page to see the whole line):

I have high hopes for the outcome of this chair! I'll be sure to post photos of before & after as soon as possible. In the meantime, please keep Laurie & I in your "lucky penny" thoughts (aka as "good wishes") for creating a successful inventory, and, well selling it all!

Thou Shalt Not Jinx

2010-06-28T00:54:00.000-07:00

Exciting! K liked all the boxes she ordered and is going to try to get them to wholesale in other boutiques. She's got plans beyond that should her initial plans become successful--now it's just a waiting game as to what happens. She won't really know until October or so for any updates, so patience is key. That's all I know, and even if I knew more I probably wouldn't elaborate because I don't want to jinx anything! Here's to crossing fingers and having positive thoughts!

My Cup Runneth...

2010-06-19T22:48:00.000-07:00

...over with paint! New boxes to add to the order. K loved the first 6 so much, she ordered 6 more for her first order. I'm sooo excited she likes them so much--now I hope some customers will, too. I'll probably be posting some to my Etsy store, too, after I fulfill K's order. Which one do you like best?

Next in Line

2010-06-17T02:32:00.000-07:00

Here's the next little trinket box. Ms. Boutique Owner loved our pink one shown in the previous post, so I'm on to create more! Yay! I personally really like the color combination on this one; it's different, but a nice "grounding" colors of aqua and green, but with a punch of orange that, to me, is a fun surprise. Do you like combinations like this one? Let me know what you think! Do you have a favorite color combination? Aqua and Red? Olive and Periwinkle? (Sport team colors don't count! : ) )

Trinket Box Sample

2010-06-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

So in an effort to get a new sample to the boutique owner (mentioned in the previous post), I whipped up this little candy colored delight. I still need to glaze it, but I wanted to post it, in the hopes of getting some feedback. Hope you like it--hope the boutique owner likes it, too! : )

Paper Trail

2010-06-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

Exciting News--a beautiful boutique not too far from me may be interested in my hand-painted trinket/jewelry boxes!! Wish me luck! The boxes will have pretty paper decoupage on the inside. Here's a sample so you can get an idea of the bright colors an patterns I like to play with. The second photo is of one of the boxes the boutique owner bought as a sample.

Let me know your opinion: Is this a type of gift you would buy for a friend?

Vintage Fashion

2010-06-12T02:12:00.000-07:00

So a couple weekends ago my family and I meandered around an "Art in the Park" event in Morro Bay. There were so many beautiful things there, from photography, painters of various mediums (media??), ceramic pottery, jewelry of all kinds--just beautiful! And there were a few booths that had the kind of art I like to do a lot: repurposed furniture and wares. Being a sucker for anything fashion-themed, I pounced on these two window-framed "Couture" fashion posters. The colors are perfect for my art room, which is going thru a bit of a revamp right now. Dear husband agreed they would look great in the room, so lucky me got these two early birthday presents.

If you have--or could have--your own creative space, what would you do to liven it up? Let me know as I always love hearing and being inspired by fresh ideas!

Spring Things

2010-04-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

There are few things that are as serene as a gentle rainfall, and for me this photo captures it beautifully. I can hear the gentle drops, and imagine getting caught up in watching each raindrop gather then drop slowly in a mesmerizing pattern. I stumbled upon this beautiful photo on etsy, here, which led me to a flickr.com portfolio here. There are so many gorgeous nature photos here! She has a wonderful eye for light and composition, and can make you see the simple beauty that is there. If you don't think much about stopping to appreciate the simple things in life, you will now. Beautiful! The artist's name is Maria Kallin. Check out her links; you'll be happy you did. (Photo below ©Maria Kallin)

Fairy Land

2010-03-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a nice little getaway along the Central coast, and one of our favorite things to do is to wander through some plant nurseries that have a very random looking, yet beautifully structured garden areas. Everything LOOKS like it was just randomly springing up, but in actuality the little meandering paths and beautiful array of plants sucks you in, and you wander off through lovely spaces. And tucked here and there among these lovely spaces were little, beautiful fairy gardens. From that moment on my little girl had to create one--it was her mission, and it was her daddy's mission to help her--make one. Careful selections of just the right sized plants and flowers were made, with moss and pebbles for accents. And of course we needed to provide a cozy little abode, with a fresh rainbow of paint. The results are below.

Another Project Finally done

2010-03-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

So my sister gave me her plain oak porch bench to get a little crafty-practice. It took me quite a while (time and schedule constraints), but I finally finished. Photos are a bit blurry, but still clear enough to see details. Comments are welcomed!

Wowzers!

2010-03-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

So I'm behind, behind, behind! So many things have happened since my last post (and some things before then, too)! First things first...

The Holiday Rosamond Craft Fair (back in December, naturally) was fun! A small venue, but perfect for a first-time selling experience for Ann, Laurie, and me. I even had a few sales--even of a chair! I was so excited and encouraged. Maybe I'm actually onto something! Here are some photos:

Little Blue Cottage

2010-02-09T23:41:00.000-08:00

I covet a lot. Mostly my friend Tina of Little Blue Cottage. She is one of those fabulous people who can do anything. Cook, Bake, mother, and quilt. And I covet that she has somehow figured out how to jam 29 hours into one day. It's kinda freaky. But this is where that kind of talent (aka, magic) goes to: this fabulous quilt not only catches my eye because it has 3 of my fave-o-rite colors all playing together nicely, it reminds me that someday I want to rub elbows with Tina harder, so maybe some of her magic will pole-vault over to me (not likely), and then I'll be able to make beautiful quilts in under 29 hours. Thanks for sharing, Tina!

Cheers

2010-02-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh, London! What a fabulous place! I've been twice--once for a long weekend (no, I'm not rich, it was a killer deal on Virgin Atlantic!) with my husband (then-fiance), and once as part of my husband's and my honeymoon. So there's romance as well as nostalgia in it for me.

I have a love of the UK that maybe I should be called a Britophile (a la France's "Francophiles"). Such a small place that has played an enormous part of the world's history--and an enormous part of American history. Beautiful country sides, amazing metro areas, castles, kings and queens whose influence has reached much farther and longer than just their reigning years! If you ever get a chance to travel, go to the UK! People are amazing, the stories are amazing, the architecture and landscapes are amazing....Did I mention it was amazing?

Below is a link to a cool bit of art by redletterwords on etsy.com. Simple, graphic, bold and cool--just looking at it sends a rush of memories of many rides on the Tube (the underground railway). Browse through her site further and you'll find this:

Which of course is just in time for Valentine's day (also comes in pink)! Take a virtual gander in her shop--she has a variety of themes available for you. Maybe you'll find a little romance...

GMH to get you over the Wednesday hump

2009-12-15T23:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick little story that is right out of some Hallmark made-for-tv movie, or like the scene in "Elf" when Zoey Deschanel's character gets the crowd to sing. (Just saw that on tv, so it's fresh in my mind).
Sometimes, the simplest of acts might take a little moxie to do, but they are oh-so-worth the smile it can bring. Thanks to GivesMeHope on facebook for this little gem:
"A baby girl started crying on the bus this morning and someone asked her if she knew Jingle Bells. The little girl didn’t answer, so the person started to sing. After about a minute I had counted nine people, including parents and myself singing along. Spontaneous bus choirs GMH"

Better Late than Never

2009-11-30T19:46:00.000-08:00

Although I don't like being late with this, I'm glad I found a post for it. For your perky start to the week, I thought this post from GivesMeHope was sweet, especially in light of the gift-giving season. It kinda of reminds me of having a Secret Santa. I hope you enjoy the sentiment and that it makes your Monday better!

There’s a girl in my school who gives every person in school a birthday card and candy for their birthday. She tries to deliver them anonymously through friends and teachers. She does this for all 800 of us and doesn’t even want credit. Her generosity and ambition to make everyone feel special Gives Me Hope

Progress!!

2009-11-24T17:54:00.000-08:00

So I finally was able to spend a day focused on my painting furniture, and getting things ready for my first craft fair. I'm sharing a booth with two friends: Laurie who also makes lovely jewelry, and Ann, who creates cozy pillows using organic fabrics and fill. and it feels so good to be able to work virtually uninterrupted. I got base coat paint on two pieces of furniture, painted two jewelry racks for the craft fair, and organized and planned display stuff. So fun to make headway! I'll be sure to post photos of the finished items--well, when the are officially and completely finished!

Since this is my first craft fair, does anyone have any good suggestions that a rookie should know? I'd greatly appreciate input! Thanks!!

Tardy Tuesday

2009-11-24T02:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, so my "Gives Me Hope" Monday is a day late; hence the title of this post. but I think you're in for a little treat. Women love "engagement stories"--or "how he proposed". After the initial squeal of excitement upon hearing the news, a woman's next question is unfailingly, "How did he do it?" Well, the little video below is a fun one. The young lady in this video was led to believe she was part of a time-out activity at a Chicago bulls game. If you want a little more of the story, there is a caption shown off to the side.

Click here for video link to youtube(dot)com

Fun, right? I got all misty-eyed and giddy while watching it. In front of 22,000 people this guy is willing to be on bended knee, asking his true love to be his partner in life. That's exciting! And important. But what is special--beyond her saying "yes!" of course--is that you hear the crowd go crazy, cheering them on. I doubt all 22,000 people are personal friends of this sweet couple, yet they cheered and laughed and got a little choked up for this couple they don't even know. Why? My guess is that it gives them a feeling of hope and anticipation of the endless possibilities in their future. Here's to Emerson and Gabby! Congratulations!

Gives Me Hope Monday

2009-11-15T23:06:00.000-08:00

While looking for a hopefully inspiring post from Gives Me Hope, I came across this photo of a soldier watching over this child who lost her family and had been seriously injured by insurgents. His dedication and compassion gives me hope. I hope it makes you smile (and tear up), too.

Happy Monday!

The Perfect Vessel

2009-11-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me knows how I love coffee. I am unabashedly and joyfully dependent on my morning dose of java, and notoriously non-functional until the proper dose is administered. The only thing that can improve on my morning experience is to have the perfect-sized trough--er, a mug--in which to place the elixir. This mug, to me, would help achieve my morning nirvana--I love the colors of glaze (it has my 3 favorite colors all on one mug--red, orange and turquoise-y aqua--it's large, and it has that wonderful look of handmade artistry that makes it a one of a kind piece. Click here for SimplyDaisy's etsy shop and browse through her other works of art and find the perfect vessel for you.

Fashion and Friday the 13!

2009-11-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

One of the many things that make me smile is the "Lucky Cat" you often see in businesses (especially sushi restaurants). You've seen it: white kitty with a paw raised to greet good fortune. Well, if you want to take luck with you, make sure you take some of these little buddies with you: string a few and make yourself a bracelet or on a key chain. You may not believe its good luck, but you can bet it will make you smile. You can find these little guys here:

What do you consider a lucky charm?

Woo Hoo for our Veterans

2009-11-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

Today is Veteran's Day in the U.S., and I would like to send a shout out to our vets and troops! Our country, for as "young" as it is, has a rich history. Our country is founded on ideals of independence, freedom, self-reliance, faith, and resilience of the individual. We have had thousands of young men and women put themselves in harm's way to protect our country and it's values. It takes a special individual to put their country and others before themselves. I thank them for that. I am grateful for all who have served our great country, and appreciate the things they have to go thru in order for me to be able to sit and type here at my desk. Thank you for your dedication, bravery, heart, and hard work. Thank you for risking your own independence, freedom, self-reliance, faith and resilience in order for me to develop and enjoy mine. I salute you all, and Woo Hoo!

Monday Gives Me Hope

2009-11-09T12:02:00.000-08:00

"What?" you say? Some people dread Mondays because of work and various other reasons, I like Mondays because they signal a "fresh" week is starting. I like to start my week with a little positive note, and this site helps. It's called "Gives Me Hope" and you can friend them on Facebook. Here a sample entry:

My friend's younger brother just came out of 5 weeks of coma. When asked him what had "woken him up" he replied "I heard mom crying and I had to comfort her". GMH

See? I bet you're thinking "awwwwww". So I plan to make Mondays a good thing for you, kind of like a spiritual cup of coffee for your week. Speaking of coffee, I gotta go get my mug--coffee GMH! : )

How do you like to start your Mondays?

Colorful Wares

2009-11-07T23:59:00.000-08:00

I'm not afraid of color. I rather like it--a lot. As a matter of fact my husband and I registered for Fiestaware instead of china for our wedding. And we use it everyday, not just the holidays. And the gravy boat didn't cost $135.00, which is fine with me.

So imagine my surprise when I came across these fabulous bowls on Etsy. Perfectly charming and pleasingly eye-catching combinations of color. Ceramic Joy! (microwave and dishwasher safe, I might add!) They will certainly perk up any table top, butcher block, coffee table, side table, windowsill, open-faced shelves--you get the idea. Enjoy more here: Wobbly Bowls by atelierBB ....and hopefully I will be able to add this kind of ceramic project to my own crafty repertoire.

Fashion Friday

2009-11-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

I think it's fair to say that most people love fashion, and I-- like many--covet good fashion. Not all of us can wear just anything (and sometimes it's better that way). I have yet to see someone who looks stunning in a mustardy-puce anything.

Scarves fall into the category of fashion items that The Few can pull off. A too-round face or short neck, and a bulky knit scarf magically morphs the wearer into having a frog-like appearance. And there is a fine line between beauty and function in a scarf. A "shrug" is tricky, too: it can either play up broad shoulders, add some broadness to narrow shoulders, or simply look like the wearer is sporting a baby's "onesie" with the bottom half lopped off. I found a site, however, on etsy(dot)com called crochetbutterfly that blasts apart my pre-mentioned preconceptions about scarf/shrug fashion. Ms. Crochet Butterfly has a beautiful array of crocheted lovelies in a wide range of shapes, colors, and styles, and I find myself coveting yet again. Browse through her lovely shop and see what I mean. Her items aren't just for cold weather--she has plenty of pieces that are simply delicate accessories that could even work in warmer climates. I like to picture myself in the shrug below, with a scoop-neck top, my favorite jeans, ankle-high almost stiletto boots, and a fabulous bag hooked over my shoulder. And a coffee in the other hand... with a funky chunky ring on my index finger--ya know, to make the coffee cup look good.

What type of crochet fashion items can you picture yourself in?

Two Birds

2009-11-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

I may have mentioned before, and it may be obvious by the crafts I do, but I love bold patterns. Paisley is always fun in my book and I came across this lovely tote on etsy(dot)com, from Z Originals. The PLUS of this tote is not only do you get a fun and unique item to adorn your shoulder, a percentage of the item sold gets automatically donated to the American Cancer Society! This organization is close to my heart, as is the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Since it IS the holiday season, shopping online is easy to buy for yourself or others, and in many cases contribute to some fabulous organizations. Two Birds: a gift with charm, and a gift to life!

Woo-Hoo Wednesday

2009-11-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

Creative outlets are therapeutic in so many ways--everyone can use the positive effects that art and creativity can provide. And to make sure we get a dose of Woo-Hoo (ya know--the feeling of Yay that makes us want to hop around) in our week, I thought that maybe I would start Woo Hoo Wednesday. So here goes....

Imagine having the hobby you love turn into a Big Deal. What's a Big Deal? Well, like a company noticing your humble talent and wanting to employ you. My friend Tina Michalik had that very thing happen. Getting back into sewing after a few years away from it, Tina started her own blog to share her projects and love of fabrics. Lo and behold, a small series of events and a fabric company has asked her to create quilts using their fabrics. SCORE! Take a gander at her blog where she shares her talents: Little Blue Cottage and WOOHOO for Tina!

What Woo Hoo thing has happened to you lately?

Progress

2009-11-03T21:44:00.000-08:00

I am happy to say that I finally got one of my chairs (mostly) painted. The chair needs a new seat, so I still have to construct that. But my colors have been chosen (a soothing sage-y green, a calming earthy brown, and a third choice, which remains a surprise until I can get it the finished chair art posted here), and I'm getting a picture in my head of what graphic that I'll be painting onto it. A lot of the time I won't even map out the entire design--I leave a bit up to chance and spontaniety, to surprise even me! : ) Can't wait to get it done and share it with you readers!

Isis of Outgrown Boutique here in Los Angeles has this sweet and pretty boutique in which she sells gently used hi-end baby and kid's clothing. But she won't be limiting her wares to just that; she also has some beautiful handmade jewelry in her store that deserves attention, and soon I'll be adding a unique piece of chair art, too. Her boutique has only been open a few short weeks, and already she has received great reviews and fans. Congratulations, Isis, we here at VHC wish you the very best, and happy shopping to the rest of us!

It's ON!

2009-09-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

The heat, that is, is ON. It's 99 degrees in this part of So Cal today, so since I don't have an indoor air-conditioned studio (Santa, do you hear this?) I can't do any painting today. The paint dries almost as soon as you put the brush to the chair. I'm excited, though, to finally have gotten started on the next two chairs, especially since a boutique owner has expressed interest in carrying a couple of my items. I still have to meet with her, but I'm hoping this unfolds well. It will be posted as to if & when that happens! In the meantime, look at this pretty eye candy highlighted on design*sponge for new house textiles:

http://www.designspongeonline.com/

Now and "Zen"

2009-09-22T00:35:00.000-07:00

So I'm finally getting around to starting the next couple chairs, and a bench. I intend to sell the chairs, and the bench is for my sister. I haven't completely decided colors or graphics; sometimes that kind of inspiration just happens, and other times I'm in a ridiculous amount of mental anguish trying to decide. But usually, it's better if I just take my time and let it "flow". Then it becomes a "zen" moment.

Ahhhh.....Pillows

2009-09-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

I found these two pillows on Anthropologie's site. I love to browse their site for inspiration--they always have fabulous color palettes and are a good indicator of upcoming trends. My friend Ann & I are partnering to make beautiful home decor pillows: I'll design the fabric and she'll design the pillows and stitch them up. Wish us luck! Since we both have other priorities, it's been a slow process thus far, but I'll be posting them as soon as they, er, um.... materialize. (Sorry, couldn't resist : ) ) Here are the coveted pillows from Anthropologie....

Changeable Table

2009-09-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun idea! I've seen chalkboard surfaces put on kids' toy boxes, refrigerators and closet doors, and Kid-sized tables, but not a dinner table. This was featured on design*sponge as a before/after project, and it sounds like the owners of the table are having a great time with it. (Never thought as your dining table as FUN before, have you?) Take a look and browse design* sponge's other areas--I LOVE their site!

My First Sale

2009-08-25T15:43:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited: I sold my first piece of furniture--a chair. I'm so excited that I don't even care that I'm barely making a profit because the shipping cost so much. I'm still excited because it means there could be an interest in the style, so hopefully other designs will "catch on". This is the chair I sold (on Etsy).

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=18689211

Surprise

2009-08-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

So I'm surprised at my self that I'm even writing this, considering I don't know what my topic is going to be. I'm winging it.
I have been particularly busy with a fun freelance job, but now that it's over, I (in theory) have gobs of stuff I can tackle now. Officially starting my business, paint more furniture, make more jewelry, decorate some new "finds" I've made, organize my office (yet again... or does it ever reeeeally get organized?), do the tedious side of business like setting up invoicing and business software, etc., etc., etc. Or add to my blog.I could chat about the very cool Renegade Craft Fair that I and some friends went to in downtown Los Angeles. Always fun to see the types of creations and art/crafts that people have. Or talk about the Bead Show in Pasadena that we went to to quench what seems to be an endless need for beads and beads... and beads. I always get so inspired when I go to such events, then I go home and get stuck: "What was my idea? Will it look nice? Will someone actually want to buy it?" I don't recommend trying to second guess your crafting audience, as it stomps out what ideas you do have.

The thing is that here I am, wanting to start a craft business. I want to design my own destiny creating artful things that I enjoy, and hopefully others do, too. I want to be my own boss so that I can be home with my daughter, and be a good example for her of working hard (and smart), dreaming big, and succeeding in whatever I set my mind to. But what if my mind doesn't like to settle? I have mentioned before that I tend to overwhelm my mind and time with multiple projects. So I have some decisions to make. Pare down and focus! Stay tuned and let's see what transpires.

Independence Day

2009-07-04T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here we are in an age when freedom is appreciated, but not truly KNOWN--at least not it seems lately. The fundamental principles on which this great country is based are crumbling. The very definition of what freedom means is under attack via endless debate. One Side appears to believe that to be free means to be free of the responsibility of consequences; the Other Side believes freedom means to be able to take risks, be a hard worker or be lazy, but either way you will eventually pay a consequence. Luck may be involved in opportunity, but hard work opens the door to success.

There is so much that has been forgotten of the rich history of this country. Is it perfect? No, but the philosophies upon which we are based nearly are. This year, make a promise to yourself that you will learn more about the true history of this country: The Federalist papers; or maybe you would enjoy a foreigner's view of what this country means to independence (Democracy in America , Alexis de Tocqueville). If you feel that America is "broke" I would state that it's because we have gotten AWAY from our principles, not because OF them. Stay away from revisionist textbooks--they only muddy up the waters, and suck you under. Be sure to look as objectively as possible, and find texts that are original in context. Not someone's lame "interpretation."

I love this country; I love the roots on which it is based (although I am not happy over all the events that have taken place--slavery, for example-- in its history, I still think the foundation that was intended (a.k.a Bill of Rights) is great).

May you reflect with happiness those things which make America unique, and great. Some things do not need to be "changed" so much.

OMG

2009-07-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

How does the time slip away so fast???? I just noticed it's been nearly a month since I posted last--and I have lots to share!
A few months back I bought 9 wooden yard sale chairs for about $28. Not bad. They all need different levels of TLC, but all are diamonds ready to be de-roughed. I had them in storage in a different state, but Dear Ol' Dad brought them with him during his latest visit. So I now have 9 new opportunities for the playful palettes I love so much! I hope it cools down enough for me to actually work on them. It gets too hot, paint just dries before you finish your first brush stroke. This time I'll remember to take the "before" shots and record my progress. Happy playing!

Wow--What a present!

2009-06-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

Okay: a couple posts ago I mentioned something about using a lot of P-words in my daily vocabulary, mostly pertaining to Potty Training my 3-yr old. Well, the difficulty was not teaching her the proper methods, she was just having hesitancy for still-not-so-clear reasons. So here are more P-words: Perfect, Present, Pride! Yes, the day before my birthday, she finally jumped off her Plateau and did the deed. She actually USES the potty now! Woo Hoo! Pleased as Purple Pineapple Punch!

Someday...

2009-06-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Well, my birthday is coming up, and just like so may others, we are on a bit of a tight budget. But I will be grateful for whatever we do to celebrate. Family, dinner, and cake. YUM! But in the meantime I still like to daydream of coming home to a little studio shed that I could call my own and devote as my art studio. That day is quite away aways; besides, we don't have the yard space, unless we uproot all of our hard work to make part of out yard to look like a freeform randomly planned garden. This is what I mean--it looks like a wildly grown garden, but placement of everything was planned. Here's a peek:

But someday, i hope to include a studio space instead of our poor overloaded den. Like this:

Limbo

2009-05-31T00:21:00.000-07:00

It's late. After midnight. And still struggling what to write about. One of the few times I don't have other pressing work to do (meaning I can focus on my fledgling home business venture instead), and I can't think of what to add to my blog. Or maybe it's more like thinking of too much to add. Craft spaces, cool indie art items, craft fairs, fabric, home business, home business in economically shaky times, fresh ideas (where are they??), start a second blog, but on clean eating and lifestyle (and maybe I should start doing it)... no wonder i needed the Advil. Or maybe I should be designing more fabric ideas. Or maybe I can get inspired if I just web surf awhile. Or maybe I just sit at the computer for an hour, typing in random thoughts until one hits home........Nope, I still got nothin'.......and still nothin'. I'll just leave you with a cool photo from design*sponge. My mom's birthday is May 31st (although she would insist it's may 32nd), and she always loved horses, so this seems fitting. Beautiful, colorful, spirited horses.

And speaking of...

2009-05-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

Karen over at Venezie Bags will be holding a giveaway! She is highlighting craft spaces, and giving away items that will help you maximize, optimize and organize your craft corner in your home. I'll be including one of my decorative craft boxes to be one of the prizes. It's a sturdy mdf material, hand-painted by me with a bold floral graphic in shades of deep aqua and sagey green that came from my own teeny brain. Here's what it looks like:

I know she is including several other items into one big prize, so check it out on her blog. Click here to visit and read up a little more on how you can enter.

Hate the sin, Love the sinner

2009-05-28T13:25:00.000-07:00

I covet. I covet a lot. Looking at fabulous, bright, bold, sunny, playful, gusto- and personality-filled fabrics makes me covet. I see them and I want to eat them like cheesecake--just bite into them and allow the goodness to saunter its way down to my happy place. The only thing I covet more than that is the ability to sew. Wish I had it. Want to learn it. It is one of the activities I have queued up my list of things in which to indulge some day. I'm almost--ALMOST-- as happy rolling around in pretty fabrics as I am getting pampered at a spa. Almost.

So imagine how much fun I have looking at this blog and etsy shop: Venezie Bags. Cute stuff, that really looks quality & made with loving stitches. Items that hit my "covet" switch on. Someday, I'll learn to sew; but until then, Venezie Bags is on my list of places to covet. http://veneziebags.blogspot.com/

Thinking Out Loud

2009-05-15T10:42:00.001-07:00

Well, I guess I missed the chance to write a touching Mother's Day tribute on Mother's Day, huh? Hate to be so clichè, but "better late than never". Usually, anyway. But then to write a tribute ON Mom's Day would have been clichè as well. Hmm.....sorry, just thinking out loud.

So I have been a Mom for almost 4 years now. It has been the quickest four years of my life...other than college. College went by fast, too. But in college I wasn't responsible for another person, especially a tiny one. There is SO MUCH that I have forgotten about the first few months of motherhood. I get a little melancholy when i see tiny little onesies: Was my baby ever really that small? I barely remember what holding her felt like; now she's stands as high as my waist, and I have to grunt to lift her. And now I have to negotiate how many books to read before bedtime. And so much of my vocabulary starts with the letter P--Poo, Pee, Potty, Please all usually is crammed into the same sentence. And you never realize how many types of vegetables are green until you try to make your little one eat any of them. When she was a baby, any mush would do. Before I had a child I used to roll my eyes at toddlers on "leashes" until I had to travel alone several times with my toddler cross country and it was the only way I could guarantee she wouldn't get separated from me in the swarm of holiday travelers at the airport.

I miss how tiny and small she was, that she could fit in the crook of my arm: It went by so fast, that I almost long for it all over again. I'm pretty sure that's how God makes sure we continue to make more babies, is that we forget all the things that happen in the early months. There are so many things that go by in a blur. And I don't think I've taken enough photos and video. And my baby scrapbook still only has 3 newborn photos in it; maybe I should be catching up on my scrapbooking instead of painting chairs. Or blogging. : ) .... Just thinking out loud.

UNIQUE LA Craft Fair

2009-05-04T22:42:00.000-07:00

Unique LA Craft Fair ROCKS. Here is a link to their blog to see what kind of things go on there: click here The extra perk is celebrity sightings (well, it IS L.A.!)
There is such a wide array of talent and quality items. I'm already jonesin' for the Holiday 2009 UNIQUE LA show.

Keep Craftin'!

Before and Afters

2009-05-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

Design*Sponge always showcases some great before and after projects--the last few have been really eye-catching and fun.
Go browse and get inspired at: http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/before-and-after

Happy Weekend!

The Unmistakeable Clarity of Hindsight

2009-04-27T23:28:00.000-07:00

After posting a couple projects and mentioning some great places to learn and create in the SoCal area, I decided to post something a bit more personal. One of the wise things to do in this life is, well, gain wisdom. Not the surety and cockiness that we all go through at some point as a teenager (and, no doubt, as older folks, too), but true soul deepening, connection reinforcing WISDOM. And let's be accurate here: knowledge or highly-esteemed education does not guarantee wisdom. Wisdom, I would say, is this: Gaining foresight through thorough recognition and study of hindsight. Blah, blah, blah, you say? Then try this old adage: I wish I knew then what I know now.

I have always been artistic; I inherited this from my mother who was an artist in her own right, and had such a joy in the simple beauties and fun of Life. When I was younger, I was constantly drawing or painting. But my Mom tried several times to get me interested in sewing. And although I always liked the idea of being able to make something from "scratch", I didn't have the patience to learn about cutting and placing patterns--i just wanted to be able to sit at the machine and sew. It's doesn't really work that way, Duh. (that's a stunning revelation, huh?) I could draw, why did I need to sew, too? (insert eye roll here).

Now that I've matured a bit (well, kind of) and have a daughter of my own (almost 4 yrs old), I wish I knew then what I know now: The simple joy of sharing with my daughter the time, energy, love and bonding that goes into the passing down of creativity, of sharing in a home art. Being creative has always brought me joy, and what a great thing to be able to pass onto your child. But, as mentioned before, I lacked that kind of foresight. Now that my own Mother has passed away, I (unfortunately much too late) finally "get it" of why, for a time, she tried so hard to get me to learn to sew (and cook, too). She not only wanted me to have a practical knowledge, but she wanted to share and relish the moments of Mother-Daughter time.

Now that my little girl has shown interest in fabric, color & crafts, my head is spinning with all the possibilities of things we can make together. But it's a bittersweet feeling whose downside is this: along with that recognition of possibilities come with the sadness of realizing what joys my Mom & I could have had, had I not been so shortsighted. It breaks my heart to know that I denied my Mom that experience. If I can pass anything along to my daughter, I hope, at the very least, it will be wisdom.

More Stuff!

2009-04-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited for a new project: My sister is having me paint a cool, spindle backed bench (used on her front porch), and she's giving me free reign on what to paint on it. Maybe Skulls, or something like that (just kidding, Donna). I'll have to remember to take before and after pics for this one, too!

The Latest Chair Project

2009-04-17T16:18:00.000-07:00

First of all, I have to apologize for forgetting to take the before photo of this before and after project. Hopefully you can imagine what it was like by my description--trust me, it needed some TLC.

I found this chair at a yard sale. Still sturdy, but a well-worn finish, and a faded and worn out red seat. It had a caned back, but part of it had popped out of its frame and couldn't be repaired. First of all, this gave me a big fat excuse to buy some of Anna Maria Horner's fabric from her "Drawing Room" line. I love her eclectic and vibrant fabrics, and I thought this would be the perfect project.

So I painted the frame of the chair a slightly blue slate-grey, which was an accent color in the fabric.

Then I put the new fabric on the seat (standard staple gun procedure).

I then took a piece of 1/4" thick plywood (I used plywood because of the thinness and because I knew I would be covering it), traced the outline of the back panel on it and cut with a skil saw. Then I covered one side with bamboo batting and more fabric, cutting carefully so that the certain parts of the design showed. The next step was to cover what would be the back of the panel--no batting, just the fabric. I used a regular crayon and "traced" the shape of the panel, cut, then staple gunned.

The result:

Urban Craft Center

2009-04-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

This has got to be great! I can't wait to try this place out. The Urban Craft Center is located in Santa Monica, and is a big studio space where you can go to use your creative mojo. Classes are offered on sewing, felting, spinning your own yarn, soap making, scrapbooking and more. Prices look quite reasonable, and you can pay for a one-time visit, or a variety of monthly packages. Just looking at photos of the place makes me want to leave in the middle of typing this....

I'm back! Just kidding, I haven't really gone yet. But my plan is to visit The Urban Craft Center and have a go at one of its amazing classes and report on it in an upcoming post. They also have a retail space where you can buy supplies for creating a variety of crafts as well. Take a look at their website, and see why I'm salivating.