gifts for your fancy friend

Lingerie Ring 003 - Ste... gemagenta $58.00	Decorative Zebra Butter... SeaPinks $18.00	Bruyere labokoff $30.00	Vintage Restaurantware ... oldschoolfarm $16.00
Set of Five Deco Tin Ki... BarkingSandsVi... $165.00	Six Months of Soap - On... LongWinterSoap... $34.00	Toddler boys classic he... BowandTieLondo... $9.99	Aubergines naomilayne $375.00
Set of 10 Painting Post... windylanestudi... $10.00	Tea Towel : Abstract no... knifeinthewate... $15.00	Vintage Decor, Wood Let... halfpintsalvag... $12.00	Silver tip olive leathe... lethilogica $85.00
Original Acrylic and In... laurawennstrom $20.00	Art, ORIGINAL OIL Paint... AndolsekArt $235.00	Needle felted black cat Ruthfully $8.00	miniature houses minima... TheHauntedHoll... $35.00

I should be working right now...

casa sugar tour

We were very lucky to have Elka Karl from Casa Sugar, and her lovely family by earlier in the month for a fun dinner, and a house and studio tour, which you can see here.

Cyber Monday

 

I think I got bit by the Cyber Monday bug...so many things to buy, so little time!

I really love the rug by Ekra and skateboard tops by board games, above (not sure if they are on sale, but I am off to check right now)!

And don't forget, everything in my shop is still 15% off with the code TASTESHAPPY15, through the end of today in case you're interested...

Kai is one upping me with a 20% off sale in his shop

oh, and check out his new website, I am jealous!

Thanksgiving & Black Friday

Happy almost Thanksgiving! I am trying to get as much work done as I can in the next couple hours, before it's time to start cooking. This Thanksgiving we are sticking to the classics...with one minor adulteration: garlic, sweet potato mashed potatoes.

Is anyone making anything fun or unsusual?
What are your thoughts on pumpkin vs. pecan pie?

Above are photos of the new set of 5 postcards available in my shop.
For a Black Friday promotion, all orders of fifty dollars or more will come with a set, and you can use the coupon code TASTESHAPPY15 until Monday the 28th on all orders.

facebook party time!

I finally got my Facebook page up and running, to check it out click here.

I will start posting fun things next week. Like Black Friday/Cyber Monday-ish, special kinds of things!

ps- Did you wear your Friday socks last night? I sure didn't when I fell asleep watching An Idiot Abroad (a really great show, not to be fallen asleep to) at ten thirty.

friday socks by Drywell

in progress

I am making good progress on my (now) ten holiday commissions, and have a chance to work on some of my own work which is fun! Above are a couple photos from the studio.

(The poorly lit painting on the far wall in the first photo is by the awesome artist Britt Hermann)

Last month Etsy made some monumental changes, which have caused a serious decrease in sales for myself and many of my buddies...bummer! So, it seems it is time to branch out a little, and my first step is to start a Facebook page for my artwork, (I know I am way behind the times) in hopes of reaching a wider audience.

Apparently the decision is much simpler than the reality. Either that, or I am a total moron...probably a little of both. After almost six hours wasted yesterday and today, and a lot of anxiety, I found myself with a normal Facebook page in addition to my art page, and ended up deactivating both because Facebook would not let me deactivate the normal page solely, and now I can't start a new art page because both of my email addresses are linked to the deactivated pages. I guess I have to create a new email account now??!!

I am tempted to give up, but I hate to let Facebook defeat me.

Sorry for complaining. I need a vacation from the internet.

Have a happy weekend.
xo
clare

hello, awesome deal

This simply gorgeous, perfect holiday dress by Fleet Collection is only $48...for a handmade dress??!!! Wow.

Sorry electric bill...I think you can wait a couple more weeks.

holiday depression gift guide

Jute Tote - Uniquely S... maricfinegoods $70.00	The Disappearing Boy, 1... windylanestudi... $50.00	Compact Desk or Console... Blakeavenue $650.00	nature hike fiber effec... KnotOriginal $5.00
Ecological felted slipp... ing00te $68.00	Lost In The Forest - Pr... untilattila $25.00	Aries Rising Scarf- men... blackbirdtees $24.00	mountain - print karineleger2 $16.00
glass dome cloche no. 2 everyeskimo $48.00	Matcha Green Tea Berlin... FusionSweets $8.44	Spring Blend - Botanica... oakmoss $6.00	Leather Key Chain Key R... leatherline $14.00
Vintage Girl's Dres... SmallEarthVint... $22.00	Sukan / Hand Woven - Tu... sukan $79.95	Racing Green Polkadot T... makemeadress $206.00	Melancholy Giclee Art P... MouseInTheDoll... $16.00

Some gift ideas...for the melancholy.

xo
clare

green group

While I procrastinate a little longer, and extend my lunch break (I just ate some delicious 79 cent duck flavored ramen) here are a few of my favorite things:
1. vintage pearl ring from jean jean vintage
2. vintage cabin blanket from CAST & CREW
3. Oakmoss Blend Botanical Soap by Oakmoss
4. Autumnal Tank by ACCRA ACCRA

new painting

Run Away, 18 x 24 inches, acrylic on wood panel. Available here.

a couple house photos

We had lovely house guests over the weekend, motivating us to finally finish decorating. Here are a couple photos of the living room, with our new rug/last purchase (West Elm via Ebay) and a corner of the bathroom with Kai's abalone painting. Kai made the coffee table, and dining room table, which you can see a little corner of in the second photo.

Things are starting to come together, and our house feels a bit more like a house! Plus it has been totally freezing, and we can't get the heater to work so we have been having fires in the stove, which really makes things feel nice and cozy.

tuesday blues

1. Decorative pillow cover from Chic Decor Pillows
2. self photograph print by Amber Ortolano
3. Natural Hair Accessories by Boutique De Bandeaux
4. Linen Canvas & Leather Naturally Dyed Bag by Grace Design

keepin' calm...and missing our stories

"Hey, it's Lil' Sebastian from Parks and Recreation!" (my observation after spotting the awesome little stuffed guy above on Etsy).  We are some what deprived of TV and internet at our new house in the trees. People keep congratulating us, like we are doing something good and honorable- hardly our intent!

We used to download everything, including about twenty different shows, and now have a lame-o cap on our daily usage. Watching one movie trailer (Kai's favorite activity) can completely deplete it, and we are left we nothing. The price we pay to wake up with the ocean out our bedroom window...I'll stop complaining.

But, in case any avid TV watchers happen upon this...just curious, what are we missing?
Has anyone been watching Bored to Death? It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Boardwalk Empire...to name a couple off our long list of favorites.

Awesome items above: lil' sebastian by Royal Mint, Vintage purse from Nemres, and Keep Calm and Carry On by Animalia Shop

a few house photos

 In an order that doesn't really make sense: We planted a nopale cactus, and some succulents and took out the flowery plants. Kai made a really neat spice rack. We have a claw foot bath tub, and after two years with no bathtub, it is getting a lot of use...although still no shower curtain, so we take showers in the other bathroom, which has kind of an 80's feel (hence no photos).  And that is the view out our kitchen window...and a little peak onto our deck.

Once my studio, and our house are a bit more put together, I will post more photos.

This weekend we are meeting my mom and her friends in SF to stay at the Palace Hotel and hang out while they participate in the Nike Women's Marathon. We have reservations tomorrow night at the Park Tavern which looks fun, but if anyone has any other SF suggestions I would love to hear! There are so many awesome sounding restaurants, but pretty much all of them were already booked when we started calling around last week...sheesh!

My parents rented a house around the corner from us, and will be staying next week while we all catch up on some wine tasting and good wine drinking. I hate to admit it, but Kai and I have gotten hooked on Trader Joe's new box wine at about $10 a box. Every time we see my parents we drink really good wine, and then go through horrible withdrawals when we go back to drinking the cheap stuff. It is a double edged sword! Any suggestions on not super gross wine for a starving artist budget??

Have a happy almost weekend.
xo
c

i made a table

I made this table for under $200 with a 9 foot plank from an old cedar sinker log from the 1930's and a pair of vintage sewing machine legs. I spent a whole day sanding with a tiny power sander...and after I finished and my lungs were full of sawdust Kai went and bought a bigger and better sander to use for other projects. Thanks Kai :(

We stained and oiled the wood together with tung oil. I've never made furniture before, and I am pretty proud of my table, even though it is a little wobbly unless it's wedged in the corner.

It is my sewing, and print making table, and we are going to make another for me to paint on.

In the last photo you can see our driveway: to the left is my studio, the right our house, and down the stairs, Kai's studio. More photos in the next post!

two new paintings

Falling, and Tree house, both 8 x 10 with a stitched border.

p.s.- Things are crazy busy here and I have totally dropped the ball on this blogging business. A month into the move, and totally unsettled. As soon as we are completely unpacked (probably in three to five years) I will post some photos of our super awesome new home. But first I have to finish six commissions...eek. In case anyone is reading who would like a commission for the holidays, just make sure to let me know before October 15th, to guarantee my little hands have enough time to deliver. Thanks! xo, c

new painting

Quicksand, 8 x 10 acrylic on watercolor paper with stitched border, available here.

unpacking

We are finally moved into our new house and studios. It took about five solid days of driving back and forth on Hwy. 1 over Labor Day weekend which was interesting. There were a few middle fingers given to holiday drivers going 25 miles an hour in the 55 speed zone, but for the most part we stayed calm. I hate unpacking. Luckily Kai doesn't mind.

Now for the fun part- buying things for our new place!

I really want this table for a work table. Do you think it would be weird to use a kitcheny work table in an art studio? I'm hoping to find a larger, vintage version for about a tenth of the price...any suggestions?

Photos coming soonish...