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...

moving

We are moving Thursday, so I may not be around much this week. The Miranda July movie, The Future (see below post) was wonderful as expected.  I cried through a lot of it, which was kind of unexpected, though not as much as I cried during My Idiot Brother - really! it is kind of depressing... have you see it?
Above image from maclancy

the future

Ever since I heard about it's making, I have eagerly awaited the release of The Future. Kai and I are having Friday date (and moving box collecting) night and guess what we get to see in the theater!! I am almost as excited about this movie as I am about the future (sorry, I had too) house and studio we will be in next Thursday. Have a fun weekend! xo
photo from IMDB

new painting

 

 

 

Italian Movie Set, 8 x 10 inches.  Inspired by the sets of the Argento film, Suspiria and my love of Fellini. It is available here.

finished commission

Just finished this one, of the beautiful Cari and her french sofa!

four new paintings

Just finished these four, all available here.

chilly days

Fall is coming...well here on the coast it has already arrived. It has been positively, wool sweater wearing, freezing the last few days. My apologies to those of you suffering through heat waves.
Above: Cinnamon & Chocolate Lipstick 
Vintage Woven Basket Purse with Oxblood Leather and
Mulling Spices for Tea or Cider

new painting

Honeymoon, 8 x 10 inches, acrylic on watercolor paper with a stitched border. Available here.
I painted this while daydreaming of far off places and my new backyard.
Hope you have a fun weekend. xo

three lovely things one very bad thing

The bad thing first. After two days of research it is looking like the only internet options at our new house are satellite, which I have heard the most terrible things about, or dial up (really, dial up still exists)! Yikes. Will I still be able to Etsy? Will I have to drive into the hot dog place two towns away (so far the nearest Wifi spot we have seen) everyday to work? I don't even eat hot dogs.

Above, three lovely things:    Pop n Fizz // Tillandsia Air Plant Arrangement
Anatomy Black and White Photo Print- Leg Locked
Retro Rotary Bell System Phone

awesome t

Isn't this Swan scoop tee great?!

back in action

The last two weeks have been insanely hectic. I am thrilled to be in the midst of a very busy August on Etsy! We had a fun week long visit with Kai's mom, and just signed the lease for our new house in Jenner (pictured above). We move September first, and I can't even tell you how excited I am about this new place! More soon...

two new paintings

Empty Spaces, 8 x 10 acrylic painting, available here.

Forest Shadows, 8 x 10 acrylic painting, available here.

shark week

I think this super fantastic card by Amanda from Dawn Correspondence sums up Etsy's feelings toward Shark Week pretty well. Every time I click on the front page there is another Shark Week themed treasury. While the idea of sharks lurking only yards from my window (one came into the bay last year and ate a seal) is terrifying, watching them from a warm, dry couch with the doors locked (you can never be too safe when sharks are involved) sounds like a fun time! Plus it's hosted by Andy Samberg, and you know he will take the edge off if things get too scary.

ear dudes and potentially moving

Aren't these Mini manfriend earrings  by Nicolaclare super neat?!
In other news it looks like Kai and I are going to be moving 15 minutes north to the town of Jenner, into a house with studios for both of us. Fingers crossed everything works out, and we don't ever have to hear anyone ask us if we knew  The Birds (not that it's a bad movie to be associated with, it just gets a little old after a while) was filmed in our town again!! Below are the craigslist photos of the view, which is amazing. That's the end of the Russian River and the ocean.