Tea and inspiration....

Yesterday I was invited for tea at Carol Whatanabe's studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Carol is a woman who leads an inspired life and because of that, she is so interesting and fun to be with.  We connect on a level that has nothing to do with time spent together.  It is more a recognition of spirit and the play that life can be.

How could you not love strawberry shortcake with whip cream at 11 AM!

 Her art speaks her spirit.  Loud, joyful and full of life.

 I loved her freehand painted checkerboard floor.

Be sure to take a look at her website and check out her houses in France and Mexico.
I found her book so inspiring that I bought copies for all of my friends.  This is a woman who talks the talk and walks the walk of an artist, not just in her art, but in her life.
http://www.artfully.com/

Looking back.....

 

 I was recently interviewed for an article.  I really enjoy the process of answering questions about my artwork and my career, over the past 35 years because all those years offer me a perspective on my journey.   Looking back I see how my inspirations came in cycles.  I put together some collages of some of those cycles.  The first collage of  photos shows my 'Relationship" pieces. 
Faeries and tiny faes.

 The "Goddess" series showed up with "hardscape" costumes created with shards of abalone or mosaic pieces.  The faces of these pieces were always painted a soft white and were very theatrical.

 My first pieces stood between 3 - 5 ft. tall.  Deer Prince, Mythical figures, Father Christmas and Angels.  These pieces had sculpted heads, hands and feet and the bodies were wire and cloth.

 Rabbits have played a large part in my artwork.  Rabbit Princes created with gourds, fabric, paint, wire and clay.

 The use of antique silk velvets was replaced by sea glass mosaics when we moved to Hawaii.

Autumn, Winter, Summer and Spring Trees created from gourds, with little faes within.

And lately my passion lies with the wall pieces of tempered glass over hidden Reiki symbols.
I wonder what lies next.................

Fabulous friends, food and birthday wishes....

Perhaps you have some friends that have such a wonderful sense of style that when you step into their home you feel transported.   Yesterday, we were invited to such a home  to celebrate an upcoming shared birthday and I wanted to share that sense of style with you.

The birthday cake had their pictures transferred onto sugar sheets....one half in Greg's favorite white cake with butter cream frosting and Gary's half, chocolate with cream cheese frosting.  Yum!!  I had one of each!

The following photos are vignettes of their home .......words surely aren't needed.  Enjoy this nest of creativity, style and soul.  And you might enjoy Pat's blog here.

Working on new pieces....

After much time setting up the studio.....getting supplies....settling into my new space...I'm back to creating.   These are three small wood  pieces from a cut up old door that I have painted on Reiki symbols and then hidden them beneath the tempered glass mosaic and images of the madonna's face and hands.  I"ve grouted the glass and am waiting to put the colored sealer on.

                                  

A magical evening.....as seen through my eyes..

An early piece .. 1990....The Fawn Child, who now presides over the magical green house where we dined.....

The vineyards as the fog rolls in.....

....the garden....

Happy lanterns against the greenhouse glass sky....

we gather for our meal inside the greenhouse glass....

and are lost in wonderland...

as darkness settles us in....and fairy lights reflect....

gathering around the firepit....

as the full moon rises.....

Fun, Frolic and Falling up and down on a trampoline.....