Flavor of the Day!

Glass!

Corners of My Studio

Above the bookcase of art books (and an Etch A Sketch and 60's spirograph) hangs an old garden gate. Below the gate a very old Buddy-L truck, Topo Gigio, some bath soakies from the 60's and some vintage advertising icons (the Kellogg's crew, and Speedy).

Nostalgia is a common thread in my body of work. I often use images or objects from the past as a platform from which to explore and reassess the present.

Above computer desk and my "G4" hangs a very old piece of ornate tin from the side of a building in NYC. I stick magnetic poetry on it or messages to myself. Right now there is a photobooth pic of Robert and me. On the desk: one of my handmade books, pens, a message from pixie, a wire birds nest, a pot of button magnets made from my late grandmother's buttons, Coccoina, Clipiolas and an Aux Herbes de Provence in Crock from Zabar's that once contained Herbs de Provence, but is now the home of inspiration cards from "Living Out Loud" by Keri Smith.


















To the right of my desk are two old wire baskets full of images and ideas...and a signed photo from Groucho Marx (that I must hang). I wrote a letter of adoration to Groucho when I was a wee girl and he sent me a photo signed, "To Wendy, Much love from Groucho", in black marker. I still think he's one of the wittiest people there ever was.














To the left of my desk are storage bins of small art supplies, the larger items are in a storage closet located near the door of the studio.


















Above the bins is an inspiration board made of bent wire to hang cards and photos and such on.














In the middle of the studio a small kitchen table from the 30's...the kind with the silverware drawer and on it, my last surviving carnivorous plant. (The others died in CNY) The enamel table top is covered with a piece of brushed heavy gauge aluminum by Nina Nusynowitz. We sat in her studio one afternoon filing the edges together.


















On the opposite wall, beside one floor to ceiling window (There are two opposing walls of glass in the studio) is my art desk and easel (that belonged to my late father),


















my printing press and old hp printer which I use to make inkjet transfers that look just like polaroid transfers.
Beneath the desk, compressors for airbrushing , ribbon, photos, and a bin full of rubber stamps.

Rumor has it, we may set up my childhood playhouse in another corner of the studio and fill it with pillows for an imagination spot....I'll keep you posted.

"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." —Mark Twain

A Smattering

I just received my copy of Kaleidoscope and it's pretty nifty! I'm thrilled that my work is in it!

The living area is finished...
but I still can't find my throw pillows that are made from colorful vintage table cloths. We purchased cubbies instead of bookcases because we would need a LOT of bookcases to hold all our books and the cubbies are 2 books deep. The cubbies have drawers for our tunes too! Most of Satchel's toys and books are in the living because we like it that way.
Satchel has the shorter cubby all to himself.







What's extra cool about our cubbies, is that they can be used as room dividers and can stand vertically or horizontally.It feels good to have everything put away. His blocks are inside the storage ottoman (thanks to Ikea).


Satchel is really into the Bing books now (Thanks to Bellablue for the tip).














He also loves, "What I like about me".


















We bought Satch another pair of "big boy" shoes for mucky days (on sale for 4.99) since he won't wear the first pair we bought. He wore them for all of 10 minutes then wanted his Robeez. Any suggestions?

A Walk Before the Rain

Satch and I hit the trails 'fore the rain arrived.

We took the pram because Satch refuses to wear his mud worthy "big boy" shoes. He prefers his cozy Robeez Booties (I can't blame him) from Grandma & Grandpa C.

We stopped along a mossy bank to snap a few photos.

I read in a community flyer that there are owls, red fox, flying squirrels and eagles to spy on. We already knew about the hawks...Satch and I watched them circle one afternoon from our bed post nap. The community has all sorts of wonderful nature activities for children. We will be taking Satch to the "owl prowl". There is a community center with music, arts and even aquatics classes for tots. Much to look forward to.








While we were away Elvis the cat got a much needed rest from all the chasing and teasing.

Corners of My Home

Here are some images of our temporary new nest...we'll be here for two years while searching for a place to plant roots. I'll be taking more photos as the boxes slowly disappear.













The front door of the post mod house is red.

Here is the evening view from the living room. I shot this while lying on sofa with Satch...the wall is glass.

The lamp (obtainium) always reminds me of this!

Here's a peek at Satchel's "room", though he sleeps with us and we like it that way. I put his mattress on the floor so Satch can climb on it whenever he wants. We're giving his un-used crib to H & L (along with some other goodies) for baby S who will be joining the world quite soon.













A sweet woven plastic chair we bought for him. It reminds me of a bicycle basket.


















His trusty steed...a vintage mobo prairie king that I found in the snow near the curb 2 years ago. (more obtainium) It was missing the original hand grips, but I found someone who makes reproduction parts.








My childhood play table. It has seen a lot of play and creativity...note the red paint ring. We purchased another, sturdier play table at ikea which we keep in the living area.


Corners of my kitchen: today I unpacked my....



vintage canisters from the 1950's made in Italy...






and my cookbooks.






and a bit more goodliness in my art studio.

Kaleidoscope

Caught in the current of toddlerhood and learning how to navigate along this new terrain.

In the meantime, some of my work is being featured in a new book scheduled for release in just a few weeks.

You can pre-order Kaleidoscope: here at Amazon!


(and you can check out my new got art? merch here).

Good Morning

This is the view from our bed. The wall at the foot of our bed is glass from floor to ceiling. It's like sleeping outside. As the earth rotates the moon makes it's journey past our bedroom window and bathes us in milky light.

(more pics and words as we settle in)

Sunrise

" praise for the morning
Praise for the springing
fresh from the world" - Cat Stevens



(floor to ceiling glass span two walls in the art studio on the third floor of our new nest)

Mom to Mom: Élena Nazzaro

Happy New Year!!!! I'm pleased to introduce an artist/mama whom I greatly admire...

Mom: Élena Nazzaro

Of : Sophia (3.5 years old) and twins Peter and Angela (2.5 years old)

Where: NJ

Blog: french toast girl

1. In what ways has becoming a mother changed you?

That's such a tough question! In one way, I would say it's changed everything. But on the other hand, who I really am deep inside has never changed. I think I am way less selfish now, and have had a crash course on What Really Matters. Things I used to think were important seem so trivial to me now.

One thing that I never would have guessed is how having kids has completely changed how we eat -- after reading Super Baby Food, I started making my own baby food and figured that if all those artificial colors and flavors were unhealthy for kids, they couldn't be too good for the parents either! We started eating more organic food, less processed, more from scratch. After reading Food Revolution and learning what goes into producing the food we eat, we made even more changes. (For one thing, I will probably never eat another burger, and I won't let my kids eat one either.) They certainly know what chocolate tastes like, but they also love pumpkin muffins, tofu, and broccoli. Since I cook a lot more from scratch, they hang out with me in the kitchen and love to "help" -- I think being part of preparing the food goes a long way towards getting them excited about eating it.

2. What is one tip you would like to share about mothering?

Everyone is on the same team. Really. Mothers need to stop letting others dictate what being a good mother means. Not Martha Stewart, not that horrible nazi-esque What To Expect series of books, not the super-mom at the park or playgroup, not anyone you see on TV. This is seriously one of the most important things I've learned about being a mom. What works for me may very well not work at all for you. We've been blessed to have hours where one of us can be with the kids all the time, in our house. Not everyone is so lucky. I work, not only because I need to, but because I want to, and the fact that I have my family's and employer's support is wonderful. I try to cook as much from scratch and organically as possible. If you open a can of Beefaroni in front of me, I will say absolutely nothing about it, because obviously this works for you. That doesn't mean I won't try new things, or ever stop learning, because Lord knows these kids are growing and changing and hopefully, so am I. But can we please stop being so critical of each other, and maybe join forces to make this world a better place for our kids?

3. What is your creative outlet/medium?

I paint, sing, knit and crochet, design websites, doodle, cook, chalk, and make up all sorts of goofy things to do with small kids. I have no reservations whatsoever towards dancing and singing to whatever's on the radio - my kids are well-versed in Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, and the Sesame Street catalogue.

4. How do you find time for creativity?

How can I not find time? I learned after having severe post-partum depression with my preemie twins that I needed to create every day to stay healthy and sane. I coined the phrase "Art is more important than laundry" and will happily step over the pile of (clean) clothes to get to my paints. I'm fully present for my family, work hard for them, and enjoy sharing art with them, but once they're in bed, I don't waste my time with extra chores so the house can be spotless.

5. Why do you blog/journal?

An overwhelming need to share and record what I'm going through, or to get feedback on artwork. I try hard to journal on paper every morning and go for a walk (again, sanity).

6. Which blogs do you frequent?

Egotistical Productions - animation, illustration, and what my brother calls "the random drippings from his brain."

The Jersey Tomato - daily life in the garden state from one who knows.

In Medias Res - gorgeous photography as well as knitting, and a lovely design portfolio.

Dooce - required reading for every mama. She always makes me laugh.

Cute Overload - get your daily requirement of squealing, right here.

I am also addicted to looking up old Sesame Street and Muppet Show sketches on YouTube.

7. Who are some bloggers that you would like to meet?

I have actually met fellow mama-superstars Jill Althouse-Wood and Michelle Abeyta. We met online and though we don't live anywhere near each other, we have a tight support group and are always phoning/emailing/conference calling each other for support and ideas. We met face-to-face right after my twins were born. They totally and completely inspire me.

Jill is about to become a published author. Her website, 'Divine Mother, Mortal Me" is about her balance of creativity and motherhood. She not only writes, but designs, photographs, works in textiles, and is now starting a web-design business with her husband.

Michelle is a graphic designer, licensed illustrator, pet-portrait painter, and now, hopeful children's book author who owns her own gallery space in Georgia. She just launched "Rufus and Lucy", a site based on her book series, that is sending stuffed versions of the main characters all over the country on a grand U.S. tour.

I'd love to meet Claire (of Loobylu), Andrea (Superhero Designs!), Penelope (Illustration Friday super-genius) - they are also some of my favorite blogs for their uplifting spirit and ongoing creativity.