Airstream Dreams

Safe and happy travels to everyone this summer!  :)

Row 1:
Who: Rachel Austin
What: "Lakeridge" Airstream Map Painting
Where: Portland, OR
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/129856499/lakeridge-original-map-painting-8-x-8

Who: Mandy Lynne Design
What: Vintage Airstream Print
Where: Springfield, MO
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/70201048/vintage-airstream

Who: Lisa Lee of Juella Designs
What: "Oh the places you'll go" Hand Stamped Aluminum Adjustable Band Ring
Where: Redding, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/98346013/oh-the-places-youll-go-hand-stamped

Who: Chantal deFelice
What: "Gladys" 4x5 Print Mounted on Wood
Where: San Clemente, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/69358041/gladys-4x5-print-mounted-on-wood


Row 2:
Who: robYn of Lick.a.bee
What: Hand Drawn Camper Necklace
Where: Rockford, IL
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/128957388/hand-drawn-caravan-camper-charm-necklace

Who: Gracie B of Betwixxt
What: "Home is Wherever I'm With You" Airstream Mug
Where: Alvarado, TX
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/97559108/home-is-wherever-im-with-you-sweet-air

Who:  Jessica Rose of vol25
What: "Remember Happiness" Print
Where: Prosser, WA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/16506595/remember-happiness-choose-your-color

Who: Emily of Hartland Brooklyn Card Co
What: "Roll With Me" Airstream Blank Card
Where: Brooklyn, NY
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/117462279/roll-with-me-airstream-blank-card


Row 3:
Who: Alan Peters of Jupiter Visual
What: "To Live Is To Ride" Digital Print
Where: Boulder, CO
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/121790357/to-live-is-to-ride

Who: Amanda of The Wandering Threads
What: Hand Embroidery Hoop Art- Airstream & Palm Tree
Where: Everywhere
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/124208139/hand-embroidery-hoop-art-airstream-palm

Who: Chantal deFelice
What: "Dot's" Print
Where: San Clemente, CA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72893486/dots-8x10-print

Who: Robot Luv
What: Airstream Onesie
Where: Lincoln, NE
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/45538130/airstream-onesie


Row 4:
Who: Robot Luv
What: Robots Camping Card
Where: Lincoln, NE
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/63904296/robots-camping-card

Who: Marie Crouchet and Alexis Berry of MA Graphics
What: "My Happy Place" Camper Ladies V-neck
Where: Seattle, WA
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/81678659/my-happy-place-camper-ladies-vneck

Who: Kim Hayes of Two Girls and a Trailer
What: "Think Love" Elephant and Airstream Linocut Print
Where: St Louis, MO
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/117420614/think-love-elephant-and-airstream

Who: Rachel Austin
What: "Lake City" Notecard
Where: Portland, OR
Web: http://www.etsy.com/listing/113912026/lake-city-single-notecard

Carefree and Colorful

Who: Elina Lorenz
What: Original Art and Prints, Wearable Art and Jewelry
Where: Princeton, NJ
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sublimecolors
http://www.sublime-colors.com/sublime-colors/Gallery.html
Why: No fear of color here!  :)

In Blazing Color

Who: Katrin Wolf
What: Handcrafted Jewelry, Art and Textiles
Where: Monticello, FL
Web: http://www.katrinart.org/
Why: Blazes of color in lyrical life-loving designs!  :)

Birds and Swirls

Who: Vickie Hallmark
What: Handcrafted Jewelry
Where: Austin, TX
Web: http://www.vickiehallmark.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickiehallmark
Why: Supertalented artist! Lovely jewels and beads, inspired illustrations and award-winning quilts colorfully animated by birds, swirls, leaves and trees. All painstakingly crafted and beautiful!  :)

Create Change!

Who: Favianna Rodriguez
What: Fine Art, Limited Edition Prints, Posters and Clothing
Where: Oakland, CA
Web: http://www.favianna.com/index.php
http://favianna.flyingcart.com/index.php?p=home
http://www.justseeds.org/artists/favianna_rodriguez/
Why: Non-stop advocate of activism through art, Favianna is the perfect muse for a day celebrating the hard-working people in our country. Happy Labor Day!

Livin' the Colorful Country Life

Who: Marc Deloach and Christine Schultz of Taylor Arts
What: Handmade Wood Furniture, Wood Fish, Folk Art, Photography & Jewelry
Where: Taylor, MS
Web: http://www.taylorarts.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TaylorArts
Why: ohyeah, this is exactly what I'm craving on this very grey-soaked day...homegrown hues from the warm heart of the South! Marc and Christine create everything from fish to furnishings using reclaimed Mississippi Delta wood, rainbows of paint and a collaborative, small-town spirit. Their pervasive playfulness and easy down-to-earth-itude infuse everything they do, earning them high-profile praise and a steady stream of appreciative collectors.
...and one very color-happy camper. :)

Hidden Apparitions

Who: Mikel Robinson
What: Mixed Media Digital Art, Handcrafted Jewelry,
Vintage Found Objects and Ephemera
Where: Durham, NC
Web: http://www.mikelrobinson.com/index.html
Why: Mikel is another one of those mystically gifted artists that transports you into another realm, one of dreamy fantasy, sometimes eerie, sometimes provocative, but always mesmerizing. He uses a vast palette of media, from gold leaf to weathered relics, as well as hauntingly recurring images...Ferris wheels, black ravens, silent, still trees.
I'm most drawn to his rich layering of techniques and materials, combined with a practiced hand to mood-driven perfection. Or I should say imperfection, as each piece definitely bears a time-wizened quality. Steampunk, but older, wiser, more primal and mysterious. Unforgotten archetypal memories perhaps? Or just apparitions from an artist's inner journey? The images will linger with you nevertheless.
Mikel divides his work among three different shops:
Galerie De Illuminata--Mixed Media Art and Illuminations
Sanctum Ornamentum--Hand Made and Antique Wearable Art and Jewels
Ephemera and Object--Vintage Found Objects and Ephemera
I'm curious to know...which pieces appeal to you?

Precious Portals of Other Sorts

"The stray passer-by may trespass on the streets of the underwood village: he may see the fairy door-stone, and mark the footpath of the indwellers ; but it is only to the rare intimate that they reveal themselves in their shadowy fastnesses."
(Source: "Canada" by Wilfred Campbell, 1907)

Tiny Fairy Doors are popping up everywhere! After discovering the first Precious Portals, I stumbled and tumbled into so many other Fairy Doors and Hobbit Doors, Gnome Doors and Magic Doors, created by witty and talented makers guided by their mystical muses. Carved out of wood, clay, metal and resin, in every shape and form to fit fairies of all sorts...and perhaps those fortunate enough to be given passage through them!
Do you know the secret password? ;)

1. Fairy Door
Dave of Gelert Design
Bristol, UK
http://www.etsy.com/shop/GelertDesign
http://www.facebook.com/GelertDesign

2. Paddy's Pub
George of Celtic Realm
Napanee, Ontario, Canada
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CelticRealm

3. Warm Heart Fairy Door
Kimberly Mertz of Flying Frog Creations
Ann Arbor, MI
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FlyingFrogCreations
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flying-Frog-Creations/202105886486258

4. Brown Hobbit/ Fairy Door
Bette and Robb Durr of HiddenWorlds
Cleveland, OH
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HiddenWorlds
http://www.hiddenworlds.us/index.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/HiddenWorlds/160020604043225

5. Fairy Door in aqua, with architectural detail and flying heart embellishment
Bev Peterson of Rock In A Heart Place
Boise, ID
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RockInAHeartPlace

6. Garden Fairy Door Curlyque
Jul McFillin of Enchanted Pumpkin Art
Darlington, MD
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EnchantedPumpkinArt

7. Fairy Gnome Door
Sandy Robertson of Enchanted MushroomLand
Abingdon, VA
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EnchantdMushroomLand

8.Seahorse Fairy Door
Kim Detmers of Clayworks by Kim Detmers
Alamogordo, New M
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Claybykim

9. Faerie doors
Kerry Roberts of Nothin' But Wood
Conception Bay South, Canada
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NothinButWood

10. Miniature Garden, Fairy Door
casualee
http://www.etsy.com/shop/casualee

11. Lilac Cottage Mini Fairy Door
Chelsea and Megan of ballet llama
Anderson, SC
http://www.etsy.com/shop/balletllama

12. The Drinking Song
Annie Wild of The Merry Muse
Taos, NM
http://www.etsy.com/shop/themerrymuse

Precious Portals

"...There is a rock closing the visible cave which is said to be the fairy's door...and also the very identical key-hole which the king of the fairies unlocks..."
(Source: "Sketches in Ireland", 1827)

Admit it, at some point in your life, haven't you wished you could open a door that would lead you into a strange new wondrous world, a realm of enchantment where anything is possible?

Enter the Fairy Door, madly popular in the past few years, in all sorts of art forms from exquisitely elaborate wooden entranceways to tiny trinkets to groovy little gateways. Installed in a house, adorning a loved one or wedged into a tree nook, they are fantastical and fun and completely irresistible to the imaginative spirit in all of us!

Tiny door lockets are really nothing new...in fact it's easy to find these simple sweet Fairy Door Lockets in plenty of places on etsy and elsewhere. It's what a designer does with one that makes it kind of special. Almost all of the above are mass produced, but each artist has added their own special touch, christening each with new life and a new story, entrusting it with a mission to carry your miniature message inside! One-of-a-kind number 7 is handmade of Precious Metal Clay, complete with its own lockpin. A Fairy's delight!

1. Fairy Door Locket Necklace
Angela Pastorelli of Circa AD
Chicago, IL
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CircaAD
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Circa-AD-Studio/126514567454990

2. Fairydoor
Tanya Herig of Wiccan Style
Nürnberg, Germany
http://www.etsy.com/shop/wiccanstyle

3. Brass Locket Necklace
Susan Scherer of birdzNbeez
Lathrup Village, MI
http://www.etsy.com/shop/birdzNbeez

4. Fairy Wish Door Pendant
Church Mouse Studio
USA
http://www.etsy.com/shop/churchmousestudio

5. Enchanted Bronze Fairy Wish Door Locket
Duney Bug Designs
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DuneyBugDesigns
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duney-Bug-Designs/118259744871736

6. silver fairy wish door necklace
Sarah of The Prairie Fair
Bloomington IL
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thePrairieFair
http://www.theprairiefair.com/

7. Silver Locket, PMC
Anise Severt of SeavBeach Designs
Raleigh, NC
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SeavBeach
http://www.seavbeachdesigns.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SeavbeachDesigns

8. Sparkling Heart Door Locket
Beloved U
Tucson, AZ
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BelovedU

9. Silver Fairy Door Locket 1
Corby Lee of Corby Lee Design
Aliso Viejo, CA
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CorbyLeeDesign

Searching for a different door? Try Precious Portals of Other Sorts...

Mary's Merry Menagerie

Who: Mary Kilvert
What: Illustrated Prints, Cards, Gifts and Homegoods
Where: London, England
Web: http://www.marykilvert.com/
http://marykilvert.bigcartel.com/
http://marykilvert.blogspot.com/
Why: Lovely and endearing, inspired by fairy tales, inhabited by amiable animals, Mary's creations are completely sweet and keep-able!

Here Be Dragons...

Who: Liz Russell of R Honey Pots
What: Handmade Ceramics
Where: Forestville, CA
Web: http://www.rhoneypots.com/
Why: I love Liz's hand-scratched animal and fantastical designs! Sgraffito is one of my favorite ceramic techniques...covering the piece mid-process with slip, scratching a design into it, then completing the firing and glazing process. See how Liz does it here...a magical transformation in the heat of a kiln dragon's fires!

Who: Christi Friesen of CF Originals
What: Beads, Jewelry, Vessels and Sculptures
Where: Tehachapi, CA
Web: http://www.cforiginals.net/
Why: Christi is wickedly witty and talented, creating all sorts of functionals, wearables and ornamentals out of polymer clay, precious metals and gems, glass, found objects, etc. She teaches countless classes and writes towers of books on how to do it so you can learn too. I think she's probably a blast as a teacher and if I ever get anywhere near Tehachapi, look out Christi, here I come!

Who: Dana Schneider
What: Jewelry and Film Props
Where: Ohio and Los Angeles
Web: http://www.danaschneider.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/danaschneiderjewelry
Why: Edgy, mythical designs in sterling silver, 14K and 18K gold rock my medieval self. Dana is RISD-educated, Tiffany-trained and highly sought after not just for her ultracool jewels, but for movie props and treasures as well. She has worked on the Terminator, Transformer and Tron series, Wolverine, X-Men, Elektra...the list goes on, and so does her client list, which includes Cher, Pink, Rooney Mara and Burton C. Bell of Freak Factory. That dragon is calling my name, along with that knuckle-busting ring...bring 'em on. ;)

~ Happy Chinese New Year ~ The Year of the Dragon! ~

The Artimals of Happiness

Who: Noelle Dass of Artimal Studio
What: Original Paintings, Prints, T-shirts and Tiles
Where: Eugene, OR
Web: http://www.noelledass.com/index.html
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ARTIMALSTUDIO
Why: Noelle is all about bringing light-hearted joy to others...just check out the whimsically clever titles of her pieces (above, left to right):

• MUST...HAVE...HIPPO!
• Hippo Doing Handstand on the Beach
• Don't Fence Me In
• Human Watching
• Shark Contemplating Viewer
• Hippo Gazing at the Moon
• If the ball fits, eat it!
• The Grass IS Greener on the other side!
• Young Bee on Date
• Rabbit with hands in pocket wondering why you are looking at him.

I'm lovin' those happy hippos!
She donates generously to people- and animal-nurturing charities, paints murals in kennels so the dogs can sleep better, and arranges for sponsored donations of her pieces to pediatric hospitals. Woohoo!
She says "I feel to make someone feel good inside means more than anything in this crazy world." Yep, that's all it needs to be about.

Micro Marvels

Who: Joy Serwylo
What: Hand-bound Miniature Books, Collector Boxes and Dolls
Where: Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/madebyjoy
http://www.serwylo.com/home
http://artsyfartsydownunder.blogspot.com/
Why: Wondrous little curiosities...tiny books made using traditional bookmaking techniques, merry mini mermaids and mischievous wee bears. All a reflection of Joy's obsession with creating collectibles on the smallest of scales. I don't know how she does it...she must have the hands of a world-class brain surgeon and the eyesight of a hunting hawk, not to mention oodles of imagination! Oh, and visit her website and blog for all things different but equally mesmerizing...illustrations, photographs, artist books, woven textiles and more curiosities of all kinds.
Like Alice in Wonderland but better.

Two on Tuesdays...Mercy with Magic

Who: Samantha Vrij of Bewittched/Slow Water Studio
What: Jewelry, glass and sculpture
Where: Puhoi, New Zealand
Web: http://www.slowwaterstudio.com/ http://www.etsy.com/shop/bewittched http://www.etsy.com/shop/SlowWaterStudio
Why: Delicate pate de verre glass castings are her forte, but vegan artist Samantha Vrij also does fabulous garden sculptures and wind chimes as well as fun and playful gothic-inspired jewelry. Her poesy rings can be stacked and set with gems such as Moonstone and Amethyst, and her earrings, lockets and locket rings are easily wearable and eye-catching. She has a real feel for 3D forms and puts it to good use in conjuring her beautifully "bewittching" pieces.


Who: Rachel Anderson of Two Silver Stars
What: Prints, cards, jewelry and gifts
Where: Ithaca, NY
Web: http://www.etsy.com/shop/twosilverstars
Why: Supertalented Rachel is an accomplished artist, illustrating in a style reminiscent of Pre-Raphaelites like Dante Gabriel Rossetti and modern artists like Brian Froud. She brings lush vivid color to life in her dreamy pendants, prints and gifts, all created with eco- and animal-friendly ideals in mind. Her profound love and respect for nature and all the magical beauty found in it are woven throughout her work. Irresistible, ethical and enchanting.

The Belanich Blitz

Adam Belanich ~ "Orpheus"
NYC
As much as I enjoy some mainstream artwork, I strongly encourage everyone to support new and "undiscovered" artists, those on the fringe that aren't soaking in spotlit glory, but are curious and passionate about exploring their art. Regardless of their commercial success or struggle, artistic underdogs are honorable for their courage and creativity in picking up the pen, paintbrush, spray can or blowtorch and endeavoring to express their inner selves.

Adam Belanich seems to have no fear in this regard. He not only generates the work, but he generously and ingeniously shares it. Adam drew attention at Dartmouth last year for his weekly Blitzes of Art, sending out samples of his work via email in an effort to free art from gallery walls and share it with the people. His film "Deus Ex Plume" won for Best Animation at the annual Brandeis SunDeis Film Festival. Adam is currently working on his MFA in digital printmaking and he shares more work online.

Dartmouth College--Dept. of Studio Art
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sart/

"Deus Ex Plume"
http://www.dartmouth.edu/home/sights_sounds/arts/video-deus.html

Blocks and Wheels

Drive-By Press--On the Road
Joe Velazquez and Greg Nanney bring the press to the people by traveling the country with their vehicle-bound printing press, and teaching anyone and everyone the fine art of printing using their collection of hand-carved blocks. You get a cool freshly printed tee, and they get to spread the love for a centuries-old skill that screams our renegade spirit.

Will the Real Josh Taylor Please Stand Up?

Meet Artist Josh Taylor ............ and ............ Meet Artist Josh Taylor













"Mate with Scarf" is just one of the many wry and whimsical characters created by Josh Taylor of Chapel Hill, NC. He is an accomplished artist and graphic designer working in many media and on a variety of projects including theatre designs, billboard art and online game illustration. His signature Frog characters are especially delightful and devilish!
http://www.joshtaylorart.com/
Speaking of devilish, "Samurai and Dragon Spirit" is part of the macabre mob sprung from the diabolical mind of Josh Taylor of Concord, CA. Josh is an amazingly talented and prolific artist with a long list of exhibition venues including Distinction Gallery of Escondido, CA. Visit his mischief run amok!
http://www.joshtaylorart.net/

A Bug's Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Tiffany by Design ~ Works from The Neustadt Collection
Frist Center for the Visual Arts--Nashville, TN
May 9–August 24, 2008

"The exhibition examines every aspect of the lamps—from the beautifully crafted bronze bases and finials to the radiant colors of the leaded glass shades—to reveal what makes these designs so extraordinary. Visitors will learn how to recognize the hallmarks of a Tiffany lamp, including the deep rich color, the elegant design and motifs and the superior craftsmanship..."

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Imperishable Beauty: Art Nouveau Jewelry
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
July 23, 2008-November 9, 2008

"Don't worry if jewelry is not your thing. The Museum of Fine Arts' small but dazzling 'Imperishable Beauty: Art Nouveau Jewelry' is a show you should see regardless. Anyone who responds to technical virtuosity of the highest order, anyone turned on by seeing an aesthetic sensibility taken right to the limit, and anyone even remotely susceptible to color is bound to fall under its spell." —Sebastian Smee, Boston Globe

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bioephemera
Jessica Palmer, biologist & artist
Washington, DC

"On some inarticulate level, I meant to become a Victorian-style naturalist with an extensive library of classics, who sits in the sun drawing insects and leaves, and perhaps writing the occasional sonnet. Unfortunately, I’m also a reductionist with the urge to dissect cellular mechanisms down to genes and proteins."

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Wunderkammer: A Century of Curiosities
Museum of Modern Art--New York
July 30–November 10, 2008

"This exhibition presents a contemporary interpretation of the traditional cabinet of curiosities, bringing together a diverse selection of works by twentieth- and twenty-first-century artists who have likewise felt the pull of unusual and extraordinary objects and phenomena. The works on display include prints, books, multiples, drawings, and photographs, with subjects ranging from architectural marvels and blueprints for impossible machines to oddities from the animal, vegetable, and mineral worlds. Featured artists include Hans Bellmer, Peter Blake, Louise Bourgeois, Max Ernst, Nicolas Lampert..."

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Alien Orbs Descend Upon the Bay!

Project CoolGlobes
Crissy Field Promenade--San Francisco, CA
August 5 to October 13, 2008
Captivating, creative and the ultimate in cool, this collection of artistic orbs arrives August 5th in San Francisco for a two-month-long exhibition to inform and inspire the public about global warming. Artists such as Kari Kaplan, Angelina Villanueva, Lee Strickland, Bryan Sperry, Luz Maria Castillo, Nicholas Kashian, Kim C. Massey, and the Blue Man Group have incorporated their messages about the plight of our planet into massive sculptures representing the earth. The messages are sometimes dramatic, often humorous, and they cleverly serve to remind us that change begins now, it begins everywhere and it begins with you!

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Images:
Cathi Schwalbe-Bouzide and Paul Bouzide
"Tread Lightly for a Livable Earth"
Angelina Villanueva
"Green-e Energy"
Bryan Sperry
"Recycled Evolution"

Whimsically Wandering Mr. Mustard & Doris Dog

Sam Toft
Brighton, UK

Irresistible limited editions, cherishable originals and a gaggle of goodies from the sweetly talented Sam Toft! Sam's Brown Dog Studio is tucked into the lovely and lively Brighton Hove area on the south coast of England. Twice a year she holds an Open Studio where you can see firsthand her delightful mixed media work. Using oil pastels, colored inks, sgraffito and her own "innovative fingers-and-thumbs" technique she brings to life the pleasant meanderings of Mr. Mustard, Doris the Dog, Rover Fish, Audrey the Sheep and the World Famous Stanley Philpot just to name a few. If you can't make it to the English seaside, visit Sam's beautiful and inspiring website to see the full range of her artwork, studio videos, endearing ecards and much more!

"I am lucky that the accident of my birth left me at the edge of things - ever watchful, observant and compelled to link scenes and memories into some kind of narrative. Stripes, textures, delicious whiffs, children's rhymes, eccentric characters, lovely hats, nostalgic tunes and beautiful dogs are all things that catch my attention and fuel my imagination. I am grateful to these favourite things that make my creativity possible, along with my eyes, my hands and especially my mum." >>continue>>