Sunrise~Sunset

HAND-WOVEN Thread Earrings


Amish Reverse Bargello Quilt pretty please...with sugar on top!


ORANGE AND HONEY COLORED AGATE SLICE

Alchemy Art

Steve Quenell's mystical collages really move me. I love collage and assemblage art because the process is one and the same as the *Alchemical process* (see below) SOLVE ET COAGULA — Separate, and Join Together (or Disolve and Bind) VISITA INTERIORA TERRAE RECTIFICANDO INVENFIES OCCULTUM LAPIDEM (visit the interior parts of the earth; by rectification you shall find the hidden stone) The Philosopher's Stone is within...A universal Metaphysical ideology. Om Mani Padme Om...the jewel is in the Lotus! The process is a spiritual path with emphasis on Tranformation and Soul Development, and God-Realization., the goal is to become ONE with the Divine.


*I should mention that I logged onto Steve's Myspace page to grab his blog address so I could link it to his name...it was just there a moment ago...but as I write this, it seems he posted a link to his new Website! Coincidentally (wink), the opening sentences of his bio reference Alchemy being the underlying concept of his work!



"The best-known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold (called chrysopoeia) or silver (less well known is plant alchemy, or "spagyric"); the creation of a "panacea or the elixir of life," a remedy that supposedly would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. European alchemists invested much effort on the search for the "philosopher's stone", a legendary substance that was believed to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. The Philosophers Stone was believed to mystically amplify the user's knowledge of alchemy so much that anything was attainable. Starting with the Middle Ages, some alchemists increasingly came to view these metaphysical aspects as the true foundation of alchemy; and organic and inorganic chemical substances, physical states, and molecular material processes as mere metaphors for spiritual entities, spiritual states and ultimately, spiritual transformations." Wikipedia

Thank You!

Christie of Serenity Now awarded me the "Arte Y Pico Award for creativity, design, interesting material and contribution to the blogging community! Thank you sooo much Christie...you have provided much inspiration for me as well! Blog On girlfriend! So now I need to pass it on right? My favorites are ever-changing, there are so many amazing blogs out there! But here's a handful of current favorites:
1. Phantasmaphile Pam knows what's up...what more can I say?
2. The Moldy Doily One of my favorite Artists and Owner of Show Pony blogs her heart out...Love it!
3. Anahata Katkin A Visual Playground (I wish she'd teach one of her workshops here in Chicago!)
4. Kaleidoscope Eyes Yes! Yes! Yes!
5. Bake and Destroy Punk Rock Cupcakes!

Spaced Out!

I love looking at what creative people do with their homes. My own style is very bohemian...I shamelessly mix styles and eras! Do you remember when that book Pad: The Guide to Ultra-Living came out? That's a fun book, although the featured homes are a little too kitchy for me. I can only take kitch in small doses! I'm really excited about a new book that will be released in June. It's called Spaced Out: Crash Pads, Hippie Communes, Infinity Machines and Other Radical Environments of the Psychedelic Sixties I can't wait for this one!

Fungi Fever!

It's true...mushroom madness is contagious! It all started when I saw these brown ceramic mushrooms at my friend Amy's shop, Willow. They sold so fast I didn't have a chance to snach them up! After some investigating on the Web, I found them at Velocity. Here are some other mushroom themed home accessories that I lust for...I love these porcelain logs with mushrooms growing on them by Roost. Availabe at Velocity. The porcelain mushrooms on the right are from the Curiosity Shoppe.



I love these silver painted ceramic mushrooms, available at Doe. This place has lots of mushroom goodness, especially of the bright happy toadstool variety.


I adore these handmade mushrooms by Tamar Mogendorf. She makes all kinds of cute softies!


You can even grow your own with a mushroom kit from Fungi Perfecti! Check out the Certified Organic Indoor Mushroom Patches, the results are beautiful. Each kit comes with illustrated instructions and is guaranteed to produce.

Punk House: Interiors in Anarchy

I might turn my nose up at this book if it didn't have Thurston Moore's stamp of approval... you know it's gotta be good! I'm a huge Sonic Youth fan! When he found out about Abby Banks photo project, he jumped on the bandwagon to make sure it got published. I can't wait to get a copy!

"Punk House features anarchist warehouses, feminist collectives, tree houses, workshops, artists' studios, self-sufficient farms, hobo squats, community centers, basement bike shops, speakeasies, and all varieties of communal living spaces. In over 300 images of fifty houses in twenty-five cities in the US, photographer Abby Banks finds the already weathered face of a seventeen-year-old runaway; the soft hands of a vinyl junkie (record collector); the mohawked show-goer; the dirty dishes in the sink; silk screened posters on the wall; and many other revealing glimpses of these anarchist interiors."

Photograph from PUNK HOUSE

In October of 1993, on my 18th B-Day. I packed up my friend's old Chevy Nova (I think it was a Nova) to the ceiling and moved into my first "Crash Palace" with my beloved cat, Zambia...my boyfriend, Hans...my gal pal, Shannon...and all our friends at one time or another! On any given night there was a party, Jager in the fridge, packed bong, and yes, dirty dishes in the sink (which is strange because I only recollect eating Ramen noodle cups when dining in.) My Joy Division "Love will Tear Us Apart" poster covered the spot where my crazy boyfriend punched a hole in the drywall during one of our lovers quarals. Good Times...Ha! By day we smoked expensive cigarettes and coffee (that covered breakfast and lunch!) and discussed everything from Philosophy to Quantum Physics. Since then I've lived in a 7000sq. ft. warehouse loft space that doubled as Art gallery, 2 different storefronts with my shop in front, apartment in back... a few dumps and some very cool apartments. Why would anyone want to live in perpetual chaos you ask? Most of us were running from broken homes and dysfunctional families and set off to find a new "family". Anarchy is a state which there is no person or institution governing an individual. A lawless state which you can live by your own rules...throwing off the chains of parental, religious, and/or social conditioning. The liberation ultimitly leading to Freedom, Love, Prosperity and Enlightenment...ideally! This of course requires Self Mastery...nothing less.


I've hung out with some of the finest artists, musicians, Punk Rockers, Death Rockers, Hippies Rastas, Glamazons, Queers, Queens, Trust Fund Kids, Bohemians and Beatnicks, Witches, Warlocks, Circus Folk, Pin-Up Girls, Strippers, Caberet and Burlesque Performers, Belly Dancers, Pirates, Gypsies, Rouges, Atheists, Spiritualists, Actors, Muslims, Hari Kristnas, Born Again Christians, Satanists, Comedians, Poets, Prophets, Lost Souls, Writers, Dancers, Junkies, Ghosts.... All different colors, shapes and sizes...rich and poor. Some are very successful now, even famous, some are dead. It's been a wild ride to say the least. But underlying this Chaotic lifestyle, a greater Magnum Opus. I've come a looong way! And from my experiences, I've realized that the fundamental human experience is the same, no matter who you are: We are all looking for a place called "Home" A place where we feel whole and loved unconditionally. The remedy? The jewel is in the lotus baby! I promise!

Emily Balivet

I dig these paintings by Emily Balivet. Her artwork is very WomanCentric and explores the Feminine Divine through mythology and fairytale settings. Her style seems to be influenced by different periods, Pre-Raphaelite, Art Deco...But these two are my favorites, they remind me of psychedlic poster art of the 60's and 70's.

You can buy prints of her work in her Etsy shop!

Katy Horan

Katy Horan's mind is a mystical place...I can really identify with the imagery she manifests. She's inspired by folklore, mystical rites and pagan rituals. Her artwork is definitly representitive of the neo-folk movement...the ONETRIBE Movement.

Earthships ~ Home Sweet Home #2

An Earthship house is made up of rammed earth and recycled tires and bottles! Once the walls are in place, they are plastered over and appear very similar to an adobe style house. This is another type of Eco-Home building system (and my current obsession) using tires as permanent forms for rammed earth, passive solar design, rain catchment, and other integrated systems to create low-impact, energy-efficient structures. Earthships are being built all over the world!





Oh bliss...the interiors...I can just imagine what my happy, cozy little hovel would look like. I love the little nooks built into the walls. I would have nooks everywhere to house magical art installations! All the utility bills for one of these "off the grid" homes amounts to about $10 per month!





EARTHSHIP BIOTECTURE - this website is amazing! The Earthship, as it exists today, began to take shape in the 1970s. Mike Reynolds, founder of Earthship Biotecture, a company that specializes in designing and building Earthships, wanted to create a home that would do three things. First, it would be sustainable. It would use material indigenous to the entire planet as well as reuse materials wherever possible. Second, his homes would generate their own utilities and be independent from the “grid” so they would be less susceptible to natural disasters and free from the electrical and water grids that Reynolds considered ugly. Finally, it would be available. He wanted to create a home that the average person with no specialized construction skills would be able to create.

The Doily...Reinvented!

It all started with the Neo-Victorian "gothic collection" by Thomas Paul that I fell in love with last year. A set of serveware featuring silhouettes and doilies. Then I saw found Vintage framed doilies in my favorite little Etsy shop, Mon Petit Fantome. (Which by the way, will be showcased in an upcoming issue of Domino Magazine featuring 15 lucky Etsy Artists! Yay Chad!) Anyway, these guys were onto something because now it seems there are doilies everywhere I look this Spring.. I love it! Look, more framed doilies below!


Granny's doilies never looked so good! This curtain is my favorite! Be sure to check out Sweet Paul's Design, Craft & Food blog for more goodness!



I've seen them sewn onto pillows, totes, clothing, ect...I love this glass bowl wrapped vintage doilies...also by Sweet Paul

In a Perfect World

Pangea Organics' molded fiber box is the first of it's kind. They collaborated with UFP Technologies to create the first 100% compostable biodegradable and plantable product packaging. It is manufactured with zero waste and created from 100% post-consumer newsprint. Simply soak the box for one minute and plant it about 1 inch deep in soil. Before you know it, medicinal herbs will spout up right before your eyes! This kinda thing restores my faith in humanity and the future of the planet...