Gwynnie B Designs

New Beginnings

2012-03-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! Never too late for new year wishes in my book, especially since it's still the beginning of a fabulous new year, and spring is just around the corner. And springtime is all about new beginnings...

With new beginnings comes new changes and that means my blog will take a break for awhile. I've already been on a break since December, so I wanted to let you know that the break will continue for bit.

Thank you very much for your love and support of my pretties and my life over the past few years. I will see you all soon!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

Big Change Big Life

2011-12-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

Life has a funny way of happening sometimes. It will sneak up on you and say, "Hey! Big change is coming your way. And fast." This year my family experienced death, divorce, surgeries, and illness. Big changes. Through it all big love was always nearby embracing us, even though sometimes we couldn't feel it. Or see it. But love was always there, baby, it was always there.

I've been absent from this blog lately because a big change is going on in my life right now. Good change. Abundant change. Hard change. My man and I are moving our home, our studios, our furry kids, and all of our stuff to the new home we've dreamed of. It was time for us to look closely at our lives and evaluate what it was that we wanted. Really wanted. And what we wanted was a new beginning for the coming year. This just happened to include a new address!

We didn't plan on moving. Moving sucks. Especially moving during such stressful economic times. And during the holidays, for criminy sakes! But one night last week I heard that gentle whisper knocking on my heart telling me that the timing was right for some big and exciting changes. Then my man called me while he was out of town and he shared how he was ready for a big change too. We knew what we had to do.

On top of the move I'm also closing a big part of my life: my jewels and trinkets. After the holidays my Etsy shop will close. My website will still be around with a few pretties looking for good homes, but no new pretties will arrive. I will be concentrating solely on my painting. I'll share this journey with you here on my blog, along with the workshops I'm taking and my return trip to Paris in the spring to study art.

I will be absent from this blog until after the new year. I will miss you, dahlings! So I'm sending you BIG LOVE for a supergroovycoolabundant holiday season and new year!!!!!!!

Big changes. Big love. Big life.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Changing

Very Messy Weekend

2011-12-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

About this time of year the Santa Ana winds in California come into town, and boy, do they leave a mess behind! Our little seaside village of Cambria lost power for almost a full day and night, which was a bummer for the restaurants and all the food that was thrown away. We did get to see the entire night sky with all of its bright and shiny stars, though, plus the Milky Way, so that was a cool thing to experience while being whipped and slapped with wind gusts. The dogs kept looking for the howls that the winds brought, not understanding it wasn't a person!

I had a "date" with a friend for her birthday and it was quite romantic sitting at her kitchen table eating homemade clam chowder by candle light!

Besides the mess from the winds, I was making my own messes at my second Robert Burridge painting workshop. I woke up this morning and was happy to see I still had paint on areas of my body I didn't think paint would find or stick to. I'm a painted whipped mess and I love it!

Here is one of the paintings I completed:

I think I'll call it The Winds that Swept the Flowers while Paint Ended Up on Body Parts that Shouldn't Have Paint.

In the workshop we talked about the book Art and Fear and how it helped those of us who read it. So I'm so excited to announce the winner of this book give-a-way! And the winner is (with the help of Random.org)...

Bonnie from Original Art Studio and Pixel Dust Photo Art!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, Bonnie! Please contact me so I can send this fab book your way.

Thank you to all of you who left such great comments regarding your fears and your art. The book is available on Amazon so I would highly suggest you order it if you want to have a life changing experience with your art.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

Fabulous Book Give-a-way!!

2011-11-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

What is your art really about?

Where is it going?

What stands in the way of getting it there?

These may be questions you've asked yourself many times on your creative journey. I certainly have. And I've also asked this question: "Why is fear so much a part of producing art?"

Two months ago I took a painting workshop with Robert Burridge and he highly recommended the book Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland. I knew before I even got this book that it was an art supply I needed, simply because I have fear about the art I make. I'm slowly transitioning my art into painting, and I was having a hard time letting go of the fear that was holding me back from even doing a painting.

I read this book in one day. I absorbed it like a mad woman. It was as if these 2 authors knew they had to write this book to settle my fears of producing art. The title should have read "Art and Fear for Gwynnie B Because She's Not Alone". They wrote this amazing book because they're artists and teachers and know from their experiences, as well as those of their students, that art can carry a suitcase of fear. And you can overcome it.

So to spread the love for fearless art I'm giving this book away! (A new copy not the one I read since it has so many highlighted areas the pages are now yellow). All you need to do is leave a comment. I'll share the winner on Monday, December 5th. Whether you follow my blog or not I appreciate your support of this heARTfull blog and hope you will enjoy this book as much as I have.

peace, love & heART,
Gwynnie B Fearless

GrateFULLness * AbunDANCE * ThanksGIVING

2011-11-23T20:09:00.000-08:00

No matter where you are in this big beautiful world I hope you are full of gratitude, full of the desire to dance when you're happy and full of giving to those who need you. And of course, I hope you will be full of apple pie because what would Thanksgiving be like without pie? Or the stuffing. Or the leftovers.

Happy Thanksgiving, dahlings!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B GrateFULL

Beachy Bubbles and Birthday Boots

2011-11-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

This weekend was my birthday so I celebrated in style with bubbles on the beach and pink cowboy boots!

My 78 year old dad was there to add support in the art of blowing beach bubbles. You can see now where I get my silver hair. He's not too sure about the purple streaks in my hair, though, but thinks his ponytail is cool.

My man surprised me with the boots, knowing my love for animal print and anything pink. Aren't they yummy?

Here are a few more photos of Morro Strand State Beach on the central coast of California.

It was a fabulous weekend full of family, sunshine, lots of love, and purple birthday cake.

Hope all of you other Scorpio chicks who celebrated birthdays this month also had wonderful celebrations!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

The Light of Autumn

2011-11-16T12:38:00.000-08:00

Light is an important tool for photographers. And the ever changing light of autumn makes for wonderful photographic opportunities.

Hope your autumn is full of light and magic and lots of colorful rainbows.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Light

New Pretties!!

2011-11-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Halloween is over and the rains are coming in tonight, so I guess that means fall is in full force. So out come the boots and the scarves and the hot cocoa and the smores and the feeling of wanting to nest. And I truly love to nest.

With nesting on my mind I decided to make some fun little brass lockets to sell individually for you craftier folk to use in your fabulous creations. We all nest differently and that includes how we wear our jewels. Some of us like to wear an already built nest and some of us like to build our nest using other nesting supplies.

So here is my contribution to the nesting supplies market:

You can find it in my Etsy shop, along with a few other brass lockets that need to find new homes, or new nests.

There are also a few new pewter bowls in my shop and Etsy shop that I love and may have to add to my ever expanding bowl and box collection. Want to add one to your collection??

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

BOO!!!

2011-10-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween everyone! The critters are getting ready for some spooky fun over here in the studio with Lucy as a dancer in her pink tutu and rhinestones, Louie as a grouchy doggie (he's old so that's the best he could do), Bleu Kitty as the Invisible Cat because he sheds white fur on all of my black clothes, and Fatso Skinny as Pig Pen because he collects stickers in his fluffy tail and brings them inside for a scary mess.

And if that's not scary enough, how about Halloween greetings from a Fairy from Hell ...

BOO!!!

peace, love & spookiness,

Gwynnie B Scary

Cupcake Love

2011-10-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

I was missing my Gramma Tootie yesterday so I knew some southern comfort food would soothe the soul (the glitter was a separate issue). And in southern comfort food I mean red velvet cupcakes. From scratch. With cream cheese frosting. Dressed in their finest hot pink animal print couture outfit.

Yes, they taste as good as they look. So good in fact, that my neighbors all got some. I had to share the red velvet love, baby.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Velvety

Glitter is a Good Thing

2011-10-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today my horoscope said I would have a stressful day.

So I ate some glitter and now I feel way better...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Glittery

Mary Oliver

2011-10-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

Last night my man and I got all gussied up (which means my man wore his nice public shorts not his rumply not-for-public shorts) and went to hear poet Mary Oliver read her poems on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo.

What a treat! I LOVE Mary Oliver and was beyond excited to sit just a few feet from this amazing woman and hear her poems through her voice. I had a few a ha moments, a few tears and plenty of smiles while hearing a Pulitzer Prize winning poet take mere words and then turn them into a life experience. Really. Ms. Oliver is that good.

She signed 2 of my books and I didn't pee my pants while standing in front of her. Almost did, but I reined it all in, took my books and left with a big ol grin on my silly face.

Mary and her beloved Percy, who has several poms written about him

No photos were allowed so I took pictures of her autograph!

One of my favorite Mary Oliver poems is "The Journey". I hope you will enjoy reading it...

The Journey

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice—

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

“Mend my life!”

each voice cried.

But you didn’t stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do—

determined to save

the only life you could save.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

Ohh Lots of New Pretties! And Supplies!!

2011-10-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling a bit frisky lately with this cool fall weather. And so have my cats. I've just posted new pretties in both my shop and my Etsy shop, as well as some vintage French pretties and supplies in my Etsy shop.

And of course, my furry little beasts are feeling frisky too so they had to help me.

I have this thing about Bleu Kitty's paws. And he has this thing about putting his paws on my pretties when I'm photographing them.

He left the little birdies alone but his partner in crime decided he needed some adornment...

for his furry little neck. I had to move him 4 times before he finally left me, and the necklace, alone.

You can find this beauty here (cat hair not included).

And this vintage French button here.

And don't forget you need something to put those pretties in.

My End of Summer SALE is still going on in my shop with new markdowns so please be sure to check those items out. Christmas gifts, anyone??

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On a side note, yesterday was the 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage. When my grandmothers were born women couldn't vote. To think this was even an issue still confuses me. Especially since I have so many rights today as a free woman in this country (and having purple hair counts as a free right).

So here's to the very brave women, cool chicks and awesome men who supported this monumental event in our history and fought for our right to vote.

Women Rock!!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Rockin

Groovy Little Boxes!

2011-10-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

This wonderful mess of paints...

...became this wonderful little collection of groovy little boxes.

They're available, with a few other irresistible ones, in both my shop and my Etsy shop, so please check them out!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Boxed

Audacious Autumn

2011-09-26T15:14:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees.

- David Letterman

No falling birds over here but there are plenty of leaves falling and plenty of beautiful colors to inspire even the darkest of hearts. On Saturday my girlfriend Marlene and I headed over to a nearby town to be inspired by Autumn's colors at Ron's Nursery. It's part nursery/part fantasy and total eye candy galore.

It's not yo mama's nursery.

Hope you were inspired by the audacious colors of Ms. Autumn. I'm now inspired to drape myself in rich velvets, wear blood red lipstick (oh wait, I already do that), drink hot toddies, and paint the dogs and cats in luscious fall tones.

What inspires you about Fall?

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Fallin'

Fear No Art

2011-09-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

If you're looking to expand your palette, wanting to loosen up artistically, needing a bit of art therapy, or just craving an environment that breeds lots of positivity, then you definitely need to take a workshop from the fabulously talented and very super funny Robert Burridge.

I had the opportunity to do this last weekend, and I'm still recovering! I have never ever taken any kind of workshop like this one. Really. I bloomed. I blossomed. I painted my wicked little heart out and had the time of my life.

In Bob's workshops there's really only one rule: Fear No Art. All ya gotta do is let loose. And paint, baby, paint.

A few of Bob's beauties

Bob at work...

Bob at play

Chaos in creativity

Wild rescue horses by the studio

I had to start somewhere, so why not with hearts?

Then the flowers emerged

And I began to Fear No Art

Of course, the nightly soirees with local California wines also helped push the fear away

I'm off to paint some more on this beautyFULL, luscious Autumn Equinox weekend. So here's to Fall with its cooler weather, it's many kisses of change and lots of splendid color.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Fearless

ColorFULL Fun!

2011-09-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Hope ya'll have a supergroovycolorfullcool weekend!

I plan on it. I'm taking a 4 day mentoring workshop with the crazy talented and super funny Robert Burridge in his studio. See you when I get back!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

The Story of Chalk. And Rain.

2011-09-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

There's always a story. Even in the rain.

This weekend was the I Madonnari street art festival in San Luis Obispo, CA. Local artists, out-of-town artists and exuberant kids participated in the tradition of creating beautiful art with colorful pieces of chalk. Their palettes? The empty streets in front of the very old Mission San Luis in downtown.

The streets came alive with vibrant color as the images created popped up out of the asphalt like a wonderful 3D show. Masterpieces were created. Hands and feet were stained with chalk. Young artists were born. Each amazing image was done by hand with little colorful sticks of chalk and lots of imagination.

And then the rains came.

Masterpieces were ruined. Children were disappointed (even the "big kids" were sad). Attendance was low. But in the midst of all of this, with some images being washed away by the rain and some images being smeared into blurry blobs of messy chalk, a story was still being told.

A silly man on a unicycle entertained the small crowd. Children giggled. Balloons filled the air. Artists took to their palettes again and made more art. Even with the drench of rain the small story within this street fair continued.

One of the artists there, who was re-doing what Mother Nature tried to take away, smiled as she got down on her knees to apply more chalk to her street palette. She was happy for the rain, because the rain she said, was part of the beautiful story she was in while sharing her love of art.

And lucky for me, because I got to be part of this beautiful story too...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

Butterflies Alive!

2011-09-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I met up with Diana and Monica (my Artful Journey sistahs) in beautiful Santa Barbara. We all live on the west coast of California with Santa Barbara between us so it's the prefect rendezvous spot.

After shopping at Art From Scrap (the deals!) and then eating yummy tapas at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art cafe, we headed on over to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to see the Butterflies Alive! exhibition.

I was in awe. We all were. Hundreds of butterflies were flying all around us in stunning colors, shapes, designs, and sizes.

I'm so glad we went...

Top: Giant Swallowtail, White Peacock. Bottom: Zebra Heliconian

Cloudless Sulphur

This Monarch landed on Diana's fan

Giant Swallowtail

Julia Heliconian

The majestic Monarch

Monarch porn

White Peacock

Pipevine Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail

1 Viceroy and 3 Monarchs

Gorgeous, aren't they?

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B a Butterfly

Chair vs Bike Seat

2011-09-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

You know what they say when you assume...

Well, I assumed when it came to my favorite chair. Yep, I assumed you all would know it was my favorite chair because that's all I saw when I hastily put up my last post. But thanks to my dear, sweet blogging buddies Jenny, Kelly and Kerri I was able to see what my assumptions created: a bike seat. (Where would we be without our friend's honesty and humor??)

So my last post, in all its good intentions of comfy-ness, was not so comfy looking after all. Instead of a comfy looking chair to cush your tush, my photo looked more like a hard piece of metal that should be no where near a tush, an ass, a butt, or a bottom.

So to clarify my assumptions and hastiless-ness I'm posting more photos of my favorite chair so you can see that my idea of comfort is not an uncomfortable bike seat!

My 1940s vintage rocker chair where I like to sit and watch the wild critters and feel the ocean breeze

Fatso and Fannie the Flamingo

A few wild animals such as the Fatso and the Louie species

Fiona the Flamingo wishing she could sit in my comfy chair

So I hope ya'll had a comfy weekend regardless of whether it was on a bike seat or chair!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Cushy Again

Friendship and a Good Chair

2011-08-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

I get by with a little help from my friends.

~John Lennon

Oh Johnny, how true this is! And in honor of friendship I've taken my popular silver friendship keyring and transformed it into a pewter keyring. It's now available in my shop in the gift section for only eight-teen buckaroos (I know you're not cheap, but this is a cheap gift for a friend, just saying!).

Along with a good friendship one also needs a good chair to plop one's fanny in. So I hope this weekend you find a comfy chair to cush your tush, sit back and enjoy the life you have.

And maybe even enjoy it with a friend.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Cush

Turkeys and Kitties and Deer Oh My!

2011-08-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Wildlife was abundant this week in our neck of the woods. Our coastal forest is full of critters and a few of them stopped by to say hello.

Of course, Bleu Kitty isn't a wild animal. He sure thinks he is and I indulge him in this fantasy. He is, after all, a male cat. And males of any species think they're bigger and badder than they really are.

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There's a huge End of Summer Sale going on in my shop right now!! Scattered throughout the shop you'll find some great deals on some fabulous pretties. There's also a few new pretties added so check them out as well.

Happy Wednesday, dahlings!

peace. love & heART,

Gwynnie B Wild

Big Sunflower Big Love

2011-08-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

I love a good sunflower. Especially when they're gigantic, big, huge, and full of sunshine and luscious yellow love.

And come with furry kitty paws and cute little doggie noses.

Here are a few more shots of my Target rain boots with various textures.

The above texture (Linen Blend) and the one below (Dappled Dawn) are from the fabulously talented Bonnie over at

Pixel Dust Photo Art.

She is a wiz at textures and even offers some freebies. You gotta check her out!

Hope your day is full of sunshine love and lots of lusciousness...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Luscious

New French Pretties!!

2011-08-17T16:36:00.000-07:00

There are new French pretties making their debut in the shop!! I'm in love with every. single. one. of them. Oh la la they are so tres jolie!

The charms were found in various flea markets throughout Paris. What fun it was to rummage through bins filled with treasure and touch something that was held or worn by someone long ago. I can only imagine the story tucked away deep inside each charm I bought.

Wouldn't you like to add your story to one??

I have also added some new pewter bowls and pewter hangings to the shop so check them out as well.

I'm working on a few more pieces from France and 2 of the charms/buttons are from the early 1800s. Can't wait to share those with you!

Hope all of you dahlings are having a wonderful summer filled with ice cream, laughter and too much fun...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

VERY Wise Words

2011-08-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

Artwork by Fred Babb

Lovely Lavender

2011-08-09T14:17:00.000-07:00

I think I love fragrance as much as I love color. Especially natural fragrances like pure essential oils. I even have a diffuser that burns in my studio with a different concoction daily to fill the room with wonderful aromas.

Can you smell it!?!? Today the recipe is lavender with a bit of cinnamon, ylang ylang and orange essential oils mixed with some water. Heavenly.

I also made a room spray the other day and thought I'd share this recipe with you. All you need is a small spray bottle, some water and some various drops of essential oils. This recipe calls for lavender, lime or lemon, cardamom, rose geranium, and a splash of lavender floral water.

10 drops of lavender

5 drops of rose geranium

3 drops of either lime or lemon (or both!)

2 drops of cardamom

lavender floral water

tap water

Just shake and spray. That's it! I spray it in the bathroom, the kitchen and even on my pillow at night before I lay me down to sleep. Even the doggies get a spray on their cute little bellies and tops of their heads (the cats run).

Most health food stores carry essential oils and floral waters, and the Internet is loaded with businesses that carry all things aromatherapy. Lavender is considered the universal oil for all its many uses so I would suggest starting with this fabulous oil. Plus it's affordable and can last for years (I have bottles of essential oils from over 16 years ago when I first began studying aromatherapy).

Now go smell something yummy today!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Smelly

Highway heART

2011-08-03T10:33:00.000-07:00

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

~ Confucious

A few weeks ago I was on my way to Seattle to visit my friend Sherryl, who I met in Paris. My man and I were headed north on Highway 101 towards the San Jose airport when I spotted this:

Even in the middle of a construction site there is love, baby. Whoever spray painted this did it with all of their heart, on an ugly block of cement, in the middle of a highway, for the rest of us to share.

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A big thank you for the lovely comments you all left on what hearts mean to you. And another big thank you for following this heARTfull blog!

...and the winner of the pewter winged heart is...

Sassy!!!!

Congratulations, dahling! Get in touch with me so I can send your new pretty your way.

Have a heARTfull day everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

Celebration Give-a-way!!!!

2011-07-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

My madness is still intact (is yours??) but not enough to keep me from celebrating a blogging milestone: 100 followers. Woo hoo, baby!!

To commemorate this splendid occasion I'm giving away one of my winged pewter hearts. One of my favorites, I must say. How could I not share one of my heARTs since I love hearts so much and love this creative blogging community!?!

It's easy peezy lemon squeezy to do this give-a-way. Just leave a comment on why hearts are so awesome. If you're a follower you're automatically entered and if you're not a follower maybe you should be?!?

Hoping ya'll are having a supergroovywickedlyawesome weekend...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B ThankFULL

Spark of Madness

2011-07-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

I've been affected by a spark of madness lately. And that spark has resulted in totally re-doing my studio and re-evaluating my art and how I want to live my artful life.

I think a touch of madness is a good thing for an artist when used in a creative and positive way, don't you? Robin Williams thinks so. I have this quote from him near my painting table and, of course, it had to be displayed with a vintage gold leaf frame:

I wrote it once, noticing how crooked it was when I stood back to admire it. And then I remembered Billy Joel's song "You're Only Human" and how he kept a not-so-perfect part of the recording because it reminded him of his own personal fallibility. Sometimes that little itty bitty bit of imperfection is just perfect in its entirety.

So I embraced my spark of madness after writing it, hung a beautiful frame around the quote and then relished in the fact that art, and life, is not perfect.

Then I madly cleaned my studio and danced with the vacuum cleaner.

This handmade cloth came from a village in Africa where my friend Sara's ancestors came from. She died of breast cancer shortly after giving it to me. In my studio re-do I thought it should be wrapped around my bench to always remind me of her warm embrace.

What's a studio without fairies, Kens, Barbies, goddesses, trolls, angels, decapitated Barbie heads, and witches?

And messy bottles?

And lots of paint brushes?

And a Gramma Iris in all her finery?

To round out the studio re-do I added this fabulous stainless steel cabinet. With locking wheels! Sally Down the Alley was downsizing and thought of me. I had to have it since my marabou witch hat needed to go somewhere. Plus it holds all of my stuff because my stuff always needs a place to be stuffed.

Now I will now leave you with Words of Weekend Wisdom from my very wise and slightly mad man:

Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Mad

Paris Je T'aime!! Part 4

2011-06-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

Oui, my Paris holiday is over so I must be honest with myself and embrace this truth. So today (after realizing I've been sharing way more photos than I'd planned) is the last post of my Parisian trip.

I will leave you with photos of the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, the French Open (yes tennis fans, thee French Open!), a famous poster, and a universal symbol that needs no translation...

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise entrance

Jim Morrison's grave. The tree was covered in graffiti, since the tomb was sectioned off to prevent vandalism like Oscar Wilde's.

In the Monmartre Museum I was able to see the original LeChat Noir poster by Steinlen

I'm in Paris during the French Open, so how could I not attend this most magnificent event?!? I was in heaven. Even though I searched the entire grounds for Raphael Nadal and couldn't find him to tell him I was his Number One Fan, I still had a great time!

I was very impressed that my linen jacket matched the clay court!

But I did see Sam Stosour, Marion Bartoli, Jo-Wilfried Tonga, Stanislaus Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic, and Juan Martin del Potro.

And I was on the same exact grounds as Roger Federer, who was on the other side of this screen playing a match. 500,00 fans went though the gates of Rolland Garros in a 2 week period.

One thing I did notice while in Paris? That love is everywhere regardless of language...

I enjoyed sharing my holiday with you and hope you enjoyed looking at the photos. Merci beaucoup!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B GrateFULL

Paris Je T'aime!! Part 3

2011-06-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

There was just so much to see in Paris! I carried my camera everywhere and had bruises on my shoulder from the shoulder strap to prove it. With so much visual stimulation surrounding me I wished I had one of those sci-fi cameras in my eyes so I could instantly snap a photo with a blink of an eye!!

The delightful movie Amelie, one of my favorites, was filmed in the Monmartre area I stayed in. Here is the merry-go-round and the little market from the movie. I kept waiting for Amelie's garden gnome to pop out from behind something!

Wouldn't you love to live in this charming house!?!

And have this ceiling above you? This ceiling was in a charming boutique where I had to buy a sweater you can wear 2 ways (so I bought 2 sweaters, of course! Does that mean I can wear them 4 different ways??). I had never seen a ceiling quite like this before so I immediately began plans for painting my studio ceiling like a Parisian boutique's!

Everywhere you turned there was art in some form: ceilings of boutiques painted like a dream, flowers cascading over window sills, cobblestone streets winding silently in front of buildings with history, architecture with so much detail it was as if the structures were alive.

Art was everywhere.

And artists were abundant painting or drawing or photographing something in almost every neighborhood I walked in. I was inspired on so many levels by just walking around and observing the people being inspired and the subjects that were their inspirations.

Even the spices were inspiring in the beautiful sunshine.

Near the Amelie merry-go-round was the Sacre Cour (Sacred Heart) church. Stunning.

It's not one of the older churches in Paris but still as magnificent and still quite lovely.

I found this pretty at the Bastille flea market and was thrilled to discover that it's a hand painted brooch of the Sacre Cour church! Yes, it will become a necklace for me with lots of sparkle and pretty little beads.

Street art, or graffiti, depending on how you look at it, was on almost every corner. There was so much that it blended into the surroundings and became part of the building or whatever it was on.

Have a fantabulous weekend and a Happy Father's Day to all you Big Daddies!! I'll post a few more photos soon...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

Paris Je T'aime!! Part 2

2011-06-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

Views from a cruise on the River Seine at sunset

The city of Paris has 20 Arrondissments, or districts. I think I walked or rode the metro to at least half of them. It's a big city with lots to see and do, and I still feel I only experienced a teeny tiny fraction of this magnificent city. But that's okay since I'm planning another trip next year!

For awhile I thought I would be staying longer when the Icelandic volcano erupted. If it had been worse I would have been forced like so many other travelers to extend my stay. It seemed pretty possible at one point, then the winds shifted and the French airspace was open once more. A part of me was relieved, but that other part was secretly hoping I could stay.

One of my favorite areas of Paris was the Marais, the old Jewish section. So many old buildings and cobblestone streets. Underneath a long hallway of very old arches was this watercolor artist. He was so sweet and so talented. I had been looking for some original french art (that I could afford!) and was so happy to see his beautiful paintings. And he graciously posed for his portrait.

Nortre Dame in the morning and at sunset

My father visited Nortre Dame in 1953 when he was stationed in Germany as a paratrooper. He bought a little MG and cruised around Europe with a friend. Nortre Dame was one of his favorite places to see and he was so happy when he heard I'd be going there. He said, "Sweetheart, when you stand in front of the cathedral I want you to look up and know I did the same thing over 50 years ago."

The sheer size of this cathedral gave me goosebumps. The craftsmanship alone made me dizzy. And at one point I was speechless. Not for long, but I was quiet with wonder for a bit.

Simply beautiful..

Are these the coolest doors? They're actually doors to mausoleums in the Cimetie're du P'ere-Lachaise (where Jim Morrison is buried), which I'll share more of later.

Just plain ol' apartment doors. What I noticed more than anything in Paris was the attention to detail in everything. Just about every surface, whether it be food, windows, doors, the people, the buildings, or the street signs, was embraced with beautiful detail and the subtlety of art.

Even this hair saloon rocked the detail with their gorgeous sign. It's the name of the salon, Coiffeur, in twisted branches. Awesome.

Fell in love with these purple and fuchsia chairs!

Just one of the many bridges that cross the River Seine. This is when I wished I had my man with me. So romantic!

More photos to share so please come back for a visit...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

Paris Je T'aime!!

2011-06-07T17:47:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mademoiselles! It feels like I just returned from the Land of Fey where I entered into this magical place and emerged years later without even knowing time had past! Jet lag and the spirit of Paris can do that to a person it seems. And so can having an absolutely wonderful time with no worries and no responsibilities other than what tasty pastry can I eat today!

I met fabulous people from all over the world, I saw breathtaking pieces of art, I ate and drank delicious French food and wine, and I shopped and then shopped some more at boutiques and flea markets. I decided to stay a few days longer on my own when I realized the French Open was during my visit. So I went to the French Open (total dream come true!), rode the metro and explored Paris all by myself for 3 days.

No wonder I slept for 2 days when I got home!

I'd love to share every photo I took, but I promised myself when my grandpa showed us every. single. photo. he took of his Jerusalem trip that I would never do that to another soul. But I will have a show and tell over a few posts so you can see some of the things I saw and things I did.

Entrance to the first apartment I stayed in with my groovy roommate Sherryl, who is from Seattle, Washington. We laughed so much and had so much fun together! We were welcomed into our new hood by the most delightful transvestite we would see most days when we left the apartment. She didn't speak English but with our "French" we became friends. Sherryl and I gave her some baubles we picked up at one of the flea markets and she giggled.

This was my super cool tribe for 7 days: Sherryl, Gwen, who ran the tour and knows so much about Paris, me, and Ms. Jeanne "Chanel" from Kansas City. Jeff, her most accommodating man, took the photo.

One of the first things we did was go to the Bastille flea market, which is held only twice a year with over 400 vendors from all over Europe. Yep, over 400 vendors! Not like any "flea market" I'd ever been to, that's for sure. Old in America means vintage or used. Old in France means antique or ancient.

If my suitcase were bigger I would have stuffed in a few chandeliers, a couple of antique French side tables, one or two antique French clocks, and maybe a vintage Yves Saint Laurent suitcase filled with Dior and Chanel...

The Bastille flea market was set up along the River Seine so in the smaller photos above you can see all the white tents lined up one after another. It went on for miles. Best thing I bought in Paris? Band aides for my feet.

Sherryl with fabulous chandeliers and French furniture and beautiful vintage bottles. The vendors did not like photos taken at all. You could ask, but overall they were a bit shy. And absolutely no photos at any of the couture houses. I found my Christmas present at a vintage Chanel shop in one of the markets. Purple floor length fur coat. Thousands of dollars. And no photo for me, in case I wanted to rip off Chanel and go home to sew a purple fur coat.

But I did manage to get one photo of a Chanel fur coat: a napping dog with his baguette in a vintage Chanel store. I was hoping they would let me put the $1,000 pink handbag next to him that I liked, but it didn't happen.

Do any of your pets eat baguettes like the French pets do??

I think every home should have statues adorning them.

Roller derby practice in the Louvre courtyard. Where else would you go to practice?!?

Window shopping while drooling. Anything with velvet and sparkles gets me every time. Especially French velvet and sparkles.

I stayed in Monmartre, the 18th Arrondissement in Paris. This was a charming street up the hill from our apartment near the Abbysses Butte, the highest point in Paris and the area where Toulouse Lautrec, Renoir and other artists and writers roamed back in the day. So way cool to be in the same place years later where artists I studied and admired used to live and paint.

Merci beaucoup for sharing in my trip! I'll post more throughout the week.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B French

Cherishing Life

2011-05-17T11:28:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of www.top-things-to-do.com/europe/travel.html

Tomorrow morning my Paris journey begins! All my bags are packed I'm ready to go, I'm standin' here outside your door...opps! That's John Denver's song of "Leaving on a Jet Plane." I can't get it out of my head for some reason.

But I am packed and I am panting beside my door in anticipation of an adventure! To fully immerse myself in Paris I won't be taking my laptop so I won't be posting here for 2 weeks. My website and Etsy shops will both be open but please note that items won't be shipped until after I get back.

I do have something I'd like to share with you today before I say au revoir. I met a really cool chick named Lisa at the Remnants show a few weeks ago. She placed an order for a custom piece, only to contact me a few days later to change it. She wrote about it on her blog Faire Notions and I thought you might like to read it. It's quite a touching story, not only as the artist who made this small pretty for her but also as a woman who has lost young friends over the years.

So let's all cherish life, shall we?!? See you soon, dahlings!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Cherishing

TruthFULL

2011-05-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

As I get ready to embark on my Parisian holiday, I've been thinking a lot of how it all lead up to this point. The dreams, the goals, the truths I buried, the fears, and the constant change of my business.

While finishing up my commission order my mind wandered (repetitive things will do this to me) and all kinds of silly thoughts began to enter. I started to feel the familiar pangs of insecurity, I started to question my dream of going to Paris, I started to question how I'm going to continue working in silver with prices so whacked out. I started to questions things that had no business being questioned.

I stepped away from what I was doing, knowing it was only a matter of time before I went cuckoo if I didn't. And then I sat down to have a truthful conversation with myself.

Here are some of my truths:

* I need to step away from what I'm doing when my brain begins to crack and the ugly seeps out.

* Business is hard as a one woman show, but I'm doing it and I love it. And I'm learning.

* I'm going to Paris because I want to and because I can.

* It's none of my business what other people think of me.

* Flowers infuse me with color and happiness.

* I've been too hard on myself and my creations. My art is beautiful.

* I'll miss my man a lot when I'm gone but will be so happy when I see him.

* My thoughts make my reality, whether they're good thoughts or bad thoughts.

* Dreams do come true.

* I'm bigger than fear because my big girl panties now fit a middle aged ass.

Oh, there are so many more truths, but these were the ones that I embraced today and wanted to share with you. Got any truths you'd like to share, dahlings?

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B TruthFULL

2011-05-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share my Mother's Day sunset with you...

For those of us with moms and those of us without

For those of us who are moms and those of us who aren't

For those of us who mother animals and those of us who don't

For those of us who are

Mothers of Invention

Hot Mommas

Divine Divas

Cool Chicks

Classy Dames

Magical Muses

Whoever you are...

WOMEN ROCK!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

New Plaster and Pewter Pretties

2011-05-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my new plaster and pewter pretties! (say that 1 time fast let alone 3 times!!) There are now plaster books and more bowls, and pewter bowls and wall hangings.

I've been working with my pewter caster for a few months now, and I'm so happy how darn cute everything turned out. The pewter bowls were inspired by an antique clock bell ( I love the shape for bowls) and of course I had to add some of my silver bling to them with little charms.

The extremely high price of silver lately has changed biz for many people. Pewter has gone up as well, but compared to silver right now it's cheap! I still love silver but am not able to use as much with these crazy wacked out prices. So I'm just using smaller amounts with my new designs.

You can check out my new pretties in my shop and I'll be adding more to my Etsy shop as well.

Have a wonderful weekend you supercoolhappylovethings!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

Magical Show

2011-05-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

Oh what a show it was!! I still feel like I'm floating on a fluffy vintage cloud! It was the best show I've ever ever had and the most fun I've ever ever had at a show. The article in Country Living magazine brought people from all over the United States and every part of California to this intimate little vintage show, full of so many talented designers and artists.

Within 2 hours of opening the gates at 9am close to 2,000 people swarmed in and covered the booths. And that's not counting the hundreds and hundreds more who were there throughout the day. People were everywhere!

It was so crazy and so wild and so exciting to sell my pretties and chat with customers and friends, as well as meet people I "knew" but never met in person. And now more of my pretties have good homes to go to, which always makes me proud!

Due to the large crowd I had no time to take photos of my booth or wander around the show. I did manage to get some shots of the booths around me and a few of my new plaster and pewter bowls while my man manned the booth for me. He was a great assistant taking care of credit cards, getting food, stamping more bags, and being the resident flirt! No way could I have have done this show without his love and support.

And now some eye candy for you...

Hope you enjoyed the show! Can't wait for October...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Humbled

Big Show Weekend

2011-04-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

Wowza, it's the end of April and time for the Remnants of the Past show on Saturday! I've been creating pretties, making messes, spilling paint, cussing like a cute sailor with purple hair, and having a ton of fun. My world lately has consisted of only my studio, loud music and getting inventory ready for this special event.

I'm debuting some new pewter and plaster pretties at the show and will share those with you next week in my shop. I'm so in love with some of them! Okay, I love ALL of them but I'm partial to a few, I have to admit. That's a good sign when you love what you create, don't ya' think?

This is such a fabulous show full of treasures from long ago, sparkly things, old things, new things, and things you never thought you could live without. And all of this is in the middle of rolling hills with wild flowers and lemon groves as well as the most beautiful Victorian house and English garden to die for. Not only is the show fun but it's beautiful to be there as well.

Country Living magazine did an article on the show in this month's issue so we're expecting lots of people to show up. Looking forward to seeing my custmers and friends, meeting new customers, and eating cupcakes because I can.

Here's a sneak peak of a new plaster pretty I made...

And the cutest one of all..

Have a supergroovyhipcool weekend, dahlings!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

In the Studio

2011-04-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

A few pix of what's happening in the studio this weekend...

Can't work without my glasses! And a bit of heART.

Plaster bowl waiting to have its bottom waxed (couldn't resist that one!)

Back cover of a cardboard and plaster book waiting for some vintage crackle.

My 3 favorite paint brushes and brown paint.

Love the rainbow of colors on my painting palette!

Rigid wrap bowls waiting to be smothered in plaster. What gooey fun!

Don't forget to sign your artwork :)

Have a delicious weekend, dahlings!! We're having fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and the most awesome cookies in the Universe: Brown Butter Cookies. I will sell my man for some of these evil little gems...really. They're that yummy.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

Plaster Pretty Pretties

2011-04-16T14:59:00.000-07:00

I've been plastered with plaster love and had to share my latest pretties! They're all available in my shop and my Etsy shop.

Have a scrumptious weekend, dahlings!!!!!!!!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Plastered

P.S.
Today is the last day to head on over to Burlap Luxe to enter Dore's fabulous give-a-way!
And also check out Kelly Rae Roberts' blog for some groovy sponsor spotlights (I'm one of them!!)

Busy Creative Bee

2011-04-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for Paris in 6 weeks. And before I leave on my dream trip I have the Remnants of the Past show to get ready for in 3 weeks and hundreds of pieces to finish for the commission I told you about earlier. Good thing my man is cheap labor. And cute.

Chaos at the bench but I know exactly where everything is!

Many, many ear charms waiting to be hooked on ear wires. The bowl is an antique clock bell.

Charms waiting to be dressed and worn!

New plaster pretties awaiting their debut...

And how can I get things done while my other cure assistant insists on taking a nap in the warm morning sun?

The statue behind Lucy is Frenchie, a gift from my man a few Valentine's ago. He's from France from the early 1900s, solid cement and is playing a small stringed instrument. I'm not sure if Richie gave him to me because he knows I like vintage French pretties or because the statue is a musician like himself??

Hope your morning is full of sunshine, dahlings!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Busy

Purple Hair and Paris

2011-04-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

Nothing endures but change.

~ Heraclitus

Merci beaucoup for such sweet comments and words of kindness with the passing of my mother-in-law. Richie and I felt all of the love flowing to us!

Our routine is back as life continues. And with that comes an impulse to have purple hair. Yep, purple streaks are now in my gray curly locks! Over the years I've had hot pink, pale pink, purple, red, cherry red, orange (that was an accident, and so was the green), black, brown, blonde, bleach blonde, and most recently, the true color of being gifted with premature gray. Got my first one when I was 18, so of course, the bottle of color came out. My head has been bombarded with color its whole adult life, poor thing. When I developed an allergy to hair color I said enough, so for the last almost 2 years I let the gray slowly take over.

Love the silver and the gray but it lacked something. The only solution was to have yummy bright purple (non-ammonia color without touching the scalp) weaved in here and there, and viola! You like??

To go with my new do I also decided that I'm going to live my life more fully and not just participate in it. So yesterday I threw away the fears and the doubts, embraced a life long dream, and made arrangements to go to Paris next month! I called Gwen with Paris Found Tours just to chat and to see if this was something I really wanted to do. It's so last minute but everything fell into place even better than I imagined. Gwen and I instantly connected (we're both named Gwen/Gwynne, we're aromatherapists, we both have degrees in literature, we're artists, and we both love anything French).

The beautiful part of this is I found a kindred spirit by simply picking up the phone and ignoring those crazy voices in my head that would have normally tried to convince me otherwise. I stepped out of the familiar fear and plunged forward. Now I'm going to hang out with other like minded souls in an old French neighborhood, drink French wine and eat French food, go shopping at flea markets and hidden little shops, and have a wonderful adventure that my heart has wanted to do for a very long time.

I should've put purple in my hair a long time ago!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Purple

Love and Tears

2011-04-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

Edwina and Hal mid 60s

This last week has been full of many tears, and much love. Richie's mom, Iris Edwina Pease, passed away a week ago today. My man never cries (except during commercials that tug at the heart), so to see him vulnerable, sad, at a loss of losing his momma, well, that was tough.

But through all of the sadness and the tears there has also been a lot of hugs and kisses and shared stories of a woman who loved her family. You also think of your mortality, your story and the life you've been leading up to that point of losing someone. And somehow, through that overwhelming emptiness your heart feels, the love you do have embraces you and whispers in your ear that life continues and love will always guide the way.

I will forever be grateful to my mother-in-law because she gave me a gift that changed my life:

her son.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

Vintage Pretties

2011-03-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

Look at these sweet vintage pretties! I took some vintage brass lockets and stamped inside them and then distressed them a bit. Added some hand dyed silk cord and a bit of whimsy, and viola! Pretty little locket necklaces. You can see them more of them in my fabulous new shop!!

It's still raining like crazy here so I've been happily creating in my warm studio. Of course, the "kids" are blaming me for this weather. They all sit by the door with their heads hung low and these very pathetic eyes...as if I control the weather! The Santa Barbara, CA, area got 10" of rain this weekend and we got almost 4" in 2 days. And two more storms are coming. Is it @#$% Spring yet?!?!?

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Staying Dry

Hello Spring Hello

2011-03-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

After a weekend of continuous rain storms the clouds parted for a bit as if to say, "Welcome Spring Equinox." And in those quiet moments of stillness the animals came out to celebrate.

Finch and sparrows eating away

Male quail

Gray squirrel with its glorious tail

In all of my excitement of running downstairs to grab my camera, knowing I had a short window to take these photos, I forgot to change my ISO. As a result the photos are a bit blurred due to the quick movements of the critters. The fact that I even got photos of so many moving critters is amazing!

I hope every single one of you has a glorious Spring full of growth and renewal, and lots of pretties, of course!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Springin'

To Japan With Much Love

2011-03-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

Rosalind's Garden

I know how saddened we all are with the devastation of Japan. In the metal clay community we have special ties to this beautiful country as metal clay was born there. The PMC that I use is manufactured in an eco-friendly plant at the Naoshima Smelting and Refinery in Naoshima, Japan. The plant is on the south side of the island and wasn't affected, but that doesn't mean they are unscathed by this tragedy.

The metal clay community has come together to offer help for Japan and our many friends who live there. Donations are being taken to help send emergency kits through the wonderful organization Shelterbox.org.

To find out how you can help check out the article in Metal Clay Artist Magazine. It explains who Shelterbox is and how you can help donate to the people of Japan during this crisis.

Thank you, sweet friends. The world really is small when we all come together...

peace, love & heART

Gwynnie

Hot Pink Goodness

2011-03-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hot pink is an experience. There are 9 shades of pink (with shades between the shades, of course) and hot pink is number 8 between dark pink and shocking pink. I'm drawn to this color, and lately, can't seem to get enough of its vibrant, loud, beautiful, deep presence.

It's definitely not a color for everyone but here in my Studio of Light, it's a very prominent color!

My sweet friend Monica from The Creative Beast gave me her grandma Betty's hot pink vintage Christmas ornaments as a Christmas gift. I drooled when I opened the boxes and saw these shiny, hot pink balls of grooviness! So of course I had to hang some of them on my purple crystal chandelier.

What self-respecting artist wouldn't hang hot pink round thingys from a beautiful chandelier??

A few weeks ago I watched my favorite designer Antonio on his HGTV show The Antonio Treatment. His philosophy is there should be an element of hot pink somewhere in a design. I love this! On this particular show he and his crew were re-doing the art room for the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, CA. And one of the hot pink elements he added was The Original Pink Box for the kids to use as storage. I about died when I saw these boxes!

So my sweet man surprised me with one of my very own for our 16th wedding anniversary! I'm in love...(yes, I love my hubby too).

It even has hot pink liners for each drawer. Now that's style, baby!!

I think my new hot pink studio accessories fit in perfectly with my hot pink silk drapes from Target.

Got any hot pink in your life???

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Pink

Be True to Your heART

2011-03-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

I didn't listen to my heart. I wasn't being true to me. Oh boy. I trusted someone else and I paid for it dearly. I paid for it by ignoring feelings that were tugging, pulling, questioning my decisions when I knew, I knew, I needed to trust myself and not a person who obviously didn't care.

I'll spare you the ugly details but it concerns my website and the person who was holding me hostage. At least that's what it felt like! I had no access to the homepage of my website for months. Quite frustrating when Christmas and Valentine's passes you by and you can't change your homepage. And the one person who can ignores your calls and emails. What makes it worse is I found out that for the last 2 years my website was not coded for search engines. And a lot of the emails coming from my website were not going through. I know. Bad business!

I knew something was wrong and I questioned. But I didn't listen to ME and move ahead sooner in finding a new web designer (that darn thing called money can hold you back as well). When I finally emerged from the fog I went on a journey of finding someone I could work with and someone who also had a passion for what they did. And I found her! Carissa from Designing Fresh not only saved my website but she also saved me from total meltdown. And that was a good thing! We're working on the homepage right now, but the site is up and running and there's lots of new pretties to see. I was just so excited to share this with you I couldn't wait!!!

I now have a new and improved website that search engines can find and customers can email from!!! I can't recommend Carissa enough. She's a cool chick and a total professional who knows what she's doing. She has true heART :)

So in honor of my new site and being a sponsor spotlighted on the fabulous Kelly Rae Robert's blog this weekend, I'd like to extend a 20% discount on the pretties in my shop. Just enter the code Kelly Rae at checkout!

And don't forget to be true to YOU...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

New Spring Pretties

2011-03-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

Spring has sprung here on the central coast of California. I can't help but be inspired by the blooming of Mother Nature, so I had to make some new spring pretties to celebrate!

Luscious blue topaz, citrines, pink rubies, amethysts, and a bouquet of spring colors

Pretties available in my Etsy shop!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Bloomin'

A Day at the Beach

2011-03-02T14:30:00.000-08:00

Before the rains came again we took the doggies to the beach for some fun in the sun.

Matching sweaters which say Puppy Love Forever

"Small" male elephant seal about 4-5,000 lbs

He blended into the rocks and sand so well we didn't see him until Lucy was inches from his nose!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

Plaster Pretties

2011-02-24T13:58:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my plaster pretties from An Artful Journey Retreat. It's the first time I've ever worked in plaster, and let me tell you, I'm hooked. I want to be plastered all the time!

This is an 8" x 8" stretched canvas with burlap and plaster adhered to it. I rolled out the burlap, measured it to the canvas and then spread plaster of Paris over the burlap. After it dried I then cracked the plaster, creating all kinds of texture. The diagonal line going through the heart was due to the gas burner (it was off, of course) it was drying on. I liked the "accident" so much that I decided to keep going. Once cracked I "washed" colors of burnt umber and turquoise all over it, layering as I went. Then I glued the plastered burlap to the canvas. The sides of the canvas are joint compound that I spread on with my fingers (messy fun!) and sanded when dried. Another wash of burnt sienna was added to this. The heart is Rigid-Wrap plaster cloth that was folded in two, allowed to dry and then painted. For a final step I applied beeswax over the heart, which gives the heart a nice vintage feel. Underneath the heart are pieces of cardboard to raise the heart up a bit.

The base of this cardboard. I cut out a 6 1/4" x 6" piece of cardboard and then applied 2 layers of Rigid-Wrap plaster cloth around it, which were dunked in hot water and applied to the cardboard just like applying a cast to a broken arm. The winged heart is raised, which is just Rigid-Wrap that was formed into a heart and 2 wings. Once dried I applied plaster all over it, let it dry again, sanded it a bit and then applied washes of color in hot pink, white and a touch of raw sienna.

Another cardboard piece with Rigid-Wrap and plaster. After painting I lightly sanded the whole piece, applied a satin varnish and then applied a wash of burnt umber over that. I love the old world look of this pretty!

A 6" x 12" canvas with burlap and plaster, similar to the first one. This time the plaster cracked way more than I wanted, creating big dents and fissures that I ended up loving. I applied heavy gel medium to stop the plaster from disintegrating (Thanks for that tip, Stephanie!) and then washed the plaster with hot pink and burnt sienna, and a touch of white down the middle. The white squares are Rigid-Wrap painted white and glued to cardboard for a raised effect. I'm not sure if I want to put words underneath the items I glued on with heavy gel medium, or if I should keep it as it is. It's a work in progress, I guess!

The Rigid-Wrap can be purchased at craft stores or Dick Blick, and the plaster and joint compound at local hardware stores.

Now to make my new grocery list of supplies I need to keep this new addiction going!!

peace,love & heART,

Gwynnie B Plastered

Artful Journey Gathering

2011-02-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

Presentation Center in the Los Gatos, CA mountains

I'm home after a whirlwind weekend of art and friendship!

I was only gone 5 days but it felt longer. In a good way, of course.

When you're surrounded by creative women in a nurturing environment it seems as if your adrenaline and your sense of time goes faster!

Beautiful souls gathered from Canada, England and all parts of America. We shared, laughed, pushed artistic boundaries, and came together with a common thread:

we all love to create pretties with our hearts and our hands.

Left side: Louise Gale's Tree of Inspiration; Karen Shonk's plaster heart canvas; a few of my pretties at Show and Tell night. On the right is our plaster class table at Show and Tell

A few more pretties from the other classes. Book arts, painting and jewels.

I reunited with friends from last year, met new friends I hope to see again and hugged blogging friends in person (Juliette Crane, Louise Gale and Beth Nicholls) instead of over the Internet. Can you tell I had a great time?!?

Clockwise left to right: Kelly Warren and Leah Virsik (My awesome cottage mates!); me and my "long lost sistah" Kelly; the Scorpio Soul Sistahs Monica Moran, me and Diana Britt; me and Louise Gale

And the class I took? Rocked me to the core. I am now totally in love with plaster, Rigid Wrap, joint compound, and the delightful musings of the talented Stephanie Lee!! She's one cool chick and one talented artist. She has an online plaster class coming up so I encourage you to try it and get plastered.

A few hearts made by me out of Rigid Wrap plaster and paint. They're going to be a garland when they grow up!

To add to the sparkle of the retreat it snowed! All of the California gals were outside taking photos of the snow while the east coast gals were inside the warm classroom making fun of us: "You think THAT"S snow?!?" "I'll show you real snow." "You're taking photos of SNOW?!?" "California women are weird."

Yes, we are weird when it comes to something that rarely happens here! Unless you live in the high mountains of California, snow is not a common thing we experience, so we all had to take photos to prove that snow really does exist!

So here's to An Artful Journey (Thank you Cindy O'Leary for your artistic vision!) and to all of the supergroovytalentedcool chicks who made it so fun!!!!!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Artful

Artful Journey Here I Come!!

2011-02-17T11:20:00.000-08:00

Time for my yearly adventure to An Artful Journey in Los Gatos, CA. This year I'm taking a plaster class with the fabulous Stephanie Lee! And I get to see friends I made there last year, as well as meet new friends I've met through blogging. It's going to be one fun estrogen enhanced creative gathering, let me tell ya'!!

I'll be back next week with photos.

Hope ya'll have a groovy weekend :)

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B on an Artful Journey

From my heART to Yours

2011-02-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

How could I not adore a day devoted entirely to LOVE and hearts??

Especially with some yummy fluffy wonderful marshmallows

in the shape of a heart!

(Editor's note: a few marshmallows were eaten in the filming of this blog)

So here's to you, my supergroovycoollovesistahs in blog land...

from my heART to yours

A VERY

HAPPY

VALENTINE'S

DAY!!!

peace, love & heART

Gwynnie B Lovin' You

Peach Paradise

2011-02-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

Because sometimes you need a cocktail

peach schnapps

peach vodka

orange juice

grenadine

splash of champagne

In the middle of the afternoon.

And sometimes you need to hey diddle diddle

because the cow jumped over the moon.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Peachy

Pretty Pretties

2011-02-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pretties to share with you. Rubies. Rhodanite garnets. Yellow topaz. Pink tourmalines. Moss aquamarines. Oh my. A chick can never have too many earrings, right?!?

But what am I to do with this necklace?

smokey quartz

aqua marines

turquoise

citrines

handcrafted fine silver

14kt gold fill

I began to feel love while I was crafting it. Then the full on love affair began when it was finished. 40" to wear long or wrap around a sweet neck. Should I be greedy and keep it all to myself? Or should I spread the love and put it in a gallery?

May everyone be safe and warm this weekend!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

New Pretties

2011-02-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

There are some new pretties in my Etsy shop! But before I could do that I had to have a bit of help from my cute assistant...

For those of you with cats you know the drill. Put anything on a table or the floor and the cat automatically thinks it's there for him to lie on, mess with, sit on, or just outright claim with purrs because he can.

Hope you likey my pretties!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

Oprah and the Happiness of SLO

2011-01-27T12:17:00.000-08:00

Did anyone see Oprah yesterday? I happened to turn her on between the tennis games of the Australian Open (Nadal lost and I cried. Really. I have a big crush on that Spaniard).

The show was all about happiness. Goldie Hawn was on, who oozes happiness, as well as people who research happiness and people who were just born happy. Goldie and Oprah also did a quiz to see how happy Oprah's audience was and it was quite interesting.

Then Oprah said she found the happiest place to live in the U.S. and I about fell out of my chair. The happiest place to live is San Luis Obispo, CA, 35 minutes from where I live! We're there several times a week to grocery shop, visit friends, go to the movies, eat out, take art classes, basically everything we can't do in our small town of Cambria. I consider SLO my other hometown and was not surprised Oprah said it was the happiest place to live.

Jenny McCarthy was the host of the segment (can you be any sexier and funnier than that woman??) and went around town talking to the locals. I immediately called the gallery I'm in to tell them and they already knew about the segment since it was filmed earlier in the year. Sara said the local news crews were out interviewing people around town and the bars and restaurants were packed with people watching the show. Everyone was so excited to be noticed on a national level!

Why is SLO the happiest place to live? Because diversity is encouraged, the arts are supported, the weather is yummy year round, the downtown area encourages walking and socializing, the people are friendly, it has one of the best universities in Cal Poly, Mother Nature is embraced with the ocean and the many trials for hiking, walking, and bike riding, the crime rate is low and mostly due to drunk college kids, there are no drive-throughs with fast food, no smoking anywhere, the area is truly beautiful, and overall it's just a really cool place to live and to visit. It's the sum of the town and its people that make it so unique.

So next time you're in the area stop by San Luis Obispo, CA, and be happy!!!!

I was happy when I found this heart shaped pearl mixed in with oblong ones yesterday.

And I was happy when the always happy and crazy talented and super cool Kelly Berkey gave me and 4 other artists the Liebster Award. Such a treat and an honor. Check out her beautiful blog today and find some happy!

What makes you happy, dahlings???

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Happy

Weekend Fun

2011-01-24T12:47:00.000-08:00

It's been busy here in my studio so I decided to kidnap my man for a weekend full of sunshine, lemonade, onion rings, Mother Nature, and my camera, of course.

Santa surprised me with these groovy boots. They have winged hearts just like my logo!

Bubblegum Alley is in downtown San Luis Obispo, CA. I placed my first piece of gum on these very walls when I was a kid.

Because you needed to see this up close, right?!?!

View from the cliffs of the Fiscalini Ranch preserve, about 5 minutes from our house.

The black spots behind the crane are birds, otters and seaweed.

Dotted throughout the trial on the preserve are handcrafted benches locals made out of driftwood. The one on the bottom left corner is my meditation bench. I love to sit here after I walk and just chill. It's also a beautiful place to watch the sunset.

Happy Monday, dahlings!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie

Let There Be Light

2011-01-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

This morning the sunlight was pure magic. Before I knew it my camera was in my hands taking shots of Bleu Kitty in the window. I was captured by the light. Captured by Bleu's reflection in the window, the length of his tail, and the way the sunlight was washing over everything it gently kissed.

When I finished taking the shots I stood back in bliss. I was following my dream of being a creative person everyday. When I don't take photos or paint or design or even create a nice dinner, a part of me just doesn't feel right.

Today it feels right.

I hope you're feeling right today and enjoying the uniqueness that is you.

"If you give up your dream, you die."

 ~Nick Hurley Flashdance

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Groovin'

Quartzsite, AZ Rocks!!

2011-01-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

Oh what an adventure I had this past week in Quartzsite, Arizona! Beads. Stones. Rocks. Beading supplies. More beads.

Crazy women acting as if they'd never seen beads before.

Pure madness with silly fun added into the big bead bag of life.

This wasn't the Tucson International Bead and Mineral show. This was a big, bad ass bead show that had plenty for everyone. I've been to bead shows, but not like this. This was part swap meet, part rock show, part RV show, part bead show.

For the 6 of us who went it was the Beaders Gone Wild Show.

Mel checking out inventory. Beads galore as far as the eye can see.

The highlight was meeting John, our new favorite friend. In the middle of the desert, surrounded by white EZ Up tents, was John and his crew in a red and blue circus tent. You couldn't miss him. Melanie has done business with him in the past so we were treated like Beading Royalty when he saw us.

We were taken to the back of the tent and shown all of the pretties he was saving for the Tucson show. He brought out trays and trays and bags and bags of beads and stones from all over the world that I had never even heard of. All exceptional quality and clarity. At one point Melanie had to stage an intervention because I couldn't stop grabbing beads and adding them to my collection (Thanks, Mel).

We were even treated to homemade chai tea and gifts of sapphires and rubies because we were there for over 3 hours going through so many lovelies! The stones are all hand cut from a village in India were the craftsmen have been doing this for over a 1,000 years in their village. John showed us photos of the process, which really gave me a better understanding of how these amazing cuts are made.

Corin and John (AKA The Bead Whore) and our pot of homemade chai tea.

My loot. Thank goodness for credit cards.

When we weren't at Quartzsite shopping til we dropped we stayed at Cheryl's lovely home on the Colorado River on the Keys in Parker, AZ. Plenty of yummy junk food, laughter, a few beers, and of course, beading into the night. Best slumber party I ever went to! Thank you Cheryl, Mel, Carol, Cindy, and Corin for such a memorable week.

London Blue Topaz, Amethyst, Moss Aqua, Lemon Quartz, Citrine. A few of my new pretties.

Now it's time to create! Valentine's Day is just around the corner...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Rockin'

Long Live Beads!

2011-01-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

I'm off to Quartzsite, Arizona, for a week with 2 of my tribe mates today, the supergroovycool Melanie and Carol. We're headed for the annual Gem and Mineral Show!! I know, I'm panting with excitement as I write this.

Beads, Stones. Pearls. Shiny things. Things I don't need but can't live without. I'm hoping to find many colorful goodies to add to my very small collection compared to some chicks I know ( you know who you are, Kelly, Riki, Marlene, Diana B!). I've never been to a show this big or for so long, so it's going to be a grand adventure. A bead show and an all chicks slumber party at Carol's sister's house.

I'll be off-line this week but I'll be back with goodies and photos to share.

Have a supergroovywayfun weekend, dahlings!!!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Beadin'

The Joy of Mistakes

2011-01-07T15:26:00.000-08:00

Earring charms with patina waiting to be polished

There are 2 songs I've been singing this week: "Sunshine On My Shoulders" by John Denver and "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" from the Broadway musical Annie.

After days and days of rain the sun shinning above us is a beautiful thang. Bright. Warm. Lovely.

Plus, it dries things up, even in my studio. And with that comes studio time once again!!

A few months ago I was asked to submit a necklace sample from a logo design for a large association with many chapters throughout California. To my delight, and horror, my sample was chosen! (The horror is due to the perfectionist side of being an artist. You know the drill: Will they like it? It's so many, am I able to do this? Is it good enough? Blah blah blah)

They enjoyed the sample so much they also wanted earrings and brooches. Panic soon set in.

While making the samples I ran across a few issues that required more time than expected. Mistakes were also made. But were they really mistakes??

The other night on Sixty Minutes Wynton Marsalis was on. This man is a musical prodigy, and in my opinion a great asset to the world with all he gives back both musically and as a philanthropist. While being interviewed by the charming Morley Safer he brought up mistakes. To Wynton, mistakes are a necessary part of being an artist. Without mistakes, he said, how can you improve on anything you do, or learn more about who you are as a person and what you bring to your craft?

You must embrace mistakes as part of success.

This really resonated with me. The "mistakes" I thought I made this week were not mistakes at all. They were great learning lessons which allowed more wisdom and knowledge to flow through me and transfer to my craft. I learned more about the alchemy of metal, the serendipitous nature of chemicals, the art of planning ahead, and the allowance of forgiving myself because I'm not perfect.

Finished earring charms awaiting ear wires

The samples will be distributed to the many California chapters in the coming weeks with orders to follow. My panic has been replaced with pride and accomplishment, and a sense of wonder that beautiful mistakes can bring.

The sun'll come out

Tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar

That tomorrow

There'll be sun!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Mistaking

(won't you join me?!?!)

The Wrath of Mother Nature

2011-01-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

When it rains hard for 24 hours non-stop, with winds and some hail, when you can't cross the road because water is moving too fast, and when your neighbors come by with arms full of towels, you know you're in trouble.

My last post was only the beginning of the chaos to come. I mentioned that Mother Nature could "bring it on" with the next rains because we were ready. Well, the Bitch brought it on and we weren't ready for her wrath.

This is the water flowing down our road.

Water rushing down the hill next to our house and the main pump. We didn't stand a chance.

At one point I was beginning to gather the animals because we couldn't keep up with the water coming up from the foundation and every corner of the house. We thought we would have to abandon everything and just let the water embrace our little corner of the world.

The rains eventually stopped, the pumps were adjusted to work again, and the water finally began to disappear from the house.

A new main pump is being put in today with plans for a second one in spring when things have dried up.

In the meantime I'm physically exhausted from removing gallons and gallons of water, moving heavy water soaked rugs, and moving furniture and anything else in the way of the encroaching water. I'm also mentally exhausted from the worry and panic, and overall experience.

Because of this I've not been able to respond to blog comments or keep in touch or read what everyone else is doing this New Year. The sun is out today (a big hallelujah, brothers and sistahs!!), so once things dry out and my studio and home are put back together, I'll be back :)

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Pooped

Wet and Wild Weather

2010-12-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

When it rains it pours, and it certainly has been pouring here on the central coast of California. Our county has been declared a State of Emergency due to all of the flooding from the over abundance of rain, rain, rain.

Ponds and pastures are lakes.

Creeks and streams are rivers.

Water is literally gurgling up from the ground because it has no where else to go.

And one of our pumps decided it was a good time to stop working during the latest rainfall. My dry studio became Water World --- while my man was out of town.

So here I am with water covering my studio floor and my feet, shock beginning to set in, I'm not sure what to do, and my 2 dogs and 2 cats are looking at me like, "It's bad enough it's wet outside, but did you really need to bring the rain into our home??"

The good news? Tito and Phil helped me fix the pump and get all of the water out. There was minimal damage and the rugs are now clean. And nothing floated away.

This is the stream coming down the hill onto our driveway.

It's moving fairly fast

Water coming out of the pipe from the pump. Every 1 minute!

Water coming down the hill on the other side of the driveway. Constantly.

I didn't get any photos of my studio because I was really numb to what was actually happening. I also decided to wake up with an ear infection because I wasn't having enough drama for one day.

Flooded studio with aching ear causes one to think a bit differently during a crisis!

Today I am finally back in my very dry and clean studio ready to create. More rains this weekend so bring it on Mother Nature! My man is home now, I'm on meds, the sun is out, and I'm ready to ring in the new year!

It's all good.

Wishing each and every one of you a very Happy Happy New Year!!!

See you "next year" with new pretties, new posts and new adventures.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

The Aftermath of Abundance

2010-12-27T13:53:00.000-08:00

My cup does not runneth over, my belly does.

Christmas music does not float through the air anymore, only moans and groans of too much pie, cookies, fudge, candy, and anything else I could shove into my merry mouth.

Gifts are being put away, and yes, a few will be re-gifted (Sorry, Daddy, but I do not need a giraffe toilet paper holder).

As I reflect on the abundance of Christmas I couldn't help but notice my little silver ornaments outside. The heavy rains we've had battered them, filled their bellies with water, and artfully peeled back their silver lining. Kinda' like Christmas: full of lots of gooey love but a bit rough around the edges when it's over.

The red ornaments, however, withstood the natural elements and decided to show me something: my reflection in a "crystal ball." In this tiny little red ball I saw the sun. The clouds. A bright future.

I looked at the 2 small ornaments hanging gracefully on a wind blown juniper, both different yet the same, and I smiled. Life is like that. It gives and it takes. And it gives some more.

So let's all wear our sunglasses during this crazy winter we're all having. Because the future is bright for all of us, dahlings.

***********************************

The ever so talented and super sweet Juliette Crane spotlighted Gwynnie B Designs on her blog Saturday. Stop by her blog for a visit and swoon over her darling owl paintings like I do!

Juliette is also featured in the January 2011 issue of Somerset Studio magazine. I can't wait to get mine and drool over all of the talent that graces this amazing magazine's pages.

Congrats, Juliette!!

*************************************

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

Wonderful Winter Solstice

2010-12-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

May your first day of winter be full of

and without any strange hay accidents.

May your first day of winter be full of

while you hum "Joy to the World" knowing Jeremiah was a bullfrog, and yes, he was a good friend of mine.

May your first day of winter be a very

as you release the old to make room for the new. And of course, may it also be embraced with warm clothing on cold days with a touch of hot chocolate as a lovely accessory.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Solsticed

Peace, Baby

2010-12-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about peace lately. Maybe because last week was the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Or because Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the Solstice are all celebrated this month. Plus, there's peace again in my home now that my man and I are back to our sassy selves after waging war with illness.

Peace comes in many forms and in so many ways.

It can be peaceful when the rain lightly dances on the roof at night.

There's peace when you come to terms with an addiction and begin to recover.

Peace embraces us when we're more loving to someone who has annoyed us.

There's peace in the generosity of someone's smile.

Peace in living simply.

Peace when a furry companion licks your face and you giggle.

Singing creates peace, and forgiving and laughing more often and owning our vulnerabilities.

There's peace in valuing diversity.

Peace in friendship and family.

Almost everyday I wear my peace necklace. It's my reminder to be peaceful and to live in peace. The square peace charm was handcrafted by me while the pearls that surround it came from Japan after WWII. A time of peace due to a war.

My grandparents eventually moved back to California and my Gramma brought back a few things. One particular box contained loose pearls of various sizes in a beautiful creamy color and luster that only pearls can emit. For over 50 years these pearls quietly stayed in their box untouched by hands or kissed by light.

When I finally opened that box of pretties I knew they needed to be paired with something special. That's when my square peace charm came into existence. I hand linked various sizes of the pearls on silver wire and then went quiet when the peace charm gracefully attached itself to the necklace. Not only did I feel peace from my creation but I also felt a sense of family knowing that these pearls were hand picked by my Gramma years ago during a time in history with so much uncertainty.

And there's peace in celebrating Peace.

Every. Single. Day.

peace, love & heART to every one of you,

Gwynnie B Peaceful

Sidelined by the Grinch

2010-12-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

Baby blue flowers from my garden in Spring

The Grinch came to our house this year. And was he a nasty one! He came disguised as food poisoning and took out both Richie and I with no apologies or remorse.

So that's why the absence and disappearance from my blog and emails. It wasn't by choice, and let me just say, I don't wish food poisoning on even my worst enemy (not that I have any enemies, but if I did I wouldn't want them to experience this!).

Not quite normal yet but well enough today to say hello and to share some nice news with you:

A friend of mine (the ever so cool dame, Diana) mentioned I should be on Crescendoh sharing my story of art. I contacted them and now my story is there for you to read! Susan over at Crescendoh did a great job editing my story so please stop by to read it, and to check out the great things Crescendoh has to offer in all things art. (I'm the 3rd story featured on today's blog.)

I've missed ya'll so hope everyone is sassy and healthy!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Better

Wonderful Wednesday

2010-12-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

I'd like to share my Wednesday with you...a walk on the beach and a stroll in a canopy of trees.

My camera had no choice but to capture the Feline God that Bleu Kitty is.

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B

GrateFULL

2010-11-26T14:55:00.000-08:00

If you celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday I hope you had an abundance of gratefulness. We did with groovy friends, yummy food and clear blue skies.

So here is my list of GrateFULLness today:

*The dry cleaner can get the butter stains from last night out of my new silk birthday blouse

*My man is on vacation so we get to play

*My man's vacation is not too long that he'll bug me (a chick needs her space)

*Flea season is over and the neighborhood is happy once more (it was ugly this year)

*I have leftover marshmallows for hot chocolate tonight

*Elastic is a good thing and so underrated

*Election ads are over

*I have a FULL life, thanks in part to the supergroovy blog community that has embraced me

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B GrateFULL

A Diamond in The City

2010-11-23T18:06:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was my birthday so The Man and I went to San Francisco to hang out and celebrate.

First stop: Nordstrom on Market Street. Second stop: a multi-level Anthropologie. Third stop: Dick Blick art supplies. Oh whata' fun shopping experience it was!

As it got dark the storm arrived spilling rain everywhere creating such beautiful reflections with the city's lights and wet streets. Like colorful little diamonds sparkling around us.

It was a lovely sight but by now we were wet and tired and hungry and we needed a taxi to get back to our hotel. Finding a taxi on a Friday night in San Francisco is no easy feat, let me just say.

After trying to wave down countless taxis one finally arrived to whisk us away. The taxi that stopped for us was a van so I needed to step up into it. Problem was I had my purse, camera, umbrella, and shopping bags so I wasn't able to get in very gracefully. Richie had to push my big behind from behind to get me in the dang taxi.

As soon as I rolled over the seats and plopped myself down a horrible feeling swept over me. I felt as if I'd lost something.

I looked down at my wedding ring and noticed my diamond was gone. Yep, a big black hole where it used to be was now staring back at me.

My heart sunk a thousand depths.

The ride back to the hotel was in slow motion as I tried to figure out what happened. When we finally arrived at the hotel the taxi driver helped us look but we found nothing.

We went up to our room, put things away and then headed down to the restaurant.

I immediately ordered a Cosmopolitan with Absolute mandarin vodka.

I ordered another one.

Then I broke down and cried in my potato skins.

The next morning we woke up to this and a sense of calm washed over me.

It was just an object that I lost. Something that can be replaced. Yes, it's the diamond that symbolizes my marriage, but the love my husband and I have for each other is priceless.

So I put my black big girl panties with polka dots on and continued to have fun!

We met some wonderful friends at the de Young Museum in the Golden Gate Park to see the traveling Impressionist show from France. Van Gogh, Cezanne, Renoir, Denis, Gauguin. Famous paintings I've only seen in photos where right in front of me. It was hard not reaching out and caressing them! I've had 2 weekends full of fabulous art and I was in heaven.

Vincent van Gogh Bedroom at Arles and Paul Gauguin Self-Portrait with Yellow Christ

We then went up to The Tower to see breathtaking views of this gorgeous and radiating city.

Golden Gate arches peeking up from the hills

I had a wonderful birthday full of big love and good wishes in a city that I adore. But damn, it was an expensive one!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Less Sparkly but Oh-So Grateful

An Artful Weekend

2010-11-15T14:44:00.000-08:00

My weekend was full of art, from modern to the masters and artful fun to friendship!

Friday night was spent at the colorful Fiona Blue Gallery in Morro Bay, CA. My pretties are sold here so it's always fun to be included in the annual open house. My man and I got to hang out with the gallery owners and some of the gallery's other artists, as well as mingle with the customers.

Then on Saturday I got to spend it with Monica (The Creative Beast herself) in Santa Barbara, CA, at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Monica and I met last year at An Artful Journey and have been friends since! We're also both Scorpios celebrating our birthdays within 2 days of each other. So what better way to celebrate friendship and birthdays then to go to a museum!

We live hours away from each other (California is so huge sometimes!) but Santa Barbara is half-way between us. Darn, we got to hang out in one of our favorite towns and look at art.

Here are a few of the things we admired and wanted to hang on our living room walls or put in the garden. (Flash is not permitted so a few of the photos are a bit blurry due to that)

Claude Monet Waterloo Bridge

Gaston Lachaise Floating Figure

Marc Chagall Horse-Woman

Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux The Spirit of the Dance

Monica handcrafted the most delightful tiara for me. Pink butterflies and velvet ribbon!!

Hope you had a delightful and artful weekend!

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Artful

2010-11-12T11:38:00.000-08:00

Today the sun is beaming, embracing everything with sparkle. Even the turquoise sky and the strings of little purple and white lights I have dancing around my studio are sparklier.

I wrote this quote on my studio wall in front of my painting area, to remind me that when I create I only need to create for myself and no one else.

And then I go and put little sparkly lights around it! I can't help it. I thrive to sparkle and my environment must sparkle with me.

This quote gently reminds me to be authentic while there's no need to hurry as I embrace that authenticity. And by being my authentic self I must sparkle on the inside and sometimes on the outside.

Walls included.

Fairytopia Barbie doing a Brittney.

I hope you all have a sparkly weekend. And don't hurry while enjoying it...

peace, love & heART,

Gwynnie B Sparkly