Cranberries and Ice

No Way!  Frozen Cranberry letters via Oufitqueen, originally spied on Letterology.

Stripes Ahoy, and Other Nautical Finds

Hi friends…sorry I haven’t felt much like blogging lately.  I’ve had this post in draft format and perhaps it is time to share.  It seems any blogger worth her (sea) salt does a nautical post these days, and what better time than when we are fighting off the winter blahs?

Well I’m on the Downeaster “Alexa”
And I’m cruising through Block Island Sound
I have charted a course to the Vineyard
But tonight I am Nantucket bound

We took on diesel back in Montauk yesterday
And left this morning from the bell in Gardiner’s Bay
Like all the locals here I’ve had to sell my home
Too proud to leave I worked my fingers to the bone

So I could own my Downeaster “Alexa”
And I go where the ocean is deep
There are giants out there in the canyons
And a good captain can’t fall asleep

I’ve got bills to pay and children who need clothes
I know there’s fish out there but where God only knows
They say these waters aren’t what they used to be
But I’ve got people back on land who count on me

So if you see my Downeaster “Alexa”
And if you work with the rod and the reel
Tell my wife I am trawling Atlantis
And I still have my hands on the wheel

Now I drive my Downeaster “Alexa”
More and more miles from shore every year
Since they tell me I can’t sell no stripers
And there’s no luck in swordfishing here.

I was a bayman like my father was before
Can’t make a living as a bayman anymore
There ain’t much future for a man who works the sea
But there ain’t no island left for islanders like me

Song by Billy Joel

I don’t know if you’ve heard of One Kings Lane , but I’ve enjoyed perusing.  You have to sign up (it’s free) and you have to not mind getting and email every day telling you about the daily deals.  Most of these photos happen to be sold out but I still can drool, right?  Plus, now I know about the work of Massimo Vitali , so anytime I need a virtual beach vacation, I can just take a peek at his wonderful work. And, um, his website plays ocean sounds.

Wicked expensive but uber-cute “Ohoy”nautical children’s wallpaper here

Tretorn Boots here

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Paul Ferney, The Commission Project

Coney Island Beach by Mina Georgescu here

There’s a Possiblility by Ciara Enriquez here.

Lil J.Crew dress here

Others…

Land’s End Striped Throw,

Grasscloth Wallpaper

And another Poem, here

Frosted Sweetly

Pink Glow

Boo!

This little oil-painted lass is by Emily Winfield Martin, author of  Inside a black Apple blog,  and a  book I have called the Black Apple Paper Doll primer that I like quite a lot.  Emily is a Pacific Northwest artist, and has been a guest on Martha Stewart.  She has a very distinctive whimsical style as you can see by perusing her Etsy shop or BuyOlympia. FUN!!  Another fun read is her auxiliary blog cataloging her vintage finds, Some Girls Wander By Mistake.

New Paintings Above the Mantle

They are roughly 12×4″ and are $60 for the pair.

Mood Boards of Destiny

Haha!  I like to amuse myself, when not with puns, with just cosmically nerdy phrases.  “Pigs in Spaaaaaace” from the Muppets works for me, too.  Anyway.  My point.  See the similarities in color between the paintings and the mood board?  Proof that gathering inspiration works.  The ideas permeate my mind, remix and reemerge, all because of a silly moodboard.  My advice for anyone trying to come up with a cohesive vision for a project is make sure NOT to skip this step!

I am reminded of a quote I came across the other day:  “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character;  sow a character reap a destiny.”  -Stephen Covey.  That’s where the DESTINY part comes in.    I see this little corner of my life called ‘artwork’ and I notice how in the small and grand scale of life, the vision is just as important as the work that goes into making the vision a reality.

Also, if  ‘you make what you see’ is as true as ‘you are what you think,’ maybe I should lay off the J.Crew catalog, huh?

xoxo,

Hannah

Tangled

We finally saw it last night.  Awww!

(image from here)

Deco Echo

Also, go to Etsy and type in ‘art deco’ for great artwork.  Fun!

J Crew. Deco Necklace here

Deco Bow Tie Cuff here

 

 

 

Lulu Frost for J. Crew Thin Deco Bangle available in yellow, green, ivory and mustard here

Lulu Frost for J. Crew Turquoise stone bangle here

Deco Bow Bangle here

Deco Cabochon ring here

LuluFrost for J. Crew crystal duette pendant necklace here

Lulu Frost for J. Crew crystal and resin earrings here

Lulu Frost for J. Crew Resin and Crystal Applique earrings here

Pearl strand locket here

Pluma Mesh bracelet here

Lulu Frost for J. Crew bohemian lattice bracelet here

Deco Brooch necklace here

Beautiful Mess

Some people find hair and money in their couch cushions.  I am lucky enough to find stars.  Thank you, Little One.

Glitter, Glitter Everywhere

My happiest creating sessions involve paint, glitter, glue, or today, all three.  I don’t know what ‘metallic crinkle’ is, but it resembles Easter grass.  And I hate Easter grass.  But cut the metallic crinkle into little confettis and am sprinkling liberally over my still-wet and dripping magic wands.