Enchanted Chandeliers

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

2011-05-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

Creature from the sea by Jessica Polka. Her work and patterns can be found at her Wunderkammer shop. Thanks to Multiple Muse Disorder Blog.

I just looked through some older Smithsonian Magazines and stumbled across this amazing exhibition that happened in December last year at The Smithsonian: "The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef"
Now this is a perfect combination of nerdy science (Hyperbolic Math principles), environmentalism (creating awareness about the our dying coral reefs) and crafting (crocheting hyperbolic math models that also look like under water fauna and flora).
I am also very impressed by the collaborative aspect of this art project. More than 800 volunteers of all ages crocheted the individual pieces that make up the coral reef that was on view at The Smithsonian . Read the article here or watch the video of the artist:

Embossing Velvet Class

2011-03-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure to spend the day with 4 talented ladies, who wanted to learn Embossing On Velvet. They created beautiful stamps with which they decorated the velvet. I love the different types of designs: ornamental, natural and abstract.

Decoupage Glass Plate Class

2011-03-16T22:36:00.001-07:00

I taught a lovely group of ladies how to decoupage on a glass plate. We had a lot of fun designing these collages behind glass. I'll be teaching more classes at The Castle the coming months.

New Fall Art Classes

2010-10-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Fall is here and so are my new art classes at Castle in the Air, on 4th Street in Berkeley.
If you want to sign up for a class call the shop at 510/ 2049801 or go online here to sign up
I look forward to seeing you and creating together!
all the best,
elisabeth

Silhouette Luminary
Have fun playing with silhouettes, either affixing them to a luminary
to cast flickering shadows or framing them. For the silhouette, bring
to class some profile photos of you or a friend. Make sure they have a
light background. (These portrait silhouettes are more traditional,
but you could actually do a silhouette of almost anything – a bird, a
cityscape, a flower, or the Eiffel Tower, for example.) You’ll learn
how to use a scanner and a simple transfer technique to outline the
resulting silhouette on special, self-adhesive black paper, which
Castle imports from Germany. You’ll then use paper punches, black
Dresden, and decorative papers to create your silhouette luminary or
picture.
Fee: $75; includes materials. Bring a pair of sharp scissors for fine
cutting. Nail scissors work well.
Instructor: Elisabeth Alexander. Limit: 10 students.
Tuesday, October 5th, 6pm-9pm

Whimsical Witches
Here’s a chance for you to be a freakishly fiendish witch for
Halloween! It will be your face staring out from this Whimsical Witch
Halloween collage. Or perhaps you want it to be a friend’s face.
Before class, email the photo you’d like to use to Elisabeth (email to
be supplied). She will transform your photo into a black and white
image properly sized to fit seamlessly on a paper bodice. You’ll have
the fun of creating the witch’s costume from a selection of fabulous
papers, rubber stamps, Dresden, and ribbon. Give your card as a
Halloween gift or keep it for yourself. If you prefer not to use a
photo, Elisabeth will have extra images available for you to use.
Fee: $75; includes materials, but feel free to bring holiday themed
papers and ephemera to use.
Instructor: Elisabeth Alexander. Limit: 12 students.
Wednesday, October 27th, 6pm-9pm

Gilded Holiday Emblem
Inspired to create a more meaningful Christmas celebration, Elisabeth
designed these small holiday ornaments. Each contains a word or brief
phrase to identify something from the past year for which she’s
grateful, or to signify a quality or blessing she would like to invite
into her home and life for the coming year. The simple but charming
ornaments are created with vintage images, paper punches, rubber
stamps, and German glass glitter.
Fee: $75; includes materials, but feel free to bring small images
meaningful to you.
Instructor: Elisabeth Alexander. Limit: 12 students.
Tuesday, December 7th, 6pm-9pm

Printing on Fabric Class

2010-08-23T20:38:00.001-07:00

I spent my Sunday with three lovely and talented ladies in the Studio of the Imagination, which is the class room at Castle in the Air. I had the best time teaching "Printing on Fabric" to this unique group of smart, enthusiastic and very artistic students. I loved how they experimented with the medium, creating new and inspiring treatments with the fabric paints. I can't wait to find the time and stencil a batch of damask embellished linen tea towels myself.

Hand printed T-shirt

2010-08-23T20:31:00.000-07:00

I am so excited by my "Printing on Fabric " class at the Castle. So I have been experimenting with stencil cutting and repeat patterns. The result is this beautiful t-shirt, which I hand stenciled.

Butterfly Reliquary (RIP)

2010-08-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Ulla Milbrath's Reliquary Class I had a craft date with my friend John McRae and we set out to create our own personal reliquaries. But first of all, you may ask: "What exactly is a reliquary?" Well, according to Wikipedia : "A reliquary (also referred to as a shrine or by the French term châsse) is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures."
My reliquary is a resting place for a dead butterfly I found on my porch. I initially had placed him on a book shelf to keep him safe, but knew that I had to find a safer and permanent home for him soon. I lined his oval box with crushed velvet and embellished it with vintage gold cord and Dresden paper trim. I also included a poem by Philip Larkin, which reads:
"And the case of butterflies so rich it looks
As if all summer settled there and died"
I wrote this poem with my finest nib in my tiniest hand writing. I closed the box with a window made from mica and soldered the edges close. The size of the oval box is 3 and 3/4 inches by 2 and 3/4 inches.

Fairy Habitat

2010-08-23T19:54:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure to create a Fairy Habitat from one of our Fairy House kits, we sell at the Castle. These kits are a perfect gift for any fairy enthusiast, no matter what age, who likes to be crafty and create. The kits are delivered in a lovely box (decorated with Italian paper - and can be used for storing other important items , once empty of its original contents). Inside youy find a plethora of natural materials, like twigs, reeds, moss, dried mushroom caps, fabric flower and German spun cotton mushrooms, as well as a wooden base and a lovely German Fairy doll. All you need to add is glue and you are on your way to create your own unique Fairy House.

The Mermaid Collection

2010-08-23T19:42:00.001-07:00

This summer I created a special jewelry collection for Castle in the Air. Inspired by my co-worker, who suggested that I should make jewelry that the Castle's mermaid (she, herself a creation by John MacRae) would wear, I set out to assembly pearls, watery-pastel colored semi precious stones and cast my own silver sea shell and charms. The result has been displayed and is for sale at The Castle.

Fabric Flower Class with Ulla

2010-08-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

In June I took Ulla Milbrath's "Summer Blooms" class at the Castle. I went with my friend Lisa. We had a wonderful time learning to make fabric flowers, which we turned into pins and necklaces. The weeks that followed I couldn't stop wearing my fabric flower necklace - I loved it so much! Check out Ulla's blog with pictures of the other student's creations.

My fabulous dress by Sarah Borruso

2010-08-23T18:59:00.001-07:00

I am wearing in this picture the fabulous "Unfolding Dress" by the talented designer Sarah Borruso, who owns the San Francisco fashion label Stars + Ravens. I went to one of Sarah's trunk shows and fell in love with her style: vintage meets modern - very San Francisco. "The unfolding dress" was originaly created in a beautiful silk charmeuse . Knowing how chilly San Francisco and the Bay Area are most of the year, I opted for a light wool as fabric of choice. Sarah made this custom dress for me and I am so delighted with it.
Here I am at Sarah's second trunk show in another fabulous dress she designed. This dress is made of a lovely heavy silk that she hand painted. Her own dress has the same cut, but she cut lots of little slashes into the fabric. Very cool!
Last not least I had to try on her Monika Vitti dress, that sports a sexy opening in the back.

Amazing Decoupage Glass Plates

2010-06-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday I taught Decoupage Glass Plate at Castle In The Air to a delightful group of talented arts and crafts aficionados. First we created a collage from the plethora of images available. Then we affixed this collage behind a glass plate. During the "glue-drying" break we created little mini collages behind magnifying glass pebbles that will stick with their magnetic backing to a refrigerator. I am really happy with the interesting designs my students came up with. It is always inspiring to work in a group, because you get a multitude of creative expressions.

Meeting Nikki McClure

2010-06-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

I have been admiring the work of paper-cut artist Nikki McClure for a while. I bought two of her prints at Giant Robot and blogged about her here. So it was my good fortune to meet her in person, when she gave a talk about her new children's book "Mama, is it summer yet?"
(Thank you, Sarah, for alerting me to the event!)

I loved hearing how she does her paper cuts and seeing her tools, including an ultra-special Japanese sticky cutting mat. Meeting her in person was a delight, because she is such a kind and positive person!

My New Summer Classes At The Castle

2010-05-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Decoupage Glass Plate

Learn the fascinating technique of glass decoupage using a six-inch round plate as the object for embellishment. As part of the class, you’ll learn how to use an Epson printer/scanner as a fabulous tool for collaging. The printer/scanner enables you to preserve your originals, convert them into waterproof images, and easily manipulate the size. Elisabeth will bring hers in for you to experiment with. You’ll learn about the right glue, the preferred paper, and the inks to successfully collage on glass.

Fee: $75; includes materials, but feel free to bring in some images of your own (no larger than 8½” x 11” inches).

Tuesday, June 22, 6pm–9:30pm

Sign up here

Printing On Fabric

Learn the essential skills for successfully printing on fabric in this one-day intensive class. In the morning, Elisabeth will cover design and the use of transfer techniques that don’t require drawing skills. You’ll use these skills to design and carve your own simple stamp from buttery soft rubber. In the afternoon, Elisabeth will discuss the differences in designing stamps and stencils, then teach you techniques for cutting your own stencils. She’ll also describe how to use both your stamps and stencils on other surfaces, including paper and even walls. There will be plenty of extra fabric for you to practice on and a set of two tea towels for you to take home. Feel free to bring any pre-washed, light colored cotton or linen fabric, such as a set of napkins or a tee-shirt, to stamp.

Fee: $95; includes materials.Limit: 10 students.

Sunday, August 22, 11am–5pm

Sign up here

Valentina's music performance

2010-05-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

My daughter had her music performance yesterday. She sang the R'n"B classic "Sitting on the dock of the bay", as well as played the instrumental version of "Hoppipolla" by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros. Sound quality could be better, but I filmed this with my iPhone.

"Sitting on the dock of the bay" by Otis Redding

"Hoppipola" by Sigur Ros

Lovely textures: ruffles and lace

2010-05-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

I came across this new Bristish designer Erdem Moralioglu, simply known as 'Erdem'. He is a graduate of the Royal College of Art and won the prestigious Fashion Fringe Award in 2005. I love his use of lace and ruffle to create texture. He also does awesome prints.
On a visit to Bloomingdale's Valentina and I fell in love with this gorgeous ruffly/feathery skirted Diane Von Furstenberg dress, that I included as the last image, because it also plays successfully with texture. Now reading up on Erdem I find out that he worked with Diane Von Furstenberg for a year. They obviously share some design principles.

Valentina would look beautiful in this Diane Von Furstenberg dress. I love the juxtaposition of a simple tee-shirt dress with the ruffly-feathery skirt. On closer inspections we saw that this skirt was created out of many, many narrow leaf shaped , frayed organza pieces - just amazing!

Crafty Inspirations

2010-05-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Paper Quiling Mosaic

Lacy Cupcake Liners

Paper Rosette

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T21:22:00.001-07:00

I spent a lovely Mother's Day. My mother had sent me a yummy sounding recipe from Dr. Andrew Weil a couple of days ago. I knew that this is what I had to cook for her on Mother's Day. So for lunch I cooked today Dr. Weil's orange glazed salmon fillets, asparagus risotto, roasted beets, feta and spinach salad and for dessert crepes Suzette with strawberries.
Like every year I also made a card for my mom, which you can see above. It was interesting to try and bring some more dimension to my cards. It took me a while to figure out how to construct it and reminds me a bit of a pop-up book construction.
In the morning my daughter presented an amazing drawing to me, that you can see underneath. True to her beautiful pen and ink style she created another mysterious picture that reminds me of situations in a dream.
We also had a wonderful time in the kitchen together. She helped me cook the Mother's Day lunch and entertained me with cool music from her iPod. I wish all Sundays could be Mother's Day... days filled with the creativity and sensuality of making art, cooking food and enjoying each others company.

Fortune Teller Book

2010-04-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with this beautiful Italian sheet paper, depicting a suit of vintage playing cards, that we sell at Castle in the Air . I bought several sheets and used some to create a Fortune Teller Accordion Book. I love the look of playing cards and had to investigate on the web. I found out that playing cards originated in China and came to Europe in the 14th century. The earliest versions were often hand-painted works of art. Nowadays vintage playing cards are highly collectible. This web site has a lot of interesting articles on the subject.

Jonsi - amazing concert

2010-04-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

I saw Jonsi, the singer of the band Icelandic band Sigur Ros yesterday. The concert was like a theatrical show, where each song was accompanied by it's own visuals of light effects , animation and projections. The inspiration for the show was the idea of a burned out taxidermy shop. He is an amazing falsetto singer that greates absolut magic with his voice. Check out the Go Quiet trailer and the Making of the show video: very artsy!

Fanciful Birdhouse Pinwheels by John McRae

2010-04-15T11:19:00.001-07:00

I spent a most enjoyable evening in the Castle's studio, learning from John McRae how to construct "Fanciful Birdhouse Pinwheels". John is an amazing teacher and a master in creating whimsical objects. He is the utmost champion of Dresden trim, a vintage embossed paper trim from Germany. Here he transforms Dresden into fanciful pinwheels. We learned to construct a birdhouse from scratch. Using only some wooden dowels, cardboard, glue, paint and lovely papers and Dresden, he showed us his tricks of the trade. If you want to learn from a master check out his other classes at the Castle.

Printing on Fabric

2010-04-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

I am revisiting "printing on fabric". See the samples I have made in the past for The Workshop and then for Kozo Arts by clicking on the high-lighted links. This time I want to get bolder, use more colors and go for overall patterns. It's an the ideal theme to research pattern making, something that I have had an obsession with a long time. Pattern design is one of the disciplines that has always spoken to me. I have a pattern collection: ripped out images that I glue into a notebook. I also own a bunch of books on patterns. I love using traditional patterns as well as creating my own. Using my hand-carved stamps has been my foremost technique to print on fabric. I love the look stamp printing creates: reminiscent of old woodblock printing, you can often still see the carving lines, that lend it this unique hand-made look. So here is the first batch of images from my test-printing studio. More to come soon....

Inspirational Paper Art

2010-04-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

1. Ferry Staverman is a Dutch artist that creates 3-dimensional objects with cardboard. Her striking paper sculptures seem to be inspired by the natural world and remind us of the organic and complex shapes of sea anemones or fractals. She seems to create shapes that exist in the micro cosmos.

2. Brian Dettmer alters books by carving and cutting away. He never adds to the books, but creates a new context and dimensionality by cutting away and sealing the remainder with varnish for stability. He uses mainly dictionaries, encyclopedias, science text books, as well as old maps, tapes and other out of date media.

3. Michael Velliquette creates dimensional paper collages from colorful cardstock. His work shows off vibrant colors , simple but abundant elements creating a dense and rich pattern structure giving it the look and feel of tribal or folk art.

Pysanky Class at Castle in the air

2010-03-29T19:55:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I had the pleasure of teaching Pysanky - the Ukrainian wax resist egg dyeing technique to 8 lovely ladies. I love crafting in a group, because you get so many multi-facetted results. It was truly inspiring to see the different styles of decoration everybody created!

Pysanky- The Artful Easter Egg

2010-03-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

My pysanky eggs are on display in the Castle's class sample glass case. They are being guarded by this lovely crepe paper bird made by Aimee Baldwin, who teaches a class on how to make this beautiful songbird basket.
The Castle's John McRae surprised me with a gift of goose eggs. I immediately set out and transformed them into Pysanky. Easter trees are traditional in Europe. You hang eggs as ornaments from branches. This is such a wonderful way to welcome spring.
From Indian Paisley to Dandelions and Feathers: I like to come up with patterns and images that are usually not associated with Easter eggs.
The wax-resist technique lends itself well to creating a dandelion or drawing the spidery lines of a peacock feather.

Making Pysanky eggs is a wonderful communal activity. It is one of these crafts that lend itself to sitting around a table with your family and friends busying yourself with embellishing your egg, while enjoying good conversation. I invited John McRae, my college and a talented teacher at Castle in the air over for a Pysanky afternoon. We enjoyed the relaxing afternoon, crafting together and exchanging ideas. John had earlier suprised me with a gift of goose eggs, which are so hard to come by. So naturally we were itching to transform a goose egg. It is double in size from a regular large chicken egg and gives you therefore a bigger canvas to work on. I love how John thought outside the box and embellished his goose egg with the image of an octopus. But then it must be actually no surprise that John had octopus on his mind,because he just recently created a fabulous one for his up-coming "Magical Octopus" class at the Castle.
John's Octopus Goose Egg

I found a new home at Castle In The Air

2010-03-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time that I have posted on this blog and I am excited to tell you some good news. Kozo Arts, where I started teaching classes last October closed it's doors at the end of the year. It was sad, because I enjoyed the collaboration with Kozo, using their beautiful Chiyogami papers for my classes and products. But when one chapter closes another one opens and so true to this saying, a new opportunity presented itself for me in February. I found a new creative home at the fabulous Castle In The Air, on 4th Street in Berkeley! I have adored this store for many years and have taken many classes in it's studio. They have an amazing selection of German Dresden Trim, lovely wrapping papers and elegant writing supplies, to name just a few items. I have learned so much from the amazing teachers who give lessons in the Castle's studio. I studied with the inspirational Alice Armstrong stamp carving and book making, I created magical 3-dimensional objects with the highly creative Ulla Milbrath, learned how to use elegant Dresden trim from the talented and kind John McRae and attended Spencerian Scrip Calligraphy lessons by master calligrapher Bill Kemp there.
I am so very happy to work now in this magical store about once a week, as well as teaching a brand-new class there:
Pysanky - Artful Ukrainian Eggs
The simple egg, in both Pagan and Christian springtime rituals, symbolizes the magical rebirth of life. Pysanky are stunning, intricately decorated eggs whose patterns are achieved through the ancient technique of wax resist dyeing. Using a special stylus, you’ll learn how to draw on an egg with melted beeswax and how to layer gem-colored, water-soluble dyes for a brilliant effect. Elisabeth will bring a variety of traditional and modern patterns for inspiration, and will talk about different ways to display your artful eggs. They look particularly lovely nestled in a bed of moss. You’ll make at least 2 eggs in the class.

Fee: $75; includes materials.

Instructor: Elisabeth Alexander. Limit: 10 students.

Thursday, March 25th, 6pm-9pm

Sign up here.

Also check out the Castle's blog here!

Belated Christmas at my house post

2010-01-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

Showing off my new, warm winter coat and red cashmere scarf in front of our Christmas tree.
I used the Christmas paper ornaments I designed for Kozo Arts in this set up in our dinning room. They are hanging from a mossy tree branch I found on a walk up in Tilden Park.
The glass bell jars hold a miniature winter wonderland scene and other sparkling silver objects that are dear to me. Pine cones are sprayed with antique silver.

Always part of Christmas in our house: Sweets and Flowers!

Christmas Cookie Delight! Our friends Lazarus and Gesina came by with cookie dough and icing and we had a lovely afternoon making Christmas cookies.

Belated Anniversary Card Post

2010-01-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

I made this paper cut-out for my darling husband Scott to celebrate 17 years of "not getting divorced" (quoting my friend Eric here) on November 3rd 2009. I am looking forward to many more adventures together with him!

Belated 2009 Dia de los Muertos Post

2010-01-12T20:49:00.000-08:00

Better late than never: Here are some impressions from last years Dia de los Muertos Parade that always takes place in San Francisco. Armed with votive candles my daughter Valentina, our good friend Camillo and I headed out to the Mission District on a lovely, mild night to join in the parade. It was our first time and I definitely wished I would have known before hand that dressing the part is encouraged. The parade walks through the Mission neighborhood and people sit on their stoops or lean out the windows to see the spectacle. Several bands accompany the procession, which stops and starts, giving the spectators ample time to join in a dance or watch dancers perform. There was a magical and peaceful vibe in the air, even though the parade boosts so many "scary" visions. People bring their babies and toddlers, hold candles or burn sage. I carried a photo of my grandmother Berta Ida, who was the last person in my family and circle of friends to have left this realm. Underneath you can see her portraits (wearing a pink blouse a year before she passed and as a little girl with a Princess Leia hairdo) on my Dia de los Muertos altar.

My Holiday Sale

2009-12-08T10:13:00.000-08:00

You are invited to my Holiday Sale this coming weekend, Saturday, December 12th from 3:30 - 8:30 and Sunday, December 13th, from 11:00 - 5:00 at 1189 Euclid Ave., Berkeley
I am showing my jewelry together with 2 other artisans : Pam Woodbridge - ceramics and Elizabeth Kavaler - etchings.

My December classes at Kozo Arts

2009-11-25T19:32:00.001-08:00

A guide to elegant gift wrapping Wednesday, December 16th, 6:30 - 9:30 pm, at Kozo Arts, 1969A Union street, San Francisco

This class gives you the perfect overview on how to wrap gifts in style. We will demonstrate the basic wrapping technique, then layer different papers and top it off with a beautiful bow. We show you the secret of creating a pom pom bow, a wave bow and a fabulous star bow made from strips of Japanese Chiyogami paper. Last but not least you will learn to carve a stamp in the shape of a Japanese family crest out of buttery soft rubber, which prints up handsome gift tags. This class is suitable for beginners.

Price $ 80.00 (All materials included), sign up here

Artful Paper Ornaments
Tuesday, December 15th, 6:30 - 9:30pm, at Kozo Arts, 1969A Union Street, San Francisco

Tired of the same old ornaments? Create holiday ornaments that express a festive sentiment by combining elegant Japanese Chiyogami papers, vintage imagery and words. Learn tips and tricks on how to cut and layer elements. Then embellish them with lots of glitter. Hang them from branches or decorate your tree with them. Give them as gifts or place them in an envelope instead of a holiday card. This decoupage class is great for beginners as well as seasoned crafters.

Price $ 80.00 (All materials included), sign up here

I like to float my ornaments from a tree branche that seems to be suspended in mid air.

The words express qualities that I want to invoke for the year ahead.

Beautiful wrapped gifts become decorative objects.

I used sparkly embossing powder on the gift tags.

Printing On Fabric - creating a custom table-setting
coming in January

We will hand carve buttery-soft rubber stamps with a leaf motive and use them to print on a set of cotton napkins. You will learn about fabric paints, their application and how to mix colors. The same stamps then can be used to print on paper. We'll create a paper wardrobe to decorate your table: from the dinner-invitation, napkin rings to place-cards and more.

Record your dreams

2009-11-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

Kozo Arts is selling now this blank accordion book that I designed. I went into production for christmas and make every book by hand. It's size is 5x7 and it has 8 blank panels onto which you could affix some photographs, draw your newest inspirations or record your dreams. The book cost $ 45.00. And once you visit Kozo Arts, you can also stock up on beautiful giftwrap papers and notecards.

Amazing Moth Marblers

2009-11-24T21:19:00.000-08:00

Notara from Kozo Arts introduced me to the amazing art of Ingrid Butler of Moth Marblers. Her marbled papers are without a doubt works of art. I have seen my share of beautiful Italien marbeled papers, but Moth Marblers papers stand out for their gorgeous gem-like colors and modern interpretation of this vintage craft.

A world full of inspirations

2009-11-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes something as simple as a beautiful rock can spark our imagination. Nature and its shapes and colors are the most immediate experience of beauty. But then the added human touch can bring us into a realm of whimsy and poetry. Proof are these beautiful images of crochet rocks by Resurrection Fern that I stumbled across.

Artful Greeting Cards at Kozo

2009-10-24T19:58:00.001-07:00

I am absolutely delighted about my newest collaboration! I am teaching a variety of art classes for Kozo Arts, a gorgeous Japanese paper store and bookbindery in San Francisco. The first class
took place last Wednesday, October 21st. It was called "Artful Greeting Cards". I had the pleasure of crafting with 3 lovely ladies, who produced gorgeous greeting cards , incorporating the artful Japanese Chiyogami papers that Kozo Arts sells. This class is a lot of fun, because the cards comprise of different elements: beautiful patterned papers, decoupaged images and stamping techniques. I brought lots of different stamps, cutter and punches and we had papers galore. The class is suited for beginners as well as seasoned crafters. It is always fascinating for me to see the different interpretations my students come up. Check out their beautiful results :

My students busy at work, creating artful greeting cards:

Something my daughter drew

2009-10-23T09:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a drawing my daughter made. I am so proud of her, because I think she is an amazing artist. I love this visual story she created. This is my favorite kind of art, that sparks my imagination and makes me wonder: What is going on with the two towers in the background? Is the girl wondering which one is hiding a treasure of gems? Or are they both hints in a puzzle that tells us where the girl is from? And isn't her bunny absolutely adorable? Is he real or a stuffed toy? What do you think? Do we really need to know the answers to enjoy the drawing? I don't think so. It is exactly this sense of wondering and the excitement and inspiration it creates that makes it so worth while.

Looking for a dress?

2009-09-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well, It all started with a dress...and Paulette Edition is just something I stumbled upon, when looking for dresses online and found Sunday Brunch Dress Shop. Iris Schwarz sells her beautiful prints by the name of Paulette Edition on etsy . I love how she layers her images, like diaphanous fabric over skin... Which dresss would you wear?

Meanwhile I can picture myself wearing this one I found at the Sunday Brunch Dress Shop:

What I'm working on for fall

2009-08-11T08:21:00.001-07:00

Girlie Silhouette Collage

Long Berries and Chain Necklace

It's this time of the year: I need to kick some butt and make new things. i am just getting started I am playing around with different media and hope to develop some art classes (to be taught in the fall) and create jewelry (to be sold soon). I am looking for opportunities to teach in the Bay Area and for some cool and stylish stores that would sell my jewelry. Do you know of any? Ideas and advice is welcome.

Summer trip to Berlin and Frankfurt

2009-08-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

Valentina is enjoying this art installation at the Frankfurt Portikus.

Visiting my favorite chocolate and sweets shop Bitter Zart in Frankfurt

Love the Garten Zwerge (Gnomes)!

New Haircut and color at Tony & Guy Hair salon.

And now Berlin:
Kayaking with Maria on the river Spree, that runs through Berlin

Even bathing in the Spree was fun.

Enjoying the outdoors and good weather.

Fun in Berlin

2009-07-26T14:22:00.001-07:00

Labradorite Circle Earrings

2009-07-16T14:51:00.001-07:00

I just finished a pair of circle earrings for my friend Barbara to match this necklace, she had bought from me. I'll sent them off now, so she can wear them this weekend.

Stepping on Pennies

2009-07-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Found this interesting floor design and find it intriguing.

Red Ruffles

2009-07-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

I love this Fendi dress, because a. it is that gorgeous rich red I can't get enough of and b. I somehow need more ruffles in my life. I'd wear it in fall with boots.

A wedding card for Chihuahua lovers

2009-06-29T21:17:00.001-07:00

My mom had asked me to design a wedding card with Chihuahuas, because the couple owns one.
I enjoyed the challenge, having to work with a theme. I collaged a lot, but also used Photoshop to get the little Chihuahuas in proportion.

Birthday and Graduation

2009-06-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

My daughter turned 14 this month. Every birthday we decorate her place setting at the table and place the presents next to it. When she comes down for breakfast, she gets to unwrap her presents.

This year she also graduated from middle school. Here she is framed by two of her friends. Don't these girls seem to have similar eyes?

They also had a graduation dance at the middle school. I loved seeing the kids all dressed up for this occasion.

Victorian Button Necklace No.2

2009-06-29T20:54:00.001-07:00

Here is Victorian Button Necklace No.2 that I sold to a caring husband, who wanted to surprise his wife.

Victorian Button Necklace

2009-06-18T10:30:00.001-07:00

I am so thankful to my friend Hasti, who asked me to create a special necklace for her mom's birthday. I am delighted with the result and have to show it of here. Using a cut steel Victorian button as the center piece I added a strand of black onyx beads, a strand of round polished hematite beads and last not least a stand of faceted hematite beads, that have this extra sparkle. I am now in production of more Victorian button necklaces and when done will post them on my brand new etsy store. Stay tuned!

Baroque Pearl Necklace

2009-06-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about this new necklace I made as a summer treat for myself. It all started with this gorgeous big baroque teardrop shaped pearl, that I saw at my favorite bead shop Baubles and Beads. In my studio I contemplated long and hard how to hang this gorgeous gem. I looked through my samples and found two bracelets that I had made last year, but never finished. I knew I was looking for something that had an antique air to it. Something delicate, but yet still bold and somewhat archaic. These bracelets are made of fine sterling silver wire that I hand crochet on a spool, which is an age-old metal smith techniques. I joined them together, blackened the silver to give it more definition and drama and voila the perfect necklace to adequately display the gorgeous teardrop from.

Gentlemen of Quality: John Thomson

2009-06-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

A Manchu bride, Beijing (1871-2), photograph by John Thomson

A married couple from Xiamen, a port city in south-eastern China.

Young woman of Guangzhou in southern China.

I am going to feature this month 3 men from the the 19th century that I found incredibly interesting and stylish characters.
I found Scottish photographer John Thomson on my favorite photography blog Heading East
Thomson was a Victorian contemporary and visited China from 1868-72. He saw himself in the tradition of the gentlemen explorer and traveled to China and South East Asia with his camera. He initially set up a photography studio in Singapore and his love for region grew. Back in Britain he showed his photos, gave lectures and wrote articles on Chinese culture . "Undoubtedly his photographs contributed greatly to 19th-century Europe’s view of Asia and filled the visual gap between East and West. He became known as ‘China’ Thomson."His photos have just been exhibited in the Beijing World Art Museum.
On the left he photographed the traditional bound foot next to a healthy, un-bound foot on the right.

Mr. Thomson is standing next to Imperial Soldiers in Xiamen

Orange Almond Shortbread

2009-06-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

Here you see the orange almond shortbread cookies that I have baked. The log shaped dough in the wax paper can be kept frozen and conveniently baked when you all of a sudden have the craving for yummy shortbread.

Delicious Pleasures and advice on how to curb shopping

2009-06-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

Miette is the adorable cake and sweet shop in Hayes Valley. The ambiance and offerings bring a smile to my face!

And here the macrons from Paulette - a gourmet experience. My favorite was the rose and raspberry, Caribbean chocolate and almond wedding cake. They are to die for! A great gift to bring to a party or dinner. They pack them in these nice boxes.

Sometimes I need to indulge, but with the bad economy and a heighten environmental consciousness buying stuff should be absolutely out! It's hard to abstain, but honestly: do I need to add another object to my already filled up house? Do we need anything? I came up with a rule for gifts this Christmas: I will only give gifts that are either hand-made, something to read, something to eat or drink or an experience (like inviting the person to a museum, concert, play or restaurant). So many items end up forgotten in the corner or eventually find their way into the landfill. The stuff we have in our houses demands on top of it a lot of attention, like organizing it, keeping it clean etc. Once you possess objects, your work doesn't stop, because you need to manage them. I want to cut down on this and feel that I don't want to burden my friends with more stuff either. If you give an experience or something to eat, it will be a memory for the recipient that will only take up space in her brain, but not her apartment. It's a great rule to live by yourself and so once in a while I treat myself to a good dessert. I get to indulge without feeling guilty, that I bought something expensive or added another item, I didn't really need. In the attempt to curb my shopping desire I also got more into cooking and baking. It is a very involved activity (just like crafting) and takes up a lot of time and therefore keeps me off the street and out of trouble. Oh, I forgot: Flowers are also allowed. Buying a lovely bouquet of cut flowers once in a while is a sure recipe to bring some beauty into your home, without adding to the clutter of stuff.

New designs

2009-06-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some new necklace designs, I have been working on. My favorite is the first necklace with pink Tourmaline drops, a big Ruby bead, hammered sterling silver teardrop and chains. These new designs are for sale now at Freshly Cut, the gorgeous flower shop across the street from Monterey Market. And while you are there get yourself also one of their absolutely beautiful flower arrangements.

I delivered a bunch of earrings to Freshly Cut as well. Maybe you need a little something to complement your outfit? They also make nice little gifts.

Perfect Pilates

2009-05-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

I have been studying Pilates for many, many years. It is the perfect exercise for me, since it helps me stay strong and deal with my weak joints. Pilates is one of the best physical rehab systems and I couldn't live with out it. I enjoy it's medium to slow paced and the gracefullness of the exercises. I somehow feel that exercise should be in synch with our internal rhythm. I have tried aerobics and felt it was way too fast. Tai Chi on the other hand drove me crazy due to its excruciating slowness. Here is a photo of Pilates trainer Eric Sutter performing a perfect pike on the pilates chair.

More hand-made cards

2009-05-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

The card's main image is a mother bird and her baby bird in a nest. I copied it out of my old elementary school biology book that I found last year in my dad's basement. It is just the perfect image and I used it on this mother's day card for my mom.

Sometimes it takes a while to get the creative juices flowing and I just mess around. So before I made the actual mother's day card, I had pulled out my hand carved flower stamps and stamped them out on card stock. Then I cut out each stamped image and affixed them on the card shown underneath. I use little double sided sticky foam squares to attach them. This lifts the image of the paper and gives the card some dimension.

Birthday Bliss

2009-04-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a birthday card I made for my friend Ellen.

Moon and Stars Necklace

2009-04-20T21:25:00.001-07:00

Here is my newest creation: a 5 stranded necklace with lots of sterling silver chain, moonstones
and my hand-made fine silver star charms. The stars are actually copies of the pattern on vintage crystal glassware. So far there are only 2 necklaces of this kind. One I made for my friend's birthday and the other one I am wearing.

On the way to a BBQ

2009-04-20T21:20:00.000-07:00

Ready to go to my friend's BBQ I am wearing a vintage seersucker dress that is covered with a bandana pattern with rose.

Elyse Hochstadt's raven chair

2009-04-17T10:06:00.001-07:00

I like this cool feathered chair by Elyse Hochstadt, called "Portrait of George I". She is a San Francisco artist and won the 2008 Pro Arts juried show. Here is an interview with her.

Nick Cave's wearable sculptures

2009-04-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

Another exciting discovery for me is the Chicago artist Nick Cave (no relations to the iconic singer). I saw a photograph of one of his Soundsuits, as he calls his wearable sculptures, in a magazine and was dying to see his creations up close. Lucky me, I stumble upon an exhibition of his work in San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center For The Arts. They show about 30 of his suits in one giant room. I couldn't get enough of these strange statues that are encrusted and embellished with hundreds of buttons, hand -knitt doillies, embroideries , beads or sequince. Their sever shapes remind one of African statues with elongated rectangular heads or kluklux klan masks. They seem intimidating at first glance, but once you notice the amazing detail of their embellishment and the vibrant colors , you feel they must be part of a Mardi Gras Procession. Cave must have gone through one garage sale too many and stocked up plenty on all sorts of stuff that later finds a second live as decorative elements on his suits. I love this aspect of artistic recycling not only for its own sake, but also because it elevates that which we have discarded to new value. And Cave uses things that are anyway on our B list, handy crafts that have never been considered real art, but just hobbies, like hand-knitt sweater and doillies. Old toys, buttons and beading are hanging on his sculptures like charms dangling off a voodoo statue and evoke a strong tribal feeling, but with a kitschy twist. Don't miss this really fantastic and inspiring exhibition at YBCA through July 5th , 2009.

A modern take on paper cutting by Jen Stark

2009-04-09T17:47:00.000-07:00

I saw some of Jen Stark's impressive paper sculptures at Johannson Projects gallery in Oakland. I had seen an image of her work on the inviation card for the show and immediately felt that I needed to see it up close to believe and understand what was going on. Was it really just a stack of paper into which she had cut systemmatical and then bend the paper corners up? And yes, thats exactly what she does. It's simple, but genius. This type of paper cutting is very different compared to the traditional, folk art type that I am usually in love with. For starters Jen's stuff is abstract and colourful, actually bursts of color! The traditional paper cuttings are mostly figurative (or invove at least patterns) and black. I enjoy the aspect of dimensionality she brings to her work and that reminds me of japanese origami. On her web site is a video, where she talks about how she got started, which was on a trip to Europe and she didn't have her art supplies with her. She bought a stack of cheap colourful papers and a pair of scissors and started experimenting.

The art of paper cutting by Nikki McClure

2009-04-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

Nikki McClure cuts paper like she would draw with a ink pen. Her images are about the simple, but profound pleasures and wonders of cooking and nurturing and our deep connection to nature. You can see a lovely little video about her life in Olympia, Washington , collecting eggs from her hens, harvesting cherries and hanging up her laundry. All such essential and beautifully simple acts that seem to get lost in our busy city lives. She produces for several years now a calender with her images as well as posters, that she self publishes. Her images are gentle reminder of how to live our lives better and more in accord with nature and the seasons. She is the perfect poster child of the green movement!

Welcome Spring!

2009-04-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

I am welcoming spring with lovely paintings by Ann Craven. Wouldn't her birds make great patterns printed on a dress? I envision it somehow in the vain of these last years dresses by Dolce and Gabbana.

Hanna Nitsch

2009-03-19T22:23:00.001-07:00

I saw an ink drawing of Hanna Nitsch in a small gallery in Frankfurt. Her slightly creepy pale water color-like portraits of children are somehow dream-like and a little bit unsettling. They speak to me of the fine line between sweet, innocence and bizarr strangeness that makes childhood so interesting and fragile. She apparently paints mostly her own kids. Some of these ink drawings are really big too: 6 x 5 feet tall! So you can imagine their impact.

Some things in my house

2009-03-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

On my sideboard are some of the gifts I received for my birthday displayed. The doll dates from approx. 1909 and is called "The dollar princess" because she cost one dollar in those days.

I decorated my bed room wall with a trio of vintage embroidered piano shawls.

I dressed the mannequin in my bed room in a silk nightgown.

Inspired by my Asian trip

2009-03-09T02:49:00.000-07:00

It's hard being away from my studio for such a long time. I was suffering from art withdrawal. So I assembled some materials and made these collages and note cards.

My dad

2009-03-07T01:17:00.000-08:00

I took this portrait of my dad in Langkawi as a memory for me of the important time we spent together. I love the Panama hat he is wearing. It is such a classic. I also like the birds on his shirt.

Penang

2009-03-06T08:09:00.001-08:00

The kitchen in the historical Sun Yat House

The main room in the Sun Yat house. Here you can see the big windowless skylight that all Chinese shop house have in the middle room. On rainy days it rains right into your house.

Ricksaws drive through the Heritage District

Entrance to the stately Kongsi House

Vintage Chinese Shop Houses

We visited Penang,which is my favorite place in Malaysia, because of it's heritage district in the heart of the city. There you still find the old chinese shop houses and rickshaw. Buildings left over from another time, that has been erased throughout Asia. Two reasons for that: modern Asia is either communist or it's the colonial times these buildings stem from and nobody wants to be reminded of. Only recently have they realized the historical value of these buildings. And the Penang heritage district has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.

I enjoyed the culture there tremendously, stolling around and looking at old houses and their beautiful interiors: faded and washed out periwinkle blue walls, bird cages and woven baskets hanging from the ceiling, old chinese wooden sideboards that were once painted with gold and red ornaments, crackle glazed celadon earthenware dishes and white and blue patterned Chinese tiles on the floor...

Malaysian Fashion

2009-03-04T01:12:00.000-08:00

Headscarves for sale!

Malaysian women's fashion is a mirror of the country's multicultural ethnic and religious make up. Most Malays are muslims and their degree of devoutness shows in their dress code. You can see the whole gamut of fully covered women to the more modern version of jeans and head scarfes. The Chinese on the other hand are very modern and enjoy showing some skin. That results sometimes in the intriguing image of a Chinese woman in super tight and short hot pants (a lot of women wear hot pants - they seem to love them) and tank top standing in line at the bus stop next to Malayan Muslim Lady, who is fully covered and wearing a headscarve. The difference couldn't be bolder. I have seen this many times. Unfortunately never had my camera with me to capture this anachronism.There are also Indian women who will dress very modern in Jeans and t-shirt or sport Saris or other traditional Indian dress. I found the juxtaposition of traditional and modern dress in everyday life in Malaysian very intriguing.

A woman completely covered and in black is mostly from Saudi Arabia. This is the typical strict Saudi Muslim dress code. The Malayan Muslims are more colorful. As seen here in this next photo. They wear a long nigth shirt-like dress, called a baju kurung, that is usually boldly patterned over a very long skirt. Often their headscarves can be also patterend or at least colorful.
This is the traditional Malayan dress: a long fitted jacket, called kebaya over a sarong. This combination is also worn in Indonisia. Muslim women will add a head scarf.
The modern and more liberal version of Muslim dress code, can be seen here on this stylish women in jeans, heels with her chic handbag and shades. A lot of women will also wear jeans and snug t-shirt and a black headscarf.
Ladies of Indian decent are often seen dressed very modern, but with a red dot on their forehead. But many are also still sporting traditional dress, like these in the photo.

It seems that Chinese women's appearance is the most western. They also show the most skin, often wearing short skirts and hot pants. I photographed one that looked rather decent, compared to some hotties I saw.

Kuala Lumpur revisited and an excursion to Putrajaya

2009-02-19T19:17:00.000-08:00

Malaysian architecture in Kuala Lumpur mixes the new with the traditional, which I found intriguing and odd at times.

A typical street scene downtown Kuala Lumpur

Excursion to Putrajaya , Malaysia's Seat of Goverment:Impressive modern bridge in Putrajaya

Government Building

The national Mosque

To come closer and see the outside of the mosque (non-believers are not allowed inside), women have to be fully covered. Female visitors have to wear this hooded pink thing, that I am modeling here.

With my dad outside of the national mosque.

Store signs and street posters in Kuala Lumpur

2009-02-19T00:36:00.001-08:00

Fabric Heaven in Langkawi

2009-02-19T00:27:00.000-08:00

Yes, we love chartreuse!
My aunt took me to this amazing fabric store. I have never seen so much fabric in one place.
The colors and display were completely over the top. I enjoyed the place, but was too overwhelmed to buying anything,

More Langkawi Impressions

2009-02-17T00:28:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying island living with my dad and aunt. Particularly cute was our encounter with a group of monkeys by the road side. One photo shows a mama monkey holding her tiny baby.But watch out these monkeys can be very naughty. They steal your bag, if they suspect you have food!

Langkawi Island Retreat

2009-02-13T18:15:00.001-08:00

Here are some photos taken in Langkawi island, where I am also spending some time. I am staying in this beautiful little house in the jungle. Temperatures are high, so it's great to cool off in the pool. The photo underneath was taken at the entrance to a restaurant on the island.

Blitz visit to Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur continued

2009-02-12T01:54:00.000-08:00

Here are some things that sparked my curiosity or interest in Kuala Lumpur

I have driven past this building coming from the airport and was fascinated by its sign: Nirvana.
Later on I found out that this building is owned by the largest bereavement care company in south east asia. It's basically a funeral parlour.

This is funny - the Malay people didn't miss a beat and changed the portrait on the 100 $ bill according to our new president

Ready to drink bird's nest seem to be a speciality here. I feel I need more information before trying it. My questions are:
a. is it really a birds nest? b. From what kind of bird? c. how are they harvested and produced? are people rooming the forest and stumble across them or is there a bird's nest farm? why should one eat it?
Well, I got some answers on the internet:

"Why do I need BRAND'S^® Bird's Nest Drink?

To prepare bird's nest drink at home, one is required to spend hours pre-soaking and cleaning the bird's nest, then double-boil the bird's nest with rock sugar. To preserve the precious active amino acids and anti-oxidant which can be easily destroyed by excessive heat, one must exercise great care in temperature control during the cooking process.

That is also why millions of people turned to BRAND'S^® Bird's Nest Drink. BRAND'S^® Bird's Nest Drink uses only top quality White Nest from Southeast Asia. And using modern technology, BRAND'S^® Bird's Nest Drink is prepared in a tightly-controlled environment, preserving all the goodness of the bird's nest. And, you can drink it anywhere, any time.

Disclaimer : Bird's Nest is known to cause allergy in some people, especially young children. For first time user, take a small sip and wait for 24 hours."

"Authentic bird's nest soup is made using the nests of the swiftlet, a tiny bird found throughout southeast Asia. The swiftlet lives in dark caves, using a method of echolocation similar to the bat to get around. Instead of twigs and straw, the swiftlet makes its nest from strands of its own gummy saliva, which hardens when exposed to air. Humans who harvest the swiftlet nests often come from families that have made their living this way for generations. Prying the nests from the cave walls is extremely dangerous, and many harvesters die each year.

Once the nests are harvested, they are cleaned and sold to restaurants, where they are served simmered in chicken broth. While I have never tried authentic bird's nest soup, apparently it is an acquired taste - many westerners think it tastes quite rubbery the first time they try it. However it is quite popular throughout Asia, perhaps because it has the reputation of being an aphrodisiac. It is also costly; many western restaurants serve a less expensive version consisting of soup with noodles shaped to resemble a bird's nest."

After reading these two accounts I am wondering now, if I should try it....

In our hotel room is a strange arrow on the ceiling. Here is why:
In all hotel rooms in Malaysia, it is a requirement to have a directional sign for the kiblat (or qibla)... Qibla is an Arabic word for the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays... The qibla is oriented towards the Kaaba in Mecca and while praying, Muslims will face the direction of Mecca...

The qibla directional sign in hotel rooms is for the convenience of Muslim guests who will then have no problems in performing their daily prayers... The qibla directional sign is normally located on the ceiling or in one of the drawers of the hotel room...

Blitz visit to Malaysia - Part 1 - Kuala Lumpur

2009-02-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

A Chinese lantern glows at the entrance of the hotel in Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur, home to a giant multiplex mall and highrise apartment buildings

The statuesque Petronas Twin Towers at night. They were the tallest buildings in the world 1,480ft tall - 88 floors -from April 1996 to October 2003, until they build in Taipei an even taller building.

Here I am in front of the twin towers and the Malaysian flag. In the groundfloors of the towers is a giant luxury shopping mall, which I inspected. No deals to be had though, unfortunately.

Twin Towers by day. The cross section form of the building is patterend after traditional islamic motif, that forms an eight pointed star. Eight is a lucky number for the Chinese and stands also for prosperity. The towers are of course owned by the most important corporation in Malaysia Petronas, which is the national petroleum company here.

More skyline out of the hotel window

Some old buildings

and graffiti.

Edwardian Ball Night 2009

2009-01-27T17:09:00.001-08:00

My Edwardian Ball History

2009-01-22T21:19:00.001-08:00

This coming Saturday we will be attending the 2009 Edwardian Ball. This will be our 5th time at this fabulous event that celebrates all things Edward Gorey. People dress up in period clothing anything goes from Victorian to the roaring 20's or sport their unique Circus, Vaudeville, Cabaret-Punk style. There will be Ballroom dancing and fabulous circus acts, as well as the live music by the great Rosin Coven, the pagean lounge orchestra that instigates the Edwardian Ball every year (Eight musicians blend violin, two cellos, bass, guitar, harp, vibraphone, trombone, drums & lush vocal harmonies in a strangely beautiful mix of classical, jazz, chamber, tango, klezmer, sultry lounge, theatrical cabaret, and cinematic dreams.). This event has been getting bigger and bigger and this years ball has been moved to the Regency Ballroom. It has been one of my favorite events of all times: the music, costumes, performances are a fairy tale dream come alive. If you have never been, you should check it out. I will be there for sure.

2005 our first Edwardian Ball, when it was still held at the Kat Club.

2006 the Edwardian Ball moved to the beautiful Great American Music Hall
We had our portrait taken there. I am wearing a vintage flapper dress.

2007 I wore my He/She costume

2008 we took Valentina along

Flying my kite at Point Reyes

2009-01-21T23:39:00.001-08:00

My darling husband
Ronny came along
with my favorite dog

Gizmo enjoys the beach

Christine's Birthday at Lovejoy's Tearoom

2009-01-21T22:54:00.001-08:00

My lovely mom and I met our good friend Christine for a birthday celebration at Lovejoy's Tearoom (one of my favorite places in San Francisco). We enjoyed a delicious English high tea with sandwiches and scones and cream and a bottomless pot of tea. In the shelf behind us you can see Christine's birthday flowers and the card I had made her.
Don't you love the red crochet peace sign tea cozy in the shelf on the right hand side?

Close up of the birthday card I made for Christine

Close up of the birthday card I made for my friend Julia

New Year's Eve

2009-01-17T00:02:00.001-08:00

Having a blast at the Church of Frank Sinatra New Years Bash!

With lovely Aimee

The hosts with the most: Fabulous Marci and Aaron

Last but not least: our dear friend Mr. Lucky

I stayed out on New Years Eve till 3:30 in the morning (that hasn't happend in a long, long time -like 15 years or so) Aaron and Marci , of the Church of Frank Sinatra threw a fantastic party. I wore a vintage dress that my dear friend Catherine gave me for my birthday last year. Mr. Lucky was there as well - he always shows up at the best parties. I really enjoyed talking to Aimee and her friend Scott. My kinda people, with whom you can converse about everything under the moon - from science (what are nutrinos and will the newly built giant particle collider in Switzerland solve this mystery) to fashion (Yves Saint Laurent exhibition at the DeYoung and how vastly influencial YSL was on Jean Paul Gaultiere); Super fun...we came home at 4:00 am and I went to bed with my lipstick still on.

Some of my lovely christmas presents

2009-01-16T23:49:00.001-08:00

Christmas Dinner

2009-01-16T23:29:00.000-08:00

We are a happy family

The Dinner table on Christmas
Lovely Nana Beate, Valentina and Christine

Belated I am posting pictures from our wonderful Christmas dinner, which was attended by my wonderful mom Beate, my Papa Paolo and our friends Christine and Chris. I cooked a German Sauerbraten , Semmelknoedel (German Dumplings) and Rotkraut (German Sweet-Sour Red Cabbage) and a Lentil Pate (for Chris, who is vegan). Now Sauerbraten is something else: A 5 pound eye round roast gets marinated in red wine, red wine vinegar, sugar, cloves, mustard seed, crushed Juniper berries, garlic, bay leaves, parsley and lemon for 8 days!!! Every day I turned the meat in the marinade. By the end of the 8 days the meat turned really dark. The marinate is cooked with the meat in a clay pot for 3 hours and what emerges is a black, very flavorful kinda sweet and sour gravy, that is absolutely delicious over the dumplings. After wine and dessert we sat in the living room listening to old western/cowboy and obscur 1920's songs and sang along. Blissfully silly and relaxing!

Angel of celebration

2008-12-31T21:21:00.000-08:00

My favorite project this Christmas was making clothes for my wooden Santos doll, turning her into an angel and setting her up on our sideboard. I used beautiful German crepe paper and gorgeous gold and silver Dresden papers, that I bought at Castle in the Air, to create her outfit. I sewed real lace on the bottom of her crepe paper skirt with the help of my sewing machine and used pins and glues to keep all the other trimmings in place. Vintage keep sakes, like the brocade table cloth and cherubs used to belong to my grandparents. The gorgeous dark red Amaryllis came from my favorite flower shop Freshly Cut, opposite Monterey Market.

Christmas at our house

2008-12-31T21:14:00.001-08:00

Our living room with tree and fireplace decoration

The dinning room with flower arrangements by my daughter and me. The ever changing decoration on the sideboard features flowers and wooden Santos doll

Santa's Workshop - Part 2: Gocco Printing

2008-12-31T20:44:00.000-08:00

With the help of my Print Gocco (a Japanese miniature silk screen machine , that was gifted to me by my friend Catharine: Thanks again - I love this machine!) I printed on plain napkins from IKEA. By the end of the evening there wasn't a free space in my studio, because napkins where laid out everywhere to dry. I made bundles of 4, tied them with black gross grain ribbon and gave them to friends and family for Christmas.

Santa's Workshop - Part 1: Glass Soldering

2008-12-31T20:23:00.000-08:00

My collage glass pendants

My friend Lisa's soldered collage pendants

Lisa in my studio
Lisa in action: Soldering like a pro

The week before Christmas was a flurry of activities at my house. My studio was turned into Santa's workshop , where I worked on a bunch of projects. My good friend Lisa, who is a very talented designer, came over and we made little collages, put them behind glass, soldered and created fun little ornaments or pendants. I used two of my daughter's drawings, added a background and turned them into pendants. Lisa used beautiful vintage gift wrap and added letters and numbers. Her pendants reflect her great design and composition sense.

Window Displays on Haight Street

2008-12-31T20:09:00.000-08:00

Last minute christmas shopping brought me to the Haight/Ashbury area in San Francisco and as always I enjoyed their interesting window displays.

Amazing Food and Lunch Art

2008-12-10T22:01:00.000-08:00

I found these amazing Nursery Rhymes Cupcakes through Boing Boing on this Flickr account

On the same day Reddit published the link to these mind blowing Bento Boxes (japanese lunch boxes). These links were a perfect fit for another Reddit link about lunchbag art: a dad draws his kids everyday a new lunchbag. Don't you think these 3 people should get together and start a lunch service? Meanwhile I look at the lunches I pack my daughter and wonder, if I should try a little harder...

Shadow Puppets

2008-12-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

Here is the video of our shadow puppets that we created after Thanksgiving dinner.

Woodland Fairies on Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T23:36:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving we did something new: We brought out the woodland fairies to grace our sideboard. In the past years the fairies had a steady gig in springtime. They would frolic on a rather big tray that was covered in grass, miniature daffodils, crocus, rocks and even had a little pond for them. Sometimes a small birds nest and miniature easter eggs could be found in their habitat too. This spring though we didn't bring them out and left them to rest up in their box. Wondering what to do for Thanksgiving decoration Valentina and I had the idea to bring them out into a woodland scene. Thank god, because a bored hedgehog was waiting in the basement to be put to use and gladly accepted to be ridden by fairies. Two flower arrangements sporting 3 different kinds of berries were quickly made and the table set to go. Friends and family came over to share dishes and indulge in turkey and pumpkin pie. For entertainment we made shadow puppets , but more about this tomorrow....

Lovely Shiba Inus

2008-11-14T17:02:00.000-08:00

From the first time I saw a Shiba Inu dog on the street I fell in love with this breed. They are like little foxes and act rather like cats, all aloof and distant. So when we moved into our house 8 years ago, we also bought a little Shiba pup. Gizmo turned 8 this October and we enjoy his company so much. He has such a sweet face and mellow disposition. My friend Esther calls him the Steiff dog (as in Steiff, the German company that produces for over 100years beutiful soft toys). When Gizmo was a little pup he looked like a teddy bear. Yesterday I came across the most adorable site: a live shiba puppy cam! We've been watching the little Shibas all day long -
it's better than tv! Click on the image underneath and click the reload button after a while or go directly to their web cam site

Live Video streaming by Ustream

Halloween at our house

2008-11-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

Every Halloween I look forward to my daughter's ideas for her costume. Naturally I loved her idea this year to go as Holly Golighty from Breakfast at Tiffany's. It's one of her favorite movies and she adores Audrey Hepburn. I was very sleepy, when I had to get up really early to tease her hair into a beehive.

These are some Halloween set ups around our home.

A Most Memorable Halloween Party

2008-11-14T14:50:00.000-08:00

Our good friend, the talented Mr. Lucky was so kind to take us along to an extraordinary Halloween party. The party was held in a mansion and the decor was absolutely over the top. I was told that all the Halloween decoration will be gone the next day, but as you can see from the photos there was enough none Halloween related items that would stay. I have never seen more stuffed animals, dolls and taxidermy in one location, except at a store. It was an awe inspiring scenario, but also made me reflect critically on my own collectors bug. Obviously the designer's tenet of "less is more" wasn't followed in this mansion.

Mr. Lucky and the skull covered piano bar, where he later sang and entertained the guests.

Cool taxidermy!
More is more!
The surreal set ups often rivaled modern art installations.

Mr. Lucky, Abe and Ivory. In front Scott

I came as a dead girl, freshly bitten by a vampire, but not yet one myself.

This scene reminds me of the movie Blade Runner, when Daryl Hannah pretends to be a doll in the inventors apartment. David also looks like he is part of the decor and blends in perfectly!

Yes, it is a real moose!

Love Pee Wee Dolls!

Dead girls have fun with tigers.

Many babies are climbing up a giraffe: unsettling!

Scott is enjoying the company of the fabulous Allison Lovejoy and her friends. Allison performed some songs from her musical "The seven deadly pleasures"

My darling husband

Bats and Hats

2008-10-28T22:59:00.000-07:00

I can't remember where I found this image. I wish I could wear this fabulous bat hat this coming Friday with my vintage black velvet cape!

Glorious freak parade

2008-10-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

Thomas Woodruff's visions shimmer and glimmer and entice us to dream of darkness and whimsy. These images are taken from his book "Freak Parade", in which all the paintings hang together to create a long parade. This book is available at Last Gasp and will make a fine Halloween present.

Two-faced Paintings

2008-10-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

A Cross-eyed Clergyman/The Loving Haft-wit Albino , 2007-2008
pastel on prepared paper

Inquisitive Infanta/Phobic Don , 2007-2008
pastel on prepared paper

Silent Screen Siren/Hag who Understands All , 2007-2008
pastel on prepared paper

The unbelievably talented Thomas Woodruff is showing this month some amazing two-faced paintings, that use visual trickery. As a child I was captivated looking at optical illusions and visual puzzles. I remember most fondly the strange vegetable faces by the Italien artist Arcimboldo or the steps that lead to nowhere by M.C. Escher.
I am glad that Thomas Woodruff is continuing this mind boggeling artistic tradition.

Mysterious etchings

2008-10-28T21:24:00.000-07:00

These beautiful altered etchings are by Dan Hilier. You can also browse his sketch book on his web site, which I loved.

In the mood for dark fairy dresses

2008-10-28T21:10:00.001-07:00

This Halloween I don't quite know what to dress up as. There isn't a specific character I want to be. It is more a mood I would love to portrait. These dresses definitely fit the bill. Something out of a dark fairy tale. Leave it to Alexander McQueen to come up again with gorgeous masterpieces. I fondly remember last years plaid and lace creations that had me in a swoon.

Happy Goth!

2008-10-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

I always loved Goth, but Halloween is the perfect season to read this amusing and informative article by Cintra Wilson in the New York Times about the Goth Phenomena :

Perhaps one teenager too many lay awake after midnight, unable to get Edward Gorey ’s disturbing Black Doll image out of his head. Maybe a girl with 14 piercings in each ear sang Siouxsie and the Banshees’s “Cities in Dust” to her cat enough times to warp the entire light spectrum.

But there was a distinct point in San Francisco, in the late 1980s, when all the postpunk wardrobes of my extended tribe — a lower Haight-Ashbury aggregate of motorcyclists, college dropouts, would-be artists and nightclub workers — turned as abruptly and completely black as if a wall of ink had crept up from the Pacific and saturated everything, save for occasional outcroppings of little silver skulls.

Secretly I nursed grandiose ideas that my funereal vintage attire aligned me with beatniks, existentialists, Zen Buddhists, French Situationists, 1930s movie stars and samurai. (In reality, my style could probably have been more aptly described as “Biker Madonna with mood disorder.”)

We were all young and poor: If your clothes were all black, everything matched and was vaguely elegant (especially if you squinted). Entropy was a thrifty, built-in style; if your tights ripped into cobwebs, that, too, was a look.

We lived in squalid tenements and worked until 4 a.m. Goth was a fashion response to doing infrequent laundry and never seeing the sun. A Northern California anti-tan could be an advantage if you made yourself even paler. On the bright side, our new monochromism was helpful to community building: We were able to recognize our neighbors as well as if we had all adopted regional folk costume. You knew you could rely on your blackly attired ilk to answer questions like, Hey, where should I go to get my 1978 Triumph Bonneville repaired/get green dreadlocks/get the word Golgotha tattooed in five-inch letters across my back/buy jimson weed/cast a reverse love spell for under $14/(insert your vaguely but harmlessly sinister demimonde activity here)?

“ ‘Gothic’ is an epithet with a strange history, evoking images of death, destruction, and decay,” the fashion historian Valerie Steele writes in “Gothic: Dark Glamour” (Yale University Press), a new coffee-table book, written with Jennifer Park. An exhibition of the same name, curated by Ms. Steele at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology , unpacks the evolution of goth in fashion from its early beginnings in Victorian mourning to its most current expressions.

click text for the complete article.

New Halloween Classes

2008-10-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Want to do something creative? Are you bored with store-bought decorations? Come and join me at The Workshop, where I'll be teaching some Halloween themed classes this month.
Just visit The Workshop website to sign up.

Wickedly Whimsical Witches

with Elisabeth Alexander

This Halloween themed class is perfect for trying your

hand at collage with different papers, images and

stamps. Using your own face (or that of a family

member or friend*) you'll create some whimsical

witches. The paper doll is actually a card that can

be given to somebody or just placed on your mantel

as a Halloween decoration.

*We'll also have a selection of vintage faces to choose from

Sunday, October 19 1:00 - 4:00

$50/class fee + $10/materials fee

Stamp Art Series

with Elisabeth Alexander

Carve your own rubber stamps and print personalized edition note cards and other
stationery items. Learn tips and tricks to easily use and convert found images or draw your own.
We’ll also cover embellishments with different inks, glitter and embossing powders.

Sunday October 26 1:00 - 4:00 Halloween & Day of the Dead
Monday, November 3 6:00 - 9:00 Fall Table Settings
Tuesday, December 9 6:00 - 9:00 New Years Cards

$50/class (or $150/for all four classes) + $10/materials fee