From the Bookshelf

This is an over sized tome  of wonder and delight. Plate after plate after colourful plate of all things weird and wonderful from the noteworthy and extensive collection of Albertus Seba, a Dutch apothecary of the late 17th - early 18th century.  His collection of natural specimens was vast and is documented here in his meticulous renderings.  Seba would collect, preserve (many in huge glass jars), and then painstakingly draw each animal, shell and plant.  His collection is generally regarded to be the most extensive, not only of his time, but possibly of all time.  I was lucky enough to pick up my copy at an amazing sale at Barnes & Noble several years ago.  They are still out there, in various editions, for various prices. A wonderful reference volume and for those of us who like this sort of thing - massive eye candy!

Wonder Web Wednesday - Wendy Addsion

Wendy Addison was born and raised in Missouri, to artist parents. She studied fine art at an early age. In 1993, she opened her studio in an old garage, and combining her interest in art and antiques began to create what she called ''objects for an imaginary life''. 

Using antique materials found at flea markets, including old sheet music, tarnished tinsel, vintage crepe paper, Victorian scrap, and silver glass glitter, Addison's work connects with some lost sense of magic from times past. Her signature look evolved quickly and her creations soon found their way to fine stores across the country, such as Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany, Gumps, and John Derian.

In 1997, Wendy moved to a tiny town north of San Francisco and opened up her own shop, called the Theatre of Dreams, which is open ''by chance or appointment''. She has continued to create new and innovative paper objects, and in her store you can find everything from shadow puppet plays, miniature paper theatres, letter-pressed poetry books, tiny furniture made of antique newspapers, and optical devices of wonder. Her designs are also licensed to: Tinsel Trading Company in NYC; Midwest of Cannon Falls; West Elm; and sold in gift stores everywhere.

 Look for Wendy's designs at

                          Anthropologie's new wedding collection.

Ms. Addison has made appearances on Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic and Martha Stewart. She has been featured in numerous magazines including Victoria, House Beautiful, Home Companion, Country Living, Domino and Somerset Studio, and in several books, Where Women Create, Where Women Create Organization, Family Spaces, and soon to be released Celebrations. 

Wendy has just finished her 1st book. It was written, illustrated and produced all by Wendy herself as a limited edition titled The Theatre of Dreams.

photos and text courtesy wendyaddison.com

Museum Monday - Louvre, Paris

One could literally spend a lifetime visiting the Louvre.  Its extensive collections and multitude of galleries and exhibit space are legend.  We had a Wednesday morning in early May and went with a plan of the few things we most wanted to see and where to find them once we were inside.

Margot had been before, but this was my first time.  On this midweek morning, before tourist season geared up, the museum was delightfully uncrowded.

Our first goal was La Gioconda -  Mona Lisa.  We were incredibly blessed. When we reached the gallery where she waited on the end wall, no one else was there!  We actually were able to stand right in front of the panting and gaze our fill without being surrounded by jostling, noisy crowds.  Surprised by the relative smallness of the work, and awed to be in the presence  of this iconic image, it was wonderful to have the time to really see and study her.

Then to one of Margot's favourites The Winged Victory, standing tall and proud (and oh so impressive!) at the top of her staircase. Interestingly enough, I was overwhelmed by how big this piece was -definitively awe inspiring.

Margot loves this picture she took of me looking up at the Venus de Milo -two beauties she says, but then, we were on our honeymoon!

Marie Arrives at Marseilles

Our last stop of the morning was the Rubens gallery -
Baroque overload - opulent, colourful,

 over the top and wonderful.

I would love to visit again and again, and I know we'll be back the next time we get to travel to Paris. I envy Parisians many things - their macaroons, their sidewalk cafes, their flea markets and their daily access to one of the most amazing museums in the world.

Suitcase Saturday Travel Score

The first big trip Margot and I took together was
an Olivia cruise in the eastern Caribbean for
a week on a five masted sailing ship!
 It was sheer magic.

Hand painted blouse from Nevis

We stopped at several islands as we sailed from

 Barbados up to St. Martin's and back again.

Watercolour and larimar ring from Iles des Saintes

It was my first cruise (and the sailing aspect has

 spoiled me for regular cruise liners) and I loved it. 

 Pastis from St. Barts

Sitting around the pool, drinking pina coladas,

 hearing the wind fill the sails and watching the beautiful 

Caribbean ocean slide by underneath the bow.

Pussy Willow necklace and earrings from Barbados

We sat on virgin white beaches, 

climbed through jungles and 

swam under waterfalls.

Ceramic fruit stand from Sint Maarten

And of course we brought home a
 few souvenirs to remember our trip.

Birds on Books in Box

 Start with a pile of little gift books,

 gesso them - front back and sides.

 Then paint them in shabby chic craft acrylics -

  soft pinks, blues, lavenders and greens

Using a Coffee Break Design stencil - 

add birds on the front and back of each book.

 Paint an old handmade box with
Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint

in Tattered Rose and Weathered Wood.

Arrange the books inside,

Add a length of French ribbon to the handle,

And you have birds on books in box!

Paso Robles Festival of the Arts

Just received work that I've been accepted for

 this year's Paso Robles Festival of the Arts! 

 It's held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend

 in their downtown park and draws 

thousands of visitors from near and far.

It will be the first outdoor show I've participated in and

 I'm busy planning what to exhibit and how to display everything.  

\Looks like a lot of busy creative weekends in the next couple of months!  And my piece London 1896 was accepted for Allied Arts' juried show which is rumming now through the end of April.

Life on the Coast

Seagull, Morro Rock and the incoming fog.

From the Bookshelf

Danny Gregory has been the poster boy for sketching since his first book Everyday Matters back in 2003. His latest An Illustrated Journey features an international group of artists and their travel sketchbooks. Each contributor tells a bit about how they started sketching, what they like to sketch and what's in their travel sketch kit.  Lavishly illustrated (of course!) with page after page of sketches from travels across the world and near to home. A browse through this oversized volume will have you looking for that moleskeine and unearthing the small watercolour set that you know you have somewhere.  You'll want to get out there and capture the world in your own sketchbook.  Highly recommended !

Wonder Web Wednesday

Melissa Zink was a remarkable artist.  Her body of work, which continued to evolve over her nearly 40 year career, is ever fresh, innovative and intriguing. 

She was a sculptor in clay and created small vignettes of moments in time.  She also made life sized forms that stood tall and proud.   

She loved the book, its form, its contents, what it represented and the unique meaning it had for each individual. Her personal library filled shelf after shelf throughout her home. Her typedrawer pieces were hinged to represent the book form.

"Many artists fall short because they lack either the technical skill or the intellect or the heart to create the art that they envision,” Hollis Walker wrote following Zink's passing in 2009.  

“Melissa Zink had all three in great measure, and that’s what made her work so powerful.  I always felt great anticipation before she unveiled a new series; I couldn’t wait to see where she would next turn."

Zink's website shows a year by year retrospective of her work. For more on her work and life check out the wonderful book by Hollis Walker -  Zink: The Language of Enchantment.

London 1896

 London 1896  15.5x20"

Here's the finished piece I was working on last weekend.

 As you can see I made a few changes, did some adding and subtracting.

 I'll be submitting it tomorrow for a juried show 

at the Allied Arts Gallery in Cambria.

Now this may be a bold move,
as most of their entries will be fairly traditional -

 seascapes, landscapes and still lives.

Are they likely to pick a mixed media steampunk piece?

I'll keep you posted!