Wonder Web Wednesday - Caroline Groves

 This beautiful site showcases the bespoke shoes of Caroline Groves. 

The footwear is exquisite, handmade using the

 finest leathers and materials available, each individually fitted. 

Caroline's Cotswold based atelier welcomes 

the elite of the world, with a starting price of £1800.

The site is easy to navigate, includes many short videos of different aspects of her work, and links to her blog, her press, and a gallery of shoes that is brilliant - showcasing full pictures and then several detail shots as well for each shoe.

Most of us will probably never be able

 to afford to own bespoke shoes -

 but this website makes it a lot of fun to dream.

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

Wonder Web Wednesday - Lynne Perrella

If you've followed my blog for any length of time you know how much I love the artwork of Lynne Perrella. I've taken numerous workshops and classes with Lynne and over the years have come to look upon her as my mentor in the artistic world.

 Her website shows off a wide variety of her art in many different areas - collage, illustration, assemblage, even party decorations!  Each section is headed by a wonderful banner of Lynne's artwork.

There's always a list of the current year's workshops and classes, a quarterly newsletter of the latest happenings in her art world and updates to her Etsy shop and publications.

 It's always a pleasure to drop by and check out the newest additions.  Perusing Lynne's artwork is like a mini-workshop - checking out techniques, discovering new uses for old supplies and being enveloped in fantastic colour combinations.

Iif you haven't been there, click the link and be prepared for artistic enjoyment,  you'll be back again and agian.

Holiday Sale @ Altered by the Sea

Les Souvenirs d' ete

In case you haven't finished your holiday shopping yet - still 12 days left!

Buttons & Blooms

And 20% off everything in the Shabby Chic section of my Altered by the Sea website.
From now until December 31. Just click on the Gallery tab and then the Shabby Chic tab.
Or click on the individual titles in this post.

Gather Ye Rosebuds

The prices have been changed to reflect the discount. If you don't have PayPal and are interested in making a purchase, just e-mail me and we'll figure it out.

Mon Petit Bijou

I will send priority so if you order by the end of this week
you should be in plenty of time for the big day.

Yesteryears

These are just a few of the pieces available at
Altered by the Sea.
Happy Shopping!

Art for Sale!

I now have art available for sale on my Altered by the Sea website . A click on the price takes you right to PayPal and Voila! So head on over to shop or just to check out the latest updates. And for any of you thinking about doing a website, visit Other People's Pixels, it's as easy as doing your blog - I'm so happy with the results. Below are just a few of what's now available a click on the titles will take you to their page on my site.

The End of the Trail

Allegory of the Navigators

The Glove & the Blade

New Website is Up and Fabulous!

photo courtesy of shopatmoxie.com

The all new and improved Altered by the Sea website is up and running! If I do say so myself it looks great. And so easy to do with Other People's Pixels. If you are contemplating a new site or changing your current one - you should check them out. Go over and give my new site a look-see, let me know what you think. I bet you'll be as pleased as I am. Wasn't this a humble post?

New Website...

... in the making. Spent most of the day yesterday and will spend several hours today as well. A tip of the hat to Stephanie Hilvitz of Rodrigvitz Style. She blogged about Other People's Pixels a few months ago, so I went and checked it out. Great for artists! They do all the computer-y stuff. After you get started, it's basically as easy as doing a blog. And looks great. I spent several years dealing with Front Page and going slowly crazy - so this is heaven sent. The new web should be up later this week. I'll keep you posted.

New updates!

I have finally gotten around to updating the "Studio" section of my website. All new pictures and new copy. Drop by and take a look. http://www.alteredbythesea.com/

Updates!

My work colleague and good friend Destiny Carter is a computer whiz and the IT brains behind my blog and website. Last night she came over and put in a couple of hours updating my website, putting on all the new art that has been created since the last update in October. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and cruise over to the newly updated http://www.alteredbythesea.com/ and check out the new Travel Journals and Assemblage Art.

photo courtesy Destiny Carter

Before the work however, I treated her to Super Nachos at our favourite local Mexican restaurant Taco Temple. If you are ever in Morro Bay you must, simply must, have a muy delicioso meal here. It's absolutely the best. Works great for me - I buy nachos - Destiny creates magic on my website. Such a deal!