Till death do us art

Featured Artist, Isaac Hayden

2011-05-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome Featured Artist

Isaac Hayden

"Once you’ve seen Isaac Hayden perform live, you’ll understand immediately that he is doing what he loves to do. Full of passion, pain, love, hope, and years of toiling away amidst the undercurrent of indie artists, Isaac’s music grasps at the heart-strings of a generation that has chosen to find a new path, a new way to live… "

Photo by Laura Godwin

I would really love to give a better introduction of my dear friend Isaac Hayden than that, but this pretty much says it perfectly. I was lucky enough to befriend Isaac back in Feb. while he was up in Yosemite for a show. A long time mutual friend, Noah Waldron of Capsicum Pro Audio & Visual, had been telling me for ages that I needed to hear Isaac's music. Well, I finally did, and I understood why.

Watching Isaac perform live is such a treat. His songs tell story's that take you to a place you know that you've been once too. My personal favorite is "Old Headlights", and "Wyoming" reminds me of the way I feel about the place I live and love. I loved watching him delve into the Blues and taking that soulful voice of his and rubbing some serious funk on it. He has a real charisma on stage that keeps you captivated.

Isaac is one of the most honest and genuine people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. When he laughs here in this interview, I hear his wonderful and contagious laugh. He is modest, and unbelievably gracious to his fans. Qualities that I hope never disappear with the fame that is soon coming.

So, pull up Isaac's website here: http://www.isaachayden.com/ in another window, and enjoy his beautiful music while getting to know this wonderful man.

Thanks for stopping in.

1. Who are you, where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Isaac Hayden and I’m a musician from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I’ve been playing music for the last ten years and I recently turned 30!!! People tell me I look 25 though. Baby face.

Photo by Laura Godwin

2. What genre of music do you consider your work to be?

It’s a blend of acoustic singer-songwriter stuff mixed with some blues and soul and folk-pop.

3. Who are your major influences?

The first music I can remember hearing and finding a connection with was the Red Hot Chili Peppers, ha ha. Me and my 9 year old best friend Nate snuck into his big brothers room and popped the Blood Sugar album into the tape deck. We stumbled on this song called ‘Apache Rose Peacock’ and listened to it about 50 times straight - It wasn’t a profound song, but it had a killer groove and this one line, “Oh good brother, just when I thought that I had seen it all… my eyes popped out my dick got hard and I dropped my jaw…” For whatever reason, we found that line immensely hysterical and laughed for hours. That was the first time I remember being affected by music.

Photo by Laura Godwin

Later on I fell in love with Stevie Wonder, Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens, Jeff Buckley, Martin Sexton, Joni Mitchell, and so many others. Harry Chapin’s tune, ‘A Better Place to Be,” is still one of my favorites… I remember feeling transported inside that song like I was living the actual experience. Listening to these artists is what made me fall in love with music.

4. Do you play with a band or do you prefer to play solo? If so, what band do you play with?

I’ve played with a band before, and have some great musician friends in Wyoming I collaborate with when home. When I moved to Nashville I met AlMichael Rodgers. He plays cajon (a box looking percussion instrument), and we started messing around a lot and he even performed on my latest live album.

More recently, I’ve been lucky to have my friend Jared Kneale play cajon with me. Jared has a unique cajon, made in Australia. It allows him to use all of his limbs for controlling a different percussion instrument. It’s really great because he’s able to create a fuller sound with a lot less. He’s been helping me structure the songs so they will make more sense in a band format, which is something we’re working toward right now. So, I generally play solo, or as a duo with Jared or AlMichael, and hopefully someday we will be able to turn it into a full band sound.

5. Besides anyone mentioned above, what other musicians do you enjoy playing with?

I really just enjoy playing music with anyone who enjoys playing music. There’s something transcendent and incredible about bringing musicians who are dedicated to their craft together, because it is an opportunity to share and connect on a common ground where there is no wrong or right, to learn something new and participate in a new form of expression.

Photo by Kali Collado

6. When and how did you decide to become a professional musician?

Ha, well, I think it’s something that I’m continually deciding every day. When I first started playing music it was simply because I enjoyed it. I didn’t know anything about the business or the hardships or challenges, the road that leads to becoming a ‘professional’ musician. When I realized that I loved music enough to make it my life I began, and continue, the slow process of educating myself on the ins and outs of how to do just that.

Photo by Laura Godwin

Unfortunately, there are no clear paths to making a successful career in music. However, because there are no set paths, there is more room for entrepreneurial creativity, which in theory is something I should be good at, being in the creative field. But I’m not! What I’ve learned is that I can’t work the business side, be creative and write songs, perform live, record albums, travel, and stay on top of all that is necessary… by myself. Part of my decision to become a professional musician has been to build a team of people who share a common belief in the music, and who bring other assets to the process, so that I can continue learning in the areas I work best in.

7. Can you tell us about the instruments you play? How did you decide to play these instruments and what do you love about them?

I play an acoustic Taylor 614-CE series guitar. It was actually a “loaned gift” from my first producer, Mr. Kent Nelson. It was a beautiful looking and sounding guitar, and at the time, the nicest instrument I’d ever played. It’s been with me since I began playing music in any type of professional manner, so I have a deep connection with it; that, along with its wonderfully consistent tone and intonation, is why I still love it. It’s not very pretty anymore though. ☺

Photo by Kali Collado

8. What are your favorite and least favorite venues to play? Why? Do you play covers?

I love any venue that allows the listener(s) to connect with the music and provides the chance to find something they want to take with them after the show is over (like a cd. Ha ha, just kidding…. but not really ) Anywhere this happens is a great venue. I play cover songs when I’m hired to entertain a bar room or house party, but my goal is always to create and play my original music.

9. What are your favorite songs to play?

I love playing any song that connects with a person. If it connects on some level, and holds a person throughout, then I love to play that song. It’s a process though; trial and error, and sometimes it takes a song a long time to develop. It may be finished, but usually it takes time for a song to find its place. When it eventually settles it’s an excellent feeling.

Photo by Laura Godwin

10. Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?

I write my songs, and also co-write with other people. Most of the topics are a realistic or abstract retelling of a personal experience. I think the themes and topics are forever changing in direct relation to how I change as a human. Right now I’m really set on changing the tone of my songs so they can carry a little more relevance in today’s world. I love writing love songs, or songs about something that happened a long time ago, but it starts to feel empty when it’s all I write about. I’m really focused on trying to write songs that are applicable to right now, today.

11. How would you define the word “success?”

To me, success is doing something you believe in because you hope that it will inspire positive change or growth in yourself and the people you come in contact with.

Photo by Laura Godwin

12. Where do you find your inspiration? Who or what inspires you?

Inspiration is elusive at best. I don’t know how or where to find it. It seems to come and go as it wishes, without much thought as to who needs or wants it. All I’ve learned about inspiration is to try and develop the tools I use to interact with it, so that when it comes, I have a greater palette to draw from in that moment. It’s an incredibly indefinable phenomenon that manifests when it’s ready; so I find it by waiting patiently, in excited anticipation.

13. Could you briefly describe the music making process?

It’s strange, because often the music making process is coupled with that elusive inspiration which refuses to be bound by any process. So for me it’s like an interpretive dance or something, ha ha. That sounds funny, but it’s true. As ideas come, I work with them and try and develop them into something that flows with the original idea. It might be a melody or a guitar riff or words, but whatever it is, I explore it and try and make it contribute to the foundational idea. There’s no real beginning or end to the process, it just continues until I reach the place where the creation feels complete and the idea feels sound, or in some cases, until I’ve backed myself into a corner and need to just start over.

14. How has your music evolved since you first began playing music?

A friend of mine here in Nashville, who is a wealth of knowledge on poetic and philosophical writings, shared a short excerpt with me by John Gardner, called “On becoming a novelist.” It was painful to listen to, because it points directly at the manifested ego of a young creative mind, but also forgiving, in pointing out that this manifestation is an unavoidable act of growth. I’m boiling it down, but the essential point is that a young creative mind begins the quest in belief that it has something more important to say than anything which has been said. The creative predecessors to this young mind are viewed as miss-lead, even wrong, and with need of correction.

As time goes by and the young creative mind enters into maturity, it no longer views itself as having the answer to said question, but rather, a voice in the chorus of all who are addressing the question. It becomes a part of the body, instead of falsely believing itself to be the whole body.

I think this is often a sub-conscious dilemma in all people who want to say something unique with their life, because any new idea must have the unfounded confidence to get off the ground, because you are the only person turning the wheel. Once your wheel is turning though, you begin to see that you are just a part of the greater machine, which is humbling… and reinvigorating, to know you’re not alone, and to know you’re a part of something vastly bigger than yourself.

I really wanted to share this, though I don’t know what it has to do with the question, ha ha. I guess what I’m saying is, as I’ve passed through phases of creative growth and maturity, hopefully the music has, too.

15. What has been your biggest challenge as a musician? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

My greatest challenge as a musician has been overcoming my own self-doubt. What I’ve learned is that we are all unique, with our own perspective on the world, and it’s ok to share that perspective. If I remain open to my own uniqueness and allow other people to operate in theirs, it seems like the pangs of self-doubt become less relevant. It’s a moment to moment, day to day process.

16. What are your goals and dreams, and where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I’m working hard at bringing my dreams into the realm of achievable goals. My goal tomorrow is the same goal I have for ten years from now; to be playing music to more people than I am right now, writing songs that are more applicable to the world we live in, and to be a better, more educated man with more to say, and less to worry about. I’d also like to be living in Fiji in ten years, surfing and writing music on the beach… at least a few months out of the year. ☺

17. What advice do you have for people who want to become professional musicians?

A few pieces of advice some friends shared with me come to mind. First, no one will ever care about your music more than you do. Secondly, sometimes it takes a while for people to ‘hear’ you, for them to connect with you, for what you’re saying and what people want/need to hear to reach common ground. So, be patient.

It’s really important to love music... Be prepared to have nothing; nothing but your instrument and your belief in what you’re doing. If you’ve got that, then work hard at being persistent, and never give up. I think the world needs more people who follow their heart instead of the societal norm of comfortableness and security. So come on let’s play some music motha fu$%as!

18. Where can you be found?

Anywhere they serve a decent pale ale and have some good live music… Or, on iTunes, isaachayden.com, facebook.com/isaachayden, twitter.com/isaachayden. Either way, please stop by and say hi!!!

19. Any last words?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and please continue to search out music that is not made readily available to you. The music that falls randomly into your lap from a friend, or the music you pass on that no one has heard, is how we keep real music going. Keep passing it along, and keep searching it out. Don’t let the corporate conglomerates re-configure your mind to make you think Miley Cyrus is actually what you want to hear... even if it is. Party in the USA bitches!! Do some research, find the music that hits you because you know the person making it has experienced something you can relate to. And above all, all, all else… never, ever, ever, ever, let the government illegalize beer again. ☺

Ever.

Cheers

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I truly hope that you have enjoyed getting to know Isaac as much as I have. I hope you will share this Post, leave a comment, and introduce yourself.

Thank you!

Featured Artist, Rumspringa

2011-04-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome Featured Artist,

Rumspringa

Rumspringa (n) : an Amish rite of passage; the practice of releasing teenagers to explore the outside world, its sins and pleasures.

This week's Featured Band is Rumpsringa, an LA based band that I found on Pandora. I love discovering new bands, and was pleased to discover Rumspringa. There take on modern rock, blended quietly with Blues and old school rock-n-roll caught my ears. Rumsprigna aims to awaken the inner fire of its listeners. A sound that gives a nod to their predecessors in the early days of Rock-n-Roll, when Rock was taboo. According to front-man Joey Stevens "We declared ourselves to be on our own version of Rumspringa. To step away from all the self-serving surface of the mainstream music culture, and to get back to the heart of discovering the soul of rock through the roots of its creation."

1. What is the name of your band? What is the origin of that name? Have you changed the band's name before?

Joey named the band Rumspringa. It never had a previous name. I think the term is associated most with the Amish but I’m pretty sure other religious sects also use the word. I guess the literal translation means to “run around;” which would be appropriate for the time period when adolescents of said communities are allowed to temporarily indulge in previously unacceptable activities (wearing tie dye thongs and hitting the crack bong) before choosing to remain part of or leave that community.

2. Who are you?

Ricardo, 25, bass guitar; Andrew, 32, drums; Cecilia, 22, guitar; Joey, 24, guitar.

3. What genre of music do you consider your work to be?

Simply, we should probably say rock. When we have been asked to define the sound of the band, and when other people have been asked to, it has been consistently difficult. The song “Sway” probably best represents the band’s sound. I’ve heard and read it described as hypnotic/bluesy/danceable. The band used to be a two piece. Even back then Joey alone was pulling from a wide range of influences including blues, psychedelic rock, and hip-hop. With Cecilia, Andrew, and me all writing also (though it’s mostly Joey), the sound has evolved slightly. I would say the most distinctive part of our style is the finger picking that Joey and Cecilia do. There’s no strumming, palm muting, or Pete Townshend windmills. It sounds more fluid and intricate. That long answer probably didn’t help at all.

4. Who are your major influences?

I’m going to try to speak for everyone and name influences that we have in common: weirdo art bands like the Dirty Projectors and Captain Beefheart; psychedelic rock and garage/proto-punk bands like the 13th Floor Elevators, the Stooges, and Richard Hell; some blues- mostly on Joey’s end- Howlin’ Wolf and R.L. Burnside. But if we’re together listening to music it will most likely be something like Tuvan throat singing or Gregorian chants.

5. How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

I believe Joey met Andrew through Manny Nieto who produced the “Sway” album. Andrew was in another band Thinking Aloud and they had recorded with Manny. Cecilia and Joey met through Rumspringa’s old manager who happened to be Cecilia’s friend. Last, I met Joey through a mutual friend that I often make music with. The funny thing is that the first time the four of us got together Cecilia and I realized we went to grammar school together. So, some of us have known each other for about a year while for some of us its more like 12 years!(?)

6. When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?

Joey is the only original member. The rest of us plan to steal his writing style and then slowly phase him out of the band without any fans noticing.

7. Can you tell us about the instruments you play? How did you decide to play that particular instrument and what do you love about it?

Cardo- I believe some if not many amateur bassists (of which I would count myself) end up with their instrument because they are relegated to it down from the six string (logic?....“well….if you’re not good at six strings try four!”). During High School I realized how interesting the role of the bassist is and wanted to play it more. Together with the drummer you have to think about making an interesting part that complements the arrangement and other instruments without being distracting or overpowering. Sorry, I can’t really answer for the other members.

8. What are your favorite and least favorite venues to play and why?

We mostly play clubs/bars so naturally, we have a lot of fun at other types of venues. Playing the Long Beach Aquarium and colleges like the San Francisco Art Institute is a great change for us: we get to perform overlooking the bay in SF or surrounded by anemones and jellyfish.

9. What are your favorite songs to play, why? Do you play covers?

We haven’t played covers as a four piece. We typically enjoy performing the newest songs. Everyone in the band writes their own music and I think most creative people are always excited about the newest thing they’re working on. This is the most creative group of people I know.

10. Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think this will change over time?

I would say Joey writes something like 60-70 % of the songs since he writes lyrics, plays lead guitar and sings. As far as I can tell the song subjects often include: surreal dream visions, premonitions of the impending apocalypse, relationships and considering one’s place in life. Usually it’s all those though. I think Joey’s matured just in the time that I’ve been in the band. I can tell he puts thought into and often revises songs/lyrics.

11. Where do you find your inspiration? Who or what inspires you?

Green grass, gnarly trees, the desert, the ocean, telephone poles, other music.

12. Could you briefly describe your music-making process?

The writing process is very collaborative. Typically Joey starts with a riff or chord change. We often will come up with several variations of the idea from there. We all feel free to comment on or suggest parts for each other. It’s entirely synergistic.

13. How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?

We haven’t been playing music together too long. I think we have settled into our roles and realize each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Cecilia is more confident. Joey growls more. Andrew is steady as always. I play a different bass line every time (because I’m that good or forget the part?).

14. How would you define the word “success”?

I am pretty sure all of us in the band agree that success would be to make a living playing music. Being able to support ourselves solely by doing what we love would be the best gift from life. I think we also agree that success doesn’t necessarily mean having a private jet….think Def Leopard. Andrew looks better with two arms if you ask me. And I’m sure Cece looks better than Aaliyah does right now.

15. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourselves in 10 years?

We will be on our private jet.

16. What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

There’s two lessons I have learned from being in too many bands since High School. First, most people don’t self-scrutinize enough. Whether it be the style of playing, song arrangements etc, people tend to think they’re more brilliant than they are which gives us the amazing array of mediocre bands in the world. Second, if you want something done, do it yourself. Maybe this one should just be applied to life in general.

17. Where can you be found?

We’re on the Facebook, the Myspace, Cantora Records website and you can often find us walking around Alhambra and Echo Park.

18. Any last words?

April we have a residency the bootleg theater. We are recording two or three songs so the people that go can get something new. Also we will be recording a second record soon!

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I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Rumspringa. Stop by any one of their Social Media pages, or Cantora Records to stay in touch with them. A special thanks to Ricardo for the Interview.

Thank you!

A Portrait of America Through the Eyes of a Photo Booth

2010-12-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

A Portrait of America Through the Eyes of a Photo Booth

My old friend Peter is the owner of Magnolia Photobooth and he and his friends are attempting something historical. A Portrait of America Through the Eyes of a Photo Booth! Check out the video, get involved, become a backer!

They only have 18 days left, so get involved! Visit http://kck.st/foA9qa to get started!

Thanx,

Featured Artist, Jon Swift

2010-10-24T21:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome Featured Artist

Jon Swift

I feel truly honored today to be bringing this Blog back with one of the most exciting musicians I have heard in a long time, singer/songwriter, Jon Swift. Jon plays his own kind of music. He doesn't limit himself to a genre, or get caught up in the idea of what he "should" be writing.

Jon writes from the heart, and his songs are truly stories. They transport you to a place, as seen through Jon's eyes. For just a moment, you catch a glimpse of the world that inspires him. Jon's songs are real, beautiful and emotional and he isnt afraid to share the dark sides of the soul.

I first heard Jon live at the Roost House. I sat in the audience, totally enthralled in the stories he wove with words and music. I can still picture the green sea and the boats from the bench that he writes about in "Ode to O'Rourke" and I can relate to the tortured soul of "...empty lighthouse".

After listening to his music and getting to know Jon through this interview, he is someone that I just want to sit down and hang out with, over a few good beers and a few good stories. Please take a moment to listen to Jon's music with the Amazon Widget to the right of this interview. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in New York some 37 years ago, grew up in San Diego. Since then, I’ve indulged wayward tendencies but have spent most of my time in the western US.

My fascination with music began early when my father was still alive. He used to sing American folk songs with me, and in doing so instilled a particular kind of joy, or even ecstasy, associated with singing. Later, in the solitary years of my childhood, I took to sneaking in to my neighbor’s house to tinker on their piano. These experiences formed the foundations of my music, and I have continued since then in a similar vein, teaching myself to play instruments and accompanying those instruments with voice. Over the years I have become more narrowly focused on creating and producing songs. As I side effect, I’ve taught myself to play guitar, banjo, piano, ukulele, mandolin, harmonica, jaw harp, and a handful of other folky instruments with varying degrees of proficiency.
Throughout most of my adulthood music has been a constant, though clandestine process for me serving to balance and enhance my other endeavors in life. I have spent many years working through the mathematical details of the physical universe and have received multiple degrees from the University of California in physics and astrophysics. Equally important in shaping my character has been an ongoing relationship with the natural world. I have frequented the ocean since I was 2, and have kept up my skills as a surfer over the past 27 years. On land, I prefer wilderness, be it desert, forest, alpine, or chaparral.

Though I have never really fostered any particular aspirations with making music, circumstance has allowed me to dedicate the vast majority of my time to making music these days. It has been a welcomed gift, and I intend to use the time to do justice to the abstract inspirations that have propelled me through the wonderful turbulence of life.

2. What kind of music do you play?

The American west has a distinct feel, philosophy, and character that I’ve been steeped in. This inevitably shows up in my music, in a similar way that an accent shows up in speech. Yet I don’t play western music, or country, or Americana, or folk either, really. I don’t know what to call it. My girlfriend calls it “mod-west.”

As far as intent goes, much of my music comes from a place of overcoming—be it hardship, tumult, fear, myself, whatever. Things that I feel fortify the soul, those are the things I feel motivated to share. In that way, I think my music is similar to the American spirituals. However, I am not in allegiance with any particular religion. So, I guess, in the end, you could call my songs “mod-west secular spirituals.”

3. What does your Band name mean?

I play under my own name usually, as I typically find myself band-less. However, I have had the recent opportunity to play with a truly inspiring group of musicians based mostly in Ventura and Ojai, CA. We worked on a surf movie soundtrack together starting in early 2010 and we call ourselves the Melali Sessions Band named after the movie, Melali. It is a Balinese word that means to hang out, in the colloquial sense.

4. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession? Tell us about your first show.

It is unclear when I became a “professional musician.” Perhaps it was when a couple of my songs were used in a surf video back in 1996. I’m pretty sure I didn’t get paid for that, though. My first performances back in the mid 90s were open mic things; those were hardly professional. Hmm... that’s a tough question. I’ve been playing little shows forever it seems, and people have bought music rights from me for years. So I guess I’ve been “professional” for quite a while. Now that I’m thinking about it, the Roost House show this past summer struck me as being particularly professional. I was approached and treated professionally—rather than it being a favor, or a friend of a friend thing—the performance was professional, and I had a couple of professionals accompanying me. But when the leap to professionalism occurred, I couldn’t tell you; it’s been a gradual thing.

5. INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?

I feel like the natural world is the ultimate inspiration. Everything we create comes from the natural world. All our great ideas and advancements are inspired by, or even directly modeled after, the natural world. After all, we ourselves are the natural world. Our visions, ideas, desires, emotions, thoughts; they are all part of the natural world. So, for me, understanding relationship is the source of inspiration, and the vehicle for growth. By that I mean being able to handle the connectedness of our world, the connectedness of people, and of people with the rest of the natural world. It is a sort of alignment of thoughts and actions, not necessarily in an intellectual way although the intellect is certainly a part of that process. There is no inspirational “thing” for me that can be defined, or grasped, or bought. Inspiration is in our very nature, and it is the decisions we make on a moment-to-moment basis that place us in the flow of that inspiration or otherwise.

6. Explain your process a bit.

Trial and error.

7. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I do have goals and aspirations, and I’m quite motivated. However, my goals are almost entirely abstract. They are things like discipline, joy, freedom. I pursue these things by dedicating myself to whichever path appears to lead in those directions rather than planning a long-term course of action and forcing myself through it. At the same time, I do not feel whimsical about the course of my life, and I stand by the commitments I set. It’s just that… well, 10 years is a long time and I can’t really say.

Interestingly, I also have these recurring images—landscapes, primarily—and they have something to do with the future course of my life. When the time comes to make significant decisions, I often notice some new feature in the landscape that has always been there but I haven’t seen before. Sometimes I think I missed my calling as a painter or visual artist. Though I think all my paintings would have been of the same thing; kind of like Frida Kahlo. Only instead of her mono-brow, it would have been a seagull flying or something. At any rate, I hope to be seeing many beautiful things in 10 years.

8. Where can you be found?

Ojai, CA is your best bet. Or, if you mean “found” in the virtual sense, jonswiftmusic.com is a good place to start; and Jon Swift Music on facebook can keep you updated on things.

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Jon-Swift-Music/442679465321
WEBSITE: http://www.jonswiftmusic.com/

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Thank you for stopping by and joining me in getting to know Jon Swift. I hope you leave here with a new favorite artist. Please feel free to visit Jon at any of the places listed above. You can purchase his music directly on his website via PayPal.

If you like what you hear, please share it and we would love if you left some comments below telling us what you think

Have a beautiful day!!

This Blog is BACK!!!

2010-10-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

After a long, hard summer, this Blog is back in action! I have a new studio, new office (with a killer view!!), and the life Ive been dreaming about for a long time. Im also back with amazing NEW artists, inspirations and ideas. Im looking forward to sharing them all with you!

Be sure to stop in MONDAY to hear form the talented singer/songwriter Jon Swift! Jon has given us a heartfelt, real interview that will make you want to sit down and hang out with this down to earth musician.

THANK YOU all for continuing to support talented artists everywhere!

Introducing 4th St. Records and The Roost House.

2010-05-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome

4th St. Records and Roost House

This edition of my Featured Artist is a little different, and very near and dear to my heart. Today I am sharing with you all my very dear friend, Adam Zerbe and his labors of love, 4th St. Records and The Roost House. I asked Adam to do an interview here for me not only because he is a friend and I want to support my friends in their ventures any way I can, but because what he is doing is truly important, and special to me.

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting with my lovely friends Audrey, Adam and Nicole, and got to spend a wonderful, intimate afternoon with them. Watching them work, play, and enjoy each other. My favorite part was towards the end of our visit. My kids were reading in the corner, the rest of us were sitting at the big wooden table they use as their desk in front of the beautiful windows overlooking their back porch and yard. We all sat doing our own things. Me reading a magazine, Audrey reading a gardening book, Nicole working on her computer, Adam working on his. Conversation breezed back and forth occasionally between us. Adam and I talked about his website, Audrey and I chatted about the garden, and I was privileged to be part of some shop talk too about the Roost. What it showed me is the love this family has for each other and for what they are doing. Their environment is filled with peace and love, and it shows in everything that they do.

Adam's Independent Record label, 4th St. Records, and live music venue The Roost House fill a void that has come to music. It seems to be ever increasingly difficult for talented musicians to find places to make their music, and as for live music venues, they are disappearing fast.

The Roost House offers a not for profit, beautiful space to showcase these talented musicians, and for people to affordably come and enjoy them. This true labor of love is incredibly important to keeping music alive not only for ourselves, but for other generations.

Join us on this journey to learn about what inspired such a leap of faith, and what 4th St. and The Roost House are all about.

4th St. Records

1. Who are you?

Adam Zerbe, 32, from Carmel,California. I am co-founder of 4th St. Records established in May of 2009. 4th St. Records is an independent record label based out of Carmel,CA. We provide independent artists with development, production assistance, and marketing. I am also co-founder and promoter for Roost House, established January 2010, a not for profit Carmel house concert venue which offers the experience of an intimate live sound experience between artist and listener. I also love to surf, hike, bike, ski and am a novice singer/songwriter.

2. Tell us a little about 4th St.

4th St. Records was established with co-founder Mike Dilks. We started the company in May of 2009 to provide a platform to launch the first album release from Carmel based singer/songwriter Walter Rose.
(You can find Walter Roses Featured Artists Interview on "Till death..." by clicking HERE)

3. Who is involved?

Independent artists and music fans

4. What are your goals for 4th St.?

To produce, engineer, and record music that we love; to achieve a recognized artist base; and to help artists grow and achieve their desired goals however big or small they may be.

5. Tell us about your artists. Who they are and what kind of music do they play?

Walter Rose is 4th St. Records’ first artist. He is an alt country singer/songwriter based in Carmel,CA. His roots spread from his birth place of Hawaii to the west coast of California. He has had two great reviews thus far for his first release (Italian rock magazine Buscadero; American Songwriter magazine https://www.americansongwriter.com/2010/04/under-the-radar-the-soft-anthem-re-visited/. ) Walter continues to write and will be working with 4th St. for his upcoming full length album.

Gabriel Gandzjuk is a folk crooner from Monterey,CA. We are currently working on his first full length album. His smooth vocal delivery adds to his great lyrical tales. We are looking forward to continued work with Gabriel and his future releases. His album will be released in the fall of 2010.

Mark Roth is a Carmel Valley,CA, singer/songwriter and guitarist. He has recently returned to Carmel Valley after being in the Los Angeles music scene. His bands Monterey and Freight Train included studio work with Chris Robinson and Mark Ford of the Black Crowes. We are looking forward to working with Mark, showcasing both his songwriting skills and his ability to collaborate with other artists.

Cave Country is a folk/americana/roots/country band based out of Los Angeles,CA. They have independently released their first full length album with producer Beau Raymond and recently completed a west coast tour. We are helping them promote this debut album and plan to collaborate on their second album release. The band members consist of Jim Reynolds (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Evan apRoberts (lead guitars/vocals), John Thompson(drums), and Jason Boles (bass/mandolin).

Our artist catalogue continues to grow and we are excited about the future!!

6. Do you have a preference for the kind of music you record at 4th St.?

Our intention is to capture the feeling associated with heartfelt song writing. We will not over produce artist’s work, but rather help them take the proper steps in order to create their desired sound. These artists will cover a range of genres.

7. What music is important to you? What has inspired you, changed your life, and what do you sing in the shower or while driving in the car?

Music that is important to me is music which evokes emotion, speaks of realities in one’s life, inspires action, makes me think, and creates mood. I love roots reggae of the 70’s, Mississippi Delta blues of the south, roots country of America, and many of today’s independent artists.

I have been inspired by people, nature, my family, friends and the actions brought forth from all that is. I have been inspired by my conscience, loves, perceptions, dreams and decisions. My life has truly changed when I was able to realize the individual I am, accept it and move forward. I have come to find that change occurs most from within.

I am a freestyle singer by nature. I will just take a melody that dwells within and set it free with some free form lyrics. Mostly my lyrical delivery consists of reference to nature, women, and self belief. I don’t find myself singing in the car but you’ll never drive with me and not hear some tunes. Recently I have been listening to Evan apRobert’s album “Under the Ghost”, Lucinda Williams’ album “West”, Vetiver’s album “To Find Me Gone”, and the band Sparrows Gate’s newest EP.

8. Is there someone with whom you would love to work?

I would love to work with sound engineer Chris Spilfogel. He is a close friend and inspiration. I also look forward to working with engineer/producer Beau Raymond. He has worked on projects ranging from Devendra Banhart, Mark Olson of the Jayhawks and Evan apRoberts.

9. Where can you be found?

I can be found in Carmel,CA working at my desk, strumming my guitar, catching waves, and making progress on building a recording studio here in Carmel!! Email me at adam@4thstrecords.com
Also on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/fourthstreet

Roost House

1. What is Roost House?

Roost House is a house concert venue located in Carmel,CA. All door donations go to artist and sound engineer. Roost House is a listening room for up to 70 seated folks where artist and audience share a sound experience free of distractions. We have our own house PA system suited to compliment the acoustical space which makes Roost House one of a kind!

2. Who is involved in Roost House?

Roost House has a variety of community members who have shown their support to help this vision become reality. Audrey Morris, I & Nicole Carlson make up the in house hosts. Local contractor and family friend Dan Malone donated time to lead the effort in building the performance stage. Local audio professional Anthony Nocita volunteered his advice to educate us on our acoustical space and the proper sound equipment to install. Local musician and live sound engineer Rick Chelew has become a mentor to Roost House and helped to spread the word to his community of friends. Then there is the ever growing fan base of Roost House.

Audrey's Story

**Before I go any further with the interview, I have to interject here with Audrey's Story. I asked Audrey (Adam's Mom) specifically to answer this question for me: "Audrey, you've got to be the coolest Mom in the world for letting Adam do this at your house! Tell us your side of how this all came to be." She is wonderful, and she not only answered the question, but gave us the whole story! My heart was very happy after I read this, so here for you, is Audrey's Story.**

This is the story of what inspired Roost House and Adam’s label, 4th St. Records.

     Roost House is a truly collaborative enterprise between Adam and myself. We work well together and have musical tastes in common. We have a good adult relationship, though of course the parent/offspring relationship is never gone.
     My late husband and Adam’s father, Carl Zerbe, and I discovered this property in 1975. It had a 650 sq. ft. shack and an acre of mostly flat, rich land. Before we moved here, we had hosted a Sunday afternoon volleyball game for 8 years in a secluded old dwelling deep in Hatton Canyon. When we had to move, one of our hopes was to find another place in which we could continue that tradition. We also wanted soil, a desire which stemmed from our farm country roots - Carl’s in Indiana and mine in New Jersey and Connecticut. By the way, the name Roost House comes from a family dairy farm in Connecticut. In 1933 my grandparents began using the farm’s hen house for summer guests. They named it “The Roost.”
     Adam and his brother Lindley lived here from their birth in 1978. When we began to outgrow the 650 sq. ft., Carl and I decided in 1980 to build an “addition”, all 2000 sq. ft. of it. Our friend and architect, Penny Goldcamp, created a plan which included full span trusses that allowed for an open floor plan. We didn’t know if we would expose the trusses or cover them with sheetrock, so we stepped up the lumber grade a bit in the manufacturing process to give us the option. As the crane set them in place, they looked beautiful, like bows against the blue sky. The decision was made. Little did we know that they would prove to be acoustically magnificent as well. The construction took us eight years and was a labor of love and hands on creativity.
I come from several generations of relatives who were involved with music. My mother was a singer, my sister played violin, I the piano (and clarinet and bassoon in school bands) and we all sang in church choir. My brother loved to listen to his transistor radio held up to his ear. Though my exposure to live music was mostly in the classical realm, my mother’s chorus performed once with Duke Ellington, and my father played the Kingston Trio and Harry Belafonte on our “hifi” stereo. Carl and I met in 1972 and had individually been fans of the music of the ‘60s, however we found a common passion for old blues music and that is what Adam and Lindley grew up with after we bought a box at the Monterey Bay Blues Festival the year it was founded in 1986 www.montereyblues.com.
In 1986 Carl met Phil Emerson, guitarist and vintage guitar expert, formerly of South Seas Guitars in downtown Monterey and now of Phil’s Guitars in Seattle. Phil and Carl formed a passion for collecting and trading in vintage guitars. After Carl was forced to retire in 1992, he became a serious student of the blues – the music, the history, the players, the guitars’ stories, and he created a website Kokomomusic.com. Through Phil we met many musicians who were invited to our home to play Carl’s collection. A comment we heard over and over from the musicians was “The sound in here is great! We should do a ‘Live at Zerbe’s’ recording!”
Carl passed suddenly in 2005. Though it took several years to recover, I was ready again in 2009 to consider sharing this space, originally built to accommodate groups of people. I was ready to fill the house with the music of players and those who appreciate music. I wouldn’t, and couldn’t, have ventured into this chapter without Adam’s encouragement, enthusiasm, people skills, vision and very fine musical ear.

Roost House Continued:

3. Is there a particular genre of music that you prefer to showcase?

In booking artists and bands we choose those we like and who are appropriate to the acoustics of our venue as well as the size of the room. Folk, blues, bluegrass, jazz , folk-rock, country, and a capella all suit Roost House well. Acoustical instruments including guitar, upright bass, and piano, along with vocal harmonies sound incredible in this space.

4. Who has played The Roost?

Hawaiian Slack key & slide guitarist Ken Emerson, Wyoming based duo Anne & Pete Sibley, singer/songwriter Chris Webster with guitarist Nina Gerber, Ryan Scott & Christina Courtin from NY, blues guitarist and harmonica player Stevie Gurr, alt country singer/songwriter Walter Rose, Los Angeles based country/folk-rock band Cave Country, singer/songwriter Zebedee Zaitz, Austin folk/blues artist Jarrod Dickenson with upright bassist Rick Chelew, singer/songwriter Sandy Greenfield with Adam Rothschild, singer/songwriter Mark Roth, Los Angeles based singer/songwriter pianist Mark Renk, Santa Barbara singer/songwriter Khasy Modisette, and the mixed genre band Honeymoon.

5. What are your goals with Roost House? Where would you like to see The Roost in a few years?

We intend to stay committed to our value of a sound experience and move forward with capturing these experiences with live recordings. We will collaborate with artists who would like to record their performance and help distribute the recordings to a worldwide audience. In two years we will have recorded and released some live performances and be known on a national level.

6. Who would be your dream performer to play at Roost House?

There are a few performers we would love to have here: Taj Mahal, Dave Alvin, Phil Emerson, `Tim Bluhm, Eric Bibb, Neal Casal, Jackie Greene, Nico Georis, Rushad Eggleston, Palo Colorado, JJ Cale…just to begin the list…

7. If I'm interested in playing at The Roost, what do I need to do?

To contact us for booking please take a look at http://www.roosthouse.com/ and then email roosthouse@gmail.com with your EPK.

8. How can I find out about up-coming shows and projects?

For upcoming shows please the concert calendar at www.roosthouse.com and find us on facebook.com/roosthouse.

9. Where can I find you?

You can find Roost House in Carmel, CA, on the worldwide web and on a variety of artist’s upcoming gigs list!

Official Website: http://www.roosthouse.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/roosthouse

Thank you for stopping in!

Featured Artist, Zebedee Zaitz and Sparrows Gate

2010-05-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome Featured Artist

Zebedee Zaitz and Sparrows Gate

Hello friends!

I'm back and I'm kicking off the Spring/Summer season with an interview from an amazing musician, Zebedee Zaitz and his Band, Sparrow's Gate.

     I discovered Zeb at the wonderful Roost House in Carmel, CA. He was a surprise guest for that nights show and he completely stole the night. Some great, fabulous actually, music was played that night (Walter Rose and Cave Country, who are both amazing themselves), however none of us could stop talking about Zeb.
     We loved his music. It seemed to take him a minute to find his groove on stage that night, but then, WOW! He danced, jumped, stomped his feet, played his harmonica, strummed that Guitar and belted out the lyrics in an almost Bob Dylan esc voice that had the whole room captivated (my favorite song is Rose Parade).
     That was it. I was hooked and I wanted more! Luckily, I'm not very shy so I promptly introduced myself after the show and when I got home emailed Zeb about doing an interview here for all of you! I'm excited as well that Zeb and his band, Sparrow's Gate, will be playing at The Roost again in a little over a week on Thursday, May 27th at 8pm. If you live in the area, you have got to come and check it out. I'll be there. ( You can find out more about that show here: http://www.roosthouse.com/events.html ).
     So read, listen, discover and enjoy Zebedee Zaitz and Sparrow's Gate. You can find Sparrow's Gate's music, available on Amazon, just off to the right of this page. Listen while you read, buy it if you like it, and leave some comment love below, letting us know what you think!

Enjoy!

1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.
     My name is Zebedee Zaitz, I was born in Tampa Florida but for now California is my home.

2. What kind of music do you play?
I guess it would be considered folk rock but that all depends on the night. Some nights if spirits are high and if we had some drinks then its good old rock n roll.

3. What does your Band name mean?
Well, we were playing a show and we didn't have a name yet so I turned to my drummer Casey and he said were called Sparrows Gate. I guess he went to some orphanage in Mexico that was called Sparrows Gate and we just never changed our name.

4. How long have you been (a) musician/s, how long have you been a band, and how did you get into music?
I started playing drums when I was eleven and been doing this project since 2003. It's gone through different members and sounds. It's been a year with the members that are playing now so really it feels like a new project with a old name. I got into music because my father played piano and guitar and my grandfather played in jazz clubs till he died.

5. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession?
I don't know if it was decision I made. I just feel like I it's something I've done and will keep on doing, its one long road.

6. INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?
People, John Keats, traveling, the north, south, east and west. Love, pain and death.

7. Explain your process a bit.
There is no specific process. I try and write everyday and make it a routine. Either in the morning or with a bottle of wine at night.

8. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
New avenues where my mind has not yet traveled.

9. Where can you be found?

http://www.sparrowsgatemusic.com

http://www.myspace.com/sparrowsgate

and contact sparrowsgate@mail.com

Up-coming Shows:

May 20, 2010 8pm: The Knockout. with Gypsy Moonlight and Sweet Chariot San Francisco, California

May 27, 2010 8pm: The Roost House Carmel, CA

May 28, 2010 10:30am: The Crepe Place with Big Eagle(she and him after party) Santa Cruz, CA

June 12, 2010 7:30pm: Under the electric church with Little Wings and Rad Cloud San Louis Obispo, CA

June 13, 2010 6pm: The Steynberg Gallery San Louis Obispo, CA

June 20, 2010 8pm: Live Oak Festival Santa Ynez Valley, CA

Thanx for stopping in.

Im moving, but will be back SOON!

2010-05-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Im moving, but will be back SOON!

I just wanted to say Welcome to all of my new followers, and to let everyone know that we're in the middle of a very sudden move! :) (We found out Saturday, and will be gone by Thursday!!) It's a great thing, but needless to say, I'm swamped!! So, my sincerest apologies, for no Find's or Artist's lately! I will be up and running again very soon I hope so do stay tuned! I have some FABULOUS artist's coming your way and since Spring has Sprung, some great Find's I've been waiting to post, including a whole week dedicated to SWIMSUITS!! :) Also, while I am busy moving, I have left my SALE prices up on Etsy, so be sure to stop by and take advantage of my 20% off SALE while it lasts!

http://www.arcoirishandcrafted.etsy.com

I will be talking with you all again soon!

Ive been Featured...

2010-04-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Ive been Featured!!

(and Im REALLY excited!)

Yay!! Today I am so excited to share my dear friend Holly over at 504 Main with you! She has been kind enough to include me in this week's edition of her Tickled Pink Friday's! :) As a Thank you, and a "Nice to meet you!" to all of my new friends from 504 Main, I am doing a GIVEAWAY with her on the Feature! Stop by and visit Holly over at 504 Main for the details! Welcome to all of my new friends! It is great to have you, and Thank you Holly, again!

Mother's Day SALE from ARCO IRIS handcrafted!!

2010-04-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day

SALE!

Mother's Day is quickly approaching Sunday May 9th and ARCO IRIS handcrafted is having a Mother's Day SALE just in time to get your last minute Mother's Day gifts!! Everything is 20% OFF from Sunday, April 25th until Friday April 30th at Midnight! If this is a gift that you would like to have shipped to that special Mom in your life, please let me know in the "Message to Seller" portion of your checkout along with the name and address of the person it is being sent to. I am also happy to include a handwritten card for Mother's Day (at no extra cost), simply include the message you would like sent as well in the "Message to Seller". Thank you for letting ARCO IRIS handcrafted help you do something special for the Mom's in your life!

http://www.arcoirishandcrafted.etsy.com/

Iris :)

http://www.arcoirishandcrafted.etsy.com/

http://www.facebook.com/arcoirishandcrafted

http://Twitter.com/ArcoIris_hc

http://www.tilldeathdousart.blogspot.com/

This ones for the Boy's...No, really!!

2010-04-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

Friday's Fashion Find's
This ones for the Boys...

(COMPLETLEY forgot today was Friday!! Sorry everyone!! Where did my day's go?!)

This week I was inspired by sexy Men. That's right, I said SEXY MEN! So, while we all have our different tastes in Men, and what makes them sexy, this is one that I find particularly yummy. Add a little scruff and a subtle cologne, and YUM!!! (OK, drooling over here!)

So, normally my Friday's Find's are for women because, well, I am a woman, but this week I thought I would switch it up a bit. Men need some great Fashion too, and I really had some fun with this one. I found an awesome shop that makes BEAUTIFUL suits, some fun and funny Tee's, these AWSOME shoes by a very talented artist, a recycled and very cool belt buckle (I have a thing for guys with cool belt buckles), one of the few, OK, actually literally the ONLY pair of handmade jeans I like and the only jeans PERIOD I liked on Etsy, and a sexy Fedora. (Can I just say by the way how much I love the fact that the Fedora has made a comeback?! Really, LOVE it!)

I'm a total fan of the 1920's through 1940's styles, both Men and Women's. I miss the overcoats and the hats Men used to wear. I miss when people used to put thought into their clothes. It meant something to look nice. Now, I grew up a child of Grunge, and still love it, but I really love the way the Modern man has learned to combine certain elements. I've always loved the Chucks or Van's with a suit, and the Tee with a Sport Coat or Blazer. I've combined all those elements here in a fun, grown up, sexy way. So, all you boys still waiting to turn into Men, take a peek! You don't have to lose ALL your boyish charm to be a Man!

(Click to enlarge image)

From Left to Right:

Whodini Denim from Whodini Handmade: "We are all on the search for those custom jeans that whisper, "I am one of a kind."

Now you can have them with all the bells and whistles.
All seams are sewn with industrial machines and high quality threads.
Pockets (front and back) can be made to order.
Dark Blue Japanese denim can be over dyed to give a tie dye look. All denim is pre-laundered and pre-shrunk.
Metal zipper closure with denim style button at waist band."

I have said it before, and I will say it again, finding good jeans on Etsy is next to impossible! These were literally the only Men's ones that I found that I liked. Luckily I actually really liked them! I love that these are great jeans that are handmade!

You can find Whodini Handmade at: http://www.whodinihandmade.etsy.com/

Tattoo Inspired and Custom Designed Shoes from Inkwear 99: "These are custom fit (your size) and custom designed shoes. Tell us what kind of design you want and we will make them especially for you. They are tattoo inspired. They are made out of a canvas upper and manmade balance. Each pair of shoes is designed for you and what you want. They are designed with a techno pen and cleared for more durability. These are definitely fair weathered shoes. The design will last as long as you take care of them. No puddle jumpers, no snow. They do have a protective clear over the design, but again no puddle jumping. No Boundaries is the manufacturer. Prices may vary depending on the design."

These shoes are incredible, and even better is that this is a family run Business in which the whole family participates! I LOVE that!! Kudos to Inkwear 99 for an awesome and original family business!

You can find Inkwear 99 at: http://www.inkwear99.etsy.com/

Falcon from Cha Chas House: "Charcoal, Felt, Stingy Fedora with Plaid Ribbon Trim. This style was made for Justin Timberlake on his "Bringing Sexy Back" Tour."

I love this Fedora, it's absolutely beautiful! Cha Chas House has a couple more that I was really taken with too!

You can find Cha Chas House at: http://www.chachashouse.etsy.com/

LICENSE PLATE BUCKLE VINTAGE METAL MOSAIC from Randi Tan: "Modern art to wear.
These recycled-metal belt buckles are my original design. All of the small pieces are cut from old, retired and vintage license plates with heavy metal shears and clamps.
This colorful mosaic-like silver belt buckle is inlaid with 'tiles' of recycled license plate metal. The metal pieces are measured, cut, hammered, and filed to create a unique, and distressed style buckle. Each bit of license plate edge is filed and sanded before being artfully arranged, and cemented into place on the buckle.
I am all about the beauty and textures of aged and painted metal so I would never cover that up with a plastic lacquer coating. You will be able to feel the actual ridges and bumps impressed on the metal, but I have eliminated all sharp edges. As a final step the buckles are hand waxed, and buffed, multiple times, to preserve their beauty. Will take a 1.5" - 1.75" snap-on belt (not included, but available in my shop).
This listing is for the buckle pictured. Each of my buckles is different. Some have reflective pieces. Some have numbers or letters. All are a mix of colors. I have sold these buckles to men and to women."

Randi makes some awesome belt buckles!! I have a thing for belt buckles and I loved this one! I actually want it for myself! :) Even more, I love the fact that recycled license plates are used, that is AWSOME!!

You can find Randi Tan at: www.randitan.etsy.com

Tailored Blazer--Custom Made for Your Secret Identity from Machete-N-Sons: "Here is an example of a custom blazer that we made for a customer.
The lining is shocking. Conceal or reveal your inner colors.
You will be able to choose from dozens of suiting's from quality wool to hip and techy poly. We will send you SWATCH CARDS with 25-30 possible lining fabrics from desert mesas to exploding palm trees.
Each piece is completely custom made. We fit this piece for a true COUTURE look, sending you first a rough draft of the blazer in your size made out of COTTON MUSLIN before we even touch the fabric.
You send us back photographs (have a friend take them with their phone!) and we change the pattern to look great on you.
This isn't just a matter of hemming the sleeves.... We can adjust every detail for your body type.
The TRULY CUSTOM suit, almost impossible to find in the US today. GUARANTEED TO FIT."

Machete-N-Sons makes some BEAUTIFUL suits! I was really taken with their shop and if you're a man who wears suits, you definitely need to go and check them out!!

You can find Machete-N-Sons at: http://www.machetensons.etsy.com/

Tree vs. Lumberjack Tee by Tee Shirt Gnome: "GNOME ENTERPRISES
Hand Crafted Artisanal Tees
BRKLYN NYC
Tree vs. Lumberjack Tee
Super Soft Vintage Inspired Athletic Unisex Track Shirt
Color: Athletic Cranberry
Available in Unisex Sizes: SM
MD
LG
XL
Our Tree vs. Lumberjack Tee is printed by hand on a high quality, sweatshop-free super soft vintage inspired American Apparel 50/25/25 tee.
50% poly
25% fine combed cotton
25% rayon.
We use custom mixed specialty inks that won't wash off or fade."

Tee Shirt Gnome has some great Tee Shirts. This one made me chuckle! :)

You can find Tee Shirt Gnome at: http://www.teeshirtgnome.etsy.com/

I hope that you have enjoyed this week's selection of my Friday's Fashion Find's!!

Featured Artist Michelle Pyxus

2010-04-11T23:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome Featured Artist

Michelle Pyxus!

I am SO VERY excited to be FINALLY, after much laziness on my part, be sharing with you my wonderful, talented, beautiful, funny, kind and oh-SO patient friend, Michelle!! Michelle is a ridiculously talented fashion designer who has an incredible and beautiful vision. Her clothes are chic, sexy and sophisticated with a punch of FUN!!

     Her designs are eco-chic, and often made with recycled fabrics. Her new Spring Line absolutely blows me away and leaves me WISHING I had every single piece hanging in MY closet!!! I had the hardest time selecting pictures for this interview! Like I said, I LOVE everything in her shop, and I think I have managed to put just about everything from her shop into this interview! LOL!

     There is not much I really need to say to intrduce this amazing lady. You will see what I love when you look at her pieces. She has written for us all a wonderful, fun, perfect interview! A little ol' blogging gal like myself couldn't ask for more! :)

     Thank you Michelle for sharing so very much of yourself with us!

1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hi - I'm Michelle and am originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba which is.. pretty much in the middle of Canada - not too far from Minnesota for all you stateside readers! Actually, before the move to Winnipeg came - I was from a small french town about 45 minutes outside of Manitoba's capital city. I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere which probably affected my imagination in ways I never thought of before. Hmmmm... Anyway, about 5 years ago I made a life changing decision to pack up my life and move to the east coast in search of.. well, MORE! So, here i am living in Montreal, Quebec and freezing my butt off - just as much as I was in Manitoba. What was I thinking?! All joking aside it turns out it was a really good decision, minus the freezing my bits off part.

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you learn about art?

I have been keeping my hands busy and making "stuff" since I was a little one. I couldn't tell you when it started but I do remember my grandmother (also known as my "memere" ) letting me dig into her crafty things. She had these amazing paints in tubes and heat transfer 'clip art' that you would paint onto aprons, napkins or whatever.. it was SO much fun. At some point I moved on to making little outfits for my cabbage patch kids and barbies (which.... I unfortunately chopped the hair off of). I guess that's when I figured out I loved to make clothes and that maybe I was a little 'arty'.

3. What does your Business name mean?

My official business name is under "Pyxus Passion Project". Pyxus was my original business name when I was a Winnipeg resident and is pretty much formed after the original version of the word - pyxis which is basically a constellation of stars. Mariners used to use this constellation to find their way when they were lost at sea, much like a compass. The business was something I needed to create so I could find my way and to help others find their way when they get lost in their wardrobe and need a little direction.

Simone's Rose is my first and new label under the Pyxus umbrella. It's named after my 'memere' who inspired me to do what I love.. she was a rock and if it wasn't for her - I'm not sure I would have ever made that first sale in junior high.

4. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession? Tell us about your first sale.

I first realized I could turn my crafty skills into cold hard cash when I was in junior high or middle school. After moving on from dolls and barbies I of course turned to chopping my own hair off and **gulp** dressing myself. Turns out those handy paints my memere eventually gave me came in handy. I had painted some of my t-shirts and jeans with some crazy Madonna worshiping phrases and portraits and along came my friends and schoolmates wanting me to paint their jean jackets with all kinds of nonsense. I'm talking beer mugs, band logos and more Madonna insignia. CHA ching! There was my first sale. Many years of practice and some years of schooling followed – eventually I set up a legitimate business and got really busy making lots of different types of clothing.

5. Explain your process a bit.

Now that I am back to working as an independent fashion designer I'm slowly but surely developing my process again. You see, I've also spent the last 5 years or so working for someone else.. Did I say working? I meant slaving. Yes, slaving - this happens a lot in the fashion industry. Now that I've come to my senses and decided to work for myself I'm breaking old habits and forming new ones like creating my own trends, researching sustainable processes and supplies and simply taking the time to create beautiful things. My process usually involves picking an inspiring fabric or sad looking garment, throwing it on my dress form and imagining it in a different form. Out come the scissors, pins and needles and **fingers crossed** something worthy of being out in the world is developed.

(Before)

(After)

6. INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?

(Before)

(After)

.The process is inspiring, art and visual influences all around are inspiring, “freaks” on the street are inspiring, old men at the thrift store are inspiring, musicians are inspiring, friends are inspiring. Inspiration really comes from life and everything in it. Sometimes it’s more specific like the collection I’m working on now which is somewhat inspired by silks and vintage Japanese fabrics but really it’s all the combined influences of life that make the end product what it is. I guess at the end of the day I’m mostly inspired by the materials that I use… silks (vintage, eco friendly, fair trade and recycled), other vintage garments and fabrics as well as some new fabrics. Sometimes you just fall in love with a textured fabric or color – as long as I’m supporting a local business by making this purchase, I’m okay with that.

(Before)

(After)

7. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years I hope to have a thriving and successful business with different fashion brands - all of which will use sustainable business practices. My hope is that in 10 years it won't be as difficult to source fabrics and supplies that are actually GOOD for the planet. I also hope that 2010 will be the beginning of a trend for consumers to really think about their purchasing power. Just think what we can do by 2020 if everyone decides to spend their hard earned dollars on local businesses, independent artisans or at the very least on companies that have some kind of morals and sustainable business practices. If we can work together on this, I might even see myself swimming in an ocean in 10 years.. one that is not filled with a millions of plastics. I know folks, it's just a dream!

8. Anything and everything else about yourself that you would like to share.

What else can I share with you? I love to eat, I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years (I'll keep you guessing about my age), I love taking trips back home to be with my friends and family (especially my 3 year old niece) and I love to travel.

9. Where can you be found?

Check out my etsy boutique:
http://www.pyxuspassionproject.etsy.com/
****
Fan page!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simones-Rose-a-Pyxus-Passion-Project/164205706812
****
Twitter!
http://twitter.com/pyxus
****
Blog!
http://www.simonesrose.blogspot.com/
****

I'm also working on a seasonal/monthly newsletter so shoot me an email if you'd like to be on the mailing list! michelle.pyxus@gmail.com

I know that you have fallen in love with Michelle as much as I have! Please, show your support by stopping by her shop and leaving a comment below, letting her know what your favorite item is!!

Thank you!!

Tee and Jeans

2010-04-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

Friday's Fashion Find's
Tee and Jeans!

Spring has Sprung here in California and I have to say, having grown up at the beach, my favorite clothes, especially this time of year are still a Tee-shirt, jeans and sandals. The Central California Coast is between roughly 50 and 70 degrees year round. The perfect climate for Jeans and a Tee. The Spring time of California's Central Valley where I currently reside has a similar climate, for a few months anyway!

What is it about a Tee and Jeans I love so much you may be asking? Well, for starters, their comfortable. Also, a good pair of jeans makes my butt look GREAT!! LOL! I love dressing jeans up or down. As I've gotten older I've learned to take the basic Tee-shirt and Jeans concept a step further. Instead of a simple tank or tee, I throw on a still comfy, but pretty top, like the one I picked here today. Some sexy jeans, and instead of my usual flip-flops, a hot pair of sandals.

My absolute FAVORITE part though? ACESSSORIES!! The simplicity of a Tee and Jeans allows for some fabulous accessorizing! You can easily pull off some big, funky earrings, and a fun necklace. With this ensemble, I've also added a beautiful wrap and a super hot red leather hobo bag that I'm in love with!

So, if you're a lover of a Tee and Jeans too, you should LOVE this week's selection of Friday's Fashion Find's from the pages of Etsy. The best part, everything you see on this page is HANDMADE!!!! (With Vintage shades and jeans of course!) So let out your inner Fashionista and explore this week's talented designers and artists with me. Leave them a little comment love below, and let them know what you think of their work!

Enjoy!

(Click on Image for larger view)

From Left to Right:

Black Off shoulder top from Larime Loom: "I really like the drape of this top, wide, baggy but still very flattering and feminine. fitted around the waist part.
It is 25 inches long, 30 inches around the bottom. bust size is loose as it is very baggy.
Made in a stretchy black rayon jersey. It will fit many sizes.
edges are un-hemmed."

Larime Loom is a fabulous shop filled with some gorgeous handmade clothes! I look through their shop regularly for inspiration and pieces and have several already set aside for future use. You will definitely be seeing them here in my Friday's Find's again! Take a look through their shop at their gorgeous selection of handmade clothing and you will fall in love too!
I really loved this quote from their profile: "all our items are 100% handmade, starting from the designs, all of which are created without patterns, I often do not even draw the idea down, I just lay the cloth out and grab my scissors and cut, fingers crossed for decent results :)"

You can also learn more about Lucia, Melissa and Shanty, the ladies behind Larime Loom in their Etsy Featured Seller Interview here: http://www.etsy.com/featured_seller.php?featured_user_id=5223091

You can find Larime Loom at: http://www.larimeloom.etsy.com/

Light purple hand dyed shawl with handmade fringes from Nits Creations: " Any time your shoulders need something wrap yourself in luxury measuring 26" wide 67" long with 4" long fringes.
Its really a HOT gorgeous piece.
Comes from smoke-free, pet free environment
These are lightweight and drape beautifully, can be worn in a variety of ways. They are luxuriously soft and can be a beautiful accessory throughout the year winter or summer.
Its a beautiful accessory for the bride, mother of the bride, prom, or for any other special occasions."

I am absolutely in LOVE with the shawls and wraps in Nits Creations!! They are all handmade and hand dyed and absolutely GORGEOUS!! Stop in her shop and discover her other beautiful creations. She will definitely be making repeat appearances here in the Find's!!

You can find Nits Creations at: http://www.nitscreations.etsy.com/

Classic 80's Vintage Sunglasses by American Optical from What the Funk: " Classic design from 80's. Few big eyewear brand also carry this one in that era. Frame in gold and lens in Light Brown. Original frame from American Optical. Logo of American Optical, AO, was on each arm. In good vintage condition.
Measurements:

Arms: 130mm (5 1/4”)
Width Across The Front: 127mm (5")
Height: 50mm (2”)
Gender: Ladies"

What the Funk is a regular here on "Till death..". They have some of the best Vintage Shades on Etsy in my opinion, so naturally, I use their products a lot. Stop by the store to find many more great pairs of Vintage Sunglasses!

You can find What the Funk at: http://www.whatthefunk.etsy.com/

Red super soft cowhide LEATHER large stylish Lotus hobo bag from Fuchst Bags: " This beautiful Red super soft cowhide leather large Lotus hobo bag is designed with the inspiration of a Lotus leaf that sits peacefully in the pond. It is a simple, yet elegant bag that can take you from day to night in a snap. The full pleatings around the bag is an attention grabber and add some spice to an otherwise simple bag. This bag is super stylish and large enough to store all your daily necessities and more. It’s a corded double shoulder strapped bag with three magnetic compartment closures."

I LOVE this bag!!!!!!! Fuchst Bags makes some BEAUTIFUL bags! This bit of Mandy's profile made me absolutely fall in love with Fuchst Bags: " My inspiration for designing and making handbags came when my first child was born. I could not find a carry-on bag that was both functional and modern for a new mom like me. All the diaper bags I found on the market were mostly printed with teddy bear prints. As I like to look good and fashionable, I could not accept the fact that there was nothing out there for me. Therefore, I designed and produced a hands-free design diaper bag that went around my waist. I used colorful fabric and leather trim to add some glamour. Ever since then, I was hooked on designing and making handbags, and that's when Fuchstbags was born."

I went through the same thing after my kids were born, except that I don't have a clue how to make awesome bags like these!! So, take a look through Mandy's shop and discover some functional, and fashionable creations!

You can find Mandy and Fuchst Bags at: http://www.fuchstbags.etsy.com/

Also: ♥ Blog: http://fuchstbags.blogspot.com/

♥ Twitter: http://twitter.com/fuchstbags

♥ Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Fuchst-Bags/259012321499?ref=nf

Pajaro Earrings from ARCO IRIS handcrafted: " Pajaro means "Bird" in Spanish.
The Pajaro earrings are made with lovely peacock feathers which are wire wrapped in the middle of a gold plated hoop. The hoop is wrapped with copper wire, and hung with a 14K gold hook.
I love that feathered earrings and jewelry have made a comeback. The Pajaro's are part of my homage to that. I absolutely love them!
You can wear them with a dressy ensemble or to dress up something simple. My favorite is to wear them with a black tank and jeans."

Yep. This is me. These Earring's were actually the inspiration for this week's Find's. Hopefully, you have tooled around this Blog a bit, and my Etsy page to learn a little more about me. If not, what the heck are you waiting for?! LOL!! All my link's are below for you to find me. I'm working towards my 400 FAN mark on Facebook and will be doing a Giveaway when I reach it in which all FANs are eligible!

I sell my Jewelry because I wear my Jewelry. I love it and I really hope that you will too. Stop by my shop and take a peek at what other pretties I have to offer. :)

You can find me and ARCO IRIS handcrafted at: http://www.arcoirishandcrafted.etsy.com/

Also: ♥ My Official Website: http://www.arcoirishandcrafted.com/

          ♥ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/arcoirishandcrafted

          ♥Twitter: http://Twitter.com/ArcoIris_hc

          ♥and of course, your already on my Blog!! ;)

Burgundy skinny Levis jeans from Cold Russian Heart: " vintage burgundy Levis skinny jeans size 4"

Great jeans are incredibly hard to find on Etsy, so when I came across these fabulous Burgundy Skinny Jeans from Cold Russian Heart, I was pretty excited. The Burgundy color adds just a little something different to the traditional Jeans and Tee look that I love. Stop by Cold Russian Heart to check out the rest of their vintage finds!

You can find Cold Russian Heart at: www.coldrussianheart.etsy.com

Gemini from Kenton Bead Works: " Two stones in one beautiful pendant...citrine and quartz are paired with 14k gold fill chain and findings to accentuate the natural beauty of the stone.
I've made this in a longer length, 25 inches. If you would prefer a shorter length, simply note the length in the notes to seller box upon checkout.
The pendant measures 28x40mm."

Kenton Beadworks makes some lovely stone jewelry. I have used a necklace form them before for my Find's and will probably be doing so again! I love the two sided idea of this piece, and of course, being a Gemini myself, couldn't resist. :)

You can find Kenton Beadworks at: http://www.kentonbeadworks.etsy.com/

Caramel Triple Leather Sandals from Sandali: " This is a beautiful pair of sandals. This pair is Mediterranean & African inspired...These pairs are made from Caramel Cow Leather & screams unique. Not only is it extremely beautiful, it so comfortable & very strong!!"

I am absolutely IN LOVE with the Sandals from Sandali!!!! I have used them before and will probably use their Sandals regularly because they are so amazing! These gorgeous handmade sandals are just to die for! Stop by Sandali's shop and take a look for yourself. You will fall in love too!

You can find Sandali at: www.sandali.etsy.com

Fit to be Tied....................copper wrapped ring from Foxy Girl Boutique: " This ring was created by {me} in my home studio from start to finish. I have wrapped two different gauged copper wires around and around and soldered them in place. It has been polished on the high points to show off that beautiful copper color. The low points have been left dark to add depth and character.
This is such a fun ring. You can manipulate it to fit either longer or shorter. You will not receive the exact ring in the photograph. Please allow for small subtle changes. That's the beauty of handmade.
I recommend that you order a 1/2 to 3/4 larger ring size than you normally wear. This ring band is WIDE."
I'm really excited to be using this ring form my dear friend Melissa at Foxy Girl Boutique this week! Melissa is a stay at home Mama and self taught metal worker. She makes some BEAUTIFUL jewelry and works with LOTS of Copper, which I love!! Stop by her shop and take a look at all the pretty goodies she has to offer!

You can find Melissa and Foxy Girl Boutique at: www.foxygirlboutique.etsy.com

Also: ♥Twitter: http://Twitter.com/FoxyGirlJewelry

          ♥ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=521139628#/pages/Foxy-Girl-Boutique/278705575452?ref=ts

          ♥ Blog: http://www.foxygirlboutique.blogspot.com

     I hope that you have enjoyed this week's Find's with me! I do the Find's because I really love discovering all of these amazing artists and designers. Etsy can be a Fashionista's dream. Not only do you find some great pieces, but the fact that they are handmade thrills me!

     I hope you will stop by each of these shop's and see what they are all about! I also hope that you will show some support for our handmade artists and designers below and help spread the word about shopping handmade!

Until next Friday...

Featured Artist, Jasmine Worth

2010-03-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

Welcome Featured Artist.

Jasmine Worth

      This week's Artist is Jasmine Worth. She is an extremely talented painter. Her art is a little out of my usual realm of sunshine and butterflies (LOL!  Just kidding, I dont do sunshine and butterflies) and is full of dark, macabre images that are thought provoking and imaginative. It brings to me images of Alice in Wonderland meet's Tim Burton (which I know is a little funny now considering the new movie. Regardless...).
      I will admit, it took me a little while to decide how I felt about Jasmine's art. At first, I was uncomfortable, but then I looked closer and I was really drawn to her obvious talent.   Her painting is wonderful! She has great lines and I love the colors.  The backgrounds she puts behind some of her images really draw me in. I find her so talented and original, and after getting to know her, I am truly proud to share her with you.
      So, come and discover this lovely and VERY talented lady with me! When we are done with this journey, leave a comment below and let Jasmine know how her work has affected you.

1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. I have a BFA in Illustration from the Laguna College of Art and Design. I love to paint and read, and hang out with my Scottish fold, Punkin.

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you learn about art?

I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. My Mother still has a drawing of Fred Flintstone that I drew for her when I was 3 years old. I think my love for art began with cartoons and muppets, and has continued since then. Some of my old cartoon favs and inspirations would have to be The Beatlejuice cartoon, Ahhh! Real Monsters, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Grinch that Stole Christmas, and my more recent favs would have to be Spongebob Squarepants and The Misadventures of Flapjack.

3. What does your Business name mean?

My business name is my own name, Jasmine Worth. I figured I’d keep it simple.

4. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession? Tell us about your first sale.

I’ve been a professional gallery artist for about 5 years now, although art just recently became my sole source of income after the record store I worked at for 8 years shut it’s doors for good in July ’09. I can’t remember my first sale, but every sale of an original piece is exciting! I love selling through galleries, but selling through etsy would have to be my fav because I get to connect with the art collector and talk directly to them. Often when my work sells in a gallery, I never get to find out who bought my piece, let alone have a personal conversation with them. It’s really nice to be able to get to know the people who are buying your art.

5. Explain your process a bit.

I am an oil painter, so my working process has a lot of steps. I usually begin with a sketch, which I refine and then transfer to masonite. I spray fix my drawing after I have transferred it, and I then begin the under painting. The colors of the under painting vary depending on the ultimate color scheme of the piece, but I usually use a burnt sienna for the under painting. I then begin building up colors and layers, and I often use numerous glazes before the piece is complete. After allowing the completed piece to dry for quite some time, I varnish it and frame it.

6. INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?

I find inspiration all around me, often in books.

7. Tell us about your current work. What is your "muse" and why do you paint what you paint?

I get asked that question a lot, and to be perfectly honest, I have no idea where I got my inspiration for my creepy eyeless baby creatures, haha! For a while there I was painting creatures with huge foreheads and tentacles for legs. I don't know where my characters come from, but once they are in my head, I have to keep painting them. I would guess they are an amalgamation of every cartoon, Fraggle Rock episode, Poe story, and Vincent Price movie I have ever watched, along with all of the experiences of my life.

8. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I hope to have progressed in my art career! I am also hoping to have a successful etsy store where I sell my own art directly to my collectors.

9. Anything and everything else about yourself that you would like to share. Favorite color to favorite food. Family, friends, life, anything. :)

Let’s see, I have many great friends, in and out of the art world. Some of my great friends and inspirations would have to be Paige Luneau, Cassie Lawson, Kevin Peterson, Kristina Deak, my kitty Punkin, and my boyfriend David. I love living here in San Diego, though I do think our art scene could use a little boost. I live in a small cottage that is completely over-run by my personal library!

10. Where can you be found?

I can be found many places, but these three are probably the best places to contact me. I am on a few personal networking sites, but I don’t use them very often.

I can be found at my personal website:

www.JasmineWorth.com

My etsy:

www.JasmineWorth.etsy.com

and my blog (where I some times post promotions and free stuff):

www.artofjasmine.blogspot.com

Thank you for sharing this journey with me and getting to know both Jasmine and hopefully her work as well. Keep an eye on her, she is constantly evolving. Leave a comment below and let her know what you think.

Thank you for stopping by this week and supporting Independant Artists.

Fashionable Simplicity

2010-03-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Friday's Fashion Find's

Fashionable Simplicity

Well folks, it has been a few weeks since I have put my Find's up. My apologies. Between a smallvacation, my computer crashing, and finally getting back into my groove, it has been a few weeks!

Today, it is a stormy, rainy, mellow day here in California. I feel like comfort food and simple, comfortable clothing. However, just because you crave simplicity, does NOT mean that you have to sacrifice style!
This week I have put together a great, simple ensemble with accessories adding the fun punch! that is one of my favorite things about simple clothing, you can accessorize away! (Well, within reason of course!) However since accessories are my favorite things, I'm a kid in a candy store today! I have added some great jewelry, a cute newsboy cap, a fun red clutch and the hottest boots ever to grace the pages of this Blog!

So enjoy Fashionable Simplicity, and afterwards, let me know what you think!

(Click on image for larger view)

From Left to Right:

Solid Resin Ring - - Mell-o Yell-o - - Resin Jewelry by Buy My Crap: "**Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.** -- Washington Irving quotes

This lovely little ring is made from a vivid yellow and a dark seafoam green opaque resin.
One side is predominantly dark seafoam green, while the other is predominantly vivid yellow. Turn it around and decide which way YOU want to display it on your finger."
You can find Buy my Crap at: www.BuyMyCrap.etsy.com

Demeter Earrings by ARCO IRIS handcrafted: "The Demeter Earrings are made of 100% beautiful Copper. The dangling chains are made of hand hammered vintage Copper. The Demeter's are hung on a Copper Ear Wire.
Hang's Approx. 3 inches.
Demeter is the Goddess of corn and the harvest. She taught mankind the art of sowing and ploughing so they could end their nomadic existence."
I am ARCO IRIS handcrafted, so I guess if your here, youve already found me! :) However, just in case, here are my details!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.arcoirishandcrafted.com
ETSY: www.arcoirishandcrafted.etsy.com
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/arcoirishandcrafted
TWITTER: http://Twitter.com/ArcoIris_hc

Luxe Legging Series - Charcoal black denim sparkle Jegging by Pyxus Passion Project: "Denim jeans and leggings = jegging! Charcoal black with silver lurex gives these leggings a sparkle/sleek effect.
I only have one XSMALL left in this fabric/style... 1” elastic waistband and medium/high waist covers your tummy and is comfy/stretchy.
Priced to go! Last pair - regular $45 / now only $28
Fabric content is a poly/cotton, spandex mix. Light weight denim has just enough stretch!

SIZING:
X-SMALL FITS -
Waist: 24" - 26"
Hip: 33" - 35"
Inseam: 34"

Any questions? Please do not hesitate to ask - all inquiries are welcome!"

You can find Michelle and Pyxus Passion Project at: www.PyxusPassionProject.etsy.com

Kim Kanner Boots from Pacific Essentials: "BOOT DESCRIPTION:

* HAND MADE IN THE U.S.A.
* PREMIUM TOP QUALITY LEATHER
* TOP QUALITY LEATHER LINING
* LEATHER SOLE WITH PEBBLED RUBBER SKID PAD
* BOOT MAY BE WORN OVER THE KNEE OR YOU CAN FOLD OVER GAUNTLET TO WEAR UNDER KNEE.
* LEATHER ANKLE STRAP WITH CONTRAST STITCHING AND BRASS HARDWARE FOR THAT OLD WORLD LOOK.

THESE BOOTS ARE PURE GREATNESS AND HIGH QUALITY LEATHER! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!"

You can find Pacific Essentials at: www.pacificessentials.etsy.com

****These are the sexiest Boots!! I ♥ them!!!****

Lola by Kenton Beadworks: "Fiery red coral nuggets are hand knotted one by one with thick silk cord and finished with sterling silver components including a large sterling silver lobster clasp.

Bold and brilliant.
Total length is 19 inches. Each bead is approx. 15x20mm.
Free Domestic shipping!"

You can find Kenton Beadworks at: www.KentonBeadworks.etsy.com

Resin Bangle by Bobishi: "This bangle is hand coloured using pigments infused in resin. The colour formation is created when one colour sets as the other moves through it.
The round shape allows for medium to large hands to easily fit in! And it is very comfortable to wear.
The bangle is created in my handmade moulds and then sanded and polished by hand to achieve a gloss sheen. The bangle shows the individuality of the handmade process through its one of colour formation, form and surface markings."

You can find Bobishi at: www.bobishi.etsy.com

Mothlight Day Coat by Heir Apparel: "Fall/Winter 2009

Made To Order

Soft and cozy 100% black wool jacket with feminine lines and modern details. Great for fall or spring outerwear and to keep you warm indoors. The high collar can be flipped up or down. Fitted sleeves with segmented elbows and cuffs that open up like flower petals. The jacket flares slightly from the waist and the hem curves down the back into a subtle bustle. Fastens with gray cloth covered buttons from collar to waist. Fully lined in gray 100% cotton jersey. Serged and top stitched through out, as well as superficial stitching for balance and embellishment.

Made to order in your measurements. Please provide the following when ordering.

Bust
Waist
Hips
Shoulder to Shoulder
underarm to waist
underarm to elbow
shoulder circumference
elbow circumference

Dry clean only."

You can find Heir Apparel at: www.heairapparel.etsy.com

Rose Dahling Ruffle Clutch by Shop Dahling: "Rose colored basketweave fabric clutch with ruffle flap and magnetic snap closure. Inner pocket. Gold rose button as detail on front.

These are NOT just fabric bags...they are sturdy because of the Dahling inner stabilizer construction inside each one. Cute and tough...just like you!
Fully lined with fun lining (Linings are subject to change depending on stock...but don't worry, they're all cute!!) Dahling satin labels- tab at side seam and inside label.
12 1/2" length by 7 1/2" height"

You can find Shop Dahling at: www.shopdahling.etsy.com

White puff-sleeved top by Liseth: "This top has a envelope neckline and puff sleeves.
Very good stretch material.
The color shown is White and also available in Ocean blue and Pink!!
All sizes available!
All dresses are made to order. It will take about 2-6 days to ship.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Thanks for shopping!"

You can find Liseth at: www.liseth.etsy.com

Vintage 1970s Gunmetal TWEED Newsboy Cap from Ggiotta: "Speckled gray tweed newsboy hat c. 1970s by 'de sind.' A single snap on the miniature brim so that the cap may be worn closed and flat like a pancake or open and more voluminous. In excellent, seemingly unworn estate condition. Size SMALL.

Maker: de sind
Era: 1970s
Condition: Excellent Vintage
Fits Like: Small
Diameter of Brim: 8.5"
Circumference of Inner Band: 21" (measure the inside band of your own hats or measure your own head for comparative purposes)"

You can find Ggiotta at: www.ggiotta.etsy.com

Thank you for stopping by for this week's Friday's Fashion Find's. I hope you have enjoyed these Find's as much as I have enjoyed putting them together.

Please, leave a comment below and I hope that you will stop by some of these shop's and help support Handmade Artists!

Thank you!

Featured Artist, Michael Garbutt

2010-03-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome Featured Artist

Michael Garbutt

I am really excited to share my friend Michael with you! I found Michael on Twitter. He was trying out a great experiment with his Twitter page by NOT talking about his business on Twitter and seeing how that affected things. Well, I would say that the experiment was a success because out of all the advertising going on Twitter, I saw and interesting post by Michael, and as a result discovered his AMAZING Photography!

My favorite piece of his is "The Dawn of Time", which I plan on having on my own wall very soon! I appreciate his love for the sea being someone who grew up on the Coast and who misses the Ocean terribly. He catches the Ocean in all her glorious moods. After getting to know Michael a bit, I also have to say that he is a wonderful, and FUNNY guy. I hope that you enjoy his interview as much as I did, and you love his photographs even more! Don't forget to stop by his Etsy shop and say HI! He has even more wonderful Photographs there! I had to force myself to stop adding them to this interview! I love them all!

1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hello! My name is Michael Garbutt, I'm a twenty-four year old gentleman/dude from Sydney, Australia. I'm presently studying to become an English teacher, and beyond that I'm also a self-taught photographer.

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you learn about art?

I've always had a bit of an artistic leaning, but I only really decided that photography was my thing about five years ago. My first camera was some dodgy film thing. As a poor university student having to spend money on film, you very quickly learn to avoid taking awful photos. From there, it all just sort of bubbled along - I read a few articles about how to improve my photography and then just went out and took as many photos as I could. Five years later, here I am.

3. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession? Tell us about your first sale.

To be perfectly honest, I don't really feel as though this is a profession. I do make a nice little profit from sales, but I think that as soon as I start visualising my photography as a business, I'll stop enjoying it so much. That doesn't mean I don't take a professional approach to everything - I just don't think about the commercial viability of a shot when I go out shooting. I prefer to shoot for art's sake, and if I can make a dollar or two on the side, then everything is dandy.

4. Explain your process a bit.

Well, my process varies depending on the subject. One thing that remains constant no matter what I'm shooting is the necessity of patience. For example: if I decide I want to shoot a sunrise, typically it involves dragging myself out of bed at 4am every morning for a week until I get the right conditions. (Seriously, I wish there was some foolproof method for predicting amazing sunrises. I'd save myself so much misery.) Another example: one of my shots shows a hoverfly in the midst of landing on a flower. That was no lucky shot - I spent more than an hour lying flat on my belly in the grass waiting for just that instant. So there you go - no matter what the subject, patience is always the key.

5. INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?

As a photographer I feel completely inspired by the beauty of nature. It sometimes feels as though everyone else is too busy to notice some of the simply amazing sights that get presented to us on a day to day basis. I revel in clouds, I love tiny little insects and above all else, I love the fluidity and chaos of the ocean. Hopefully, a little bit of that shows through in my photos.

6. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Well, photographically I have a few dreams. I'd love to get my hands on an underwater housing for my camera so that I can get some shots from the other side of the waves. I also love travel photography, and the spontaneity it creates - I want to get myself over to Easter Island and French Polynesia, and just see what sorts of cool shots I can get there. In terms of my life... well, ten years down the track I'll be satisfied if I'm happily teaching little brats how to read and write properly.

7. Anything and everything else about yourself that you would like to share. Favorite color to favorite food. Family, friends, life, anything. :) Shameless self promotion is totally the point here.

As an aside, I'm also using my photographic skills to help the powers of good by sharing my know how with fellow sellers with regards to product photography. You can generally find me lurking around in the Business Topics part of the etsy forum, or alternatively, I've got an all encompassing e-book covering everything a beginner product photographer needs to know in my etsy shop. How's that for shameless self promotion?

8. Where can you be found?

You can find me on etsy at http://elgarbo.etsy.com. I also blog about my life's crazy adventures at http://elgarbos.wordpress.com and, should you feel like hanging out and chatting, try me on twitter at http://twitter.com/elgarbo

And if you want to find me in real life, I'm often hanging out at one of Sydney's many beautiful beaches.

Thank you for stopping by and getting to know Michael! I hope that you have enjoyed his photography as much as I have. Don't forget to stop by his Etsy store and Please, leave a comment below!

Thank you!

Cocktails for Valentine's Day...

2010-02-11T22:33:00.000-08:00

Friday's Fashion Find's,
Cocktails for Valentine's Day.

I'm normally a pretty big Scrooge around this particular time of year. Valentine's Day has never been a real big day of celebration for me (perhaps I have simply not had the right Valentine), perhaps it's the commercialness of it all. Normally, I enjoy a fun night with the Gal's. Some drinks, some dinner, some CHOCOLATE!!

So this week, I wanted to honor my own time honored tradition of going out for drinks with my best ladies on Valentine's Day. I've put together a fun, sassy ensemble fit for cocktails. Enjoy, and Happy Valentine's!

(Click to view larger image.)

From Left to Right:

Oh My Gold Cocktail Dress from Chuletin Designs: "Beautiful gold cocktail dress made of very soft satin fabric. The yoke is made with golden satin rope trim and black piping. Under the yoke pleats. The closure are hook and eyes at the back.

Fits size from 6 to 12
Length: As long as 42 1/2". I can make it shorter upon request."

You can find Chuletin Design's at: www.Chuletindesigns.etsy.com

RB02 009 from Aya Morrison: "This luxuriantly coutured African fabric Clutch Purse from our signature Radiant Bliss Collection is just the thing for the spring! Add to your spring 2010 wardrobe and be the “it” girl this season!!! A blend of authentically rich ethnic colors enhanced with a single metal snap, you can wear this purse to any event (party wedding, concert, church, you name it)

Purse measures 13” by 5”
The bag is simply flawlessly Trendy…Grab yours with haste before it’s all gone!"

You can find Aya Morrison at: www.ayamorrison.etsy.com

Black leather Obi cinch corset style wrap belt from Elizabeth Kelly: "* Black leather wrap belt.

* Made from super soft grainy leather with a gentle
semi-gloss.
* The waistband is 5ins wide with two narrow long straps.
* This is an understated belt, a concealed side seam was worked into the design to eliminate back ruching/fussy detail. The belt stays flat to the body all round and is very enhancing on the reverse also with it's double layered finish.
* Versatile style, it's really easy to tie. Wear it high on the waist with a pencil skirt or hanging loose for a more relaxed look. This belt can be worn low on the hips too if you're having a bit of a Shakira moment!
*I have been making these belts for years now with customers requesting them in a range of colors tailored to fit. I made a specially commissioned handpainted gold version last year for a Sony advert and often make special commissions for re-enactments, stylists and dramatics."

You can find Elizabeth Kelly at: www.elizabethkelly.etsy.com

Copper Cuff Bracelet / Flower Cuff Bracelet from Addiction To Detail: "Subjects from nature are my favorite, and this time it’s a flower. This one coiled its ways around my copper cuff, just as a real flower might do.

*I took a sheet of copper, cut them into 2 pieces. The larger piece was hammered into an anticlastic shape, great for framing my flower.
*The second piece was used as the flower. I formed it into a tube, twisted and coiled it at one end. The other end was formed into a flower shape. Finally a coiled copper wire was used for the stamen.
*Measures approximately 1 3/8” high, fits a wrist measuring approximately 7 to 7 1/2”, with a 1 1/4” opening."

You can find Addiction to Detail at: www.AddictionToDetail.etsy.com

Hair Combs Black and White Napier Silver Squares from Oh Faro!: "Beautiful silver plate squares with black glass and white polished shell by Napier. Both sets came with a broken mate. Fun for day or night. Our vintage vixen Juliette - really loves them.

*Focals measures almost 1 3/8 inches across. The comb is silver-tone nickle and measures 1.25 inches wide. Overall measure from peak to teeth is approx. 1 7/8 inches."

You can find Oh Faro! at: www.OhFaro.etsy.com

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN PATENT LEATHER SHOES PUMP HEEL from Wholesale 925: "top quality ; competitive price ; fast shipping;combin order ;drop shipping available;best and timely service;100% satisfaction ;big discount for big order. shipping"

You can find Wholesale 925 at: www.Wholesale925.etsy.com

Blue Morning, Blue Day Earrings from My Cellar Door: "Simple. Pretty. Unique.

These simple earrings makes a bold statement with their elegant faceted cobalt blue quartz briolettes. These lovely stones are wire-wrapped and hang from Vermeil gold handmade ear wires. "

You can find My Cellar Door at: www.mycellardoor.etsy.com

I hope that you have been inspired by my Cocktail ensemble. Whether your spending Valentine's Day with your sweety, or with your friends, I hope you enjoy all that the day has to offer!!

Till next time...

Featured Artist, Mike Smarr.

2010-02-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome Featured Artist,

Mike Smarr.

I would like to welcome my new friend, and very talented glass artist Mike Smarr of Oscar Baron Artist's to "Till death...". Mike is an amazingly talented artist who makes my favorite recycled glass necklaces and many other amazing pieces! Im so honored to have him here and to share him with all of you!

Please give him a warm welcome with me! Stop by his store, and leave him a comment below. I hope that you are all as inspired by his beautiful glass pieces as I am!

1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hello. I'm Mike Smarr, I'm 36 years old and I'm from Marietta, Ohio. I am a glass artist and I am married to a wonderful woman named Mandy. I also have the honor of having a 12 year-old daughter. We have two very special dogs and one very unique cat. We are currently residing in Marietta, but we are relocating to California this summer.

2. How long have you been an artist and how did you learn about art?

I have been an artist all of my life. I remember how natural it felt as a child to create things with my hands. It still feels that way. I really learned about art through life. Experiencing it. Living it. It's kind of a “follow your bliss” sort-of-thing. I started my sandblasting education with Butch Young's book and dvds, and then a basic introduction to sandblasting course with Norm Dobbins.

3. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession? Tell us about your first sale.

The business has been in the making for about 3 years now, but things didn't get serious until about 9 months ago. I think I've really developed the professional mind-set over the last year. My first sale was to a friend for a gift for her mother. It was a lighthouse etched and lightly carved on a blue wine bottle. It was the first thing that I had created to sell in many years, and it felt incredible. I think she was quite pleased with the end result.

4. 1. INSPIRATION. Anything, everything. What inspires you?

Music...memories...synergy...historical moments in the making...an opportunity to discover something more about life...

5. Explain your process a bit.

I am more old school when it comes to blasting and cutting, and I like that. Most of the techniques I use today, I've learned from Butch. It's a different style, mostly hand cutting resist, rather than a pre-cut or photoresist stencil design. It's a freer approach to blasting glass, in my opinion. Each piece is carefully hand selected for the design in mind. The glass is cleaned and then the design is applied onto a vinyl or rubber resist. How the design is applied to the resist is what separates most blasters. This where the handcutting comes in. Often times resist is either ordered as a precut stencil (computer cut) or a photoresist (image burned to special resist to create stencil), but I've chosen to handcut the majority of everything I do. There are some exceptions, but very few. This allows true creative control over just about everything I create. Anything that will resist sand at high pressures can be used as a resist. The design is then interpreted and sandblasted accordingly. Glass can be solid frosted, lightly to heavily shaded, leveled, carved, glue-chipped, colored (through paint or various gilding techniques), mirrored, or even left clear, to create stunning art pieces. I like to create functional art pieces, but rarely turn down the chance to create anything.

6. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Honestly, I have big plans. I think this is a get-what-you-give type of world and I plan on making an impact. We are taking the next step in our journey this summer by moving out to California. In the next 10 years, I see us closer to Seattle, running a small private gallery, still selling online, and beginning to establish our foundations and educational programs for entrepreneurship and small business. My wife and I have spoken many times of our desire to give back to our community and establish opportuities for those who have been less fortunate, and I believe that things will be in full swing around this time frame.

7. Anything and everything else about yourself that you would like to share. Favorite color to favorite food. Family, friends, life, anything. :)

I've never been real good at self-promotion so I'll just wrap it up. Thank you Iris, I appreciate the opportunity you've given me to share some of my thoughts with the world. I love what you're doing here.

8. Where can you be found?

You can find me, follow me, fan me, or friend me at the following:

• http://www.oscarbaronartists.com – website

• http://www.oscarbaron.etsy.com - store

• http://www.oscarbaronartists.com/category/blog/ - blog

• http://www.twitter.com/oscarbaron – twitter

• http://tr.im/oscarbaronfanpage – facebook fan page

I hope that you have all enjoyed meeting Mike, and learning about his work as much as I have! Please, dont forget to introduce yourself to him as well! Thank you again Mike for sharing yoruself with us!

Down the Rabbit Hole...

2010-02-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

Friday's Fashion Find's
Down the Rabbit Hole...

This week's Find's are inspired by this lovely Alice in Wonderland tunic dress that I found. The rest of the ensemble gave me the feel that I was looking for. Something a little dangerous, something a little adventurous, something a little beautiful, something playful like childhood, a little white like the Rabbit.

I had a lot of fun with this week's Find's. We've been having some crazy storm weather out here in California, and it's brought out a crazy, fun edginess in everyone. Alice in Wonderland seems to fit that feeling. I hope you enjoy this week's beautiful Find's too.

(Click image for larger view)

From Left to Right:

Grey sparkle silver stripe leggings from Sugarpop Clothing: "These are made from super cute grey fabric with glitter stripe. They are 3/4 length hipster leggings and have a picot elastic waistband.

These would best fit a small to medium
Hips = 28-36 inches
Length = 33 inches
Handmade with love!
Sugarpop Clothing
xxx "

I chose these legging's because I love the sparkly grey color. I wanted a neutral that was not black, and who dosnt like a little sparkle in their life? Seemed fitting with the Alice in Wonderland theme.

You can find Stephanie and Sugarpop Clothing at: www.SugarpopClothing.etsy.com

ALSO at: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, FLICKR, MYSPACE, and her BLOG.

Alice in Wonderland Tunic - Short dress from No Wonder: "`But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.

`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad. You'r mad.'
This tunic features our Alice print from the original illustration of Alice in wonderland book.
The print is silkscreened on a low cut tunic, very soft and comfortable. Could also be worn as a short dress!
Goes great with any jeans, leggings or tights."

This beautiful green tunic dress was the inspirational piece for this week's ensemble. It's a great piece with a nice, tasteful Alice in Wonderland embelishment. I love it!

You can find Neomi and No Wonder at: www.nowonder.etsy.com

ALSO on: FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

Elongated Oval Hoops - Sterling Silver from SStargell Designs: "These hand forged(S) and (N) hammered oval sterling (S) silver hoops (S a l e) measure just shy of 1 1/4" long. They are the perfect everyday earrings.

Thanks,
Steph"

Ive added a lot of other visual stimuli to this ensemble, so I wanted to keep the earrings simple. Beautiful, but simple. These hand forged/hammered Sterling Silver hoops were just the pieces I was looking for!

You can find Stephanie and SStargell Desings at: www.sstargell.etsy.com

ALSO on: FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

When we were Young - hand painted silk satin jacquard luxury scarf from Muse Silk Paintings: "When we were young, we ran as fast as we could through yellow fields, and climbed every tree we found. We chased each other with shrieks of glee and the world around melted away. It seems like a lifetime ago now, but the cherry blossom trees in this beautiful silk painting offer a glimmer of that moment in time.
     The heavenly shades of pinks and lavenders make up the cloudy tree tops, and indigo tree trunks contrast the brilliant gold background. Several places the darks bleed into the lights and over the thicker, white line work, making this picture even fuzzier, and adding to the nostalgic and dream like artistic vision.
     This silk is really special! It is a bit heavier than my lighter habotais and crepes, and it has a beautiful silk satin jacquard, abstract grass-like design to it. Drapes beautifully! Because of the gorgeous texture of this jacquard fabric, it picks up light beautifully and adds another shade to every color in the scarf, while still feeling incredibly soft. This is truly a luxurious treat!"

      I LOVE this scarf. Did I say LOVE? It's a beautiful painting, but what I really love the most? The description. Yep. That's right. Every time I see it now, I think of the first paragraph of the description "When we were young, we ran as fast as we could through yellow fields...". I cant help but see that in my mind every time I look at this scarf. It's my FAVORITE Angel. :)

You can find Angel and Muse Silk Paintings at: www.MuseSilkPaintings.etsy.com

ALSO on: FACEBOOK and her BLOG.

Seam Pocket Jacket with Sea Stone Buttons (hemp/organic cotton fleece) from Gaia Conceptions: "This wonderful Jacket has a ton of detailing. Princess seams open up for deep cozy pockets and Sea stone buttons really make this a eye catching desing. This is made with my Organic Hemp/Cotton Fleece. Nice and fuzzy warm on the inside and smooth on the outside.
Color Shown here is Natural"

I have to say that I really love the clothing from Gaia Conceptions. Andrea does my favorite thing and makes comfortable, easy to wear clothing that is chic and beautiful!! I love the soft, cozieness of this jacket. I just want to snuggle up in it. And...it's white, like the Rabbit... ;)

You can find Andrea and Gaia Conceptions at: www.gaiaconceptions.etsy.com

ALSO on: FACEBOOK and her OFFICIAL WEBSITE.

VINTAGE gold convertible HANDBAG - Janeys got a gun from Round Trip: "VINTAGE gold convertible HANDBAG with hand painted gun in water proof. Heat set paint. This bag is in tip top condition inside and out. Features include: fold over snap closure and attached gold chain which can easily be tucked in for the clutch look.
Classic vintage with urban flare.
Measures 6.5” tall, 10” across"

This is a great clutch!! Janey's got a gun. It sais it all right in the name. A little fabulous danger. Alice in Wonderland, danger? I think so!

You can find Jenn and Round Trip at: www.roundtrip.etsy.com

Red Rose for the Lady from Raghouse International: "This vibrant red crocheted rose is lovely enough to decorate a face or jacket lapel and was crocheted with lite weight crystal acrylic thread. Centered in the middle of this rose are a clan of read beads that are hand sewn on. This flower serves a dual purpose with its double pendant, one for the hair and on for your clothing. This red crocheted flower measures 3.5 inches across."

I already bought mine!!!

OK, so obvioulsy, I really like this broach/hairclip. I bought one immediatley! I used to love running around with a flower in my hair when I was young, but now, I dont really go around smelling the flowers like I used too. (Hmmm...perhaps I should.) So, this is a nice little piece that I can always have to remind me to stop and smell the roses. How does this fit into Alice in Wonderland you ask? The Queen of Hearts of course! It reminds me of the scene in her garden.

You can find Ren and Raghouse International at: www.raghouseinternational.etsy.com

ALSO on: Her BLOG.

Film Camera Dark Red High Heels from Hippy of Doom: "These are brand new dark red patent pointy toed high heels that have been hand painted with a film camera design. There are cameras on the right heel and the left toe. The design has been painted in gold, and is based on a Zenith SLR."

These are fabulous heels! You can never go wrong with patent red heel's, but these have a lovely little camera embelishment on them that makes them truly unique. I like the pieces in this ensemble wiht thesmall, tastefull graphic design's on them. These fit the bill perfectly. When I seea camera, I think of adventure and Alice in Wonderland is definitly an adventure!

You can find Sabrina and Hippy of Doom at: www.hippyofdoom.etsy.com

The future is bright leather pendant from Flight Path Designs: "This is a part of my new series of graphic pendants.

     The 'future is bright' pendant is slightly larger than my other pendants at aproximately 2.5" x 3" and was inspired by 70's art and fashion.
     The image is permanently set onto leather. The technique I use for these pieces is similar to a 'tattoo'process, where the leather completely absorbs the ink, revealing the subtle textures of the grain. I also finish the pieces with a non-toxic sealant which gives the piece a nice finish and ensures the pendant is completely weather-proof!
     All pendants in these series consist of leather, hung from a lovely thick 16" long sterling silver chain.If you would like a longer chain, please send a request. An additional charge of $2-$4 will apply depending on the length. The leather that is used is thick enough that it will retain its shape and not bend.
     The 'future is bright' design has a rich brown background, with white accents and little dots of blue and red. A very versatile piece that can be worn with many different outfits. A great gift for those who love nature motifs.
     Simple, yet incredibly stylish."

     I love the work that Flight Path Design's does. She makes vibrant, stylish pieces of art, that you can wear!! Nothing better in my opinion. I think this piece is beautiful, as all the pendants from Flight Path are. However what reallly sold me on this one, again, was the name. The Future is bright, indeed! A fitting end as well for Alice.

You can find Flight Path Designs at: www.flightpathdesigns.etsy.com


     Ive really had a fun week with these Find's! I hope you have been inspired too! PLEASE, stop by there stores, follow them on social networks, leave us some comment's here, and lastly, enjoy the beauty and talent these designers and artists have to offer. Thank you, and don't forget to stop by EVERY Friday for more Fabulous Friday's Fashion Find's!!

Featured Artist - Walter Rose

2010-01-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

Featured Artist,

~ Walter Rose ~

"Walter Rose writes of lost love, hard times and the beauty that lies between. His debut EP plays like a cathartic journal with lyrics that are nothing less than honest. Rose’s heartfelt analog recordings speak of a bygone era of folk-country singer-song writers. This is an artist who wants nothing more than to be true to his craft. With his heart on his sleeve Walter Rose keeps no secrets but holds plenty of mystery." - Fourth Street Records

I am so excited to bring Walter Rose into this Blog today! Walter Rose is a local boy from the same place that I grew up. I discovered Walter Rose's music thanks to the hard work of a very old, and very wonderful, mutual friend. I was lucky enough to see Walter Rose play only a few weeks ago, and I must say, it took my breath away. His soft, gravelly voice mesmerizes you and swiftly catches you in its embrace. It makes you dream of another time. A different place.
I hope you enjoy this tiny glimpse of this mysterious man, and listen to his music with as much joy as I do. Of course, I'm listening to his E.P. as I put this together. "Driving South", on repeat. ☺ My favorite new song. My recomendation, click play on the Amazon media player to your right, or link over to 4th St. Records in another window, and LISTEN to this amazing musician while reading his interview. So, without further adieu, Walter Rose...

1. Who are you? Where are you from, how old are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Walter Rose. I am 33. I am from Carmel, CA by way of Honolulu.

2. What kind of music do you play?

I am a singer/songwriter of the Alt-Country and/or Americana persuasion.

3. How long have you been a musician, and how did you get into music?

I have been playing music nearly all my life but I didn’t really do much with it until my late 20’s. In a lot of ways I still see myself as more of a storyteller than a musician.

4. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession?

I don’t think it was really a leap, or if it is I am still up in the air, yet to land on the other side. I think of it more as a river crossing hopping from rock to rock. It seems I am reaching the point where the destination is getting closer and the side I left is now further away.

5. INSPIRATION.

My inspiration can come from a lot of places but the majority of my songs are written about my own life experiences.

6. Explain your process a bit.

My process…well, that’s hard to answer because it’s not always the same. Sometimes it starts with a guitar riff or a melody or it could be a phrase. Sometimes songs take years to finish and some are complete in 15 minutes but those are rare.

7. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Goals…well to be making a living as a musician, songwriter, and producer in any order. To have a happy loving family and be financially secure. That sounds great.

8. Anything and everything else about yourself that you would like to share.

I am so grateful for the positive feedback I have been receiving around the globe from the Netherlands, Sydney, to Italy and of course at home. I am always looking for great players as well. So, if someone likes my music and would like to jump on the Walter Rose train, please contact me. And of course I am always looking for gigs, be it solo acoustic or with my band.

9. Where can you be found?

I can be found at 4thstrecords.com. For a limited time my self-titled EP is available for free download at the website. It is for sale at itunes and Amazon.com as well. Also at 4thstrecords.com you can buy CDs and T-shirts.

You can also find Walter Rose on:

FACEBOOK

and

MYSPACE

I hope that you have all enjoyed listening too, and getting to know a little about Walter Rose. Please, show your support and leave us a comment below letting us know your thoughts. And please...PASS THE WORD ALONG and help support Independant Music today!

Have a fabulous day!!

Summer Dreams...

2010-01-29T10:35:00.000-08:00

Friday's Fashion Find's....
SUMMER DREAMS.

This week we have been inundated with RAIN here in California. It's been GREAT for our State, but I can't help but dream of Summer and all the fun we will have. This outfit is inspired by my Dreams of Summer....

(Clcik for larger view)

From Left to Right:

Baby Ruche Bag in Plum Leather with Adjustable Strap from Jenny N Design: "This will be your next go-to bag to carry all your essentials! A perfect bag for work and play! This purse has a great shape with its pleated sides and ruched bottom.

This baby is made of 100% genuine cowskin leather in Plum and is lined with microbrushed cotton twill in Black. Inside you'll find two open pockets to store your cell, keys, ipod, etc.
The entire bag closes with a magnetic snap.
This bag has an adjustable strap, enabling you to wear it long or across the chest like a messenger!"

You can find Jenny and Jenny N Design at: www.jennyndesign.etsy.com
Also on FACEBOOK and her BLOG

Sandmaiden organic cotton jersey blend draped cap sleeve t shirt - made to measure from Sand Maiden: "Draped neck t shirt with gathered back and molded sleeve hole

FABRIC:
pre-shrunk soy and organic cotton jersey blend with lycra - medium weight with a dry hand. This is a high quality soft jersey with a lot of spandex, it really holds things in and feels great on. Colors are dyed at the mill, are vivid and fashion forward. Launder gently for long wearing garments.
or
Very soft light to medium weight rayon and organic cotton jersey knit with spandex *excellent draping quality*
colors available - in the last photo
photographed in ochre"

You can find Amanda and Sand Maiden at: www.sandmaiden.etsy.com
Also on FACEBOOK

Sonora - Bracelet . Freshwater Pearl from The Peach Tree: "Washed by the Sea of Cortez.

6mm Pink Chocolate Freshwater Pearl buttons.
Measures 7 7/8 inches from end to end of its Sterling Silver toggle clasp."

You can find Amy and The Peach Tree at: www.ThePeachTree.etsy.com
Also on FACEBOOK, TWITTER and her BLOG

Vintage 9 West Leather Cowgirl Boots Heels from Sugar Lily: "Supercute pair of vintage 9 West boots for a petite lady with great style! Tan leather. Made in Brazil. They have a 3" heel. Very good condition overall. Women's size 5.5M."

You can find Brenna and Sugar Lily at: www.sugarlily.etsy.com

A Better Future Wrap Skirt from I Heart Fink: "This unique skirt is handmade from scratch and one of a kind. We screen printed light blue fabric using our original strings design and light metallic gold ink. We made several stitches at the waist for a lovely fitted and structured look. There is a small slit in one side to easily slip the tie through and then wrap around to meet the other tie on the side or front. We added a ruffle around the hem to make it even more special. The high waist is very comfortable and figure flattering. You will enjoy wearing this piece through many seasons with boots and tights or with flats and tank tops in warmer weather."

You can find Kristen and Karen and I Heart Fink at: www.iheartfink.etsy.com
Also on FACEBOOK and TWITTER

Paloma Shoulderette - Luxurious Knit Capelet - Custom COLORS from Tickled Pink Knits: "Elegant, feminine, and decidedly chic, this is a wonderful piece of handmade knitwear to add to your wardrobe. Hand knitted in a luxurious yarn of your choice (see below for details), this Shoulderette / Capelet will be a marvelous companion to you throughout the year. Lusciously soft and toasty, it can be part of your fall- and winter-wear outfits, as well as a terrific special occasion accessory in spring and summer. It makes an exquisite accessory for a bride or a bridesmaid. The Shoulderette features a lovely ruffled edge, a comfortable neckband, and a delicate petite stand-up collar. A beautiful matching button from my collection of unusual new and vintage buttons will be selected to match your custom-made Capelet. Treat yourself or a loved one to this romantic and delectable item!"

You can find Elena and Tickled Pink Knits at: www.TickledPinkKnits.etsy.com
Also on FLICKR and TWITTER

Cobalt Satin Flower Hair Pins from Nomsa: "Tenderly handcrafted using a delicate and beautiful, rich cobalt blue fabric, a cluster of silver seed beads and love. These hair pins are a beautiful addition to your wardrobe and can dress up an outfit for going out or add a bit of zest to your usual attire."

(I LOVE these so much, I purchased them!!! ☺ )

You can find Ashlee and Nomsa at: www.Nomsa.etsy.com
Also on TWITTER and her BLOG

Harvest Leaves in Gold Necklace from ARCO IRIS handcrafted: "Harvest Leaves in Gold The Harvest Leaves in Gold is part of my Harvest Leaves collection. This necklace is 2 leaves made of black Polymer Clay and Gold Leaf. The leaves are etched with veins, which you can see through the foil. The leaves themselves are what holds the necklace together. It is strung with black waxed cotton cord. This piece is beautiful and eye catching."

This is one of my own pieces that I thought fit so beautifully with this outfit. This necklace looks so great on!!

You can find ME and ARCOIRIS handcrafted at: www.arcoirishandcrafted.etsy.com
Also on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, my OFFICIAL WEBSITE and of course HERE

Marilyn - Mod Jewelry from lizix26: "These are modern matte gold pieces of filigree hanging from 14kt gold platetd ear wires.

Lightweight, dainty and glamorous pair of earrings. Length 2"."
You can find Lizi and Lizix26 at: www.lizix26.etsy.com

I hope that you have enjoyed this week's edition of my Friday's Fashion Find's!

PLEASE, stop by there stores, follow them on social networks, leave us some comment's here, and lastly, enjoy the beauty and talent these designers and artists have to offer. Thank you, and don't forget to stop by EVERY Friday for more Fabulous Friday's Fashion Find's!!

Featured Artist - Stil Novo Design!

2010-01-24T21:06:00.000-08:00

WELCOME
Stil Novo Design
as this weeks Featured Artist!

I would LOVE to welcome Camilla and Stefano of Stil Novo Design. I feel very lucky to call Camilla a friend after this, and am so happy and excited to share her and Stefano's vision and work with all of you! So please, help me in warmly welcoming them to "Till death...".

Thank you!

1. Who are you? Where are you from? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Camilla and I’m the ‘other half’ of Stil Novo Design. We are a family business focused on the creation of eco-friendly home décor, ‘green’ gift ideas, custom made furniture and original specialty pieces. All of our products are made with reclaimed white oak that we recycle from French wine barrels. It’s a material that hasn’t stopped impressing us for its beauty, charm and distinctiveness.

We are originally from Italy, but have lived happily in California for the past 17 years; we have 10 years old twin girls who give us infinite joy, ‘fire’, bliss, motivation, enthusiasm and…headaches!

My beloved husband of 18 years, Stefano Capaccioli, is an accomplished woodworker/furniture maker; he possesses endless creativity, amazing abilities and meticulous skills that allow him to take on tricky challenges and to turn them into achievements.

I take care of orders, customer service (I love that!!), packaging (WHO loves that??!!?!) and shipping. I hand paint our decorated items, which I enjoy doing a lot and, as my husband says -keeps me quite- and create all of the listings. I also do the necessary ‘foot-work’, networking and marketing, in order to get Stil Novo Design noticed and appreciated. Last, but certainly not least, I am the one who does all the ‘nagging’ about every little detail, deadline and such, a very essential role in any family business!!!!

2. What does your Business name mean?

In Italian ‘stil novo’ means ‘new style’ and it’s reminiscent of the ‘dolce stil novo’, which was a very important literary movement in Italy during the 13th century. Somehow it seemed to fit with our vision and stylistic choices, not to mention that we really liked how it sounds!

3. How long have you been an artist and how did you learn about art?

I truly consider my husband a real artist. Artists seem to think, see, invent, create and communicate through their imaginative vein, no matter what the objective is. It’s the way they express themselves and it seems to be more of a natural inclination than a learnt ability; so, in a way, I believe one is born an artist and it becomes a matter of finding the specific niche and form to channel it into and to get gratification from.

4. When did you decide to make the leap from hobby to Profession? Tell us about your first sale.

     We are all going through a time of major shifting, transformation, transition and, in a way, rebirth. In these days the black and white areas are leaving more and more space to the widening ‘gray zone’. I don’t think we have made a complete leap from hobby to profession with our products yet, but we have understood better the need to develop and explore our potential in every possible area and to nourish our true passions.

     Our beginning was quite fortuitous; while visiting a local winery in the north of California, we noticed a bunch of unused barrels, piled up in a corner and ready to be discarded. We asked a few questions and learned about the chemical properties of oak itself and how it plays a significant role in winemaking, affecting the color, flavor, and texture of the wine.

      Over time many of the oak properties get "leached" out of the barrel and after 3 to 5 vintages the barrel is ready to be discarded.

My husband is an experienced and passionate woodworker, so he could immediately recognize and appreciate the quality of the selected oak the French barrels are made of, and felt that we could turn that unfortunate waste into a ‘green’ idea.

We wanted to craft pieces that were different from what was already available on the market, bringing more refinement and a new fashionable approach to the idea so that we could create an original fusion between rustic and contemporary.

The first piece we have sold was a candle holder and a dear friend of ours decided to buy it from us as a symbol of good auspice for our new born business and to initiate a momentum of great fortune. So sweet…

5. Explain your process a bit.

When we come up with a new idea my husband sketches it on paper and we discuss it further to define the details of the design; after that he makes a prototype and we decide if the design needs some adjustments and the possible alternatives; if it gets approved it’s added to our inventory. Often our customers offer suggestions or require custom pieces that give us the opportunity to explore our creativity even further.

6. What are your goals and dreams, where do you see yourself in 10 years?

We are hoping that one of the outcomes of this challenging time will be that a more environmentally concerned society will emerge from it; we’d love to be able to focus even more on recycling, reclaiming and essentially create new, modern, elegant and stylish beauty out of ‘aged’, otherwise discarded, materials. It gives us great pleasure to offer a new life to this exceptional wood in the hands of our customers, to be loved, enjoyed all over again, and for many more years to come.

7. Anything and everything else about yourself that you would like to share. Favorite color to favorite food. Family, friends, life, anything.

Our business has become for us another way to exchange our views, taste and choices with each other and to spend time together, sharing every moment of the creative process; We have a lot of fun doing it and we consider ourselves lucky to be able to make it into such a special family experience. Every piece we make is the direct product of a ‘family effort’, from the conceptualization of the idea to its realization and we all take pride and gratification in putting our name on it, including our twins!!! When the high season puts us under pressure we are often forced to involve some of our friends (and our girls!!) in any possible way: making labels, polishing the pieces, wrapping, boxing etc… and our home turns into a busy ‘beehive’.

8. Where can you be found?

We have most of our inventory available at our fabulous Etsy store at http://www.stilnovodesign.etsy.com/

We’d love to expand our ‘FaceBook family’; to join our fan page visit

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stil-Novo-Design/147248758419?created

Thank you for welcoming Stil Novo Design with me! Please, enjoy their shop and leave them a comment letting them know what you think!

Featured Artist ~ Angel Ray!

2010-01-18T12:28:00.000-08:00

Welcome Featured Artist Angel Ray!!

I am so excited to share my very first Featured Artist with you all! She is amazingly talented and a wonderful preson! Not only is she an inspiration, but I am lucky enough to call her a friend. Here she is folks, the lovely, the talented, the beautiful ANGEL!

"My name is Angel, and I am ironically a native of the City of Angels (Los Angeles, California). My grandmother said that age is a state of mind, so my state of mind is 33, and will forever be that age. If I had to describe myself in a few words, I would say I am quiet, obsessive, and reflective, but when you really get to know me, you’ll see that I have a great big heart and can really be quite silly (especially when it comes to pigs).

I’ve loved art since the moment I picked up a crayon. There is something that happens to me when mixing colors and interpreting ideas into an artistic expression. The world around, well, it simply melts away! I get swept up in line work, exploring negative space, can literally sit mesmerized for hours when it comes to repeated patterns found in artwork such as James Siena.

I also just love the organic nature of the incredible Hundertwasser.

And the ornate deco style of Klimt as well.

Of course, I have to say my favorite artist of all time is Van Gogh,

and absolutely adore O’Keefe as well...

the lists go on and on of inspiring fine artist that inspire me so much.

After trying many different artistic mediums (ceramics, charcoals, print making, painting, etc.), a few years ago I took a silk painting class by Dr. Rosemary Cohen of Atelier de Paris and that was that ~ I was hooked! The dyes spread and mixed colors so beautifully.. it was like magic. This was my first piece. I named it “Celestial Dance”

Finally my love for color, repeated design and painting could be realized in the perfect medium of silk painting! I wish I could just paint silk all day long, no need for food, water, or sleep (hence my obsessive nature).

After 2 years of dabbling in silk painting, and after much coaxing and encouragement from my friends and family, I finally decided to do my first show in May 2009 at the Studio City Rotary Art Show.

It was quite a whirlwind of an experience, but an amazing one at that. I almost passed out when a lady first bought one of my scarves. My hands were shaking and my heart was beating so fast at the notion. Someone I did not know liked my piece enough to buy it! Oh, what a feeling! To read more about my first show, click here.

Soon afterwards, and still basking in the excitement of the show, I finally set up my Etsy Shop! Running my Etsy shop has been a whole new and wonderful experience, but I have to say I owe much of my rapid learning curve to the amazing and supportive CCCOE team (Calfornia Crafter's Club of Etsy).

Silk Painting has been around for centuries, but all people have different methods. I personally use pine frames and stainless steel tacks to stretch silks. Once I have an idea of what type of design I’d like to express, I then draw freehand resist lines (like batik wax), and then paint. After the paint dries, the piece is heat set, washed, and pressed. Voila ~ it’s ready to wear! To read more about my silk painting process, click here.

Goals

I’d like to build the Muse Silk Paintings brand into a luxury gift shop with a variety of price points for hand painted silk products for men, women and home. I’d love to offer silk ties, robes, banners, purses, pillows, table runners, curtains, etc. in addition to my lovely scarves. As an artist, my goal is to become an expert silk painter and be able to achieve any effect possible through this medium with both heat AND steam set dyes.

It would also be amazing to find a way to partner with a Cancer society. Many of my clients have purchased a hand painted silk scarf as a gift to a loved one, fighting for their life, and going through chemotherapy. It would be so nice to be able to give a portion of my proceeds to help the organizations helping them fight these battles.

Dreams...

Two huge studios where I have plenty of room to work on large pieces, store all my supplies, and give workshops. I’d like one studio based in Los Angeles and one in Hawaii to work 6 months out of the year. Oh, and I would just LOVE to host artist island retreat workshop/vacations. A huge library of inspirational landscapes, trees, flowers, skyscapes, and geometric patterns, and of course of my favorite artists as well.

10 years...

I would like to have a strong, successful silk painting business, a happy, healthy family, and three Rottweilers. I would also like to have 1 wall in our home completely dedicated to pigs.

Colors...

I love all colors, and fascinated with mixing and playing with different color combinations. It is SO important in setting the tone and mood of the piece, and the possibilities are limitless!

Family...

I have the best family, friends, and partner that anyone could ask for. They have all been so supportive with the humble beginnings of Muse Silk Paintings. Having a supportive partner is simply invaluable.

About Muse Silk Paintings

My silk scarves are all completely stretched, drawn, painted, washed, and pressed by myself. Although I start with an inspiration board (for example here is my Spring/Summer board):

I do not copy or trace my images ~ they are all from my imagination. I also just delight in taking custom orders. To view pictures of my latest custom work, click here. To view pictures of ALL my sold pieces (both on and off-line) you can visit my SOLD pieces gallery here. Each piece is truly created with devoted care and attention, right down the color coordinating gift wrap that I wake up extra early each morning to prepare correctly.

A Muse scarf is a luxurious, one-of-a-kind, special painting that can be worn. When you order a scarf from Muse, I want you to be just delighted with the package that arrives on your doorstep. It should not only look beautiful on, but also feel and smell good too! To read past customer feedback, click here:

Shop Muse Silk Paintings scarves on Etsy here.

Check into my Blog every Friday to see the latest styled outfit for “Friday Fashion Finds”

Fan Muse on our Facebook Fan Page and get involved with the behind the scenes creative process, and be the first to know of any special sales or Muse news

Visit my photo galleries on Flickr to see pictures of my custom orders

And if you still can’t get enough of Muse, and you can follow on Twitter! "