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Missing Brianna

Two mixed media ACEOs I created with thoughts of my sweet child. Cemetary angels transferred onto watercolor paper, collage, charcoal pencil and then wax encaustic. My titles: "Cherished," for she was, and "...and the heavens cried," for it surely must with the death of a child.

"I will take my cues from within, and not be afraid."

- Martha Whitmore Hickman

Become What You Wish...

...~ Queen of Faerie ~

Just working away in my studio with the fairies and birds to guide me. Under their spell, I created this mixed media hanging plaque with a vintage cabinet card holder and adorned with the finery fit for a queen. Hope you have a royal weekend. ...Iva

Come Visit Me This Weds. at the Downtown Pleasanton Street Party, 6-9 pm

Stop by and say hello to me this Wednesday, May 7, when I'll be selling my art and sharing a booth at the 1st Wedsnesdays Downtown Pleasanton Street Party, CA. The celebration begins at 6 pm and continues until 9 pm, and the city has decided the theme will be Cinco de Mayo.
    I'll be in booth #175 on Main Street, near Saint John, sharing with some other fabulous ZNE artists. I'm sure you'll have a great time strolling the many tents along the picturesque street of this quaint town. They'll be closing Main to traffic to make way for all the merriment.
    Here's a little peek at some of what I'll be having available at the show. Up, Up and Away!! I just love the way this vintage-style hot air balloon turned out. There's even four passengers on board!
    If you'd like more information about the event, click here.
    And don't forget, this is the first Wednesday every month all summer long. Look for me June 4 and again September 3, when I'll have lots of Halloween pieces. Hope to see you there!...Iva
    

Arrgh matey! Hand it over...

That's MY GOLD you lily-livered scoundrel.

Hand it over!! Arrgh...the Pirate Curse of the Dead Man's Chest, a theater I created for the Swashbuckler Soiree, hosted by the captain's wench, queen Donna Obrien. 

Head over to the Soiree's other guests to see all the fun!! Climb aboard the deck of the 'The Bonnee Lass,' have a swig of rum and get ready to set sail for the high seas!! Just beware of the Curse!!

I've used vintage black crepe paper, a mini skeleton turned pirate, black dresden, dried moss, a miniature trunk filled with gold coins and lots of other details.  Available for purchase, just send me an email.

Now batten down the hatches and get ready to sail!

 

With Bittersweetness, I am Published

The May/June 08 issue of Somerset Studio has finally arrived, and I find it bittersweet. You see, I am finally published. But my article and art are about how my beautiful 17-year-old daughter fought for her life and died a hero in my eyes. And, the anniversary of her death is almost a year ago June 15, 2007.
    Please don't misunderstand. I feel honored to have an article and artwork appearing in the pages of this fine publication alongside many talented artists. However, I wish it was about some ordinary or everyday thing rather than the passing of my artistic daughter. It was a good issue for her to appear in, being that the theme is heroes.
    The editor of the magazine, Jenny Doh, was kind enough to mention me and my story of Brianna in her column from the editor. (A few letters got mixed up in my last name and were printed there, but no worries. It's obvious who she is referring to.) She is a kind and understanding woman. I thank her for the opportunity to tell my story and that of Brianna's.
    Please turn to page 50, and let me know what you think. I want to tell the world how wonderful my daughter was, and continues to be, in my life and that of her father and brother. I also had to share how she has and continues to influence my art. I hope you are touched by it too.

~ Iva

                                    

Going Round and Round and Round...

I was so lucky to get into Ulla Milbrath's Paper Carousel class held at Castle in the Air in Berkeley last week. She is one of the sweetest people, a super talent and a favorite teacher of mine at the shop.

What fun we had making these miniature amusement rides using woodland scenes and creatures. Ulla is always so generous with her huge stock of images and I have already begun thinking of ways to turn this technique into a carousel with various themes.

Unbeknownst to me, another artist friend was taking the class. Ingrid Pomeroy and I had a chance to catch up and create together. Of course, no class at the Castle is complete without a lunch break and a trip to the next door bakery for one of their scrumptious chocolate cupcakes. I will have to take a picture of one next time to share with you.

Brianna was with me, guiding me in my creative pursuit. She would have loved this class and wanted to take some with me. She would have oo'd and aah'd at it when I brought my creation home. John and Trevor were quite impressed with it, because it even turns around just like a real one. Thank you Ulla for a wonderful time!!

Pfun with PFATT Pfriends

I have finally caught my breath and have rested after preparing for and then participating in  PFATT Pfest 2008 here in Northern California.  Eleven of us enjoyed five days of sharing, visiting, giggling and lots of touring and shopping. Some of the women had not flown yet, and this was their first trip to the West Coast. Others had been to San Francisco before on vacation. Colleen and I planned a whirlwind itinerary that took us to:

• the Napa Valley wine country with three winery visits and the Dreyers Ice Cream touring bus.
• Antiques by the Bay at Alameda Point, where more than 400+ vendors sell antiques of all types outdoors at an old naval station.
• the Sarah Winchester House in San Jose. Some in our group are ghost hunters.
• Port Costa to visit and shop with artist Wendy Addison in her studio and workshop.
• Berkeley's fourth street where we shopped at Castle in the Air and Scrapbook Territory.
• San Francisco's Union Square and a shopping at Britex Fabrics  and then a cable car ride to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 for lunch and shopping.
• lunch in Sausalito and shopping in San Anselmo at Susan's Storeroom
• the local Safeway almost everyday to fill the larder and liquor cabinet
• evening "show and tell" about our treasures and workshops on art techniques

The 5,000 square foot house we rented had spectacular views from high atop a hill in Lafayette. We sipped lemon drops and watched the sun dip into the east side of the Oakland Hills, followed by the soothing bubbles of the outdoor jacuzzi.

Our view looking north east:

 

Evening cocktails by the front porch fountain:

A metal horse sculpture greeted our return each evening after our day's sojourn:

 

Here I am at Wendy Addison's Theater of Dreams in Port Costa, a quaint little ghost town on the Strait of Carquinez.

The group heading to Wendy's studio in Port Costa:

We were all touched by Wendy's magical studio. With the lights down low and music surrounding us, we were treated to the appearance of Ms. Addison's almost life-size fairy, who danced for us:

The next morning, we hopped on the Dreyers bus for a day-long trip through Napa Valley:

Madonna Estates was so generous in treating us to a private tour and tasting. Susan Bartilucci, an accomplished artist herself, was such a gracious host. We walked among the grapevines, which were beginning to get leaf buds, and toured their winemaking warehouse.

The weather cooperated fully and we took advantage of the sunshine and had lunch and a wine tasting at picnic tables outside of Clos du Val winery on the Silverado Trail.

Then it was off to the sparkling wine maker Chandon. They have beautiful grounds, including this stone mushroom garden. We sat and sipped five different kinds of champagne, before boarding the bus and heading home thoroughly exhausted.

While some went to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, several of us headed to Marin County  north of San Francisco. Lunch and then a visit to Susan Storeroom made for a great day.

It was finally time to say our goodbyes to our sisters. But before we did, we all thought about my dear Brianna and my terrible loss and cried. Many of these women knew me and prayed for us while Brianna battled for her life. Although the mood became somber, we all felt closer to each other and better understood how each of us bears the pains and scars of life, along with its precious moments of family and dear friends.

Colleen and I put together a keepsake travel  journal for each woman. Wrapped in pretty tissue, the gifts were presented to the group on the first night. Some stashed tickets and brochures in them as mementos of their trip. And on our last night we all sat like school girls and signed each other's with heartfelt notes of friendship.

Although most of us came away exhausted from the flurry of activity, we all were grateful for the experience of getting to know each other better.

I hope you too can experience a short trip with like-minded artistic friends. It fed my soul.

I'm Off to Laugh, Create and Share...

I will share my photos when I get back from Pfatt Pfest 2008. What is Pfatt Pfest you ask?

It is a gathering of artists from across the nation who are getting together for 6 days of laughter, shopping, sightseeing, eating, a little sleeping...and art. This year, my sweet sisters are traveling here to Northern California and Colleen and I have been busy planning all sorts of fun for the group. We have rented a 5,000 square foot hilltop house with beautiful views, and it will be the perfect setting for our creative adventure.

Watch my blog next week for photos and stories of our artful antics. Oh, and this little beauty below is courtesy of Sandy from Sam I Am Creations. She is the tops when it comes to website banners, templates and such. Until next week....

Spring Break in Monterey then Onto PFATT PFest

We spent a few days in Monterey during spring break.  It was a nice getaway, and close to home.  But, it felt worlds away. We drove 17-mile drive (the Lone Cypress is there pictured above) through Carmel and visited the Mission in this little hamlet. Or, I should say, Carmel-by-the-Sea. I've lived in California for most of my life and I never knew about the "by-the-Sea" part. But I took lots of photos to share with you.



At one point we were having a late lunch at Monterey's Cannery Row (fodder for Steinbeck's award-winning novel of the same name). I commented that Brianna would have loved it there. We were sitting outside on a covered patio right on the water  having clam chowder in a bread bowl. About 10 minutes later, a woman walks up and says, "You all look so familiar. Iva?" I was blown away. The woman was Brianna's best friends mother, who a week earlier had sent me flowers to let me know she was thinking of me. John, Trevor and I thought it was a sign from Brianna. What were the chances that Chelsea's mother would be in that restaurant (which wasn't small), in Monterey, having a late lunch only after changing their plans and deciding last minute to stay in Monterey. Brianna was with us.

As we drove through parts of Monterey, I started to cry after seeing a bronze sculpture of two children:



I was captured by the innocence of these two. Innocence that is long gone for us and my children, child. I thought it beautiful just the same.

Here are some of the beautiful paper mache religious figures that I thought were remarkable at the Mission. The first is large, almost life-size, while the others were small in the Mission's display case.



 




We love the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It has 20 foot + high tanks full of fish, sharks and all sorts of sea life that you can just walk up to and look into, as if you were a sea creature yourself.  Do you see the school of sardines whirling in the center of the photo and looking almost like a tornado?






The jellyfish display was so beautiful. These prehistoric looking life forms floating like ballerinas in the water. Swimming to a rhythmic beat only they hear. The aquarium pipes in beautiful music that seems choreographed to the creatures movements. And... so many different kinds of jellyfish and different colors. I felt like a kid again!

I also noticed a stunning quilt someone had made and donated to the aquarium. It featured all kinds of sea animals and was hanging near the cafeteria. People were sitting in front of it, so my picture isn't the best. But I think you can see the detail and colors well enough.



Then next week, my PFATT sisters arrive for a few days of touring, art and sharing. I really can't wait.

Shhhh.......Here's a sneak peek of a little surprise they will receive before leaving to our part of California:

And my PFATT sister Sandy of Sam I Am Creations created this little gem for us to display. Sandy is so very talented when it comes to designing web pages, templates and the like. They fly in on Thursday and leave Tuesday. I'll update you when I return from all our activities and pfatt pfun!

Featured Artist on PFATT Marketplace

"Stolen Moments" is my latest offering on PFATT Marketplace. In addition, I have two other pieces available, sweet fairy cones and altered art called Nesting (see photos below). The Marketplace is released on the 10th of every month and I always try to have something new for it.
    This month, I am the lucky recipient of the Feature Artist Page, where you'll read a little about me, see my photo and some of my past work. Let me know what you think.

 

At the same time I've listed this antique porcelain dancer on my eBay page. She had a lovely dresden lace skirt, but it was missing pieces here and there. So I added some vintage paper flowers, a rhinestone on her flower hat, set her amidst some moss and more vintage velvet flowers and thought of this quote while I worked:

"Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair."

- Susan Polis Shutz

   
    Also, I want to say thank you to Lori of Faerie Window for this sweet little bunny box. Oh my was I surprised by this little gem. Lori is one of the  kindest people, and I feel fortunate that she has such a warm and caring heart.
    In addition to this sugar-coated gift, she also sent a beautiful heart-shaped satchet made from toile fabric. They both sit right near my computer so I can enjoy them during the Easter and spring time months. Thank you Lori ever so much!!
    I am off to prepare for my PFATT sisters arrival in early April. Colleen and I have a surprise cooked up for them that we hope they will enjoy. I hope your days are filled with the sights and scents of spring, and maybe with a pleasant little surprise or two sprinkled in.
    Hugs to you...Iva