Art, life and everything in between

Postcards from Italy

2012-01-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

Poppies by the river~

Etsy Treasury

2012-01-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

I finally figured out how to make one, turned out much easier than I thought!
I've dreamt of angels~

Valentine's Day coming...

2012-01-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is. And here are some cute finds:

Hair clips for the little ones~

Sweet earrings for mom~

And a pendant for either little one or mom~

A card for dad (or any guy!) ~

Sweet wee cards~

Goody bag tags~

Tiny PLants

2012-01-18T17:43:00.000-08:00

I could not resist this photo- and how to-s - from etsy.com -
Read full story here.

Peace on Earth and Flowers all around~

2012-01-13T17:33:00.000-08:00

‎"Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it.
Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it.
Hatred darkens life; love illumines it."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let there be peace and flowers all around!..

Let there be peace and flowers all around!..

Peace on Earth

2012-01-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Here is what I got from tut.com this morning:
‎"Did you know that it's perfectly OK, even highly ideal, to claim all is well amongst doubt and confusion? To be happy in spite of challenges? To laugh at problems? Dance without a partner? Sing without a rhyme? Talk to inanimate objects?
Oddly, most don't. Habits worth cultivating... "

Peace on Earth

Nativity Collage

2012-01-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

Playing with glass- crash glass, mirror glass, millefiori- and an image of Nativity~

The white gold glass catches and reflects light and focuses attention on the image in the middle~

Times Square Gossip: OKSANA PROKOPENKO AT SAINT PETER'S

2012-01-06T21:39:00.000-08:00

Times Square Gossip: OKSANA PROKOPENKO AT SAINT PETER'S: **** OKSANA PROKOPENKO PRESENTS THE FINAL WEEKEND OF HER MOSAIC ICONS AND PAINTINGS AT THE NARTHEX GALLERY **** Oksana Prokopen...

Oksana Prokopenko: Mosaic Icons and Paintings

2011-11-26T21:36:00.000-08:00

Oksana Prokopenko

Exhibition of Mosaic Icons and Paintings
On view: December 2, 2011- January 8, 2012
Opening reception: December 15th, 6 to 8 pm
The Narthex Gallery
at Saint Peter’s Church
619 Lexington Ave at 54th St, New York, NY 10022
Open to public daily 9 am-7pm

Celebrated New York based Russian iconographer and painter, Oksana Prokopenko, has works in permanent collections of museums in Italy and the US.

Prokopenko has been featured on the Russian international TV network, NTV, radio shows, and numerous publications. To quote Margo Grant, the Museum of Russian Art’s director, “The soul of Prokopenko’s work is in her walking that fine line between the transcendent and the ordinary. Prokopenko has achieved sheer brilliance in her deft treatment of the tiny pieces in her micro-mosaics. What’s more is that it is done with a rainbow of majestic colors. ”

Sue Dymond of The Glass Craftsman, describes viewing Oksana’s work as “basking in quiet brilliance” and suggests – “Prepare to be inspired.”

Russian TV network’s Blagonravova states, “Oksana’s work is made not only with thousands of glass pieces, but also out of thousands prayerful words.”

Prokopenko is a rarity in today’s contemporary art scene. Her work process is similar to artists that worked hundreds of years before her with an intense focus on precision, quality and detail. Her masterpiece, The Archangels, which took her 2 years of full time work to complete, contains over 40,000 tiny pieces of colored glass. This inspired work will be one of many of her works featured in this exhibit, which includes mosaic icons, painted icons, oil paintings and mixed media works. Often described as a colorist, her colors inspire the viewer to spiritual and emotional heights similar to those felt by Prokopenko during her creative process, which has been described as a spiritual practice – a colorists communion with the divine.

See and feel the magic.

For further information please contact:
Tom Lutri (917) 941-1856
www.oksanapro.com

info@oksanapro.com

facebook

2011-10-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

Fabulous news:

Museum of Russian Art will present a solo exhibition of works by

Oksana Prokopenko
Oil paintings, Mixed media and Glass micro mosaics

Runs from Saturday, November 12, through November 20, 2011.
Located at the Museum of Russian Art (MoRA)

Opening Reception: Saturday, November 12th from 5pm to 7pm
The exhibition will be open on November 12th through November 20th
by appointment only.

MORA is proud to announce this exhibition of an exceptionally talented artist through a wide diversity of media. Prokopenko is a rarity in today's contemporary art scene. Her focus on detail in her mosaics is akin to that of artists that worked hundreds of years ago.

Oksana has been featured on the International Russian TV network, NTV as well as having been interviewed on artistic radio programs. Her work has been featured in various magazines, including a 4 page spread in Fall 2010 issue of The Glass Craftsman. Her work is also in the permanent collection of The Sienna Art Institute in Sienna, Italy.

Often described as a colorist, Prokopenko is equally adept on canvas with a brush as she is at cutting thousands of tiny colorful pieces of glass by hand.

Prokopenko's dyptic paintings, titled "The Wisp of Red Realities have been aquired by MORA into our permanent collection and of course will be available at her show. MORA director, Margo Grant, wrote the following concerning this Prokopenko work:

"Prokopenko's deft treatment of energy and emotion is apparent in her twin red delight. The shocking blue in the upper right portrays a tender jolt of conflict that is echoed almost everywhere you look in art and the world over.

The soul of Prokopenko's work is in her walking that fine line between the transcendent and the ordinary. The small blue patch in the sea of red may be seen as reflecting the disparate nature inherent in most things we encounter. Or does the blue treatment represent the whimsical and incredulity of our world?" Aug 12, 2011

Come visit us at MORA for a taste of the magic.

The Museum is located in the historic district of Jersey City,
walking distance to the PATH train or the Battery Park ferry.
Minutes away from Manhattan.
[directions]

Contact for more information:
Director:
Margo Grant (917) 449-2842

The Love of Pieces~

2011-08-12T22:20:00.000-07:00

the inspiration of today:

1. Make 5 gift from laurainspain, 2. Mosaic bead ball, 3. Angel, 4. Let Love Grow

You can create your own here .

Grilled squid (calamari) salad

2011-07-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

Love it, love it, love it!
The original recipe is from epicurious.com. I skipped the Napa cabbage- so overrated (in my opinion), I added extra mint and cilantro; and the peanuts were on a side because a friend who's allergic was over. Otherwise- wonderful! Plums add the sweetness, especially after the grilling; and the scallions plus the chili paste add a bite. Make sure the calamari come from a good trusted place. (Seems silly, but hey!) Bon appetite!

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste
2 1/2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste
4 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
1 teaspoon Asian chile paste
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 lb cleaned small squid
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 firm-ripe medium plums (1 1/4 lb), halved lengthwise, pitted, and each half cut into sixths
3/4 lb Napa cabbage, thinly sliced crosswise (4 cups) -- SKIP THIS PART!! Add more mint and cilantro.
1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallion
1/2 cup coarsely chopped salted peanuts

Accompaniment: lime wedges
Special equipment: a well-seasoned ridged grill pan

Whisk together lime juice, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, chile paste, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Cut squid bodies open to make flat pieces and, holding knife almost parallel to work surface (at a 30-degree angle), score inner side of flattened squid in a crosshatch pattern (do not cut all the way through). Pat squid bodies and tentacles dry and toss with vegetable oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper.

Heat lightly oiled grill pan over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then grill squid bodies, in batches if necessary, crosshatch sides down first, turning once, until just cooked through (squid will curl up as it cooks), about 2 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board as grilled and keep warm, covered. Grill tentacles in same manner. Cut squid bodies crosswise into 1-inch pieces.

Grill plums, in batches if necessary, turning once, until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes. Transfer as grilled to a bowl.

Toss cabbage with cilantro, mint, scallion, 1/4 cup peanuts, half of dressing, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mound salad on plates and top with squid and plums. Drizzle with dressing to taste and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup peanuts.

Bread with chocolate and olive oil

2011-07-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about Saturday mornings is NYTimes. It comes as a thick parcel like package, chock full of all sorts of interesting articles, ideas, photos, etc. And recipes!-
Today's issue had Mark Bittman cooking with Ferran Adria, a Spanish chef known for avant garde cuisine. But here it was all about simple stuff.
Among the yummy things they made was this awesome simple recipe:

Bread With Chocolate and Olive Oil

Time: 15 minutes

6 thick slices country-style bread (about 10 ounces total)

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate (preferably 60 percent cocoa), coarsely grated. (A Microplane is not essential, but it helps.)

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 teaspoon sea salt.

1. Heat the oven to 325. Put the bread on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes total. Spoon the chocolate over the toast in a thin, even layer. Drizzle the toast with the oil and sprinkle with the salt. Serve.

Yield: 6 servings.

It reminded me of toasted bread with honey and salt I ate as a kid. Chocolate is an awesome alternative, a close second for me~

Easter is a-coming

2011-04-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

martha's bunnies

I am not sure about the leg of lamb, but I am sure about this bunny garland and cupcake decor~
Cupcakes?- not sure either (more about all this indecisiveness later), though I can always cheat and buy them, as long as the bunnies are ready to hop on~

Raghava KK: Five lives of an artist | Video on TED.com

2011-01-28T07:27:00.000-08:00

Raghava KK: Five lives of an artist | Video on TED.com

Seth Godin on standing out | Video on TED.com

2011-01-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

Seth Godin on standing out | Video on TED.com

Rory Sutherland: Sweat the small stuff | Video on TED.com

2011-01-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

Rory Sutherland: Sweat the small stuff | Video on TED.com

2011-01-25T14:35:00.000-08:00

Rory Sutherland: Sweat the small stuff | Video on TED.com

Srikumar Rao: Plug into your hard-wired happiness | Video on TED.com

2011-01-25T14:15:00.000-08:00

Srikumar Rao: Plug into your hard-wired happiness | Video on TED.com

Dan Gilbert on our mistaken expectations | Video on TED.com

2011-01-25T13:01:00.000-08:00

Dan Gilbert on our mistaken expectations | Video on TED.com

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on flow | Video on TED.com

2011-01-25T09:35:00.000-08:00

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on flow | Video on TED.com

Martin Jacques: Understanding the rise of China | Video on TED.com

2011-01-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

Martin Jacques: Understanding the rise of China | Video on TED.com

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

2011-01-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

Dan Phillips: Creative houses from reclaimed stuff | Video on TED.com

2011-01-20T10:10:00.000-08:00

Dan Phillips: Creative houses from reclaimed stuff | Video on TED.com

Elizabeth Lesser: Take "the Other" to lunch | Video on TED.com

2011-01-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Lesser: Take "the Other" to lunch | Video on TED.com

Karen Armstrong makes her TED Prize wish: the Charter for Compassion | Video on TED.com

2011-01-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

Karen Armstrong makes her TED Prize wish: the Charter for Compassion | Video on TED.com

Dan Gilbert asks, Why are we happy? | Video on TED.com

2011-01-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

Dan Gilbert asks, Why are we happy? | Video on TED.com

Pleasure vs Flow and more: TED Talks

2011-01-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

TED conferences are AMAZING! check out their free talks at ted.com
Here is one by Pr. Seligman~
he discusses pleasure vs flow, 3 elements of happiness, and what can and cannot be done to make it better~
http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology.html

and under the tree I would like...

2010-12-16T08:58:00.000-08:00

vintage lace/ ceramic heart

jam jars~

this russian blog also has several interesting (and free!) needlepoint instruction-drawings here

this blog has the detail photos after my own heart!

A little bit of fabric~ Christmas ideas

2010-12-01T19:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I am ready for Christmas anytime!

Here is what I am thinking of making over the next couple of weeks:

Candy cane mice

I am making this out of little bits of 'golden' fabric;

there is a whole orchard, and a zoo from little bits of fabric here

tiny skate ornaments

Birds~ Inspiration

2010-11-15T19:53:00.000-08:00

ceramic birds

a gorgeous little ceramic ring from this Spanish company Lladro

little fabric birds

DIY bird mobile

3 D bird, paper craft

Studio photos

2010-11-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

creative chaos, lol!

study, work in progress

my 'meditation'- painting things red

Creative Night- 1

2010-11-04T06:01:00.000-07:00

After some thought and my friends' nudging, I decided to give a try to running a creative night.
I did not want to do an academic art class or craft workshop. I want to do something that's a mix of social and creative energies. True, some classes naturally elicit that sort social feel, but plenty are about skill.
What I am about to try is a series of one night small projects, with a glass of wine thrown in the mix, and a gathering of mostly working moms whose creative side has long needed a little nudging.

Project 1-
Leaves picture frame:

The project idea comes from delphiglass.com

and credit was given to Rita Schwab.

I got the frames from joann.com, which I must say were quite flimsy this time. The leaves- I chose a mix of colors - are ceramic tiles, from delphiglass.com.

From then on-

the plan is fairly simple: glue the leaves in layers, from big to small, allowing for drying time.

I will let you know how we make out.

Wish me luck!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

What did we do?- made some cupcakes,

recipe here,

printed out some Halloween images (here is a good place),

got some popsickle sticks and

made little flags,

put the flags and some spooks into frosting,

and waited for the wee guests to come....

Free Vintage Halloween Cards ~

2010-10-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

I came across VintageHolidayCrafts.com while looking for some Halloween cuteness for my daughter-
not too scary yet not overly sugary-
what I found was a a treasure trove of antique images, Halloween and otherwise.
I could not resist to share them ~

link

As long as you stick to their "terms of use" (which are quite reasonable) -
use the images to your heart's delight! Happy Halloween!

More clay~

2010-10-22T22:13:00.000-07:00

Well, clay it is, sculpey clay, that is.
Pretty fantastic thing, I must say!
Here is another 'inspiration' photo, Shannon Larratt is the mind behind, though in her post she decribes it as an "absent mindedly" created beauty.
I find that some of the most interesting things come out when the mind is absent!

a bowl of...

trying something new- polymer clay

2010-10-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

I've been itching to get my hands into something, some other medium; so when I came across the photo below-
my afternoon was decided~

fall frame

The link below the photo takes you to the sculpey site and complete instructions.

Art Prize

2010-10-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.artprize.org/artists/public-profile/49795#

I thought this was a beautiful way to describe one man's passion for art, specifically drawing:

"Of many one.

Many marks make up the drawing. Many men make up the regiment. Many lines make up the face. Many wrinkles make up the shirt. Many characters make up the story. Many experiences make up the event. Many minutes make up the hour, day, year.

This drawing is both a representation of the people, their legacy and the countless organization of pencil marks that make up a composition.

It is about the process of drawing, and also a portrait of these men who must have survived horrific events to preserve what we experience today.

The drawing is an exploration of character and an exploration of mark-making to reveal that character.

It is also a tribute to lasting legacy.

I wanted these men to be life size, so that their impact may be immediate and tangible. They are here and now but also way back when."

Chris LaPorte, the winner of Grand Rapids, MI Art Prize 2010. Above is a detail of his monumental drawing - 30 ft done in a simple 2H pencil.

NYC Sky

2010-10-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

Germany celebrated its reunification, and the Empire State building lit up in honor~

through the window glass of my studio~

Quick lunch

2010-09-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

I had 5 min for lunch-

so:

basil +

an egg or two +

salt and pepper+

a whole wheat taco/fajita wrap =

roll it up, and enjoy!

Quick and easy earrings and a pin back brooch: DIY

2010-09-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

We needed to make a gift- something very very last minute for a party my daughter was attending, something my daughter could have her hand in and say 'she helped to make it', so:

we went with earrings and a pinback brooch, a quick and easy solution.
(Please note, this is not for small kids, and even big ones should have supervision with little parts).
I snapped some pictures along the way:

We got a pair of 10 mm surgical steel stud earrings and a matching silvery pin,

now, the trouble was how to stabilize these fairly small findings

to glue anything on, and allow for the drying time

without the glue sliding right off-

I got a (clean!) kitchen sponge, and stuck the findings in-

voila! All set and steady!

a wee bit of glue- we used the quick drying 'crazy glue',

this was really last minute!

My daughter's stash of beads to pick from,

We used tweezers for the earrings and fingers for the brooch, size mattered here!

She said the 'recipient' liked green, so we went with green,

we mixed the colors for the brooch,

although green still predominated.

With the brooch, we put more glue on top of the first layer of beads,

and added extra beads on top to create a bit of bulk.

It took about 10 min to dry completely,

and looked lovely!

The present

(wrapped in a crayon colored paper, ribbon and all)

was extremely well received,

and my daughter was very proud.

Isn't that the whole point?

Stained glass

2010-09-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

While my art stuff is still in boxes, here is what I did open-

a stash of stained glass chips and copper foil!

Not in the mood to unpack,

I played with it, and made something new

for my studio~

Studio photos

2010-09-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

I have moved studios. Or rather, my studio was moved. I am still not quite sure what goes where, but here are some wee snippets of my adjusting to the new space:

my ancient Grumbacher watercolor set-

it's got to be like 60 years old:

my mother in law gave it to me when she stopped painting.

I kept it and never used it, not quite sure what to do with it.

Then she passed away, and I cannot seem to part with it, and play with colors every few weeks or so.

my pencils are here, even the tiny little one-

it's not even possible to hold comfortably enough any longer,

but I like it-

it's like a testament to my resilience as an artist, lol!

I like the clocks that have stopped-

it stills the time in the studio,

art, afterall, is a timeless matter, no?

a small ceramic- my one time foray into ceramics-

see the photo right above this one, with clocks?-

there is a set of three-

a reminder to try new things.

ceramic flower- part of the set above-

in my favorite color- red!

the middle comes out, like a little upside down cup,

and the red flower base serves as a little bowl

for my hair clip-

hair up and off to create!

soccer and skyline

2010-08-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

My eldest was trying out for a travel soccer team today. This being NYC- it's a competitive thing. I am not a competitive parent. I think he makes up for it in full.
He was not doing so well, and it was a painful thing to watch.
I wanted to run out into the field at one particularly bad gaffe and tell the coaches a whole list of things. But I didn't. I let him play. I let him be. It's not my game, not my place to convince, he's got to show what he is (or is not ) capable of.
A few days ago I had this post- NYT Mag article- and even though it was really about 20-somethings, the discussions it generated were mostly between parents arguing their right to stand up and ease their children's roads to success versus parents standing back and letting kids learn to get up after falling (presumes a sane/empathetic parental presence, lol!).
If you aren't a parent, you can think back to your childhood- how much falling/getting up (for lack of a better description) did you do? How much falling/getting up were you sheltered from by your loving elders? Ever observed a playground?- kids scrambling around, occasionally falling- ever notice how little breathing space some kids get these days?
Oh- I so wanted to run to that soccer field and show them all - but then, hey, it's not my life, not my game, he is the one who wants to be doing this on a daily basis, not me-
so instead of talking to coaches, or yelling out to him to run here or there, I went out for a walk.
This being NYC, here are some snapshots:

NYC

NYC1

NYT mag article

2010-08-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

There is a fascinating article in the New York Times magazine from yesterday:

What Is It About 20-Somethings? The premise of it is that there might be a new developmental stage- alongside childhood and middle age, sandwiched between adolescence and adulthood- with a tentative label "emerging adulthood". At a first glance, it appears as a catch all for things like late bloomers and extended american childhoods. At a closer look, however, you do wonder- brain keeps developing and maturing into your mid-20s and later, (and that's just the biological basis).

photo by Santiago Mostyn

What interested me, however, was one particular quote that referred to growing numbers of post-adolescents who

"have not settled the questions whose answers once defined adulthood: questions of relationship to the existing society, questions of vocation, questions of social role and lifestyle.” Whereas once, such aimlessness was seen only in the “unusually creative or unusually disturbed,” he wrote, it was becoming more common and more ordinary in the baby boomers of 1970. Among the salient characteristics of “youth,” Keniston wrote, were “pervasive ambivalence toward self and society,” “the feeling of absolute freedom, of living in a world of pure possibilities” and “the enormous value placed upon change, transformation and movement” — all characteristics that Arnett now ascribes to “emerging adults.”

In other words- you faces the ambiguity of life, all the choices, and the uncertain outcomes, and

either dealt with all that life stuff creatively, or else- you just could not deal with it. Kind of like,

looking into a deep dark oblivion- you either face the darkness and come out stronger, or don't

come out at all. (My friend argued - plenty just run, but I think that's just a version of not coming

out).

I wonder- if you take a big picture perspective, where might we be going, as humanity-

towards more creativity or more disturbance?

making peace with making choices

2010-08-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have been mulling over a decision I have to make.
One choice (let's sum it up by calling it "watering flowers") leads me to a steady structured existence, rewarding at times, dull and prefabricated at others, easy to follow map of actions for the foreseeable future. I've been told I am good at this, great in fact, my feet would be planted firmly on the ground. This choice comes with a dose of authority, respect, and an occasional sense of helplessness. Weird description, I know, sorry.
The other choice (let's sum it up by calling it "painting flowers somebody else has been watering") is a foray outside my comfort zone, scary and exciting. Creativity (could) flourish here. No map, vague steps, future veiled in uncertainty. I seem to grow wings sometimes, and fly away. At other times, those poor wings get thrashed by a rainstorm. But I have been told I look happiest when engaged in this choice.
What to do? No, both is not an option. Not deciding, I suppose, is an option, but I have been 'not deciding' for so long that I am tired of a mental pull into two directions.

Now, - here are my thoughts-
if 20-40 years from now I do one versus another, how would I feel? Would I regret? Would I wish I had chosen different? Of course I cannot know for sure, but still I cannot stop wondering.
I realize that I do not so much fear making the "wrong" choice - I do not believe there is such a thing- I fear missed opportunities, options unexplored, potential not developed. I fear shortchanging myself and the world - I do believe out choices should, at least to some degree, be informed by how we might benefit the others.
But you know what? - I have to make peace with the fact that I cannot do it all, cannot live five lives at the same time, and some things will have to exist merely as "something I thought of doing and might have done". I have to make peace with my limits, my human ability to do what I can and leave it at that.
The truth is, I have been kinda sorta doing both, and now it's time to pick, to commit, to give myself to one versus the other fully and completely. Mulling it over is good, but I have become nearly frozen with indecision. SO my decision is this- I am going to make peace with my limits. Peace with the fact that some things will remain unexplored, undone, unfinished. Some flowers will have to be watered by others.

Click to help - $500,000 for a school

2010-08-09T19:22:00.000-07:00

If you have school age kids, you might have heard-

Kohl's new- and very clever- giveaway of a half a million dollars to 20 schools that get the most votes.

If your kids are in school - well, you should hop over to this link Vote Here! - and vote for your school.

If you don't have kids or they are not yet in school- you can make a difference!- hop over to the same link Vote Here! and vote for PS 116, New York, NY 10016.

It's an awesome school, K-5 in NYC, and it needs money for everything from art supplies and books, to teaching assistants. It got awesome teachers and great families and constant fundraisers, but a half million dollars would go a long way. So, click away, and do make a difference. Thank you!

A Book of My Own

2010-08-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

I write a lot. I really do. I realized it when I had to clear out me desk before repainting it: there was a tall stack of book all scribbled and sketched beginning to end, and some - from the end to the beginning. I go through books upon books- it helps me think, it helps me dream, it helps me create. It's become a mediation - the top layer of thoughts is lifted, like last year's fallen leaves, and reveal the hidden emerald grass leaves underneath.

So, I've come across this DIY project at the Poppytalk blog , the projects itself is courtesy of Arounna Khounnoraj of bookhou. It's amazingly simple and very doable.

further directions are on poppytalk blog

photo credit

"Anything Can Happen..."

2010-07-31T23:51:00.000-07:00

I took my little one to see her first Broadway show - Mary Poppins. She was thrilled and loved it, and so did I. I love the whole theatrical production of Broadway, the music-dance-singing-acting-oomph! mix of it all, a separate universe all its own. And I always leave with tons of inspiration and new ideas, but one or two tend to be real vivid and stay in my mind for weeks.

photo credit

The highlight of this show, for me, was the reprise

"Anything can happen if you let it!"

It just stayed with me, repeating itself in my mind like a mantra.

Love that phrase!

photo credit

The same phrase was expressed in another way as well:

"Anything can happen if you get out of your way."

photo credit

Just think about it-

how many times do we, unwittingly, limit

and restrict ourselves, shortchange ourselves just because something

seems or sounds outlandish!

SO, here is to the good old

letting go, letting be, to dreams

and imagination.

'Cause you never know-

"Anything can happen if you let it!"

For Lisa: serendipity

2010-07-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I get stuck. With choices.

There is a choice to be made: left or right, black or white.

It appears that I've got to take one over the other, and they seem to be polar opposites.

I know there is a middle ground there somewhere, but I just can't see it.

During one of these "stuck" moments, a friend of mine-Lisa- brought me a present-

a tiny angel she picked up on her travels through France.

It's not even an inch tall.

She knew I loved angels,

but the timing of this one for serendipitous.

Something about it kicked me out of the "stuck" position

and into a very clear understanding:

I can let things be. I don't need to make anything happen.

We humans like to go about fixing stuff, doing, actively making things happen. What we - I - got to remember (especially during the moments of pressure) is that I can trust the process, I can be present. No need to force anything. And this tiny little angel reminds me- day in and day out- that I can be present, open, that I am part of the unfolding events.
And the choice in question? - when I no longer push and force - the choice makes itself.

Beginnings

2010-07-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

I have started my new piece-

because of the intense nature of icon writing,

I have a separate blog for it, if you are curious-

see more photos here: icon blog

NYC art scene

2010-07-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

I was invited to a photography show last night, I replied and was put on 'the list', but when I got there - which was 14th St and 8th Ave- there was a huge line of people, all of whom apparently, too, were on 'the list'. What is the point of 'the list' they all kept wondering?

Anyways, since the night was not hot and muggy as usual, I waited, made some chit-chat, and waited some more. The reason for my patience?- besides the weather, there was supposed a live Cuban salsa band. I was told it was going to be good.

And I am very partial to a good salsa played live.

It was worth the wait. The art was there too- photos of Cubans- but

the band took center stage!

This is a tiny clip I took with my camera,

the lead turned out to be some dancer! Check out his feet!

I am going back to hear them Saturday night,

this time- I am on the ' VIP list'

LOL, I know- totally silly, I am sure!

Creative prep - studio desk

2010-07-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Every time I finish a work that takes a long time (we are talking 9 months to a year, see here), I repaint my work desk.
I used to think of it as 'change' or 'a better color'. After a while I realized that it is a little bit like a ritual-
I am clearing out the past and setting up a clean slate for the new.
So now I embrace it wholeheartedly, and see the desk painting itself as part of a creative process for the new piece I am about to start.
This desk has been white, sky blue, sunshine yellow, baby pink (I have no idea now where did that come from!), etc.
And now? Well let's see, here is what is looks like now:

here is what's next to the desk now

working on the previous project, you can see it here

it's a work desk, alright

now, draws come out

handles out, save the screws

three coats and

14 screws later-

voila!

Sailing

2010-07-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

See that photo?- I went off in the direction of Canada about a week ago "in search of veiled secrets and secret powers." I came back with a realization that "the powers are not secret and the secrets had been revealed a long time ago..."

quote from Paulo Coehlo.

Studio photos

2010-07-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

after Natalia Goncharova

Red, White and Blue yogurt smoothie

2010-07-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

4th of July ends up serving up laughs, good company, and lots of food!
This year, instead of a red white and blue desserts, we tested smoothies in the same color schemes:

photo credit

Here is the winner, truly worthy of the morning before (or after) the fireworks!

photo credit

Recipe:
6 oz lowfat organic vanilla yogurt
4 oz strawberries, stemmed and sliced
1/2 c blueberries
4 oz cranberry juice
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lime juice
1/2 c crushed ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Serve in chilled glass tumblers.
The most important thing is to get the best ingredients- don't shortchange the quality of berries and yogurt- or else the smoothie will not be the one above!

Eternal me-Eternal you

2010-07-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

photo credit

Here is a another 'chin up' note I got while I am pondering my next move:

"Have you ever stopped to consider, that due to your eternal nature, you, and everyone else, live forever?

Of course you have.

And therefore, have you realized that in the truest sense, everyone beats cancer, aids, and starvation?

Un-hun, un-hun...

And you totally get that between now and "infinity," you will meet, and fall deeply in love with everyone, and they with you?

Let's not wait...

Wear every hair style, oksana, own every car, climb every mountain, achieve every dream, give every gift, learn every language, and, I just bet, moonwalk with the King of Pop, himself? "

I especially like the 'fall deeply in love with everyone' part, don't you?

Dandelion flying...

2010-07-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

Slow Lane Notes is celebrating its birthday by doing a giveaway,
a winner would get a gift certificate toward Dali decals, like this beauty:

Dali decals

Light and airy, it makes me think of flying and traveling and summer clouds...
Curious? Visit Slow Lane Notes for details and lots of luck!

Mint Tea

2010-06-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

We brought a handful of mint sprigs from our weekend upstate- apple mint, the kind with fluffy leaves, that feel like feathers against your cheeks:

photo credit

We dried the leaves - it took a couple of days - and voila!

photo credit

A tablespoon of leaves and a cup of hot water- mmmm... - it feels like the weekend continues!..
Not sure about how-to?- recipe here.

Weekend away

2010-06-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

photo credit

There is nothing like going away for a weekend, especially if you are exchanging city noise and heat for the singing birds and glimpses of a chipmunk.

photo credit

A friend invited us over to her 100+ year old farm house, a sprawling labyrinth of rooms, nooks, crannies. I spent my days watching kids swim in the Delaware river and

photo credit

run barefoot on the dew covered grass, while sitting in the shade of a birch tree.

photo credit

At night, there were lighting bugs- is that the word in English?- and s'mores over a bonfire.

photo credit

Back to the city, wistful and relaxed...

Ballet as meditation

2010-06-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

abt

Whenever I go to see a ballet, I am transported in an alternate universe:

when I watch the ballet, I feel palpably and strongly

the possibility of what is usually described as a utopia: I look at the dancers and think about how for them it is (in my mind at least) to dance is the greatest thing in life.

I think how dancing for these particular dancers is the very fulfillment of their souls, their existence, their lives. Then I think how for someone else, that very essence of being is to write music. And for another person, perhaps, the greatest passion and meaning of life is to play and perform that music;

and yet for someone else - to design the costumes, or sew them and make them alive,

or make the scenery and lights just so.

I think about how the world could be if all of us had the ability to follow our passions,

the essence of what makes our very life worth living-

imagine that?-

every person happily engaged in something that stirs the heart and the soul-

and in so doing fills the work with such beauty that it becomes impossible to take your eyes off!

It fuels my dreams and my courage, it gives me hope.

Oksana Prokopenko interview .m4v

2010-06-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the interview that was filmed on the opening night of the exhibit and aired the next evening on the Russian International network NTV.

Day 3: Vizcaya, Miami

2010-06-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

Day 2: lightning storm

2010-06-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

photo credit

Vacation- here I come!

2010-06-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Interview

2010-06-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

Lovely Janet of Designing Mazorie graciously accepted my invite and came to the art exhibit. Here is what she wrote:

"Oksana creates amazing one-of-a-kind Mosaic Icons. Most of her icons are in keeping with..."
Read the rest here.

I owe her many thanks for all the kind comments!

Rest and Flowers

2010-05-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

Finishing an artwork is like giving birth,
especially an artwork that takes a long long time.
There are excitement, joy, doubts, mixed emotions of all kind.
And then you just feel tired, very very tired.
I need a rest, a restorative vacation of sorts, a solitude filled with nothing but silence and its mysterious gifts.
I am thinking of taking one.
Another similarity with giving birth here are flowers-
I received a lot of flowers.
And after my interview aired on TV, I received more flowers. I inhale the fragrance and the kindness behind it, I curl up and rest, I need all the rest I can get, I have another work in mind!..

Art Exhibit Opening

2010-05-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

My opening went great, thank you for all the well wishes!

My personal highlight is captured in this photo-

my son spontaneously started telling a friend his thoughts on my artwork. Before he knew it, there was a small crowd listening to him, and he proceeded to guide them through the rest of the exhibit.

I was both schocked and delighted to hear my flesh and blood go on an on about 'focal point', 'color contrast', 'textural details', etc.

My PR agent's highlight was the appearance of a crew from a Russian TV station, complete with a giant camera, mikes, and thick wires. The interview was a great success as well, the team did a fantastic job as they had a deep understanding of the artwork on view. It aired the next day, and now there is a whole different layer to my creative life....

Keep on creating!

It's all OK

2010-05-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

In an anticipation of my show I got all stressed out and vexed and overwhelmed with details that, while important, are not an end all. And here is a message I got from a friend- I just had to share it with you!

"Hey, sweetie... It's OK. Everything is fine. You've always been guided. Even now you are watched, and held, and adored. You've made great stuff happen, and you will make more great stuff happen. You've changed lives. You've changed your own. You've moved mountains and done the impossible. You've been scared and you overcame. You've been knocked down and you rose. And you've been lost, or so you thought, only to discover it was just the calm before another storm of creativity, love, and fun."
signed: the Universe.

Now, isn't it great? I thought so...

Mother's Day Printable Cards

2010-05-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some wonderful last minute solutions for Mother's Day...
Click on the link below the card to go to the artist's page for a free download.

free printable from babalisme

fabric butterflies how to from cafe mom

free printable from homelifeweekly

free download from mitsybelle

and last, but not least, this great little poem my little one brought from school...

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls.

But every day I'm growing -
I'll be grown some day
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away.

So here's a little handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small.

Spiced Tuna and Salad

2010-05-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

Work, work, work,

three more weeks, less actually, before the opening of the show.

Pressure is high, and so is the excitement.

So here is a little splurge I indulged in : spiced tuna (no, not the blue fin kind!)

rub the spices on while you hit a bit of oil.

I use a combination of fennel, cumin, coriander, red pepper, turmeric, allspice, salt.

get the salad ready

when the oil is hot- carefully put the pieces in the pan, still on high heat

sear for about 2 minutes on one side and 1 1/2 on the other side, though it depends on the thickness

salad dressing: olive oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, honey, red pepper, salt

nice brown tops, while the inside is pink

black sesame seeds for a touch of attitude

Voila! Grab a fork and a knife!..

Studio photos

2010-04-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

Got Buttons?

2010-04-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

Look at these crazy creative button things I found!! Now my little one is begging for a pair of plain sneakers she has be covered in all the buttons and beads I have, wish me luck! and I hope you are inspired!

By Takahashi as seen on StyleBubble

A collar necklace by Takahashi

Or a collar for that crisp white shirt? by Takahashi

Buttons- what to do with them?

2010-04-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

I 'inherited' a whole collection of buttons, some very plain, some quite gorgeous looking. They have been waiting patiently for the right day, when the inspiration or impatience, I am not sure which, finally got the better of me and off I went exploring the possibilities:

I live in the 19th century...

Put the best looking ones together on a vintage or vintage-looking chain as a key chain

Key ring

This gorgeous keyring, well, it's the button that is gorgeous! would work well to tell the key apart

cufflink bracelet

A bracelet- very preschool type thing, but not when it's done with a tasteful selection of buttons (no cufflinks in my collection!)

And for the plain looking buttons:

keep tape unstuck

You’re trying to wrap a present and can’t find the end of a tape roll. Instead of trying to find that elusive end, stick a button on the end of the tape. As you use the tape, keep moving the button.

Spring up-cycling

2010-04-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Spring is insanely short in NYC: one day you are all bundled up, and a week later people are wearing sandals and shorts! One week, well, maybe 10 days, is all it takes for all the leaves to pop out of their wintry protective shell buds, all the daffodils to come and go and be replaced with tulips, and ladies to start trying summer dresses on...
And, all this spring gaiety got me into, not spring cleaning- I hate that, I really do- but I call it spring up-cycling! Here is what I came across to try and test! (Links below photos). I will try and post my projects' photos alongside these in the next few days.

Stenciled mugs

I've had these cute but plain white cups forever, then I saw this project- while I am not into farm animals, it's very simple to tweak it to your aesthetic: just find ANY image you like- simple outlines are best, and follow instructions. I found some lovely spring flowers, and used red and orange as my colors, afterwards handpainting some blue and white details.

Country Living

The project calls for recycling old milk bottles- well, in NYC, anything like that is called "antique" and carries a real wild price tag. Therefore, instead of milk bottles I used tall plain IKEA glasses and a lovely silk ribbon.

Kids' room spring cheer up.

This project calls for using leftover wallpaper-

I don't have any. But I do have lots of little scraps of Italian prints, and I totally lucked out by stopping at a local paint store and asking them for their old wallpaper sample book!

Doily into Vase

This I did for my kids' godmother, her house lends itself to a vintage doily wrapped around - in my case- a tall IKEA glass.

Chocolate and more chocolate...

2010-04-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, more dessert my way!
I attended an Urban Angels Awards and that is what I was served for desert! - I know, I am bragging, but hey, why not?
The awards are spiritual in nature, but that I have addressed elsewhere, here - it's about chocolate!
So,
left to right:
- a chocolate mousse cake base, with a layer of apple/pear flavored nougat, and sealed with chocolate ganache and a gold flake;
-a chocolate souffle hiding in a form of a cupcake- warm insides; however, because a lot of these were served, they were prepared well in advance and therefore it tasted more like a cupcake, souffles must be served immediately, in a given situation- cupcake it was;
-milk chocolate mousse and a milk chocolate wafer with pastry flakes;
-dark chocolate mousse, with (and I know you can't see it on a photo) chocolate cake granules/ crumbs right under the mousse- so that you mix the two up as you it, and the texture of the silky mousse is contrasted with the crunchy crumbs.

And the winner is... dark chocolate mousse with chocolate granules! (extreme right)
I am biased, since dark chocolate if my favorite.
But really, this was the only one on the platter to withstand the test of time required in serving 200+ people at once - did you notice, by the way, they 'painted' the plate with a splash of melted chocolate, using it like glue to stabilize all 4 items-

Inspiration in hand, off I go- guess what? another cake to be made!

Maple Walnut Cake

2010-04-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

April is the birthday month in this house,
the cake of today- well, yesterday, since today there's only one slice left,-
Maple Walnut cake with maple frosting.
Now, I've seen this recipe in many a place, from NYC's bakery cookbooks to Vermont's maple sugarhouses'. I've tried several, and tweaked according to my other half's desires- this seems to be the one and only cake he REALLY likes.
The recipes- cake and frosting - are below.

just add candles! or berries, or iced congratulations and names...

I slice my layers in two to make a 4 layer cake

frosting + walnuts for crunch, walnuts go real well with maple flavor

three layers, and one more to go...

Cake:

3 3/4 cups self-rising flour
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups pure maple syrup
3/4 cup hot water

Cream the butter and the sugar, add the eggs one at a time, beat in the maple syrup gradually. Add the flour alternating with the water, beating after each addition. Divide the batter between two 9 x2 inch round pans (buttered) . Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350 F until a cake tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Let cakes cool 5-10 min, then remove and cool completely on wire rack.

Frosting

Frosting is made with maple syrup, and tastes like marshmallow fluff. It is enough for a two layer cake. I double the recipe usually- this includes doubling the beating with the mixer time- and turn the cake into a 4 layer tall delicious beauty!

2 egg whites
1/2 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 t cream of tartar
1/4 t salt
1 t vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts

In the top of a double boiler, combine first five ingredients, cook beating constantly on the medium-high speed of an electric mixer, until mixture stands in peaks, approx. 7 minutes. Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract and continue beating 1 minute more until thick enough to spread.

When cake has cooled, ice between the layers. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over the frosting. Then ice top and sides of cake, sprinkling the top with chopped walnuts.

Cookie Cake - How To

2010-04-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

No, this is not a close up of a cookie-
it is a 20" diameter cookie cake!

My son wanted one after having a cookie cake at a friend's party. Cookie cakes seem to be the new It Cake, as they have invaded many a bakery in NYC. I am a big believer that if it can be helped- a cake should be home made. Old school, I know, what can I do?
So, I was going to make one!
Between two kids, family, friends and their friends I have made quite a few cakes. But this one was new! - which was great - something different to bake.

I mixed a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe mix (recipe below) and chilled it- I find it acquires a yummy texture if you allow the batter to chill a couple of hours

The mixture goes onto buttered foil, covered with wax paper and rolled out- it's a cookie pizza, lol!

This wee helper had to be 'paid' in cookie batter, which she justified as quality control! -

"I am just making sure u've got enough sugar!"- she said.

rolled out batter

made a circle with a butter knife

it looks almost like a close up of a cookie, but it's approx 20" in diameter

normal 1 Tablespoon of cookie batter at 350 F takes about 8 minutes,

but since there are about 5 dozen Tablespoons here, it took 35 mintues!

here is where it got tricky!- moving it- see the lines where the poor cookie/cake cracked?

which is why you need frosting! (recipe below as well)

a little sloppy, I know, writing with frosting has never been my forte, but tasted really good!

Chocolate chip cookie recipe:

2 sticks butter softened
1 cup sugar (half brown, half white)
2 eggs
1 cup white flour
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 T baking powder
1 t salt
1 T vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips

Beat sugar with butter till creamy, add eggs one at a time, add vanilla;
separately mix flours, salt and baking powder;
slowly add flour mixture to butter/sugar/egg mixture;
add the chips.
Chill 2 hours. Can also be refrigerated or frozen.
Preheat oven to 350 F, drop full Tablespoons of batter, spaced an inch or so apart.
Bake for 8 minutes, or till the desired crispness.
8 minutes at 350 F in my oven gives you a lovely crisp edge, but soft center.

Chocolate Frosting:

1 stick butter, softened
2/3 cups good quality cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup cold milk
1 t vanilla (not more, or it will taste like vanilla frosting)
1 T light corn syrup ( I know, it's a got bad rap these days, but it adds a gorgeous sheen and viscosity)

Mix butter and cocoa together, don't beat these- you'll end up with a chocolate cloud- cute for kids, not adults and cleanup. Add sugar 1/2 cup at a time, and 1 T milk at a time. IF it's too thick, you may want to add a little more milk. If it's too thin- a little more powdered sugar.

Bookmarks

2010-04-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

My little one is reading- voraciously so!
There are books everywhere. In fact she reminds me of me:
there are adventure books, science books, books with no pictures whatsoever, books with pictures only,
girly books, scary books, etc, all in various stages of being devoured by a curious mind.
The thing that unites them all?- they are, each and everyone of them, splayed open with text facing down to prevent them from closing. "Can't find my bookmark"- is the excuse.
So I went to the rescue, and here are some interesting DIY bookmarks I found:

paint chip

This one is my favorite: I have this little workdesk that I repaint after each major project is completed, a clean slate sort of speak, so I have paintchips aplenty, and made a batch within minutes.

origami heart

Now we are getting a little more involved: wood

If wood seems to involved (it actually was pretty straightforward, as the instructions were good), you can always snap a corner of an old envelope, courtesy of http://dsharp.typepad.com/dsharp/

paperclip bookmarks from lightstudio

This was my little one's favorite, as she went to town searching the house for stuff to use.

This glorious 'bookmark the date' idea from EADesigns became the starting point for a set of bookmarks I made for a friend, a bookworm like myself, using vintage Italian papers layered with vellum.

And there is always MarthaStewart to the rescue.

This paper and fabric glory I saw on flickr.

This one I made for me.

More Easter Egg Beauty

2010-04-02T20:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some ideas I have been saving in a file. Because of an upcoming show I am doing something very low key. I felt bad leaving all these beauties just sitting there in a file, so here they are, links below the photos. Hope you enjoy, and if you do try any of them, do let me know how it goes!

paper napkin decoupage

cornmeal chick placecard

bunny cupcake toppers, garlands and party bags

Ukrainian Easter Eggs

2010-03-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/tanyazivkovic/2268596791/

Easter is coming.
Did you know that Easter eggs really started out as a pagan tradition-
a celebration of the end of winter dark and the beginning of spring- and the decoration of the eggs was like placating the Sun god/s to come out, come out and stay.
Ukrainians (Ukraine is a country between Poland and Russia) take their eggs VERY seriously-
placating the gods goes back many centuries, lol, and at the time it was no kidding matter. They used, and still do, reverse painting technique, similar to batik. They paint with wax, slowly covering up areas of white, and color, and at the end melting the wax off over a candle to reveal the concealed layers of dye.
The designs reflect human wishes and dreams - health, long life, love, harvest, sunshine, happiness, etc.

courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcompetent/42433204/

This year I am taking it easy, because I am getting ready for the show, and am overusing my hands as is. So I will go easy on the eggs- something pleasing to the eye, symbolic, spiritual more than religious. But next year, maybe I'll make a tutorial, that'll be a project!

Wait,

someone -Becky, of the photo above- has done it!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcompetent/sets/1449623/

courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/stormyafternoon/4035252562/sizes/m/

Tim Burton

2010-03-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

I managed to see Tim Burton exhibit at the MoMA on its next to last day. I am not really a big fan of his, but Alice in Wonderland got the better of me.
If, until now, I thought his movies dark, I was not even close to the full intensity of their darkness.
On view were sketches, oils, sculptures, movies, animation, etc, dating from the late 70s to present.
And let me tell you - the stuff was gory, dark, creepily weird - and yet- extremely imaginative and creative.
His imagination runs free and wild, spooky wild, but creativity is such a unique thing- who is anyone to judge him?
A friend I was with at the show wondered if he had nightmares-
I think he might have- but no longer does, as he just draws and sketches them out.
His creative output- from Edward Scissorhands to the recent Alice success - is quite toned down relative to what I was looking at.
For all my reluctance to ooh and aah,
I got to say-
it inspired me to be less afraid of my own darkness, of my own spooky little corners, of the shadows of my own psyche.
I've been working on that any how, maybe I'll start sketching them now...

Labyrinth Walk

2010-03-24T17:18:00.000-07:00

I am in a lovely state of creative chaos and disorder: a lot of good things are happening, and while it's all fun and exciting, it also gets, well, tiring! Meditation, prayer and all the 'still' modes felt very still. I have a lot of energy moving around me, I needed something centering, yet something that did not require stillness of the body. So, I walked a labyrinth. The one pictured above hales from Cathedral of Chartres, France. Luckily for me, they have one like that a few blocks away in a local church, and they make it available to general public over Lent.

Here is what they say about it:

"A Labyrinth is a walking meditation,

a body prayer. It is an archetype, a

divine imprint, found in various

forms in many religions and cultural

traditions around the world. The

Labyrinth is not a maze; it has only

one path and there are no tricks and

no dead ends. The winding path

becomes a mirror for where we are in

our lives; it touches our sorrows,

releases our joys, guides us into the

experience of the presence of God. "

Marble Collegiate Church, NYC.

Then I got thinking: this, by far, is not the first labyrinth I walked.

There was one with logs cut wood in a monastery during a retreat a while back; one painted into asphalt in an urban area- paint peeling, puddles and leaves covering it, yet I walked; one done in painter's

tape (!) as it was intended to be super temporary, etc.

What about making one myself? I started scheming, thinking up friends with backyards big enough, considering my own living room - the labyrinth after all, does not have to be permanent, or big!

I am thinking still, but should you create one, or come across one, do try it!

Here are some thoughts on walking...

"There is no 'right' way to walk a

labyrinth. You only have to enter

and follow the path. Clear your

mind and become aware of your

breath. Allow yourself to find the

pace your body wants to go.

Releasing: The pathway into the

center represents a releasing, a

letting go of the details of your life,

shedding thoughts and emotions,

quieting and emptying the mind.

Receiving: When you reach the

center, stay as long as you like. It is

a place of meditation and prayer.

Be open to receive what is there for

you to receive.

Returning: Leaving the center,

follow the same path out, taking

back with you into your daily life

whatever you have learned on your

walk. Use everything that happens

on your walk as a metaphor for

your life. "

Marble Collegiate Church, NYC

As I walked my labyrinth, for it becomes yours, if only for a short while, the babble of my mind turned to murmur, and then slowly subsided. I did not talk in words, walking solitude it was. Yes, there were others passing and returning, but that did not matter. Each in their own divine conversation, yet somehow all connected within an embrace of a labyrinth.

The Other Meat

2010-03-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

There's been quite a bit of press about goat meat, yep, goat meat-
so low in fat, it's supposedly beats out poor chicken!

Well, I decide to give it a try.
My husband and I are pretty adventurous when it comes to food, more about that later.

Low in fat, as any cook knows, is tough in the kitchen- you've got to slowly braise or simmer the meat in some sort of liquid or sauce to prevent it from drying and yet preserving the flavor;

so I did some research and came across this recipe on Epicurious.com : Goat Tacos!

The recipe - at the bottom- was easy enough to follow, though I simplified it further-
I did not shred the meat, but served it on the bone.
And I tweaked the spices, lowering the chilies slightly, adding a generous amount of cumin and coriander seeds to the dry skillet in very beginning, and then crushing them together with chilies.
The result?
Splendid, rich in flavor, warm heat, color, and the smell... mmm...
We are going back for more goat next weekend!..

Recipe for Goat Tacos (courtesy of epicurious.com):

3 dried guajillo or New Mexico chiles, wiped clean
2 dried ancho chiles, wiped clean
1 pound tomatoes
3 1/2 to 4 pound bone-in goat such as shoulder, neck, or leg
3 garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
5 whole black peppercorns
3 whole cloves
2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California
16 to 24 corn tortillas

Accompaniments:

sliced radishes
crumbled queso fresco
salsa verde
thinly sliced romaine or iceberg lettuce
chopped cilantro
chopped white onion
lime wedges

Slit chiles lengthwise, then stem and seed (leave veins for heat). Heat a dry large heavy skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles in batches, opened flat, turning and pressing with tongs, until more pliable and slightly changed in color, about 30 seconds per batch.

Transfer chiles to a bowl and soak in hot water until softened, 20 to 30 minutes.

Cut a shallow X in bottom of each tomato and blanch in simmering water 20 seconds. Transfer with a slotted spoon to an ice bath to stop cooking. Peel tomatoes. Coarsely chop, reserving juice.

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

Cut goat at joints to separate into pieces and put in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Sprinkle all over with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.

Drain chiles, discarding soaking water, and purée in a blender with tomatoes and reserved juice, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining ingredients except tortillas until very smooth, about 1 minute.

Pour sauce over meat, turning to coat, then cover dish tightly with a double layer of foil and braise in oven until meat is very tender, 3 to 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and cool meat in liquid, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Coarsely shred meat, discarding bones, then mix into braising liquid in dish. Return to oven and cook, covered, until sauce is simmering, about 30 minutes more.

Fifteen minutes before goat is done, make 2 stacks of tortillas and wrap each stack in foil, then heat in oven on rack alongside baking dish. Serve goat with warm tortillas and accompaniments.

Tea birthday party

2010-03-06T14:15:00.000-08:00

Took me a few days to recover from - as my little one called it- fancy old fashioned tea party-

and here are some photos:

the invite, printed on lovely textured cardstock with all the info on the back,

after some thought, I left it black and white,

it looked elegant, and gave the petite invitees an option to color it themselves.

I got the idea from marthastewart.com, except that she had circles, with happy birthday printed on,
my little ones happens to love butterflies (I half expected her to do the butterfly birthday!), I had the punch, and plenty of paper to choose from (recycling!), I stitched them up, and the garlands of butterflies were literally everywhere!

windows had the circle garlands, as well as , not that it's easy to tell from my photos, colorful teapots and tea cups suspended on a thread. Who needs crepe paper?

She found illustrations of dolls in straw hat/bonnets in a book about Victorian dollhouses, so we came up with an idea of decorating straw hats (bought at Michaels) with ribbons, flowers, and butterflies. The girls picked and arranged, I glue gunned it all in place. A glue gun has become my most used tool lately, at least when it come to kid related projects.

It started as 'pin the dot on a pot', but with so many butterflies on hand - became 'a pin a butterfly on a d/pot'.

We also played 'She loves it, she loves it now' and ' Two truths, one lie'

which I came across on the FamilyFun site.

Tea was served, along with bread and jam, and fruit and cookies, etc.

The tiny vintage cups survived; the girls squealed in delight, as all the cups were adorable, mismatched (on purpose), and made them feel like little ladies. The tea pot was the biggest expense! (I could have use my low key minimalist one, but really, high tea with a minimalist teapot?)

I gave them a little speech about manners, as well as the social history of tea parties as they predated phone, internet, texting, etc.

The plain looking cups were not so plain, they were filled with candies, tied in a transparent wrap with a ribbon and a flower and given as favors.

Tea party theme carried the expectation of a teapot shaped cake, but that would have been too predictable! Peekaboos having tea of their own was a lot more interesting.

I used the cupcake/frosting recipe from the Valentine's post.

This was intended as a thank you note. However, as one of her gifts, she received a personalized stationary set, which she promptly used to thank for her abundant presents.

Valentine's cupcakes

2010-02-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

No amount of chocolate is enough to stop me from making these tiny yet addictive cupcakes!

Bite size, they are deceivingly innocent-

easy to make,

and even easier to eat!

Happy Valentine's!

Recipe?
Of course!

Cupcakes:
2/3 cup self-rising flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine butter and sugar, add eggs, milk, vanilla, flour. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full.
Bake at 350 for 12-15 min. Makes about 32 bite size cupcakes.

Frosting:
1 and 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1/3 cup Crisco
2 Tablespoons milk
1 lb powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons corn syrup

Whip it in a mixer until you cannot taste the sugar granules, 8 - 10 minutes. Stop once or twice and scrape the bowl with spatula. Makes enough for the above batch, plus a little extra.
Enjoy!

More Valentines

2010-02-10T11:50:00.000-08:00

Though most of my little one's Valentine's Day cards have been finished (see here), we remembered a handful of names- those that moved away, cousins in college, grandparents, etc- that could really use a cheer. And, of course, we could not use the same ideas- yes, my child is after my own heart with her pursuit of all things original!
SO here is what we found:
as always, all credit goes to brave and generous creative souls behind these projects.

Felt Monster Valentine Tutorial by http://tamarathomas.blogspot.com

Invys Free Valentine Maker by invys.com

Free printable cards by Maquette

Enjoy!

And if you have a minute, stop by the chosen artist's blog and say thank you!

Birthday Tea party

2010-02-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

My little one is having a party. She's decided on a Tea party.
I was looking for invites, and did not find anything she (!) liked.
So, I drew one for her. TO be honest, I did see something similar somewhere, but could not remember where-
so this is really an updated reworked memory, sort of speak.

First sketch:

which she promptly colored in:

Theories...

2010-02-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

My little one asked me how did the holiday- Valentine's Day- came about. I told her of a kindly priest who married lovestruck couples in secret. She loved that, the way only a wee little girl can love, imagining princesses in fluffy dresses having their hands kissed by a kneeling handsome fellow.
Then I got curious and after looking around came across a few other interesting theories. See what you think!
Lupercalia - or the true origin of St Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Origins

History of Valentine's Day

Valentine's printables

2010-02-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

I was looking for the cute (and preferably free!) Valentine's printables for my daughter- she refused to buy those packaged things they sell next to pharmacies and was wiped out after the 3rd hand drawn and handwritten card-
so-
I searched and found quite a few: amazing, cute, creative and, the most important quality my daughter demanded- original cards.
Below are some links, enjoy! All credit and my (and my daughter's ) gratitude goes to the artists!

Sweetheart Classroom Cards
from
Bunny Cakes.

Owl Card by Living Locurto -- you must check this site out for some amazing printable stuff!

Chocolate and pink cards
by Tricia Rennea

And sweet lollipop snail by Zakka Life.

Thank you!

My studio

2009-12-20T14:48:00.000-08:00

I've got birds on my mind...

2009-12-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

Inspired by ArtMind, here are my Flickr favorites for the week:

1. Easter Birds!, 2. Solitary Bird, 3. Bird mobile - work in progress, 4. peace

Clay rose frame

2009-11-29T15:09:00.000-08:00

I got started after seeing this post by ArtMind, she's got all the how to-s and great tips.
My little girl loves flowers, so we got started with roses. Fimo Clay 'postcards' pack actually provides the instructions for the roses, we simplified it a little bit. First, soften the clay with you fingers and roll a "snake" shape:

Then, flatten the "snake" with your fingers, like so:

Now, start rolling it up gently:

You should end up with something like this:

Play with how long or wide your initial "snake" is to change the size of the rose.
Make a bunch of different sizess and colors.

Now, you bake it for 30 minutes at 230 F. Let it cool off.

Take a simple picture frame. We used Ikea wooden ones, because they are inexpensive and I use them quite a bit for crafts with kids.

Put some craft glue, like Diamond Glaze or anything you have on hand, and start glueing the roses down:

And here is the frame:

You can also glue them on other clay shapes, like hearts:

The holes in the hearts were made with a needle BEFORE baking.

The leaves are a tear-shaped tiny piece of green clay, then I pressed down the middle with an edge of a knife.

Clay, clay, clay...

2009-11-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

Inspired by ArtMind, I made a small batch of little thing out of clay.

My little one got involved and totally loved it. We got our old cookie cutters out and made all of the things below:

What I learnt was this: plan the space and position of your letters before you start putting them!!
But if you do a bunch of letters all of over the place (see the white love heart with 'love' all over?)- well it does no look like you did not plan, it looks free and creative.

You can also put smaller shapes on top of bigger ones--

or just play around...

2009-11-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

I had a few silver plated settings left from a custom order. My little girl loves fairies and I made a batch of fairy charms for her. They make great add-ons for the custom photo keepsakes!

Flickr Favorites - Eyes that look into your soul

2009-11-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Art Mind- here are some of my favorites:

1. Mater Dolorosa,c, 2. Glass Tile Mosaic, 3. Papu, 4. DSC00332

Keychains and pendant

2009-11-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

I received a whole bunch of these wonderful pewter pendant findings-
some silver plated and some copper plated, and got right to work.
I should have a tutorial ready in a few days,
but just to give you an idea of what's coming-

look at this!

Flickr Favorites

2009-11-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

Inspired by ArtMind, here is a mosaic of some of my flickr favorites- mosaics of course!

Click on the photo to see all 6 images.

1. Mosaic Macro, 2. icon restoration, 3. Glass Tile Mosaic, 4. Golden Venus, 5. P1160394, 6. DSC00332

Be still, sink into the calm, trust, open up,
see what wonders, what treasures are within ...

2009-11-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

Special gift for a wee little girl and her mom...

A pair of hair pins:

A ring :

and one for the little one ( they are adjustable)

A pair of earrings:

Earrings and matching pendant:

Decoupaged Photo Frame: How To

2009-10-28T07:34:00.000-07:00

Inspired by ArtMind etcetera's fantastic tutorials, I decided to post mine-my first one, but I loved it!