All things French

I just found out yesterday was Bastille Day. In an effort to do a shout out to all things artsy and french....

Makes me want to drop by a bakery and delight in a macaroon, or anything else that happens look tasty or happens to have almond paste too...














Then I want to proceed to my desk pull out some french antique text











pull out a couple of my beloved fleur de lis embellishments and things, a couple eiffel tower and other frenchy rubberstamps, and some antique french labels or french postage....






Hmmm, what will I make next?



I just dropped off the hubs at the airport this a.m.



You know that means.................... solid artsy craftsyness at home for as long as I want.


or until I need to feed myself, the dog, or toss in some laundry.


YAY!

The Cosmetics Counter

I am going off topic from art for this one...

I am a lifelong cosmetics junkie. I am a equal opportunity cosmetic and skincare fan. I am not completely devoted to one line, or another.

In my humble opinion...I think you should spend the least amount you can on mascara cuz they are basically all the same, for example. Mascara should be replaced more often than most of your daily regimen products, every 6-8 weeks.. The air that gets pumped in every time you rock the wand in and out is what dries it out and creates mascara flakes. I swear by Maybelline Define A Lash, Covergirl Lash Blast, and L'oreal Bare Naturale. All for under $10 I believe & interestingly all have the same or similiar brush...which rocks in my opinion. I wear contact lenses and I KNOW mascara ladies...

Although I must admit, I used to sell some of it not once but twice during my life already. {It started with a C, and rhymes with unique} wink wink. So I need to divulge that. and no... I am not a devoted fan of much of their line really. Some good products but not all. The Account Executive once scolded me for actually telling a customer to buy someone else's mascara. Shocked I didn't get fired over that one. I have to believe in what I am selling.

So as I have gotten older I have noticed my skin drier and well ...ahem....aging. sniff sniff. Hereditary genes play a unique and pivotal role in skin, as well as the incredibly hot desert scorching Arizona heat I happen to live in. I have been in a constant state of trying to find a product that actually does what it says it will on the packaging. Unbelievable! I have tried lots of different price points and sometimes you get what you pay for, sometimes you do not. I wanted to kick what I was using to the curb and try to find something lighter in the pocketbook as well.

I was wanting and needing...actual M-O-I-S-T-U-R-E.

I am a FAN and seriously swoon-worthy over the newest stuff I have tried. I am on the regimen about 4-5 weeks. My Mom and I both purchased the whole arsenal and cannot believe the difference in our skin.

So without further adieu...

Have you ever heard of Paula Begoun? She wrote "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter without Me" (now in it's 7th printing) and "The Original Beauty Bible" (which I purchased 2 months ago) She also wrote her first book in the 80's called "Blue Eyeshadow Should Be Illegal" She has a online site called Cosmetics Cop.

I ask you, who in the cosmetics world today has their own line of skincare products yet, researches and writes reviews for 1,000's of competitor's products, yet still recommends lots of them??? I think her online cosmetic ingredient dictionary is so insightful and helpful. I have sensitive skin and react to tons of products. But my allergy to eucalyptus is a whole 'nother story! I joined the online beautypedia she has too...

I swear by Paula's Choice! I think it is affordably priced yet delivers more than what I used to get for a whole lot more money.

I urge you to check it out if you are unhappy with the results you have been getting.

Broadway Love

I saw Wicked The musical which is in town this month. OH, how I adore Broadway Musicals.



It was FABULOUS!



Plus we took my Mom to see it last night and sat in the third row. What a treat to see it so up close, I rarely get seats that good. It really is a different experience to see it from up close. You see much more of the facial mannerisms and great hidden stuff.



There is a link here to hear and see a bit of the goings on in OZ.

http://www.wickedthemusical.com/page.php#Video

You see The Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba and Glinda, The Good Witch met in college and were roommates.



My favorite song of the production is called "For Good" and you can listen to it here:


http://www.wickedthemusical.com/page.php#MusicPlayer


Snippet of the Lyrics for "For Good"

[GLINDA:]I've heard it said,That people come into our lives,For a reason. Bringing something we must learn. And we are lead to those,Who help us most to grow if we let them. And we help them in return. Well I don't know if I believe that's true. But I know I'm who I am today,Because I knew you. Like a comet pulled from orbit,As it passes a sun. Like a stream that meets a boulder,Halfway through the wood. Who can say if I've been changed for the better,But because I knew you,I have been changed for good.

So let me say before we part,So much of me,Is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me,Like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end,I know you'll have rewritten mine,By being my friend.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better,But because I knew you...[GLINDA:]Because I knew you...[BOTH:]I have been changed for good.



Nice huh? Very meaningful for some witches....



Talk about going "green" they even have a list of tips for things you can do in everyday life to live to the standard that the character of Elphaba does...

http://www.wickedthemusical.com/swf/sections/oz_interactive/green_for_good/pdf/wwed.pdf

You can even buy a witches hat and a spell-inducing wand online of course. Excellent Halloween Costumes I must say. I highly recommend the original soundtrack with Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. Both Tony Winners and oh so fab. Idina won the tony for her role as Elphaba, The Wicked Witch. She was in the original cast of "Rent" too. Kristin was on TV this past year in the show "Pushing Daisies". Which sadly was cancelled. sniff sniff.





I made a Wicked ATC a long while ago to commemorate. I first saw Wicked the Musical on Broadway in NYC 3 years ago already.

Cool!

Well today at 4:05 and 6 seconds it is 7/08/09,



Thank heaven for post options! I surely did not get up to send out a post at that time!!! I think stuff like that is kinda cool.

Hope you are having a great day!!!

Cool Gift Packaging Idea

I got a gift is this cute little box recently. I wanted to share the adorable idea.

Ribbon, small piece of elastic, pretty buttons, one christmas bell and A-DOR-ABLE!!!

Just wanted to share.

The nice people at Anthropologie should be thanked for said idea.

Hope you like it!

Happy 4th of July

Happy Independence Day to you!

I hope you have a cookout, whip up something totally delicious and are enjoying the summer. I feel blessed in many ways. Celebrating our freedom today especially.

Enjoy the fireworks wherever you are.

God Bless America!

Talk about Re-purposing!

I recently acquired a Framed Picture at a Garage Sale for $8. The frame was lovely and the matting would work in a different scenario I thought.

My husband's favorite uncle is an artist late in his life. He had tons of watercolors and etc for us to choose from the last time we visited.

No one wants to willingly spend hundreds on framing at a frame shop...do they?

So I took out what was there re-framed it with the new piece.

Talk about saving something from the public landfill! Re-purpose! Going green!

Whatever you want to call it.

I think it turned out pretty spectacular if I do say so!

So the next time you see something ugly at a garage sale with a pretty frame, think twice about it. Actually what I bought for $8 was not really ugly, just not my style.

I passed on an truly ugly acrylic painting in a beautiful picture frame of an old crusty cowboy once. I am guessing a coat a gesso over and you could make a whole new painting. Hmmm, food for thought!

I can't believe it is already July. Where did 2009 go so far?

At least I am finishing some projects around the house.

I heART Peter

I adore Mr. Peter Max. Oh so fabulously talented and extraordinary. A true artist legend in our century..

I was in Las Vegas recently. He has a gallery at the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. So excited to peruse. I actually own a signed poster from Peter Max that is featured in this first photo.

Can you guess which one?

One of my favorite books EVER.

It was so great to see the gallery!

This piece was the largest that was featured. Hubs said hmmm a little out of our price range. Ummm yes, in the tens of thousands too much. Nice to see it though.

Just spreadin the love.....

So here is a good story. A friend copied the master and gave this to me for my birthday as a gift when hubs and I moved into our home.

Is it not awesome?

K copied it from this very piece of paper we photo copied at a gallery. She drew the crosshairs, and voila! new art on my wall....

In the same room as the above piece...I decided I wanted something to match.

**I do not belong to the thought process that your sofa should match the artwork.

But, kinda nothing went with the other artwork in the room either.

So K came over for the day a few years ago. We painted this side by side...

As a sidenote, K does not think she painted all that well & did not consider herself an artist for the most part. Hmmm, ab-so-lutely NOT true.

I adore Peter Max. His art made me fall in love with contemporary art, furniture, and I adore primary colors. Adore the Zero Max Icon.

Hope nobody decides to sue me. I am a fan and want to spread the love.

Honest!