My Apricot Peacock Feather earrings were just featured in another Etsy Treasury. Gotta love the free publicity!
I’m having a great time learning more about crocheting and the whimsical art of amigurumi. In honor of summer and the season of yummy fruits I crocheted some cherries.
I also made some yellow cherries. After all, that is the name of my business! They will be my new mascots for the day.
Homies-
For years I have been fascinated with Amigurumi- the Japanese art of crocheting small stuffed animals or toys. They are super cute and always make me smile. I also thought it would be a nice way for me to expand my plush toy repertoire. The texture achieved from crochet is very unique, which is what I think makes amigurumi so alluring.
After a couple of hours watching YouTube videos on how to crochet, along with finding the simplest book, which happened to be a kid’s book, and some serious practice, I completed my first amigurumi bear!
He’s soft, cuddly, and pocket-sized! I think I’ll call him Chisai Kuma, which is “little bear” in Japanese.
My Neon Pink Kitty made it into an Etsy Treasury. Hee hee! I’m not the only one who appreciates Day Glo. It is cheerful, fun, and sure to brighten your day. Literally.
I spent the weekend at my pals, Brian and Rochelle’s artist retreat, The Orchard Projects. Their cozy retreat rests on 100 acres of avocado and citrus orchards in Ventura. The Orchard Projects invites artists, curators, musicians, and writers to escape “studio life’s rigors and gain a critical distance from their work and the world at large.” Their aim is to give a sense of clarity and community to those who are often overwhelmed by their own work to the point that it can be daunting, stressful, and isolating. My visit was mainly for social reasons. However, a little relaxation, surfing, and home cooked meals from their vegetable garden was the perfect retreat from city life!
It was so nice hanging out on their deck, sipping tea, basking in the sunshine while overlooking the orchard.
I also enjoyed the powder room. When I asked about the aesthetic of the room, I was informed it is called “Nouveau Lodge.” Aside from being the director of The Orchard Projects, Brian is a very talented decorative painter.
One of the highlights of my weekend in Ventura was a surprise trip to my favorite fabric purveyor SuperBuzzy! They have the best collection of Japanese fabrics, crafts, notions, and other cute things. It was really exciting to see their headquarters because they only have an online store. Rochelle had made special arrangements for us to come and do a little shopping. She was such a great host- top notch!
Along with the beautiful array of Echino fabrics, I fell in love with Heather Ross’s “Unicorn in the Meadow.” Her fabric is made of super comfy Japanese double gauze. This fabric is quite popular in Japan because it has the ideal properties for hot and humid summers. It is soft, lightweight, and has an open weave to allow air to pass through. The gauze retains its light and cool properties, but is no longer sheer because of the double layer of fabric. Another bonus is that it absorbs perspiration without showing an unsightly mark. This fabric is breezy and magical!
I am so happy I was able to see the Cartier exhibit at the Legion of Honor before it was gone, because it was AMAZING! Wow, Cartier’s craftsmanship and design is flawless. I was overwhelmed. Being surrounded by such beautiful, luxurious, and sparkling jewels was quite thrilling. Thank you Auntie J for the free pass!
The most outstanding pieces to me were the necklaces commissioned by Maria Félix, the famous actress of the golden age of Mexican cinema.
Her first necklace was a serpent design, which included a 41.37 carat, D-flawless Ashoka diamond. I had never heard of one of these diamonds. The diamond is named after the Buddhist warrior-emperor Ashoka Maurya. It was mined in the Golconda region of southern India. Due to its unique cut and exceptional beauty, it has attained legendary status! The serpent was made out of platinum and white gold, and encrusted with 178.21 carats of diamonds- 2,473 diamonds total! Cartier’s impeccable craftsmanship allowed for hinge movements throughout the entire necklace. It is said that it has the slithery feel and weight of a real snake of that size. The underside is also enameled to allow comfort for the wearer. Comfort and beauty? What? This guy was incredible.
The other famous design commissioned by Maria Félix was a double crocodile necklace. She brought a baby crocodile in a jar to Cartier, asking to have a necklace made just like the crocodile (actual size too). The resulting design was that of two crocodiles, which could be worn together to create a necklace, or separate to be two bracelets. The bodies of the crocodiles contain 524.9 grams of gold and are set with 1,023 fancy yellow diamonds and 1,060 circular cut emeralds.
These baby crocodiles make me want to watch the movie Romancing the Stone!
My work was featured in two different Etsy treasuries last week. I’ve been rather lackadaisical about posting them though. The Etsy Treasury is an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery of handpicked items. The members use a certain subject to create their treasuries. In this particular one, the color peach seems to be the main theme. My Apricot Peacock Feather earrings were featured below, third row and center. Pretty peachy!
My Cherry Blossom Bird hair stick was used in this treasury, second row and center. I love that it’s titled “Spring in SF,” being that I’m located in SF. Cherry blossoms are in full bloom right now too. Nice timing.
I recently came across this inspiring website called COLOURlovers. It is a creative community where people from around the world create and share colors, palettes, patterns, and discuss the latest trends. The colors for Spring 2010 are military inspired- shades of sand, army green, and hints of black. I created my first color palette with those hues in mind, along with my Olive Green Bird hair piece.
Military wear was invented for protective and utilitarian purposes. Earth colors camouflage the wearer in their surroundings, durable fabrics provide a shield against the elements, and cargo pockets give accessibility and storage. This made me think about the different uses for my hair piece. Just to name a few- use it to secure an updo hairdo, as ornamentation, or a utensil to eat with some delicious hamachi sashimi!
The colors I used had some clever names. I think “money” is my favorite. It’s so honest!
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. It begins on February 14, Valentine’s Day. The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, and is a sign of bravery. It is admired by many Chinese because it is the sign that keeps away fire, thieves, and ghosts from the home. They also have protective powers to keep children safe. People that are born in the Year of the Tiger generally posses a charismatic personality. They are sensitive, adventurous, energetic, and passionate!
This is my tribute to the Year of the Tiger- Tiger Kitty! He is resting beneath a branch of plum blossoms because they are commonly used to decorate the home during Chinese New Year. They are seen as a symbol of winter, as well as a harbinger of spring. I also liked the idea that plum blossoms symbolize pure, honest friendship and perseverance.
My Tiger Kitty may not seem very ferocious, but he is still watchful and can provide ample protection. His smile is courageous and he is ready to pounce at a moment’s warning.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! (Wishing you good fortune)
Sun Neen Fai Lok! (Happy New Year)
It has been a good week. My work was featured in three different Etsy Treasuries. Hues of apricot, orange, and sage seem to be the running color scheme amongst these collections. . . interesting coincidence. They also possess a soft, feminine, and romantic appeal. Perfect timing, since Valentine’s Day is approaching fast.
My Clementine Bird Hair Stick is shown in the two below:
My Apricot Peacock Feather earrings are shown in this one:
