Patron Saints No.2

"no necesito drogas, soy drogas"

This is the kind of guy I would like to hang out with, but would also be afraid to. It's very hard to make me shy, now this man, would certainly be able to. When I was about twenty I read his autobiography...did you know he once attacked a woman friend at the beach for admiring his feet?? He said that she had nerve to look at him like that, and he needed to retaliate because he became Gala (his wife), and she was jealous...

I don't think that in any blog post I could really ever sum up what Dali did for me in my life as an artist. He certainly inspired me to go into another dimension and live. His theory and work also inspired me to dare and go into corner pockets of myself to find the dark and the light and expose it. It's very hard for me to explain.
When I took a trip to Paris to stay with my aunt, I had the divine luck to go to his Montmarte home that had been converted into a museum, Espace Dali on 11, rue Poulbot. Can you imagine, being just blocks from Moulin Rogue at that! Montmarte is truly magical.

I think that I slipped out of reality and into Dali's reality or illusion for that matter. I felt like I was experiencing something out of body. Time melted just like the clocks in his his paintings. I don't really remember any other people there except for a trail of school children and my aunt Sholeh...which all contributed to the surreality. I wish I could find my photos from then, but even if I never do, the day is imprinted on my
inside.

If You're Going To San Francisco...Renegade

Above is the image of a great San Franciscan, and great man in general, Harvey Milk. This painting is by a favorite of mine, Robert Lentz. Here's to you both!

I must say that I have always wanted to go to this unique city, so when the opportunity arose to participate in the Renegade Craft Fair, I figured what a chance!
So off we will go, July 18th and 19th on the bay! If you're out there please do come through.

More Preview...

Flapper Yourself Dapper

Collection Preview

You'll see bits and pieces of a necklace called "The Great Depression" which features two vintage liquor tags in a tarnished sterling-plate, Bourbon and Scotch...three strands of vintage glass "pearl" beads in a smokey metallic finish hang below. Do you get it?? Who says you can't look like a million in an economic hell storm? I added at the top of the center rows two hand antiqued, vintage monogram tags for detail.

Also I have a new, c. 1908, fraternal Order of The Odd Fellows all seeing eye piece with an incorporated vintage rhinestone bead, very rare.
Another fraternal badge piece "Member" also turn of the 20th century, along with a Victorian key hanging below.
Finally, an Art Deco, filigree belt buckle (half), in steel with painted color and a French cut chandelier dropping below.
Oh...and yes, "The Most Worthy Auditress", two tiers of an antique fraternal badge, hanging Victorian 12k gold fill eye glasses, skeleton key and deco locket.

My Patron Saints- No.1

"Feet, why do I need them if I have wings to fly?"

I guess that term, "patron saint" would be the best way to describe the following inspirations of mine. I'll be writing about a few of my dearest idols over the coming weeks. Long before I even thought I would design and create jewelry I was mesmerized by the work...the life and the legacy of Frida Kahlo.

I don't quite know where to start on the enormous affection I have for this woman. It's true that I have never "met" Frida, but have I? Have I indeed met her through the legacy of work she has left me to see, all of us to see?
When I was pregnant with my first son, Amir, I translated her diary from Spanish to English , just so I could learn in depth her words. I begain collecting Muertos and Ofrendas, retratos of her, I became enthralled with her existence, her creations as I created my child.


When I think of the parallels between our lives, it gives me a bit of a chill. Without getting overly personal, both our beloved fathers suffer from a like illness, I too had a life changing tragedy physically as a teenage girl, and I too am involved with political activism. My love for my partner/husband/friend is that that I cannot explain, their is no corny card or gift that I can obtain to express it, it's deep and personal and evident as was her feeling for Diego, although he happens to be a womanizer...and I love monkies :) But Frida is Frida, I look to the commonalities of our lives as just that, commonalities, it's just my luck that I have the pleasure to even relate to her majestic life.

It's her way, talent and radicalness that leaves me in awe. The irony of this colorful art with the dark tales and the unequivocal beauty behind them is a gift to th world.

"I hope the exit is joyful - and I hope never to return"


In our bathroom.

Yo Momma and Mines

Happy Dia De Las Mamas!!!!
You better do right by yours, lord knows it can be hard, but so what love her crazy.
Painting:kmberggren.etsy.com

I went to a playground on the Hudson today, the babies played and ruined their clothes, my mom was there too...my husband cleaned the car and made me dinner. It was a great day.

Lucky Me, Lucky You

Luck...it seems that no matter who, pagans, monotheists, polytheists, all kinds of believers always believe in luck. Through out mankind's history we see evidence of this. Well, I was using the fifteen minutes of free time I have when the boys are eating breakfast (no wonder it's called "break-fast"), and snooped around Flickr to find these Hand of Fatima doors in southern Spain and Portugal where the Moors, Berbers and Arabs ruled for hundreds of years. These exquisite door handles were crafted into "hands of Fatima" as signs of luck to ward off evil and malice from the dwellers of each home. You can see the European spin on the style.

I chose the name The Hand of Fatima for many reasons, one main one being that everything is made by hand, another being I love the name Fatima, and finally, a little luck can't hurt, even when you're not the most superstitious person, why not cover your bases?


Photos from the following AMAZING photographers on Flickr...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54427714@N00/395600505/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lxavian/3010927580/
jsprhmsn:bcn
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alfonsogamo/3456913496/in/pool-aldabasyaldabones