Swoon. I love them. Absolutely. Without a doubt. Love them. Companies who base their mission on giving. Who believe that there’s enough to go around for everybody. One hand washes the other type thinking. It makes me so wooey eyed. And I make it a point to support them. All thanks to Toms.

I got an email recently about Warby Parker. A Toms of eyewear. And while I don’t even need glasses at said time, I am ordering at home try-ons just to economically high five such a great company. Adorable glasses. Affordable. At home try-ons. And if all that weren’t enough. Every time you buy a pair, a pair of glasses is donated to someone who can’t afford them. Enough said. I am in heart. Completely.

Get some new snazzy see-ers you little do-gooder!

I absolutely adore this time of year! Think about it. New beginnings. Reflections. And the prospects of all things good. I can’t believe how quickly the year has gone. What seems like weeks ago, I was flying back into New York from a most magical adventure in Europe. I had an absolute set of game plans to get my visa and return. Make a life for myself on the lovely streets of Madrid. Teach. Make art. Drink wine.

As fate would have it, my return to New York sent me on a completely different journey. And isn’t a shift in direction one of the best parts of going on an adventure?!? I’ve been painting and drawing. Maniacally. Working at the Art Students League which absolutely makes my heart smile. Always.

And now, I find myself on a completely different journey. One I know will open up doors and introduce possibilities beyond what I can hope for. This year I have decided to become an esthetician. I know. A bit in the opposite direction, you would think, right? It actually fits hand in hand with everything i’ve ever wanted. Locational freedom. The ability to make people feel good. To connect and help someone. A trade that I can use for volunteer purposes. And the flexibility to make sure that I can always keep creating art. Bit by bit i’ve realized this is a win win situation. And so this year I commence yet another transformation. (We all know I adore those) And I can’t wait to bring you guys along…

*The photo shown above is by a talented photographer, Amy Paterson. It perfectly depicts a fine day of adventure. If you adore the image as much as I do and want it all for your own, you can pick it up here.

It’s holiday o’clock! Time to shake, bake, and make! And that’s only the half of it. That’s right.

Seriously guys. Doesn’t it feel amazing to make special little doodads for all those special someones in your life? To think of that ultimate gift that will get just the right smirk out of someone? To receive things that were given thought and time instead of yet another snuggie. Of course it does. (Don’t get me wrong. Snuggies are a-ok in my book). I’m just saying. It’s nice to see that folks are going back to the good ole days. A little less about material things. A little bit more about connecting.

And it’s been yet another year where I find myself completely enamored by all the lovely ideas that make their way out of the brains of a wave of talented DIYers. Here are just a few of my new favorites…

I like theater. I do. But I can’t say i’m very good at keeping up with what shows are out, who’s starring in them or what their background is. Sleep No More calls for none of that. It snuck into my the curiosity nook in my mind months ago when friends mentioned the show. And revisited me months later, when another set of friends came into to town super excited to have been able to get tickets. Finally, this past week, I tripped on luck and had the chance to go. Based on Hamlet. Every guess is masked. No one allowed to speak throughout the performance, with the exception of the bar of course. And interactive theater. Everyone gets a different experience based on which character you follow. All taking place in a multi-story hotel. An endless number of rooms with hundreds, perhaps thousands of elements that guests could openly sift through and explore. Amazing. It was without a doubt the best theater experience i’ve ever had. The show is in town through the end of March and while I admit, it does take some dedication to get your hands on tickets. It’s actually beyond worth it. I promise. Twice.

Check out Sleep No More.

“Triptychs of Strangers is a continuing pho­to­graphic series by Adde Adesokan, where the goal is to meet strangers, get to know them, take three personality-matching body shots and make them one.”

I don’t know what else you would need to completely fall in heart with this artist. I know I did. He has figured out a way to take an insanely ancient concept, the triptych, and completely reformat it and make it interesting. Let’s turn this thing on it’s side and upside down. Done. He takes super intimate (Not in a kinky way, in a “Let me get closer than close to your face so I can know you” way.) photographs of complete strangers that he meets and gets to know on the street. A series of three photos are taken and fused together by subject, background, and color scheme. Brilliantly lovely.

Get to know a few strangers.

We’ve all had one. At some point in our lives. The bff of all bff’s. The place you could share everything from thoughts on the day, to crushes, to emotional roller coasters. And back. I admit that years ago I decided that keeping these memories was ridiculous and that it was no longer of any importance to me. Little did I realize what a tragic act I was taking.

Since then I have various journals. Of all kinds. One for gratitude and spiritual growth. One that is immensely biographical in the most non sensical way and will at some point be used in an art project. And one that is in fact an art project in itself. But within the past couple of months I have felt much turmoil that has yet to find an outlet. Which has led me to begin yet another journal. The dailies. A place where I can spew what needs to be spewed and be done with it.

And for the first time I have decided to go digital, after all, the convenience of being able to whip out my iPad at a moment’s notice is brilliant. After various pockets of research I decided to go with the old handy dandy Mac Journal. Why, you ask? Sure, there were others. Prettier on the eyes. Automatic syncing. Both of which are quite tempting. This one in particular allows for something that’s of upmost importance to me, the cubby holing of different journals. So I can keep all of my thoughts scattered in the most sorted of ways. Along with multi-media capabilities so if I get the urge to speak an entry or throw an image in, i’m set. So far I am super happy with it. I’ll keep you posted on any updates to the software i’m using. Check it out and get some writing of your own done. Signed, a journaler through and through.

If you’re thinking about digital journaling, check out Mac Journal.

I have to admit. I am usually not drawn to landscapes. I can’t explain why. It’s not that landscapes and I have any beef with each other. I guess I just love. Really loooooove portraits. People. Things that breathe. And live. With that said. When I came across Liz Brizzi’s work, it completely caught me off guard. Landscapes. Cityscapes, in fact. Colorful. Collagey. And alive. Desolate streets. Not a touch of life outside of scattered birds here and there. And I am completely in heart. Could it be that landscapes have found their way in to my heart? Hmmmmm. Stay tuned…

Check out more of Liz Brizzi’s work.

So one of my favorite things to do when I am en route to meet Miss Charlotte is secretly plan our day so that it’s filled with delight and wonder. And by sheer will, and a bit of research, it usually is! Today’s adventure was particularly special. Filled with luck of the draw shows. Magical run ins and bellies full of burritos.

First Stop: Rebecca Campbell. A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing. Ameringer-Yohe.
I have no idea why my hand stopped on Rebecca Campbell’s name when I was scrolling through NY Art Beat. Did she telepathically tap me on the shoulder to get my attention? Did I somehow feel that I would fall completely head over heels with her work? Did we high five somewhere in arty land cyberspace? Perhaps. Perhaps. And perhaps. Any which way I look at it, this was a win win situation. Rebecca’s work moved me. Right down to the core. Big. Ginormous. Colorful. Brush strokes. And girls dressed up as mimes. Swoon Rebecca. Big swoon.

Check out more of Rebecca’s work.

Second Stop: Cayce Zavaglia. Embroidered Portraits. Lyons Wier Gallery.
Oh embroidery. How are you so magical? So simple. At times. Yet possible of so many complexities. I knew I had to check out this show out of sheer adoration for the art form. One I had watched my grandma partake in for hours in Brasil, as well as one that I have been attempting to integrate in my life the past couple of years. With that said, artists such as Zavaglia have taken embroidery to an entirely new level. What I once saw as a sweet, nostalgic medium has now been recognized as layered. Involved. Painterly. Each portrait approached with vigor and passion. Definitely not your grandma’s threading. No offense grandma.

Check out Cayce’s site.

Third Stop: Meeting of a Heart.
We walked. We laughed. We saw. A heart. Existing all on his own. And we decided to hang out with him for a while. He was sweet. On the corner of 22nd-ish and the West Side Highway. Took some memorables and met some kooks along the way. Till next time Mister Heart.

Fourth Stop: Unsure. Uncle Terry Encounter.
The deal is this. Charlotte and I went into a gallery. Nothing planned. Just by chance. And to be honest I don’t even quite remember which space it was. I just remember thinking that the show had something to do with lightbulbs. Or lights. They were everywhere. And before I had a chance to fully take everything in. Charlotte’s eyes lit up like a kid encountering 10 Christmases-e. You’re intrigued, I know. She had just spotted one of her biggest idols. Uncle Terry himself. The Terry Richardson. And after several inner tug of wars decided to ask him to take a pic with him, and he couldn’t have been sweeter about it. Thanks for making Charlotte’s day Uncle Terry.You rawk.

Uncle Terry’s diary. You know you want to.

Fifth Stop: Marc Dennis. Honey Bunny. Hasted Kraeutler.
Ok. So obviously nothing else could top our run in. But we decided to hop into Hasted Kraeutler who recently became one of my favorites after the Paulo Ventura show. And were greeted by none other than an adorable little Westie pup laying on a bed of meat. Raw. Red. Uncooked. Meat. We were intrigued. The artist? Marc Dennis. The work. Mainly juxtapositions of American culture. Kittens and guns.
Blue birds and assault weapons. Pearls and pistols. And so on. Pretty rad.

Check out more info on Marc’s work.

I remember it so vividly. The day I saw Chris Sickels work. Cover of HOW Magazine. June 1999. Casually walking by the magazine racks at Barnes & Noble on Union Square. Stopped completely in my tracks. And stared. Wooed. Wondered. Who IS this man?!? Who is this person who made such immensely wonderful things with his hands? Instantly I found an idol that I wanted to keep in my pocket at all times. His illustrations, dioramas of my dreams. Filled with handmade puppets. Bright colors. Each character with their very own voices and lives. Swooooon. And if that weren’t enough, sometime down the line he started to animate them. Rolling around like little balls of yarn. Double swoooooon. Chris Sickels. Thank you for being you. Thank you for making wonderful little things with your hands and inspiring my hands to want to make things. Constantly.

Check out Red Nose Studio. You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to Modern Met I was recently introduced to Andre Petterson’s mixed media work which is absolutely stunning. Photography. Collage. Paint. Old typewriters. Antique sewing machines. Horses. Vintage fans. Pianos. Chaotic brushstrokes. All based on a moment in time. His work. Beautiful. Simple. Raw. Alive. Is it me or does collage make things completely otherworldly?

Here’s if you’re curious about his work.

And a bit more to visually munch on.

Finally! This year felt like it took forever to pass! Actually. No it didn’t. It flew! I guess it just feeeels like forever between each Halloween. In usual preparation, I had absolutely none. Just some kooky ideas that danced in and out of my head during subway rides and morning coffees. Lucky for me, I have been granted the gift of being able to pull costumes together at the last minute. Sahweeeeeet. This year I went with (drumroll please) a french mime! And although that dark option of the costume store is always there, I decided to run around like a banana head looking for the bits and pieces. Outfit: Striped shirt , black pants, beret from H&M. Makeup, Mac. Shoes and suspenders, borrowed. We hit up some get togethers on Friday, one of which I was awarded “Most Creative Costume” (rad!). And tonight I ran out for as long as I could to the Halloween parade to check out what other kind of looney things folks pulled together. Shark attack, you were my absolute favorite!

Behold. My smiling heart. I’ve just heard that the good people of New Zealand are knitting sweaters for penguins affected by the oil spills off the coast of Tauranga. I don’t think i’ve ever heard of anything cuter. The chances are, you haven’t either. And if ever I had a reason to want to learn how to knit, it would be to make critter friendly pi’s for the good of penguin kind. Adorable. Absolutely adorable.

Check out the shop who made the situation heard.

Want to donate a handmade sweater as well?

I can usually be found barking about the world to anyone who will listen. Being raised by a total flower loving hippie mom does wonders for making you think you can change the world. Needless to say, I am a huge fan of multifunctional art. That is. Art that is beautiful and educational.

Stumbling into Takeshi Kawano’s work confirmed the sentiment. His pieces revolve around different species being affected by the effects of global warming. Beautiful. Frightening. Saddening. Maddening. Literal is an understatement. Beyond worth checking out. Takeshi, I salute you. Thank you for insisting on a dialogue with the world on behalf of those who can’t.

Success! Today I dragged Miss Charlotte on a venture to the unknown. Upper East Side. Gagosian on Madison. Jenny Saville. Absolutely. Fantastic. I’ve been in heart with Jenny for years. Ever since our first meeting at the Brooklyn Museum. Huge strokes of flesh. Figures larger than life. No. Bigger than that. Ochres. Pinks. Reds. Whites. Huge beautiful women on huge beautiful canvases.

And for the past month I’ve been patiently waiting for just the right day and just the right companion to check out her latest work. Enter Charlotte. Fade into that just the right day.

All I can say is it took my breath away. And truth be told, got me to be a bit emotional. Which I absolutely adore. And just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, Charlotte and I played the “how many people are smiling in this part of town” game. Conclusion? Not as many as we would have liked. But perhaps we were hogging all the smiling to be done.

Today marks a sad day. Steve Jobs has passed away. One of the biggest thinkers of our time. An innovator. An influencer. A game changer. A dreamer. And I know no other way to react other than to say thank you. For everything. For creativity. For ambition. For technology. And for all that you have given the world…

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs.

Our favorite Ann (Marshall) has made the cover of Pastel Journal this month! A huge super duper congrats Miss Ann! I can’t think of someone who deserves it more. Her style is exquisite. Absolutely. Pastels. Meets. Collage. A dance between realism and star gazing. What makes it even lovelier is not only is she immensely dedicated but her demeanor couldn’t be more pleasant. A true southern belle. Always a smile on her face followed by a pretty infectious laugh. This is just the beginning lady. Of your some kind of wonderful.

Check out more of Ann’s work.

This week I picked up Miss Charlotte at our favorite meeting spot for a treat and one of many laughter filled project brainstorm sessions. It’s one of my favorite things about our new tradition. Ridiculous conversations that at some point become so insane that they turn into the perfect collaboration. Today. Two were born. And while I am completely superstitious and cannot share them with y’all just yet, you will know soon enough. Pinky promise.

Our adventure today led us to Dumbo for their annual art festival. I know! It’s been a year already! Both of us pretty stoked to be surrounded by art from all sides, hopped off the metro to streets adorned with volunteers fully equipped with iPads and maps and folks wandering the cobblestone streets of Brooklyn. Swoon.

We walked. Ducking in and out of buildings, retail shops, and scattered galleries. And I’ve been battling since then to describe to you my thoughts on the whole experience. As much as I don’t want to say it, it was confusion with a hint of sadness.

Not at the lack of quality in the work, but in the lack of open studio participation and fine art being displayed. With that said, I am all about the digital world but I guess I was hoping for more tactile experiences. I wanted to believe that it was some mistake on my part, some inability to properly decipher maps, but we ran into several folks who had similar sentiments. With that said, we had the loveliest of days and the few bits of art that we saw was great.

First Stop: Ed Kashi. Eye Contact. VII Gallery.
Great concept. Candid images. Full of fascinating characters. And an endless amount of narrative possibilities. One image in particular that stopped us in our tracks. Completely. One of those images that can not be unseen. It’s jaw dropping to me how documentary photographers capture that fraction of a second. Two words. Honest moments.

http://www.edkashi.com

Second Stop: Tonya Engel. Personal Work. Street.
We strolled by Tonya who was perfectly placed on the corner of Front and Jay street. Giclees on canvas. Prints in all sorts of sizes. And imagery that egged us on to sift through. Ooooohs and aaaaahs. Dear Miss Tonya, please keep doing what you do. Always.

http://www.tonyaengel.com

Third Stop: Gaia. 365 Days of Print. 81 Front Street Space.
Oh those ladies of Gaia. Is there anything they don’t do? Is there any show they don’t attend? The answer is probably no. The girls took over the space they were allotted with a series of pieces (ask Charlotte about). Asterik. Dear lovely Miss Christine Vidal Cruz. I met Liz. She is even lovelier in person that I could have imagined. Only you have hands that can translate that much class using thread.

http://www.gaiastudio.org

Fourth Stop: Random Performance Artist. Personal Project. Front Street.
Random guy on the corner of somewhere and somewhere. Red Ray Bans. Jester pants. Fingers upright. On each one a rolled up piece of paper tied with a gentle bright pink fabric. He said he was a performance piece and that whatever interaction we were to have with him was entirely our choice. A smile. A conversation. We could even pick one of the messages off his fingers. Only thing he disclosed was that one side was geared towards the heart. And one toward the mind. All written phonetically. All messages of hope and goodness. Swoon mister Ray Ban. No seriously. Swoooon. I grabbed one and while I selfishly want to keep it all my own, you can rest assured that it was exactly what I needed to read.

Afterwards Miss Charlotte and I grabbed a seat by the waterfront. Completely necessary. We laughed. We cackled. We watched one of the most beautiful sunsets and realized how awesome it was to be exactly there. Exactly then. The rest of the day consisted of hot cocoa. Warm chocolate chip cookies. And Mexican cuisine. Another lovely walk with Charlotte.

Dear Jim,

Thank you for being born with a brain that my brain wants to cuddle with. From the moment I laid eyes on your mahna mahnas, I knew we would be great friends forever. And that the many precious moments of my upbringing would include you in them. Growing up with you has inspired me and taught me many things…

Animals that speak absolutely exist. And being a bit off your rocker is actually kind of endearing, special thanks to Gonzo. People dressed in all black can make magical things happen. And forests are in fact enchanted. Frogs are smarter than we give them credit for. And bears look great in a proper bow tie.

You have made things with your hands that have inspired my life. Immensely. More than you’ll ever know. And for that, I can never thank you enough. I wish you the most magical of happy birthdays. In a saloon filled with dancing chickens, singing dogs and musicians with impossibly large gold teeth.

You’ll always be my favorite maker upper…

Today a tradition is born. Miss Charlotte and I have decided to make our art walks a regular activity. The thought of this makes my heart want to explode into paint brush shaped confetti. Our only rule? Start the day off with our favorite treat followed by oodles of arty farty walkin’ and talkin’.

Pretzel croissants. I know. You question my honesty. I assure you I would never fib on the topic of scooby snacks. They exist. City Bakery. And they are mouth magic.

First Stop: Nick Cave. Ever After . Jack Shainman Gallery.

I admit it. My interest was first peaked thinking this was Nick Cave of Bad Seeds fame. And while that would’ve been fantastic, Nick Cave the artist has fully lived up to the name. The Soundsuits have won my heart. Fully. Life sized figures. Shamanistic. Buttons. Crochet. Bunny beards. Recycled heaven. And his video work? Swoon. No wait. Double swoon. Wait. Did one of these bunny boys just move?

http://soundsuitshop.com

Second Stop: Vik Muniz. New Works. Sikkema Jenkins & Co.

A master of mixed media. That’s what I think when I think of Muniz. He’s a dabbler in the truest sense. Lunch meat. Garbage. Chocolate. Spices. Dust. Coins. Yep. He’s done it. His latest show ventures into remakes in the likes of a Dega bather and a Courbet nude. Among others. Collage meets photography. Larger than life. Literally.

http://www.vikmuniz.net

Third stop: Paolo Ventura. The Automation of Venice. Hasted Kraeutter.

Oh Paolo. My heart belongs to you and your magical dioramas. And the fact that your idea of beauty is Tuscany in the 1920′s. Thank you for being a storyteller and having such imagination. Thank you for seeing things through a foggy day and in the dawn of immense sunlit rooms. Thank you forever.

http://www.paoloventura.com

Fourth Stop: Jeff Huntington. Plaques And Tangles: New Paintings. Porter Contemporary.

Fragmented. Warped perspective. Peering eyes. Just a few elements of Huntington’s work that make it so fascinating in an almost haunting way. Inspired by watching his father battle Alzheimer’s and his interpretation of what that must look like. Talk about a strong concept.

http://www.jeffhuntington.com

I stumbled onto NY Art Beat months ago. Maybe even a year. And only now am I realizing how wonderful it really is! Basically what it does is keep me on my art world toes. Shows that have just opened. Shows that are about to close. And all the in-betweens. Audience favorites and the ability to bookmark. Perfection. It has been my go to app for all my art-ventures.

Enter The Exhibitionist, recommended by lovely Charlotte. Why two art exhibit apps, you ask? This guy is perfect for days I want to nix all plans and wander. It allows me to GPS my location and map all the surrounding galleries. Color coding based on length and date of exhibitions and an option to save routes if I do feel the need to get more strategic about my day.

The down side to these guys if I absolutely had to give you one is that both of these apps are New York based only. What a lovely day it would be if they covered the art world in all it’s glory. Then again I have absolutely no complaints about having to scavenger hunt for art in Paris. Venice. Madrid. Swoon…