The Sherpani Elements Line Debuts at NY Gift Show - With My Paintings!

I cannot tell you how excited I am to share the debut of my collaboration with Sherpani's Fall 2011 Elements line of bags. The bags feature 4 of my paintings: "Only the Beginning," "Forever Falling Tree," "A Song for You," and "L.O.V.E.," and the bags come in nine gorgeous styles. When I rounded the corner to see the Sherpani display, I felt like I was stepping into a dream. Not only was is amazing to have had my artwork licensed, but I adore the bags and the whole Sherpani team. Sherpani is an earth-friendly company, so the bags are made of natural fiber canvas and vegan leather. The metal embellishments are recycled aluminum. And the design is both functional and pretty.

It was a wonderful experience to meet with Sherpani's visionary CEO, Sales Manager & Executive Coordinator (Vanessa - on the left of me in one of the above photos). These are such forward-thinking, kind people & it was a pleasure to hear about their plans for the line (while dining at the extraordinarily yummy Rosa Mexicana restaurant in NY).  Thank you Sherpani for giving me this opportunity!

The Elements line will be available at retail stores as well as on the Sherpani website beginning Fall 2011.

The Season For LOVE

 "Lovebirds" Glass Heart Pendant on 24" silver plated ball chain. For sale here.

 "You are Wonderful Heart" 6x6 inch original encaustic painting. For sale here.

"My Love" 6x6 inch original encaustic painting. For sale here.

My computer has been restored and virus-scanned to shiny goodness.  Unfortunately, I did lose a few images and all of my website and business files, but most of my artwork was saved. Thank goodness!!! Despite this setback, I have been busy painting and creating these sweet little glass pendants and encaustic heart paintings. I have about 6 glass pendants, but I have only loaded this first bright red one onto my Etsy shop. The others will be up shortly. I love the longer chains because they work so well with bulky winter outfits or slinkier ones we can wear under our bulky outfits. :)

The Yin and the Yang

Some good news...
Hi friends, when I created my new logo a week or so ago, I promised to make PR my new year's resolution, and I wanted to share a bit of my success here. Today I found out that Art Bistro - a division of Monster.com -- posted my work as a Solo Show called "Stories of Love" on the site. I'm so happy about this because they also quoted my new tagline "the poetry of wax" in the show description! Maybe marketing does pay off! :)

And some not so good news...
On a much darker note, I would like to share some unfortunate news.  You might notice that there is not a photo attached to this blog post. In my many years of blogging, I have never once posted without a lively picture above my text.  Today I am breaking this pattern because I am currently writing this post from a hotel away from my computer. My computer has been hacked into and compromised, and I no longer feel safe using it.  That said, the assault on my PC is neither the first nor likely the last occurrence of cyber menace that I am currently experiencing. It is coming at me on several fronts, and dealing with the outcome is exhausting and despiriting. I'm very sad about this situation, but I am trying my best to repair the damage and to maintain the integrity of my online presence.  Hopefully, the goodness in the world will outweigh the badness, and this situation will change.  In the meantime, my artwork might live in the safest of all places -- my heart and mind. Because people can take many physical things from you, but if you keep your spirit intact, you are never broken. Hopefully this post is an epilogue rather than a prologue.

A Lesson I've Learned About Love

"I Love You" - Encaustic on Wood. Available here.

This morning I woke up with a tear in my eye, and I lesson in my heart. My Grandma Rose didn't suddenly pass away yesterday at 97. It was more like a slow, subtle, then sudden fading. She was diagnosed with dementia about 8 years ago, and since then she has not really been herself. And this morning, when I woke up, I suddenly realized that I wished I had spoken more with her before the dementia. I wish I had listened more intently and asked more questions when she talked about her youth, her life, politics and advice about everything under the sun. I listened, of course, but I was always in the rush of youth - itching to go to the beach or run away with friends. Now I wish that I had stayed and asked her more questions -- really listened and absorbed her infinite wisdom. Now it is too late for this. Yet it isn't too late for this great lesson about love. We should love while we can - as soulfully and attentively as possible... because you never know when a loved one can slip away (either slowly or without warning).

That said, I want to shout out a BIG thank you for your sweet comments and condolences here on the blog. I know it can be pain to leave comments -- with that annoying word verification, etc. - but I so appreciate you taking the time to write to me. HUGS.

Goodbye My Darling Grandma Rose...

Mom, me & Grandma Rose

Today my dear grandma Rose passed away - she was 97 years old, and a very special, loving and infinitely stylish woman. She owned a real pucci dress and countless scarves pinned with jewels shaped like butterflies and dragonflies. She ate carob bars and sprouts before they were trendy (much to my dismay as a child). She called me her "sunshine girl," and was always a touchstone of security, wisdom, advice and light. Thank you, grandma, for always believing in me - for always telling me that I was an artist, for selling my rhinestone paint-splashed t-shirts on Worth Avenue when I was in high school and for being the only person in my family to actually read my master's thesis. You were always ahead of your time, grandma. And so smart. I will love you always.

PS - My mom just told me that grandma Rose will be buried in one of the rhinestone t-shirts I painted for her in high school (and that the Rabbi is reading this blog post at the memorial service).