Whimsy and Stars Studio

My cool Sis

OK, I feel like is about time for you to meet my sister Yanira. After 14 long years apart (due to college years, then I moving to USA and me getting married) we are finally together! Wishes and prayers do come true!  She's now here in Florida and I'm so immensely happy!

Can I brag little? Great! LOL

Not only she's a talented jewelry designer, but she's known for her generosity, her courageous spirit, for been an awesome "Titi" (auntie in spanish) and a devoted sis. She never stops to amaze me!   

I proudly invite you to stop by her website and check her latest designs (you can order via email) or if you are visiting Florida stop by one of her art shows. (you can tell her big sis send you) :-)

...today I'm grateful for the huge blessing of having my little sis!

Fun Things

This past spring I attended the Annual HOW Design Conference in San Diego, California (thanks to my generous employer!) and I had the awesome opportunity to attend Keri Smith's presentation on 10 ways to infuse your work with your personality which was totally awesome and inspiring! Meeting Keri was an experience, she is extremely talented and full of great ideas (plus super cool).

To top if off, I also had the chance to visit the local IKEA store were I found this super cute pillow!...when I saw it and held it in my arms I couldn't resist and I got it! I also visited the cutest gift shop ever were I found this precious book! Felicity Wishes from Emma Thomson., is so sweet and cheery! Here is the main website to Emma Thomson's Felicity Wishes: http://www.felicitywishes.net/content.html

Few years ago I started collecting tiny & cute "happy" books which I usually have next to my bed and in wicker baskets around the house, they impart me lots of inspiration!

Now I have on my wish list: all of Susan Branch books!

Sending happy thoughts your way from sunny and warm Florida!

 

Delicious Gift!

I have received the most delicious & divine chocolates ever! It's my "gifty" from my artsy friend Pinky from Pink Champagne High.

These amazing and exquisite chocolates from Recchiuti Confections arrived in a gorgeous fabric covered box (purple!!!) and inside are fancy Fleur de Sel (Sea Salt) chocolates! They are DIVINE, they melt in your mouth! Thank you so much, Pinky! Girl, you have exquisite taste! (Now my challenge is to only eat 2 per day...which I find quite impossible! LOL.

Update: My Gifty package it's in the mail heading to Oklahoma and I can't hardly wait for its arrival!

Also, I'm so happy Janet received her Autumn Angel print for Thanksgiving!! Thanks Janet!

Happy Things

 

•  I'm excited I just finished the children's activity book for the Florida Baptist Children Homes. I illustrated 12 black & white illos (for the kids to color). They came out really cute, I will post my fav soon.

•  I'm now working on my new 2005 rubberstamp designs which are licensed to The Angel Company. I have been working with The Angel Company for 5 years now and each year they blow my mind with all the fantastic lines of designs and products! The baby card sample is one of the ideas I have posted on my main website. I have a section called Project of the Month were I post my stamped card ideas.

On the biz side:I have been reading great inspirational articles (I'm always soaking myself into good-motivating materials) and I found this one: http://www.cakelove.com/flash/findingPassion.htm

  Have a cheery week!

Vintage: Infancia

I love Penelope's Friday Illustration. Today's theme is Vintage. The words "Infancia" mean childhood. This illo represents my childhood in the 70's and my "cat" eyeglasses with little rhinestones! I remember hating those glasses and wishing for contacts badly (especially because I'm legally blind and everyone at school called me "four-eyes") I always remember my 12th birthday when I finally said goodbye to my "ugly" glasses and my parents got me contacts! (I hope my Mom is keeping those little eye glasses somewhere in a box...) Those eye glasses means a lot to me now.

Fav Book

Oh! How I love this book! This book has been a mind-changing experience in my life. It has so many great ideas especially for women like us trying to juggle what it feels like a million things at once...and still remain happy and focused. You know what I mean: working full time, be a mom, wife and working on art/design at night so we can fuel our dream!

I have implemented good ideas from this book, like: keeping a gratitude journal, taking some prayer & meditation time and surrounding myself with beautiful things that bring me joy.

Today I stopped by the Simple Abundance website and the writer, Sarah has great tips about reducing stress: http://www.simpleabundance.com

Some of my fav tips are:

• Cultivate gratitude.
• Carve out an hour a day for solitude.
• Begin and end the day with prayer, meditation, reflection.
• Don't over-schedule.
• Create quiet surroundings at home and at work.
• Always carry something interesting to read.
• Be instead of do.
• Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal. (I wish I could do this one)
• Laugh more often.
• Luxuriate in your senses.
• If you don't love it, live without it.
• Stop trying to please everybody. 
• Nurture friendships.
• Honor your aspirations.
• Set achievable goals.
• Savor beauty.
• Express love every day.
  (from Sarah Ban Breathnach )

When things get pretty stressful I try to remember what I did in the past to feel better...and interesting enough this book always comes to mind (besides my other devotionals).

Cheery Packages in the mail!

Here is a pix of one of my little greeting cards packages ready to be shipped! I'm having such a blast with these pretties!

ps: thank you Janet, Yvonne & Jess! :-)

Good day to be grateful!

 

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy—they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. 
Marcel Proust

Today my dear & talented friend Cindy (kindred spirit) invited me to join her for lunch at her home. I was so excited to finally find the time to hang out with her! Going to her home is like a mini retreat for me. When we chat, time flies! She always have the prettiest table settings, always with a theme! This month her table was filled with gorgeous apple themed tableware and vintage-like apple print napkins...even her cups were super cute! To topped off, she had a couple of cute, mini glass vases with precious tiny roses (one for her and for me!!) Truly, an overload of eye candy and priceless conversation ( our fav topics: family, home, our children, colors, art, design, crafts...) I left her home feeling totally refreshed & blessed...plus with a cutie vase of roses. I'm so blessed to have her as my dear friend!

Thank you so much, Cin! {hug}

As you read this little blog, I wish you endless friendships!

Getting Gifty!

I'm participating in Round #1 of Rubber-Sol wonderful gift exchange idea! Each round has a theme and the first theme is Sinfully Delicious! I can't wait to see my little gift arrive in the mail! ...better get busy finding something really cute for my new snail mail pal!! (stop by Rubber-Sol site and join us!)

Naive/Naif Art

During the past four months I have been studying and researching "Naive/Naif Art". I have found great sources of info and amazing artists around the world. I admire the usage of bright colors and the gorgeous magical landscapes...totally enchanting!

Three of my favorite artists are Silvana Langlois: Silvana Langlois. and Pilar Sala: http://www.artenaif.com/Galeria.htm and Alejandro Costas: http://www.alejandrocostas.com.ar/galeria.asp?tabla=obrasI I admire their work, is magical! I love their interpretation of the landscape and skies...

More about Naive Art: http://www.daprix.com/barton/artist/naive.html#Anchor%20Intro%20Naive Here is a little from Anatole Jakovsky, one of the foremost patrons of naïve art and the founder of the Musée International d'Art Naïf Anatole Jakovsky, Nice, France.

" The individual vision of every naïve painter arises from a condition of the soul, which is particularly unique and commanding. this vision, like every artistic concept, merges with a necessity to express itself, a necessity much stronger than the artist himself. He succumbs to this necessity and is forced to realize his vision at all costs. One is reminded of what 'le Douanier' Rousseau said; "It is not I that am drawing, it is this thing at the end of my hand." the conclusion to be drawn from this is that the naïve painter is akin to a person possessed. He is in the grip of a 'thing', the nature of which he cannot logically understand." -Anatole Jakovsky

Here is an example of some great Naif artists from around the world:
http://www.artistas.artenaif.com/links.htm#
http://www.midan.org/en/naiveart.htm
http://xoomer.virgilio.it/madifazi/artenaif.htm