Shana Tova!

{apples and honeycomb art print by Jewish Modern}

Tomorrow is the first night of Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish Year. It was the artistry in this print that caught my eye, but the description that convinced me to share it.

"It's tradition on Rosh Hashanah to eat apples and honey for a sweet new year. But why specifically apples and honey? There are many sweet foods. Is there anything significant about them?

There is a difference between the sweetness of an apple and the sweetness of honey. An apple is a sweet fruit which grows on a tree. There is nothing surprising about that--many fruits are sweet. But honey comes from a bee--an insect that is not only inedible, it actually stings. Nevertheless the honey that it produces is sweet. In fact, honey is sweeter than an apple!

Similarly, there are two types of sweetness in our lives: we have times of family celebration, successes in our careers, personal triumphs and harmonious relationships. These are sweet times like the apple is sweet. But then there is a different type of sweetness; a sweetness that comes from times of challenge."


Be sure to check out more art at Jewish Modern and her sister site Kitchen Wizard. Come back tomorrow for a feature and a discount code from these fabulous shops!

Wallpaper Love

Have you seen this fabulous wallpaper from Emily Marie Cox for Hygge & West?

I'm seeing this in my future office with a fabulous orange sofa, burgundy lamp shades and ice blue pillows.

What would YOU do with it? 

Focus On... WaterWorks! {and a Giveaway!}

WaterWorks is a fabulous shop on etsy specializing in watercolors. Not just watercolors - amazing, beautiful, affordable watercolors.  I have tried watercolor painting and it's not particularly easy to make paint into a picture. Sumiyo, the artist behind WaterWorks obviously doesn't suffer from my affliction and she has graciously offered a print for your giveaway pleasure! :)

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

I'm originally from Japan and came to the United States when I was 16 years old. I received a BA in Music and an MFA in Painting. I am a mother of three children (2,6 and 8 years), teach art at a college and to home-schooled teenagers. I also teach flute to a neighbor. I take Kung-Fu lessons 3 times a week. I have been practicing Buddhism for a year. I paint everyday, 3 works per day.

{worcester sketchbook no. 12 - my favorite!}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

My main medium is watercolor because it is the most convenient and safe medium when I have 3 children running around the house. But my most favorite medium is oil, because of its thickness, texture and physicality.

{marsh no. 51}

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

About one year ago, I started to practice Buddhism, it changed my mentality. When I thought it was impossible to paint with so many responsibilities (jobs and family), this Buddhism practice encouraged me to believe in myself to achieve any goal. I decided to make a painting a day to begin with, 6 months later two paintings a day, and recently three paintings a day. I realized that I have over 400 paintings, so I decided to market through the Internet. Since I have some friends selling their paintings through Etsy, I decided to try as well.

{worcester sketchbook no. 7}

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration is from my children's art, my husband's art, and other artists' works.

{marsh no. 9}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

My children's singing, and playing instruments.

{fresh pick no. 35}

When it's cold outside... I stay in my warm and cozy house and have a cup of tea.

{worcester sketchbook no. 15}

When I'm hungry... I would eat some chocolate.

{fresh pick no. 44}

When I need a boost... I chant.

{marsh no. 78}

I wish I was/were... a better student when I was in school.

{worcester sketchbook no. 5}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be... one my paintings.

{marsh no. 45}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be... with my husband.

{fresh pick no. 25}

If you were an animal, what would you be? a cat.

{fresh pick no. 40}

What's your favorite piece of your own? Fresh Pick No. 30

{fresh pick no. 30}

What are your favorite blogs/websites right now? Etsy - I visit many shops everyday and find my favorite shops and items.

{fresh pick cherry blossoms}

Sumiyo is giving away a print of Marsh No. 8 to one lucky reader!

- To be eligible for entry, you must be a follower of my blog through google friend connect or through your preferred RSS reader. -

- Make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you win. -

- Please leave separate comments for each entry. -

First entry (mandatory):

- Head over to WaterWorks and tell me your favorite item!

Extra entries (optional):

- Follow WaterWorks on Twitter (leave me your username).

- Sign up for the Kate and Oli mailing list.

- Follow me on Twitter, tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

- Add my button to your blog (in sidebar).

- Become a Facebook fan of Kate and Oli.

- Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

Fine print: Giveaway begins when it is posted and ends at 11:59pm pacific standard time September 14, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on September 15, 2010 and will be emailed promptly. WaterWorks will ship anywhere in the world!

The Problem...Is In Your Mind.

The problem with committing to lose weight is that you have to check it consistently to ensure this is happening. The problem with checking your weight consistently is that you're giving the numbers such power over your life.

And isn't that kind of what you were trying to change in the first place?

Sigh, it's been a tough week, weight-wise. I lost a lot last week and am very close to halfway, but this week, I came back up again. I'm not completely sure why, either. But this is what I signed up for: hard work, determination, and persistence.

So, next week will be better! 

{an image from my garage sale last weekend - he went to a good home}

We Have A Winner!

And the winner of the Mary Beth's Art Giveaway is.... 

#37, Tazim of Being Tazim!

{which color will YOU choose?}

I will be emailing you right away to get your information, Tazim! Thank you to everyone else who entered and be sure to try again next time! Also, a huge thank you goes out to Mary Beth's Art!

Don't forget to enter the Mason Jar Critter Art Giveaway from Kudu-lah!

I Invite You... To Rue La La!

If you're not on Rue La La (a destination for invite-only, premium-brand, private-sale boutiques), you should be. If only for these:

{Arthur Court Ghost Salt and Pepper Shakers - $25}

also, maybe these:

{Diane Von Furstenberg (how could it be anything else?) silk leopard cover-up - $99}

{Report Edson Sandals - $49}

{Suzi Chin Embroidered Dress - $49}

{Tibi Intarsia Sweater Dress - $99}

It's invite-only, but I'll give you an in.

Just click here.

Focus On... Kudu-lah! {And A Giveaway!}

**I don't know what's up with my formatting! I'm working with Blogger to correct these issues! Sorry!**


Did you think the monsters in Monsters Inc. were super cute? Do you like "weird" art? Do you like mason jars? Do you like the feel and weight of wood? Are you a fan of free shipping? Then, you'll LOVE Kudu-lah! This unique etsy shop is the brainchild of Kenny Kudulis, a deep South transplant who now lives in The Big Apple. Out of his imagination comes an array of "critters" to adorn your walls, kids, and babies. Could it get any better? Yes, it could - because Kenny has bravely answered my silly questions and has offered a free mason jar critter to one lucky reader! Read on for more info!

{quadropus listenin' to some LPs - critter and pin-up art

my fave!}

Tell me some basic info about yourself. My name is Kenny Kudulis. I grew up down in the deep South. I am from a little port city called Mobile in Alabama. I had a wicked awesome childhood filled with afternoons of fort building and weekends filled with fishing.

{slub mason jar critter art}

What kind of mediums do you use and why? I love using wood as a base for all my prints. I love the weight of it, the color and especially how no two pieces are the same on account of the grain.

{squppy runnin for the train critter art}

What made you decide to sell on etsy? About 3 years ago or so a buddy was telling me about this AWESOME site called Etsy. The next day I opened a shop. I sold hand painted messenger bags back then but for about the last year I have been selling my lil critters!

{3 eye'd guy kids critter tee}

Where do you get your inspiration? I get my inspiration from people I meet and all the pets I see walking around the city. Also, I go to the American Museum of Natural History alot but it all started with late night subway rides. It would be 3am or 4am in the morning. I would be coming home from work and the people I encountered on the subway from Manhatten to Queens on the "F" has definetely given me years and years of inspiration.

{mr. toothy with the cabaret singer - critter with pin-up art}

What is your favorite music to craft by? I have been listening to a lot of Avett Brothers and The Black Keys lately. My old go-to standard though, is anything by The Flaming Lips.

{boo scare mason jar critter art}

When it's cold outside... I am watching BattleStar Galactica eating Jungle Curry with my Lady :)

{bear-bear onesie - does the super cute baby come with it?}

When I'm hungry... I usually wander around aimlessly opening cabinets and drawers 'til my wife says, "Let's get delivery".

{nerdy worm critter art}

When I need a boost... I go to the MOMA or The Met. That usually gets my butt in gear.

{when skitch attacks critter art}

I wish I was/were... On that 50 day cruise Royal Caribbean offers...That would be pimp.  I think it is only like $6,000. . .Which isn't bad considering all the ports.

{BRAHprobe 1710 mason critter art}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be... Well it would be a mutual gift...Time. Time to hang out or go to brunch. Just to slow down and enjoy time together. Everyone is so busy and moving so fast these days. Myself included.

{moxie mason jar critter art}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be... Wayne Coyne. I met him for a brief minute at a show. I got totally star struck and said something to the effect, "You guys totally rock!" Totally Lame, I know. I would want to sit down and ask him about how he managed to stick it out all those 12 years at Long John Silvers till the Lips finally made it.

{when quadropus attacks critter art}

If you were an animal, what would you be? Prolly a squirrel... I am a little spastic :)

{shark jr. mason jar critter art}

What's your favorite piece of your own? My first critter painting. It is special because it is where it all began.

{moxie kids critter tee}


What are your favorite blogs/websites right now? I just discovered "People of Walmart" yesterday. Dude, it is a little horrifying for sure. As always, I love etsy. My wife has a super duper blog called "Cupcakes Malone" it is an online food and adventure diary following our time here in the NYC. Pretty rockin'.

{on the subway platform critter art}

You can find Kudu-lah at their website, on facebook and on etsy!

{Giveaway}

Kenny would love to offer one of you lucky readers your very own mason jar critter! 

{take your pick!}

First entry (mandatory):

Become a follower of my blog through google friend connect or through your preferred RSS reader.

Second entry (mandatory):

Head over to Kudu-lah and tell me which mason jar critter you would choose if you won!

Extra entries (optional):

- Friend Kudu-lah Critters on Facebook.

- Follow the Kudu-lah blog, Critters! Critters! Critters!

- Follow Cupcakes Malone.

- Sign up for the Kate and Oli mailing list.

- Follow me on Twitter, tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

- Add my button to your blog (in sidebar).

- Become a Facebook fan of Kate and Oli.

- Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.



Please leave separate comments for each entry and make sure I can contact you if you're the winner!

Fine print: Giveaway begins when it is posted and ends at 11:59pm pacific standard time September 7, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on September 8, 2010 and will be emailed promptly. Kudu-lah will ship anywhere in the world!


**Don't forget to enter to win a faux taxidermy birdie from Mary Beth's Art, if you haven't already!**