Focus On... Mary Beth's Art! {and a giveaway!}

{{CLOSED}}

Sloth Protects Mi Casa is the first piece from Mary Beth's shop that I came across. How could I not have explored further? The best part about Mary Beth's Art is that it comes with the frame! For $20 or less! And when you're tossing a super cute print into your cart, how about adding a faux taxidermy birdie? And maybe some awesome hand-stamped jewelry from I Adorn U? You can do it all with Mary Beth's shops!

{sloth protects mi casa}

Tell me some basic info about yourself. My name is Mary Beth Heishman of Mary Beth's Art. I am a native of Las Vegas, Nevada and I have been creating art since I could walk. 

I am inspired by my environment and the other flora and fauna of the many countries I have visited. My current works are juxtapositions between humans, flora and various fauna. These contrasting subjects are merged together to form my surreal paintings and utilitarian sculpture.

I have tried to blend the surrealism of Las Vegas with the naturalism of the desert to create a unique art form that combines the fantastic and unexpected. 

{sage faux taxidermy bird jewelry holder}

What kind of mediums do you use and why? I use acrylic, wood and resins. I love the way acrylic blend and the different mixing mediums I can use with... The wood is seen from my painting to the actual resting surfaces of my faux taxidermy birdies and bunnies. Wood just has a warmth and rigidity that canvas doesn't. 

{pink best friends framed print}

What made you decide to sell on etsy? I really wanted to open an online store and with much investigation and friend suggestions I decided etsy was the best market for my wares. Why have a lonesome shop floating among millions of other things in cyber space when I can have a shop within an arts and crafts community. People come to etsy for the handmade. 

{candy apple green faux taxidermy bunny jewelry holder}

Where do you get your inspiration? Being an art teacher I have 9 months of inspiration while in Las Vegas and 3 months of inspiration traveling to far away lands. My inspiration comes from the great outdoors, whether it's Mojave desert or the Costa Rican Rain forest. I can spend hours and days walking around deserts and forests with my sketch book.

{yellow owlie mini framed print}

What is your favorite music to craft by? I love crafting to LoveLikeFire and Stiff Little Fingers. 

{ivory faux taxidermy bird jewelry holder}

When it's cold outside... I want to cook soups/stews with my husband and cuddle eating stews and rice. 

{something blue earrings - from I Adorn U}

When I'm hungry... I eat Pho and fruits.

{adorned naturalist necklace - from I Adorn U}

When I need a boost... I touch my toes, make a tea and think of making extraordinary things. 

{lime owl framed print}

I wish I was/were... in San Francisco or Berkeley... The Bay calls me and "I left my heart in San Francisco, high on a hill." 

{Best Friends Bracelets - from I Adorn U}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be... Having a safe and loving/caring home, family and environment. If the world's inhabitants had true nurturing. 

{red faux taxidermy bird jewelry holder}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be... Leonardo da Vinci. 

{slothy friend framed print}

If you were an animal, what would you be? A sloth or desert tortoise. I move slowly (ask my husband)... These are the happiest animals, they look like they're all smiling. Secret is slow down. 

{personalize your wings and fly necklace - from I Adorn U}

What's your favorite piece of your own? My Inca Ribosomes painting, it was painted in acrylic on wood. It is my favorite work. The warmth of the wood combined with the cool colored birds. Also my use of the Incan stretched skulls and laced pomegranates. My favorite art teacher/best pal owns this now, I am very happy it's in great hands.

{coral flight bracelet - from I Adorn U}

What's your favorite piece not of your own? This is tough, I mostly buy from my super talented friends. I would say it is my Kristy Bishop and Su Limbert artworks. Kristy works in paint and textiles and Su works in ceramic plates and acrylic/oil canvases. Their works are as stunning as them. 

{plum faux taxidermy bird jewelry holder}

What are your favorite blogs/websites right now?

Mittens At Home and Cloud 9 Weddings & Papers. Cloud 9 makes me want to renew my vows every year.

{bird is the word necklace - from I Adorn U}

You can find Mary Beth's work at:

Mary Beth's Art on Etsy

I Adorn U on Etsy (her jewelry site)

MaryBethHeishman.com (make sure to check out her gallery! the painted shoes and skateboard decks are amazing!

I Adorn U on Facebook

Mary Beth has graciously offered to giveaway one of her SUPER cute faux taxidermy birdies. You can use these beauties to hold jewelry, a scarf or two, maybe even a hanging picture frame. Or you can just display as a tongue in cheek decoration! Winner gets to choose the color!

- 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):

Become a Facebook fan of Mary Beth's jewelry shop, I Adorn U!

Extra entries (optional):

- Head over to Mary Beth's Art on Etsy and tell me your favorite item!

- Head over to I Adorn U on Etsy and tell me your favorite item!

- 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 1, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on September 2, 2010 and will be emailed promptly. Mary Beth will ship anywhere in the world!

Giveaway from Oh, My Darling!

{Oh, My Darling is giving away a surprise ball! Go here to enter! If you're not familiar with her style, you're sure to get SUPER-cute items inside, probably along the lines of owls, cupcakes and bows. Ends August 21st.}

Focus On... The Time Is Now!

I recently discovered The Time Is Now and I'm in love. Naomi creates beautiful papercuts and illustrations. Her journals are some of the sweetest I've seen! Her low, low prices are valid until the end of summer, when she'll have to raise her prices to keep up with her competitors. So take advantage of the low prices now and take a look at the beautiful items found in Naomi's shop!

{between worlds papercut print - my fave!}

{wanderlust original papercut}

{party bunny notebook}

{acorn, the spotted fawn original panting on wood}

{monocle bear pin}

{take care papercut}

{fox love original papercut on canvas - my other fave!}

Follow Naomi's blog here!

Weekend Love

{moi at the huntington library in pasadena yesterday. i went with some gal pals and had tea and scones and wandered the gardens. so fun!

and last week, i saw a groupon for a year-long membership to the huntington for half off, so i split it with a friend and now we'll be going there all. the. time.}

Hungry Heart

I love Sara Rue. I've loved her ever since I first saw her in Popular (yeah, remember that?). She's so funny and witty and her hair is gorgeous. But this year, our relationship (hah) has changed. She started her weight loss journey when I did and for most of it, our losses mirrored each other. As of late, however, she has been doing fantastically and I have..not. I previously mentioned how much I love her blog, but today I watched her latest vlog (or video blog, for those of you who aren't in the know :)) and I cried.

I never talked about this stuff. With anyone. Ever. I didn't want to be that girl. I didn't want to be known for that. So, to see Sara say these things out loud, basically to the world... it was a double whammy. My heart was screaming, "You GET it! You really GET it!" and my head was saying, "Oh my god, she's crazy. Or brave. Or both. She's telling the whole world her issues!"

One of the parts that I kept re-winding to hear again was when she said, "What wasn't easy was all the stuff that was going on in my head. Look, I've been overweight my whole life and you don't get there by just what's on your plate. You get there because you either don't understand how to live a healthy life, or you don't want to. Or worse, you think you don't deserve to. So, yes I had lost weight before on other diets quickly. But I didn't give my heart and my soul and my brain the chance to catch up with me. They didn't buy what I was doing because it wasn't sustainable and they were all probably really hungry."

As you may have guessed, I cried when she said "Or worse, you think you don't deserve to." But once I wiped my eyes, what really stuck with me was the end. It's one thing to feed your body. It's another to feed your heart, your soul and your mind. I think what she was doing, and what I was doing for so long, was only feeding my body, and probably at the exact same time, starving the rest of me. I feel like I should apologize to my heart, soul and mind for all of the ways I shortchanged them. All of the things I told myself I couldn't do or shouldn't wear or say or even feel.

So now, in my new life, my new way of life, I should say, I am listening to my body and feeding it when it's hungry. But that includes all of me. Sometimes, my heart is hungry and I feed it some feel-good romantic comedies. Sometimes, my soul is hungry and I hit up a yoga class. Sometimes, my brain is hungry and I put down OK! and Star magazines and pick up a nice, juicy novel. And sometimes, my tummy is hungry and I feed it - but smartly and consciously.

If you have a moment today, watch her vlogs, read her blog, see her journey. At the very least, it will inspire you to make a change, to find happiness in yourself, like Sarah has, and like I am. :)

Focus On... Cynthia Vardhan And Free Gift With Purchase!

Cynthia Vardahan 
{in her own words}

I'm an independent ceramic designer working in downtown Columbus, Ohio and I specialize in intricately patterned, functional porcelain work.

The patterns that inspire me come from sources as varied as Moroccan tiles, Indian henna, French pastries and common garden ferns. I throw everything by hand on the wheel in my attic studio. I apply the colorful patterns using a unique technique which gives it a raised texture that people can run their fingers over and feel. By embracing intense, vivid, precise decoration and uniting it with sophisticated forms made from translucent porcelain, these pieces are totally unlike other ceramics out there.

Cynthia graciously answered my silly questions and allowed me to share her fabulous work with you. She is also offering a free gift with purchase just for Kate and Oli readers. Carry on to learn more about Cynthia and her work!

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

I use a very temperamental translucent porcelain purely because it is the best possible backdrop to my colors. Also, being able to hold the piece up to the light and see the patterns casting a shadow on the inside is pretty cool.

{set of 10 assorted dishes}

Where do you get your inspiration?

Traveling, the museums of decorative arts (LOVE the Victoria & Albert!) and textile design.

{sunny blue sky mug pair}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

I actually craft with documentaries running in the background. Thanks Columbus Metropolitan Library system!

{lil pink vase}

When it's cold outside... I start checking property prices in Florida.

{blue vase}

When I need a boost... I get out of town. A change of scenery does wonders!

{lime green mug}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be... organic, locally grown fruit & veg for life. What one eats has such a great effect on health and happiness. Which is the real gift I’d like to give everyone.

{indian henna dessert bowl pair}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be... either Hella Jongerius or Jonathan Adler. I'd love to quiz them on their career trajectory and get their business input.

{cream bud vase}

If you were an animal, what would you be?

Either a sloth or a well loved cat. Something that would allow me to be soft and lazy.

{rose bud vase}

What's your favorite piece of your own?

My favorite piece that I own is a tumbler I made and decorated purely as an experiment. It has swirls of similar patterns completely covering the cup. It quickly made its way into my house and now has a happy home in my bedroom where I use and pretend that I always use fine china in my house. :-)

{completely, totally, covered in decoration dessert bowl set}

{Fan Cynthia on Facebook} 

{Visit her Etsy shop}

{Visit her general website}

And, just for Kate and Oli readers, when you purchase from Cynthia's etsy shop, just mention you're a Kate and Oli reader and receive a small decorative dish for free!

Love... OLDgOLD Boutique!

i'm loving the awesome rings on OLDgOLD Boutique:

{dentiste and circo rouge}

{potted fleur and unicron}

{stumped and barb}

Don't forget to check out the necklaces (here's my fave)

and the clothes (love this hoodie)!

they also have a blog where they share awesome music mixes :)

**originally found through this post at mitchell & dent's tittle tattle circus**