Pip Notes: Art and Musings By Pilar

Bathroom Redo-A DIY Adventure

I am not sure if it was due to the Million Dollar Decorators marathon I watched on Bravo or inspiration from my dear friend, Nath aka The Honey Bean, but I decided it was time to give my bathroom a much needed make over. 

 
1. laundry bags 2. counter trays 3. fabric wrapped canvas jewelry organizer 4. designer inspired painted canvas

The Highlights

Canvas

I adore fabric. With so many amazing and colorful prints out on the market, sometimes I can not even make anything with the fabric I purchase because it is so pretty. Using some of my favorite prints from Melody Miller's Ruby Star, I wrapped gallery style canvas and staple gunned the fabric into place. To create a jewelry organizer, I added some tea cup hooks and clear push pins with insta-tack. For some diy wall art, I revisted my fabric stash and repeated the above process sans the tea cup hooks and push pins. 

1. fabric covered canvas 2. laundry bags

Laundry Bags

I don't know about you, but I hate hampers. They take up room and, everything, but the clothing makes it into the container. A win/win situatuion came to mind: laundry bags. Using a simple draw string pattern and white quilter's broadcloth, I made a bag for each sorting pile I would create when it was time to wash my clothes. The Graphic Fairy has great French Typography and Transfer Printables on her DIY blog, which worked out nicely for this project. (Check out this great tut by Gina for GF's DIY blog on how you can create your own French Inspiried Laundry Bag.)

Extras

-simple nickleplated trays from the dollar store

-making my own designer inspired painting using sponge sproucers 

-distressing hooks and hangers with sandpaper and paint

For the most part, this room is done for now. Next stop, the office.....

 

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Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas

dog days

With the recent spike in temperature, I am afraid I am running a bit behind on blogging. Here are the highlights of my existence.

 
a new pair of glasses

acquiring a stash of Ruby Star Rising fabric by Melody Miller

buying wine for the label and not the taste

celebrating a late harvest of tomatoes

 

Happy Birthday, Jack White

To celebrate Mr. White's birthday, here is an amazing clip of The Raconteurs performing Rich Kids Blues on From The Basement.

Kudos

Sweet Maija and Nathalie have bestowed this award on me.

Where is your cell phone? Somewhere at the bottom of my purse.

Your hair? Blond and twisted up in a pencil.

Your mother? is probably trying to convice the wee one to take a nap.

Your father? is braving the cold spell back east.

Your favorite food? Right now it is fresh apples with gorgonzola cheese.

Your favorite drink? Diet coke.

Your dream last night? I don't exactly remember, but Tom from Top Chef was in it.

What room are you in? my office/studio

Your hobby? no se.

Your fear? being unprepared.

Where do you want to be in 6 years? to be well traveled, happy and healthy.

Where were you last night? At home, beading and watching t.v.

Something you aren't? easy on myself.

Muffin? The carrot kind from Mimi's

Wish list item? money

Where did you grow up? in No and So Cali

What are you wearing? jeans and an old t-shirt

Your TV? is currently off
Your pets? I don't have any pets, but I have a dog niece and nephew.

Friends? are a special blessing.

My life? is a crazy train.

Your mood? kind of cranky. My circadian rhythms are in a bit of an uproar with the daylight savings time change.

Missing someone? My late dogs, Angus and Potter

Vehicle? in the garage

Something you are't wearing? shoes, makeup, jewelry

Your favorite store? Gilding the Lily, Amazon, and any art/fabric/beading supply store

Favorite color? it changes from day to day, but as a rule pink and black.

When was the last time you laughed? an hour ago.

Last time you cried? sometime this weekend. I was watching something very sad on the telie.

Your best friend? I have a core group of wonderful, suppportive spiritual sisters.

Once place you go over and over? the grocery store or so it seems.

One person who emails you regularly? Bridget

My home girl Jennifer gave me this kind award.

 Blogs I am passing these awards onto: Jennifer, Mija, Kelly, Laura, Izabella, Maija, Nathalie & Martha

  

Love, Kindness & Gratitude

  

Almost a month ago, my grandfather, Joseph Mercerd Fernandez, passed away after living 98 years of an amazing life. Although we are comforted by the long and active life of my papa, his passing has left an incredible void in our lives. This time has been especially been difficult for my mom as this was her father.

On Wednesday, my mother received this beautiful bouquet from JoAnnA Pierotti and her sister, Nancy.

 

Wednesday, September 24th would have been JoAnnA'smother's 77th birthday. Sadly, 7 months prior, her mother passed away suddenly. In honor of their mother's birthday, JoAnnAand Nancy decided to start a new tradition: Each year on their mother's birthday they would send a bouquet of Calla Lilies to someone who needed comfort, care and love. This year JoAnnA and Nancy choose my mother to send this very special present too.

I can not express the love and gratitude I have in my heart for JoAnnA and Nancy. The flowers lifted my mother's spirit and acknowledge the deep wound her grief is trying to heal. Calla Lilies were the favorite flower of JoAnnA'smother and their beauty reflects the very special spirit of her and her legacy.

I thank JoAnnA and Nancy for sharing their mother's memory and love with us.

Namaste.

 

 

Quick Note

A quick note to let you know I am still here, but have been under the weather for the last few weeks. Hopefully, I am on the mend (knock wood) and will be able be back to my chatty self. I am still trying to catch up on my emails and blog reading so I will answer as soon as I can. : D

Middle Name Tag

My good friend, Deryn, has tagged me for the Middle Name Game.Here are the rules: You have to post these rules before you give the facts. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blogpost containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and to read your blog.

My middle name is Isabel, the Spanish name for Elizabeth (pronounced eee-sa-bel). I am named after my grandmother, who passed away when my mother was 2. I have always loved my middle name because it was unique and different. The cool thing about having the middle name, Isabel, is my initials spell the word "pip."

I is for Iggy, Biggy, Baby aka my little niece, Tessa. Since May, I have had the privilege and joy of taking care of my baby niece. When she was about three months old, Tessa was having a hard day with colic so I was trying to sooth her by talking to her. Although a poet, I can't rhyme to save myself, so I was making up stuff off the top of my head; thus, Iggy, Biggy, Baby. Suddenly, Tessa stoped crying and started to laugh. So, I call her Iggy, Biggy, Baby.

   S is for the Sacred Heart. Since I was a kid, the Sacred Heart has been has been an import symbol in my visual and spiritual language. I use it often in my work.

A is for Arthur Rimbaud. One of my favorite poets, who inspired me to pick up my own pen.

B is for Botticelli, whose work I have spent countless hours admiring.

E is for Exquisite Corpse, "... a method by which a collection of words or images are collectively assembled, the result being known as the exquisite corpse or cadavre exquis in French. Each collaborator adds to a composition in sequence, either by following a rule (e.g. "The adjective noun adverb verb the adjective noun") or by being allowed to see the end of what the previous person contributed." (from Wikipedia.com)

L is for Led Zeppelin...the greatest rock band ever.

Since it seems everyone has been tagged, if you haven't been so far, you are it!

Let Us Never Forget

 

Final Vacation Recap

                                       

Here are some final highlights of my time in AZ-On our way to lunch, Bernie spied this bird's nest a top a cactus. The nest had clearly been inhabited  at one point, due to the feathers woven into the nesting. Kind of cool, huh?

I have always been a big fan of Claudia Roulier's work so I was thrilled when I found out one of her "Dog" pieces was available at  AU's shopping day. Since we are both dog people, this piece has special significance. : D

                                                 

One of the highlights of my trip was meeting my good friend, Katie Kendrick. Katie and I first connected through our blogs over a year ago. If you can believe, Katie is even more beautiful than her artwork. I had to get this beautiful original  painting/assemblage for my little niece, Tessa.  I could immeditately see little Tessa drifting off into dream land like the child in the canvas. For myself, I acquired Silencio. I remember when I first saw this piece on Katie's blog, I was enchanted. My mind started to spin tales of this mysterious character and his adventures. 

Like most people, my time away went by so fast, I am still spinning. However, I have some great memories and great art to remind me of this special week.