New Narcisse Website
Narcisse updated their website recently and it's looks beautiful.  You can now use their online shopping cart to purchase your goods directly at http://shopnarcisse.myshopify.com/

I'm in love with these post cards from Noa Noa at Narcisse this summer!

I almost forgot to mention, All the new fall line is in the shop, including new jewelry by Brehan Todd and Paper Treasure.  And they have these shoes, which I was lucky enough to add to my collection this summer, crackly pewter mary janes, and they also come in brown.  They are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn!

WORLD'S SMALLEST STOP-MOTION ANIMATION FILM

Iv'e been experimenting with video on a Canon G9 for about two years and got really into it now and then. It's creative and fun but technically difficult.  I'm not saying I'm good or anything, I just shoot people, insects, lizards and my dogs, I'm still in the learning phase. It's what I call a tiny hobby; something you enjoy but spend only a tiny amount of time on over a long period of time to learn more effectively and thoroughly.

The pros of small video are taking things to a whole new  level and using interesting techniques and new technology. For whatever reason I don't enjoy most animated film? Particularly if it's the new high-def 3D films that look very computerized. There is nothing wrong with that style, I just don't get it, or like it personally?  I'm more of an old fashioned, claymation kind of girl. One of my favorite movies of all time is the little film, as I like to call it, the 1964 classic,

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special, respectively)

I like the simplicity and genuine creativity of this style. The film "Dot" reminded me of the Rudolph style. I fell completely in love with this tiny movie with so much to see. 

 As you know, I love tiny things and this is the tiniest films of all!  It makes me feel warm and cozy contemplate knitting and purging all of my belongings at the same time.  Maybe I'll give up everything and knit myself a sleeping bag to lay by the fire in? On the other hand, Eva needs a new sweater for fall! The Queen insists on Mongolian Cashmere, hand raised by well paid, native workers and imported on a by http://www.flygreenjets.com/ 

Watch this movie it's very inspiring and happy! Note because of the format of my blog, the entire video, full screen won't fit. Click on the half video below and it will take you to the full video on youtube.

  

An Afternoon at the Park...

I't's been a lovely season in Oregon this year. The Spring started a bit late, but turned into an amazing summer. I've been out enjoying the last days of nice weather outside, as much as possible. I forgot how doing something I loved as a child can still be just as rewarding.  I've always love feeding animals and spending time with them. When I was small, my parents would take me to the park to feed the ducks and swans and it was one of my favorite hobbies.  I hadn't done it in years but there is a beautiful park with several geese ponds nearby our house, so we went out last week, it was just as much fun as I remembered.

there were so many geese to feed

We made friends quickly

Eva thought Geese Soup was on the lunch menu so she waited in the car.

Most of the time they were friendly but they started nipping at my leggings!

We met a friend who was fishing the pond and telling old stories.

Joker and I took a little break on a bench.

Eva was all over the place looking for trouble.

What a dreamy afternoon

New Art Posted on Eco 1st art.com

Party Hat Diabolique by Lisa Kokan

I've been enjoying a lot of the new artwork added to Eco1st art.com, a new Eco website featuring artists from around the world. Lisa Kokan makes amazing found, mixed-media collage. I love this new clown head piece made of buttons and random objects. There are several other new button sculptures listed as well.

Felted Jacket by Elena Garcia

This gorgeous jacket is hand made from felted wool and silk, gathered and manipulated and seamed into  a kimono silhouette.

Recycled rubber jewelry by Kathleen Nowak Tucci

Recently this Italian designer had her manipulated rubber jewelry on the cover of Italian Vogue.

Harland Miller Desk by Anna James

Here is the story behind this desk,

"There is a lovely history attached to this piece -
My good friend London artist and writer Harland Miller gave this piece to me when the artist started working on her collection. It had been in his studio for some time and he wrote his first novel at this desk- "Slow Down Arthur, Stick To Thirty." The inspiration for this piece came from a favourite Kandinsky painting that the artist loves. She especially likes the creation of furniture into a multidimensional painting - it becomes a work that you can use and view almost like a sculpture."

Marble Pendant Lamp by Georgios Ignatiou

Speaking of sculptures, this lamp is so dreamy, and it's a great spot to keep your marbles.

I love these strappy sandals by Collen Cordero

Fall Fete at Narcisse This Saturday...
I cannot wait to attend the Anniversary party at Narcisse this Saturday night.  It's their second anniversary and the unveiling of the Fall Noa Noa line, new jewelry from Paper Treasure and me.  There will be local beverages and entertainment galore! The party starts at 8:00 pm, see you there!

Here's a peak at the new designs I've made for the Narcisse events,

http://www.shelterpop.com/2010/09/13/red-front-door/

Langhorne Slim A Musician That Lives in Portland

I cannot believe summer is almost over, it's been so lovely here!  It's still sunny and in the seventies but the leaves are just beginning to turn yellow, and it will be fall before we know it. 

This video reminds me of summer time and the beautiful days in Portland. It's  written and performed beautifully by one of my favorite bands, Langhorne Slim.  I used to watch them play in small , random clubs in New York when I was in college with a friend of mine who was his school mate.  They were always amazing live and put out several excellent records. Recently they have become more well known, and by chance moved to Portland, Oregon. They tour often and should not be missed. This is a personal video performance favorite of mine in Bermuda,

Goodbye summer....

I'm so excited about this new shipping option from Ebay, reusable boxes made from 100% FSC-certified material, uses minimal tape and is printed with water based inks ! Technically, all boxes are reusable for something but Ebay has now created a new box that you reuse until it barely contains the properties of a solid. I can think of all kinds of ideas!  I've been selling old stuff on Ebay since I started college, to earn extra money. Living in New York city meant no storage for extra things like your own stuff, let alone extra boxes. I used the Priority mail shipping boxes, provided free at the post to send my orders out. They cost nothing and were dependable. I felt good about selling old things to new homes, but I felt bad about not being able to easily use recycled boxes. Apparently, I'm not the only one who felt this way and Ebay finally wised up to the times. I look to the magazine Fast Company Magazine for new updates in business know how, without putting me to sleep. They just published a fabulous article about these new, Eco boxes that is excellent as usual.
"The box idea was the grand prize winner at eBay's annual Innovation Expo, a celebration of creative ideas from eBay employees. Designed for "simple green shipping," eBay believes that a single box reused five times could save nearly 4,000 trees, 2.4 million gallons of water, and conserve enough energy to juice up 49 homes for a year." Bravo!


"EBay will send out a pilot run of 100,000 boxes in October to all sellers who request them. Recipients can log on to a special website to report on the status of their boxes (and track them as they move from place to place), and after a few months, eBay will evaluate the program and figure out how to proceed."

As a bonus, they are also much cuter than the red, white and blue boxes. Stacked on top of each other they look like a tree with different perspective. They have the popular, modern look similar to the twitter logo trend.

New Ebay Recycle box

Follow this link to read the full article,
http://www.fastcompany.com/1686645/ebay-launches-reusable-box-shipping-program

       Eva won't lift a paw today, it's as if she
                   knows it's labor day?

David Paglia-photo 

                                         Preparing for fall.....

If there is one thing in the world Eva loves, it's fluffy pillows and blankets.  This morning before we got out of bed, we played hide in the pillows....one of her favorite games.

This week has been lovely, enjoying the last few weeks of summer, working a lot, and having a great deal of gratitude for my life and the support from people in my life. I was so excited to get even more good news in my inbox from Verdigris LLC.  I mentioned awhile back that I'm now involved in a new project called www.eco1start.com, a  website that promotes an Eco-conscious lifestyle. The site is still under construction and set to officially launch in October. The task is huge, because of all of the amazing work that has to be done converting and compiling the hundreds of applications flowing in on a daily basis, from around the world. Each week more artists and information are added.

 I was lucky enough to be one of the first to be contacted, and respond, so my work is now available here, http://eco1start.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=eco&Category_Code=NCK

I'm really honored to be part of such an amazing thing, growing from the ground up, with lots of support and people working together to make change happen quickly!

Here are some highlights from the newsletter, with updates about the site and related projects, I just received, 

                                                                                                          September, 2010

      "All of us at Verdigris LLC would like to offer special thanks for the outstanding responses from our highly talented and innovaive artists, supporters and the Green Community."

"The creations submitted are extraordinary and we work with each individual artist to ensure maximum exposure of only the most sunning ecologically innovative items."

Elephant Marquette by Leo Sewell-found object

Stowaway Choker by Brehan Todd, handmade, vintage/found  materials

newGROWTH Lamp by Christopher Poehlmann-salvaged post-consumer aluminum pipe

Irie Rocker by Jason Lutz, all handmade from sustainable harvested wood

  "Eco1stArt.com is the collaboration and the celebration of the Green Movement enabling us all to make a difference in our world."

Sunset Breeze House
"Last year there was a massive brush fire in Santa Barbara known as The Tea Fire.  Up from the ashes arose the Sunset® Breezehouse™, a unique contemporary home."

"Brian Andreas and Ellen Rockne generously offered their home as a place to inspire and celebrate the first LEED certified home in Santa Barbara. It is set in the foothills with 180‐degree ocean views. The home incorporated all elements of the green building hierarchy ‐it protects and restores the siteʹs natural features, conserves water,is energy efficient, is improving indoor air quality, and uses resources and materials wisely."

"The concrete floors have radiant heating that keep the home comfortable year round. Large, energy efficient windows allow cooling breezes and abundant natural light into the home. The green building nurtures the environment locally and globally today and well into the future using less energy, water, and resources in both the construction and operation of the building. Additionally, it keeps demolition and construction waste out of our landfills."

"San Francisco architect Michelle Kaufmann of MichelleKaufmann.com, designed the steel and wood structure using modular building blocks. Innovative landscaping by Grace Design Associates Inc., GraceDesignAssociates.com, frames the house with an elegant, natural setting.  Not surprisingly, there was no eco‐friendly furniture or lighting because the owner said that he could not find anything." Looks like he needs to go to Eco1st art.com, there are so many amazing options!