Brushes Rocks

Continuing on with my love affair with my iPhone, a friend recently introduced me to the Brushes app - and I am totally addicted. It's a wonderfully inspiring app for any artist - I recommend it highly. Here's a few of my doodlings, including one by my son, Ziggy:

 

  

  

 

Visiting Peru

I always look forward to my trips each year to Peru. It gives me a chance to visit a country that I love, see the community of artisans and their families that I have been so fortunate to work with for over 7 years, and also to oversee the production on my products created there. Since I started working with Peruvian alpaca fibers, I've noticed a growing awareness on the part of other designers on the incredible softness, durability and sustainability of the fleece of these wonderful animals.

I recently returned from a visit to Peru. As always I'm filled with pride for the wonderful work being done there, and inspiration to continue to create product that celebrates the wonders of alpaca. Following are some photos of the process of creating the alpaca fibers that go into my products.

 

 

 

Switching Partners

Like many people I am an email junkie.  I have also been a devoted blackberry slave for years.  I had the old Pearl and loved how easily it fit in my black fringe clutch.  I  loved the blinking light to tell me that someone wanted my attention, and loved how easy it was to type and was always one step ahead of me in choosing the words I wanted.  My husband bought me an iphone for my birthday two years ago, because I had mentioned I wanted one, but as soon as the prospect of making the switch became a reality, I couldn't do it. I never fully committed to my new friend, going out with him, yes,  telling him how much I wanted him, yes, but all the while cheating with my old familiar blackberry.  I made myself feel better by telling myself, like my fellow blackberry snobs, that the iphone was nothing more than a plaything, the blackberry was for serious business.   

Finally, well, I could take the dual life no longer and left the iphone at the bottom of the  drawer, to be brought out months later as a phone  for my 10 year old son's birthday.  Time went by, and the nagging feeling that I was missing out on the world grew....It didn't feel cool anymore to have nothing on my technological blankie but phone and email.  I wanted music, I wanted movies and most of all I wanted all those sexy apps.  I have been making a general effort to actually act on desired change rather than just imagine and ignore it.  So, the first step was to get a certificate towards the 3G using Amex miles.  For a week, the shiny black gift card sat in my wallet, taunting the blackberry resting right next to it.  Then finally, I went into Manhattan for a couple of meetings and carved out a good hour to devote to my planned purchase. The downtown store was nearly empty and I walked defiantly in and confessed that I was a reluctant and nervous potential convert. I was kindly shown how easy and painless the transfer would be. At the first opportunity I said thank you and fled, blackberry in hand. It wasn't until the following week that I mustered the courage to walk into the store again and take the leap.

And? I do miss the flashing red light and don't like that I have to be proactive and seek out email. I liked it chasing me better.  BUT I have downloaded my music, starting collecting my apps and am just enjoying the change. For someone for whom the visual is so important, how could I not fall in love?