(This is the studio after the carpet had been ripped out and the wallpaper removed.)Sorry I have been bad about posting to my blog the last couple of weeks, but there are some good reasons why and one of them is because I've been busy working on getting my design studio fully functional. There are still a few things that need to be worked on, but for the most part the studio is complete!
(Walls had been painted and tables moved back in.) I always said I wanted to have my own studio one day and I'm so happy that I have one and it's beautiful! Now my students and my clients walk into a bright and spacious design studio to take class or do consultations. I have tons of room to work and I love the decor.
(The main studio wall with my 18x24 prints, photography by Debbie Friedrich, custom wall logo by Single Stone Studios.)I'm so very fortunate to have zenatona prints and canvas art throughout my studio as it really compliments my clay flowers. I am also very fortunate that my friend was able to print me poster prints of my work (photography courtesy of Debbie Friedrich Photography). I had envisioned for my main studio wall initially shelves with my arrangements on them, but since it's an area where my students walk to get to their work tables, I decided that it should be filled with pictures and my own logo! I couldn't be happier with the logo. I amazed myself and actually created a working vector file for Single Stone Studios who I found through Etsy (thanks to Debbie). OMG, Billy at Single Stone Studios answered my emails in the middle of the night his time and got the listing and the design done for me. Literally I ordered it last Wednesday and got it today! I highly recommend their company if you're looking for custom logo vinyl decals! They have some really great designs already, but if you want to brand your company, they do awesome work and their customer service is fabulous! 
(Canvas art by zenatona and a shelf with my clay flowers to match the pieces above.)
(My storage cabinets with my clay flowers on top and another large print of my flowers courtesy of Debbie Friedrich.)Gone are the days of teaching on my kitchen table, gone are the days of not being able to color match my clay because the room is so dark and the lighting is affected by the nasty green carpets. Now it's a beautiful studio that I absolutely love.
(The right side of the window with more zenatona prints and my clay flowers on the shelf below.)I'm very excited because the studio is complete before Yukiko and Miyai-sensei come to teach classes here next month. I'm excited for them to see it since this will be the first time they have seen the place since I moved back to California and to meet many of my students who have become part of the DECO family in the last 2 years!
(Perfection - my company logo with 18x24 posters of my work!)
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I hardly have time to take out my Lensbaby these days, but I decided to use it today since I got the fresh gardenias from the floral supply place. I still have yet to really understand how to use my Lensbaby correctly, but I love how these photos came out today.
Flowers are so beautiful and I'm so happy that I got to have fresh gardenias because I never have them. What a treat!
I recently got an email from a bride in Australia asking me if I could ship there and if I could accommodate her New Year's Eve wedding. We conversed back and forth and she told me what she wanted, gardenias with the vintage silver, velvet millinery leaves and ivory velvet ribbon. She wanted a bridal bouquet and 10 corsages. She added one more for the flower girl because she wants to be like everyone else.... Too cute. :) So the flower girl I suggested we do a ribbon tie corsage because most likely the pearl wristlet would be too big.
I mentioned to my bride that I would complete this order ASAP because with the holidays fast approaching and with customs and international shipping, I wanted to give this order ample time to get to Australia. It's interesting today because I got some gardenias from the floral supply place I often get my supply needs from. The manager there is such a nice person and I guess they had extra today. I rarely get to see gardenias up close and personal so it was a real treat and the fragrance is so wonderful! 
Although now that I see a real gardenia, I want to try and rework my gardenias. Granted there are various types of gardenias and various looks to them as well. I love this photograph that I took earlier today, so breathtaking. :)
My son has his Halloween parade at Pre-K tomorrow. It's the first big function at his school since the year started. He' has decided to be a T-REX. He's pretty darn cute. Most of the moms either send their kids with goodie bags for the other classmates and/or bring food for the party after the parade. Last year I didn't do anything because I didn't know we were supposed to, plus with my busy schedule I can't find the time to be a good mommy and make things for my son to bring to school.
I contemplated making something and then decided not to. Make goodie bags and then again, decided not to. Then last minute, literally this morning I decided I would make cute little clay jack o'lanterns with little tags on them so he could give them to his teachers and classmates. Hopefully they will be dry enough by tomorrow because I just finished them 10 minutes ago.
All made out of clay with a styrofoam ball cut flat on top and bottom. Used glitter glue to do the face. I wish I had planned sooner because I would have liked to paint them, but would his classmates really appreciate the painting? Probably not. LOL.
I am so excited to share this latest update from Nesting Newbies! An online magazine dedicated to cooking, decorating and entertaining for the newly married or anyone for that matter. Lea McIntosh and Jodi Murphy of McIntosh & Murphy have done it again. You have to see this online magazine! It's simply gorgeous. You would think it was produced by a professional publication house, but Lea herself learned all the software herself and designed this beautiful masterpiece that I'm sure will impress anyone who reads it. The copy is beautifully written, the pictures and the content is just FABULOUS. I kid you not, you will wish you could get this magazine in print it's so good. I personally got to have dinner at Lea's the other night and the food was so delicious.
The magazine has the likes of Barclay Butera, local interior designers, helpful kitchen gadgets Lea "raves are her faves", and so much more. Even interactive video in the magazine!
(This is the studio after the carpet had been ripped out and the wallpaper removed.)
(Walls had been painted and tables moved back in.)
(The main studio wall with my 18x24 prints, photography by Debbie Friedrich, custom wall logo by Single Stone Studios.)
(Canvas art by zenatona and a shelf with my clay flowers to match the pieces above.)
(My storage cabinets with my clay flowers on top and another large print of my flowers courtesy of Debbie Friedrich.)
(The right side of the window with more zenatona prints and my clay flowers on the shelf below.)
I'm so very excited to share these photos with you. My dear clients, Sharon & Ryan got their photos back from Hawaii photographer extraordinaire, Toby Hoogs. I've had the pleasure of working with Toby (meaning he's photographed many weddings I've worked on in the past) and he never ceases to amaze me with his talents.
Sharon and Ryan asked me to create their wedding invitations, place cards, favors, favor tags, table cards, cake flowers & bamboo, and program fans. These are the images that Sharon sent to me last night. Thank you Sharon and Ryan for sharing these with me and my readers! Sharon and Ryan got married at the beautiful Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Big Island of Hawai'i. A beautiful resort and the wedding staff is top notch.
Above is the head table setting! Simply gorgeous! Sharon had table names of places they have been or want to travel instead of doing traditional numbers.
These are Sharon and Ryan's place cards.
The last two photos are of the cake! OMG, can I just say this cake is picture perfect! I can't believe how well the Mauna Lani's pastry chefs recreated the image that Sharon wanted them to replicate and how well my flowers and bamboo look. Absolutely STUNNING!
Well, I hope to have a new website look by November, but in the meantime I wanted to share some new photos with you. Debbie Friedrich of Debbie Friedrich Photography and zenatona, redid my head shots when I went down to San Diego last weekend. I really hate being in front of the camera. Hard to believe but it's true. It's the most awkward thing for me. Debbie however makes you feel at ease and just captures your natural beauty. She really makes you feel comfortable and feel like a million dollars.
I often wonder when she throws out a comment, "that's gorgeous" if she's just saying it or if what she sees through the lens is really that gorgeous. Well, I have to say these latest head shots are TRULY gorgeous (I'm not being conceited in the least bit, but Debbie captured me as I am). Having my clay flowers in the shots added an extra special touch. Here are the two that are my favorite although it was so hard to choose.
I'm so honored to have a talented photographer, friend and fellow artisan to capture me on camera. Thank you Debbie for always being there for me when I need you! :) Your talent never ceases to amaze me.
