State Fair

David and I escaped to North Carolina this weekend to visit my sister and her new beau. We went to the state fair - something we haven't done in way too long.

There was oodles of junk food....

Icecream churned by John Deere motors of course!

 

We tried the cheeseburger between a Krispy Kreme. Gross? Yep.

 It's always so fun to see the blue ribbon winners. Best hay below - who knew?

 The animals are wonderful. We drank fresh milk from the NC State Dairy.

Seeing all the kids dressed out western and pulling (or being pulled by) their prize-winners was so fun!

 My camera weaknesses were apparent. I have wayyyyyyyy too many photos of animal rumps.

 I can watch craftspeople create all day.

We were surprised to find no authentic Carolina BBQ (vinegar based, not ketchup-like). Overall though, a perfect day! xo

Annie Scheumbauer: : Drawing + Illustration

I'm so excited to welcome you to the studio of Annie Scheumbauer! 

This garage-turned-studio is such an inspiration to everyone who comes here.

Annie works in oil pastels, watercolors, oils, acrylics, pencil, pen and ink, scratchboard, silk, fiber....

There is light everywhere!

Annie can sit here and talk with clients, work on her computer or wheel over her sewing machine so she can look out onto her beautiful garden while she works. 

Annie is also a wife and mother, a champion for autism, a talented musician, and the art department chair at Ursuline Academy.

Nature is infused in her work. However, she's not just inspired by Nature in her most perfect state.

Annie collects elaborate branches, driftwood, roots, seedpods, weeds...she notices things that many people might walk right past.

Annie started painting silk a few years ago and this medium complements her style so beautifully. Her silk scarves have been a featured item in the St. Louis Art Museum's gift shop.

Her larger pieces hang in people's homes, in schools, in theatres.

Illinois Iris

Her mixed media work is gorgeous - sometimes planned and sometimes a surprise after layering one of her art pieces with another, and then another. In this piece, she knitted her "canvas," attached a silk painting and then hand-embroidered the minute details. (See the knitting needle holding it at the top?)

Annie's art supplies are (obviously) as diverse as her work. But she especially loves her Prismacolor pencils, Sennelier oil pastels and using Canson's colored drawing papers.

Annie hosts an open studio show every December. 

Annie's website

Craft Alliance 

(a local favorite for artsy gifts, carries Annie's silk scarves)

Thanks Annie!

Cbabi Bayoc : : Paint

Today we are visiting the studio of Cbabi Bayoc, husband, father, painter (in that order, he will tell you).

Cbabi's studio is more public than many, as it is located in the bakery and vegetarian cafe he owns with his wife Reine.

One of my favorite things about Cbabi's studio (and life) is that his artistic life completely intertwines with his personal life. On any given day, you may see his three children doing their homework in this space,

there may be 200 cupcake boxes assembled for a custom order right next to one of Cbabi's works in progress,

employees may leave their bikes in this space, or take a break back here,

but amidst all the comings and goings, it is a sanctuary and a place for inspiration. You feel it the minute you walk in.

Cbabi's work is shown and collected nationwide, he is commissioned by celebrities, he has illustrated children's books, he has painted buses...

He's a St. Louis favorite at art fairs, where artists are selected to paint all day so people can observe and learn about the painting process firsthand.

Below is a 9-foot by 12-foot mural he just finished for Verizon wireless. Just this week it was installed in midtown across from the Fox Theatre and Jazz at the Bistro (you can see the installation here).

About sixty percent of Cbabi's work is commissioned.

A project very dear to his heart is his "Dads Don't Babysit" series, a collection of paintings celebrating black fathers and fatherhood.

He hopes to have this show on the road sometime in 2012.

I can't wait to see what he does next!

Cbabi's website

Sweet Art 

bakery and vegetarian cafe

Thank you Cbabi!

the photographer gets photographed

If you read Time magazine this week...that's my brother up there free diving while he photographs the Sargasso Sea. The story celebrates the life work of Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and conservation super hero. What you can see here is called sargassum, free-floating golden-brown seaweed that moves throughout the Atlantic and acts as a nursery to countless sea creatures.

In the end, we conserve only what we love...

Baba Dioum, poet

If you have young children and want to start teaching them about the ocean, I highly recommend this video. Full disclosure: my brother did all the underwater videography. But that's not why I recommend it - all of my kids love it and it is interesting, educational and beautifully done. If you're local, yes, I have a copy you can borrow! Here is the story about Sylvia Earle.

Happy Wednesday! xo

Opening Day!

It's here! If you're just visiting for the first time, welcome! I hope that if you live in the St. Louis region, you will take a minute or two to look at my website. And please do tell your friends about me, if you know of someone who might be interested in my services.

Goodness Recycled is open for business! Finally! I can hardly wait. xo

Butterflies!

My business opens tomorrow! So excited!

These are just some Sunday pictures of our butterfly bush. To midwestern gardeners, do you know about butterfly weed? It is so beautiful and begins to flower mid-summer. It's vibrant and almost glowing right now, when other things in the garden are wilted and gone. I'll have some to show you in my garden next year for sure. Enjoy the day. xo