ARTISANS -THE BEADED PILLOW

I celebrated my 50th birthday in July and received a very special gift from a very special friend.

"The Beaded Pillow" My friend Susie worked on this pillow for two years before presenting it to me. She lives in Europe and called me while she was on a layover to Amsterdam. "Where did you put the pillow?" First I put it on the little French chair that once belonged another good friend, Stephanie.Then I tried it on the white linen sofa. (Please ignore the unfinished walls, floors and the stack of windows and doors behind the sofa - story of my life) It really brightened up the room. Susie spent a few hundred hours working on this pillow, it is very intricate with hundreds and hundreds of beads. (Click on the photo below for detail) When she gave it to me - she said "Every time I worked on this pillow, I thought of you." She has a heart of gold - always giving - I feel blessed to have her as a friend.
Next - I tried it in the library. Certainly added life to my vintage leather club chairs. One of which used to reside in Susie's house. We were antiquing one day about 15 years ago and spotted these chairs. I dearly wanted them both - but it just wasn't in my budget. Susie said "You buy one and I'll buy the other." She didn't need the chair and it didn't really work with her decor - but she knew that they should not be split up. She held on to the chair for a few months and then said "This chair doesn't work at my house - you should have it." That had been her intention all along.
Even the back of the pillow is beautiful with a silk stripe and confetti trim.
Back on the sofa.................................
But the pillow really belongs on the little French chair. Susie is a world traveler, last week she was in Tunisia next week Thailand, this pillow has been more places than I have. She would take it with her and work on it during long flights and layovers. This delicate chair used to belong to Stephanie's Mother who lived in France. I treasure this petite chair. Jim is a tall drink of water at 6'3" and I can almost look him in the eye when I have heels on - so this pint sized chair doesn't get much use from the two of us. It is however, a perfect spot for the pillow. I wouldn't want to place the pillow where it would receive wear and tear. It is a true work of art and I will always cherish it - the pillow makes me smile every time I see it - and every time I look at that pillow - I think of Susie.
Photography By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

Sotto Il Monte Vineyards

TERRA COTTA WARRIORS - GUARDIANS OF CHINA'S FIRST EMPEROR

I've been waiting for this exhibit to come to Houston for months! I was finally was able to go last week and loved it. This tour is the first time that the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit, which includes one hundred artifacts and fourteen life-size figures, has been exhibited in the United States...........................Houston is the third stop on the tour...........................................
These figures and artifacts are so beautiful and have been painstakingly pieced back together.
The patina of a clay object dating back to the Qin dynasty (221-206 B.C.) is just incredible.

Limestone tile armor - too heavy to wear - used only to ward off evil spirits in the underground world................................
There have been about a thousand warriors excavated to date. It is estimated that another six thousand are still buried...............................
Quite a few bronze pieces are included in the collection.......................................
The exhibit has been at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California and The High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia. It is currently at the Houston Museum of Natural Science from May 18, 2009 until October 16, 2009. The last stop will be the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C.

November 19, 2009 - March 31, 2010

Photo Credit: O. Louis Mazzetenta and Wang Da-Gang

The Daniel Pearl Music Foundation

I've been gone for a month - feels like six! No Internet, television or cell phone service. So much catching up to do.

I've been attending a month long music festival in the Texas Hill Country. Lots of great music and late nights! The highlight of the music festival for me was a surprise group called The Fire Ants out of Austin, Texas. A group of teenagers that came on for a 20 minute set. I was standing up on the hillside talking with a friend - when this group started playing my ears perked up - I had to get closer!

Ian Stewart, far left, a 17 year old senior at West Lake High School in Austin, heads up this band.

Stewart is the 2008 recipient of the Daniel Pearl Music Foundation Violin. Most of us know Daniel Pearl as the Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan. He was also a gifted musician. Jonathan Cooper, a well respected violin maker from Maine wanted to honor Pearl's memory by starting a foundation in his name. Jon crafted a fine violin, the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin, and presented it to Mark O'Connor at a Boston concert in honor of Daniel. Each summer at the Mark O'Connor Strings Conference, an exceptional violinist is presented with the violin to play for one year.

Ian Stewart - "I am so honored and humbled by being this year's recipient of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin. This symbol of unity and peace has so much meaning and power behind it and what better way to keep Daniel's message alive than through this mission of connecting people through music. The Daniel Pearl Violin is simple and profound and I hope to transmit that idea whenever and wherever I play this beautiful instrument."

He did that and more - these kids rocked the house! Everyone was dancing!


Including me!

Sotto Il Monte Vineyards

Photos By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

ARTIST PROFILE.....STEPHANIE MARAZ GRAY

Thank you for all the the warm thoughts and comments. Spending time with a good friend has been good for the soul. I have a core group of girlfriends that I've known for over 20 years. We have seen each other through many different phases in our lives. Susie makes me laugh like no one else can. I recently spent time with another dear friend of mine in Arizona. Stephanie Maraz Gray is an exceptional textile artist. From her I've learned about passion for life. She collects antique and vintage textiles from around the globe and turns them into wearable works of art under her label "Love Apples". Stephanie is a beautiful and vivacious woman, and brings passion to everything she does. My camera was in meltdown mode when I was there so I was only able to take a few images of her. I've photographed her work many times in the last 20 years and will share some of those images in another entry.
The images below (except for the last one) were taken by her husband and fellow photographer, Gator. More images of their work can be viewed on their website: Any Where Imports







I loved the shoes she had on that day - orange pumps!
Sotto Il Monte Vinyards

Artist Profile ....... Carin Gerard

When I'm feeling uninspired and as if creativity has flown the coop ..... I go hang out at the art museum or cruise galleries.

Montecito artist Carin Gerard is a source for inspiration. Her still life paintings are sensual and classic.

These images are from Carin's website: caringerard.com

You can see the paintings in a much larger size on her website (New to the blog world - I haven't figured out how to make the images the size I would like)

Photography By: Heidi Bassett Blair