romantic labels from near and far!

I have been "shopping for inspiration" at a mexican tienda, an asian market and a mediterranean deli..so many pretty ladies, birds, quaint scenes and mythical creatures representing different food products.  I like the pre-digital graphics that are still in use.  A pretty package, book cover, album cover is an important link to the allure of what's inside:)   

Orange Series

the color of canteloupe, 50/50, creamsicle or sherbert, and painted with wildflowers, chaparral or banksia. 

Seed Savers Exchange

Top, tumblers inspired by the Seed Savers Exchange (kabocha squash, turnips and radishes).  Bottom, candle holders for long tapers (sensitive plant and cardinal climber).

Tumblers inspired by the 2012 Seed Savers catalogue.

Pedestal bowl inspired by dragon fruit from my uncle Peter, moon cycles, watermelon, bottle brush flowers, pansies, and lace texture.  Dragon fruit was pink before firing, purple after.

Book III, secret project, Santa Barbara Central Library. Shelf no. 759.4 M433

James Ensor was born in Ostend, a small seaside town in Belgium, popular during the tourist seasons in the summer and the month preceding Lent.  His grandparents had a shop selling sea shells, lace, rare stuffed fish, old books, jams and an assortment of things that were constantly being knocked over by cats, deafening parrots, and a monkey..The subjects that populate Ensor's paintings- portraits, skulls, sea life and masked "figures", often a broomstick wrapped in fabric, create the illusion for telling the tale, such as here in The Despair of Pierrot,1892. 

Henri Matisse and J.D. Salinger

Matisse expressed a "joi de vivre" quality in all aspects of his artwrork and life style.  Above is the second installment of my secret donation to the Santa Barbara Central Library.   Under the Matisse book is the cover of the J.D. Salinger box set which I made for Kate and Laura of Rodarte (2008).  It was a commission, however I chose a collage by Matisse for the cover.  An intuitive choice, maybe if you have read J.D. Salinger you can feel it;)