Thursday, February 17, 2011

Featured Zambian Artist: Chalyapa Lwandu


Dom and I made our final Zambian art purchase, a lovely piece by Chalyapa Lwandu. Chalyapa focuses on more traditional content with a-typical techniques. He works fibers into his paintings which give them a lovely texture. I love the rural, ceremonial feel to his work. What I like the most about his pieces are the multi-dimensional texture, print, on top of the content. You can look at his piece for some time and see different things. I am so please with this painting! I can't wait to have it on top of our mantel somewhere!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Zambia Art: Stary Mwaba


I was first introduced to Stary Mwaba's work on my first weekend in Zambia. He showed at a Christmas fair, at the time I wasn't aware what a phenomenal body of work he had. But even then his pieces really grabbed my attention. Since then Stary has been to the New York, and had exhibitions several other places. His work is becoming international, so I knew we needed to add a piece to our collection prior to our departure.

Much of Stary's work depicts transition from rural life to city life. Transformation is a reoccurring theme. This is from Stary's newest series, where he creates pieces that incorporate chitenge material, a traditional African cloth. The material is used mainly by women as clothing and is patterned with a number of different designs both traditional and political. They represent to Mwaba a key part of the African culture, which have been manipulated by businesses and politics. Read more about Stary and his work here.

Stary is such an amazing artist, his story is inspirational. And his pieces allow the viewer to consider the many transitions that individuals go through, and the changing world that we are all a part of. I look forward to seeing where he goes in the future.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

D.C. Bound

Well friends, Dom and I are off on yet another adventure. Due to an unforeseen medical issue it looks like we will be returning to D.C. a bit earlier than we had planned. Dom was diagnosed with a chronic condition right after his arrival to post. Unfortunately for us, there is no doctor here who specializes in the type of treatment that Dominic needs. So Med has changed our clearance and we are being sent back to D.C. for awhile. Possibly a year or two.

Things are still a little up in the air, we know that we will be leaving in the next two weeks, but don't have the exact date yet. As of Monday, we will be packing up. Didn't I just unpack? Oh well, there is nothing to do but move forward. I am going to a be an old pro at this before it's all said and done.

Anyhow, we look forward to seeing you all stateside. If you know of any apartment openings, please let me know as we are on the hunt. See you soon!!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Crystal's Crafty Creations: Paper Globe & Our Winner

I have a bookmark folder full of crafts ideas that I am hoping to do at some point in time. The truth is I almost never get to them. But I think about them pretty frequently. I had a bad week, I am feeling defeated by all the waiting on work permits, stupid logistics, and well lets face it I hate sitting around. So today I decided that I would do something for myself.

I visited my Aunt in Venice when I was in grad school and purchased some lovely marbled paper there. I have a paper obsession. I've been dreaming about what to do with this glorious stuff since the day I bought it, but nothing seemed right. Then I stumbled upon the perfect craft tutorial on Photojojo (love them!) I saved it in my bookmarks after Christmas but today was the day it became a reality!

I'd like to say that I know that some people have a few pre-conceived notions about crafting. They attribute it to grandmas and cat ladies. I do to, sorta (as my Granny was a serious crafter...her quilts, crochet, embroidery is to DIE for.) I totally fly the crafty flag! In fact, I always say that my idea of perfection would be me sitting at home making things for my etsy shop (this may be my time friends).

Anyhoo....here are some photos from the sphere I made from my luxurious venetian paper, I can't wait to locate some fishing wire and hang it up. Did I mention it's gorgeous from every angle? I need to do more crafts they make me happy!










Now drum roll please! Time to announce the winner for the CSN drawing. I had Dom do the honors of drawing from the names of everyone who entered! Congrats to Dee, you will be receiving an email regarding the gift card at the email address you gave me!  I loved seeing your glorious picks, my readers have rocking, good taste!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

A Giveaway!

Hello friends,

I was going to skip out on the blog today as I've already posted two blogs this week! However, I'm super excited because CSN stores contacted me about hosting this fabulous giveaway today and I had to do it.What's good for my readers is good for me right? Getting their email made me feel like I'm really operating in the blogosphere, and I thought only my mom read my blog. Heehee!

Do you guys know CSN? Love them!  CSN sells everything from swing sets, to shoes (don't ask me how I know), to cookware! We recently purchased this fabulous looking t.v. console from them (we haven't put it together yet as we need to have some furniture removed from our house prior to fitting it in the living room).  And that was pre-giveaway therefore I have no bias! CSN has over 200 stores and I'm betting you can find pretty much anything you want, if not hire me as your personal shopper and I promise to deliver!

Are you having the post holiday, "I really shouldn't blues?" Well refrain no longer because for one lucky commenter on this post I will send you a $25 gift certificate (emailed) to use at any of CSN's 200 online stores, on anything your little heart desires! This covers everything but shipping.

Leave me a comment about what fabulous CSN jewel you have your heart set on and why! 






The FINE PRINT:

1) Only open to US and Canadian peeps. (Sorry! I don't make the rules, I only enforce them.)
2) Leave your comment by Tuesday, January 25th by 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

That's it! Easy peasy, right? Good luck!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Making Zambia Home: Part 2

Well today I took some more photos of our work in progress! I decided I should wait until the house keeper came to take photos since the kitchen was a wreck! Once Patricia worked her magic, I busted out the tripod and took some more photos. I still did not get to the whole house, but here's part two of the Zambian digs.

I love the green we chose for the living room! I knew exactly what color family I wanted prior to heading to the paint store. I learned a vital lesson in paint choosing while I was there. Right before they were about to mix up the green paint, the painter told me that he had calculated the cost wrong. He told me that the shade of green I had chosen was going to be over a hundred dollars just for the green pigment alone. What the heck? Apparently some greens are greener than others. I opted out of the pricey paint for literally the shade right next to it which was normal price. I'd like to think I have a special talent for always finding the most expensive item in the store, case in point. That my friends is champagne taste on a beer budget!




So some of my favorite items in this room are below...I always say it's the little details that count. I'm on the hunt for a gorgeous, colorful, Zambia piece for the mantel piece. Meanwhile, you guys can dream with me!




These two lovely pieces were done by the oh so talented, Stephanie Thorton of Abracadabra Glass in Abilene, TX. Stephanie did several shows at the gallery I worked at in college, and whenever I'm in Abilene, I always stop by her shop. We purchased both of these pieces this summer, and I was lucky Dom didn't fill up the entire car. The disc is his favorite! 


Speaking of glass, I've long been a fan of this fantastic medium! There is a little glass blowing shop in the glass museum at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV. The top piece came from that shop, and we got to watch the glass blower make it. It is a frequent stop on my visits to my grandfather. The piece below came from the glass gift shop which is located above the museum, it is filled with treasures from the beaches of Haiti.

I have a new obsession with throw pillows, specifically throw pillows from Etsy. How fantastically, amazing are these guys? The two jungle themed pillows came from Carlos Santiago's spectacular shop, this man knows his pillows!  The darling, little snoozing dog came from RobinandMould in the UK. 

Moving on, one of the best functional spaces in our house is the kitchen. It is by far the largest kitchen I've ever had, and quite a change from Dom and I bumping into each other ever two seconds. It had so many lovely, existing neutrals so I thought it could handle a bold pop of color. Boy did it ever!



I get so much pleasure from all the little details! Dominic purchased this key rack for me this christmas (from Etsy...where else?). And I love these vintage-esque flour and sugar holders. They have been living in my storage unit virtually since I bought them. It makes me happy to see them out in all their glory.




Did I mention that we might of splurged on a couple of high end appliances prior to our arrival? Oh be still my heart...never mind that's just all the pastries and caffeine!



Just for fun, I thought you might want to see how the other half lives. You remember the pre-apocalyptic shopping excursion I did prior to my departure from the states, where it looked like I was outfitting a bomb shelter? All those goodies have to fit in this house too. Luckily, I have a pretty big pantry, and a guest closet. 






Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Making Zambia Home: Part 1

As promised, I am posting photos of our new home in Zambia. It will probably be a two part post. We had an incredibly productive weekend, we got the house painted, and started putting the final touches around our house. This is the first time in years that I have had all of my art work in one place and it makes my heart happy to begin crafting a home so to speak!

My favorite room so far, just might be my office. This is probably because I have never really had a real office in my home before. Besides the fact that I bought a whole load of new toys that I am just beginning to utilize to their fullest! Usually I stick a desk in a bedroom and call it good. But this is truly a creative space and it feels very put together, and I LOVE the art in here. Kudos to my talented friend Jonathon Kimbrell for the lovely Marilyns, and my mentor Timothy O. Sutherland for the lovely photo. You guys make my space!




Here is our dining room, which is just gorgeous! I love the combination of grey/tan wall (Soap Bubble according to the paint store) with the rich furniture. It feels modern, but young to me. Once again the art in this space makes me so happy! The large painting of wings was done by my friend Leighanne Meador, post Hurricane Katrina. I don't think it's ever had such a wonderful show case spot! The far wall is my Haiti wall, there is a  mirror was crafted by Haitians from oil drums (which isn't pictured) and two small paintings were done by Leroy Exil who Dom and I had the pleasure of meeting in person while living in Haiti.





Dom and I have slowly been working on the outside of our house as well, and our biggest accomplishment so far is the gorgeous rose/herb garden we look out onto from our patio. It is a little slice of heaven to have your morning cup of coffee and feast your eyes!






Here's a little shout out for the ladies of T.I.P., check out the glass on my patio door.Yes those are teeny, tiny sailboats.


More from the home base soon!