These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!

Cash rules everything around me, and when times are tough I rarely get the extra funds to buy something special for myself. But a girl can dream can't she! Today I thought I'd share some of my new favorite things, and also some of my new favorite sounds and renewed humor I currently heart.

~ Handmade Masquerade Mask from Effigy, and magical and mysterious shop filled with imaginative masks for all occasions. I really love this particular mask because of the crackle porcelain finish and the primitive innocence of antique dolls. 

~ Zipper, Development of. Cuff from Fanciful Devices, a steampunk zipper wrist cuff bracelet, that is super cool made with found objects and a perfect blend of warm aged colors from the industrial era.

~ You Were My Ship Scalloped Wall Plaque from Fables and Foxes, I find this illustration on the wood to be so lovely and the chest of the child is truly heartfelt and illustrative. I enjoy the wispy lines perturbing from what looks like the child's chest.

~ The Bear Necessities Earrings from Age Before Beauty, oh my, these truly reflect my childhood matched with vintage elegance. The earrings feature carved bone beads, mother of pearl beads and darling bears walking to their cave perhaps.

~ Depeche Mode: Sounds of the Universe, I am really enjoying their new album especially the song 'Corrupt' from True Blood, be sure to check out the music video, the dark electronic sounds blend well with cruel images of blood and love.

~ Always Sunny In Philadelphia, tune in Thursday nights at 10pm on FX. One of the best shows ever, I'm so glad to see this show and Dexter starting back up, I've been waiting so long; was going through withdraws for a while there. The fifth season is filled with crudeness, controversy and is downright hilarious. Who doesn't love the green man?!!!

Harvest Witch, Sneak Peek

Today I have been very productive, this morning I took a trip up to Kennett Square for a couple of hours while I visited my pop's dear friend Muffy. She rummaged through my jewelry and bought two necklaces and two pairs of earrings as gifts and one for herself. I sat and drank coffee with her and we discussed such topics as the filthy autobiography of Hilary Clinton and the Delaware riots of the 1960s. She also showed me all her wonderful art pieces, including an oil painting of Lake Como, Italy. It was a lovely time, I must say.

After I got home I rested for a while and ever since, I've been painting current and new paintings from my Skeleton Krew Collection. I've finished Master Gorey and Wife Lenor, shall have pictures of the fine couple next week. Featured below, is a 2nd painting I've have started, in which I call Harvest Witch. This lovely portrait along with many other gifts, was given to me by my lovely friend Jess from Bloodmilk. She features big black hair, tree twigs, and feathered eyes. An odd long face, she reminds me of Cruella Deville and her body is currently all jet black, but I am going to give her a little bone cameo right at her collar. I've also started a 3rd painting of a little girl in a plaid dress. She features mourning lace around her hair and tiny black gloves. Below is a quick shot of Harvest Witch taken with my computer, stay tuned for more pictures this week.

J. L. Schnabel: Featured Artist of the Month, Part I

February is a special month for the Red Heart Cult™. Being a time of love and a celebration of Saint Valentine's execution, I am also cherishing one of my new favorite artists J. L. Schnabel; who all happens to be our featured artist of the month.

I met Jess through etsy, one day she wrote me, expressing how she adored my Death of Cleopatra painting ( and I loved her work too), after that I created a banner for her blog and soon for her shop Blood Milk, a place of haunted talismans for supernaturalist darlings. Her jewelry is handmade with love and blood in the haunted city of Philadelphia; that is the truth too. She lives with her husband and roomie, in a creepy brick townhouse that was built in the 1800s. I've been there and there is definitely something paranormal there. Even our collaboration painting Emily, was found on the floor feet away from where it was knocked off a shelf. Unfortunately, Jess and her husband might be moving to New York in the near future; hopefully she will find the history on her own haunted house.

Not only do her talismans speak volumes, so does her painted ladies of magic and doom. Her femme fatales are just to die for, each one madly inspired by mythology, the unknown, tragedy, magic and everlasting romance. Last year she was a success at the Mew gallery, and will be tomorrow night, at Topstitch boutique and gallery in Philadelphia, where she will be revealing her new anxious paintings from her "Hysteria" collection. I can't wait to go tomorrow night, time is going to go by so slow until then. I am looking forward to seeing her eerie yet bright magical paintings, plus can't wait to see Emily all finished and then rock out in Philly the rest of the night for my girl Nicole's b-day. 

Please come out tomorrow night to support Jess and even snatch some up some lovelies from Blood Milk or prints from Baby Fangs.

~ TOPSTITCH ~

is located at 311 Market Street on the 2nd Floor. The show opens February 6th from 6~9pm, and remains opens through February 2009.

Today is RED WEDNESDAY!

Stop on bye Red Heart 13 today, for our weekly discount for Red Wednesday, if you buy 1 piece of jewelry you get the 2nd half off! 

Over the weekend, I finally got to meet a buddy of mine from etsy named Jess L. Schnabel of Blood Milk Jewelry and Baby Fangs. My friend Alison and I drove up to Philly using my new GPS (note to self don't ever use one in the city, took us to the wrong side of town, if you know what I mean). Jess' house was filled with odd things in apothecary jars and mystery pieces that were once her fathers. She had a wonderful little studio room filled with endless inspiration all within her haunted townhouse that was built in the 1800s. As a gift, she gave me a box of her grandmother's old vintage costume jewelry and another box from her aunt, who ventures auctions; beautiful pieces with rhinestones, lovely pendants and even pieces of fabric embellishments with pearls, I believe to be from a wedding dress. I was just astonished, I couldn't wait to get home and start creating from these timeless pieces that were once worn by a loved one. Several pieces below are new creations from the fabulous gifted costume jewelry. Thank you Jess!

N E W  A R R I V A L S   T H I S   W E E K:

 

~ 1) Look pretty tied up in this revamped Cutie Pie Bow necklace, made with vintage cream pearls, a gold bow with rhinestone cluster and a vintage wooden crackled bead.

~ 2) A glorious burning light from heaven to earth; the Second Coming of Christ himself for the final judgement. This necklace is a preview of my new upcoming collection called Black 13™.

 

~ 3) Vintage silver pendants with encrusted rhinestones are pure Frosted Enchantment; beautiful earrings for that special occasion.

~ 4) This Modern Mourning necklace reminds me of the Victorian's way of mourning, yet it is a twist on the newer more modern century; this necklace is can be worn day or even during the months after a loved one has past.

 

~ 5) In the Garden of Eden is a paradise of life to an unbelievable existence, a place of temptation and knowledge of the good. This vintage pendant reminds me of the the tree of life and the Forbidden Fruit of red seduction.

~ 6) Busy bee dance around this Pale Honeycomb necklace; made from a vintage pendant on two strands of gun metal chain.

F O U R   N E W   A R R I V A L S   L A T E R   T O D A Y:

~ Marie Antoinette's Crown necklace

~ Daggers Unite necklace

~ Lonely Swallow necklace

~ Trilogy Rhinestone Talisman bracelet

A Haunting Collaboration

I have met some lovely friends through etsy, alot of them through creating custom banners for their shops, it is always surprising how work turns into friendship even though it is only through internet communication. One darling doll is Jess L. Schnabel, an illustrator and jewelry revampress from Blood Milk Jewelry. 

Over the past few months, I have gotten to know her through etsy convos. She recently asked me to do a collaboration painting with her based on my Skeleton Krew™ Collection. Finally searching around I found this lovely portrait for the base of the painting, I shall call her Emily for now, until she get a formal name. She is quite impressive, this antique portrait is from the early 1900s; as is the oval wooden plaster frame with antique glass. There are lovely clouds in the background with her stringy hair floating in the air. 

Nevertheless, she has turned into a creepy little lady with a skeleton face and and buldging blue eyes, she is soon to be met with the lovely Jess. I will be traveling up to Philly this weekend, with my side kick Alison from Spool Design. I am going to hand off the painting to Jess, who will then finish the painting for her art show at the topsitch gallery/boutique on the Feb 6th, the first friday of the month.

I am in awe of Jess' unique style and look forward to seeing what brilliance she adds to the painting. In celebration of her art show, she will be our featured artist for RHC Findings for the whole month of February.