NEW CANVAS PRINTS!



After a short work week here in the States, I am wrapping it up for the weekend. 
I hope your week has been a good one!  
I've got a couple of new 16x20 giclee prints available on stretched canvas in my shop now. They are ready to go with finished edges and don't require framing. Both are great for bringing some bold color to your space.
Have a great September weekend!! 
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STATELY SOUTHERN HOME


I love interiors and they were some of my very first subjects when I started painting years back. This is a recent commissioned piece on canvas that I painted for a client in Georgia. It's of her mother's elegant living room and a very special chair that her father always sits in while they open their gifts on Christmas morning. 
What a thoughtful gift and a great way to visually document a well-loved home and such special memories. If you're interested in something similar why not contact me here for more information?
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SOUTHERN ARTISTS SERIES ON THE ENGLISH ROOM


I'd like to thank Designer and blogger Holly Phillips for including me in her recent series on Southern Artists.
You can check it out here if you're interested. Thanks so much for your gracious invitation for an interview, Holly! I feel honored to be in the company of the great artists you have chosen.

Have a wonderful weekend and a safe, relaxing  Labor Day to my U.S. friends.

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DOG DAYS OF SUMMER


I've been so busy painting and working on fulfilling orders and trying to "batten down the hatches" for Hurricane Isaac that I am slacking off on any heavy-duty posting today.  If I haven't blown away and still have power, I will be back Wednesday. This time of year in Florida, when everyone else is in the Country is buying Fall clothes and heading back to life as usual, we still have several months of a prolonged Summer-ish season. We experience the hottest part of the year and Hurricane season. We stock up on batteries, bottled water, candles and non-perishables just in case we happen to get hit. 
Thankfully, it's been a long time since my area has been seriously hit, but we are bound to have some heavy rains for a few days while the system goes through.
I hope this anonymous photo I found brings a smile to your face and that your week is staring out well! 
I can't believe August just has JUST a few more days left in it, can you?
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STUDY ABROAD


Now, this is my idea of a fun "study abroad" program


Flower School New York is offering its annual Holland and France trip April 24 - May 2, 2013


This is not just some typical touristy trip. This is for the floral aficionado who dreams of visiting the most famous flower auctions in Europe and whose eyes light up at the thought of seeing acres of tulips in bloom at Keukenhof tulip fields. This tour offers some unparalleled opportunities. Not only do you get to see some of the best spots in both France and Holland, but you get once-in-a-lifetime experiences - like a private tour of Monet's home in Giverny, France by floral design superstar Christian Tortu. Also included are design workshops with some of the top names in floral design internationally.


You stay in the very chic College Hotel in Amsterdam


and go to market with Christian Tortu as well.
You also get the chance to dine at some exclusive gourmet eateries that only the locals know about!
Sound like fun to you?  It does to me! Check out all the details here
Have a wonderful weekend!
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PROJECT POSITIVITY


I am trying to put this into practice.  In this world of constant negativity and so many trying to put someone or something down to lift themselves to a higher position, it's hard sometimes not to become angst-ridden and join the hordes of whiners and haters. There's nothing wrong with having strong opinions and beliefs, but I'd so much rather spend my time focusing on and promoting what's right and positive than becoming a bitter, whining sourpuss.  Nobody needs that, including me. So, I am learning to just "zip it". As my mom used to say - "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything".  I am tired of thinking about the evil, the jerks, the users, the selfish and what's wrong with the world.  That exhausts me and just gives them play time and wastes my thoughts and energy on regurgitating negativity.  I'm definitely not there yet, but here's what I am shooting for:

"whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Phillipians 4:8

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NEON CHINOISERIE PAINTING


This is a hand-painted neon pink chair on an aqua print mounted on canvas (20x30 in) with finished edges - no frame is necessary! This original by me features a neon pink antique Chinoiserie style chair in delicate detail on a deep aqua/greenish background with neon pink border. Finished gallery edges painted in neon pink as well. This will bring a literal POP of color to your space and banish any visual grogginess! Find it here
Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
I want to wish my wonderful parents a very Happy 45th Wedding Anniversary!

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THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXHIBIT


to support my case FOR LEAVING WELL ENOUGH ALONE!!
Why are they messing with orchids and giving them these garish and unnatural colors??
Has anyone else seen these around? Thoughts?
I am serving on jury duty today, but I will be back (hopefully) with a post by Friday.
Enjoy your Wednesday!

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BRIGHT SPOTS


Trader Joe's dark chocolate toffee


some potted campanula at my desk


fish tacos on the bay 

Sometimes it's the little things in life that perk up your day. Do you agree? 
What "little" things have been brightening your everyday life lately?
I am toiling here in the studio trying to get a few commissions completed. Enjoy the beginning of your week!
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I SPY>>>>> ON THE EVERYGIRL




I don't know about you, but I love seeing the homes and offices of other bloggers and artists. It's always cool when I spot some of my work in there, too, as was the case with Erin Gates" studio/office in Boston recently featured on The Everygirl. 
She had 8 of my chair prints framed and lined up on a moulding ledge - a great way to display them.
Read the feature here on The Everygirl.
Here's hoping that you have a wonderful weekend!
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PATCHOULI SEAS PRINT AND ANNECHOVIE INTERVIEW FROM GREECE


The original version of "Patchouli Seas" is now hanging in Honolulu with it's new owner, but the print version was just released and is available in my shop here. It's also available on canvas - feel free to contact me for details and pricing.


I'd like to thank Irene in Greece for featuring an interview with me recently on her blog the Happy Turtle
Irene has been a blogger friend for a few years now and is a lovely person with an interesting blog and shop.
Thank you, Irene!



Thanks to style blogger Beth Connolly of Chinoiserie Chic for a recent mention. She has a great post on her Chinoiserie kitchen challenge and created a gallery wall within a kitchen. See it all here.

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FLAMINGO - NEW PAINTING


Did you have a nice weekend? I hope so!
I got in a little pool time and some relaxation that left me refreshed and ready for the week.
Here's another piece in my abstract series. I've named it "Flamingo" because it was inspired by the colors of the indigenous birds and water here in Florida. It's available now in my shop here - more to come!
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FREESTYLE EVENT


No, I'm not talking about the Olympic swimming.  I'm talking about me and my paintbrush.  
Continuing what I started over a year ago, dabbling with abstract style and with requests for more, I have been working on some paintings that are a departure from my better known style/subject matter, but oh-so-freeing.  There's a certain thrill in working mostly by color, rather than rigid form or having to "reproduce" a particular object/scene on canvas.  Not as easy as it looks, but a totally different discipline altogether and I am really enjoying it!
This original piece is titled "Patchouli Seas" and is available here in my shop.
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"Burt's Bees", "Oldrids" annechovie "Burt's Bees", "Oldrids" annechovie

A NATURAL WOMAN?

I know that these days we are hearing a lot about going green and living healthier lifestyles. I haven't been one of those who was quick to jump on the bandwagon, i.e. switch my toothpaste out for baking soda, wear hemp clothing or do anything radical. However, I am slowly and surely becoming way more conscious of what I put in and ON my body. I don't have any driving desire to live to be really old, quite honestly, but neither do I want to die via cancer or some painful disease if I can help it (which I can't, really, let's be honest). I do believe in doing what I can to be healthy and prevent disease. In my attempt to live healthier, I have given up croissants, bagels, toast or sweets for a healthy green breakfast smoothie. I try to use soap, shampoo and cosmetics that are bereft of harmful chemicals. Aluminum pots scare me and I have almost given up bathroom tile cleaner. I think those who know me well thought it'd be short-lived, but instead I am slowly sucking them into my veggie loving, chemical shunning, spinach/ginger/banana/yogurt smoothie drinking and apple cider vinegar world. One of the good things I did years ago was replace my traditional lipstick for Burt's Bees brand and I've never turned back!
The whole line is great and they have this Citrus and Ginger Root body wash, too, available from Oldrids. Ginger and Citrus are two of my favorite diet staples and they are just as good for your skin as they are to eat, 'cause when you think about it, they are going into your body via your skin anyway. Have you changed which cosmetics you use in recent years? 
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EDIBLE ART










There is a shop on Etsy from LA that I love to peruse. It's called "Andie's Specialty Sweets" and is what I would definitely term "a feast for the eyes".  Never before have I seen such creative and realistic sculptures that were also edible.  Everything looks good to me and even though I don't really consider myself a sweets person, per se, these really grab me.  The only issue I would have is actually consuming them because it would seem like you were destroying a carfeully crafted work of art! I think they would make lovely host/hostess gifts or a wonderful conversation piece to top a dessert at a special dinner party or celebratory occasion. It'd be pretty difficult to narrow down my favorite....what about you? What would you choose?
Find them all here

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