Friday Fashion Finds - Screaming Hot Red!

Happy Halloween weekend! In light of this holiday, I'm dedicating this post to the Fire Engine RED HOT trend emerging for fall/winter. Remember, this Halloween, you're better off RED! Here are four smokin looks I've put together for you - enjoy!

"Sweet Swirls"

Romantic, and oh, so deliciously sweet

This is the ultimate flirting outfit. Have someone special in mind? Pair up these peek-a-boo vintage red heels from Spain with an amazing flared eighties skirt with a leather waist band for a hip, cute outfit to wear anywhere. Dress it up with these sweet, hand carved silver rosette earrings and silk satin burnout scarf to give the whole look an extra feminine touch.

"Sexy Lunch Date"

Sexy sophistication while on the clock

This body conscious gunmetal dress looks so chic with that little white blouse. Add a flame red glass ring and drop dead, gorgeous patent red pumps and you already have instant sexy style. Tie a square scarf around your neck to add just add sophistication and bring color towards your pretty red lips.

"Sssmoking hot"

Snakeskin super glam

Nothing says winter style like snakeskin.. add a little black leather, red and silver accessories, and this outfit is smokin'! The sleek, pencil skirt is just the right length. Toss on a sexy red blouse or turtle neck, these gorgeous silver earrings and red snakeskin cuff, and you really can't beat this look. As if that wasn't enough, slip on these vintage snakeskin heels for that extra touch of Va-va-Voom!

"Rocking Red"

For your ruff ridin' and rocking wild side

You may not own a Harley, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the rider trend with this super cool black eighties jacket and HOT pirate boots! Wear with leggings, skinny jeans, or a mini, and *snap* - instant hotness. Add this fun, silk flames scarf and unique beaded safety pin bracelet with attitude to complete this great look.

There are so many fun ways to rock red this season - which is your favorite?

Friday Fashion Finds - Purple Rain

Unless you've been living underground, by now you've realized the 80's are back! Does this mean we have to cover ourselves in neon brights, leg warmers and poof our hair into a side pony tail? I think not! This season, dress up the blacks and greys in your closet with pops of delicious purple. Trench coats, boots and sparkling shine are really hot this season so check out these three amazing looks!

Material Girl

This look is for the gal who loves Designer name brands, and doesn't mind spending a few grand on some killer boots. Which, by the way, those over-the-knee Gucci boots truly are! Warm up the outfit with a bright purple trench and fun grey chiffon scarf. The black crystal earrings really add that finishing touch of glamour.

She works hard for the money...

...so hard for it, honey! For the career girl, who wants that designer look, but doesn't need to spend an arm and a leg to do it, this is for you. Brighten up that rainy day with this raging vintage purple rain coat and chic boots. The hoops are gorgeous, and the scarf, if you open it up, is actually abstract lighting bolts - perfect accessories to finish this office and lunch date friendly, oh so chic, look!

Girls just wanna have fun

Going out on the town? Rock this look with some statement purple pirate boots, with a complimentary colorful scarf, and keep the rest of your outfit blacks and greys. This trench is amazing and those dangly suede earrings really say, "let's get this party started"!

Friday Fashion Finds - "Ravishing Rider"

Often times when I'm reading style and fashion articles, I see outfits that are just DYEING (pun intended) for a Muse Silk Paintings scarf to be tossed in. And while each piece I paint is truly a work of art, and can be worn with style all year round, I thought it would be fun to put together some awesome outfits/looks to illustrate how these beauties can find their place within the hottest trends of the moment for my ultimate Fashionistas out there :).

So, welcome to the first posting of my "Friday Fashion Finds"!

Today's look is "Ravishing Rider". The rock and roll 80's look is in full swing, and what better way to pull off this look than with a fabulous green jacket, riding boots, and an amazing hand painted, silk scarf to tie tight and let fly wild in the wind as you ride by? It's a mix between the mid eighties fabulousness with a touch of boho chic with the gold feather earrings - a perfect blend of two important fashion trends of the moment. The fantastic greens, oranges, and browns are both "eco-friendly" feeling and simply stunning with gold accents added in.

It's such a stylish look for winter, and easy to pull off, whether or not you choose to go with the big name designer labels. This particular jacket*1 and boots*2 are picks from Vogue's Editor's MOST WANTED basics*3. It's just as easy to snag a chic, flea market vintage jacket and riding boots, and some beat up jeans to go along with the gorgeous Kaleidoscope Palette scarf*4. The super cool, gold feather earrings from Betsyandiyas*5 really complete this amazing look!

Links to Finds:

1. Acne jacket: http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/41924

2. Church's boots: http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/48593

3. Vogue's picks: http://www.style.com/vogue/mostwanted/100809_The_White_Shirt

4. Muse scarf: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29730458

5. Betsyandiyas earrings: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28770501

"Coral Garden" - Lumiere saves the day!

As I continue to explore the art of silk painting, each piece is a new adventure for me. Today I'd like to share a little "disaster turned delicious" story. It started on a very warm day... I was up on my rooftop studio dreaming of tropical waters and was inspired to paint a seascape.

As usual, I washed and stretched the silk, drew in the resist lines ands started painting. Swaying coral shapes poured onto my silk canvas and I simply could feel water all around me as I drew each line.. the day began in bliss.. Notice, on the far right hand side, the unpainted seaweed shapes were getting rather complicated to follow because of all the overlapping, so I thought, "Aha! I will just write in numbers with my magic fabric pen!" I was quite pleased with myself for being so clever. And so I did just that..wrote in my numbers. I then ran out of daylight, and had to stop.

When I came back to this project a week later, and started painting in the the green shades of the seaweed, to my HORROR, the "invisible" numbers I had written in did NOT disappear when painting! Notice my red circled area and extremely realistic face reacting to this point. :) Apparently when left sitting too long, invisible fabric pens get permanent! The rest of the piece was so pretty. I sat there kicking myself for thinking I had been SO clever. Arrgghh!

Then I had a thought. A while back, I bought a started kit of Lumiere metallic paints http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/393621-AA.shtml?lnav=paints_kits.html that I had not had a chance to try yet. The only other time I used the metallic paints with a brush (not through a resist tube, was under the supervision of Olivia Batchelder (see my previous blog titled Black Silk Experiment) http://musesilkpainting.blogspot.com/2009/04/black-silk-experiment.html My hesitation from using them, was that I didn't want my scarves to become too stiff.. but in this case, I had to do Something!

And so I mixed a little gold with olive and covered each number with strokes of this metallic paint. I also mixed a sparkling royal purple metallic and added shimmering highlights to blue coral and even a few of the fish scales. It seemed as if those parts in the seascape were being hit by the sun through the water.. Ahhh *sigh of relief* Lumiere paints saved the day!

Voila! Here is the final finished piece, drying on the frame. And now I have to say, adding that slight metallic really gave this multicolor scarf the little extra "something" that it needed! My disaster had turned into a delicious new piece. As many artists will attest to, sometimes mistakes turn into the most interesting part. I'm just relieved this one worked out.. as there have been so many others that did not have this happy ending!

To shop this scarf and see it mocked up on my dress form, follow this link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30891894

In memory of my mother's mother

"Bella Bella Rose" scarf is a gift for my mother, in loving memory of hers, in hopes that it will cheer her up on difficult days, like today.

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

I suppose

But so much can be wrapped up in sweet petal shades

How soft, like her hands used to feel

The aroma from my childhood days

Mixed in with tortillas and lemon

Her journey was impeded with thorns

Yet warm smiles were all that we saw

Her children, the sun, always adored

Opened her heart to every day

She sang to us, comforted us, told funny jokes

The sound of her voice still rings clear

As the rustling of leaves

in the still of night

Rose flower says Love

Her breath said Home

So a Rose is just a Rose...

except I think they were her favorite

-A.R.

To view more pictures of this special scarf, click HERE.

Silk & Chocolate - a delicious lesson for scarf lovers

Are you obsessed with chocolate? Have a weakness for silk?

My dear, this post is for you.

This entry was created in order to help my clients pick the right type of silk when placing a custom order. While musing over describing each lovely silk base, the similarities to chocolate just came naturally. The smooth, rich textures, the heavenly satisfying feeling, life's little indulgences.. it became clear that silk and chocolate are like peas in a pod. Have your glass of milk ready?

Muse Silk Paintings preferred

SILK QUALITIES

1.HABOTAI - Otherwise known as "China silk" is like the chocolate mousse of silks. The most economic base I work with, and like mousse, is smooth, flat, opaque and yummy. Habotai silk is the real deal, and just hits the spot.

I enjoy this base for painting detailed line work designs and is for your modern fashionista daily wear. Perfect with jeans or to dress up a work outfit. To shop Muse habotai silks, click here.

2.GEORGETTE - this is a sheer, beautiful silk and it has a little bit of a pebbly texture to the finish. Georgette is like a Plaisir Sucre with its light layers and interesting textures.. It's such a soft and romantic look, while still being reasonably priced.

Georgette is great for abstract, watercolor designs. It is for the lady who enjoys the translucent, ultra feminine touch of color! To shop Muse georgette silks, click here.

3.CREPE DE CHINE - sniff... do I smell a little more decadence in the air? Just a gorgeous fabric! Crepe de chine is like an fancy mousse with those extra flavors and toppings added in. Similar to habotai, except a softer, silkier, feeling with an understated shine. Drapes beautifully and my favorite to paint! To shop Muse crepe de chine silks, click here.

4.SAND-WASHED CREPE DE CHINE - Makes me melt. A heavier crepe fabric is washed with stones or rocks to achieve the most plush and ever-so-soft feel. It has a gorgeous drape, and is really something special. Enter The Chocolate Pistachio Kiss, a rich, irresistible morsel. The buttery nut toppings remind me of how luscious the sand washed crepe feels against my skin. The cocoa powder emulates the sumptuous matte finish of this silk. For the woman who wants nothing less than the creme de la creme, this is it! To shop Muse sand washed silks, click here.

5.CHARMEUSE - Aside from velvet, this is the most high end and luxurious silk. One side sleek like satin with lustrous shine, and the other side has a matte finish. I adore charmeuse for painting watercolors and "free" designs. Vibrancy of color is amplified by the magnificent luster of this silk. Like the famed Platinum Cake, which is literally laced with edible gold flecks. Charmeuse silk is for the elegant, illuminating lady of the hour who is not afraid to shine! To shop Muse charmeuse silks, click here.

5.SATIN BURNOUT - Also called "devore" is a blend of silk and rayon and comes in a variety of patterns. The scarf example here is a dot design, with a swirly dot imagery painted on top. Silk burnout is right up there with the finest of silks. Like assorted chocolate truffles, this base offers something different; a unique and special texture. It's mix of matte and opulence creates several shades of light and dark within hue and gives you just enough of a glamourous shine. So pretty! To shop Muse dot burnout silks, click here.

Now that this deliciously lesson is over, I suggest you go grab a chocolate treat, a glass of milk, and muse over which color and type of yummy silk suits you best . After all, you deserve a little indulgence once in a while!

announcing "Muse News" quarterly newsletter!

Dear Friends,

Announcing "Muse News" quarterly newsletter!

Muse News

Updates and Musings from Muse Silk Paintings

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Autumn Edition

Today is the first day of Fall! For my fellow Southern California friends, it might not feel like it now, but sooner than you think, the cooler weather will be kicking in.

Muse of the Moment (brand spanking new!)

First giveaway! Unlike many artisans, I do not have little samples to give away for promotions/advertising. All my scarves are truly one of a kind, so I painted one especially for the Hip Handmaid contest. This feather scarf would make a fabulous accessory for your fall wardrobe or an excellent gift for the holiday for a special lady in your life! Entering to win the contest is easy. Click this link for details: http://hiphandmaids.blogspot.com/2009/09/hip-giveaway_21.html

Upcoming Musings (future events)

Save the date! Muse Silk Paintings will have a booth for a one-day holiday craft show in early December! I’m even musing over actually doing a live silk painting demonstration. For more details about Hip Handmaids click here: http://www.hiphandmaids.com/Home_Page.html

Location:

Hip Handmaids Holiday Craft Show

Dec. 5th Saturday from 9am-5pm
The Little White Chapel, 1711 N. Avon Street, Burbank, CA 91505

Muse Milestones (past events)

1. Muse Silk Paintings Blog! I created a blog last April as an outlet to share my musings and thoughts on my budding silk painting business. I love writing new entries and have been meaning to update it soon! The link: http://musesilkpainting.blogspot.com/

2. First Craft Show! This past May was the month of my official first show at the Studio City Arts and Crafts Show. It was scary, but an amazing experience, and I even won an Honorable Mention award! Read about it here: http://musesilkpainting.blogspot.com/2009/05/first-show-was-award-winning-success.html

3. Muse went online! May was a big month for me, as I also first opened my Muse Silk Paintings online store! I have recently listed almost 50 beautiful scarves. Come visit and see my new scarves: http://MuseSilkPaintings.etsy.com My store is up and running, and on a roll now! I even have worked on some custom orders. To see pictures of a few of these wonderful custom scarves, here are the links:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35308500@N08/sets/72157622008448003/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35308500@N08/sets/72157622202858514/

4. Muse on Facebook! Although my blog is great, it feels more like writing in a journal (which I do love). However I wanted a more up to date, frequent way to provide updates. Out of this need for a more organic and active interaction with fashionistas and art lovers everywhere, I created the Muse Silk Paintings facebook fan page, which has been a huge success. I love hearing fan feedback on everything! To become a fan, or just check out the site, click here: http://www.facebook.com/MuseSilkPaintings

5. Muse on Twitter! I am still very much learning how to use Twitter. All that I’ve managed to do is link it up to my facebook page so that it updates whenever there is a new posting. If you are twitter literate, and would like to follow Muse Silk Paintings, here is my link: http://twitter.com/Muse_Silk

There has been a lot going on at Muse Silk Paintings! I’d like to thank all my friends, family and wonderful clients for your ongoing support through this exciting adventure of my budding silk painting business. I don’t know yet if this will be a monthly edition or by the season, but stay tuned for updates and, as always, Happy Musings!!

A.R.

Muse Silk Paintings

arscarves@hotmail.com

http://MuseSilkPaintings.etsy.com

http://musesilkpainting.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/MuseSilkPaintings

http://twitter.com/Muse_Silk

Labor of Love - Silk Painting Process

Hope you had a lovely Labor Day weekend!

In response to the numerous requests from friends, today I want to share with you my basic silk painting process that is used when creating my silk paintings. When you scroll down to the end of this post, there is a flicker link where you can view more photos of each step. Sometimes people wonder why the prices are a bit more expensive, than say, a scarf you would find at Macy's. It depends on many things.. the type of silk (which I will explain in more detail my next entry) , size, and of course, the level of detail and time put into each piece. Each of my scarves truly are one of a kind artworks, and really are a labor of LOVE. Here are the stages:

1. Inspiration - from books, online images, my pictures of the sky, dreams and imagination, I first must come up with a design I'd like to express.

2. Preparing the silk - After learning the hard way, I now always pre-wash my silk before painting, to get rid of any unseen residues.

3. Stretching - I stretch the hand rolled, silk scarf blank with pins on a wooden frame so the silk becomes taught from all angles.

4. Resist - Usually I draw freehand with the water based resist

onto the silk. These lines act as a barrier later when painting, and keep the colors from spreading.

5. Paint - I use water based paints, unlike most professional silk painters who use spirit based dyes. I use a Japanese sumi brush to paint in the colors - my favorite part!

6. Heat set - Once dried, I iron the scarf so that the paint chemically bonds to the silk.

7. Washing/Ironing - I hand wash each scarf about 2 or 3 times with baby shampo, soak the scarf in a water/softener mixture for a while, lightly roll towel dry, and then lightly iron on the backside.

8. Viola! It is finished and ready for photos!

Recently I finished a custom order scarf for a wonderful client of mine and took pictures throughout the entire process. To view this picture gallery, click HERE.

Another earlier custom "Go Broncos" piece also has great step-by-step pictures in the album HERE.

All together from start to finish, one of my hand painted silk scarves could take anywhere from 3-12 hours! But of course, each minute I spend is a minute I simply cherish, as I have fallen completely love with the artistic medium of silk painting... and this Labor Day, I'll end with this quote, "Love what you do. Do what you love." - Wayne Dyer

Ohhh, Behave

As you many of my friends know (from my nearly tearful rantings), lately I have had a lot of challenges painting really detailed/fine line work due to a bad batch of silks and washing incidents. The residue had not washed off, there were stiff sections and it caused the paint to puddle, instead of spreading magically the way I like!

Well, those days are now through (I hope)! This latest batch of beautiful silk crepe de chine is so soft and clean - the paints are taking to it just beautifully. When I want it to spread, it spreads. When I want it to blend, it blends. Hallelujah, they are finally BEHAVING! With this new batch I am free to create my obsessively detailed designs to my heart's content...

The first (of many more to come) more detailed style silk painting is here below called "Kaleidoscope Palette". I'm so excited about it that I simply couldn't wait to post the pictures.. It will probably be another week or two before I can list it in my Etsy store.

Lately I've been limited to 3-4 colors due to the difficulties I was encountering.. but this one was behaving so well that I was FINALLY able to use all the colors I wanted! The greens and blues needed those warm browns to bridge the oranges and yellows to create this perfect seasonless combination. The circles wind around, filled with tons of small rectangles... I actually may have become hypnotized while drawing these lines...then graduating to a blissful state of mind while filling each one with color. It makes me happy to look at it, and so motivated to do more! Stay tuned for more of this style to come.. I'm just dying to get back to my studio!