On the Road to Upcycled Awesomeness in Ohio via NYC

I have been blessed this spring and summer with traveling… keeping flexibility, mystery, and adventure in my life. This is adding inspiration and expansiveness to my world in ways I had not even imagined.

Here’s the latest chosen art to leave my hands on the way, the chromodoris willani Nudibranch in oil, still available as a print, in its new home.

Chromodoris Willani Nudibranch Sea Slug now resides in Brooklyn with Petunia kitty.

I was recently inspired as I visited a long time friend and artist, Doug Meyer in his mid-century abode, in the Cleveland area, which was full of his sophisticated, modern, industrial furniture creations. Doug and I both having grown up in the industrial “Rubber Capital of the World” Akron, Ohio, we have a common appreciation for the creative re-use of metal and wood.

Here’s his metal patchwork table circa 2009 in the Swankety Swank Grand Opening for the Divisadero Street shop window.

Tails Entwined Sea Horses

This original Sea Horses Oil 20×16″ is now in its new home.

It is bringing cozy couple love energy to this blessed bedroom.

Sea Horses Oil 20×16″ by Yabette

While the original is gone, you can still get this as a print on stretched canvas in 3 sizes.

This size is $100, while  larger options are available as well.

When seahorses find a mate, they wrap their tails around each other so the tide doesn’t drift them apart.

They have that one mate for the rest of their lives.

May we all find Sea Horse love.

XXOO Yabette

Conch Call of new beginnings

As a child I was fascinated by a conch shell my Mother had as a souvenir from her honeymoon in the Bahamas. For me it was always a symbol of beauty and love and made me remember my parents’ photos of their young 20′s selves hanging out in the sunshine. In Hawaii, they use conch shells as trumpet-like instruments to signal the beginning of a large community ceremony or gathering.

In looking at the photo below, you can see this dresser needed a new beginning. I found it at a yard sale in my neighborhood, where its latest leg of life had it serving as tool storage in a dusty garage. (Surprisingly, this is a common story among many dressers I have transformed). Because it was so rough, I had to really think about tackling this project. But its bones where intact and the shape was still attractive, so I went for it!

Before, After, and detail on The Conch Shell Dresser by Yabette

Affordable Alchemy for All

“Art is the Queen of all sciences communicating knowledge

to all the generations of the world.” — Leonardo Da Vinci

I have been browsing Airbnb lately as I plan a short trip to NYC this summer. It was interesting to run across a listing in which the feedback complaints were about the lack of art. People are recognizing more and more how necessary art is to creating an inspiring environment. The highest priced places were the most colorful, with an artful presentation that brings a relaxed joy to the eyes.

With this in mind, I have been looking for ways to offer more affordable options of my own art, yet retaining a quality and presentation that is tasteful and lasting. So after researching and testing, I have found the solution with high quality art prints on stretched canvas. These are available in my shop listed by size and shape. For example, this “Joie de Vivre” Oil 48×60″ original is available for $3000. But you can get a high quality canvas print version ready-to-hang and delivered to your door in a 30×40″ size for $300 plus shipping. Or get the small version for your bath at an easy $100.

Have the “Joie de Vivre” 30×40″ high quality canvas print in your home.

Murals Transform, Beautify, and Promote!

After finishing a mural in chalk on chalkboard paint yesterday in Pacific Heights, I was reminded how much I enjoy murals. They are the perfect art form to transform a space from blah to boldly beautiful!

The “Before” and “After” Tree Mural in chalk by Yabette.

May’s New Growth

As May springs forward with all the Beltane promise of abundance and joy, I finished a new Art Furniture piece. In the Steampunk tradition of updating the old with swankety style, this New Growth Lingerie Chest is waiting to gracefully adorn your dressing room.

New Growth Lingerie Chest by Yabette

All beings are Luscious

I had a fabulous time at the Hello World Art Exhibition in LA last weekend. I also attended the fantastic largest crowd funded independent movie premiere Sirius and wrote about it here.

Yabette with The Luscious Bum Project Art installation at HelLO World in LA.