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

Tree Mural in chalk by Yabette

In a place of business, a mural can really define a space and add a strong statement to the atmosphere. The tree in my former shop, Swankety Swank was a perfect example of this.

Swankety Swank Tree Mural by Yabette

Here’s one that was outdoors and advertised my first Swankety Swank shop that was in a less than busy location.

Swankety Swank on Mcallister St. Mural by Yabette.

If you like these and want to hire me for one, let me know. I will be traveling all over this summer, so location may not be a factor. Contact me at swankety@gmail.com

xxoo Yabette

New Growth Lingerie Chest by Yabette

In this city by the bay, a dresser of this size and shape is in great demand, utilizing tall, thin spaces with the utmost practical beauty. Working with the patina, flaws and aged beauty this piece possesses, I added the energy and artistry of this hand painted tree to make this the focal art piece of your room.

New Growth Lingerie Chest by Yabette

The modern classical pulls, curved legs, and dove tailed drawers are additional attributes of this marvelous, all wood specimen.

New Growth lingerie chest by Yabette

This signed art piece at $400 will bring fantastic beauty and unique style to your artfully traditional, bohemian, or modern style home. Happy Beltane!  Message me at swankety@gmail.com to buy this today with cash or credit. XXOO Yabette

Dimensions: 20″W x 18″D x 51″H

New Growth lingerie chest by Yabette

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

St. Cyprian’s Community Kitchen

In support of all being luscious, I am donating a portion of my proceeds of the sale of any pieces from The Luscious Bum Project to the fantastic local organization St. Cyprian’s Community Kitchen.

If you are in San Francisco, you can help make simple sandwiches there every Friday from 10am to 12pm.

The Luscious Bum Project Art is on sale here. You can also browse amazing art in many forms from the Hello World show.

Luscious Bum by Yabette Oil 36″ x 48″

Buy this luscious bum and help support many others! xxoo Yabette

Luscious Bum by Yabette Alfaro

Then, I express the compassionate idea of all beings as luscious with the Man of Many Woes en-robed in a Cape of the Divine Feminine constructed of lacy lingerie.

“Man of Many Woes” by Yabette

While these are labors of expression, I see this divine feminine energy as an actual reality and am using the third aspect of this project to show the tangible results. This can be found on the Facebook page of stories and ideas that are happening around the globe in evidence to this amazing change on our planet.

This project will continue to evolve and expand as I am already in talks with a few other venues for more works in this realm. The first view will be this April 20th in LA at the Hello World Art Exhibition. I am honored and thrilled to be among the fantastic creative talents at this show. xxoo Yabette

Hello World Art Exhibition

“Angler” Oil Painting 20×16″

So a series of interesting events has the content of Swankety Swank  from November 2010 until now completely lost and deleted.  Talk about obstacles!! I wrote all about that on my other blog here. I am going through all the hoops again to get my domain name connected here and import the portfolios, etc. So please hang in there with me while this site is more clunky than I would like. I have been extremely busy with working on The Luscious Bum Project. More updates on that coming soon.

We’d like you to consider us an oasis of tranquility, magic and surprise this Black Friday. We’ll be serving tea and STORM will give you a taste of his Award Winning Heroic Tarot.

Traditionally we close on Black Friday to Support the Buy Nothing Day Campaign, but we want to offer our supporters an alternative to the consumer craze.

Show your Holiday Guests a true San Francisco Treat. Escape the sofa and walk, bike, MUNI or CityCarShare yourself on over here for our special Black Friday Hours from 3-9pm.

And while you’re here, check out the amazing Edwardian Ball, Dickens Fair, and Holiday Party outfits for men and woman of all sizes!

Red Party Dress by Yabette with DAS Bolero and Corset by Darina Drapkin. Photo by Christine Donley.

We also have perfect gifts like these feather headbands by Eileen.

Peacock Feather Headband by Eileen. Photo by Christine Donley.

Or perhaps you’ll be the first to own a One-of-a-kind hand painted side table and vintage suitcase to enhance your home decor?

Hand Painted suitcase and side table by Yabette.

Everyone could use a magic potion called “Cloud of Protection”!!

Cloud of Protection by Nieves. Photo by Eartha L. Goodwin.

Gentlemen… Remember

Ladies Prefer Swankety Swank.

Make it easy on yourself and get them a gift certificate!

We’ll see you here this Friday!

These matching sturdy wood tables are part of furniture artist and Swankety Swank owner Yabette’s ongoing Steampunk Collection. They feature a hand-painted Victorian-inspired lock and key in detailed hues of brown on its newly refinished black surface. Both rustic and attractive, masculine or feminine, they have practical drawers and shelves with their original pulls. This signed art set would be a lovely addition to an eclectic modern, artfully traditional or bohemian decor.  Dimensions: 20″H x 15″W x 24″D

The above artwork references a very specific type of lock known as a “story padlock.”  These locks contain imagery relating to a theme or narrative, giving them a unique quality among other locks.  The antique Victorian padlock featured by Yabette is based on a 3-dimensional Werewolf lock manufactured in Trenton, New Jersey, circa 1880.

The matching nightstand features an ornate key to go with the padlock.

Keys symbolize, in both metaphorical and literal terms, the power of opening and closing.  They represent knowledge, mystery, initiation, and curiosity.  Both Saint Peter and the Roman god Janus are depicted with keys.  Saint Peter holds the key to heaven and Janus sometimes holds two keys, which release the seasonal times of winter and summer solstice.

Visit Swankety Swank today and view these nightstands in person!  Many more handpainted furniture art pieces by Yabette are also available!

November 15, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This holiday season, give the Bay Area the gift of a multimillion dollar economic stimulus by shopping local!

As we approach this holiday season, it is projected that shoppers will continue to spend less than in years past. But there IS a silver lining for the San Francisco Bay Area. When consumers shop local, more of their money will stay right here in the Bay Area, where we desperately need it. With a little planned spending, this year’s holiday dollars can lead to a more plentiful 2011.

Sexi Seaweed earrings made by local artist at Swankety Swank: $83. Product Photography by Eartha L. Goodwin.

Consider these numbers: When a consumer spends money at locally owned establishments, $25 more per $100 stays in the community than when spent at a non-local establishment. With that number, if each San Franciscan spends $200 on Holiday gifts and meals locally, $4,075,000 more will be circulating in our local economy come January 1st. If we spread that out to include the entire Bay Area, that number increases to $185,693,925 dollars!

One thing is certain, the Bay Area benefits financially by shopping locally because the greatest percentage of revenue stays in the community when they do. There is a powerful economic impact to infusing our local economy with that kind of cash flow because that money stays here, and will it be spent here, unlike money that leaves our cities when we spend at non-local businesses and major chains. Even further, if Bay Area residents shop local for their New Year festivities, that amount goes even higher.

Hand painted tree by Yabette: Corner Cabinet Commission

When local artist Yabette Alfaro opened Swankety Swank in 2007 in San Francisco, she wanted to create a place to bring hand-made, earth friendly goods made by talented, local artisans to her community. When deep economic troubles started in 2008, Yabette saw just how important her establishment is to the livelihood of the 20+ local artists she carries. By this time, Swankety Swank had moved to a beautiful ,airy space on Divisadero Street and transitioned to a collective of local working designers and artists. These changes, while positive, increased the pressure to succeed in a difficult financial environment. In researching ways to grow her business and better support her community, artists, and customers, she discovered resources that highlight the impressive financial gains to communities that embrace shopping local.  Since many people in the Bay Area are already committed to shopping local for some of their consumer needs, she felt it imperative to communicate this additional benefit in hopes of leveraging Holiday Shopping revenue into an unexpected financial boost for local communities.

By Nieves, local SF Weekly Award Winning Hand Made Organic Body Care available at Swankety Swank. Product Photography by Eartha L. Goodwin.

The Bay Area is the perfect place to exercise this civic action because so many people are already committed to shopping local. A consumer can maximize the economic impact of their purchases by shopping local establishments that are truly locally owned, and stocked with products that are made locally. Swankety Swank is one of the Bay Area’s premiere spots to shop an extensive selection of Bay Area artists and designers in one, convenient place. This action also creates more city tax revenue, supports local businesses that supply local crafts people, and has the potential to generate jobs as local small businesses grow.

Model Dex wears red satin dress with lace trim by Yabette, corset by Darin Drapkin, and bolero by DAS. Photo by Christine Donley

This holiday season, give the Bay Area the gift of a multimillion dollar economic stimulus by shopping local!

Red Flower Table

The seasons come and go, and yet creativity is always in full bloom at Swankety Swank!  In fact, flowers are bursting all over the store, as blossoms bring forth freshness and beauty to the amazing art furniture on which they have been painted.  Today Swankety Swank Showcase features three art furniture items adorned with floral patterns by Yabette!

Above, the Red Flower Table has been newly refinished in distressed rusty red with gold glaze shimmer on the edges. This sturdy, wood vintage table features a handpainted floral design in neutral shades of brown inspired by vintage fabric. This signed art piece would be a fantastic addition to an artfully traditional, colorful cottage or bohemian decor.

Dimensions: 22″W diameter x 27″H

Red Flower Table detail

Delightful flowers and vines spiral on the top of this enchanting art furniture piece.

Green Wood Flower Table

This sturdy wood coffee or side table also features a hand painted floral design inspired by vintage fabric in hues of brown on its newly refinished refreshing green top.  The carved design under the top is especially beautiful as are the lines along the legs.

Dimensions: 23″H x 27″W x 23″D

Green Wood Flower Table detail

A closer view of the Green Wood Flower Table reveals the delicate features of of the table and the artwork.  Notice the patterns of the wood grain and the double lines on the top.

Black Flower Chair with Sugar Skull Desk

When a buyer fell in love with the Sugar Skull Desk, she asked Yabette if there was a chair to go with it.  Yabette had a chair in her inventory that was ready for transformation.  She painted the color of the flower to match the desk and voila, a perfect chair and desk set was born!

Black Flower Chair detail

A closeup of the back of the Black Flower Chair features the graphic simplicity of the art, complete with balanced petals, winding vines and artist signature.  Note: This set has been sold.

Come into Swankety Swank today and enrich your life with floral fascination!  Many more handpainted furniture art pieces by Yabette are also available for your home decor!