Up Next....Stuff for Rio Vista, CA

Remember bubble lights!?

For Beatriz

Here's the group together..... K

Tori and Kitty Kit Kit

Molly

Kitty Kit Kit (aka Schmiddy)

Max

Jerry

Nancy Tillisch's Holiday Show

On Dec. 7th in Rio Vista, Nancy has her annual holiday open house and showing of her jewelry.

A really cute Christmas card inspired me to paint these plates. They'll be winging their way west pretty soon and available for purchase at Nancy's show.

A limited group of six square Apilco France porcelain plates from the Delta Food Bank (snagged them when they were getting Williams Sonoma stuff) There will only be one set of these square ones!!! (maybe I should keep them!?) jk ~K

Wine connaisseur plates

Yesterday was a good day!

I am working with a woman in Spain on these. Her name is Beatriz, she supplied me with images for inspiration. Fun wine plates....just need to fill in the colors. (remember to click over image to make them larger)

This is a special order for Jan in Sacramento. Decided to put some "soy sauce" with the wasabi in one of the dishes... I like it.

A Happy Accident

I was cooling these in the oven and forgot, went to preheat the oven for rolls AHHHH! 400 degrees! It got darker and looks sort of vintage. I like them more now! (probably won't be able to repeat it though...)

TYLER'S COWBOY PARTY

A "straight shot" view thru the glass.....

Front of the double old-fashioneds. Crazy Squirrel, Tyler's Saloon, Lone Star Saloon, Cotton Pickin' Ranch

Back view (tee hee) Hot Beer, Lousy Food and Bad Service....all can be expected at the Cotton Pickin' Ranch :~l

Waiting to go into the oven....a pair of pears.

OK....out of the oven and into the box....on their way to Rio Vista, CALIFORNIA xoxoxoxox. Yesterday.....waiting to dry all of the way.....

New to my blog?

February 2008 is the very first post, if you haven't scrolled all of the way down, you may miss one! Please click on Older Posts when you get to the bottom of the page....lots of gift ideas to help this time of year. Thanks! Kathleen

Wine Terminology

Your guests will love their wine persona for the evening....is she young? complex? a tart with great legs?! Imagine the possibilities for fun wine sets!

BUNKO NIGHT

Hard-to-Buy-For Gifts

Liz Diede needed a gift for someone hard-to-buy-for..... Lupe is a martini drinking, sensuous, skiier who also happens to be a doctor.....how do you ever find a really personal gift for someone so unique?! (you ask Kathleen what she has in her studio to paint on and give her some ideas!) Lupe loved her Lucious gifts! (she's also very social)

btw. Linda Korth said she actually recognized Lupe when she met her from seeing this gift!!!!

Must be the Carmen Miranda hat Lupe always wears ;-) jk

Yesterday in the studio

"I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year" Dickens

"Never economize on luxuries"....

Wishes(outside), Do come true(inside)
"when nothing is certain, everything is possible."

INDIVIDUAL TRUFFLE DISHES

"Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful"

My mom's husband's 75th birthday party is coming up this month. I am doing saloon glasses to match the theme of the party.

My cousin's son is getting married in November. These Salt and Peppers are being painted to match the invite.

Carol and Bruce Wilcox grow pears....these mugs are a special order request from Carol :-).

Gearing up for Christmas!

Nancy Tillisch has her holiday shopping night December 7th this year. LOVE her jewelry and all of the other crafts she brings in for her customers.

Jackie's Lake house special request.

This is an older order, but a fun thing to think about for the holidays. We did their cabin on four mugs, each a different season. Beach towels on the railing in summer, snow on the ground in winter, etc. Fun gift for her husband!

Korth's Pirates Lair Marina Gift Shop

shiver me timbers!

getting wines ready to paint

Upper St. Clair Studio

prepping the mugs, shots and wines for Linda's order. (downstairs by the TV :-)

great light for my work area.

Nancy Tillisch's wise rabbit watches over the studio.

We've moved!

My husband, daughter, and I have moved to Pittsburgh, PA. It is beautiful here, I can't wait to get the paints out and my studio going. Stay posted for new items that reflect my different surroundings...we'll be surprised together!

Kerri's Koffee Klatsch Kups

One of the coolest things about our small delta towns is the pace. On Wednesday mornings Kerri's friends know she is doing laundry. It has become an unofficial coffee hour for her neighbors there in Courtland. She had me paint a likeness of their homes onto mugs to surprise them with on their next visit. thanks Kerri! xoxo k


As an aside... my pet peeve is when they spell C words with a K on signs or in ads.

That and: ugly front doors, Betty Boop, Unicorns, beards without mustaches, styrofoam squeaking against the interior of the car while you're in traffic.... I could go on and on. My best friend Karen hates relief maps and walking on grass barefooted... another friend can't stand cellophane wrappers rattling at the movies~ or even on the phone!
Email me your pet peeves purehokum@hotmail.com

HUSICK'S IN CLARKSBURG

Look at how darling this store is!

Norm's dentist office

Nextdoor to my studio in Barbara's house is Norm's dentist office, his wife Flora has been patiently waiting for me to do a plate with this on it....thank you for being so patient Flora!!!

It is almost done :-)

They're GOOD for you!

A few more Delta scene bottles

This is the last of the old bottles to paint. The bottle on the far left has such cloudy glass, it really looks like a foggy delta day!

Antique Bottles

Scroll down to the post just before this one to get the story on these bottles.......

I am going to paint a bunch more today, I can't wait! The imperfections of the old bottles are so fun to work with and incorporate into the images.

I grew up in an old house and attribute my love of all antiques to this. I don't like new perfect things. Give me worn, soft stuff with character any day!

Old books, jewelry, suitcases....I love to think of all they have seen. My dad gave me a jar of old coins when I was little. Actually, the old tobacco tin they are in is almost as precious to me as the coins themselves.

Maybe that's what I love about the delta. It is rough around the edges. Not too pretty, like some moist tropical place. The weeds get dry and scratchy this time of year.

There's a subtle beauty here, the sky reflected in the still river at sunset....you can take a deeper breath and relax. Life is a bit slower in the delta. (not just when you get behind someones tractor on the levee road either!)

One farmer had a bumpersticker I loved. It said:

"Don't like sharing the road with farm equipment, don't EAT!"

To Remember the Delta

These bottles will soon be lovely souvenirs sold at the Summerwind Gallery in Isleton, California.

Se souvenir....the French verb: to remember.

Karen Franscioni owns Summerwind with her husband Ross Peters. She bought a bunch of antique bottles and asked me to put a delta image on the back of each one. She explained "I'm going to go outside and run around with them, then put a cork in it, seal the cork with wax and put a nice tag around the neck explaining that it is full of delta air"

My love for the delta went into each one. I painted them last night after a long walk on the levee soaking in all of the images around me.

The progress of Kerri's house plate

Pears!

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Enjoy the little things.....

Special Orders from the past

The wedding invitation below inspired a sushi for two set for the newlyweds.....

Citrus dipping bowls

Robert Hubbell's boat

This is what the finished gift looks like. I sandwich the painting between a piece of glass and a matboard, then encircle the three with silvered copperfoil tape and put a hang tag on the back.
You can use a stand or hang on the wall with a group of stuff (it's small....5" sq.)

I know this is not as good of the boat painting, but you can see Marty's photo in the background, right side. He used to give me his glass and mat scraps. Marty's paintings were so big, I could get dozens from the leftovers of one of his! We were both satisfied using up each little bit....less waste.

Leah's babycup

Welcome to our world Leah Harumi Shimazaki! (Leah joined us April 14th, 2009!)

Marcy's Special Order

A special order for a special individual....we will miss you Robert!!!

(Marcy's the one who had me do Margaritaville quotes on margarita glasses)....this time she came up with the idea to do a watercolor of this friend's boat as a going away gift. Thank you Marcy!

Faux teabags

Husick's Country Store in Clarksburg has great food, atmosphere and soon....Pure Hokum!

These mugs are for their retail area.

Julie Sandino's annual Easter dog show prizes

This is what I've been working on today.... "Beast in Show" (large breed) is still being done, there's a Saint Bernard on the other side....

" Beast Dressed", "Beast Behaved", "Beast in Show" (small breed) and "Beast Overall"!!!!

I imagine the winning dogs will use these for their food or water (or get treats from the jar!)

Happy Birthday Kip!

Fresh out of the oven, a collection of Tiki Bar glasses for our good friend who is having a birthday today!!!!

Tea Time continues!

More folly

Ok, I think this one is finished. I love the mice and the door in the tree...I bought a bunch more rectangular platters today to keep going with these characters. The birds below are for a show I am participating in at Summerwind this weekend. Come to Isleton and see!

a work in progress

I love story-telling whimsical images. The squirrel is pouring milk into the owl's teacup. The owl is obviously hard to please....

This will eventually have a big tree at the right. A bird may be delivering a napkin (checkered as per Karen Chaddick) to the grumpy owl...a mouse climbing up the trunk (also Karen's idea...wearing shorts?) will have something in its mouth for him. (sugar cube?)

Just a little something fun to play with between special orders. K

Chicago Wine Glass for Beth

Pyramids added

Since this is for an Egypt trip fund raiser my husband Joel suggested the pyramids behind the bedouins and camels...I like it better this way.

Fund Raisers

Our school has an International Studies program, this year's destination is Egypt. These platters are for the silent auction to raise money for the children's airfare, etc.

There is an article about Miss Riebe and her trips abroad in the Spring 2009 Delta Explorer, check it out.

ISIS!

These Walnut Grove platters are for the local library art show coming up later this month.

Our dogs LOVE these treats (thank you Diane and Michael!) www.wet-noses.com

Walnut Grove "Skyline"

Our friends Nathan and Hailey moved from Walnut Grove this year. The worst part was they took their three wonderful sons with them! Nathan, Zale and Reese.

Big Nate secretly ordered this vintage diner platter with the image of our dear little town for Hailey as a surprise. It made it safely to their home in Carmichael, Pennsylvania just in time for Christmas.

Thank you Nate! I miss you guys. Kathleen

Tapas appetizer plates

Liz Bokisch sent these fabulous photos of tapas she wanted on some appetizer plates. Such a fun project.... Thank you Liz!

(check out her wines Bokisch Vineyards...see in my links worth looking at)

SupHerb Farm platters

Thank you Richard Collins of California Vegetable Specitalites for putting Mike Brem of SupHerb Farms in touch with me...the platters were very fun to do. Kathleen

Isleton, California

Go to Summerwind Gallery in Isleton, California this month and check out Marty Stanley's work and a few of my plates. See Summerind website link on my page!

Hummingbird

Getting all geared up for the upcoming holidays!

No Christmas party should be without these droll wine glasses! They are $6 each.

(Say what you are looking at....No-L.... get it?....Noel....)

McConnell Estates Winery is hosting a "Divas Night Out" this Friday in Elk Grove. I am painting lots of silly mugs, wine glasses, shot glasses, etc.
These mugs were inspired by a dishtowel I saw at the Berkeley Crate & Barrel on Sunday.
Wacky eyes! (click over image to view more closely)

Fall

The oak tree, often represented as oak leaves and acorns, signifies strength, honor, longevity and steadfastness.

Baby Gift

The other day we needed a gift for a baby girl. I found this cute t-shirt and painted a baby cup to match it. If you have an image on a baby blanket or wall paper border....whatever, I can do a dish or cup to coordinate with it. Fun gifts to receive! How about some embroidered cloth napkins and appetizer plates to match?

Antique suitcase show, Summerwind Gallery

Karen, the owner of Summerwind Gallery, loves old suitcases. She had a show where several artists were given an antique suitcase and told to do whatever they wanted! I knew a little bit about the suitcase I worked with. It had come to Isleton from New York. I made up the rest about its former owner.....A writer, a young man. Images painted on the back lid and sides tell more about him. click over image to enlarge. K

In my mind this is the boy's mother, he is travelling a lot and misses home a bit.

I wanted to give a child's sailboat feel to the pages floating out of the typewriter.

Those were my beloved red thongs from years ago....found in the attic.

Still setting up. Wish I had photos of the other suitcases! They were so cool. Maybe on the summerwind site?

Listen to the mermaids

Whenever I'm not sure what to paint on something, I do a mermaid....

they flow out of the paintbrush and it feels like meditation....my face instantly relaxes.

...wonderful being able to recreate myself over and over ......what sort of mouth do I want, hair, breasts, waist, what color scales....they are all different except each has gold skin and a garnet necklace.

Marianne Williamson said it best.....

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

let your inner goddess out! be powerful! be YOU!

House Swapping!

My mom and her husband swapped houses with a couple from Ireland this summer. They live in Napa, so the people from Ireland got to stay in wine country....

This small plate was a gift my mom sent to a couple in Ireland whose house they visited, while at the house they swapped for. She brought me a photo of their dog and their house to do this special order....hope they like it.

Mugs!

The mugs above (four houses) can be purchased at The Hidden Treasure Shop, see link on the right!

Set of Six Appetizer Plates

coming soon to Summerwind Gallery!

for the Poppy House, Rio Vista, CA

the 'models' on their breaks from posing...admiring their own images (typical!)

Fruits of fall

I don't think I've done a watercolor in two years! The plates

have been so fun I sort of switched over....I may go back every

once in a while to the watercolors, they're what I

learned to paint with.

mini watercolor

dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.

Tip from my dad

My Dad says to click on the image and it will get bigger (if you want to see detail better). He accidentally did this and didn't want any of you to miss that feature!
Thanks dad! xoxo K

My Studio at Barbara's house

My Studio is around the corner
from my house at Barbara Brooks'
She had an extra room and grew tired of seeing me move projects from
one place to another in my little house so we could sit down!

Left is a cow card from Karen sent twenty years ago and a door painted by my dad.

Below is a photo of our sweet daughter Tori in front of a japanese plate with a piece of painted drift wood leaning on it, a cheese dome B.B. sent me from "Little Rhodie".

A love note Tori left me on the little white board (below right) with an old Giusti's menu signed by Erle Stanley Gardner. A card from Noelie and a vintage powder box (love the color)

A green cup with a palm tree for Linda's gift shop at Korth's Pirates Lair marina.

I have a line of coffee cards my sister Cindy and I thought up after too much wine at dinner one night.

"I like my coffee like my men.... (fill in the blank)" Strong, rich, tan, sweet, mountain grown, black, French, Italian, with sweet little buns, on the veranda, first thing in the morning.....

Audrey thought of the image of coffee cup stains on the front. Thanks Aud.

Everyone thought this said "shave" and it's supposed to say "share" , so I benched it and did another one with a better 'r'....


Libby Lou Little dog likes to sit on my lap as I paint,

she belongs to Barbara...."auntie B."

Walnut Grove, California

Here are some of the buildings in Walnut Grove.

The Tong building (lower left) reminded my friend Marty of the pastels he painted that appeared on his calendar years ago. He teased me about copying from him, as if I could!
Check out his website (Marty Stanley) listed on my "links worth looking at."

We love you and miss you Marty,

xoxox Kathlalenalenaleen

Deer and trees

Viansa Winery Gift Shop Sonoma, CA

This is my mom holding up a red poppy bowl I painted for Viansa while shopping in Sonoma.

This gives you an idea of the size. I wanted this to look like it could be old. Sepia colored.

McConnell Estate Winery

Our daughter Tori shopping in the gift area at Mc Connell Estates just outside of Elk Grove.

This is the photo I used to create the plate below for their gift shop.

How to buy a Pure Hokum item

You may call or email me with an idea of what you want, or ask to see other photos of my work.
Most items you will see already belong to someone else. I photograph each gift I make.
Your gift will be close to photo, but not exactly the same.

A typical conversation goes like this (after Hello, I am....) "I need a gift for my __________,
I want to spend about $____. They like to _____. Do you have anything like that?"

A mug runs about $15
A big platter is about $100
There are lots of items in between.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin"

William Shakespeare

Poppy house plates

gift basket stuffers

Halloween

I like to call this design "NOVEMBER First"

Miss Lilly always has a great Halloween Party, these were a hostess gift for her one year.

These freaky little trick or treaters

went home from one of my shows

with Angela Tate Rooney.

"they crack me up" angie rooney

Happy Birthday!

OK, here's an example of a customer special order.
Marcy Rossi calls last week and says "I need a plate for my friend who is turning 40 on Friday, she has lived in Italy and Mexico, maybe you can put Happy Birthday on it in different languages" Her friend's mom had a special plate she put at the birthday person's place at the dinner table while she was growing up...

(I picture those red ones with the white writing that say TODAY IS YOUR DAY or CELEBRATE) Nice tradition.

So, hopefully Julie is not looking at my blog and will be suprised when Marcy whips this out at dinner on Friday! Happy 40th Julie Griffin!!!!!

The plate I used is from Williams Sonoma .... Apilco Porcelain from France....feels great!
All in all, a lovely "under $50" unique gift.

The Cat House on the Kings

Watch what this wonderful person does for cats
without homes.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=vwM6f0liHpo

Pure Hokum donates to The Cat House on the Kings

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sushi

Platters

A few pieces of the Delta Silhouette collection from this past summer, 2008.

Mud swallow

Silhouettes of images from my walk with the dogs.

More news on Pure Hokum

Coming in the fall edition of the Delta Explorer....Pure Hokum!

http://www.thedeltaexplorer.com/

check out pages 40-41!!!!

Check out the article on Pure Hokum!

http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2008/08/04/lodi_living/arts/2_qna_stevans_080802.txt

Shamrock plate and cup, bone china

Pure Hokum handpainted gifts

Individually handpainted gifts!