Ann Kyyro Quinn

Textile artist Ann Kryyo Quinn designs beautiful, graphic pillows and placemats.

Imagine - One Day Late

I'm about to admit my ignorance.  I sometimes forget the difference between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Or maybe - just maybe - soldiers are on my mind these days much more than labor unions. Today on the front page, another 20 year old Ohioan has fallen to the insanity of Iraq. I could barely breathe from the effort it took to choke back the tears. 20 years old. Going to be a doctor. Engaged. Killed in Iraq. I just can't seem to get desensitized to it.  Now, I don't mean for this to become a political blog. This is a blog about art and creativity. But damn. It's 2007.

War. It's a concept that should incomprehensible.

War. I thought we'd blow ourselves up in a nuclear war long before the year 2000. At 12:01 a.m., 1/1/00 listening to the bagpipes in the street, I remember thinking "Ahhh. That's the end of war." I meant it. The feeling was genuine and real... and unfortunately, naive.

War. It's 2007 and we are at war. Again. We have learned nothing from our previous mistakes.

War. It's on my mind because the Blue Angels flew over my building this weekend for their annual show. The sound is unbearable, ear-shattering and literally  shakes the building. Startles me every time they fly over.  My God, what must it be like to live in a war zone and to hear this sound every day?  I couldn't bear it.

Why do people enjoy seeing them? I think just one of those planes could pay for all the homeless people to have homes, because they cost like a billion dollars don't they?  I'm confused.

But for one moment....maybe we can all imagine a world without war. And maybe, just maybe, as John Lennon taught - it's an artist's responsibility to be political. And maybe, as a writer, it is my responsibility to write about peace instead of war. To change the focus. And how will I do that? With a lot of imagination.

John and Yoko, thanks for being an inspiration.

What I'm listening to today. One of my all time favs.  It's all about peace and love.

The Incredible Changing Dining Area, Vol II

Remember my post a few weeks ago about The Incredible Changing Dining Area?

Over the long weekend this little area of my apartment underwent more transformation. It started with my new painting. The painting was inspired by my love of retro mod shapes and my new love of turquoise. I am surprised to find that I love the combination of turquoise and orange.

Angels and Aliens, 2007

24" X 30", acrylic and marker on canvas

Like many of my paintings, I didn't like this painting at first. I found I was caught up in perfectionism when I painted this and I was unhappy that I did the circles freehand. But, now I love it and I plan to do a series of paintings like this.

So, I hung the painting in my dining area and played with my new objects.

This arrangement lasted only one day, because the next day my wonderful sister-in-law gave me a beautiful new Kenneth Wingard vase! And it's turquoise! Talk about your thoughtful and perfect gifts! What a gal she is.So, I put the new vase in my Incredible Changing Dining Area. I love it!

The dining table needs a new coat of spray paint. And I am still trying to decide if I want new chairs, or just want to recover these chairs. I am open to any suggestions.

Pink! Or I should have been born rich instead of beautiful...

Pink is on my mind, as usual. No matter what color I am obsessing about, it is always in combination with pink. White and pink. Orange and pink. Tuquoise and pink. You get the idea. I guess I need two homes, one all pink and one all white. I've dreamed of having a place with all pink walls and everything else, furniture, lamps, accessories would be white. And lately my love for pink is the hot pink variety. My favorite color du jour is fushia.

A modern interpretation of pink is hard to find. If I I were a designer, I'd design a symbiotic room of all pink organic forms. Ahh. I can see the images in my mind, pink lamps, pink pottery, Translating it on a page is difficult. Perhaps on canvas.

I wonder, is it wrong to lust over a refrigerator? I must admit to being in lust with the Smeg fridge. One day I hope to own one, because I think everything in a home should be beautiful.

Here are some pink images. Enjoy!

Smeg fridge.

Typhoon Shocking Pink Retro Bread Bin. Isn't this fabulous?

Modern 50 Mid-Century Products (Careful, this site is addictive!)

George Kovacs Lamp. Very hard to find a modern pink lamp that is not deco.

I absolutely adore this pop art painting by Shauno. Takes me back to my youth, when I used to dye my hair pink! I still really love pink hair. I would love to see a HUGE version of this in a minimal white loft. Shauno's Etsy shop is here. Shauno's home page is here.

Karim Rashid Veuve Clicquot Love Seat. Form follows form in this piece. I'm embarassed to admit I love it. It's just too fab even though no one could ever possibly sit in it, much less afford it at its ridiculous price tag of $10,000.00! This piece belongs in a fashion shoot, a sci-fi set, or in a lobby of some concrete building to serve purely as sculpture. And even though this piece is ridiculous, I just can't argue its beauty.

If you were the unfortunate model who had to sit on this piece, it should be a requirement that you wear the following Lisa Perry dress.


At least you'd look marvelous!

Karim does have a coupla cute pink objects that are affordable.

Lighter for $9.00. I always wanted a cute lighter to light candles. Certainly no one would use this cute lighter for cigarettes.

And the Oh chair. Priced at $65.00. I'd like to have two of these for my dining room.

I say it all the time - thank God for Target! Look at this tea set priced at only $22.49! And me still several days away from pay day! I hope the supplies last! Absolutely adorable. Love the globally-inspired shape of it. Cross your fingers for me that they don't run out! It just so happens that I have the perfect empty shelf for this set. And I really need it for AT's color contest.

Ahh, I'm a great consumer. Just not such a great capitalist.

I really tried to include some pottery (although maybe the tea set qualifies). But it's really hard to find, simple, modern organic pink pottery. Not deco, not Rosewood and without flowers on it. I'd appreciate it if any one has any links they can share.

My OCD from the previous days (pink, turquoise, pods, alien looking lights, urban toys) culminated in the following paintings:

Angels and Aliens, 2007

24" x 30", acrylic and marker on canvas

The Universal Language

18" x 24", acrylic, marker and pencil on canvas

Sometimes my eccentricity worries me. Not!

It's Okay to be Pretty

Last week I wrote about the choice to be comfortable rather than pretty. Make no mistake, it's okay to be pretty, and you are pretty just by virtue of being a woman. You're not too fat, too thin, too tall, or too anything. Let's get rid of the 'er words (older, etc.) And forget about the word "too." All women are beautiful and the great thing about being a woman is that we have so many choices. This week pretty is on my mind because a painting is brewing. It is very difficult to do my work today because all I can think of are graphic shapes and colors.

I am caught up in the romance of Victor Vetterlien's white box (see post below). I love the idea of entertaining in that fabulous place and wearing an outfit to match the decor.  Here is what I would wear to throw a party in Victor's home:

Love the orange pop of the dress against white hose and shoes.  Much like my own decor.  Here is what I would wear while contemplating the empty shelf:

Fashion design by Lisa Perry.

Contemplating a White, Empty Shelf

In my post regarding Victor Vetterlein below, I spoke of how I would love to sit on the white sofa and contemplate the potentiality of the empty white shelf all day long. I never tire of contemplation of space. If I were to place an object(s) on that shelf what would it be? Of course it would have to be something simple and I would go for assymetry. Placing an object to the left and leaving the right empty. I find negative space very important when trying to make a beautiful object or two impactful. What would I place there?

Maybe a white bottle with graphic lettering?



"Poet's Bottle: Sin"
Art Glass BottleBy: Jeff Crandall

Or maybe an art glass genie bottle?

"Topaz Genie Bottle"
Art Glass VaseBy: Claire Kelly and Anthony Schafermeyer



Or what about my new toys? UniPo's Cosmo-Knots from Fugitive Toys, as seen on my flickr set.


Or maybe I should stick with all white and juxtapose the white Cosmo-Knot with the Vietnamese statute (formerly available from Pier One). Every home needs an Asian piece.

In the end, I would probably leave the shelf empty.



A painting is definitely brewing here. Victor, thanks for being an inspiration.

The White Box - Victor Vetterlein

I absolutely adore Victor Vetterlein's work. I first discovered him at the AT Smallest Coolest 2007 contest. The apartment he designed was in the final four. No matter how much I experiment with color, I keep coming back to all white. White, light filled boxes make me swoon. In my love of mod retro design, I've been noticing the pod as a recurring motif, so am very drawn to Victor's alien pod-like lamps and coffee tables.

I could live here. I could sit on that sofa and contemplete the pure potentiality of the empty shelves all day. Also really love the monochromatic effect of the white painting against the white walls.

Victor & Soeun's Romatic Loft.

Image from MocoLoco. Totally groovy combo light/table. And doesn't she look great! I adore the idea of matching costume to design.

Victor is very talented. I love the graphic nature of his paintings too. I've been wanting to experiment with words in my own paintings.

Images from Victor Vetterlein.com.

I've got a painting brewing in my head. Victor's place is influencing me. I keep thinking, what would I paint for this space? His space if definitely talking to me.

You don't have to be pretty ... or ... wish I'd said that

Venus Beauty Institute (1999)

I've been watching a lot of French film lately. I dearly love Audrey Tautou since seeing her in Amelie. I want to devote an entire post to Amelie, but today I would like to talk about the actress to the left. The wonderful Nathalie Baye.

I adored her in this movie. She's mean, she's unsettled, she's lonely, she's sad. And she's just too damn tired to give a shit that she's mean, unsettled, lonely and sad. She's way too tired to put on makeup and fix her hair, which is ironic because she works in the beauty industry. But somehow, her beauty still peeks through, and when she is gentle with her clients you sometimes get a glimpse of what she was before life was too cruel to her. A passionate man falls in love with her exactly the way she is.

I found myself identifying with this character. I'm no where near as mean as she (I hope), but some find my sensitivity challenging.   As a sensitive, artistic soul, I've never fit in corporate America so have not been able to achieve much success. But the days where I cared about that are long gone.

Several years ago, I left a good job. Well, truthfully, it didn't pay all that well, the benefits were good. But they wanted my entire life. I often worked until midnight, weekends, holidays. On those rare occasions I was home, my employer called.  A lot.  Even when I was sick.  I didn't have a vacation nor a raise in four years, and I was supposed to feel lucky that I had a job.  That's what they told me.  My existence was sleep, work, eat (usually at my desk), sleep, eat, work..... I never had time to do anything else.  They told me if I was unhappy that I should leave.  So I did.  Without having a new job lined up. A careless mistake that I paid dearly for.  But what do you do when you are so unhappy?

Since then my goal has been to simplify my life. I have an easier job that pays much less. A very small place, less stuff (could actually even have less). And...I'm beginning to feel happier.

As I watched Nathalie's character over and over, I figured a few things out. It's okay not to be pretty. And I thought a lot about an essay I discovered last year on this topic.

You don't have to be pretty. It's okay if you are not. Pretty is not a requirement, it should be fun, if it's what you choose and what you are comfortable with. Sometimes not having to be pretty is a luxury and is so freeing. At my current job, I can wear jeans and tennis shoes. I don't even have to wear makeup. Now here's the thing. My mother would shit if she read this. I often come to work with wet hair pulled into a bun and no makeup. I used to scurry on the street in dark glasses feeling ashamed, hoping I didn't see anyone I knew. No more. I walk with my head up. I don't have to be pretty, I don't owe it to anyone. If I feel like being pretty, I will. Right now what I feel like is freedom and comfort.

I walk down the street joyously sans panty hose. I marvel that my feet don't hurt for the first time in my life. And it's almost sexual to be able to rub my eyes. Perhaps being that comfortable with yourself is true beauty. We definitely need to give up all judgment of ourselves and others and just be easy.

Afterall, Nathalie's character found love without even trying, and maybe that's the lesson. Maybe we don't need to try so hard. Maybe just being comfortable with yourself is enough.

There is an amazing essay written by Erin at A Dress a Day, called "You don't have to be pretty." I have reread this essay about 100 times. Very profound. If I return to substitute teaching, I plan to share this with all young girls. I would like to encourage all women to read this essay.  Wish I'd written it. Erin and Nathalie, thanks for being an inspiration.

The Love is to You, Boo

I'm feeling sentimental today. My nephews are on my mind, and thoughts of them are filling my entire being with joy. I'm babysitting on Saturday and just can't wait to spend time with them. I hope to have lots of new art from them to post. The home they share with their parents (my baby brother and sister-in-law) is beautiful and I hope to share that with you next week as well.

My nephews have no idea how they help me. They are a constant source of joy and inspiration to me. I couldn't love them anymore than if they were my own children. In fact, sometimes I look at them and it almost hurts because I get a lump in my throat. I am so grateful to my brother and sister-in-law for sharing their wonderful family with me. I would gladly give my life for either of them. There are so many things I want to share with them. If there is one thing I hope I've been able to teach them, it is this:

GG and GP - you can do anything. If anyone ever tells you can't do something, don't listen, they are lying.

To celebrate the love that is overflowing from the depth of my soul today, I would like to post a very dear piece of art that GG made in 2005. I will be producing this piece as a poster.

"The love is to you boo." December 2005. He was chronologically five years old when he created this. I say chronologically because my nephews are old souls. I used to call GG and GP "boo boo" and sometimes shortened it to boo. They probably don't remember this, but when I held them when they were babies, I would say "You're my boo."

GP and GG, I will love you:

Tracy Jenkins' poster from Village.

Turquoise Lamps

I sometimes get fixated on a color and can't stop thinking about it. When I paint, I mix my own colors, and sometimes I just can't get the color in my head on the canvas. I can sit and contemplate a color all day. The perfect pinky-orange. Or the perfect corally-raspberry. But lately it's turquoise. I experimented with turquoise in my painting this weekend, and I got it close. I seem to like the less-green-more-blue turquoise. So today it seemed only natural that I have turquoise lamps on the brain. I love lamps, and especially love ones that look like pottery.

The above two lamps were designed by J-D Schall. I have seen his bird-like pottery (which will be the subject of a later post), but I was not aware he designed lamps. Aren't these gorgeous? Images from The Lighting Gallery.

And look at this beautiful lamp from VitaminD's new shop. Mod and traditional at the same time. Love it.


Here's a simple lamp from Crate and Barrel.


I don't usually go for patterns, and this one wouldn't fit in my home, but isn't it cute? From bellacor.

And I am madly in love with this lamp from West Elm that I featured in an earlier post. Think it would look great in SNL's home too.


I posted the following Ercole Barovier lamp from ebay on Jo's virtual homewarming party:

Target has the following paper lamp for only $19.99!

These last two lamps are from omgallery.com. This site is totally groovy. These are priced very reasonably and go great with my retro/mod bohomo Asian/Morrocan decor.