Welcome to my Blog!

I feel so hip and trendy after finally figuring out how to set this section up on my website!  This will be a place where I will post some of my more recent works for clients so I don't have to keep bugging my webmaster,  Dave
So please check back often and feel free to post any comments!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Modesty never looked so Fashionable


Vintage Fashion Print
Originally uploaded by Karmel Design
This vintage image of very fashionable "madames" caught my eye as it reminded me of one of my favorite treasures - a vintage Parisian newspaper I bought in a Paris flea market. The newspaper is filled with similar images of fashionable ladies in Europe and while I will never part with my original newspaper, I created this piece to express my love of that era and their timeless elegance.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Star Cross'd Lovers

With Valentine's Day coming up, my thoughts of love and romance are still bringing me back to Shakespeare.

When Jamie and I were dating, I wrote a personal essay that compared us to Romeo and Juliet as we too were "star-cross'd" at the time due to our religious differences.

Although, fortunately, our religious differences were resolved and Jamie and I didn't commit suicide, the romantic tale of the Montagues and Capulets will still remain in my heart.

This tile features words from the couple:

ROMEO: With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out.

JULIET: My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

A Midsummer Night's Dream (during a Wintry Day)

I found this vintage photo of Bottom (donkey) and Titania from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and I was feeling very reminiscent of my favorite class at UCLA which was Shakespeare.

It was such a beautiful picture that I had to do *something* with it so the result is this 6" X 6" travertine tile with the quote: "The course of true love never did run smooth" (words from the Great Bard himself).

Even though I took that class over (gasp!) 18 years ago, my gi-nor-mous (but beautiful) Riverside Shakespeare textbook is still one of my favorite treasures (even with all the highlights and margin notes!).

Monday, January 21, 2008

Tell Me Again...why did we leave Southern Calif?


Why did we move to Utah?
Originally uploaded by kaydles
Once again, we woke up to heavy snowfall. Jamie left the house at 4:30 am to get to work and it's a good thing he did too! While he didn't have to struggle with much traffic at that early hour, the roads were not plowed but fortunately he made it there safely in his little California convertible (top up, of course!) by driving behind a big rig.

He did pass a few accidents though and he's glad he got to work so early - several of his colleagues took 2+ hours to get to work during rush hour!

Da Vinci in My Heart

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Oh...how I long for the serenity she seems to enjoy...

Ever since I saw "Ever After" with Drew Barrymore a few years ago, I've always loved Da Vinci's portrait "Head of a Young Woman".   Of course the movie version made her look more like Drew...but the image shown here is of the actual masterpiece.

I've taken this image and digitally embellished it for an elegant fine print. Isn't she lovely?

This print is available in my Etsy boutique:

http://www.karmeldesign.etsy.com


Thursday, January 17, 2008

Love in the Home - Free Postcards to Share

I've treasured the message that this verse conveys for years now and in the past I've sent it to friends and family prior to Valentine's Day. It's a message that I have to read to myself often.

It is entitled "Love in the Home"

The verse:
"Love in the Home"

"If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,
but have not love, I am a housekeeper - not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,
but have not love, my children learn cleanliness - not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the fingerprints on the newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child,
then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.
Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.
Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.
As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the
Greatest of all is Love. (Author unknown)"

I am now offering a set of 6 complimentary postcards (they're double-sided 4" X 6") for you to share with YOUR friends and family. Just e-mail me at karmel@karmeldesign.com with your shipping information and I will send them out to you free of charge.

I'll even package it all pretty for you (because I just can't help myself!)

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FRONT:

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BACK:

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You can also view this message on an 8 X 8 Travertine Tile available in my Etsy shop. http://www.karmeldesign.etsy.com

Introducing Photo Tiles!

"By George, I think she's got it!"  So for years now, I've been trying to figure out a way to transfer your favorite pictures on to tiles.  I've had requests for them in the past and every time I try, I'm just not too pleased with the result - they just did not turn out good enough to offer to you, my wonderful clients.

But I think I've figured it out now!

Check out the pics below...these Photo Tiles are available in my Etsy shop and will make a wonderful Valentine's Day gift!



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