Mountain View Art and Wine Festival

Mountain View is a sweet town in South Bay - we are here with Villain Accessories this weekend at the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival this Saturday & Sunday September 8, 9. 

Joy Hand Painted Silk & Villain Accessories

We will have our boutique set up near the corner of Castro and El Camino and it looks like we are in for perfect weather this weekend. Come on down, and enjoy the festival, it's free and there is a great line up of music and fun for the whole family!!

We've got gorgeous hand painted silks and fine artisan jewellery - so treat yourself to a richly deserved gift of art to wear fashion accessories. It's not too soon to think about the holiday season. Support hand made - support made in USA. Come by our booth #652 for a special deal when you mention Twitter or Facebook or Planet Joy

A Season of Colour - Silverton Fine Art Festival

Join us this weekend, August 17th and 18th for Oregons most beautiful outdoor fine art show and sale. Find Joy Hand Painted Silk in Booth 52 - Click here to download your copy of this years event guide. I hope to see you there! 

Silverton Fine Art Festival Aug 18-19

Colour can't be touched, but it can touch us. It can't be felt, but it an change the way we feel. Try describing a colour and you can only describe the things we associate with it! But despite not being a tangible physical thing, like our clothes or shoes are, colour is key to the world of fashion. It's one of the visual clues that helps define a season! 

Sustainable - Made by Hand

This weekend we will dive into the beauty of nature at the Silverton Fine Arts Festival in Coolidge-McClaine Park, with it's sprawling oak trees and creek side location, borders charming and historic downtown Silverton. The Oregon Garden is a few minutes away and Silver Falls State Park is less than fifteen miles from the festival site. 

Silver Falls State Park

The festival is a comfortable one-hour drive from most anywhere in the greater Portland area, just over an hour from Eugene and Springfield, and just fifteen minutes from Salem. 

Dyed Silk Wraps, Shawls, Scarves & Jewellery

The Fine Arts Festival's successes support, to a large extent, the various educational programs of the Silverton Arts Center. Your interest and attendance in the SFAF and the participation of artists whose high quality creations you purchase and enjoy are an integral financial resource for those programs!

Joy Hand Painted Silk Fashion Accessories - made in Ashland, Oregon

Mention "Planet Joy" and get a complimentary 10% discount on your purchase at the Silverton Fine Arts Festival! 

Park Street Art and Wine Faire - July 28, 29 - Alameda California

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, you should come out and enjoy the summer sun in Alameda while strolling through the Park Street Business District this weekend! Check out the variety of food and beverages, arts and crafts booths, live music, as well as a petting zoo for kids. I'll have a style clinic on both days at 11 and 2, where I'll be sharing style tips and showing you new and classic ways to wear scarves and shawls. 

Joy Hand Painted Silk is excited to participate in the 28th Annual Park Street Art and Wine Faire – The festival is a hometown tradition in Alameda and the San Francisco Bay Area. Weekend activities will include art and craft vendors, live music, kids’ area, food and beverages including beer, wine and mimosas. The event will be held the weekend of July 28 and July 29. Hours run from 10:00am to 6:00pm both days.

The Park Street Art & Wine Faire was voted "Best Event in Alameda" by Alameda Magazine readers.

I'll be there along with more than 300 vendor booths located between Encinal and Buena Vista avenues, there is sure to be something for everyone. Beauty is the theme in our booth I'll be there exhibiting with Brandi & Steve Collins Villain Accessories, our booth will feature a winning combination of lovely hand painted silks and fine hand crafted jewelry. 

Brandi Collins of Villain Accessories "Where being beautiful makes you the bad guy" 

Alameda is a smoke-free city. Smoking is prohibited in all public spaces within the commercial district.

Secure valet bicycle parking provided at
1522 Park Street (Alameda Bicycle's parking lot).

The Park Street Art and Wine Faire is located on Park Street, between Encinal Ave and Buena Vista Ave.

Silks From Around the World - July 2, 2012

I was marveling how fantastic it is to be connected with all my silk painting colleagues around the world and how stimulating it is to keep abreast of not only their works, but their techniques, challenges, exhibitions, sales events, and personal tidbits via social media! For instance, on Facebook, I'm part of a group called The SPIN, also known as Silk Painters International, the annual conference is to be held in New Mexico this month Silk in Santa Fe. . . the Soul of Silk, July 22 - July 27, 2012. Silk painters click to join SPIN here.

Official SPIN 2012 artwork by Ron Gutman

My colleague Ron Gutman of Allentown, Pennsylvania designed and painted the poster for this years SPIN conference. Ron is more than proficient in a number of media, he's also an accomplished sculptor, and ceramic artist. Click here to visit his website, Studio VII where you can browse his galleries and purchase his clay flower sculptures, silk scarves and ceramic creations. 

Joy Hand Painted Silk by Joyflower on Etsy

Another group I'm affiliated with online is Etsy Silk Artists, seventy-seven individuals world wide who sell our wares via Etsy.com where you can buy unique handmade and vintage items directly from independent sellers around the world. I have my shop there, where I sell all manner of hand painted scarves and jewelry. Some of the folks in this group are also members of SPIN, but there are unique individuals in both groups! 

Silk painting techniques are as variable as anything else in life. The common thread we silk painters share is our fascination with color on silk, whether our paintings are realistic or imaginary, traditional or modern, in our virtual silk painting organizations, we openly share our experiments with new materials and time tested favorites, we are able to share our processes, successes, challenges and heartbreaks with one another from our studios all over the world!

I've learned that silk painters create a friendly creative atmosphere where questions are asked and answered and appreciation is shared amongst virtual colleagues. Here I will share a few pictures of some of my online artisan friends. I hope you will take a moment to enjoy the beauty and to explore the world of silk painting! 

Banana Leaves by Lynn Meek

Lynn is a member of both groups and her work is divine! All her original paintings are inspired photos she's taken and while she's painted for years, Lynn has more recently discovered that painting on silk is a rush! I agree with her when she says "it's much more fun to wear it than hang it on a wall" 

One of a kind, made to order by Maria Jürimäe

I am the proud owner of two gorgeous Singing Scarves from Tartu, Estonia, Jürimäe has painted on silk and taught silk painting for over 15 years. She loves to sing while painting, she says "in the old Estonian and Finno-Ugric tales the power of song is really strong -- it can influence our lives, it can create new worlds." Her silk scarves and hand painted silk ties carry the joy and good wishes that are specially painted into them. 

Return of the Sister Bride Mandala Greeting Card by Fiona Stolze

Silk and Art by Fiona Stolze of Bristol, UK is another one of my favorite colleagues online. I'm enthralled by the precision of her resist lines and the intricate imagery and the exquisite range of colors and tints. Fiona is inspirational to many silk painters and others via her her lovely blog Inspired Art & Living.  

As always, your comments are welcomed. Do let me know if you would like to be featured or share one of your favorite silk painters and I will do my best to feature them in future posts on Planet Joy! 

Richard Patrick Light - In Memoriam 1942-2012

A Memorial service was held in Glen Park, in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California on July 31, 2012.

We had a paddle out to his favorite surf spot "suck-outs" at Cardiff Reef on August 1, 2012. 

August 2011 on the "TJ shuttle" with Rob A. 

‎"For what is it to die, but to stand in the sun and melt into the wind?
And when the earth has claimed our limbs, then shall we truly dance."

- Khalil Gibran

My father, Pat Light, went to his final rest in Mexico last week. He was a good hearted guy that loved surfing in warm waters. He was purple heart award veteran of the Viet Nam war. 

We always enjoyed spending time at the pool or the beach together. 

He was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.

Pat with Cousin Kim, this is his sister Susan's daughter. 

"Hope is the anchor of the soul, the stimulus to action and the incentive to achievement."

You might infer from my given name Kristin Joy Light, that I am a positive and upward looking person. I was not born that way, nor was I was brought up to be that way. I learned how to find joy amidst life's sorrows. To realize that even on a gray day, the sun is shining above the clouds. Spring always follows winter. So if you have been enduring a very trying season, I want to encourage you to hold on. When you feel you can run no more, the finish line is nearer than ever. Here I present spring flowers from the gardens on Planet Joy. 

The flowers that appear in my garden each spring inspire hope! May you also be inspired!

Forsythia and daffodils

The very first flowers to appear are the violets, they blossom in late winter and did you know that if you steep the flowers in hot water you will enjoy a most delicate and delightful tea. Next winter, before spring arrives, pluck a handful and try, the scent and flavor from a half-dozen violet blossoms will transport you to a warm sunny disposition!

Hyacinth and daffodils 

Hyacinth was my maternal grandmother's favorite flower, that, and liatris, she favored purple, magenta, lilac colored flowers. Here is a magenta hyacinth with some early daffs in the woodland garden on Planet Joy.

Delicate pink clematis vine 

The landscape here on Planet Joy is a well established garden that was planted in the 50's when the house was built. I've been making some small additions, such as this lovely clematis that was a gift from a friend, this year I resisted the urge to prune it and it has rewarded my restraint with a glorious bounty of variegated pale pink flowers! Did you know that proceeds from the sale of all our pink scarves and jewellery benefits breast cancer research

Dicentra, commonly known as bleeding hearts

Another tender beauty, pink bleeding hearts. The colors feed my senses and inspire my silk painting, like the purple iris below,  you can see how it almost perfectly reflects the distressed hand painted silk boa on the bodice.

Misty Orchid Silk Boa 

Garden Photo Shoot during the Annular Eclipse 5/20/12

I am learning to be a better photographer, I try to shoot in natural light whenever possible, on Sunday, I thought I'd experiment in the unusual lighting conditions of the Annular Eclipse as it was viewable from my home. The light was a bit flat, but it was fun to try a new location and set up for the photo shoot.

Towering Clematis Vine 

Coral Geranium

I planted two coral geraniums in footed urns this year. 

I like to keep a pop of color handy to provide inspiration!

Spring inspired hand painted silks

Iris in the bud

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” -Anaïs Nin

Iris blossoms 

Annular Eclipse Patio Photo Shoot

Dogwood Flower Crepe Poncho with Vintage Romance Silk flower headband 

Buddha nestled in clematis flowers

Spring inspired crepe poncho worn as a scarf

Roses, Dogwood and Peacock Feather Motif Poncho

Gorgeous Dogwood Silk Poncho

Idyllic Spring Garden Photo Shoot

I will leave you with one of my favorite poems by Hafiz, a beautiful mystic sufi poet from Persia 

It Felt Love

How

Did the rose

Ever open its heart

And give to this world

All its

Beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light

Against its

Being,

Otherwise,

We all remain

Too

Frightened.

Please visit our online store at Etsy and if you are shopping - take advantage of saving 15% on your next purchase with the coupon code ETSYXO specified at checkout! It's my pleasure to create custom designs, so if you don't see the colors you are seeking, do not hesitate to inquire!

You decide! Is it a scarf, a necklace, a belt, or a headband?

If you've been following this blog, you may know that I've been experimenting with daylight for my product photography recently. The photos in this post were shot indoors through filtered light of the setting sun. I moved the photo booth all around the living room to capture the fading light on my newest collection of Limited Edition Scarflettes.  

Coral Scarflette

This soft feminine coral colored scarflette is 22 inches square with a pink tinted semi precious cabochon charm suspended from a silver-tone chain and a lobster claw clasp. Top photo shows the scarf unfurled and worn forward, like a cowl. Second photo (below) shows it with a soft knot and worn doubled around the neck.

This lovely light green "peridot" scarflette is on trend for spring and summer's saturated pastel palette! Cheerful with bits of turquoise and lemon yellow, this will be a perfect go-to accessory when you are wearing white, try it around your waist with a white or other solid color summer dress or shirt dress! Note the gorgeous faceted blue bead suspended from antiqued brass chain.

Peridot Scarflette

The next scarflette may or may not technically be oxblood red, but it is close enough, this gorgeous deep red color was achieved by a shibori dye process called arashi shibori. I folded and wrapped the silk around a tube and saturated it with color. Arashi means rain, and refers to the myriad effects that are achieved with this traditional Japanese "tie-dye" technique. The reference to rain in all it's ways of falling, drizzle to downpour. The effect is quite subtle in this particular piece! A clear quartz crystal is suspended from the silver-tone chain.

ox·blood red  (ksbld)

n.

A dark or deep red to medium reddish brown.

Below is my favorite from the collection, clearly it is not in the saturated pastel range I've been working in recently. This striking scarf is black and silver with some color towards the center and a beautiful gold mandala is outlined over the entire scarflette. The silver tone chain has a lobster claw clasp and a beautiful semi-precious stone charm is clear with a few hints of color shot through.

 Here is a sweet peridot silk flower. I dyed the jacquard silk in a soft array of pastel greens, then sewed the silk flower and attached it to vintage lattice trim that I laced with a rich brown vintage rayon bias ribbon. Very elegant, may be worn at the neck or as a headband, as the chain allows for adjustability.

 Another vintage beauty, this pretty black and gold acrylic flower comes from a necklace given to me by a friend, the gunmetal chain has a vintage mother of pearl bead charm, and the vintage lattice trim is laced with gorgeous taupe rayon bias ribbon. Truly one of a kind and stunning - again, this is adjustable and may be worn in your hair or around your neck. Little girls can wear it as a belt!

 Here's the 22" scarflette worn in an entirely different style - wrapped twice at the neck, and let to dangle dramatically, this abalone colored silk features a gorgeous vintage gold tone double link chain and a very pretty gold tone leaf charm. The longer chain on this particular scarflette makes it very wearable as a belt too!

 Close up of the chain and leaf charm. The scarflette is styled with a soft knot and the chain is secured so the leaf charm drops over the knot, your imagination dictates how you will wear it, in your hair, around your neck or wrist, or as a belt. Try it on for size - there are a few in my Etsy shop now, and I'll be listing these as soon as I can.

 Soft sky blue permeates this next scarflette below, a silver toned chain secures it with a clear quartz crystal. Shown as a cowl below.

You can see the versatility as it is left long in the photo below.

 And finally unfurled as a soft cowl towards the front. This one is also long enough to wear as a belt too.

Please visit our online store at Etsy and if you are shopping - take advantage of saving 15% on your next purchase with the coupon code ETSYXO specified at checkout! It's our pleasure to create custom work, so if you don't see the colors you are seeking, please inquire!