06 May 2014

Seaside Collection Sample Sale by Joy Silk

I dreamed up the Seaside Collection while visiting my sister in Southern California at Christmastime last year and inspired by Facets of Avalon's "To be beside the Sea". I've always loved to walk on the beach and look for shells and pretty rocks. Each silk painting is unique and features various seashells and coral of the fantasy variety. 

In Del Mar with my sister and her boys. 

Seaside Collection - art to wear hand painted silk

Sunset in Encinitas

Sunset is inspiring - I love to watch the sun drop into the sea 
La Jolla Shores
A day hike at La Jolla Shores, off-shore breezes and perfect little waves. 
Another glorious day in Paradise
This small and unique collection is the sample set from my new Seaside Collection, launched in February 2014.
Charmeuse poncho, turquoise and seashells
Silk has a luxurious translucence that perfectly radiates the rich saturated colors I enjoy working with.
Crepe de chine ruana, fantasy seashells
Every item is made to order, hand painted and signed as an original work of art.

Crepe de chine poncho, very wearable

Luxurious charmeuse poncho

Detail : scallop shells on charmeuse silk 

Detail : poncho styled as a scarf
May this painted light be an inspiration to you.
Joy Light, artist and designer

24 March 2014

Spring Cleaning Feng Shui Style

9 Simple Feng Shui Spring Cleaning Tips
1. The Attitude is Gratitude. Be grateful. Gratitude is the best and fastest way to achieve your goals. It’s important to note the good in any situation. Observing a grateful outlook helps you move forward towards dreams and goals.   

2. Adopt an open door policy. Keep the “ming tang” clear of belongings and leave a generous (6’) clearance on both the outside and the inside to ensure that the energy can flow freely to benefit all of the occupants. 
3. Improve the chi/energy of your home with regular thorough cleaning. It helps to raise the vibration, allowing you to more easily achieve your goals.  
4. Give it away. Donate unused items to the charity of your choice. Your home should reflect who you are and what you want. By clearing unused clutter you will be improving the energy in your home, plus you’ll be donating to a good cause. 
5.  Let the sunshine in. Make sure your home is bright, airy, and well ventilated. Open windows and let natural light in to raise the energy level throughout your home.
French doors wide open Earth Day 2012
6. If you’re stuck, feeling cluttered, and don’t know where to begin, start by emptying just one drawer. It only takes one step forward to fuel the energy and give you momentum to continue streamlining your home of excess items.
7. Go with the flow. A well placed and clean water feature such as a fountain, pool, pond, etc. can give positive effect for money, relationships and health. Add or upgrade a water feature in your home, a Feng Shui expert can be of assistance to make sure it is well placed for most benefit. 
8. Go Green. A thoughtfully landscaped home ensures that your home is being supported from the outside, make sure you have thick landscaping, retaining wall or wood fencing all the way around your property. This will ensure that the energy stays on your property and will help you achieve your goals with money, relationships and health.
Lush summer landscape on Planet Joy 
9.  Keep family pictures out of the bedroom to add spice to your love life! The bedroom should be your respite from the work-a-day world, used only for rest and intimacy put the non-essentials and photos in the family room.

Share your tips, tricks and the results from your spring cleaning in the comment below or join the conversation on Facebook

20 February 2014

Joy Hand Painted Silk Seaside Collection

Introducing a new limited edition of hand painted silks by Joy Light.
The Seaside Collection is inspired by the beach, collecting shells has been a lifelong reverie. Beginning at a young age on the shore in New Jersey. We would go searching for shells and Cape May Diamonds.
Sunset Beach, NJ
Cape May Diamonds are not diamonds at all, but pieces of quartz crystal are broken off from veins and pockets by the swift running waters of mountain streams in the upper reaches of the Delaware river. We prized finding them as kids.
Charmeuse poncho styled as a scarf
The collection is designed to bring you a touch of serenity from a memory of the sea. Find the Seaside Collection online via Etsy. Or contact me to create a custom scarf or wrap just for you, in your colors!
Detail of scallop shell & starfish
As a young adult I beach-combed in Southern California where storms at sea would occasionally wash up treasures from the deep.
Charmeuse Hand Painted Poncho
 Tropical vacations to Hawaii and the Yucatan Peninsula introduced me to other varieties of seashells over the years.
Work in progress - Seaside Collection
The Seaside Collection is whimsical, combining stylized scallop and nautilus shells, representing the tranquility that comes from beach walks and contemplating the waves rolling into the shore.
Seaside Collection : Crepe de chine poncho

Crepe de chine poncho styled as a scarf
You can wear the Seaside collection year round to remind you to embrace the optimistic outlook that comes from time spent watching a sunset in warm weather climate.
Detail scallop shells

Sungold crepe sarong
I'd love to hear from you what your favorite shell beaches are, please share in the comment section or let's chat about it on Facebook!

04 September 2013

Wedding Shawl Commission - Passionate Peacock

Custom orders are good and sometimes they take a little extra time and consideration. This shawl is for a September bride. The bride-to-be specified the peacock feather motif and the colors to include the color of her gown and red to symbolize passion on a white background and left the design up to me. 
The shawl is 100% silk, chiffon edged with satin trim all the way around. It's versatile, lightweight and airy and may be tied and draped many ways as shown below.
Detail of hand painted peacock feather on silk
 Custom orders for bespoke and designer fashion accessories are welcomed via my boutique on Etsy or via my website! For wedding attire inquiries, please allow adequate time for design and production. 


Good things take time!

12 August 2013

Summer Fresh Rolls and Nori-maki

When the weather is hot like it is right now in Southern Oregon, I like to have a light dinner that is healthy and delicious. Last night we had spring rolls and nori rolls. Once the ingredients are prepped, its fun and easy to make these delicious rolls at home!
Spring roll ingredients, wraps, noodles, shredded veggies
Start by assembling the ingredients, there are a few special ingredients that you can get at an Asian grocery store or natural foods store.  For the spring rolls we use rice flour wraps and for the nori rolls we use nori laver. variety of fillings including cooked rice noodles, shredded vegetables: cabbage, carrots and daikon and/or bean sprouts and avocado, and mint or basil leaves, add cooked shrimp if you wish. The rice paper rolls are sheer so I layered the ingredients starting with avocado against the rice paper wrap, then shredded carrot & daikon, cabbage & noodles. It helps to have everything organized before you start wrapping.
For the nori-maki, I use sushi rice seasoned with rice vinegar and mirin. You may like to try this great recipe from the New York Times. We used a prepared sweet ginger chili dipping sauce from Ginger People, but there are many recipes for tasty dipping sauces you can easily make from scratch.
Spring rolls in rice paper wraps and nori rolls
Nori-maki is delicious and fun to make. I make jumbo rolls for our family because it is easier for me to wrap a full sheet of nori rather than a half sheet. You'll need a sushi mat, this one from World Market is great because it has two mats, chopsticks and rice paddles for under $10.
World Market Sushi Mat Set
Having two mats is ideal, I roll one up and let it sit in the mat while I roll up the next one -- letting it rest in the rolled up sushi mat helps the seaweed stick to itself so when you slice up the rolls they stay together. Garnish your plate with seaweed salad, pickled ginger and dipping sauce of soy sauce and wasabi, serve a simple miso broth as a first course if you wish!
Seaweed salad with vegetarian Nori-maki
This healthy light supper makes for satisfied members of the "Clean Plate Club" 
Clean Plate Club
Comment or message me if you have questions on how to prepare this delicious summer supper! 

05 August 2013

Sunflower Season on Planet Joy

Summer has been good so far, I've been staying close to my home planet, nurturing my garden and getting the studio back up to speed. I am filled with gratitude as I say "thank you" with all my heart to those who shopped our emergency liquidation sale, thanks to all of you it was a tremendous success! Meanwhile, I've been getting the studio back in working order and it was spare and inviting whilst I was producing custom ruanas for Kohenet ordination.
Creating for Kohenet 2013
It is now it is set up for production again with a new larger sewing station for the new "vintage" Baby Lock serger and my trusty Bernina.
Low visibility on Planet Joy
The garden is flourishing even though we are experiencing a terrible wildfire season in the PNW.
If I had my way, I'd rather be at the beach!
Despite the less than optimal atmospheric conditions, the gardens on Planet Joy are very welcoming and colorful this year, the eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, basil, squash, sunflowers and more are thriving and ripening!
First tomato!
Zinnia, cosmos & rudbeckia










A friend of mine said he could taste tears in the pool water now that summer is waning. I notice the sun setting a little earlier, a hint of crisp morning air alluding at the season ahead. . . Me, I'm ramping up for the last month of summer and hoping for a good Indian Summer too!
Sunflower Season
Also, when you have a moment, visit  OpenSky, our newest internet boutique, where I'm selling my one of a kind JoySilk Jewellery Collection at smashing low prices!
 
 
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