Jan Avellana | Hazelnut Cottage

the last day of summer vacation 2011.

 
  ...here’s to a sweet new school year...you are growing so quickly, my babies, my boys...you are growing so fast....xoxo

sneak peek...new artwork coming soon!

...they are not quite done yet...i have a few more tweaks to make before i am ready to show these girls to you in all their glory, and then of course, i need to photograph them (thank you to rory—a dear friend who has graciously offered to help!)...

...they can’t wait to meet you!...

...each has their story, their voice, their beauty to share with you...

...each in their own quiet way...

...i look forward to announcing the grand opening of a brand new etsy shop this fall...stay tuned! :) the best is yet to be!

inside the creative studio: a clothpaperscissors book!

last november, i was happy to announce my studio feature in cloth*paper*scissors STUDIO’s magazine. today i am happy to say that they’ve chosen to make a BOOK of creative spaces...and my little studio made the cut! and to think, this adventure began simply because i responded to a call for entries from cloth*paper*scissors for photos of small art studios. i figured, “oh, what the heck? i’ll send in a photo of my little space.” ya’ just never know, ya’ know?!

so, yes, coming this november 2011, hazelnut cottage is going to be featured in this book, cloth*paper*scissor’s, “Inside the Creative Studio: Inspiration and Ideas for Your Art and Craft Space”

i am beyond blown away that you’ll see my studio featured alongside the likes of lesley riley, tim holtz, seth apter and pokey bolton!!!

pre-orders are available on the interweave site now! :) yippee!

slowing down...

during the summer, things slow down around here. a lot fewer orders to fill, a lot less house cleaning getting done, a lot more playing in the sun and eating wayyyy too much and a lot more jaunts to the country to visit my family out on the north shore of oahu.

 

lazy summer days, sticky hot, with the kiddos running amok and the water hose and sprinklers running in the yard for some part of the day.

this is the view that greets me when i wake up in the morning at my mom's house. fresh white hawaiian ginger and ferns in full-bloom outside her bedroom window. the gardenias are still blossoming too. 

 

the beaches are spectacular here, on this side of the island. ice cold fresh water springing up from the sand, mixing with the warm crystal clear blue-green water of the sea and miles and miles of clean white sand beaches with only a few folks in sight.

but there is other beauty to see here as well. rolling hills. bright green meadows. farm land and blue sky and remnants of pineapple and sugar cane fields.

...and horses in their pasture...

and verdant mountains...just so much beauty to take in...

and sweetness of all kinds to savor throughout the day. :) what has your summer been like?

register for juliette crane’s “how to paint an owl” ecourse! :)

How To Paint An Owl e-course video from Juliette Crane on Vimeo.

would you like to learn how to paint magical owls using unique mixed-media techniques? would you like to interact with a wonderful and inspiring indie artist in a casual online setting? :) then head over to juliette crane’s “how to paint an owl e-course" and register today! class begins next week monday, july 18 and runs through august 20th. more details here!

summer 2011.

while swimming with my children, unbeknownst to me, they were scouring the shore for heart shaped rocks. each time my boys found one, they washed them off and tucked them into my beach bag. when i came ashore, i found these. and my heart melted. so sweet and lovely. there is nothing in me that deserves to have these two precious gifts in my life. complete and utter evidence of God’s grace.

i’ve been gathering up moments like these this summer and turning very brown in the process. oh, i’ve been making lots of all kinds of art too. it’s been like one long artist’s date all summer long. what have you been up  to this summer?

life is sweet.

{ life is sweet | mixed-media :: acrylic, ink, ephemera :: 9 x 12 canvas }

 

“...last night, as i was sleeping,

i dreamt—marvellous error!—

that i had a beehive

here inside my heart.

and the golden bees

were making white combs

and sweet honey

from my old failures.”

~antonio machado

happy summer times and brasserie du vin.

my friend april, whom we call ape or gilligan (for the obvious similarities), took me on a hot artist’s date to this place we kept hearing about called brasserie du vin. it’s located in the upper end of honolulu’s chinatown, an area that in recent years has enjoyed a do-over and is now home to some wonderful indie shops, art galleries and eateries.

du vin’s happy hour is simply wonderful. a half-off drink sheet ($4 a glass) and an awesome menu, including escargot for a mere $6! we also had the baked brie (killer) and chocolate souffle (at the regular price).

it has such a charming and quaint atmosphere. it really is a tiny little sliver of france (i can only imagine) in downtown honolulu!

happy hour is from 4-6pm. if you see me there say hello! :)