Stationery Show Pals

Just now trying to get some pics up of the Stationery Show that was May 17-20th. Here's a pic of Paper Words booth star Rob Fortier, helper pal Doll Barnes and me. Fun to see both of them at the show in Rob's booth. He's exhibited in the Stationery Show for several years and always gets fabulous press in the trade publications he sends press to. His line is great! Hope he sold lots at the show! The Stationery Show and Surtex Show were both smaller than in years past. Both were condensed to one floor. The lousy economy has affected artists and manufacturers alike. I sure hope it gets better soon. Such talented people and great products out there. I'm optimistic things will get better!

Sushi Blossoms & Flat Stanley

Sushi Blossoms and Flat Stanley? What? A couple weeks back the white blossoms were on the two trees in front of Choshi Sushi across from my building on Irving Place, thus Sushi Blossoms. And around that time my pal Dana came in from Dallas and took me to lunch at Casa Mono. Yumm! Thus Flat Stanley and me in front of Casa Mono. I had never heard of "Flat Stanley", I know... I'm out of it on a lot of things! He had to take pics for a pal who is tracking Flat Stanley and he decided to record him in front of all the "Iron Chef's restaurants. Mario Batali owns Case Mono and Dana dined at Morimoto's place too while in NYC. Flat Stanley likes watching Iron Chef, so do I!

Spring!

It's Spring and while Yellow Daffodils and Crocus always signal Spring to me it's the Red Geraniums that cinch the deal. In all the years I've lived in NYC I always buy Red Geraniums to plant and put on my windowsill. I have two wonderful glazed ceramic containers I bought years ago in Kansas City and I've trekked them across the US to San Francisco where they were in my backyard garden filled with Impatiens and then on to NYC to live here for the last 12 years. I'm gonna buy my flowers this weekend and plant them. Will take pics when I get them planted. Til then, here's a welcome to Geranium season that I took on a recent April trip to KC.

I'm Back!

I'm Back!!! I can't believe it's been since February 15th since I posted here last. I haven't been a good blogger! My computer and camera have both been causing me some grief. I've been traveling a lot, Phoenix, San Francisco and Kansas City, great fun to see my pals in all three cities:) Been teaching at SVA and FIT and finishing up my classes for Spring semester. Did a workshop in SF and KC and getting ready to do a workshop in NYC on May 16th! Surtex and the Stationery Shows open May 17th-20th. Speaking at a Licensing Panel Event for the Guild on May 21st. Saw some out of town pals this weekend in from Nashville and LA. And, and, and... a million other excuses why I haven't been blogging! I could say I'll try and be better... well... we will see. Here are a couple of pics of flowers cuz it's Spring and I love Spring!

Sweets for You Sweeties

A couple of weeks back I went to dinner at Miracle Grill on Bleeker with Jenny, Jeff, Dan and Al. And, of course after dinner we had to stop in at Magnolia Bakery for the boyz to get cupcakes. I had a blast taking pics and almost made it out without buying a thing. But the 2nd trip in when Jenny went to get Jeff and Al seconds on cupcakes I went back in to take more pics. I'm not crazy about their cupcakes, I like they way they look but think they are too dry and the icing too lardy. So I caved and bought one of the Magic Cookie Bars with coconut and chocolate chips with a buttery bottom crust. Brought it home and had it with a glass of cold milk. I got some deelish Godiva chocolates for Valentines Day and have been enjoying those. Hope you had some yummy sweets for Valentines Day from your sweetie.

Happy Valentines Day Sweet Taters

Happy Valentines Day Sweet Taters! I haven't posted in ages but couldn't pass up wishing you all a Happy Love Day. I got this potato in a bag of Trader Joe taters last year and took a pic and added some red. I can't resist accidental heart findings like rocks, potato chips, mushrooms and this little tater. Have fun and may all your sweet dreams come true!

January in New York

I know enough already with the holiday windows! But these I totally missed and last week when I needed a Lyric Diner fix of their roast chicken for dinner I saw that the German restaurant across the street on the corner of 3rd Ave and 22nd Street still had up their holiday decor. And dramatic decor it is, cuz the whole inside of the place is covered especially the ceiling. It's incredible to see how they decorate for every season. So I had to snap a few shots to post. Some are inside, some are from outside looking in. And, because it's been bitter cold (6 degrees people)I haven't been out much to take new pics. So I promise this is it for holiday hoopla til December roles around again.

Mosaic Celebrities

If you haven't been to "Vynl" in NYC you have got to go. It's on 9th Avenue and 5oth Street. The bathrooms are the best celebrity sighting in town. You'll find Elvis, Dolly, Nelle and Cher. I like Elvis the best. The mosaic theme carries through the restaurant with every table decorated with mosaics too. It's diner comfort food with good salads too and the coffee is kickin'.

More NYC Windows

Here are more Holiday windows in NYC. I like the black and white ink look with the red.

Goodbye 2008!

Wow! I'm sure glad 2008 is over! To say goodbye I went up to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and the windows at Bergdorf Goodman with Greg, Jay and Tim on Dec 30th. I haven't blogged much since Dec 11th, only one other post. Why? Well dearies I was in the hospital for two days Dec 16-18th. I had been sick with a kidney infection and high fever and I fainted at my place trying to get ready to teach my last SVA class of the semester with a 101+ fever, I know nutz right! Well, when I fainted I bumped my head and tweaked my knee and ankle. My neighbor Jim heard me fall and came to my rescue and my pal Michael took me to the ER. They admitted me so I spent 2 days on IV getting antibiotics. I'm OK now but still tired and still with a tweaked knee. Greg was here visiting Dec 22-31st and it was nice to have him here. But alas, we didn't get many home projects done since I was a zombie chic. So, I am hopeful that 2009 will be a fabulous year and a healthy year! I'll try and be better about posting more often:)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!! Hope 2009 brings you health, wealth, peace, love and happiness. I'm wishing for all five! Cheers!

Viva La Zoom

Ah... the wonder of zoom on the camera. This Christmas tree in the front is a block away in Gramercy Park and the Chrysler Building that looks so close in the background is 20 blocks away! My street Irving Place dead ends into the Park. I love my neighborhood!!! It's a little bit of calm reprieve in the busy world of Manhattan. Irving Place only runs between 14th Street and Gramercy Park and North of the park it's Lexington and gets busy and noisy and New Yorky. Two years before I moved here I used to come to NY for extended stays and would often take a cab from the East Village where I was staying with my pal Tom to go to Jenny's Studio on 19th Street. The cabs would take a right on Irving Place and turn left at 19th, I would think, this is a cool neighborhood, I'd like to live on this street. And... two years later after looking at 40 apartments in the middle of a heatwave August, this is exactly where I ended up. I've been here 11 years now and I still love my neighborhood and New York:)

Bodega Blooms

Amazing how even in the brrrific days of December the Bodega's in NYC keep us all cheered up with beautiful blooms. Almost every little neighborhood store has fresh flowers year round. Course the second the flowers get into my steam heat blaring apartment they start to get the swelter vapors, poor things. So, for the most part I enjoy them outside in their full color glory and cool storage.

Orange Shoes

I admit this pic was taken back in the Spring on one of my store window strolls but I just love those Orange shoes and wanted to post them, even tho I would never wear them as I have officially entered into the grandma footwear of comfort zone and these don't fall into that category by any means. I haven't posted lately and I haven't been out taking pics lately either cuz of the "elevator modernizin'". I'm on countdown to week 5 of elevator repair and in hibernation til the thing is working again! I meant to go out today, really I did! I also need to get with it with this blogging thang. I look at other folks blogs and they are great. I just haven't gotten into the swing of it all yet.

80 Steps

Yep, that's my building. And the elevator is still out for "modernization". And yes, it's "good for me" to walk up stairs. And yes, going on week 4, I'm kinda "over it".
"They", as in my management company said it will be 5 weeks of modernizing. I can see the lovely new buttons on the outside of the elevator door on each floor as I climb. I'm hoping it will be really swanky when they are done. Heck, I'm just hoping it's done soon and don't really care what it looks like! Til then I'll be huffin' and puffin' my way up 80 steps. Breathe!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a "Faboolicious" Turkey Day Kiddos! Enjoy all the fun and holiday food. Here's cheers to being thankful for life, love, friends, family and all the trimmings!
xo,
Mz Cheryl

Photo By: Paula Settle
Styling By: Gregory Conover
Embellished Art By: Cheryl Phelps

Coast to Coast Orange

I love this Orange car! I guess that's obvious since I took pics of one on both coasts, in SF and NYC. I have to get my color fix in man made objects now that Fall has flung the color to the floor. I love the addition of flora to the one in SF.

Goodbye Yellow

In New York I always say goodbye to natures big splash of yellow in the Autumn when the ginkgo leaves have fallen on 19th Street near my place. I didn't make it up to Central Park to see the Elm Grove this year. I love that place in the park where the elm trees make an incredible yellow tunnel. So, til I say hello to glorious yellow next Spring, when the daffodils arrive in Gramercy Park I'll be finding ways to use yellow in my artwork to get me through the Winter.

Stop The Car!

Ever wonder where old Coca Cola machines go to die? Well this stack is in Guntersville, Alabama. I screamed "stop the car" when I saw these and had to get out and take a pic. It was a Summer Sunday afternoon drive and after a deelish meal of catfish we were touring the Guntersville Lake area. It looks like an art installation rather than the last stand for soda machines. On a day here in NYC when the high is 30 something it's nice to remember some Summer fun.

Kewpie Doodle Do

The things we do to amuse ourselves. Back in September Margot Potter of "Impatient Beader" fame had a Kewpie decorating contest on her blog. She sent out these very tiny lil' Kewpies and I got one from her to decorate. Thanks Margot! I'm tellin' you peeps, that Kewpie was so itty bitty I just couldn't get my art paws to decorate it the trad way, so I made friends with my Wacom and did this digi Kewpie version. Somehow I am loosing a lot of detail that is actually in the digi version in this pic post. It was fun to do and my entry appears on her blog. Ever more craftful talents than I won the contest. You can see the entries here. They actually could work that small!!!