PAPAYA! BLOG

Inspiration: Stencils

The past two days I have been running around getting paint, swatches, and miss matched art supplies to try out my "brilliant" idea.  And today when I rolled up my sleeves to make the Moroccan/ doilie inspired magic happen I was horrified.  I've been working on some wall treatments for PAPAYA! and couldn't have been more irritated with the results.  But in a fabulous turn of events (and thanks to the ever clever Kathleen) I fell madly in love with the world of Royal Design Studio & artist/ creative extraordinaire, Melanie Royal!  I think we have it pretty good here at PAPAYA! but cruising through Melanie's incredible blog (Design Amor) my head was bursting with fabulous envy!  From what I can gather they travel the world designing creative solutions for hotels, tents and buildings.  Dream spaces if you will.  Done in the most touching and thought provoking way.
 These people are not afraid of color & pattern.  Something the world always needs more of!  I'm hoping a little creative thinking of my own and a few Royal Design Studio Stencils and my ugly walls just may spring back to life!

Album Art

LOVING this cover design for Inna Modja.  A Malian artist spotted via Fly Girls.  Right up my alley!

Artfest Annex Opens in Seattle!

 I almost fell over in my chair tonight to discover (on Teesha's blog) that Teesha & Tracy Moore have opened what they are calling, Artfest Annex today in Seattle.   A permanent loft space for workshops and creative happenings. 
 This is bound to be a mecca of artistic pursuits, support and adventure! 
I cannot wait to learn more.  Looks like they'll have a website up and running asap so we can all get in on the fun.  Congratulations to Alternative Arts Productions for the new grand opening of what I'm sure will be a champion playground!

Inspiration: Dolan Geiman

Loving the work of mixed media artist, Dolan Geiman this week.  "Produced from salvaged wood, found objects, and other recycled materials, Dolan's eco-friendly artwork emerges from a folk art tradition infused with a contemporary, urban style."  
He has a rich, textural, varied style that he has lovingly turned into a fabulous fine art and reproductions business.   That rare combination of creative and business savvy! 
Dolan's Etsy shop even features, eco friendly, reproductions on wood and traditional art prints.
 

Free Printable Envelope Series: Rose

Last week we started our new series of free printables with the Woo Hoo! envelope. This week we continue the series with a coordinating envelope to the oh so sweet rose "Happy Birthday" card (SC0055).
These little sweeties are mail-able and are scientifically proven to make your friend's mailbox experience 68% more enjoyable. OK, I can't back that up but they don't require extra postage and if you pair this envelope with the card it looks like a million bucks. Download, embellish, and spread the love.

Now Available: PAPAYA! Spiral Notebooks

Look what just came in! Our new spiral notebooks are now available in the PAPAYA! online store.  

The full color, designer pages make even the most mundane subjects fun to write. I use mine to write lists, it helps me keep on track, and boy... do I love crossing things off as they get done. It's so liberating!

We hope you love our new spirals, as much as we do... enjoy!

 

Notebooks feature artwork by Anahata Katkin, Flora S. Bowley, and Kathleen Rossi.

Back from Belize:

I'm finally back from our extended trip to Caye Caulker.  If you've been around the blogs here for a while you know I'm a spaz for this wonderful place!  Caye Caulker is lovely island microcosm that has rejuvenated me for many years.   
I had some down time for doodles and painting, sunning and way too much eating.  This one inspired by Pamela Braun.  (and painted with crayola finger paints! Who knew!)   
This is a nutty place at times with full color characters, bold personalities and people who I just can't live without! 
Thank you Belize for another wonderful adventure! xoxoxo...Now!  Back to work with myself.  I'll be back at the drawing board to be sure.
 

Luxe Totes!!!!

Mindy here, reporting live from Tote Bag Central. These photos remind me of Where's Waldo....can you spot the difference? We have thirteen fabulous new Luxe Tote bags for show and tell in our sample stage and only twelve fit on my wall...so here you have it....two views. It's been a fun project as everyone here is crazy for this product and understandably so...stylish, sturdy and versatile. We all have picked out our favourites and I am happy to report that all thirteen are approved so whatever you see above, got the green light and will be available by the end of the year. 

Inspiration: Arianna Biasini

(Anahata again- missing my bubble head due to travel)  I'm in love with the photo's found on photographer, Arianna Biasini's Flickr page!  I'm still in Belize and this photo reflects the tropical beauty all around me right now.
A country full of gorgeous people, rich natural elements, and sea/ man weathered towns.  (Arianna also shares stylist and designer info in each of her photo's.)  Enjoy...

Breaking Through

Anahata here.  I'm stranded in beautiful Belize for an extended week.  But I must admit I'm having huge computer withdrawl.  I arrived, laptop in hand, only to discover I've got no iphoto or photoshop installed in it and a scanty internet signal to boot!  Aaaak!  I've been itching to be in contact and share just a portion of the nearly 1,000 photo's I've already taken here. Today's creative jonesing came out in the form of watercolor finger painting again.  (I have yet to find some brushes here.)   The lady below is also finger painting with a bit o pencil and pen from last week.  I'm looking forward to sharing more from the warm tropics just as soon as I am able to get my hands on a computer set up.  In the meantime sending some sun to the cooling places back home.  xoxoxo