Paintings by Amy Rice
I had such a wonderful day today! Remember, I'm between 6-9 hours ahead of my friends in the states, so for me the day is just about to end (it's 11:30 PM here). What did I do? Well first, my IKEA kitchen was delivered and installed -- I cooked my first official meal tonight (that wasn't in a microwave!) in our new space and we had our friend Allie over. He kept telling me how crazy he was about the kitchen, how my light looks like a little dog, and the great walnut counters that he went 'nuts' for. Well, not real walnut, they are IKEA laminate, so faux bois... But they look spectacular and I'm thrilled. I also did a ton of errand running with my husband and Allie in the city this afternoon... stocked up on art supplies at this massive 2-floor art supply/craft store called Idee. No Martha Stewart supplies there but honestly, I don't care and don't miss MS at all because I'm learning to live without certain products just fine, replacing them with new ones that I've never seen before. It's a nice change for me I think.
I have been living in Germany now for 6 weeks and keep wondering when the fun will end because every single day has been great and I'm not exaggerating. The best part of the day was when my mother-in-law came over again today with yet another friend of hers to 'tour' my apartment. She makes such a big deal out of my place and all of her friends are the cutest -- picture 60+ year old ladies who have very 'old German style' interiors with lots of orange, blue, and brown touring my modern mostly white, lilac, gray, and pastel-y apartment swooning over my stuff. The best part was when one of them was going nuts over my photography from Wren & Chickadee and a surreal print from Betsy Walton. I was grinning ear to ear. They all told me that I should open a shop here and, "bring this style to us". I have concluded that it's not that older Germans do not like light and bright colors and fun motifs, it's that they aren't exposed to it in the same way that I am being online all day... One thing I must comment is that I'm going to try harder to bring the art I see on sites like Etsy, DaWanda, Trunkt, etc. to those who I know aren't online like some of the ladies that have been visiting me via my husband's mom. I was thinking of placing a big order for postcards and such from all of my favorite shops and keep them in a vintage wire postcard holder in my entryway so that when people come over and see my art and all this stuff they've not seen before, I can give them some postcards and small prints to take home with them. Spread a little indie art love. Why not? So now I just need to find a vintage postcard holder that I can mount on the wall or perhaps something that spins for a shelf top... eBay Germany here I come!
Okay so back to art... I was shopping yesterday in Jennifer Davis' etsy shop and while talking to her she told me about this project that she recently worked on with Amy Rice and so I looked at Amy's blog and website and stopped dead in my boots. Amy is phenomenal! Now I'm wondering is Amy has prints because I'd love to add something to my apartment from her collection too.
My goodness she is talented. Where has she been all of my life? I cannot believe I've not heard of her until today because I'm sure all of you talented design savvy creatures already know... and I'm just light years behind perhaps? If some of you are in the same boat as I am, then let us drool over the paintings of Ms. Rice together, shall we? First let me show you my very favorite piece, "Make a Wish", from her collection. I heard it's sold so my heart hurts a bit but oh well, I'm certain someone out there is very happy with it.
Look at the colors, the frame, oh.my.god. I just made a wish that whoever purchased Make a Wish will feel sorry for me and send me this painting. I doubt it will work. :) Making a wish does not guarantee it will be granted but part of the fun in life is hoping and wishing, don't you think?
And look at this stenciled building with her paintings on it. I really enjoy seeing her work in such a natural setting. I can totally see her work hanging over some lush velvet sofa in an Anthropologie store, can't you? It would fit into so many different decor styles from bohemian modern to a country farmhouse.
Amy if you're reading I'm sorry for not blogging about you much sooner as the more I've read about you online this afternoon the more I realize how famous you are and how behind I am. Your work is brilliant and has inspired me so much today... Thank you for sharing your vision and lovely work to the world Amy!
Find Amy here: Her blog, Flickr, and website.
(images from wren & chickadee (first), betsy walton (second) and all others from amy rice)