Studio 747

Photo of the Week: Street Art in San Francisco

2008-05-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hanging out at Twitter you're bound to come across other great artists/designers. One such inspiring person is Emily Chang of Ideacodes. As I was browsing Emily's photos at Flickr, I came across this photo of street art in San Francisco. I've been to San Francisco dozens of times, but for some reason never paid much attention to the street art... This one reminds me of that TV show, The Partridge Family!

Have street art to share? Email your pics to maria [at] salondemaria [dot] info and I'll post them here!

Designer Highlight: Holly Becker

2008-05-02T21:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever come across a blog that really, really inspired you? I mean really inspired you...

I felt this wave of creative energy as I browsed through Holly Becker's blog, decor8. Holly is an interior design consultant and a prolific writer whose writing has been featured in many of the leading magazines in the U.S., including the Boston Globe, Domino magazine, and Real Simple, just to name a few. You can also find her dishing out design tips and advice over at the Real Simple blog, Simply Stated. I discovered Holly's work while hanging around at Flickr. All I have to say is that when you're talented, everything artistic comes naturally!

Here is a mosaic of some of Holly's photography...

1. dress form in the window, 2. a certain tenderness, 3. sweet, 4. soaring

Easton Pearson: An Inspired Fashion Brand

2008-04-30T15:00:00.001-07:00

Although we weren't able to jet-set to Australia to take part in Rosemount Australia Fashion Week, we love the power of our networks and being able to bring photos from the runway shows to you. The collection by Easton Pearson was particularly eye-catching because of the bold color and unique fashion design.

Lydia Pearson and Pamela Easton are the designers behind the Easton Pearson brand and many of their designs are inspired from their travels to the Indian subcontinent - which explains all the bright colors!

Visit our Beauty Is Within blog for more commentary on fashion and beauty...

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." -- Coco Chanel

Happiness: The One Thing We All Want

2008-04-27T02:08:00.000-07:00

If there's anything in life that each and every one of us has in common, it's the desire to be happy. Rich, poor, young, old, artist, or engineer - we all want the same thing. I can say that I'm probably the happiest that I've ever been in my life, but it took awhile to get to this place. And now it's my goal to help as many people as I can find happiness in their own lives.

One area where people are the most unhappy is with their current job occupation. I got this statistic from a recent Oprah show: 84% of people hate their jobs! I believe it came from a CareerBuilder.com poll or study. And we wonder why the level of customer service is declining around the world! Now more than ever it's a challenge to work for major corporations because it seems that all they want to do is cut, cut, cut - pay cuts, budget cuts, cuts on hours, benefit cuts, and the list goes on and on... That's why I always push people to start their own online business. What's better than being your own boss where you call all the shots?

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
-- Abraham Lincoln

A friend of mine called me the other day complaining about her job. She works for the airline industry - Yeah, it's tough nowadays! I told her that everything in life is a choice. You either choose to let the job get to you or you choose to let it drive you crazy. You always have the choice to be happy or not. That's the bottom line.

Just for fun I asked my followers at Twitter what their definition of happiness is. My friend Jeanette Fisher answered:

It's true - there are too many definitions of happiness. What's yours?

Get more tips on finding happiness...and make sure to read The 10 Steps to Happiness.

Earth Day Photography and Art Auction

2008-04-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Earth Day, I communed with nature today and took photos of flowers around the neighborhood...

(From left to right: 1. Closeup of Purple Iris, 2. Very Pretty Pink Flowers, 3. Hot Pink Gazania, 4. Flowers Dancing in the Wind)

If you love to support kids' art, I recommend checking out the Earth Day Kid Art Auction over at Flickr. Proceeds from the auction will go to support We Can Solve It. Find out more about the rules for bidding over at Greeblemonkey.

Studio 747 Media Blog Roundup: Posts That Make You Go Hmm...

2008-04-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week around the Studio 747 Media network. Lots of thinking going on :) Here are a few posts that will give you some food for thought for the weekend:

Over at The Good Life I've started a "Steps to Happiness" series. The first post deals with being aware of your body.

Here's a beauty tip for everyone!

I sometimes wish that I was more financially savvy in my 20's. However, it's not too late! Here are some investing tips for beginners and young adults.

And to get your creative juices flowing, here is a mosaic I put together of pictures I've taken around San Diego...

What Artists Should Know About Marketing Their Business

2008-04-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

As an artist who blogs, it's been so much easier nowadays to market myself. Although I haven't been actively promoting my art lately, I've been able to get the word out about my other ventures such as my jewelry and greeting cards businesses. I say with the internet anything is possible.

If you're an artist and you haven't started blogging yet, you may be truly missing out on many opportunities. With so many people on MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter, it's practically a crime not to be out there networking with people and getting more exposure for your work.

However, that said, before you venture out into the world of social networking websites and blogging, I recommend reading these 27 Thoughts on Blogging For the Artist posted at Problogger. I also invite you to read this post on my personal blog: Marketing Your Art Business.

What about you? What are you doing to market your art business? How are you utilizing the power of social networking?

Travel Via the Carnival of Cities

2008-04-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

Travel is a big part of my life. I grew up a "military brat" so I've been able to see other gorgeous cities in the world like Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, Korea. I love meeting people from different cultures, especially new artists. Fortunately, with the internet we can expose ourselves to all kinds of artists at the click of a button - literally!

Well, I participated in the recent Carnival of Cities over at the Family Travel blog and discovered an event called "First Thursday" in San Francisco which was reviewed by CatSynth. I've been to San Francisco many, many times, but I've never been able to attend an art event.

Also at the Carnival of Cities I came across Washington, DC in Full Bloom with very nice photography of cherry blossoms. Definitely a sight to see!

And speaking of travel, I recently went to Six Flags, Magic Mountain and captured a piece of California that many of us don't see very often.

Art That Tells a Story: Imran Ahmad's "Implode"

2008-04-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

Creating art is a way that artists express themselves. Other artists use art to bring more beauty to the world, while others use art to tell stories. One artist in particular, Imran Ahmad, recently caught my eye. Imran has a knack for telling a story with everyday objects...

Ok, well maybe guns aren't everyday objects for some people in the world, but for others who live in war-torn countries, it's a way of life.

Read more about Imran Ahmad's solo exhibit, "Implode", which took place at the Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan.

Photo Credit: Usman Ahmed

Balboa Park: Nature Lover's Paradise

2008-04-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

Just a hop, skip, and a jump (literally!) from the heart of downtown San Diego is Balboa Park, a nature lover's paradise. You'll need to set aside at least one full day to explore the various attractions that make this park majestic and one of the most beautiful places in the South West. And yes, there are many surprises at every turn!

Balboa Park is host to a myriad of museums including the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, and the San Diego Museum of Arts - just to name a few. In between museum visits you can relax and enjoy a delectable lunch in one of the many cafes, delis, or award winning restaurants such as The Prado. Whatever you have a taste for, you'll certainly find it in Balboa Park.

For photographers, Balboa Park is a great setting for wedding or family portraits. If you have a bit of love for flowers, then you'll find heaven in places like the huge Botanical building where exotic and colorful treasures await to be photographed. Or perhaps the Old Cactus Garden will suit your fancy.

Ok, so maybe art museums and nature aren't your thing. Perhaps you'll find joy in the company of animals that call San Diego Zoo their home. The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is also part of Balboa Park and is operated by the not-for-profit Zoological Society of San Diego. The zoo plays host to thousands of guests who come every day to visit awe-inspiring animals such as the new panda cub.

It's hard for an artist not to be inspired by the sights of Balboa Park. Below is a video which shows an artistic interpretation of Balboa Park from Jonathan Williams...

Business Success Tip: Create Value

2008-03-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

Many of us start a business venture with the hope of making tons of money. However, did you think that your pushy sales skills and fast talk will get you far in business? Perhaps in the short-term you will do well, but in the long-term, the salespeople who create value are the ones who are going to prosper.

I believe artists are very good at providing value for their clients. Most artists have passion for their work and a majority of them would still do what they’re doing whether or not they get paid for it. These artists seek passion and meaning in their work without any concern about the money aspect of it.

People can tell when you’re passionate about the products you sell. Creating value is about sharing that passion with your clients and being a reliable resource for them. The attention to detail is another part of creating value. When you’re in the business of art and creating things, this attention to detail usually comes pretty easy.

Ram Charan’s book, What the Customer Wants You To Know: How Everybody Needs to Think Differently About Sales, contains a little nugget of valuable advice (via Business Know-How):

“No longer do you measure your own success first. Instead, you measure success by how well your customers are doing with your help. You're not focused on selling a specific product or service; you're focused on how your company can help the customer succeed in all the ways that are important to that customer. By tapping the many resources you have at your disposal to help customers meet their business goals and priorities, you are adding value. “

How are you creating value for your clients?

An Interview With a Successful Entrepreneur

2008-03-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

Starting and building a successful business is a dream that many people envision for themselves. It's our philosophy here at Studio 747 that to have true freedom in life, you should be doing what you love and part of that is owning your own business. Whether they be a freelance artist, an internet entrepreneur, or have a brick-and-mortar shop, we support those who have the courage, strength, and tenacity to go out on their own.

Over at the Online Business Resources blog, we had the chance to interview Bo Bennett, a successful internet entrepreneur who started iGroops, a service that provides groups with their own membership websites. Bo gives us some insight as to what made him start iGroops and offers a little advice about building a successful online business.

Read the interview with Bo Bennett...

5 Quick Tips for Spring Decorating

2008-03-09T23:40:00.000-07:00

Are you looking to do a little redesigning or redecorating for the spring season? Here are 5 quick tips:

1. Change the curtains. A lighter-colored fabric will do wonders to create "freshness" in the home

2. Move the furniture around. Even a little change of scenery in the home will get you out of that winter rut!

3. Buy new art. BestArt.com has 50% Off Framed Art!

4. Clear the clutter. It is spring cleaning time, after all!

5. Fill your home with vases of fresh flowers and blossoms!

And speaking of...Good design is everywhere! We're on the hunt for an interesting vase to hold those spring blossoms...and came across this Michael Aram Africana Pedestal Vase ($165). Black and silver aluminum combine together to create a sleek and sophisticated yet very simple vessel.

Buy this vase at Saks.com

See Costa Rica the Artists' Way

2008-03-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

Costa Rica is a country rich in culture, friendliness, and just like every country in the world, Costa Rica is also home to many talented artists. In fact, you can meet traditional Costa Rican artisans through the Costa Rica Art Tour.

Browsing through the Costa Rica Art Tour website, you'll come across various artists who create spectacular pieces of art. One of these artists is Sylvia Laks who produces these gorgeous stain glass designs.

If you're dreaming of a little getaway, check out these books on Costa Rica.

Shop for cheap Costa Rica travel packages

Art + Fashion = Bliss

2008-03-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

As a lover of fashion and art, I appreciate this painting done by Erin Hamilton who blogs over at Art With Wings. I found out about her blog via one of my daily fashion reads, Style Bubble and this painting was actually inspired by Susie, the Style Bubble blogger.

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” -- Coco Chanel

Photo of the Week: Springtime Flowers

2008-03-03T21:51:00.000-08:00

Flowers are in full bloom these days and I've captured the ones soaking up sunshine in my front yard. Just looking at these vibrant forces in nature fills me with inspiration and energy!

Personal Development with a Purpose

2008-02-28T23:47:00.000-08:00

Here at Studio 747 we honor people who are on the journey to discovering meaning and purpose in their life. So it gives us great pleasure to welcome guest blogger Paul Check who has contributed an article that will surely inspire you...

There's an old saying that goes, "If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there." The same is true of personal development. Everyone who starts down the path of personal development wants to grow - to evolve into something more than when they began their journey. But figuring out just what path to take when you set out is a major challenge in and of itself.

As a holistic health practitioner, I'm a big fan of getting right to the heart of the matter. So the first thing I do when I meet with a new client who is ready to begin their quest for personal development is to ask them if they have a legacy.

What exactly does that mean?

Most of us have some sense of the meaning of the term "legacy." The common use of this word is backward looking.

Take this question: "What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?" In this case, a legacy is something like the achievements we're known for when we're gone. But this backward looking sense of a legacy is just a small part of what I'm after when I talk to clients about their legacy. After all, we're not planning for their funeral here!

The reason why I use the word "legacy" is that it focuses our attention on the whole picture and purpose of our lives. It's fantastic to have career goals, financial goals or relationship goals, but often times we tend to ignore the other aspects of our lives in favor of pursuing those particular achievements. This imbalance inevitably slows down our growth and frequently results in all sorts of health problems.

True personal development requires a holistic approach, one in which you've set out the ideal picture of your life and developed a goal structure that supports that the achievement of that total life goal. Because a legacy just is your complete life's goal, having one is a crucial step in taking a holistic approach to personal development.

So one fantastic benefit to having a legacy is that it can help you to create and organize goals. It provides you with the ideal towards which all your efforts in life are directed. But having a well thought-out legacy offers so much more. As with any other project, there will always be distractions while you are working on yourself. We have habits to overcome, patterns of procrastination, people who need our time and energy, and so forth. The power of a legacy is that it can provide a very powerful tool to conquer those habits, steer clear of the procrastination, and to meet the needs of those around us with out getting diverted.

In fact, the reason why these diversions can have such a pull on us is because we don't have any particular force guiding us in a direction that we truly want to go. But when your day is built around your legacy, those distractions become impotent. The short term pleasures that procrastinating offers pale in comparison to the potential of your legacy and as long as you stick to your goals, you're always one day closer to realizing that dream.

Of course, the extent to which your legacy will help you to create and organize your goals, and boost your motivation is going to depend upon how much detail you give to the picture of your ideal life. This picture of your legacy often develops over a long period of time, but you can get a decent handle on it by thinking about the following lifestyle components:

1) People - what kind of people do you value, feel comfortable with, get excited about spending time with?

2) Passion - what is it about life that enlivens you and fills you with energy?

3) Purpose - what is it that brings meaning to your life or gives you a sense of fulfillment?

4) Responsibilities - what kinds of responsibilities are you comfortable handling in your life, whether they be personal, professional or spiritual?

5) Career - what manifestation of your abilities, purpose and passion would best fulfill your career needs?

6) Values - your values are your needs and desires, ranging from your most basic physical needs to those that dictate your relationships with your friends, loved ones, co-workers and the environment at large. What are your values?

This list here certainly isn't exhaustive, but it's a good start. Not only will it help you to fill out the picture of your career, but the relationships you develop with your self and your loved ones. At the C.H.E.K Institute and in my PPS Success Mastery Program we get into much greater detail as we help our clients find and create their legacies on a daily basis.

Because this picture you're developing is your life's goal, I recommend, just as with any goal, that you write it down. Or, if you are artistically driven, you can draw it, paint it, sculpt it, or make it physical in whatever way works best for you. However you do it, don't allow your legacy to remain just an idea! Your legacy will be much more motivating when you can look it in the face each and every day.

Knowing that you have a purpose and that you are living your purpose every day is a wonderful thing. It makes me spring out of bed each morning, energized and excited! How many people do you know that look forward to their day, every day, in that way? So take the time to map out your legacy today. You'll be giving yourself a path to personal development with a purpose and that's a path to success!

Paul Chek is an internationally renowned and highly sought after holistic health practitioner, consultant to elite athletes and business professionals, and founder of PPS Success and the C.H.E.K Institute. His workshops and teleseminars have helped thousands of people from all walks of life to reach their fullest potential.

Paul has produced more than 50 videos and authored 7 books, including his new ebook The Last 4 Doctors You'll Ever Need - How to Get Healthy Now! You can download a free chapter at www.thelast4doctors.com to start taking your wellbeing and personal development to new levels with this groundbreaking multimedia experience!

Tips on Buying Art Abroad

2008-02-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

Wing Sze Tang of Travel + Leisure Magazine offers some tips on what you should know before buying art abroad. Here's a brief synopsis of the six tips:

1. Know what you want and do your research before you leave home.

2. Consult an independent expert - This is especially important if you're in the market for antiques.

3. Cover your bases - Make arrangements for insurance on the art that you will be purchasing and bringing back home.

4. Choose a trustworthy seller - Buy from prominent, established galleries or at major art fairs around the world. By the way, for more advice on buying at an art fair, check out Moshi, Moshi, Medici! Completely Biased Adventures in Contemporary Art Collecting.

5. Get a fair price - Research the prices by the same artist from the same period.

6. Follow the rules - Every country has restrictions on what can or can't be imported/exported.

And speaking of art abroad...For those of you not in America, you may appreciate some of the art I'm going to now share with you. I recently attended an exhibit at the Mingei International Museum titled "Craft in America". I was able to see all the different art influences from people all over the world who came to America to "live the dream".

Photo of the Week: "Nature in the Hands of Our Youth"

2008-02-18T16:25:00.000-08:00

With spring right around the corner, I've already noticed signs of nature starting to bloom out here in California. As I did a search for nature phots at Flickr, I came across this inspiring photo titled "Nature in the hands of our youth" by Michel Filion. Hopefully this will inspire you in your current creative projects!

Studio 747 Network Highlights For Week Ending 2/8/08

2008-02-08T00:25:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week in the Studio 747 network! Here are some of the highlights:

This past week over at Beauty Is Within the focus has been on New York Fashion Week and finding the perfect spa retreat. When it comes to spas, I know that there are some hidden gems out there in the world, so I may continue that search for the rest of the month!

Over at The Good Life I inspire you to follow your dreams and passion in life!

The question of the week at Online Business Resources is "What's the Big Idea?"

The Designs of Nicolas Bouriette

2008-02-05T23:37:00.000-08:00

Browsing through photos at Flickr, I came across this interesting furniture design by Nicolas Bouriette, a designer and photographer based in France.

United Arab Emirates: A Little Heaven on Earth

2008-02-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

Nestled in between the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula is a little-known Heaven on Earth that goes by the name of United Arab Emirates. The UAE is a very diverse country where much of its population are non-citizens.

Around this time of year people gather for the yearly Dubai Shopping Festival which brings shoppers from all over the world. This event is a vital part of the country's tourism and visitors get to experience this "city of gold".

What is most impressive about this country is the amazing real estate developments that are in the works. We're looking forward to seeing the Armani Hotel which will be part of the Burj Dubai development. The Burj Dubai is slated to be the world's tallest tower. Scheduled for completion in late 2008, it will be a perfect complement to the vast array of lifestyle options within Downtown Burj Dubai that features the Dubai Mall.

Inspiring Artist: Astrid Mueller

2008-01-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

Via the Graphic Design Blog I discovered a phenomenal graphic designer by the name of Astrid Mueller. Astrid has a nice collection of creative illustrations many of which have been featured in many publications and periodicals.

When asked what one piece of advice she would give to freelancers, Astrid answers:

"Always put the customer first, and try to see things from their perspective. Don’t take it personally if one customer doesn’t hire your services, your design style may just not have fit his market and needs, or budget."

This is one piece of advice that everyone in business should follow - something that we here at Studio 747 have always believed in!

Read the rest of the interview with Astrid Mueller...

Visit the PotatoMammaDesign blog...

Photo of the Week: Panoramic Shot of Oia, Santorini

2008-01-15T00:48:00.000-08:00

Photo by Frank K.

Here at Studio 747 we dream of traveling around the world and seeing gorgeous scenery, eating exotic foods, and meeting enchanting people. This Photo of the Week will inspire you in so many ways. I've never thought about visiting the Greek Islands, but after seeing this beautiful photo, I'll definitely add it to the list of places to see...

Art Seen Around Downtown San Diego

2008-01-06T17:57:00.000-08:00

Contrary to popular belief, there is a growing art scene in downtown San Diego. If you've never strolled through the streets of downtown San Diego which includes Little Italy, you're missing out on some of the most inspiring art that this burgeoning city has to offer.

This mural displayed on the side of this building on the corner of 10th & "C" will make anyone with an eye for color stop dead in their tracks to take in this little bit of inspiration.

If you're ever in downtown San Diego, make sure to schedule in a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Art and Design District in Little Italy, and all the spectacular museums in Balboa Park.