dream keyper

Have Canvas, Will Travel!

2008-09-09T22:18:00.000-07:00

Inspired and enamoured by the world around him, Ron Wilson has always dreamed of painting for a living. Most of his life, Ron worked in broadcasting in South Africa. His passion for painting led him to many art shows and galleries on the week-ends. Ron has now retired to beautiful Victoria, British Columbia with his wife Colleen. Living his dream, you can find him with brush in hand painting plein air, every chance he gets! His style is loose and ethereal. His colors are timeless. His imagination is endless. To see more of his amazing work go to artistwilson.com.

Mindfreak Dreams

2008-09-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes your destiny smacks you right in the face! Today we went to the Luxor to pick up the Halloween tickets to Criss Angel's Cirque Du Soleil show "Believe"... And can you believe I met Criss Angel himself! It was a true mindfreak for me. When I saw that he was coming my way, I grabbed a book from his gift shop and quickly asked him "can you sign this?" Unbelieveable! He was on his way to practice and he still took the time to autograph while he was walking! Then I asked him "Can you make your shirt disappear? " (just kidding!)... It was a great day in Las Vegas for sure, one that I shall never forget!

"BeLIEve" in Your Dreams

2008-08-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of year is Fall and my favorite Holiday is Halloween. I love Las Vegas under the moon and Cirque Du Soleil has been a love of mine for years. Mix that all up with Criss Angel Illusionist and you've got yourself one wicked evening of mayhem and magic in the town that never sleeps! I am so excited that I am going to Las Vegas on Halloween to see Criss Angel in his new show with Cirque Du Soleil "Believe". I am counting down the days and choosing my costume with anticipation. This is a dream come true for me and this will be the best Halloween ever!

Sweet Dreams Cake Designer

2008-08-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

Debbie Goard is more than a little passionate about cake decorating. Debbie Does Cakes is the solo venture of this whimsical cake designer. She is an incredible artist with nearly two decades of super sweet decorating experience in San Francisco and on the East Coast. To create her incredible, edible objects d'art she draws inspiration from pop culture, fashion and art. Her three-dimensional cakes delight the senses and come in lots of yummy flavors. Debbie's business has been featured in numerous magazines, newspapers and even on television! To see more of her delicious designs check her out on flickr. We've spent countless hours looking at her photostream and admiring her unique designs. We decided she should be listed as a sweet dreamer who follows her heart and makes people smile all along the way!

HoLli ConGeR iLluStRAtor/dReAMeR

2008-08-20T11:16:00.001-07:00

Holli collects junk. She blogs. She creates. She dreams. She makes magic! Holli is an illustrator for the children's market and enjoys all things creative. Her enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air and it shines through in her one of a kind 3 dimensional designs. She starts with a pile of junk and right before your eyes she transforms these found objects into artsy, whimsical creations. Through her childlike imagination she illustrates a colorful and magical place that takes you to another world. If you want to view paradise visit her on the internet at creative warmup , see her passions at The Type Junkie, check out her photostream at flickr, or peruse her fascinating on-line studio.
There is no life I know to compare with your imagination, living there you'll be free, if you truly wish to be. - Willy Wonka

Around the World

2008-08-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

I took a little trip down memory lane last week and rekindled my love for travel. When I was 20 years old, I traveled around the world for a year. Stopping off for a brief semester of art college in London where I fell in love with the European architecture and the British pubs. I loved seeing all the different cultures, meeting the people and tasting the exotic foods. I remember being mesmerized by the beauty of Thailand and New Zealand. My travels have given me an amazing source of inspiration for the designs I create today. I cherish this travel mosaic I created on flickr and had so much fun choosing the photo for each destination. I especially love the picture taken by my sister Polly of the Spanish Steps area in Rome. Travel as seen through my eyes at 20 is so much different then how I view travel today at 41.
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Viva La Betsey!

2008-07-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

New York designer Betsey Johnson has built her long-standing career in fashion by following her own set of rules. Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished, and the over the top, Betsey has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since the 1960’s. Her commitment to remain true to her one-of-a-kind vision has afforded Betsey continued success in an industry known for its fickleness. In late 2002, Betsey was honored with an induction into the Fashion Walk of Fame, honoring her contribution to American fashion. In 2003, while on vacation in Mexico, Betsey bought a magical little hotel, which she named “Betseyville” and proceeded to turn it into a dream vacation home, where she regularly visits to work and get inspired. She fell so in love with the culture and surroundings that in 2004, Betsey purchased a second house in Mexico, this one dubbed “Villa Betsey.” Always loving a home project Betsey decided to turn Betseyville into an estate for rent to the public and chose Villa Betsey to become her main home in Mexico. Betsey is a renegade designer living her passion to the fullest! Viva La Betsey!

June Parrish Studio Tour

2008-07-06T10:40:00.001-07:00

Ink Vanilla is the perpetual artistic blog of June Parrish Cookson. Inside you will find an artist overloaded with creative energy. She weaves a magical story through words, art and photos that will keep you captivated at her every muse. Her studio is full of inspiration, the artist in you will metamorphis when you enter into this haven for the artistic mind. June resides in the Pacific Northwest and has worn many hats as a Cartoonist, Graphic Designer, Muralist, Decorative Painter, Freelance Illustrator for Publishing Companies and Commercial and Fine Artist. Visit her Ink Vanilla blog for a more intimate look at this incredible fine artist.

Dreamy Art, Charming Walls

2008-06-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Dreaming of imaginative artwork to make your walls charming? Charmingwall.com is a New York gallery specializing in a curated selection of open-edition prints. Their fascinating website introduces you to the artists they represent. From Daria Tessler to Wendy Crabb, from traditional fine arts to comic book culture with a common gift for creating richly imaginative designs. These artists are dreamers and have created their personal lifestyle by making a living at their true passion. Click away for more info on this unusual site and blog.

Mr. French is Fab and Fun!

2008-05-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

Jerry French of the French Paper Company is at it again! This time he is offering a blow-up Jerry French doll with all orders over $100.00! Act fast time is running out!
You'll be smitten with Mr. French's Mod-Tone paper collection, the boss ensemble of "Pop-Ink" gifts to die for and the fragrant dope soap sets, made of all-natural essential oils. Check out this dyno-mite site loaded with funky, fun and fab paper creations and a multitude of clever and fun gifts for all occassions.

Art Circus!

2008-05-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

Step right up to a funtastical new book by the talented Lisa Kettell. Featuring playful illustrations, vintage imagery and use of a myriad of other mixed-media materials ranging from glitter and wire to crinolin and coloring agents. It will bring the reader, the daydreamer, the explorer, and the artist to a place they have never been. Where they can unleash their artistic dreams and explore hidden worlds through cutting-edge techniques, creative projects, and beautiful images. Art Circus! includes easy tutorials on basic digital altering effects for new and vintage images, step by step instruction for projects, a gallery of inspirational ideas from other artists, plus clip art and vintage images for readers to use in their own projects. Join this creative circus with digital and paper alteration, creating from found and household objects (jars and boxes). Pre-order this delightful and amusing book today at Amazon.com!

Beautiful Winner...

2008-05-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

Our Beautfiul Day giveaway winner is Scrappy Jessi... We are so happy to be sending you our Beautiful Day giveaway ring. May you always remember that each and every day is a gift. Cherish the minutes the moments and the monuments along the way. Thank you to everyone who entered and shared why their day was so beautiful, your heartfelt comments, dreams and encouragement make our lives beautiful! Suzy & Polly

A Beautiful Day Giveaway!

2008-04-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

Why is your day beautiful? Leave us a comment on why your day is beautiful-and you will be entered to win a playful Marc Jacobs Daisy Ring. A mod gold flower ring twists to reveal the solid perfume inside, tucked into a beautiful gold zipper pouch... Daisy is a sparkling floral fragrance and a must win for this Spring season! Wishing you all a beautiful day today and always! We will pick the winner on May 1, 2008, in honor of May Day celebrations! Good luck!

The Tale of an Artist

2008-04-10T16:39:00.000-07:00

Born among the briars & brambles in backwoods of Medford, Oregon, Evan Benjamin Harris grew up with little knowledge of the bourgeois big city fine arts. So, he dove into the recesses of his own dreamy imagination and embraced the fables and folklore that fascinated him. With little to do but draw, he did exactly that. Now older, things haven’t changed much. The stories he created as a child are still present in his paintings.
Broken boards, oil and acrylic paints, charcoal pastels, plastic resign, and melted waxes are among the mediums Evan uses. Then they are beaten, brushed, sanded, polished, and hung.
Most would cringe at the idea of scratching or sanding something they spent hours upon hours painting, but that’s Evan’s favorite part- creating the appearance that this wasn’t made in the 21st century, maybe in the 20th. So, behind every scratch and claw mark, there is a story to tell.

Catalina Estrada Fantasy

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

Born and raised in Colombia, and living in Barcelona since 1999, Catalina brings all the colors and power of Latin-American folklore and refines it with a subtle touch of European sophistication. Her ability for creating fascinating illusive worlds, full of colors, nature, enchanting characters, and dreams bursts in all of her works: art, graphic design and illustration. Presented as a fresh and new design talent by Communication Arts and Computer Arts magazines, her work has also been featured by Die Gestalten Verlag, Swindle, DPI, Paper and Graphic Magazine.
Some of her clients include: Paul Smith, Coca-Cola, Nike, Honda, Custo-Barcelona, Salomon, Chronicle Books, Motorola and many others. She has found her purpose and is living her dream daily. Check out her on-line portfolio and to see her upcoming events.

Girly Chic Boutique

2008-03-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

This fairytale boutique is a dream come true for two inseparable friends and business partners, Kate and Nicole. Their vision for a chic and magical store filled with unique clothing, decorative items and baby goods, came true in the Fall of 2004. They have been decorating, antiquing and smiling ever since! Take a peek at their on-line photostream, breeze by their website or visit them in real life on Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis.

An American Dreamer

2008-03-19T09:26:00.001-07:00

Young, talented, humble, innocent, honest and endearing. These are a just few words to describe David Archuleta who was born in Miami, Florida on December 28th 1990. In February of 1997, David and his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where he lives with his parents, his brother, 3 sisters and 2 cats. He comes from a musical family where his mother sings both Spanish and English pop music, and his dad is a jazz trumpet player. David dreams of winning American Idol and having a fruitful career in the music industry. His favorite colors are purple and yellow and he loves pizza and lettuce. We can just "Imagine" all the people who will be your fans on that "Long and Winding Road" to "Heaven". Until then we are "Waiting on the World to Change" until it is "Just Another Day in Paradise" for you!

A DREAMY Italian Vacation

2008-03-17T20:11:00.000-07:00

Greg and I have returned from our amazing trip to Italy. Ten days of pure bliss! Thanks to my sweet sister Suzy watching my children, I had ten completely stress free days........no worries!

Our trip began and ended in Rome with a stay in Florence in between. Our first hotel in Rome was atop the Spanish Steps which is a beautiful way to begin and end each day. We walked nearly ten miles each day from one sight to another and many stops on side streets along the way. What a feeling to walk the cobblestone streets and take in the sounds of Rome, scooters whizzing by and beeping horns from teeny cars. We found a neat little cheese and meat shop near the Spanish Steps and at the end of each day, on our way back to our hotel we stopped in to pick up yummy cheese, meat, olives, sun dried tomatoes, crispy bread and delicious regional wines. We enjoyed these tasty treats back in the hotel room, sipping the wine and chatting about our adventures of the day.

After a few days in Rome we hopped aboard a train and headed for Florence. Our hotel was down the street from the Duomo and near a church. How lovely to wake up to the ringing of bells and the busy hustle on the street below. We celebrated Greg's birthday while in Florence and had the most memorable day. We took a 2 mile walk to a church in the hills and it was spectacular! We passed groves of Olive trees and rows of Cypress trees. It was quiet and we took our time, stopping to take in the views and snap some photos. We ate lunch at a sweet little restaurant off the beaten path and what a delight when all of the patrons began to sing Happy Birthday to Greg!

We headed back to Rome for the final days of our vacation. Another great hotel in a different spot which was great as there was so many new sights to see!

Photos from our trip can be viewed at my Flickr be sure to check back as I'm uploading new photos daily!

Dreams Become Fantasy

2008-03-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

Visiting my sister Sheila's house last Spring, I discovered a book that I could not stop looking through. Mark Ryden, a master artist and dreamer of unbelievable proportions. Upon first glance Ryden’s work seems to mirror the Surrealists’ fascination with the subconscious and collective memories. However, Ryden transcends the initial Surrealists’ strategies by consciously choosing subject matter loaded with cultural connotation. His dewy vixens, cuddly plush pets, alchemical symbols, religious emblems, landscapes and slabs of meat challenge his audience not necessarily with their own oddity but with the introduction of their soothing cultural familiarity into unsettling circumstances. To see more of Ryden's incredible work and fantastical journey, and to meet Yoshi, click on the pink piano.

Hobby Shop of Dreams

2008-03-14T14:48:00.000-07:00

Back in 1966 Marge had a dream to open a store to cure her boredom and add something to our community. Located at 1110 Highway 95 in the Arizona desert, stands a Hobby Shop chock full of vintage and new fangled craft items. She is a crafty lady with a keen eye for sewing, hobbies and cake decorating. Marge has served the tri-state region with hobby goods for over 40 years. She is a tough cookie and has stood the test of time. Up against some of the largest craft corporations, like Ben Franklin's, WalMart and Target, her dream is still alive and kicking. Her quaint shop is stuffed with every craft item you can think of. Thank you Marge, for having a dream that affected our entire community in a very positive way!

Genio Gustavo Aimar

2008-03-05T14:20:00.000-08:00

Gustavo dreams in vivid color and detailed collage. Flights of fancy take wing with his fantastical creations. Layers of dreams and splashes of whimsy collide in perfect unison. Thought provoking and down right silly. Sarcastic and amusing. Frail and superhuman. Superb and worth every glance. Check him out on Flickr or visit him in Argentina. We hope you will be moved to dream beyond your wildest dreams!

La Vita Dolce Dream

2008-03-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

My sister Polly and I took the trip of a lifetime in the Summer of 2001. Italy was our destination and our bags were packed with hope and dreams of new adventures. Since that amazing trip we have both gone through a lot of changes. Divorce, drama and many other obstacles we could not have forseen back then. Today our lives are again filled with love, hope and dreams of many more surprises. We have both grown and are blessed to have met wonderful men! I am happily remarried and so happy for my sister who is now engaged to her dream man. Tomorrow she leaves for that enlightening destination once again - Italy! She is beyond excited this time to be traveling with her fiance. May this trip bring much inspiration and lifelong memories that you will cherish forever. I love you! Ciao, bella!

Picnic by Ellie

2008-02-20T20:59:00.000-08:00

It's a fabulous day for a Picnic by Ellie! Her yummy blog is chock full of amazingly delicious treats for your eyes. She is a wonderful writer and photographer and a very interesting lady with a penchant for pinking shears and super sweet vintage illustrations. Check her out at flickr, you can't miss her funky and fresh designs. Bright, cheery and ultra happy pics with tons of whimsy that will put a smile on your face. Enjoy this colorful trip down memory lane and an early Springtime!

One World, One Heart Winner!

2008-02-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

Congratulations goes out to Charlie Mcgee! You were picked as the winner of our One World, One Heart giveaway! We made this special "key"psake with love. A beautiful gold gilded frame holds a silk flower adorned with the key to life! This art piece stands on an easel so that you will always be reminded of your dreams. A big huge thank you to Lisa Oceandreamer for planning this wonderful event. We hope to see you all again very soon!

One World, One Heart Giveaway

2008-02-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

We are giving away a unique and fun "key"psake made with love by us at Street Chic Studio. If you have a blog you can enter to win by commenting on this post. Please tell us what you heart and how you found us! We will draw and notify the winner by e-mail on Valentines Day. One world, one heart is a yearly event by Lisa Oceandreamer that brings bloggers together from all over the world by the giving and sharing of hearts. The original idea behind this giveaway event was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. The real meaning behind this is to find kindred spirits and meet new friends. Good luck and Happy Valentine's!