Have you seen Flavor for Mixed Media yet? Well it's a pretty darn cool book and I'm not just saying that because I edited it. If you want to become inspired to paint more, check it out and I think you'll agree with me. But . . .I digress. The real reason I'm here (let's face it—it takes major doing for me to do a blog post) is that I'm also a contributing artist in this book and as such, I wanted to support Mary Beth in her desire to do a blog tour, so here I am! Mary Beth is giving away a copy of her book this week and if you pop on over to her blog, you can enter to win. To make things more fun, I wanted to give something away, too, so since I'm into funky patches lately, I thought it would be cool to create an apron (see the fool/art cross-over potential here?) using one of Mary Beth's stencils for a pattern! So if you win the book, you win the apron as well.
One reason Mary Beth and I get along so well is that we share a love of food and it's that love that led us to developing the concept for her book in the first place because we could see numerous correlations between making food and making art. Get this, there are actually recipes in this book, including a pizza recipe from yours truly. So check out the book (you won't be sorry—plenty of inspiration to be had), check out her blog and I hope you win!
i was the winner of your gorgeous apron, and wanted to pop over here and say that i received it, and wow! It's absolutely beautiful! i can't wait to wear it! It looks a million times better than my previous apron, which was an old, ugly green thing from a retail job i had years ago. Thank you so very much! :)
Posted by: Jessica W. | May 26, 2011 at 06:50 AM
Hey Jessica,
Thanks for the comment! I'm so glad you like the apron in person. You are very welcome and enjoy! :-)
Posted by: Tonia Davenport | May 26, 2011 at 07:00 AM
Off to check out Mary Beth's blog, looks like this a book I need to stock in the art shop. Let me know if you have other recommendations.
Posted by: Kimberly Santiago | June 02, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Both of our children (ages 23 and 19) are in town, along with my mom. After a lovely meal at our favorite Thai restaurant last night we headed over to Barnes and Nobel where I happened to pick up "Flavor for Mixed Media." and then I saw that you were a contributing artist and found my way here. It is another beautiful book and I am enjoying it so much I am bringing it with me on vacation....
Posted by: Cate | July 30, 2011 at 08:21 AM
Hi, Tonia!
Thanks for the heads up about this book! I'm so excited about it I'm drooling! And not just over the idea of recipes.
I missed seeing you at the Bead and Button show this year. I was hoping to take another one of your classes (I took, and loved, the graffiti pendant class the year before last). Maybe next year?
- Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | August 23, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Hello Tonia,
I've been really enjoying your blog. I especially like the "distressed poems" the concept of visual poetry. I've come across it before.How do you manage to follow your heart so joyfully while working so hard?
I feel strongly that my art is responsible for the nurturing of my spirit and that time "finds itself" somehow, when I'm passionate about my work.
I find inspiration in the everyday miracles of life. I find it in the beauty of women, their strength and compassion. I love the sound of birds it brings to mind flying as a symbol of empowerment. The butterflies transformation reminds me that the spirit can be renewed. These are some of the things that make me realize that I need to stop, slow down, and watch life more studiously. Life is about loving these moments. Above that, I can't help but notice that making art is a sort of salvation from the everyday. It transforms us in the same manner that we transform our raw materials into art.
It transcends the everyday.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us all.
~ Kanchan Mahon
http://kanchanmahon.com
Posted by: kmahon@stny.rr.com | September 02, 2011 at 01:13 PM
I just bought this book a few days ago - I can't wait to try out some of the idesa with clayboard (a new technique for me, but I am just getting started, so much is new to me).
Posted by: Kathleen | September 05, 2011 at 12:38 PM
I have a copy of the book! I absolutely love it!
I was so attracted to all of the wonderful art and artists in this book that I impulsively bought it at first sight!
I think you definitely get to know the artists a little bit better by knowing their taste in food! Great job on the book!
Posted by: Suzanne Drolet | October 11, 2012 at 11:32 AM
I'm very excited to let you know that I"m doing a book review of "Flavor for Mixed Media" on my blog in a column I call "Art Books I Love" this Thursday. I'm actually holding a contest and the winner wins a copy of the book - directly from Mary Beth Shaw! It's so exciting!
Posted by: Suzanne Drolet | October 23, 2012 at 09:26 PM
That IS exciting, Suzanne!
Posted by: tonia.davenport@gmail.com | October 24, 2012 at 06:45 AM