Let's Pretend Gift Guide: Part 3

 The final chapter of the Let's Pretend Gift Guide! Comin' attcha!

If we gave each other Christmas gifts, here is how it would go: 

Happy Holiday, Grace McNicholas! 

Now this hypothetical Christmas gift is neither as useful nor quite as affordable as the last two, but I haven't found anything that screams "Grace" more. This Turquoise Bar Ring from Sasa Jewelry is a bold statement piece that I think would add a great pop of color to any and all of the tres fashionable things you wear day to day.

Hope you like it! 

P.S. Dear Readers! On a slightly related note, we will all be taking a short break from the blog until the first of the year. (I just couldn't leave poor Grace without an imaginary gift to open.) Thank you for coming round to read what we write! We so appreciate your support. And we look forward bringing you more beautiful things in 2014 to brighten your days and inspire you!

See you in the New Year!

- Cathleen 

Week of the Arts Special Edition : Wise Words from Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, one of Grace's favorite artists, said some pretty smart stuff about art in his day. But this is one of the best quotes I've read. From anyone. Ever. 

- Cathleen 

Week of the Arts Special Edition : Artist of the Week: Grace McNicholas!

This week my bestie Grace McNicholas is hard at work producing the annual Week of the Arts festival at Blessed Sacrament School where she also teaches art to children from 5 to 14 years old. This three day extravaganza of creative activities for kids is something she tirelessly organizes for months leading up to the event, inviting artisans from all manner of media—glass blowers, stone carvers, paper cutters—into her school inspiring young minds to think beyond the typical still-life drawing and watercolor painting lessons on tap in most middle school art classes. 


Most of our readers might not realize that Grace is also an amazing mixed media artist. The above assemblage is something she made a couple years ago. I remember the first time I saw it in her apartment on one of my visits down south and immediately making her an offer on it that she REFUSED. I understood her not wanting to part with the piece—it is totally awesome and Rauschenberg-y—so I settled on her sending me a picture that was actually my desktop background for awhile. I don't know if I ever told her that. 


Anyway, I am obviously super proud of Grace and all that she does, but mostly that she picked me to be her best friend all those years ago. Good luck this week, bestie! 


xo, Cathleen