The latest
My Protégé
My step-niece, Jamey came to visit from Illinois and wanted to learn how to make dreamcatchers so she can bring them home for her friends. So I picked up all the items and taught her how to wrap them (though I just ended up wrapping them), add beads, feathers, and lastly stones. She did a great job adding the feathers, I’m so proud of her for not only her dreamcatcher-making skills but also for her kindness and thoughtfulness. We made five unique dreamcatchers as gifts to her best friends.
MAXINE and POLLY Going to Santa Fe, NM
MAXINE (medium dreamcatcher in light grey with crystal quartz and fossilized squid tail) and POLLY (x-small dreamcatcher in black with amethyst center) are going home to Rock + Feather gallery in Santa Fe, NM this week!
MAXINE
POLLY
Q&A with The EAB Project
Please check out The EAB Project (a luxury brand development agency) on Instagram. I did a Q&A with Beth Anne, the founder of The EAB Project, where she featured our conversation on her feed and stories over a two week period! I want to thank Beth Anne so much for shining the spotlight on my artwork and of course for years of friendship and support! Those who know her know how cool and gracious she is. And if you don’t know her, please follow her — she has great taste in jewelry, art, wellness, travel and life! She’s incredibly supportive of female artists and I’m honored to be included in her beautifully curated story. Follow The EAB Project!
And for more of my art, please visit Drawn for You and Paige and Ginger!
Q:
Being in LA, you went into lockdown before many of us ... do you find that the time inside is fueling or oppressing your creativity.
A:
It’s definitely not oppressing my creativity, but it’s not exactly fueling it either. I’m most creative at home and I get a lot of ideas or sparks during my meditations. (I’m a devout TM-er, twice a day, every day — and haven’t missed a single mediation in 7.5 years!) I’m fortunate that I love my home and my surroundings, and I feel very happy and peaceful here, which of course is very inspiring.
Q: You work in several mediums - does the inspiration for one ignite creativity in the other? Or does your process have you stay single-minded? For example: is it all Drawn for You and then it's all Paige and Ginger - or do you cross-pollinate?
A: I would like to cross-pollinate more, but I just don’t know how to do that yet. Between my photography and Photoshop work, the line of dreamcatchers, and self-publishing projects — like the children's book, Hybrid Animals I wrote and illustrated — my mediums are all separate at the moment. At times, one gets more focus than the others, depending on which project seems to have the most momentum behind it. On a good day, I can give each of my projects the same amount of attention and that makes me feel complete. But that’s not always the case, since I can’t force creativity.
Q: What is it like working with West Elm and has that lead to other opportunities?
A: I’ve really enjoyed working with West Elm. They are very supportive of local artists and really go out of their way to help make each pop-up a success. The team is very helping in hanging my dreamcatchers and providing furniture/products for my display. It’s been a great experience but unfortunately, sales haven’t been quite as high as I’d hoped. My first two pop-ups took place at the newest West Elm location in Downtown LA, where foot traffic is still pretty light. At my most recent pop-up, at the Beverly Blvd. location, the rain kept lots of shoppers away. But I am hopeful and will continue to have pop-ups as soon as life goes back to normal.
Q: What has been your most exciting event (other than the birth of your amazing nephew, Niko) in the last year?
A: Aside from watching my sweet Niko, the most exciting event is witnessing my beautiful twin sister be a mother. I’m in such awe of her mothering style: so happy, so loving, patient, nurturing and so much fun. I enjoy every moment I get to see her with her son, it makes my heart so full.
Q: Do you have a favorite artistic outlet?
A: My favorite by far is Photoshopping Paige and Ginger. I get such a kick out of creating fun scenarios for them and the possibilities are endless!
Q: With Dream Catch Repeat, how do you source your stones for your pieces and do they hold specific meanings for you?
A: I source them all from the Tucson gem shows, which take place every year at the beginning of February. It’s my absolute favorite trip of the year! I used to pick up any stones that appealed to me but now I specifically look for stones that I can best adhere to a dreamcatcher — usually those that are flat and, if they’re agates, with holes in the center so I can wrap them easily. I love all gemstones but I’m particularly drawn to amethyst, aventurine and citrine - they are very powerful.
Q: Tell us about the origins of Paige and Ginger!
A: Paige (the brunette) and Ginger (the blonde) are my hyper- feminine, powerful, do-anything alter egos. Catty, funny, confident and youthful, they also offer an opportunity for me to feel “safe” speaking in their voices, much like a ventriloquist. I love them (so much) partly because they have absolutely no fear — they walk tightropes, travel into space, perform ballet, big wave surf, and, above all, speak their minds.
The idea for them formed years ago, when I decided I wanted to stage some wild photos, like placing a sweet baby doll in some kind of crazy scene, but then I started to see that had already been done so I abandoned that idea. Then I thought it would be fun to do something with a set of Barbie-like dolls, so I bought five small dolls that looked like they were from the ’60s. I was frustrated because they didn’t bend and I couldn’t get them to pose like I wanted so I ditched them too.
That’s when I found Paige and Ginger at a craft store and fell in love with them immediately. Something about their faces — they were the perfect canvas for my ideas. I started traveling with them and posing them in different scenarios, as if they were little humans. My intention was to feature them as real girls, not dolls, so I was careful to pose them in places where viewers would see them as real beings. For example, I never pose them with people, because I don’t want Paige and Ginger to seem small in comparison.
I take a mixed approach when it comes to imagery of the dolls. Sometimes I photograph them in real-life settings. Other times I Photoshop them into images I find on creative commons. These days, it’s more the latter because they’ve gotten a little banged up over the years — Ginger not so much, but Paige is now almost a double amputee! (If anyone knows of a good doll doctor, please let me know. I’m not joking. ;)
Q: Drawn for You has such a satirical and expressive hand. How did DFY begin?
A: Thank you! Before Drawn for You, there was My Pet Croc (created in 2003), a series of illustrations featuring quirky animals and their strange habits — such as “My pet croc is a vegan,” “My bunny reads Playboy,” “My fish is on Prozac,” and many more. I created a website and t-shirts to showcase the illustrations, but didn’t get much traction so I stepped away from that project for a while. In 2013, I started drawing again — the illustrations expanded to include people, current events, weather, food, Howard Stern Show antics, you name it. That all laid the foundation for a small but steady custom drawing business. People from around the country will send me photos of their loved ones (kids, pets, husbands/wives) and I'll come back to them with custom illustrations that usually end up as birthday or anniversary gifts. I love adding in fun details about the subjects (such as, they're big fans of Disneyland or train cats for a living), as those details make each illustration that much more personal. The drawings have evolved over the years as I’ve honed my style. I hand draw everything on a mouse which is why the drawings are very imperfect, with lines that aren’t closed.
Q: Last question. What are you doing at home, other than art, that is bringing you some sense of peace?
A: As I mentioned, I meditate a lot, which is essential to my peace. I also do workouts on this free app called FitOn — I try to do something daily if I can. I read, I cook, I dress up in different fun earrings or necklaces every day to feel fancy, I FaceTime with friends. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t do something creative. (Oh yeah, I’m also a freelance web designer, so I squeeze in actual work designing websites, logos, look books, ads/banners, etc.)
West Elm Pop Up Part III
Thank you to Robyn, Jared and the entire team at West Elm Beverly Blvd in Los Angeles for including me in the Holiday Event! The display was beautiful and more than 20% of proceeds went to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Thank you everyone who came out to support me, especially to my papa and awesome sister, Victoria who helped me work it.
Michael Hayden Gallery
My dreamcatchers are now in Michael Hayden Art Gallery in Los Angeles, at 4413B West Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016. Come check out Michael's amazing art, gemstones, my dreamcatchers and also my dear friend, Kelly's new jewelry line (flattened bullet jewelry), Gold and Smoke!
I am so thrilled and honored to be included in this beautiful gallery! Thank you so much, Michael for sharing your space and thank you Kelly for the connection. I love when things just come together perfectly like this collaboration 🙂
Dreamcatchers are also in galleries and shops in Santa Fe, Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Dallas and pop ups at West Elm in LA stores.
A Different Kind of Wall Hanging
I was recently commissioned by my friend, Vanessa to make a custom wall hanging for her. She wanted something large and horizontal to hang over her bed and she gave me rough measurements of the ideal piece: 58” wide and 30” tall and to incorporate some gold to compliment the gold pendant lighting on either side of her bed. I was up for the challenge!
Though I’ve made this type of wall hanging before (horizontal on a stick), I’ve never made one this large and with so many feathers. I started looking for sticks that I thought would be great to work with, something fairly straight, not too curved and sturdy enough to hold the weight of the cord and feathers. I was excited to find a great stick so quickly while on a walk with my sister. I took it home and whittled it and sanded it. I noticed it was rather hollow inside and looked like some artifacts where inside. I washed it and continued to sand it hoping I could dry it out. Days went by and still some ugly gunk inside that I feared would turn into creepy bugs that would land on Vanessa’s head while she slept! So I tossed that stick and started all over in my search.
My brother-in-law, Jim, also was searching for a perfect stick to make a walking stick and he had his eye on the branch that belonged to the neighbors house but was on their side of the yard, so I convinced him to let me have it. He cut it down for me and what do you know, it’s the perfect length, roughly 60 inches wide and straight and sturdy enough. Perfecto, I was in business! I again went to my whittling and sanding and the stick was looking smooth and pretty. I let it dry before getting to the cord.
I did some calculations and came back with needing 6 rolls of 50 yards of light cord. Boy did I underestimate that one! Once I started adding it, I needed 6 additional rolls, making it 12 rolls of 50 yard cord. What a doozy! But I continued to work on it, noticing it was becoming an angled dreamcatcher, which I really liked. When I hung it up, I noticed it was not an even slant, so I cut the bottom to exaggerate the slant. Once it was exactly how I wanted it, it was time for the feathers.
I didn’t add the feathers to every single bit of cord (that would’ve been too much), but I added a lot in, all across the bottom, both tan colored feathers and white gold-tipped feathers. When I showed Vanessa my progress, she wanted more feathers, so I continued to add more and in layers so the dreamcatcher is more filled in from the middle. I added about 4 layers up and this was finished to me. I showed Vanessa and again she wanted more feathers but I had to argue against it. I told her it was quite impressive in person and it didn’t need any more. She relented and this baby was a wrap! I packed and shipped off to Dallas and was a bit nervous of her reaction when she received it. I was so nervous she wouldn’t like it and would be disappointed.
Boy was I wrong! She received it was was blown away! She absolutely loves it and gushed about how beautiful it is and how her room is complete. That made me so happy and I’m so honored to create a custom piece for my friend.
Check out the photos of its evolution.
And the finished piece in Vanessa’s beautiful room in Dallas, TX!
West Elm Pop Up, Part II
On Saturday, September 14, 2019, I had another successful pop up at West Elm DTLA! Everyone is so great there and so helpful. A special thank you to Geo and Stacy for the extra help!
Painting for Niko
I painted a personalized canvas for my sweet nephew, Niko. It now hangs beautifully in his room. Acrylic on canvas, 36x48.
(Also notice my book, Happy Goodnight, which I wrote and illustrated!?)
Wedding Gift for Bonnie & Max
Thank you to my dear friend, Marina, for ordering a custom dreamcatcher for her friends, Bonnie and Max as a wedding gift! This custom dreamcatcher in light faux suede cord, white and black and white speckled feathers with agate center, is on its way to New York!
Two 5” diameter rounds and 46” in height.
Thank you, West Elm DTLA
I had a great pop up at West Elm Downtown LA this past Saturday, July 20. My wonderful sister, Victoria assisted me all day and my best friends all came down to support me and make purchases. There was not too much foot traffic, but was still happy with the event, meeting people and making connections.
Thank you the great team there including Stacy and Geo (who also made a purchase), Bernice, and Frank to name a few! I’ve been invited back for another pop up on September 14, 2019. Hope to see you there!
Pop Up at West Elm DTLA
I’m so excited to announce that my dreamcatchers and I will be popping up at West Elm DTLA on Saturday, July 22, 2019 at 11 am. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, please come by and shop West Elm and pick up a dreamcatcher! A portion of the proceeds will go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
West Elm DTLA: 928 S Broadway Ste A, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Sonoma Style
I recently visited my friend, Jen, in Sonoma and was delighted to sleep in this beautiful, peaceful room in her home, where her custom dreamcatcher (that I made for her for her birthday over a year ago) is hanging. I slept like a baby!
Custom Wall Hanging for Grisha
I made a custom wall hanging for my friend, Marina last year for her birthday. She loved it so much that she recently ordered a custom piece for her brother, Grisha, whose birthstone is amethyst.
Amethyst is one of the most spiritual crystals there is, it promotes a love of the divine and encourages spiritual wisdom. It brings a sense of peace and contentment, with a calming effect that reduces anger, fear and impatience. It can promote inspired dreams and dispels nightmares. Helps to enhance memory and stop anxious thoughts. Amethyst promotes our sense of spiritual awareness and contentment and is useful for cleansing the aura and absorbing any negativity.
Tucson Highlights
Another successful trip to Tucson is in the books! I look forward to this trip every year when I tag along with my sister and stay at the JW Marriott Starr Pass. That’s where JCK has their annual show (my sister is Editor-in-Chief) and it’s a spectacular place to stay. This year, we had a new addition: my sweet little nephew, Niko, who is almost 3 months old. I was on auntie duty most of the time but managed to get to the gem shows and pick up lots of cool loot! Check out some of the highlights below.
Thank you, Tucson! Til next year!
Tucson 2019
A Very Gomelsky Christmas!
We always celebrate the holidays at my parents house and our good friends, Mark and Michelle always join us. This year, we had several new additions: my good friend, Lia, Aunt Anna from Israel, my sister’s boyfriend, Jim and my new sweet little nephew, Niko (son of Jim)! It was the best Gomelsky Christmas yet!
Here are the highlights of our celebrations.
Winter Show in San Francisco
Thank you to DeeDee at Hunt & Gather in San Francisco for including me in the Winter Show! It was a great night kicking off the winter event with my dreamcatchers, art, jewelry, bath and body, great food, friends and DJ!
Two dreamcatchers, Kensie and Maureen, found new homes in San Francisco and Canada! We continued the show with a pop shop all weekend. A huge thank you to my dear friend, Carrie, for always being so supportive. She drove up from Livermore (over an hour away) to see me and make some holiday purchases.
It was a great weekend and I’m happy that my dreamcatchers will be there until the Spring Show in March! If you’re in the bay area and are interested in purchasing one, please visit Hunt & Gather in San Francisco and ask for DeeDee Nicky. They will hook you up!
Hunt & Gather is located at 1108 Irving St. San Francisco
JoJo, the First Double Wall Hanging
JoJo is finished! This was an experiment, the first 2-in-1 double wall hanging. The size is in between a medium and a large, measuring 8” in light faux suede cord, white and neutral colored feathers with glow-in-the-dark beads and agate center.
Price: $275
DCR Joining the Pop Shop in SF
I am so excited to announce that Dream Catch Repeat will be one of the makers at the Pop Shop at Hunt & Gather in San Francisco the first weekend in October! If you're in the bay area, please come and visit! I'll have dreamcatchers in all sizes, along with various necklaces, all within a wide of special prices (think holiday shopping!)
Located on Located on Irving at 12th, in the Inner Sunset neighborhood, Hunt & Gather is a a community creative space for workshops, pop ups and art shows, supporting local artist and businesses.
For more info, check out Hunt & Gather
Hope to see you there!
Seagull Rescue
This morning, on my morning walk to the Marina, a seagull with a broken wing crossed my path. I couldn’t ignore the fact that his left wing was dragging on the ground so I followed him. I flagged down an employee in the Marina area and she said she’d report it. Somehow, I didn’t believe her (there was no urgency in her response) so I kept following him and stayed with him until help arrived. Which wasn’t soon - it was surprisingly very challenging to find the correct number for injured birds. I googled, called, emailed several rescue services but they were either too far away, or only rescued marine life. Finally, after 40 minutes, I was able to talk to someone and they dispatched help. They weren’t sure when they would arrive - could be 10 minutes or 3 hours. But I vowed to stay with my little friend, who I’ve now named “Swifty”. Swifty and I became friends and I followed him around as he walked the park, picked at garbage and relaxed on a sunny patch on the grass. He even inched a little closer to me, which made me smile, thinking that he trusted me to help! Finally, I got a call that Officer Romero arrived to help take Swifty away! He caught him quickly and gently and wrapped Swifty in a towel before putting him in the truck for a bird rescue where a vet will check him out. There was even another seagull around with a busted wing (though not as bad as Swifty’s), so I’m glad I was there to help rescue two birds!