Candice Chetta

New Necklace

2011-08-12T17:10:00.001-04:00

I've been working a lot on my jewelry. this is a picture of it is a multi strand beaded necklace with hand painted bone and coral accent finished with a sterling silver clasp. It should be up on Etsy soon.

Oof.

2011-07-15T20:12:00.004-04:00

I got my jewelry forms to take pictures with!

Now I just need some decent lighting and, you know, time to take pictures of all of my pieces.

I learned how to peyote stitch at the Bead Box today. It's pretty epic.

I am going to be 26 in two weeks. Pretty wild.

Etsy Snafu

2011-07-10T10:15:00.002-04:00

I've been working my balls off on my Etsy store, but it seems I've hit a serious roadblock.

I joined a community called Etsy Success which is designed to be a kind of support group for all the sellers on Etsy. They give each other device, critique photos, banners and store layouts and essentially provide you with a plethora of tools to utilize when monetizing your store.

The overwhelming review of my store is that my photos are the pits.

Sigh, I knew it. But that's OK!

I have already ordered jewelry forms and displays on which to take decent pictures -- The pictures on Etsy now really are only temporary and quickly taken. When I have my forms, and a lovely used light box from Amazon, then I will have sexy, sexy photos. THEN I WILL RULE THE WORLD.

So, Where Have You Been The Last 3 Months?

2011-07-09T07:29:00.004-04:00

Making money living as an artist is not easy. But I have to tell you, it's one hell of a lot better than selling glasses.

I said it before I moved to New York, and I will reiterate it here. I want a good story. I want to have crazy adventures and have stories that make peoples eyes bug out of their heads. I don't want money (except what I need to sustain myself,) and I'm not looking for fame. Just stories

My latest story starts with lots of very low months that occured after a serious life change last November. It involves weeks of not being able to leave the house, fear of my phone and the internet and a loss of control. I lost a lot. A lot of people have rightfully given up on me. I also gained a lot of weight.

I even landed a job back in glasses. A good job. Without going into too much detail, it essentially crashed and burned. Or I did. It wasn't meant to be, and it wasn't pretty. I was embarrassed beyond belief and incredibly disappointed in myself. More than ever I was assured that I was a complete and utter loser before I had really even had a chance to live.

All that did was strengthen my resolve to find something else, something new. I humbled myself when it came to my salary requirements, after 7 years selling glasses I was making an OK living for myself... I had to get over that. Fast. I started all over again, bottom of the totem-pole.

I got a job at The Brooklyn Bead Box where I repair jewelry, sell jewelry, sell beads and finding for jewelry, and help people design jewelry on special occasion. I have started a new job without having a single skill in the field, and now I knot pearls like a machine! Even this leap of faith is a baby step in the healing I need to do. I need to heal myself and I need to heal my life and my relationships and my art.

Cornelius Introduces New Chef and Wine on Tap - Prospect Heights, NY Patch

2011-04-04T13:59:00.000-04:00

Cornelius Introduces New Chef and Wine on Tap - Prospect Heights, NY Patch:

"Cornelius’ new chef Chris Caracciolo hopes dollar oysters attract a hungry crowd that will drink and slurp, then move on to charcuterie plates of wild boar salami, surf and turf burgers, a duck Rueben with aged Gruyere and daily specials designed to pair well with spirits."

Aaron's sweet new gig. Who's in?

As My Darling Man Points Out:

2011-03-24T20:06:00.002-04:00

Don't let the TURKEYS get you down.

I've been meditating. I've been keeping it together.

Had a trip upstate for a few days to see a darling friend. It was a serious collection of amazing travel stories of woe and wonder - as any good trip should be! It's trips like that (travel-wise,) that make you really appreciate all your other decent travel experiences. So I am grateful for the entire experience. It was really educational, interesting, hilarious and fun.

I am ready to bust out of this apartment for the sunny skies. Anyone even remotely friendly with me knows that I am a homebody. I love being in my home, or in my neighborhood. I love to paint and enjoy movies and read and meditate and cook and bake. I love to be with friends and have conversations and craft and create. I love to commune and feel close to my friends.

That being said:

I AM SO FUCKING SICK OF BEING STUCK IN HERE. I'm not sick of the weather, I'm not blaming Winter, I'm ready to GTFO -- Just getting a little stir crazy it seems. Time to go out and play in the thawed out parks and wander through the labyrinth streets of Manhattan and take in the sites. Time to take out my walking shoes and have some adventure.

Robert Webber, a good friend of ours with an incredible talent for circus arts, will be visiting this weekend! Hoping for a brunch at the Sunburnt Cow, perhaps with our darling Devon in tow, and enjoy the Lower East Side and Alphabet City, and maybe some of our local haunts in the 'hood.

Zero arrives April 1st for a couple of months! VERY excited!! Aaron and I had such an awful landing in New York. No friends, no family, no safety net. We paid an ASTRONOMICAL amount of money for a single room in a ridiculous condo in Park Slope where we lived with, well, some AMAZING human beings who were a little bit anal. It was not a good mix. Never any bad blood or arguments or ugliness, we just weren't best friends, ya know? Anyway - we had no furniture, barely any clothing, no bed, nothing. We slept on the ground with blankets for THREE MONTHS when we got here. We consumed SO much MSG and shitty food that our health started deteriorating.

ANYWAY - I'm rambling; The whole point is:

I am SO happy to be able to help someone else's arrival a little more comfortable. This city is awesome. The energy is amazing, the people are powerful and brilliant, and you really can find anything and make any dream come true. However, even though you are surrounded by more people than you have ever been in your life, you can feel extremely lonely. It's not the same lifestyle or pace - and sometimes it takes some time to figure our your rhythm in this race.

Also, for my own personal reasons, I am very stoked to have one of my good friends out here to hang out with in this new Universe!

Job hunt is still chugging along :/ I am so sick of not getting calls. It's never been this hard for me. I don't mean that to sound brag-y. I just mean that... I've never not even gotten calls. And I've ever had this experience of SO many scams when I'm just looking for a job. I guess they hadn't figured out how to super effectively do that to people last time I was looking. Whatever. I go to my court dates, I join all the freaking job hunt websites, I work on my resume and write countless cover letters... I guess I just have to keep on trying. Very hard not to feel discouraged. I send out resumes 7 days a week. Yarg.

I need canvas. What else is new?!

Reiki Level 2 in a couple of weeks. Still manifesting money. :/

Crazy Sun Over Buffalo

2011-03-22T19:36:00.002-04:00

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Hey, Universe!

2011-03-22T18:56:00.003-04:00

Come on with the job hunt, eehhhh?

I love Franklin Ave.: An Incident on Franklin and Looking Out for Neighbors

2011-03-20T08:54:00.000-04:00

I love Franklin Ave.: An Incident on Franklin and Looking Out for Neighbors:

"While it's admittedly tricky business in a rapidly-changing neighborhood where we don't know everyone (and where tensions generated by gentrification work against affective ties), looking out for neighbors isn't just a sign of community, it's a route to building community. This doesn't mean calling the police every time someone looks different, or putting oneself in harm's way. Everyone has different levels of comfort with these sorts of things, but eye contact, greetings, and simple questions can go a long way toward both assessing the state of a situation."

Precept 2

2011-03-10T06:46:00.005-05:00

"Do not WORRY, for FEAR is Distraction"

This precept is very difficult for me.

I am a very, very anxious person. I have now meditated on this particular one 3 separate times -- I've done it more than the others (at this level,) because I know it's going to be the hardest to deal with. It's a very intense experience. My body enters this state of discomfort and I feel like I can't keep my muscles still. Anyone who's ever experienced or read about restless leg syndrome - you could easily liken it to that experience. But all over. I can feel my eyelids flutter and my fingers move.

Uncomfortable images come to me while I am in this state. Usually times in my life that my anxiety got to an unmanageable level. Starting a new job and bursting into tears just outside the door. Shaking uncontrollably, losing the ability to breathe properly. It's a mess, and I've been a mess many, many times. I am working very hard at looking at these images as they come to me, and letting them go. These images that come up are representative of an uncomfortable moment in my life that I have yet to work through and let go.

I realize that if I am putting my consciousness towards these things and letting them weigh on my mind and spirit that I am wasting energy - putting my attention towards things that happened 5 years ago (which means I GOT THROUGH THEM,) that I am Distracting myself from the task at hand. It is impossible to pay attention to the NOW if I am worrying and constantly considering the reactions of 50 strangers who saw me really upset on some cold winter morning in 2007. I need to let go of lots of pain and lots of confusion and lots of DISTRACTION.

Onward and upward!

Precept 1

2011-03-07T06:25:00.004-05:00

"Do not ANGER, for anger is illusion"

When I meditate on anger this is what I feel.

This precept, to me, came last part first. "Anger is illusion" kept running through my head. As I continued to meditate images of waves crashing on a beach popped into my head and stayed there until a thought occurred to me: A wave crashing on the beach is not the thing in itself - a wave crashing on a beach is merely a symptom of something much larger. A wave crashes on the beach because of the moon and the Earth and the plates moving. Much like a wave crashing on the beach, although it seems powerful and strong thing - anger is merely symptom of a much larger problem. When there is anger, there is imbalance. Where there is anger, there is a distraction from the task at hand - a distraction from NOW. When you allow anger into your life you are allowing everyone else's negative energy into your life.

Anger is a hard thing for me. I grew up in an angry home. I've had a fair share of very, very tumultuous and angry relationships. Anger is almost comfortable for me, to borrow words from a Reiki practitioner that I met in class. Anger was our form of communication growing up - it seemed to be the only way to get a person to listen to you.

My journey through anger is going to be interesting and difficult. I tend to fly off the handle and live life on the verge of EXPLODING into some kind of rambunctious emotion at any moment. Meditation on anger means I am going to relive and be forced to recount unresolved anger living inside me. There are countless things that make me angry that play through my head on any given day - things that happened years and years ago - something that happened a week ago. I am going to look at things moments in time and let them move on - literally and figuratively pass through my mind and be washed away to be let go.

We'll see how it goes. :]

Very Exciting Things

2011-03-04T21:41:00.002-05:00

Many things are happening - not much posting - but things in the REAL world!

Reiki level I classes start tomorrow - two days of super intensive energy work! Awesome. A couple of trips are in the near future - a cousin's wedding and perhaps HARRY POTTER WORLD??? What? That's right. Also - LOTS of folks coming to town. Robert Webber is coming to visit for a few days, and then Zero arrives for a mutually beneficial short-term stay! Looking forward to having a Craiglist buddy. Lots of job job jobby job hunting. I also got GOOD news from my family for the first time in, oh, ever maybe. So that's a bonus, too.

The last few days with Aaron have been adventurous. Trips to Milk Bar and friends houses and beauuuutiful walks in freezing cold, bright blue weather. It's lovely.

Still looking to get a super awesome musical project happening - wheels are turning. :]

Need canvas.

Precious Benny and His Nearly Toppled Cup

2011-03-02T17:52:00.002-05:00

Too cute.

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Jetplane

2011-02-28T09:49:00.003-05:00

Having played muh geetar in yurrs. First thang in the mornin, haven' even used muh voicebox yit.

Ok, How About Something Good?!

2011-02-28T09:06:00.003-05:00

That's it.

I need to put some more positivity out there.

It's hard to think sunshine & rainbows when everything has been frozen over for the last 4 months only to thaw into grey and wet, depressing days. It's hard to be positive when job searches are met by nothing but scams and fraud through those darling sites such as Craigslist. (Thanks SO much to Lauren Fiata for the hookup on a couple really awesome job sites!)

I might as well take advantage of this newfound free time even more than I have been. I've been painting often (never as often as I'd like. Serious shortage on canvas around the apartment..) and trying to meditate regularly. I have a goal and a payment plan arranged with The International House of Reiki to start my classes in a few days (March 5th & 6th!)

I do have an annoying ass FOLLOW UP appointment with Workforce 1 regarding my employment. How pleasant. I love being shooed from room to room for 3 hours before sitting with a person who will NOT make eye contact with me for 2 minutes to tell them I've been all over the internet and Craigslist and that I have an updated resume and am actively seeking employment.

What I'd really like to do is start seeing the freakin sites. It's so strange that once I finally had the time that of course the money goes by the way of the dinosaur and then the planet seemed to just freeze over (here in the East, anyway..) and it's been rough going. I mean, who wants to run around when it's -5 degrees outside? We've had more snow in NY than ever recorded on record by over 60%. I was snowed in for the first time in my life -- how crazy is that??

This entry is a little disjointed.

I want to write more, I want to be more active with my friends. I want to go see that statue everyone's talking about, and first Saturdays at the BK Museum. I want to go the East River Park, because it's hilarious that it even exists. (No, really.) I want to go upstate, see people I haven't seen in a long time. I want to keep baking cookies for the coffee shop, and keep working towards getting the art shows up and running again throughout this seemingly endless term of transformation and construction down there.

Painting Update

2011-02-27T17:44:00.002-05:00

New changes to old pages!

Check out the Sold Paintings page and see some recently sold pieces, and then be sure to take a peek at what is still available on the Paintings for Sale page!

New paintings to come, 4 to post! The introduction of a new, super fun series called "Bits & Pieces" will be going up with 3 new pieces in it... Oh, how thrilling :]

Out of canvas and desperate to make rent, but as my darling puts it, "I'm in love and dreaming."

The Understory » BREAKING: Wisconsin Police Have Joined Protest Inside State Capitol

2011-02-27T13:54:00.000-05:00

The Understory » BREAKING: Wisconsin Police Have Joined Protest Inside State Capitol:

"“Police have just announced to the crowds inside the occupied State Capitol of Wisconsin: ‘We have been ordered by the legislature to kick you all out at 4:00 today. But we know what’s right from wrong. We will not be kicking anyone out, in fact, we will be sleeping here with you!’ Unreal.”"

Wis. Assembly passes bill taking away union rights

2011-02-25T14:02:00.000-05:00

Wis. Assembly passes bill taking away union rights:

"Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly took the first significant action on their plan to strip collective bargaining rights from most public workers, abruptly passing the measure early Friday morning before sleep-deprived Democrats realized what was happening."

Well, this is gross.

bloggiebloggieblog: hipster disney princesses

2011-02-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

bloggiebloggieblog: hipster disney princesses:

"hipster disney princesses
thank you to my sister tami for introducing meto these gems. rofl.
i really donty like hipsters... or thick glasses... or people who wear ripped clothes on purpose. quit trying so hard to discover everything before everyone else, and dont try so hard to look like you havent showered for at least 17 days. it makes me wanna slap ya across the face."

Unnamed Triangle Waist Company Victims Identified - NYTimes.com

2011-02-22T08:42:00.000-05:00

Unnamed Triangle Waist Company Victims Identified - NYTimes.com:

"In the Cemetery of the Evergreens on the border of Brooklyn and Queens, there is a haunting stone monument to the garment workers who died in the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire of 1911 but were never identified. It contains the bas-relief figure of a kneeling woman, her head bowed, seemingly mourning not only the deaths, but also the fact that those buried below were so badly charred that relatives could not recognize them."

New Paintings and New Series!

2011-02-21T18:20:00.002-05:00

The Series: Bits And Pieces.

The Paintings (so far:)

All acrylic on canvas.

Ra (4" x 4") Lips (12" x 12") and Hamsa (4" x 4")

Stay tuned.

Sick And Tired

2011-02-21T17:59:00.002-05:00

I am sick and tired. I can't breath, my lower back is spasming and the world just seems to be more and more full of shit.

I just want to curl up for the rest of the winter.

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It Survived Lots Of Blizzards

2011-02-21T07:01:00.003-05:00

I'm so happy that I put so many layers of medium and spray lacquer!

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And Of Course, San Francisco (I Left My Heart There. Again. :) )

2011-02-19T18:59:00.002-05:00

Mission Dolores Park, Toronado, Love & Haight, Kate's Kitchen, The Good Fellows & A Billion Amazing Freaking People!

First night w/Miss Mal!

(We KIND OF look like lovers in this one, huh?)

ONTO THE PARK & TORONADO!

This looks like as good a spot as any to settle....

OKAY, here's the deal: THERE ARE SO FUCKING MANY OF THESE PICTURES and they are all equally amazing -- so HERE GOES YOUR LINK, MAN. For a RIDICULOUS amount of pictures from weird adventures around lovely San Francisco over the course of a couple days!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Then There Was The East Bay Portion

2011-02-19T14:22:00.004-05:00

Pizza, wine, dancing, music, Abra+Cadabra.

Libby was kind enough to give us a ride to the BART so we could find our magical way to miss Ashleyanne!!

LOVE HER.

BTW - Knowing the DJ's is awesome.

Breakfast & BART.

Wonderful Berkeley and Oakland. Much love for the East Bay. Gio and Ash = you guys are the greatest.

Save Our Streets Crown Heights

2011-02-19T14:20:00.000-05:00

Save Our Streets Crown Heights

Cool blog. Must read.

So There Was This California Trip

2011-02-18T18:12:00.004-05:00

We went way over budget and, well, frankly I have NO clue how we're paying rent. [insert rather hysterical, helpless laughter.] All in all, the trip was well worth it. The time we got to spend with our friends was absolutely priceless and it felt good to hug so many amazing human beings! We currently have, um, 200 dollars I believe towards our NOT 200 dollar rent. OH - and a lovely loan to repay to family that was in order for us to be able to get our luggage on the plane and get back home.

ANYWAY.

There are pictures. Many, many. I'm going to do 3 posts. Sacramento. The East Bay. San Francisco.

THIS entry right here that you're staring at is for all those SACRAMENTO FOLK.

This picture is definitely a win on the night. So much energy and attitude. So many couples. Poor Aaron was on the other end of the camera so he is not present... but without him, this picture would cease to be!

That's a lot of fucking pictures, man.

Planned Parenthood: House bars Planned Parenthood from federal funding

2011-02-18T17:50:00.000-05:00

Planned Parenthood: House bars Planned Parenthood from federal funding: "The U.S. House of Representatives has just voted to bar Planned Parenthood health centers from all federal funding for birth control, cancer screenings, HIV testing, and other lifesaving care.

It is the most dangerous legislative assault in our history, and it cannot go unanswered. We — Planned Parenthood and the three million women, men, and teens who are at risk of losing access to basic care — need you to stand united with us now.

Sign our open letter to every single representative in the House who voted for this cruel, unconscionable, unthinkable law, and to every senator who still has a chance to stop it."

I Haven't Made A Post And Many Things Have Happened

2011-02-17T22:31:00.003-05:00

But I also found these and find them FAR more entertaining:

"Walking in a Winter Wonderland"

Dec 14, 2009 8:36pm

"You Can't Win" - Michael Jackson, The Wiz

Jul 22, 2010 8:35pm

"The Christmas Song"

Dec 11, 2009 10:12am

"Oh, What A Beautiful Morning"

Nov 13, 2009 2:11pm

LAST CHANCE

2011-02-05T09:44:00.000-05:00

Knicks And Knacks by CandiceChetta on Etsy

This is IT -- we leave on TUESDAY for our marvelous trip up and down Northern California and could really use a boost to make sure we can get out and about without having to bum EVERYTHING off of our loved ones! Please pass the link, spread the word and give a little love!

Still 20% off of EVERYTHING with coupon code "California911"

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! Cannot freaking wait for this trip.

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Craigslist

2011-02-04T12:23:00.001-05:00

California Trip -- 8 Days!

2011-02-01T08:20:00.002-05:00

We had this adorable little notebook for kids... Aaron had found it on the street in Park Slope or something. It's circle-shaped and has a blue moon and stars with gilded edges all over it. Very.... hippy-sort-of-looking. Which I LOVE, for the record.

I decided it would be cute, since we NEVER see our friends from the West, to turn this thing into a sort of a yearbook... autograph... memory scrap book thing!

Love it!

Everyone be prepared to scribble some dribble.

Don't forget, we are FRINGING on this trip being a sucess by not a TINY bit of money still. We are thinking positively, but scraping by our teeth and all of our bills are due -- oi vey. Trips are so freaking expensive.

So there's a 20% off coupon code on my ETSY STORE -- "California911" in the coupon box at checkout takes 20% off of your entire order -- HOW WILD IS THAT?!

Might I add, I am rather enjoying a pill-free lifestyle for the first time in a long time. Clear, able to go outside a little more often, still painting, not COMPLETELY freaking out yet.... keep your fingers crossed and the positive energy flowing! Wooo hooo!

Neesie Designs, Silk Headband with Amazing Veil!

2011-02-01T07:29:00.004-05:00

Here it is! FOR NOW, the final installation of my love affair with Miss Melanie's amazing hair creations. For a girl like me who is totally not into hair accessories or messing with my hair.... hence keeping it a few inches long for the last 10 years or so -- I found these gorrrggeeeous hair accessories to me easy to store, easy to use and comfortable. It was an indulgent on top of any outfit, and all three of them drew oooo's and aaahhh's and inqiuries (which were glady answered!)

This one got A LOT of comments. It's really a stand out piece in a seriously solid color. Hints of beautiful shimmers bounce in the veil and the silk headband is lovely. It's comfortable and a serious eye catching piece. NICELY DONE, NEESIE!

My personal favorite, hahaha.

Milk Bar Brooklyn

2011-01-31T08:56:00.000-05:00

Milk Bar Brooklyn

"Milk Bar feels strongly that food should be as fresh and healthy as possible. For that reason we use only organic eggs and hormone, antibiotic and nitrite free meats. We use locally farmed produce wherever possible and all of our artisan breads are made daily at Pain D'Avignon Bakery."

Oh man, I can't believe I hadn't been to this place yet! I know, I know... sinful! Only about a mile or so away, it was a lovely walk through the warm sun in the snow covered landscape. People were out dragging around sleds and babies and dogs. The snow was clean and white and beautiful!

THEN THERE WAS THE FOOD AND COFFEE, omg. They serve Counter Culture Coffee and have amazing food -- organic, natural, and delicious. I had a thick cut of sourdough with avacado and a poached egg -- fresh black pepper and a heaping cup of the coffee with fresh milk made a PERFECT lunch/breakfast. I also had their coveted Flat White with soy on the way out -- to die.

It was also AMAZING to spend a little time with Rachel DuBois, my best friend's cousin. She's a super special lady and it was refreshing to talk to someone who seems as positive about things right now as I am trying to be! I hope we get to go out again as this was as lovely afternoon one can have in the freezing temperatures (which I still adore.)

I think Aaron and I may scoot over there today for much anticipated seconds. And his firsts.

Namaste.

Jewel Remeta's Amazing Recital

2011-01-31T07:22:00.000-05:00

I've known this amazing lady since the 4th grade. We used to collect the stuffed animals from McDonalds Happy Meals and make up stories about them at recess. THOSE WHERE THE GOOD OL' DAYS!

A mutual appreciation for all types of music blossomed into a forked road of audio engineering and playing our respective instruments (piano/voice/guitar,) and exploring the Universe in our own ways. Somehow, 3,400 hundred miles away, Jewel is one of my closest and most dear friends. We share a long term and long distant connection that is very powerful. It was so good to be able to SEE one of her important recitals after such a long absence -- and the performance truly brought tears to my eyes.

Well, this is plenty corny so I better stop before Jewel calls to yell at me for being embarrassing and mushy in public. WHATEVER.

So check out her Facebook for updates regarding her blossoming career into all aspects of music. She's really going places, people. Woo hoo!

WAM BAM Ashleyanne!

2011-01-31T07:11:00.001-05:00

WAM BAM Ashleyanne!:

"VINYL SPINSTRESS, KALX DJ & PRODUCER, & ALL-AROUND HEROINE

BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA
NOW YOU KNOW ME, YOU SHOULD FOLLOW ME, OR YOU COULD GET TO KNOW ME, BLERG. LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?"

EVERYONE should check out my lady love, Ashleyanne -- WAM BAM Ashleyanne!! Amazing DJ and sexy, sexy lady and one of my very bestie best good friends. Website is launching SOON with massive updates with music, entertainment, art, events, and life! Cannot wait to frequent the new site and become a Grade-A Cyber Stalker.

ALSO - Crazy awesome fact about Miss Wam Bam: SHE JUST WON THE FREAKING DANCE COMPETITION for the Hard French Winter Ball -- so suuuuck ooonn thaaaaat!!!

(BTW - JUST found out that the SF Hard French and NYC Hard French are totally connected -- need to go, now.)

Love you, Abra.

This Is Where I Sell My Cookies! Woo Hoo!

2011-01-31T07:10:00.001-05:00

Best coffeeshops for doing work - Restaurants - Time Out New York:

Breukelen Coffee House
"In a neighborhood with limited coffee options, this relative newcomer gives the area’s new wave of young locals a place to work during the day, when the vibe here is quiet and calm. The decor—a pale yellow paint job and stainless steel tables—offers little distraction, and the friendly staff is happy to discuss the intricacies of their rotating Stumptown selection. A recent favorite was the drip-brewed Ethiopian Suke Quto. It’s a full-bodied, slightly citrusy blend that tastes bright and crisp on its own, or tempered with a splash of milk ($1.75–$2); try it with hemp, hazelnut, oat or soy (plus good old organic cow). Bonus: Renovations are underway to expand the space and add more seats this month. 764A Franklin Ave between St. Johns and Sterling Pls, Crown Heights, Brooklyn (718-789-707"

Artist's Prayer

2011-01-29T19:17:00.002-05:00

Creator of the universe,

How infinite and astonishing

Are your worlds.

Thank you

For your sacred art

And sustaining presence

Divine imagination,

Forgive my blindness,

Open all my eyes.

Reveal the light of truth.

Let original beauty

Guide my every stroke.

Universal creativity,

Flow through me,

From my heart

Through my mind to my hand,

Infuse my work with spirit

To feed hungry souls.

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Namaste Bookshop in Union Square

2011-01-29T16:52:00.001-05:00

Home - nyc buddhism tarot cards incense crystals mala beads neti pots: "Namaste Bookshop, near Union Square in NYC, was established to create community and to educate, empower and enlighten through Eastern-Western philosophy books, media, and gifts. "

I just stopped into this little store today and absolutely fell in love. The prices weren't astronomical, the staff was friendly and non-intrusive (as they can get in the Union Square area. Trust me. I know..) I will definitely be returning to this store when I have a little more money to play with after this blasted trip to California... it has all sorts of resources for Reiki and offers free talks and readings and all sorts of networking abilities! OHMAN -- Love it. For sure.

Jason Mraz: I won't wed fiancee Tristan Prettyman until gay marriage is legalized

2011-01-26T08:19:00.000-05:00

Jason Mraz: I won't wed fiancee Tristan Prettyman until gay marriage is legalized: "Wedding bells are on hold for singer Jason Mraz and his fiancee Tristan Prettyman.

The couple announced their engagement on Twitter last month but will wait until gay marriage is legalized to take their walk down the aisle.

'The wedding would be nice for our family, our friends, our community -- our moms especially -- and so it puts us in the fight,' Mraz told UsMagazine.com.

'We can't get married until [gay] marriage is legal and equal,' he added. 'I think giving people the right to marry will be a huge movement in civil rights.'

Mraz, 33, and Prettyman, a singer/songwriter herself, have dated on and off for years and have collaborated on a number of projects.

And though a wedding may not be in the near future, Mraz told Us he is sure Prettyman is 'The One.'

'I knew it when we first met years ago,' he said. 'We grew up to be each other's dream person. She is definitely my dream girl.'"

200th Entry!

2011-01-25T11:08:00.003-05:00

HOLY CRAP! 200 ENTRIES ON candicechetta.com!

Good things to come, positive thoughts abound. About to head onto the second week of Enhancing the Three Diamonds which is super thrilling. Putting up awesome, old, adventurous photos on FB -- always fun to look through old pictures. Going to start baking cookies for the Breukelen Coffee House -- maybe I can be a baker, Reiki practitioner, blogger, etsy-er, artist for a living.

PLEASE do remember, share and click on my ETSY page! There is 20% off when you use coupon code "California911" at checkout! Help the boy and I make it to Cali-Forn-Eye-Aye and back without winding up in a shelter :D Dramatic. ALSO: There are new jewelry and glasses listings! 9 new CRAZY funky items or something. Tickets to CA are for February 8th and we leave the morning of the 15th.

COUPON CODE!

2011-01-22T22:28:00.000-05:00

Knicks And Knacks by CandiceChetta on Etsy

A WHOPPING 20% off when you use the coupon code "California911" at check out on my Etsy page! Please pass on the love, let people know, get the word out and all that jazz!

Thanks for all the support, guys. The Universe will give back to you tenfold!

OH how COOL by CandiceChetta on Etsy

2011-01-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

OH how COOL by CandiceChetta on Etsy

I love making sexy, sexy treasuries.

Want.

2011-01-20T23:34:00.001-05:00

I want this. Big. On my back. To the left of my lyrics tattoo. Color. It would be so sexy.

Why Study Reiki with the International House of Reiki?

2011-01-20T13:13:00.001-05:00

Why Study Reiki with the International House of Reiki?: "Imagine you’re painting an exquisite artwork edged with an ornate gilt frame. This artwork is a painting of you. It’s not you as you generally see or think of yourself. It is you as you would like to imagine yourself.

What does it look like? Is your face relaxed and are your eyes calm and serene? Perhaps there’s even a twinkle in those eyes that suggests a wicked sense of humour. Your skin glows with great health and your body, no matter whatever shape or colour or size, is perfect as it is. You can feel that and nobody can take that sense of perfection away from you.

Maybe there are even wings on your back that take you flying through the sky, giving you the glorious feeling that life is amazing and boundless … and that you can do anything and everything.

We’d like to help you make that picture come true."

Exciting Thing!

2011-01-19T15:39:00.003-05:00

I have officially enrolled in my first Reiki introductory course through The International House of Reiki!

HELP AARON AND I GET TO CA AND BACK!!

2011-01-19T14:08:00.002-05:00

Every little bit helps!

Let me know if anyone needs anything cleaned, painted or any other random little odd job done! Spread love!

Beautiful Neesie Designs Headband

2011-01-19T13:53:00.004-05:00

Sorry it took me so long to get to the second edition of these photos... but fear not! Here I am!

I absolutely adore this headband by Melanie. It's so cute, has a unique vintage flair, and the thing that really gets me is that it's SUPER duper comfortable. When I was a little kid I never, ever wore headbands because no matter how many I tried they always hurt me behind my ears; They all seemed to push on my pressure points behind me ears and I would wind up taking them off after an hour or so - if that.

ANYWHO - Without further ado, here is the amazing headband in question. Another masterpiece.

Awesome. I love it. I'll take some more photos with it, for sure, when I'm out and about having wild and crazy Brooklyn adventures. Until then, these are juuuust dandy!

I still have to get myself together and take pictures with the third Neesie piece I have. It's awesome... I'm very excited at the things I can do with this one!

Embrace Your Inner Goddess by CandiceChetta on Etsy

2011-01-19T13:48:00.000-05:00

Embrace Your Inner Goddess by CandiceChetta on Etsy

Indulge.

OH SHIT - is THAT the time?

2011-01-18T22:58:00.006-05:00

So I've been not blogging. Do you know why? Well, obviously not because I haven't written about it yet.

Fear not, you gently jaunty bloggers! Big things are afoot!! Things so large they have never been confronted by human man. (Yes, human man.)

WE GOTTA PAY OUR BILLLLZZZ.

SO basically I paint up a storm, try to clean some houses. My incredible, amazing, wonderful boyfriend Aaron then leaps into action with the coffee shop with the most and offering drum lessons (NOW THREE STUDENTS STRONG, FOLKS -- if you hadn't heard.)

Hustle, two, three, four.

So please don't forget about the multitude of life enriching paintings I have waiting for happy homes who love color. And do take a look at the other kind of things sneaking their way onto my Etsy page:

This delicious vintage coat that I LOVE, it just doesn't fit. It's def. a size small, but it's amazing and in good condition with all original buttons and minimal damage to the leather or to the removable flannel lining.

These incredible 1940's era heels in bright orange are still in pristine condition. They are minor scuffing, and could probably use a gentle cleaning, but the leather insoles are present and still have hold. They are small, a size 5 1/2. But they are KILLER sexy and not something you would find every day.

My vintage eyewear collection is legendary. You should probably be aware of this. Don't see what you like ON the site? Ask me. I probably have something that will rock your world.

And, of course, the ever-growing collection of paintings flowing from my fingertips! Always check in here and on the Etsy to see what's the latest.

If you know any folks who need things cleans or painted -- pass on my info, I have references.

Anyone want coffee, drum lessons, or to make music together professionally, talk to Aaron and check out what he's been up to. Rock and roll!

Help us be able to NOT push back our trip home (it's been a year,) or have to CANCEL it altogether. We're really coming down to crunch time and need the help of our loved ones and our friends and our readers. Thank you for all you do!

Thanks for everything, everyone. :] Namaste.

Beeswax Poppet Voodoo Doll by lodestoneandladysmantle on Etsy

2011-01-17T09:54:00.000-05:00

Beeswax Poppet Voodoo Doll by lodestoneandladysmantle on Etsy: "This 3 & 1/2' cast figure is useful for cure or curse. Use this Pure Beeswax Manikin when your subject is not close-at-hand. Adorn with their face from a photo, bury hair or nail-clippings in it's chest, even dress in the style of your subject, and this time-honored tool is the next-best thing to them being here.

Handcrafted with pure beeswax, with our original design and mold"

I might actually have to buy one of these...

Jude Is SO Adorable

2011-01-15T22:12:00.002-05:00

Jude jumped right on to the pillow Aaron was using to practice... And then stayed there for the duration of said practice session while he beat on the pillow ti either side of her. She looked mildly irritated... She's the best!! XD

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Steotch Fine New England Cross Stitch Designs by steotch on Etsy

2011-01-15T16:45:00.000-05:00

Steotch Fine New England Cross Stitch Designs by steotch on Etsy

This... gave me goosebumps. You're welcome.

I Feel Like An Old Lady.

2011-01-15T15:57:00.002-05:00

I don't know what the hell happened, but for the past 3 days I have been utterly invalid laid up with a throbbing left hip, knee and lower back. I have been on the couch writhing. I have Hot Hands warmers all over my hip joint and am wrapped up in blankets. 2 days ago I was in so much pain that I would just have tears running down my face. It's getting better now that I've been resting it, and I think I might be cool to go out tomorrow and start climbing stairs, but what the HELL. SERIOUSLY. I didn't do ANYTHING that would have or even possibly could have hurt my hip like that. In the joint, it wasn't muscle and there were no marks... deep in the freaking bones it just HURT. What the Hell, Universe?

ANYWAY

I am feeling better, as I said, so I am looking forward to painting more -- I have some ideas that I am very turned on by -- I am looking forward to baking some cookies (it's been at least 3 weeks...) I'm excited to ship out paintings on Monday or Tuesday, depending on when my boxes get here... and I'm SUPER looking forward to seeing Katie on Tuesday!!

Brunch at Le Gamin awaits! :]

YouTube - LINE PROMO VIDEO (revised)

2011-01-15T15:39:00.000-05:00

YouTube - LINE PROMO VIDEO (revised)

Go see my awesome friend Ana Holly in this marvy production!!

Amazon.com: Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF (9780345523181): April Winchell: Books

2011-01-15T15:21:00.000-05:00

Amazon.com: Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF (9780345523181): April Winchell: Books

Awesome.

New Zodiac Sign Dates: Ophiuchus The 13th Sign?

2011-01-13T18:06:00.000-05:00

New Zodiac Sign Dates: Ophiuchus The 13th Sign?

This is fucking hilarious.

Neesie Designs Strikes Again!

2011-01-13T13:17:00.004-05:00

Man Oh Man was I suprised when the UPS lady came to the door at 8:30 PM with my DELICIOUS package of hair accessories from Melanie Schouten the day AFTER she sent them. Now, that's what I call magic, kids.

I absolutely adore them. In fact, they are so freaking wonderful that I'm going to dedicate an entire post to each one of them.... here is the first!

This is a fabulous comb in some of my very favorite colors. It's easy to use, comfortable and beautiful. It's not something you see every day..

More to come!!! :]

Oh. Man.

2011-01-12T09:06:00.004-05:00

I've been feeling very manic.

My insomnia is worse than ever, I'm averaging MAYBE 3 hours a night without Ambien and perhaps 5 - 6 taking the fucking pill. I'm glad I have Etsy for shopping porn (gotta love having a favorites list, amiright?) so I don't spend all of our money on SHIT WE DON'T FUCKING NEED because I spend like a monster when I'm manic. I'm losing weight, which is one of the more pleasant signs/side effects. I'm painting a lot, which usually means that I'm having some level of delusions of grandure and am absolutely convinced that I will become a famous artist over night. I'm feeling impulsive, I really want a huge back tattoo of the phrenology poster than Aaron gave me for my birthday last year. I think it would be beautiful and the idea of phrenology has always tickled me for one reason or another. My house is cleaned every day, which is kind of another decent side effect. I'm making lots of very strange noises and I think my thoughts are a little more disjointed. I tend to ramble even more than usual to Aaron about things that don't matter and perhaps I don't even understand. I've been napping on the floor, which is very strange.

Whatever.

I'm already running out of canvas since my last purchase. However, my white paint did finally come in the mail so I am no longer bound by that constraint.

Sometimes I don't understand myself :] I like it that way. Keeps things interesting.

Oh, btw, I have hair accessories coming in the mail from a very talented friend of mine. Stay tuned for pictures, pictures and more pictures.

YouTube - "Fuck you" Sign language performance

2011-01-12T08:39:00.000-05:00

YouTube - "Fuck you" Sign language performance

Insomnia

2011-01-11T03:09:00.002-05:00

Man o man.

The insomnia kick I'm on is ripping me a new one, I tell you what. Tonight is a prime example: Aaron fell asleep on me on the couch at about 11PM. I took us to bed and promptly took an ambien only to wake up at 11:47PM. I went to the couch where I put on Bizarre Foods on the Instant Netflix and heated up my Christmas present from Santa (If you have to ask, do. Otherwise I will let your minds wander to whatever perverse corner they may.) I partook in the fruits of my amazing gift and played on the internet. I posted a couple new listings on Etsy, edited some photos for posting on the blog and Facebook. I connected all those dalblasted social networking sites (including this one,) so I can easily cross post, and I emailed and chatted with a few folks (thereby working on my resolution to stay in better touch.) So I was being pretty productive. I went to bed around 2:30 to see if I could fall asleep and instead... well, let's just say things got a little rambunctious and here I am back on the couch unable to sleep again with my trusty Christmas present. The cats are wandering around me. Jude is peering out the window and Benny is licking his paws on top of the stacked Ludwig kit. I can see the two paintings sitting on my easel and I can't believe people have deemed them important enough to purchase and hang in their homes. I need to wrap them up tomorrow, and order the box for the second one so I can ship them by the end of the week. This apartment makes lots of noises. The radiators in each room sound like toy steam engines revving up every hour or so. Sometimes they sound like a teapot just before it whistles. The fan in the bedroom makes it's own small noise and it lilts back and forth moving the air in the tiny room. The room is unbearably stale without it. That fan has been with us since the first week we moved to Brooklyn. Chugga chugga chugga. (What's with all these train references?) The fridge just turned on, quietly roaring in the corner. The cats stir; The ice cubes in my orange juice are cracking and tapping the glass as they melt and break into small pieces. There are two cats in the apartment above ours -- they run around and knock things over. It's a sound like any of these other sounds: constant and comforting. We have a strange sound-quilt here in our digs in Brooklyn. Not that living in San Francisco had an any less interesting sound-quilt. Just different. Downtown Sacramento has one of it's own as well. The neighborhood where I grew up is quiet. The neighborhood I lived in in Natomas was dead.

I like it here and life is good. Just need to raise that money, money - ya heard.

Namaste.

New Painting: No Matter How Far Apart

2011-01-11T00:53:00.003-05:00

Within the matter of a few days my dear sis Ally will be the (hopefully!) proud owner of this painting she so graciously decided to take into her possession! Not 5 minutes after I revealed it to the world!!! :D

Life is wonderful.

No Matter How Far Apart, Acrylic on canvas, 14" x 11"

It's True.

2011-01-11T00:46:00.001-05:00

My Hairs Got Cut

2011-01-10T12:48:00.002-05:00

9AM:

11:30AM:

1:30PM:

So happy.

The Chakra Series :: COMPLETE!

2011-01-09T08:19:00.003-05:00

The Chakra Series

Grounded, 24" x 30", Acrylic on canvas - $450

Embraced Sensuality, 24" x 24", Acrylic on Canvas - R E S E R V E D

Center, 24" x 18", Acrylic on Canvas - $300

Empathy, 28" x 22", Acrylic on canvas - $400

Sing Out, 24" x 20", Acrylic on canvas - $275

See, 20" x 20", acrylic on canvas. - $250.

Realized, 28" x 22", acrylic on canvas. R E S E R V E D.

++++Email candicechetta@gmail.com for more information.++++

YES!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

So, This Sucks.

2011-01-08T16:55:00.002-05:00

My mom called me today to talk to me about Louie. Apparently his bad knee (he always had a sensitive knee, the doctors never noticed anything because it never acted up in the office,) started acting up and seized up and stopped working. He can take two steps before his leg freezes and he loses the use of it. She took him to our vet to see what was going on and it turns out he has a disease congenital to dachshunds called a laxating patella.

Anyone who knows Aaron or I knows that we have been trying to save up money to be able to afford our trip in February to California. We've been worried that we may have to sell our tickets due to a inability to afford our rent/any sort of expenses in California/Our bills in our weeks long absence from the East Coast. Now I find out that my poor dog needs $2,500 dollars in surgery within the next week or so, and then he'll eventually need to have the other knee done in another 6 months. $5,000 dollars. I know I left him with my parents because I couldn't afford the vet bills, and we all knew his knee was acting weird and getting worse and worse by the year. I knew he had to be taken care of and that that was the first priority. My heart is breaking to not be there to help, and it breaks more when my mother tells me that my little brother is giving up $1,000 dollars up of his computer money that he's been saving for over a year. And my ailing grandma is giving up $500 dollars. And I don't have a freaking cent to my name to help my damn dog.

Anyway. Sorry.

I don't want to come off as depressed or needy. I know times are tough for everyone right now, and honestly I'm having a pretty fucking good time right now in life. Things are marvelous. I'm painting, people are interested in my work, things are really taking a turn for the better. There's something in the air. This is just so damn frustrating to not have any power to change the situation. YARG!

If there's anyone you know looking for art, or a house cleaner, or an organizer, or a mural, or an after school art director, or a paid internship, or a gallery assistant, or ANYTHING please forward my information.

Keep in mind my ETSY!!!

And don't forget about the other pages on this humble blog at the top of the page which lead you to my paintings and photos!

I also want to say thank you to all of my amazing friends. You guys have really been amazing and gracious. So many people are sharing links and showing art work... taking pictures of the art in their homes so I can put in on my Facebook page... Thanks to ALL of you beautiful souls!! :]

Lap Cat!

2011-01-07T12:06:00.002-05:00

Mizzz Judy Booty is a lap kitty.

It's That Time Again.

2011-01-07T11:54:00.003-05:00

Anyone who's read this blasted blog for over a year or so knows that our beloved little Franklin Ave apartment is in a constant state of flux. For multiple reasons I am super wacky when it comes to rearranging things, organizing things, getting rid of things, and replacing things.

You can see one of the first finished incarnations of our place here.

And even further evolved here.

New couch, new chair, new art on the walls, new accessories, new arrangements, new books!

Kitchen!

Bedroom!

Living Room!

I love this little apartment. So, so much.

Some Updates. About Some Things.

2011-01-06T07:36:00.003-05:00

I wrapped up a couple of paintings for my buddies. It was about 3 in the morning and I was out of my mind. Barely conscious. Insomnia + Ambien. I still couldn't fall asleep. I was borderline hallucinating, klutzy, and restless.

This is Lauren's:

And this is for Jazz & His lady love:

I thought they were pretty cool....

Anyway ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I keep getting asked if I have any awesome pictures of the blizzard from a few weeks back. I didn't get a lot of pics because there was 3 feet of snow outside of my door. I took pictures from my windows, leaning out into the freezing air. Most of the pictures are on my Canon, for which I do not have a card adapter and it does not plug into my computer, but I had two on my point and shoot that were pretty cool:

This is my corner store, I'm right over Dutch Boy on Franklin Ave. THERE ARE NO STREETS.

The snow has thoroughly erased any sign of the trash piles (it was trash day,) the street and the sidewalks. The corners were completely gone. Franklin Avenue did not get plowed for 3 days and there was a plow frozen/stuck to the corner just in front of that corner store in the previous photo. Ridiculous.

Holy 2011, Batman.

2011-01-05T01:44:00.005-05:00

Tonight is a night full of many things. I could not sleep, even with the aid of my prescriptions. The side effects make the insomnia 300 times worse and puts me in a hyper manic state where I create, write letters, write emails, send pictures, edit pictures, write to-do lists and so on and so forth. YOU DIG, I'M SURE.

And it's little worse than that, to be honest. When you throw in things like marijuana or a beer to bring yourself down (ignoring all reports that these are items that can KILL YOU when taken together,) RIDICULOUS. Feeling. Altered.

But, feeling creative! Will post pictures of the amazingly gifts wrapped when finished. Promise.

Despte all signs pointed at YESSSSSS for the Franklin Park's monthly Karaoke shin-ding thrown by our dear, darling Ana Holly of the block... I did wind up staying home. I'm going to be 100% honest from here on out about it. I wasn't really in the mood, I had been taking it chill to the nth degree all day and was pretty much in and out of conciousness (in the good way,) so I decided to lay and have a nap and Aaron headed out and KILLED his song. He's so incredible talented. I love FP Karaoke! I will see you next time! I need to fight for the top! I want to be a KARAOKE SUPERSTAR. Yes.

Will edit for crazy later. Or perhaps continues to deteriorate here on the pages. Or go back and forth and around again. Good lord..

Cash Cab is a Destroyer of Dreams...

2011-01-04T09:12:00.001-05:00

Dreams = Shattered - Bad Advice: "I don't know about you, but every time I hail a cab, I hope and pray and cross all fingers and toes, that I'll be lucky enough to hail cute Ben Bailey and his disco-lit Cab o' Cash."

Sigh.

Basquiat

2011-01-03T14:27:00.002-05:00

Love.

Two New Paintings!

2011-01-03T09:35:00.002-05:00

Work has progressed on the Chakra Series in spades! Just one more to go before the entire 7 painting series is complete. Here's the latest developments.

Empathy, 28" x 22", Acrylic on canvas

Sing Out, 24" x 20", Acrylic on canvas

So, suffice it to say, painting has been going well! I cannot wait to finish this last piece and move on to my next series and knock out some more work. I'm thinking of revisitng some paintings I thought I was finished with just to clean them up a little bit. It's weird; I've never gone back and touched a painting once I've put my name on it. I don't know if this is a good thing, but I imagine making paintings look more polished and complete is always a good idea, right? Sure.

Stay tuned for the madness :]

Knicks And Knacks by CandiceChetta on Etsy

2011-01-02T16:04:00.000-05:00

Knicks And Knacks by CandiceChetta on Etsy

HELP Aaron and I afford our trip to CA in February! We need to make sure our bootays are covered for rent and other bills before we can run away to la-la land and ignore our troubles! Please pass along to all your friends or anyone you think may be interested in anything listed on my Etsy! Thank you all so much for the support last year. Can't wait to see what 2011 has in store.

It's Snowing!

2010-12-26T12:17:00.005-05:00

Sorry. It's been 10 days since I've written.

The holidays are, for all intents and purposes, over. There's still New Years Eve, but it's never been my favorite holiday so I don't think about it. Christmas was a lot of fun. I made amazing vegetarian din-din (because Aaron couldn't find anything for me to make for him,) of twice-baked potatoes and peas and carrots. It was much fancier than that sounds, I should have taken a picture! I am eagerly awaiting having the leftovers all to myself this evening...

After dinner we went downstairs where we met all the other orphan/lost puppy kids like us in the neighborhood at the coffee shop to drink and listen to extremely loud Christmas music. Wound up back in our apartment with a couple of friends until late; watching SNL skits and laughing. Lots of cookies, lots of banana bread, lots of butter, lots of drink.

Aaron left early this morning to go visit his family. I have the apartment to myself until the evening of the 31st when he gets back. I am relishing in my feminine alone time by enjoying my latest Netflix obsession, Law & Order: SVU, and drinking delicious holiday brew. Aaron got me an awesome present for the holiday as well, but I probably shouldn't mention it here...

It finally started snowing today. Aaron's flight made it off just in time before the majority of flights were cancelled out of NYC today. I love the snow. It's so clean. It wraps the city and it's Burroughs in an ice cocoon so that it can hatch and be clean for a beautiful, if not short-lived, spring.

I'm glad I have lots of canvas to entertain me.

10 Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs Hidden in Famous Albums | Cracked.com

2010-12-16T09:33:00.000-05:00

10 Mind-Blowing Easter Eggs Hidden in Famous Albums | Cracked.com:

"Music is apparently a great place to hide secret messages. The Underground Railroad supposedly coded escape plans into slave work songs, and Mozart's music features more secret Masonic symbolism than the back of a dollar bill. Well, it turns out some of the most popular musicians of the past 50 years have been getting in on the action too, and just not telling anyone. It's almost like they knew the internet would be invented, and that the music fans who hang out there would have way too much time on our hands. How else can you explain ..."

THIS IS AWSOME.

Waiting Place

2010-12-16T09:05:00.004-05:00

I get so tired of the Waiting Place. Right now I feel like all I can do is just wait. There are not a lot of places looking to hire around December 16th, if you're wondering, either. I'm waiting on 6 canvas right now; they all are already spoken for (NOT PURCHASE-WISE, JUST PAINTING-WISE, ;p ) I cannot WAIT!!! I have so many sketches already, I'm sick of sketching. I want to fucking paint. OI.

--
ANYWAY
--
So, I got my canvas, but we just don't have the money to get paint. I am out of some fairly important colors... you know, like white. And yellow. No... big deal... Right? We'll see.
I need to finish my Chakra series and start/complete my Science series. I'm very, very excited. Chomping at the mother fucking bit, really.

I have to take part in some foolish mandatory program at "Workforce 1" to try to find job placement faster. (Insert the most ridiculous eyeroll you've ever seen in your life.) The letter is amazing. They address you as though you are a 4 year old and warn you that if you don't bring a resume that you will have to attend a mandatory resume writing workshop. Lord. I have to spend 2 hours of my life in this fucking hell, as if I were some kind of fucking criminal or I did something wrong -- and that if I don't attend, I won't be eligible for my unemployment anymore -- and this place isn't going to fucking help me. I don't need resume writing workshops or job placement assistance. Please, get real. So I have to fill out their bullshit application and bring it in on December 23rd (WITH MY RESUME OR ELSE!)

I have to call my psych and tell him about my weeks and how things have been going. I have to tell him if my hand is still tremor-ing and if it's better or worse. I'm anxious to do this. I've been very anti-phone/anti-going outside.... which is probbbaaabblllyyy a bad sign. It's 100$ for an appointment without my insurance. I don't know where I could pull that money from. But I have to figure it out.

I have paintings to send out, which is very exciting! Woo hoo!

Waiting on new business cards and some more stickers since I am out and need to put them downstairs. Waiting... can't wait to show you all the new business card design!

Alright. Well I need to get mobile and clean the house since my cold is pretty much gone gone gone.

In closing,

2005. Another prize from the way back machine.

I Have A Cold.

2010-12-12T13:06:00.005-05:00

So it naturally follows that my head is clogged to the point where it is next to impossible to put intelligible thoughts together and everything's kind of surrounded in this hazy, bubble-in-the-ear like kind of aura. Did any of that make sense? No really, you should let me know.

Aaron is having a hard time. Who can blame him? I'm trying my best to be strong enough for the two of us right now. Really, really am.

He was lovely and got me orange juice, Emergen-C, soup and cough drops this morning. <3

Due to this cold I have already missed TWO legendary Christmas events: Santacon and an Ugly Sweater Sing Along party.... but there are more events on the horizon -- and this bitch is ready to get out and see peoples faces again!!

At least until the 7 canvass' I ordered get here.

OK. My brain stopped working, so I have to take a nap. Peace.

Man, Talk About Nostalgia.

2010-12-10T16:52:00.004-05:00

I've already been emotionally vulnerable for the last few weeks here [Read: My entire life, hahaha,]... and for some reason when I ran out of canvas all I could think of to do was to look through pictures of all my friends and family and the fun times and home and San Francisco and all these things were just... haunting my dreams. I would wake up with certain songs in my head from certain times and notice something in a collage or a piece of my art that mirrored something I had done in the past.

So, tis the season, check out this awesome family photo from 2005:

Back Row: Cousin Jason, my brother Alden, Aunt Joan and Uncle Roger, my dad, my mom, my grandma, my cousin Steve and my cousin Kristin.

Front row: My cousin Cheryl (with baby Makenzie,) ME (with Grace,) Aunt Patty and Uncle Pete!!

What a great Christmas it was.

Or perhaps you'll remember the Dyke March in San Francisco in 2008

Ah, memories. Oh, Ashleyanne. You make my ladyness boogie. Whatever the hell that means.

There was the epic Halloween party of 2006:

And the savory Jason Mraz show in 2007 with Bob and Agnus.

And, of course, the jewel in the crown of this collection -- if you never met her, you sure miss out -- the myspace profile that started it all for me -- The Lord of the Buttdance:

Fun trip.

Sometimes You Just Need A Picture With A Puppy

2010-12-07T10:35:00.001-05:00

NOT JUST ANY PUPPY!!

The best puppy EVER.

Aaron and his Blog

2010-12-07T10:16:00.002-05:00

Aaron has been making some major changes to his blog and to his life and I'm so bloody proud of him that I HAD to do an entry about his sweet ass. That's right. I said it.

Doin' It The Hard Way:

"As you might notice [on the new Calender Page,] I also have a gig planned, as the house band for my good friend Steve 'Sweets' Carr's comedy night at the Breukelen Coffee House."

-Aaron Cotler

ALSO - My loving lad has FINALLY started offering up his wealth of knowledge to the world of aspiring drummers out there and is giving VERY reasonably priced lessons! See that information HERE.

COME SEE MY BRO BRO STEVE MAKE ALL THE PEOPLE LAAAAAFFFFFFFF.

Crown Heights is where it's at.

I love Franklin Ave.: Karaoke at Franklin Park on Tuesday

2010-12-07T10:04:00.001-05:00

I love Franklin Ave.: Karaoke at Franklin Park on Tuesday:

"I do believe it's the first time they've done this."

You know where I'll be tonight. You should, too.

My Brother

2010-12-06T13:06:00.002-05:00

You know how when you're growing up in a crazy family and you have a sibling and perhaps you think you hate this sibling and could never relate to them or be around them or have any sort of adult relationship with them because they are so disgusting that you fear you may vomit for hours and hours if you're forced to socialize?

And... then you know the day you realize that you would give anything in this entire world, make any wish, miracle, or dream come true, save anyone from having to hurt as much as they do because that's your brother... and you love your brother and support your brother and want nothing but the best for him?

I had one of those moments. It led to the concept for my 4th tattoo.

More to come...

Stuff and Things

2010-12-06T12:44:00.003-05:00

Well.

I have been painting at a level I never even thought possible. I do not mean that in terms of "Look at how amazing I am at painting!" I mean it in more of a "I can not believe that I am creating this much art," or "I can not believe I had all these images inside of me and here they are." And it feels good; it feels good to get all the energy out, all the Chakra's balanced, all the negative vibes out -- put the story in the painting. It's catharsis.

I'm sure you've seen all the paintings by now. I can't stop posting them, marveling at the response. Flattered more and more every time dusted with a side of "I can't believe people are buying my paintings."

I have high hopes and high expectations for myself at the moment. I want to live freely. I want to live doing odd jobs and selling art. Maybe helping with after school programs. Clean for people, I love to clean (it's a sick and twisted thing, I LOVE cleaning,) IIIIIIII JUUUSSSSTTT DOOONNNTTT WAAANNNAAA WWOOORRRKKK FOOOORRR THEE MAAAANNNN NNOOOO MOOOORRRRRREEEEEE.

I feel good. Things are happening and there's much electricity surrounding this entire experience. I've never been in a situation like this, ever. I'm so lucky to have my Aaron to talk to and to hug and be close to or I don't know how loony I'd be. Last night he even got my pills for me. That might not seem like something sweet or romantic to you, but to me, it was the sweetest thing he could have possibly done in that one moment.

I never have been quite normal though, have I?

I am thankful for Christmas lights.

This Made My Heart Warm

2010-12-06T10:16:00.003-05:00

This really made my heart feel warm this morning. Although I am no longer a member of the MOSCOT family, I still miss them dearly and had many amazing times with the incredible people who work there.

This video is hilarious for a couple reasons:

1) I had JUST gotten over bronchitis (you hear my voice crack at one point,) so we hadn't ever rehearsed together (along we me never singing with a live band before.)

2) Because of my bronchitis the band never learned the song. The only person who knew the song well was leading the whole band. The fact that the band doesn't know the song is evident when it goes into the bridge and EVERYTHING FALLS APART. It's hilarious. Enjoy.

Anyone looking for a lead singer for a blues/rock band???!!! :D (Not kidding.)

DJ Xpans Remixes Gordon Voidwell

2010-12-06T09:17:00.003-05:00

So, check it out: I've got this great friend of mine, JP. He's extraordinarily. He has a beautful baby boy with his equally amazing girlfriend and they have a lovely life together....

....

LITTLE WOULD YOU KNOW... that when it's dark outside and you think silence is the only thing you'll ever hear again..... this man's music comes THUMPING out of nowhere. Makes you move. Makes you groove. That's MY friend. DJ Xpans.

FOR INSTANCE:

After what JP described to me as a drunkenly good time with the band manager at one of their epic shows he managed to talk himself into the ability to re-mix the entire fantastic album. (Oh, and as an aside, Aaron wound up getting asked to audition to drum for the band because of JP's music. Isn't art a beautiful world?)

NOW - I suppose I must grace you with a sample of his remixing abilities.

HERE is the original version of a song titled "Paradise's Parody" (Gordon Voidwell)

THEN IT GOT XPANS'D

Photo BY Angel Ramos. Editing By Candice Chetta.

And out came this perfectly remixed tech/house mix that just makes you MOVE. I love it. I am so blessed to have so many artistically and creatively minded people in my life.

HERE is DJ Xpans's remix (Xpans' Trashdance Remix)

I Miss San Francisco

2010-12-05T11:19:00.002-05:00

I Can't Think of a Good Title For This

2010-12-04T14:30:00.000-05:00

We are in dire straits here, guys and gals. My unemployment is tied up in bureaucratic nonsense and they aren't paying me. They can't decide HOW to pay me. Whether they're going to let me do direct deposit or open a bank account at Chase for me with a new ATM card. Isn't that fun to think about? We just paid our rent. We literally, and I mean it, have nothing -- Like, I couldn't buy a roll of toilet paper. PLEASE pass this on. I have my paintings, I have my glasses and I'm trying to get them sold off. ANY help is appreciated. Make me an offer. There ARE still paintings FOR SALE at cheaper prices than originally listed!!!

If you haven't noticed it already, there's a new page on this blog dedicated 100% to my paintings and their current prices. If you haven't seen it already in the top left hand corner of your screen right under the banner then

HERE'S THE LINK!!!!!

So please take a look. Pass it on to family, friends, FB. I am happy to do COMMISSION'S, which I LOVE to do and I can give you a quote before you even decide if you want it. I can give you references for those whom I have completed works for and how well I executed their expectations.

I promise you one this:

THIS WILL NOT GET ME DOWN! My influx of creativity will not end, I will continue to bounce around and talk to myself and finally enjoy a taste of the life I've always imagined. I paint. I keep my house clean. I have my coffee. I get dressed up for everything. I feel free for the first time in my fucking LIFE. I will enjoy thing for the moment I have it and will not lament it's passing when the real world starts turning once again.

Namaste.

A 3 Piece I've Been Tortured By. Defeated. With Rapture.

2010-12-04T12:23:00.003-05:00

So I've had these canvas laying around FOREVER. I've sketched on them, I've painted on them and had to paint over, and I've had ideas for them that were absolutely ridiculous.

BUT --

The other night... perhaps fueled by some kind of... magical aid... It finally came to me and I painted it right away. Saving a canvas. Saving myself frustration.

Here they are.

Eye, 12" x 12", Acrylic on canvas - $75

Ra, 4" x 4". Acrylic on canvas - $25

Evil Eye, 4" x 4", Acrylic on canvas - $25

HOWEVER!!!!

If you purchase all three, you save $25 and get them all for a MERE $100! IMAGINE THAT!!

$100!!!!

THREE New Paintings - Chakra Series Cont.

2010-12-03T14:50:00.002-05:00

My, my, my. I don't think I've blinked for 3 or 4 days, but I sure did seem to get a lot of work done. That's a little wacky. Let me know what you think!

Grounded, 24" x 30", Acrylic on canvas - $450

Embraced Sensuality, 24" x 24", Acrylic on Canvas - $350

Realized, 28" x 22", acrylic on canvas. Reserved.

In Progress..

2010-12-02T11:11:00.002-05:00

This is to be the root chakra in the series. Much work to come.

New Painting!!

2010-12-01T17:22:00.003-05:00

Center, 24" x 18" Acrylic on canvas -- $300

Experienced, Patient Drum Teacher comes to YOU!

2010-11-30T20:03:00.000-05:00

Experienced, Patient Drum Teacher comes to YOU!:

"Have you ever been interested in taking drum lessons? Been waiting for 'the right time' or 'the right teacher'? my name is Aaron Cotler and I have been playing drums set and percussion for over 12 years with experience in studio recording, live musical theater, competition-level drum corps, and I am interested in sharing my skills and knowledge with folks of any age and skill level (first-timers no problem!)."

+++++++++++++++++++++

You simply MUST check out this fabulous ad for Aaron my Aaron and his drum lessons. Super reasonable prices, amazingly talented man (and no, it's not because I'm biased.) -- Really, this guy is worth it. Please check out his page and his ad.

Trying

2010-11-30T19:05:00.002-05:00

I HAVE OFFICIALLY OPENED MY ETSY SHOP!!!!

After months of thinking about and and wondering if it would be a good idea, I finally got CRAZY and went ahead and listed some of my items I no longer need (as well as my paintings.)

So PLEASE check out the shop -- Christmas is coming up, afterall! Never know who needs some sweet vintage glasses or some one-of-a-kind art to adorn their walls. Please take a look, pass it on to anyone you think may be interested. Friend me, favorite me, feed your karmic bank and help a sister out when she's low.

Got bad news today about my unemployment. For some reason my bank rejected my direct deposit and now I have to deal with some sort of direct debit card which is absurd. How do you pay rent with a debit card?? With a bank that I'm NOT a memeber of (Chase,) and do not want to be a part of?? So I have to wait as long as it takes for the card to come my way, then I have to attempt to switch it back to direct deposit. This means that I might not see money for another week or two. Maybe more if they can't get it sorted out.

Trying my best,

Help A Girl Live Out Her Dream - Hey Ma, I'm an Artist!

2010-11-23T19:39:00.000-05:00

Help A Girl Live Out Her Dream - Hey Ma, I'm an Artist!:

"I had no support, have never taken a class in my life in fine arts, and doubt myself constantly. Yet, the feeling I get when I pour out my everything onto a canvas is something akin to setting ones soul free and realizing something greater than you. Maybe that sounds dramatic. Maybe it sounds perfect. I guess that all depends on who reads this."

Senate Bill S510 Makes it illegal to Grow, Share, Trade or Sell Homegrown Food | The Liberty Voice

2010-11-23T18:52:00.000-05:00

Senate Bill S510 Makes it illegal to Grow, Share, Trade or Sell Homegrown Food | The Liberty Voice:

“If accepted [S 510] would preclude the public’s right to grow, own, trade, transport, share, feed and eat each and every food that nature makes. It will become the most offensive authority against the cultivation, trade and consumption of food and agricultural products of one’s choice. It will be unconstitutional and contrary to natural law or, if you like, the will of God.” ~Dr. Shiv Chopra, Canada Health whistleblower
It is similar to what India faced with imposition of the salt tax during British rule, only S 510 extends control over all food in the US, violating the fundamental human right to food."

When You're Going Through Hell, Keep Going (Churchill)

2010-11-23T18:00:00.002-05:00

I guess I owe readers (phantom as they may seem,) and my self the chance to put into words how things are going. A real update.

Family:

This has been a touchy subject. My mother and I had a big fight. Big. Things were said on both sides that were nothing but foolish and hurtful. To be honest, as one can on the internet, she's not supportive of me being in New York and has serious jealousy issues that I've done things like moved to San Francisco and to New York and have met lots of people and went to college and was getting paid pretty well. She sure let me know it when she was inebriated, bellowing at me 2 nights before our big fight. Moving on.

My grandmother was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I found out this information today.

Mental and Physical Health:

No more insurance as of the end of the month. I have the option to COBRA my benefits, but it would cost me 408$ if I decided to do that. So I have decided to drop all the allergy medications and other unneeded medications and stick solely to the ones related to my mental health (and birth control.) I will pay out of pocket for my visits with Dr. Novick. He will only charge me what my insurance company would reimburse him, which he said was 90$ - 100$. Then the pills.... I don't know. I have to look into getting some sort of discounts for people who can't afford their prescriptions. I have enough time that I can find out how much it's going to be out of pocket and if it's more than the premium for COBRA I'll still have time to enroll. It'll work out, one way or the other.

Art/Dreams:

I really want to have the time to find a job I love. This is not something that people living in a place like New York are afforded. I am well aware of this. I never, really, wanted to be in optics. It was a job that was easy to get when I was 18 years old and since then it's been the easy to work since I had so much experience. It's fun and I like glasses and I don't mind working with people, but it's not something I have a passion for. I know my mom has a passion for optics. I don't. I really need to find something that makes me feel like... I'm contributing to society or making a difference or fulfilling my own dreams or living the way I was meant to. I want to "follow my omens" and get out of this loop. I realize this is an uphill battle and might not happen right away. I asked the Universe to change my life. Here we go.

I have completed 5 new paintings and have more in my head waiting to happen. Paint reserves and a few more canvases are on the way from Pearl Paint.

Aaron:

We hit our 3 year anniversary on the 18th of this month. I love him more each and every day. And now with our perfect little kitties, life is comfortable (despite certain monetary details,) and happy and warm and full of love. We miss our families, but we forge ahead into more alien territory. Growing with you, Aaron, has been a phenomenal, magic experience.

Released on Bail

2010-11-23T17:57:00.002-05:00

Yeah. I'm THAT kind of crazy cat lady.

Five New Pieces!

2010-11-21T15:11:00.004-05:00

That's right, loyal viewers and casual lurkers alike, FIVE new paintings. 8 - 12 hours a day, non-stop for about a week and a half. It's as if there was a cork holding everything inside. It popped loudly. I had a pretty good week, all things considered, I suppose.

It would be a tremendous help if anyone could use a new decoration for their home. Finding a job is not the easiest and try as I might I need to somehow makes ends meet. Even just passing this on to any art lovers you know. Lottery winners, etc....

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So I should introduce you to the pieces, then. :]

FIRST UP: A couple lovely commissioned pieces:

Embrace, 12" x 12", Acrylic on canvas. Sold.

Consider, 24" x 18", Acrylic on canvas. Sold.

AND now the new guys:

Forward, 20" x 16", Acrylic on canvas. $300

Regrowth, 12" x 16", Acrylic on canvas. $200

i c u, 12" x 12", Acrylic on canvas. $150

And of course don't forget about the pieces still available! I posted them a while ago. It's listed which of them sold and what the reduced prices are on them.

I also am STILL open to doing commissions! I'll give you a quote and everything :]

MUAH .

Candice Chetta

New Necklace

Oof.

Etsy Snafu

So, Where Have You Been The Last 3 Months?

Cornelius Introduces New Chef and Wine on Tap - Prospect Heights, NY Patch

As My Darling Man Points Out:

Crazy Sun Over Buffalo

Hey, Universe!

I love Franklin Ave.: An Incident on Franklin and Looking Out for Neighbors

Precept 2

Precept 1

Very Exciting Things

Precious Benny and His Nearly Toppled Cup

Jetplane

Ok, How About Something Good?!

Painting Update

The Understory » BREAKING: Wisconsin Police Have Joined Protest Inside State Capitol

Wis. Assembly passes bill taking away union rights

bloggiebloggieblog: hipster disney princesses

Unnamed Triangle Waist Company Victims Identified - NYTimes.com

New Paintings and New Series!

Sick And Tired

It Survived Lots Of Blizzards

And Of Course, San Francisco (I Left My Heart There. Again. :) )

Then There Was The East Bay Portion

Save Our Streets Crown Heights

So There Was This California Trip

Planned Parenthood: House bars Planned Parenthood from federal funding

I Haven't Made A Post And Many Things Have Happened

Dec 14, 2009 8:36pm

Jul 22, 2010 8:35pm

Dec 11, 2009 10:12am

Nov 13, 2009 2:11pm

LAST CHANCE

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Craigslist

California Trip -- 8 Days!

Neesie Designs, Silk Headband with Amazing Veil!

Milk Bar Brooklyn

Jewel Remeta's Amazing Recital

WAM BAM Ashleyanne!

This Is Where I Sell My Cookies! Woo Hoo!

Artist's Prayer

Namaste Bookshop in Union Square

More Posts To Follow

Jason Mraz: I won't wed fiancee Tristan Prettyman until gay marriage is legalized

200th Entry!

COUPON CODE!

OH how COOL by CandiceChetta on Etsy

Want.

Why Study Reiki with the International House of Reiki?

Exciting Thing!

HELP AARON AND I GET TO CA AND BACK!!

Beautiful Neesie Designs Headband

Embrace Your Inner Goddess by CandiceChetta on Etsy

OH SHIT - is THAT the time?

Beeswax Poppet Voodoo Doll by lodestoneandladysmantle on Etsy

Jude Is SO Adorable

Steotch Fine New England Cross Stitch Designs by steotch on Etsy

I Feel Like An Old Lady.

YouTube - LINE PROMO VIDEO (revised)

Amazon.com: Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF (9780345523181): April Winchell: Books

New Zodiac Sign Dates: Ophiuchus The 13th Sign?

Neesie Designs Strikes Again!

Oh. Man.

YouTube - "Fuck you" Sign language performance

Insomnia

New Painting: No Matter How Far Apart

It's True.

My Hairs Got Cut

The Chakra Series :: COMPLETE!

So, This Sucks.

Lap Cat!

It's That Time Again.

Some Updates. About Some Things.

Holy 2011, Batman.

Cash Cab is a Destroyer of Dreams...

Basquiat

Two New Paintings!

Knicks And Knacks by CandiceChetta on Etsy