Kalaya Steede

Something is just not right when you have to wear shorts in December.  It is currently 80 degrees and I had to turn on the A/C yesterday.  Where in the world are you Jack Frost?!  No one is nipping at my nose!!! Okay, enough of me ranting. So what is up with me?  Well I have been caught off guard.  I did not think I would be this busy but here I am... BUSY!!! I have been participating in all of the holiday markets here in NOLA and it has been wonderful!  Seeing everyone out there shopping local and being able to talk to a lot of you.  What can I say?  It has just been ROCKING! Arts Market of New Orleans Photo by Zach B. I have been in my studio as much as all possible starting in October.  It is funny because I have been telling myself since last February that there was plenty of time. I have designed and made some new earrings... Then I made some pendants... Made gift tags.  Cause it is great fun! ...

New Orleans is filled with many fantastic artists.  So why not interview some of them once in a blue moon?  Lucky for me that my good friend and artist Amber of Amber Leilani Designs allowed me to interview her. Amber Amber is originally from Plains, GA and had visited New Orleans several times before deciding to make it her home in 1997.  Currently she sculpts paper clay into these fabulous dolls but before we get into that let us see how she got there. Witches, dolls, and monsters oh my! I met Amber at a gallery here in NOLA many, many, moons ago.  Back then she was designing and creating some incredible beaded jewelry.  My favorite are her beaded bracelets but she has also made some beautiful pendants. Work in progress. Picture by Amber Leilani Amber had attend art school back in the day but decided it was not for her.  She is mainly self-taught and works part-time here in the city. How d...

Bonjour!  Hope everyone is having a fantabulous weekend so far.  I placed some new tabs underneath the blog title for those of you who love paper art (because I know I do). There is a tab titled "Paper Art" which is where I share some of my journal pages and anything new that I make relating to paper. The other tab is titled "Just For You". Under that tab you will find my personal collage papers that I put together to share with all or you can just click on the image below and save it. Feel free to download or print it out and use it in your own artwork but please don't resell these images in digital art form or in your own collage sheets or as single images. Add your name to my followers list to receive updates.  Click on the image above and save the larger printable version. Enjoy! Yesterday I hung out with the awesome Amber Leilani ! We were neck deep in paper. It's surprising that we didn't get a paper cut. Hehe...yeah, I know, bad joke. A...

I spent quality time with one of New Orleans local artist on Saturday afternoon.  Ooooo....I got to peak at all her new stuff in the works.  I'm such a lucky lady!  We sat and chatted up a storm about life in the hot city, what it's like to be an artist, and what inspires us.  Well...what inspired us today was paper art.  I got to see Amber in action making some of her wonderful paper art.  She taught me some of her tricks but sorry to say that I didn't get a chance to take any pictures of her doing her thing but maybe next time.   Let's just say Amber likes her glue. Here's what I did.   While Mr. Cash sat in his basket, which was on the table, looking at me occasionally but keeping his distance (because he knew I was allergic to cats).  I made this tag of my most favorite lady...Frida Kahlo. 1.  Start with blank tag. 2.  Stamp Tim Holtz Antique Linen all over the front. 3.  Smudge some Tim Holtz ink aro...

Hope you are all having a great weekend thus far!  Yesterday was packed full of fun. My friend Amber came over.  She taught me how to make a refreshing Caprese salad and then we talked on our favorite subject...ART and rubber stamps.  I think we both love rubber stamps.   Anyhoo, she gave me one of her dolls!  How did she know that I wanted that one?  You can see more of Amber's dolls here .  This is so exciting...I'm going to make a shadow box for her to go in.   Merci Buttercup Amber! Here are the finished Flared Hoop Earrings. Before After They were made with 16 gauge sterling silver.  I decided to flare some of the sections for a different look and tumbled for 9 hours to make them shiny.  Most of my friends own a pair of these hoop earrings and since these are going to another friend of mine I thought I would make them a little different.    I like the flare because it catches the light just right and makes y...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE... Last Thursday I got to spend some time with my friend Amber.  I wonder what could be in these bags?  They are so lovely I didn't even want to open them... Inside... These are the goodies that my friend Amber made for me.  Don't know if you can tell but I totally LOVE Frida.  That brass necklace is made by using resin. It's such a cool technique. And what am I going to do with those tags?  They are just too nice to put on packages.  I guess I have to meditate on letting go.  One day I am going to get there.  Amber is so talented.  Go check out the rest of her pieces either on Etsy or her blog Yellow Flower .   Gracias Amber! I made another one! This is a three wrap bracelet made with faceted carnelian stones. It is a talisman and brings good luck to the wearer. It also gets rid of anger, envy, and hatred.  I favor carnelian for it's reddish color. A good stone all around.     Finally a nec...