Anahata Katkin

BRICKROOM

As some of you may know my Brother & Mother are opening a beautiful restaurant & bar.  BRICKROOM is in one of Ashland, Oregons most important historic buildings.  It's a gorgeous space and I have been honored to help with design choices and some of the design elements along with our talented designer Ms Sarah Jackson.  These beautiful coasters came in last week that we created and I think they are just so pretty.  It's been so fun to think in a different mind set and aesthetic for this project.  And I cannot wait for opening day.  You can now follow along with BRICKROOM on Instagram and Facebook to stay tuned for opening details and special promotions coming soon.
Ps.  Check out this amazing sneak peek- this light fixture was commissioned by an old friend of mine, Ben Pederson.  A skilled artist and woodworker from Portland,, Oregon.  This is looking directly up at the hand carved, madrone sculpture!  All these beautiful pictures by my brother, Eli Katkin.

Summer & Serape's

Ever since my month in Mexico this winter (here & here) I've been having a love affair with the Serape.  We even used them in our recent PAPAYA! photo shoot.  (see it above?) I've dragged mine to the beach, around the yard, and debated cutting them up for pillows!  Luckily we are getting a fresh batch of these traditional, Mexican beauties at PAPAYA! Living next week.  It's 100 degrees here in Southern Oregon and I can't think of a better time than jalapeno margaritas and these pretty blankets in the shade for a dinner party or just relaxing! Xoxox...

New

(Image: Snowy Spruce) That's our formaula at PAPAYA!  New artwork becomes new cards.  And we have a juicy new batch just recently in.  Because PAPAYA! began with greeting cards it is still our most important collection.  It is our bedrock and most sentimental product. And so we always begin there.  And the cards you love get to become other fun products eventually.  The artwork I've been making over the past year feels really good to me.  I am enjoying drawing and painting more than ever and can't wait to keep that flow going.  To see the full line up of new greeting cards from us click here.  

Inspiration: Pressed Flowers

With this beautiful, hot summer around here happening I am honing in on all the pretty herbs, flowers and weeds that have always inspired me.  I always want to paint the daintiest shapes and stems, but I really struggle with actually taking the time to paint as many as I usually see in my minds eye.  So I have a thought to begin pressing oversiszed flowers and integrating into my work.  I'll let you know how it goes. But boy am I inspired!  Off to buy cinder blocks and cardboard to turn my garage into flower town.  These incredible images are from my Pinterest page on Pressed Flowers.  There's even some how to make your own press images.  Hope you are enjoying and cherishing that gorgeous summer out there.  xoxox...

Interview at Smart Creative Women

 

Hello.  I am really excited to share with you an interview I did recently with Smart Creative Women's founder, Monic Lee.  Her website is an incredible resource for insider ideas, shared knowledge and support for women in creative business fields, particularily small business start ups, licensing and art based forums.  She has a beautiful treasury of video and podcast interviews with some very admirable, creative veterans.  I have already started working my way through her video sessions and learning a ton from other artists as they share their working insights.  This particular interview is a juicy nugget full of how PAPAYA! began, some of our philosophies and triumphs.  And I even braved skype for this.  Both the program aaaand having to talk to a camera.  (Hang in there.  Apparently I like to nodd...a whole lot.)  But I'm so glad that I did have the opportunity to sit down with Monica and do some reflecting and sharing.  I do love a good chat and I am notoriously talkative- so I hope you enjoy it.