story written within petals

detail from "BLOOM" 2008 collection
There is a story written within your petals.

What is your soul whispering?

What is your body shouting?

Quiet your mind and listen...

beauty & beasts

The animals prepared to feast. Each dressed in its best, surely wanting to impress. Once-A-Great-Beauty lured them into the haunted castle holding secrets and ghosts. She would stuff them with sugar and carbohydrates until their stomachs almost burst. The sweets were laced with judgment and mockery. It had all become a game of appearance and denial. Both Beauty and Beasts had lost sight of what is important in life...

excerpt from a fairy tale in progress

La Purisima

2007 mixed media featuring the interior of León's cathedral
Who causes so much happiness?

This is the cry of millions of Nicaraguans during the December 7th “La Griteria” (The Shouting) celebration of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. An elaborate altar is set up with fresh flowers, lights, candles and more. Celebrants gather to sing prayerful hymns to Mother Mary. After the singing, massive amounts of food are distributed. Everything from oranges with little paper flags, candies made of condensed milk and coconut, tamales wrapped in dark green plantain leaves and a sweet pink drink made of corn. The tradition began somewhere between the 18th–19th century in the majestic colonial city of León, Nicaragua.

I have always seen “La Purisima” (The Purest) as a fascinating pagan-like ritual, one of my favorite parts of growing up Catholic. As a child, I believed we were honoring all the mothers, all the women and not just a statue of a pretty white lady dressed in blue draping gowns. Even more so today, I like to believe the songs, the prayers and food honor and celebrate the goddess in every woman...

Monet's message from Paris

2007 mixed media self-portrait
I have come to realize that CASIMIRA is not for everybody, at least not yet and perhaps not ever. A dear friend in Paris sent me a message from Claude Monet...

"People discuss my art and pretend to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love."
- Claude Monet

Monsieur Monet would have loved my sculptures...

water

detail from a 2008 piece already in private collection
we float in the womb
our mother’s water breaks and we emerge
the human body is mostly water

ocean water renews
rain baptizes
tears of joy & sorrow

water changes shape & transforms herself

fertile waters
healing waters
purifying waters

“I noticed something at your show...there was a lot of water involved...the first snow of the year (como avisando que se avecina algo mágico)...la nevera de agua con hielo que se cayó debajo de la mesa...que para mi es buena señal...señal de cambio...de algo fresco, nuevo y limpio...”

-Catalina Checa de Stawski

water IS life

my tribe

2007 mixed media journal
we are loud

we laugh a lot

we celebrate life

we multiply in an instant

we take over

we never apologize for who we are...

my tribe...my family...always loving and supporting me...

G R A C I A S....!!!

mermaid

detail from 2008 collection
I dreamed I was a mermaid...wearing many necklaces of shell...

three little words

detail from one of my pieces
I had spent all day working in my studio.

After yoga, I showered and got ready.

I dreaded seeing so many women all at once, but I figured it could only help prepare me for Tuesday and Wednesday.

I felt beautiful...simple, elegant and timeless without trying too hard.

I felt beautiful until she uttered three little words:

...te veo gordita...

Why should the opinion of another affect me so much? Is it because I am overweight? Is it because the truth hurts?

It has everything to do with me, and absolutely nothing to do with her. I have an issue with my weight. A rebellious side of me refuses to join the popular club of Underweight Hungry Women.

I am more than what I weigh.

I am more than my beautiful body.

I am more...three little words...I AM MORE...

SHE

from 2008 collection
S H E

mother earth

vessel of creativity

we each sprang from a female womb

powerful protector

arrowhead amulets

one of a series of amulets featuring arrowheads, each one is different
the shaman handed me a bag of carved arrowheads
and instructed me to create protective amulets...

ageless souls soar

our 2007 holiday greeting
he kissed me
13 years ago
today

he married me
5 years ago
today

his kiss still makes me blush...

being grateful

2007 detail from one of my newest pieces, part of 2008 collection
During my yoga this morning, I was struck by how grateful I am to life, to God. Gratitude is healing.

"I thank God for all the things I don't have."
St. Teresa of Avila

forest song

a favorite photo of my beloved bangles in the forest
My wearable sculpture is inspired by nature...it is a tribute to nature.

As I walk through the forest, I listen to my soul.

The forest song is sung by every branch and by each delicate leaf.

Nature is healing...

excerpts from my journals

Musa Matriarcal

my beloved Grand Mother Maria
Madre Mía

Santa María

Luz de Cada Día

Santa Mujer

Madre María

Musa Matriarcal
hoy te sueño
hoy te siento
a mi lado, siempre amando...

celebrating the birth of my Matriarcal Muse

vida verde - green life

detail from "VIDA VERDE" sterling & turquoise CASIMIRA
The first time I wore VIDA VERDE was in Seattle, at a party of actors - intellectual theatre performers. One blue-eyed professor recited RUMI to me and concluded that I was born to be on stage.

The turquoise stones are from a vintage necklace I found in a little London boutique...years ago. I remember it was raining and grey, deliciously romantic.

Seattle and London have very similar weather.

brad pitt & my wedding

2007 sketch
Last night I dreamed with Brad Pitt. It's not the first time. Always, he is wearing a CASIMIRA...

Fame is a strange phenomenon. Earlier today I was shocked to discover a photograph from my very private wedding on a very public YOU-TUBE video...and no, Brad Pitt did not attend my wedding.

mother ocean's womb

components inspiring a sculpture
I often dream with Mother Ocean. Her salt waters and waves. Her sandy beaches. After swimming in her womb, I feel refreshed and cleansed, truly renewed and reborn. One of these days I will live on the beach...and swim by moonlight...

over stimulation

the fortunate candle that witnessed our showering & dressing

The power went out this afternoon. While our neighbors fretted over raw turkeys in ovens, we showered and dressed by candlelight.

Stepping into the hospital, I began perceiving gloomy ghosts desperate to communicate. We sat with him for an hour, his white beard growing while the clock tick-tocked. He may be going home tomorrow.

A precious baby boy greeted us, his angelic smile filling us with the freshness of new life. I held him, silently giving thanks to his parents, to him, to God. I breathed in his purity and peace. He recognized me and spoke with his eyes.

A broken man embraced me and I almost broke down. I hope I was able to transfer a bit of peace to him.

I ate a few bites of tortellini pasta and salad, afraid of undercooked turkey. I listened to the nightmares of a beautiful girl. I tasted a decadent chocolate mousse. I said I would see all of them tomorrow. He dropped me off and would meet me later on.

She looked gloriously young on her birthday. She wore two CASIMIRA pieces with unsurpassed style and glamour. I ate a bit of turkey breast (their power never went out) and Nicaraguan stuffing. I left four raisins on my plate and drank a glass of chilled white wine. There were six desserts not including birthday cake. My favorite was his bread pudding made from churros and drizzled buttered brandy.

The art critic arrived after me and had to eat while others watched. He did not touch the turkey, but enjoyed the ham.

Ava Gardner arrived late but lovely. She seemed tired and a bit sad. I need to spend more time with her.

The diplomatic chef and famous surgeon disappeared. Perhaps they went to watch Grey’s Anatomy?

I received a dedicated Coco Chanel book, a belated birthday gift. Coco and Carolina Herrera are two of my favorite designers.

Conversation fluttered between art and sex. At one point, circumcised penises where sketched on paper napkins while a forest green linen napkin became a visual aide. She claimed not to know about kundalini or penises and is terrified of snakes. As a paparazzo played with his new equipment I began to understand Sean Penn.

We discussed the possibility of publishing a book dedicated to celebrating the life of a great man.

I spontaneously took one of the sculptures off my neck and gave it to him. He was so happy and so was I.

While driving our friend home, we saw deer and foxes. Good omens. We are blessed, truly blessed...

It was a very full evening...I would love not to have to see another human being for the next 48 hours...over stimulation of the senses, especially my sixth sense...

a few Thanksgiving highlights

ANOTHER holiday

2007 study for sculpture

Charlie Brown:
We've got ANOTHER holiday to worry about.
It seems Thanksgiving Day is upon us.

Sally Brown:
I haven't even finished eating all of my Halloween candy.

excerpt from “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” circa 1973

how great how happy - really?

2007 "Her Head in the Clouds" mixed media
Everyone kept saying how great she looked. They seemed to ignore the far-away gaze in her once-vibrant eyes. She smiled; she had become an excellent actress. Everyone kept saying how happy she looked. She grinned when in reality she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. In the middle of the party she discretely stepped outside to smoke another cigarette and to telephone her lover.

excerpt from a short story written in 1999