Truth

Many thanks to Ida for her lovely review of the perfume devoted to Peace and Gracing the Dawn over at Cafleurebon today. I first became aware of Ida during the Perfume in a Poem project over at Memory and Desire. Later I had the opportunity to experience her warmth at the Sniffapalooza Fall Ball in New York City.

Ida is a champion of perfume arts with an enormous heart. During the Rose Ceremony this morning at Highland Hall Walfdorf School the first grade teacher spoke of our heart as the mediator between the world of polarities in which we dwell. Ida embodies heart.

Illuminated Perfumes: Truth in Advertising Peace and Gracing the Dawn

ArtHeart painting ©Greg Spalenka

Love Notes 2010

In February of last year I created special little Valentines for a few individuals within my sphere. For the most part the individuals were those who had shown quite a bit of support through out the year, mostly composed of those glorious patrons we artists adore.

The intention was triple fold: 1. Promote. 2. Take advantage of the holiday to create a special one of a kind item for specific folk. 3. Get creative and do some painting.

While in the large studio one day I discovered a little gift I had created for Greg while he was working in Texas. The box was a simple heart shaped, cardboard shaped box picked up at the craft store. I painted it with my acrylics adding a few decoupage items and then filling with caramels, one of his favorite candies. This gift was made out of love and longing. He worked in Texas for 16 months, both of us flying back and forth for short little visits.

I came upon the box rather auspiciously while I was mentioning to Greg that as an illustrator I would use the holidays to do special promotions and thought it would be good to do the same my perfumes. As I was talking I caught site of the box. Ah-hah! I could re-create these boxes and fill them with a few little pots of solid perfumes!


So I did. In the process, the idea to create the chocolate natural perfumes was birthed. Albeit I had no idea what a challenge that would be both from a packaging and fragrance aspect. A year later, here they are. Samplers were sent to a small, exclusive group, including some of the same sweethearts as last year.

In the works are more, to fill the large heart box with eleven chocolate delights and body butter to slather all over oneself or perhaps ones lover.

Love Notes

Yesterday morning I got the paints out and have been working on a few Valentines for a select group of about twelve individuals. My intention is to get them finished and out in the mail today with the new bundle of orders.

Julia Cameron, the author of the Artist's Way, encourages creativity by "playing" with art materials much in the way we did as children. When I unearthed the paints and brushes yesterday there was a sense of a fun creative adventure that she endorses. It felt different from the process of creating a perfume or an illustration. I also was reminded of the similarities between painting and creating perfume.

My painting brushes are very much like my glass droppers, the rinse water like the alcohol I use to rinse out my droppers and the paint colors like the essences themselves. At the end of the day I was cleaning my brushes at the sink just like I clean my droppers and beakers.

The image above is a digital photo collage utililizing one of Maestro Gregorios paintings with one of my valentines layered on top.

The Artist's Way
Greg Spalenka website, Etsy shop & Art Sale.

NY Sniffa 2008: One

In the e-mail that the NY Sniffa 2008 attendees received the Karens stated:

We feel it's our duty to warn you that you will have such a glorious time at this event, you'll meet so many fascinating friends, and you will feel so loved and pampered that you will want to do it again next weekend, and the weekend after that... and you won't be able to!
You have to wait for another Sniffapalooza!

They were spot on., and must have something to do with the magnetism of Team Karen. I auspiciously hooked up with an acquaintance from a dinner party back in 1998, Sarah Squeri. Ah, but I digress, lets begin at the beginning.

The Saturday (Uptown) event began at Bergdorf Goodman commenced at 8:15am with the famous breakfast at Goodman’s Café. At 10am more sniffers arrived and the morning continued on the beauty floor with conversation with special guests and perfumers, sampling, makeup artists, special GWP's, and the legendary BG gift bags.

At 12:30 attendees wondered over to Opia restaurant for a fabulous lunch and more guest presenters, including Avery Gilbert. Avery is the author of What the Nose Knows, he sat next to Greg and I at the luncheon. He was the first presenter and dazzled the attendees with tidbits from What the Nose Knows.

I also presented during this phase of the olfactory adventure. My sampler packages contained a postcard, bookmark and business card. Some contained a liquid perfume sample with a scent strip while others contained the solid perfume version of Sierra. Greg put together a visual presentation to accompany my seven minute discourse.

At 2:45 the gang walked over to Takashimaya for more sniffing & dessert with special guests, like the beloved Neil Morris. Across the street was Henri Bendels, where Janna Sheehan of Trance Essence and Jessica Dunne of Ellie and Ellie Nuit were on hand. Both lovely, beautiful ladies.

While we were all enjoying ourselves inside Henri Bendels the wind and rain began descending upon NYC. Many arrived at the next destination, Spafumerie, drenched from the across town walk. The owner of Spafumerie, Joe Graces, treated us to chocolate covered strawberries amongst other cocktails & reiki work at his spectacular spa. All in honor of the 60th anniversary of Fracas.

(Pictured below, from right to left Greg, Karen Dubin, Vida and myself.)



At this party is where I encountered Sarah, who quickly became my new best friend! Other conjunctions of the heart-kind included; Leah, a sol sister (yes, i mean sol as in sun, we are both Leos with an auspicious amount of similar planetary line-ups) and the passionate and charismatic, Ida.

The evening festivities ended at a long dining table seating at least twenty of us at an Italian restaurant. Stay tuned for the Sniffa Day Two recap next.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™
Images: Heart table illustration by Greg Spalenka, Breakfast area at Bergdorf Goodman by Sarah Squeri, Roxana presenting at the Opia Lunch by Michael Friedlander, Gang of four at Spafumerie by Sarah Squerie and Video clip by Greg Spalenka

The Big Apple

"One belongs to New York instantly,

one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years."

~ Thomas Wolfe

I am back from the big apple with lots of stories and pictures to share. The trip was especially rich with heartfelt connections. We arrived last Wednesday afternoon, after a four hour stint as a sardine. What’s up with those airplane seats? It doesn’t seem to matter how much yoga I do, trying to access my laptop or purse under the seat in front of me was short of impossible.

NYC was grand...the air was crisp, the 24 hour frenetic hum as constant as the inspiration and there was the NYC Sniffapalooza Fall Ball!!!

The Sniffapalooza Fall Ball was so much more than I could ever imagine or anticipate. Two full days of fun, connection with fellow devotees of fragrance. What struck me the most was the kindred spirits I encountered. I knew I would come across some of the most obsessed olfactory beings on the planet. However, as I mentioned above, I was unprepared for the bounty of camaraderie and fellowship.

I’ve experienced some of this type of esprit de corps at Aromatherapy conferences over the past ten years and to a certain extent with artists at the San Diego Comic Con. Sniffa NY was different though...it’s an intangible thing...much like fragrance itself. Part of it, no doubt, was due to being in NYC once again.

"I felt something so intense, I could only express it in a perfume."

~ Jacques Guerlain

We stayed at a friends apartment in the financial district with a spectacular view of the Hudson. On Wednesday we stopped into Enfluerage in the Village and had an amazing Indian meal across the way. Thursday and Friday were filled with visiting friends and colleagues, eating fabulous meals and a tour of FIT, The Fashion Institute of Technology. For those in the city or traveling there I highly recommend the “Gothic: Dark Glamour” show currently on display at the FIT gallery. WOW!

Sniffa took place on Saturday and Sunday. I’ll post about that as soon as I get some photos. For now...from left to right, here I am with Dorothy McCall and Raphaella Brescia Barkley outside of Bond #9 on Sunday morning. The photo was taken by Dorothy’s lovely and talented husband Michael Freidlander. Thank you Michael!

Apple image above, Apple Perfume ©Greg Spalenka

Roxana Illuminated Perfume™

Ode to the Wordsmiths

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
~William Wordsworth

I came across the little story below in my e-mail inbox and thought I'd share. I am so grateful to the storytellers and their courage to put down on paper the breathings of their heart. Cheers to the writers and their recent success with the strike.

A writer dies and goes to Purgatory. St. Peter can't decide
if he's been good or bad, so decides to give him a choice.

The writer goes to Hell and his skin is burned by the flames.
He watches as dark demons whip a group of men sitting
in front of typewriters, leaving open wounds on their backs.

St. Peter then takes the writer to Heaven, where--like Hell--his skin
is burned by the flames, and he watches dark demons whipping a group
of men sitting in front of typewriters, leaving open wounds on their backs.

"My God!" the writer exclaims. "This looks just like Hell!"

"Oh, no," says St. Peter. "Here your work gets published."

Writers Guild of America

Illustrations ©Greg Spalenka
who is having a special right now on his limited edition giclee prints. Get them now before their all gone!

{{{ LOVE }}} Bliss

"When you follow your bliss... doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors, and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else."
~ Joseph Campbell

A few years ago Greg (my partner) and I were asked to be part of a creative team for Greg Mooers of LifeCamp. We had the opportunity to experience the scope of Mr. Mooers profound work.

What does your soul yearn for?

The answer to that question is what we learned from the time spent with Greg Mooers. It’s like going to a modern day Oracle at Delphi. I gained crystal clear clarity on my life purpose and highly recommend attending a live lecture or listening to the Heart Virtue CD set.

I am committed to authentic self expression. This manifests itself in a pursuit of beauty. Creating botanical perfume from a palette of organic and sustainable ingredients is an authentic expression of nature. Aromatherapists often refer to essential oils as the soul of the plant, thus, botanical perfume is the soul expression of Mother Earth.

Joseph Campbell encouraged us to follow our bliss, are you?

Greg Mooers - LifeCamp
The Oracle at Delphi

The image above was created from an original painting for "The Four Agreements" card deck published by Hay House. "Express Your Love" ©Roxana Villa

{{{ LOVE }}} Across the Universe

“The love you take is equal to the love you make.”
~ The Beatles

This month we celebrate LOVE, in all it's manifestations.

On February 14th, a name will be chosen from the database for a 1/4 oz perfume of your choice.
In order for you to be in the drawing you need to have joined the newsletter with your real name and a mailing address, or make sure I have it. Manage your subscription here

NASA beamed The Beatles' song "Across the Universe" into space today. What is most interesting is John's story of how the song came through.

John Lennon on 'Across The Universe' (1980):
The words stand, luckily, by themselves. They were purely inspirational and were given to me as boom! I don't own it, you know; it came through like that. I don't know where it came from, what meter it's in, and I've sat down and looked at it and said, "Can I write another one with this meter?" It's so interesting: (sings) "Words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup, they slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe."
Such an extraordinary meter... and I can never repeat it!
It's not a matter of craftsmanship; it wrote itself. It drove me out of bed. I didn't want to write it, I was just slightly irritable and I went downstairs and I couldn't get to sleep until I put it on paper, and then I went to sleep. It's like being possessed; like a psychic or a medium.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

Words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing through my open ears
Exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva

IMAGINEPEACE
Read the full story here.
NASA on Across the Universe

The image above is "Art Heart" © Greg Spalenka, you can see how the he created this award winning illustration at this link.

Mind & Heart Expansion

Lisa Camasi, of the Botanical Perfume Yahoo Group, has challenged all of us on the list. She is encouraging us to consider options to the cultural mind set of consumption on the day after Thanksgiving. Here is a list of her ideas:

1. Instead of consuming, create. Make something. Make a perfume, balm, body butter, soap. Knit a scarf, design your holiday card, write a poem, make a holiday collage.

2. Instead of consuming, experience. Take a long walk. Volunteer at a local shelter. Learn a new dance step. Teach a child how to braid a horse's mane, or her own hair. Play flag football with your siblings/cousins/co-workers. Rake your elderly neighbor's yard. Play hide and seek with your cats. Sing to a baby. Hold someone's hand.

3. Instead of consuming on a grand scale, consider consuming a little more consciously and mindfully. Wherever possible, support small businesses, shop locally, buy hand made, Fair Trade, locally grown and locally produced. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Do you have more?

In honor of this terrific idea I will be posting a series of recipes to encourage you all to make a botanical item that day.
The first will be for a Bay Rum After shave, or as my friend Shelley says "Bay Yum". I first made this with one of my Aromatherapy teachers when she journeyed out to LA to do a Gift Making Workshop. Since then, this Ray Rum After shave has become a staple in the Gift Making workshops I now teach.

BAY RUM AFTER SHAVE from Jade Shutes of the IDA

Base ingredients:

Nice glass bottle 6oz
Bay leaves
Allspice
Cloves
Rum (preferably Bay Rum or Bacardi)
Purified water
7-10 drops essential oil of Bay laurel

Directions:

1) Fill 1/2 inch of the bottle with cloves and allspice herb - add Bay leaves - leave enough room so that herbs look nice and the rum can cover.
2) Fill 1/2 of the bottle with Rum, other 1/2 with purified water.
3) Add essential oil.
4) Shake.
5) Leave for one week, shaking periodically, to infuse.

Botanical Yahoo Group
East West School for Herbal and Aromatic Studies (formerly The IDA)

Images above ©Roxana Villa

The tree

"Beloved, gaze in thine own heart, The holy tree is blooming there." - W. B. Yeats

Artwork: Spring, acrylic on canvas, ©RoxanaVilla