Uber-Creative Women

Once a month I get together with a handful of wonderfully creative women entrepreneurs. Most of us are solo-entrepreneurs, all in creative businesses, and we join together to have a comfortable place to bounce around business ideas, to commiserate and celebrate, and feel connected to like spirits. Our evenings usually involve a few bottles of wine, some delicious food and good times.

Tammy Milani

Last night we met at the home of the wonderfully talented Tammy Milani of Milani Home. Warm and delicious hospitality is what Tammy is all about. She is about family, friends, love and food.  This passion for the shared experience around the table is what drives her tableware designs. Each piece of her hand-thrown and hand-painted porcelain is created with the intention to bring harmony and beauty to the rituals of everyday life.

Her table had a warm, inviting glow from lovely candles

Tammy is from a large restaurant-owning family that originates from Lebanon. She describes her memories of abundant and loving family meals:

“There were times, even as a young girl, that I was struck by how beautiful those moments were, from the light in the room, to the glorious smell, and of course the love.  I remember sitting back and looking at the picture of the long table filled with food and family and thinking that everything is so perfect and beautiful, it’s a shame the plates and platters don’t seem to reflect the love and artistry that went into their contents.  They should be as beautiful as this moment and one day when I grow up I’ll design my own.”

And that she did. And on them she serves her expertly prepared Middle Eastern foods (she also did a series of cooking demonstrations on TV from her own beautiful kitchen - next Food Network Star???).

Tammy's trio of hummus - recipes are on her blog

And now, she has launched a food blog (uh oh, I think I buried the lead here)! You can get in on the ground floor and subscribe to Who Made the Hummus and not miss a single one of her delicious and authentic Middle Eastern recipes (authentic like olive oil ON the hummus, not IN it...). You’ll find it right HERE... Make one of these hummus recipes and then Bil-hana wa ash-shifa - may you have your meal with gladness and health!

(Okay, I admit that little bit of Arabic is from a translation website - hope I got it right!)

One of a Kind Show Chicago

I am so excited about exhibiting at the One of a Kind Show in Chicago this coming December. It is a very competitive juried show and I am honored to be included. Especially when I see the other exhibitors - all amazingly talented artists. I know it seems far away now, but shows like this require a lot of planning so it is already on my mind. If you are in Chicago for these dates, be sure to stop by (and let me know because as it gets closer I will have passes for free admission available - just sign up on my mailing list or email me with your info).

Click on the image below to get to their website...

It's that time again...highpointMARKET

Stormy Skies

A momentary break in the storm last evening resulted in an interesting sky.

Best Of :: Travel Photos

Just spent some time looking through old travel photos (great reminiscing!) and thought I would share a few favorites from over the last few years. Travel continues to be one of my greatest sources of design inspiration.

 Bridge in Hoi An, Vietnam

 London Bridges, early morning over the Thames

 Young Monk Silhouette, Hue, Vietnam

 Sunset on Halong Bay, Vietnam

Evening in Valparaiso, Chile 

Buddhist Temple, Hue, Vietnam 

 Dusk in Istanbul, Turkey

Sunrise behind the Moai at Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island

Buddhist Temple, Luang Prabang, Laos

London :: one more

Took this early morning photo as the fog was lifting over the River Thames. 

I really like the atmospheric quality and the architecture of multiple bridges, 

including Tower Bridge in the distance.

London :: iPhoneography

Just spent a few days across the pond in London. I lived there 35 years ago attending the University of London and spent some time this trip wandering down memory lane, as well as partaking of some of what is new in London. Unusually good weather accompanied me as I visited museums, did some traditional London-type things like tea at Fortnum and Mason, and ate at some wonderful places like Ottolenghi and Fifteen.


Didn't bring my big camera this trip and relied on my iPhone as my sole camera. Here are some of my snaps...

View of the Eye and the River Thames from the Westminster Bridge.

When I was a student at University College, University of London I did my Art History research in this library at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

This lovely walk through a stand of trees is in front of the Tate Modern.

The iconic red telephone booth! I was delighted to see that they have survived in this day of cell phones (or as the Brits say mobiles).

Another iconic piece of London architecture - Big Ben.

A pedestrian bridge across the Thames from St Paul's Cathedral by Sir Christopher Wren which connects to the Tate Modern and a nice walk to Burough Market.

This is the massive Chihuly installation at the Victoria and Albert. Ironically the day before I saw Dale Chihuly at the David Hockney exhibit at the Royal Academy.

English muffins in England! At the Burough Market.

Tea at Fortnum and Mason.

Step Up

I was asked by a local non-profit to create an adorned shoe that they could use at their upcoming luncheon, themed "Step Up" - as in step up (increase) your annual contribution. I was thrilled to participate! My understanding is that these shoes, created by local artists, will be used as centerpieces and then auctioned off. So, here is my creation. What do you think?

Culturally Inspired Design

Patterns and Paper

If you don't already know, I have launched a new etsy store called Rescued Paper where I sell journals that I hand-cover in old paper - maps, book pages, altered dictionary pages. I am having a great time doing this. I have always loved maps and dictionaries, both of which are increasingly obsolete due to our smart phones, computers and GPS devices. And while GPS can get you where you are going rather efficiently, there is nothing like studying a map, imagining places and seeing the bigger picture. So I am happy to give old maps one more go 'round with these journals.

I am working on another type of Rescued Paper product using the insides of security envelopes. You know them, the envelopes that have patterns printed on the inside so the contents isn't visible through the envelope. So I started saving them, thinking there must be something that I can come up with to recycle these babies. And while I work on that, I became smitten with the patterns. Have you ever really looked at them? It turns out there are so many different patterns. And they are so interesting. I don't know the history of this (but if I find it out I will certainly share) but I can't stop being fascinated with the variety and complexity of these hidden treasures. So I thought I'd share a few with you. And stay tuned to see what I do with them!

New from Judith Altman Designs :: Rescued Paper ::

Click Here!!!

A Study in Texture :: Bark, Moss and Lichen

Today's inspiration was in the back yard. I am just taken with these surface textures and colors on the bark of trees. Nature never disappoints!

From Emily in Ethiopia

As many of you know, my daughter Emily spent some time recently in Ethiopia working for the Center for Creative Leadership. While with CCL she worked on leadership development programs with NGOs and wrote some blog posts. Here are some of her travel photos from Addis Ababa and Lalibella. And yes, I am a proud Mama.

Emily Altman

Street scene

Church carved in stone in Lalibella

View over Lalibella

Emily and friends

Priest showing crosses in Lalibella

Hut

Emily bargaining in the market

Emily and more friends

Gorgeous ceiling