Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

"Is there such a thing as women’s painting? Although the model is graceful and suggests all that might rightly be said to belong to the weaker sex, the artist endows the sitter with qualities we previously ignored in her, chooses a pose and decides on the colouring….composes a work that will transcend nature without the artifice appearing unusual. The outcome of this creative energy is a masterpiece, and it matters little whether the maker is man or woman. " Louise –Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrun, 1755-1842.

She is not of the arts nor does she call herself artistic. But she might as well be. Her atelier aka dress shop in Sherman Oaks reminded me of Villa Cirta in France I visited, a simple family home filled with arts, each piece laid out with distinction, in multiple squares of a built-in wall gallery, with a well –groomed organic herbs and produce garden, regularly harvested for cooking classes. Nearby, a father drove the tractor-mower plowing the land, a toddler on his lap whom he enjoyed, and his baby squealed in laughter as he made turns to mow the grass.

This was the image seared in my mind, that I now recall while inside Thumbelina Designs, Inc. in Sherman Oaks, located in a row of french style boutiques, restaurants, jewelry stores, all fine handcrafted artisan made products in Los Angeles.

Each piece is a work of art, a fine amount of love stitched into each dress. The beaded work is so fine that there is not a piece out of place. She crafts them as if they are vintage pieces of art. Remember the French flea markets, where the vintage accessories remind you of the glorious days of Grace Kelly or of Monaco, from where we conjure images of understated elegance.

But I am in Los Angeles, yet Monaco’s flea markets seem vivid, as I glance at these finest accessories, finest in the way they were put together, the craftsmanship stellar and shouting the hundreds of man-hours that were put in to make them. Yet time is not of the essence, craftsmanship is!

A sense of style converges in her craft in terms of colors, patterns, beadwork, fabrics. With her careful hands, she designs them into fine pieces of artistic bouidoir. These talents are in the persona of a Filipina-American, Carlyn Nuyda – Calloway, all gifts from the Creator.

She humbly shares that she grew up watching 2008 National Artist Ben Cab paint nudes in the corner of her uncle’s house, Justin Nuyda, who is also a national artist of the Philippines.

Carlyn’s vision is to bring Paris to Los Angeles, much like Carmen Salindong’s dream bringing Little Paris to Pico by way of La Maison Du Pain Bakery.

Carlyn is familiar with the allure of Paris, having been exposed to the Parisian’s lifestyle and ways by her fashionista mother, Rocio Nuyda, and her father.