We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Rainer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
I love quotes. I am delighted when I find one that speaks to me and I am always scribbling them down on scraps of paper and stuffing them into my pockets. The quote I especially love today is: “The world is full of magic things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ~W. B. Yeats. During this pandemic time when things can feel very isolating, it is easy to think we are just slogging forward on our own, but really; the world is always reaching out to us asking us to engage. Every moment is humming with aliveness, blessings and enchantment. I am at my creative best on the days when I can tap into this awareness by slowing down and listening for the magic that is always being offered. Ten years ago, I started posting a photo every day on my blog, littlecupofbeauty.com with the idea that every day in some small way I would devote myself to recognizing, manifesting and creating beauty. This daily practice of seeing helped me understand that beauty was calling out to me everywhere even in places that seemed ugly like falling down buildings and garbage heaps. Magic is like that, too. It is present everywhere wanting to be noticed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work is about handmade transformation. It is an experience of joy, mystery and surprise. It is unrolling a giant ball of crepe paper and having treasure and personalized messages fall out as the ball unwinds. My work is about revealing magic. Right now, I am working on making a series of little handwritten quotes sealed in envelopes to be opened one day at a time. My work is made with love and authenticity- a deep dive into the heart with a dose of delight. My work is colorful and bright like my matchbox collages and painted personalized peg people families. More than a decade ago, I started helping my dear friend, Heidi Rose Robbins run her Radiant Life Retreats. During these gatherings I create rituals that combine my artistry with a dynamic sense of surprise. One example of this is making cascarones: blown-out eggs filled with confetti and decorated with tissue paper and ribbons. On the final day of the retreat, each participant receives a cascarone plus a small sealed envelope containing a single word. When the egg is broken open, another word is revealed inside and both combine to create a unique message for each person. My work reflects my aesthetic. I love folk art and found treasures like old toys, tiny teacups, feathers, rocks and bones. I love the imperfection of things- a small chip on a china plate, a mended garment or mismatched chairs. I love walking and letting my mind relax and my eyes open to beauty. I love poking around flea markets and antique stores. I love making greeting cards and sending snail mail. I love rituals and making things sacred by celebrating milestones and creating altars. I love getting out of my head and into the flow of creativity. Music helps me do this. My work is always evolving and growing one magic moment at a time.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am new to LA. My husband and I decided to make a huge leap of faith and moved from Brooklyn to California this summer. We played a California playlist the whole way across country. I have been spending a lot of time in nature. Besides the beach, I love hiking the Mount Wilson trail and exploring the canyons of Sierra Madre. I have seen so much wildlife lately- woodpeckers, rabbits and deer, as well as, coyotes, tarantulas and BEARS!!! The town of Sierra Madre has an incredibly creative Scarecrow Festival in the fall. In terms of take-out food, I can’t get enough of the Middle Eastern restaurant, Adana, in Glendale. Their shish kebab with cherry rice is so yummy. And, I can’t wait for the return of the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to my dear friend, Heidi Rose Robbins, who is always nudging me to jump off cliffs and helping me to find my wings to truly fly.

Website: https://www.littleboxofjoy.us
Instagram: @littlecupofbeauty

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