Searching for "found" (133)

A month has come and gone, and so I'm (finally!) back on the blog to announce that James Christopher arrived on August 1. He is delightful - a sweet, easygoing little boy with a tendency to make faces like the dramatic squirrel. We're adjusting quite nicely to life as a family of four!

Though my head has been slightly out of the design world, I thought I would share this beautiful, oversize board book I found shortly after James was born. Art for Baby is perfect for those early newborn days when babies stay awake for approximately 5 minutes between eating and the next nap, and can't yet see in color. Aesthetically inclined parents will appreciate the lineup of artists whose work appears on the black-and-white pages, including Keith Haring, Takashi Murakami, and Julian Opie. Even the cover is beautiful, a pearlized white background with silver block type.

Clockwise from top left: Duck by Patrick Caulfield; Together by Josef Albers; Hypovase Prazosin Hydrochloride by Damien Hirst; Black Cross by Kazimir Malevich.

(Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on James' nursery, by the way. You are so kind and thoughtful! I'm saving all the comments to show James someday!)

Decide on being happy, positive, creative, or if you just want to BE for the day.

Designer Tamara Hensick casts her nature and word inspired creations in metals of zinc, bronze and sterling as friendly reminders to breathe deeply and move along.

Found locally in Chicago at Fixture in Roscoe Village and this link shows you catalog options and other retailers nationwide.

images via Tamara Hensick

After years of reading countless wedding and design inspired magazines, there are a few photos that still stand out in my mind. Something about them that captured the moment and setting so perfectly, that I've gone back several times to study the shot.

Here is one of them....

and two more from the same event.

Shot in France's Loire Valley by Elizabeth Messina for the wedding of Jeri Ryan and Christopher Eme, this layout was featured in InStyle Weddings 2007. (All venue details can be found at The Lane. It was such a beautiful setting; so intimate, and inspired by their love of nature, food and family.

So when one of my college besties, T, announced her engagement, not only was I thrilled, but especially excited that they are planning a ceremony in a lovely state park, with a reception following at a charming local farm. It was an added bonus that I got to design the wedding invitations for them too!

T and J both love spending time outdoors and live their lives to enhance eco living, gardening and breathing fresh MN air!

While looking for design inspiration, I came across some amazing outdoor farm/barn venues that have been the backdrop for some truly spectacular events.

images via The Enchanted Barn in Hillsdale, WI.

images via the very talented Clayton Austin from a wedding at Santa Margarita Ranch in CA.

If you are looking for an similar outdoor venue, check out The Barn Journal for nationwide options.

With less than a week to go till our son's arrival, I thought I'd share pictures of his nursery. It's done, though I feel it still needs some warming up here and there (and I'm open to suggestions!). We've decided to name our baby James Christopher and we can't wait to meet him!

We kept many of the elements from Catherine's nursery and just put a masculine spin on her existing stuff. We still have the Jenny Lind-style crib (though it might get replaced, due to the drop-side crib recall. We have a "repair kit" on order to make the drop side stationary, but we'll see.) The Binth numbers poster is perfect for a nursery, so I just pulled color inspiration from its blue-gray, chartreuse and brick color palette. And the Baltic rocking horse reflects the finish of the birch bookshelf behind the crib; it also gives Catherine something to do while I'm feeding or changing the baby. (I got the chartreuse Moroccan-motif hampers - one is pictured behind the rocking horse - from Homegoods. One is for clothing and another for plush baby toys, which always seem to multiply.)

I decided to do a different DIY mobile from Catherine's, this time using these adorable paper owls from Mibo. You pay $3 to download a PDF file, which you can print and replicate as many times as you want and then just trim and assemble the birds out of card stock (I used 60# weight for flexibility). There are also a pair of Mibo owls "perched" on the top of the doorframe, which is visible from the crib.

I've been combing local resale shops for infant boy clothing, since we are building a wardrobe from scratch - and what a goldmine I found! It seems that shopping for sizes 0-3 and 3-6 months in particular yields a good deal of barely worn (some still with tags) items from great kid brands like Tea, Janie & Jack, H&M, and Gap. All the "outfits" shown here were bought resale.

The Monte Luca glider from Catherine's nursery was also brought over. I updated it with a blue-gray Jonathan Adler wool boucle pillow I found at Burlington Coat Factory. In the empty space between the glider and the dresser / changing table we're putting a black Kulla floor lamp, but just haven't purchased it yet.

Besides the Binth poster and the marbelized paper that hangs over the changing table, the room needed some art. One of my favorite Etsy artists, Chad Wys, creates beautiful (and affordable) abstract landscape paintings that I knew would be perfect for this room. (I actually think the one on the top looks like a Tyrannosaurus Rex head!) The crib bedding is minimal, with only a DwellStudio for Target blanket (for show only) and horizontal stripe crib skirt, plus my favorite organic jersey fitted crib sheet. The stuffed puppy is from Anthropologie and, again, will not sit inside the crib (nor will the chevron pillow, pictured below - they're for styling purposes only).

It's a tiny and simple room, which is what I wanted all along. Incidentally, we chose Benjamin Moore's "Quiet Moments" for the wall color, which is likely wishful thinking for some good sleeping karma. I'm thinking one of those cute sheepskins from IKEA on the floor would help warm it up a bit. I am still looking for a vintage-y side table and one or two other small vintage elements to give all the "newer" pieces some depth. Any other thoughts or ideas?

A while back, Emily posted about paper sculptor extraordinaire, Matthew Sporzynski. Most of you may recognize his monthly contributions to Real Simple, and his work ever wows and amazes me.

His latest efforts are the basis of the new Sherwin Williams campaign on color from McKinney. The following four print ads are featured in several magazines (House Beautiful, Food Network Magazine, Architectural Digest) to name a few.

With 1,500 color paint chips at his disposal, you can clearly see this man is a genius with paper, form and color.

Check out this video featuring a tv commercial expanding on the wonders of SW color. It's like a modern day Willy Wonka of paper treats. "LOVE it! It's such inspiring work.

More details can be found at the press release via PR Web.

image credits:PR Web, and Sherwin Williams FaceBook

In years past I've put this post to the attention of Northeast Ohioans, but the HomeGirl Barn Sale now attracts shoppers state-wide (and beyond the borders)...

This summer's HomeGirl sale starts Friday at Maplewood Farm in Hudson (2357 Hudson Aurora Road). Sale dates are June 18-19, 10am-4pm. Phone 330-650-2135 with questions.

Cash or check only and carpool with friends, if you can - unless you want to fill your car with tons of furniture!

Owner Gina Bishop was kind enough to give me a sneak peek at the wares. Some of my favorite pieces included large-scale, found signage and letters (like S-W-E-E-T, above!) and smaller, unique pieces like the set of vintage dumbells below (reminds me of a pair that Robert Novogratz picked up from an NYC thrift shop on 9 by Design!

Check out the HomeGirl blog for additional information. And happy shopping!

Bedding from DwellStudio for Target. Wall art from Elum Designs.

Today I hung the final piece of art on Catherine's wall - so it feels "done". She has been enjoying it for some months and, most importantly, the transition from crib to bed went smoothly over the course of less than a week!

The room's white-walls-furniture-and-carpet scheme meant that artwork needed to play a major role, as well as provide color. Below are two "reinterpreted" pieces I drew with oil pastels, based on original artwork by Leif Palmquist.

Texture was also an important element; I made a little "window seat" out of two rattan storage boxes and topped them with pillows from Twinkle Living and Thomas Paul. The tiny square painting (of a baby buggy, in pink and gold) was a gift to Catherine from my sister-in-law, Molly, and a totally appropriate representation of her current favorite activity: strolling her dollies around the house. To complete the seating group, I added a pink armchair and ottoman that my husband found at a store closing sale, as well as a beanbag chair he found at Target.

Above are pictured some of my favorite pieces: a pair of white lamps from HomeGoods that cost less than $30 each, and a vintage Syroco floral that my husband spray-painted pale pink (Catherine's request - she chose from a few options at the hardware store!).

I love how the photo grid turned out, and Catherine loves waking up and talking about the pictures, which include shots of her as a one-month old baby, her first birthday banner, and her most recent Halloween getup. I printed copies of the photos and framed them in inexpensive acrylic box frames for a clean, modern look with some added dimension.

Ongoing plans for the room include an updated roman shade for the room's single window (I'm going to try to recover one of the blackout shades from her nursery), as well as a little "gallery" of Catherine's own artwork next to the bookshelf pictured above. But first, we must move on to the baby boy's room...only two months to go!

I first met my friend Susanne while coaching an all women's triathlon group in 2003. There was incredible synergy in this crew of talented and energetic women, and Susanne's sense of humor was invaluable on long training days. The end of season banquet was the best surprise, not only because we celebrated everyone's personal achievement, but because we found each other to clean up well, and not just be sweaty messes in ponytails! Susanne was wearing the most beautiful necklace and ring, and both were her own custom design. Clearly, I needed to see more.

Susanne's talent is multi-faceted (hee, a little jeweler humor). Her exotic travels find her picking out beautiful stones and gems, and then creating a one-of-a-kind piece that compliments both the gem and the wearer. I own several pieces, and will always receive a compliment when I wear them. They just capture your eye.

Carnelian Petal Drop Earrings $90.00

Lucky Bamboo Drop Earrings $90.00

Circle of Life Ring $620.00

It's been so exciting to see her business expand and grow over the years. She is nearing completion of her colored stone certification through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and shows regularly in local art shows and boutiques.

Her studio is one of over twenty artists hosting a May Open House tomorrow evening at The Cornelia Arts Building from 6-10pm.

images via Susanne Siegel

My incredibly stylish friend, Dorit Sade, started designing and making a line of handbags called Yoóbu (which means "To carry") during a several-months long stint in Senegal, West Africa with her twin sons. Here is an introduction to her work, which incorporates both traditional wax print textiles and artisan-crafted leathergoods.

When I arrived in Senegal I was blown away by the gorgeous outfits the women wore, made out of vibrant wax print fabrics. The patterns each tell some kind of story - proverbs, poems and traditional African fables. The colors also hold significance as they can represent social standing, age, tribal orientation and marital status.

My big AHA! moment came while reading a fashion magazine with a "Beach Style Must Haves" pictorial that featured a really pretty tote bag. I immediately thought, Hey! I can do something even nicer than that with all the amazing fabrics here! I also wanted to share the Africa that I was experiencing firsthand, a place filled with color and vibrance, music and extremely talented artists.

I immediately started working on some designs and set out to find materials. My fantastic Senegalese nanny, Mary, very quickly became my right hand woman in sourcing and negotiating in the local markets.

I met the talented Mr. Fallou Seye quite by accident one day when I stumbled upon his little leather shop on the side of the road. He agreed to make me the leather straps I need for my fabric bags.

One day I set out for his store only to find it missing. The Senegalese Government had come late one night and bulldozed all the shops in order to facilitate the widening of the road. I finally found him in a little shack way way back in the middle of nowhere, setting up his studio again. It broke my heart to see how someone's dreams and livelihood could be taken away in an instant and I felt this intense desire to help him find a way to rebuild his shop elsewhere. Fallou and I started brainstorming and came up with a line of leather bags to be lined in the vibrant African wax print fabrics.

One of the days that I will never forget is the day that I returned from a Valentine's Market at the Embassy, where I had sold a couple of leather bags. I went out to his studio and put a few hundred dollars in his hand. His face lit up and he had the biggest smile and all he said in his broken English was: Today is a good day.

Now back in the States, Dorit continues to create and sell bags in her shop. (I am partial to the clutch pictured at the top of the post!) As for future plans, Dorit hopes to eventually expand the line, and even open a little factory in Dakar to include a line of clothing and woman's sandals. After seeing what she's passionately put together in such a short period of time, I have no doubt she will realize her visions for Yoóbu.

Images from Yoóbu.

Images from Greer's booking signing event. Kat, Wanda, Chandra, Emily

What a great night! Greer was brimming with people there to meet Wanda Wen and get personalized copies of "The Art of Gift Wrapping". As we meandered through the store and their lovely vignettes, Emily and I each found new paper goods that we just had to have.

Fresh, organic hor'devours and petit fours were being served by Joanne Heidenberger of Andante Catering (truly delicious treats ) and we learned more of how Chandra, Wanda and Emily find their inspirations and new avenues to find artists to stock in their stores.

Wanda had lovely examples of her wrapping ideas displayed in the store along with copies of her book. Perhaps all the lovely food and drink caused extra energy, but we had this opportunity to learn more from this wrapping genius all to ourselves. We couldn't let her go just yet..

Emily scooped up her car, and Greer's great location made pulling up the car for 'loading' especially easy. We have more wrapping secrets to learn about! Hey Wanda, this is for me placing 3rd in the 3M Scotch Brand Most Gifted Wrapper Contest in America!

To ensure Wanda's safe return, we need to make sure there is a full house for Saturday's event at Greer. Bring along a unique shaped gift and she'll be happy to show you an amazing method for wrapping it perfectly.

By the way, Midori ribbon's Rosebud silk dupioni ribbon worked like a charm. It shows beautifully and is a classic material for 'all' wrapping needs. However, I would probably prefer a wire trim next time :)

No designers were harmed in the making of this faux gift wrapping napping