Pictured (top/left) are Lisa Corti's collection of handblocked quilts imported from India, and (bottom/right) Chinese papercut candleholder's by Geraldine Gonzalez. I have a box full of Chinese papercuts at home, these would be a really fun project to make with them. Both are available through John Derian, in NY. (via Hope)
(bottom/left) hippika and cherry blossom Finnish & Scandanavian wallpapers from Tapettitalo in Helsinki.
(top/right) I just love these natural silhouette adobe photoshop brushes from Design Fruit. I've seen them used on a few different websites and the results are always all kinds of wonderful.
I had popped my head around the corner on Saturday (shuddering at the sight of massive bee colony again), then just as mysteriously as they arrived they vanished minutes later. Nothing left but six confused bees. I was feeling quite relieved until the next evening when the swarm re-appeared in the same spot. Unfortunately my neighbor is a renter and his lanlord is not a nice fellow, and since bee people are expensive... We're waiting another day or two and hoping that these buggers move on! But on the bright side there are only half as many as before, that's a good thing I guess. That and luckily it's rainy, so they're not zooming haphazardly all over the yard!
It's been such a weird day. It started out looking beautiful, and peaceful. Yet just one step out the door and I slowly noticed it would be anything but... as a huge black cloud of swarming bees were hovering over my neighbors small patio, and flying crazily into my garden. My heart jumped! I fumbled for the phone, and tried to figure out a good plan of action as to how to get rid of them. I should backtrack here and tell you about how scared I am of bees. When I was a little girl I stepped on one in our backyard and my whole leg went purple. It was so puffy in fact I couldn't wear my shoes or walk normally for days. Ever since then, I see a bee and I jump a mile. Last year one flew on my shoulder and climbed inside my blouse, and I screamed as if it was the end of the world. I was ready to die right then. Well maybe now you can imagine how I felt this afternoon after the swarm calmed down and I spotted this hanging over my fence...
I swear sometimes it feels that the universe is testing me.
I'm crossing my fingers they'll go away in the morning.
A few wonderful links I came across this morning...
Lori Nelson's artwork (pictured left and bottom right).
Just like love at first sight, first I fell for the beauty of the image that I could not take my eyes off of... then became bent-over-backwards smitten after I read this quote from her about the context:"In painting, as is in life, I am inevitably drawn to the awkward, the second-hand, the small. In these, the potential reaction is always in question and an element of danger exists in a microscopic moment. A storm is never far off on the horizon." ( Giclee Prints of her work are available at guild.com)
Robert Kuster for Glass works, fine art chandeliers are a visual explosion of color and shapes (pictured top/right). Whoa!
Adam Franks Lumen design, shadow play oil lamps (pictured middle/right). (via inhabitat) denote simplicity at it's cleverest. (They also remind me of the lamps my aunt once made out of punched star collanders that she bought at the hardware store. It was on top of a shelf and couldn't be seen, but the light emitted though the holes, made the most beautiful star pattern that clung to the walls and ceiling. Light play really can have a strong impact on a rooms mood. When you achieve just the right effect, it really can be magical. )
This is an old clipping from Vogue I've had saved from my art school days. One of our instructors had us start collecting torn out pages from magazines for inspiration files. This one lured me in because of it's beautiful theatrics... the jewelry from this photo shoot still stirs my creative juices. I'm also head over heels with the beaded jewelry of Ana Banana on flickr. Her pieces are so colorful, and inspiring.
Top/Right: I was first introduced to Amy Rupel's layered assemblages by Karen of Kraf-o-la. They are the most amazing things. I love the depth and texture of her work, that she achieves by using beeswax & resin as one of her mediums. You can also find her lovely designs on pillows, cards, and t-shirts.
Row 2/Left: Ingredients: 1 can of beer, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and several clumps of garden moss + stencil = moss graffiti.
I know it's been shared many times before, but I still think it's so innovative! To see more artwork by Helen Nodding visit her website Stories from Space...while there be sure to check out her insect bridges & secret worlds. Genius!
Row 2/Right: Vintage fawn silver necklace by Moss Mills, is available online at Doe. Be sure to explore their other goods too. The magnetic birds look really sweet... they chirp too!
Row 3/ Left: I collect blue and white china, and I love Tord Boontje's designs. That said, I'm completely loving his table stories collection. It's so clever! To see more visit Mocoloco, and Friend.
Row 3/ Right: I recently came across these flower making kits at the Paper Source and thought they were so cheerful... and unlike real flowers you won't ever feel that twinge of guilt about cutting off beauty in it's prime.
Row 4/ Left: I received the prettiest letter from Amanda of Frenchtoastcake on Jill Bliss's, Native Flowers Stationary this afternoon. It really brightened my day. There's nothing better then getting letters in the mail from your friends, especially when it comes on such beautiful paper. Thankyou!
Row 4/ Right: I'm such a project runway junkie! This Kimono dress was designed by Kara. Sadly she wore it on the runway on the episode that she was "Auf Wiedersehen"-ed by Heidi Klum. I couldn't stop thinking about this dress though. I was happy to find out that she's selling it online. It's available in a few different colors on her website.
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(speaking of....) I really loved Kara's use of color on the runway at fashion week... you can check out her collection at New York Metro. Ok... I know if you're a fan of Project Runway you're dying to peek at the "final 3", so here's Chloe's, Santino's, and Daniel's collections too!
