You may know Viv of Ish & Chi from her gorgeous blog, and perhaps you have seen some of her circus or chandelier prints before? Well maybe I am a bit late to the parade, but I just recently came across Viv’s work, and easily lost over an hour yesterday reading through her blog archives and drooling over items in her Etsy shop. One thing that really stood out to me was her recent work using luscious fabrics (from the likes of Amy Butler and Heather Bailey) to create original, one-of-a-kind fabric artwork. I was able to connect with Viv to ask her about what inspired her to create these pieces, so let’s take a peek at her work, and then we will hear what Viv has to say…
Isn’t that butterfly enchanting? And it just happens to be two of my favorite things – scrumptious Amy Butler fabric and a sweet butterfly silhouette, put together in such a brilliant way. Don’t you want to give that butterfly a good home on your wall? I know I do! Alright, now let’s give the floor to Viv and hear a bit more about the inspiration behind the art.
Viv says,
I like the idea of framing your favourite fabrics to hang as art in your home but I wanted to use the fabric to create something with a bit more visual interest. That’s when I started experimenting with cutting shapes out of the fabric to frame and display.
Each piece is hand cut and, in the case of the butterflies, reassembled again like a puzzle piece. The pattern alignment is slightly different on each butterfly that I make and because each piece of the ‘puzzle’ is hand cut, each butterfly is slightly different and unique.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share a few words with us, Viv! And to speak for myself, I am going to have to tie my hands to prevent myself from ordering up a whole flock of butterflies! Go visit Viv on her blog, Ish & Chi, and see more fabric artwork along with a collection of lovely prints in her Etsy shop.
{images: Ish & Chi}
Well, hello there! How is your week going? I apologize for being neglectful, I have been totally preoccupied with baby business – but I am excited to be back today! Over the weekend my sweetie and I celebrated Valentine’s day, and I was also able to set up a wee at-home photo studio which I used to capture the shots in this post. Now I know that some of you may feel differently, but I love Valentine’s day. This probably stems from childhood, when my Grandpa would sneak into our house early in the morning on Valentine’s day and leave cards and raspberry danishes for me & my Mom :) So I guess I equate Valentine’s day more with loving and appreciating all of the loved ones in your life, not just your significant other – although that is certainly nice, too!
Last year, I chose an art print as a little gift for Benny on Valentine’s day. This year I decided to make it into a tradition, as it seems like a nice way to build a little art collection over time – this time, I chose the L’Amour Toujours print from the delightful Ninainvorm, and we are both very happy with it!
I am a total sucker for pink and red, chocolates and flowers and cards, so I think I just can’t help but love this silly little holiday. Above is the card I gave B from Modern Printed Matter, along with the chocolates he gave me, my new colored pencils, my favorite hefty little brass pencil sharpener (that I found thanks to Ez; it really is the best!), and one of my Grandma’s little dessert plates.
Also over the weekend, I went to see An Education, which is just perfect if you feel like getting swept up in a dreamy young romance – though I must admit my favorite part was more the wardrobe and art direction than the plot! Oh, give me London and Paris in the 60’s any day…romance makes life more fun, don’t you think?
psst ~ as always, remember you can click on the images to see full-size if you like :)
{images: Laura Gaskill}
Do you ever come across a shop where you want to literally just grab everything in it and run? He he :) Well certainly not without paying, but you get the idea, right? Well, that’s how I felt when I came across Three sheets 2 the wind’s web shop – I was instantly drawn to the pared-down aesthetic, botanically inspired prints and fresh colors, and I think you will be, too!
I was interested to read that Jenny Sauer, creative director of Three sheets 2 the wind, lists vintage prints, handmade textiles, and the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfections and impermanence, as inspirations behind the company. The studio produces prints, textile art (pictured above), duvet sets, cushions and adorable tote bags, all in a range of juicy colors that I think would be perfect for waking up a tired winter home!
Don’t the duvets and pillows look inviting? They are a bit pricey, but when you keep in mind the fact that each and every piece is lovingly handmade with hand-dyed fabrics, water-based inks, and high quality linens and cottons with organic options, I see the prices to be very fair.
And I am just smitten with the prints! Each print is available unframed or ready to hang in a simple birch frame as pictured above. So nice! I would love to mix a few of these prints into the art wall I am plotting and planning for my living room! Go to Three sheets 2 the wind to see more, or check out this list of brick-and-mortar stores & websites that also carry a range of Three sheets 2 the wind products – and hm, I just noticed that one of the shops listed is the lovely Kreatelier, right in my own neighborhood! Maybe I’ll just have to go down there this afternoon – I’ll let you know if I find anything good! ;)
{images: Three sheets 2 the wind}
Ooh la la la la… I have been dragging myself about the house today with a bit of a head cold, but I snapped right to attention when I came across the absolutely beautiful work of illustrator Sandra Suy. Sandra, who lives in Barcelona, studied fashion design before transitioning into fashion illustration, and just recently opened her Etsy shop in June this year. I think you will really enjoy her work, so let’s have a look!
Miu
Gabrielle
Danielle
Prada and Chanel
Any one of these prints would be perfect in a boudoir, tiny powder room or above a desk, don’t you agree? You can visit Sandra’s Etsy shop or website to see more of her work. I am particularly smitten with Danielle and her moody, smoky eyes - which is your favorite?
{images: Sandra Suy}
Is it strange to be dreaming of a technicolor summer in California before winter has even officially begun? Well, strange or not, nothing is going to stop me from eating up all of Jen Zahigian’s retro fabulous photographs. Here, take a look…
See what I mean? Those colors! Those cars! Swoon! I would love a large print of this photo, crisply matted, to hang in my living room. Yum yum. Let’s look at some more, shall we?
I love the cool fonts and pastel colors of kitschy 1950’s-60’s Americana – there is something so cheerful and optimistic about it that makes me smile. And while I wouldn’t want to go overboard filling my home with vintage finds, I could definitely see spicing up my decor with a few of these fun, colorful prints. Couldn’t you?
Visit: Roadside Photographs (Etsy shop)/That Wondrous Time (Jen’s blog)
{images: Jen Zahigian}
September 25, 2009
in Art
Have you heard of the Enormous Tiny Art Show?? If not, you should go check it out right now. Seriously. The Nahcotta Gallery in New Hampshire curates a biannual show including hundreds of pieces of original art all sized under 10×10 inches, and also offers all of the artwork for sale on their website. This is such a wonderful resource for those of us wanting to start an art collection on a small budget – the show always includes an amazingly diverse range of work, and because the pieces are small in scale, the prices really are quite affordable for original art, with many works priced in the $100 range.
Also, if you happen to be within driving distance of New Hampshire, why not take a little day trip to the gallery this weekend? It’s the last weekend of the show – and you never know, maybe you will see me there! Lol! Honestly though, I am going to try to make it because it would be totally awesome to score an original piece of artwork to hang in my new home!! Here is but a small taste of the lineup:
Sarah Ahearn
Jennifer Davis
Peter Owen
Leah Giberson
Marisa Haedike
Rachel Ann Austin
And if I may get up on my soapbox for a minute, I just want to reiterate how important I feel it is to support independent artists by purchasing original works of art. We live in such a mass-produced world these days, for better or for worse (or both), that sometimes it can be kind of a bummer to look around and realize that everything in your environment rolled off a factory line. But by supporting independent artists and crafters who are taking the time to create something original and unique with their own hands, you are not only supporting that artist’s passion and livelihood, but you are also bringing a little handmade goodness into your own life. Okay, I will now step down from the soapbox! But really, bravo to the Nahcotta Gallery for bringing together such a wonderful group of artists – I really do hope that I can carve out time this weekend to drive out and see the show!
{images: Enormous Tiny Art in conjunction with the Nahcotta Gallery}
Are you familiar with Abby Try Again? Abby is a self taught photographer based in Portland, Oregon, and the images she creates with her “broken” thrift shop camera (um, if your camera is broken, Abby, maybe I should break mine and it will suddenly begin taking dreamy pictures??) just blow me away. Let’s have a gander, shall we?
Abby snaps pictures of all of the little things surrounding her in her life in the Pacific Northwest: fresh eggs in a bowl announcing spring, patchwork aprons and fresh cups of coffee, misty morning light on the beach, floral china and vintage linens, ah…
I love the soft, diffused light and the easygoing style of Abby’s work. And just by looking at her pictures, I get the feeling she is a very kind and generous person – do you think she would give me cupcakes and show me how to take dreamy pictures if I just showed up at her doorstep? The Oregon coast is sounding mighty nice right now…
To see more, check out her Big Cartel shop, Etsy shop, or Abby’s blog.
{images: Abby Try Again}
I am over the moon about new-to-me Etsy artist Jen Hewett’s fashion-inspired prints and wares. Jen lives in San Francisco (oh, how I miss San Francisco!) and her artwork is bold, colorful and fun – what’s not to love?
This print is so cute I could eat it up! Nom nom nom. The swishy skirt and polka dot galoshes make me think of a cool, modern superhero for some reason. I would love to hang this one above my desk!
I also adore the vibrant colors in this fishnet print…
…and I will take sweet little notebooks in every color and pattern, please. On a side note, I also love how Jen has styled all of her photos: the natural light, fresh flowers, and little props like cute sunglasses and pencils makes me want to take home her items even more. Just a little tip for all of you Etsians out there.
Jen Hewett: Etsy/Blog
{images: Jen Hewett}
I just came across mixed media artist Shyama Helin through her Etsy shop, and I am completely charmed. This UC Santa Cruz fine arts grad now living in Portland, Oregon, uses collage, painting, and transfer techniques to create her romantic pieces inspired by bygone eras. Let’s have a look:
Shyama often uses vintage postcards as backdrops for the characters she creates; I love how each one tells a little story. And I adore the detail she puts into the outfits – the billowing 50’s style dress, the dandy in his striped suit, the mysterious, chic lady in the red coat and cloche cap – lovely! A row of these sweet paintings would look just right propped on a shelf together with a bit of vintage ephemera strewn about.
Shyama Helin: Website/Etsy/Blog
{images: Shyama Helin}
Are you ready for some luscious inspiration for your summer? Georgia-based photographer Gabrielle Kai seeks out the simple pleasures and small details around her and brings them to life in gorgeously dreamy shots like these…
I am tempted to order a whole group of photos from Gabrielle’s shop! Hung together, they would make such a beautiful photo wall, don’t you think? I love the simple domestic subjects and soothing pastel tones…
A kite flying high on a summer day, a colander full of sweet apricots, a teacup brimming with seashells, a vintage bag on the green grass…these are the little things that, when added up, make a life sweet.
Gabrielle Kai: Etsy/Blog/Flickr
{images: Gabrielle Kai}
