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}
Happy Monday to you! Today I would like to share a fun little assignment that was part of the e-course I am taking. I really enjoyed it, and after hearing about it maybe you will be inspired to take a little break and do one of your own! For each of the photos below, remember you can always click on the image to see it full-size. Okay, here we go!
I created a little inspiration board on the inside of a file folder, the purpose being to bring focus to what I want my blog to be. The look and feel, yes, but even more so I focused on the sort of content and general direction I want to go in. As you can see from the large “draw it yourself” in the center of the folder, one of my major goals for this blog as I move forward is to introduce more original content – be it drawings, original photography, documenting my home decorating projects, travels, design classes, etc.
In this close-up view of the upper right corner, I chose a few images to represent creative spaces and studios, which I would like to feature more of here on Lolalina…and to serve as inspiration for my own workspace! And la tour eiffel is there to reflect my passion for travel :)
I chose this image of a steaming cup of tea and the words “heartfelt & handmade” to remind myself that the little things are often most important, and that what I want most for this blog is that it continues to come from an authentic place in my heart.
And there is my little owl business card! I stuck one onto my collage because although I adore my cards (from here, by the way, and very reasonably priced!) I have yet to give away very many of them! Circling back to my intention to collaborate this year, I would like to get out there and meet fellow bloggers in person, attend events that sound interesting, and generally put myself in more situations where I will have an opportunity to give away those cute little cards – having a big stack of them sitting in my desk drawer isn’t doing me any good! And the image below my card (from a Kate Spade ad) sums up the open, spontaneous attitude that I would love to cultivate!
If you would like to create your own mini-inspiration board too, I would love to see it! Feel free to link to an image on your blog, flickr, etc. if you have something you would like to share!
{images: Laura Gaskill}
As this year is coming to a close, I have so much to be grateful for – the amazing fact that I purchased my first house, my supportive family and friends, my good health, and all of the truly inspiring and creative people I have gotten to know through blogging. And yet it hasn’t all been peaches and roses! I have been learning to deal with living thousands of miles away from my own family and many old, dear friends, B and I have been learning to live on less financially as I’ve taken a break from teaching to go back to school and explore what I want to do next, and adapting to the east coast culture and climate has also been a bit trying for this California girl! So yes, I am ready to move past these challenges and into a fresh new year. Are you ready, too? If you would like to share any of your triumphs or challenges from this past year, I have a nice hot cup of tea here for you, and I am ready to listen :)
I would like to share a few resources, some that I have turned to in the past and a few that I have found more recently, that I hope might inspire you as you are making your own fresh start…
I recently found my way to Jess LC’s blog, Makeunder My Life, and I love the whole concept of simplifying and designing our own lives with intention. Check out the archives of design your life interviews for inspiration.
If you are looking to develop your personal style and fill gaps in your wardrobe this year, I loved this article (see photo above) on building your wardrobe from What I Wore. And a constant source of affordable style inspiration can be found in the Chic for Cheap column on Creature Comforts and Cheap & Chic on Melissa Loves.
I know I’ve mentioned this book before, but it just seems especially fitting for the new year – Style Statement by Danielle LaPorte and Carrie McCarthy is a book, yes, but really it is a giant questionnaire that helps you examine every aspect of your life and style, boiling it down to a powerful two-word style statement.
And this last one I will be doing this year! Gretchen Rubin started her blog The Happiness Project to increase the happiness in her own life and share tips with others trying to do the same thing. In her book which has just been released (read sample chapters here), Gretchen sets one manageable (and fun) goal each month with plenty of ideas and motivation to accomplish it.
Since this is a quiet time out there, and many of you are taking a little break as well, I have decided to give myself the gift of a few days off, returning on Monday, January 4. I will be using this time to begin organizing my home from top-to-bottom, quieting my mind with meditation and yoga, and also setting my intentions for the year ahead. If you have any sources of inspiration that you would like to share as we all head into 2010, please share! And thank you so, so, so much for being here.
Happy New Year!!!
{images: linked to individual sources above}
December 28, 2009
in Blogs
Good morning and happy Monday! I hope you are feeling rested and refreshed, and that you have been able to take some time off for the winter holidays. I had a lovely white Christmas and spent a lot of time with B’s sweet family, including my brother and sister in-law and their sweet little one, visiting from England. This morning I wanted to share a little info about an exciting new event happening this January in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Altitude Design Summit is a brand-new blogging conference specifically geared towards design and lifestyle bloggers – the first of its kind! – and it looks like an amazing opportunity to uncover fresh ideas, inspiration, and network with a group of like-minded people. Unfortunately, there is just no way that I will be able to attend this time, but allow me to tempt you…
Oh yes, that’s right – Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy, Jean Aw of NotCot, and Heather B. Armstrong of Dooce will all be a part of the keynote panel. I mean, WOW! For their first year, the folks at Alt have managed to secure a superstar lineup. And aside from the parties, skiing, and inspiring lectures, there will also be “speed networking” sessions, where design and lifestyle bloggers can meet with potential advertisers. And, The Sundance Film Festival will be going on at the same time, only 40 minutes away if you want to sneak away from the conference to catch a film or post yourself in a cafe and people-watch. The Altitude Design Summit looks especially worthwhile if you would like to grow your blog or even make blogging a career, as this kind of networking and learning directly from pros is invaluable.
I would love to know – have you heard of this conference, and if so, what do you think? Personally, I feel that because blogging can be so solitary, any opportunity to get out there and meet real live people outside of blogland is a fantastic idea, and it is something I wish would happen more often. But at the same time, I realize that it can feel a bit intimidating, especially to meet some of your blogging “heroes” or even readers who may not have pictured you exactly the way that you really are!
{images: blog mastheads linked to individual sources above}
September 22, 2009
in Blogs
Good morning, sweet friends! I know I am a bit late posting my Blog of the Week, as I generally do this on Monday, but better late than never, right? After beginning my design classes, it has been a bit of a struggle to get back into the rhythm of writing here on top of getting accustomed to my new coursework – but I am finding my way! Blogging has become such an important part of my life, and I have “met” so many wonderful, creative, talented and sweet individuals through this medium. One of these individuals is the creator of this week’s featured blog: Sam of Sam’s Notebook, who I got to know a bit during the Blogging Your Way ecourse taught by Holly Becker of decor8. Sam’s Notebook is a constant source of inspiration for me, so I think you will also really enjoy this peek into Sam’s world!
Sam is an Australian living in Sweden – two places I am dying to visit – so right off the bat I knew I would be inspired by her unique vision. Recently, Sam traveled to Paris with her family and explored the city using Pia’s book, Paris: Made by Hand as a guide. I absolutely adore her posts from this trip, and have bookmarked them future reference! The photos above were all taken by Sam during her wanders in Paris – drool!
I love reading bloggers who live in countries other than my own – seeing a different corner of the world is so inspiring to me. Honestly, just looking at those little produce tags written with European-style numbers gets my heart racing a bit! Oh yes, and as a former-preschool teacher and hopeful someday-mama, I get super excited when Sam posts the occasional photo of her absolutely adorable little one. Just look at her strolling barefoot in that meadow! Have you seen anything cuter?
Sam’s Notebook is such a lovely little corner of the blogging world – why don’t you go pay her a visit?
p.s. – I’ve just added a category for Blogs, so now you can access all of my Blog of the Week posts right here.
{images: Sam’s Notebook}
September 14, 2009
in Blogs
So much joy and pleasure can be ours just by recognizing the beauty of each season; by keeping our eyes open and senses tuned in to the little changes happening all around us in the natural world. I chose my Blog of the Week, Beauty Everyday, precisely because the three talented, creative women behind it – Kristen Bach, Rebecca Wood and Rinne Allen – are committed to seeking out beauty in the little things that surround us.
Beauty Everyday is based in Georgia, and I love their tag line, “Southern beauty, creativity, & food” – doesn’t that just sound delightful? After spending a good part of the morning reading past posts and sipping good strong coffee, I wish I could hop in my car right now and drive down to Georgia to meet these lovely ladies in person!
Each day they post gorgeous diptychs like the ones above, focusing their lenses on everything from rusted-out tin cans and worn wood to wildflowers, mushrooms, and little corners of sky…
And you want to know what’s kind of funny? I actually found the Beauty Everyday blog after falling in love with the little books they sell on Etsy – I just ordered two, but don’t worry! If you want one (and how could you not?), I just noticed they have already restocked their shop!
I think what touches me most about Beauty Everyday is that reading it inspires me to open my eyes and notice the beauty in my own life – the first tinge of flame-red on the leaves outside my window, the creak of the screen door on my front porch, the abundance and generosity of nature. I do hope you will go visit Beauty Everyday this week!
And I would love to know: where are you finding beauty in your life today?
{images: Beauty Everyday}
Good morning! I am feeling so much better today, thanks to my afternoon off. I took a nap, tidied up the apartment, and in the evening cooked a nice dinner and enjoyed a glass of wine with B. I think it is really important to recognize when you are not feeling your best, and give yourself permission to have a little down-time instead of feeling the need to runrunrun nonstop, do you agree? And then this morning, I opened the sweetest package containing a gift from dear Michelle – thank you, thank you! Getting packages in the mail makes me feel like a million bucks. So, on with the blog of the week! My pick this week is Emma Thorn of Emma’s Corner – Emma has an amazing sense of style, so if you enjoy street style or are looking for new, original outfit ideas this is a fantastic place to visit. Let’s take a look…
I read a bit about Emma’s background in a recent interview with Antler Magazine and was fascinated to learn that while her mother is Swedish, Emma was born and raised in Spain – so her outlook is a blend of both of those cultures. Even though we are so much more connected these days and many people around the world have access to the same types of things, each culture still has its own unique aesthetic sense and I love seeing how people dress in parts of the world far away from where I am!
I think what I adore most about Emma is that she obviously has a lot of fun with fashion and style – definitely not a “fashion victim”! Each outfit seems to tell a little story, and the photos are completely dreamy. Her blog is mostly in Spanish, but she does post bilingually in Spanish/English quite often, so I’ve found that I can follow along most of the time. And if you took Spanish in school, why not use this as an opportunity to brush up? Much more fun than a textbook!!
Always original, Emma tends to pull together outfits with a mix of vintage pieces, cheap & chic items from chain stores, and a few really special accessories. She reminds me of what fun it was to be a little girl playing dress-up – how nice it would be to capture that feeling again as an adult!
Oh yes, and how can you resist her giant, slobbery dog? So cute. You can check out more at Emma’s Corner.
{images: Emma Thorn}
This week I would like to introduce you to a positively charming blog that really is a bright spot out there in the blogosphere! Vanessa Cabban is a children’s book illustrator living in England, who shares her passion for knitting and all sorts of domestic goodness on her blog, do you mind if i knit…
Isn’t that name adorable? Vanessa takes scrumptious photos of colorful yarns, knitting projects, victoria sponge cakes, jars of homemade jam, pretty tea cups and flowers from her garden. Sigh. I wish I could just zip over there and install myself on her sofa – I’m sure she would feed me delicious treats and teach me all sorts of fun crafty things!
do you mind if i knit is the perfect place to go at the end of a long, long, looooong day, when all you want is a nice cuppa and a good friend to wrap you up in a cozy, hand knit blanket and say something kind.
{images: do you mind if i knit}
Good morning, friends!! I hope your weekend was lovely – what did you do? I had a leisurely browse in a used & rare bookshop, loaded up on fresh fruits at the market, and ate at a cute clam shack at sunset by the water. I also spent some time perusing the archives of A Field Journal, which is my blog of the week – I just know you are going to really enjoy this! Let’s peek at a few pages…
A Field Journal is created by Livy, an art history student who obviously shares many of my passions: art, crafts, dreamy photography, and simple pleasures. Aren’t those summer swizzle sticks darling? She sets out little alphabet stickers, so guests can remember whose drink is whose :)
I have a slight obsession with crafting supplies – even though I don’t do much crafting myself! I just love the colors, and the tempting creative possibilities offered up by spools of thread and boxes of buttons. Livy has a thing for vintage craft supplies and notions, and I adore her softly lit photos of sewing supplies from days past.
And did I mention her writing? A Field Journal is filled with Livy’s gorgeous, poetic descriptions of carousels and train rides, childhood memories and favorite works of art. It’s a delightful place to spend a lazy summer morning…
{images: A Field Journal}
Happy Monday! I am back this morning feeling refreshed and full of ideas. My weekend was filled with delicious home cooked meals (lobster and corn for my mother-in-law’s birthday; Salade Niçoise with B on Sunday), and hours spent lollygagging in nature, picnicking in the woods by a little lake. I think we could all use a little shot of inspiration to kick off the week, so beginning today I will be sharing one beautiful blog with you each Monday morning. Sound good? Okay, here we go! I just know you are going to really love this one…
Leslie of A Creative Mint creates some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful color stories I have ever seen; her images would look right at home in Martha Stewart, don’t you think? If you are looking for luscious color inspiration, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s drool over a few more of Leslie’s images…
Reading A Creative Mint makes me want to drop everything and run to my nearest craft or fabric store to scoop up buttons, ribbons, fabrics, and other little treasures and trimmings in every color of the rainbow. Or grab my camera and start snapping pictures. Or just drool. Drool, drool, drool…
Go visit Leslie at A Creative Mint for more amazing inspiration.
{images: A Creative Mint}
