Concept Inspiration

I have been saving this picture for some time, as a sort of concept inspiration. Some day it will be a nice fit for something, but for now I hope it will inspire you. 

Currently Reading...

"Architecture asks us to imagine that happiness might often have an unostentatious, unheroic character to it, that it might be found in a run of old floorboards or in a wash of morning light over a plaster wall."

I am currently reading The Architecture of Happiness and am enjoying every second of it. Alain de Botton states that one of the great, but often unmentioned, causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kind of walls, chairs, buildings and streets we are surrounded by. The book offers a tour through the philosophy and psychology of architecture, which aims to change the way we think about our lives. I highly suggest reading this one, if you already haven't.

Art Deco Florals.

The name Art Deco comes from the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs Industriels et Modernes, held in Paris, which celebrated living in the modern world. The style began in France but American became the center of this artistic movement. Art Deco was the style of modern decoration and was applied to jewelry, clothing, furniture, and buildings. Industrial designer used Art Deco motifs to adorn their streamlined cars, trains and kitchen appliances as well. Art Deco ornamentation consists largely of low relief geometric designs often in the form of parallel straight lines, zigzags, chevrons and stylized floral motifs. 

Lately I have become so fascinated by the modern floral designs and have been seeing them around every turn. Hopefully my generation will see a unique style of ornamentation and design that I can gush about in the future, the way i do with designs of the past.

Sanctuary.

Tonight has felt so blah, and I wish that I had my own little sanctuary to run away to. This room is so rustic that you might feel as if you are laying on the ground of a forest.

Curiosity.

Honeycomb Tile

Inauguration Day.

Daily Inspiration

Anthropologie- Sale

Anthropologie sales are wonderful! I am loving this Honeycomb table, and to purchase furniture at Anthro for $99 is unheard of. Get it before its gone.

Rollei.

Rollei is a german manufacturer of optical goods that was founded in 1920. They are most famous for their twin lens camera, and it has become a cult favorite. My grandfather gave me his, shortly before passing away and I am eager to use it.  Rollei is still making cameras, and digital ones can be purchased at urban outfitters. I will post the pictures as soon as I get them developed, but for now enjoy the images of this vintage beauty.

Tomorrows To Do.

Attempt to make something resembling this top, if things don't work out perhaps this will just be something to admire.

Natural Art

Check out Natural Art. Some of it is absolutely astounding.

They were able to capture the complexities of nature, and there are days when I will visit to be reminded of the beauty in the world.

Thomas Paul Pillows

Thomas Paul  pillows take inspiration from the past, and are reminiscent of a vintage scarf with their interesting prints and muted tones. The designs are exclusive and are hand printed. They are absolutely amazing and would spruce up any couch or bed.

Flowers

I am craving everything floral, and here are some of my favorite floral arrangements. 

Peonies

A beautiful peony print that I will attempt to print on some pillows. I will update you on my status, but for now you can just admire the intricacies of this beautiful flower.

Jocelyn Warner Wallpaper

Peonies are perhaps my favorite flower, and this wallpaper must make its way into my home in some fashion. This Jocelyn Warner "Peony" wallpaper in stone is amazing. Described as " a large organic print which is a study on the peony flower focusing on the formation of the folds of petals which transform into abstract lines that dance in silver and gold over the walls."

Lizzie Allen Wallpaper

Seeing as how I am on a wallpaper kick lately I should defiantly do a post on Lizzie Allen.  Lizzie's hand-screen printed wallpapers appeal to those who appreciate originality, novelty and quality in product design. The characteristic hand print, repeat pattern, vibrant color and whimsical illustrations are part of timeless and charming style. It would be ideal for a children's room, or perhaps just for those who are young at heart.

Pieces.

I found this pillow over at Pieces and absolutely love it. It is so organic and simple. But at $375 I think that I will try putting my screen printing techniques to good use.

Orla Kiely

For those of you who have not already heard Orla Kiely is coming to Target! I must admit that I am quite the target addict but this is too good. And what better timing, I have been obsessing over Tapestry bag for sometime. Although it

 has just been marked down from $757 to $492 I don't believe I will be buying it anytime soon. Luckily the line at Target will be a quick and affordable fix.

Printing by Hand

I found myself in a sea of books today at Barnes and Noble, and perhaps one of my favorites was Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens. It had the most helpful instructions and such modern applications. 

Walnut Wallpaper

Wallpaper is defiantly making a comeback and I absolutely love the selection at Walnut Wallpaper.

Check out their website, there is really something for everyone.

Trustworth Wallpaper

Trustworth Wallpaper represents some of the best of the English Arts and Crafts movement. They rely heavily on designs that have been reproduced from private collections.  They are absolutely breathtaking and I would defiantly recommend checking them out.

Wallpaper is $7/Sq. Ft.

Some favorites would include Fin and Tentacle, Seagulls, and Rook and Holly.

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau 1890-1914, explores a new style in the visual arts and architecture developed in Europe and North America at the end of the nineteenth century. At its height a hundred years ago, Art Nouveau was a concerted attempt to create an international style based on decoration. It was developed by a brilliant and energetic generation of artists and designers, who sought to fashion an art form appropriate to the modern age. During this extraordinary time, urban life as we now understand it was established. Art Nouveau was in many ways a response to the Industrial Revolution. Some artists welcomed technological progress and embraced the aesthetic possibilities of new materials such as cast iron. Others deplored the shoddiness of mass-produced machine-made goods and aimed to elevate the decorative arts to the level of fine art by applying the highest standards of craftsmanship and design to everyday objects. Art Nouveau designers also believed that all arts should work in harmony to create a "total work of art". Here are some amazing Art Nouveau entries.

Orange

Recently I have been drawn to all things orange, which is quite unusual because normally I do not care for orange at all. 

Orange, a close relative of red, sparks more controversy than any other hue. There is usually strong positive or negative association to orange and true orange generally elicits a stronger "love it" or "hate it" response than other colors. Fun and flamboyant orange radiates warmth and energy. Interestingly, some of the tones of orange such as terra cotta, peach and rust have a very broad appeal. Orange is known to stimulate activity as well as appetite and also encourages socialization. I think that Orange can be unexpected, and when used properly it can energize a room (without overwhelming it).