Sunday Inspiration

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing insanely, obsessively, fanatically well." - Peter Pepper
I came across this quote and it put a smile on my face. I wholeheartedly believe in this.
Have a lovely sunday!

(Image: Fatou Bah)

Photography - Katya de Grunwald

Are you up for a bit of a trip? Lets take one shall we. Looking at these photos of Katya de Grunwald I am transported to a dreamy beautiful place. There is a lightness to these photos, like a floating feather.
It's a very emotive response they illicit that is hard for me to put into words. As a visual and emotional person, I love it when art of any kind gives me an emotional response.

Katya de Grunwald's work has been featured in top publications such as; Elle Decoration, Red, Martha Stewart Living, House and Garden. I have to admit that I recently found out about her work, but I'm so glad I did.

(Images: Katya de Grunwald)

Heather Moore - Skinny LaMinx

I am so excited to share the work of South African illustrator Heather Moore with you today. She's got me totally inspired with her beautiful screen prints. Another thing that struck and drew me into her work is how she shares what inspired the beautiful prints that she comes up with.

I like the playful quality of this tea towel's print. This pattern was also created by Heather from an actual bunch of greens she bought, capturing the different shapes and patterns.

This cutout led to these beautiful prints below....I like seeing how she arrived to her designs. It's like a window into a the creative process.

 

You probably recognize the blue tea towel from here.

Her work is a testament to the saying that inspiration really is everywhere. All we have to do is stay open and be aware.

Have a beautiful Monday!

(Images: Skinny LaMinx)

The South Is Blooming

There are a few things in this world that are guaranteed to instantly make me happy. One of those things is coming across beautiful designs from the motherland itself....Africa. I came across The South Is Blooming and their collections of designs from South African designers, and they got me longingly dreaming, once again for beautiful African prints and more.

She and I need to get acquainted. Looking at their web site it doesn't look like they ship to the US, but I need to find out for sure. I want this so bad!

I adore this plant holder made of old telephone wires using traditional South African weaving techniques. Beautiful and earth friendly! Black and white stripes and yellow are always magical! Don't you agree?

Tea towel textile designed by Heather Moore of Skiny LaMinx. I like the classic combination of blue and white with a subtle African design element.

Okay how adorable are these crocheted "cactus" pots.

This vibrant African basket, a classic African design is also made of old telephone wires.

Another tidbit about me, I love monkeys, and stuffed monkeys even more. I love these cuties.

(Images: The South Is Blooming)

Melancholy

I am in a melancholy state of mind, an emotional state that took me a while to understand. I am naturally a happy person, who loves to laugh at the top of her lungs, do so till my ribs hurt and I can no longer utter a sound. I also cherish my solitude, and I can comfortably be a loner - for a while. In my twenties I didn't understand this, because the moods came and went without necessarily something triggering the change.  I misunderstood and disliked it. I've come to understand that I need that mood swing to keep me balanced - I guess you can call me a typical Cancer. I do a lot of thinking and coming back to my core when feeling this way, and it fuels me! I enjoy being alone, listen to soft melancholy music, and do whatever it is I might want to do. To some this might sound depressing, but for me it isn't at all. Having kids, this obviously doesn't happen as much, I can grab a quiet hour here and there, but I don't have the luxury of just taking hours to myself and reflecting and decompressing. I guess you just find new ways of doing things when motherhood comes. 

I naturally gravitate towards bold bright interiors, but I also respond to gorgeous moody, dark spaces just the same. This juxtaposition of likes is what makes me who I am. I think its no coincidence that I love both Fall and Summer and if asked to pick a favorite I can't. I love different aspects of both seasons, as they both allow me to nuture the different sides of me that I have come to love about myself. A wonderful thing happened when I turned 30, its like a switch automatically came on that shone a  light to help me understand certain things about myself more, and to be absolutely okay with a lot of my eccentricities....I say a lot because I am a working progress like everyone else. :)

What keeps you going? Do you need down time to decompress and comeback stronger? What keeps your creativity going?

(Images: Marie Claire Maison)

New - Le Souk

It is no secret that I love North African and Persian design. The new collection at Le Souk just strengthens that love. The pieces have that handmade (most or all are handmade) quality that I love, the vivid and intricate design that are expected when you say North African design, and easy casual vibe all wrapped up to make up gorgeous furniture and decor pieces.

That chandelier reminds me of the famous Marjorie Skouras chandeliers. I like the choice of color, gives it and almost etheral feel.  Another cool thing about the light is that it's made of wood. The throws made in Tunisia are gorgeous! They are hand woven using traditional techniques. I would love to lay my hands on one for this Fall. 

         

What do you guys think? What have you seen out there that you are crushing on? Do share please.

Have a lovely day!!!

(Images: Le Souk)

Simple Pleasures

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a lovely weekend! I had one of those wonderful days that was completely unplanned. I find those to be the best.  I was able to capture some beautiful things I picked up and saw to share with you. They were too beautiful to keep to myself. :) It involved walking through the local farmer's market, grabbing some yummy lunch on a patio, going through cute vintage shops and even squeezing in a nap - all on a beautiful sunny day.

I found myself drawn to a lot of the industrial decor pieces in the store. Lately that's where my design meter is at...all things Industrial. Bringing home flowers always makes me happy and this bouquet was just too gorgeous not to pick up. I took some and put in smaller vases and spread them around the living room. Eye candy all around.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

(Images: Fatou Bah)

 

 

Cox and Cox - Fall Collection

Have you noticed the colors for this upcoming season? One that I'm really into is a tint/tone of amethyst. I for some reason have been attracted to amethyst/purple/plum since spring so seeing the same hue in Fall collections simply makes me happy. I've even toyed with the idea of painting our bedroom this color, a tint of it with a grey base, I think will be really cool. Now not sure I'm ready for the commitment, nor the investment of time and energy. 

Now lets get down to business...drool alert!  With Fall right around the corner, I am seeing a lot of beautiful products rolling out, but the stuff from Cox and Cox simply stood out.

 

 

 

I am a firm believer that brilliant styling will take your product or design to the next level. Another thing about Cox and Cox that drew me was how beautifully they styled their products. A successful styling brings the soul to design. I think no matter how beautiful your design is, without the right styling it's hard for people to connect. 

 

 

I noticed a lot of wire baskets, storage and sheet metal pieces, and I am really loving them. The utilitarian mixed with feminine prints and colors is gorgeous. 

 

 

The palette is so soft and soothing to me. These last images really are what I'm feeling for this Fall. Don't those balls of yarn just make you want to cuddle up and get to knitting?! The color palette is a departure from the usual darker tones that are associated with fall decor and I think this is great. It is already dark outside, you can bring the cozy feel in without surrounding yourself with with darker tones if you don't want to. Don' get me wrong I like the moody colors too, but I think it's nice to have this option as well. You can bring in the warmth and comfort that we seek in the winter months with the textures and materials you use. 

(Images: Cox and Cox)