Beauty All Around

Under my bathroom mirror hangs a little inspiration: "Do something creative every day." I must have found it years ago in a magazine, and I kinda laugh at myself that I still have this random scrap of paper taped to the cabinet. I have always loved photography, even had it as my undergrad major for a while (changed it due to the fact that things needed to be precise and mathematical...you know, before digital days...I switched over to ceramics and textiles where my loose and messy style could flourish a bit more. But I digress...)  These days, I may not have a chunk of time to sit down and journal, paint, collage etc...but I always have my iphone. And instagram. A die-hard photographer might call it all cheating, but I look at it as creating. And it gives me the opportunity to capture moments of 

inspiration in my daily life.  

 My brush jar for painting.

 Water lily pod and cockscomb from this amazing florist in my neighborhood.

www.margueritegardens.com

 Ranunculus mesmerize me.

I came home yesterday to find a pair of sweet birds trapped in the upper stairwell. I just needed to open the window to let them find their way to freedom. This one was sitting so sweetly on the window ledge, and I was able to hold him for a moment and snap a few pictures.  I was psyched with how clear the shot was. The only editing I did was to add a smudgy border. I opened the window and this little guy sat on my finger for a moment before heading 

back out into the world :)

Process

Since our son arrived a little over a month ago, I haven't had a chance to step into my art studio too much. Actually, I have had a few free moments where I could have been creative, but snuggling that little bundle of love won out! However I realized while he was snoozing one afternoon that, in addition to squeezing him to bits, my soul also needs art and creativity. I know this. I always know this. But sometimes I just need to remind myself.

 That particular afternoon was spent in "process"...no particular plan or direction. Just getting colors, lines, shapes, thoughts on paper...and awaiting the end result. I started with a gray-scale topographical map scrap and colored in some squares with colored-pencils.  

 I found a new favorite material: used dryer sheets from Seventh Generation. They're almost like a brown wax paper with a perforated surface. They crinkle and wrinkle in a lovely manner and leave a great texture to work on, when flattened.  I layered on paints, water color pastels, rubber stamps and writing. A little random stitching here and there, and I was pleased with that process session.

Different shots of the layers and textures I created. 

Everything goes into one of my many visual journals. 

Life is About to Change!

When I started this blog last fall-ish, I figured it would be dedicated to all the loveliness that surrounds and inspires me, and if ever a baby came along, the kiddo would get his/her own blog. But the fact of the matter is, my life is compartmentalized into so many sub-categories that it gets a little wacky sometimes; I've decided that baby/kid/family related posts shall go here as well. After all, it IS all about what inspires me :)

Details from our nursery. Now all we need is a baby!

The Je t'aime pillow is from Atsuyo and Akiko http://www.atsuyoetakiko.com/. I'm lucky enough to carry them in my shop and get sneak peeks of everything. To the right is a detail from the eclectic wall, as I like to call it. The zodiac needlepoint was done by my mom in 1977. The rainbow and tulip were done by me, age 5-ish around the same time. On the shelf are some vintage bits as well as a handmade plush pal we received at our shower. Below that image is a detail of a vintage lamp Tina found for a few bucks at the local thrift store. When wound, the ferris wheel rotates and plays a music box. SO. AWESOME! The next shelf contains soft goodies and books, with my 4o year old Winnie the Pooh and Tina's 30-something year old calico cat on the top shelf. And finally in the corner of the nursery next to our glider hangs my dad's Christening gown alongside several vintage botanic prints.

We debated on wall color, and were both drawn immediately to this lovely shade of mellow turquoise (Sweet Rhapsody by Behr) It feels retro, yet fresh and just makes me smile. The room came together EXACTLY as I had envisioned it!

I love my gal's growing belly. She started showing pretty early, and it's just been such a joy to watch her body change. The best by far is feeling that baby move, and now watching him/her as he/she shifts and squirms in his/her cozy little home.

These eggs were photographed from a magazine cover I tore off years ago...can't even recall the publication. I've always wanted to use the image for a project, but love it so much that I didn't want to commit it to something. Capturing it here seem like a good way to preserve it.

Another find by my gal...adore this vintage puzzle!

Les fleurs

I walked into work today to find a new floral arrangement on the front counter. The shades of pink gerber daisies were so happy, tucked amongst traditional white daisies, along with some other delicate flowers whose names I did not know. On these frigid winter days in Chicago, nothing can brighten a day like some amazing flowers! We are so fortunate to have a locally owned flower shop just a few doors away. However, "flower shop" hardly does it justice. Marguerite Gardens http://www.margueritegardens.com/ on the North side of Chicago, is an amazing sensory experience. Obviously, it smells incredible. The well-curated gift items displayed on vintage furnishings with historical patinas...well it speaks to all of my senses on so many levels. If you're in the neighborhood, you should visit them. I am always in awe of the wide array of exotic plants and flowers they have gathered.

Thanks, neighbor!

I live in what has become commonly known as an "urban chicken community." By that, I mean that we live in a city condo where our neighbors have chickens, four to be exact. These ladies have a lovely coop and chicken run in the backyard, and lay beautiful, organic, delicious eggs. Sometimes we have the opportunity to take care of the gals when their parents are out of town, and this was the case last week. During that time, we collected 10 eggs. And if that wasn't awesome enough, our neighbor thanked us for chicken care with a gorgeous loaf of homemade bread! I'd like to say Thanks, neighbor! for providing an incredible and local as I could possibly get, breakfast today.

Seaside Sensory Indulgences

We've just returned from an indulgent trip to Hawaii, Maui to be specific. My senses were on overload the entire time! The sea has so much to offer, especially when it comes to cuisine. Our final night we went to Duke's on Kaanapali Beach, where I delighted in an amazing appetizer of ahi poke, lightly wrapped, quickly fried and served atop a beurre blanc sauce...are you kidding me?! So delicious. For my entree, I continued the ahi feast with a wasabi and sesame crusted filet, just seared, served with grilled baby bok choy, sticky rice and a wonderful concoction of edamame, cucumber and black sesame seeds.

***Note to self: do NOT write posts such as this with an already growling stomach!

In addition to using a digital camera and my phone to capture moments, I also used my Polaroid, one of the more recent models, the Polaroid 300. I really miss the original cameras, and while I have a couple that function well, the film is close to impossible to find!
These snapshots provide a peek into the abundant sensory experiences: soft sand beneath my feet, tropical breezes, the sound of the crashing waves, the fragrance of plumerias, the sun beating down and refreshing dives into the ocean, the lush greenery and abundance of unusual tropical flowers, the chirping of geckos...I'll hold these memories close; it's so hard to transition back to reality. *sigh*

The Sea and its Wonders

Lovely gift from my partner, Tina. She has talent and skills when it comes to thrifting; this was today's find, which she knew I'd love. Publishing date: 1896