Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Inspiration...

    Wow, so sorry...I didn't realize how long it has been since I last blogged.
I do need to get better about that...sometimes the time just seems to slip on
by before I know it it is a new week with a new list of things to do and well
you know how it goes.
    Today I wanted to let you in to my inspiration for the holidays...
I am participating in the Plucky Maidens Holiday Junk Fest on November 22 & 23
in Portland, OR and I love having a theme. I find to be helpful in planning what
my space is going to look like, gives it some focus and offers inspiration for me
and my customers.
    This year it's Holidays in Montana...a little rough, a little outdoorsy, cold winter days
in front of the fireplace, and yes a wee bit of glam...snow can look like glitter after all.
    It started with two beautiful taxidermy deer heads I purchased a couple of months go,
Billie and Bobbie...they have been in my studio, giving me much inspiration.

Meet them...



The following images also offered up inspiration for my holiday...



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Where do you find inspiration?

Ciao,
F

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

A Beautiful Place...

Yesterday I needed to clear my mind so decided to go to a beautiful place...my studio.

Now, if you had seen it when I got there you would have probably looked at me like I was
crazy...piles of furniture and boxes everywhere, paint cans strewn across the floor, stacks of reclaimed wood.
To me there was beauty hidden in the mess just waiting to come out...

I got busy as soon as I got there white (actually grey) washing the shelving unit first. Then, maybe it was the sun or the pull of a blue moon, I felt the pull of inspiration...
Things just started to slip into place like the pieces of a puzzle. It felt so good to start seeing what I had been carrying in my head for months become reality.

Now, don't get me wrong it isn't even close to being done but it just felt so good to start seeing what it can be. I was so excited I so wanted to show it to somebody but the building, so I thought was empty, but low and behold my friends Mel and John had just shown up to work in their studios. I dragged them both to see it (it wasn't hard, they both have an appreciation for the old).

I'm still so excited to show people so bare with me, I had to blog about it and yes there are quite a few pics but think of it kind of like your favorite catalog (because it is all for sale).

The shelf unit before my paint brush...


grey washed and in progress...

Getting there...











Center piece...





Right wall...












Left Wall...








And of course Rita & Bing are watching over it all...



Lots still to do and I am inspired...
Remember if there is ever anything you see you can not live without, let me know. The studio is open when I am there and by appointment. Of course there will be a soft open soon and a Open Studio night in September for everyone!


Stay tune for more updates as I get through projects and styling of the space.

Ciao,
F

Friday, October 19, 2012

Finding Inspiration...

Sometimes we just get stuck and can't find the spirit of inspiration.
It happens!
When this happens put down the usual magazines, shut down pinterest
and go for a walk.
That's right...
Go to a neighborhood with local boutiques, cafes and restaurants and
walk around, take a look at what's happening and how other people
are creating a comfortable and inspired space.

The other places I find inspirational is a city park or a busy corner and I
just hang out watching people. It's the best! You see trends in color,
pattern, hairstyles, tattoos. It's a world filled with inspiration out
there all you have to do is go find it and trust me it isn't always in
a magazine or on pinterest. I'm not saying you can't find it in those
places but sometimes you just have to get out and see it for yourself.

So, what are you waiting for.
Get going and be inspired



One of my favorite shops where I always find a little inspiration...
Flutter on Mississippi Ave.

source



Be inspired!
Ciao,
F

Sunday, October 14, 2012

It was meant to be...

Last year I spent a long weekend in Minnesota visiting my BFF
and doing a little junking. We stopped in one of her favorite little
vintage shops in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Here I found these
steel panels from an old carrousel  hand painted with Dutch country side images...
and I fell in love. They were beautiful in that vintage folk art way and
they reminded me of Holland where my dad was from.

I don't know why but I didn't buy one. I know, silly right?
You should always buy it if your gut is screaming for it.
Well, a year later and I was still kicking myself for not buying one.

This brings me to this September when I stopped in Minneapolis for a couple
of days to see my BFF and do a little junking. You seeing a pattern yet?
This year we went to Junk Bonanza, neither of us had been before.
We were cruising around and I was reminiscing about the carrousel panels
I was still kicking myself for not buying from last year. I had to stop off
in the restroom and when I came out my friends said "your not going to believe
this but..."

Right behind where we stopped were the ladies who owned the shop we had
been in the year before. (I'm horrible, I don't remember the shops name).
We asked them about the panels and your not going to believe this but they
still had two of them. I described the one I wanted and yes, it was one
of the two they still had. Her husband was kind enough to run them over
and this time I bought one.

Now the issue was how was I going to get it home. Shipping it was more
expensive then what I paid for it and the thing weighed at least 45lbs.
Well, just a couple of booths down was a woman from Yakima.
Some of you might know her, Lisa Souers.
We told her our shipping delima and she offered to stick it in her
truck as she had room now and it wasn't very bulky and I would
find some time to run up to Yakima to pick it up. 

Well, a couple of weeks later, everyone is home again and Lisa and I
are trying to figure out a weekend that would work for both of us for
me to pick it up when she told me she would be up at Ruffles and Rust
in Monroe, WA. I figured, a quick drive to Monroe, pick up my piece
and I get to stop in Bellevue to see a girlfriend.

It all worked, out! I drove up to Monroe on Friday found my new friend
Lisa and picked up my fabulous folk art.

I owe Lisa a HUGE thank you for schlepping my piece half way across the
country and to Monroe just for me. You ROCK sister! Thank you!

Here's the piece, it's not a great picture but you'll get the idea.




Now I need to figure out how to hang it. My walls are lath and plaster and not
very forgiving with holes or heavy things hanging. But that's for another day.

So, you see it was all meant to be.

ciao,
F

Monday, September 24, 2012

Decor seasonally styled...

I have a hard time when the season of summer ends
and it becomes fall as you probably have already figured
out by my previous post.
To help with the transition I decorate or what I like to call
a little re-merchandising of my house. It's a mind trick I play
on myself and you know what, it works.

Here are some of the little things I do to spice up the season.


a little burlap on the table...




leaves are natures way of dressing the season...
 



accessorize the mantel with touches of fall...
 


different nuts sprinkled around candles add textures and brown tones...
 



placing orange and white pumpkins balance the orange...
 



sunflowers are my favorite transition flowers...
 



a few pillows or blankets in oranges and browns make a room
that much cozier...



The sun is still out which makes this all that much easier and of course little changes
in my scenery goes with out being said.
Have a little fun with your own seasonal changes.

ciao,
F

Saturday, September 1, 2012

in progress...

I don't know if you all remember but a few weeks ago
on my FB page and maybe here, but I can't remember,
I mentioned that I would be getting space for a studio
all for me.

Well, after some serious cleaning, moving stuff, getting rid
of stuff I can say it is finally starting to come together.
Today, we moved my new (new to me) table, locker
and what will be a book case into the space.

There is still much work to be done but I can finally
start seeing what it's going to look like and what I want
it to feel like.

I have to say I am pretty excited and down right excited!

Here are some pictures, excuse the quality as I took them
with my phone but you'll get the idea.


This is the bookcase, I just need to add a shelf.




My table!
 


I love the patina on this locker, eventually it will house 
by biking gear.
 

I look forward to time in there,
drawing, designing and sewing.
I'll keep you posted on it's progress.

Here's to creating your space to
ignite your creativity!

Ciao,
F

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

scales...

I love scales! I just do...

I seem to have this perverse desire to buy them
and if possible sell them. I will admit there are a few
scattered around my house, even one in grams.

There is just so much you can do with a scale other then
the obvious plus they add a fun focal point that is guaranteed
to start a conversation.


to stage vignettes...
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 this one sits in my best friends kitchen...

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 wine bar of course...

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 plates on one, oranges on the other...

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 measuring salsa ingredients...

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so, next time you run into a scale don't just walk by it
but consider taking it home and giving it a new life.

ciao,

F