Inspiration lately

This gorgeous photo was brought to my attention by the one and only Mary McDonald on Facebook.

I tweeted about it and she mentioned me and its creator in a tweet.  The divine Ms. MM tweeted again that she would love to see my ranunculus painting. No pressure...Aaaaah!  After my heart attack, I looked a little closer at this photographer's work.

Check it out HERE her name is Jessica Nichols and its inspiring to say the least.

I managed to finish my painting over the weekend.

I wish the texture showed up better in the photos like they do in this progress shot.

I took this picture of a very pretty sky the other day. My neighbor had just given birth to a daughter minutes before so I am using it a inspiration for a painting that will be a baby gift.

This is such a fun photo. Its coming to a canvas near me soon.

Very pretty.

I think I am on a floral kick lately.

What's inspiring you?

I dream of...

...endless pillows.

I realize that I am totally dating myself with the revelation that the TV show "I dream of Jeannie" was, for me as a young child, a visual treat that fed my imagination and started these mad cravings for textiles and pillows...more pillows!

The cushy inside of Jeannie's bottle was a fantasy of glittery cocooning that really appealed to me.

I was browsing the interwebs in search of inspiration stuff to buy for a room zhush and I noticed my additions to several baskets were all in pillow form and I lingered over other stuffed square and rectangle bits longer than anything else.

"I am coming to your house" this one squeaked.

"Me too, crazy lady!" this one joined in with.

Can I just fill my whole freakin' house with pillows?

Yes, they would lose their visual impact but not their "Jeannie bottle" AKA grown up ball pit appeal.

Why not just a bunch of generic bed pillows? 

HERE

HERE

If it were simply for the flop of a a room sized bed, I would be imagining that, but Jeannie's bottle is pretty (in 5 year old terms) and I could love the indulgence of tons of soft, fluffy, gorgeous pillows.

HERE

Maybe I should check into a twelve pillow program.

A little something

Here is a little something to brighten your day.

I am off to do one of my least favorite thing in life, car shopping.

My husband's car died and the clock is ticking. We maintain a strict debt free lifestyle so this is going to be tough. 

I'll just keep thinking of these pretty flowers on my mantel at home.

More design tomorrow.

Inspiration-living room

This gorgeous living room is by Bunny Williams in AD via Mrs. Blandings.

I can't stop thinking about it.

Those curtains! Mon Dieu!

The sentimental home

Collection of special things on my vanity

Little timeworn or threadbare pieces that are sprinkled through a house, seemingly without relevance to their surroundings are often a telltale sign of the owner's sentimentality. 

Some tuck these things away preferring a curated interior and others use them to punctuate their decor.

Eyeore peeks from the top of our highboy

In my bedroom, a pincushion in the shape of Eyeore peeks at us from its perch on our highboy and my bedside dresser holds an odd handmade basket of ribbon  flowers that were a gift when I was five.

Great-grandma's Victorian slipper chair

Some of these things I'd keep regardless of their origin. I just like them. Some are a struggle. The Victorian slipper chair is not my style but it was my great-grandmother's and I have fond memories of the part it played in my childhood.

When my grandfather died and the chair was up for grabs I initially left it behind because of the sheer volume of stuff I had to fit into my tiny house. Later I went back for it and I am glad I did. I will always regret the Chinese Chippendale chair that I passed up but it less sentimental value.

All of these things are the keepers of memories for me and make my house uniquely mine and add to the eccentricity.

Do you have any sentimental decor?

Art I am loving

I am having fun browsing Saatchi Online lately. There is a ton of fabulous art including one of my own pieces. It'll be at the bottom here.

I find this a bit haunting.

 More info HERE

Captivating. HERE

I find this one very odd yet somehow magnetic. HERE

Takes my breath away. HERE

This is all just a taste of the fabulosity at Saatchi Online. I could, and have frittered away hours taking it all in.

This is my lone piece on SO.

The critics booth is open to you.

Which came first-form or function?

Years ago, when I was in college I took a design theory class that I loved. If I could take that particular course again I would. Seeing it through different, older eyes would be interesting.

We talked about form and function mostly. We talked about the design of taillights, ad nauseum. 

We discussed stalacmites and stalactites and smoke vortices. 

I did a research paper on the latter. It covered the question "does form follow function?" I don't remember what I said but I put a lot of thought into it and I'm pretty sure I got a B+.

I still ponder this question on a day to day basis.

The mavericks of post-modern design answer the question with objects almost totally devoid of ornament. 

le Corbusier

When you discover beautiful things does this question come up? Do you wonder why it is you prefer one style over another?

roll arm

For instance, the curve of a roll-arm chair vs. a track-arm style seems on the surface to be a matter of style preference. The roll arm being for the sake of ornateness.

track arm

I think the roll-arm, while traditionally traditional, gets its form from the necessary function of comfort . The track-arm, while seemingly lacking in ornament is rather the opposite. Its streamlined appearance is for looks and not comfort.

I suppose that ornament does not necessarily lack function.
A painting's function is ornament.

In nature, form always follows function whether it be self-preservation or other forces that cause its form. 

In design, form does not always follow function. Sometimes form is just form.

While utilitarian need not be ugly, I think life would be pretty boring without ornament for ornament's sake.

Do you prefer purely functional, yet beautiful designs over decorative objects?

An old flame

There are so many well-know motifs in textile that I truly love and few I hate, but only one that has me on the fence.

I can't decide if I really like flame stitch or find it ugly. This is an odd way to feel about fabric, I know, but flame stitch and I go way back.

That's me with the lopsided pigtails in a flame stitch dress. Check out Mrs. Tackerell's groovy get up.

I vaguely recall hating that dress and suddenly one day, probably picture day, deciding I loved it.

It has that dusty, old castle feel but the geometric quality lends it to more modern applications.

Ok, I definitely like this

I can't help but think of the less-than -appealling attire of the 1970's, that may be in style again but I just can't stomach some of it.

I have decided to bite the bullet, albeit in a small way, an embrace the flame.

As soon as I can lay my hands on a yard or two in a good colorway, I will make myself a table runner for the dining room.

I was thinking a tartan but it is just too obvious a choice.

What do you think? Is flame stitch a yay or nay?

1,2,3 You tell me

I'm posting three pictures with no comment of my own and I want you to tell me what you think.

The last three images I post will be brutally critiqued by me. Fun, eh?

Number 1.

Number 2.

 Number 3.

Feel free to pick apart the details of what you love and/or hate about each,

Here are mine.

Totally lost me with the beaded fringe, the overall color scheme is not too bad but maybe too matchy.

HGTV strikes again. barf.

I would be thrilled to be in this room. If I could eat in it too, bonus!
Which is your favorite?