Moving into February is filling me with a bit of wanderlust, the more stuff I have to do the more I pine to get away.... Thankfully with images like these, I feel like I've taken a quick beautiful trip around the world and back. Fine art photographer Lupen Grainne snaps images in her home state of California and farther afield in her travels through Venice and Paris. Available for purchase in a variety of sizes at her Etsy shop, these prints would make for amazing drama in any room. Now if I can just focus and actually finish a room project, maybe I'll order one of these babies up!
2015 and talking design
Back from a holiday break, filled with big new ideas and resolutions to make this year rock. I start off each year like this and have had a tough time with carry through, but for some reason I keep doing it. This year it's less goal setting and more of a systematic approach (check out this article). For me there's always a lot of road time during the holidays, traveling to visit family a half a day away. This is when I usually recount my past year, think ahead to this year and strategize. This year though, we talked a lot about the 1 Oceanside house.
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the week's best :: 12.12.14
It's 2 weeks into December and I've done no gift shopping and barely have the tree up. Things are looking dire, so this weekend better be productive! I'm helping plan my daughter's 3rd grade classroom winter party, so I've been spending a healthy amount of time researching holiday party ideas and have stumbled upon some great sites (& possible fantastic gift ideas!). I'm thinking that's serious multitasking, and here's some of the best of what I've found ....
- Ok, yes if you insist, I'll have another helping of your boozy eggnog....
- Art, especially original works, makes for a wonderfully unique gift. Suitable for men and women of all ages! Design Sponge lists 19 giftable works of art. My favorite is this Elizabeth Grubaugh print because it reminds me of something that would have fit in perfectly at my grandparent's Miami home (circa 1960) - and that always brings back happy memories of spending childhood Christmases in Florida with family
- Do you have the energy and motivation to get crafty with your holiday decor? I think these pom pom garlands are in my future, but if you're feeling the pull to go to the next level like say creating whimsical tablescapes or painting your own gift bags, check out this post on poppytalk.
- This weekend around Portland there's a ton of holiday markets big and small. Local blogger Honey Kennedy always has her finger on the pulse of what is happening, check out this exhaustive list of events - there's something for everyone! My favorites are the Crafty Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale and The Makery Winter Market, two events with hundreds of talented crafters showing their wares - it's hard to not end up getting an early gift for yourself!
- Keeping yourself grounded during the holiday season is the antidote to the anxiety of stress or too much boozy eggnog, so take some time to relax and take these tips to heart.
power to the introverts
For awhile now I've been reflecting on change and progress, the idea of leadership and how that translates to an introvert like myself. Until recently I thought leadership was innate, you either have it or you don't, pretty basic. I also assumed that leaders weren't introverted, and one precluded the other. I guess, as I look back on 2014, I will remember this year as one that demystified my stiff assumptions on character and personality.
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pattern love :: skinny laminx
A busy weekend spent getting the house ready for Thanksgiving company, but pleasantly surprised to stumble upon these fantastic patterns courtesy of Skinny laMinx out of Cape Town, South Africa. Skinny laMinx is the creation of self taught illustrator Heather Moore. Her saturated colors and organic designs now adorn everything from wallpaper to textiles. She takes much of her inspiration from Norwegian design of the 50's and 60's, which I totally can appreciate! Check out more of her work for sale, including her paper goods and tote bags, at her etsy shop.
Images courtesy of Skinny laMinx