Category: Art & Design


Art & Design

July 5 2016

12 Pieces of Wall Art for the Inner Child in You

Though I’m a grown woman, nearing the age of 40, I still find children’s art to be quite charming. Whether you’re looking for pieces for your nursery or just for the inner child in you, I hope you’ll enjoy these twelve pieces of wall art. These are (almost) all very affordable.

(Let’s never grow up!)

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Em by Ashleyg

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Sleeping by Holli

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Mother’s Love by Holli

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Panda Balloons by DaisyandBump

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Bon Puf by Kimberly Genevieve

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A Year Older by Kimberly Genevieve

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Flags by Shelby Brakken

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Smile by Mathilde Cabanas

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Have Fun by Mathilde Cabanas

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You Are So Loved by AdorenStudio

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Choose Joy by Schoolhouse Electric

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Every Girl is a Super Hero Sometimes by Ashleyg


Art & Design

July 1 2016

Fun Links of the Week

What are you up to this long weekend? Sam and I want to take the kids out of town and into nature. (Have you read this article on how nature can make you kinder, happier and more creative?) We still haven’t officially decided on where but we’ll probably end up in either Julian, Idyllwild, or Big Bear. (For my photo a day project, since I won’t be near a computer on the weekends, you can keep up with me on Instagram.)

Now, let’s get down to business. Here are some fun links of the week.

Party-friendly recipes for July 4th.

I loved seeing Emily McDowell’s cards at Target. She’s got a new line with Papyrus. Here’s a new card from her that I like.

How cool would it be to decorate your house with these die-cut aluminum prints?

Here are the two most impfactful words to say to kids.

Wish I could travel to London and take pictures like this.

This red, white and blue sangria would be perfect for July 4th.

Would love seeing these rainbow floors in person.

Looking forward to Wreck-It Ralph 2 because of the storyline. Hint: It has to do with the Web.

Are you ready to try Starbucks’ latest, mega-popular secret menu item?

I love wearing delicate gold necklaces. They’re so classic and pretty.

The powerful woman behind Whole Foods.

A photographer visited iconic landmarks and pointed his camera in the opposite direction. Boom! An interesting series is born.

Love Dwell? Check out their new website. More about it, here.

I want to go glamping in this yurt.

In business news: Apple might buy Tidal?

Love this print, Suspender by Eelus.

Fireworks photo by Yasuoshi Chiba.


Art & Design

June 24 2016

Fun Links of the Week

After a fun-filled past few days, it feels funny that it’s Friday. What are you up to this weekend? I’ll be hanging out with my sisters, we’re getting all the kids together on Saturday. It’s going to be in the 90’s so we’ll probably be either inside or poolside, lying around in some shade. Have a fantastic weekend!

Want to own Banksy’s swat van?

Did someone say caprese avocado toast?

These paintings of NYC subway riders as animals are amazingly real.

Do you have an Amazon Echo? (Kind of want one.)

Love these color-bursting trees.

You don’t have to be a designer to want to watch this. See Kickstarter.

7 ways to slow summer down. I like this: Do something scary.

I’d feel like a daredevil just living here.

Fascinated with topiary?

Women dressed in shadows of nature.

These would make me look.

I want to try grilled caesar salad!

Drones capture disparity between rich and poor in South Africa.

What does timeless Danish minimalist design look like?

21 books to read if you want to boost your career. Just bought David & Goliath.

Have you tried Honey?

I’d love to see this giant living painting in London up close.

Photo: Solar powered installation by Nikola Bašić called Saudação ao Sol, translated as Greeting to the Sun.


Art & Design

June 17 2016

Fun Links of the Week

I need to visit Northern Italy so I can walk on water.

Is the key to parenting a little less parenting?

Kanye West before he was Kanye West. [via Kottke]

Who knew pencil shavings could be so beautiful?

You had me at cat on a tightrope.

I want to live in one of Japan’s micro houses.

Things to know before you renovate your kitchen.

If I visit ever London, I want to hit this place up. “It’s not all red buses and taxis and telephone boxes … people are coming to London, like they are to any creative city, for great food, music, art and culture and they want to take a memory of that home, I think,” she adds. She’s right.

Sculptures combining directors with characters from their films are genius.

Inside the new Tate Modern.

Create rainbows with your pencil shavings.

Sushi donuts?!

Best portraits of Muhammed Ali.

Tokyo’s stray cats are adorable.

Van Gogh’s Starry Night like you’ve never seen before.

Have been a fan of Edwin Ushiro for a very long time. See his new works here.

A beautiful mirrored beach hut.

These realistic bookmarks are for the foodie in you.

Looking forward to seeing this in theaters!

Airbnb has some sweet homes for rent. Especially loving the ocean-front villa in Phuket, Thailand.

Photo, called Floating Dreams, is by Marco Casella.


Art & Design

June 16 2016

Ultra-Realistic Embroidered Pet Portraits by Emillie Ferris

How wonderful would it be to have a custom pet portrait of your dog in this embroidered style? Embroidery is a time-consuming art form, so, artist Emillie Ferris, only creates and sells five of them every one or two months. It takes two to six weeks to complete one piece, which translates to each hoop taking between 13 to 18 hours. The price for such a personal piece of art isn’t cheap, each portrait costs £248 plus shipping.

As Ferris states on her website, “Each hoop is made by yours truly, and although I wish I could give every single one of you a custom slot at once (and grow 10 more hands, hehe), I’m afraid there is only so much work I can take on. Please do not be disappointed if you miss out on a slot, as I aim to release spaces as regularly as I can.”

I wish I could have two of these, one for each of my Cavalier King Charles, Fozzie and Charlie. They look ultra-realistic, don’t they? It’s nice to read some of her client’s feedback. As one states, “I wanted to gush some more, because it’s mesmerizing. I love how wavy it is around his cheeks, and I love how the white is like spilling up his forehead. I love how you got the details in his irises and how there’s a shine in the pupils. And I love the patterns in his fur and how they make you want to pet his face. I’ve really never seen work like this and I’m extremely grateful to have one of my best friend. Hank is my once-in-a-lifetime dog and I’m just so happy that I’ll always have this.”

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Your feedback makes every hour worth it ?I was nearly in tears when I received this message from a customer in America about this custom pet portrait of Hank: "I wanted to gush some more, because it’s mesmerizing. I love how wavy it is around his cheeks, and I love how the white is like spilling up his forehead. I love how you got the details in his irises and how there’s a shine in the pupils. And I love the patterns in his fur and how they make you want to pet his face. I’ve really never seen work like this and I’m extremely grateful to have one of my best friend. Hank is my once-in-a-lifetime dog and I’m just so happy that I’ll always have this" #embroidery #hoopart #needlepainting #threadpainting

A photo posted by Embroidery by Emillie Ferris (@emillieferris) on

Hello handsome Louie! #embroidery #hoopart #handembroidery #needlepainting #threadpainting

A photo posted by Embroidery by Emillie Ferris (@emillieferris) on

Emillie Ferris’ website
via [Lustik]


Art & Design

June 13 2016

Beautiful Canopy Made of 150,000 Australian Native Flowers by Rebecca Louise Law

Artist Rebecca Louise Law is known for her huge installations that resemble ethereal upside down gardens. She’s back with her largest installation to date. Called The Canopy, it consists of 150,000 Australian native flowers which include rodanthe, hydrangea, protea, statice and roses among others, which have been individually entwined with copper wire. The Canopy took one month to complete with 30 people working on it. I was given these first pictures of the impressive, permanent piece, which will hang at Eastland shopping mall, in Melbourne, Australia, starting on June 22. Over the years, I’ve consistently been amazed by her works and even created this compilation post of some of my favorites.

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See pictures of her previous work here.

Rebecca Louise Law’s website


Art & Design

June 10 2016

Fun Links of the Week

What are you up to this weekend? We’re headed to my older sister, Grace’s house for an early Father’s Day celebration. Time for some BBQing and swimming. Then, we’re celebrating a friend’s son’s first birthday on Sunday. It’ll be a busy weekend, chauffeuring the kids around while trying to get in their naps. Poor Logan is coming down with a cold so I hope we won’t have to cancel all of our plans. It feels like every other week the kiddos are getting sicks! I blame daycare.

Speaking of daycare, we’re moving Parker to a legitimate preschool starting in July. I’m afraid he’s going to miss all of his friends at the daycare. Hope it won’t be too much of a transition for him. The guy is independent, though. Once a week, he spends the night at grandma and grandpa’s house, which gives me and Sam some much needed free time. (Oh, do we cherish it!)

And now for the Fun Links of the Week:

This guy’s spot on with his transformations to Disney princesses.

Surreal in-camera photos of wildflowers in the Death Valley desert in California.

IKEA has a new museum? Would be kinda cool to go. Sweden, anyone?

Would be fun to spend a day getting lost in this infinite bookstore.

Must try this sweet, not salty gochujang. (I think gochujang is having its moment.)

Liking Etsy’s new digs. Yay for outdoor courtyards and roofs!

Enjoying Ellie Davies’ forest work.

Though I like collecting interesting notebooks, Moleskines, will forever have my heart.

Why Hamilton became a phenomenon. Got to see this!

A photographer to follow who’s a whiz at controlling color.

Wow that’s one trippy sculpture of a wolf.

Street artist Seth GlobePainter paints large murals in the China countryside.

Glass elevator by Sam Sklar.

Banksy comes out of hiding to give a gift to school children.

Life is Tough print by RainCityDesign Co.


Art & Design

June 8 2016

Majestic Wood Animal Sculptures Created with a Chainsaw by Jürgen Lingl-Rebetez

Bavaria, Germany-born artist Jürgen Lingl-Rebetez is an artist that creates majestic animal sculptures by carefully applying a chainsaw to wood. The 44-year-old spent his early childhood dabbling in art, he drew and painted everything he could set his eyes on which included animals, buildings, people, buildings and landscapes. At the age of 20, after graduating from Josef-Effner Grammar School, he exhibited for the first time in a gallery in Dachau. After his mandatory civil service in Schönbrunn, Lingl-Rebetez became a wood sculptor apprentice to Master Hans-Joachim Seitfudem. In 1996, Jürgen Lingl-Rebetez moved to Switzerland and worked as an independent artist. It was then that he began creating works with a chainsaw. His sculptures take on the appearance of drawings, however, they’re made with a chainsaw in a three dimensional space.

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Jürgen Lingl-Rebetez’s website
via [Arteide]


Art & Design

June 7 2016

New Serpentine Gallery Pavilion is an Unzipped Wall of Bricks

Around this time every year, it’s exciting to see what a selected artist or architect creates as the new, temporary Serpentine Gallery Pavilion. Located in London’s Kensington Garden, the structure this year was made by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels who created an unzipped wall of bricks. Using 1,802 hollow rectangular fibreglass blocks, the 41-year-old stacked each piece on top of each other until it became a 46-foot high futuristic structure. It is “a wall that becomes a hall,” says Ingels, “a gate that becomes a space” – and a shelving system that becomes a pavilion. “Why have one,” he asks, “when you can have both?”

“By taking something as conventional as a wall or a giant shelf and pulling it apart to make new spaces, you’re actually creating something extraordinary out of the ordinary,” said the BIG Architects founder.

“I think that’s, at its core, what architecture is: It’s creating poetry out of the practical; it’s taking all of those quotidian elements and putting them together in a way that becomes an adventure.”

He adds, “[The pavilion] is a wall that becomes a hole; something that’s opaque that becomes transparent; something that’s curvilinear that becomes octagonal; something that is a sculptural shape that also becomes a grid or a matrix,” he said.

“It definitely has something Minecraft-esque, for sure.” The architect references the popular world-building computer game.

This is the 16th structure commissioned by the gallery as part of its summer series. The first was designed in 2000 by the late Zaha Hadid and others who have created their own version include Ai Weiwei, Oscar Niemeyer, Herzog & de Meuron and Sou Fujimoto. Visitors can come see Ingels’ pavilion from June 10 to October 9. This year, you can also view four smaller summer houses by architects Asif Khan, Yona Friednman, Barkow Leibinger and Kunlé Adeyemi. If you can’t visit London anytime soon, you may be able to see it in Asia or North America. Because of the way it’s built, it can be recreated. Talk about a selfie spot!

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Serpentine Gallery website
via [Dezeen and CNN]
Photos via Dezeen, Serpentine Gallery and CNN


Art & Design

June 6 2016

Inspiration Pad: A Crazy Notebook for Creatives

While curating art, design and photography for the last seven years, I came across a lot of interesting projects. One of them that caught my eye was Inspiration Pad, a warped notebook that inspires creativity. Designer Marc Thomasset took a relatively simple idea and turned it on its head. At first glance, it might just look like a traditional school notepad but, inside, it contains an innovative twist that makes it a surprising take on an old classic…the blue lines take on the look of waves, topographical contours, or loops!

Here’s the story of the Inspiration Pad:
“I was drawing projects in a notebook when suddenly it hit me how a classic notebook, however beautiful, is always very rigid and grid like. This is how the Inspiration Pad was born.”

This third version comes in three different colors – blue, brown and yellow. It’s a 56 pages notebook with a softcover, and it’s designed and printed in Belgium on sustainable paper. All of the interesting designs inside of the notebook are new.

If anything this notebook will make you “think outside the box.”

You can buy Inspiration Pad here.

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