generosity + beauty

inspiration wednesday.

{generosity + beauty}

generosity.

this week I have been inspired by the "i like ____." campaign. essentially it's a campaign to get ourselves out of our narcissistic little worlds and live generously. it's beautiful. here is a sweet little story of two girls who wanted to raise money for clean water.

{image via}

beauty.

i am continually inspired by john keats' poem endymion. I know that I have talked about him, and specifically this poem, before, but each time that I read endymion I find something else of beauty.

A Thing of Beauty (Endymion)

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its lovliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing. Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth, Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures, of the gloomy days, Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkn'd ways Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all, Some shape of beauty moves away the pall From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon, Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon For simple sheep; and such are daffodils With the green world they live in; and clear rills That for themselves a cooling covert make 'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake, Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms: And such too is the grandeur of the dooms We have imagined for the mighty dead; An endless fountain of immortal drink, Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink.

infinity scarves + digitized embroidery

liefday monday.

{infinity scarves + digitized embroidery}

I'm making an infinity scarf. I love infinity scarves. (although, to be honest, I didn't know these awesome loop scarves were titled 'infinity scarves' until my friend asked me if I would make one for her, causing an immediate google search on my end.) with my recently informed answer I gladly accepted the request. here is the progress thus far.

(for any knitters out there...have you made one of these before? and if so, did you use a circular needle? I'm pretty attached to my wooden needles, so I decided to use them and sew up the seam at the end.)

and, artprize.

I love the buzz of conversation flowing and circling around the streets of grand rapids.

Artprize creates a beautiful space to dialogue about creativity.

I have not seen too much of artprize yet, but one of my favorites thus far has been jess larson's piece called Look and Learn, Little Girl Series. (located in the new UICA).

here is an image from this piece. it's digitized embroidery on ink jet printed silk. just beautiful. she has tagged different words with the images. this one states the word imperious, meaning assuming authority without justification. personified high heel. awesome.

wheat + laughter

inspiration 'wednesday'.

{wheat + laughter}

this week's inspiration came from being in the new 6.25 paper studio shop that just opened on monroe center.

the environment.

the products.

the layout.

it just looks great.

and I absolutely LOVE to laugh out loud in card shops, and equally love it when others do to. put yourself there: it's quiet. people are slowly meandering though the isles, picking up cards here and there. and then the stillness is broken by unexpected laughter. it's like small pops of color that splash on the white. and it's seriously contagious.

I tell you this because I had this experience this week in the new shop. there are plenty of cards in 6.25 that will do this to you. I bought two of them. now in efforts to keep this blog clean and kid friendly, I will leave it to you to go to the shop and check out the cards. :) but here is one (friendly) example from Syd Design.

{image via}

have a fabulous weekend!

eclectic thank yous

liefday monday.

{eclectic thank yous}

a sincere thank you to all those that came out to the Eastown Street Fair on Saturday. I really appreciated it.

It was my first time doing the Eastown street fair and I really loved it. It was absolutely great to meet new people and enjoy the eclectic goodness of eastown.

so thank you, thank you!

enjoy your monday!

ps -- Artprize starts Wednesday! can't wait.

food + watercolor + friends

inspiration wednesday.

{food + watercolor + friends}

i have been so inspired by food lately. I fully attribute this to my dear new friend and fellow blogger (who just so happens to be amazing at writing + cooking, among other things). I am not going to try and fool anyone that I cook and bake, because I don't. cooking for one is just no fun. however, when it's not just me, as stacy and I have been cooking together, I love it!

this has inspired a new food related idea. a watercolor art/cookbook. I want to watercolor and calligraph recipes. this may take years to finish, but I'm really excited to have a fun new project to have as winter is rapidly approaching.

here are some recent food loves.

beet juice.

(I love to juice. this one included beets, kale, apples, carrots, ginger and a lemon.)

peaches.

are delicious this time of year.

concord grapes!

cucumber + peanut salad.

(made lovingly in the little orange kitchen)

happy wednesday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, little blog.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

today marks the one year anniversary of this little blog's birth. as much apprehension as I had to start an online, public hub of my thoughts and ideas, this past year has been delightfully surprising and thoroughly enjoyable. what i have appreciated most about blogging is that it has shaped me to interact with the ordinary in search of inspiration. it has allowed me to appreciate more details, connect with other creatives and broaden my knowledge of lovely companies.

i am grateful for that.

i am also grateful for your support through this past year as well.

thank you! thank you!

to celebrate:

candles. white, of course.

flowers.

and dutch flags.

cheers!

magazines, shops + bluegrass

liefday 'monday'.

{magazines, shops + bluegrass}

okay, okay, it's been a little bit since my last post. my excuses for my hiatus. however, I needed to take a bit of a break and enjoy the last bits of summer and gear up for the fall.

yes, fall. I love fall.

my end of summer hurrah was spent on a road trip with my dear friend Teresa on her way out to maine. Pittsburgh's bridges, Massachusetts's beaches and Maine's beauty were very inspiring. wishing much happiness for you in maine!

pittsburgh : city of bridges

on the atlantic in massachusetts

this fall is wrapped with new avenues for lief design, and I am soo excited! Lief Design will be featured in the new InFrame Magazine that will be hitting the shops this thursday, september 8! Be sure to pick one up and see all the exciting wedding wares for the 2011-2012 wedding season.

also, I am thrilled (and honored!) to be selling goods at the new paper studio to open on Monroe Center starting in late September. Started by the talented Abbey Fowler from Syd Design, 6.25 Paper Studio will be the home to many lovely gifts, stationery and wrap. I will keep you updated on its happenings, but when you're downtown for ArtPrize, stop in and check out the new shop!

a gift for a dear friend's wedding. stitching on linen with a typewritten poem.

ALSO, new website to be launched this week. oh I am so excited to show you all! here is a little taste...

and this thursday is the last Celadon Summer Concert Series of the season. I will be down there selling goods (even some new stationery packs) along with other lovely local GR companies. Music will be played by greensky bluegrass, a nationally known band, along with chets barbeque and standard pizza co. festivities start at 6. would love to see you down there!

cheers! emilie