bloggin' + illustratin'

inspiration "wednesday."

{bloggin' + illustratin'}

diggin' some new blogs these days and wanted to share.

first, scout holiday. I love the style of images used, and I really like the name holiday for vacation. "I'm on holiday! sounds way more festive than "I'm on vacation", no? this image is from the post titled "*****". check it out.

second is . of paper and things . the name kinda describes it all. but check out this clothes rack filled with Joanna Fowles designs; it is made from branches! I would LOVE this. it would go perfectly with the branch hung on my bedroom wall...

is this not gorgeous? stumbled upon Rudi de Wet's illustrations through this blog, isn't it wonderful?

and lastly, a road tip picture. anyone who has ever driven michigan to missouri knows those long highway drives through illinois and missouri. lots of corn, lots of corn.

cheers.

emilie

selvedge + nygards anna

inspiration wednesday.

{selvedge + nygards anna}

my inspiration for the week: hands down, selvedge magazine, issue 41.

every time I receive a new issue it goes something like this, without fail:

"eeeeeeeeeee! lips drawn ear to ear, teeth clenched with excitement. I grab ahold tightly, become lost in the beauty of the cover, riddled with anticipation of what is to come. ahhhhh, I rest at the closest seat and slowly, gently dive in.

issue 41 was no different.

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favorite article: tides of fashion: nygards anna offer styles that will survive. (p. 18) check out more of nygards anna's amazing designs here.

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eeeep!

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i also really enjoyed the article: straw poll: hat making in caussade and septfonds. (p. 24) I loved that the Caussade hat district started in the 1700s with a woman who was inspired by the "tall, thin, white straw that grew on the dry rocky land" (p. 24). she used this material to make straw braids and went on to open hat making workshops; among having thirteen children. thank you Petronille Cantecor for your strong example and inspiration.

cheers! emilie

hats + royals

thing day friday.

{hats + royals}

I was inspired by hats this week because of Anne's gorgeous Easter hat (wish I had a picture to show you) and the 'ole royal wedding.

here are some I just love.

sally victor hat.

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some beautiful hats of kate.

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grace kelly, oh so lovely. and that dress!

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and some dutch lovin'. princess maxima.

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happy weekend!

snap, hurray!, cute

inspiration week.

{snap, hurray!, cute}

snap is for this week. it has certainly been a blink. tuesday turned to friday, somehow, and now I'm thinking about the weekend already. oye.

hurray is for my friend teresa, my inspiration for the week.(she is the amazing doula that I did the soup competition with.) she is running the boston marathon this monday and has raised support for the alpha woman's center in doing so. check out the press' write up about her here. it's so inspiring to watch people close to you accomplish their dreams, and for her, her dream is this marathon. I'm so pumped for her.

cute is for these cloths. some fashion inspiration from nao noa. I love littles and this company.

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and a final picture from the shoot last week. I really like the texture on this one.

happy weekend!

alcott, ma ke + type

inspiration wednesday.

{alcott, ma ke + type}

this week has been packed with inspiration. getting out of one's routine and city does wonders for this sort of thing. thank you chicago. thank you dear friends.

first inspiration, this quote:

"I love beauty so much that I not only want to possess it myself, but to gain the power of seeing it in all things, and the art of reproducing it with truth." louisa may alcott.

this quote from louisa may alcott has completely inspired me this week. my friend ellen (who was such a joy and inspiration to see this weekend) has it written on her blog. I like the part of reproducing beauty with truth. this has a wonderful way of naming why I love to design + create. there is so much beauty to possess and be found, that through the act of creating I feel as though I have joined in on this galvanizing process.

and I got the new selvedge magazine this week. glorious.

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there is a spread on the Chinese fashion designer, Ma Ke, that I am in LOVE with. it has little to do with her fashion designs, but everything to do with her apartment. gorgeous! eeep!

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and, finally, I have been inspired by the typographer + illustrator, Adrian Johnson. i first stumbled upon his typography, which I love, but then found some of his illustrations. what's not to love about a regurgitating pac man and a donkey carrying a carrot?

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be inspired! happy wednesday.

it's spring, dresses!

thing day friday.

{it's spring, dresses!}

really like the style of this dress.

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and the back is great, too.

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kingston road dress.

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quiet blush dress.

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happy weekend!

dresses, bags and type, oh my!

inspiration wednesday.

{dresses, bags and type, oh my!}

found this lovely dress through this blog, eeep! gorgeous collar. gorgeous color. made by the highly talented hannah elise. check her out, she's incredible.

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found this dress through the selvedge blog, surprise surprise. made by bojo childrenswear. there should be more linen on little people.

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more linen on little people. this time an apron. how lovely. made by les toiles blanches.

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darling bag. made by lisa stickley. she's great.

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type from wine? yes please. saw this on designdog.

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you make me happy when skies are gray. thank you colorful type.

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happy wednesday!

je bent so lief!

liefday monday.

{je bent so lief!}

today is a history lesson of sorts. a description of the process. I know for myself, when I read or hear why a company developed or where it came from, I have a deeper appreciation for the product and design. in this connection, the human element has been attached, and for me, this creates a sense of meaning.

so...lief.    [leef] (via)

lief comes from the dutch language, meaning sweet, dear, or treasured, as used as an endearment. growing up with a father who was born and raised in amsterdam, I was instilled with that dutch love at an early age. visiting the netherlands throughout my childhood, and later on, living there for a short while, built a deep sense of connection and appreciation for the dutch culture. so, when it came to deciding on a name for my designs, I knew I wanted to honor that rich history and the influences it has had on where I have come.

this whole reflection was sparked from a conversation I had with my father last night who told me that my oma (grandma) had worked for a fashion company, klunder, when she was younger. culture and design collide! awesome. to see that red connecting stitch through family is so inspiring!

as I was trying to research this amsterdam fashion company called klunder (no such luck), I did stumble upon some sweet blogs/websites:

amsterdam international fashion week

dam style

dutch fashion foundation

this image wraps it up well:

you are so sweet!

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so, what's your inspiration? where have your designs and ideas evolved from?

happy monday!

sartorialist + fashion

inspiration wednesday.

{sartorialist + fashion}

i love fashion. not so much for how I look, but more so for the art of it. for the matching of textiles and fabrics. how the fabric lies on one's shoulder, gliding down to the sole. how shoe choice absolutely matters. and, how sometimes all you need is a scarf. granted, most days, my sense of fashion is thrown together in roughly ten minutes, and really is no fashion at all, but I am still thoroughly in love with this art form.

i love reading the wall street journal's life & culture section. it is full of fashion inspiration. shoes, coats, belts, how to's. it's great. opening the outstretched paper, smelling the freshly printed ink while quietly sipping jet black coffee - perfect. (but if you must, wsj.com does okay too)

this video has so inspired me this week. scott's eye for fashion and the things and people in his world is wonderful. it has definitely inspired me to look for art in abnormal places.

happy wednesday!

looms + UK

inspiration wednesday.

{weaving looms}

I am finding the practice of sitting down and reflecting on what has inspired me over the past week nourishing. so often we are moving at such a rapid pace that the things that inspire us come and go just as fast. I have really enjoyed this process - and if you are one that loves to be inspired, I would encourage you to do the same. I think you will be delightfully surprised.

this past week's inspiration: weaving looms.

oh to sit and weave that beautiful textile back and forth - such a beautiful process!

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i was initially inspired by hand weaving when I was reading through selvedge (issue 38 - zoological!) magazine where they had a beautiful layout of artist Eleanor Pritchard. Her work is calmly wonderful. Below is one of her woven blankets.

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some days when I think about the beauty of crafting the whole fiber process (sheep, shear, spin, stain, stitch (or weave, knit...but for alliteration sake, stitch) I think I belong in the UK, particularly Ireland or Whales, even if only for a couple months...

oh, and I loved this dress. :)

{the pen pal dress by red velvet.}

enjoy your wednesday. may you be inspired this week!