GRAM + xactos

inspiration.

{GRAM + xactos}

okay, time for some inspiration.

artprize came and went again, in its usual rapid, bustling, amazing pace.

here were some of my favorites:

(all located in the GRAM.)

color explosion, with magnifying glass.

sewn mesh dresses, teacup included.

beautiful vine.

hand movement.

(loved how much emotion this piece created while watching the movie)

long, mini sketched city.

beautiful texture.

feminine artist self portrait.

charcoal + paint.

thread. fabric. stitch.

all cut from an xacto. crazy. amazing.

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.

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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.

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.

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have a fabulous weekend!

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!

crazy + lovely

the week.

{crazy + lovely}

this past week was crazy. an unexpected rush of here and there. I can't believe that it's August 21 already. september is coming fast. did I mention that lief got into a local magazine? very excited about this! it comes out next month. September will be a big month.

I took this photo up in leelanau near tandem cider. there is something about the coloring of the green that is so calming. nice to have on a hectic few weeks.

I love stripes.

new design that I really love. the color is hard to see here, but it's a grey purple. it's my favorite michigan card by far.
also, I saw these images on a petit bruit blog and really loved them. the artist is jazmin berakha. her embroidery is beautiful!

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happy weekend.

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

antiques, markets + katie day

inspiration wednesday.

{antiques, markets + katie day}

grandma, you inspire me. I was at my grandmother's house last night and I told her the story of how my mother gave all of her lovely hats to goodwill (gasp!) a few months back during her 'extreme purging' phase. (mother, when in doubt, ask me first if I would want any of your really great old accoutrements.) but it's okay, I forgive you, I really do understand the need to get rid of things you never wear....however, this conversation lead to my grandmother bringing out her hat she wore on her wedding day. just love it. two feathers plus velvet, what more does a hat need? i love the evolution of fashion; it's all coming back, it's all coming back.

Getting ready for the Celadon Artist Market tonight. If you happen to live in this great and growing town of Grand Rapids, you should come and check it out. Food (sandmanns), live music (Valentiger), and local GR vendors. New lief products will be there -- I'm excited!!

also, I met the really rad photographer this past weekend. not only is she amazing at what she does, she also is one of the coolest ladies around. you really should check her out. and to top it all, her name is Katie Day, how sweet is that?

cheers! em

tattoos + letters

inspiration wednesday.

{tattoos + letters}

I love the idea of a tattoo. I more love the idea of calligraphing a word or saying and having that calligraphed on me. where? I don't know. saying what? not sure. due to this, my skin is still bare, but maybe someday. here are some that I just like. a lot.

jessica hische temporary tattoo. sweet.

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sweet little wave tattoo.

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lovely little hearts.

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really love this calligraphed poem.

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have a happy weekend. off to go see my darling suzy + john get hitched!

TRUCK + color

inspiration wednesday.

{TRUCK + color}

i love watercolor. it's a new medium for me, but i love the challenge of learning something different. with all the spare time on my hands these days (haha) why not dabble into something new? i stumbled upon the watercolor artist becca stadtlander through this blog and simply love her designs. her detail is impressive.

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also, through the same blog, found this furniture company: TRUCK. i have a white platform bed with a white comforter now, which i love, but oh the contrast of wood and white, gorgeous! and check out that raw, not-stretched-so-tight leather cushion, sweet.

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I hope you can find some inspiration today as well...

cheers, emilie

type + travel

inspiration wednesday.

{type + travel}

inspiration this past week lands on type and travel.

essica hische was in grand rapids, and, well, she's pretty rad. seriously bummed I couldn't watch her do her thing at the GRAM, but it was still inspiring to have a typographer/illustrator like her in town.

i also came across this sculpture at meijer gardens. men made of metal letters. it's called I, you, she, or he... by Jaume Plensa.

and a bit of travel.

oh, and lovely madcap.

happy holiday weekend!

wood, leather + furniture

inspiration "wednesday".

{wood, leather + furniture}

it was neocon this week, which means massive amounts of lovely furniture design overtaking chicago's merchandise mart. aside from having parents connected to both, haworth and herman miller are still some of my favorites.

herman miller's booth.

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haworth booth.

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happy weekend!

clips + houseboats

inspiration wednesday.

{clips + houseboats}

eeeeek! I just found my new favorite designer: pia jane bijkerk. she's an artist. she lives on a houseboat in amsterdam. and she designs so beautifully! what a delicious combination. oh, and, she wrote this book. checkout, click.

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pia had a video by naomie ross on her blog that I loved, and wanted to share with you as well. It's one of the better letterpress video clips I have seen. so if you have been confused as to what letterpress entails, be confused no longer.

Letterpress from Naomie Ross on Vimeo.

also, loved this video clip from tiger in a jar on how to make beet cake.

beet cake from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

happy inspiration!

north + fog + nature

inspiration wednesday.

{north + fog + nature}

a constant source of inspiration lies quietly in that around me. nature has a personified way of calming and inspiring in paralleled moments.

this past weekend, with the volvo wagon packed up tight, we drove ourselves north in search of these unfiltered moments; a sense of pure, away from the busyness.

through empty wine glasses, sticky ice-cream hands, fog laden fields, long blue lakes and deep conversations we were blessed to embrace these such moments.

{

also, listening to olafur arnalds while driving through thick fog = fantastic.

I especially like this song:

happy wednesday.