marimekko fall 2009...

The marimekko obsession continues. What can I say, I just can't get enough.

inspiration - fashion, styling

photos courtesy www.thelovemagazine.co.uk

There is a new kid on the block in the world of fashion writing/blogging. When I say kid I mean it, literally. Thirteen year old Tavi is getting international attention for her amazing eye, unbelievable intuition, and artistic gift. She shoots and styles all of the photos of her on her blog. She is one to be watched! Next Anna? For more on Tavi click here, and be sure to check out her spread in Love magazine.

new collection...

new collection is heating up!! here's a sneak peak of one preliminary drawing. Stay tuned!

draw, draw, draw!

must get back to working on the new collection! but first a little inspiration...enjoy!

artist: liz tran

Wow...I am sooo in love with the work of Liz Tran. The dreamy use of color and the texture...it's just beautiful! Here's some new work from the Seattle based artist.

artist: hijiri shepherd

I found this wonderful print by Hijiri Shepherd while surfing the web a few months back. I immediately fell in love with the message and the simplicity of the work. I was my wallpaper for awhile, but now I think I need to make it mine! I was happy to see she was also featured over at daily imprint a few days back.

artist interview: diane kappa...

Diane Kappa is a surface designer, painter, graphic designer, traveler, and all around lover of life living in Budapest, Hungary. She creates a wonderful catalog of silk pillows, stationary, and journals. Diane is always willing to share her knowledge, her time and even her home!! Today she has graciously decided to share a bit of herself with us! View more of Diane's work here.

what three to five words would you use to describe your work?

I would describe my work as colorful, bold, a touch of folksy and a bit whimsical...and on the verge of great change.

what inspires you?

I love learning the thought process behind the art. Watching lace being made, learning the lost tradition of kékfestő printing (blue dye printing in Hungary), viewing an artist sketchbook of ideas and experiments...these are the most inspiring things to me!! These things help me generate ideas and think outside the box. I use to be a bit of a perfectionist with my art and drawing. Maybe that’s why I love sketchbooks. I see them as thoughts in process, rough and not perfected. I love seeing the under layer-how it started, the original idea.

what was your first job? How did you land in the relatively small field of surface design?

My first job was at an ice factory...seriously:)

But my first artist job was an internship during college. It was for a company in New York that had licensing rights for Barney and Sesame Street. It wasn’t glamorous...I painted acetate sheets in Barney purple that would later be cut out and taped on t-shirts and used as samples. This is showing my age...this was before we used computers for art...a good old copy machine, paint and clear acetate sheets was all we needed-high tech! Just imagine...someone wants to change a color in the art...you have to get out the paints and start mixing color!

how did you learn to paint silk?

In college. I had an instructor whose passion was indigo dying and fabric manipulation-dye it, tear it, pleat it, paint it! She inspired me to experiment with silk painting...next thing I knew I was painting 20 yards of silk. Now I paint for me and for others. And I love it!

design books you can't live without?

A Sketchbook of my mothers (not the title of a book but really one of my mothers sketchbooks)

A book of inspiration I have been putting together over the past few years. It is all pattern and it is categorized by color.

József Huszka: Collector and sketch artist (he is a Hungarian artist from the 1930’s)

Morris by Himself-this book has many images of partial sketches and partial finished work-I love it!

Tricia Guild Patterns-her use of color and pattern is so outrageous that it often gets me thinking of color combinations I wouldn’t usually put together.

One thing about you that would shock the outside world?

This is hard....I think a few people people would be surprised to hear that although I live in the city and LOVE it! I ache for the countryside. I fantasize of one day having a house in the country with a small garden and detached studio. This works perfectly with my husbands dream of raising goats and a tending to bee hives....goat cheese and honey? Sign me up!

Why Budapest? how has it inspired/changed your work?

Budapest is a vibrant city located in the center of Europe. It is only a few hours away from cities like Vienna, Berlin, Prague and Zagreb. I am fortunate to live where I am surrounded by everything that inspires me: folk arts, architecture, different cultures and the people….they are all within my sight!

I think you said it best, “I quite fell in love with the grit living side by side with the grand”. Budapest has amazing architecture, spectacular café’s and beautiful tree lined streets. It also has, graffiti (tagging more than art), and the beautiful buildings are disguised behind dirt and cracks. It feels untouched, a bit undiscovered.

I don’t know if my art has changed...yet. I am definitely inspired by the people and crafts of the Matyoland Region. The embroideries and colors are fantastic! I can really see this influencing my silk paintings in the future...stay tuned:)

What's next?

Currently, I am building my consulting business. I have some great clients in the USA and Europe that I have been designing for. I have even started doing more graphic design work-logo designs specifically-although print and pattern is my true passion. My focus is finding additional projects that will further push me as an illustrator and help me grow as an artist.

In regards to silk painting, I recently had some interesting ideas on pushing my silk paintings to the next level....I have been so inspired by collage. You see it with illustrators, photographers and mixed media artists. It is really everywhere in all types art and design. I have some thoughts on turning my silk paintings into mixed media...tearing, sewing, stretching...I am excited and interested to see where this ends up. Its all just a raw idea at the moment.

Color inspiration...

Here's a peak at the color inspiration for my next collection. Maybe with a pop of bright pink and yellow yes? Sooo yummy! I possibly have an addiction to teal...

cards: carrie gifford...

Carrie Gifford's Alice in Wonderland meets Tim Burton style is absolutely infectious. To top it off she has a wonderful sense of humor. Carrie's work is available from Red Cap Cards.

best of baby...

Is it just me, or is there a real baby boom going on? Just about all of my friends are expecting!! For all you wonderful mammas, here's the best in baby fromamenity, olli and lime, bonpoint, super natural baby, boodalee, flora and henri,skip hop, and angel dear. Also be sure to check out the wonderful clothing fromMishalulu.

back to school...

it's that time again... The summer is drawing to a close. Kids are moaning and parents are celebrating. That's right its back to school time. If you have to give up lazy pool days and catching fireflies, might as well do it in style right? Here are a few great items that will get parents and kids alike in the mood to hit the books. Galison makes great office accessories bursting with great print and pattern. We can always count on oh joy for amazing hand crafted notebooks and journals. Check out the great nature inspired calendars over at lena corwin. Diane Kappa is featuring some fun magnets for all those reports headed for the fridge. Mud puppy also offers some great unique office must haves. To carry it all, stop by anthropologie for a great leather tote. These great pics all pass with flying colors!

Fall wish list...

Fall is my favorite time of year.  I don't know about you, but right about now I am pretty much over the heat.  Bring on the boots, scarfs, fun hats, and cozy sweaters!  :)   These are a few items I am obsessing over for fall.  Hopefully a few will make it into my closet!

Etsy find: Leen the Graphics Queen...

Wonderful wall decals from Leen the Graphics Queen. You can find a large catalog of decals and more about Leen here.

All that glitters

focus is back on the neckline for fall.  look for tons of faux necklaces and touches of gold.

Budapest...

My time in Budapest was very interesting and insightful.  It is a city still changing and finding its identity after the fall.  The juxtaposition of the old and the new, capitalism and control, progress and stagnation is astounding.  One thing is very clear, Budapest is not a central European city, it is very much an eastern city in all the ways you would imagine.  As our friends Diane and Steve put it, it could be the next Prague in a decade.  It is most definitely an eastern jewel.  Perhaps the black pearl desperately trying emerge as the new player on the scene (Hungary is stumbling trying to complete there transition into the EU).  I do hope better times will come to the country, but it is also nice know there is a rare jewel out there ready for respectful, unobtrusive admiration.

BIG THANKS to our host the wonderful Diane and Steve for all of you hospitality and patience.

Pictures are processing...(yes, film)  stay tuned for the reveal end of next week.  :)

Paperchase notebook...

i love my new notebook from paperchase!!  great motifs, great embrodiery, it makes me happy!

Inspiration - wall art

Our friends took us to this fabulous restaurant in the heart of Budapest called Menza.  At the back of the place there were these great wall hangings!  

The wall paper matched too.  I loved it. 

On to Budapest, Hungary...

After a very slow "direct train" from Zagreb we arrive Budapest. This city was very enchanting. The essence of the people seemed to be written on the walls - literally. The city center (on the Pest side) was beautiful and mesmerizing. It has the potential to have to grandeur of Paris. However, it is not kept like the city of light. The paint is peeling, the buildings are dirty, and there is grafitti (not statement pieces) everywhere. For me this was all part of the charm. I quite fell in love with the grit living side by side with the grand. All of these things kept me very inspired to shoot away. Images from this hopefully very successful shoot coming soon.

It is all about the traditional folk art and embroidery in Hungary. The technique is everywhere you turn. Great flower and bird motifs, great bright multi color. A feast for the eyes.

Perfect way to end the day at the thermal baths. Brought to Budapest by the Turks, there are over ten natural thermal baths in the city. This was one of the real highlights of the stay. There are well over 30 pools - all different temperatures - all with different goodies for the body. We visited the radioactive pool, a medicinal pool, several pools with varying temperatures and a whirlpool! There are a variety of saunas and steam rooms including an infrared sauna that heats from within! Massages are also available. The mineral water is so pure, we even observed some locals filling large water bottles to take home. This is a must when visiting Budapest! http://www.szechenyibath.com/