Skip to content


Category Archives: Inspiration

Day 26: Z is for Zany

SDZoo_koi

Well, we made it through the whole alphabet and here we are at Z.

I now have a very well documented reply any time I start complaining about feeling uninspired.  When I really start to think about the things I love and that keep me going, it’s almost overwhelming how much there is.  I must remember: pick one.  Start there.

For the grand finale, we’re heading to one of my favorite places.

ZZ is for the Zoo

It’s amazing how much nice cameras have changed the zoo experience for me.  I’ve always loved to spend a day rediscovering animals I’ve never seen before or have forgotten.  Of course, I love the “biggies” – the elephants, the giraffes, the rhinoceroses.  But lately, I like to dive in a little deeper and really study the animals that are small or hidden or difficult to photograph.  My husband got a zoom lens for the camera, and sometimes I feel like we are now at a completely different zoo since we can see lots of these animals up close.

Bird_inshadow

One day in the zoo can provide me with weeks of artistic reference from overlapping feathers…

Birdsintree

…to new shapes and silhouettes…

Birdonbranch

… and surprising color palettes.

And there’s always a funny face or two just to make you smile.

funnyzooface

Do you have a special place you go to re-energize?  Do you document your inspiration in some way — a journal, a picture, a sketch?  I’m just curious.  I think this is such an important part of nurturing creativity.  I am constantly trying to take those experiences in nature home with me in some way.  Food for thought.

Filed under Inspiration.

Day 25: Y is for Yummy

yellow_fabric

Only 2 days left in More to Love: A to Z, and today’s it’s Y.  (Y?  Because we like you.  The puns – I can’t stop.  Sorry.)

After an emergency brainstorm session this morning with my sister, I present to you –

YY is for Yellow

I don’t have a lot of yellow in my home or in my closet, but I like to have a few bright patches here and there just in case I need a quick pick-me-up.  It is my go-to instant mood-lifting color.  Do you have one of those?

decole_teaforone

Sometimes you need to surround yourself with something cheery.  A cup of tea from a happy yellow teapot.  A bright shirt that makes you smile.

yellowduck

A rubber ducky hanging out in the spa.

Some more yellow-y goodness: Melissa’s Lemony Snippet quilt top at yummygoods.  I know this is so 2 years ago, but I love this palette so much sometimes I go back in time just to admire it.

Off to find more cheerful patches and bright spots…

Filed under Inspiration.

Day 24: X is for ???

Only 3 days left in the alphabet series, and here we are at X.  I have a copy of the dictionary right here, and the “X” section only takes up 3 pages.  3!  And about 20 entries all start with “x-ray….”  So I’ve been a bit worried about this letter.  XI hope you’ll allow a little stretch of the imagination if I tell you that X is for X-acto knife.  The good news is that I rounded up some links on paper cutting, and as always, I’m blown away by some of the artists in this medium.

  • Rob Ryan just re-launched his web-site at Mister Rob.  His paper cuts are amazing, but I think what is special about Rob is the way he integrates story into his work.  Below is the cover of his book.  He has a brick and mortar shop at the Columbia Road shops and flower market in London.  (If you check out this amazing link, you will almost feel like you are there, strolling down the street).  Other favorites to check out: his other products and especially this skirt.

robryan

Has anyone tried this?  Just thinking about paper cutting makes my fingers hurt.  However, the results seem so special — maybe it’s worth it?

Filed under Inspiration, Paper Crafts.

Day 23: W is for Willowy

Wow – I love some of the suggestions people came up with for the letter V on yesterday’s post, although I think my sister needs to get out more since she said “vacuum.”  ;-)

W

Today is brought to you by the letter W, and I have another round-up of materials.  (I have to confess that this alphabet series is making me confront what a hoarder I am when it comes to fabric and craft supplies.)   This time it’s all about wood grain.  Now I know we could be fancy and call this faux bois, but we already did the letter F and I needed a W.  So wood grain it is.

Log_purse

This little woodsy purse is from a French book by Léa Stansal called La Trousse À Couture.  This was another one of my Google translate adventures, but I finally found a copy at Amazon Canada.  I found this book several years ago and fell in love with the green velvet and faux bois fabric together.

So of course, when Joel Dewberry (fabric designer) came out with his wood grain fabrics as part of the Aviary and Ginseng collections, I stocked up.  Um, a lot.

Joel_Dewberry_fabric

I am holding out for the perfect shade of green velvet before I tackle this project, but I’m happy knowing I could make a whole rainbow of little logs.

Since I can’t stop at just fabric, I also started rounding up some wood grain papers.  (Yes, I know – I have some sort of problem.)

Woodgrain_paper

By now, wood grain seems to be everywhere.  These papers are from Cosmo Cricket (Nutmeg) and October Afternoon (Weathervane), and those cool rub-ons are Hambly.

I’m sure like any trend, wood grain will eventually go out of style.  I think that’s why I was so surprised to see that they even make wood grain tile for kitchens.  That seems like such a commitment.  I did once try to convince my husband that we should follow the instructions in the May 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Living and paint one of our walls with a faux bois effect (like on the dresser on the cover):

MSLiving_fauxbois

However, he talked me out of it.  Probably a sound decision.

Well, that’s a Wrap for W.  (Sorry about the puns again, I can’t help it.)  Hope you have a fantastic weekend!  Next week is the dreaded letter X – should be interesting.

Filed under Inspiration.

Day 22: V is for Very

VV was one of those challenging letters (in the More to Love: A to Z series) I was talking about this week.  I’m sure after I post this, someone will chime in with something brilliant that I forgot.  (Vellum?  Violins?)  In the meantime… I only have one thing to share today, but it’s a good one.

V is for Velvet

Velvet_ribbon

Velvet is hands-down my favorite material.  Drapes, couches, dresses.  I have not done a lot of sewing with velvet (and I’m sure there are some challenges with that), but it’s only because velvet can be hard to find.  I’m always hesitant to buy velvet online because you can’t feel it first and the drape and nap can very so much.  However, when I do find it in the stores, it seems to be the standard colors of black, red, and forest green.  Does anyone have a secret velvet resource up their sleeve?

In the meantime, I decided to satisfy my craving with some velvet ribbon.  I ordered a swatch card from M&J Trimming (which I posted about here), and spent some time pouring over their color selection.  It was a little bit of a splurge because of their order minimums, but I love having these ribbons at my fingertips.

Velvet_ribbon_closeup

Ok, spill it!  What V’s did I miss?

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Filed under Fabric & Sewing, Inspiration, Wish List.