Thursday, March 31, 2011

Ladybird: We Are Trees-'I Don't Believe in Love'

Dear readers, it has been so long since my last post, I know you were all missing me. I have found a new band out of Brooklyn called We Are Trees, there are 3 in this trio; percussion, vocals and violin. Their debut album was Boyfriend and their sophomore album is Girlfriend… isn’t that cute? This band reminds me of being a teen in the summer, nothing to do but wake up late, lay in the sun and listen to music. This song has a very nostalgic vibe to me. Please enjoy and wait in anticipation for summer…..

signing off ladybird



And here is what the two of us will be rocking this spring and summer, if this rain ever does let up...Enjoy!
images via rue mag and oracle fox
images via oracle fox, sandals anthropologie, thatschic and twenty8twelve
via twenty8twelve and oracle fox
p.s. is anyone as in love with Sienna Miller's killer style as I am?!
 

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Art + Interiors: Triangular Stretching [Holger Kalberg]

Good morning! I've been thinking a lot lately about how important it is for growth to be stretched and challenged in life. I'm lucky enough to have a job where I get to be creative and do what I love 95% of the time but more importantly, the job is stretching me. I am challenged to take on new things everyday, tackle projects that tap into a whole new skill set, and all the while I'm trying to live a balanced life which can be tough with such a packed schedule and sometimes long and unexpected hours. But every week that gets a little easier, things fall a little bit more into place and I'm loving the new shape my life is taking on....
The work of Holger Kalberg, a mix of collage and painting, illustrates this feeling beautifully for me. The irregular and abstract shapes still maintain a central axis and thus a sense of balance within an otherwise chaotic field. There is both dark and light, solid and transparent, and the shapes that layer do not quite match up, but as a whole they are all stunning don't you think?

light fixture 1st dibs, rug zara home, end table wisteria, chair architonic, pillow south of market, vase zara home, table 1st dibs
All of these pieces have just the right amount of geometry and balance, contrast and subtlety. And again I always love to mix in some organic elements here and there to keep things from feeling too cold like the table and rug. I have no idea whether that chair would be comfortable or not but I just can't get enough of it...Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I want to Live in...A Joel Fitzpatrick Project

If you haven't heard of Joel Fitzpatrick yet, you simply must check him out because he seriously does it all. Beginning with sculpture and lighting design and moving gracefully through fashion, art, interiors and product design, his body of work is truly inspiring along with his innovative and eco-conscious approach to design....


Though not in my usual color palette, I fell in love at first sight with this room. I love the sleek modern pieces placed within the neo-classical architecture, and a wall full of Fitzpatrick's light boxes would be an instant jolt of energy everytime you entered the room...Enjoy!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Agate Obsession...

Good Morning readers! I apologize for the lack of inspiration here on Friday but I was working nonstop on a very exciting project at Kelley Moore Creative that I cannot wait to share with you! Unfortunately I can't spill the details quite yet so until then...I've been a bit enamored lately with everything agate and I thought I'd round up some of my favorites for you...

photo via domino, products via marjorie skouras

photo via living etc.

bookends via the gem shop, photo via elle decor, art via macro art in nature


photo via redonline.co.uk
photo unknown (help?), salt and pepper shakers velocity, earrings via kuotingjewelry, all countertops via concetto
With the range of textures, hues and patterns, an agate product makes a stunning addition to any room, whatever your personal style may be. Absolutely breath-taking...Enjoy!







Thursday, March 24, 2011

Art + Interiors: The Deep Blue Sea [Colin Pennock]

Good morning everyone! This week we painted a wall in our house a deep turquoise blue and I am reminded of how powerful color can be. The colors that energize me the most are blues and greens, so when I saw artist Colin Pennock's work it was love at first sight...

via Scott Livesey Galleries
I love the way Pennock handles the paint. The brash, definitive strokes in deep blues and bright greens layered heavily on soft warm foundations is genius. They give the floating feeling of being underwater and staring up towards the daylight. This is the kind of work I truly never tire of.

chandelier via 1st dibs, mirror via wisteria, pillow via crate & barrel, end table via wisteria, chair via south of market, books via wisteria, pillow via zara home, console table via Terrain

The same way Pennock layers his paintings, I love a mix of boldly saturated pieces with soft textured neutrals. This green chandelier would be absolutely stunning in a grand entryway, and the tall sexy back on this blue velvet chair is killing me (in such a good way)...Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

D.I.Y. NORTHWEST: Ladybird Home Tour


Let's get personal shall we? Last week I gave you a peak into my own little abode and now I'd like to share where my dearest friend, and Music contributor Jessica Jane Daiger (aka Ladybird) lays her head...


Introducing Roan, coffee barista by day and inspiring musician by night and Jess, marathon runner, Brooks Running Company employee, and Seattle music guru. In a cozy house in Ballard, they've made a home that is truly one-of-a-kind...
                                                              


Every inch of this classic two bedroom house is infused with Roan and Jess' personal style. The living room greets you dramatically with black high gloss walls while lit candles invite you in... 

Hand-made Pendleton pillows, sleek modern sofas, vintage pendants and leather accents set the tone while their self-made fireplace is a work of art in itself, created entirely from recycled and re-purposed materials.
 

My favorite D.I.Y take-away is this framed photo collage. All you'll need is a frame, spray paint, woven jute, clothes pins and vintage or new photographs. Change the color to match your existing palette, pick your favorite photos and this simple project would add a stunning personalized touch to any room...Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Love it / Live it: Rock Science [Cassandria Blackmore]

There are a few artists I just cannot get enough of, and contemporary artist Cassandria Blackmore is definitely one of them. Based dually in San Fransisco and Seattle, she paints on glass in reverse, then shatters the works and puts them back together. This complex artistic process is essential to the work but the end result itself is always absolutely breathtaking, challenging our usual paradigms of beauty...
In person they almost appear to be lit from behind, the source being the very core of their damage. Billy Bride jewelry possesses this same artistic intrigue as "no two stones are alike. Irregularity in the appearance of each stone is a testament to their natural strength and individuality." Enough said don't you think?



I have never been a diamond girl but if I do have to wear a rock on my finger I wouldn't mind one of these. Organic, rough, edgy, prismatic, solid, unique. These rings speak my language...Enjoy!

Monday, March 21, 2011

GIVEAWAY...last chance

Just wanted to pop in and introduce my brand new ad button designed by my incredibly talented friend Amy of Strataflora located over on my sidebar!! And you only have a few hours left to head over there and enter the giveaway...

Art + Interiors: Visual Mantras [Ana Montiel]

Good Morning! Today I am inspired by the meditative pattern work of artist Ana Montiel. She calls her illustrations 'Visual Mantras' and it could not be more fitting. The repetitive, yet never static patterning has a steady rhythm, giving the feeling of a verbal Mantra; calming, soothing and transformative. The perfect way to start of a dreary Monday morning...
Done strictly by hand, even her most geometric patterns have an organic nature to them, with subtle shifts and tonal changes. The mix of repetition and diagonal line creates an interesting formula that is both peaceful and energizing.
chair finnishdesigncompany, pendant 1st dibs, table jayson home and garden, pillow burke decor, wallpaper vanderhurd, pillow howkapow.com, architonic tables, cb2 vase 
Gradiant textures and multi-faceted surfaces make an active, intriguing space while the palette keeps it from feeling too chaotic...Enjoy!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

For Japan With Love

Hi everyone, just wanted to pop in and say I will be participating in the Bloggers Day of Silence tomorrow For Japan With Love. Head here to donate. Have a beautiful weekend and make sure to head on over to Strataflora to enter the giveaway!

Love it / Live it: Feeling Scattered [Nightwood]

Good Morning and Happy St. Patties day everyone! I realize I should have put up something green today but to honest I barely even noticed it was St. Patrick's Day. I've been so scattered lately that time has sort of been zooming by with little chance for me to stop and collect myself. But I am realizing now that living the full life I've chosen can at times be overwhelming, so the trick is not to wait for it to slow down but to make time amidst the chaos stop and breath, to gather the fragmented pieces and reorganize them a bit to make sure they make up something inspiring...
painting via Nightwood, necklace via etsy shop spoonfulofmint

This process may mean having to loose a few pieces that don't quite fit but it I'm learning things don't have to be a certain shape or fit into the mold I once thought that they would, but therein lays the beauty of it all. This artwork would be a lot less interesting if the shapes were all the same don't you think? Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Love it / Live it: Feather Love

I have always had a deep appreciation for Aboriginal art. I love the way natural elements are thoughtfully put together to create intricate, tactile patterns, both elegant and fierce at the same time. I love their use of art as decorative, spiritual enhancements on a daily basis and I am also especially fond, of course, of their abundant use of feathers. This piece I snapped a shot of at the Crocker Art Museum caught my eye with it's dancing rhythm and graphic shadows...


 For the past couple years I've rarely been seen without a feather in my hair and I'm lusting over this new Spring trend. Feather hair extensions? Why didn't anyone tell me?! Loving this D.I.Y. version on etsy shop LuxePlumes, a perfect way to add a bit of edge and texture to your everyday style. Oh yes, and let my love of feathers be a little hint to my giveaway over on Strataflora later this week...Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

D.I.Y. NORTHWEST: Home Tour Sneak Peak!

Good Morning readers! As you know I recently moved into a new place and have been spending weekends doing house projects, some of which I've began sharing with you but I haven't been able to document every small project so I thought I'd share a little sneak peak of the home we're beginning to build. It is still a work in progress and I am in no way a photographer but here goes...
Luckily we have a mutual favorite color palette and a love for pairing the organic with golden accents and I love the way the place is beginning to reflect our collective styles. My man happens to be a phenomenal thrift shopper too so almost every piece in here was found at the Good Will including that turquoise ottoman and gold chest...
We were thrilled to finally have a place to display the vintage glass we've been collecting for years and the tapestry is repurposed from an old red and black one we bleached out and redyed to a more calming hue. The grey ikat pillows came off of Silk Way on etsy all the way from Uzbekistan as I love mixing patterns and origins as well as eras and artistic movements...
This sleek brass coffee table was found at The Good Will and came with a bright red velvet backing which we quickly tore away and painted blue. It ended up being the perfect way to showcase our collection of photobooth pics from the past five years.
Having so fortunately inherited this dining set and vintage rug we added a Noguchi-style lamp for a mid-century modern touch. Inspired our mountain view and our mutual color palette I painted this canvas to tie the room together with the living room it faces. There is still much work to be done and a lot of white walls to be painted but for the first time in years, I'm finally feeling like at the end of the day I am truly coming home...Hope you enjoyed this little peak into my own space, I hope your week is starting off well, have a wonderful Tuesday!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Art + Interiors: Horizontal Calm [Kenneth Noland]


The devastation of last week across the world has put my own little frustrations profoundly into perspective. My heart goes out to all those who have and who continue to suffer right now. On a more personal level, on top of feeling sadness for the events in Japan, I had a stressful week ending with my car getting broken into, nothing in light of the week's events but still frustrating... So welcome to a fresh week, I thought we could all use a little peace and calm this morning and the horizontal art of Kenneth Noland is just that...
Horizontal line is incredibly calming as well as the color blue. Combined with the subdued palettes and understated rhythms, Noland's work is bringing me just the serenity today...
light 1st dibs, pillow by thomas eyck, sofa storage and shelving the future perfect, end tables wisteria, clock west elm
Inspired by Kenneth Noland's work, sleek, modern and fresh, this space would create that sense of peace while still containing enough energy to keep you sharp and witty throughout your day. It is not the kind of space you want to curl up and take a nap in, but the kind to take a deep breath, shift back into perspective and take on your day with a renewed sense of determination...Enjoy!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Love it / Live it: Scandalous Abstractions [Kate Banazi]

Happy Friday everyone! I'm loving this silk screen print by artist Kate Banazi. Her work has a great sense of nostalgia while mixing in futuristic vibes and touches of scandal. I love the vintage imagery mixed with vibrant pops of color and overlapping shapes..
These tables from abc home are just as intriguing. The stacking of shapes creates such interesting geometry and the way the warm overlapping hues mix to create a spectrum of shades is absolutely stunning...Enjoy!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Ladybird: 1, 2, 3, -Riding Coach

Hi readers, sorry I have not posted in a while. The lack of posts is not because there is a lack of musical inspiration out there, actually I have found some amazing stuff recently. The song I am posting today is by the Duo 1, 2, 3, you can say that one comma two comma three comma. The song I picked is called Riding Coach, sorry they do not have any videos out yet. I had the grand idea of trying to make a video myself but I know that will not happen anytime soon, so to not leave you any longer w/out amazing tunes. 1, 2, 3 is a Pittsburgh band who will definitely be making a statement. This song gets me swaying and I have to say I have listened to this more than twice on repeat. Enjoy

signing off ladybird

1, 2, 3 - "Riding Coach" by indiemusicfilter

A perfect soundtrack for a few things the gorgeous photography of Harper Smith is reminding me to be thankful for today...




Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Love it / Live it: Moss Love [Jessie Rasche]

Today I am inspired by Northwest Native Jessie Rasche. Her paintings have a quiet peacefulness to them. I love the abstract simplicity of this particular painting, the way it's left hazy and undefined. It reminds me of a rainy day when the green of the grass is the brightest light...
And for a man who does patterns better than most designers out there, one of my favortie textile designers, John Robshaw, continues to produce gorgeously effortless products as well. I cannot get enough of these dyed throw pillows in this warm, mossy green. They are simple and eloquent yet pack so much color and character into one little cushion...Enjoy!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Art + Interiors: Virtual Landscaping [Jonathan Zawada]

Good Morning everyone, I hope you had a beautiful weekend. Mine consisted of much food, wine and some much needed quality time with friends, family and of course, my man. For me there is nothing that brightens my world more than connecting with the ones I love. Speaking of brightening my world... 

I'm loving these conceptual landscapes by artist Jonathan Zawada. Zawada's process is as intriguing as the works themselves. Each piece is derived from a line graph comparing information found through online searches of parallels in the online world and the real world. He then used 3D modeling software to transform the graphs into Mountain Ranges. 
I love the dreamlike palettes and complimentary hues set within the multi-faceted Mountain tops...

Chair, and tables via architonic, pendant via abchome, purple pillow and yellow pillow via burke decor, bedding via crate&barrel, blue pillow via howkapow, watercolored chair via anthropologie, irregular object via phillip low
I love the way all the irregular shapes and faceted surfaces reflect the light at different levels, the tonal range it creates within one solid colored piece is striking. Loving these bold Spring hues as well, bring on the blooms and blue skies, please! Enjoy!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Love it / Live it: Prismatic Technicolor [Brandi Strickland+Phillip Low]

Good Morning everyone and HAPPY Friday! It's been so grey here lately that when I saw these technicolor collages by artist Brandi Strickland I was smitten. I love the delicate hand drawn elements juxtaposed against the mix of flowing colors and angular geometry...




I'm just as in love with this acrylic pieces by artist Phillip Low, they seem to glow from within. How great would the set be on your desktop for a daily dose of neon? Enjoy!