Love it / Live it: Sunny Repetition [Anni Albers]

"A longing for excitement can be satisfied without external means, within oneself: for creating is the most intense excitement one can come to know."

-Anni Albers

art by Anni Albers, baskets via Furbish Studio

Today I'm inspired by the absolute joy of creating art, and the late iconic textile artist Anni Albers' sunny disposition. Busting out my paints and brushes again has me all bright and cheery, so grab whatever your version of a paintbrush is, get excited and create!

My Daylight 5.30.11

Well happy Holiday Monday everyone! Hopefully this post finds you on a relaxing mini-vacay of some kind, with all your worries far away. I myself will be working today but I took a little time this weekend to revisit one of my loves, jewelry making. I've been so in love with agates and rocks lately in decor that I wanted to add them to my jewelry collection as well...

Creating jewelry is one of the many endeavors I'm diving into again in the coming months and I'll be sharing the creative process with all of you along the way. I plan on relaunching my etsy shop with a slew of handmade goodies soon but in the mean time, if you like what you see, shoot me an email (laurafburkhart@gmail.com) and I'll hook you up with a special discounted price :) I hope you had (and are still enjoying) a long weekend filled with relaxation, rejuvenation and loving company...Enjoy!

Love it / Live it: Triangular Light [Russell Leng]

Happy Friday everyone! As you all know, I'm a color girl, but every once and a while the gray scale catches my eye and this work by Russell Leng did exactly that. Being that half the painting is half black, one might associate it with darkness, but my eye actual goes straight to the bright white diamond like shapes peaking out of the rough edged terrain and it reminds me of hope...

art via Russell Leng, chair via architonic

I've been thrown a curve ball this week and in the stress and uncertainty of that I'm choosing to see hope and excitement. And how perfect that a three day weekend is upon us? I hope yours is filled with sunshine, barbecues and dear friends...Enjoy!

"Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness" -Chinese Proverb

Love it / Live it: [James Bills]

Good morning! I've been feeling a bit off kilter lately with everything going on in my life, and trying hard to find my balance so I'm completely inspired by these works by artist James Bills (found via Amateur Couture) and their precarious balancing on a single point while everything reaches upwards. If you look closely you'll see the pattern is not regular, and each side is not at all symmetrical...

I really feel that the irregularities in pattern and the sporadic rhythm in each piece is what makes them all the more intriguing. And to top it off, each stretching pillar is brilliantly finished with a touch of gold leaf.

These lockets from Verabel hold that same sense of irregular rhythmic beauty and caught my eye immediately. With fresh color combinations and a gold chain they make the perfect accessories to encase a little image of something special, like a reminder of who makes your world go around or a quote to help you find your balance each day...Enjoy!

Ladybird: 'Lucidity' by Tame Impala

hello readers, I have picked Tame Impala for my song of the week! They are an amazing band from Australia and Lucidity is one of my favorite songs of theirs, although I enjoy the entire album thoroughly. I was lucky enough to see them play at Neumos in Seattle this year and they put on a fantastic show, I highly recommend going if  they are in your town. Their songs conjure the vibe of the sixties and seventies psychedelic feel, printed pants, braided hair and of course drugs. Please enjoy

signing off ladybird

oracle fox, cherry blossom girl, fashion squad, free people

Ladybird is a weekly columnist here at Love The Daylight

Organic Framing: DEDO Father's Day Contest

Good Morning! Father's day is drawing close and I wanted to let you all in on a little contest that is going on in honor of the special day. I love these sleek and modern DEDO frames. They're organic, one of a kind and innovative and a perfect gift for any occasion really, but right now you have a chance to win one because they're running a contest for Dad's day!

And this is especially perfect timing because today happens to be my own wonderful Father's birthday. So I began digging up some old photos and though I can hardly narrow it down I thought I'd share just a few of me and my old man....

Love you pops, hope you're having a wonderful day...

Art + Interiors: Angular Striping [Gianna Commito]

Today I'm inspired by the work of Gianna Commito. Her paintings combine geometry, striping and color blocking in the most intriguing way. Her palettes are fresh and daring and each piece plays with spacial understanding and depth beautifully. And I love how the clean, bold shapes are sporadically interrupted with brush strokes and broken layers...

pendant via Velocity Art & Design, art via Kenneth Noland, chair via Wisteria, pillow via Burke Decor, rug, pillow and sofa via Jonathan Adler, shelves via The Future Perfect

Modern takes on the stripe create texture and rhythm throughout the space while the slate grey tones help to bring it all together. Inspired by Commito's interesting use of color, I thought, 'why not put a mustard yellow sofa on a turquoise rug??' The bold contrast is actually quite brilliant don't you think? Hope your week is off to a bright start, can you believe it's almost June?! Summer is so close I can taste it..Enjoy!

My Daylight 5.23.11

Hello and happy Monday! As usual, this weekend flew by, but not without some moments of inspiration and creation. Thursday night found me at Velocity Art & Design, sipping cucumber infused vodka cocktails courtesy of Effen Vodka, and talking design with some of my favorite Seattle creatives. The shop is a beautifully curated mix of modern and earthy brilliance and an absolute feast for the eyes. Especially love this artwork by Rex Ray with it's brash color combos and rough geometry...

All the gorgeous goods are online too so make sure to check it out, there really have something for everyone. My man even made a purchase of a set of wooden toothbrushes, design for personal hygiene? love it!

The weekend found me looking to my inspiration boards and soaking in some of my favorite artists work before breaking out the paints...

A blank canvas can be intimidating so I just start mixing paints until I get to some hues that really get me going and then I throw some paint on the canvas. Once the clean white canvas has some color on it I find it's a lot easier to keep up the momentum, rather than making decisions ahead of time. For me, painting is as much about the process as the product and a painting can take on a hundred looks before I feel it's complete.

These two canvases are in the very beginning of that development and I have no idea where they'll end up but I thought I'd share a little bit of that process with you. Hope you all had a great weekend, how are you tackling the 'blank canvases' in your life?? Enjoy!

Colored Daylight 5.20.11

Happy Friday friends! We've had the most amazing week here in Seattle and the sunshine has injected a healthy dose of Vitamin D in me. I'm so inspired I can't wait to jump into some incredibly exciting little projects. I recently stocked up on canvases and paint and will be spending any time I'm not out enjoying the sun this weekend inside painting for a show at The Ridgeback Cafe in July. I can't wait to dive in and start mixing my palette, I'm thinking some rich emeralds and shocking yellows are in order...

 art via ralph white, photo via vogue, ring via etsy shop andescruz, beads via etsy shop waytobead

I am also in the initial works of a fun jewelry project with fellow artist of Tuesday shop and cannot wait to share it with all of you! So stay tuned and enjoy your weekend, here's hoping it's brilliantly colored and filled with sunshine..Enjoy!

Love it / Live it: Georgia O'keeffe

Good morning! As we had more than our fair share of April showers, I am welcoming May flowers with open arms. The sun is shining, the trees are blooming and Summer is on it's way, life is sweet...

chair via Anthropologie

Artist Georgia O'Keeffe had a way of focusing in on the beauty of the simplest of things in life, such as a single poppy. Her work is unabashedly bold and expressive. Whether she was painting a large scale tulip or a mountain range, O'Keeffe believed that art was about relaying a feeling rather than a photographic image. In the case of the poppy I like to think that feeling was utter joy. What simple details are brightening your world today? Enjoy!

Art + Interiors: Joyful Abstractions [Jen Ramos]

Good morning everyone! Today I'm inspired by the stunning work of artist and blogger Jen Ramos. I love the way her paintings take on an abstract expressionist aesthetic but in such a light and youthful palette. The bright pinks and turquoises make each piece joyous and light hearted while the touches of gold add a level of sophistication. These pieces are selling like hot cakes right now so make sure to head over to Cocoa & Hearts to snag your own...

1st Dibs, Kelly Wearstler, Abc Home, abc carpet, Blue Bell Grey, Zara Home, Eames

 I would have never thought to put pink and blue together in anywhere but a nursery but I love the laid-back feminine vibe it creates. Golden touches and curves against diagonals make it a chic and modern bachelorette pad perfect for a sun-lit loft just about anywhere...Enjoy!

Colored Daylight 5.13.11

As some of you may have noticed, blogger was completely down for about 24 hours and in the mean time deleted some posts, errr! Anyway I just wanted to re-post this in case any of you missed it, a little color therapy for your weekend.

In soothing blue-greens, two of my biggest inspirations: Andy Warhol who's work always helps to lighten things up a bit and keeps me from taken life too seriously, and Kelly Wearstler, a true artist and designer, (one of her stunning mood trays) Wearstler is a constant inspiration to me, always creating her own furniture and designing fabrics she continues to produce work that is uniquely her in a big way...

Lastly a shot of my jewelry in the same gorgeous palette. I always see an outfit as a blank canvas and a chance to be creative and one of my favorite ways to brighten up on an otherwise grey day is to pile on the brights...Enjoy!



Ladybird: 'Madagascar' by Lake

So often I find bands from all over the country but my dear Seattle is a mecca for up and coming bands. Recently I came across the band Lake which I have heard before but their album Let's Build a Roof has a distinct bosa nova sound which is unlike anything I have heard lately. They are currently signed to K records out of Olympia Washington. "Madagascar" is one of my favorite songs that has a sultry beat and calming lyrics. Please enjoy their own blog http://laketheband.blogspot.com/ and check out their upcoming show at the Tractor Tavern on May 15th! While you are there also check out the Field House where you can get some northwest garb!

signing off ladybird

photos of The Field House (in Ballard) via BlackBird

photos + products via Etsy shop IndianvsIndian

My Daylight 5.11.2011 Puppy Love

Good morning readers! So as I said, I've been a bit distracted lately and I want to introduce you to the little bugger responsible for that distraction...

Phinney, 8 weeks old is the brand new little addition to our family and I am completely in love. He is a Rhodesian Ridgeback which means he is going to be HUGE but I have a feeling I will always think of him as this tiny little puppy that tries to chew on my laptop whenever I try to get any work done around here...

So in addition to work and blogging I am also potty training so please figure me if posts become a bit lighter in the next couple days, I promise I will be back with even bigger inspiration soon as I now have this little ray of sunshine in my life! Do any of you have a puppy of your own? I'd love to hear as I'm a new mama. Hope you all have a wonderful day, I'm now off with the puppy to celebrate the birthday of the love of my life now, Happy Birthday Jake!!!

Love it / Live it: Organic Structure [Kevin Appel]

Usually I am such a color girl but today I'm inspired by a light neutral palette to clear my head. I love the way artist Kevin Appel plays with drama and movement in this piece by letting the lines and patterns interact on a clean white canvas. It's a good balance between total chaos and total calm. And that is where I am looking to fall today as well, with a full plate and a lot of distractions I'm trying to refocus and harness my energy in the most productive way possible...

And wouldn't you love to lay your head down on this dreamy grey pillow from Nightwood? With the appearance of being delicately hand dyed and hand stitched, it embodies the same sense of balance between the structured and the organic. Hope your day finds that same sweet balance...Enjoy!

Photography + Interiors: Sybil Steele+Oracle Fox+Bikini Bird

Good morning readers and happy Monday! I apologize for being missing in action on Friday, I have a new distraction in my life that I promise to share soon. In the mean time, I want to share one of my biggest inspirations lately: Oracle Fox. The blog absolutely epitomizes my aesthetic and the styling is everything I dream of being. This spread shot by Sybil Steele for Bikini Bird sums it all up, it is nature meets bohemian grit and glamor with of course a touch of gold...

I love the layered textures and mangle hair, and the golden lashes are a brilliant touch...

pendant via 1st dibs, pillow via john robshaw, feather via jayson home and garden, garden stool wisteria, end table zara home, stool and chest chair 1st dibs, feather pens jayson home and garden

This space is a mash up of styles connected by organic undertones and surface texture. The navy helps anchor the otherwise natural palette pulling together an eclectic mix of influences. I love a mid-century modern chair next to a Moroccan end table and a Chinese garden stool. And of course, feather accessories and gold accents are a must...Enjoy!

Love it / Live it: Russell Leng

Everyone needs a little drama now and then right? Well I am currently loving the drama in Russell Leng's New Nature Systems series. The stark contrasts of white and black, the glints of purple and even a shock of orange layer intricately to create an intriguing sense of depth. I get the feeling I'm looking through shattered glass right out into space...

And I have yet to see a piece of furniture as out of this world as this purple faceted sideboard from Boca Do Lobo. Yes it opens like a cabinet and somehow has a flat surface on top for a cocktail or two! So stunning, I would love to place this is in a clean white room and really let it sing...Enjoy!

Love it / Live it: Kristine Moran

Well hello sunshine! We've got blue skies here and even if it lasts for a day I'm going to make the most of it. There is sort of a mutual understanding around here that when the sun comes out you drop whatever you were doing and plan to be outside. We all need our Vitamin D, right? And this painting by Kristine Moran is the perfect inspiration today, fragments of light breaking up sharp edged brush strokes...

And you know I can't get enough of all things rocks lately so I'm absolutely smitten with these necklaces from UNEARTHEN. I would love to mix and layer them and the gold cast one is just stunning. Hope wherever you are today the sky is blue and you're seizing the day with gusto...Enjoy!

My Daylight 5.3.11

With all that is going in the world, a girl has to have a place she can get away, where only beauty and the handmade exists, where phones can be silenced and technology can be left at the door. For me that place is the Seattle Art Museum. Whenever I'm feeling a little down and need some tactile inspiration it never fails to breath new life into me. And every time something new catches my eye, like this ancient justification of my love for gold jewelry...

Or this expansive golden screen delicately painted with crashing waves...

And I'm always intrigued by the ways artists are fusing their heritage and traditions with contemporary mediums and fresh palettes... 

Lastly a little reminder that three simple colors and one natural material can make a bold impact with a bit of patience and fine craftsmanship...

Hope you're finding the time to be mindful of the world and current events while still taking little moments for yourself to tune it all out...Enjoy!

Art + Interiors: Multi-faceted [Gemma Smith]

Good morning readers! Now, some people may call it spreading yourself too thin, I like to call it multi-tasking, but I sincerely believe that having a multi-faceted life is having a balanced one and I wouldn't want to live any other way. I think just like anything else, the more you practice your creativity the more it flows so in the coming weeks I'll be taking on a variety of creative side projects and I can't wait to jump in....

The geometric works of artist Gemma Smith seemed like the perfect embodiment of these new little ventures and if things in my life turn out as beautifully I'll be a happy girl. I love the way the flat geometric shapes and unexpected palettes combine to create depth and movement in each piece. It's a joyous chaos really...

mobile and pendant via the future perfect, pillow via south of market, table via architonic, cabinet via boca do lobo, chair via conran shop, dining table via architonic, basket via furbish studio

The triangle is both the most and least stable of shapes depending on which side it's resting on and in every piece here it is definitely positioned to keep you on your toes. With a bold cheery palette and energizing diagonals this space would be ideal for brainstorming and creating. So bring on the chaos and let's see what kind of beauty transpires..Enjoy!