Design Healing

A Little Shout Out to Kathy Davis and FreeSpirit Fabrics

 

Kathy Davis just signed a deal with Westminster Fiber's FreeSpirit brand to design a line of fabrics from her Awakenings Collection. The Collection will be call Journeys and it is AMAZING! Look for it Spring 2010.

 
(images from kathydavis.com and freespiritfabric.com)

The Shift: A Movie Being Made By A Movement

Check out the trailer to The Shift. Here is a small description of this new documentary:

“A massive worldwide phenomenon is in progress, offering seeds of great hope for the future. Millions of individuals, organizations and corporations around the world are waking up and embracing a new outlook with an emphasis on their responsibility to contribute positively to our collective future. We are in the middle of the biggest social transformation in human history, The SHIFT. At this critical point, it is imperative we make the masses aware of this global movement quickly. This evolutionary phenomenon is broader and deeper than the most visible SHIFT, the environmental movement. It involves our very understanding of who we are as human beings, and our responsibility to the world and to life itself.”

The film features Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Al Gore,and Deepak Chopra, along with many more inspiring people. The only problem is the movie is not finished yet. To donate to this cause go here.

On a personal note, I have been searching my heart to find a good cause to get behind. Something that I can donate my time and heart to. Maybe this will help me to find the right thing. What cause resonates with you? Any suggestions?

Please pass this on, every little bit helps.

Daily Paintings by Justin Clayton

I love the Daily Painting's by Justin Clayton. I look forward to going to his blog to see what he has accomplished in the last 24 hours. I must admit that I would love to see what he could do if he worked on something a little bit longer.

(images from Daily Paintings)

Andrea Joseph's Sketchblog

I love the work of Andrea Joseph she draws these great illustrations with ball point pens. Check out her blog.

(images from Andrea Joseph's Sketchbook Blog)

Galbraith & Paul

I love the Philadelphia based design studio Galbraith & Paul. They recently updated their website with some great installation shots and behind the scenes pictures of their printing process. All of their textiles are hand printed to order in their Manayunk Studio.

(images from Galbraith & Paul)

Check out the Brocade Home Blog

I just discovered that Brocade home has a blog. I couldn't stop looking at it, very cool. Here are just a few things on there.

(images in order from Brocade Home Blog, Mondrian South Beach Hotel by Marcel Wanders, Collage Chandelier by David Wiseman, white knitwear w/LED's by Mary Huang, Fairytale Photography by Eugenio Recuenco.)

Congratulations Paula Prass

I would like to congratulate Paula Prass for signing with Michael Miller Fabrics. Her fabric collection is called Flights of Fancy and is really wonderful. You may also be familiar with Paula's frames and wall art that she creates for her company Mimi's Collection. Please check out her website and her great blog too. She has these amazing paintings of birds on chairs that I love, and she just redesigned her studio! The transformation is amazing. Congratulations Paula and I hope that I will get to meet you at the NY Gift Show!!!

Paula's great blog

(images from Paula Prass)

I hope this doesn't sound horrible....

I want this to be me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry, awful I know. I don't think I have ever wanted something so badly. So, I had to put that out there along with this affirmation.

This, or something better, now exists for me, for the highest good of all concerned....and so it is : )

Check out the work of Jenean Morrison of Posh Pattern. Her designs are delightful! She has a great blog too. Congratulations on signing with Free Spirit Jenean!!!!!!!!

Here is some of Jenean's work. I love it!

(images from Posh Pattern © Jenean Morrison)

 

Have You Ever Been....

Have you ever been to Kris's Color Stripes? I highly recommend it. I am a color junkie and am inspired there daily.

(images from Kris's Color Stripes)

If I Posted About This Kind of Stuff, Would you Still be my Friend?

Would you still be interested if I posted about things like this? Here are some things that I have created in the past. Small sparks of creativity dowsed by the weight of day to day life.
This is it by the way, besides my stationery design work. Fleeting glimpses of insights into the life that I want, followed by the incessant voices of my left brain mind chatter telling me that I can't do it. Would you be interesting in seeing more of this? Would you still visit my blog? Should that stop me?

 

 

 

 

Can I Inspire Someone?

It started with a truly wonderful gift of kindness by Emily Martin from the Black Apple , to  Marisa Haedike at Creative Thursday. Emily had a Giveaway over at her blog and Marisa was one of the winners.
Marisa just embarked on a new creative journey of making handmade soft sculpture pieces of her very successful line of character's that she paints. What perfect timing for Marisa to win a package filled with scraps of fabrics and notions to help her along her way. I learned about this on Holly Becker's blog Decor 8. Holly had the great idea to pay it forward. Read below, or check out the link.(you have to scroll down to the post) So, I decided to join in. I recently got my studio back together after being in storage for months after we moved. I knew I had some things that I could share, plus what a perfect excuse to play! I was a dollmaker for 11 years and miss playing and making things with my hands. Most of my time now is spent on the computer. Holly started her post with "It's time to inspire and be inspired!" How true that is. Not only am I able to send a fun package of inspiration to someone, I am in return inspired to play more. I hope this helps Holly, and I hope the person receiving it has some fun playtime with it too.

Here is my Inspiration Package!!!!

(images © Decor 8 and © Stephanie Ryan)

Happy Birthday Creature Comforts!

 
Creature Comforts is turning one! In honor of this special event it's creator Ez is having a Birthday Giveaway Extravaganza !!! Check it out. Here are just some of the prizes.

(images from Creature Comforts)

So Loving:Dill Blossom by SEI

I saw this over at Paper Crave. It is the new Dill Blossom line by SEI. I love the color palette, it is so soothing. I have a thing for muted colors. So, I know it is a major dream of mine to design prints for fabric....this would make me happy too.
Oh, and I just discovered the Paper Crave blog and LOVE it!

(Images from SEI)

So Loving: Spruce Avenue

I am so happy it's Friday! I am leaving you with this great find. Spruce Avenue Stationery makes hand silkscreened stationery and prints. They are featured in Today's Top Stationery Artists by Tori Higa. I had the opportunity to meet Melissa and Dana at the Moore Senior Show and they were so nice. Thanks for the advice and see you at NSS.

Have a great weekend!

(images from Spruce Avenue Website)

So Loving: Little Flower Designs

I love this dinnerware by Little Flower Designs. Linda Johnson is the ceramic designer behind these great pieces. I just love them! Thank you Tanya for sending me this link.

(images from Little Flower Designs)

So Inspired: The Art of Lisa Hurwitz

I posted a print by Lisa Hurwitz on Friday and felt guilty all weekend because I only showcased one print. I love her work so much I have to show more. I think one of the reasons why I am loving her art so much is that I used to own a doll that looked like her characters. It had the same shaped head and long thin body and was layered in patterns and stripes.She even had a pair of maryjanes. It burned in a fire that destroyed the building the doll company I used to work for was in. Dolls keep popping into my head....hmmm. Well anyway, enjoy!
Check out her website, Etsy site, and blog.

(images ©Lisa Hurwitz)

So Loving: Bride Design

I am so loving this stationery designed by Erin Nowak of Bride Design. Erin collaborated with Jen Comfort of She Takes the Cake, who designed the matching wedding cake. Love it ladies!

(images from Bride Design)

So Loving: Tinsel Trading Company

Once upon a time, what feels like a million years ago I worked for a doll company, Little Souls, Inc. I was a dollmaker/designer/buyer/product manager. My favorite part of the job was buying the products to put on the dolls. Fabrics, flowers, buttons, antiques, and vintage pieces. The dolls really were special. I miss playing with all of that stuff. Tinsel Trading was one of my favorites to buy from. They sell new and vintage flowers, trims and ribbons. Their vintage pieces are so beautiful. I still have some of their flowers at home.
I recently went to their website to see what was new and couldn't believe how much the business has grown.
They were recently featured on Martha Stewart. Zac Posen, Ralph Lauren and Betsey Johnson are just a few designers that use their products and their beautiful trims have been used in feature movies like Sleepy Hollow and The Patriot. The owner Marcia Ceppos is the nicest person and the history of her company is so unique. They also just released a new Interiors book. Beautiful Bedrooms with Ribbons and Trims.

( Images of vintage flowers from TinselTrading.com)

Spring has Sprung: Marimekko

I am loving these products from Marimekko. They really get you in the mood for Spring! Oh, and I had no idea they had their own blog! Love it!

(images from AlwaysMod.com)

So Loving: Anthropologie Pillows

I am so loving these pillows from Anthropologie. The beauty is in the details.

(images from Anthropologie.com)