The clothespin is such a fantastic invention, one that seems to have hit upon the perfect combination of form, function and beauty. I’ve seen a bunch of amazing projects involving clothespins lately, including this ombre clothespin backdrop and these incredible sculptural pieces by artist Gerry Stecca, among others. But it was this bold, beautiful collection…
One of the most important moments in my life was when my printmaking teacher gave me a stack of books about women in art and design. Frustrated by my own lack of skill when it came to painting and drawing, I found a trusted mentor in this teacher who would routinely empty her personal bookshelves…
The first time I visited SCAD in Savannah I got to visit a class making books by hand. I’d never stopped to think about how much goes into handmade books and those students’ efforts were a real eye-opener. These beautiful handmade books, agendas and diaries are by artist Serena Olivieri. She just started designing and…
I will forever have a crush on the whimsy and humor with which David Stark designs. In addition to working with great charities and focusing on reusable and recyclable materials, David has always designed with such a sense of humor that it’s impossible not to fall in love with everything he does. And, starting next…
Good morning, guys! I’m still in a post-Alt Summit haze today so I’m trying to tempt myself back into work with some beautiful paintings. These gorgeous pieces from Lulie Wallace are right in line with my floral obsession and remind me of the sunny Southern days. Lulie is based in Charleston, South Carolina where she…
This has been an amazing week. It started with a dramatic kitten rescue and search to find her a home (we did!) and ended with a plane ride to Salt Lake City to join my friends on a book panel at Alt Summit. Tomorrow morning, I’m heading back to Brooklyn, but in the back of…
You know what rules about today? Just about everything. Mostly because yesterday we found a home for our adorable rescue kitty! I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect couple to give her a new forever home. Tuesday and Peter are talented (and adorable) illustrators in Brooklyn who will be around during the day to…
Winter has finally come to Brooklyn, so I’ve been loitering, virtually, around floral blogs. Besides images of fireplaces, the only other thing that makes me feel warm is seeing a sunny image of flowers. I’ve always had a fondness for floral paintings, but these pieces from Leanne Shapton are my absolute favorites. Her work feels…
While Amy and I were laying yet another layer of thick black paint on our office floors (let’s hope the fumes scare away the mice that have taken up residency between tenants), we took a break to snap some process shots. As we stood in the hallway, we met one of our new neighbors, who…
I’m a little sleepy this morning, so I thought I’d wake myself up with some colorful paintings from artist Kate Lewis. Kate’s paintings of interiors have a loose, organic feel that reminds me of a quick sketch — in the best way possible. They feel as though she joined the homeowner for a cup of…
Few things are as beautiful as the earth from above. Although I favored aisle seats on our 30-plus book-tour flights (faster for making connections), I typically prefer a window seat, so I can watch the landscapes below. These beautiful photos were taken by Brent Yaggi & Sarah Hicks from a Cessna 172. Based in Denver,…
If animal loving were a competitive sport, I’d be a first-degree black belt. Most of my free time is spent spoiling my cats rotten, so when I see a submission that includes animals of any kind, I’m instantly intrigued. Artist Kent Ambler created this dog-themed installation at Art and Light Gallery in South Carolina using…
This time of year, few things comfort me more than being safe and warm indoors with loved ones (pets included, of course). Having a place of your own that you truly love and feel comfortable in is something worth celebrating. A fun way to celebrate the places we call home is to document the actual…
I don’t know if it’s the cold weather or just my love of fabric and embroidery, but I’ve been spending an awful lot of time buried under blankets on my couch reading the most recent Land of Nod catalog. I don’t have a little one on the way any time soon, but I still read…
We’ve got an awfully big case of “white wall syndrome” in our new office, so I’ve been thinking about artwork a lot lately. Sadly my favorite pieces tend to fall way outside my budget, but I still like to window shop the web as if I had a trust fund at my disposal. As inspired…
I’ve had artwork on the brain for a few weeks now as I start imagining all the ways we could possibly decorate our office next year. I’ve always wanted a huge gallery wall to focus on a few artists at a time, and one of my favorites that I’m considering starting with is Anna Emilia. I’ve…
Lena Wolff is one of my favorite contemporary artists. Her pieces always make me stop and think, something I demand of almost anything I bring into my home these days. Lena’s newest work was inspired by early American quilt making (with a few departures) and will be on display at her new solo show, Another…
I’m always trying to come up with interesting new ways of using recycled materials, but honestly, sometimes I have a hard time seeing an old milk jug or bread tag as anything beyond a chunk of plastic. It’s great to encounter an artist who has a vision for these mundane materials, especially one who executes…
Helen Friel’s work with paper makes me want to stop what I’m doing and take a class in paper art. I’m not sure if it’s my chubby child hands or just a lack of general dexterity, but I’ve never been able to master delicate paper cutting in a way that leads to incredible artwork like…
I was actually lucky enough to see one of these paper cut artworks by Annie Vought in person just the other day. The piece was over 3 feet wide and suspended from long t-pins, and the light cast hundreds of intricate shadow shapes on the wall behind. I don’t know how Annie manages to craft…
