Gothic

I recently explored my more gothic side when I needed a Halloween costume.  I have always been inspired by the Japanese Gothic Lolitas (if you aren't familar- Google it- some of the outfits are amazing!) and decided I would go as a Gothic Lolita-esque version of Wednesday Addams.  While imagining my costume, I decided a needed a doll- dressed exactly like I was dressed- to finish the costume.  Here is the result:

I was pretty pleased with the result but decided I would peruse Etsy to see other variations on the same gothic theme.  I came across VagabondCafe and was instantly in awe: 



Helen



Claudia



Idette

I truly love how "awfully" cute they are- and just the right amount of twistedness that I felt instantly drawn to them.  I might have to start a little collection...

I'm back!!

I know it has been quite a long time since I have posted- and I truly apologize.  I have been caught up in the real world- interviewing for a job and starting it last week.  Now that I am somewhat back to normal, I hope to begin posting more and feeding my creative side.  Just for a starter- I was perusing my favorite Chicago store (Praha) yesterday and found this photo.  I fell in love IMMEDIATELY!  Mildred (that is actually her name as it is written on the back) has just the kind of sassy attitude that I wish to portray with my dolls and their stories: 

I find her truly inspiring!!  Talk to you again soon!

Ebay Find- Blissartwork

I know it has been a while- and I apologize.  Nothing is worse than sitting down at your computer and getting a blue screen.  Needless to say- it wasn't a big deal- and we are all fixed!!

I couldn't sleep the other night so I did what most insomniacs do- peruse Ebay.  I always look for artwork by original artists, and I have been lucky to find some great finds over the years.  On this little late night adventure, I ran across the artwork from Blissartwork and I was intrigued.  I am always drawn to the more 'folksy" artwork- and the more colorful, the better.  Below are a few of the pieces I discovered- all reasonably priced and very interesting...

Animals

Women

Mouse

Red Bird

I know it's Blue Monday...

But I am going to use this inspirational day to share some pictures I have come across lately that inspire me (many of which do include blue).  They are the newest additions to the "Inspiration Board":

First off- I found this picture in a magazine and it looks just like my dog (Iggy) when he was a puppy (I'm reeling you in with the cuteness factor- how could anyone resist this?)

I am always inspired by interior design magazines- after all- I did go to interior design school.  Lately (for the past year or so) I have been particularly drawn to Swedish design although, I must admit, I am not necessarily sure that I could live in a home where white is a main factor (refer to cute picture of The Iggyness above):

So white and clean!!  And- someday- I will own a Mora clock...

Don't you just love the tile floors?

I truly love the use of color in the next room- I have always been drawn to the combination of red and blue (I know- how can I love the simplicity of Swedish design and also love the boldness of this room?  Welcome to my mind...)

 And finally- my other favorite- the beach house.  Who wouldn't want to live here?

May your Monday be filled with puppy thoughts and beach house dreams...

How to Be Alone

                                      How to be Alone

Fabric-palooza!

One of the most difficult things in making my dolls different is the choice of fabric for the clothes.  I am drawn to more of the home decor fabrics- which are usually the most expensive (between $20-$40 a yard).  In discussing my dolls with a friend, I was delighted to find out that she had a garage full of decorator sample books that she had inherited from her mother (who was an interior designer).  And when I say a garage full- I mean it literally!! 

She graciously allowed me to go through the stockpile and pick what I wanted- and I could hardly contain my excitement!  These sample books are just enough material for the dolls I make...

And this isn't even half of them!  Here are a few of my favorite patterns:

Thanks Jamie!  I cannot thank you enough!!

Blue Monday

For today's Blue Monday post (where we celebrate all things blue) I am posting some  pictures of my hometown of Grand Haven, MI.  This week residents are celebrating that wonderful time of year known to all Grand Havenites:  the annual Coast Guard Festival. 

 Picture courtesy of Wsilver

Perhaps my love of blue was inspired early in my childhood by Lake Michigan- the way the cerulean sky (remember last weeks post!) melds into the blue waters. 

      Picture courtesy of Daniel Marchese

I used to spend a lot of time in cottages along the lake- and I still remember how I felt connected to the world just by listening to the methodic sound of the waves hitting the beach.  I have tried to recreate the feeling with my "environmental sound" alarm clock- but it isn't the same.  I now live on the other side of the "Big M" in Chicago, but deep down I am still a Grand Haven girl.  And I will always have a spiritual connection to this place...

Picture courtesy of RKramer62

Blue Monday

For today's Blue Monday post I am sharing some of my favorite blue-related words.  I think we can all remember learning some of these words from our crayola box when we were kids...

My favorite was always "cerulean"- the color used to describe the blue sky on a clear bright day.  Other sky blue words include "azure" or "cyaneous".  "Cyaneous" also has a more sinister origin from the poison cyanide, which is found in the seeds and pits of apples, mangos and peaches.  Cyanide was also a compound found in paint used in old paintings called "Prussian Blue" (which used to be a blue in older Crayola crayon boxes) and is used for the making of blueprints.

Other blue words are derived from gems or minerals such as "aquamarine", "lapis lazuli, "sapphire" or "turquoise".

Then there is the colder hues of blue consisting of "steel blue", "cobalt" or "chalybeous".  Or even "cesious" for blue-grey.

"Royal Blue" is the color traditionally used to symbolize royalty.  And "ecchymotic" is the color used to describe the color of broken blood vessels in a bruise ("black and blue").

"Mazarine" is a dark blue originating from the Mazarine Blue butterfly and "Cornflower blue" (also in the Crayola box) is rather obvious:

 Picture courtesy of ptc24

But I have to say, my favorite has always been "Robin's Egg Blue" (also in the Crayola box)...

Picture courtesy of PleasantPointInn

Blue Monday

Photo courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt

Today's Blue Monday post was inspired by a discussion with my friend Carrie.  I grew up in Michigan and spent many a childhood summer day picking blueberries.  I have always loved them- and we Michiganders can be quite the blueberry snobs.  But back to my friend Carrie.  She also grew up in Michigan and has since moved to New Mexico.  During our discussion, she made the bold statement that Texas blueberries are better.  Now- I have never had a Texas blueberry- and I will keep it as an open challenge- but for now- Michigan blueberries get my vote! 

My grandmother used to make a blueberry dessert (we actually call it "Blueberry Dessert"- not very creative, huh?) that was my favorite thing in the summer.  It consisted of a graham-crackery crust with sugar and blueberries with whipped cream on top.  Sometimes the simplest things are the best!!  And don't get me going on blueberry pancakes...

  picture courtesy of Cherrylet

                          

Guest Artist- Mark VanHoutum

For today's post, I am sharing some photos my friend Mark took on his travels.  I find his photographs amazing and inspiring with an exceptional eye for detail and subject matter. 

Netherlands

I find this picture especially amazing- since it was taken through the keyhole leading to an area in St. Peter's Cathedral not accessible to the public.   

Moon Over Rural France

Netherlands

Blue Monday

Today is Blue Monday (where we celebrate the color BLUE)...

I have always been fascinated by the color "haint blue" which is seen mostly in the South painted on porch ceilings, doors, window frames and shudders.

The custom appears to have originated with slaves who believed that the color was a talisman against "haints" or "haunts"- mainly because it was the color of water and haints cannot cross water.  They would apparently dig a hole in the ground and mix lime, milk, and whatever pigments they could find and paint the mixture around every opening into their homes. The haints, thinking it was water, are tricked into thinking they can’t enter.

"Haint Blue" isn't one specific color. It can vary from a pale pale light blue to a more deep turquoise or teal color. As long as it is on a porch ceiling or around a door or window, it can be considered  Haint Blue.
 
 
 



There is also some folklore that says painting a porch ceiling haint blue keeps insects (wasps and such) from building their nests.  Although this has not been scientifically proven, many in the South believe this.  One theory is that the old mixtures, which usually contained lime, was a deterent for the insects.  
 

 
That's it for Blue Monday.  As always- if you come across something inspiringly blue- send it my way.

New dolls (under construction)

Inspiration board

One of the ways that I remain inspired is by posting pictures to my "inspiration board"- 3 large corkboard panels I have hanging in my hallway. I know it sounds a bit corny (and yes- I do believe I got the idea from Oprah) but it is a great place for me to post things that inspire me.  It also serves to keep me connected to what is important.

The board has pictures of friends and family and magazine photos that I love, art postcards I have found at coffee shops, pictures that reflect a certain mood or pictures of interiors for my "lottery house" (wish me luck!) that I have been designing for years. I used to have stacks of photo albums full of these pictures, but I found I looked at them intermittently, which wasn't quite meeting my daily needs. So now I walk by these pictures daily.  I sometimes stop and look early in the morning before my day has begun and I always find something new and interesting to keep me thinking (positively) throughout the day.  And I have to admit- I am always amused when I have parties to see people, drinks in hand, lined up in the hallway looking at it.

(Red, White &) Blue Monday

Happy birthday, America! For today's Blue Monday (where we pay tribute to the color blue) we are going a bit off the rails by celebrating the ole' red, white and BLUE! 

First off are these great pillows of Americana made by VintageHome. 

And- as happens more often than not, one of my favorites is usually a food item.  It has been a bit hot here in the Midwest, so I started thinking of another childhood favorite- the Rocket Pop.  I clearly remember as a kid being in such despair and conflict over choosing between the roller coaster or or my half-finished rocket pop...

photo courtesy of

A happy 4th of July to you all! 

Finally- INSPIRATION!!!

As my previous posts have been detailing- I have been in a sort of inspirational quagmire (say that ten times fast!) with my clay dolls. I have several that have taken shape, but I have been searching for SOMETHING for a while now. And then today- it happened. I received the most recent Anthropologie catalog in the mail.

It should be known that I secretly (OK- not so secretly) covet the "lifestyle" depicted in this catalog.  Every time I get it I fantasize for at least a few days.  But I really didn't expect to get the loads of inspiration today for my clay dolls- for the hair, the look, the clothes, the staging.  Here are just a few pictures that caught my eye...

New Love Bugs

Here are just a few of the Love Bugs I have been working on- and that are now available in my Etsy shop (link to left).











Crazy for Stripes Love Bug and Pink and Blue Love Bug

I have been trying out a bunch of different color combinations and some new embroidery stitches. I really love mixing as many colors as possible. You can never have too much color!!





Purple and Blue Love Bug



And how can you resist the Love Bug's sweetheart tail!






Brown Love Bug