What Inspires You Wednesday: ArtPlay

Watercolors & Patterns

Since Easter morning, when I took my Mom's big old paint supply box out to the backyard and sat and just gave watercolors a try, I've been creating something with watercolor just about every day.

I am a girl obsessed. It feels like a stress relieving mental vacation for me, when a real vacation is far off in the distance. It is giving me a much needed burst of creativity away from the mouse, that in turn makes me more productive at my desk for having had the time away. I often start and end my day this way and it only inspires me to do it  more.

Right now, I'm just trying to create for creating's sake. To see what feels right. What looks right. Whether it's flowers, or experimenting with colors, landscapes, or a lot of patterns I feel like I just need to produce and I'll find my groove and style and I don't want to limit myself at all. That itself feels incredibly refreshing when by day, I'm creating for business purposes and it can be an entirely different process. As a creative person, sometimes I just need the freedom to create whatever strikes my fancy. The watercolors feel like they're all about letting the business stuff of the day go. Making mistakes, trial and error and simply going with the flow and just creating. Period.

I've really been having a blast playing with patterns, among other things.  I finally took one of my watercolor patterns and imported it into photoshop and then into illustrator where I created a bigger, overall pattern.  I must admit, I'm quite like it and am inspired to do that with many more of the patterns I've already painted.

I think what I'm really liking is that there are no rules. Yeah, I'm not the kind of gal that's into rules.

I also painted my first two watercolor buildings last night. I took a trip to New York and the Empire State first and then ended my mental vacation in Paris before I hit the sack. If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen it already, but there it is again.

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was built in a matter of two years? Before the turn of the last century? No kidding. It was also criticized by many architects and designers of the times, but in the end I think this icon has had the last laugh. Someday I'll see it in person.

Not half bad for a first go. The funny thing is, I really didn't like how it was looking at the beginning, but I stuck with it and was pleased with it in the end.  There is more forgiveness with watercolors than I would have thought. I'm feeling inspired by that too. Not judging too soon and letting things unfold. It's a good lesson.

If you're like me and love patterns, be sure to check out all the inspiration on my patterns & texture pinterest board. Gorgeous stuff.


Tonight I doubt there will be any painting at the end of the day. It's playoff hockey between my Bs and our rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. In game 7. At home. I'm hoping my boys look like themselves on the ice tonight. The President's Cup winners- the team with the best record in hockey this year.  The last game we looked like a different team all together. Of course, when we win the Stanley Cup this year, we'll be able to say, 'it wouldn't have been the same without beating the Habs in a game seven to get there'. I'll close the windows, but you still may hear me all the way from here.  Nothing like getting the heart racing........

I know I can count on you to make it a great day, right? I'll do the same.

Ciao for now,

Throwback Thursday: Pin Worthy & A Bonus

A Year Ago Today

Since it's Thursday, and almost everyone and his brother participates in posting throwback thursday worth pictures on Facebook every week, I thought it would be fun to see what I posted about a year ago today.  Bonus: throwback picture of me at the end of this post.

So check it out..................I still love all of this stuff:

In The Home

If you're like me, you pin a wide variety of things on pinterest from art, to colors, patterns, nature, photography....the list goes on.

I am always pinning a lot of home decor and designs I think I might be able to pull off.

Here's some I'm really digging.

Let me just put it out there. I like color. I really, really like it.

I've tried to go neutral...my kitchen is painted in neutrals, but when I do, it's not long before I add a splash of color. Other places in our home are painted in bolder colors, like the lounge which is a bright olive-y green. I love neutrals, but I always end up needing some pow-factor.

I think that's why I'm drawn to all of these.

{top left: happy seating area via shopsocietysocial }

I love the juxtaposition of the worn wood wall (something I have planned for at least part of what we call our 'ensuite bath to be'...the tub is in but it's not even close to being hooked up) combined with the bright pops of colors, and the classic sofa and tables. It's an unexpected combination but it works.

{top right: ‘green living room’ via designlovefest}

Call me a stalker, but I love just about anything Emily Henderson touches (part of it is because everything she touches is designed and styled beautifully, but thoughtfully as well and always livable). She pulled this living room together for her friend, and I love the plants and the way they show off the light even more, the colors (swooning over the chair and the stool), the texture, the vintage furniture...the list goes on.

{bottom left: made-over dresser via 101woonideeen}

Wha....wha.....wha....why didn't I think of that? Love that dresser. 'Nuf said. Oh wait, and the chair. How I'd love to have those chairs around our dining table. At least a couple. OK, moving on.

{kitchen cart to bar cart makeover via confetti style}

The bar cart is the epitome of do-able design. Shelly over at Confetti Style took an old, kind-of-ugly kitchen cart and transformed it into a gold goddess ready for a cocktail party. I love the matte/glossy stripes. Now I just need to know when the party is.

Are you like me, a lover of color? Someone who tries to go neutral but in the end caves to a need for color? I love me some Scandinavian neutral interiors, but I just can't quite seem to pull it off. What about you?

Hope you're having a great day. The sun is shining here. Thankfully I got out for a quick walk this morning with the dog to enjoy the fresh air, because I'm not sure tomorrow is looking so good.

 

 

Today: Sure, the sun is shining and the temperature is slowly warming up, but it has been damn cold this week and we are still hauling wood in and stocking the fire every day.  If you were to read between the lines.........I am so over this cold. Really and truly. We are supposed to possibly get up to 50 this weekend and that would make me ever so happy. I mean this arctic air is starting to affect my mood, and it's not for the better.

 

As promised, here I am.  "Nobody puts Baby in the corner", but putting Pam in the corner is A-OK.  Somebody at least throw me some cake or something, would ya? Or perhaps pull my highchair up to the table at least?

 

 

Of course, I fared better than brother Bill who didn't even make the cut, and sister Gloria who only got half a face in the shot. 

 

Yes people, that is eagle wallpaper. And lest you think we weren't patriotic enough with the eagles, that wallpaper was followed by red, white a blue minutemen. Personally, I like the fact that it looks like my high chair seat has been covered in the eagle wallpaper. Oh Mom, so crafty, even back then.

 

Make it a great day!

 

Ciao for now,