Showing posts with label inspirations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspirations. Show all posts

Thursday, June 24, 2010

40 Years of Art & Books

This is the kind of place I would like to be living in when I am old & gray. The seeds have been planted, but it will take a long time to grow.

"The walls are covered in the artwork of the Austrian artists Kurt Kocherscheidt, Brigitte Kowanz, Joannis Avramidis and Maria Lassnig; wooden floors and Oriental rugs are found throughout the home.

Also on display are artifacts like arrowheads and figures from Mr. Reder’s research trips to the Sahara, Afghanistan, Syria and the Caucasus. A drawing by Walter Pichler, an architect and sculptor, hangs above the fireplace. It is one of many sketches by an array of artists and architects hanging on the walls throughout the apartment — even in the kitchen, which is a cozy alcove with a Saarinen round table and Thonet chairs.

Thousands of books line the walls of almost every room, as well as the guest bathroom, where a toilet sits like a throne at the back of a long narrow hall. “We were running out of space,” Ms. Reder said. “So the books spilled into the bathroom. We put crates of wine here, too, since it’s the coolest room in the house.” "

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Mother Earth and Her Children

Somehow, M found this misshelved & lost book in the children's book stacks at the library. I'm glad she did. Everytime we settle down to read it before nap time, I get so lost in all the pictures... we both do.
The illustrations in this book are actually details of a single quilt created by Sieglinde Schoen-Smith. It's amazing for me to think that someone could make this by hand out of simple cloth & thread.

Illustrated/quilted by Sieglinde Schoen-Smith from a poem/book long-ago written by Sibylle von Olfers and translated by Jack Zipes
Schoen-Smith's design was inspired by the original 1906 illustrations by the author, Sibylle von Olfers. Very lovely too. You can view a complete digital copy of her book here.

Image above via Stadtmuseum Esslingen

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

I love Ozzy

As if little Ozzy Rabbit wasn't cute enough, he also has a removable vest with a polka dot lining.
Oh, Fanya. You are too much!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Kiet's Kamer

Wouldn't this be such a wonderful room to grow up in? Look at that gondola! That lamp! Heavenly.
Kiet's kamer by esthermokka

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Aesop's Fables

I have long wanted to create a series of sewn pieces based on Aesop's Fables. I love the strange imagery combinded with the sometimes harsh moralization.

The Cock and the Jewel: The ignorant despise what is precious only because they cannot understand it

The Crow and the Pitcher: Necessity is the mother of invention

The Ants & the Grasshopper: It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow

The Dog & the Shadow: Grasp at the shadow and lost the substance

The Bear & the Beehive: It is wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage

Images of old cigarette cards from the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery

Friday, February 6, 2009

Play Kitchen

It's never enough. The paint is barely dry on our perfect, homemade sandbox, and already I'm dreaming up plans for Baby M's new play kitchen. Some time back, I saw this cool plan for a DIY Ikea-hack kitchen. But there are so many other great ideas out there. The homemade ones are by far my favorite.

Nice wood with vintage kitchen toys from Shop Worthy's photostream:
Compact & portable from from ElsieMarley's photosteam:

So much like our kitchen! From Daddytype's photostream:
Very sweet, small & fully-loaded, from -syko-'s photostream:

Friday, January 30, 2009

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Studio dreams


my office
Originally uploaded by Castanet

One of my big goals this year is to carve out a little workspace/studio space that is just for me. Ultimately, I dream of this being a little space on its own with lots of windows & wonderful light, storage to keep my materials tidy & in one location, and to have a board to pin up ideas & inspirations.

With lighting like this, possibly?All images are out of my league and from YLighting

Until that day happens, I think if we move our bed & nightstands to the other wall, enough space will be opened up in the far corner to attach a small shelf to the wall for my sewing machine. I can use the bed to lay out my cutting board & fabrics. Also the light is wonderful in that room, which is an added plus. But really, all I really want is a permanent place for the sewing machine (currently kept on the top shelf of Baby M's bookcase) and a quiet place to work.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

OK, I already cracked...

OK. I cracked. Three days into my shopping freeze & I already made my first non-essential purchase. But! But! It's very special & I've been looking for a copy available for sale in the US for literally years. Not only did I find what I was looking for, but it's an original vintage copy. So, hmmm, vintage is used, is it not? Looks like I just squeezed it through one of my loopholes. Three cheers for loopholes!

Pluk van de Petteflet by Annie M.G. Schmidt & illustrated by Fiep Westendorp

I neither read nor speak Dutch, but I can sorta understand the international language of gorgeousness. Isn't Fiep Westendorp the most exquisite illustrator?



Saturday, January 3, 2009

Monday, December 22, 2008

Pablo

I don't understand him, but Pablo Picasso consistantly fascinates me. A brilliant monster, a fragile egoist, incessently restless. I can't stop reading about him.

An old photo from Life Magazine via Nothing is New