I Love Color- 5 Tips for Spring 2013 Styles

I love color! It is such a fun part of life.  Even with a budget that will not allow big ticket items, the fashion conscious, educated consumer can stay hip and in style.

5 Tips for Spring 2013 Styles

1. Download a guide, but maintain your own style.

If you haven't already downloaded the Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2013 (it came out in September) now is really great time.  Spring will officially be here on March 20th and there is nothing happier than a little guidance when shopping on a budget.  Refreshing a wardrobe and a household can be done economically with this guide to filter and hone your shopping skills. I will still be a rebel and have pink accents and additional colors, but this chart definitely gets me thinking.

2. Make small investments in the color categories you love.

One fun item I found this morning online are muslin bags by Inspire Lovely. The nectarine polka dots on the large bag is definitely my favorite.  I love small draw string bags for everyday organization, travel or gifts. 

3.  Collect ideas you love, even if you aren't sure what to immediately do with them.  

I love the Monaco Blue Coral Prints in a room by Greige Interior Design, paired with orange accents brighten this room, so I've pinned it on Pinterest and on Houzz.

4.  Find what you already own that fits with the current fashions. 

Poppy Red is one of the fun colors this season I will want to wear. I will be pulling my red pants out of the closet (Red Tape by Rebecca Daneberg) and pairing them with some fun tops in linen cream and monaco blue.(photo pairing idea from 9to5 blog)

5. Select one project to DIY your way to current hip-ness

Lemon Zest is such a fun cheery color.  One easy project little bit funky  did was paint the handles of wooden kitchen utensils.  What a fun way to brighten everyday.

I Love Series: Irving Farm Coffee

Since it's February (the month usually associated with love) I'm doing a love series on my blog, highlighting some of my favorite things.

Irving Farm Brew Organic Coffee is one thing I love.  Yes, the grey stripe and great packaging helps, but it also is a wonderful cup of coffee. 

To me, a perfect Saturday morning starts out quietly and slowly. I like to mentally regroup from my week of crazy.  This coffee is my Saturday morning luxury that compliments creative rejuvenation.  I became attached to this brand while living in NYC in Union Square attending NYU this past summer.  

I decided to visit Irving Farm (by internet) today and read a little about them.

Irving Farm Story:

We were founded in Manhattan in 1996 with a little cafe space near Union Square, still known simply as 71 Irving Place. Irving Farm’s founders soon realized that to deliver a truly craft-focused, hands-on approach to their love of coffee, we’d simply have to roast it, too.

We love New York — the country as well as the city — and so in 1999 we transformed a farm in the Hudson Valley into a roasting facility. The country roastery and the city cafe meet in our name: Irving Farm. Set at the foot of the Catskills and the Berkshires, our base in the historic Coleman Station district near the town of Millerton is the same region whose lush dairy farms were once the main supplier of milk to New York City in the 1800s.

I walked Irving Street all the time this summer, unaware of the ties to the brand of coffee.  It's fun to make the connection now.

I thank my Mom for being the reason I grind fresh for every pot of coffee instead of purchasing coffee already ground.  

My coffee cup of choice is usually my Savannah College of Art and Design Mug, Sean got for me this past Thanksgiving.  It has sentimental ties and it subtly inspires my creative side.

My Favorite Niece

Baby Girl's first Christmas needed to be documented.  After all, she is my favorite niece. Yes, I am one of "those aunts".  I firmly believe Eve is the most beautiful, intelligent baby on the face of the earth (at this time).

There are many benefits to living in Florida.  One benefit is Christmas photos can be done outdoors with a green backdrop. The costume changes can also take place outside.  Unfortunately a third of my photos were lost, due to a card error, and reformatting.  I want to cry.  Hopefully, I learned my lesson. Not all was lost. She is a good little model so we managed to capture some sweet moments today. 

The first photo is usually my favorite.  This photo shoot was no exception. 

Costume change, number one.

Eve with her Nana.

Since Nana is here, I can sneak in a picture

At the end of the photo shoot, Eve's Mom was able to join us.

Three generations.

Tampa's Le Mouton Noir

It's that time of year: Florida Music Association Educator's Professional Development Conference. The bakehouse we stumbled across today in Tampa, Le Mouton Noir, was wonderful.   Sean enjoyed serious ginger-ale in front of the books and toys

We missed the breakfast time so I chose the apple-cranberry chicken salad– homemade chicken salad with pecans served with greens on a croissant.  The croissant was perfect. 

The white utensils attached diagonally on wooden squares is definitely eclipsed by the fun lighting over Philippe Starck chairs.  Painted frames share the wall with real frames which is fun.

Spread the Joy!

Oh Joy! is a blog written by designer Joy Cho, out of L.A. California.

Joy is pictured above with her daughter Ruby.  In her own words, "Oh Joy! is a blog that covers inspiration and design with a focus on my favorite things: design, fashion and food."

Both her blog and her work are fresh and inspirational.

See more of her work at: http://ohjoy.blogs.com/

New Year's Resolutions

This year I have decided to list my New Year's Resolutions with pictures and graphics.  Happy 2013!

1.  I will simplify my life, my work, my art.

Creativity is Subtraction – truth from Austin Kleon, part of his brilliant Newspaper Blackout project.

2.  I will only keep (or purchase) useful and beautiful items in 2013.  

Hand-lettered wisdom from William Morris by Lisa Congdon. More of Lisa’s typographic words of famous wisdom here.

3.  I will take time to be creative. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/imeusart/

4.  I won't wait for inspiration to find me.  I will already be in motion when it catches up. 

Chuck Close on creativity

5. I will love, love, love!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ohmydeer

6. More yoga and exercise!  It's good for me.

http://cdryan.com/blog/namaste/

7. Discover new places.  Travel and eat!

Artist: http://www.pattersonmaker.com

8. No more fear of WRONG! 

Artist: JillMcDonalddesign.com

9. Thank God for everything.

Artist: Open Heart Creations

10. Spend time in the garden.

Artist: George Robinson http://www.oneeyeland.com/image.php?imgid=56556


11. Focus on the truth! (about me, others, priorities, belongings, investments, etc.)

Hand Drawn Typography + 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

As I clean for the new year, I came across a note my sister Elizabeth had written me in December of 2010.  "How about I blow off this whole law thing and just do this?" She had asked me and included a link to Kate Forrester's blog.  I visited it today, while and found amazing book cover illustrations, advertisements, and other charming and inspiring art.  

You can see her work at http://www.kateforrester.co.uk/