Lithia Springs, Florida

I went home this weekend to the Tampa Bay area to be with my family. My sister was home from Arkansas and it was my brother Blake's 30th birthday and his daughter's, Ellie, 5th birthday! There was lots to celebrate. I was only home for a total of three days and I haven't been home since February for my sister's wedding, another three day trip, that mostly consisted of wedding things- amazing wedding things! So, this was probably the sweetest trip home that I've had to date! I feel like all of the essentials were covered in such a short time. My first day I had a Cuban breakfast (one of my most favorite things!), Cuban toast and cafe con leche with my mom & sister, Afton. Then we scavenged Estate Sales and Antique shops, topped off with a cold treat from my favorite ice cream shop, Campbell's Dairy Isle (actually called Dairyland, but I have only ever known it to be Dairy Isle- sounds better anyways!!) of Brandon, Fl, a childhood classic. Yum. Yum.

Day two was spent celebrating birthdays, it was a horsey themed day. Ellie June, who turned five last week, loooooves horses and anything to do with horses- therefore she had a Horse Party and nearly every gift she received was in some way equestrian related. I gave her the classic, National Velvet, a movie I loved as a child. So, late that evening I spent laying under the dining room table with Ellie, watching National Velvet on my father's (her PaPa's) laptop! How sweet it was, but what a strange movie. Velvet is so bizarre to me now, but as a child I thought she was magnificent- I think Ellie is pretty fond of her too.

My final day home, in Lithia, Florida (rural area just south east of Tampa), I spent with my family at an old local haunt that had been long forgotten since the mid-90's, but seems to be making quite the comeback these days. It's called Lithia Springs Park. A magical place where I spent many a summer day as a child. In fact Lithia Springs was a hot spot even when my grandfather was young and I am sure for many generations before that. It was a hang out for my mother and her sisters as well. It is such a hidden little gem & I want to share it here with you. I love the color of the spring water, I call it Lithia Springs Blue & it's my new color for the summer! I love this place, so if you ever want to visit, just let me know. The pictures here are of the spring and the little springs surrounding. In the second to last photo you can see where the springs and the Alafia river meet. The Alafia eventually opens up to The Tampa Bay, which feeds into the Gulf.

p.s. I apologize that there are only photos of the spring. I was having too much fun at home & forgot to take pictures!!

Let's Do Business

So, last week I took a trip to New York City to pre-shop the stationery show for @home & to visit old friends exhibiting at Surtex and ICFF. It was a great trip, because I got to visit with so many friends and meet lots of new people. I especially love meeting new entrepreneurs & designers. They are the people living my dream and they are always so encouraging. Of the three exhibitions, The National Stationery Show was definitely my favorite, and I didn't even see the whole thing. It just seemed like everybody was on their own paths & taking new directions, where as in the past I have felt like every booth is exactly the same, over & over again. It always disappoints me too when I see the same exact trends that I find on etsy, in the stationery or gift shows- it makes it so much less exciting! But, this year was very fresh to me- hallelujah!

One of my favorite discoveries at the show this year was Enormous Champion, a Brooklyn based stationery company who launched not even a year ago. They had such a great booth. It was so warm and welcoming and then their stationery was just as beautiful & strong in designs and in color. They could each stand alone as prints, which is just another plus to their line- cards that can double as beautiful prints- just put them in a frame!! I loved it. This duo had great style & were very friendly! I was so happy to meet them. I have a feeling they had great success at this show.

I also met Meg Mateo Ilasco at the Stationery Show. I am most familiar with Meg because of the book she wrote for Chronicle Books (the most amazing publishing company ever!). Meg's book is called Craft Inc., it is a great resource for anyone interested in starting up a business selling their own goods & designs! This book has really guided me in the past few months, helping to get myself in gear for entrepreneurship. Craft Inc. includes insight from nearly every angle and is broken down and simplified for everyone to grasp. Aside from this great book, Meg is the Designer and owner of her own business Mateo Ilasco, where she plays many a role. At the National Stationery Show this year, Meg was showing her paper goods in a booth under the representative group, Mixed Co. (another one of her creations) which umbrellas over several independent designers, including herself. This was another fantastic booth. Each of the designers represented by Mixed Co. had beautiful things to offer, collectively the booth was a big winner in my own "book"! I was so happy to meet this group of women & especially Meg Mateo Ilasco. They are all a great inspiration to me.

Now, I am all amped to get my own business going! It has been in the works for a really long time and I am still only in the process, but I am more encouraged than ever and I am just ready to make it happen. I have done all the planning I can do, my next step is to get making! I am still prepping my studio, building shelves, laying flooring and building a printing table and a dark room. All of these things must be done before I can start production, but soon enough it will all come together! My first product, of course, will be my Reusable Market Bags. I am currently simplifying the design to insure a manageable production time and cost. I will be updating you more in the near future- until then, wish me luck!


xoxo,

be sure to visit the links above, you may have to roll over the text to find them!!

Roger Fry & Me

Two years ago I came across the work of Roger Fry in the Courtald Gallery, London. It was the still life pictured above that originally caught my eye. It has so many layers of texture, pattern, color, and great modern shapes. The mix between the sleek objects and the busy eclectic background is my favorite part. To me it's like the perfect balance of old & new, something that I often strive for in my own designs and life! Since this piece I have discovered more of his work in museums and I always seem to be drawn in by them before I even realize it's his artwork. Then, just recently I purchased a book on Art Theory & Criticism from this amazing little bookshop in D.C. and was so thrilled to discover that it was written by Roger himself. He was also a designer of textiles, furniture, and interiors. I'm really inspired by this man of many talents. Fry (1866-1934) was a British Post- Impressionist painter, to learn more/ see more, click here.

Workers, Not Players!!

This past Saturday began the start of a new adventure with a good group of friends & fellow artists/ designers. Together we have joined creative forces, as a collective, and turned nearly 2,000sq.ft. of rented warehouse space into our own shared studio space!! Thanks to foreman, Brad Smith of Bradford Woodworking (also father to Adam Smith, one of the artists), we were able to complete nearly all of the dirty work in one day! Thank you Mr. Brad (pictured above)for all the hard work & help.

pictured above (below text): the beginning (notice that's me on the chop saw way in the background!!), the strong woman, the progress, and the end. Then, boys celebrating Earth Day by cleaning up the filthy perimeter of the Viking Mill!

a special thanks to Ryan Jahn for the photography!

Speaking to My Soul!

These are the works of talented Georgia artist, Cedric Smith. When I used to live in my beloved Savannah, Ga. I knew Cedric as a customer of @home, but I didn't know of his talents until very recently, thanks to my friend Kirsten who shared her own discovery of his artwork in South Magazine last month. There is so much about Cedric's creations that speak to me. Since about the age of five I have been what is best referred to as an "afrophile", much like an anglophile is captivated by the English culture, I have always been so fond of the African American culture & history. In fact I am convinced that in a past life I was an old southern African American woman, like a Janie Crawford of Their Eyes Were Watching God, I can see it now. So, I suppose this is why Cedric's work makes my heart leap so! Originally I was really taken with his photographs of antique photos in idyllic southern settings, and now I am even more in love with his paintings. Their is such a clear juxtaposition with the sweet southern charm and then the grit of the actual truth to these wishful advertisements from the past. What if these ads actually existed back in the day, I certainly do think that the world would have been a more beautiful place if so.

*images above were found on CedricSmith.com, except for the Back in the Day Cupcake sign which was created for my all time favorite bakery and dear baker friends, Cheryl & Griff Day. Find Cheryl's own story on Cedric here.

I Find This So Very Interesting:

Above: Original artwork by Lauri Faggioni
Below: images from recent Anthropologie catalog




I know I am a bit late on this topic, but have you seen the latest Anthropologie catalog?
Well, in the past few weeks I have read over and over again how impressed the world is with the creative direction of this infamous catalog, with its fabric walls, windows, paintings and all. I have to admit, I too would be impressed if I hadn't already seen almost the exact same production almost one year ago created by one of my very favorite fiber artists and production designer, Lauri Faggioni. Faggioni is most well known for her works in Michel Gondry's popular film, The Science of Sleep & the music video she created for Devendra Banhart. I just hate to think that somebody out there is getting so much credit for something that obviously wasn't their own idea, that is unless Lauri Fagionni herself is now working for Anthropologie, which I highly doubt she is! It makes me so happy that I tore out this article about Lauri, and if you don't already know about her- please delve into her work, she is incredible & I love to watch her short extra on the Science of Sleep DVD- it makes me so happy & it reinvigorates my creative soul when it begins to get a little bogged down by this sometimes unjust world ( I think I may need a dose of it after this post!!).

*be sure to click away on all of the highlighted links above and for even more info on Lauri Faggioni, click here.

**Also be sure to read the comments below- for there is updated info. hidden there!!

Easter Treats

So, here are a few Easter goodies, finally! I have been having some major blogging technical troubles lately and I have been totally discouraged, until tonight. Not to mention that I was out sick with the Plague last week- yuck. Prior to this sickness & blogging bummers (like early last month), I was feeling all inspired for Spring & so I made little treat baskets for a few of the good folks in my life. I had plans to deliver to all of the good folks in my life, but since I'm still recovering from my first winter, things are happening extra slowly in my world & so hopefully I'll be all caught up by next Spring!!

*note: the giraffe collage in 2nd to last image is by esther at essimar, my favorite etsy shop!! Please check her out here.