musings on art, design, food and other things that matter...

Fall Beauty

2007-10-11T11:49:00.001-05:00

I just returned from a relaxing trip to New Mexico. The weather was perfect and the trees were at their peek of fall color. Here are a couple of pictures taken during a great bike ride...

A New Low in Design Inspiration

2007-09-28T12:58:00.001-05:00

I just read an article about a new deal between KB Home (a residential construction company) and The Walt Disney Co. What exactly is the deal? Well, to quote the article, "KB Home will begin offering the Disney Home features early next year. Customers can choose from flooring, lighting, wall coverings and other products featuring Disney characters. "

ARE YOU SERIOUS? This is how a struggling builder chooses to help boost its bottom line? Do Americans really have such short attention spans that the offering of Disney decor will be a deciding factor in choosing a builder? "Gee honey, I don't think we can really afford to build a new home right now. But if we go with this company, you can get that Donald Duck wallpaper you've always wanted.... and I can have mouse ear sconces in my office! Maybe we should just take the plunge anyway! Let's call up KB right now!"

How about offering more sustainable products? How about pairing with design professionals who specialize in universal design, so that the homes will be safe for disabled and aging populations?

I shutter to think of the open houses associated with this movement. I supposed they'll be serving cotton candy and kool-aid at the welcome booth.

Monarch

2007-09-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

A new little painting... Monarch. This is a mini study for a larger series I want to

do for children's rooms. Enjoy!

Magritte Sings For His Breakfast

2007-09-13T12:57:00.001-05:00

Juliette Ober is another artist I just discovered. I'm so attracted to Magritte Sings For His Breakfast... so yummy. Ober says she likes to paint like she's icing a cake with thick, creamy brushstrokes. Well, I could certainly take a bite out of this doughnut! Be sure to check out her website and Etsy shop!

A Few Paintings at C'est Moi

2007-09-12T09:10:00.001-05:00

These five paintings are now available in Chicago at C'est Moi, 2129 North Damen Ave in Bucktown! I'm thrilled to have my art featured in such a fun shoppe, among fabulous bedding from the Pine Cone Hill Collection, colorful rugs from Company C, throws by David Fussenegger, and tons of other fun accessories and home decor must-haves. Thanks Anne! (P.S. I'm also glad you can finally see them in person... my amateur photography never does them justice!)

Another Little Beauty

2007-09-10T19:47:00.000-05:00

I just came across Shanna Murray's Etsy shop and I love her handmade items. The way she photographs them is so fresh and crisp as well. I'll be visiting quite 0ften, I'm sure!

P.S. I received 'Rainy Day Games' from Catherine Campbell in Australia today and she's even more lovely in person!

Note to Self... Read the Fine Print

2007-09-10T17:41:00.000-05:00

I was excited last week about my dining room being featured on Domino's homepage for their decorating contest. Well, I decided to read the good old rules for entering the contest after actually entering it. Sad news: it's only open to non-professionals! So I sent Domino an e-mail and had it removed from the pool. I guess I'll just have to come up with another way to win $10,000! Let me know if you know of any!

Domino Decorating Contest... That's Me!

2007-09-05T17:49:00.000-05:00

Domino Magazine is having a decorating contest... I entered my dining room (bottom right in this montage) and it's on the front page of their site today! They've been selecting a few entries as they receive them to put on the site. Beginning October 23rd, readers can vote for their favorite one. There are 43 entries featured so far, so we'll see what happens!

Outside In

2007-09-03T11:40:00.000-05:00

I love this shot from Livingetc. of architect Steven Ehrlich's residence in LA. How great would it be to enjoy this living room day in and day out? You can see more of the house, which incorporates sustainable building elements by going to his site then clicking on residential projects, then 700 Palms Residence.

Two New Paintings... experimenting with thread

2007-08-31T08:53:00.000-05:00

'These Rainy Days' is inspired by the week of rain and storms we recently had in Chicago. Lately I've been experimenting with sewing thread into some of my work, as I did here (over the three middle circles and up the left side of the stripes). I like the subtle texture it adds to this combo of watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil and ink!

'Tooty Fruity' is just a fun little vintage-inspired piece, incorporating a recipe for fruit sauce from an old book, and finished off with watercolors, acrylics, and lime green thread.

Yodele Hee Hoo... A Girl and her Guitar

2007-08-29T10:09:00.000-05:00

You know that summer in Chicago is nearing an end when you catch the very last flick of the Movies in the Park series. This year's line-up ended with The Sound of Music, which I hadn't seen since I was a small child. It was so interesting to see it again and the setting couldn't have been more enchanting... The backdrop to the 50 by 34 foot screen was the downtown skyline of Chicago, with the steady whoosh of cars snaking down Lake Shore drive on my right, and about 9,000 other movie goers all around. Even with all of those other people it still felt intimate somehow (until it came time to leave). And the whole experience was made complete with perfect weather and a soft breeze wafting from Lake Michigan, not to mention the company of one of my best friends, a summer picnic, a bottle of wine, and the occasional plane flying overhead.

I must admit that as a designer who has a slight case of ADD anyway, I get pretty distracted by the set design in most movies. I'm always checking out the moldings, the wallpaper, the fabrics, furniture, etc. I was totally staring at the wallpaper in the Nun's office and checking out the damask 'drapes' that Maria eventually made into play clothes for the children.

A Tiny Beauty... and she's all mine

2007-08-24T18:13:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited about my latest purchase from Australian illustrator Catherine Campbell. I've had my eye on prints and originals from her shop My Folk Lover for a while. She listed an original today that I just had to have. Her illustrations are very delicate, yet full of color and texture. Here's the little lady I'm waiting for...

This sweet set of prints is available in her shop...

Little Perk in the Big City

2007-08-16T14:01:00.000-05:00

This wall of green belongs to a building that faces my back porch. It's three stories high and the entire facade is covered in vines. It helps make my porch a great place for relaxing, while watching the leaves flutter in the wind. And the soft noise they produce when tiny raindrops hit their surface is so nice, much like a light sprinkling on the surface of a tent. Another wonderful element is the intense color display that happens in the fall. Beautiful.

Recent Etsy Find: Sara Paloma's Pottery

2007-08-15T18:40:00.000-05:00

I came across Sara Paloma's Etsy site and loved her simple, interesting pottery. I can see these pieces mixing well with any type of decor, with their organic forms and restful colors.

Building... on a Building

2007-08-08T13:04:00.000-05:00

I saw this project on apartmenttherapy.com and found it absolutely amazing. This 4,500 square foot house, the vision of architect Andrew Berman, is built on a rooftop in NYC! I've long been enamored with New York and I know for sure sure that if I win the lottery, a home like this will be on my list.

This subject brought to mind an article I read a couple of years ago about buying "air rights" in the city. It seemed absurdly logical to me... and thoroughly intangible with all the ifs, ands and buts. I found a similar article on therealdeal.net that you can check out as well. Buyers not only purchase the space for the possibility of building within it, but for the purpose of protecting their little ray(s) of sunshine.

Angie Lewin, Printmaker

2007-08-07T12:51:00.000-05:00

I love the work of UK printmaker Angie Lewin. Her prints are light-hearted and fun, with a vintage touch. I can imagine them inspiring whole rooms. Check out her website to view her online gallery!

Chicago Among Greenest, Fastest Cities

2007-08-03T09:47:00.000-05:00

In a recent article, FastCompany.com named the thirty fastest cities in the world, then divided them into nine categories. In the "Green Leaders" category Chicago topped the list, followed by Stokholm, Portland and Vancouver. I was so happy to see my city at the top, though I was a bit surprised that it outranked Portland, according to these guys. Maybe that's because the greening of Chicago has taken place mostly on rooftops, whereas Portland seems to incorporate green living into its culture on many more levels. The article cited this as the main indicator for Chicago: "Since 1999, the city has planted 2.5 million square feet of heat-reducing rooftop gardens, more than all other U.S. cities combined." And apparently mayor Daley has overseen the planting of 500,000 new trees.

Those of you who don't live here may be surprised to know that the city JUST NOW started a city-wide recycling program about two months ago. Moving here from Texas, I was shocked that a system wasn't already in place. I'm not sure what the hold-up was, but at least it's here now. I look forward to the continuous greening of Chicago.

The Apple store on Michigan Ave is one example of an urban green roof (picture from treehugger):

Green and Blue, pink

2007-08-02T18:10:00.000-05:00

Now and then, I'll post some images for color scheme inspiration. Selecting a color scheme for your space can be overwhelming sometimes. Seeking out images you like and studying the colors is one way to help yourself in the right direction. These images don't have to be of rooms, but can come from just about anywhere. When in doubt, think about nature... it doesn't make mistakes. Perhaps that's why green and blue are so perfectly soothing together- it's a cue from the earth and sky.

Click on any of these three color scheme images for their origins... from Cottage Living.

Black and White, green & yellow

2007-08-02T10:51:00.000-05:00

Pink and Green, grey

2007-08-02T10:46:00.000-05:00

Roasted Wild Salmon with Rice and Cauliflower

2007-08-01T22:45:00.000-05:00

This recipe turned out to be pretty tasty. It's nice and light and summery (although a 400 degree oven on a hot day isn't always the best). It was something we found in a search on foodnetwork.com.

I was afraid the salmon would be too dry if I baked it on a baking sheet, so I baked it in a skillet, drizzled in olive oil and lemon juice, sprinkled with lemon pepper.

The parmesan cauliflower tasted great... almost like you were being really bad and having it fried because of the texture! I don't have cooking spray, so it too got a light drizzling of olive oil before baking.

Instead of instant brown rice, I used Texmati whole grain Royal Blend. It's much more interesting than regular brown rice (and tastes better too).

The leftover salmon and tomato mixture, combined with fresh avocado, made a great sandwich the next day.

Enjoy!

I can't get enough of...

2007-08-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

... vintage tea tins, like this one on my kitchen table. I love the designs, the colors, and the way they age with little rust spots. I constantly try to edit my collections, but it's so hard! I'd have at least twenty of these if I'd let myself. They frequently inspire my paintings too!

For an instant tea tin collection, you can visit Pearl River and browse their multitude of new tins filled with different flavors of tea. I discovered it through Domino Magazine.

papersnow on Etsy

2007-07-31T22:10:00.000-05:00

Be sure to check out my site on Etsy and while you're there, look in the "my favorites" section. Etsy is bursting with amazing talent and I've picked just a few of my favs to share with you!

Interior Design Rules!

2007-07-31T22:00:00.000-05:00

My interior design website is currently under construction. I'll publish the link here as soon as it's ready!

This chair is one of my favorite second-hand scores. I got a pair of them at an annual rummage sale in Highland Park, IL.

Substitutions for pesto!

2007-07-31T20:12:00.001-05:00

This may seem like a small thing to you, but for a pesto lover like me, it was a fine discovery. A few nights ago I had some girlfriends over for wine and appetizers. At the last minute I decided I needed one more little dish and scavenged for something to whip up. Pesto is always a crowd pleaser, but I didn't have pine nuts or parmesan. My enormous basil plant was just begging to be pruned, so I decided to improvise with feta and pecans. The result was a hit and a less expensive way of making pesto, at that. (This photo is of the plant after I pruned it about halfway down!)

Naturally, I didn't measure anything out, but here is a rough idea:

1 cup fresh basil
1/4 cup pecans
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Pulse the top four ingredients with a splash of the olive oil in a blender or food processor to get them moving. As the ingredients puree, slowly add the olive oil until it has a consistency a little runnier than peanut butter.

Pesto is great with so many things.... Pita chips, veggies, tossed with pasta, as a sandwich spread, slathered over chicken before baking or broiling, as pizza sauce, etc. Plus it's loaded with fresh ingredients, healthy fats and the fresh aroma that emanates from the blender is amazing.

Enjoy!