Dreaming of an Art Wall!

I know, here I am talking about an art gallery wall and I realized I have never even really showed you my house since we bought it 2 years ago!  I am working on a whole "house tour" thing for the blog. 

And, well, today Im going to start by showing you one little corner of our home.  

Remember my mint green dresser-now entry console?  I finished painting it back in April, hung my huge gold mirror and it just needed to be styled.  Here we are 6 months later and the only style it has (if you can even call it that) is a stream of framed (and unframed) art leaning against the wall waiting to be hung.  

This look doesn't bother me too much, but the constant clutter that is in front of it does.  Oh I was so excited to have all these drawers at the door.  There will be a place for everything! I thought.  Isn't that was organized people have?  A place for everything?  What unorganized people can't grasp is that you have to designate a spot....and then put it there!  Guys, I have 13 drawers and 8 baskets in the living room alone. Well, at least I have the space to make it happen...someday.

Back to the art wall.  While working for Delta Airlines I traveled a lot and unfortunately, only the last few years did I start bringing art home with me...Duh!  So many missed opportunities.   Nonetheless, I have collected some cool art over the years from various parts of the world, art shows around Atlanta and of course etsy.
Check out this world map print from Jessica Durrant (right here in Atlanta!) Notice how it's in my favorite colors.  It's just waiting for a nice gold frame.

Also love this Michelle Armas print (or any of her others) but sadly, I don't think this one is available anymore.

I already have one of her prints and I would love to grow my collection.

This beautiful peacock by MaiAutumn will be on the art wall as well.  This print was featured in West Elm, so it may look familiar.  Again, with the colors...and you know how I feel about peacocks.

In the last year, my time of perusing Etsy has been less and less.  This is why I am happy that I found The Jealous Curator.  (thanks to Emily Henderson) Her whole blog is dedicated to introducing you to cool art.  I have several things on my wish list due to her introductions.  Check out my "art" board on Pinterest.  Although art is totally subjective and personal, who knows, you may like something I pinned.  My absolute favorites right now are by Lisa Krannichfeld from her "Glass Managerie" series.  She sells prints of the original paintings for a good price.   These will be on the wall as well. 

{Whisper and Twenty-eight}

Even with all of this, I plan to mix in some DIY art, and maybe a typography piece or a silhouette of my babies. I will need a few more pieces to create the look Im after. 

Here are a few inspiration photos:

{via Oh Joy}

{From the Right Bank via New York Times}

{via Niji Home}

I love these art walls because they mix frame sizes and color, and look organically thrown up there (I'm sure they weren't). Plus it is a great mix of artwork. Ceiling to floor art? Yes!

So let's take a look at my wall again, shall we?

Since I do already have the huge gold mirror up, my "plan" is to just work out from there. One piece on the left and then one on the right, etc. and balance it with my eyes. But that could go wrong 10 nail holes in.  So I was thinking I could use Picasa's collage maker (which I use frequently) to lay out the art before hanging.  Just for a rough idea of what looks good together.

Ok this is not really to scale, but i think it will work.  I can already tell this wall is going to make me happy.  It is a lot of wall space too, so this way I can add to it as I get more.  More is more, but budget is reality.  Promise to show you when it's underway. Im close to pulling the trigger.

Living Room Inspiration

Im excited to say that my living room is really coming along.  It's hard trying to pull everything together, especially if you are like me and can't pinpoint your style or decide on colors.  This changed when I found my inspiration piece: a large painting by Jane Johnson.  I met the Chicago based painter at the Atlanta Arts Festival last year,  (her booth was a few down from mine)  and we decided to do a jewelry-for-art swap.  What a brilliant idea, right?

It was a tough decision, but I finally picked this...

I love all the colors she used in this abstract.  It has orange, yellow, blue, green and gray.
I think it makes a great palette for my living room.  I will post progress pics soon.

Did you guys have an inspiration piece for decorating one of your rooms? It really helps, right?

Felicidades Brrrian!

I know I have said it before, but my brother Brrrian inspires me so.  This is probably one of the many reasons why I want him to move to Atlanta.  I just want to be closer to him, see him more often.  He motivates me and his ideas and creativity are endless!


I remember when he completed this picture of Azalea, a friends' daughter.  It was made by carving a linoleum block, inking it and stamping it on rice paper.  It is on display now at the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University until July 10th.  They are showcasing local teachers artwork.
Bravo Brrrian, Bravo!

Weekly Update and Smilebooth

I know that it is Thursday, a bit late for a weekend update, but guys I am a working woman now and just can't blog all the time.  Sorry.  I started last week on my temp job as a Crew Leader with the 2010 US Census, and so far I am liking it.  I was in training all last week and this week I am preparing to teach a class next week to a group of enumerators (people going door to door).  After teaching the class I will be assigned anywhere from 8 to 18 enumerators to supervise.  The majority of the people coming to work this job are unemployed professionals like myself.  People who want to work.  A much better pool of people than in previous census years I have been told.   The job is until June 14th and could be extended if the project is not finished by then, which seems likely.  I should be assigned to work somewhere close to where I live. 

Speaking of...I love the area we live in Atlanta.  It is called Old 4th Ward.  We actually live one block from Martin Luther King's house. I think that is pretty cool.  It is a historic area and is very centrally located.  I can reach anywhere I need to drive in 15 minutes, including the airport.  We can walk to several different neighborhoods and we live right off the Freedom Park Trail, which is great for running. 

We learned just last week that the Studioplex, a string of lofts and businesses one block from our place, holds a "third Friday of the month" Artwalk.   We strolled over at about 630pm and were pleasantly surprised at all of the action.  There was a band playing in one parking lot and all of the business/galleries had there doors open to welcome everyone.   

One salon called Aviary Collective hired a cool company called Smilebooth to be at the event.   It is like a photobooth, but so much better.  The set up is compact and stylish (a big SLR camera enclosed in a white box, and a light box both on a little metal stand).  It sheds a soft white light that is nothing short of flattering.   You hold the remote and just click away. 

I am holding up my complimentary bird bag from the salon which also had some goodies inside.   "I like birds"? I mean, how perfect is that?  You can rent the "Smilebooth" for events - 4 hours for $1500.    Ernesto and I decided we should look into this business.   We had fun playing in front of the camera. 

Pictures from all Smilebooth events are posted online for anyone to see, and nothing can be deleted.  At a St. Pattys party you can see as the night goes on, the people are more intoxicated and the pictures get a little crazy.  Im sure this guy is very sorry about that "can't delete" rule.  (scroll to bottom of page and look for Silence of the Lambs type pic....expect to gasp!)

Also this weekend was the annual Inman Park Festival, and in my opinion, the best festival in Atlanta.  It rained ALL day Saturday, but Sunday was gorgeous weather.  It was really different to actually walk around this show rather than work a booth.  Although I would have rather been selling my jewels,  I enjoyed partying with my neighbors.  I realized what a party this festival truly is;  I think anyone who lives in that neighborhood is obligated to have a party based at their house and the guests wander out in the streets of the festival.  It was packed.   

I saw my cousin Ken and Treff at the Pluma Jewelry booth.  It was really nice to see them and her booth looked awesome!  She gave me some great advice and really inspired me to change some things around for my upcoming Zafiro shows.  I really paid attention to all the jewelry booths at Inman and the Dogwood Festival, which was held the week before.  For example, it seems essential to include a glass case in the front of the booth, also to have a big banner or picture hanging somewhere.  I laid awake Sunday night from 3a to 430a thinking of jewelry stuff.  I designed a simple piece of furniture in my head for the glass case to sit and Ernesto said he would be happy to build it for me.  Thanks mi amor!  More updates on that coming soon! 

A Cross Stitch Project

It's not that I need another project.   I wanted was something I could do on the road.  My sewing projects aren't portable, my jewelry is not accessible, the blanket I'm crocheting has lost it's novelty (+ its too big), and decorating a house is out of the question right now.

So, I saw this cross stitch project at Joann Fabrics.  I know, I know, cross stitch? But I imagined it framed on a wall in my house and I began to like the idea. 

I'd like to introduce you to: 

Yes, the Mona Lisa.   Leonardo da Vinci painted this classic back in the 15oo's and she is still around.  She has history, she's international (born in Italia lives in Francia), and I think she would look nice against many paint colors.  

Mona and I go way back.  Back to an unbelievable time in my twenties.   I was on a backpacking trip through Europe with my brother Brrrian.  I have been to Paris probably 4 times since then, but only went into the Louvre on that first trip.  Discovering art, the art of traveling, and essentially who I was as a young adult.  I can't see her and not be reminded of this trip.  I have been buying a lot of art/textiles for my future home on my travels the last year and  think this will be just as special. 

The other thing, the most important thing, is that my Mona Lisa will be 100% handmade by me during a [yet another] memorable period of my life.  A time of volunteering, traveling, discovering and spending quality time with family.

So thank you Joann Fabrics for taking me down memory lane and doing it for only $9.99.  

Half price off. 

18" x 12" and comes with all the thread. 

Let's see how long it takes me to finish. Any bets?

This was my Beautiful Life Friday.  Check out more on the Inspired Room.

Words to live by?

Im so in love with this print from FreyaArt at her Etsy shop. I must buy it and display it on our wall (when ever we get one).

It really sums up the thoughts of a free spirit.

Maybe I am just trying to reassure myself, but I think its ok to not always know what the next step in life is.  Exciting even.  So many options.  

Yes, there is a scary part too, but when I feel that coming on in the future, I will just re-read my new piece of artwork!

Does this speak to you in some way?