Sewing Hope

Today I have to give a shout out to one of my dearest friends in the world, Tara. She is leaving for Uganda tomorrow to spend the next two months working with the incredible non-profit organization she started called Sewing Hope. Please check out the website and see the amazing work they are doing with Ugandan women, and the exciting annual fashion event that raises money for the women and their community.
She will also be keeping a travel blog if you want to keep up with her trip.

Atelier

Lately I've really been on an art kick, and whenever I go home to Asheville, I have certain galleries, and certain art within those galleries that I like to visit. Here are some of the artists I like from a newer gallery called Atelier.

These two paintings are by an artist called Deonna. I bought one of her little bitty pieces--it was just too cute to resist.

The next two photographs are by a documentary photographer Jill Snyder. The series being showcased at Atelier are from her work in the Appalachian mountainas (home sweet home) where she documents traditional mountain music and dance.

And these pieces are for the wall, but they are more like sculpture done by Heather Knight of Element Clay Studios. I love the funky modern textures. I've linked to all of their webpages where you can see more information about each of them.

Is it a Signe?

"Emerging"

These paintings are the beautiful and innovative work of husband and wife team Signe and Genna Grushovenko. I fell in love with them last time I was in Asheville when I saw them at 16 Patton, one of Asheville's many delightful art galleries. Since then I have been trying to figure out how I can afford one (and where I would put it). Right now I'm angling for a joint birthday/Christmas present--we'll see what happens. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this interesting style as much as I do, and you can check out their website Artists in Residence to find out more about the unique process they use. Essentially, Genna (husband) creates the underlayer, while Signe (wife) bases the pictures on old photos taken from daily Southern life.

"Gee's Bend Homage" is one of the more traditional Americana-esque paintings, which is not my typical style, but in person it is truly outstanding!

"Ladies Aid" for some reason is my favorite, even though the colors aren't quite as vivid as some of their other work.

If only there were a fourth, "Cloud Sisters" would be an older version of my best friends from "Lunch Club" (more on them later).

Sew Mama Sew

Attention all you seamstresses (or if you're like me, wanna-be seamstresses). Check out the cute fabric on this site, Sew Mama Sew.
Here are just a few swatches from the home decor section, but there are many other cute patterns if you peruse this lovely blog. The animal print is particularly kid friendly, but not all of her patterns are just for kids. So much fun!

Kid Stuff

Okay, this is my first attempt at posting designy type things. I've been obsessed with some fabulous design blogs I've been scouring as of late, which were the other part of my inspiration to start this wannabe blog. So my latest fascination is kid rooms because they are soooo fun! You can do all sorts of things with them that you can't really do in the rest of your house. (Maybe also because I've been designing our imaginary future child's room in my mind for the last few years since we've been on this long, unexpectedly difficult and currently still unfruitful journey toward parenthood.) Anyhoo, a few of the cute wall art possibilities I've seen...Any takers?

Bookhou

These Spot on Square cuties come in different colors and they have lots of other animals.
I just especially like Mr. Mouse.

Spot on Square

South of the Border???

I just got back from a trip to the Outer Banks with my husband. Every summer my aunt lets us use her beach house and we gather together the whole family for a week. On the way there, we always pass "South of the Border" a truck stop/theme park, and as a Spanish teacher, I always struggle with a little inner turmoil. It's outstanding kitschiness is simply overwhelming and fabulous, and yet Pedro, and the Giant sombrero elevator ride are just ever so slightly perpetuating what could be considered a negative stereotype of our Mexican friends. At any rate, I think it's worth mentioning because you can't miss it for the hundred miles of signs you pass leading up to it from both directions! Anyone share my fascination with this loco locale?

Blog Inspiration

My husband recently started a blog to re-tell the events surrounding his stroke and battle with testicular cancer (benspeece.blogspot.com). It has been amazing and inspiring to me for several reasons. First of all, he has become a new man. I think that sharing his story has been a powerful experience for him, and therefore is continuing to drive him down rehab road which is a long and arduous trip. But in a different way it has also been inspiring for me because it has pushed me to delve into the blogosphere where I think I might have found a creative outlet for my seldom satiated yearn for beauty and design.

So, I can't promise that this will be anything too new or fabulous, and as the name implies, I am not a professional designer. But I do hope to share some of those beautiful and inspiring elements that keep me up at night re-designing imaginary rooms, and transforming in my mind our doggie-destroyed back yard into a pooch's paradise.

Since this is my very first post, I will indulge myself and share a few pictures of our family.

Photos by a friend and neighbor, Sara Parker of sara parker photography. Check out her website and blog for creative and heartwarming inspiration. I love to look at her pictures even though I don't know most of the people in them!