An Intriguing and Practical Wall Adornment

I happen to love artistic touches that utilize collages and mixed media. When looking for a way to spend a bit of Christmas money on some decorative elements for my apartment that weren't cookie cutter but also wouldn't break the bank, I ran across this lovely calendar/collage at Etsy.

This canvas-sized calendar packs a punch thanks to the creative twist that its developers have used in forming its contents. Using various letterhead images from photos taken in Paris, this functional collage provides a cool way to bring a hint of European charm to a home or workplace. Owners of this beaut can customize the numbers to fit the current month, providing a chic way to display dates in a setting where a more traditional calendar might stick out like a sore thumb.

To learn more about how this lovely work of art was made, check this out:

In case you're interested, you can purchase the calendar either at Etsy in the "Little Brown Pen" store or at littlebrownpen.com. Or, if you're feeling artistic, perhaps you can take a bit of inspiration from these creatives and go make your own one-of-a-kind collage.

Clean, Bright, and Cheery

Image: Rubie Green (Indian Lake upholstery fabric)

Today's featured resource is fabric designer Rubie Green. The idea behind the designs: Rubie Green makes a product that is not only visually stunning but also beautifully made. What is beautifully made, you might ask? In this case, it is that which is made from organic eco-friendly materials. Moving beyond the idea of creating a product that is aesthetically pleasing, Rubie Green's designer Michelle Adams recognizes the need for integrity in other areas, including where her raw materials come from and how her products are made. This ethos translates into Adams' other work. Quite a few of the features at one of Adam's current collaborations, Lonny Magazine, highlight green designers and eco-friendly ways to spruce up one's home or throw a party.

Image: Rubie Green

Fabrics: East Village (left), Megan (right)

Things you might do with a Rubie Green fabric:

• Line the walls in a small room/closet to cultivate an intimate, homey feel. Think: staple gun or thumb-tacks. A great solution for rentals/short-term leases.
• Create a custom headboard using a staple gun, and a large piece of wood with foam batting. you could accent the corners with a nailhead trim.
• Spruce up an old sitting room chair with the Mary, East Village, or Habibi fabrics to add visual interest with a modern feel
• Purchase a bolt of fabric and use it to make placemats for your next dinner party. fabrics to consider: Tillinghast, Ann, Patsy
• Update your basic bulletin board by purchasing some of this fabric and turning it into a work of art ala staple gun
• Recover your ugly pool chairs with a festive new fabric just before the spring sunshine hits
• Cover an assortment of boxes in one of Rubie Green's bold patterns to use as decorative pieces that also serve a function
• Sew custom curtains, covering the backs in a velveteen fabric for a luxurious feel that exudes modern meets traditional

An Aromatic Indulgence

Image: Votivo

A few days ago, I was out doing a bit of Christmas shopping during my lunch break and paid a visit to a cozy little candle store downtown that sells delicious-smelling luminescent masterpieces. I asked for something scented for a small space and was immediately directed to a selection of candles from South Carolina-based Votivo. These candles are not for the cheapskates of the world, but for those willing to indulge a little bit to get something incredible they are quite a find! 

A single candle could warm up an entire room during those cold winter months, giving it a rich, invigorating odor that many a guest would enjoy. These candles also work well in small spaces like bathrooms, offices, or bedrooms. They also make an excellent gift idea as they're elegantly packaged in a lovely glass jar and come in a high-quality box with understated branding (featured above).

Why This Blog?

About a year ago I ran across a simple quote by a designer and philosopher, of sorts, named Alexandra Stoddard which goes: "Live by the trinity of what is true, good, and beautiful." I liked this statement because it was crisp, clean, and to the point. All too often we are overly flowery with language when what is really needed is a sharp, simple statement. And yet, simultaneously, the world also needs imaginative language, and oftentimes beauty comes in the form of a blooming metaphor, a simile that bubbles under our skin like a bottle of freshly-popped champagne, or an image that awakens both the literal and the figurative eyes.

This series of reflections is meant to serve as a resource for those who recognize their deep aching for beautiful things and know that it is good and life-giving to rejoice in the created world but simultaneously recognize the need for balance and simplicity. And so, this little ripple in the blogosphere will attempt to carefully walk the line between asceticism and overindulgence, stumbling most certainly at points. Its story: a celebration. Put concisely, the purpose of this discourse is to rejoice in the those things that are thoughtfully crafted, be they songs, stories, or objects, and push others to think deeply about how these things ignite and enrich the human experience.