Inspiration is everywhere!!!
Here’s a few things which have caught my eye, spoken to my muse or piqued my curiosity…
Can you resist some serious eye-candy?
If you love color and design…even a little…you simply must take a look at Tricia Guild’s book, Pattern and website, The Designers Guild. I found a recent review of Tricia’s book on the Mantex blog which describes the book better than I could: “Tricia Guild is an interior designer and the brand name behind a successful company which features a vivid array of fabrics and furnishings – all of which feature striking colours, bold patterns, and luxurious textures…She is inspired by fabrics, techniques, motifs and designs from all over the world and from every period of history – brocades and damasks from the Far East; the rich history of botanical illustration and flower painting; checks, plaids and stripes from northern Europe; vibrant ethnic prints from India and Central America; painterly designs from Chinese and European porcelain; the bold abstracts and geometric patterns of contemporary painters.
Not that it’s all entirely in-your-face colour and bold pattern. She also has some subtle and restrained examples of ticking used to create a cool, contemporary atmosphere. But those are the exception. Most of the book is filled with hot, passionate colours, and rich textures emphasised by extreme close-up photographs. There’s a whole chapter on the use of flowers in fabric patterns – tulips, poppies, roses, and chrysanthemums…
Many of the pages are like Howard Hodgkin paintings. It’s difficult not to be seduced by the visual texture of it all…”
Difficult indeed…I gave up trying to resist the seduction and bought the book!!! :)
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In a Creative Funk?
Illustrator Keri Smith comes to the rescue with an Artists Survival Kit, a fun little download for “the really bad days, for the days when you want to quit, when you feel like everything you do is shit, when you feel your self-esteem plummet…” I love how she uses her talent and sense of humor to bring about change.
Once you’re feeling like you can create again, but are lacking inspiration, take a look at her list of 100 Ideas. Surely something on that will appeal to you and help kick start your creative energy. Still feeling stuck??? Meander over to her blog, The Wish Jar. You’ll find she’s always challenging herself with a new project or writing something wonderfully wise…an inspiration for whatever kind of day you’re having!
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Print + Cut + Paste
Looking for a little DIY project this weekend? Feeling a little crafty?
Here’s two fun print+cut+paste ideas I found this past week. The first is something for the kid in all of us…
Colorful and fun little toys for you to print and build by the guys at FWIS Design Group. Each toy is designed to fit on an 8.5×11 page. All you’ll need (beside a printer!) are scissors, double-sided tape and about 10-15 minutes!
How about a little recyclable and cost-effective fun for kitty?
Craft yourself some simple DIY Cat Toys. Marmalade Pet Care offers three toys to download, print and create from corrugated cardboard. What will kitty play with today…a cardboard mouse, jak or ball???
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Create Your Own Eye Candy!
Want to be a little eye candy instead of just looking at it??? Well here’s your chance to become an m&m… Hope you have a super sweet day!!!
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Thought for the Week…
From my very first post here on “The Crafty-Girl” back in June 2005…
Craft Your Life
Sometimes, less is more…so instead of a lengthy declaration of who and what The Crafty-Girl™ is, I’m happy to let someone else’s eloquent words say it with clarity:
“Originality consists of trying to be like everybody else…and failing.”
Stay tuned…and craft your life!
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Hi Kelly!
I wanted to come over and say hello!
I miss talking to you girlie and left you something here…http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2146558
I try to see what you are up to as much as I possibly can by visiting your blog.
Hope we can chat soon, my most talented friend. :)
Kellie