INSPIRATION

Hello sweet lovely friends!
Melissa here from Melissa loves. I am thrilled and honored to be posting here in my friend Suzanne's stead. As I think she is one of the loveliest ladies in blogland. I glean so much inspiration from her and in her honor(and thanks to my friend Ez for the idea) I thought I would do something related to inspiration. I am sure most of you are inspired on a daily basis by any number of things. A photo, a person, a piece of art, a sweet gesture, a phrase or quote or something in nature.....there are any number of ways to be inspired. For me, this time, it was this brooch. Something about it captivated me....maybe the colors?( I do love grey :) or the bird? ( I do love birds) or the way the designer has mixed materials so well together? (I don't know) I am known to love sparkle but, conversely love simplicity as well. Maybe that is it....the sparkle and the simplicity. It inspired me and I hope you enjoy what it conjured for me.....what is inspiring you today? I would love to know!





























(beautiful brooch here)






























~awesome ring here
~clothes here
~beautiful necklace here
~lilac flats here

Sweet & lovely Suzanne(and her lovely readers)..thank you so much for having me !
It was so fun to be here!
xo
Melis

{ my place or yours...savannah, georgia with katie runnels }

image via better homes and gardens

Today's guest on My Place or Yours is the lovely, creative, and always inspiring Katie Runnels. I adore this lady--she's become one of my favorite artists and bloggers to follow. She designs the most beautiful, handmade wreaths and charming dioramas and...ask anyone who knows her and they'll tell you how nice, kind, generous, and genuine Katie is. 

one of Katie's darling bell jar creations

one of the amazing wreaths available in Katie's shop

As one of the original founders and creators of the amazing shopSCAD, Katie has a keen eye for great design and up and coming artists. I always find something new and drool worthy when I pop over to her blog and I really admire her for the support and encouragement she offers to other artists. Today Katie is treating us to a tour of one of her favorite spots--Savannah, Georgia--a place she still calls home, though she no longer lives there. After reading Katie's interview, it's easy to see why one would be forever drawn to this charming little town. 

Are you ready? Let's go...

 

Please tell us a little about yourself

I'm not originally from there and its been two years since I've moved away, however Savannah, Georgia still feels like home to me. I moved there in 2001 to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design for graduate school and then worked for the college-co-creating shopSCAD after graduation. I was looking for a small art school to attend after having a miserable time living in Boston. I'm originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, which isn't that small anymore-but I definitely thrive in a smaller and warmer community-which is what I found at SCAD in Savannah. I lived in cozy little apartments all over the historic district while I went to school and was lucky enough to later purchase a sweet little cottage in Ardsley Park.

Three words that best describe Savannah
Quirky, Historic, Artistic

-Favorite discovery
I used to love heading out to Tybee Island Beach on the weekends. The North Beach Grill located next to the black and white lighthouse on Tybee is great for plodding over in your sandy feet for great beach drinks! Be sure to order the chips and/or plantains and salsa which are incredible!

Who is/are your favorite artist(s) (can be local or not) ? And why?
My favorite artists who are actually located in Savannah are Tiffani Taylor, Sara Neuburger of The Small Object and Marcus Kenney 

stocking stuffer by Sara Neuburger

What is/are your favorite local shop(s)?
shopSCAD, of course!  -original artwork and designs by student, faculty and alumni of the Savannah College of Art and Design!

images by Chia Chong

@home  Vintage and vintage inspired housewares and gifts-fantastic ribbon, paper, and millinery selection.

image via Apartment Therapy

image by Jade McCully

The Paris Market and Brocante  Always inspiring range of antiques and vintage inspired housewares, furniture, and curiousities from around the world. 

image via The Paris Market and Brocante

Primary Art Supply -supplies SCAD students with everything they could possibly need!

Wild Fibre  -Delightful shop with an always bountiful selection of yarns and supplies for knitting, weaving, crochet and felting.

-Best kept local secret
Sweet Potatoes restaurant on the southside of Savannah. Its a bit of a drive to get out there but their amazing southern style cooking is well worth it!

-An ideal spot to linger over lunch:
I adore Soho South Cafe on Liberty street. Soho is part art gallery, bookshop and restaurant. Order everything on the menu!

images via caanc75

When visiting Savannah, don't miss:
I just don't understand the cattle-call that lines the street everyday at one very popular southern-style restaurant. I recommend getting your southern food fix at the quaint Mrs. Wilkes Boardinghouse restaurant on Jones Street. Then continue shopping along Whitaker Street-Madame Chrysanthemum, One Fish, Two Fish, and Circa Lighting, Arcanum and La Paperie. 

image via Circa Lighting design portfolio

Don't miss Back in the Day Bakery for their yummy lunches and incredible homestyle sweet treats! 

I get homesick for Savannah when I think about...
My friends and the food! I always get a cozy and nostalgic feeling when I drive back into the downtown under the canopy of Spanish Moss. I miss the big-city feel of the relatively small and charming historic district.

If you had an opportunity to live anywhere else in the world, where would we find you?
I would love to live in a small village in England, France, or Italy for a few months out of the year. I think I'd enjoy tending to a cottage and farm like that of Beatrix Potter.

image by Katie

Don't you all want to hop on the next plane, train, or automobile and visit Savannah for yourself? Me too!!! Thank you Katie for offering us a true insider's view of the lovely and charming place you call home. I hope you have the opportunity to return there someday if that's your desire. xo ~Suzanne

Quick Links:

The Constant Gatherer blog

The Constant Gatherer shop

{ monday making me smile: artist leontine may greenburg

I absolutely adore these petite watercolor paintings by artist Leontine May Greenburg, based in Jackson Heights New York.

I am especially fond of her playful chandelier series.

Quick links:

Shop

Blog

Flickr

On the go today...hope you all had a lovely weekend.

{ blog crush: tabitha emma }

i do like tea by tabitha emma

 
While sipping a cup of my favorite tea this morning, I decided to treat myself to a long, leisurely stroll through my latest blog crush, Tabitha Emma {see her over there in my side column}. I made some sweet discoveries along the way that I thought I'd share with you...

goodies from the tabitha emma shop

First stop was Tabitha's own etsy shop. Inspired by childhood memories, this young and fun Sydney, Australia based artist has filled her shop with the most delightful illustrations, prints and textile works depicting her charming and whimsical designs of cupcakes, tea cups, and feathered friends. How about those darling tea cozies and coin purses...irresistible!

After falling head over heels for this french bird nest clutch, I discovered a post back on Tabitha's blog in which she describes the creative evolution of the piece, which I found utterly fascinating. Don't you just love it when artists share a behind the scenes peek into their creative process?

images via Hennie Haworth

Next stop was the site of an amazing freelance illustrator based in London, Hennie Haworth, whose work was featured on Tabitha's blog. Her lively illustrative works are amazing–some of which are available for purchase here.

A light-hearted tribute to Bob Dylan perhaps?

I could go on and on about these fun finds or this great shop, and most definitely her creations, all featured on Tabitha's blog. Alas, I must get on with the day. Do yourself a favor this weekend and steal a few moments to explore Tabitha Emma–this talented, emerging artist has a keen eye for great design and has some wonderful offerings awaiting your discovery.

BTW, Tabitha's mum is the very own, Wendy Paula Patterson, of Mulberry Muse and Cafe Baudelaire–two of my etsy faves!

Thank you for each and every comment left this week. I appreciate your thoughtful and insightful feedback and love sharing my day with all of you.

Happy Friday...have a GREAT weekend!

{ relax, refresh, rejuvenate...repeat! }

Pictured here is the entrance to the Centre of Well Being at our hotel~a peaceful sanctuary where one can relax, refresh, and rejuvenate via luxurious massage therapies and pampering skin and body treatments. Sounds lovely, right? Even decadent to some, I'm sure.  

Is it odd then, that instead, I found my centre of well being at the local Anthropologie store where I indulged in 90 luxurious minutes of uninterrupted browsing bliss? I assure you I was relaxed, refreshed and most definitely rejuvenated upon my departure from this chosen sanctuary. 

It was here that I discovered these limited edition ceramic plates~ created in collaboration with Anthropologie by Nathalie Lete--an amazing artist based in Paris, France. Upon further research, I discovered the wonderful, often child-like world Nathalie has designed through her amazing mix of creative mediums which include, colorful drawings and paintings, charming books and special commissions. 

Her pieces have just the right touch of vintage chic

*love* these shopping bags available here.

Her rug designs are devine (as featured in her art studio)

Chocolate Paris ~ 18 mini tablets of milk chocolate

with mini souvenir views of Paris a la Nathalie

Nathalie's studio

Nathalie's collection of vintage toys--toys which 

she describes as the heroes of her drawings

Le *sigh*...Discover more via Nathalie's site and here. 

Wishing you all a weekend of relaxation and rejuvenation--

where ever you may find it.

Until Monday...cheers! 

{ monday making me smile: the bird series by artist geninne }

I am totally and completely enamored with this limited edition series of bird prints found in artist, Geninne Zlatkis' etsy shop. The series of originals--which combines collage, watercolors, acrylics and illustration--was created by Geninne to hang in her new dining room. Isn't it fabulous...  

I encourage you all to flock to Geninne's blog and flickr stream where there's so much more to discover about this creative talent. {Be prepared to be inspired}

discovered via The Constant Gatherer

{ monday making me smile: fine art photography by emmalynne }

I couldn't resist sharing these fine art photo prints found in etsy shop Emmalynne. They so eloquently capture the perfection of this fine {almost} summer day we're having around these parts.

You can also follow Emmalynne's flickr stream here. Don't miss her thread series which is equally as stunning.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you, too, are enjoying the splendors of the season.

{all images found via etsy shop emmalynne}

{ wednesday wish list: paintings by lindsay brackeen }

I am in love with this new mixed media painting, Soak it all In, by the über talented Lindsay Brackeen. I've had a few of her pieces on my wish list, but I'm especially fond of the soft background and the "imperfect, undone" painting technique she's applied to it in this painting-a departure from the more colorful, precise technique she typically applies to her backgrounds. Yes Lindsay...I'm most definitely feelin' you.

Lindsay has made a print of this wonderful painting available in her etsy shop. See more of her stylish little ladies amidst the wonders of nature here, and visit her blog for shop updates and to learn about the inspiration behind each of her fabulous works of art.

{ thursday things worth a look: paintings by Cori Dantini }

"Under the Leaves of Heaven"

Sometimes I get so excited when I discover a new {to me} artist that I can hardly wait to share their work with you all. Such is the case with artist Cori Dantini, an amazing artistic talent based in Pullman, Washington. 

Cori's art appeals to me on so many levels–I love the subtle messaging found in each piece and the way in which she combines vintage book elements and painting with her incredible illustrative talents. Cori uses her own custom arsenal of tools to create her one-of-a-kind treasures, including: walnut ink, Japanese pen nibs, golden acrylic paints, watercolor, wax, her sewing machine, and various photoshop textures. I think you'll agree, the result is quite extraordinary.

"she would ALWAYS have her tools"

{my personal favorite as am I usually the one sporting the tools in our household}

For those of you who have embarked on art as a full-time career and anyone who dreams of doing so, I encourage you to check out this interview with Cori on Pikaland–it's a great read and includes a fascinating timeline of sorts that paved the way to Cori's success as an artist {including the inspiration behind her trademark style of  incorporating vintage book pages into her art}. 

To see more of Cori's pieces, visit her etsy shop where she sells affordable prints of her original paintings.

{ wednesday wish list: anything from SusyJack* }

Over the last couple of months I have followed the progress of Susan Connor's contemporary line of  paper goods, SusyJack*, through her awe inspiring blog, heysusy*. It is so thrilling to see it all come together with the debut of her new Spring collection at the National Stationery Show, which is wrapping up today in New York. I just love the clean, fresh look of her well edited designs. 

After seeing these photos of the SusyJack* show booth, I wanted to completely gut my home office and adorn it from head to toe with her goods. The cheerful aesthetic and pop of color against the white is irresistible. { Sorry little office, but I think you're in for a major Spring cleaning }. 

I know some of you readers out there already follow this talented artist and designer through her heysusy* blog { this week's featured blog }. I encourage the rest of my readers to do the same. Susy is generous with both her design knowledge and business advice–offering everything from gorgeous inspiration {with plenty of eye candy} to tips on starting, enhancing, or promoting your own small business. I love that Susy often shares her own personal experiences as an entrepreneur–truly priceless information if you've ever thought of doing something on your own. 

To browse more of the SusyJack* line, visit the etsy shop or Susy's new online boutique. Oh...and to learn even more about Susy, read this great interview found via Etsy's Storque feature.

{ All images via SusyJack and heysusy }