I purchased 3 prints from Emily Kberman , she applies a reprinted Audubon bird to a painted canvas, accenting the birds colors and positioning them to appeal to the graphic nature of the print.  I’m loving these birds, most likely appreciated in groups.

Other artists I found interesting:
up in the air somewhere - Delicate papier-mâché and ceramics - just delightful!

Laura George - Artwork and Illustration - quirky and mod, I love it.

Circa Ceramics - Fun ceramic bowls, cups and goodies.  Cutie, bold and kitschy.

Art Goodies - Handmade towels and pillows with animal block prints.  Very "Leave It to Beaver" but fun.

I love the architecture as the roof slopes, widows allow natural light in from the East, and the use of raw metal and painted steel to add a modern mix.  The green roof is living and has grown since I first saw the building. A little prairie in the mix of the midwest.

I’m a sucker for nostalgia, unique architecture and beautiful landscaping.  We strolled by Giesche Shoe Store in Glen Ellyn.  Giesche is a Glen Ellyn staple and has been around for many years.  The architecture of the store is similar to the International Style, steel and glass buildings, you often see in Chicago.  The decorative plants echo the buildings longtime presence and have been cultivated to reflect the buildings style and era.

A Sunday stroll along Geneva’s, 3rd street shopping district, lead me to the vibrant almost ornamental rhubarb.  I’ll have to confirm the species with my friend Geno over at Neri Landscape , but the bright stems of fuchsia, orange, yellow and red got me thinking.  Are these colors the jewel tones of the fall?  Purple fall cabbages are great ornamentals adding color and texture to any front entryway.

I was inspired by the art work of Piet Hein Eek , as presented by Studio Forbes .  Piet’s scrap wood table and other furniture designs are hand made and arranged to limit excess waste and capture the essence of modern design.

Like Piet’s work, I’m also a huge fan of Scrapile .  They use scrap wood as well, arranged into simple forms yet the color variation is striking.  The reuse of wood and careful arragements allow these pieces to express their modern design with a natural foundation.

I’ve decided I need a new twist on the old walls.  I’m looking to wallpaper for the graphic design, color saturation and artistic composition.

Two papers from Cole and Son are on the table for consideration.  100% cotton and hand printed, these papers have a tactile quality of a fine paper and a precision detail that’s beautiful.

Woods in the New Contemporary II line, and Cow Parsley in the New Contemporary Line. I’ll post when I make the final decision.  I have a few more colorways coming in.

Design Sponge - The Oh La La of all things design.  I could pour myself over all the goodies on this site.

I’m usually like a sponge soaking up every color, graphic, and natural anomaly in sight.  But recently I ran across two very different crafts that speak to my core design philosophy.  Experiment with color and incorporate nature.  Nature in this blog comes from wood and glass.

Woven Glass - Two artists, Tom and Eric of Markow and Norris , create delicate hand woven glass sculpture.  The vibrant colors, fabric like drapery and creative inlays take glass to a new level of tactile bliss.

Carved Wood Sculpture - Tom Langan’s carved birds take me a back to my roots.  The grouping of the birds and clustering of the sculptures create a real feeling and sense that this art is alive.  It’s the grouping that interests me and influences how I group objects in my designs.  I love the realistic approach to carving and painting the birds.  I most of all love the Egrets.

Textile Arts has just released the new fall textile offerings by Marimekko.  Consider buying a yard and hanging it on your wall with one of their wall hanging systems.

I love modern design, but it’s nice to glam-up the decor and feel pretty again.  Crystal lamp bases are in this season as well as anything glass.  It’s timeless, never goes out of style and keeps an air of lightness and sophistication in the space.

Some of my favorites:

Williams Sonoma Home
Miss K Lamp - DWR.com
Bourgie Table Lamp - DWR.com

I’ve stumbled upon Rejuvenation Lighting and House Parts , for our mid century ranch.  We wanted a lighting fixture that fits in with the period and style of the house as well as being energy efficient using compact fluorescent bulbs.

I found Otis, and I think he’ll fit right in on our front stoop.