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Archive for the ‘inspiration’ Category

After a 10 month hiatus, it is time to focus on pattern, color, design and of course, a bit of whimsy now and then.

Why wait for the whimsy when Dolce & Gabbana provides us with a riot of color and pattern in the Queen of Hearts Collection.  For more from this collection, look no further than the Elle online review of the Spring 2018 show.

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guastavino_int-grandeOn a recent trip to the Biltmore Estate, I noticed the amazing tile work of Rafael Guastavino. Little did I realize his work covers some of the most iconic public spaces in the United States. “The Guastavino family’s soaring tile vaults grace many of the nation’s most iconic structures including Grand Central Terminal, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Boston Public Library, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Nebraska State Capitol.”

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ambersceatsThese sleek earrings from Australian designer Amber Sceats start our year with a timeless design element…the triangle. Amber’s designs are “Heavily influenced by her appreciation for art, travel and architecture; Amber Sceats is an ode to the abstract. The underlying ‘rock’ element throughout her collections make the pieces uncompromisingly contemporary whilst simultaneously timeless.”

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fcd5e594cb7e435c21be92877eecc300There is something about the holiday season, that brings out the inner child in all ages.  Van Cleef & Arpels’ animal clip collection for 2016 will be certain to bring a smile to your face.With its glittering procession of animals, the Maison’s new High Jewelry collection takes an affectionate look at the tale of Noah’s Ark. These giraffes are up to their necks in emeralds and sapphires, offering a spectacular tribute to the wonders of the animal kingdom.”

Don’t forget to click on the ‘Historic Collection’ at the bottom of the page for more look back at some earlier pieces…love the lion and the cat!!!

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I stumbled across this glassware by Joseph Hoffman in a Wall Street Journal insert entitled…The Future of Everything. His background is fascinating, but the scope of his life’s work is amazing…furniture, glassware, architecture, jewelry etc.

With an eye that favored strict geometric shapes, Josef Hoffmann was in many ways anticipatory of the cubist movement. His fondness for the square was so well-known that the architect and designer earned the nickname Quadrati-Hoffmann (Square Hoffman) among his peers.

Hoffmann was among the rare breed of designers who could make anything. Coming to prominence at the turn of the 20th century, the Austrian creative put his mark on everything from lounge chairs and silverware to a modernist sanatorium. Hoffmann undoubtedly owed much of his success to good company—working alongside artists like Koloman Moser and Gustav Klimt, the young Hoffmann founded the Vienna Secession, an organization of artists that held exhibitions of progressive work as a reaction to the prevailing conservatism of the art world.”

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The September fashion magazines are stacked in my studio with pages ripped out for scanning or dog eared for future reference.  During a quick page through of Elle, I discovered that even the august house of Chanel has a playful side. The photo from the Fall 2016 collection features three designs with colorful resin emoji brooches scattered throughout. Another dominant element that appears frequently in designs this fall is the use of grommets.

More ‘notes’ in later posts as I work my way through the stack. Hmmm!!! I love this homework!!!

 

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GuilioMenossi_Primavera_La_Luminosa_via_del_cuoreAfter many years of working with bits of glass, Giulio Menossi is still playing with heart and spirit. “His ouevre is characterized by elegant, sweeping structural arcs always emblazoned with color, color, color.  There is a joie de vivre and playfulness here derived from slashes of color that look like they could have been made by crayons and his completely uncensored use of materials.  Lego pieces snuggle up to pearls; smalti and marble provide the background for a bunch of twigs.  What life!  What fun!”

primaveradetail

In this article from Mosaic Art Now, he describes his journey and what inspires him.

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inuitThe last few months have been filled with travel, most of it fairly mundane, with one notable exception…Alaska.

Our first port of call, Ketchikan, was a wonderful introduction to  Native American Totem Poles, as well as, the interesting patterns that are an integral part of the overall design.

HMMMMM!!! My mind is spinning with ideas.

 

 

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gucci-editedYikes!!! It has been almost two months since my last post. My excuse…well, travel, working at and for the Co-Op and…procrastination!!!

As an amends, I found the perfect ‘back to work’ featured photo. It doesn’t get any better than ants, snakes, butterflies, lady bugs and beetles on silk organdy. We can thank Gucci for this amazing combination. Scroll through the whole Pre-Fall 2016 collection for more ‘interesting’ design inspiration.

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While flipping through the pages of the High Point Accessories Preview book, metallics appear to be ‘THE’ surface for Spring 2016. I apologize for the quality of the photos. Most of the items are new and the items have not been published online.

The feature photo is an oil from Prestige Art. The reflective nature of the gold veining is not apparent in this photo, but I see translating design into a marbled polymer surface or even mokume gane. Love the tonal effect of the grays in contrast to the gold.

flow decorThe trio of lamps from Flowdecor, features the metallics in a traditional greek key columnar shape, a sleek contemporary paired with acrylic and a glass & textural base.

Gold appears to dominate the metallic landscape this year, followed by bronze and then silver.

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