Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

I need to frame this glam sheet music! Then I will stare at it in its 1930s glory and daydream to the song.

Dundee Marmalade Jars

These marmalade jars have a talent for popping up in décor magazine vignettes, and it just so happens that I have a few on hand from thrifting jaunts. Judging by this article, the jar on the left is from the 1860s and the jar on the right is post-1960. The striking black logo on the stoneware makes them pretty storage containers.

Florida Sunshine

How cheery is this can of sunshine?! In the '80s my mom's friend went to Florida for spring break and brought this back for her. The can contains "48 average sniffs of pure Florida air" and the label offers a "suggested dosage: for daily pick me up, take two large sniffs before breakfast." Quite the novelty souvenir. 

Limited Edition

My friend Anni gave me this oh-so-appropriate plaque. It's literary wit, 1950s atomic style, and quirkiness in a pleasantly coloured decorative accessory! It shall forever be on my bookshelf.

Be Still

I took some time to be still and illustrate this verse. It calms my soul.

Homebody

This pillow from Chapters has made itself at home on the sofa. I can relate. The reason why I love decorating, architecture, and the history of domestic life is because I see the home as being a sanctuary of beauty. In the words of William Morris, "It helps the healthiness both of body and soul to live among beautiful things."

Dream

This was one of those fluke craft projects that has stood the test of time. About 8 years ago I got the font and word idea from an image in Country Living Magazine, eye-balled the letters onto some corrugated cardboard, cut them out, slopped some gold paint on them, and strung them up in my bedroom. When I think back at how casually I whipped this garland out and look at how much I still love the lettering and metallic shine I am impressed by the enduring result. It makes me think of how many creative dreams have come true since...

Christmas '48

My great-grandmother wrote this on the back of her desk. Note her teacherly penmanship! I absolutely adore finding little scribbles like this--it's insight into past lives, and past Christmases!

Global Talent Search 2016 Prep

As seen on Facebook, I had enormous fun following the quirky prompts in preparation for the Global Talent Search, which starts next week! Eeeee! My answer to the Day 1 prompt is simply "water."

The Day 2 prompt made me hopeful for the future of seeing the golden Creatively Graceful logo silhouette on pretty products in creative stores!

Day 3 prompted one of those artist moments in which your fingers produce something that baffles your brain. 

The Day 4 prompt made me remember the beauty of the colours I often overlook.

Finally, the Day 5 prompt concluded the week with sweet pastel cheer, metaphors, and diverse typography!

Architectural Messages

I love snapping shots of what buildings are saying. The more hidden and rugged the lettering, the better.

...fairyland poultry messengers?

Praise Frame

I love vintage Christian prints! They have fabulous typography, gilding, and an encouraging message!

Woven Wallpapers

I ordered my Buttons, Looking Out, and Creative Resolve designs on Spoonflower's woven wallpaper swatches. This is the first time I have ordered wallpaper. They arrived safely in a nifty cardboard tube, though, warning, if you don't like the smell of vinyl hold your breath and let it off-gas for a few days! This is a great peel-and-stick material. It can, in fact, be re-positioned as advertised and would be great not only for walls but smaller items like notebooks and such! These designs are of course available in my shop as wallpaper, fabric, and gift wrap.

Inspiration: Eclectic Vintage Tins

Intricate motifs, bold hues, and eye-catching typography.

Namesake Sign à la French Country

 No, this isn't me awkwardly posting belated Christmas stuff in January, this is a sign I made featuring my last name. My mom found the frame at Value Village a few months ago, but the art within was some folk art painting that had nothing to do with the fleur-de-lis on the metal inset. 

So, I flipped the picture around and painted on the black back of it. I whipped this vintage French ephemera font out of my mind based on the French Country style of the rest of the frame, and went to town with some white acrylic paint and paint pen. Voilà!

Daydreamer Plate

I found this little wall plate at a thrift store for $3 and love it with all my heart. The blue and white, birds and flowers, sweetly scripted poem, and quirky off-center hanging hole are what make it charming perfection. I wonder, did someone receive this as a gift from a dear friend going away?

Inspiration: Brick Alley Ad

Colour blocking, typography, and rustic red brick.

Yes, Mother Dear

Good things are always where they are meant to be, and leap out at me at the right time.  A couple of weeks ago I was at a church garage sale flipping through the frames when I found this print from 1923. Breathless and beaming with joy, I gave the saleswoman the $0.25 for it, thanked her while telling her my scheme, and covered the frame in a bag before my mom saw. 

My mom was totally oblivious, which is pretty astounding because she always has premonitions about gifts. Maybe that's a mom thing. Anyway, this vintage, found, faded, faithful, floral, framed, poetic, typographic gift is beautiful in so many ways--just like the wonderful lady who proudly propped it up on her mantel today. 

For You, Darling

I found this valentine in my grandmother's scrapbook from the late 1950s. It was given to her by the handsome dude who's kissing her in the post below!

Scripts

If you are a typography enthusiast you will squeal with delight while flipping through Scripts by Steven Heller and Louise Fili. It features photographs of French, British, German, Italian, and American labels, ads, titles, and the like with a calligraphic flair. It is an invaluable resource for many forms of art.

Numéro

With The 12 Days of Christmas still ticking away, The New Year here, and the return to school creeping up in front of us, my Numéro fabric fits right in. It's in Spoonflower's Math challenge of the week.