Category: Explore
Tweetable Mentions 1.27.12
| January 27, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under art, Body, Design, do-it-yourself, doors and windows, Explore, fashion, Gather, interiors, Nurture, Projects |
Blink, flash, poof – Friday. I’ve had a great week and I hope you have too.
This was interesting:
The Disney Princesses got a makeover from @designtaxi
news from designtaxi.com
If Miss O’Hara can make a dress from curtains, you can make a curtain from your bedsheets – from @ShoutWithJoy
Bees go to the Opera from @PureGreenMag
I almost got a pixie cut. Goes like this.
This is where the cool bloggers go but I’m the geeky girl who hides in the bathroom stall listening to their conversations - RT from @simplygrove, @jasminestar
Happy Weekend. Start it early.
Inspired by Charles and Ray Eames
| January 24, 2012 | Posted by Lauren Moss under art, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Places, so-cal local |
To add to Linsi’s great post on her visit to LACMA to see the California Mid-Century Decorative Arts exhibit, I thought I’d share a recent experience I had at another great destination right across the street, the Architecture and Design museum, or A+D. One of the many galleries participating in the Pacific Standard Time collaboration, a program by the Getty celebrating arts in Southern California, the A+D museum is currently exhibiting a curated selection of quotations of Charles and Ray Eames, in conjunction with the everyday objects and humble tools that shaped their view of the world, and consequently, their iconic designs. For a quick refresher on the background and history of the Eameses, check out the post I wrote a few months ago here at Inspired Design Daily.
The exhibit itself, called EAMES WORDS: Eames Designs- the Guest/Host Relationship, is centered around the quotes that highlight the couple’s approach to design, as well as their view of the world, shaped by their travels and personal collections.
‘From tumbleweeds to strawberries, a bolt of cloth to a keg of nails, to elephants in India and the bread of Scandinavia, the whole world was their canvas.’ -aplusd.org
‘The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host, all of whose energy goes into trying to anticipate the needs of his guests.’ -Charles Eames
Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of Charles and Ray Eames, and for more information on the Pacific Standard Time collaborative, check out some favorite shows we’re looking forward to seeing, or the official website for a complete schedule and exhibit details.
Thanks for reading!
Lauren
3 Things 1.23.12
| January 23, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under Celebrate, Create, Design, Eat, Explore, Gather, inspired life series, inspired thoughts, Nurture |
Kicking off Monday!
3 Things this week
1. I am looking forward to: today’s launch of a fun project called Design Your Life – a collaboration of health, home and fashion – along with Nicole of The Wardrobe Code and Erica of Knocked Up Fitness.
2. I am grateful for: A network of amazing business women to to feed the creativity, share in the successes and help each other through the rough spots in entrepreneurial life.
3. Will accomplish: Going to the gym 3 days. I used to be such a health nut but, you know, life happens. I’ve been slowly getting myself back into the habit – and this week I am motivated by the arrival of my all-time favorite protein shakes from Herbalife, my new audiobook, and the difference I’m seeing in my waistline from the last couple weeks of being “pretty good.”. This week I’m gonna be great!
I want to hear your 3 Things for the week. Please share in the comments below!
Inspired Week 1.20.12
| January 20, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, Design, Explore, Inspiration, interiors, Nurture, Places, See and Do, so-cal local |
Has this week been crazy for you?
Last weekend was so busy, and so was Monday and Tuesday – I’ve been all mixed up on my days and I’m pretty sure I skipped a week entirely because there’s really only 1 week of January left…what???
Anyway, now that I realize it is Friday I am pretty excited for the weekend. I’ll be attending a fun event on Saturday in Costa Mesa to celebrate the Grand Opening of Phase II at one of my favorite local spots – the OC Mart Mix. This place was built for small businesses and I’m thrilled to see how it’s grown in just a year. I applaud the companies who took a risk in moving in when it was empty and had the faith (and the means, obviously) to see it through. Hurrah for expansion!
A couple things I loved about this week:
1. I totally changed the blog. Did you notice? I’ve tried to rework the layout a few times before and it always ended up looking pretty much the same. But this time it’s just different enough to be exactly what I was hoping for…with a few kinks that I’ll figure out eventually. What do you think?
2. These freshy fun pillows from Erin Flett – featured on Design Sponge
3. I’d like to think that if my recipes were organized here I would use them more often, simply because I would want to look at the book everyday – from Poppytalk
4. I made my first video. Well, that’s a lie, because I used to make Spice Girls videos with my girlfriends every time a new song came out. Guess which Spice I was? And at the cultured age of 5 I would write, direct and perform in plays with my cousin. So really, this gift has been culminating practically since birth – and this video might be disappointing to you. But I’m pretty excited. So, will you watch it anyway, puhleez?
5. This isn’t really inspired so much as baffled/afraid/proud of the voice of social media but I have to mention the SOPA Blackout Day because it happened. And that was interesting. Google’s foot stomping was my favorite. I don’t think there’s a chance in hell of that insanity passing…but then again, what do I know? The older I get the more things I am dead wrong about. Let’s hope this isn’t one of those things. (BTW, if this does pass I will be in super big trouble for using that Spice Girls poster…see the risks I take for you?)
Like I said, I’ve been a busy lady this week. I just have one last thing to mention, or plug, if you will. I’ve been doing this blogging/social media thing for my own business for over 3 years now…and I tend to talk a lot about the business side of it during offline discussions with friends and acquaintances. Through a series of recent kismetic conversations and events, I have somehow stumbled into now doing this stuff for other people’s businesses. And I like it! What started out as a few quick tutorials, or setting up a Facebook page, has turned into a business opportunity.
I am not one to overlook opportunity.
So, do me a favor and think of me if anyone you know has a business that needs some help with their social media marketing. And I would love to work with you too, cuz we’re friends and all.
Peace, yo. Have a great weekend.
Inspired By: California Mid-Century Decorative Arts Exhibit
| January 16, 2012 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under accessories, art, Design, design history, Explore, furniture, Inspiration, interiors, lighting, Places, See and Do, so-cal local, textiles, vintage |
“I definitely need to get out more.”
That’s what I said the moment I stepped foot inside LACMA – The LA County Museum of Art. The realization that I hadn’t been there in 3 years (or any museum, for that matter) surprised and disappointed me. Isn’t the point of being a designer/creative person to be able to go on these “work” excursions regularly?
Yes. For all the headaches, heartaches and lost sleep you get when you’re a passionate person, you deserve to be able to waste a few days a month wandering stores and museums in the name of research.
So with a big slap across my own face, I promised that this was the beginning of a new phase where I get dressed and leave my home more days than not. By the time I got done berating myself, we had arrived at the front door of the exhibit we drove up to see. California Design, 1930-1965: Living in a Modern Way.
As a designer in Southern California, I developed an interest in Mid-Century design early in design school. But also, as with many designers, I’ve tired of the look since it’s so prevalent around here – not to mention that the term “Mid-Century Modern” is highly overused AND the sheer number of knockoffs is exhausting.
So it was really nice to get a little crash course reminder of why this period is so significant in art and design history and to see some iconic (and impressive) pieces up close and personal. It certainly re-ignited some passion.
Here are some of my favorite pieces from the show.
I love the typography of these college course books.
This stereo sideboard is “the bees knees” (is that period appropriate?).
I was surprised and excited to see that this exhibit included the living room of the Eames Case Study house. The Eames house has been closed to the public since Ray Eames died in 1988 but they do allow people on the grounds of the home – a couple years ago I took a trip up there and, thanks to their liberal use of glass, was able to get a pretty good tour from the exterior. So it was strangely familiar to see all of their interior furnishings had been transported and accurately placed (inch by inch) in a reproduction home.
I’m digging this multi-functional dining/coffee table. So simple and yet so effective.
Creepy and cool, the Rib Chair by Arthur Espenet Carpenter
I was most fascinated with the story behind why and how this form of design began. The biggest reason was the rapid boom in population – people moving west from hardship and artist emigres escaping their war-torn countries. I really tried to get a good photo of this, but the glare was too tough a contender. Still, it’s a powerful shot.
These are the cross-streets of Fairfax and Robertson, the location of LACMA. They were taken just 7 years apart.
Whoa, right?
This exhibit is awesome, and you should go see it. BUT it’s only 1 of 60 museums in Southern California with exhibits dedicated to this historic time. The collective is called Pacific Standard Time - whether you want to see the complete Eames collection or printmaking and graphic design, there is an exhibit for that. Check it out.
More cool stuff:
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