polaroid transfer

I really love the dreamy vintage look of polaroid transfer prints.  I ordered my Daylab 200 on Ebay years ago after taking a class at Paper Source in Evanston, Illinois, and have decided that it's time to pass on this piece of historical technology as I organize and prepare for a big neighborhood garage sale.  Since I knew the Daylab was leaving me, I decided to give it one last go and had fun making some prints from old family slides.  I kept a few and gave some as gifts to family members, truly one-of-a-kind gifts.  You can find polaroid transfers for sale on Etsy, but they are not always originals, sometimes they are prints of originals, which don't have the same luster as the real thing, in my opinion.  I also found this shop which will make a polaroid transfer print for you if you send in a slide, how cool.  

Come by the neighborhood garage sale on Saturday June 16th if you're interested, the set will be priced at $75 which is a steal from what I paid for the Daylab, the base, brayer and some watercolor paper.  If it doesn't go, I'll list to Etsy.

help for japan

A few beautiful ways to help Japan. The most simple being a text to the Red Cross, just enter: REDCROSS to 90999

The minds behind W+K studio have come up with this very cool poster to help the cause. The suggested donation is $25.00 and all proceeds go to the red cross.

One of my favorite photographers Alicia Bock has created these limited edition fine art photographs for the cause. Proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross relief efforts in Japan. Different sizes are different prices.

start with art, inspiration: khristian a howell's "le grand roue"

This bedroom is inspired by Khristian A. Howell's: Le Grand Roue, 20x30", $65.00. I thought it would be very romantic in the bedroom and of course I picked the largest "statement" size. If you're into something smaller, there are 3 different sizes available.

I found a beautiful headboard (#1, $750) upholstered in vintage fabric from Spruce Home in Austin on Etsy and went from there. The vibe is french industrial. It could be for a fashion-y lady but is also just masculine enough for a young couple, maybe newlyweds. The lamps (#2, $149 each) are tiled capiz from West Elm. I thought they were the perfect size. The bedding (#3 $150/set) is simple all white, and also from West Elm. The dresser (#4, $300) is from Etsy seller Painted Patina. It's a larger piece and could be used for both husband and wife. The bedside tables (#5, $168 each) are from Urban Outfitters. I love that they have wheels, and lock in place. I have always wanted a pair of upholstered benches at the foot of my bed. These X-base stools (#6, $299 each) from Wisteria in grey would be a perfect graphic statement against the white bedding. Grand total for this romantic bedroom: $2,497--including the artwork.

new online magazine: rojo garabato

Rojo Garabato is an online magazine created by two women in Spain. Rojo, a graphic designer, is the editor-in-chief and art director. Garabato, also a graphic designer, is in charge of art consulting and support. Together the two have put together a very eclectic mix of artists, illustrators and photographers in their 76 page premiere issue.
You may recognize the artwork of Annamaria Potamiti from Art Wall's Bedroom. Annamaria's work along with her artist's statement and background are featured in a beautiful spread from pages 30-37.

I also enjoyed finding new some new favorites, artist: Mia Christopher who is interviewed starting on page 14, and photographer: Jessica Tremp, featured on pages 46-55.

All images were found via Rojo Garabato and are copyright the respective artists.

inspired by: mood board

Can you tell I'm up to something? This collage is an assignment for an e-class I'm taking called Blogging Your Way, taught by Holly of Decor8 and Leslie of A Creative Mint. This week's assignment was to put together a "mood board" that represents the look and feel of your blog.

I incorporated the pool blue as my main background color, then stitched it to my folder using red thread (a little accent color, just like online). I used the stitching to also represent my love of sewing all things handmade in general. I grabbed a few of Jess Gonacha Swift's drawings for the site which I keep in a folder. There's a few images of art walls pinned to the board, one is from Domino Magazine and the other is from Dujour. I sewed bits of doilies in 2 corners to represent my love for pretty, girly things and tucked a few mini pieces of art inside. The photograph is by Alicia Bock and the parakeet is one of my favorite Gocco prints by AnnaKlara from Art Wall's Studio. It usually lives in my office and helps to keep things prettied-up in that tiny space. The glassine envelope has some beautiful stamps from the Phillipines from the Gocco swap I hosted last year. The stamps from one of the participants were too lovely to toss so I pegged them to the wall in my studio. I included a polaroid because I love the look of them and I use a pseudo "polaroid" frame now and then to highlight images in the blog. Last but not least is the logo card. I printed the image with my Gocco last year and (as anyone who uses this magical little contraption knows) printed this image on anything and everything I could get my hands on. I ended up with a nice little stack of stationery for thank-you notes and general business correspondence.

I really loved working on this little project, I've been so busy online lately that I haven't had much time for doing much with my hands besides typing. I've always enjoyed taking creative classes, learning new things and meeting people. I might pop in with a few more little hints at what we're working on throughout the next few weeks, stay tuned.

pretty+funny=perfect

Isn't this just the sweetest? My darling friend (and favorite former roommate) Elizabeth McNaughton Sprague took it while out and about in LA's Chinatown. It's currently awaiting a frame before being proudly placed in my baby girl's bedroom.

Lizzie is a lady of many talents--one obviously being photography. She went to Art School in Indianapolis (Herron) before moving to Chicago to live with me and study acting and improv. She's one of my favorite people in the world, and if you feel like a little chuckle, check out her Lorna and Open Show videos on youtube. They are sure to bring some "funny" to your day to add to the "pretty" already offered above.

a peak at my favorite pressie

Here's a little clue about my favorite Christmas present this year. Yes, the hubs was sneaking around on my gift guides and noticed my singled-out love for the Fuji Instax Camera. I've had a total of 4 instant cameras in my lifetime including an old school land camera I scored for $10 on Ebay because the seller misspelled "poloroid," a cutie-pie i-zone, and a late model Polaroid (note correct spelling) from before they were endangered. The latest addition is certainly the most stylish in my collection. It has a few limitations: it's basically a point and shoot with little user control. It does sport 4 settings for different light situations, but really it's just fun to have around in a digital age when nothing much (in my house anyway) makes it to print. What was your favorite gift this year?

art of note: photographs by cali

I saw these photographs at Madison's Art Fair on the Square this summer. I've been thinking about them ever since, especially the shoes. Both my husband and my father take great pride in their dress shoes. I have vivid memories of my dad getting out his shoe-shining kit every time he donned his brown leather wing-tips, each time explaining that he had worn them first on his wedding day. They are still in his closet after 45 years. It is these kinds of memories and feelings that artist/photographer Cali Hobgood Lemme tries to evoke in her work.

Cali's life in photography started professionally in 1986, and originally in 1978 when she took photography as a Junior High student. Cali currently lives and works in (ahem-my hometown) Champaign, Illinois, where she uses: film, a darkroom, and artist's oils to add a distinct dimension to her images. You can find Cali and her pieces at numerous art fairs across the US during the well-weather months, as well as on her website. Prices range from around $300 for her smaller pieces (which area actually not small at all) to around $1000 for the largest ones. Santa, are you listening?

the beginning of it all-first post

I think this marks the beginning of it all for me. I took this picture in 2007 at the now defunct Hable Construction brick and mortar on Perry St. in Manhattan. I adored the composition as a whole, but when I focused on each item separately I was a little...uninspired. I realized that the arrangement and display of these photographs and ephemera was more important than the pieces themselves. That's when my crush on art walls started to really blossom. Today, I'm happy to say that my little crush has grown into a full-fledged relationship as I have this blog and the artwallonline site to show for it. It's a special day. We are... "going public," so to speak. I'll be celebrating this evening in front of my own art wall with a glass of red and some dark chocolate. Care to join?