5 things: Clare Elsaesser

 

I am so excited to share a new series here on the blog with you.  I have been working with some wonderfully creative people over the last few years, and have met so many of them through blogging and the interwebs, that I thought it might be fun to do an interview series and share it that same way with you.  So here we go.. to kick it off I asked one of my all time favorite artists Clare Elsaesser 5 things...

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I don't know if I ever had a concrete idea about this when I was really little, but by the time I was in junior high I kind of had an idea I wanted to be an artist of some type. I took my first photography class around this time, and loved it.

      
  Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration all over the place: the internet of course, books, daydreams, and movies. And I get a ton of inspiration and encouragement from studying the work of successful, established artists- my husband Kai (also a painter) and I are amassing a collection of big, fancy art books/watching our bank accounts dwindle.

         

Do you work from home?  Office?  Studio?

My studio is right next to my home, in a tiny little guest house. We are hoping to move shortly to a home where both Kai and I can have bigger studios. Right now I have stacks of paintings everywhere, and am constantly tripping over things!

 Are you a City girl or a Country girl?

I am definitely a country girl! I grew up in LA, and went to college in Boston, and realized in my late twenties I am more and more happy the farther away I get from the hustle and bustle. I love open space, and spend most of my free time just spacing out, which is a lot easier to do when it is quiet and I am surrounded by nature, which I definitely am here, on the Sonoma coast.

 What are you reading right now?

I am on a naturalist kick! I just finished reading A Lady's life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella Bird, and am currently listening to a John Muir audio book, but not doing so well because I seem to fall asleep about five minutes in every night. John Muir is really compelling, but the narrator has such a soothing drawl it's like instant slumber when I press play!

All images from Clare Elsaesser

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boutonne {giveaway}

To start off our Holiday Giving Series the fun new shop, boutonne, has graciously offered their envelope laptop case for our first gift!   It is so simply cool and perfect protection for your digital lifeline.

 boutonne's shop is full of amazing locally handmade leather and indigo pieces for fall.  I have already got several on my wish list for my birthday and I dream of being as stylish as they are! These girls don't stop there though, they also offer a variety of creative services as well, take a minute to check out their blog too, to see what they have been up to.

 

Below are a few of my other favorites!!  

For your chance to win please follow the instructions on the widget below, a winner will be chosen at random on November 24th.

Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway





 
If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us!



 

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Neptune Glassworks {lighting}

 

In my line of work you come across so many amazingly talented people.  I met Uri several years ago at the flea market in Pasadena, when we got to talking I convinced him to make me some custom lights for my master bathroom, which I was remodeling at the time.  They are dreamy and my all time favorite pieces in there!  Just last night I was looking for some interesting lighting for a client and remembered how amazing he is as an artist and that he had started his own company - Neptune Glassworks. 

While searching his site I thought it might be a great source to share here.. the lighting is some of the most beautiful and delicate I have ever seen, all the while it has that little industrial edge that I love.  What a gift to be able to create like this!

 

all images via Neptune Glassworks

If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us!

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Pattern Play {Artwork by Julie Abijanac}

 

Julie Abijanac's pieces are a wonderful mix of organic pattern that I adore.  What an amazing statement these would make in any space.  I love the soft lines and depth, they would make amazing fabrics, don't you think? 

 

images via

If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us!

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tastes orangey {giveaway}

 

To start off our Holiday Giving Series the lovely Clare of Tastes Orangey has graciously offered 3 of our readers the chance to win 2 of her 13" x 19" prints.  Clare is an amazing artist whom I have had the pleasure to work with over the past few years.  Her pieces carry beautiful depth in there small packages.  Take a moment to pick out your favorites from her shop, these are just a few of mine!

 

For a chance to win please visit tastes orangey and leave a comment below telling us about your favorites, for an additional chances to win you can tweet (easy to tweet just hit retweet at the bottom of the post), follow us here on the blog or on twitter or blog about our giveaway.  The winner will be chosen at random on November 30th, 2012 .  

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

  **Don't forget I have to be able to contact you...  Please leave your name and some type of contact information if you are not able to be contacted with your profile**

 

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Horse art....

 

As I am sure you know I have a weakness for artwork with horses.  I saw these new pieces from Lisa at Kiki and Polly on line I was thinking how cute they would be in a job... love them.  But I was thinking also that there must be more horse art lovers out there like me.  So here are a few of my favorites.  I like to share!

 kiki and polly

 

 

tastes orangey

 

sarah atkinson

you can click through on the images

 

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Amaryllis Truth Studio {giveaway}

 

As I am sure you know I love art and I really love the beautiful pieces that Allie from Amaryllis Truth creates.  I cannot remember how I first saw her work but I have been enjoying them for a little while now.  As with many things in the blogging world I met Allie over time via email and twitter and with reading her blog I feel like I know her.  She is a young aspiring artist who is extremely talented and I am so excited to be able to offer one of her pieces here as a giveaway to you my lovely readers.

Allie is offering a 12" x 12" custom oil piece to one lucky reader.  Please take a moment to visit her shop and let us know your favorite!

 

Finally, please come back to this post and leave a comment telling us the piece you like.  Greige email subscribers please click this link to go to this blog post and leave your comment. 

The giveaway will end on Saturday July 21st at midnight.

Please remember I need to be able to contact you if you cannot be contacted through your profile please include email address.

  This giveaway is open to residents of the US as well as my international followers (please note international winners will need to pay shipping).

  

Also, if you would like to learn more about Allie and the time she spends in her studio as well as what is inspiring her you can check out her blog.

 

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Artistic inspiration

 

Sometimes a simple piece of art can inspire a million ideas!  

This is so vibrant and gorgeous!

image via

 

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currently obsessed with {simple styling}

Some days you need the clean lines of something simple to make everything fall into place.  I am totally in love with these paintings by Amaryllis Truth and this table is screaming for placement in a clients home!  I have to use them both somewhere soon or I will have to buy them for myself!

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