Discover "Mystic Silks"

Mystic Silks is a great place to shop if you're looking for beautiful, one-of-a-kind, paintings. The artist also offers hand dyed silk scarves and decorative pillows, as well as watercolor, oil, and acrylic paintings. But original paintings on silk are her hallmark, and they are absolutely stunning. As a quilt-maker, I stand in awe of this artist's use of vibrant color to create depth and, often, the illusion of movement. Her style varies from abstract to landscape to breathtaking closeups. Perhaps most unique is the option to commission a painting from the buyer's own photo!

Click on link below each painting to see details and pricing.

"Picasso's Moon"

"Einstein's E Equals MC Two"

"July Splendor"

"African Serengeti Sunset"

"Nemo's Friends, An Underwater View"

"Fickle Winds"

You can contact the artist via the contact link in her shop. Learn more about the artist through her Etsy profile. Check here for her shop policies. See the artist's portfolio on Design Style Guide.com.

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Purple Rain

I only wanted 2 see u laughing in the purple rain
Purple Rain by Prince

When I think of springtime, it is rain and freshly blooming flowers that come to mind first. And one of my favorite spring flowers is lilac, both for its beautiful color as well as the intoxicating aroma.

Talented members of the Design Style Guide have used a number of media to recreate that lilac fresh ambiance so you can enjoy springtime indoors all year long.

Photographer AnnWilkinson offers a set of five spring flower photographs including this beautiful lilac. They come as 5”x 5” prints perfect for an office, den, child’s room or bathroom setting.






Ceramic artist Dorothydomingo adds a touch of purple rain to the kitchen with this set of hyacinth bowls. They’re made of speckled stoneware clay and are a perfect size for your morning cereal, luncheon soup, or an ice cream dessert.







A touch of spring elegance is found in this gorgeous glass bowl by rdgdesigns. It is made of handblown glass that was dipped in cold water and then reheated to give the exterior a beautiful alligator look.






Einstein’s E Equals MC Two is the name of an original silk painting by Mysticsilks. I love the way she has combined the geometric shapes of a left-brained scientist with the beautiful arrangement of colors by a definitely right-brained artist. It’s a stunning piece of fine art.









And for a touch of springtime whimsy, this Simple Soul Daisy Doodle Bowl entitled BLOOM by loveartworks is both a work of art as well as very functional piece of ceramic pottery. The design continues on to the bottom of the bowl, giving pleasure to everyone, including the one in charge of washing dishes!





Extend the springtime season in your home with these and other items made by the artists of the Designstyleguide.net

- Deb Babcock

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Design Style Dinos

On Sunday, the family ventured down to Houston to see Leonardo, a completely mummified duck-billed dinosaur. We got to touch his petrified skin! It was quite groovy. In honor of Leonardo, here are some fun Dinosaurs created by the InteriorDesignTeam on Etsy:

Some Time Ago Now by AnthonyButkovich

Raptor by bbusbyarts

Dinosaurs - Single - Light Switch Plate Cover by rathina

And hey, while I'm here. . . I'm giving away Five $150 gift certificates good towards the purchase of American Country furniture by Shaka Studios. If you'd like a chance to win, click here.

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Design Style Guide in Texas

The following products are handcrafted by Texans, still reeling from the after affects of Hurricane Ike:

Handmade Woodcarving by glassnwood.
Tiger Maple Pencil Post Bed by ShakaStudios.

Mandella by leathersculpture.

Mixing it Up by rhradcliffdesigns.

Curly Maple Candle Holder by jneale3.

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Artichokes

A nod to my favorite vegetable...

"artichokes" by MHolland.

"Coronation" by Flandersfield.

"Artichoke Vase" by dbabock.

"Artichoke Wycinanki Polish Style Papercut" by papercutsbyjoe.

"Artichoke Print" by thelittlebeadhive.

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The Handmade Economy

Designers, take note. There is a new economy out there screaming to be noticed. One of a kind. Handmade. Handcrafted. Yes, a new economy, yet a very old one. We have come full circle.

In a world of mass production and super Wal-Marts, we are yearning for the craftsmanship and human touch of handmade goods. In a world seeking to find sustainability after learning some very hard lessons about excess, we are tired of seeing the tags saying “Made in Sri Lanka” in our mass-produced clothing, “Made in China” stamped on our toys, and tired of talking to “Tommy” in India about the charge on our credit card that isn’t ours. The towns that used to be the furniture production capitals of the world are virtual ghost towns because we are now importing from China and other Pacific Rim countries at staggering rates.

There is a yearning, running quiet and deep, for something we have lost. Our great-grandparents knew it, maybe even our grandparents. But somewhere along the way, industrialized economy made us want bigger, more…cheaper. And now, we are feeling something tugging at our sleeves.

There is a movement out there and if you are very quiet, you may just begin to hear it on the wind behind the noise we’ve become anesthetized to. You may pick up a word here or there. “Handmade.” “Locally grown.” “Community.” Look closely. Greenmarkets, WholeFoods, craft fairs, artists’ co-ops. And, the Web. Yes, the big WWW has gotten in on it, too. Because “community” has gone global. Real, honest-to-goodness people creating a real honest-to-goodness economy of the new “handmade.”

Etsy.com. Join us at the Design Style Guide in taking back the “art” of commerce.

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the longest days

Grazing in the Heat of Summer - SusannahTucker

After the solstice a new scent rises in the summer fields, among the drying stalks of goldenrod and the folded-up buttercups. It is only discernable as summer ebbs, when everything that has been brilliantly green for months dulls to a gentler gold.

Boatyard - Unravelling

Grasses fan their leaves and a powdery aroma streams away into the sky, carrying a million memories of summers as they used to be—full of lemonade, cooled by rocky streams, sweetened with candy. During the longest days of the year, there are remnants of that history in each hot breath.

Triptych Montreal - LanitaPhoto

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Big and Bold

I love a big, bold painting to add a dramatic focal point to a room. Here are some wonderful examples from a few of our painters on Interior Design Team.
ElizabethGraf
JaneceMoment
Heronkate
AnikaEaster

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Wonderful Watercolors

There's no quicker way to brighten a room than by hanging new artwork. And there's no quicker way to find a great selection of artwork than to search the Etsy shops of Interior Design Team members. The above is a small sampling of watercolors only. On Etsy it's possible to search "handmade items" by typing "interiordesignteam" in the search box, followed by any other parameters you desire, such as color, subject, medium, or even room. There is a large pool of talented artists on the Team, offering paintings for all tastes and budgets! If you want more details on any of the samples above, click the sampler to enlarge it, and then you can read the painting title and store name. In the right hand column on this page you will find a shop directory for one-click access. Happy shopping!

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OUR INTERVIEW WITH KAT

Jetaime - Mae and Bebe

Mae and Bebe series depicting the adventures of a Mom and her daughter.

Who are you?
Kat Hannah

Where are you located?
Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA

What do you create?
Prints and original artwork.

Where do you sell your creations?
Prints – http://kathannah.etsy.com
Originals – http://mamenolan.net
Wholesale - http://trunkt.org/kathannah

Alice

An original painting inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland classic story.

Where do you create?
I’m fortunate enough to have a home studio with washable wood floors for the inevitable paint spills. Never far from me, are my two giant Newfoundland dogs. They have endured the occasional blue or red splattered fur.

What inspires you?
As a wife, mom and artist there is a well of untapped inspiration to draw upon. My works illustrate aspects of inter-personal relationships, past and present. Sometimes it can be a phrase I come across, a certain play of light, or a form, which provides a basis for a painting. Painting provides me with the opportunity to express emotions, resolve issues, or just have a voice.

Is your Etsy shop a full-time job, part-time job, or hobby?
Painting is a full time profession for me. I spend about six hours during the daylight in the studio. Also, I find myself with stashes of pencils and paper in every room, just in case a stroke of inspiration should strike.

The Looking Glass

This is a fine art print of my original painting The Looking Glass.

What role does creativity play in your marketing methods?
As the old adage goes; “a picture is worth a thousand words”, so I post as many of my images as possible on blogs, forums, web sites.

What do you friends and family think of your creations?
As my family well knows, I can be a little off-center and sometimes odd. With respect to my more imaginative works, I will often hear “hey, that’s a little strange” so that’s when I know the piece is now finished.

What are your goals?
I always attempt to infuse my works with a heartfelt sentiment. My goal is to convey that sentiment through line, form, and tone.

How do you envision your creations being used by your customers?
Beyond the obvious decoration upon a wall, I would hope my works strike an emotion chord with a customer. For instance, my series Mae & Bebe celebrates the interaction of a mother and daughter. I have young moms who see themselves in the work from the perspective of being the mother, and at times being the daughter.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
In the near future, I am planning to open a second etsy shop titled “a kat tale” offering illustrations and drawings.

For more information please visit

KAT'S BLOG: http://indigomood.blogspot.com
KAT'S WEBSITE: http://mamenolan.net
KAT'S STORE: http://KatHannah.etsy.com

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The UnExpected - Deck

It's hot. At least in the northern hemisphere. And at my apartment, absolutely every moment possible is spent outside on our little deck. Beautiful with the sounds of birds and a huge maple that brushes down onto one corner and plenty of plants in beautiful glazed pots. But why do we so often leave the decorating to those pots. Here are some unexpected choices for making the outside, another room of your home.

whirligig pillow set
from enhabiten

Wonderful crisp clean colors and each pillow is filled with buckwheat hulls and lavender which can only add more soft sounds and scents to our outdoor space (ideal if plants are not possible). Plus each pillow (and you get two) is 9" x 14.5" - a perfect size to toss into your 'deck bag' and bring inside.

It's only natural - large tree tote
from cipolla

Deck bag? Grab a great bag like this linen and cotton tote to bring your outdoor decor easily in and out in inclement weather and you'll never be more than 30 seconds away from bliss.


pale palmera leaf metal artwork
from CopperLeafStudios

Perfect to set the mood of a relaxing space, a pairing of these amazing zinc images would make any space. Nestle them close to the house, under an overhang for protection (avoid rain and bring indoors in the winter), and they will evoke the sounds of a pond anywhere they hang.


small oval dish
from DishfulsofDoodles

An abstract celebration of natural forms makes this dish ideal for the center of the table. With my pockets always full of pebbles and shells I've collected from the shore, this platter provides a stylish way to display such found natural treasures.

These ideas can so easily transform your deck into a haven for every spare moment. Your space is really yours now, with all your great design sense added and quite frankly, I'm not sure you'll be able to get your friends to go home. But hey, that's the price to pay for great design. Might as well bring them some lemonade.

Celadon Green Tumbler Serving Set
from juditavill

Enjoy.

P.S. Show us what you can do with your outdoor space - post a link to your photo in a comment!

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