Spring Showers

The thought of spring showers and plants conjures up images of preparing vegetable plots, flower beds etc in our gardens. At this time of year in the UK we have our annual Chelsea Flower Show. This is a spectacular and ultimate gardening show where ‘pretend’ gardens are created with various themes. During the show you can walk around gaining inspiration as well as being able to purchase plants to take home. At the end of the show the gardens are all dismantled with plants and accessories being offered for sale to the general public on the last day. Plants are also donated to local hospices, schools and charities which I think is a super idea to allow those who are not able to enjoy the wonders of this show to relish the plants beyond.

And so, my friends, I turned my attention to search for items to compliment my theme title from this amazing interior design team.

Isn’t this silk scented arrangement with mini cream roses just gorgeous?

Do visit Melrose Fields to find this and many more blooms in the most beautiful and exotic arrangements.

These blooms would not be out of place in the Chelsea Flower show. Note the Hula girl in the corner!

Tropical Splendor is an original oil painting by Elizabeth Graf

Flowers can be displayed in all manner of ways like this Watering Can Bouquet of Hydrangeas by Yankee Girl.

All that’s missing is a little butterfly but then it’s early days!

Friendships are like flowers - need tending to bloom by Wandering Whimsies.

Often a visit to the show is a popular activity for friends with similar interests to share. This sampler testifies to this sentiment!

Red Flower could be an autumnal creature or a flower that appears at any other time of year.

On A Whimsey uses her love of encaustics (wax painting) to create this beauty! ‘Well with tongue in cheek, I had to slip that one in didn’t I?’

…. Talking of butterflies, what about this beautiful Handmade Butterfly Feeder?

Glorious Glass Garden has more lovely feeders made from functional stained glass.

Now that you have a feel for the outdoors don’t you wish you could visit? One day!!!

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Room With A View - Zen and Now

Buddha in the World Original Mixed Media by Zen Dot Studio

Humboldt Esquire Lively Lidded Vessel by Barbara Dunshee

Habitat Chair by l+j industries

Violets and Birchwood Beaded Soy Candle by Mireasma

Glass and Copper Garland by Tapestry Arabian Farm

Fused Glass Vase by Moon of Glass



Raisin Magic Orchid Original Photograph by From My Eye

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Boone's Hooks -- Distinctive Hand Forged Accessories

Smyth Boone is an eighteenth generation blacksmith, a family legacy that goes back to the time of the Vikings. Smyth combines his inherent blacksmithing skills with the versatile design talents of Robin A. Boone. The unique arrangement of Smyth Boone’s internationally recognized forging skills and Robin’s complex designs combine to form one of the strongest unions in the field of contemporary ironwork.

Unique designs and talented forgings have led to many notable publications of Smyth’s work that can be seen in books, magazines, and on the internet. Smyth’s work has also been featured in international invitational art museum shows that highlight contemporary blacksmithing. Smyth has presented public and trade lectures on the art and craft of contemporary and historical blacksmithing. Smyth and Robin share their skills with the blacksmithing communities throughout the United States and Canada by teaching at blacksmith conferences, art and craft schools, and by publishing many articles on design and technique.

Boone's Hooks is featured in the current January/February issue of Sierra magazine of the Sierra Club! Sierra magazine is the award-winning magazine filled with spectacular nature photography and in-depth reporting on the hottest environmental issues from the largest non-profit lobbying organization dedicated to preserving the Earth's natural beauty.

The article, "Building Better: Cool Products for an Eco-Home", featuring Boone's Hooks is about building green and using green products in your current home/office situation. It is very insightful on how to retro-fit your current home to save energy and be more friendly to your family and to the Earth.

Here is the article from the Sierra Club website...

Hooked on Recycling

M. Smyth Boone calls himself an 18th-generation blacksmith and a descendant of Daniel Boone. But it's the fact that his designs are crafted from 100 percent recycled steel that is truly pioneering. Boone's signature piece is a leaf-shaped hook that can be used to hang towels, hats, or anything with a strap. He's also a sculptor and has crafted stair railings and a series of forged-steel sculptures of surfers. $34, booneshooks.com

I am honored to be recognized as a contributing part of such a great movement. Go Green, Support Local Business!!

Please visit the Sierra Club website at http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200901/cool.aspx

"The artist blacksmith has a unique variety of forging techniques that are specific to the craft of blacksmithing. Forged textures, joinery, forge welding, and the ability to transform metal are some examples. In my work, I highlight these many techniques through composition and execution of a project. The resulting effect expresses harmony of design and function with regard to the integrity of the medium."

Please visit Boone's Hooks on etsy.com.

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Festive Fancies

Etsy stores are already filling up with wonderful festive goodies... here are a four wonderfully earthy decorations to invest in now, so that when the time comes for you to bring your tree in, it will have some wonderful accoutrements to wear for the holidays.

Handmade Rosehip and Copper Wire Heart Christmas Tree Decoration by makalewakan

Black Christmas Tree Ornament by GinaDeSantis

Hand Blown Glass Ornament by SassyGlassy

Christmas Ornament Set of 6 - Hand Painted Rusted Tin Snowflake by NestaHome

SET OF 6 / CHRISTMAS STAR ORNAMENT no 6 by LouAnnsdesigns

All the best for a happy November, my Design Style Guide Friends! ~ Jo Bradford x

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An Interview with Debra Linker

Debra grew up in Dallas, Texas and moved to Seattle about fourteen years ago, following a technical career path. Hers is a story of the left brain finally finding its right counterpart, a balance that was to change her direction in life toward a new identity: that of an artist.

“Growing up,” Debra says, “I was not even remotely interested in artistic endeavors.”

Then, one day, a good friend suggested she “should paint.” Out of the blue!

“I immediately disregarded it!”

But husband Bruce saw something in the possibilities. Curious to see what she was harboring, he took her shopping for art supplies.

Then, another friend recommended she read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Within days, she was attending a workshop based on the book. People were urging her to paint, cheering her along the way. She took lessons. She started exhibiting in a friend’s shop. A chain of events, a series of synchronicities….

Like Cinderella at the ball, she found that she had, indeed, been an artist all along.

Enter Etsy, a creative community where Debra could further foster her creative forces while being surrounded by like minds. And where she could actually SELL her works and be supported by others who were creating businesses out of their creations.

“I am daily inspired by the scenery, the nature, and the art community” in Seattle. “I live in a well-groomed evergreen forested area and there is no lack of subject matter for any of my art ‘phases.’”

“For the first time in my life, I am finding a desire to express social and political views that I have previously kept pretty much to myself. An example of this is the recent completion of ‘Viridis.’”


Her technique is as simple as it is difficult.

“I simply just start putting paint on the canvas – any paint, any color -- and, before long, I have the next stroke, and the next, and soon, I have another painting.”

And what does she see in her future? What defines success?

“Being able to paint another day; to have the materials, the time, and the ability to just paint another day…that would be my definition of success.”

To learn more about Debra and to see more of her beautiful work, please visit:

http://debralinker.com
http://debralinker.etsy.com
http://debralinker.blogspot.com

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Paintings! There are so many styles all inspired by nature.

I am sure when man decided to paint on walls like the Egyptians he did not realise the number of different mediums that could be used to portray life!

Each one of us has a painting within us, much the same as a book. There really is creativity within us all - it's knowing how to release it, that is the hard part. How often do you find yourself doodling whilst on the phone, for instance? Or whilst you are waiting etc. Well, that's a form of art, isn't it?

Take a look at some of the following different styles. Each one gives us a glimpse of the artist, their personality and character. Actors bring something of themselves to their parts in much the same way as artists.

Sap Bucket Sunflowers by Yankee Girl

This is an original watercolour painting of beautiful yellow sunflowers in a blue sap bucket hanging from a fence.

Shawnee River by Mystic Silks

"Shawnee River" was inspired by a river that flows through the southern part of Ohio. It is near the old camping grounds of the Native American Shawnee Tribe. The evening the artist was there, the river area was so quiet, and yet filled with the spirits of the Shawnee Indian. The sun's setting rays slipped easily through the naked trees that fall had stripped of their summer leaves, and then touched the river's waters with their orange and golden colours.

Picture Yourself in a Boat on the River by Heronkate

"Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade skies..."

The Great Northwest by TheCreatorsPalette

This painting took inspiration from The Columbia River and a Lewis and Clark campsite.

The Lake District in UK by On a Whimsey

The Lake District in UK is a romantic place; it can be awesome, calm,turbulent, mystical,inspiring - whatever mood you wish. The weather changes at a moment's notice and has caught many a novice walker or climber unawares. Here we have one of the calm, serene moments when you can just draw your breath as your eyes gaze on the landscape.

Sunbathing by VanFleetStreetDesign

The subject of this painting was modelled after a painting that Picasso did of a model lounging on a sofa. It was decided by the artist that it was best suited for a desert scene and the sofa was turned into a rock sofa.

And, so you see that from the examples above, which have all been painted by artists belonging to the Interior Design Team, that inspiration can come from nature but the actual influence of personality and character will always shine through. Thus, making art a very personable medium that would be impossible to accurately replicate.

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Pillow Fight!

Nobody's really fighting here, but it does sound like fun, doesn't it? Really, we are a selection of stunningly beautiful, high quality, decorative, handmade pillows. We're the missing link, the accent that ties a room together, the pillow hunter's guide to a successful finish. Behold!

These lovely floral designs from lindylou are made from retro designer fabrics. The square pillow covers measure 20" x 20" and the neckroll measures 6" x 20".

These gorgeous silk pillows from PK Fairaday are handpainted, one-of-a-kind fiber art at its finest. They measure 18" x 18".




These hand-stitched, hand-embroidered beauties from pillowhappy are made on a base of white muslin with fleece designs. Each one measures 14" x 14".



The designer colors and fabrics (linen/cotton mix) used by decorative instincts for these contemporary pillows, delight and inspire, adding a touch of old world style (dogs and celtic-like designs) to the most modern room.




These fabulous pillows from Jillian Rene Decor stand out with their unique center button design. Each one measures 16" x 16".



Exquisite "cathedral windows" quilted designs from warmnfuzzies defy any genre of home decor style. I think these gems would be beautiful with almost any aesthetic! Each pillow cover measures 18" x 18".



And just when I thought I was going to wrap it up, I found these luscious designs from Umber Dove! They are made from combinations of cotton and linen with designs overlapping and interlacing with each other. Each pillow cover measures 11.5" x 17.5".

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