Found Friday

As you may have seen this week I have put a little spotlight on gingham - a favourite of mine and as I mentioned I am seeing it everywhere.

Here is a photo I took a little while ago when sorting through my linens - a small sample (I am not kidding) of my own gingham finding goodness - napkins, potholders and aprons.

Happy weekend all!

Gingham a GoGo - Finding Fashion

Need more gingham is going places proof?

As I have oft declared I am no great fashionista but the more I looked around the more I saw the presence of gingham everywhere and I just had to share. The collections of many designers this year have included gingham or gingham-esq celebrations - here are just a small selection

Kate Spade Spring 2013

Marc Jacobs Spring 2013

Osca de la Renta Resort 2013

Prada Fall 2013

There is so much more of gingham from 2013 fashion via Frills and Thrills

Will you be getting your gingham on?

Finding Everywhere

Gingham is an all time favourite pattern of mine. It has been around and come back into vogue again and again from the 17th century to now but once more, just of late, I am finding it everywhere.

A lot of people might see gingham too twee or too country cutesie to really inspire but not so these finds which I think have just the right amount of fresh and modern with enough of the recognisable graphic homespun charm still intact. Check these out - gingham goodness galore.

1. Orange and black makeup bag Lucy Blaire Handmade via Etsy

2. These blue gingham earrings by Anliz on Etsy sold in the time it took me to grab the pic and show you and I am not surprised as they were my most coveted find - I share them simply to inspire 

3. The best part about these booties is that they are reversible - the other side grey and white spots! I think they are meant to live at my place. Booties by Molipop on Etsy

4. Get your draw on in style with these gingham rainbow pencils The Paper Crown via Etsy

5. How Joyful supplies Washi tape in teal gingham

6. Blue Gingham Bistro Bowl from Peters of Kensington

7. Kiss Me Quick Hand Embroidered Hoop Art by Candykins Crafts from Down that Little Lane online store

8. Gingham Rope Knot Necklace by Homako

9. Red Gingham Boy's Bow Tie by Aruricards

10. I love this little appliquéd Navy Gingham Alligator Pillow Cover by Wren and Rumor. It is a travel cushion size but I think it would look great in a little boys room!

11. I am an accessory addict and this Blue Gingham Infinity Scarf by Forgotten Cotton would be a welcome addition to my growing collection

12. It's a picnic everyday anywhere with this Oilcloth Lunch Bag by Blue Tulip. Their store also has great shopping bags and makeup bags in many gingham shades

13. ASOS Lucy Gingham Bow Detail Ballet Flats

14. Yellow gingham dinner plate by Rose Fleur Designs via Zazzle

15. Orange Gingham Matrioshka Lingerie Fabric Bag, Coquelicot Bergamote via Etsy

16. Large Gingham Milk Jug, Ruby Rose Interiors from Down that Little Lane online store

17. My summer wish list has these at the top Kate Spade New York for Keds InActive

18. This Polar Bear is part of a whole bedroom collection by Bibelotte. I love their kids linen, especially the greys and blacks as they work for younger and older kids alike

19. A great demonstrator of the modern classic look that can be achieved with gingham is Fog Linen - these trays and other items are available in Australia through Dunlin

20. Red Gingham Medium Zipper Pouch Holly and Alder via Etsy

In the end this was a little bit of an Etsy window shopping spree - there are just so many great makers on there using gingham powers for good but expect to see a lot more in the mainstream shops soon as I am quite literally finding it everywhere!

Appreciate or Emulate - Part 4

I have awarded myself the unofficial record for the longest winded blog post of all time. It is extremely unofficial and it is an anti-award type of award - there will be no trophy or ceremony I'm afraid.

I started sharing my photo print Appreciate or Emulate ideas with you a month ago so for a post that normally comes to you in one hit I have managed to give it to you in 4 hits over 4 weeks - some achievement! I can blame things like pregnancy vagues, tonsilitis and a little foray into vignetting distractions which you can see via my facebook page here.

But finally I arrive at the bit where it's all about you. Participate!

There are so many great DIY's with photo's and photo print but here I share just a few that I found inspiring.

I must add a disclaimer here that I have yet to try these myself - it is a case of sharing with you to motivate me. I would also urge you if you are going to try any of these to use your own images, or one you have permission to use - so much more personal and not using someones else's hard snapped shot without their permission.

'Textural' storage boxes via Craft and Creativity. This DIY uses bought paper but you could easily take, print and use your own images depending on the size of the box you want to cover. Make sure you take your images on the largest size on a high pixel camera for the best quality possible. I though it would work well with close ups of your favourite foliage, stones or textured weathered timbers - for kids room storage you could photograph grouped toys such as block or toys - indicating what's inside.

A favourite blog of mine which often has great DIY's is Poppytalk. I first discovered them as Poppytalk Handmade which is as a monthly online curated marketplace showcasing the handmade goods of emerging designers. It is well worth a look. This cushion DIY, which even as a tentative novice sewer I was excited by, uses the services of another great online resource Spoonflower - somewhere you can design your own custom fabric, wallpaper, decals and even gift wrap. It is not as expensive as you may think and I am searching my image files for the perfect project right now!

This last one from Fellow Fellow is a little technical but wow what an impact. It actually uses fewer materials to make it than you might think and with the right image to use and a steady cutting hand it could be achieved more easily than at first it might appear. The best thing is you could photocopy and practice would make perfect without being too expensive. Imagine a row of these greeting guests at a themed event or making a xmas themed display like this. Magical!

Will you be trying any of these? I would love to see any results if you do - head along to my facebook page to share. I also hope to share some of my own in the not too distant future.

Found Friday

In a week where we have the roof off the garage and all our belongings in the yard in trailers under tarpaulins accompanied by Sydney's wettest weather in months, nay years, you would think the idea of purchasing more stuff would be the farthest from my mind. You would think, but  the op shops call to me. I was literally driving home and was compelled to turn left and visit an op shop I hadn't seen in a while. I tried to convince myself that it was because I had some things to donate in the boot, yes I do take stuff there too, but really I only remembered them when I had my haul to fit in. I was excitedly blessed by a number of little joyful finds and only share some with you here.

A milk glass bowl with pink rose detail sitting on top of some Irish linen placemats in the most divinely complimentary colours that come with matching napkins.

The placemats were part of a $2 linen lottery bag along with some gingham green and blue placemats. I love an opshop lucky dip! For those uninitiated some opshops bundle less valuable items together in bags to sell more and clear room - often you can't see all the contents so you take a bit of a gamble as to what's really inside but it's hardly high stakes and usually pays off. The anticipation is worth it and what I don't want I donate back - win win!

I hope your gambles pay up big this weekend, or even just small in the most delightful way.

Appreciate or Emulate - Part 3

This post has been a long time coming - so long in fact you may have forgotten where I started. I posted all about finding photo print perfection everywhere about 2 weeks ago in my Finding Everywhere regular post (soon to be more regular again). Then about how you can Appreciate or Emulate it, Decorate or Celebrate with it, and now finally get ready to Titivate.

The reasons it has taken me so long are related to family winter colds, garage roof removals in preparation for renovations accompanied by the wettest Sydney weather in months, no years, and more relevantly the enormous amount of amazing photo print fashion I found.

I have been really drawn in by the photo print look and the opportunities digital printing on fabric presents. I have been searching through some amazing designs and collections and have been finding it hard to edit it down for you.

I am by no means a fashionista, and some of these are not that current as fashion is meant to be so very now, now, now, but with this selection I am more drawn to the beauty of the items themselves than thinking that, some of them at least, are realistically making it to my wardrobe anytime soon. They are however stunning and or clever and really do take me on a journey.

Here are some picture perfect fashion pics I picked for you

The above is from the runway show of fashion designer Pedro Lourenço. The escape into it quality of this top is breathtaking as are a lot of the pieces from this 2012 collection which you can see more of here

The above 2 images are from Etsy store Dream Nation. All their pieces are made from certified organic cotton and bamboo and digitally printed in Dream Nation own patterns. The top image is of a Hotel Sign skirt paired with an Old Route 66 top and the bottom is their kids Harem pant in sky pattern. I love the uniqueness of their designs and that through Etsy unique design is so accessible.

Another unique and clever store I found via Etsy is How very Dare. Their style is so very bold, graphic and strong. The pictures above are from their Trash to Treasure and Skate or Die ranges.

It seems 2012 was a big year in photo print fashion so maybe I am a bit behind the times but from what I have seen it is not going anywhere soon. The above skirts are from the surprisingly beautiful 2012 collection of Karla Spetic. The surprise is in just how beautiful these simple urban landscapes become when cut and framed as fashion pieces. I recommend looking over the rest of the collection as the colour, image, cut combination is lovely.

The surreal presentation of this Nowhere collection by Milan based fashion label Marios shouldn't put you off from the 'not off the peg' beauty of their work - I hope you enjoy. The video is an especially bizarre little journey in itself.

Lastly this silk scarf is by Las Coleccionistas, also via Etsy, and is from their Sierra limited edition collection printed with original photographs. It is stunninngly beautiful but also deserved a special mention for the beautiful box it is delivered in featuring a copy of the photograph and information on where it was taken.

So there it is a collection of picture perfect ways you could Titivate. Not my usual style but fashion taking me places I didn't expect. Wearable art is really what fashion is all about so express yourself, and in these instances, the photographer too.

Found Friday

It is no secret here that I love other peoples unfinished craft projects, I have my own as well but they are a frustration rather than a delight. I especially love finding unfinished embroideries and needle points at op-shops and I have no intention of finishing them. It is their incomplete, given up on selves I appreciate so much. The enthusiasm that the project was started with is evident, even in the tiniest areas  of coloured thread, but at some point the maker couldn't make it and here it is right where they finished.

A few weeks ago I found a new favourite in this Paddington Bear 'artist' in the op-shop and I want to frame him just as he is for a children's bedroom wall. (maybe with an iron?) The little speech bubble above the picture of Paddington on the packet says it all "I can't wait to start my Paddington Artist Picture'. I for one am glad they could wait to finish it.

Appreciate or Emulate Part 2

As I mentioned yesterday I would normally post all things relating to this weeks Finding Everywhere theme, and how you can Decorate, Celebrate, Titivate and Participate with it, in one post but this weeks photo print perfections have been too numerous to share in one place so here is part 2

To personalise a gift it is not just about what's inside - the anticipation of what treasure lays within is only made all the more special by thoughtful wrapping - here are some of favourite photographic gift wrap ideas

A wedding is all about particular special people - well any celebration for that matter - and photo displays of the people the event is to honour, and in some cases the guests, personalises the event for everyone

Polaroid guest book

Photo wreath

And these just make me smile as they would your guests

Take your pics, print then party.

Appreciate or Emulate

With a photographer as a partner I am never short of a visual feast. Living with great images is truly a joy.

In Monday's Finding Everywhere you would have seen how living with great pics can be taken to new extremes, and onto anything you could imagine, here are some more ideas on how you can take that great image off the camera, computer or phone and bring it into your home and life.

Ordinarily I would also include here ideas on how to Celebrate, Titivate and Participate but this time I have just found too many beautiful images and pin-spirations so decided to break it up.

I am lucky enough to have access to some great pics but like builders houses never being complete we haven't gotten around to hanging many of my partners photos yet - one of the reasons is we need it to be BIG - the bigger the better - and that takes finding the right wall and the right frame and, well, the funds. Soon though we will maximise the prints and I can only hope to achieve something like this.

Below is a selection of interiors that truly sing because of the great photo print on the wall.

If you are feeling even bolder and more cashed up make it even BIGGER - the whole wall in fact.

The serenity created by the first two is something special but this last one is beautifully whimsical and 70's esq. I am regretting the fact that I once lived in a house in my early 20's with a pine forest scene wallpaper in the foyer and didn't take a photo - memories.

Great photos can truly take you places - even in your own home.

Finding Everywhere

In this digital age most of use store our pictures in the virtual zone only, plus the odd favourite one or two on the fridge door, but not these great makers and creators, they have taken their pics anywhere and everywhere for your viewing pleasure.

Finding Everywhere - photo print, image items, pictorial pretties.

1. Art-inspired wooden knobs by Chocolate Creative Homewares with landscape and beach designs
2. Norway Fjord Fogged In Ombre throw pillow cover by Loud Waterfall Photo on etsy
3. Navy Wave Small Canvas Pouch - Dezso by Sara Beltran Tulum available at www.shopstyle.com.au
4. For the lumber jack in your life or in you the Malaka 4 t-shirt from DADADA studio
5. This, believe it or not, is a dress for a doll. When I first saw it I saw just the dress and imagined what a fabulous wedding dress it would make for someone so it really could/should be upscaled. The dolls are more characters than dolls and all are by Le train fantôme
6. Carousel Photography Embroidery Hoop Art by Juillian Audrey Designs on Etsy - I love this application of a photo for framing and may have to give it a try myself.
7. This sweet leaves print bag was featured in the online gallery of Edit, the Woolahra based store of the former editor of Vogue Vogue Living Sharyn Storrier Lyneham
8. Meadow Print Dress girls dress by Next in the UK
9. Red Lake English Romantic Cushion also by Chocolate Creative Homewares
10. Last but oh my word not least Marianne carved french country bed upholstered in dandelion field fabric by Chair Couture

Are any of these your picture perfect?