Black & White Inspiration

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INSPIRATION 2014 #94: Lovely black and white assemblage. Check out many more beautifully styled vignettes here.

Week of Wire ~ Egg Decorating

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INSPIRATION 2014 #93: Here's a novel way to decorate eggs ~ wrapped wire ~ how eggstravagant!  The variety of patterns created is just amazing ~ make sure to check here for many more. While many of the photos aren't the greatest and the site is in Russian (I think), there are some illustrated instructions, so you could try this yourself. On my list for next year!

Week of Wire ~ Candle Holders

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INSPIRATION 2014 #92: Another functional object made from wire ~ beautiful candle/votive holders. Wire is such a great material as it is delicate, but strong ~ allowing one to create seemingly fragile objects that are actually very sturdy. While wire is relatively easy to work with, it will do a number on your hands!

Week of Wire ~ Pendant Lighting

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INSPIRATION 2014 #91: Interesting and uniquely shaped wire pendant lighting ~ from more traditional and symmetrical to contemporary and asymmetrical. So versatile ~ any of these would fit right in with your eclectic decor.

Week of Wire ~ Functional Objects

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INSPIRATION 2014 #90: Wonderful collection of wire functional objects ~ baskets, kitchen and household tools. Examined closely, these objects are cleverly made ~ many of the baskets are collapsible, while some of the tools are crafted from a single piece of wire. Wouldn't you love a wall of wire in your home?  I know I would!

Spring Collection

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INSPIRATION 2014 #89: A lovely collection of flower frogs and other spring themed items. What a beautiful way to arrange and utilize a group of objects. I have been collecting flower frogs for years ~ I only collect metal ones as I love the patinas and the sculptural variety. Maybe it is time to dust them off and do a photo shoot?! 

Words of Wisdom

{Hand lettering by Jasmine Dowling}

INSPIRATION 2014 #88: Great advice for all! In my case at this moment in time, the quote should read the secret to getting ahead is catching up.

Talented Typographer

                    

INSPIRATION 2014 #87: This is typography you probably don't even think about, but you have to be pretty impressed with this painter's skills. Not only is he an amazing lettering artist, but his footwork is pretty fancy as well.

Botanicals ~ A Modern Approach to Display

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INSPIRATION 2014 #86: Shown above are a few examples of several contemporary approaches to displaying pressed plant material. These images are so versatile ~ they look great in just about any environment. The last image shown is actually wallpaper ~ could make a lovely statement in the right place!

Botanicals ~ Ways to Display

{wonderful juxtaposition of industrial and antique found here}

 {lovely way to add nature to your interior surroundings from here}

 {beautiful large scale botanicals by Stuart Thornton from here}

INSPIRATION 2014 #85: What to do with a wonderful botanical? Above are a few ideas to start with ~ from simple and fleeting to a big statement, the possibilities are endless. Now, just to find some wall space!

Splendid Specimens

{These three images are all from this antique Herbier ~ shown here}

{A page from Emily Dickinson's Herbarium from here}

{Decorative approach from here}

INSPIRATION 2014 #84: Lovely botanical specimens from the past ~ pressed and preserved for reference, but created in such a way that they become art. Especially pleasing to me is the way the plant forms were attached to the backing paper with strips of paper or parts of labels. The penmanship also adds a beautiful element to these examples.

Spring, Where are You?

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INSPIRATION 2014 #83:  Fond memory of spring gone by . . . pressed wildflower wreath. After another snowy day, I am starting to wonder if spring will ever arrive this year.

Scotties LOVE Snow!

{dashing through the snow ~ source}

{immersing himself in the snow ~ source}

INSPIRATION 2014 #82: Although these photos aren't of my scotties, they could be. These guys truly enjoy a snow day ~ even if it is at the end of March! Hoping their enthusiasm is contagious as we may get a bit more snow tonight.

Snowy Lamb

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INSPIRATION 2014 #81: Trying to appreciate the beauty of more snow! Not quite sure I believe in the adage "In like a lion, out like a lamb" anymore. Then again, there are a few days left for the weather to change. AND, I live in the Midwest, so there is always a chance we could have 70 degree weather tomorrow.

Memories ~ of the pups they used to be . . .

{Speck at about 3 months}

{Sprocket at about 4 months}

INSPIRATION 2014 #80: As you may have noticed, I have become obsessed with finding out what special day is being celebrated ~ so many obscure holidays! According to Days of the Year,we should be celebrating Common Courtesy Day, Single Parent's Day, Memory Day and Puppy Day today. How often will I be able to post two images that work for 2.5 of the 4 days?! I am stretching it a bit with the Single Parent's Day, as I was only a single parent to Speck for several months before my boyfriend showed up. 

So, celebrating the wonderful memories we had when our scotties were puppies. Speck is now just about 12.5 and Sprocket will be turning 6 in April. You can read more about their adventures here, here, and here. 

Knitting Time!

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INSPIRATION 2014 #79: A knitted clock! Don't think I've seen one of these before ~ although it is beautiful and unusual, I can't help my practical side coming through ~ how to keep it clean? Visit here to see some more creative ways to incorporate knitted items into your decor.

All Decked Out

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INSPIRATION 2014 #78: This guy just makes me laugh ~ I wonder how he would get along with two scottish terriers? 

Storing Books

{use books as a side table}

{convert a door into a bookshelf}

 {stacked on the stairs}

 {as home security ~ block a doorway}

INSPIRATION 2014 #77: Need some creative ideas for how to store or display your book collection? See here for 35 unique solutions ~ some rather impractical, but others certainly doable. I've shown a few above, my favorite being the home security solution ~ yes, it may keep people from getting in, but how do you get out?
All images from here.

Lucky Charms

{opened charm}

 {partially closed charm}

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INSPIRATION 2014 #76: Just in time for St. Patrick's Day ~ beautiful Victorian era four leaf clover charms. As is shown in the first three images, this type of charm folds into itself to form one single heart shaped leaf ~ when opened, a four leaf clover. While I can make a guess as to what the pig (wealth), flower (beauty), and four leaf clover (luck) mean, I haven't a clue as to what the mushroom or toadstool symbolizes. Any ideas?

Memories of Geometry Class

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INSPIRATION 2014 #75: Every now and then I see an image that reminds me of projects I did a long time ago ~ this is one of them. In 9th grade geometry class with Mr. Magala, he gave a yearly assignment out to every class to create either an icosahedron  or a dodecahedron out of whatever material you chose. It became quite a contest as your grade was determined by your creativity as well as your craftsmanship. I was lucky that my Dad was an engineer and was great at figuring out how to make stuff and also had the tools to do it. So, I made my dodecahedron out of clear plexiglass, added colored sand, dirt and some plants for a terrarium ~ my Dad actually cut out the pieces (for safety reasons!), but I had to figure out the angles that would work. The down side of making something that Mr. Magala liked and gave a good grade for is that he kept those pieces, so alas, my dodecahedron is probably in a trash dump or antique mall by now!

I have to mention that those who weren't so crafty had a hard time with this assignment ~ poor Pete S. ( I will protect his identity to avoid further humiliation!) ~ I imagine he did not get any help from a crafty Dad, so you have to give him credit for doing it all himself. But, Pete was not much of a craftsman and didn't use any interesting materials - just cardboard and black tape. Unfortunately, his dodecahedron came out in the shape of a football and had black tape sticking out at all angles ~ Mr. Magala ended up throwing it across the room ~ he was known and feared for this sort of thing. If you dropped your math book on the floor you had to pick it up and kiss it or if you were caught chewing gum and didn't have a piece for Mr. Magala, you had to wear it on your nose. Despite some of the humiliations, I have Mr. Magala to thank for teaching me all I know about geometry ~ he really was a great teacher!