fiore (m) n. flower; bloom, blossom; prime; cream, the best part

essere in fiore :  to be in bloom

HOME!

Headed home today after two weeks in North Carolina. Looking forward to simply being HOME.

Making coffee, snuggling with the pets, and kicking my shoes off onto my Thomas Paul rug.

My inspired haven is waiting for me.

I'll tell ya what I want (what I really really want....)

Iphone. Pantone color matching app.

Turning green with envy,

more specifically Bright Peridot Green PANTONE 376.

 The PANTONE® Name is known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer. The name is synonymous with color. In the design world anything created custom by a manufacturer must match a pantone color for accuracy.

Not for your everyday user (via macworld) but what a great resource for designers on the go.
You can match colors, or at least get close enough into the color family, of paint, wallpaper, furniture, & fabric.

Dear Santa....

Modern Traditions-Traipsing through North Carolina this week

I am missing out on the annual Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend  because it overlaps with High Point Market in North Carolina.
High Point is the largest trade show in the world for furniture-well for just about anything interior design & decoration related. There will be at least 80,000 people here. One week of the latest and greatest in design debuts here. Very different than the Craftsman weekend which celebrates a specific historical style rooted in the Arts and Crafts movement. Homeowners scramble to get as much Stickley in their home as possible.


Stickley furniture has survived any and all trends as well as it's own challenges as a company. It remains one of the most respected manufacturers today.

You are welcome to browse Stickley's site for a more complete view of genuine Arts & Crafts furniture. Hand made in the US and a lifetime warranty are two major reasons why Stickley is synonomous with collector's item. Yes that level of qaulity is expensive and authentic Antique pieces are extremely valuable.

I love this Poppy table-it has an art noveau flavor.

 A limited edition piece originally made in 1900, and was reintroduced for 2009 only.

It's quite a departure from the classic Morris Chair and I imagine it near an Alphonse Mucha print....

....or next to Stickley's Harvey Queen Bed:

I had the pleasant experience of meeting a similar company today at High Point Market. While they have a different identity than Stickly, Copeland Furniture has similar values: Every piece is made in Vermont and they primarily use maple, cherry, walnut and ash. All wood is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council-an verifying an authentic (and not easy to obtain) commitment to environmental responsibility.
We use sustainably harvested hardwoods from the American Northern Forest



"The Northern Forest is among the healthiest in the world and is actually growing in terms of standing biomass. The capacity of the Northern Forest to absorb carbon dioxide is growing each year. The forests of Vermont are no exception, now covering over 85% of the landscape. The lumber we use comes from within 500 miles of our factory. Living and working in and near the regions that supply our raw materials means that far less fossil fuel is consumed and less carbon dioxide emitted through transportation."-Copeland Furniture


They manufacture a Frank Lloyd Wright licensed collection:

I also enjoyed some scandidavian / mid-century inspired inspirations:

While I am thoroughly enjoying seeing the trends debut this week,

Quality design rooted in history never loses it's appeal, relevance, or beauty.

Disclaimer: the author has sore feet and is sleep deprived. Silly things like spell check and ramblings should be found amusing and promptly forgiven.

David Ashcraft Photography- Organic Inspiration

I am honored to know photographer David Ashcraft for a couple of decades now. His website  showcases a portion of his work. 

 

“No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied - it speaks in silence to the very core of your being”- Ansel Adams.
David resides in the Sierra Nevada mountains, quite close to Yosemite (where I grew up).

David attended Newport School of Photography in Newport Beach, Calif., became assistant to the owner Al Belson in 1978.  He owned and operated commercial photography business from 1979-2001.

Career highlights include winning first place in photography at the Las Damas Art Festival,showing in local and national art galleries, the Ansel Adams group show at the Mumm winery in Napa, Ca. and the Fresno Art Museum's Decennial Invitational . His work has been published nationally.  David  teaches photography at Fresno City College, leading the next generation.

David's photographs can be found in many public and private collections around the world-and most importantly-on my wall. :) Granted, I did do a lovely bronze frame to highlight the organic colors, there is peace in the natural beauty of the photo I own (its not posted as I haven't asked for permission for that specific image).  It's a reminder to me take a moment to appreciate life beyond my schedule, freeways, the news, and just BREATHE. His talent and skill captures the raw, umatched beauty of the West Coast that I take for granted daily.

Artist Statement:

For me, the creation of art is a form of active meditation and the making clear or known of what is inside of me. Each work of art becomes an emotional or spiritual footprint of where I have been, where I am at, or where I am going. For me it is about freedom, the freedom to feel and to create just what I feel, to dream dreams and dare anything; to make mistakes, break rules, live, love, and heal.
It is the whisper of a starless night and the shout of the sun, a powerful shove or the gentle caress only a lover can give. I am fascinated that a mud puddle can become as profound as the ocean, or how a baby’s spoon can eclipse the sun like a great moon. I am captivated by art’s ability to start and end wars, or make the world feel safe for a moment.
Art gives birth and expression to the emotions and feelings inside that I cannot express through other means, birth to the creativity and musing of my being. I find it helps me to explore and discover the mysteries of the universe and to create my own mysteries. It gives a depth to life that I would not otherwise experience and enjoy and the means to share this with others.

Photography week!

This week we celebrate our inspirations, celebrations, and beauty worth preserving.

LaBoheme Photography

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Art plays a very personal role in Interior Design.
This week we will focus on art, specifically photography. If you have a favorite photographer that you collect, or simply like to take photos of things you love, feel welcome to email your suggestions to me.