Saints for Sinners

"The Saints are the Sinners who keep on trying."-Robert Louis Stevenson

This is one of those blog posts that has been on my to-do list for ages! But I am glad that I waited because rather than just blog about how awesome Saints for Sinners hand painted medals are, I can show you the wonderful gift that I recieved over Jazz Fest.  Rob Clemenz (the artist behind these medals) is a dear friend of our dear friends and he had a "sneaking suspiction" that I was pregant, so he delivered these three specially picked medals to our place of lodging during the fest.  My three saints are Saint Philomena (Patroness of expectant mothers, newborns and infants), Saint Anne (Patroness of mothers, grandmothers, teachers and grace) and Saint Margaret (Patroness of pregnant women and nurses).  I adore them and have not taken them off since Jazz Fest. They are the perfect mix of my Catholic upbringing, kitsch, and art. Can you tell from the photo how magnificent the colors are?  Rob imports the medals from Italy and then meticulously hand paints each one and updates the Saint's story for modern day. They are the perfect "token of comfort and serenity!"

(Sorry for the iPhone photo but the camera is packed away in the hospital bag.)

Stenciled Happy Thoughts

Completely enamored with Candy Chang's public art in New Orleans. With the installation Before I Die, she turned an abandoned property into a place for a community to display their desires using chalkboard paint.  She also tags a few of her favorite haunts with spray chalk in It's Good to be Here.  It's lovely to see happy thoughts plastered everywhere. 

Via I Art U.

Love in the moment

Spotted this print over at the new coffee shop Black Hole [by the Antidote/Poison Girl clan] and loved it.  There are so many towns that I love...New Orleans, Houston, Charleston, Austin, Baton Rouge, Barcelona, San Francisco, Chicago...to name a few. I love the ambiguity of this print so that I can declare my love of the moment.  

Available on Etsy

Have a wonderful weekend!

L.O.V.E. continues

Will gave me this poster last year.  My nickname is Lala.  The Pixies said it best: "all i'm saying pretty baby / la la love you don't mean maybe..."

Available on Etsy

Book of Art

Completely enamored with these folded book designs.

Read Cursive

Create

Dare to Dream

Since the designs are folded into the pages, no books are harmed in the making of this art.  Available for purchase on Etsy.

Quilting is a scrap of happiness

Hello, I hope your weekend is off to a great start.  I just popped in to finish this post about these wonderful quilts at Anthropologie {started the post Thursday and ran out of time finishing it and I hate to leave anything unfinished}. We've all seen and loved Gee's Bend quilts. Well there is a new kid on the block in softer color palettes with more fluid designs, Fred Shand. Available exclusively at Anthropologie, each quilt is a work of modern art.  Collaborating with artists all over the globe from Dehli to New York to London.  There is so much to love in each of these designs: the signature panel on the back listing each artisan involved, the back designs, how effortlessly fabulous they look draped, and lastly the wonderful names.  In order of appearance: Green Wink, Fire Line, Pigment Curl, Bolt from the Back, Stripes Overcome, and Weathervane.  

All images via Anthropologie.com

Thanks Anthro for constantly delivering inspiration right to my inbox.  

Have a great weekend y'all!

Words to live by

Image via Heads of State for Real Simple Magazine.
Great Quote + Heads of State = Totally framable art...or as we would say in college...  "That's a Framer!"

Beyond the Quarter

Anthropologie has commissioned several New Orleans artists to create/re-create a collection of interior wares for an exhibition titled Beyond the Quarter.  I, for one, love the title!  If only everyone who landed  in New Orleans would venture out of the Quarter to experience the rest of what the city has to offer.  The artists and pieces were selected by Keith Johnson {another reason why he has the most incredible job in the world}.   

Hat tip: Lloso Image Credits: Mixed Media light fixture image via The Editor at Large, All others via Casa Sugar  

Painted Chairs & Mixed Media Light Fixture by Kaki Foley; "Front Porch Storm" by Rebecca Rebouche; Laissez Les Bon Temps Roule Settee by Alexa Pulitzer.  

Graceful

Sometimes I wish I was as graceful as a ballerina.  

All images, The Ballerina Project.

Actually, I would just like to be as graceful as my Nana is.  Happy Birthday Nana! So Nana's athletic grace was more in the form of synchronized swimming, which amazes me because I am not a strong swimmer.  Throughout my lifetime she has shown more grace and stamina than a ballerina or synchronized swimmer during her finest performance.  I know that her seven children and nearly thirty grandchildren are all grateful to have her as our matriarch.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Matchsticks

Loving these matchstick sculptures by Pei-San Ng, especially after the slight singeing.

  [via Coolhunter]

Window Seat

I would love to fly below the clouds and survey the landscape that architect | pilot | photographer Alex MacLean is able to document.  The grids, textures, and patterns are all so grand.  His work is currently featured on One Kings Lane, if only my art budget could afford a few of these beauties.

all images by Alex MacLean 

Solar System

all images via Solar Ivy

Isn't technology amazing?  I am completely inspired by these photovoltaic leaves!  "Solar Ivy is a solar energy system whose design reflects the natural growth of ivy on building and in nature. Flexible, modular, and customizable, Solar Ivy can be used in conjunction with traditional solar panels or independently to meet the demands of a wide spectrum of energy needs."