knitcole

Design Sponge = Image overload amazingness!

Some of the blogs that I like to follow overload you with information and images in the most wonderful way possible. Design* Sponge is most definitely one of these blogs. There are constant updates happening and they are all about these beautiful, fun, crazy design elements and things. It's impossible not to be inspired by something you see on their blog.

Yesterday I signed into bloglovin' to catch up on all my blogs and I saw this...

The first thing I noticed were the most amazing set of antlers I've seen in a long time, I almost died when those popped up on my phone! Then the speaker boxes that light up are another set of amazingness. Everything about this photo made me want to go out and buy all these things and recreate them in my sweet little apartment.

These photos belong to the home of Chris and Stephen Harris-Smith and all of the pictures in this post on Design* Sponge wrecked me in the best way possible. I found them all so inspirational and gorgeous in a modern California vintage kind of way.

To be honest I find it absolutely beautiful how painstakingly perfect this house is because it stays true to a very specific style that matches the home. I think about the amount of dedication it must take to have a home and make sure that the things you put in it all match this specific style. I mean, how long would it then take to find the perfect sofa, or the perfect chair even? That's dedication right there.

What's your favorite part of your personal space? Do you have any particular design style you love?

Nicole

*All photos were found in the post on Design Sponge.

Grandma's are the best.

Do you ever start to do something and realize that you're doing something that your grandma taught you to do a long time ago?

This happened to me earlier today. I tried on some pants to wear tomorrow and realized that they were way to long to be worn with shoes other than heels. So I went into the extra room plugged in the iron and sat down to my sewing machine to hem my pants. Then it hit me, my grandma taught me how to hem my pants the last day I saw her. It's actually not a sad memory, it's one that reminds me of all the things she taught me how to do that I still treasure today. I hemmed my pants to the perfect length and I still do hundreds of things that my grandma taught me so long ago.

About a year ago I started reading a book called "How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew" by Erin Bried.

This book is pretty cool. Erin Bried is a successful woman who realized that she wasn't able to do simple things that her grandmother did without question. She interviewed several grandmothers and put the information into her book.

Some of my favorites in the book are:

• How to Roast a Whole Chicken
• How to Grow your own Garden
• How to Compost
• How to Use Vinegar to Clean Almost Anything
• How to Pack a Suitcase
• How to Wear Red Lipstick
• How to Make a Budget
• How to Tie a Necktie

There are so many wonderful things in this book that I can't even begin to name them all. It's wonderfully written and makes me miss my Grandma Jeanie but cherish my Grandma Connie while she's still here to impart her wisdoms on all of us.

I'd highly recommend the book. She has another one coming out this Decemeber called "How to Build a Fire: and Other Handy Things your Grandfather Knew." I've already got it on my Amazon list so when it's available I can read this book too.

If you pick up either book let me know what you think.

Until next time.

Nicole

"Indiana Jones kind of style."

I've been thinking a lot about design elements and home styles lately. I recently decided that an "Indiana Jones kind of style" sitting area would be amazing.

"What does that mean?" you might ask.

Well I guess the term that most designers would use is British Colonial. I think of it as how things look in the Indiana Jones movies when he's in a place like India in the 1940's (or whatever time line that is supposed to be.) You know the kind of place you can see Indy sitting and reading a book before he goes out to find some sacred artifact; ornate rugs, globes, wood, mosquito netting, books on bookshelves, old style fans, old leather suitcases. Things like that. 

I couldn't find many pictures on the internet that I really liked so here are just a couple that are kind of in the range that I'm thinking. Of course none of them match my mental image completely.

I'm gonna make it happen...someday I will have a British Colonial sitting area!

Until next time!

Nicole

Inspirations - Japanese Crocheted Amazingness!

When my friend Melanie told me that she had a gift for me from her recent trip to Japan I had no idea that she was going to bring me home some crochet/knit Japanese amazingness!

Melanie brought me this book full of crochet patterns and these awesome bamboo knitting needles. I will have to figure out how to convert the sizing for the needles, or I guess I could just use my knitting gauge tool; and since the book is in Japanese well...I won't be following any of these patterns any time soon. BUT I will be using this book for some inspirations for my own upcoming projects. Here are a few of my favorite things from inside the book.

1. Supplies

 

Two things I think of when I think of Japanese culture are bright colors and fun. This page of supplies you'll need is both of those things. I love the colorful crochet hooks and the little flower pouch for the hooks.

2. Sweet little bear faces.

These sweet little bear faces on scarves and wallets is so cute! I love the sad little panda face.

3. Cute little animals.

The little dog with glasses...or the black cat with a band aid...the embellishments on the elephant. They are all just so fun.

4. Accessories.

 

These accessories are so fun. The mini fingerless gloves, the pouches worn around the neck with iPods in them or the scarves with skeleton embellishments.

5. The cherries!

By far my favorite little piece of inspiration from this book is the cherries. I just love the simplicity of them and how they attached them to the little lunch container. I will be venturing out to make my own cherries I am sure of it!

6. The bat pencil pouch and the little red octopus sushi dude.

There are four pencil pouches featured in this book but the little bat is my favorite of the four. His wings and fangs and button eyes = adorable! The little red octopus sushi chef (that's what he reminds me of and since there aren't any captions to tell me what he really is this is what he is going to be to me,) just tickles my fancy. I'm not sure what it is about him but he's so cute.

Inspirations can come from many different places. What's somewhere unusual that you have gotten inspiration from lately?

Until next time.

Nicole

My current inspirtation - Nautical Things

I don't know if it's because it's summertime or if it's just because I love the ocean but I have been inspired by all things nautical lately. The navy, white and red color scheme. Anchors. Pirates. The sea. All of it just screams to me. I keep making notes in my idea journal about the things I want to create so hopefully some of those will soon be on display here for all of you to see! But until then, here are some fun nautical things for you to enjoy.

These are the awesome journals and note cards I purchased from the $1 bin at Michael's.  I just realized I used the word awesome in describing these and I really didn't mean to! haha. I love the anchors and the little whales. So sweet. They even had an all blue one with a crab on it but Mr. Coleman took that one.

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I love this nautical themed dresser!

 

A ship by the one and only Sailor Jerry.

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This anchor napkin is adorable. I love how it was photographed with the bowl of cherries.

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This sweet print from The Little Fox's Etsy Store.

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I've talked about her before, but I just love this print from Little Bluebird Studios.

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Last but not least, this sweet little anchor necklace! 

What's been inspiring you lately?

Until next time!

Nicole