Mar 10 2010
Installations and art by Gina R. Alvarez. Of her work she says “I am motivated to provoke an inability in viewers to name what they are seeing, hopefully creating something that is ultimately transcending of material, idea and form.”
Mar 09 2010
For all you new readers, welcome, and thank you for visiting! This blog is where I chronicle the things that inspire me: color, patterns, photography, food, vintage finds, with a little of my own working designs and projects thrown in here in there. I try to post daily but you know, sometimes life gets in the way! Hope you enjoy. If you want to add me to your reader, you can add my RSS feed here. I’m also on twitter.
A little background: I am a product designer and artist and have been running my own business since 2004. In addition to my own shop, I produce The Rock & Shop Market, a hip, urban craft fair featuring live bands and emerging designers, and run indieNC, an online boutique featuring products from North Carolina designers. I am passionate about my business and about helping others reach their own goals. Before my business I was a web designer for ten years and co-produced and marketed a line of fashion products where I learned a lot about how to launch and sustain a product line.
Mar 09 2010
I recently wrote a business article for design*sponge about the balance between motherhood and business. You can read the piece here. Thank you, Grace for having me and to all the other business women who emailed me their own experiences! I’m passionate about the topic and hope to continue the dialogue on feminine modern with a series of question and answers from other entreprenur/moms. Do you want to be featured? Email me: michelle @ michelle-s dot com.
Images of my friend Regan taken by her talented husband, Geoff Wood.
Mar 09 2010
I am enamored with these beautiful art pieces by Tif Fussell who goes by the name Dottie Angel. She has an etsy shop where she sells her repurposed artful goods. The “I thrift therefore I am” is naturally my favorite.
Mar 02 2010
Picture Book Report is a clever collaboration between 15 illustrators led by Meg Hunt. Each artist is tasked with creating a rendering of a well known book and posting their chapter updates monthly.
The illustration above was created by John Martz for the book A Hitchhickers Guide to the Galaxy. A few other books being illustrated are Alice in Wonderland, Geek Love and Where the Red Fern Grows. I’ve read many of the 15 books and can’t wait to see these artists intepretations unfold!
Mar 01 2010
For some reason this winter has been filled with an unusual amount of colds and the like in our household which makes me extra eager for Spring to get here. I’m ready to throw open the windows, work in my garden and bask in warm sunshine.
These photos from blogger/photographer Abby are helping me along, as are seedlings and the dozens of robins flitting outside of my window.
Feb 26 2010
And speaking of UK designers and hot beverages … aren’t these the coolest patterned mugs? I especially like the contrast of muted colors and bold graphics. I’m really loving neutral & gray color palettes lately. From textile designer Fiona Howard.
Feb 25 2010
For my husband’s birthday a few months ago I took him on a guided taqueria tour around Durham hosted by a local company, Taste Carolina (who came up with the best business idea ever). The tour and the owners were great and I highly recommend it. We got to eat the best food and had really great Mexican hot chocolate – so creamy, sweet and spicy.
Looking to replicate the taste of this particular hot chocolate at home I came across this recipe by pastry chef David Gaus, I found that this tastes pretty close to what I tried and devoured on the chilly Saturday of the tour!
Ingredients
Directions
Combine milk, cream, cinnamon sticks and vanilla in a 1 quart stainless steel pot and bring mixture to a boil. Have prepared chocolate in a mixing bowl. Allow the heated liquid to steep (rest off the heat) for 5 minutes, then pour over the top of the chopped chocolate. Stir the chocolate mixture until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
Pour the warm mixture through a strainer and it is ready to serve. Serve immediately or refrigerate. To reheat, place chocolate mixture in a 2 quart stainless steel pot on low heat — do not let sit, or it will burn. Stir mixture until warm. Immediately serve and place in 4 oz. portions with a dollop of slightly sweetened, softly whipped cream and a light dusting of cinnamon.
Serves four.
Feb 24 2010
I am in love with these fantastic pieces U.K. designer Lisa Stickley has created.
Feb 22 2010
I’m on the hunt for a good vintage kitchen scale for measuring out ingredients since they are really more accurate in baking. I found a huge assortment on etsy but while searching I got distracted by the goods at this great little vintage shop, haven. Cute, huh?
And though I have an absurd fear of squirrels, I’d be willing to overlook that in the name of home style. Don’t you think the nutcracker below would make a handsome doorstop?
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