Today's Inspiration

Today is another opportunity to do my best and be my best.

Inspiration from @Anthropologie @AventuraMall

I was over in the mall checking out cell phone plans and wandered into Anthropologie.
It's not just a store. It's a museum. ;)

This backdrop is made of 70,00 paperclips. The sales associate told me that they contract two artists to do all of the original art displays in the store.  I thought this one was pretty innovative.  It reminded me of a cascading water wall.  

@CraftyChica Design Team: #Crochet Fabulous Milagro Market Tote Tutorial

Welcome to Crafting by the Pool  

with Cami from Artlikebread.com

 It's so exciting!  I applied for and was chosen to participate on the Crafty Chica Design Team! The purpose of this post is to show you how I used one of her cool, new, Dia de los Muertos-themed products in an original DIY project.  Before we begin, take a look at this fun video where I show you all the materials I used!

And don't worry. In case you're viewing this on a mobile device or don't feel like watching the video, I'll do a play by play right here with still pictures.

HERE WE GO!

Blog Tune Up, #Random Fun Stuff, & Pretty Pictures

This whirl of sponsored posts* and opportunities grown from this blog has gotten me thinking about how I run things over here.  I am lucky in that I never have a dearth of good ideas. I am and always will be the idea girl. Here are some changes I've made and will make.  And some random fun stuff, just for kicks.

completely unrelated yet nonetheless gorgeous glassware at
Mercado Sabado, San Angel, Mexico City

L.A, #Crochet, & Mommy Tips

Jennie & me before the wedding

 I am so lucky because I was able to take a moment out of my real life to quickly jaunt over to L.A. to see my dear friend Jennie get married to her longtime beau, Larry.  They both looked stunning at the ceremony and we all had a great time at the fun party!

Wordless Wednesday - Day of the Dead #Fabric Haul

Festive holiday fabrics from Telas Junco in Mexico City

The Answer Is YES!

The question is "Baby, Do You Wanna Bump?" by Boney M.

I couldn't resist this revelry, especially on Halloween!  Enjoy!

Inspiration: the 1920's

It all started when I returned to Mexico after a wonderful summer in the U.S.  I went out with one of my dear friends just to watch a movie and relax.  I didn't know what we'd see, and my friend chose the Woody Allen flick, Midnight in Paris.  I had absolutely no idea what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with a beautiful, fun, inspiring film about one of the most artistic cities in the world.

Image Source: Amazon.Com

 What's more- I'm newly teaching The Great Gatsby in my U.S. Lit class this year.  It's great to find connections between the modern media and the curriculum.  I hope by the time we read the book (in November) we can get a copy of the film to inspire us in class. 

Image Source: http://images.quickblogcast.com/

The visuals of the film were exquisite, and you get the idea that these times of the past exist with us now.  In a way, they do.  They exist in our hearts, and in our history.  They influence us and inspire us in ways we don't even know. 

Image Source: amsu-english.wikispaces.com

 For instance, right now we're reading The Catcher in the Rye (1940's, I know.) in my U.S. Lit class.  I remember being floored by the writing- the voice- when I first read it.  So frank, so informal.  I read it in the early 1990s, about 45 years after the first publication.  Now, about 20 years after that, with the advent of blogs, and with the emphasis on the individual, with the disregard for the conventions of the English language, with reality television, and with all of the other works that have been influenced by and even attempt to emulate Salinger's style, I fear that the impact of the voice is lost.  It's still a worthy piece of literature, but perhaps it seems a bit less revolutionary.  However, that would tell us how far we've come, and just how influential this particular piece of literature has been.

So, the past exists with us now, and, inspired by the film, in which the main character actually visits the 1920s and meets his historic literary and artistic idols, I spent hours on the internet finding more information about Hemingway, Stein, Baker, Brunel, and the movements of the time.

Image Source: danliterature.files.wordpress.com

I downloaded the A Moveable Feast audiobook and listened to it three times that weekend.  I watched surrealist films on youtube. I decided I'd love to be Josephine Baker for Halloween this year.  And I moved forward, inspired by the 1920s and the movements of the time.

Then my favorite crochet fashionistas, The Double Stitch Twins released this pic in their Etsy shop

Click through to find this garment for sale on Etsy.Photo credit: Double Stitch Twins

I think it would be perfect for a Josephine Baker costume 

(in white over a long, simple, white sheath dress).

Image Source: findagrave.com

 It would be easy to find feathers and big jewels.

One last taste of the 1920s for you:  Vogue Magazine tweeted the Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 Collection from NYC Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.  

Images by Vogue Magazine

The Crafts of Summer - Catching Up

Heeeey! 

Copious, choice content is coming up from my super-duper summer of craft, travel, and lovinspiration. Follow me through my fleeting five weeks. Life can seem like you've living in a movie. I was present and mindful in everything I did this summer. That made all the difference. 

Life

is

luscious.

CHA-JFA Show 2011.  Rosemont, IL

"It's a good time of year for happiness." 

-Peter (A String of Blue Beads)

Chicago's Loop

"Life moves pretty fast. 

If you don't stop and look around once in a while, 

you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller

Charles River, Boston

"We could jump out and swim."

-Tyler Winkelvoss (The Social Network) 

Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts

Monty kisses her

Courtney: What are you doing?
Monty: I'm ending our friendship.
kisses her again

(With Honors)

Dottie's Coffee Lounge, North Street, Pittsfield, MA. The Beautiful Berkshires.

Arlo Guthrie: Just what I've always wanted.
Alice Brock: A restaurant?
Arlo Guthrie: No, a friend with a restaurant. 

(Alice's Restaurant)

Mehndi, as applied at XO Glow Salon in Park Ridge, IL.

Origin of expression
Born of imagination
Designed with creativity
Amaze, mystify, and intrigue.

(from "Henna" by Yas)

source: Meghan's Mehndi

Glee in 3-D. Niles, IL

"Raise your glass." 

-The Warblers

Pyramid of the Moon, as viewed from the Pyramid of the Sun.
Teotihuacan, Mexico

"And in all the days of my life 

I have seen nothing 

that has so rejoiced my heart 

as these things. 

For I saw among them strange 

and exquisitely worked objects 

and marvelled at the subtle genius 

of the men in distant lands. 

The things I saw there 

I have no words to express."

-Albrecht Dürer

Brussels 1521 

(quoted in ‘Turquoise Mosaics from 

Mexico’ by Elizabeth Carmichael)

Inspiration Pics

As seen on iTunes. (Sorry, I forgot the source!)

the bag.

Give Love - Make a Valentine Round Up

Like almost everyone, I have a love-hate relationship with Valentine's Day.  The hate turned more into love when I realized that Valentine's Day is a superior card-making opportunity, and that the products available are probably the cutest of the year! (Like Sweetness from Pink Paislee)

I wanted to round up some Valentine inspiration (and printables) from some of my favorite sources on the web.  Please check below the photos for the credits!  The images are not mine.  Please visit the individual websites!  :) 

Inspiration

Treat bag and anniversary card on Poppy Paperie

poppypaperie.typepad.com

A detailed card in nontraditional colors from Pink Paislee

pinkpaislee.com

 Five fun ideas from Stamp with Heather!

stampwithheather.typepad.com

From L-R, top to bottom

A Classy Card Set

Pure Bliss

I Heart Hearts Final Card

Quick and Simple Girly Card

 A Sneak Peek

I have to say, I love this blog.  Heather is a Stampin' Up representative and she does amazing work. I have been following her blog for at least two years now and I always find inspiration there.  She also does step by step instructions and YouTube videos!  Definitely check out her website. 

Now that you're inspired, print up some pretty tags, papers, and images to work with.  I'm not posting pics here, but please check out these pretty free printables.

This Graphics Fairy ornate frame in three colors can be used to hold a sweet saying.  I would love to dress up this lady from Graphics Fairy in rhinestones and put her on a fabulous card.  Free Pretty Things for You (FPTFY) offers adorable kittens with yarn gift tags that can definitely accompany your Valentine cupcakes to school.  Write a little note on these tiny tags from FPTFY.  These gorgeous FPTFY images are ready to be stamped, glittered, and added to cards for your friends and loved ones.

That about wraps up the love.  I hope you take advantage of the card-making and have fun this Valentine's Day. 

Embroidery Idea

Don't you just love the internet?  Nikolaas of Digibudi's Digital Garden is my friend on facebook and posted the theme to the amazing 1980's show "The Love Boat"!  I saw the logo and thought- wouldn't that be a great embroidery pattern?  Check it out!

Image found on google images. Click to be linked.

I'm thinking tote bag.

To relive the love on the floating party, pop on over to CBS on YouTube. 

Hack This: Cutie Coach Bag

There is something so refreshing and fun about sassy 13-year-old style.  When one of my students brought this bag into school, I had to take a picture.  This could be crafted, folks, and my challenge to you is to do it!

Sequins!  Purple!

In My Google Reader: Sew Ritsy~Titsy

I love the crisp, fresh look of this blog and the photography is great.
I am always inspired with Dawn's posts, whether they be original designs or her interpretations of others' patterns. I think she improvised this little cutie, called the Petunia Purse.

Photo property of Sew Ritzy Titzy.

For more inspiration, visit Sew Ritzy Titzy.

Shoe Hacker

One of my students had this really cool pencil case from Converse. Care to hack it? If I had an old pair of Converse, I would.

Thank You for Following Art, Like Bread

This just a quick shout out everyone who follows my blog on a regular basis. It means the world to me that you read my blog and I hope it is a good resource for you, as it is very fun for me to produce!

This is a card I designed for a friend's baby! Property of artlikebread.

Click on card for a list of links to card tutorials, techniques, and inspiration!

Please comment with links to your blog and I'll check you out!

All the best,
Cami

Yarn Theory Exhibit at PS 122

I love going to art exhibits. It's one of my most favorite activities. I can not tell you how excited I am about this particular exhibit! Yarn Theory is running April 25 - May 17 at PS 122 in New York City and "highlights the vibrant and deep interrelationship between the sciences, mathematics, crocheting and knitting."

"Included in Yarn Theory are artists, scientists and practicing mathematicians. The work exhibited here references the worlds of geology, geography, topological mathematics, fractals, geometry, animal behavior testing, probability, human and marine biology, and physics." (http://ps122gallery.wordpress.com/)

Are you totally excited yet? Here's why I am:

I just got back from my Californian vacation and we visited the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It was totally amazing!

The forms and the color combinations were unusual and gorgeous!


It wasn't until after I took the photo that I realized that the exhibit was reflected perfectly against the still water on the top of the tank.
I could watch jellyfish ALL day. They're completely mesmerizing.

After I left, all of the trees looked like coral to me!

And of course, seeing the real coral reefs reminded me of the crocheted ones!

Also, ever since Mr. Sauve's pre-algebra class in the 7th grade, I've been a math geek. I love it! I really do. Check out my previous math posts here.

The sad thing is, though, that I won't be able to see this exhibit in person! Thank you to Lion Brand Blog for posting about it, and Yarn Thing and The Crochet Side for posting the coral reef video. At least through the miracle of the internet, I can enjoy it from afar.

Majestic Trees!

We were walking in California and feeling really green.
And this gorgeous tree greeted us on the way.

hello

beauty

Thanks, tree!

Anthropologie

I know I'm not alone when I say that I'm totally inspired when I visit an Anthropologie shop. On my recent visit to Irvine, my best friend and I stopped in to browse and I found it to be very stimulating. :o)


How clever that they faced the teardrop-shaped beads out by using jump rings. And, they are stringing the beads on t-shirt material. This makes a possibly cumbersome necklace comfortable!

I love the idea of applique and embroidery on clothing, but let's be honest- there's a fine line between hip/creative, and dowdy. I love what they've done with that sweater up there. Interesting, intricate, timeless, and stylish.

These will be future projects!!! I'm thinking about bookbinding, but I'm not actually binding books. However, here's the embroidery/applique thing again. It's done with fabric, paper, and felt. Maybe this picture will propel me forward!

Think you could hack this gorgeous arrangement for your home? I'm not exactly at liberty to decorate much in mine... If you become inspired and do it, let me know!!


And finally, this chandelier is completely amazing. It's cool to have the natural element of seashells. (And I'm not one for seashells in home decor, usually!) I was thinking I would photoshop this into an interesting piece of clip art. Hmmm... When I figure out how to do it, I'll put it up as a freebie!

Trees

Chapultepec Park

I love these patterns in the trunk.

It almost looks like driftwood in a way.

Have you ever seen a tree like this?

I wonder who lives inside...