For some reason, I have never managed to get all that excited about Facebook; I’m on it, but never check my page (is that what it’s called?). I signed up for Twitter when it first started, but immediately got overwhelmed by the whole concept and have never been back. But Pinterest, oh, what a wonderful (albeit time consuming) addiction that visual feast is! I got an invitation when they just started, but didn’t have time to play with it until recently, and now it’s one of my favorite ways to spend a few spare minutes! A little treat after finishing an especially challenging project or boring house chore. Or while drinking my morning cup of tea. Or a glass of wine in the evening. Or while unwinding from a long day in the office, or…

I love that you can find pretty much everything there, and how easy it is to add images from just about everywhere. And it is the perfect place to create vision boards (or mood boards, dream boards, inspiration boards, whatever you want to call them).

Last year, I went to a fabulous book release event for Holly Becker (of the awesome blog Decor8) at Anthropologie (it was for her first book, Decorate, which I absolutely love). Holly gave a wonderful and inspiring talk about creating mood boards and how to pull inspiration from all kinds of things you come across (pieces of string, fabric, candy wrappers, anything), magazines you read, etc. All great advice, except she suggest tearing out pages with things you like from magazines – well, I simply can’t bring myself to do that.

I don’t know why, but it is impossible for me to tear anything out of or throw a magazine away (at least if it’s in decent shape, I did sadly have to get rid of several boxes of old ones recently that had been sitting in the basement for quite some time and collected disgusting, and probably hazardous, amounts of mold). Instead, I have lists of where I have seen things, scans of images, dog-eared pages, small post-its sticking out of everything, handwritten notes, spreadsheets with links to inspiration, etc. As you can imagine, after a while, things get a bit out of hand and you can’t find anything.

Enter Pinterest. I can’t imagine why I didn’t come up with the idea for that site! It is the perfect solution for people like me. I come across so much information and inspiration every single day online, and now, instead of copying it all and pasting into a word doc or bookmarking the URL (have I ever looked at that bookmark list? No!) it is so easy to just save it on a board, with a little note to yourself. Before you know it, you have a colorful collection of favorites and can clearly see where you’re going with a re-decorating idea, or dream home location, start working towards a specific, tangible goal, and hopefully get that law of attraction working for you (which is the whole idea behind a vision board).

I’m currently working on a few that I have been adding to in my head over many years now: a Dream Home vision board (below), a Swedish Summer Cottage vision board, and a Cottage Home vision board (as well as a bunch of other random likes and wishes – cute animals, wall art, DIY projects, recipes, etc.)

How about you, are you finding it as irresistable as I do? And for those of you who haven’t tried it, you have to check it out! Sign up for a Pinterest invite and start pinning!

Wallpaper has really come back in style with force in the past few years, and while it may be a tad more work intensive to put up, it truly is a great alternative to paint. There are more colors, styles and designs to choose from than ever, and the abundance can be quite overwhelming. Where do you start? What would look good in a particular room?

Color plays an important role in any decorating project and the right choice of shade brings together the entire room and helps you set the overall mood of the space. Neutral colors include gray, white, brown and black, while red, pink yellow and orange are considered warm tones, and blue, purple and green are cool. Today, we’ll focus on the color green.

The Color Green

Green is the color of nature and provides an air of freshness and relaxation. If you want to bring a touch of nature indoors, green wallpaper helps create an inviting atmosphere. Different shades of green provide different benefits: dark green often feels masculine, rich and conservative; light green has been found to be calming, and all shades are associated with freedom, good luck, fertility, rebirth, peace, nurturing, harmony, compassion and generosity (and also a few negative aspects, such as envy and sickness). In chromotherapy, green is used to strengthen the bones, muscles, tissues, immune and nervous systems, help heal the kidneys, and balance the digestion, liver and hormones.

Green is in the middle of the color spectrum, and is very easy on the eyes. They don’t need to make any adjustments (as can be the case with other colors), and we are able to see a larger number of green shades than we are those of other colors. All these facts contribute to making green an ideal decorating backdrop. And it is easy to mix various shades of green, and even several green patterns, in one room without it becoming an assault on the senses.

Green Color Combinations

Any shade of green looks great with white, and green and white is a classic combination that feels fresh and crisp (great for living rooms and kitchens, and even outdoor rooms). Green and brown is soothing and somber (perfect for bedrooms or bathrooms), while green and pink is playful and cheery (adorable in a nursery or young girl’s room). Blue and green looks wonderful together, creating an urban, chic look. I wouldn’t go 50/50 with blue and green though; let one color be the dominant one in the room and use the other for accents. Having said that, in a totally white room (walls and decor), using half blue and half green accents looks fabulous.

Green Hues

In general, darker shades provide a more soothing and calming atmosphere and lighter, brighter greens add energy and vitality to the room. I personally do not like dark green in a kitchen, for example, I like to use even something as intense as a lime green there. It instantly cheers and wakes you up as you stumble in at 6 am to start the coffee. On the other hand, that shade would look out of place in a study or library, where you want to be able to settle down with your thoughts or a good book in your favorite chair.

Pattern

When it comes to patterns, it’s pretty much up to you and what you like. A pale green flower pattern on a white and cream background provides a “barely there” touch of nature. Geometric retro wallpaper (I especially love the ones from the 50s) can have both discreet and really loud designs, and definitely work in modern spaces as well. In fact, Sanderson recently released a whole new line of original and 50s-inspired prints.

Vertical stripes in various shades of green can help a room with a low ceiling feel larger. If you want to use large, bold prints but are afraid they might be too much, try putting it up on just a focal wall. Another alternative is to keep the rest of the decor in the room plain and neutral, making the wallpaper the center of attention. Or try it in a space where you’re not spending a lot of time, like a foyer, or guest bath. Bold patterns in very pale colors are also a good alternative – you get the fun of the patterns without it being too overwhelming.

Tie The Whole Thing Together

If you can find fabric in the same design as the wallpaper, try upholstering a chair or couch in it, or just a few pillows. It will help tie the whole room together, and surprisingly, helps with cutting down on the overpowering look of a very bold and colorful wallpaper.

I love wallpaper and it is so much fun to decorate with it; even simple prints can dress up a plain-looking room, and with the right choice of colors, it brings harmony and life to any space.

What makes something art? Is it beauty? Is it in the eye of the beholder? Is it because it is original and creative? It’s an old question that has as many answers as there are people asking it. A common definition is “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power” and I have to agree with that. To me, art is a visually appealing (or interesting) original creation, even though it may not always fit the definition of “pretty”.

Here are a few good examples:

Silverware Art

Did you know that many restaurants replace their silverware on a regular basis (at least once a year)? I had no idea, but British artist (and product, interior and exhibition designer) Osian Batyka-Williams did, and realized it was a fabulous opportunity to get inexpensive material for his projects. He creates items like these: a very pretty reclaimed cutlery candelabra and this slightly frightening-looking arm chair from spoons, knives and forks.

Bolt People Sculptures

A former shipyard welder, Arizona artist Steve Appel creates his metal art sculptures using bolts, nuts, ball bearings and metal fasteners. Handcrafted and welded to form detailed figures, the 200 varieties include images of people from all walks of life in their daily routines as workers, athletes, etc. The free-standing sculptures, sometimes with a humorous twist, measure about 4-5 inches high.

Bidum

Artist Laetitia Florin created these malleable wire containers as a graduation project while she was a student at ECAL [in Switzerland]. They are made from fabric-wrapped spring steel and look like huge vases, large enough that a human can fit in them. I find them quite humorous – there is something so uplifting about the way they bounce and move with the slightest touch, and for some reason, they remind me of Barbapapa.

Woven Metal Bench

Inspired by Frank Gehry’s Apple Crate Chair Design, Industrial Designer Can Onart’s Basket Bench is made from1″ strips of brushed aluminum. The interlaced sheets come in three varied sized molds arched and layered over each other, and fixed with rivets at the bottom edge to keep the bench stable. Gorgeous to look at, but I wouldn’t want to sit on it after it’s been in the sun for a few hours…

Wire Art

Frank Plant, an American sculptor based in Barcelona creates 3D sculptures described as “drawings in steel.” Themes range from simple stuff (giant shoes, headphones and corkscrews) to portraits of people in everyday activities (vacuuming, hanging laundry, picnicking, etc.) in black and white. They certainly make for unique metal wall art, and his creations can be found in private and public collections worldwide.

So we started working on this article in March… because March is Adopt A Rescued Guinea Pig Month, and I thought it would be extra appropriate to feature Massachusetts-based artist Lesley De Santis then. However, our crazy schedules got in the way, and we’re posting it now, even though we’re in April already (where does the time go!?!). But helping rescued guinea pigs (and all other animals) and giving them a new forever home is something I feel strongly about regardless of which month it is, so it doesn’t matter.

Lesley opened her Etsy shop When Guinea Pigs Fly in January of 2010 and it immediately became one of my favorite stores. Her paintings, which almost exclusively feature Guinea Pigs, are adorable, and very funny. The Guinea Pigs are often depicted as historical figures (Beethoven, Robin Hood, Schubert, etc.) and many come with a cute little “blurb”.

In this second part of our “interview with the artist” series (the first was Amber Alexander and yes, I do see the trend here – I’m obviously completely smitten with anthropomorphized animals), we get to hear the story behind the Guinea Pigs and get to know the multi-talented, funny and very inspirational Lesley a little bit more.

Lesley, how long have you been an artist?
I’ve always been creative and had artistic tendencies, so though it probably sounds a bit cliché, I suppose I was born one! In terms of being an artist in a more professional light, I’ve only been publicly selling my artwork since I opened my Etsy shop in the beginning of 2010. Prior to that, I had done some pet portraits here and there, and actually illustrated a couple of ballet-themed children’s books that are now making the rounds being put to music and performed by dancers across the country!

Oh, I didn’t know about the books, what are the titles?
Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig and Gwendolyn Goes Hollywood (they’re under my maiden name)

How did you get started as an artist?
If you’d peeked into my home during kindergarten, you’d hear me asking the same question day after day after day. “Mom, what should I draw?” haha. I had my big pad of newsprint paper and my baskets of markers and I’d sit and draw all the time, but I’d always struggle coming up with ideas. Over time, I enrolled in some outside-of-school art programs to teach me new mediums to try and help me learn how to ‘see like an artist’.

Are you self-taught or formally trained?
I’m mostly self-taught. I grew up in a very small town and in addition to my school having a limited arts budget, most kids didn’t take art class seriously, seeing it more like a study hall, which made me sad. I didn’t go to art school (though I thought about it, and still may someday!). But the thing that transformed me the most was actually an open studio program I attended in late middle school/early high school led by a wonderful, enthusiastic, free-spirited woman named Patty Dugan as our mentor. She helped me to free my inhibitions about painting big (though my illustrations are small now more out of convenience for making prints from them), and often had me painting on canvases over 4′ tall. She would come and stand with us and help us to try to see shapes and values of light and shadow, rather than trying to paint what we thought we were looking at. She inspired me and lit a fire under my artistic abilities that I didn’t know I had.

Most of your art features Guinea Pigs – why Guinea Pigs specifically?
That’s a great question! Guinea pigs just tickle me like there’s no tomorrow. I had never paid them much mind my whole life, growing up with only cats for pets in my house. Once I got to college, I adopted a hamster and fell in love with him (rest in peace, William Wigglesworth!). I’m not sure what made me want to look into guinea pigs, but I was browsing Craigslist one day and looking at the pets, and this baby guinea pig at a local shelter was on there. Something in my heart told me he needed to be in my life, and now looking back on the journey since then, it turned out to be so true. Something about that little guy just melted my heart, and he opened up my eyes to the world of guinea pigs! They’re so cute, and sweet, and I love the sounds they make. Their little floppy ears and their teeny lower lips…it sounds ridiculous but I guess they turned into my muse! haha. They just make me smile.

Cattie: I absolutely agree, they are the most adorable little creatures, and so sweet.

How did you come up with the idea of Guinea Pigs as famous historical figures?
My first guinea pig painting ever was ‘Superpiggie’, the main image in my Etsy shop. Next came the guinea pig floating with the balloon. And then Beatrice Buttercream and Cheswick Tiddlywink, the Victorian couple. I was sketching in my sketchbook and just thought portraiture of guinea pigs dressed in period costume was a really hilarious concept. I was doodling little ideas for different ‘proper piggies’ and somehow Mozart came to mind, with his frilly shirt and gilded jacket. And when I realized that Ludwig could actually become LudPIG…it was all over.

LOL. Speaking of Ludpig… I love all your paintings, but my favorites are “Ludpig Van Beethoven” and “Robin Hood”. Do you have a favorite piece or character from your own art?
Aw thank you so much! Hmm… I think one of my favorite pieces is probably the birthday party. Those little characters all have such strong personalities, I can feel who they are and want to explore more pieces featuring them. For individual characters, I’m kind of partial to Ferdinand in the reindeer suit. His little back story that came to me lends him to more outfits in future paintings. And he’s just so excited haha.

So can we expect to see more of the same characters in your art?
I hope so! I think the birthday party gang is definitely going to continue to have more picnics (I just created a new piece last night actually with them having pancakes!), and Ferdinand will have more costume parties to attend. But I also have ideas for other characters that have yet to appear. We’ll have to see what happens!

What is your creative process like?
I tend to be very sporadic with things and I may make several drawings and paintings within days of one another, and then artist’s block creeps in and I creatively dry up for weeks or months. Sometimes it’s nice to just sketch and see where my brain takes me, and other times I’ll see something on Facebook, on TV, or elsewhere in my travels that inspires me and gives me an idea.

When I am in a good ‘flow state’, generally I’ll sketch my idea on drawing paper, often starting over a bunch of times (guinea pigs, as simply as they’re shaped, are actually really hard to draw sometimes!). I’ll chip away at it until it looks how I want it, and then if I’m doing a watercolor, I’ll trace my pencil drawing onto watercolor paper. I used to press my paper against a window to trace, or in moments of true desperation…the oven door with the light on haha. Thankfully this Christmas my parents gave me a light table! If it’s to become an acrylic painting, it gets more tricky because I use canvas. So I’ll prop the pencil drawing up and try as best I can to draw it over by eye in pencil on the canvas.

Do you ever have to push yourself to be productive?
CONSTANTLY! Ohh my goodness it’s my tragic downfall. Like many artists, my brain and life are a bit of creative chaos. I’m currently working with an AMAZING creativity career coach named Michelle Ward (whenigrowupcoach.com) who is helping me to figure out where I’m headed and how to establish goals, embrace my whim-oriented tendencies and somehow stay more productive throughout!

Is painting your full time job?
Not at the moment, and I’m kind of glad. I’m a bit of a Renaissance Soul, meaning I have many many interests that all vie for my attention at different times. My career is in a transition period right now from having a more corporate past to more fully embracing and trusting my creative side, so while this may never be full-time in the traditional sense, it’s definitely a big part of my life and will continue to be!

Cattie: I can totally relate to the renaissance soul thing, you should see the number of unfinished products I have lying around the house (I actually have two copies of Barbara Sher’s “Refuse to choose” because I thought I had lost the book and bought a new one, and then the first one surfaced!).

Lesley: I love that book!! It totally kickstarted me to exploring what it means to be a ‘scanner’ and I found the exercises so helpful (and, as you can probably imagine, I got sidetracked and didn’t keep them all up, hahah. oh the irony). I recently bought “The Renaissance Soul” by Margaret Lobenstine and I’m looking forward to digging into that too.

Cattie: Oh, I hadn’t heard of that one, must check it out. Thanks for the tip!

How does a painting come together for you? Do you finish them in one sitting or are they work in progress for a while?
Usually I do my paintings in one sitting. Sometimes I’ll come back over the course of a few consecutive days for a few hours at a time. It’s rare that I give up on a painting, but I have one of poor little Marie Antoinette that I have probably painted over about 10 times and still can’t get right. All those folds of silk in her dress, ahh! I’m determined to finish her eventually!

Is there a message you are trying to convey with your art?
I don’t think I have a cut-and-dry message, per se, but more of an inward intention. My goal with the artwork I create for When Guinea Pigs Fly is to make people really happy when they look at it, ideally even make them laugh aloud. That’s how I know if a sketch will make it into a painting. I’ll show it to my husband, and if he laughs, it’s a keeper, and if he doesn’t, then I need to keep tweaking it. I kind of live for that ‘burst of joy’ reaction, and I’ve had the real treat of selling my artwork in person just a couple of times and getting to see strangers’ reactions (particularly children!). For some, this might seem a bit safe, like I’m not pushing the envelope and making people think. But for me, it kind of is! It’s bringing people’s attention back to their inner child, showing that there is still so much joy on this planet, and that joy spreads like fire. I want people to see my artwork and forget their stresses and worries for a moment, to feel like their day is a little brighter, and to maybe give the humble guinea pig a second look.

Cattie: You’ll be happy to know that that’s exactly what they do for me: they make me smile and forward links to them to everyone I know.

Lesley: aw thank you so much! that makes me so happy

What inspires you (besides Guinea Pigs)?
Oh my goodness if I listed it out your website would crash! hahah. I just love being alive and living on this beautiful planet and all of the possibilities and mysteries that surround us. Nature inspires me greatly and I don’t spend enough time out enjoying it. Animals, particularly cute ones, are probably pretty obvious inspiration for me! Seeing a play, going to a museum, or taking a walk to a local farm are all things that fill me up with new life for creating.

Do you have any favorite artists?
I’m still getting acquainted with current artists…there are so many to explore and Etsy is making that a fun journey of discovery! I love Beatrix Potter and only recently looked into her work more fully. A couple of people told me some of my art reminded them of her, which I felt like I couldn’t even accept such a high compliment! I got a book of her work out of the library and practically wept from the cuteness on every page.

Dallas Clayton is endlessly inspiring. I also love the work of an artist I just recently discovered named Jen Mann. She does amazing work combining people with animals and that dynamic is something I’d love to explore more outside of my whimsical illustrations. Other Etsy artists I love are Belle and Boo, Splodgepodge, The House of Mouse, Holli, Myko Bocek Studios, gosh there are so many. I also love fashion photography and spend a lot of time admiring portfolios of talented young photographers like Emily Tebbetts, Parker Fitzgerald, and others.

Cattie I’ve often thought your work reminds of Beatrix Potter too, especially the “Birthday Party”.

The Birthday Party

Do you do custom work (say if someone would like a painting of their own Guinea Pig as a famous character)?
This is a tricky question because I have advertised that option here and there in the past, but currently I’m not doing custom paintings (I say this now but it may change!). Since I do sometimes find it hard to stay motivated, and…and this may be kind of surprising… painting, particularly the acrylic style that I use for the portraits like Beethoven, doesn’t come easily to me, it’s tricky for me to offer custom commissions without getting nervous that I will take too long/not be able to deliver at the level I want to (that Marie Antoinette painting is haunting me!!).

What is the hardest part of being an artist?
Struggling to feel clear-headed and not second-guessing myself. I find when I haven’t drawn or painted in a long time, the idea of doing it gets bigger and scarier until I’m stopped in my tracks. Keeping the momentum going and focusing without pigeon-holing myself is a challenge I face often. It’s also hard to ‘stay the course’ of creativity and not be lured back to a more unfulfilling day job promising financial stability.

And the best part?
Knowing that people all over the world are smiling because of something I’ve created! It’s such a powerful concept, and makes me feel so happy!

Do you do any other creative “things”?
Yessiree! In addition to visual art, I write musicals (one is here: http://alicemusical.com and another is here: http://www.nctcompany.org/tortoiseandhare/), play piano, sing, and I’ve tried my hand at a batch of cold-processed soap or two (hoping to do more with that!). I’ve previously done some theatre, both onstage and off with acting, accompaniment, set design… but I can’t dance for beans haha. I also love to write and I’m looking forward to hopefully launching a website soon in support of living a creative life.

Cattie’s note: Lesley was previously the resident composer, accompanist, and music director for Cellar Door Stage in Stoneham, Massachusetts. In the past, she has served as accompanist and music director for the Stoneham Theatre, and has been a composer and music director for the Kidstock! Creative Education Center in Winchester, MA.

I thought I had an overwhelming to-do list, but you have more projects going on than anyone I know! (the Etsy shop, musicals, a blog, Squidoo, Bounding Leap, keeping up with social marketing…) How do you stay on top of it all?
Hehe that’s a great question that I often struggle with, myself But in the true Renaissance Soul style, I’m not usually doing allll of those things at once (whew!), and some are no longer really actively happening. For example, I’m proud of launching Bounding Leap, but my career’s headed in a more artsy and musical direction now. It was like I proved to myself that I could do it, but I realized I was more interested in the planning and launching part than the actual growing and maintaining the business in an area that’s not as creative as what I typically pursue. It’s nice to have my co-founder there so if she’d like to develop it further at any time, it’s an option for her. And right now, for example, I’m not actively working on any new musicals. I don’t doubt that at some point in the future I’ll return to it, but I’m in a little musical lull at the moment. Thankfully the interests often overlap, wax and wane, and I’m working with my career coach to try to feel okay with that and not put so much pressure on myself to do everything at once (or choose anything permanently!).

Final question – what’s next? What are the plans for the future?
Time will tell, I suppose! As I continue to work with my career coach, little tidbits of what may be ahead are sprinkling in. As I mentioned, I’m working on building a blog/website celebrating unconventional living and creative entrepreneurship. I’d also love to write and illustrate some of my own children’s books, even if I self-publish. Maybe some more musicals. I’ll also be attending a puppetry workshop this spring and would love to get more involved with that. (I made a puppet video in February that got a positive response. I’d always shrugged that pastime off, but secretly wished I could be on Sesame Street someday…so I’m gonna see where that goes!) I just want to share my ideas and work with others and see what happens. The excitement for me is seeing how it all connects and what unfolds!

Cattie: That video is HILARIOUS! I especially love the guest appearance by the cat.

Thank you so much Lesley for taking the time out of your (insanely busy) schedule to answer all these questions! You have really inspired me, and hopefully my readers, to not be afraid to try new things, welcome and embrace new ideas, and believe in your talents and passions.

If you are interested in adopting or fostering a Guinea Pig, contact your local shelter (you can also find available animals in your area on Petfinder.com), but before doing so, please make sure that you have the space and time to make your new friend’s home the best it can possibly be. Guinea Pigs are very friendly and social animals who need a companion (in the wild, they live in large herds), so please consider adopting two, and make sure to spend a lot of time with them. They need a constant supply of good quality hay to stay healthy, a large cage with a solid floor, a house to hide in, food and water, and lots of time to exercise outside of the cage.

All images are courtesy of and © Lesley De Santis

Cloches, which are also known as bell jars or bell glasses (“cloche” is French for “bell”), were originally invented to help hold in moisture and protect tender plants from harsh weather, insects and other potential hazards. In gardening literature, they were first mentioned around 1630, and they are listed among mandatory garden tools and equipment in John Evelyn’s Elysium Britannicum, or The Royal Gardens.

Either it’s because I’m seeing them everywhere or because spring has come very early this year, but I’m feeling a new obsession coming on. I think they are so pretty, not to mention versatile. If you’re not lucky enough to have a garden (or don’t have any interest in gardening), you can still use them to display everything from photos to jewelry to holiday decor, or just as little sculptures all on their own.

The most common material is glass, but they do come in other materials as well, such as plastic, ceramic, metal, wire, etc. Most have a finial – either a traditional little “button” one, or in fancier designs (birds, fleur de lis, pinecones, etc.).

These have become very popular in the last few years, and you can find them in many decorating stores. Flea markets and vintage shops are also great sources.

Here are a few favorite finds:

Collage by Decoration Decoration

1. Gorgeous DIY chicken wire cloche (tutorial on the website) by Carol of Raised In Cotton

2. Glass cloches with antique silver finished aluminum and brass bases from Pottery Barn

3. Mercury glass cloche with inscription in French from Jeanne d’Arc Living

4. Recycled glass cloche with a dark brown wooden base from Louise Interiör

5. Large metal wire cloches with deep planter bases and bird finials from The Green Tuffet

6. Glass cloche with a mirrored black wood base by House Doctor, via Inreda.com

7. White Iron Filigree Fleur-de-lis cloche from Save On Crafts

8. Etched glass cloche with a metal wire base by Danish company Krasilnikoff from Faster Safiras Bod

9. Ceramic cupcake stand and Scalloped Bell Jar with a bird finial by California artist Whitney Smith

10 . Clear glass cloches with slightly elevated wood bases from Restoration Hardware

11. Glass cloche with pedestal base in terra cotta by In The Garden And More

Since Helsinki is the design capital 2012, I thought it would be extra fitting to shine the light on a few Finnish brands this year, and first out is one of the largest jewels in the Finnish design crown: Marimekko.

I have always loved Marimekko, and growing up in Sweden in the 60s and 70s, you saw their patterns all over the place. My Mom had a fabulous dress that sadly got lost (or, gasp!, was thrown out!) in one of our many moves, which irks me to no end!

The Beginning

Marimekko, today one of the most well-known Finnish brands, was founded in 1951 by Armi Ratia. Armi was born in 1912 and in her early twenties, studied textile design at what is now the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. After graduation, she started a small workshop and hired weavers to produce her designs.

By the time WW II ended, Armi was married and worked in Helsinki as a copywriter. Her husband, Viljo, who had just left the military went into business with a friend. Their company, Printex, produced oilcloth fabric, and did quite well, but at the end of the 40s, the business was struggling. Armi, who had been helping out as a consultant all along, suggested that they switch their focus from oilcloth to

Unikko

modern fabrics. They hired their first designer, Maija Isola, creator of over 500 patterns, among them the famous Unikko (interestingly, Armi had dismissed all flower patterns, saying she did not like them and that they were not in line with what Marimekko was all about, but Maija designed Unikko anyway. Armi liked it, and it went on to become one of the most iconic of Marimekko’s patterns), and Printex started producing fabrics with her designs.

At first, sales were slow; it seemed the public was not interested in the bold, graphic patterns. Then Armi had what turned out to be a brilliant idea: she teamed up with designer Riitta Immonen and put on a fashion show (called “the Marimekko project”) with dresses made from the fabrics, to stir up business and showcase what people could make themselves with the Printex fabrics.

The show was a success, BUT it wasn’t the fabrics people were talking about – it was the dresses. Armi realized this was a great business opportunity and in 1951, together with Riitta Immonen, she started her own company, Marimekko Oy (Oy is the Finnish equivalent of “company”). More (young) designers were hired and given free hands to create, which resulted in many more unique, bold patterns in vivid colors. Business was picking up, and the company opened its first store (in Helsinki) in 1953.

Going International

Marimekko started gaining popularity in other parts of Europe as well, and their first store abroad opened in Stockholm in 1960. Their big international break however, came when Jacqueline Kennedy started wearing their dresses, and the 60s was the company’s heydays. Armi Ratia was a very charismatic person and became a favorite of the press, resulting in lots of free PR.

The Good Life

Things were going well, and business was booming for the next couple of decades. Armi enjoyed every minute of the success; there were rumors of wild parties, where visiting artists and designers were entertained lavishly for days on end, and everyone would come away with new ideas and inspiration (and presumably hangovers!). Her plans for Marimekko, which she described as a “cultural phenomenon guiding the quality of living” included the ambitious project “Mari village” (Marikylä), which was going to be a small village consisting of a Marimekko office building, lab and factory, as well as housing for the company’s employees. Only parts of that plan came to fruition, and the project was eventually abandoned.

Marihouse, revealed 1966

By now, the company was growing at an incredible pace, but there was little control over the cash flow. In 1966, Printex merged with Marimekko to make bookkeeping a bit easier, but by the late 60s, it was clear that changes had to be made. And not only on a business level; Armi and Viljo divorced, Viljo left the company and Armi spent even more time working and developing grand plans for Marimekko.

The Difficult 80s

The successes continued in the early 70s, then, Armi became ill and after a short battle passed away in 1979. She had been the face of the brand, as well as the force behind it, and her death was a big blow for Marimekko. The 80s was not a good decade for the company, and her heirs ended up selling their shares to Amer Group. It turned out to be a bad decision, and by 1991, Marimekko was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Back On Top Again

Kirsti Paakkanen

Luckily, Kirsti Paakkanen, who after a long and successful career in PR had retired to the French Riviera, felt the urge to return to Finland and the business world. She bought Marimekko and in just a few years, turned it completely around, back to its old glory days (and better – five years after she took over, the shares were selling at record prices).

NYC flagship store

Today, they are coming out with new designs and products on a regular basis, and are constantly expanding, opening new stores all over the world (a new flagship store just opened in New York City in the fall). But aside from a few people, the company’s board is all Finnish, and all fabrics, clothing and accessories are still made in Finland. Kirsti Paakkanen thinks that that, along with the fact that good, unique design is the most important part of the company, is the key to their success.

I just recently discovered paper cutting (how did I not know about this before?!?) and was blown away by the things that these skilled artists are creating with just paper and scissors (or knives). I also realized I have done lots of paper cutting myself without knowing that that’s what it technically was, and I’m sure you have too. In grade school, we used to make paper snowflake garlands to decorate the classroom with around Christmas. You folded a piece of paper several times and cut a bunch of little pieces out of it; then when you unfolded it, it had magically turned into an artful snowflake (well, artful might be pushing it, but anyway). It was fun and I loved it, but had totally forgotten about it. I have to give it a try again! (Note: I did try it and here is the result as displayed as part of our “Christmas card mobile”. I think I’ll stick to writing and only cut paper as a hobby. )

A (brief) History of Paper Cutting

The art of paper cutting originated in China (where paper itself was first invented) sometime in the 5th or 6th century (the oldest surviving paper cut is from the 6th century), and really took off as a serious art form in the seventh to tenth century.

The technique spread across the globe and arrived in Europe in the 15th century, where it first became popular in Germany and Switzerland (it is called Scherenschnitte in German, meaning “scissor cuts”). It was used for creating stencils, patterns and greeting cards, among other things. Paper cutting in general, and silhouette cutting in particular, soon became a favorite pastime among the upper class in Europe, but was quickly adopted by “the common man” as well, and is today considered a “folk art”. Paper cutting techniques vary throughout the world: some artists use scissors on flat sheets of paper, others use knives, some fold the paper once, others several times.

Here are five outstanding artists and a few examples of their art:

Su Blackwell

I came across Su when I was reading the very inspiring book “Playing with Books” and could not believe the work she does (my husband, who is an author and normally does not enjoy seeing books “maimed”, was equally impressed). With a background in textiles, she took up paper cutting after buying a second-hand book in Thailand from which she carved “The Quiet American”. She creates amazing landscapes, scenes and sculptures from books, as well as does installations and commercial work (for clients such as Fairmont Resorts, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Cartier, Harrods, etc.).

Photos: Su Blackwell

Sarah Morpeth

Sara Morpeth worked as attorney in London for many years before completely changing course. She went back to school (Manchester Metropolitan University), got a degree in embroidery, and started her new career as an artist. She works in paper and fabric and has a fascination with British movies from the 1940s, especially Powell & Pressburger’s “I Know Where I’m Going”, which has inspired many of her works (the photo in the middle below is a gallery installation containing every word from that movie!).

Photos: Sarah Morpeth

Emma van Leest

The intricacy in the cuttings by Melbourne (Australia) artist Emma van Leest is just astonishing. Ranging from smallish images to large installations (one was 65 feet!), the scenes are inspired by folk art, fairy tales, nature, saints and Hindu literature (many actually remind me of Chinoiserie wallpaper). Emma taught herself the art of paper cutting while studying painting at RMIT Melbourne, and she says the pieces can take anywhere from half an hour to several months to complete. Her work is in many private collections and has been featured in tons of group and solo exhibitions.

Photos: Emma van Leest

Ingrid Siliakus

Dutch paper architect and artist Ingrid Siliakus creates paper buildings that take ones breath away. She studied the works of Professor Masahiro Chatani (who invented this artform) for years before giving it a go herself. Today, she is a famous, award winning and widely exhibited and published artist (including solo exhibits and the cover of The New York Times Key Magazine) in her own right. Amazingly, each of her pieces are cut from one single piece of paper, and she usually goes through at least 25 prototypes before the final product is created. Ingrid has also published a book (The Paper Architect: Fold-It-Yourself Buildings and Structures) with instructions for how to create these masterpieces yourself.

Photos: Ingrid Siliakus

Bovey Lee

Pittsburg artist Bovey Lee cuts scenes and stories out of Chinese rice paper with silk backing. She has an MFA in Fine as well as Digital Arts, and she draws from both when creating these pieces. She starts with a drawing, then creates a digital template, and finally cuts the entire thing with an x-acto knife. Her works have been included in many books, and can be found in private as well as museum collections.

Photos: Bovey Lee

After what has been a record warm fall and beginning of winter here in the northeastern US, the chill has started to set in and I finally feel like cozying up inside (it wasn’t until the second half of December I changed to winter curtains – it just didn’t feel right when it was in the 60s).

To me, few things say cozy like lots of lit candles (my favorites are beeswax candles from Big Dipper Waxworks), and while I probably have more candle holders than the average person already, I keep finding new ones that I just can’t resist. Here are some recent favorites:

1. Gorgeous metal tealight chandelier with clear beads and 5 candle holders in the center. From Elizabeth’s Embellishments.

2. I love these ceramic tealight holders that look like they are knitted. By Annette Bugansky Design

3. Adorable metal candle holders with a pattern inspired by traditional polish papercuts. By British designer Niki Jones (check out her shop, it is fantastic!).

4. So simple and yet so pretty and rustic. They look like they would be pretty easy to make yourself too, just get a little clear glass candle holder and wrap a piece of burlap around it. From one of my favorite shops, Frøken Klara.

5. I’ve seen many house-shaped candle holders before, but none quite like this one by Swedish artist Eva Strömberg. Love it!

6. How cute would this castle be in a little girl’s room? From Gårdsromantik.se

7. Gorgeous handmade metal hanging tealight candle holders from Zazazu. These are definitely on the shopping list for the next trip home.

8. Beautiful round zinc lantern by Danish Walther & Co. When lit, it creates a wonderful shadow pattern on the wall (I also love the cityscape candle holders on the table, also from W&Co.). From Carlsson Interior.

9. The snowball. This candle holder is such a classic; it was designed by Ann Wärff in 1973, and growing up, I remember seeing them in all of my friends’ homes. My parents had a few too, and I still have them. From Kosta Boda.

10. The shapes and colors of these glass tealight candle holders are so pretty, and I love the shiny iridescence. By Two’s Company.

Collage by Decoration Decoration

I recently discovered the fabulous Danish company Walther & Co and instantly fell in love with their understated, monochrome and rustic aesthetic. Very Scandinavian country shabby chic. It’s the sort of stuff that makes me wish I had an old renovated farmhouse somewhere in the Swedish countryside (decorated like this) where I would gather all my family and friends for weeklong celebrations.

Love the staging in their pictures too, there are some great Christmas decorating ideas here. And unique: how often do you see a hamsa tree ornament?

This wonderful contrast between warm and cold colors is a running theme in their pictures (and products) – subtly striking and so beautiful

All photos: Walther & Co.

Gorgeous, isn’t it?

I’m very excited about today’s post which features an interview with the awesome artist Amber Alexander.

I first discovered Amber through her Etsy store where she sells her original paintings, cards, fine art and limited edition prints, and immediately fell in love with her work. It’s one of those shops where you can’t stop browsing, you just have to click on one more thumbnail to see the whole image (and read her adorable “mini-stories” about the animals), and then one more, and one more…

I’m always interested to hear how artists get their ideas, how they work and how they view their own art. I asked Amber if she would consider being featured and interviewed here on DD, and she kindly agreed. No surprise, Amber is as funny and witty as the little stories that go with the paintings, so enjoy the interview (to see a larger version of the paintings, just click on them), and then head over to her shop – I know you’ll be as enthralled as I am.

Amber, how long have you been an artist?
Informally, my whole life… but with purpose, about 5 years

How did you get started?
From a young age I wanted to draw and paint and kept doing it, but between about 12 and 24, didn’t really do much with it. Then I worked for a Teddy Bear company, where I was in a creative role, writing copy for ads and catalogs, illustrating teddy bears, and helping to design catalogs. That was a bit of a push, but I truly didn’t settle into my own until much later.

Are you self-taught or formally trained?
Self taught! I went to a liberal arts college, with a major in “studio art”, but in that particular college, that was little more than a high school art focus… anything I ever really learned of real value was by reading, practicing, and studying art through the ages.

You work in several mediums – do you have a favorite?
Watercolor is the most natural for me, but I do like the boldness of acrylics.

You obviously have a very strong connection with nature – do you prefer to paint indoors or out?
Indoors. Bugs, wind and allergies are drawbacks of outdoor painting : )

Have you always focused on animals and nature?
Yes, without a doubt. I can’t imagine painting anything that didn’t involve some aspect of our natural world. When I was little, I painted kitties and mice in elaborate gowns and headpieces.

What is your creative process like?
My creative process usually starts with an idea about an animal doing something… like baking cookies.. then I paint the face and general body gesture… if I don’t have the face and gesture right, there is no point in putting any more time into it. If I get those right, I can spend quite a bit of time on the details. I just let it unfold…

Some of your paintings are traditional-style images from the natural world where the animals are “just” animals, and some are anthropomorphized. What is it about an animal that makes you choose one style over the other in a particular painting? Or is it not the animal that is the deciding factor?
That is a good question. I think it has more to do with my mood than the animal in my head. Sometimes I just want to see an animal just the way it is… other times, I get such a kick out of the silliness of making them do things… I can’t resist… by the way, my husband and myself make up stories about our dogs all the time… they keep us in stitches. So I guess it’s a desire to laugh and have fun that might make me paint anthropomorphic instead of “natural”

How does a painting come together for you? Do you finish them in one sitting or are they work in progress for a while?
Some of them are finished from beginning to end in one sitting, others need to be put away and revisited.

Do you find yourself working with one theme at a time, for example cat paintings for one period, feathers for the next, etc. or do you mix it all up?
Yes, I tend to go through phases, and then changing it up helps my creative process. It’s nice to have a variety to paint.

Is there a message you are trying to convey with your art?
I’m not really out to convey anything, but if anything is communicated, I hope it’s that “animals are people too” or some such thing. I love animals and nature and just wish the world had more respect for both.

I totally agree with that message! I think it’s obvious in your paintings that you not only love, but really “get” animals. Do you spend a lot of time around them?
I spend a lot of time around our two dogs – standard poodles Olin and Izzy. They are fun and a handful. Aside from them, I’m always on the lookout for squirrels, chipmunks, deer, owls, bears foxes , etc. on our land.

What else inspires you?
Nature. haha, broken record here… animals, trees, plants, wind, weather, music.

Do you have any favorite artists?
Beatrix Potter, Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, Klimt, Van Gogh, Maurice Sendak, Winslow Homer.

This is your full time job, right?
Yes!

That can add a bit of pressure to the creative process. Do you ever have to push yourself to be productive?
Yes, sometimes it just won’t work and I have to force myself … but those times just end up being a waste of paper, paint and time… as you really can’t force it. Either it is there for the taking or it is not.

So, like most of us, you also struggle with the occasional case of “artist’s block”?
Oh, haha! yes – see above. Many many times I ‘ve been BLOCKED… and it’s not only frustrating, but scary. I feel like all of the creatures and scenes in my head can leave me at any time and I’ll be stuck in reality with nothing fun to paint.

How do you get out of it?
I try to not stress about it too much, sometimes, successfully… try to do other things, like run – exercise is great for creativity… watching great movies and visiting with children…. all these things help.

One of the things I love in your Etsy shop is the little “blurb” that goes with each painting. They always make me smile (and read them out loud to whomever happens to be around) – how do you come up with them?
That’s a very interesting question. Sometimes they just tell me what to write… (figuratively speaking of course, haha), other times, I have to think on them for a few days. I think since I love the animals so much, I put my own emotions and experiences on them… hence, they lead lives much like ours. I know the day I painted “A hard day”… that cat truly represented how my day had been… HARD. And I felt like that cat… so it flowed so well. I never thought I could paint after a very hard day, but I did that day and therefore… the cat was me

All your paintings are fabulous, but my favorites are “Sweet tooth Charlie”, “Math Kitty”, “Secret Santa” and “Sneaky Corgi”. Do you have a favorite piece or character from your own art?
I love them all, seriously… but maybe “A hard day”, “Eat your peas”, “Donald”…. oh, who am I kidding? I love them all so much… the characters – not the paintings… they are like little moving pictures to me… they take on a life of their own. Donald is his own man (squirrel) now… he’s more than a painting to me now

So it sounds like we can expect to see more of the same characters in your art?
Yes, you can expect to see more of the same characters, but also more landscapes and nature studies too!

Do you do custom work (i.e. if someone would like a painting of their pet skiing or something)?
I have in the past, but am gradually not doing that as much… it seems to be really hard to capture the way the customer expects it to turn out in their minds..

What is the hardest part of your job?
All of the office-related, money-related, finance-related stuff. I hate it. It’s just not where my head is at. Unpacking boxes, supplies, ordering supplies… all of that.

And the best part?
The best part is painting creatures that I end up loving for life… and of course, the freedom to do it when I feel I can do it.

Do you do any other creative “things”?
I have done many. Needle felting, sculpting with clay, knitting, gardening…

And you also wrote a book, “It’s me, Teddy” – how did you come up with that idea?
I worked at a Teddy Bear Company and they needed a book about teddy bears… so it was pretty much going to be about teddy bears!

And now there is a new children’s book out – “Ninny Nu’s Organic Farm” – with your illustrations. How did you get involved with that?
They found me on Etsy and asked me to illustrate the book. They were looking for Vermont artists and illustrators…

Final question – what’s next?
Good question! More of the same, and maybe some bigger projects. I would love to some day write and illustrate my own book. But most importantly, I’d like to be happy and healthy.

All images © Amber Alexander

I would like to say a big Thank You to Amber for agreeing to be featured here. I can’t wait to see what my favorite characters are up to next, and I will keep my eyes out for that book (featuring Donald, perhaps?).

Don’t miss part 2 in our “Interview with the Artist” series, featuring Lesley De Santis