By Jodi Murphy
Sweetheart.
That’s what the weather was called.
Sweetheart weather, the prettiest day of the year.
And that’s when it started.
On a day so pure and steady trees preened.
Standing in the middle of a concrete slab,
scared for their lives, they preened.
Silly, yes, but it was that kind of day.
Douglas Dolezal, a designer (and very creative) friend of mine shared this Toni Morrison piece with me. Doug loves the fall…he says it’s when the clock falls back and you can begin again. So poetic. (He’s that kind of guy).
I know there are plenty of days left in August…but I’m getting anxious for autumn. It’s my absolute favorite season, and in California, it’s so fleeting. But that’s one of the things I like about it…it forces me to pay attention…to be present, and enjoy a last hurrah before winter sets in. There is something about the leaves changing that makes me want to nest! I ferociously clear out my accumulated clutter and start a makeover project or two. Sometimes that means a big undertaking…but most of the time, it’s a small gesture that satisfies my need for something new and different.
I know something’s stirring inside me as I’ve been bookmarking websites and tearing out magazine pages at an increasing rate…perhaps, like autumn’s trees, I am preparing to preen. : )
Here are a few of the things that have made my inspiration files…I can see picking a piece (or two), or I think everything here would look great in a room together.
The Florica Collection by Clarke & Clarke is refreshingly bold, and I particularly like Arabella in chocolate/aqua and could see making them into curtains similar to the room shown above.
One of The Rug Company’s newest designs by Paul Smith caught my eye…Carnival is hand-knotted Tibetan wool, and the ribbons of color remind me of streamers one might throw at the New Orleans’ mardis gras or Brazilian “Carnaval.”
Ilan Dei has created a contrasting collection between well crafted contemporary furniture and urban graffiti. Unnoticeable at first glance the graffiti is like a seedy underbelly of the furniture that you can only experience from certain angles and interactions. The Namibia Ripples Console, made from FSC walnut, was inspired by Ilan’s travels to Namibia, and the subtle graffiti is inspired by the street art around the Venice Beach Studio. It’s functional art and I love that!
Romina Bacci is a photographer and graphic designer by trade, so she has an eye for composition. She sells her prints (framed or unframed) on Miles of Light, her etsy store. I am drawn to her “Marina, The Sea Collection.” The graphic impact of all nine images would be striking, and quite doable because they are so affordable.
