Spark

Painting from jessicaerickson.com

The EAST Austin Studio Tour is a once a year opportunity to discover new artistic talent, see working studios, learn about artists’ tools, techniques, inspirations, and of course, to support your local arts community by building your art collection. Whether your art collection is big or small (or currently non-existent), living with original artwork in your home makes life more beautiful. It can start as just a tiny spark.

Just a tiny “spark” . . . that’s all it takes to ignite a love and appreciation for original works of art. There is something so indescribably touching about seeing the hand of the artist in a painting or sculpture. There is a thread of humanity that connects that brushstroke or fingerprint to the viewer. Art doesn’t have to be elitist or misunderstood or unobtainable. It’s accessible to everyone at the EAST Austin tour, where artists open up their studios and invite you into their world.

Find out all the details including a list of artists, maps, and special events at EAST Austin Studio Tour. This is an ongoing event from November 12th through 20th and it’s FREE. Even if you can’t afford to buy anything at all, visit the studios, talk to the artists, and find a spark of beauty.

Halloween has passed, so now we are in full fledged Holiday season!!!  You have to put  away the ghost, goblins and spiders but the pumpkins can stay out for another month.  In an attempt to find new options for my mantle I came across these great DIY pumpkin ideas. This glitter pumpkin will add sparkle [...]

While having a relaxing “mom movie” night watching Julie & Julia, I discovered not only the joy of cooking but the joy of the pegboard (don’t laugh). Towards the end of the movie, Julia Child is in her kitchen, hanging up her pots and pans. Her husband was outlining each piece so it would be [...]

Remember that unmistakable smell of new crayons? And the tiny thrill of sharpening a brand new pencil and watching that yellow curl of wood slowly unravel? Even if you can’t go back to first grade, you can capture the nostalgia of your early school days through a few “learned” pieces of furniture, lighting and decorative [...]

From Chicago Home and Garden Magazine While visiting my sister in Chicago this week, I spied an issue of Chicago Home and Garden magazine that caught my interest. Flipping through the pages, I instantly fell in love with the accent wall in Amy Love’s studio in Bucktown. Love, a bookbinder, had books cut in half [...]

Vacationing last week in the mountains with no TV and limited internet was relaxing, but . . . I missed the premiere of HGTV’s Design Star! Thanks to my DVR, I am now caught up and ready to comment on the show. I agree that the bonus room was my favorite design and executed by [...]

Some people like to methodically scrounge their way around estate sales, garage sales and junk heaps. Those people are called pickers. For the rest of you, reap the rewards of pickers and shop at boutique stores like Revival. Specializing in not-so-shabby chic, Revival hosts a selection of treasures discovered by professional pickers all over the [...]

Even though my sitting room isn’t entirely complete, I wanted to share this sweet space which has become a favorite for our family. In an effort to embrace the concept of  “a little bit is better than nada”, I’m checking my perfectionism at the door and enjoying the progress that I have made so far.   [...]