Exteriors

The paintings by Jenny Brillhart are "about light, structure, and place." Her recent work seems to focus on the exterior of spaces, whereas her older work concentrated on interior spaces. I love the transition into the outside, and the composition and space of each painting is incredible.

On a side note, I'm keeping a low profile today. Yesterday I went to the dentist for my permanent teeth veneers, and today I'm home...in bed...and resting. I won't get into details, but let's hope beauty is worth the price and pain. In a couple of weeks I go back for the final touches, but they do look great through my swollen lips! I hope to catch up on blogs and e-mails later in the day - have a good one!

Play

While browsing through recent beach photos I found these gems. I forgot about these old arcade game photos I took during a stroll on the boardwalk. The first photo is of a video game that no longer worked. Seems like a suiting metaphor for becoming adults...we play as children and then unplug from this mindset as we grow up. Most of the time I still feel like a crazy adolescent...I mean...really am I an adult? Naa...not yet. Here's a reminder to play today!

Oh...finally (sort of) figured out TypePad and got a guest post up over at M&Co. Just a little introduction about my love for vintage finds...hope to get more posts up this week.

Play play play!

Lego Repairs

Got a hole or crack in the wall? Fill it with LEGOS! I love all things clever and amusing, so this really made me smile today. The Lego wall repairs by Jan Vormann are not only playful pieces of art, but also creatively mix old and new building materials (or toys in this case?). How great would it be to stumble upon this during an afternoon walk?

(via TrendHunter)

Summer Searching

I thought about next year, but couldn't get past the summer

This is the title from a ink on paper piece by Joy Drury Cox, which was featured on swissmiss. These words resonate with me today...the statement seems romantic and thought provoking. I want to live by it and soak up the rest of summer...if only I could wear these pretty outfits from church & state while doing it.

In other news, BIG thanks to Jessie from Zest & Thyme and Hila from Your Cover's Blown for acknowledging Please Sir on their blogs. You gals are great, and I truly appreciate your support!

Also, have you seen the new layout over at decor8? I am very impressed, and excited to discover must-visit shops around the world and the inspiring interiors from decor8's flickr. Oh, if only we could all blog for a living!

Falling Over Work

Feeling a bit like the girl in these photographs by the talented Rosemary Laing. I would love to shred all my paperwork and dance around in it! Especially today...you know those kind of days.

So, my office is attached to a textile plant...like hardcore machines weaving and finishing fabric. You may think, "oohh how cool you get to see textiles being made EVERYDAY!" Yes, it was cool for the first two weeks. Now the loud noise and smelly (probably toxic) fumes from the machines aren't so fun. We are also required to wear closed toed shoes out in the plant. My poor, cute open toed shoes...how they sit abandoned in the closet. Sigh. Anyways, you would think - closed toe shoes plus being alert in the plant would equal no accidents. Apparently not for me. I pulled the collapse to your side fall...where your ankle gives out for no reason and you sort of fall off the heel of your shoe. There was no bump on the floor, nothing in the way, just me embarrassed and looking like I can't walk. The janitor looked at me with concern, and I'm pretty sure one of the guys in the plant whistled at me. Falling is not sexy...especially when you are carrying sweet tea, a Twix, and several yards of fabric. Oh five o'clock my throbbing ankle waits for you.

Your best falling story? We all have one...unfortunately.

Musical Chairs

Outdoor seating can be modern, durable, and fun with these designs by Richard Schultz. My favorite is the first image of the new Wing Chair. The chair is designed for long nights around the fire by protecting you from cold drafts and gathering the warming heat of fire. Good design + function = happiness. With all these chair options I couldn't resist the urge to play a round of musical chairs!

Here's to good design, long summer nights in these chairs, oh and lots of fruity intoxicating drinks....yep, I've been watching too much Top This Party.

Paper Creations

Mix sculpture, collage, second-hand printed media, and meticulous craftsmanship and you get the lovely work by Sarah Bridgland. These "unlikely sculptures exhibit heightened sensitivity towards the organization of their spatial effects. At the same time, the sensual delight of balancing the effects of different typefaces, graphics and textures, as well as the use of paper as material support, mark these works as operating within the formal language of collage."

Each miniature structure exhibits a playful feeling that "reference children's pop-up books." I'm amazed at the curious nature of Bridgland's work, as well as the patience!

Tape Amazement

Wow. Can you believe these tape installations by Rebecca Ward? I can only imagine the time and patience it took to achieve such amazing results. With the right artist and idea tape can create wondrous art.

Off to brunch and lake time...crossing fingers it doesn't rain!

(artist via ffffound!)

Inspiring Interiors

A great mix of interiors by 2Michaels, a New York City based Interior Design firm founded by sisters Jayne and Joan Michaels.

I want to point out the last two photos. Notice the wall art which appears to be ornament-like objects suspended from the ceiling to bottom molding. I wonder what else you could suspend like that? And, is that a BOOKSHELF built into the DOOR?! Are my eyes playing tricks - is it a mirror, a wall decal? If that really is a bookshelf - do the books fall out when you open the door? So many questions, but I still love the idea!

On a side note, you may have been wondering, "Diana, where are your guest posts on M&Co.?" I'm having technical problems logging in and posting on the blog (making sad face). I apologize for the excitement, but I hope to get my blogger brain in typepad mode before Monica comes back from vacation!

Another side note - after watching Top This Party on Lifetime I can officially conclude that overly rich people are I-N-S-A-N-E...like full-blown crazy in the head. I've always had a secret desire to be a party planner, but now I'm a little unsure. If you need a break this weekend check out the episodes online.

Around the Blogosphere

The blogosphere amazes me with great ideas and stories, plus it's FREE information waiting to be absorbed! So, what's got me inspired this week?

IDEAS. Veer: The Skinny posted about The Junkyard of Art. You know those blurry and thumb-in-the-way photos that get sent to the digital discard pile? Well, Deleted Images thinks it's a shame and believes these photos should be treasured. Find the beauty in these discarded images and submit your own here.

READ. Apartment Therapy highlighted a recent article from The New York Times titled Chasing Utopia, Family Imagines No Possessions. The article is "about the voluntary simplicity movement that has young couples trading in their possessions for light living and sometimes even the freedom of the open seas." Interesting idea and really gets you thinking...do we need all this stuff?

FUN. The Inspired Room pointed out a fun picture quiz to help define your style (found via This is Glamorous). The quiz IS fun and accurate! My results said I was a Kitsch Chic, or a person always on the look-out for retro-style things that will add happiness and personality to the home. This person also loves to mix old and new to create an interior design cocktail that's easy, fun and whimsical. Yep...that pretty much sums me up! Weird huh? You know you need a break from work, go ahead and take the quiz.

What's got you talking? Happy Friday guys!

Abandoned Memories

These photographs of an abandoned amusement park are hauntingly beautiful. I'm completely mesmerized by them. I can even hear the distant laughter and roller-coaster screams. There is something nostalgic, yet sad about these images. The photos are also somehow comforting. This park was once a bustling joy of fun, yet it still remains even more beautiful and serene than before.

So lovely, plus you know how I love to post about abandoned spaces.

(via Laissezfaire)

Animal Love

Mignon Khargie from zand2ohs.com creates lovely ceramic birds AND designs fun and graphic animal prints. These prints are great for a kid room or really any room in the house! Check out zand2oh.com for more inspiring work as well as Thumbtack Press to order your very own animal print.

Bird Love

Aren't these birds great? I want to line them up all over my house. These delightful, ceramic birds were created by Mignon Khargie and her 7-year-old daughter Hannah. Mignon said she made about five birds, and Hannah did the rest, which she called bird people. What an amazing collaboration! You can also check out their design process for the birds here and here.

I really love the colors and how they are grouped together...I want to carry them around in my pocket!

Sweet & Lovely

When asked to contribute to “Things I have learned in my life so far” Marian Bantjes wrote the phrase "If I want to explore a new direction professionally, it is helpful to try it out for myself first” in sugar. Yep - pure sugar. Bantjes made the phrase five times, photographed it, and then destroyed it and photographed the destroyed version. The results are truly amazing...and sweet!

Check out more projects by Marian Bantjes including graphic and text work.