Weekend

I know it's been quiet this week on Please Sir, but it was one of those busy (and stomach flu induced) kind of weeks. Luckily I am well and the weekend is finally here! Bonus...I'm heading up to Connecticut for my sister's baby shower - woo hoo Baby Laura! Unfortunately the snow-hurricane delayed today's flight (insert curses at snow), but our re-scheduled morning flight should make it. I'm desperately trying to be optimistic because this trip means so much to me and my sister. Cross your fingers! Here's to safe travels this weekend...

Link - Photograph by { OOoozzZZ } Sean Yeh via These are a few of my favourite things...

Masculine Details

Masculine touches done well can make a great statement. Maybe it's because we don't see them that often? To find or create an appealing guy room without a pimped out bachelor feel can be a challenge. I'd replace the stark modern look with a cozy, artsy vibe filled with dark wood, rich velvets, rustic furniture and a touch of ethnic or vintage detail. The bathroom-turned-closet is a little much, but doesn't it make you do a double take? Now, if only I could find where he hid the over-sized flat screen television...

Link - Roland Bello Photography

100percent

100percent is a "Functional Art" store filled with vintage goods like clocks, aprons, salt and pepper shakers and other decorative pieces. Have a little fun, get a little color and surround yourself in happiness!

Link - 100percent

Forgotten Memories of Summer

Today I'm enjoying the Forgotten Memories of Summer photograph series by Amanda D'Arcy. In order to create these ethereal and faded photographs she uses only the infra-red light to make the image in the camera. Warm summer days and a sweet escape to a dreamy, wild forest sounds pretty good right about now. Here's to a peaceful weekend ahead...

Link - Amanda D'Arcy

Photo and Thread

Jane Waggoner Deschner is a talented visual artist whose medium is found, vernacular photographs. Using digital technology and the "age-old art of needle-in-hand" she "explores new ways of perceiving these ubiquitous, but often overlooked, products of mass culture." Deschner's artist statement explains, "We all snap photos of people and things we love and times we want to remember. In a studio, we hire a professional to immortalize us looking our best. When I alter a photograph’s original intent and appearance, the viewer is invited to deduce, speculate and fantasize. There are many ways to appreciate ourselves in the common photograph—even those of people, places and times we never knew."

Deschner reminds us to acknowledge the past from old photographs and to learn in the present through famous words. Together her pieces create a connection to our history and provide a promising future to look forward to.

Link - Jane Waggoner Deschner found via Junkculture & Accidental Mysteries

Rachael Smith

Rachael Smith is my new design hero. Her lovely photographs plus stunning interiors equals a whole lot of inspiring goodness. Cover your walls in books? Sure! Put wheels on a suitcase to make a table? Of course! Accent your home in pale blue? Yes please...

Link - Rachael Smith Photography

mgmy

Megumi Yoshida is the creator and designer behind mgmy studio, a lovely design and ceramic studio based in Brooklyn, NY. The shop carries quirky and smart porcelain pieces like the Librate Vase, a porcelain flower vase that can change it's figure and angle based on the amount of water and length of flowers placed inside. I love the vase's simplistic shape and how it's consistently changing and balancing. When grouped together these vases seem to put on an art show of their own. Besides interesting vases, mgmy studio also creates charming salt and pepper shakers. The hardest part is deciding between the bird pair or retro dining set - maybe I need both?!

Link - mgmy studio

Toast Accessories

Forget shirts, forget pants...just give me accessories filled with colorful jewelry, bright purses and light scarves. I'm having an accessory fashion phase where all I want to do is scoop up fun accessories to pair with solid clothing pieces. The lovely accessories available at Toast only feed my craving more. Those basket weave bangles = love!

Do you ever have an all-I-want-to-do-is-buy-fashion-accessories phase too?

Link - Toast

Iceland

It's been a rough week. The rainy, windy and cold weather mirrors the emotions I've been experiencing from missing my mother beyond words, to the uninspiring routine of work and an overall sense of lostness. I don't often discuss my troubled thoughts on Please Sir because this is my sanctuary...my joyful place to escape from dwelling personal matters and be inspired by talented artists and designers. I hope it is for you too, and every once in awhile a work compels you to open your soul. One such work for me is the Iceland photographic series by Bob O'Connor. The worn out, yet colorful slide by the water brings joy to my heart and reminds me to cherish my time and memories. I am also reminded of the vast beauty of our world and man's endless desire to travel and reflect. I know that through this hardship I am lucky to at least have a place to dream and be surrounded by loving, supportive friends. I hope you are also surviving this week and staying warm and safe.

Link - Bob O'Connor

Spacejam's Vintage

Enjoy little bits of vintage from Europe and Soviet Union found at Spacejam's Vintage. Here you will find an endless array of bright colors, adorable animal motifs and retro clocks. I will always love good ol' Americana retro finds, but it's also interesting to see vintage finds from around the world. Even though from different countries, these vintage pieces have similar themes and colors to what I find at yard sales here. I'm sure they also tell an equally compelling story in your home. What kind of vintage are you finding these days?

Link - Spacejam's Vintage

Jessica Curtaz

Artist Jessica Curtaz takes a new and interesting approach to using everyday objects to inspire and reflect. Her quiet, yet highly detailed drawings illustrate the surface and space of objects like Target plastic bags, wire fences and even bags of holiday bows. Curtaz states, "I am interested in the way objects become something new when drawn, in the warping that happens when three-dimensional objects are recreated in two dimensions. To me these are not flaws in the medium, but the very elements that make it interesting."

The movement, space and detail within each drawing evokes a very present and beautiful in-the-moment feeling. To make a viewer pause and gain insight from these seemingly normal, everyday objects takes talent and passion. Inspiration really is found everywhere...

Link - Jessica Curtaz

Shawn Henderson

The inspiring interiors by Shawn Henderson are oozing with comfort, luxury and sophistication. Normally I'm into colorful vintage or feminine embellished interiors, but I'm becoming equally partial to clean and natural spaces. Henderson's interiors are well thought out with emphasize on furniture placement, textural mixes and unique details. I've also been thinking of using my bench as a bed side table and this gives me just the push I need. Here's to a safe and cozy weekend ahead...

Link - Shawn Henderson

Abigail Brown

I've recently taken an interest in birds because my sister is using a bird theme to decorate the nursery for her soon-to-be baby girl. After three boys, she is eager to have a big dose of girly frills and LOTS of pink. I'm also very excited and have been filling my head with bird ideas, which led me to the talented Abigail Brown. She creates handmade textile and paper pieces that are quirky, fun and full of delightful magic. Her fantastic birds and masks are my favorites, but be sure to check out more works on her Etsy shop and blog.

Link - Abigail Brown