PINTEREST CURATOR SARAH KIEFFER

Curator Sarah Kieffer Besotted BlogI usually know when to feature a curator when I find that I spend an inordinate amount of time re-pinning their pins, such is the case with today’s Pinteresr Curator–Sarah Kieffer.  Sarah is the authoress, baker + photographer behind The Vanilla Bean Blog, as the title suggests it is food centric. A lot of Sarah’s boards follow suit in the food department, but truly she has an eclectic mix of boards with an emphasis on great photography.  Some of the boards I’ve gotten lost in are dishware, gatherings, portrait, and put a bird on it (the title made me laugh out loud, for all you Portlandia fans). One of the best things about her boards are the hidden treasures such as this handy dandy gadget (I must get myself one!) I hope you enjoy perusing her collections and unearth some hidden treasures of your own!

On another note, yes, at nearly 8 months I am completely food obsessed (thus Sarah’s boards were some serious visual candy). I have never been so ravenous in my life and that’s after I finish (insert meal here-breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.) It’s quite a 360 from my previous pregnancy incarnation of a few months ago where I couldn’t look at food. I do have one odd craving and it’s ice, I must eat about 6-8 trays of it a day. It’s a sign of iron deficiency which I did have, but even after it has been addressed I still have to have copious amounts of the frozen goodness. It’s not the most ladylike craving with me chomping away on the cubes, but I suppose it’s better than craving other things like dirt which falls into the same category that ice is in, no real nutritional value but got to have it anyways.

Author / Miss Tristan B

Miss Tristan B. is the proprietress of Besotted Brand and the writer of this delightful blog. She recently re-located to sunny Seattle with her handsome husband and two pups, they are expecting a baby girl in December (possibly November). Her lofty goal here is to make this a creative resource repository and to inspire you to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with your life.

INSPIRATION Rx | GESTURE

Inspiration Rx Gesture Photo by Deb Schwedhelm

“Not one word, not one gesture of yours shall I, could I, ever forget…”

Inspiration Rx : This series is a remedy for blank walls, sparse reading lists, & creative ruts.

This week’s prompt: Gesture

How do we feel when someone reaches for our hand, sneaks a conspiratorial wink, or extends an unexpected gift? Gestures, those unspoken ways we communicate with each other, can carry just as much emotional weight, if not more than spoken words. Chances are you’ve even developed a short-hand gesture system with close loved ones – approval, disapproval, honey please close the door – all with a raised eyebrow or a flick of the wrist. What can you say with a simple gesture? It doesn’t have to be a physical gesture, a symbolic gesture such as a gesture of kindness or friendship will work as well.  (I’m sure this goes without saying, but we’ll need to keep our gestures clean of course!)

Before you plan your project, it may be helpful to study our featured image for a moment. Themes of love, support, & unity shine through as clear as day using the very simple gesture of hands reaching toward one another. Try to communicate something specific to us through your chosen gesture. A tip for visual artists who are focusing on a physical gesture, is to keep your background simple & clean & let the gesture do the talking. For those who are writing this week, you are welcome to imagine the characters & story of the image above, as long as you address the powerful gesture!

Many of you were moved by color this week! Stephanie’s pretty watercolor brightened our day, Melinda spotted the perfect shade of grey-blue in Peru, & Carmen picked up her brushes & turned her camera into her subject!

Feeling Inspired?

The door is open if you’d like to join in! Catching up on previous prompts is fine by us. Just to keep things fair, please limit time spent on each prompt to 1 week. You have until next Tuesday to share your creations.

Options for Sharing

Instagram / Twitter : use hashtag #INSPIRATIONRX

Your Blog / Flickr / Pinterest :  please share a link in the comment section of this post.

For an invitation to our group Pinterest board, please leave a link to your Pinterest account in the comments, or email for an invite. *We need to be follow friends on Pinterest in order to get you an invite to the board (we have to follow at least 1 of your boards & you need to follow at least 1 of ours). Remember you can still participate by using the hashtag on Instagram & Twitter or posting a link in the comments of this post.

**Please Note: the group Pinterest board is for your creations only.  If your pin does not reference your work, we will have to remove it. We want your work to be the star!

photo: © Deb Schwedhelm

passage: © Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Piqued your interest?

Deb Schwedhelm, our featured artist this week, is has a solo show up in Lexington, Virginia – open until this Saturday 9.28.13. If you go, please tell me all about it! Also, if you are interested in Fine Art Photography, I recommend stopping by Deb’s blog to read her generous & insightful blog post detailing her first portfolio review experience. Want more? Sign up for her online workshop!

Dancers speak volumes with their bodies alone. Could there be a more appropriate artistic tribute to gesture?

Ailey Ascending: A Portrait in Motion

Modern Gestures: Abraham Walkowitz Draws Isadora Duncan Dancing

Breaking Bounds: The Dance Photography of Lois Greenfield

Author / Miss Michelle P.

Miss Michelle P. is a photographer, designer and co-professor for Souvenir Foto School. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her muse is light.

VICINITY STUDIO | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

EZ PUDEWA PRINT SHOP + PORTFOLIO!

Ez Pudewa Portfolio Frenchie Besotted Blog

This beautiful painting was a gift from a very, very talented friend. It is one of my most cherished possessions as the sentiment was so so extremely thoughtful and of course it is of my beloved naughty Frenchie. When I received it, it was a total surprise, so unexpected and every time I look at it, it makes me over the moon happy!  This beautiful piece of course is going into the nursery for the baby, how could it not?  In fact, when I received it I thought, ‘this would be perfect for a nursery‘, that was way before I knew I would ever get pregnant (btw, I am very pregnant these days). It was with a thrill of delight that I saw that said friend had taken the plunge and opened up a print shop of her charming characters, both Michelle and I said in unison ‘there’s a children’s book here’.

Miss Ez Pudewa, you may know her better as the authoress of Creature Comforts Blog has opened her shop (and a peek into her portfolio!) I am so excited for her as I have been singing her praises for ages now, ever since she blew my mind with a ‘doodle’ of a bird painted with her morning tea (I looked for the link, but couldn’t find it, but trust me it would blow your mind as well).  I am hoping more and more of the world discovers both her talent and range as an artist, which she truly is the girl  that can do pretty much anything creative with gusto.  What I admire most about Ez is what an amazing mom she is, I have been following her journey since she launched into the blogosphere, I have been one (of many) of her biggest fans, but what endears me to her is how her daughter is always her top priority. I had the pleasure of finally meeting her daughter in person this summer and she is as you would expect from a mom like Ez- beautiful, kind, polite, intelligent and of course creative.  I hope that I can instill all those characteristics in my my own daughter.  I do hope you visit Ez’s shop and give her some well deserved love and congrats Miss Ez, well done, bravo, hoorah and wishing you tremendous success!

P.S. Just for awe factor this is the first Frenchie (maybe dog?) that Ez ever painted.  Pretty impressive, right?

Author / Miss Tristan B

Miss Tristan B. is the proprietress of Besotted Brand and the writer of this delightful blog. She recently re-located to sunny Seattle with her handsome husband and two pups, they are expecting a baby girl in December (possibly November). Her lofty goal here is to make this a creative resource repository and to inspire you to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with your life.

PINTEREST CURATOR | APRIL AND MAY

Curator April and May Besotted BlogWhat is it with the Netherlands that seems to breed this very distinct aesthetic that is so darn good?  April and May’s boards are filled with some incredible finds from interiors to knits. Although I chose to skew black & white for their palette they do have a fair amount of color centric boards as well. Are you already familiar with them?  Over 4 million people are! They also write a couple of popular blogs April and May Studio and April and May Mini. If you like a simple, clean look then I think you will be very happy with their discoveries!

On another note, I am just back from the City of Angels and I am one tired Mama-to-be!  It is tough work growing a human.  It was a rushed trip, solely for business, but it was still nice to be home even for a little bit. When I left Seattle it was summer and when I came back fall had started.  I heard that I will have a chance to see the foliage change which I am really looking forward to and of course I am getting ready for the rain. There’s lot’s to do for everything between now and when the baby arrives and I am hoping my energy can stay up for the task, but truthfully I felt like I could have fallen asleep in my soup at lunch yesterday, so time will tell…

Author / Miss Tristan B

Miss Tristan B. is the proprietress of Besotted Brand and the writer of this delightful blog. She recently re-located to sunny Seattle with her handsome husband and two pups, they are expecting a baby girl in December. Her lofty goal here is to make this a creative resource repository and to inspire you to fall truly, madly, deeply in love with your life.

INSPIRATION Rx | COLOR

 Inspiration Rx Besotted Blog Color Due Alberi

“Her grandmother used to tell her that a pink sky meant someone in the distance had just fallen in love…”

Inspiration Rx : This series is a remedy for blank walls, sparse reading lists, & creative ruts.

This week’s prompt: Color

Is there a color that has popped up in your wardrobe, decor, or even your Pinterest boards recently? The colors we surround ourselves with can speak volumes about our personalities. Pale peachy-pink gets me every time. It feels simultaneously happy and polished, and best of all optimistic. I even campaigned to paint our living room walls a soft pink with grey undertones – but was met with a “please don’t,” can you imagine?

Consider how a specific color, or color combination affects or reflects your mood and the mood of those around you. Try not to get too caught up in color theory, what we really want to know is which color speaks to you and why. Do you have an affinity for neutrals like our beloved Miss B?  Neutrals count too, as long as you take a moment to think about how they make you feel and what makes you love them so.

A special thank you to those of you who generously shared your peaceful moments! We are beginning to think that tranquility is contagious. Take a peek at Catherine’s quiet evening, Karm’s morning ritual (don’t miss her beautiful poem!), Lisa’s cozy moment with her family and the indomitable Uncle Beefy created images so serene and quiet it makes you want to weep. See? Don’t you feel more relaxed already?

Feeling Inspired?

Per usual you have until next Tuesday to share your creations.  If you have not yet joined in the fun, it’s not too late. You are welcome to start here, or catch up on previous prompts. Just to keep things fair, please limit time spent on each prompt to 1 week.

Options for Sharing

Instagram / Twitter : use hashtag #INSPIRATIONRX

Your Blog / Flickr / Pinterest :  please share a link in the comment section of this post.

For an invitation to our group Pinterest board, please leave a link to your Pinterest account in the comments, or email for an invite. *We need to be follow friends on Pinterest in order to get you an invite to the board (we have to follow at least 1 of your boards & you need to follow at least 1 of ours). Remember you can still participate by using the hashtag on Instagram & Twitter or posting a link in the comments of this post.

**Please Note: the group Pinterest board is for your creations only.  If your pin does not reference your work, we will have to remove it. We want your work to be the star!

photo: © Due Alberi

passage: Sarah Addison Allen, The Peach Keeper

Piqued your interest?

Would you like to try your hand at an abstract painting, but don’t know where to start? Take a cue from Picasso’s thoughts on the subject: “There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.” Try studying a real-life scene like a landscape, or flowers in a vase on the mantle, and boil it down to only colors and forms. If you have access to a camera with manual focus, it could be helpful to blur the focus so you only see colors and vague outlines. Then it’s up to you to edit by deciding on the essential hues, shapes, & lines. This is not cheating! Artists frequently use these sort of references as a starting point. So pick up a canvas and acrylics, or some watercolors and paper if you prefer, and dive in.

If you’d rather have something by our featured artists Due Alberi on your wall, there are tons of reasonably priced originals in their Etsy shop to choose from. The painting above is only $69, an absolute steal for an original piece of artwork. I think that shade of pink is calling my name…

Author / Miss Michelle P.

Miss Michelle P. is a photographer, designer and co-professor for Souvenir Foto School. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her muse is light.

VICINITY STUDIO | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER