{Trains} A good day...

A visit to a train museum to ride Thomas the Train made for a fun adventure. Yesterday was  the kind of  day that Sayer will be dreaming about for a long time... 

{Fabric Friday} my textile design

I just spotted the work of Caroline Bourles of My Textile Design when I visited the uppercase journal on Wednesday. I poked around the website and was drawn in by the categories and range of textiles. I thought it was a nice {Fabric Friday} discovery.

This first set: {Snooze} Fashion & Furnishing Textile Project- Sept '06 - Lounge area & cocktail bar - Applications: Carpet/ seat/ window shade/ lampshade/ uniform. 

This set pulls from two projects: {Edward} Fashion & textile Project- Jan. '05-  Applications: dress / underskirt / apron / sleeves / collar.  {Sweethome} Furnishing textile Project- June '05- Applications: pillow / blanket / window shade / strap band

The section of mood boards and colors is fun to flip through. She also has a collection of children's wear too. Stop by and check out her site- there's a lot of eye candy. Happy Fabric Friday!   {all photos by My Textile Design}

{Vintage Inspiration} 25 cent fun...

I live near a really sweet, channel town called La Conner. I am very familiar with this town. My parents have kept their boat there since I was in elementary school. I can remember going to a odd little penny arcade with my brother after being out on the boat for our two week vacation. We would walk down the street with coins stuffed in our pockets, life jackets still on, anticipating the games we would play (while my parents packed up the boat). The arcade had a circus like feeling to it. There was even a fortune teller in a glass box that asked you for a nickel and told you about your life. Kitty corner from the arcade was a building with a large antique store- and it is still there today. In front are two very old coin operated rides- an elephant & horse and they give me that  same vintage, circus feeling. 

After grad school, I moved to La Conner and lived in an old apartment on top of a shop, overlooking the channel. I worked at the Museum of Northwest Art on the main street a while ago, and Chris and I got married at an old mansion on the hill, that houses a quilt museum. My parents now live in La Conner and Chris works across the fence from their house. So you can say, that I have walked by various vintage coin operated rides at this antique store over the years. I frequently touched them, sometimes sat on them, and have always wanted to photograph them or capture their coolness somehow. I recently saw a post at Modern Kiddo about vintage coin operated rides and it sparked my interest all over again. 

We celebrated the 4th of July in La Conner last weekend and I finally got my opportunity to take some snapshots of these fine vintage treasures in all of their glory. There are so many inspiring elements to these objects and the story that they visually tell. But coupled with where they live, they evoke all sorts of feelings of nostalgia. 

By waiting until now to document these awesome rides, I was able to capture a whole different kind of inspiration. How cool to watch Sayer discover the joy a quarter can bring!

Pub Hats, Play, & Pinwheels...

Getting to observe the wonders of our backyard through Sayer's eyes, makes me  really happy.

{Good Read} Uppercase Love

Having a holiday weekend allowed me the opportunity to finally flip through my new UPPERCASE Magazine at a nice, leisurely pace. It came last week and I have been itching to really dive in and get lost in the "creative & curious" world that I adore so much. I know I have said this every time I get one of these gems in the mail, but this one is even better! --Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.... You can actually flip through the magazine here if you would like to take a gander. 

As I was enjoying my magazine, I found my mind drifting to friends that I have met via this crazy world wide web (mostly through blogs, twitter, & children's stores). I was noting what articles reminded me of certain people that I communicate with regularly. While these are standout write ups to me as well, I dogeared them with the thought of passing them on. Then I realized it would be nice to just post it for others to enjoy as well. 

Debbie Powell -an illustrator on the move - The illustrations reminded me of something that Chantal would like and might end up inspiring some bento lunches in the future.

Table for Two: Molly Wizenberg & Brandon Pettit - My friend Catherine told me about Molly's blog, Orangette over a year ago so she was the first person I thought of. I actually think of Catherine every time I get my UPPERCASE in the mail. I also thought of Robin, who is another foodie blogger who lives in Seattle & can visit this restaurant easier than I can. 

The Darlingtonia Moccasin Company - All I had to do is look at the pictures to immediately think of Daria and the beautifully crafted shoes that she makes. 

Shoegazing - This article got me thinking about the always stylish and creative Alix. She takes vibrant pictures of herself, documenting her fun fashions & I often admire her "shoegazing" photos in particular. 

So here are some highlights of an inspiring magazine & some interesting ladies to boot. 

{Music Monday} Feeling Good...

{images via Tamara Connolly's website}

I think I stumbled on another musical/visual gem. I am quite fond of typography and by a fluke,   found this video by Tamara Connolly. Let's just say that it left me feeling good. Tamara made this video as a MFA Design student at SVA (where I got my MFA too). The assignment was to create a music video using b&w type & typographic elements. I absolutely love her song choice!

I wanted to use Feeling Good, by Nina Simone  for todays  {Music Monday} pick and was lucky enough to be lead to this video & designer. So it was another one of those cool connections that I tend to thrive on. As for the song, well... it speaks for itself. Happy Music Monday! Are you feeling good yet?