Creative Review / / Dottie Angel

I am thrilled to be able to share some inspirational art and design with you every Tuesday morning as Rachael's 'Art and Creative Writer'. This week, I'm featuring the crafty creations of Dottie Angel.

Dottie Angel is the alter-ego of British born but now Seattle based maker, Tif Fussell. She creates fabric goodness out of vintage finds and has developed her own lifestyle brand, coined 'granny chic'. 

She is co-author of a book of the same name which has over twenty projects to help us find out 'inner granny chic crafting soul'. Tif has an inspiring blog, Facebook page and Etsy shop where she sells her hand-made wares. More next week, Justine x

Creative Review / / Viv Sliwka

I am thrilled to be able to share some inspirational art and design with you every Tuesday morning as Rachael's 'Art and Creative Writer'. This week, we're featuring the hand made art and accessories of Viv Sliwka.

Viv is a Shropshire (U.K.) based designer/maker inspired by American primitive art who loves collecting and repurposing vintage textiles, ephemera and haberdashery. She collages, appliqués and embroiders her work by hand to create one-off pieces of art and usable accessories including brooches, purses and bags which she sells online under the business name, Hen's Teeth.

Viv also teaches others how to create their own upcycled artefacts including wrist cuffs and keepsake boxes at workshops she runs at Weston Park. With my birthday coming up, I'll be adding one of these lovelies to my wish list and hope to get along to one of Viv's events soon. More gorgeousness next week! Justine x

Artist Review: Kathe Fraga

I am thrilled to be able to share some inspirational art with you every Tuesday morning as Rachael's new 'Art and Creative Writer'. This week, we're featuring the romantic paintings of Kathe Fraga.

Kathe is an artist currently living on a small island near Seattle although she has spent time in France, England, South America and Denmark and has been influenced by the aged grandeur of the buildings she has visited.

She uses acrylic paints on frescoed canvas which she finishes with lacquer and is inspired by antique wallpapers, chinoiserie, vintage kimonos and hand embroidery - elements of which are used as motifs in her work.

I love the romance conveyed in her paintings which have beautiful names like, 'A Rustle of Feathers, A Whisper of Love', 'That Soft Summer Day When You First Said Hello' and 'Love Poems - Soft Kisses'. More loveliness next Tuesday, Justine x

Beauty Breakdown: Beauty inspiration from Anthopologie

Good morning creative people!

Welcome to a Beauty morning with me, MaJo :) Every Thursday I'll delight you with gorgeously packed beauty products (and every now and then, I'll even throw you a beauty secret).

Anthropologie online store is always filled with beautiful inspirational images, so I decided to look around for some nice packed beauty products... and oh, what I found! 

The Anthropologie woman is very clear: romantic, with a vintage flair and a bit of a modern edge that not only shows through her fashion choices but also home decor and beauty product preferences; and this aesthetic is exactly what the packaging I found on their website revealed.

Happ & Stahns Perfumers Eau De Parfum - image courtesy of Anthropologie

 Let's start with my favorite (above): I just love the vintage look of this perfume packed in an 'inkwell-inspired bottle' topped with a cute floral printed 'pincushion to enhance the air of Victorian-era romance'... how feminine and flirty is this? Wouldn't you love to have it on your boudoir? 

Happ & Stahns Perfumers Parfum Tear Catcher - image courtesy of Anthropologie

From the same collection, we find another ethereal floral fragrance and packaging: the delicate rose illustration and the Victorian tear catcher (below) remind me of the feminine and elegant women surrounded by flower fields in many of Monet's paintings

Happ & Stahns Perfumers Parfum Tear Catcher - image courtesy of Anthropologie

Below you can see two designs with floral motifs and royal garden influences, pastel palettes, and timeless style.

 Royal Apothic Hand Cream - image courtesy of Anthropologie

   Royal Apothic Mini Eau De Parfum - image courtesy of Anthropologie

Continuing with the regal influence, I chose these perfumes contained in antique apothecary-inspired vials. In spite of the simplicity of the design, I find the packaging very striking thanks to the clever use of color.

   Royal Apothic Conservatory Blossoms Kit - image courtesy of Anthropologie

Now let's appreciate the intricacy of the pattern below created by rotating a beautiful and simple motif, and the overall elegance of the design thanks to the use of a monochromatic palette.

   Lido Soap - image courtesy of Anthropologie

The last three designs below, show more modern looks. 

Let's start with this gorgeous soap wrapping created by Portuguese artist Ana Romero: it reminds me of the powerful short strokes visible when getting closer to an impressionist painting. 

   Mistral Dauphine Soap - image courtesy of Anthropologie

Below a more graphic and abstract look of a floral print for a soap packaging... I like the idea of using a fabric pouch that can later be used for other beauty products. 

Savon Soap - image courtesy of Anthropologie

And finally, a soap bar felted with colorful wool for dual use: an original packaging design and re-usable exfoliator. How cool is that?

Fiat Luxe Felted Soap - image courtesy of Anthropologie

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read. See you next week with more inspiring designs. Have a great day, MaJo. 

York National Railway Museum

Happy Monday everybody!

Today I am sharing with you some fantastic photographs taken at the York National Railway Museum. There was such a collection of signs, posters, dials and inspirational shapes and colours that I couldn't help but start snapping away! For anybody who thinks the museum is just for children I insist you check it out! There are some amazing objects to look at such as old ticket machines and old railway signs (see below). However if you do have kids, they will love the Hogwarts Express train, I know I did! It is also free!

You can find more information on the museum and it's exhibits on the website. This years 'Railfest' will also be running from the 2nd - 10th June, click here for more information or to book tickets.
You can also find more information on visiting the city of York on their lovely website. It is a beautiful city and well worth a visit!

Enjoy and release your inner child!
Kelly :)