Get Inspired: Photography {up up & away}

I've written about what I do when I need to get inspired again in the past, but this post from Centsational Girl is a great go-to when you need a little artistic pick-me-up.  Check it out!!!

If that's not enough to get you going, check out a few quick shots from one of my all-time favorite photographers, Jose Villa (above two images) and some inspiring work from a photographer on Etsy.  One of these days, Andrew and I are totally getting pictures like these at the Ohio hot air balloon festival.  These are the type of images I'd love to have hanging in our living room.

pricey search

Looking for something like this for my living room.  This one is just over $5k.  No thank you.  I was thinking more along the lines of $500.  I've exhausted my usual antique places, though.  Anyone see something similar recently?

a special art project

Going to Ghana this past winter adjusted my thinking.  The cliche way to say it?  It changed my life.  I don't ever want to forget how I felt there.  While there, I took tons of pictures of doors and collected bottle caps.  Random, I know.  I didn't know why I was doing it.  I just knew something would come of it eventually.

Chanda and Jake (the amazing couple that is living at The Father's House for a year) recently came back to America for a few weeks.  When Jake saw me, one of the first things he said was "We've been saving bottle caps for ya!"  He held up a plastic bag filled with these colorful momentos of Africa and tears filled my eyes.  I remembered at that moment my time in Ghana.  It's so interesting to me how an abstract piece of "junk" can bring back memories; make you feel so much.

I am so excited to finally be able to do something with these little works of art!  I started by laying them all out to see what I had...

I always planned from the beginning to do something very random with them, but once I started playing around with them I ended up with a fun pattern that I think looks much more deliberate.  Add a $20 shadowbox from IKEA and voila!

This colorful shadowbox will grace our hallway and will be the first thing we see as we enter into the house from the garage.  I'm hoping this piece will help me remember my time in Ghana for years to come.

If you haven't heard about my trip to Ghana yet, you can read about it here, here, here and here.  You can support the efforts of The Father's House by going here.  And you can attend a crazy fun concert that I'll be photographing here - proceeds go to The Father's House!

Updated Easter Color

Not a huge fan of the pastel overload of Easter.  But these colors?  Yes please.

foyer additions

I have had this image saved in my inspiration folder as a MUST for the foyer.  I have always wanted interesting corbels like this.  Or at least similar.

On a recent trip to my favorite place in Concord, The Depot at Gibson Mill, I scored these lovely ladies. I think they'll do the trick!  Now to figure out how to get them hung.  Hmmm....

I *heart* this: dirty neutrals

I don't know what it is about neutrals that makes my heart flutter, but add a crisp white and a vintage touch and it's all over for me.  One of these days, I'll do a whole room in these dirty neutrals.  Until I get the courage to do so, I'll just enjoy images like these.

I want this print, but can't remember for the life of me where I pulled it from.  Maybe I'll have to shoot my own version. :)

DIY nation!

My inbox was recently flooded with blog followers wanting to share their DIY projects.  Yay!!!  Here's a few that I especially loved.

Brooke was the first email I received after posting this blog post and was also the first comment on the inspiration blog post on how to make fabric flowers that I made a little while ago.  Here's what she said:

So she didn't end up using them for her save the dates, but she did decide to use them as place cards for her wedding.  So cute!  I think it's a great idea.  So clean and sweet.

This one came in from Amanda.  She's prego (yay) and this canvas will be gracing the walls of her nursery.  The project is still in the works, but I'm loving how it's turning out!

I love being surrounded by creative people!

Images via Brooke and Amanda.

Vintage. Brought to you by Etsy.com.

Check out these awesome Etsy stores with vintage finds.  But don't take the things that I want.  Cause I want them. :)  First up, AM Radio.  I must have those egg cups.

Next is AmSuarezFL.  If you love random fun finds, this is the place.  They have everything from Japanese bobble heads to French settees.  Here's a few of my favorites.

VintageTownSquare offers refined American pop items.

QueGanga has a few different things but my favorite are their interesting skeleton keys.  I'll be purchasing these, but I love them all!  Can't wait to show you what I'll be doing with them. :)

Oh Etsy.  I lose so much time on you.