artsy forager

Category: Design Foraging

Every Friday, Artsy features a round-up of artistic finds from the worlds of interior, fashion, architecture, and product design.

  • Artsy Holiday: For the Artsy Naturalist

    Artsy Holiday: For the Artsy Naturalist

    The holidays are upon us!  And I love them.  I can’t help it.  Much to Mr. Forager’s chagrin, I totally get into the music, the decorating, the cooking, and of course, the gift giving!  It seems every blogger does a gift guide, so why shouldn’t I get in on the action?  So each Friday until Christmas, the regular Friday Design Finds posts will be replaced with a selection of gifts for the artsy folks on your list!

    We begin with gifts for the Artsy Naturalist– there’s no reason why buying for nature lovers should be limited to hiking boots and camping supplies!

    Art Glass Vases by Nick Chase at Artful Home

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    Navy & Seafoam Antler from Terrain

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    Entomology Wall Calendar at Anthropologie

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    Sterling silver & enamel jewelry by Julie Blyfield

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    925 silver, rhodium-plated, gemstones by Nora Rochel

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    Bud Vases by Yassi Mazandi at Grey Area
    Bud Vases by Yassi Mazandi at Grey Area

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    Maple Leaf Bowl by Kay Sekimachi at J Sauer Gallery

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    You can see more naturalistic gift ideas with an artsy bent on my Pinterest board, Artsy Holiday 2012: Gifts for the Artsy Naturalist!

  • Friday Design Finds: Felt Up

    Friday Design Finds: Felt Up

    Something about this time of year makes long for warm & cozy things.  Felt played a big role in the holiday decor I grew up with, so I love seeing so many modern spins on this classic material.  Here are a few of my recent felt art finds!

    Sculptures by Andrea Graham

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    Felt Pebbles

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    Friend Felt Box with Bamboo Lid

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    You Make Me Feel Like Dancing textile art

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    Happy Friday!

  • Friday Design Finds: Palette + Plate

    Friday Design Finds: Palette + Plate

    I’m a firm believer that the beauty of objects we use every day enhances our simple daily rituals.  That doesn’t mean every meal should be eaten off Royal Dalton china with fine silver, but we do eat with our eyes as much as our mouths, so why not help even the most ordinary of meals a lovely experience?  Here are some “painted” plates that would make any meal feel a bit more artsy!

    Splash Dinner Plate by Liberty London

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    Mixed Tableware by Laurens Van Wieringen

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    Andrew Ludick

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    Dipped set by Sydney Studios

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    Hmm.. wonder if we could get any of these in time for Thanksgiving next Thursday? 🙂  Happy weekend, Artsies!

    All image sources are linked under each image.

  • Friday Design Finds: The Light Fantastics

    Friday Design Finds: The Light Fantastics

    I’m a huge fan of combining artistry with functionality.  Why should we settle for something boring when we could fill our worlds with the extraordinary?  Time to rip down that contractor’s special chandelier you’ve been hating on since you moved in.  Maybe one of these will inspire you to think outside the Home Depot box. Check out these fantastically artsy options!

    Pink Octopus Chandelier by Adam Wallacavage

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    Tide Chandelier by Stuart Haygarth

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    Bower Bird Nest Chandelier by Tracey Barnes

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    Candlelier by Takeshi Miyakawa

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    Seriously, how could you not be inspired by seeing one of these every day?  What will you make more artsy this weekend?

    All image sources are linked below each photo.

  • Friday Design Finds: Tie One On

    Friday Design Finds: Tie One On

    An artsy scarf, that is!  Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a bonafide scarf junkie.  I wear them all year round and my favorite is a vintage silver crocheted scarf that my mom wore in the 70s.  It has such a bohemian, artsy air. Turns out I’m not the only artsy in love with the neck cloths.  Here are some wearable sculpture faves I’ve discovered lately!

    Sunrise Rose by Jenne Giles on Artful Home

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    Terra Cotta Flower scarf by Vital Temptation on Etsy

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    Tickled Pink Knits by Elena Rosenberg on Etsy

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    Sabrina Scarf by Sonya Mackintosh on Artful Home

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    I’m so bummed to be living in the desert during prime scarf-sporting season!  Mr. Forager & I are headed up to Idyllwild tomorrow.. maybe I’ll be able to break out one of my faves.  Happy weekend!

    To see more artsy fashionable finds, check out my This Fashion is Artsy board on Pinterest!

    All image sources are linked under the images above.

  • Friday Design Finds: If These Walls Could Draw

    Friday Design Finds: If These Walls Could Draw

    Happy Friday, Artsies!!  You may have noticed that the Friday round-ups have been a bit more design oriented of late.  It wasn’t intentional on my part at first, but once I noticed it, I decided to just dive in completely!  Artsiness abounds in all kinds of places– fashion and interior design, architecture, consumer goods, you name it.  So beginning today, each Friday I’ll bring you a group of artsy design goodies that I find inspiring.  Hope you enjoy!

    Secret AF tidbit: The one and only time I was ever spanked as a child was for drawing on my bedroom walls with a permanent marker.  Now, there are wall coverings made especially for coloring or you can just draw/paint directly onto your wall ( if you’re an adult & own your walls ).  Instantly artsy vertical space.

    Paint by Numbers mural created by Katie Blair for her son Max’s little art studio

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    Wallpaper by Jonas Carlberg

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    Colour in Wallpaper by Jon Burgerman

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    Frames Wallpaper by Graham & Brown

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    Audrey Hepburn wall mural by Ben Slow

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    Don’t these make you just want to draw all over your walls?

    All images sources are linked above.

  • Friday Finds: Fashion Formerly Known as Prints

    Friday Finds: Fashion Formerly Known as Prints

    With the continuing improvements in digital printing, designers and artists are able to collaborate in amazing ways.  I’ve been noticing a trend toward printed, wearable art incorporated into gorgeously designed fashion.  Here are a few of my faves, spotted on Pinterest recently!

    Glam Canyon Dress from Modcloth
    Flashed Back Shift from Anthropologie
    Printed Silk Dress from Mary Katrantze
    Pennii Artist Palette Dress from Ted Baker London

    Glam Canyon Dress at Modcloth | Flashed Back Shift at Anthropolgie | Mary Katrantzou Dress at Net-A-Porter | Pennii Artist Palette Dress at Polyvore

    What say you, Artsies?  Which is your favorite?  Any other fabulously artsy fashion I should know about?  Find these and other artsy fashion finds on my Pinterest board, This Fashion is Artsy.  Happy weekend!

    All images from sources linked above.

  • Friday Finds: Word Up!

    Friday Finds: Word Up!

    Happy Friday, Artsies!  Please forgive my 1980s one-hit-wonder reference.  I can’t help it.  My mind just automatically defaults to songs from my teen years.  It seems like the written word is experiencing an artsy renaissance of late.  Not since the days of illuminated manuscripts have words and art become so intertwined.  Here are a few of the wordy works I’m loving this week!

    Why Can’t You Just be Nice by Trey Speegle
    Everything in its Place by David McLeod
    FS2679 by Cecil Touchon
    Thought & Pleasure by Squeak Carnwath
    Sounds Like Some Hippy Shit by Dwayne Butcher

    Trey Speegle | David McLeod | Cecil Touchon | Squeak Carnwath | Dwayne Butcher

    Have a great weekend, Artsies!  Remember to use your words. 😉

    All images are via the artists’ websites, linked above.

  • Friday Finds: Fabrications

    Friday Finds: Fabrications

    I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to sewing.  Pretty sure I got a “C” on my big sewing project in junior high Home Ec ( a C was pretty unheard of for this nerd ) and my attempts as an adult haven’t been much better.  But I have a great love for textiles of all colors and textures.  Not only do I completely love contemporary artists who work in fabric, but I am completely envious of their abilities.  You know what they say, those who can, do.. those who can’t, well share with others!  Check out these beautiful examples of textile art!

    Structures #72 by Lisa Call
    Cleveland Foreclosure Quilt by Kathryn Clark
    Ada Quilt by Meg Callahan
    Prairie/Wall I by Sue Benner

    Lisa Call | Kathryn Clark | Meg Callahan | Sue Benner

    Be sure to check out these artists’ websites, linked above for more of their amazing work.  Happy weekend!

    All images are via the artists’ websites, linked above.

  • Friday Finds: Anthropomorphically Artsy

    Friday Finds: Anthropomorphically Artsy

    These last four months of living on a lake in Northern Idaho has had its advantages, wildlife spotting being chief among them.  A favorite post-dinner activity of Mr. Forager & I is to take a long walk in the hopes of spotting a few deer, osprey, rabbits and lately, turkeys(!).  While Mr. F loves to fantasize about how awesome it would be to be a bird of prey, I tend to humanize the animals we see.  I like to think they are more like us than we realize.  Today, I’m featuring a few artists who seem to also love blending the line between humanity and the animal.

    To Fall for Flattery by Nate Frizell
    Beyond the Menagerie by Kareena Zerefos
    Renard by Charlotte Caron
    Sabrina Hornung

    Nate Frizzel | Kareena Zerefos | Charlotte Caron | Sabrina Hornung 

    I would love to commission Charlotte Caron to create a portrait of Mr. Forager as a grizzly bear– it would be his ultimate dream come true!  What animal do you see yourself as?

    Charlotte Caron found via The Jealous Curator, Sabrina Hornung found via Lost at E Minor.  All images are from the artist’s websites, linked above.