Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category

art and yoga adventures in Tuscany

Friday, January 20th, 2012

I had the great fortune of being able to take two trips to Tuscany in the past year – one to ride bikes through the countryside and one to be more still, spending the days painting and practicing yoga.  Both trips had a very strong impact on me and helped re-focus my work in a way that I had not expected.  It’s quite amazing what can happen when one is able to break free from the daily routine and breathe fresh air in a place rich with history, inspiration and pure, unequaled beauty.

I was invited to return to Tuscany in June to assist with the Toscana Creativa Art and Yoga Retreat.  I’m still pinching myself!  I will be preparing lessons that incorporate teachings on drawing, perspective and color theory, plus some art and architectural history, and musings on food and culture.  All my favorite things!  My dear friend, painter and yoga instructor Julia Ingersoll leads the retreat, which is presented by Women’s Quest.  We have room for several more participants, so please share the idea of Toscana Creativa with the women in your life!  I can say with absolute certainty that this is an adventure of a lifetime and an experience to treasure.

Celebrate the art of living while exploring the most beautiful region of Tuscany during our week-long art and yoga retreat!  Ignite your creative spark through joyful art-making: outdoor landscape painting in oil and watercolor, sketching and journaling for all levels of experience (beginners welcome!).  Revitalize your body and soothe your soul with heart-opening yoga.  Explore Medieval villages and Renaissance masterpieces, experience Gregorian chant in an ancient abbey, delight in luscious Tuscan food and wine, take part in a spirited cooking class and indulge all of your senses while staying in a beautiful villa in this captivating land where art is a way of life…and life is a work of art.  Return with a map of your imagination, a bundle of paintings, new insight into your heart’s desire and an experience to treasure.  Retreat cost is $3,500 (airfare not included).

What’s included:

  • daily expert instruction in painting, sketching and journaling
  • daily morning yoga
  • art and architecture history, on site, everywhere we go
  • a guided tour of the magnificent town of Siena
  • a soak in the ancient Roman spa pool of Bagno Vignoni
  • a private cooking class featuring local specialties
  • 7 nights accommodation at a beautiful, four-star villa-estate
  • daily breakfasts and all dinners, plus 3 lunches

Please contact me with questions or visit the Women’s Quest website for additional information.

Posted in Inspiration, Lifestyle, Studio News, Travel | No Comments »

kr design co BLOG: new inspiration

Friday, November 18th, 2011

I have taken a long and fruitful hiatus from blogging and all things social media over the past months.  Why?  I needed to regroup, reorganize, reenergize and get some inspired fire back into my creative work.  I went to Italy to paint and look at landscapes with a dear friend.  I have been drawing a lot by hand.  I convinced my husband that the best use for our garage is to house my sample library which had previously been stashed in various places.  I have learned to love and appreciate the early morning outings with my dog as a time for awakening and preparing for the day ahead.  I have been pouring through books and magazines looking at images that make my heart sing.  And (more on this soon) I have been making daily pilgrimages to the 6-acre plot of land my husband and I bought north of Boulder to daydream about the new house we will soon build.  Now I’m ready to come back, to start blogging again, and to share lots of new work.

I’ve been wondering where to start for weeks, so rather than trying to find the perfect thing to reemerge with, I’m just going to begin by sharing what’s on my mind today, right now.  I got my hands on a beautiful new book, called Private Paradise: Contemporary American Gardens by Charlotte M. Frieze.

It’s full of gorgeous imagery and interesting projects, but most significant for me was an introduction to the work of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects.  I had loosely heard of their work in the past, but never really looked at it.  This morning I took some time to admire their portfolio.  And on the subject on making one’s heart sing, Ten Eyck’s West TX Ranch imagery sure does it for me.

Don’t you just want to be there?

Posted in Architecture, Inspiration, Landscape, Lifestyle | 1 Comment »

handmade inspiration: mini quilts on the Purl Bee

Friday, February 25th, 2011

I love these mini quilt ideas that are featured monthly on one of my favorite blogs, The Purl Bee.  Somehow the idea of making a full-size quilt seems quite intimidating, especially without a proper sewing space (not to mention the time involved), but these small sample-size pieces feel very inviting and doable.  I appreciate that they’re inspired by vintage quilts, and the fabrics, patterns and colors are just lovely.  On this snowy day in Colorado, making something that evokes *spring* feels just right.

CIRCULAR APPLIQUE

featuring Liberty of London Tana Lawn

COURTHOUSE STEPS

a traditional quilt block that takes its name from the stepped pattern it makes

Posted in Handcrafted, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Textiles | No Comments »

Vintage Cafeteria Table

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

I love this cafeteria table, recently featured on Three Potato Four.  I want one for my studio!

Exquisitely executed re-fabrication of an original vintage industrial cafeteria table. Constructed of heavy cast iron (cast from original forms), table features reclaimed wood tabletop and round swivel-out stools made of mixed hardwoods (wood is unfinished, allowing you to stain in any finish you wish). Available as both 12-seater, as shown and 8-seater.

Posted in Furniture, Inspiration, Interiors | 1 Comment »

save the date: Firefly Handmade Holiday Market

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Please save the date(s) for the Firefly Handmade 2010 Holiday Market, taking place in Boulder and featuring 60+ Indie Makers.  If you live anywhere even remotely close to Boulder be sure not to miss this event.  We can’t wait!

December 10th, 5pm-9pm
December 11th, 10am-5pm
December 12th, 10am-3pm

60+ Indie Makers, Gifts for EVERYONE on your List!
Sandwiches & Snacks from Dish Gourmet
 Kids Craft Activities sponsored by Clementine Studio
 Community Table (we will be volunteering here) courtesy of the Makerie
 + Eco Gift Wrap from Lyziwraps and oh so much more!

Posted in Handcrafted, Home Accessories, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Women in Business | No Comments »

Handweavers Guild of Boulder

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

The Handweavers Guild of Boulder is putting on its 39th Annual Show and Sale from November 3 – 7, 2010 (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) at the Boulder County Fairgrounds (Hover Street and Nelson Road, Longmont).

Come enjoy this unique show and sale put on by over a hundred local artists. You’ll find items, both large and small, by weavers, knitters, bead artists, quilters, spinners, felters, basket makers, and more, including unique clothing, artwork, jewelry, ornaments and kitchen items! This free-admission show includes a juried exhibit of work by artists of national stature.

Admission and parking are free.

Posted in Handcrafted, Inspiration, Textiles | No Comments »

My Maruca Loot – Fall 2010

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

After an extended hiatus from blogging to re-energize and get some projects built (and ride my bike in Tuscany), I am back with renewed focus and lots of ideas.  It seems fitting that my first post of the Fall season features the handmade, woven works of Maruca Design…some of you probably know by now that I love textiles, and someday – someday! – with any luck I’ll pull my floor loom out of storage, learn to spin fiber and start weaving again.  In the meantime, I’ve been focusing on drawing inspiration from the everyday things around me, in particular the colors, textures and light that Fall brings.  Along with work from my fellow makers.

On Friday I spent several hours at the Maruca Design studio here in Boulder.  Their annual sale provides a rare opportunity to poke around their fun workspace and purchase beautiful jacquard handbags at a seriously discounted rate.  They also have boxes of fabric scraps sold by the pound and yardage of woven fabrics in multiple patterns and colorways.  Heaven, right?  I had to resist buying fabrics for some yet-to-be-determined project, but I did make a mental note of everything there and how I could use it.

I couldn’t resist some of their handbags, however, so I stocked up for future holiday gifts, or maybe just to keep for myself…we’ll see.  If you missed the sale and want to purchase a Maruca bag locally, they are sold at the Boulder Arts Cooperative.  If you live elsewhere, Maruca has a list of vendors on their website.  Their bags can even be found in my hometown of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Posted in Handcrafted, Home Accessories, Inspiration, Textiles | No Comments »

Boulder’s 15th Street Design District: come visit us!

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

DESIGN WALK

July 22nd 4-7pm
15th Street (between Canyon & Arapahoe)

Enjoy refreshments while touring the 15th Street Design District businesses!
Talk with architects, designers and other design and construction professionals.


The 15th Street Design District is a vibrant professional services district with a diverse collection of world class design firms and showrooms. Nestled in between Canyon and Arapahoe on 15th Street, this premier destination is studded with architecture and interior design firms, graphic design agencies, builders, sustainable design consultants, cafes and restaurants. In other words, the 15th Street Design District is one of the most vibrant and dynamic neighborhoods in all of Boulder, a beacon for artistic souls and creative minds.

Come take a stroll, taking in the ambiance of our neighborhood. Browsers are welcome. Here is a chance to step into impeccably designed settings and pick up some gilt-edged inspiration – we hope you enjoy it.

Posted in Architecture, Inspiration, Interiors, Studio News | No Comments »

As we celebrate Spring…

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

On April 1st Heath Ceramics will release a limited edition Summer Seasonal Collection.  As you probably know by now, I love – okay, adore – everything that Heath Ceramics makes, and their their new Ocean Pacific pattern has me wishing for an unlimited budget (and space) to continue building my humble collection.

From Heath: the Seasonal concept gives us a chance to explore new colors, techniques and ideas without altering our standard line. We offer them in limited edition runs, as a way to explore our creativity, and push the limits of our design and manufacturing capabilities.

This season we bring you Ocean Pacific, a three-color pattern created by two glazes. It starts with aqua — each piece is hand-dipped. Once dry (within moments), the piece is dipped again, this time in zest yellow. In the area where the aqua and zest overlap, another vibrant yellow is created. The resulting pattern resembles the horizon line of the sea on a bright summer day — the inspiration palette for the 2010 Summer Collection.


AMAZING.  Maybe it’s crazy that these little pieces of art can fill my being with such joy, but I think that’s just it – everything Heath makes are objects of art.  Not to mention that I’m craving bright splashes of color following the subtle surroundings of winter.  Enjoy.

Posted in Handcrafted, Home Accessories, Inspiration | 2 Comments »

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

I am in love with this home for Australian floral artist Joost Bakker.  Pick up the current issue of Interior Design Magazine – or read it here – because the entire article written on the project is well worth the read.  My favorite feature: there are more than 11,00 terra cotta flower pots “cladding” this home, planted every summer with strawberries!

*photography by earl carter / taverne agency

Posted in Architecture, Building Materials, Inspiration, Landscape | No Comments »

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