purl's swatch portraits (and) the work of jen stark

two amazing, beguiling forms and ideas from the 'net ether that have invaded my creative mind and entranced my always searching eyes: these so-called "swatch portraits" made from liberty of london fabrics that have been framed by embroidery hoops were created by purl soho, a fabric and yarn purveyor out of new york city.

i first spotted them purl soho's blog, the purl bee (to whom the above photo originally belongs and where it was originally posted). their blog is simply amazing and always inspiring...packed full of lovely and innovative ideas for stylish needleworking fiends and friends, and their store(s) are dangerously, dangerously fabulous and brimming with aesthetically pleasing piles of decadently delicious yarn and fabric. if you are in new york, do yourself a favor and stop by.

i love that they are simple circles and i think it's neat how they frame and elevate each bit of fabric, making each one stand out as something important and special. when grouped together, using the various sized hoops, they become EVEN MORE special, almost perhaps like a bit of conceptual art, a miniature installation of sorts.

as i don't have direct access to a passel of liberty fabrics at the moment (wish i did!), but do have access to my own collection of riotously colored and printed vintage fabric and scraps, i'd love to recreate this idea to decorate and further brighten up some corner of my house...

i can also envision painting the embroidery hoops to add an extra element of color and interest...

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i simply adore these geometric yet organic construction paper sculptures by artist jen stark:

the top ones remind me of topographical maps...and (big surprise!) i love the rainbow colors.

natural(inspiration).

my husband and i spent last weekend in monterey, california, enjoying each other as much as we enjoyed the monterey bay aquarium, which is brimming with sea life that is so amazing and stunningly beautiful, that it almost seemed almost unreal. like these jellyfish, for instance, that fluttered through a bright blue tank of crystal clear water. they were nothing less than art in motion. looking at them, i was instantly inspired by their vibrant colors and sculptural, symmetrical yet organic shapes. their tentacles remind me of strings and yarn and they had "ruffles" along said tentacles, that fluttered beguilingly in the water as they moved.

suffice it to say, my mind is filled with a myriad of ideas just looking at these stunning creatures: ideas for potential pieces of art, ideas for fashion-y objects...

if money was no object...

if i wasn't limiting my purchases of new things due to the wardrobe refashion pledge, if money grew on flowering spring trees, i'd delightfully purchase any of the following lovely things... for starters, these hoopla earrings by ryan kundrat, available at stars and infinite darkness:

i adore the bit of rubber that ryan has inserted in these minimal sterling hoops. it apparently comes in a myriad of bright colors. subtile but yet rather bold, all at once.

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thanks to k. cooper of hoping for happy accidents, one of my very very very favorite style blogs, i'm now obsessed with these gold nugget-eqsue earrings and cocktail ring by klaus burgel:

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this striped scarf may be a product of a mass marketer (jcrew), but is undeniably lovely to me, with it's woolen texture, bright yellow color (bright yellow is one of my favorite colors o' the moment!), and tie dye treatment, making it feel a little artsy and hand-hewn:

it could be worn as a scarf (natch!), but also as a headscarf or even a belt. would look killer with dark denim anything, or textiles that embody an emerald hue.

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i love the irreverent, somewhat naughty yet cute pattern on this little pouch by medicom toy life entertainment, available at the always amazing online shop creatures of comfort:

petite pouches like this are ever so versatile, allowing for use as cosmetic purses, a bag to store little knitting supplies, or even jewelry bags for traveling.

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these superbly crafted wooden heeled sandals by chie mihara (found at what i think is one of the most amazing shoe outlets ever, gravity pope, of canada) have a 70s earthy sexy vibe:

i love that the heel is actually wooden (at least i hope it is, as i abhor fake wood on shoes...UCK! it looks cheap!). the detailing on the top of the shoe is exceedingly lovely and actually quite a bit graphic...right up my alley. i see them as the perfect addition to tight dark jeans with a handmade orange dress over top.

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all photos belong to the artists, designers, or retailers. click on any photo to view more about the product.