I read about Olivia in this article over on PDN. There’s a great quote in there by photographers rep, Candace Gelman. She says, “A photographer has to develop a consistent and distinctive vision before seeking a rep. “A rep is not the answer. The answer is in finding out who they are.”

Olivia is not unlike a talented high school athlete; skipping the minor-leagues and going straight to the pros. What do you think? See the rest of her work, here.

I’m excited to see that Sweet Paul’s first kids issue is out now. Have you see it yet? Lots of great stuff and it’s the perfect length. Is it just more or are some of these online magazines just a tad too long? Go here for more lovely stuff.

Oh and aren’t these tiny bears in a box beyond adorable? I can’t stand it; cute overload right here.

I’ve admired Aya Brackett’s work for years. She makes such lovely imagery. See more of her work, here.

Hat Parade by Stuart McLachlin and LMNOP Magazine

behind the scenes LMNOP and Stuart McLachlan

Credits // Photographed by Ian Macpherson // Styled by Sunitra Martinelli // Paper Illustrations by Stuart McLachlan // For LMNOP Magazine

While everyone else seems to be plugging ahead into 2011, I’m still floating around in another world unable to put my head down and focus on tasks at hand. This happens to me every year but this year it’s a bit more profound. A year ago this month was a difficult time for my husband and our family. I’ve been reflecting on that sorrow-filled time and trying not to let it envelope me into a warm but empty cloak of depression. Instead I’m channeling those sad thoughts into something more hopeful, inspirational, and optimistic.

I can’t help but to be so very inspired and humbled by all the talented artists and entrepreneurs I’ve been stumbling upon. They seem to be everywhere from my friends/neighbors who opened up what has to be one of the most perfect little breakfast spots in San Francisco to new and talented artists in Chicago and New York, to the gorgeous work of this ceramicist and to a former stylist turned boutique owner in Berlin (see imagery and links below).

Seeing so many people building and making things they love reminds me that you do not have to follow the rules. Build things that make you happy and success will meet you on the other end. You’re bound to fail if you try to predict what your audience wants. You can however give them something they never knew they needed.

I’m headed to Alt Summit in Salt Lake City tomorrow to meet even more people who are following their dreams. See you next week!

xo,

Sarah

A strong imagination begetteth opportunity. -Michel de Montaigne

[photography via Freunde von Freunden]

What I especially love about Whistler’s nursery is that mom took an inspiration she found out the world (in this case Jenna Lyons’ son’s nursery in New York) and made it her own. Also, the nursery fits seamlessly into their thoughtful home which is chock-full of many unexpected decór combinations; from vintage to modern to victorian. Lezlie has an amazing talent for creating lovely and unique spaces. It also helps that her hubby has a gift with a saw. She’s first to admit though that many of her ideas are borrowed and re-envisioned for her own space. Here’s a little Q&A with Lezlie on designing her son Whistler’s nursery. I hope you find it helpful and inspiring!

Whistler’s  nursery 2010
inspiration: Jenna Lyon’s yellow striped nursery NY
colors and design elements: yellow, black, mushrooms, owls, and other animals
cost: $600

Whistler's nursery, Chicago

• where did you get your initial inspiration?
The inspiration for Whistler’s nursery came months before I was even pregnant. The now defunct, and greatly missed, interior design magazine, Domino, did an editorial spread on the Creative Director for J. Crew, Jenna Lyons, gorgeous home. Her son’s room had yellow and white stripes painted on the ceiling with the contrasting walls of chalkboard paint. Black walls in a baby’s room might give most people reason to pause. But those yellow and white stripes on our 3-sided ceiling really make it more circus tent than black hole. I was searching for something unexpected, we knew we were having a boy and really did not want the pale blue and chocolate brown that seems to be so popular. I tore that magazine spread out and tucked it away for when the happy time came our way.

Lezlie's inspiration for Whistler's nursery

• how did you give it your own spin?
I get a lot of my decorating inspiration from homes featured in interior design magazines. It’s a borderline addiction actually, maybe I could redecorate more if I would cut back on all those magazines! For Whistlers nursery I started with the yellow, white and black color scheme and ran from there. I really wanted a room for him that fit in with the rest of our eclectic house. I’m not a fan of the super precious baby room, this room will grow with him for a few more years than a typical baby nursery. I also did not want a “theme”, no  single room in our house has a theme, so why would I try to impose one with the nursery? Every room fits in with each other this way and gives the house a great flow.

• where did you source all of the linens/textiles? who helped you?
My mother and sister have great eyes for textiles and I’m forever picking up ideas from their homes as well. There is a great discount fabric store in Memphis where my sister lives, called Premier Fabrics.  Alot of the fabrics came from there, including the black and white stripe and the great yellow bamboo print. They were both $9.99 a yard! The monkey print fabric was 50% off at a local Hancocks Fabrics and I used my mom’s talented seamstress in Tennessee to make the Roman Shade. My mother herself sewed all the crib linens for us.

• can you tell us where you got the 1. crib 2. chair 3. mushroom table 4. changing table 5. decorations…and anything else you want to mention
The crib and changing table were hand me downs from my sister. We just had to purchase a new mattress. The rocking chair, which is on the small side and perfect for a tiny Chicago bedroom, was picked up at an estate sale for about $40. Again, I bought this chair months before I was pregnant as I knew it would be perfect for our small Chicago house someday. My mom refinished it and had it reupholstered for $50. The faux sheepskin rug is from Ikea ($130). The mushroom table set (my one big splurge) was bought at Mango Street Baby ($230). The Elephant Hamper ($125) is from Home Decorators Collection. The zebra head ($68.00) and framed dinosaur needlework ($130), which my husband gave me for my birthday and is a total inside joke between the two of us, are both from Anthropologie. The sweet Mama Mouse and Baby Mouse painting actually hung in my nursery as a baby. My mom painted it while pregnant with me and lucky for me, the yellow could not have matched the room more perfectly. And of course, it’s probably my favorite item in the nursery.

Lezlie's favorite element in the nursery a painting by her mom that hung in her nursery.

• did you have a budget for the project? would you mind sharing how much it cost, roughly?
Actually, my husband Brett, and I have been a bit shocked at how inexpensive our newborn son has been thus far due to great gifts from friends and family and greatly appreciated hand me downs. (We know this will not always be the case!) We estimate the total budget for the room to be around $1000.00, but we ourselves only spent about $600. We spent $90 on wood and hardware. $75 on paint. $100 on fabrics. And about $300 on decorations.

Lezlie found discounted fabric for Whistler's nursery

• how long did the nursery take from your ideas to completion
Well, considering I started to plan this room in my decorators mind well before I was even pregnant, it took years to complete! However, once we had a firm baby countdown on the way, it probably took about 3 solid weekends worth of work to complete. My impressively patient husband and father-in-law outlined and taped the stripes on the ceiling in 8 hours one day. They truly deserve a medal for that! Then it took about 20 minutes to paint them. But they are the straightest stripes you have ever seen!

• any design challenges?
While we love and adore our older and character-filled Chicago home, the storage and closet spaces leave much to be desired. This room didn’t even have a closet! Plus the slanted ceilings don’t allow for much wall space to work with. That is another reason why I love the stripes in this room, they are so bright and all encompassing that Whistler can lay on his rug in the center of the room and get so much stimulation just staring at the ceiling! A dear friend of ours helped Brett carve out the shelving into the empty attic space in the side wall. And then Brett built the “floating” shelves and small hanging rod in the one corner. The wall already had a perfect little cut out in it that was perfect for a “closet”. As Whistler and his wardrobe continue to grow, I foresee a great fabric panel hanging from the ceiling to create more of a door/cover for that area.

Lezlie & Whistler, Summer 2010, Chicago

Thank you, Lezlie!

If you’re waiting to hear from me, don’t fret! I’ll be back in the studio soon.

In the meantime, have you stumbled upon Pinterest, yet? I’m so in love with this website because it helps me organize pretty reference imagery for all of my projects. Head over there, now. ;]

I’m moving in very soon and want to update the look and feel of my space. Been thinking of doing something like this (see below): white walls to enlarge the space, ikat somewhere in the space, chair or pillows, perhpas, a gigantic print or two hung contemporary art-style in white, branches hanging from the ceiling and a fun wall gallery with animal themes mixed with modern kids imagery.

Oh and I’m hiding the work zone (bookshelves, sink/kitchenette, printer cart, and chalkboard of todos behind a curtain so it doesn’t always have to be spotless).

What do you think?

Clockwise from center: Anthropologie, Savannah Story Bust, Rhino (made in Haiti), Easter Decoration with branches via Yvestown, can’t remember the source for the wall art images, sorry! DWR Flocks Pouf, West Elm Gallery Frames, Enfants photography by Gaetan Bernard

Even though my business is based on kids and families my background is in the fine art photography world so most of my influences lie there. If you’re a fellow photographer where do you find your influences?

CLIENT: WP Lavori in Corso/Woolrich John Rich & Bros.

ART DIRECTION: Luca Caccioni

PHOTOGRAPHY: Broomberg/Chanarin