peg + awl

all pictures taken from their site

This desk caddy from P+A has me inspired to use up some of those thicker pieces of waste wood we have piling up somewhere. Between our projects at home and my hubby's wood shop I'm sure there is many many beautiful pieces that are too small to be much else than firewood, till now.  Wood scraps, a few power tools, a nice sand and clear coat and I should have a couple of these to tidy up my work tables in my tiny studio. Peg + Awl has so many beautiful, rustic, primitive inspirations and I love their look.  Check 'em out...

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the details

My hubby has a passion for green building and meticulous craftsmanship.  Paying great attention to detail is important to him, from hand selecting the locally milled cypress and chiseling the live edge, to applying the black oil soap on the mineral pigmented earth plaster walls to reveal the texture, to the cutting board and fossil set into the concrete counter top.  The counter of concrete with inlayed details throughout is a feat all its own. Stunning work by a good friend and great man John Finley. You can find many more pictures and info of this beautifully handcrafted man cave at revivaltimberworks.com. I am impressed with how luxurious this particular project has come to be. Fit for a bachelor's retreat.

I thought it would be interesting to give ya'll an idea of where most of my current collection of reclaimed copper comes from.  It's projects like these that supply my habit (insert smile).  

My largest supply yet comes from this particular project. A great example of 'nothing going to waste'. It's the remaining cut off scrap from this stunning hand hammered copper backsplash that I cut, shape, sand, polish, patina into whatever happens to be inspiring me. Presently, I am busy designing pieces for my TRI.bal collection which is created using TRIangles in all sorts of ways. Oh the ideas...just wait. A bit eco-couture I think. I will be featuring one or two of these larger pieces at the RAW event in New Orleans later next month.

As well as the, growing in popularity, LA1 Southern Charm collection that represents my love for Louisiana. Where our roots run deep.

locally salvaged copper

I really enjoy using sheets of scrap copper salvaged from the remnants left over from large home interior or exterior projects.  Feathers, chevrons, arrowheads, triangles and teardrops the littlest remnant can really become something quite beautiful.

shop here

the builder

the Makers. a rather recent discovery for me, a find I am of course inspired by.  I was led there many weeks back by an inspiring virtual friend Lune.  the natural, geometric detailed woodwork of the Builder is one I am fond of but there are several.  using the old and salvaged to make the new and beautiful.  its great to see a young attractive lady succeeding in a field most commonly known to men. 

I myself tinker a bit with power tools and salvaged wood, as for me the closer to rotten the wood the better, it's something that makes me happy.  my hubby and I have some ideas for reinventing the wheel yet another want-to on the to-do. you can read a little more about that here.

not everything's bigger in Texas

only one state away and I never even new they existed

 doing what my mother, my hubby and myself all have a strong passion for

building and creating with salvaged finds or 'junk'

these homes are exactly our kinda thing

can't wait to show my mom these tiny texas houses

thanks again to Liane for pointing me in the direction of beautiful inspiration

geez this gal finds and creates some wonderful stuff all from a rustic very primitive perspective

evolve how it may

not to take directly from another but man when I saw this

I was so inspired and driven to document for myself

I feel like I can click around this virtual world and find so much common interest

someone doing something I have a passion for yet taking it way outside the box and amazing me

reminding me that truly anything is possible

it creates a fire inside that burns bright
bringing me closer to myself

gatherer and creator Monica Canilao's work fascinates me

I am always mentioning my love for found, gathered and salvaged and she takes it to another level

she does these collages and installations around the world

 often working with gatherered objects from the surrounding area of where the art show will be held

truly random and organic

 working from what is available where every little thing has a special place 

leaving not much to be discarded as trash

I always find myself wanting to keep lots of things I come across 

because they could become part of  something bigger and better 

its almost overwhelming how things accumulate like this but so rewarding to create, reuse, and remake

in her own words :

"By taking something as ordinary as found wood pulp or cloth and passing thread through it, new things can be made beautiful or useful. My work is my own means to give new voice to histories and experiences using remnants of past lives so readily discarded. The direct relationship between the things I create and my daily experience—what I feel and what I find—allows my process and the result to evolve how it may. By using materials that carry traces of moments past, the compositions themselves are a reminder that we all bear scars from family histories that shape our desires, prejudices, and ability to adapt (or thrive). In the end the act of creating is about making living sacred."

read and see more here

I also believe in allowing the process and result to evolve naturally and organically

 letting my heart and spirit take over the creative process while my mind follows close

I love her last words 'the act of creating is about making living sacred'

beauty is in the truth, the remade, the sacred

pictures and interview found here

there is so much creative power and magic happening out there

I am so thankful to happen upon these fine ladies expressing themselves fabulously

 inspiring me to continue my form of self expression

while always striving for the freedom to do so without judgement and insecurity

so empowering!

find more here, here, & here

thanks so much for sharing and for the introduction Janelle

>>> power to the bloggin' mommas to share what moves them and maybe touch another <<<

holiday charm

it all started with a naked wreath hanging on an exterior wall on the front of our home

my mom, sister and I made this wreath together after mom chopped down a nuisance vine in her back yard note:: that we do not work so well together because each knows the better way to get the project done if you know what I mean... you might as well just let my sister do it :)

anyway I had the perfect place for it 

right between the windows in the front of our home there was an empty space

 and this wreath was a fitting size

it hung there naked for a few weeks and was bare and lonely looking

I began to search for inspiration and below is what I found that I liked best

found here 

I was inspired by the feathers of course and the yellows and oranges of the mums

I thought it would be best to use plastic flowers because I wanted to have it up for a while

this was my first project like this using fake flowers but I am happy with the turnout 

and you can't even tell the accents are artificial

what do ya think?

Wylde vision

Caitlin Wylde that is

bundles of random found treasures

isn't the wide world web wonderful 

one's inspiration leads to another's and so on and so on

I was led to this wonderful work that seems to be inspired by found objects of and not of nature

which happens to be some of my favorite things as well

her work appears well thought out and beautifully put together
yet rustic and natural and random art of showcasing your findings

along with her use of aged canvas that resemble flags to create things like the tepee above

more found here and visit her beautiful home here

I seriously recommend you have a look for yourself

old wood...i'm in

read this tutorial on how to transfer ink onto old wood to make these 

rustic wood signs with words

 I will be trying this sooner than later

select a font that fits your style and flip it before you print

 so it transfers correctly

Turn your piece of paper over so that the ink is face down on your wood, position it so that it's centered, you might crease the bottom of my paper along the edge of the wood so it doesn't move around, and begin brushing the paper with your wet paintbrush.

You don't want to make your paper sopping wet or the ink will just run and the paper will disintegrate. Just wet it enough so that it seeps through to the other side and starts to release the ink from the paper.

Take your Sharpie lid and begin to burnish your letters going horizontally and vertically. You want to transfer as much of the ink from the paper to the wood as you can. Don't peek, though. You don't want to accidentally shift your paper. Just scribble over each letter being sure you've burnished over every bit of each one.

if you would like your letters a bit darker use a small paint brush and very diluted paint

lately...

as usual and thankfully so my days are full of family

juggling the needs of my kiddos with my own and the has to with the want to

with scattered bits of time to create held sacred and honored

always lots going on

lately... I have been working more with copper sheets

copper we salvaged from the scraps of a metal shop

conveniently located right next door to my hubby's woodworking shop

plus, we are doing lots around our home making it even better all the time

we are in the process of putting up a new fence, on one side to start

of local Cypress of course

my often mentioned gal pal Roz is experimenting with copper too

what fun learning new ways to create easy to wear adornments for everyday

>>> stay tuned <<<

 for lots of inspiration and creatin' goin' on 'round these parts

I hope your day finds you inspired with time for the want tos :)

boro :: tattered & beautiful

Japanese folk textiles

found here and here

found here

I'm in love with this deconstructed and mended art quilt

there is something so appealing and romantic

to objects with age, history and evidence of lots of love and use

these quilt have a story to tell

found here

this is a bit much for me but you get the idea

salvaged bits and pieces

found here

now this here garment is acceptable...I like a lot

found here

I want this book found here

Boro:Rags and Tatters From The Far North of Japan’, by Yukio Koida and Kyoichi Tsuzuki

"Born out of desperate necessity, this intricate needlework has remained largely unknown because of its embarrassing associations with poverty, but can now also be explained as a loving frugality towards cloth and sewing techniques."

boro (rags) stitchery

my heart is racing