I’ve been going back and forth all day wanting to post, and it’s about time, isn’t it? I can finally share with you what has been running in my mind today, the inspirational work of one of my favorite ceramicists, Nina van de Goor.

Nina is a design, art and craft lover, maker, and successful small business owner in the Netherlands. She creates handmade ceramics, screen prints gorgeous patterns and designs on china and makes collages, all can be found in her online shop.

This selection of my favorite photos truly shows the way that Nina lives and the art she creates is full of joy and brightness. You can really see through her creative space that Nina surrounds herself with and is inspired by an abundance of color, shapes and beauty in all its forms. I particularly like Nina’s visual aesthetic and consistency in style, as well as the variations in detail from one piece to the next.

She creates art and brings so-called mundane, functional everyday objects to life and shows us that they can be so interesting and captivating. As I look through the photos of her individual pieces and the way they are displayed in her home, I can’t help but imagine how beautiful they would look together on a wall, to drink from, or as bowls, or for flowers. I really ought to start a collection soon, I have long admired china collections. I imagine it would be fun to even buy some vintage china and personalize it, the way the very talented Nina does and other designers do as well nowadays, in a fresh, modern way by screen printing.

Nina authors a delightful interior design, art and crafts blog called Ninainvorm where you can surely find more inspiration on a daily basis, and partake in interesting topics as well.

This is a quote from Nina I’d like to share, because I believe in it is true in life, and we can all learn from it. “Beauty then seems to be everywhere, and it makes me realize that we shouldn’t try too hard and make it all too perfect. So right now I’m inspired to look for this nonchalant beauty instead of the too perfect, over-styled things.”

(images: nina van de goor)

I’ve got an amazing illustrator to introduce to you today! If you haven’t already seen her work, you’ve got some exciting visuals coming your way! Yoko Furusho is an artist and illustrator born in Tokyo, who moved to New York to study at the School of Visual Arts. And now she is an illustrator for many magazines and newspapers.

Japanese Artist Yoko Furusho has got me enchanted, with her very intricate illustrations that feel very whimsical and innocent. Each piece has got so many different patterns with layers upon layers of texture, creating such an abundant landscape.

I admire the high level of patience and attention to detail she must have to execute her beautiful illustrations, you’ve got to respect that! Yoko Furosho uses ink and acrylics, and is inspired by fashion and textiles, but she takes it a step far beyond, do you agree?

I feel like her ornate work could be a snapshot from a scene in a fantasy movie. I wonder how long a detailed illustration like one of those might take! I love the soft, but vivid colors Yoko usually uses in her work, with variations of tones and hues. If you want more Yoko Furusho you can visit her illustration blog for news and regular updates of her lovely work.

(images: yoko furusho)

I was sitting on my sofa looking at the artwork on my wall thinking about how lonely my painting looks up there alone, not that it doesn’t hold it’s own with confidence because it definitely speaks for itself, but I feel like some company would liven up the place. And anyway, I love art and appreciate wonderful artist works, so why not spread the love? Right?

And as I was researching the works of artists I personally find inspiring, I couldn’t pass on Artist Jennifer Davis from Minneapolis’ beautiful artwork. Hers would be the first original painting I would love to own. It is so beautiful, and full of color, soft palettes and organic shapes, I couldn’t resist sharing her talent with you.

I’m sure many of you know Jennifer Davis already, but if not, you’ll want to because honestly, it’s pretty amazing. I find her work so pure and real, as each character she brings to life full of expression and with a story of their own.

Jennifer says “My mode of working is very spontaneous and intuitive. I build up layers of paint, sand them down, and then build them up some more. The narrative quality of each painting becomes apparent through drawing, painting and adding bits of found-image collage. Everyday my invented language of symbols grows, repeats, and changes.”

Visit Jennifer’s stream and blog for updates on current and future shows, exhibitions and for her latest work! Jennifer has an etsy shop where she sells some of her more affordable original paintings, and where I will be looking to get one for myself soon.

I think it’s important to purchase art that speaks to you, and encourage that interaction. By surrounding yourself with the things that personally inspire you, and reinforcing that idea, the more you allow creativity into your life and feed off that to live a more creative life, be able to express yourself and be original.

What is your favorite painting? Is there anything that speaks to you, what are your passions?

(images: jennifer davis)

Happy Monday! How is everyone feeling after the weekend? I’m really looking forward to a new week of inspiration from the world of design, and a short week as we are fast approaching easter!

1. rose 2. Untitled 3. sleeping forest 4. antimony 5. Tagged Postcards Ready for Etsy 6. pink roses

I am loving all the floral inspiration that has been all around us lately! It’s everywhere, in fine art, fashion, and even decor! And I find it so refreshing! This week I draw inspiration from a soft palette of pinks and greens, florals, geometric patterns and everything Spring! How about you?

(images: sources listed above)

I wish you all a wonderful weekend! What are your plans? I am exhausted after a long week of juggling a hundred and one things, working between two jobs and to top it off, I got the nasty flu and strep throat yesterday that I am fighting through (fun!) But that just means that I can spend the weekend resting, and taking in lots of Vitamin C!

I have been really busy the past couple of months taking on many different projects, and working on my portfolio to try and compensate for my less-than-creative job. It really took a toll on me, I had to commute for two hours daily to get to a job that did not even fulfill me, I knew I had to get out of there. So I agreed to work from home, which will make my hours much more flexible. And today I signed on to a design agency doing mainly motion video work, which I am so happy about! There’s a little update from me, now how about you? What have you been doing lately?

Have you seen the work of brilliant photographer Andie Edwards? If not, you must have a look at her gorgeous flickr stream, her photographs will be sure to inspire you. Her photos are so serene and soft, with such a pure quality to them.

(image: andie edwards)

I recently came across The Garden Collection by H&M, and fell in love! It completely embodies spring, with it’s gorgeous material, floral prints and light colors!

This collection is made with environmentally adapted materials like recycled polyester, organic cotton, and linen. The Garden Collection is perfectly named, making you feel like you just stepped into a beautiful little garden, full of roses and flowers with a wide selection of shapes, sizes and colors. The clothes look so refreshing aren’t they? I’m loving the combination of pastels and brights, It makes me want summer to hurry up and arrive already!

(images: the garden collection by h&m)

Hello dear friends! I apologize for the late post today, but I have been at work all day, and have been feeling under the weather. I think I’m coming down with a throat infection, so I’m going to make myself some soup and rest.  But before I go off to do that, I have put together a few things to show some Etsy Love for this week.

1. Mixed Vintage Silver, sadie olive 2. Days Stack Up, sloe gin fizz 3. Thread and Buttons, Lynda Naranjo 4. Barquentine Skirt, Makool 5. Pink and Gold Teacup and Saucer, becky’s briar patch 6. Pink Peonies, Leslie Thomson

I have been swooning over this soft palette of pink and neutral pastels, very reminiscent of spring, with a beautiful feminine touch. This style is consistent across home decor and kitchenware, illustration, photography, and fashion with a great combination of textures and patterns. Does anything catch your eye right away?

(images: sources listed above)

Nonpareil Magazine is an online magazine full of great inspiration and do-it-yourself projects and templates, dedicated to crafting beautiful weddings on a budget.

The second issue was just launched a few hours ago, and it’s looking better and better! A huge congratulations to Maddy Hague of the Inspired Bride and Kristen Magee of Paper Crave.

So I can finally share with you the exciting project I was working on last month, and you can see it in the second issue of Nonpareil! How exciting! I designed printable wedding save-the-date and favor label templates inspired by a specific color palette. Visit Nonpareil Magazine for the full article, to get your copy of the printables, and for more wedding and event design inspiration.

(images: nonpareil magazine)

Today I would like to take you on a journey with me to Belgium, into the studio of the newly launched shop Thé Dansant. When I heard about the opening of the shop last week, I knew I had to let you in on the fun right away! If you haven’t heard about Thé Dansant yet, French for “dancing tea”, you’re in for a real treat!

I had the opportunity to ask the lovely ladies at Thé Dansant a few questions that they happily answered, so I could get some more insight into the shop and the women running it, to share with you.

How did you begin your journey with Thé Dansant?
It all started on a lovely summer evening after dinner. Nimue and Isis were dreaming together about the perfect shop, a shop were you wanted to buy everything you saw, a shop that sold not only cloting, accessories and homeware but an entire lifestyle. Somehow we couldn’t get the idea out of our heads, but for practical and financial reasons it was rather difficult to work it out. So we thought: hey, why not start with a smaller project that’s got the same philosophy behind it? That’s when we decided to open an online shop that selled vintage and handmade accessories for you and your home. Isis then came up with the name Thé Dansant. It’s what the french call a party where people dance and drink tea. While searching for the perfect logo we invented someone who embodied what we wanted to sell: a tea-drinking, stylish and creative lady: Miss TD was born.

What is your inspiration?
We are constantly inspired by prettyness we see in fashion and interior magazines and blogs. In our opinion everything you surround yourself with (from your caoch to your telephone to your dustbin) should be nice to look at. We believe that beauty makes happy and through our shop we’d like to share some happiness with the rest of the world!

How is tea a part of your work?
Oh dear, where to begin? :) Well, for starters we’re both obsessive compulsive tea-drinkers. Secondly, tea is a part of the way of life we try to live by: taking time for yourself, enjoying beautifull things, allowing yourself to be creative, cooking and/or eating quality food and putting a but of glamour in every single day…Of course this isn’t always easy. We all have so much obligations, things people expect from us, things we have to do from ourselves. But a cup of tea once in a while just helps to remind oneself to take it easy ;)

What are your hopes for Thé Dansant?
We hope the things we sell can make many people happy. In any case we’re enjoying it very much to be working on the shop. In our  dreams Thé Dansant lives a long and succesfull life and maybe one day grows out to the shop we initially fantasized about.

Thank you so much for your time Nimue, Isis & Miss TD!

If you love what you see, be sure to visit their blog for some great stories from the three ladies and the launch of the beautiful Thé Dansant.

(images: thé dansant)

Are you ready to dive into this week’s Spotlight on Talent with photographer Yvette Inufio? With such an abundant and absolutely amazing photography portfolio, you can get lost in Yvette’s world so fast, and wander for hours.

I didn’t even know how to start selecting my favorite photographs from this wonderful artist, it might be impossible. So instead of digging through her whole collection, I decided to focus on a particular interest of mine that is depicted through one of her sets called ‘a passion for details’. So I encourage you to visit Yvette’s flickr page for a greater selection of her photographs, and to find your favorite!

I love the way Yvette finds and captures beauty in the ‘mundane’. She shows us that simple objects around the home could be so inspiring if you look closely at the details. I feel that works for everything in life.

Her photographs have such a dreamy quality to them, such bliss. I love the soft tones and delicate textures she creates. Another great quality in Yvette’s work is the beautiful way she captures natural light. And the way she styles her photos with harmonizing balance, it makes them so easy on the eyes, don’t you think?

The combination of lines and shapes, organic, geometric, sharp merge to give great composition in each photograph, I think Yvette does that very well. Yvette has an etsy shop where she sells some of her photographs, and also authors a blog that you can visit to see more of her recent work.

Did you spot any favorites?

(images: yvette inufio)