I’ve been meaning to get back to painting and recently I’ve found myself looking at a lot of work with color blocking. Here’s  some inspiration I’ve been digging up in hopes to pick up the brush again.

These paintings by Lisa Congdon found here.

This necklace by Mociun.

These handmade arrows by Quivver found here.

These blocks:

This hotel room:

These popsicles by Martha Stewart, recipe found here.

Hearts, Ladybird.

I woke up today and realized it actually smells like spring. First thoughts, it’s time to start gardening. This year, I’m going to have to do an entirely container based indoor garden. Luckily for me I have a ton of window space. Here’s a few ideas that can work indoors:

Tackle Box Planter:

Click here for the How-To.

The Wally Pocket:

I came across these guys, and they make these wonderful hanging wall pockets from Recycled Plastic Bottles.

Click here to check’m out.

The Windowfarm Project:

I also stumbled upon this and think it’s brilliant. The Windowfarm project is specific to helping people in urban communities grow their own produce using a hydroponic window system. It looks difficult, but most of the materials are recycled or items that are available at your local hardware store. (I personally might use this one, but I’ll probably be working on how to make the bottles a little more visually appealing.)

Click here to learn more about the Windowfarms Project.

The Gomistyle Urban Window Garden:

I’ve come across this a few times online and I think Marque Cornblatt of Gomistyle has a really wonderful set up.

Click here to read a little more about his process.

I’m not sure which of these I’m going to use to set up my window garden. But I do know, I’m starting today.

hearts, ladybird.

There’s been a few new lines of Jewelry that have caught my attention recently, but so far, Kathryn Bentley’s Dream Collective is really taking the cake.  The collection has a real rugged quality that comes from the plating’s and forms she’s chosen, but also maintains this extreme attention to detail that comes thru in her intricate  engravings and textures. Basically, I can’t find anything in this collection that I don’t want.

Now tell me you agree. Click here to get to the Dream Collective website and here for Kathryn Bentley’s Closet Visit.

hearts,

ladybird

I finally put my work up on etsy. There will be more to come soon but if you are looking to update your wrist for the summer, please visit my etsy page: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ladybirdBK

Hearts,

Ladybird

i didn’t grow up in florida where my folks live. so heading home for the holidays basically means seclusion from everything that isn’t your family. this year, instead of sticking to my basic schedule of going to the gym twice a day, and filling the rest of the time with endless episodes of dexter,  i decided to explore.

what i found: sarasota florida has some great antique stores.  here are a few things i picked up today.  some for fun, some for jewelry inspiration.

i’m a sucker for anything with really well done cast flowers. ($28)

I thought this snake chain stretch belt with the lions head was wonderful. ($15) The photo above is of “fish padlocks”. Partially functional. ($9)

I love these vintage shoe clips above. I’ve seen them around before and I just always admired the beading detail. ($28) The below photo is of a vintage car key. Well two vintage car keys that fold up like a pocket knife. I thought it could make a wonderful pendant. ($5)

I really liked the casting on the above pin. It has so much detail that’s so rarely achieved in costume jewelry today. The mesh connection was just brilliant.($9) I might have to go back tomorrow for more.

hearts and happy Holidays,

ladybird.

i found this yarn in a shop in soho a few months ago and wanted to use it for some sort of woven bracelet, or necklace. i started making these woven friendship bracelets with vintage button closures, and tassels. it’s pretty simple. maybe it will translate into something larger down the road.

here are some more details below:

more to come soon.

hearts,

ladybird

about a year ago my friend Ricky commissioned me to make a christmas present for a ladyfriend of his. we met up, had a beer and he showed me a small pouch of british two pound coins he had been collecting. we sorted thru them and chose the one that we thought had retained the most detail, but showed the wear of an antique. creating that simple piece for him, really started a new way of looking at my jewelry making, integrating the antique with the modern, and keeping it simple and wearable.  i started on a series of coin pendants a little over a month ago. here are the first two:

you can really see the detail in the below two photos. i think the floral patterns as a detail on the back and the detailing of the bezel wire  are really what make it.

Ricky, the thoughtful gift giver, is also an incredible musician. take some time to check out some of his music at http://www.soundcloud.com/rickyvalente.  his new album the bull and butterfly is soon to be released and i think you all should buy it.

hearts,

ladybird

my friend arianna actually helped me set up this blog, has designed my resume, and has also designed all of my logos for ladybird. she is an amazing friend, a complete talent, and one of the most hilarious people i know. anyways, i was scrolling thru her website the other day and found this beautiful drawing she did of a godseye a few years ago and was totally inspired. it sent me into this whirlwind of google paper plate weaving,  dreamcatchers, and at last back around to “the godseye”. so i started myself a little project:

my friend emily found these sticks for me in upstate new york and was a total champion in bringing them all back to me. i immediately ran out and bought the cheapest/greatest yarn i could find. i was also able to use scraps i had left around from the last few years…

i found it’s kind of hard to stop. but i think it’s finally finished.

check out arianna’s drawing at either of these two websites: http://uglygreen.com/  as well as http://thepetrolclub.com/

hearts. ladybird.

my boyfriend and i have been infusing liquor, specifically vodka since i moved into the ladybird loft.

our first round had a few bottles:

a) a jalapeno-garlic-lemon vodka.

b) a cucumber-strawberry vodka

c) a chili vodka

d) a cucumber gin AND FINALLY…

e ) a rose petal and anise gin (which was never opened and sort of feared from the second it happened.)

our second round was more successful…the same jalapeno vodka, b) a pineapple vodka and c) a mango-peach vodka.

basically the jalapeno vodka has been the only one worth mentioning. what you also have to know about me is i literally choose where i want to go to brunch based on the quality of the bloodymary. so far this is what we have and it’s delicious but we’re still open to suggestions:

Jalapeno Vodka:

-2 Jalapenos-diced / 4 Garlic Cloves / A few slices of Lemon/ A Dash of Red Pepper Flakes or Peppercorns.

we add V-8, old bay, a lemon slice,  and garnish if you want it. let me know what you think.

hearts. ladybird.

My old roommate Rawan and I moved into an apartment where we were fortunate enough to have a beautiful, spacious, and incredibly inspirational studio. We worked in one another’s presence a lot, but also on a lot of collaborative pieces. This is one of the latest that I was able to finish before moving out, allowing her to put the finishing touches on it. The painting is about 5′ by 5′ feet.

This is the full scale piece but below you can find a few details.

This photo below is probably my favorite flower.

hearts. ladybird.