I found all sorts of beautiful, gritty,
layered street art on building walls in Paris,
where legal tagging sites are sprinkled across the city.
Apparently, groups of artists claim territories though,
and don't mind confrontation,
so it would be a mistake to just pick up
a spray can and have at it.
The graffiti exists only for a short time
before something new replaces it
which makes photos
of this temporal fleeting art
more special.
Here are a few
collages I made
with my photos.
Everywhere I turned was another moment
to make me smile, and while my partner
would have preferred to stroll quickly by,
I was compelled to linger.
How about you?
Is legal graffiti an eye sore?
Thinking about massing my graffiti pics on
a gallery wall since I think my sons
would like the effect and appreciate relief
from lace and tissue pom poms.
* * *
In non-graffiti news: we on planet michele
are giddy bout the new year on its way.
Clean slates, new possibilities, fresh hope.
Hallelujah, let's get the h out of 2013. (sorry, mom.)
Wishing you peace right where you are.
Hello Lovely at times partners
with companies I love and think may interest you.
For me, Christmas is not about
fancy wrapping paper or a jolly man
negotiating our chimney.
It's about the birth
of the King of my heart.
I have been awfully relaxed this year about decor.
In my defense, we live on the edge of a magical
forest in a home with gloriously massive windows
framing light and trees and sky and snow.
I can't compete with nature, mama!
Two extra fluffy friends join us this year.
My sister's girls are here while she
celebrates the holidays in Italy.
This is Jessie above singing.
And this is Miss Suki...14 years young.
Sweet Bella Luna.
A family of nine in the backyard!
Old ski poles from Europe.
I spent an entire afternoon making
this 'simple' tissue paper garland.
My kids thought I was a freak for
all the effort and whispered stuff like
MOM, IT'S A LONG PAPER LEI.
YOU CAN PROBABLY
FIND ONE AT THE DOLLAR STORE...
They don't get it.
I loved every minute of creating the
romantic chain whilst viewing Thelma and Louise.
omg. Gina Davis' accent melts me! She goes:
Something's, like, crossed over in me,
and I can't go back (bake is how it sounds),
and i just die.
I made flowers for the tree too.
The bathtub-sized Hungarian dough bowl cradles gifts.
My sister Lisa in Arizona who is constantly
creating lovely, made this textual wreath,
and I love the scale and neutrality of it.
* * *
An obvious absence of glitz, glamour,
sparkle, and shine around the house this year.
None of the trappings above are truly blogworthy.
And it's okay.
It has been one of the most challenging
years on record for my family because of
breast cancer and the BRCA2 diagnosis.
A whole lotta physical loss and spiritual upheaval.
Diagnoses, doctor appointments, surgeries,
instant menopause, reconstruction, orthodontia,
hair loss, and now physical therapy have
cramped my style.
By the way, I do miss my boobs, but I miss BREAD more
now that gluten has also been taken away.
I have felt God's presence through it all.
My relationship with the One who came
into the world so humbly has deepened.
I am stronger than I imagined.
I have glimpsed grace in fresh ways.
I am muddling through and feeling
e c s t a t i c a l l y h o p e f u l
about the promise of a new year.
* * *
Thank you for reading, and if you can
spare a moment, please leave a comment.
I would love to hear more about you
(where do you live? how are you holding up?...)
Peace to you right where you are.
decor inspiration
Decor Inspiration: Norwegian Lovely jippi style! {yippeee-i-ayyyyy!}
December 18, 2013
I'm always gushing about Swedish design
cuz it is MAJOR, but it's time I bring balance
to the blog and give Norway some love.
My husband (and so the children) have a good
percentage of Norwegian in em.
So say hello to
J I P P I!
Created in Paris, Jippi’s aim is to promote Norwegian past
and present design, using skins from Norway,
wood, ceramics, and leather.
Isn't Jippi all kindza wonderful?
The use of skins is an ancestral tradition
in Scandinavia, harking back to its first inhabitants.
Jippi skins can adorn an armchair or sofa,
be used as a carpet or bedspread,
or even decoration on a wall.
Jippi also offers blankets woven in Norway,
vintage and contemporary ceramics,
china, small furniture and lamps.
These images truly gave me pause
as I studied them and noted the
layers of age, history, and modernity
in the styling.
* * *
Hope this finds you well.
*Enter my giveaway which
runs through Christmas*
I am loving having my sons
home from college, baking our traditional
cookies, hosting family, and laughing
more than ever.
Peace to you right where you are.
other day!
Does my romantic, feminine dressing room (which is actually just a big closet
in a guest room and not where anyone dresses) look more like a
baby's nursery than a grown woman's hangout?
But you already know I haven't
quite grown up yet.
The stencil I used is a great big one (26" x 43")
The large stencil size means much less work and time!
The base color on the wall is
Benjamin Moore White Dove,
and the light grey I rolled on
is Martha Stewart Sharkey Gray.
The industrial rolling racks were
lovingly made by my husband.
Do you like the newly embellished closet wall,
which required no special skills to complete?
It was a breeze with the gorgeous stencil.
Next mission: configuring fairy lights inside the closet.
Peace to you right where you are.
This post contains affiliate links - you won't pay anything
extra, but I'll earn a few pennies to keep the design inspiration flowing.
