the smell of green

Another week of cold and logs in the fireplace. I love my fireplace but enough already! I am ready for some sun and warmth. I want to open the windows and smell freshly cut grass. I want to sit outside and draw. I am thinking this time next year I need to head south for a week or two.

To help with the weather I have been buying flowers. There is something about white daisies that always make me smile. And these little green button flowers are my favorites right now. Does anyone know what they are called? I love the way the bouquet smells....like the color green.

Besides the snowy cold weather, it has been a crazy two weeks! I signed on with a new client that I am so excited to be working with! I wish I could tell you more but hopefully come May I can spill the beans. Until then, you have to trust me that it is exciting and big!

extrovert vs introvert

Trying to focus is sometimes so hard. While I was in the USA I had to be the extrovert, selling and networking. Now I am back at home and trying to create, a very introverted experience for me. It is hard to flip flop between the two.

When all else fails, make inspiration boards and clean the house.

Clean house and clean mind=free flowing creativity.

Love these colors and the whole feeling. Not sure when I will use this mood board. I need to sit with it for awhile and figure out how I am going to interpret it.

I use to say these were for the next fabric collection...now the designs are being used on many more items. (I can't wait to tell you more but it will have to wait a wee bit longer.) So, below is inspiration for the next pattern collection which will be available for license.

dear paintbrush, I missed you.

I am back home and boy does it feel good not to be living out of a suitcase. (I don't know how my friends Audrey and Dan have been doing it for over 3 years!) The sun has been shining everyday since I got home. I am so happy as it makes the transition from warm and sunny LA back into Budapest winter a bit easier. If only it could stay warm and sunny a little longer...cold weather is back in the forecast:(

Overall, the trip back to the states was great! It was good to see friends, family as well as meet new clients, old clients and clients who I have never meet face to face! I gathered a ton of inspiration, as you probably have seen from the past weeks postings. Now its time to focus, create and paint! This years focus...painting color.

I decided that every week I am going to buy myself flowers. Something about fresh flowers just brightens up a room. And I love these because they remind me of a country field in spring...ahhh.

One more thing, I have been following Geninne's Art Blog for awhile and this post made me so happy, I love watching people paint and I really love seeing a studio in use! Keep inspiring me Geninne!

the corky and fun side of Abbot Kinney

Zin.gara - f Italian: gypsy

Bo.he.mian - (Bohemien) 19th cent. French: gypsy

Ven.ice Beach - Ca lif.: American: Bohemian & Beat poet hangout

The above was taken from the Zingara website. Need I say more? I loved the color and the merchandising was cleaver and creative!

Great merchandising in the bathroom and kitchen! talk about using every bit of space for display! Yes, that is a bathtub. And the toilet was around the corner.

I took this for the ceiling! I want to paint the ceiling of my bedroom!

Clever cowboy rain boots.

I need the silver clogs on the left.

That wraps up my adventures on Abbot Kinney Blvd. It truly is a great place to shop. I am sure to be back and next time I am picking up those silver clogs!

great finds on Abbot Kinney Blvd. - Part 2

From across the street I saw this cute little house. The colors and the old mixed with modern drew me to this shop called Tumbleweed & Dandelion. This shop didn't have much print and pattern, but it really inspired me. I can really see old quilts fitting in with the decor....hmmm.....maybe there is some new fabric line inspiration in these photos....

As you walk through this little cottage like shop, you are drawn to the outside in what seems to be a little piece of heaven. I was ready to move in.

Tumbleweed & Dandelion What a clever name, don't you think?

great finds on Abbot Kinney Blvd. - Part 1

My last day in LA my friend Suzan, Sophia (a very patient 3 year old) and I hit Abbott Kinney in LA for some last minute inspiration. If you are in LA, you must shop this street! Fantastic shops filled with beautiful home furnishings!

I thought it was called Brown's hardware...I was wrong. It is called Bountiful and it caught my eye from 2 blocks away.

Gorgeous antiques spill out onto the sidewalk peaking ones curiosity as to what could be inside...

Pie plate anyone?

I took this for my friend over at Pink Light Designs. MB-you need this!

It took all my energy to not buy the lime green pie plate. I don't even bake pies.

I am a sucker for a room full of stuff! I need to go in and look at everything. I love finding all the little hidden gems. Funny since I hate clothing shopping in a store that is jam packed with clothes.

Lets play cars!

I have a love affair with old tins.

So, I was curious how customers take home one of these lovely pieces of furniture or accessories? Raul Castro does all the art installation. He moves all this stuff around to get you the piece you want. A true art! You think he is good at puzzles?

Check back tomorrow for more photos from Abbot Kinney!

colors of venice beach

My USA tour is almost over. I leave tomorrow for Budapest. I will wave good bye to warmth for awhile. :( LA has been great. Great meetings, great times with my dear friend Suzan and her family and great weather. A great way to end four weeks on the road. My next post will be on Monday and from Hungary! Until then enjoy a few photos I took while shopping in Venice beach.

Came across this great mural.

They were setting up for a movie. I want to paint my house yellow.

It literally took us 5 minutes to figure out if we could park here or not.

See you back her on Monday!