miranda howe ceramics

i like these earthy tones and heavy textures on the functional and decorative pieces of new mexico artist miranda howe’s collection. miranda’s pieces are influenced by her world travels and the rhythmic qualities of repetitive patterns.

see more on miranda’s website.

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karen casey smith photography: miniview

i want everyone to visualize calm right now. let’s breathe in deeply through the nose and hold it for a moment. now, slowly exhale through the mouth. if it make you feel better, then i think you’re ready to look at the meditative work of karen casey smith. karen’s collection is filled to the brim with thoughtful, focused shots that lead your eye in and hold it, quietly. afterwards, whether you were prepared to do it (or not), you might find yourself a bit more relaxed afterwards, a bit more focused inwardly, a bit more healed - in a million different ways. it’s a zen feeling. and who wouldn’t want to know a little bit more about the brains behind that operation?

q: where do you live and where do you create your work?
a: home is about 30 miles from chicago, in the northwest suburbs. my work is created first in thought, then with attention to my subject while making the photograph and then in my computer at home.

q: your flower collection is pretty extensive. what is it about flowers that appeals to you most?
a: i love being around flowers. they are a miracle of beauty, and with closer attention even more amazing than anyone could know at first glance. throughout the ages flowers have been loved and given in love, to celebrate, to comfort, and to lift spirits. the beauty of flowers can be experienced directly, without words. when contemplating a flower, time seems to cease to exist and in that silent space you can experience the beauty to the core of your being.

q: i think your mandalas are mesmerizing - can you tell us a little about your technique, and the reasons why you create them?
a: mandalas are so appealing to me. i’ve been working in that form since around 1995 when i first read judith cornell’s book, mandala. she teaches that creating and contemplating mandalas is healing at the deepest levels. each of my mandalas carries a energy or vibration uniquely its own. the mandalas are a way to share positive, healing energy.

the mandalas are made with the aid of templates i designed myself. i first do any editing of the original photograph that’s necessary to make sure the contrast is good, and that all color is in gamut and printable. depending on the flower, i have different templates to choose from that have a varying number of divisions of the circle. in choosing the flower and creating the mandala, i work intuitively. the message or energy of the piece is revealed when it’s completed.

q: what are you doing when you aren’t taking photographs?
a: sometimes i work with and assist my husband, and occasionally do freelance graphic design. i love photoshop, and am always studying and working to improve my skills in both photoshop and photography. currently you could also find me cooking, baking (sometimes in my solar oven!), gardening, playing my ukulele or djembe, practicing tai chi, and playing with our two cats.

see more of karen’s work on her website as well as at her etsy and redbubble shops.

thank you karen!

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sophie gardner jewelry

seattle-based designer sophie gardner dazzles with her richly simple jewelry collection, drawing her influences from ancient and modern civilizations and the beautiful patterned details of life in europe, india, and beyond. she also creates a feeling of drama using our bare skin as a negative space element.

see more from sophie on her website, and find select pieces over at auto.

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snapshot sunday

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beeswax vase by studio libertiny

we are going to an opposite extreme from the previous post now with this pretty and intriguing honeycomb beeswax vase from tomáš gabzdil libertiny for his rotterdam-based studio libertiny. this natural beeswax piece was created by adding a red wax dye to the colony of 40,000 bees. it took a week to create, and i think is is so beautiful.

they’ve only made seven pieces, which are available at moss. the price is available on request (which i am so curious to know but if you have to ask…).

see more design from tomáš on his website.

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cathy connolley illustrations

check out these lovely prints and beautiful original pen and ink pieces by uk artist cathy connolley. a self-taught artist, she uses the pointillism technique to create many of the items in her nature and mythology-influenced collection.

say hi to cathy on her blog, see more work on her website, and purchase these pieces at her etsy shop.

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chewing the cud letterpress

very fun, tongue-in-cheek letterpress action from san francisco stationery designer viola sutanto ting for her company chewing the cud.

purchase these pieces at elsewares, see more at viola’s website and etsy shop, and say hi on her blog.

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annie patterson illustrations

reader theresa pointed me to award-winning alaska artist annie patterson’s illustrations, and i am so happy that she did. annie is a published children’s book illustrator and has a delicate, detailed style and motifs that make your imagination float away with the wind.

see annie’s portfolio on her website and check her blog out too for news and updates.

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