4/3/08

nursery inspirations


In conceiving the creation of Flynn's room, I have been for some time collecting a "notebook" of inspiration. Some of it is on a folder on my computer desktop, some in a huge scrapbook, some in a stack of magazines, and some purely in my head. I pick up little bits and pieces in my daily meanderings, such as at the art museum, where we went today for the Impressionist show, but came away with a great deal of inspiration from the Modernist wing.
Since someone recently asked me for ideas, I thought I'd share a few that have been passing through my cluttered head like clouds scudding across a spring sky. I'll begin with my virtual collection, since it's the easiest to upload. I have linked what I can, and attributed the rest to the best of my ability. Here goes:
I'll begin with two books, Antoine de Saint Exupéry's legendary and haunting children's tale, Le Petit Prince (above)...

...and his lyrical adventure book for adults, Wind, Sand and Stars, both of which have been of great inspiration to me in many ways for many years.

The dreamlike polaroid imagery of e.soule
Her work is available from her eponymous etsy shop, and the above link goes to her website, which is worth a look!

This whimsical form of muraling is published on a Greek decorating blog which seems to have been taken down. If anyone knows the origin, please let me know so I can link it!

The ephemeral pattern applications of All*Over*Print. My favorite thing about this blog is that they often show the real-life inspiration for the print (the shadow cast by a tree on pavement, a vintage neon sign, a skein of wool...) followed by the graphic that resulted from the inspiration. In addition to being a wonderful design source, it's also a terrific lesson in creativity.


The spectacular imagery and inspiration of the design blog An Indian Summer (above and below) which never fails to warm my heart and get my creative blood pumping.


The photography and collage work of both Dan Eldon and Peter Beard. I have always been a Beard fan, on a purely aesthetic level, but I also encourage you to read up on Eldon, a young man with a vast heart and an incredible creative wellspring who was cut down in his youth while photographing a riot for the British news agency R@uters. His is an amazing story that will remind you how to live every moment as if it were your last.

Peter Beard's adventures in Kenya, as told to his daughter Zara, is already a part of Flynn's library.


Textiles by Galbraith & Paul
Stay tuned, and I'll try to keep up with my design inspirations as they come to me!

2 comments:

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

I love, love, love the book 'The Little Prince'... about a year ago I saw the book in Barnes and Noble and just had to snap it up...

Yoli said...

Maia, I think I can see it. I can see the room or part of it from this. Wow. This is beautiful, the muraling in those photos amazing.

I am so excited to see the finished product. My daughter is in love with the idea of traveling to Africa, of wild animals. Her room, which for now she shares with her brother, is inspired by Africa. It was different before she came along but as I started to know her, Africa emerged.