Portland Open Studios Inspiration this weekend

I write a day after one of my favorite days in a long while-- Portland Open Studios, like a drug for the "handmade creative". In my usual highly curated approach, I scour the sites of an estimated 100 studios, to find my top 15-20 artists from various mediums. With only 5 hours to spend, taking in the best of ceramics, mixed media, oil, sculpture, illustration and works on paper, I feel like running the marathon after this experience. Here are a few of my highlights to share: Enjoy! Kris Paul ceramics, her husband Willy Paul photography, Rachel Austin oil and map paintings (one of which I had to buy), Puji Ceramics, No 2 Print Studio and last, but not least, our favorite, Therese Murdza original paintings and works on paper. All in all, a crazy prolific day for design in Portland. I still have these two to experience next, with camera in hand: Tim Loh Chinese paintings and Katherine Mead's collage pieces. We're heading to Iceland Tuesday, so design is there next...

NEWWall Wallpaper -- Marimekko Series

I remember the first time I saw the wallpaper samples arrive from NewWall -- the new manufacturer of Marimekko wallpaper. Now, you can create compositions of color and tone-on-tone "pop" for most any room! We've been using the fabrics for draperies and bedding for a while now, but what a great new idea to cover one wall in NEWWALL! Although for newbies, we recommend that you choose one or the other. However, if you try and accomplish both, it could be gorgeous, but call us first to bless the monochromatic balance! Enjoy!