[uhp-steyt fan-see] - adjective

1. not exorbitant or extravagent by city standards, however in a rural setting (like upstate new york) it is in fact, quite fancy.

2. a wonderful blog dedicated to art, design and other things that are indeed upstate fancy.

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Mar
16 art
SPRING IS IN THE AIR celebrate with some new art

Oh Rachel T. Robertson, why did you have to come into my life. It’s so hard to resist your pretty pretty paintings and collages. I can think of 10 places in the new apartment your creations would look terrific in. I have the perfect frame already picked out for all of your darling pieces. If you haven’t seen her work, I can’t imagine what you are waiting for. They are sure to at least inspire you on this monday morning, and bring some thoughts of spring along with it. I really wish I had the time to paint more and create something as beautiful as this. 

flowers

Mar
13 design
FURNITURE INSPIRED by japan

 

Inspired by Japanese textile and pattern designs, designer Edward Van Vilet has created a line of beautiful furniture for the Italian brand Moroso. Sofas, rugs and puffy chairs all await you, ready to transform your home into a zen garden. The simplicity of his fabrics and the rich color palette just make me want to curl up and relax. In a way they remind me of a complicated quilt, none of them really back each other but they all seem to work together to make something more beautiful than they would be alone. You can check out the rest of the Moroso line, and also check out where you can soon get your hands on a piece for your sanctuary. 

moroso

Mar
12 art
MY NEW OBSESSION Michelle Maule

I love Michelle Maule. The end.

But seriously, what’s not to love about her crisp clean color choices, and feminine style? There is something so soothing about her composition and sensibility that it always puts me in a relaxed mood. I have a print of hers hanging in my bathroom because it always makes me start my day a little bit less stressed that I would otherwise. If you haven’t been by her etsy shop lately check her out, she’s constantly updating and releasing new prints and affordable original paintings. Keep an eye out for Michelle’s artist inspiration post here on upstatefancy when they return for their regularly scheduled monday slots in April!

michelle

Mar
11 fashion
EARNING YOUR MERIT badges

I admit it, I was a girl scout. Well technically speaking, I was a daisy, then a brownie, then a Junior (up until 7th grade when there was no other troop to join). Hey what can I say i liked hanging out with nerdy girls and making crafts, I was not in it for the cookie selling. I guess thats why I love the idea of a modern merit badge, and no one does them better then Lee Meszaros. She offers badges for everything from being drunk as a skunk, sharp as a tack, even taking the cake. My personal favorite is the birds of a feather badge, which would be a great twist on those best friend heart necklaces everyone had back in 8th grade. Now you can relive your scouting days, without having to bring the snack. 

buttons

Mar
10 art
BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL portraits

I love the photography of Sharon Montrose, it reminds me of the work of Andrew Zuckerman, but less academic. She has such an eye for detail and the patience of waiting for the perfect shot. We all know animals can be unpredictable, and much like children never seem to sit still, but Sharon manages to capture a stillness in her subjects that most people don’t get to see. The curiousness of a baby chick, a confused goat, and the wonder of a macaw in flight. I’m pretty jealous when I think about being this close to these amazing animals, but I don’t think my shots would come out nearly as beautiful as these.

animals

Mar
09 art
GIVING A HOOT about great art

I’ve been spending a lot of time searching for affordable original art lately. I have come across some great finds including the mixed media work from Lionhead, a collective from Massachusetts. I’ve always been a big fan of mixed media and found objects collage, especially when it doesn’t scream folk art. I think these artists have managed to take something that can sometimes be a little too country, and make it into something modern and well thought-out, and having an owl or two in your work doesn’t hurt either. 

I would love to know your favorite affordable art artist. So leave a comment with a link and i’ll be sure to check them out.

owl

Mar
05 Uncategorized
IT”S ALMOST TIME for outdoor living

Twice a year i get really excited for a shopping trip, one is the fall back to school gooodies at Target, the other is the outdoor living events at ikea. I got a sneak peak at the Ikea summer catalog and this year does not disappoint.  I am currently moving from one apartment with a backyard to another one so at least I know there will be some outdoorness going on this year. These picks are some of my favorites. The battery operated colorful lantern at a whopping $3.99 each!  The lovely and affordable green outdoor love seat, a steal at only $139 ( thats less than $1 a day of outdoor seating enjoyment all season long, less if you share your seat with someone.) If you are a little bit fancier perhaps you will enjoy the modular outdoor seating its a little pricier but still a real bargain if you have ever looked at similar sets from crate and barrel ( trust me this is a really great deal). And last but not least these lovely fabrics from their regular 2009 collection, they really just pop out at me and would make that reupholstered thrift store find look fabulous. 

ikea

Mar
04 art
IS IT SPRING yet

I try and keep things varied here on upstate, so I do apologize for featuring two bird pantings in the same week. I think maybe I am just tired of waiting for spring and these birds are making me feel a little more chipper. So without further ado I bring you Curiosity No.3 – Litte Red Birds from Lexy Art. The original painting was done on chipboard, and to keep the look and feel of the original, the giclee prints have also been mounted to the same 3mm chipboard for an extra special touch. The vivid colors of her work really pop, and I love the rococo elements she ads in some of her work. Check out this wonderful artist from Down Under and become mesmerized by her work. 

birds

Mar
03 design
TYPOGRAPHERS start your engines

Since you all read up on the rules of typography a few weeks ago, I know you have been dying to design your own font. There are tons of service out there where you can scan in your handwriting and they make a useable font out of it, but fontstruct actually lets you design a modular font from scratch. Use stars, blocks, dots, curves or anything else you can think of to design your own useable font. Check it out, but make sure you have a chunk of time ahead of you because it is addictive.

font

Mar
02 art
TWEET TWEET TWEET meow?

Mike Dutton is my new favorite obsession. He makes me want to try my hand at watercolors again. He has so many different styles to his illustrations he can gesture an old movie palace, or draw in every detail of a fantasy world. My favorite of course is his bird masquerade series. These wonderful creations are simple and fantastical while being perfect for any age. So often humor in illustrations are aimed at children, but these masked birds are dying to nest in your living room. Check out his website then pick yourself up something nice at his shop. 

dutton

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