[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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Feb
09
artist inspiration
ARTIST INSPIRATION with wook woodworking

Please welcome Alexandra Snook and Edward Way from Wook Woodworking sharing what inspires them 

Ed and I are husband and wife, and we run our own small furniture design company.  I would have to say our primary inspiration is always the natural world.  Repetition of form and natural textures as in the beauty of old weathered wood, the spiral in a shell, or the smooth undulations in the grain pattern of Cherry are all inspiring.  Wood itself is really our greatest inspiration.  The variety of species and their corresponding colors, textures and grain patterns never cease to amaze us.  Motivation, however, can come from an entirely different place.  Reflecting on the works of great designers, architects and sculptors is usually what gets us really fired up about creating.  And once we have a  concept, it’s into the studio we go, working days, nights and weekends and often skipping meals and not getting enough sleep. Great design incorporates function and form in a seamless fusion, and amazing designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry and Ray and Charles Eames (looking very cool on their motorcycle in the picture above, might I add) all exemplify this.  In terms of our personal style, we probably most relate to an Asian aesthetic.  Clean lines, impeccable joinery and appreciation for the original material all greatly influence our work.  We also love to use sustainable materials and try to do so whenever possible.  We are always on the lookout for new products and materials that satisfy our want to produce eco-conscious pieces.  

Thanks so much for letting us share our inspirations with you- Alexandra and Edward 

wook

Feb
02
artist inspiration
ARTIST INSPIRATION with wabisabibrooklyn

Please welcome MaryAnne from Wabisabibrooklyn sharing what inspires her to be creative.

I generally need to physically move to start the engine of inspiration. My number one choice of locomotion is to take long city walks where I pass by so many people it’s slightly dizzying. The unexpected juxtapositions, seeing a bit of the old hanging on amid the new; shopwindows, and eavesdropping all give me just the right motivation to get to work creating.

When I travel farther than just a walk away from my house, I end up paying attention to the little details that remind me I’m far from home, like ancient tiles, prehistoric looking insects, or toys made out of trash.

And no matter where I am, I am always inspired by frugality. I was at the jewelry supply store one day about to pay nine cents each for some small copper circles, when I realized I knew where to get cuter ones for one cent each. Whenever anyone asks how I came up with the idea for the decoupaged penny earring, I always reply, “thrift.” 

The sense of time-travel that comes from sifting through a second-hand shop (or a garage if your family is comprised of pack rats, as mine is),  seeing an old movie (right now I’m particularly enamored of the finery of certain choice 1970s flicks), or hearing a song that transports me to another era that is what I need to keep myself filled with creative energy. – MarryAnne Wabisabi Brooklyn

inspiration_brooklyn

Jan
26
artist inspiration
ARTIST INSPIRATION from She’s SO Creative

We have asked some very talented artists, illustrators, designers and crafters to share some things that help inspire them. Each monday stop by an take a sneak peek into the swatch files and bulletin boards of some of your favorite artists. This week’s inspiration board is from Stephanie, the designer, illustrator and wordsmith of She’s So Creative.

Norman Rockwell, Tom Petty, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, The New Yorker Cartoons, Far Side genius Gary Larson, art deco, gorgeous typography, the Sedona red rocks… I’m inspired by a lot of things, but what really gets me going, what really turns me are those, clever little gems of originality, concepts that are so simple, yet so spot on in communicating whatever the intended message is. Like, donuts in the shape of a cigarette or the descender of the letter “A” mimicking the trunk of an elephant.  I love wit and cheekiness and thinking about things in a different way.  Beautiful patterns are great, fun ideas are cool, but when I see great design beautifully executed combined with conceptually brilliant ideas, that’s the stuff that oozes inspiration for me.

Thanks for letting me share. —Stephanie

inspiration_shesso