Posted by Cobi on Monday March 12, 2012 at 05:59 AM
inspiration •
Comments (0)
I was given a pretty pair of earrings the other day that look much like this:
I just love them! While wearing them, I popped into Staples and saw Martha’s new line of stationary supplies and bought some post-it notes like this:
I then picked up a magazine and saw a picture of this great white dinnerware at Sears called Ecoware:
So what’s the deal? Why are all of my favourite designs lately punctuated with {parentheses} ?
I suppose the centuries-old Moroccan patterns we’ve enjoyed so much over the past few years, have not only affected textile trends, like this flat weave rug…
And fabrics, like on this pretty pillow…
And hard surfaces, like these great white tiles…
Or decorative pieces like this beautiful mirror…
But now they’ve trickled down ever further to influence smaller goods like note cards…
and gift tags……
Isn’t it amazing that we live in a world where something (that for some strange reason pleases the eye) can wind its way over time and oceans …
…and end up as a cute little sticky note, sitting on my desk.
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Special Note: If you haven’t joined clubcobi, now’s the time. Each monthly newsletter now has a great giveaway from the cobistyle product line. Congratulations to Jennifer Brown from Surrey, BC who was the February winner of an adorable everlasting potted orchid!
Posted by Cobi on Monday January 16, 2012 at 06:00 AM
inspiration •
winter •
Comments (3)
I was interviewed recently and one of the questions went something like this…“Cobi, we all put lots of energy, excitement and time into making our homes beautiful for the holiday season. Then January comes we simply take it all down and the house ‘goes back to normal’. Can you give us some ideas of how to overcome the winter blahs and find inspiration when it comes to winter decorating?”
It forced me to put into words something I’ve been feeling this January and many before. I love this time of year - partly because I’m Aquarius and feel a certain ownership about the month - but mainly because of the big ‘sigh’ that it provides us all with. January is like a giant exhale for me, and my house, and after the holidays, boy do we both need it.
Decorating for winter is as close as I get to being an anti-decorator. For me, it’s the one time of the year that less is more.
The winter months are about appreciating all things clean, quiet and pure. I suggest using this time to clear the clutter, purge unused stuff and put not only yourself, but your house, on a diet. Welcome the purity and quietness that comes with an unadorned, simple, functional home. Put out a few favourite things and let them steal the spotlight! One nice candle on a windowsill glowing in the evening. If I do any seasonal decorating at this time of year, I use white and winter white…it gives the house a peacefulness like new fallen snow.
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to make the most humble objects appear special - almost like art? I think that has to do with the fact that they provide breathing room around those objects so there is space to appreciate them. Try that in your house. One lovely old bowl or vase on a table. Nothing else. Don’t worry about ‘grouping’ and ‘styling’ and ‘layering’ … just let the quiet light and space surround one thing. It’s quite magical.
Just before the holidays I let a talented photographer friend rummage through my kitchen cupboards to use some of my things as props in a photo shoot she was doing for PaperChef. Now as I said, my friend and photographer, one Miss Margaret Mulligan is very talented and can find beauty in a brown paper bag - or in this case, baking parchment - but I have to say, I was astounded at how beautiful some of my humble (and often jumbled) odds and sods look when given “the floor” or “the counter top” in this case.
So whether fine or humble, give your favourite things some appreciation this month. Clear the clutter, do some cleaning, and see how your old stuff sparkles. Conveniently (in the month of credit card bills) it’s the cheapest decorating you’ll ever do.
