[ getting inspired ]

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SO anyone who follows me on Pinterest has noticed that I've been pinning a lot of art and art studios lately. I've been tossing around the idea of getting out my artist brushes again and creating some art. My guy bought me a lovely easel for Christmas and now that I've got it all assembled and my studio taking shape, it's time to get painting!

There's nothing like an art fair to get your creative juices flowing and this weekend we decided to check out the Artist Project in Toronto. 250 artists from Canada and abroad were showcasing their work at Exhibition Place and what an amazing show. Browsing through galleries is fun but there's nothing like meeting the artists themselves and hearing about their inspirations and how they've adopted their particular technique.

Here are just a few of my faves from the show...

Gabriella Collier

Shannon Dickie

Samantha Sandbrook

Stephen Perry

Lori Klassen

Julie Hawkins

Mary Karavos

Rick Worthington

Janette Hayhoe

...and here are a few more whose cards I didn't get so I don't have their contact info but I'll show you their eye candy since they're so beautiful:

What a great way to spend a chilly Sunday afternoon! I left feeling totally uplifted and inspired to get cracking on creating some art. No point letting my art school/design degree go to waste!

lisa

[ the aran sweater ]

MY GUY just returned from a business trip to Ireland and brought me back this lovely Aran sweater made from soft 100% merino wool...

so that I can look as cute as this {note the denim shirt underneath}...

It's funny because we lived there for 4 years and I never bought myself one!

Aran sweaters ~ aka fisherman sweaters {or jumpers as they're referred to in Ireland} have been around since the 19th century and originated on the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland at the mouth of Galway Bay. Originally they were handknit by the wives of fisherman from undyed, unscoured wool which retained its natural lanolin oil and made them water resistant. 

The sweaters are distinguished by their complex stitch patterns and each have a significance: the cable is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing, the honeycomb is the symbol of the hard-working bee, the basket stitch represents the hope for a plentiful catch, and the diamond a wish of success, wealth and treasure.

Eventually island women began producing these sweaters not just for their families but as a source of income.

These sweaters have seen a resurgence in popularity and have become a fashion must this year, a true wardrobe classic.

The Aran Sweater Market since 1892 on Inis Mor, the largest of the 

three Aran Islands

Looking for a genuine Aran sweater but no plans to be in Ireland anytime soon? Try the Aran Sweater Market online shop!

Of course you can always try to find an imitation at places like LLBean, JCrew, Brooks Brothers, ASOS.com. etc. Either way, you'll still look fashionable...

How about you? Do you own an Aran sweater? Will you be adding one to your fall/winter wardrobe this year?

lisa

[via aransweatermarket; LLBean; models.com; nichollvincent.blogspot; lolobu.com; chictopia.com; stylezen.net; swandiamondrose.tumblr; michaelkors; dailycrush.net; trendymadness.blogspot]

[ art in parks ]

ONE OF the highlights of our trip back was being able to visit a couple of outdoor art shows. Some of you might remember this back in 2010...

Yup, that was my booth at the Muskoka Arts & Crafts Summer Show {read about it here}. So much fun and I really hope I can do it again someday! 

So you can imagine how excited I was to learn that we would be in Muskoka on the weekend of this year's show...

It was fun to see some familiar faces and some new artists this time too. I find these events so inspiring and they make me want to get busy creating!

So what did I buy? Well, it was difficult not to go crazy but I decided to limit myself to a new painting {I've been trying to build up a bit of an art collection of original works and these art shows are an excellent place to do so. This cheerful original is by Marlene Bulas...

But as luck would have it, this wasn't the only outdoor art show we visited! We happened to be in Oakville, Ontario for their annual Art in the Park show as well. Much smaller in scale but so many beautiful works of art...

And you guessed it ~ I bought a painting! This one is by Robin Mitchell...

I'm so thrilled with my 2 new acquisitions {doesn't that sound fancy?} 

Have you been to any fun summer events this year?

lisa

[ tiffany blue ]

I'M smitten by this gorgeous room in the Melbourne home of fashion illustrator Megan Hess...

Not only is the wall a pretty shade of Tiffany blue, I love the mix of her illustrations and photos of fashion icons in a variety of simple and ornate frames. Such a girly and glam space.

lisa

[adore magazine]

[ abstract minded ]

I HAPPENED to be lurking on Etsy and I came across the happiest art by Melanie Mikecz of TWOEMS...

Aren't they great? I love her choice of colours and can imagine them in really any room of the house ~ great if you've got a spot just crying out for a bit of graphic pattern and personality. To see the other great pieces by TWOEMS, click here.

Speaking of happy, it's Happy Weekend time again! And mine has already kicked off with a happy coffee date with a fellow blogger who has just moved to Dubai. Gotta love how blogging brings people together! Have a great weekend everyone!

lisa

[ featured! ]

THE NATIONAL newspaper in Abu Dhabi ran a lovely section on Saturday on local designers and artisans and included my Etsy shop and iPad/Kindle cases. It was so nice to be amongst such amazing talent!

The article can also be found online here.

lisa

[ today's inspiration ]

lisa

[via riazzoli.blogspot]

[ happy weekend! ]

AND HAPPY CANADA DAY to all my fellow Canucks! Celebrating it in Dubai doesn't quite have the same hoopla, but no worries, we'll whoop it up anyway! We also got the key to our new apartment so we'll be "moving" in (well, not quite since most of our things are in transit) but still, shopping for all the odds and ends will make for a fun weekend, even if we'll be sleeping on the floor and camping out on beanbags. Whatever your weekend holds, I hope you have a chance to sit back and enjoy!

lisa

[belle blanc]

[ blog love ]

HAVE YOU MET Janis over at Pinecone Camp? If not, you MUST go and check out her blog!

A photographer from Vancouver, Canada, Janis shoots interiors for magazines including Style At Home, Canadian House & Home, Chatelaine and more. Along with posting great pics of interiors and beautiful shots from around her city, Janis bakes every Monday and photographs her way through each recipe - it will having you drooling on your keyboard! Being the sweetest thing, she recently had a giveaway of her gorgeous recipe cards in a cute little cloth bag and I'm thrilled to say that I'm the lucky recipient (I can't wait to receive my first piece of mail in Dubai!)

..............

I'd also like to give a shout-out to Carol at The Design Pages for sending a lovely award my way! Carol is an interior designer from Vancouver and her blog is filled with lovely spaces and her fun diy projects. Thank you so much - you've really made my day!

I'm passing it along to 5 bloggers I love....

Janis at Pinecone Camp (I think you already know how much I adore her blog!)

and to 4 other bloggers who have lived the life of an expat just like I am:

Kathy at West Family Adventures - she's lived in Germany and has now moved back to the US
Robynne at Robynne's Nest - an Aussie who has relocated to the UK
Chania at Razmataz - an interior decorator who moved from the UK to Canada
Laura at Happy Homemaker UK - an American expat living near London, England


So drop everything and pop on over and say hi to these fellow globe-trotting bloggers! Have a great weekend everyone!

lisa