Thursday, February 4, 2010

Q&A with Jill Sharp Brinson

Jill Sharp Brinson recently sat down for a Q&A with us and we're so happy to share her ideas and insights. I've included photos from her design portfolio and shots of her amazing home. These photos were taken by her talented husband, Rob Brinson. I've even come to learn that the family design credentials don't end there, their pug, Ricky Bobby even has an impressive website! Enjoy and thank you, Jill.

  1. Name: Jill Sharp Brinson
  2. Occupation: Stylist, Designer, Creative Director
  3. Last purchase you made that is hanging on your wall: A fabulous pair of framed 40" carved linoleum block-plates. I don't know their provenance, but they are dreamy. They have a very Van Gogh line quality to them. They are truffle grey with slight bits of cream ink still visible from the last time they were used to print from. I have to confess, they are merely leaning, not hanging.
  4. What is the item you've had the longest hanging on your wall: A photograph of a horse that my husband, photographer Rob Brinson took when we were commissioned to go to Argentina and shoot and buy antiques (can you believe we get paid for these jaunts?) Also 18 oil paintings by my great, great uncle, the American Impressionist, William S. Robinson.
  5. Favorite place to buy art: I have found some of my biggest treasures on the street. We bought really lovely watercolors in Apt. Provence and in Soho, NYC. I have had amazing luck buying from street artists. I also "shop" all the time at our loft (in a converted plow factory!) here in Atlanta. My husband prints regularly and I am always running off with his dreamy photographs - some are 8 feet long! I pin them up and change them out when we are ready for a new image that he has just taken.
  6. Do you collect anything: Hmmmmm - funny question for a stylist..let me just say it goes something like this: plumb bobs, match strikes, octagonal-shaped dishes, white tureens, humble European textiles woven of linen and hemp, ticking from all over the globe, vintage ethnic jewelry with a white theme, favorite examples of typography, round stones, shell jewelry, serving spoons made from horn, textiles galore (woven paisley's, shiburi, over-dyed monogrammed linen sheets, Japanese denim, Indian batiks and block printed fabrics), notebooks, Tahitian pearls strung on leather, things with a zebra motif, odd stools, no-color Oushak prayer rugs, industrial furniture, driftwood, hellebores (Lenten roses), fig plants and box woods. My husband likes to say that I try to do my part in supporting the economies of the world! I use these items regularly in my work and derive possibly guilty pleasure from them. I thoroughly blame my parents, they are collectors as well. We are working on a book that features many of these and other items.
  7. Any advice for those exhibiting art in their homes: I am a big believer in leaning art, canvases, mirrors, whatever, just like the vibe that it creates, nothing too precious. It takes a special piece to make me want to put a hole in a plaster wall! I regularly hang huge collections of art for photo shoots and in client's homes and have done so, so many times that I can do it without measuring or without a straight edge. I also love using those silver bull dog clips or natural wooden clothes pins and string to hang paper art from. Art is such a highly personal expression - I always learn a lot when I see someone hang the unexpected and treat it as art. A cool collection of pewter plates mixed with tribal jewelry is a new idea I have.. a recent observation is that I am enjoying hanging art higher on a console than I did several years ago. It might be because it takes you by surprise and leaves room for collections on the surface of the console.

Jill's work can also be seen at Ballard Designs.

A New Twist on Classical Portraiture

The word embroidery might turn you off, but contemporary artists are finding a new niche in an old practice. Take for example embroidery artist Justin Morin. Using embroidery as his main medium, Morin makes art out of different types of threads. From chunky macramé sculptures and hand-embroidered stickers to Birkin bags stitched in silk on cotton fabric, he gives a conceptual dimension to handicrafts by modernizing their subjects and settings.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

A Great Craft Project for You and the Kiddos

Dos Family is a wonderful blog written by two women in Sweden, both are moms and both are very creative. I had to share with you one of their craft ideas. Make glitter globes! This time utilizing your own jars and random plastic objects - imagine a second use for Happy Meal toys!
Take a jar, an old pasta sauce jar is perfect, clean it out and glue toys to the lid.
Add, water, glitter, confetti, and even other tiny toys if you want. Add a little baby oil too, it will slow the floating of the objects as you tip it up and down.
Another good tip, add glue to the ring where the cap will screw on so you get a tight seal and no surprises later on.
What's up, monkey? I'd love to have this on my desk or see it as a pleasant surprise on my bookshelf. I think I have to try this with my niece and nephew, Maddie and Alex.

Simply Beautiful

These photographs of displayed objects by Johnny Miller are so pretty. Their simplicity leads to a certain calmness.


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Wire Village from Ballard Designs

I've recently discoverd the online shop of Ballard Designs. I could do some damage and buy a lot of stuff there. This is not surprising knowing that Jill Sharp Brinson is the creative push behind the company's vision. She's an amazing talent. One collection that caught my eye was this cool wire village. I love architectural models and seeing these in wire introduces a great texture that would be beautfiul both indoors and outdoors.


The Stylings of Emily Henderson

I've become a fan of stylist Emily Henderson's work. Enjoy these samples.

Classic Inspiration

Timeless cement bust. Photo by Quentin Bacon.

In the Pink

I'm in the mood for pink today. Enjoy the color seen in these HallReady concepts.
Design by Elaine Griffin.
Great art and seat cushions from Miles Redd.Splendid pink table settings and floral display from Splendid Willow.
Pale pink walls from Miles Redd.
Deep pink luxury. Photo from Simon Brown.

Mustaches are Funny

You could stick one of these adhesive mustaches to anything including a squash and it will instantly make you smile. I encourage you to get one, stick one on your taxidermy deer, your Mom or various serious photographs in your home. Googly eyes deserve a whole different post. These lovelies are from Cox & Cox.

Joshua Lutz, a Photographer to Know

Joshua Lutz is a New York based photographer who's received The Tierney Fellowship, Best Editorial awards from Photo District News and Communication Arts. He's also been named one of PDN's top 30 emerging photographers. He has a show opening Thursday at the Robert Koch Gallery in San Francisco.

Boot Racks

Everyone gets snow or rain, well, okay, readers in Arizona, you're exluded. Others have to deal with wet weather and sometimes lots of it. Got boots? I bet. Whether they're near your back door or lining your front hall, here's a look at some smart boot racks making a necessity, a little neater.
Photo: WellyRacks.com
Photo: Country Living
Photo: Cox & Cox
Photo: Cox & Cox

Monday, February 1, 2010

Handcrafted Wooden Balloon Models

Check out these beautiful wooden toys by Anna Mezenova. Hand crafted, she puts together a series of balloons and dirigibles cut out of polymeric materials and revives a generations old toy production technique, safe enough for small children. However, I believe these would be more appreciated by adults.

Lamps as Art III

Exceptional lamps and chandeliers offer more than just light. In these examples they are celebrated focal points and accents.
Photo: Thom FiliciaPhoto: Elle Decor, Sweden