Home Bunch Give-away

www.homebunch.com Is having a fun giveaway, I follow this blog definitely worth checking out!

Get to know Marimekko!

What exactly does Marimekko mean? Well, it is a play on words yet is completely descriptive. “Mari” is an anagram of the first name of the company’s founder, the late Armi Ratia, while “mekko” means dress in Finnish! It was the dresses that started it all in 1951, but the company has expanded its product line and design in such creative ways its worth taking note of!! One may wonder how can such amazing colors and design come from such a cold country such as Finland. According to the company’s CEO Mika Ihamuotila, his designers feel that when you live in one of the coldest, and sometimes darkest places on earth, you want to create color and warmth through the designs! Well, they have achieved that! I find the fabric to be so bright and cheery, with such fun patterns!  They are very playful, yet not always childish. 

The company wants to bring to light the need for its customers to establish and display their own individuality and personality! They feel that their products and fabric allow the customer to do just that. I think Marilmekko’s fabric and products can allow us to bring out the fun side of design, and everyday objects that we may take for granted. Now things such as tablecloths, napkins etc., take on a personality all their own! I am intrigued by the possibilities of using their fabrics into traditional settings, to allow a pop of unexpected playfulness to arise! For more information on this intriguing company please check out the website www.marimekko.com! It has some lovely video clips that really give you an idea of their core values, and creative edge!

Living out in farm country has me partial to good ol'cows !

Lovely gingko leaf pattern!

This is like a piece of art.. would love stretched on canvas!

Perfect funky fall pillows!!

Perfect teen girl bedding!!

Oh what I could do with this funky pattern!!

Actual stretched wall art!

You have to love this fun sofa by Ercol , using Marimekko fabric.

Fun in a modern setting!

Okay maybe  a little use of the cow pattern!!

Marimekko for Anthropologie, fun yet sophisticated.

Just plain fun!

Cool!

Want!

Artist of the Week: Catherine Nolin!

I am intrigued by the work of Catherine Nolin! Each painting seems to tell a secret story, one that you can either relate too or wish to be a part of!  You begin to wonder who the I characters are in her painting, and also how Catherine comes up with these marvelous colorful interior vignettes! Catherine graciously has allowed me to feature her as the artist of the week. You may see more of her work on Etsy, her blog, and website.

At a young age Catherine was enrolled in classes at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

After that experience she  continued developing her drawing skills, and became interested in Italian Renaissance. She often incorporated objects and themes from this period. In college she also studied pottery, figure drawing and art history. After she was married, and had three children, the youngest diagnosed with autism, she found that now painting became a form of therapy! What started as a part time retreat for her, now blossomed into a full-time career. She works out of her home studio and her paintings have been sold all over the world, and  have been exhibited throughout the North East. There are so many fantastic paintings to choose from but I picked some my personal favorites to post, please visit her on:

www.catherinenolinfineart.blogspot.com!

Catherine's latest work, I love it!!
Hope you enjoyed them as much I as do!!