All That Glitters...

    My favorite time of year: when the air gets cold, and the skies are clear, and our streets are filled with lights. The year end celebrations have always been my favorite, and they never fail to fill me with childish joy. I'm one of those silly people that loves the hustle and bustle that goes hand in hand with the Christmas season. Living in Texas, I don't often expect a typical "white Christmas" (however we pretty much had one this year). Instead of waiting in anticipation for snow flurries, I impatiently await Christmas lights! Those are my winter wonderland, and nothing can quite compare, in my eyes, to the glittering lights display of Dallas's Highland Park Village. It has become one of my favorite destinations when I want to really get in the holiday spirit!
   So this year, I decided to have a fun Christmas adventure with Thomas Garza to shoot in the midst of my favorite holiday decor. :D  We had such fun and so many laughs during this shoot. I hope you will enjoy the pictures as much as we did the experience, and I wish you all the most wonderful New Year!!

Staving off the Creative Slumber

                                          "Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties."

                                                                               Erich Fromm

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.
Erich Fromm
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/creativity.html#fkRuoERcW5Cb7my3.99

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.
Erich Fromm
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/creativity.html#fkRuoERcW5Cb7my3.99

   "Starving Artist." This trite title is true in so many more ways than its original meaning. While there are plenty of artists -- artists and creatives of all forms -- thriving and living the high life, there are also those of us who may not be physically starving or living in poverty but starving in the sense of lacking creativity. When you are an artist, there is almost no struggle as disconcerting as the times of creative slumber. For some it may only be for a few days; for others it can be years of detachment from their creative side. As for me, it was a separation lasting a year or more.
   Art is something that has been in my heart from the moment I was old enough to wield a crayon. Lack of creativity was something I didn't often experience in my childhood and early teen years. There was rarely a moment you could find me without a pencil and paper or a paint brush and canvas; if neither of those, I was daydreaming or making mood boards of the ideas spinning in my head. "Escaping" my creativity just wasn't possible, and a creative starvation was something that never even crossed my mind. Creativity became something that I took for granted.
  The older I got and the more realities I had to face, the less my creativity showed up. It was often put on the back burner for the "important" things of the day--- until one day. Around 17 years old, it vanished completely. It vanished at least in the form of creating art as in paintings and drawings. I just didn't have that drive or focus anymore, and I entered my creative slumber truly for the first time. I began to follow my passion for styling and I left my art behind. While there was nothing wrong with finding a different outlet for my creativity ( Fashion is something a large part of me had always wanted to do) the mistake I made was pushing my other forms of art away from me.
  Although I didn't realize it then, I was mentally locking away my artistic side. I didn't think I needed that part of me and felt very fulfilled in what I was doing with fashion.  So, I took a year sabbatical from creating anything in the form of paintings and drawings. Toward the end of that year, I started to realize that there was really something missing in me, my creativity didn't flow like it used to. I fought so hard to find inspiration in any way that I could, and I just never got it. I was looking in all the wrong places for creativity instead of really seeing what was around me. I was searching for what it was that inspired other people, not what it was that inspired me! And it was starting to affect all aspects of my life.
  Long story short, I stopped searching, and creativity found me again! In the oddest sort of way. With the announcement of my sister's pregnancy, I decided to start illustrating again for the baby's room. I began with the easiest sort of rudimentary things -- little animals dressed up suits and bows. Slowly, it all came back to me. When Pantone announced its color of the year, it hit me that I should start creating weekly illustrations inspired by that color. That way I didn't have the chance to let go of it again. I was forced to keep up working on it, and it really didn't seem forced at all any more; it flowed from me freely just the way it used to, and I've seen a huge change in the way I view everything, even and especially in my styling.
   So, I hope for all of you out there that are suffering a creative slumber in one way or another, I hope you find this as a help -- a help to stop looking, stop searching, and stop waiting...let inspiration find you, and you will truly find your place back in it again.

That's All folks!
~Mary

Wanderlust

                                                                                                  wan·der·lust
                                                                                       noun \ˈwän-dər-ˌləst\

                                                                                     : a strong desire to travel

 Wanderlust. This word has been in my vocabulary for as long as I can remember.  Even at times when I may not have known the term itself, I knew the feeling. There has never been a time when my heart inside me has not longed for travel to some earthy place where I can get lost. I hold my intimate knowledge of this desire for adventure responsible for my love of bohemian style and photography. There is something enchanting and distant about this genre of style that is related to the mystery and quiet excitement that comes with thoughts of travel. The similarity between these two feelings, to me, has definitely been the driving force and inspiration for every outdoorsy-adventurous-ethereal photoshoot I have ever worked on.
  Recently I have been blessed enough to work with two teams of fantastic people on two different bohemian editorials. I hope that my true love for the exploration and travel of unknown places shows through in my work and inspires you to embrace travel, even if it just comes by imagination.

Photo credit to my wonderful friends at Matthew Hogan Photography (Matthew Hogan and Daniel Poe) 

 To view all images from this photoshoot, visit Matthew Hogan Photography! 


That's all for now, folks!

~Mary

Home Sweet Apartment (The Cozy)

  

   Around this time every year, when the cold weather sets in and the holiday jitters begin, I find myself always craving a change in my surroundings; a transformation into something warm, cozy, and welcoming. I think that is something some of us feel when the outdoor chill sets in. There are so many decorating concepts that go hand-in-hand with cozy atmosphere that are so much more than just keeping your space temperature warm and having hoards of blankets always on hand. While those are both important aspects to surviving this time of hibernation in our homes, there are several steps that are very important to me in achieving a snug and inviting atmosphere: bringing the outdoors in, combining textures, surrounding myself with things I love, and creating DIY projects that fill my pad with my individual flair.

Lets begin!

Bringing the outdoors in: This is almost always the first step I start on once I have competed the basics to creating a living space. I grew up in the country with large spaces of free land, trees, and every sort of nature. I think that is what makes this step so near and dear to my heart. I've been so happy to see how nature has become a very popular addition to what is considered a "modern home".
So, there are some easy and special ways to add some outdoor spice to your indoor life. :)

                  “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people.                                                                  I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.”
                                                                ― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar 

I love birch wood and the textures it can bring into an often stagnant and sterile apartment atmosphere. There is little to no care that really goes into having birch accessories, thus I found them the easiest to decorate with -- plus I just love how exotic they look. P.s. I always keep fresh hydrangeas on hand. :)

 Combining Textures:
We all see it, and most all of us love it. When the weather gets cold, people start pinning texture photographs of things like crochet socks, beanies, boots with legwarmers, tweed and knit, etc. and it's beautiful! I have always had an affinity for photographs such as these. Something about them is charming and nostalgic and yet so tangible. After a while, I started to realize that you can implement those tactile texture on texture looks in your home space to give that same dreamy feel.  

Surrounding yourself with things you love:
This is the easiest step of all. Basically for this step, all you have to do is choose one specific item, color, animal, artist etc. and use that as a main theme in your apartment! For me, I love foxes (hence the blog title), so I have not so subtly spread fox decor all throughout my apartment! 

 DIYs: 
Last but not least, we have DIY's. This may be something that isn't very important to you in your home, and there is nothing at all wrong with that. I happen to be a bit of a do-it-yourself person, so I love to have little decorations and nick-knacks that I have made on my own. To me, having things DIY decor in the home, just adds even more of yourself in your space so that whether you are there or not, a little "piece" of you is. :)
 

DIY "vogue" Magazine holder

DIY post card wall decor, hung with twine and colored thumb tacks.

 That is all to my "apartment" series on cozy home! Soon I'll have updates for those who already own a house and want to build this same idea of environment and do it in a cohesive adult manner. ;)


 




 

Home Sweet Apartment (the basics)

   Oh apartments! You know, those small spaces that often seem cramped and shabby, those places that often scream more of how exhausted you are than shout your personal style preferences. Does it have to be that way? What if achieving a cozy, inspiring apartment atmosphere isn't only for those who can afford an interior designer? Well, thanks to DIY projects, Etsy.com, Overstock.com, and the hoards of vintage, resale, and upcycle boutiques out there, a chic space can be achieved pretty simply! The hardest part of beginning a cohesive living space is having a vision of what you want to achieve.
  A soothing yet inspiring atmosphere in the home has always been extremely important to me. My apartment home is not only where I live, but also where I create and study. If my atmosphere isn't conducive to free-flowing imagination, my work will reflect that. I think that is the case for many people, not just creatives. When I first considered starting a series about my interior styling and how to create a cozy home, a good friend of mine mentioned how interested she was in achieving a fashionable atmosphere in the often plain, out-of-date spaces we call apartments. Thankfully I have just a few key steps (that I follow) to blend home coziness with style!

(1) Color Basics.
I generally like to keep my each piece of my furniture in a single tone so that I can add whatever accent colors I feel like. Right now my color obsessions are soft mint blue, cool grey, and white with an accent color of orange. When you start working in single colors, you should either begin with a cool pallet and pop in a warm accent, or vice-versa.
                                               (these are the pieces I began with)

a vintage 1960's chair from a local antique store

a white lacquered coffee table from a local upcycle and modern furniture boutique

 

an inexpensive fold out sofa from Simply Austin furniture

A classic natural wood night stand (west Elm) used as a side table

 Nothing too fabulously stylish without add ons ;) (aside from the super modern coffee table that was my injection of modernity in the space, but we'll get to that later)
                         What my decor became with just a mixture of warm colored additions!

A 1960's bright orange espresso set from a local antique store!

Some grey, white and orange Chevron (fox) pillows from etsy!

a fox painting from a friend, a decorative sea shell from a friend, and some adorable worry dolls, also from a friend. ;) 

Since I decided to REALLY decorate these three pieces, I wanted to keep my little blue 1960's chair clean and unadorned. If you want to somewhat "overdecorate" certain pieces, make sure to leave one or two spaces that are clean and empty -- especially if your space is small-- to keep it from looking over cluttered.

(2) Combine vintage with ultra modern.
  If you want to accomplish a sleek pad that has an interior designer kind of feel, go for the somewhat unexpected by blending period pieces with some mega modern decor. I took a pretty easy route by choosing the 1960's. But you can really choose any time period as long as you think carefully about juxtaposing it with modernity.
  For example, say you love the 1920's, I would suggest you find an antique chandelier to hang over a modernized wooden platform bed with a crocheted cream blanket at the foot and a vintage dress form to the side. Why? The 1920's was well known for opulence, thus combining what is considered modern luxury (the wooden platform bed) and what was considered extravagance in the 20's (your chandelier -- which are usually easy to find and cheap to buy at antique stores) creates an unexpected yet cohesive look! As for the crocheted blanket, everyone knows the 1920's for lace, so having a crocheted piece will not only mimic the feel of vintage lace but also keep you warm and cozy. :)

The pieces I combined for my midcentury modern apartment were my 1960's vintage chair, with my sleek and modern coffee table, a 1960's inspired credenza with lacquered white drawers to match my coffee table, a modern clean line sofa and a 1960's style side table.

 
Those are the uttermost basics to starting the process for a modern space out of blank and often bland apartment homes. Join me for Home Sweet Apartment (The Cozy)  where I will get down to the nitty-gritty of what it steps to take in getting your home to not only feel homey but also to feel cozy and inviting!