A guest judge for Minted's new art prints

Who likes Minted? Well you are going to like them even more when I tell you that they are set to start selling art pieces. In fact I was truly honored to participate as a guest judge for The First-Ever Minted Art Print Challenge. It was a tricky decision coming up with the winner of my favorite print but after going through hundreds of submissions I finally settled on the print. Want to see?

The print is called Wildflowers by Kelli Hall. Kelli is a designer from Atlanta and also has quite a few other designs that are pretty great. This is what I had to say about the print I chose over on Minted:

“In my mind Highway Wildflowers is a winner not only for the fact that it is an abstract but also for its beautiful colors,” says Christina. “I feel that every home could benefit from an abstract piece like this one because it is fun, fresh, modern, chic and sophisticated. Also abstracts are not just for modern homes but in fact sometimes look the best when juxtaposed with traditional elements.”

A few more art pieces designed by Kelli.

Anyway, go here and sneak a peak of the first batch of art pieces that will be available through Minted at the end of March. There are lots of other great artists to pursue as well..I'm also a fan of Annie Clark's work.

On a side note that's not all the sidenote-ish because it has something to do with judging but.... I thought ya'all would be so interested in the fact that I lived out my life long dream of judging a pageant. I can't believe that I never shared that with you (actually I can).

My life is now complete...ha

Hip hip hooray for Goodwill pulling through on a vintage dress that I wore to the event and hip hip hooray for husband taking so many darn pictures:-) Note the orange judging pencil.

Stay tuned for some more design inspiration.

Loves.

lately and a motherhood moment

"If any of us engaged in the work of mothering thought much about it as the task of fashioning the fine points of civilization, we would be frozen into immobility by the enormity of the task" (Loud and Clear, 57, Anna Quindlen)

Frozen is right!! Sometimes as a Mom I am completely overwhelmed by the task at hand that I almost literally freeze and do nothing but just stare at the wall. Then there are other times I am sure that I can take on the world and may as well bust out a cape and my wonder woman cuffs.

I really love being a Mom and feel that it will be the very most important and noble job I will ever take on. A few things that were working for me last week:

*Can we just say that a live kefir/young coconut combo at the gelatto shop just about heals everthing. I can't tell you the happiness that is in the concoction.

*Cleaning the house really really good for the first time in weeks knowing that the kids were only going to come home from school and mess it up. That is when I thought an outing to Fountain Hills was just what the doctor ordered. It worked! We didn't get home until bedtime..which extended the clean time and my fuse.

*Planning all of the wildflower outings/hikes to go on after I picked up a copy of Arizona Highways magazine...that was a great and healthy distraction if I must say.

*A vintage ceramic head at the antique store that looked a little Anjelica Huston-ish. I may need her to liven up a space in my home.

*Desert drives are the best this time of year. Cactus are just so sculptural and unique. We passed a new lake and let the kids get out and take their shoes off to play in the water.

*My sister came over with her cute kids. When she came to the door she looked like a million dollhairs and then turned to walk away and by golly her sunglasses were hanging on by one arm. That is when she said baby Anna had broken it off. I smiled again at the things motherhood does to oneself.

It's crazy because as a mom if you don't loose yourself you won't find that better part of yourself and if you loose yourself too much then you are just plain lost..oh that whole balancing act can be a tricky thing...ya know??

Hope this will be a nice week for all.

Bonkers for Apparatus Lighting Design

I am absolutely bonkers for the the above lighting pieces that are from Apparatus Studio. To me the pieces are a perfect marriage of modern meets vintage. These light fixtures were born when designers Gabriel Hendifar and Jeremy Anderson started playing around with vintage lighting components. Aged brass, painted glass and found objects assembled by hand to create eclectic, utilitarian fixtures. I love that these pieces still look so fresh and current. Can we talk about the styling of these photos?? May be due to the fact that Gabriel Hendifar's interior design work has been featured in Elle Decor.

drapes and color inspiration with a dash of flora

Well good morning. I have drapes on my mind. Window treatments can be so ridiculously expensive..especially if one can not sew and wants something custom. Today I have children's spaces on the brain and had in my mind that I wanted something solid in color. I then thought about checking IKEA or other retail establishments but was afraid I would be very limited to the colors I could choose from. Then while surfing the web I found a line that had some wonderful looking colors. I'm not too sure about the quality but I am willing to give them a shot because they are great colors at a great price. The colors in fact remind me of J. Crew Spring and a bunch of paint chips that I recently picked up from Sherwin Williams. Once decisions are made then I think this is a great season to top off any look with a great flora..like that of Peter Dunham's fig leaf fabric, no?

Charming home in France

Take me to France now and I would work out my issues with chipping paint later. Seriously is this not the most charming place? Straight out of a movie.

The above space designed by Isabel Lopez-Quesada.

passionate on friday

First of all when I close my eyes I am seeing really cool shades of purple. I thought I had got that out of my system when I painted our guest room Peace & Happiness (Benjamin Moore)..do I sound like I have been taking or inhaling some brain altering substances..you know because I am seeing things and using colors called peace & happiness. Anyway today I not only feel passionate about the above colors but I also feel passionate about the following:

*Flowers and the prospects of the upcoming wildflower season, (above wildflower picture taken by me..I think I might blow it up).

*Oh mercy can we please discuss the new Mish jewelry shop in New York?? Look at those walls that were painted by Mark Uriu...what a hugely talented artist. I want those walls in my house. Images via The Style Saloniste.

*How about a new water-based nail polish by Scotch in Morning Glory Fizz (that is exactly the color of morning glory that grew in my back yard). Love the packaging too.

*Ok and sign me up for my bogging friend Jess's new hardware. Seriously can I be first in line? I love the shapes and especially that acrylic brass combo pull. Go here to see more.

*AND finally the above quote by Elisabeth Kubler Ross really is striking a chord with me and is especially meaningful...thanks Mara.

Happy Presidents Day weekend!!!

P.S. - My main objective this weekend is to gather a bowl full of lemons...and then I just know every thing else will fall into place...

Black and white done right (a space designed by Betsy Brown)

I have always loved the above space because I think it represents a black and white space done right. I have recently revisited the thought of black and white because that is what I currently have to work off of in my own home. Due to our home potentially becoming a rental in the near future it only makes sense to work with what I already have.

A few thoughts on why I think the above space is a great example of black and white done right:

The above space has a timeless and classic feel.

There are many organic and natural elements that have been incorporated.

Lots of added texture into the mix with aged woods & antiques. Woven baskets are another great way to bring in some texture.

Make the focus of the room be about items that are sculptural....one of the best examples is that tri-arm floor lamp in the first image. Also take note of all of the black and white abstract prints (I am a big fan of Eduardo Chillida for black and white absract), wooden ball and other knick knacks with great shape.

To keep a room fresh do not forget modern and very straight lined pieces to add to the mix. A clean modern white sofa is very good starting point. The above space is such a great balance of so many things..it is neither too modern or too traditional. The space still looks very clean but collected. A great mix of both feminine and masculine elements.

Fresh plants and flowers keep a place not looking too stale. Also a great way to bring life and color.

What do you think about the above space?

1- woven baskets 2- Eduardo Chillida art 3 - floor lamp 4 - green velvet pillow 5 - white modern KIVIK sofa 6 - brass and wood top side table 7 - barnacle cluster 8 - Eduardo Chillida art 9 - fresh cut blooming branches

The above space was designed by Betsy Brown.

glimpses of heart day

Most of the time it is the little things that bring so much happiness and joy. I have really enjoyed my children lately for that fact. I love the way they put so much heart into all of the items that they handcraft..it's just fantastic. I also love that overall they are just happy people. I've reimplemented their approach lately in my life by trying to see the best in things. Want to know how it worked out like say for example on Valentine's Day...

Around 4pm on Valentine's Day a clean cut man knocked on our door with a clipboard and asked if there was a Christina Brian at home. I answered "yes". The man then said, "would that be you?". I responded "yes" again. The suspense was killing me as I immediately thought that I had been gifted some sort of beautiful valentine that I needed to sign for. I pictured something a little expected like flowers and I would have gladly accepted the expected (as opposed to the well thought out unexpected) as I secretly rejoiced inside...that was until the man then handed me a piece a paper saying that I probably had already received a copy in the mail but that he wanted to make sure that I got it. No biggie just a piece a paper with my picture on it saying that I had broke the law somewhere around town...Feeling a little silly I shut the door and was teetering with wanting to be really ticked or lightly entertained. Ok so this really has nothing to do with how a kid would handle a certain situation or finding the best in something because any one of my kids would have been really ticked. I know because it never works out so well when I try to get my kids all excited about something right before I punish them. So apparently I chose to be lightly entertained just like I am lightly entertained at the fact that I just said that I try to excite my kids before I punish them. The nerve of that man with the clipboard.

I really did not intend on writing all of the above but sometimes it just comes out...

Happy day after Valentine's Day all of you love muffins!!! Promise to be back tomorrow with some other ideas that have to do with design.

P.S. - I sort of think my kids are genius for wanting to make a heart out of circle stickers.