William Eggleston

While my lovely & talented Mom was visiting in May, we spent a day at The Art Institute of Chicago, exploring both the Matisse & the William Eggleston exhibits. I found the Matisse paintings, drawings & sculptures full of history, exuberance, life & color.  But, even weeks later, I can’t get the Eggleston photographs out of my mind.

I have always found beauty in everyday objects and people.  So does he.

His composition is second to none & his play on proportions is brilliant.

He also has a magical ability to catch amazing lighting.  I am never so lucky with my amateur candid photos.  But, I think we see beauty in most of the same things & I think that’s special.  This was my Mom’s favorite photo:

Beauty in a reflection.  Awesome!

Stanley Cup!!!

Today, I couldn’t be happier that the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup!!!   I’m going to take a brief blogging break to celebrate, but will be back next week with all new design-themed stuff & a new pop culture round-up weekly feature that I’ve been working on.

We’ve Got to Get Ourselves Back to the Garden…

Of course, I mean my favorite store in the world: Jayson Home & Garden!!!  I stopped by my beloved shop with my visiting Mom & my husband in tow & both were amazed by all the beautiful things.  Here’s just a sample of my favorites:

Amalfi Sofa

Phillipe Dining Table

Faulkner Chest

That Faulkner chest is astonishing in person.  It has the lovely, faded shimmer of a formerly gleaming piece of furniture that has seen many days & could tell a roaring story. I love pieces like that!  

Resurrection…

After a ridiculously long hiatus, I’m happy to announce that Big Daddy Seashell is again open for business!!!  I can’t wait to post in the coming weeks all the wonderful things I’ve been inspired by, loved, hated & experienced since I last posted over a YEAR ago.  I hope I haven’t alienated all my readers by my lack of new material & I hope you all will enjoy what’s to come!

Slightly blurry photo of the beautiful ceiling medallion at the John G. Shedd Aquarium!

The Inspiration of Hope

I don’t usually try and involve my politics into this blog, but I was very inspired today by Barack Obama’s speech on race.  You can find a text version here or watch a video here.  I encourage you to read or watch this incredible speech.  The picture above by Obey artist Shepard Fairey I borrowed from my friend Evil Vince‘s site. 

Let The Sunshine In…PLEASE!

Let me begin this by saying that I love winter.  I love the first big snowfall of the season when even in the city, there’s a hush, the silence of snow.  I love when everything is covered in layers of white & the snow shimmers in the sunlight.  I even enjoy being bundled up in the brisk air & coming home to snuggle on the couch under blankets with a hot mug of tea in my hands while a classic film flickers on the TV. 

What I do not like, however, is the endless winter we are having in Chicago.  ARRRRGGGHHHH!  Even I, winter-lover, am getting tired of it.  This girl needs sunshine, green grass, spring flowers & leaves on the trees.  Sooner rather than later Mother Nature!  Today while trudging to the train I heard several different birds chirping.  It seemed like they were bound and determined to force spring upon us.  Thank you birdies!  You rock.

I think that’s enough whining for one day.  Let’s cheer up our winter blahs with bursts of sunshine yellow!

This adorable lamp base is from Urban Outfitters.  Actually, everything today is from Urban because they have a fabulous shop by color feature.  Love that. 

This bowl is too cute.  I had envisioned a yellow-themed post while walking to the train this morning & when I saw this blog post at perfectbound, I knew I had the right idea!

(more rays of sunshine after the jump!)

Finding What Inspires

Since we finally purchased a new camera a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been trying to remember to take pictures of the little things that I get a kick out of.  I’ve always looked for the little pretty “moments” or “poems” as my girl Anne of Green Gables would say.  Here are a few of my favorite recent little finds:

These two photos were taken at the Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago.  I wish the bottom part of the Pan piece was a little less dark & didn’t have that annoying EXIT sign blocking it.  You would think people seeing THREE sets of revolving doors in front of them would get the point, but whatever.  Ever since reading Jitterbug Perfume, I’ve had a thing for Pan.  I think he’s my favorite Greek God.  At least he’d be fun to party with!  There’s ironwork like this scattered all over Chicago.  I think I sense a new Flickr group beginning!  I also see this as I walk to & from work:

My husband tells me this means that the pipes the sign is resting on are active & not that I should live everyday to its utmost potential.  Still, every time I walk by, I think of my favorite Guffman quote, “CORKY WE LOVE YOU!  WE WANT YOU TO LIVE!”  The final place I found inspiration:

What does this say about me?  Oh well.  We were eating lunch with my brother in an empty Wild Goose over the weekend & I couldn’t resist.  Here’s hoping you find what inspires you.