here comes the sun...

Or, more accurately, here comes a big freakin' thunderstorm... but where did accuracy ever get anyone anyway?

However, in anticipation of the sun someday returning, I wanted to share a project that I have been really excited about for a while now (I just haven't gotten around to it yet)... some diy cyanotype art!

After seeing this blog post over at House&Home, and this one at Apartment Therapy... I have been dying to try something like this at home. Basically it is as simple as lightly spray-painting (or spray-paint-misting) a cyanotype blue colour over some leaves or flowers, or anything you want really (I am planning to use some herbs - rosemary, thyme and sage would make such lovely silhouettes, especially to hang in the kitchen) on white bristol board, and then framing your prints with the old go-to white Ikea frames. I love projects like this, that are so inspiring and so SIMPLE, that it might actually provide me with some confidence and motivation to tackle one of those other diy ideas that I am accumulating at an alarming rate. (Thank you for that, Pinterest.) Also, if you clicked on the link to the Apartment Therapy post, you will have seen those gorgeous chairs. You will have also noticed that there is a company selling cyanotype fabric (now available in a beautiful array of colours). It is called bluesunprints, and their white cyanotype fabric is selling for $20/yard... maybe it's just me, but that seems like an awesome deal! I have a chair that I picked up at a thrift store a while back, I am planning to spray paint it white, and I have been trying to find the perfect fabric to cover the seat... well this is definitely it! (I have had these pages bookmarked for ages, I don't know what took me so long!) All I can say is, those Sunprint kits of my youth have come a loooong way.

On a related note - I just spotted these plates over at West Elm... just beautiful. I would love to get a set for my Mom, I know she would love them.

My favourites are the wild grass and the clovers

west elm - nature sun print dessert plates, $8 each

Well my friends, I hope this has provided a little bit of summer inspiration for you! I am quite excited (she says as the first crack of thunder rolls in) and I hope to have some photos of my own cyanotype artwork to share with you sometime very soon. Have a lovely weekend!

artist love

This week: Sharon Montrose of The Animal Print Shop.

Her photos are so incredible, they actually made me tear up. I know I generally have a bit of a ridiculous soft spot for animals, but there is just something in the way she is able to capture their eyes and their movement, it is really just breathtaking. I would love to create a mini-gallery wall with a grouping of her prints. These are just a few that I have fallen in love with.

Giraffe Close-up

Nubian Goat No. 2

Donkey Ears

Baby Fox

Baby Kangaroo No. 1

Baby Raccoon No. 1

White Goose No. 3

  {I first saw her work in this post from A Cup of Jo}

wise words of the week

Due to my absence for the past little while, I am sort of rolling some artist love into the wise words this week. I found these three prints on Daisy Janie, and I love the quotes as much as I love the colours and the
beautiful fabric they're printed on.

"Why push the envelope when you can shove it the hell through?"

  

"Make time don't kill time"

"Talent may start it but attitude will finish it"

{All images from Daisy Janie}

artist love

This week's artist is amber alexander.

First of all, I have to take a moment to say, wholeheartedly: Thank you Dooce! I am SO thrilled to have been led to this incredibly talented artist's etsy shop. I saw these two prints on Dooce back in April, and the rest, as they say, is history. At this point I think I've said enough, I will let her amazing work speak for itself.

I. love. her. I want to buy every single one of these prints. And maybe I will do just that.

wise words of the week

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air"

Raplh Waldo Emerson

Print from here.

artist love - roz

For my second edition of artist love, I am pleased to present - Roz.

I first saw this talented artist's work (a.k.a. Rosilyn Young) at one of my favourite breakfast places ever, in Kingston, Ontario. {Pan Chancho, if you were wondering... I highly recommend stopping by, whether it be to indulge in my personal favourite, the Weekender - I can't ever seem to order anything else - or to pick up one of their delicious to-go foods from the front shop, it is well worth it.} She refers to her style as "whimsical fine art" and I don't think it could be more accurate. I have fallen in love with the personality she gives to everything she paints; the roosters, cows, bees... it is impossible not to love them.

Cow #191

Cow #293

Bee #124

It is just incredible, what she is able to convey through these creatures. I highly recommend that you check out her website where you can order prints as well as original paintings, or visit her etsy shop.

artist love

Every week on maison d'hibou, I will be featuring a different artist whose work I have somehow come across, and fallen in love with. It could be anyone at all, from Van Gogh, to a new Etsy discovery, and everyone in between. I have a passion for collecting art and finding new inspiration, and I am so excited to share this with you every week!

Although it's only the first edition of artist love... I have to ask a favour:

I am desperately seeking Susan a print of this George Grosz painting; Matrose Im Nachtlokal. It is one of my mother's favourites, and I would love to get her a framed print as a {most likely somewhat belated} mother's day gift. The thing is, I can't believe how difficult it is to find one. If there are any art experts out there who have any unusual suggestions for me, I would really love to hear from you.

the coolest t-shirt

Why does it seem like children's clothes are so much cooler than ours sometimes? I love this lightning long-sleeved children's tee from Areaware... so striking! (yes, I did.)

And it's 100% organic cotton! Like I said, sometimes I wish I was a kid again. It says size eight is currently on sale... I wonder if that would fit?

Another great find from Areaware is the My Brother's Frame by Harry Allen. I really enjoy how it makes such a big statement, yet in a relatively compact size. I'm also really digging the completely monochromatic layered frame and matting. Check out the fun colors!

 

This is some great inspiration to hunt down some ornate frames at a thrift store and give them a spray paint makeover, matting and all! Another thing to add to my growing list of DIY ideas. Now if spring would just get here...