What Inspires Me...

Hi ya'll!

I am so EXCITED because they finally fixed my internet connection today!  YAY!  It feels like Christmas for me... silly, right?

I thought for my last post as hostess, I'd answer a question I actually posed on my blog last week.  Normally, Fridays are "Inspiration Friday" over at A Beautiful Abode and I post photos or links of things that capture my imagination or inspire me.  Last week I was lucky enough to interview the authors of a great new book, Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design.  Carrie and Danielle were gracious enough to offer a signed copy of the book as a giveaway to A Beautiful Abode readers; anyone could enter, I only asked that they leave a comment or create a post that answers the question "What inspires me?" 

Of course I can't enter my own giveaway!  But I'm going to answer that question here anyway because it gives me a chance to share links with ya'll of blogs and sites that really brighten my day.  So on to the inspiration!

One of my absolutely favorite design blogs is The Inspired Room.  Melissa is a professional interior decorator, and she's so very talented at creating rooms that are comfy, cozy, and beautiful.  Her blog is just so pretty and always chock full of inspirational ideas.  And she's completely the sweetest woman to boot.  Which is why you should definitely go visit her!

Another design blog I love is Sanctuary Arts at Home by my friend Jen.  Jen is an AMAZING artist who transforms old, worn furniture into gorgeous pieces of art.  I met her while looking for a person to interview for my blog and we just instantly hit it off.  I tell her I'm her biggest fan and I was thrilled when she was offered the opportunity to host a local entertainment show in her hometown.  One day you'll see her EVERY where, I just know it!  If you're in the Illinois area, you gotta check out her work in person-- she's got the best prices too.

Another person I fell in LOVE with immediately upon "meeting," who also happens to be my design twin on the other side of the country, is Courtney of Nesting Instincts.  Courtney is a professional redesigner who has the best taste!  (Well, of course I'm biased, since we share a similar design aesthetic... but still, her taste is fabulous, I'm telling ya!)  She has such a great eye; seeing the before and afters of her redesigns is what gave me the desire to try my hand at redesigning my downstairs.

Yes, I am a LITTLE obsessed with design.  But not ONLY.  I also love book arts.  I can spend hours (and have) visiting the various artists members of the International Society of Altered Book Artists.   Right now my favorites include Joy Bathie, Emma Powell, and Carol Macht.   Oh, and I CAN NOT forget a book artist that I just discovered late last week - who also, amazingly enough, just discovered my blog too -  iHanne of the blog Heavan & Earth.

I'm always finding inspiring images just by browsing Flickr and, not to toot my own horn too much, if I'm having a really bad day, I often go back and browse all of the "In the Trenches" interviews I have archived at A Beautiful Abode.  It makes me so happy to review all the great budget decorating tips I've had a chance to learn and share with my readers from this group of amazing real life decorators.  Even though I worry sometimes that the interviews will grow stale, each new person I stumble across shares a different perspective that inspires me just that much more.  Which keeps me on the hunt for even more real life decorators  to feature.  (That's my ultimate favorite part of blogging... sharing the incredible talent I run across with my readers!)

Finally, a great source of inspiration for me lately have been the ezines that Erin of Design for Mankind has been publishing each month.  I CAN NOT find the words to tell you how fantastic her ezines are.  She has them to download for free each month, but if she started charging for them, I would happily pay for them.  The most recent issue is exceptional and my favorite so far, so you really should go download it!

Whew!  I think that's plenty for now.  At least enough to keep you busy through the weekend!  : ) 

Thanks for letting me share myself and my creative passions with ya'll!  And thank you to everyone who has sent me well wishes and kind thoughts.  I am going through a tough time right now and every good vibe is definitely appreciated!  That's one more reason that I love the blogging world... I've had the opportunity to meet the best people in the world, people that I would never have had the chance to meet any other way and every day I look forward to meeting more.  Blogging helps me to remember that no matter what, the world IS a good place.  And there's no better inspiration than that!

Happy weekend!

Shauntelle

Comments

[Rebekah]

Hello Shauntelle!

I'm so glad your internet connection is up and runnning, because I so love your posts here on justbeconnected! You're an inspiration! Keep up the great work!

love & light~
rebekah