I'm FELTing Creative Today

I have noticed a new trend in design lately.  That is the use of Felt.  When I think about felt, I think about when I was in Arts & Crafts in grade school.  But now I see this sustainable material making a huge comeback and statement!  I love the reinvention of this fabric and the unique application designers have come up with.

I came across this Toronto-based designer Kathryn Walter and her work with felt is absolutely breath-taking.  Her business Felt Studio is booming and works only with felt.  Felt is a sustainable textile that is extremely durable and made from wool/natural resources. Take a look at some of her amazing installations...

 

Wosk Theater at the Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles

The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto

Kathryn Walter doing her magic...keep rockin out girl!

Hotel Germain, Calgary

Oxygen Media Studios, Los Angeles

Hotel One, Seattle

Felt Furniture

Felt bag, wood carrier, and vessels.

Kathryn is a Felt maven!  I am obsessed with her installations.  Check out more photos and information on her website http://feltstudio.com/.  

(All images via http://feltstudio.com/)

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

Rarrr...Animal Prints!

I am lucky to have a best friend that is South African and I'm even MORE lucky that she took me to her homeland South Africa a few years back.  Her departure has totally inspired my blog post.

Me and the Levy's...all born and raised in South Africa.  I love them :)

Me on Safari in Kruger National Park, 2007

Here kitty kitty...

Now her bags are packed and she's in the air (as I blog) and on her way to a place where animal prints that are naturally everywhere.  Today animal prints are totally trending and in every showroom/retail store- from the Merchandise Mart to West Elm.  Here are a few of my favorite animal prints for the home...

Sabi Collection

via

via

Panther Wallpaper

via

Boa Wallpaper

via

Komodo Wallpaper

via

Leopard tile 

More tile...

Here are som pictures of the two Safari lodges we stayed at.  I am extremely lucky and thankful that I was able to experience South Africa.  Safara is hands down one of the coolest experiences I've ever had.  The lodges Lion Sands and Selati were beyond exquisite.    

I would do anything to do it all over again.  Thank you Candi and the Levy's for giving me the most perfect South African experience.  Have the best trip and give all the family big hugs for me.  Safe travels. xoxo

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

The Right Coat Tree

I will admit, I am a total closet shopaholic.  One of my guilty pleasures when shopping is buying the perfect jacket.  Over the years I have accumulated dozens of jackets and I wear all of them!  Now, a huge problem with having all these jackets is where to store them but have them easily accessible as I sometimes will wear three different jackets a day.  I am also a very lazy person when it comes to putting things away so I started looking for the perfect coat rack.  One thats modern but can hold as many coats as possible...

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

Which do you like?  Stay warm!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK (GTW)

GREEN TIP OF THE WEEK:  Use used/recycled/old magazines as wrapping paper!

One of my biggest pet peeves is buying and using wrapping paper.  Yes it looks beautiful but wrapping paper is used for about ten seconds and then is tossed in the garage.  To me, it is just a waste of paper and a way of producing more waste during the holiday season.  

A more unique and green way to wrap this years gifts is by using sheets from old magazines/newspapers to wrap your gifts.  You can stay with the theme of the holidays by selecting pages/articles that are about the holidays or have holiday colors.  While you are repurposing magazines/newspapers/shopping bags, you are saving money!!! It's a win-win situation for everyone!!!

Looks just as beautiful if not better than wrapping paper!

Happy Wrapping!

LIVE WELL.  LIVE PURE.

sami