Hit it with a stick.. and happy weekend!

Hello my dears. The kidlets & I are off to the Stockholm archipelago to visit close friends for the weekend, and we're so looking forward! Just wanted to duck in here first to share this wonderful photo..

I love the textures & colours, and think it would look fab blown up large, and framed! 
It's from Jackson Pollock's studio (I adore his art!), via an interesting article about his and Lee Krasner's Hampton home (in the latest issue of Australian e-zine 'EST'). The article is written and photographed by Robyn Lea.

Two talented, strong minded abstract artists with a lot of influence on their genre of art.. can you imagine the passionate (if not stormy..!) discussions at their dinner table..!?

I was quite surprised by the tranquility and soothing 'whiteness' of their humble home. According to the article they were apparently avid beach combers, and used to stroll along the shore line collecting shells and drift wood.. I wonder if this is where Jackson picked some of the sticks he used when creating his wonderful works..?! Oor was it just a source of relaxation to quiet the mind..?! 

*All images by Robyn Lea*

With that I bow out for the week. Take care, have fun and have a marvelous weekend everyone.

Friendly wolf kisses from Sweden.. ;)

xx Charlotta

'A' is for 'Art'... 'G' is for 'Give-away'...!

Hello my darlings. Hope your weekend was nice & relaxing and that the new week has kicked off well.  Today I'd like to talk art.. Nursery art. 
A few years ago when I was pregnant with Oscar there was hardly anything out there that suited my aesthetic, and I really struggled to find pieces for his nursery. In the end this is what brought me to start painting again for real, and this as you (may) know also set the start of my own children's art & design business.

 by Peters & James

Times have certainly changed since then and the market place of today is flooded by talented artists who target families and young ones. A wonderful & convenient hub for quality children's artwork is Sydney  based 'Kindergallery'.

 

Meredith Gaston *

Shinzi Katoh *

Ida Pearle *

This gallery-shop operates both online and by private appointment to help art savvy littlies (& their parents) choose the perfect visual adornment for their walls. They carry a number of wonderful artists such as Meredith Gaston, Aliette, Shinzi Katoh, and Swedish Sandra Isaksson. The latter of course is especially close to my heart..

by ISAK

Sandra (who also blogs - HERE) operates both as an independent artist, and as part of a Scandi-British collaboration under art & decor label 'ISAK'. I love the way she introduces herself on her website..

click to enlarge..

Sandra's work is playful & neat with tangible flair of Scandinavian mid-centrury retro. Her pieces are designed to work on their own or in clusters, and they are as fun for the nursery as they are for your older kids.
So imagine my delight when Kate Holcombe, the manager of Kindergallery contacted me to offer not one but two A2 'ABC Character' posters by ISAK as a give-away for my Australian/NZ friends.
That said, if you are an international blogger who want to enter this give-away on behalf of or for an Australian/NZ friend, you may. As long as the shipping address falls withing this region. Just read on to find out how..

Give Away: 2 x A2 ISAK posters via Kindergallery

To enter you must be a public follower of Space for Inspiration (no anonymous entries please). Leave one comment for each of the following entry points:

1. Confirm you are indeed a follower, and include your email address if you are reading my posts as a non-blogger.
If you enter for or behalf of an Aussi/Kiwi friend, please mention this in your comment. Thanks. x

2. Announce this give-away on your Facebook (with post link)

3. and/or your blog (with post link).

Entries are open until midnight on Sunday 26th July (AEST) and the two winners will be announced shortly after.

Johanna Ekmark via Mama magazine

Good luck to all!
And thank you once more to Kate & Kindergallery.

xx Charlotta

Loving these..

I am very much in love with these three 'architects posters' by Andrea Gallo!  There are a total of six in the series and of course it would be amazing to have the full suite, but really these three stand out to me.

 To read more click HERE.

Which ones do you like?

xx Charlotta

Silhouette snacks..

Loving these silhouette ideas, some of which I spotted over at the sweet 'Luxe and Lillies' blog. Like my dear friend Mon who framed wallpaper silhouettes of her children, I too would love to embark on some cutting edge projects after the holidays ('xuse the pun.. though it was entirely intended..).

This picture made me think that having family table linens printed with silhouettes could be a really cute idea. Don't you think!?!

xx Charlotta

Image credits: 1 & 2 Luxe & Lillies, 3 Domino and 4 Life with Lia

Peter Opheim

Love the way this Peter Opheim picture

looks like a worn old map.. So feeding my current 

craving for vintage old maps & city plans.

via

Veranda

xCharlotta

The Surrey..

Images from the by 'Rottet Studio'

renovated 'Surrey' (hotel) in NY..

Images via

1. Interior Design Magazine and 2 & 3. The Surrey

xCharlotta

Opposites attract!

I love this!

It's Bourgeoise married with Peasant style.

..and rockin' floorboards!

Just fantastic!

 Sumner Design

x Charlotta

Artful walls..

I love these three art clusters...

Those bunnies against that red wall make me smile

and remind me of a similar family of paintings 

that can be found in one of my favourite cafes in the

'Old Town' of Stockholm - only they are of teacups.

These are just so charmingly askew!

 These wonderful fish make me think of an old painting 

from my childhood home - a big cod painted in near black

on an antique white background. It is one of my favourite pieces

and one that my parents gave to me when we sold our house.

Images via

'Secrets of Domestic Bliss'

xCharlotta

Big Ben...

Bodie and Fou

Cute Big Ben wall decal.

I would have sanded it back a little to give it a 

more worn and vitage look. Also love that storage

unit lurking in the corner at the back. 

xCharlotta

Artfully rustic..

I love that piece of art..

via 
Bodie and Fou

xCharlotta

Children's art

I recently read HERE that an article in the  NY Times back in 2006 stated a trend to invest in high-end art for their nurseries and toddler rooms. This in belief that the presence of expensive art will in fact make their children more creative and intelligent.. I must say that I am not convinced, because in my book art must not be expensive or be created by anyone famous. The main thing is that it speaks to the viewer and that it adds something to the environment it is meant to hang in. Apart from that, your little darling won't care if it is by Picasso or daycare..!

I am all for art (OMG, what would life be without it..!?!) , regardless of the price tag, but for me the most precious pieces are those brought to me by my kids. In our home we have stacks and stacks of gorgeous little creations that mean so much to me, and I love hearing my children share their vision of what they want to convey with their pictures. Often there is so much thought behind each wonky little line and blob of colour!

I love their excitement and pride when having created a new masterpiece and I carefully pile these in a big box for later in life. Some however are too brilliant to stash away and end up on the wall or fridge for everyone/anyone to see. The look in their eyes when I do this is priceless..!

(sorry don't mean to sound like a 'Master Card' ad..)

Here are some cute ways to display art in a way that is also pleasing to the design savvy parental eye.. :

 I think this is such a great idea! The drawings/paintings are scanned into electronic format and then re-sized and laid out into desired shape. Once done the new  layout is saved in a high-resolution file and printed in a large size at a local printing shop. I am so going to do this for my angels!

Or have their artwork transferred onto canvas..

xx Charlotta

P.s. Oscar would love this room..

via Ohdeedoh

Winter tenderness

Stunning moments of Winter captured by

photographer Allison Trentelman.

To view more of Allison's beautiful work,

please jump across to 'Rocky Top Studio'.

xCharlotta