{Inspiration} Friday edition

{Via here}

Things are picking up steam around here lately as I head into the home stretch with the past 6 months  of work cumulating into the next 10 days. So many exciting big changes are literally right around the corner and I can't wait to share them all with you, my lil nuggets!  It's all a bit scary but Holy Delusions of Grandur Batman is it incredible to think that I am *this close* to realizing what I've worked so hard for. As I pull my "get shit done" pants on (not to be confused with my "eat everything in sight" elastic sweatpants or "is it me you're looking for" tighty whities) I hope you all have a great weekend. xx

{Design crush} Wedding Love

{All the lovely images via Heidi Ryder}

I've seen my fair share of wedding porn over the years, but nothing has ever left me so utterly breathless before. Not only are the bride and groom oh so cute and stylish (I love her blue cardigan and birdcage veil. And those shoes! Those shoes are the perfect blend of classic and quirky, beautiful and bold) but their entire event, down to the tinniest DIY details is simply amazing.


The venue itself is stunning.  The vintage cameras, books and framed posters that all coordinate with the cushions and linens sets my heart a flutter. The oversized button cushion? The escort cards pinned to a mannequin bust? The adorable homemade signs to wave after the ceremony? The gorgeous wreath and fantastic bride/ groom chairs? The taco bar?!? Be still my heart! It's all almost painful in it's perfection. I am so inspired by this beautifully crafted, one of a kind space I want to live here.  Heck I'm so in love with this event I want marry it and have it's little wedding babies. 


{For more images and info on this lovely affair check out Heidi Ryder and Wedding Bee} 

{Inspiration} Monday

Sometimes I just need lil push at the start of the week, a jolt to get me out of my post weekend haze. I've been feeling a bit disappointed in myself lately - frustrated at how long its taken me to finish a specific task or how things haven't turned out quite like I hoped. Looking over my goals from last week I felt overwhelmed with inadequacy by the number of tasks that did not get accomplished. I was about to drag myself to bed when I stumbled across this quote. 

Incredibly inspiring, this is exactly what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear it. An encouraging reminder for all of us creatives out there, here's a lil Monday morning kick in the pants to get things going: 

{found thanks to  Karen McDade}

Speaking of words to live by...

If you hear a voice within you saying 'I am not a painter,' then, by all means, paint.....and that voice will be silenced.

-Van Gogh

{Inspiration} Beautiful words...

"you can go for a walk after dark
buy only what food you feel like eating
stare into space, indefinitely.
skip breakfast, eat two lunches and have cereal for supper

you don't have to reply straight away
you don't have to make sure everyone's ok
you don't have to do the thing that makes sense
you don't have to wait and see
you don't have to jump straight in
you don't have to care
you don't have to.

look at your life. look at your life.
that's right, it's yours!
what a gift!
you don't have to listen to what they think it should look like.

that's why you were given a drum
for your own rhythm
a body
for your own dance
and wings
because you can fly, even if today you don't remember how."

To read the rest of these powerful and inspiring words go here. 


It's amazing, these moments of connectedness, when you see that someone is having the same thoughts, the same revelations at the same time as you. I spoke earlier of life manifestos and liberating words to live by {here} so when I read this poem, so sweet and brave, by the oh so lovely and talented Tara I had to share. 


Go visit her blog to read the rest in it's entirety. I promise you won't be disappointed. 



xx
FK

{image via weheartit}

{work in progress} words to live by

Written in gratitude as a work in constant progress, a daily manifest to remind me of how I want to live my life: 


I am done worrying about the future or rehashing the past
I am over fear & insecurities that do nothing but drag me down


This is my life and I want to spend it in joyful jubilation
I want to wake up everyday with a purpose to laugh, love, sing, dance and create


I want to seek out adventure and never grow too old to play


I don't want to worry about success but rather know that it will always come if I work hard


I want to die dancing in the rain and know I enjoyed every day of my life

{via}

Tell me dear friends, how do you want to live your life? What is your personal life manifesto, what inspires, resonates and reminds you?  


xx
FK

{Inspiration} Steampunk edition

There is something so utterly inspiring by the entire steampunk movement. Born from minds such as H.G. Welles and Jules Verne it's a genre, community, artform and way of life all rolled in. It creates a fantastical universe that seamlessly blends 1800 Victorian aesthetics, worldly technology and science fiction ideals. It seeks to recapture a spirit of invention, adventure, wonder and craftsmanship that one can't help but be excited by. I've mentioned my fondess for steampunk before (here) but lately find myself drawn more and more into  the world of Steampunk. 


I discovered 2 gems recently that are my current source of Steampunk inspiration: 

First up is 1000 Steampunk Creations. I received this lovely book in the mail last week and am pretty sure I ignored S. Monster for the rest of the night (what? It happens). I debated whether to buy this book instead but am so glad I ended up with the choice I did. 

This is page after page of carefully curated and swoon-worthy images divided into 7 categories ranging from Home Decor to Inventions with everything in between. There's a 2 page introductory and then nothing but 301 pages of pure visual bliss. Every time I flip it open, I find myself blown away by all of the creativity and attention to detail that is poured into every single creation. This is easily my new go-to when I need a little inspiration boost. 

I also stumbled across this short film, "The Bird," the other day and haven't been able to get it out of my head since. It's hauntingly beautiful, a steampunk Bride of Frankenstein-esque creation that is equally lovely as it is dark.

"Bird" - A Decent Animal, Directed by Jon Balcome from Jon Balcome on Vimeo.via Epot

And just because I adore you, here are a few other found Steampunk creations of goodness:  

Via Etsy Seller iRetrofone

This is a fully functional iphone dock. Crazy, right? It has a working handset, complete compatibility with USB cable and each individual iRetrofone is "hand-sculpted and hand-cast in urethane resin." Wowza that's impressive. 

Trojan Horse III by Willie Bester via here and here

Next up is nothing short of a master piece. This hand crafted work of art is titled "Trojan Horse III" by Willie Bester and was shown at the Robert Bowman Gallery in London. It was painstakingly crafted out of scrap metal from cars and motorcycles and was created to highlight the 25th anniversary of the "Trojan Horse Massacre." More info can be found here

Via here

Finally, I leave you with a piece by the always impressive and utterly amazing PReily.  

How about you nuggets? Do you have any found steampunk goodness?
xx

FK

{Prioritization}

"If you will do what it takes for however long it takes and refuse to quit, success is only a matter of time"

-Kanya King

Via Rodney Smith

{Inspiration Friday} Love will find you out

It’s okay to fall apart.

You don’t have to know the answers.

All those pieces you’ve been holding for so long while you raced around your life looking for the last roll of scotch tape, go ahead, let them fall.

Let them fall.

Every last piece.

It’s okay to scramble.

You don’t have to be calm now.

All those plans you’ve been stringing together like a macaroni necklace in kindergarten–

every last one is beautiful, so beautiful, so go ahead.

Keep grabbing at everything you ever wanted and always feared you’d never have.

Every last beautiful dream.

It’s okay to hope against hope.

This is not a time to be reasonable or rational.

Run, run as fast as you can against the tide that is crashing down now.

When the last wave sweeps over you

and every hope has been dashed

You will still be here, right here

and you will not be sorry you tried to make all your sorrows disappear....*

When it's least expected yet needed most, life has a way of delivering these exquisite magical moments. Whether in the form of a letter from a dear friend, a random note written on a wall, or a poem stumbled upon, the Universe is always there to lend a helping hand if only you're willing to look for it. These past few weeks have been filled with loads of gentle nudging and kind words and I am beyond thankful for all of it.  

As this wonderful Holiday weekend falls upon us I'm looking forward to long heartfelt conversations beneath a blanket fort, random sun filled wanderings and letting my creative spirit soar. 

Enjoy,

FK

*Excerpt from "Love Will Find you Out". Go read the rest of this beautiful and inspiring poem by Jen Lemen Here

{picture via Rafael}

{up, up and away} Monday Inspiration

We built our getaway up in a tree we found 
We felt so far away but we were still in town.... 

lyrics by Jack Johnson

Inspiration {top to bottom:}

 “a tea house [built] too high.”; steampunk tree house; free spirit spheres

No worries, Be Happy

Because it's been one of those days (more like week) where I've needed an extra large glass (or four) of wine and a few bubble baths. 

Because I know first hand how hard it is to pull yourself out of a funk and what a lonely place it can be.

Because I have amazing friends who support me when I find myself weary and an incredibly gracious husband who loves me unconditionally and believes in me at times when I don't believe in myself


Because I truly believe that these things should be payed forward and because there's no such thing as too many inspiring talks, I'm passing along another TED Talk for you to bookmark in case you have a bad day/week/month in the future and need something to pull you out of your funk.

Inspiration Monday

A beautiful, touching and incredibly moving TED Talk by Steve Jobs titled "How to live before you die". I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 


-Stay Inspired
fk

Inspiration Saturday

I recently discovered artist Viet-My Bui, also known as ravenskar, and am head over heels in love! Her work is fluid and boldly colored,  edgy yet feminine and absolutely inspiring. 


Enjoy!


xx
FK 

All images via Viet-My Bui