I have always been a fan of the work of French artist and designer Paule Marrot.  

Paule Marrot (1902–1987) was a Parisian textile designer widely known for her textile prints with a flat, two-dimensional, upbeat style — often with a floral pattern. She experienced strong popularity in the U.S. after World War II, worked withRenault to develop the company's textile and color division, and redefined furnishing fabrics in her native country of France. (via)

She has seem to make a big resurgence in recent years. Here are a few of my favorites of today.

Enjoy and have a terrific long weekend. 

Paule Marrot Feathers Artwork See the whole Paule Marrot collection by Natural Curiosities HERE.

Paule Marrot Chest by Steven Shell

Paule Marrot Forget-me-not Tray

Paule Marrot Beatrice Tablecloth

Paule Marrot Beatrice Napkins

Paule Marrot Flower Tray

Paule Marrot Candle

Paule Marrot Cocktail Napkins

Paule Marrot Guest Towels

Surya Paule Marrot Rug

Check out her house designed by Jonathan Adler HERE.   

Barbie is moving from Malibu! On an international search for a new home Barbie has enlisted the help of a "Dream Team" of powerful interior designers to provide her with advise and inspiration. Like Barbie, these independent, successful women have strong opinions in al matters of taste and style…What is your favorite?

The Barbie Dream Team of interior designers includes Los Angeles-based textile designer and design influencer, Lulu deKwaitkowski, west coast fashion and home product designer, Trina Turk, and New York/Palm Beach based interior designer Celerie Kemble.

Lulu de Kwaitkowski

Lulu envisions Barbie in India…her fantastical indoor /outdoor lifestyle in India would include vibrant printed fabrics with animal and floral motif wall decals.

Trina Turk

Trina understands Barbie is a true California girl at heart. Trina envisions a poolside cabana filled with bright bold colors and fabrics. 

Celerie Kemble 

(Rendering by John Gibson)

Celerie imagines Barbie as the ultinate career girl and has chosen to design Barbie's pied-a-terre in Manhattan…moving this west coast girl cross country.

Which is your favorite?

Father's Day Card

1971 Vintage Rolex Watch

Minox Leica Digital Camera

Wallace and Barnes Weekender

Great Fishing Lodges of North America

Personalized Cutting Board

Vineyard Vines Swim Trunk

iPad Mini

Filson Padded Laptop Bag

Brooks Brothers Social Primer Tailgate Blazer

Vans Classic Slip Ons

Old School DVD

Rave Sports Stand Up Paddleboard

J. Crew Cotton Poplin Pajama Set

CB2 Backgammon Set

Eames Chair

Rainbow Men's Leather Flip Flops

Animal House DVD

J. Crew Tattersall Shirt

Needlepoint Cufflinks

BEM Wireless Speakers

Costa Del Mar Polarized Wingman Aviator

Neiman Marcus Pocket Square Set

Garden and Gun Subscription

Barbour Steve McQueen Motorcycle Jacket

Hendricks Gin

Tucker Blair Needlepoint Belt

J. Crew Liberty Bow Tie

Jawbone Wrist Fitness Tracking Bracelet

Heritage Handcrafted Wine Barrel Chair and Ottoman

Breville Crispy Crust Pizza Maker

J. Crew Abington Travel Kit

Vineyard Vines Board Shorts

Orvis Safe Passage Reel Case

Needlepoint Flask

A trip to Watauga River Lodge

Bill of Rites for the American Man

Murrey's Toggery Nantucket Reds

Rukus Solar Bluetooth Player

Habitat Leaf Lines Longboard

Brooks Brothers Social Primer Bow Tie

Carolina Kettles Firepit

Taylor Made Ghost Spider S Putter

How to Be A Man Book

Custom City Cutting Board

The Hangover DVD

Custom Dog Portrait by Lesli Devito

Johnnie- O Moisture Wicking Shirt

Big Green Egg

Father's Day Card

Elizabeth Zebra Dress

Raffia Peacock Bib

Flamingo Shift

Elizabeth Postcard Dress by Peter Som

Bengal Beaded Pouch

Audrey Zebra Blouse by Peter Som

Kiki Embroidered Pouch

Savannah Story Zebra Bust

Isabel Weekender

Tarana Maxi Dress

Prana Clutch

Tasseled Strands Necklace

Windansea Tunic Dress

Dipti Clutch

Afternoon Safari Dress

Reva Elephant Tunic

Sassanid Tunic

Indian Summer Bracelet

Colorblocked Basketweave Chair (comes in 4 colors)

Parrot Pillow

Sumatra Cabana

Yalova Bedding

Ruth Ava Lyons

Charlotte, North Carolina

Divine Rain

Peru

Seeds of Change

What is your training? 

As a child, I studied at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

BFA/Kent State.

MFA/Cranbrook Academy of Art(known as the Yale of art schools in the U.S)

Fulbright Fellowship in Bolivia

What inspires you and your art?

Moments in nature fuel a lot of my concepts, but I get a lot of mileage doing hoopdance with tricks I practice daily….and hanging out and watching my amazing flow/circus performer friends,scuba,dirtbiking,opera,you name it,experiential helps me grow  

 What is your favorite installation of your work or piece? 

Love the install shot at Hidell Brooks Gallery last month.

Its always good for people to see different stages of an artists career, so I have to include my older work that gained me a reputation over twentyfive yrs ago for being one of the first artists in the south to do art on billboards….

my mural commission for Charlotte Convention Center,

I always liked these Welcome hands that are in the lobby of the Hearst Corporation.

Honored to be in this conservatory of one of the top glass collectors,and

last but not least…  a performance installation Camino del Oro  in front of abandoned bldg in the hood!

How has the south influenced your work?

The tradition of storytelling in the south has informed my work in a visual narrative approach..My imagery has always concentrated on using metaphors for states of mind/emotion, and our relationship to nature.For the past 7 years the imagery reflects my interest in the environment and each painting is about some aspect of the growing environmental crisis.

What is your favorite restaurant in Charlotte?

We have eaten at Ben Thanh/Vietnamese for many years…they are the original owners of Lang Van.It looks like a dump, but u can’t judge a book by its cover.The owner keeps an interesting aquarium at the entrance too!

What is your favorite cocktail?

As a Gemini, I always have 2  faves which are generally diametrically opposed.

Bellini cocktail(sweet)

and 

doubledirty Stoli martini(I love Martini’s so much, I refuse to drink out of any other glass, so I take a martini glass with me in my purse if it fits.

How do you balance personal life and work?

I don’t. I am manic.

I owned a gallery for 23 years and juggled kids,studio time,and more and pioneered the NODA art district(our labor of love) with heavy neighborhood activism and being micro real estate developers.I have tried to slow down, and that actually happened when my neck was broken and I had to learn how to walk again.The reality of the fact that I narrowly missed being a quadraplegic gave me new perspective,so I live every day to the fullest, despite the frenzy and disjointing aspect of an artist lifestyle.

Dream trip? 

I have seen amazing photos of a photographer walking inside of glaciers, so perhaps a trip to Antartica.

via

I will be an artist in residence at a Scientific research station on the great barrier reef in sept….so I guess I am having an upcoming dream trip.

Dream commission?

Something fantasy and otherworldly…like laser light paintings in the sky….I get asked to do commissions all the time, but I do not do them unless they are  public art projects where artistic license is a given.I like to produce in my studio with no end user in mind…there is a certain purity in that which gives unrestricted freedom for the art to be whatever it wants to be.

Favorite Hostess Gift?

Last weeks hostess received a beautiful marblelized bowling ball from thrift store.

I keep a cabinet of curiosities that I can dive into for any occasion.

I also like to bring party tools for others. as a guest at a private event at the lake, I distributed 25 12 “bubble wands….yes, juvenile, but fun

Who is your style icon? 

 I LOVE understated chic.I usually do not pay attention to models unless they are wearing Alexander McQueen, however…I like what model/contributing editor at british vogue Alexa Chung

via

does with outfits….and Kate Lanphear also has the unpretentious looks that catch my eye. Hair and Hats, the award goes to Erakah Badu.

Your favorite up and coming artist?

Amy Gross does really cool small ecosystems made out of thread, wire,beads,wax,and every material becomes some organic element that looks like something that can only grow in an imaginary greenhouse.you can fit her works in the palm of your hand..precious.

via

As an Art Consultant,I also recently began to represent a talented young artist Tracy Silva Barbosa, who uses mixed media to depict dreamy landscapes.

via

What is your most treasured possession?

A torchiere lamp from my grandmother that sits next to my gutted spinet piano desk that sports all kinds of crazy memorabilia…including my childhood Barbie dolls.

Also,

a cameo ring that I watched my grandmother take off every time she did the dishes.Its the most beautiful cameo face I have seen anywhere and my mother gave it to my husband to surprize me with at our wedding when he put it on my finger instead of the ring we had chosen together.

and a few more of my favorite paintings…via www.ruthavalyons.com

Vieques

Wildfire (California Poppies) 

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know this unique woman with many diverse talents.

I am crazy about E. Lawrence, Ltd.  They are the makers of unique book sets. They take old books and give them new lives and give your bookshelves a chic new twist. 

Let me know if you are interested and I will get you pricing. 

 We had great laughs,shopping, food and drinks.

 Our sunscreen application was spotty at best but, the fun and fellowship made up for it!

I am off to NYC for Blogfest and client meetings. I cannot wait to hit the big apple as always. 

 

 

 

I hope you too had a great weekend!

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Please feel free to contact The English Room if you are interested in our interior design services in Charlotte or beyond.

I love any personalization of products. Combine this with batik and BAM! You have a serious hit. Hiho Batik Handmade out of Brooklyn has create a few easy steps to take your artwork and create batik t-shirts and totes.

Follow the steps below and before you know it you will be the proud owner of an item designed by…. you! You can pick from a t-shirt, tote bag (pictured above), or throw pillow (14×14).

Step 1: 
Use a standard piece of paper (8.5 x 11) and draw your design as you would like it to appear on your item. Please note that all designs will be centered on item unless you tell us otherwise.

Tips: Smaller drawings and letters won't work so think big!  Using little lines and shapes will get lost in the design.

(We will trace your design onto your item using wax which appears as a white line.)

Step 2: 
Fill your design in using color (as seen above on the left) or send it to us as a black & white drawing (as seen above on the right).

(We will use our dyes to fill in the color. Please note that we will try to match the colors as closely as possible to the ones used in your drawing but they may vary slightly.)

Step 3: 
Take a picture of your design or scan it and send the file to info@hihobatik.com OR send your design the old fashion way to:

Custom Design
Hiho Batik
184 5^th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Step 4: 
In your email or note please include the following:

> A phone number and email address so we can confirm the details of your order.

> Size of shirt you want (tote bags and pillow cases are one size):

- Kids: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14

- Adults: S, M, L, XL, XXL (women's t-shirts run small so we recommend ordering a size up)

• Color of background you want the shirt. You can pick from the following colors:

Step 5: 
Someone from Hiho Batik will contact you to confirm your order and take payment.

Customized Item Pricelist:

> Totes & Pillows – $35
> Kids T-shirts – $38
> Adult t-shirts – $40

Please allow two-three weeks for your item to be sent to you.

Thank you, have fun, and don't hesitate to call us with any questions 718.622.4446.

Your image. Your imagination. Your scarf. As unique as you are. Exclusively at Hayden-Harnett.

Welcome to our Bespoke Scarf Service page. Here's how it works:



Our simple and user-friendly Bespoke Scarf Service allows you to create a completely customized silk scarf from your personal photos, images, or artwork. Upload your image, choose your fabric, choose your scarf size, choose the image area, select the desired quantity & checkout. Your Bespoke Hayden-Harnett scarf will be produced and delivered in three weeks. It's that simple.



Bespoke Scarves are available in four popular sizes: 20"x20", 30"x30", 30"x40", or 40"x40" and are available in silk chiffon for a sheer effect or luxurious sandwashed silk for an opaque effect.



Get creative! Bespoke scarves make a great event memento, an inspired surprise gift sure to make someone smile, or a lovely treat for yourself that's 100% you … and 100% original. We're addicted already.



A Hayden-Harnett Bespoke Scarf can be made from any image that you can upload from your computer. The scarf images shown were made from our personal photos, taken with a smartphone, and the prints look great.



We will carefully inspect your scarf image and your scarf upon receipt to ensure that it meets our quality standards. We are certain that you are going to smile the moment you open your Hayden-Harnett Bespoke Scarf package.



Ready to go Bespoke? 

They are DIVINE!  

This orange is dreamy….

Do you love these bold tropical prints too?