artist feature: claire sherman

Claire Sherman - Boulders - 2012 - 78" x 90" - Oil on Canvas

I am thankful once again for Pinterest as it has led me to another amazing artist - Claire Sherman. Sherman is a young painter working and living in New York but who's childhood growing up in Oberlin, Ohio has dramatically influenced her work. Her paintings have been described as "an alternate between representative and abstract, depicting situations that are familiar, yet banal" (Marcella Durand). I don't know much about her but I did find this Q&A an interesting read. Here are a few favorites. Happy weekend!

Claire Sherman - Cave - 2014 - 84" x 72" - Oil on Canvas

Claire Sherman - Snow and Trees - 2010 - 90" x 78" - Oil on Canvas

Claire Sherman - Hole - 2014 - 48" x 40" - Oil on Canvas

Claire Sherman - Trees - 2013 - 84" x 72" - Oil on Canvas

nordt family farm

sheep on the Nordt Family Farm in Virginia

Nordt Family Farm is a 2014 finalist in Martha Stewart's American Made Contest. Dianne Nordt raises a flock of 40 sheep who's wool, after being spun in mills in Michigan and Virginia, becomes yarn for her beautifully handcrafted blankets. Using a combination of natural coloring and plant dyes, Nordt creates heirloom pieces on her two looms. Her blankets are available on her Etsy shop and you can learn more about her work on her American Made finalist page.

hand woven merino wool gray blanket

hand woven merino wool pink blanket

hand woven merino wool pink and gray blanket

cleaning and organization with west elm

As we pack up our current house in preparation of our move, I am already dreaming of things cleaned, neatly organized and put away in their newly designated spaces. And while I know this will take some time (every space/surface still needs to be cleaned and repainted), I like to think that even a storage closet can be a beautiful space and that a trash can does not need to be made of cheaper plastic but instead can be an artfully designed object. West Elm has some great pieces for cleaning/organization that follow this line of thinking - below are a few of my favorites. 

1. Bamboo Rim Laundry Hamper  2. Boxes + Planes Bookshelf  3. Brendan Ravenhill Dustbin  4. Rope + Metal Hook  5. Modern Two-Tone Hamper  6. Braided Storage Bin  7. Dustpan + Brush Set  8. Totes