Art Of...Series Giveaway Winner

Winner Winner for our Art Of...Series giveaway! Stefanie Horsley! Email us [hello@twigcreative.com] your contact info. Thanks to all who entered and especially to Rifle Paper Co., Goods by Grinn, and Roxy Marj for supplying the amazing goods.

The Art Of...A Vintage Life // Stacy of Hart & Sew

Today is a fun topic, The Art Of...A Vintage Life. My friend Stacy is a pro in this area and often gives me vintage envy. Her home, her style, her children's style, and her ability to find unique items is desirable. Her blog and shop are sure to make your favorites list.

Hello! I am so happy Michelle asked me to be a part of her 'Art of...' series and write about this topic in particular since it is very dear to me. Although I do like a lot of things shiny and new I live in an old home, most of our furniture is from another decade, you will often find my two little girls in vintage dresses, and I will never say no to a treasure hunting trip.

I've been rolling around different thoughts in my head of why vintage is such a big part of my life and what the beauty or art I see in it is, and I have come up with many reasons. Some are pretty straightforward – for instance, I am drawn to the style and lines of mid-century furniture because I think it is beautifully designed, there is visual beauty in the piece of vintage itself. But the biggest and probably most meaningful reason I find beauty in vintage is through the stories they tell. I love how I can hold a piece of the past in my hands and feel connected to another person or another time.

My biggest weakness is vintage children's clothing which I both collect and sell. I find beauty and inspiration in the different styles, the craftsmanship, the fabric and prints, the thoughtfully designed details. What people wore was a huge part of what defined their generation and is an easy way to feel instantly connected to that era. I find great satisfaction in my work of searching out these pieces that were forgotten from the past and then connecting them to someone in the present. Someone who will weave their own story into the threads of that piece of clothing, adding onto the one that was already written.

Not only do I like the well-preserved like-new vintage clothing, but I like the worn out and well-used ones. Their stories are more evident. An old pair of overalls tells the story of a baby learning to crawl and wearing the knees down. A sweet handmade dress speaks of a loving mother painstakingly sewing each button hole by hand and expertly repairing a small tear at the seam. A light stain on the skirt of a pretty frock may have been from a bit of spilled frosting from a special birthday cake. Yes, I may be imagining these stories, but the point is I see beauty in these flaws. I see moments preserved in tangible form. I see life that was lived.

There is something beautiful about connecting with our past. There is beauty in realizing we are not so different from those people whose stories are left behind by the clothing they wore, the furniture they filled their home with, the records they listened to, or the books they read. I suppose I fill my life with vintage because I like to surround myself with great storytellers.

The Art Of...Hope

We along with so many of you didn't sleep as well as normal earlier this week, with the news of tragedy in Boston and then a missing teen locally. If it wasn't for faith and a strong desire to search for good, I would live in a ball of fear. I do fear this world and the choices of some in it. I am mostly saddened by the tragic lives of some that lead them to evil and to causing pain on others; a correlation to what they've experienced in their own life I'm sure. It's not something I can dwell on or will ever have an answer to by dwelling on it. This world is simply made of good and bad and we choose which side to follow. Even when stages of our life are inevitably filled with bad, those are the days that we store extra strength for the future to learn and buoy up.

My entire life I've collected quotes and thoughts and the written word. I believe that hanging and repetitively reading positive thoughts makes a huge impact on our mind set. The problem is that I could fill an entire home with amazing quotes and still not be satisfied. The written word is powerful and so many have said it so well. I will never keep up.

When tragedy strikes, I often feel helpless, however the one thought that came to me was to fill my mind with positivity. To remember goodness and above all to have hope. Today, we share favorite quotes generously sent over by friends. Hopefully these words may touch your heart and help fill that void and that sorrow with something bigger.

Us //
"We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy." -Joseph Campbell

Melanie of Fifth & Hazel //
Header "Hope" Art, #unexpectedtype 

Ana of BlogMilk // 
"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." -Emily Dickinson 

Ashley of I Believe in Unicorns // 
"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." -Albert Camus 

Erin of Design for Mankind // 
“It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” - Anne Frank

Melanie of You Are My Fave // 
"To all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit. Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart." -Dieter Uchtdorf

Danyelle of Dandee Designs //
"Out of difficulties grow miracles" - Jean De La Breyère

Anna of In Honor of Design //
"TO BE HOPEFUL in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction." -Howard Zinn

The Art of...Family // Jane from See Jane Blog

Their is no one better to start off this series than Jane from the See Jane Blog. I was lucky enough to chat with her for a few at The Alt Summit back in January and she is just as nice and beautifully stunning as she is online. Among a long list of reasons, I love her blog because she is a creative genius when it comes to celebrating not just holidays but her family. She adds that special touch, she takes that extra time, and she produces a uniquely fresh and fun idea that takes the ordinary to extraordinary. I know that you'll feel just as inspired as I was when I read these words in contribution to The Art Of...Family.

hello *twig creative* readers, it is such a pleasure to be a part of the art of... series. as i have been thinking about what i wansted to say in this post, i continued to dwell on ideas behind the science of families. not the logistics of how a family is created mind you. but, rather what takes place behind-the-scenes of a family that make it beautiful. the interactions between family members, the laughter, the time and effort involved to making a family function with love at its roots.
i know from experience, that our family is at its very best when we are all present. when we are enjoying time together and soaking in everything that moment has to offer. sans distractions. this doesn't happen very often - we reside in a busy world with numerous distractions, and we all have responsibilities to work, school, etc. as a parent, i make constant efforts to enjoy the moment. this does not come easy. i have to frequently remind myself to gather those i love the most, focus my attention towards them and just play. to be acutely aware of one another. to relish our differences, our similarities, and our time together: allow me to digress for a moment and share with you, one of my passions. i have always had a deep admiration for art and architecture from all time periods. my heart favors contemporary buildings and design, yet i stand in awe of the great, old castles and cathedrals around the world. i can not comprehend the endless hours that were invested in some of the worlds most astonishing buildings and art. ...you can't name the names of the people who built the great cathedrals. .the builders are unknown. they completed things not knowing that anyone would notice. they gave their whole lives for a work, a mammoth work, they would never see finished. the workers showed up, day after day. some of the cathedrals took over a hundred years to build. that was more than one working mans lifetime. day after day. and they made personal sacrifices for no credit. showing up at a job they would never see finished, for a building their name would never be on. one man says no great cathedrals will ever be built again because so few people are willing to sacrifice to that degree. i recently heard this analogy from Nicole Johnson in her invisible woman message. and it was exactly what i needed to hear. this message gives a fantastic visual of how much time and endless work goes in to the art of a family. greatness is not achieved overnight. you must sacrifice, work hard, be humble, and be patient. day after day. and, please don't forget: to relax, be silly, have fun, and maybe include a whole lotta sidewalk chalk! you are building a great cathedral. it will not be finished in your lifetime. we can all experience the art of... family. *** warmly, Jane