Today, Ena and I are featuring Jocelyn Edin from Michigan - a brilliant watercolor artist, print and web designer, and one who dabbles in a multitude of other creative pursuits such as painting, drawing, lettering, letterpress, sculpture, and photography. I've noticed an interesting common thread among artists that we've featured so far. Like Sophia - Mini Grandi Artist, and I, Jocelyn is a designer, and has also decided to pursue an independent career for herself. It's encouraging to see that other creatives are taking the big leap to pursue their passion. The amazing thing is that it doesn't look like they just merely entered the scene, rather they are seasoned pros, with talent beyond their years.
The thing I really appreciate about Jocelyn's work is that it is very spontaneous and organic. I love when I look at a piece of art and see the emotion in it. I really feel that the best art is created from just being in the moment and letting loose. Too much control will actually work against art than for it, but I do believe that you do need a certain amount of restraint too, so I guess that's a form of control. Either way, Jocelyn really achieves it all in her work and it is very easy to gaze in awe and get lost in the details of her watercolors.
I really look forward to seeing more of Jocelyn's work because I really admire her style and use of colors. If you're loving her work so far, stay around until the end of the post to see the beautiful wallpaper designs that she created for you guys for free download. They are absolutely lovely. Now let's get to know her a bit more with our Q&A!
1. DID YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PASSION FOR ART AND WHEN DID YOU START PURSUING IT?
I have always loved making things. I was so lucky to come from a family of artists, including my dad who was my high school art teacher. I studied graphic design in college and spent the last 15 years in the agency world as an art director for a small studio in southeast Michigan. This past summer I decided to follow my own path and focus on making art full-time.
2. WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
I find beauty in the everyday, in the simple things. I love the outdoors, sunshine, Mother Nature. I’m also inspired by color itself, shapes, compositions, textures, the spontaneity of paint on paper.
3. WHAT MEDIUMS DO YOU USE?
Mainly watercolor, and of course my digital tools.
4. IN THREE WORDS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF ART?
Graphic, Organic, Optimistic
5. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE CREATING ART? IF SO, WHAT’S ON YOUR PLAYLIST?
I’m always listening to music! I love live music and am on the board at The Ark, a music venue in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. My tastes are eclectic and cover a huge range. I love music that makes me want to dance but I also love beautiful songwriting and authentic delivery. Some of my favorites are Patty Griffin, Vienna Teng, Johnnyswim, JT, MJ, Pharrell.
6. DESCRIBE YOUR MOST TREASURED ART PIECE TO DATE - ONE THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF.
One of my favorite pieces from the last year was an illustrated poster for a Jeff Daniels show at The Ark. I have a signed copy framed in my home. It was a piece that pushed me in exciting ways.
7. NAME ONE ARTIST YOU ADMIRE.
I immediately think of the artists in my family, my dad, my brother, my aunt, my great grandmother, all so inspirational in their own way. But if I had to pick a current artist crush, it would be Helen Dealtry. The aesthetic of her watercolor work and textile design is so yummy!
8. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO EMERGING ARTISTS?
I love this video with Ira Glass talking about The Gap. Exactly. Do a lot of work. And make yourself uncomfortable. That’s when you’ll grow.
9. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?
Creating larger series of work. Showing in galleries. Collaborating with creative friends around the world. Dedicating time towards a cause.
10. IF YOU COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?
At a plein air watercolor workshop in Scotland.
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I hope you snagged one - if not all - of Jocelyn's beautiful wallpapers! Jocelyn can be found over at her Website, Society6, Minted, Etsy, and Instagram.
For wallpaper updates, sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @hlovelyliving and @cheekybillo on Instagram. Search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up and tag your wallpapers in use to be featured.
My Wallpaper Wednesday partner in crime - the lovely, Ena Chahal - can be stalked over here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
A heartfelt thank you to Jocelyn for collaborating with us!
What designs would you like to see next? Share with me in the comments!
Disclosure: All designs are original and for personal use. Artists retain rights to all designs and they may not be copied or reproduced in any form or likeness. We love when you share, but please link back to the original post. Enjoy!
via Bliss At Home
With Fall upon us, I can't help but get excited for the holidays to come and the cool sweater weather ahead. Although I come from an island, I can say that I will never get used to the heat, especially when it reaches a blistering 100 degrees and above here in Oklahoma. Being in the Midwest has exposed me to some very harsh weather conditions, so I've learned to really appreciate nice weather and being outdoors on those perfect-weather days. It's not always possible because it's normally either too hot or too cold most months of the year.
Fall is such a fun time to get into the holiday spirit and decorate your home with bright colors, bring natural elements indoors, and create a cozy atmosphere. In the coming weeks, I'll be sharing a bunch of Fall design roundups that will get you inspired to bust out your inner Martha. I remember watching her show when I was little and wanting to be just like her. I think that's where my love for all things home started. I was OBSESSED! Remember when she would say "It's a good thing." I loved it!
So, to kick off my Fall posts, I wanted to share some really awesome resources that I came across that a group of Bloggers put together every year. They opened up their homes for Fall and share some pretty incredible ideas for decorating for the season. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did and get inspired! Here are a few shots from one of the homes I really enjoyed from Bliss At Home's 2014 and 2015 Fall Home Tour. She used non-traditional colors and decor elements, which I love.
Click on the links below and scroll all the way to the end of each post to see all of the home tour links.
Blogger Stylin' Home Tours 2015
Blogger Stylin' Home Tours 2014
Which home was your favorite and what is your favorite thing about Fall? Do share in the comments!
Download my free "Life's a peach wallpaper" HERE
Do tell, are you guys enjoying these Wallpaper Wednesdays that we have going on every week? I'm so thrilled that we've been able to feature two artists thus far: Sophia aka Mini Grandi Artist and Katelyn Morse. We are featuring another lovely artist next week, so make sure to come back and see who we're featuring and what she's put together for you guys. I absolutely love where this project has taken us, and I'm just so eager to start a new one soon!
I hope you all enjoy these fruit themed wallpapers that Ena and I created this week. It was oodles of fun making them because I love me some fruit. Looking at them also gets me excited! I'd also love to see your wallpapers in use, so please share a photo on Instagram with #cheekyliving. It's fun to get connected with you guys.
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There ya have it! I hope you snagged one - if not all - of these beautiful wallpapers!
For wallpaper updates, sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @hlovelyliving and @cheekybillo on Instagram. Search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up and tag your wallpapers in use to be featured.
My Wallpaper Wednesday partner in crime - the lovely, Ena Chahal - can be stalked over here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
What designs would you like to see next? Share with me in the comments!
Disclosure: All designs are original and for personal use. Artists retain rights to all designs and they may not be copied or reproduced in any form or likeness. We love when you share, but please link back to the original post. Enjoy!
Shop my Designs on Society 6
These Modern Macrame plant hangers are one of my favorite ways to incorporate plants into the home from this collection that I've put together. If you're looking to add plants to your home and want to explore creative ways to do so, this post is just for you. Take a look below!
Adding plants to your home can be simple, but keeping them alive - sorry, you've come to the wrong person! Haha. I am so poor at keeping plants alive, so I like to stick with low maintenance fellas like the ones I included in the story.
Well, I hope you gathered some ideas from this post. I'll be sharing a ton more of stories just like these in the coming weeks. I hope you stick around!
Which one is your favorite? Share with me in the comments!
This week's featured artist is Katelyn Morse from Nova Scotia, Canada. Her pieces struck a chord with me, so I invited her to be featured this week. Her work is so ethereal and calming to look at, and I just adore her feather illustrations and mountain landscapes. I can only imagine how stunning it would be to view sites that majestic in person one day.
Nature is so inspiring and, I feel, can bring out the best in us an an authenticity that nothing else could. Getting one-on-one with nature and being observant to it brings a peace that can't be described.
I love how Katelyn created these minimalist paintings with wood. If you're loving her work so far, she's created four beautiful wallpapers for you guys to enjoy towards the end of this post. First, let's see what she had to say for our Q&A.
1. DID YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PASSION FOR ART AND WHEN DID YOU START PURSUING IT?
I have always loved to draw since I was very young - almost every day I would draw animals, people, flowers etc. It was not until one year ago that I started pursuing it as a career option. So happy I did!
2. WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
I find inspiration in nature. The prettiest foliage and the intricate flowers always catch my eye. Animals as well!
3. WHAT MEDIUMS DO YOU USE?
I use mostly acrylic paint, and watercolor paint. Looking into trying out oil!
4. IN THREE WORDS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF ART?
Boho, Earthy, and Girly.
5. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE CREATING ART? IF SO, WHAT’S ON YOUR PLAYLIST?
If I'm listening to music it's either Jack Johnson or a playlist of forest sounds!
6. DESCRIBE YOUR MOST TREASURED ART PIECE TO DATE - ONE THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF.
I painted a large circular piece of wood and filled it with evergreen trees and a body of water with the trees reflection in it, with a little fawn hiding in the trees. I absolutely love that piece and it will hang in my living room for years to come!
7. NAME ONE ARTIST YOU ADMIRE.
Emily Jeffords. I feel a sense of calmness and peace when I look at her paintings.
8. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO EMERGING ARTISTS?
Don't stop creating. Do do do. Don't give up, be kind to all and love the process. Find what you're good at and hone it - get your art out there in as many places that you can and be bold!
9. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?
In 5 years I hope to have my own studio and be shipping my paintings all over the world! I will be 29 in 5 years - so I also hope that my husband and I will own our house by the lake and start raising a fam.
10. IF YOU COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?
Banff. I'll be there in a week. I just want to be there right now! On top of a mountain looking down at the amazing world at which we live in!
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I hope you snagged one - if not all - of her beautiful wallpapers! Katelyn can be found over at her Etsy shop and Instagram. You'll want to check out her other amazing work, for sure.
For wallpaper updates, sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @hlovelyliving and @cheekybillo on Instagram. Search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up and tag your wallpapers in use to be featured.
My Wallpaper Wednesday partner in crime - the lovely, Ena Chahal - can be stalked over here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
What designs would you like to see next? Share with me in the comments!
Disclosure: All designs are original and for personal use. Artists retain rights to all designs and they may not be copied or reproduced in any form or likeness. We love when you share, but please link back to the original post. Enjoy!
Hi friends! This week, Ena and I created nature-themed wallpapers. I am so loving her black and white wallpaper that she created. It really reminds me of a plant's view of a galaxy. For my designs, I decided to keep it very simple this week, so I created a feather and wreath illustration with watercolors. I love how Wallpaper Wednesdays challenges me to get back into drawing, illustrating, painting, and overall creating things from scratch. I've always loved art, but I have put it aside for many many years (in exchange for graphic design) and haven't painted in years - until now! I thank Ena for joining me on this journey, because we have come up with so many more ideas in the process. I'm so excited for the future, so stick around to find out what else we have up our sleeves! We hope you love these, and please share a photo of you using your wallpapers with #cheekyliving on Instagram.
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I hope you snagged one - if not all - of these beautiful wallpapers! I would love you forever if you could stop by and visit the lovely, Ena Chahal over here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
For wallpaper updates, sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @hlovelyliving and @cheekybillo on Instagram. Search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up and tag your wallpapers in use to be featured.
What designs would you like to see next? Share with me in the comments!
Disclosure: All designs are original and for personal use. Artists retain rights to all designs and they may not be copied or reproduced in any form or likeness. We love when you share, but please link back to the original post. Enjoy!
SHOP MY DESIGNS ON SOCIETY 6
Photo credit: Pip Leigh Photography
This week, we're excited to feature a new artist from the beautiful Wanaka, New Zealand! Sophie has a very inspiring story - one that I connect with in my personal journey. A graphic artist by trade for 12 years, Sophie decided that it was time to return to her first love - painting and become a full time artist after being inspired by her surrounding Wanaka.
As you may imagine, her artwork is also inspired by the surrounding mountains, forests, lakes, and beaches of Wanaka. Perhaps one of the interesting things to me about Sophie is the inspiration behind her name - Mini Grandi Artist, which means little grown up artist.
Picasso said ‘Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain one when we grow up.’ Co-incidentally this was on the back on my graphic design business card for years and when I clicked that my name had always been with me, it was like the whole world got a little bit brighter.' - Sophie
You can read more in her Lookbook, where she shares about her journey toward becoming wholly creative again and how slow living has been her pathway to becoming truly inspired, living in the moment, and feeling complete.
Ena and I really connected with her story, but even more, her artwork! I love the simplicity, yet complexity of her work and how each piece conveys a landscape in itself. It's interesting how her art career is just starting to unfold, yet there is so much depth in her work. It just goes to show: once an artist, always an artist. No matter what path we take in life, we will always be led back to our "first love" - our passion and what sets us free inside.
We asked Sophie to answer a few questions for us - take a read and be inspired! Stay around 'til the end to download her beautiful wallpapers.
1. DID YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PASSION FOR ART AND WHEN DID YOU START PURSUING IT?
Oh most definitely, I lived in the art room at school then went onto study a degree in Fine Arts specialising in Painting from Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland, New Zealand but after years of travelling and chasing snow, meeting my husband and then finally settling in Wanaka I became a graphic designer instead of returning to art. But last year I found a totally new lifestyle and embarked on a new pathway after endless winter sickness, being riddled with self doubt and just being miserable. Now I'm the happiest, calmest and most creative I have ever been thanks to being introduced to meditation and finding balance in my life through the mind/body connection, yoga and whole foods. I feel that the art I create now is an extension of the freedom I have found in letting go of my life to gain control over it. My secret to my return to creativity lies with meditation and it's ability to ground me and it's only me that can do that. The power you have inside from the stillness within fascinates me.
It has been one of my consistently renewed goals for years to become a full time artist once both my children were at school but I'd never put any steps in place to achieve it as self doubt stopped me from ever committing to painting again. I’ve met that goal 2 years ahead of schedule and am so grateful that my lifestyle changed in order to let me become an artist. Everything happens for a reason I believe and I obviously wasn't meant to make the art I do today until now.
2. WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
My artwork and textures are inspired by the mountains, forests, lakes and beaches surrounding Wanaka. I often find my best works are creations of impulse and experimenting in my studio. I try to see the beauty in everything and seek to interpret this with creating landscapes of tranquility, familiarity and simplicity.
3. WHAT MEDIUMS DO YOU USE?
I am currently working with black watercolour on paper but am planning some large scale works on canvas for a solo show early next year. I am somewhat an unconventional watercolorist - I often drench my paper in water leaving it in pools and swirls of colour to absorb and dry. I also like to use a mixture of brushes, not necessarily watercolour brushes - just whatever I have and sometimes my best brush is my old shedding pastry brush that obviously was no good for pastry but works great as my clean water brush for the initial paper soak. My favourite brush is a long piece of dried grass collected from the fields close to my home and where I go running with my dog most mornings. The other favourite is a dried wildflower weed that grows abundantly in the same fields. I love the varied appearance these tools give and that I have very limited control over the end result - this excites me like nothing else! I also love to not look at the paper when creating abstract loose shapes, if I look while I have a brush in hand I ruin it!
4. IN THREE WORDS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF ART?
Abstract. Still. Linear.
5. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE CREATING ART? IF SO, WHAT’S ON YOUR PLAYLIST?
As much as I love quiet and the stillness within I need loud music to create and absorb myself in my work - Broods and the XX never fail to disappoint. In contrast to this I always meditate before starting painting!
6. DESCRIBE YOUR MOST TREASURED ART PIECE TO DATE - ONE THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF.
Um, I just sold it last week! Gasp! It is called 'Another Storm at the Beach' - an original watercolour work on paper. (it is also my most popular selling print on my website). I initially didn't want to sell it but it was to a friend returning to Germany and I could tell he just loved it. I felt if he loved it as much as I did that it would be best in his home, I could always have other favourites.
7. NAME ONE ARTIST YOU ADMIRE.
This year I discovered the beautiful work of Agneta Ekholm a Finish artist living in Melbourne http://www.agnetaekholm.com She creates ethereal abstract flowing works with multiple layers of apparent simplicity but really the technique she uses is anything but. I recently connected with her to tell her I had been in to admire her works several times at a local Wanaka gallery - Gallery33 and she encouraged me to keep producing art that was just mine and to develop my craft by simply working away at it.
8. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO EMERGING ARTISTS?
It seems odd to be giving advice so early into my career but I guess the biggest fundamental thing I have learnt this year is to produce work that is uniquely me. I feel like I discovered my current style by chance and can only hope my transition to my next style comes to me when I least expect it too. Figuring out what works for your style takes time but the only way you can find it is by continuing to keep challenging and pushing your art. Oh and don't spend too much time on social media! I feel like I should have a degree in Instagram I've spent so much time on there!
9. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?
In the middle of completing a Masters in Fine Art and maybe with a third child in tow……., hah!
10. IF YOU COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?
I am so incredibly happy in my home with my little family and husband right now, I love living in Wanaka and am grateful everyday to be able to live here. I am such a home body but while I do still have aspirations for travel, I think realistically that will happen once my children are grown up. (They're 5 and 3.5). My husband also travels overseas a lot for work so he loves nothing more than to come home and while I used to be, 'right, lets go away!' I have come to realise home is best for him AND me right now……
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I hope you snagged one - if not all - of her beautiful wallpapers! We would love you forever if you could stop by and show some love over at Sophie's shop, blog, or Instagram for us.
For updates, sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @cheekybillo and @hellolovelyliving on Instagram and search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up.
The lovely, Ena Chahal can be stalked ; ) over here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
What designs would you like to see next? Share with me in the comments!
Disclosure: All designs are original and for personal use. Artists retain rights to all designs and they may not be copied or reproduced in any form or likeness. We love when you share, but please link back to the original post. Enjoy!
Get rich quick schemes. I know, they are everywhere! Lately I've also been seeing a ton of people claiming they have the "secret" to this and the "secret" to that. These people are everywhere trying to make a buck. Granted, I do believe that there are genuine people out there trying to help others and mentor them. However, we live in a world where it is easy to get distracted by all of the content that flood our feeds daily and promise so much, but actually deter us from the real process that is required to get to the place we want in life.
Now comes the reality. I've always been a very logical and realistic person, which can be good and bad. I really wanted to touch on this subject because I feel that a lot of us get the wrong idea about what it takes to achieve certain things. I'm no exception. It's easy to fall into the mindset that there is a "secret" formula to everything, but the truth that I believe, is that there is none!
There's a really complex process that we all need to go through to achieve success, and success has different meanings for everyone. No one's journey can be compared to another's, so it's all about honing in on your unique story. Although I don't have it all figured out, I do know now, in this part of my journey, that in order to get to the place where we want to be, we must make choices - often those that we're unsure of. Sometimes those choices will lead us down paths that we don't like, but to get to the right place, we must be prepared for some detours. The very choices we make will lead us closer and closer to the right path, but first, we must have the courage to walk places that we are uncertain about to a degree. Overthinking can cause us to become paralyzed by fear of the unknown, and the only way past that is to just take action.
"All we need is within, but action alone will illuminate the next step." Brendon Burchard
Every day I learn just how important the process is and how we must go through the good and the bad. I was telling my husband how things for me, did not make sense over night, and I still have to step out and make choices that I'm not so sure of. I don't think that will ever end. Looking back, it really took years to finally get to a place where I finally had that contentment with where I saw myself headed.
"The journey to achieving our dreams is the reward, not the dream itself."
Many of us may be looking for a way out, a solution, or someone to tell us what to do - the secret and the answer that will solve everything. I'm here to tell you that the answer is within you. So, before you look to outside sources, get connected with your unique journey and look at all of the pieces that got you to where you are now. You will begin to see things differently once you focus on yourself instead of looking for the cookie-cutter model of success.
I really encourage you to have faith in the process and to trust that everything will make sense in the end. Have the courage to do the things your heart is pulling you toward. Once you do it, it will lead you to the next step, and the next ...
Stay inspired, lovelies! <3
Did you connect with this post? I would love to hear your feedback in the comments below.
Hi Loves! This week, our theme is illustrations. I hope you enjoy what Ena and I have designed for you all this week. Make sure to capture a photo of you using your wallpapers on your gadgets and tag us and #cheekyliving to be featured on our Instagram pages. We're delighted to feature a new artist next week, so come back and check it out! Have a lovely rest of your week! <3
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I hope you enjoyed our newest designs! Did you see our previous wallpapers? See them here. If you don't want to miss out on new designs, you can sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @hlovelyliving and @cheekybillo on Instagram. Search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up.
Say hello and check out Ena's other work here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
What designs would you like to see next? Share with me in the comments!
Disclosure: All designs are original and for personal use. Artists retain rights to all designs and they may not be copied or reproduced in any form or likeness. We love when you share, but please link back to the original post. Enjoy!
It's Monday, and I'm excited! You know, once upon a time, I wasn't this chipper about Mondays because I fell into the norm that is hating that the weekends were over. But now, after taking on a different perspective that every day is just as important as the other, I get ecstatic because it's like starting fresh and brand new all over again. I am all about new beginnings. Every single day should be a new beginning filled with things that enliven us and get us enthusiastic about life.
In this week's Monday Inspiration, I share a quote that I live by: "Growth requires change." One of the certainties in life is that there will always be change, so we must learn to embrace it and use it as a launching pad. Change forces us to reevaluate everything we once knew. What was once comfortable is no longer comforting and secure to us. It forces us to look for alternatives that we otherwise would not have discovered had we not been shaken. It forces us down paths that we thought were impossible or scary. God is more concerned about our growth than our comfort. So, when you find yourself down a path that seems so challenging, realize that you are moving toward a better version of yourself.
When change comes, get excited, because that is where all of the excitement lies. That is where you will discover how thrilling life can be outside of your comfort zone. If you feel stuck or lost at any point in your life, do something that scares you! Usually the thing that we most fear of is the very thing we need to be doing. I hope this idea sparks something within you to embrace change and take on a new perspective about it daily. Have an absolutely amazing week! <3
How do you deal with change? I would love to hear about it in the comments below!
"I love getting sick!" - said no one, ever! But, really, sometimes our health habits can speak otherwise leaving our bodies susceptible to illness or maybe we think we're doing all the right things and we still get sick (raises righ hand). Then there are those times that we can't help - when our kiddos bring home the flu. When we get sick, what our body is really saying is, "I can't take it anymore!" It's like an engine that needs clean fuel to run properly, and when we are not giving our bodies the clean nutrient dense food that it needs to function optimally, it wears down and will break down eventually. Here, I share my tried and true way that I use to prevent the flu from turning into a full-blown attack - but there is a catch! Read on to find out more.
So, a while ago, in my quest for better health, I discovered that our bodies must maintain a pH that is alkaline in order to thrive and be healthy. On the other end of the spectrum - if our body is highly acidic - it will create an environment conducive to illness. So, what is pH and why care? Kris does an awesome job of explaining it here. Generally, our bodies are constantly working to maintain an acid-alkaline balance, and the food we eat plays a huge role in this fine balance. To prevent getting sick, we must do our best to eat mineral-rich plant foods and eliminate the chemical-laden processed foods and poor lifestyle choices that are a detriment to our long term health.
So, no one's perfect, right. You get sick. What's next? Well, what if I told you that you didn't (always) have to, and that if you catch it right when the early warning signs begin, you could prevent it? Yep, you can nip it in the bud and not get sick! And the award goes to a wonderful herb called ... Echinacea!
So, you may be thinking I'm some sort of crazy herb lady now, but really, I'm not (no shade on crazy herb ladies)! Echinacea is an herb that you can read more about here and here. It's known for it's ability to abort colds and flus from onset, shorten the duration, lessen symptoms and ...(drumroll please) ... it is completely natural! If you know me, you know that I love things that way.
Speaking from experience, if I catch the first signs of a cold or flu coming, I am able to completely stop it in its tracks. That is the catch - you gotta take it immediately when you start sensing that you're getting sick. Other times, I was a little late and wasn't able to prevent it from turning south, but taking Echinacea shortened the flu's duration. This is also the moment I realize I need to get back on the health train, so I load up on water, lemon water with honey, apple cider vinegar, and ginger! I'll explain this concoction in a future post. Cleansing your body is the fastest way back to health.
Here's what I use: Solaray Organic Echinacea Angustifolia Root Supplement, 450 mg, 100 Count or Nature's Way Echinacea Herb, 180 Capsules, 400 mg
There are different varieties of Echinacea, the most common being Angustifolia and Purpurea. Angustifolia is said to be most effective because it is made from the root of the plant, while Purpurea is made from the flower and leaf. I take 3 capsules 3x a day as soon as I notice flu-like symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy throat, sluggishness, or sneezing. I usually only have to take 3-6 capsules before my symptoms are completely gone. If I happen to be sick, it shortens the duration of my sickness of about 3-4 days. I also take it if someone around me is sick to protect me from catching it.
Now that the secret's out, take that virus! I hope this article was helpful! I encourage you to do your research about Echinacea for more detailed information. Of course, Echinacea is a last ditch effort, so prevention is always better.
Have you tried Echinacea before? I would love to hear about it in the comments!
Disclosure: This post is purely from my personal experience and for informational purposes only, not to be construed as medical advice. Please seek medical advice from a licensed health practitioner.
We are back at it again with more free wallpapers to prettify (yes, it is a word haha) your tech gadgets on this hump day Wednesday. I love change, especially when I have control over it! It's always a good thing to keep your work environment fresh and inspiring. One of the reasons behind creating these wallpapers for you is to keep you inspired each and every single week. If we can accomplish that, our job is done, and well ... that makes us really really happy! Enjoy these calligraphy + lettering themed wallpapers and expect a new theme every week. We're also open to your suggestions, so let me know in the comments below. If you are an artist or designer, we want you! Send me an email at hellolovelyliving@gmail.com and say, "I'd love to be featured!" Enjoy the rest of your week loves!
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I hope you enjoyed our newest designs! Did you see our previous wallpapers? See them here. If you don't want to miss out on new designs, you can sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @hlovelyliving and @cheekybillo on Instagram. Search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up.
Say hello and check out Ena's other work here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
What designs would you like to see next? Share with me in the comments!
Disclosure: All designs are original and for personal use. Artists retain rights to all designs and they may not be copied or reproduced in any form or likeness. We love when you share, but please link back to the original post.
Happy Monday Loves!
I hope you all had a reenergizing weekend and loads of rest! You may have noticed that instead of Motivation Monday, my title now reads Inspiration Monday instead - and there is a reason behind this. I came across something that inspired me and made me think a little bit deeper about motivation and what drives us. In this post, I'll be talking about motivation vs inspiration. Is there a difference or are they one and the same?
So, to begin with, what is the definition of motivation? The first definition that pops up is, "the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way." The second definition is, "the general desire or willingness of someone to do something." To break it down even more, motivation is a reason or the desire to do. So, generally speaking, it's seeking reasons or the desire to do something before we actually do it.
Did you know that one of the synonyms for motivation is inspiration? Inspiration is defined as "The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative." So, what is the difference between motivation and inspiration? Inspiration is moreso a process, while motivation is a means to an end. Motivation seeks reasons and the desire to do something, while inspiration requires that you seek stimulation, which naturally elicits a response.
What we need is to look within and create, invent, design, imagine, dream, but most of all live! The only way to really stay on a course for a long time and not burn out is to continuously create, do. Like I said in my previous post, action breeds confidence. Another definition of inspiration is "an act of breathing in; an inhalation." So, really, anything can inspire. A walk in the park, a drive down a dirt road, the way the wind blows through a field, or an emotion that you feel.
Being inspired is important to discover new things that will open up your eyes to the vast world around us and the limitless possibilities. Find what inspires you and look within to cultivate original work and ideas. I remember coming across a saying that always stuck with me, which says, "An artist is just good at hiding his sources." We all give and we all take from the world. The important thing, though, is that we discover what we want to give and that we keep doing it. Inspiration breeds creativity, so never stop inhaling or breathing in what's around you. When you are inspired, a natural reaction follows, and that is your passion.
I hope you enjoyed this! Stay inspired, and follow along for more inspiration every day! <3
What inspires you, and what topics would you like me to discuss? Share with me in the comments below!
Hello Loves! Friday is here! It seems like the weeks are just disappearing right before my eyes. Can you believe how quickly this year just came and went? My oldest just went back to school yesterday, and I'm pinching myself. He's one year shy of going to high school! Bring on the tears!!! I just can't let my baby grow up just yet ... or EVER! With that said, it is so important to cherish the time we have with our kids. I know I'm learning just how true that statement is with each passing day that I see my boys grow and grow. In this post, I melt over something perfect for capturing those precious newborn moments that are gone way too fast, so keep reading to find out more details!
Today I'm sharing a new series called #stinaspicks, where I share all of my curated picks from around the web. I'll be sharing these whenever I find something that I just get so excited about and can't help but shout to the world, "Hey, lookie what I found!" The thing is, I love discovering new things - and even more, I love sharing it with everyone. So, let's dive in and see what I found!
So, did your heart just melt like mine just now? This one is for all of you beautiful mommies and mommies-to-be, or mommies planning-to-be! I stumbled upon this Etsy shop named Eenk that makes these outright incredibly amazing handwoven dreamcatcher props. If this doesn't make you want to just pop out a little girl ... Isn't it stunning!
I adore products like these - handmade with love and full of so much charm. Dreamcatchers are so timeless and beautiful to begin with, so it was natural to fall in love with this! The white makes it so dreamy, too - like the baby is floating in the clouds. It's the most adorable setting for a newborn photo shoot. Wouldn't it also look amazing hung in a nursery, too? Heck, I would hang this in my bedroom - not kidding!
I hope you enjoyed my first post in the #stinaspicks series. I'll be sharing more every week, so follow along! You can view this product here.
Did you enjoy this post? If so, please double tap the heart icon to show some love and share this post with a friend! <3
This post is dedicated to my to my beautiful friend, Crystal who just welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. Congratulations on your wonderful addition to your family! Sending tons of love. <3
Wednesday is here, and that means I have more free wallpapers to bring you. This week's theme is Black + White, so Ena and I have designed some minimalist wallpapers to appeal to all of you monochrome lovers out there. Everywhere I look, black and white seem to be trending - not only in the interior design world, but in fashion. I captured a shot of some magnolia flowers yesterday, and was so excited to use it on one of my designs. Hope you love it!
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Are you an artist or designer? Submit a few samples of your work to hellolovelyliving@gmail.com to be considered to be featured on the last Wednesday of the month!
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That's all for now, have an amazing rest of your week! Did you see last week's wallpapers? See them here. If you don't want to miss out on new designs, you can sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @hlovelyliving and @cheekybillo on Instagram. Search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up. Happy hump day! <3
Say hello and check out Ena's other work here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
What designs would you like to see next? Share with me in the comments!
I am so excited to announce that I have teamed up with Ena Chahal to offer free wallpaper downloads every week! Come back every Wednesday for beautiful, new, and original designs. We will be working on adding new artists to be featured every month, so if you are an artist, or know of one, send me an email and I would love to see your work and the possibility of featuring you in a upcoming Wallpaper Wednesday! Enjoy loves!
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Matching desktops and phones? Say what! ... And different themes every week!?! Download one, download all. All designs are original, with custom artwork and illustrations. We created these for free because we love what we do - so please share them and spread the love. <3
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I really hope you enjoy these and make your tech pretty with all of these wonderful designs. What designs would you like to see? Share with me in the comments! If you don't want to miss out on new designs, you can sign up for my newsletter in my sidebar or simply follow @hlovelyliving and @cheekybillo on Instagram. Search #cheekyliving where we will be posting when new designs are up. Happy hump day! <3
Say hello and check out Ena's other work here: Blog | Etsy | Society 6
So, I've been on this royal milk tea binge lately and I found myself asking my hubby to take me to get some almost every day - that and pho. There's a time to get addicted to pho, and my time is NOW. Thankfully, that has died down, but my milk tea cravings continue. I decided: Why not just make that extra effort and make royal milk tea at home? It can't be that hard, right? I mean, isn't it just a ton of sugar, milk, and tea? Come to find out, it is. I'm sure the boba shop ones have some syruppy thing in it, but homemade is always better - less chemicals and mystery ingredients.
Now, if you try my recipe, you will discover how extremely simple and easy it is to make this yourself, and then you'll kick yourself in the butt for all of those times you paid $3-6 for 8 oz of milk tea, only to find out it was mostly ice. Plus, your tummy won't spontaneously freak out on you and react to whatever dairy they used (true story). All of the ingredients are simple enough to find at any grocery store, and the boba pearls can be found at asian markets or online. Don't forget your wide straws too! That's the best part.
So, does it taste like the real thing? It's not as sweet, but that's how you know you're not killing yourself with every sip - you can control the amount of sugar you put in. I find it a pretty good substitute, and saving money is always my favorite thing to do, especially when it comes to eating out.
Let me show you just how simple this recipe is!
Royal Milk Tea with Boba
Author: Stina Abion
Published August 11, 2015
Servings: 2
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total time: 20 mins
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup tapioca pearls "boba"
- 2 cups water
- 2 organic black tea (2g bags x 2)
- 1 cup organic milk
- 5 Tbsp turbinado sugar
- ice
- boba straws
Instructions
- First cook boba by placing 1 cup of water in a small saucepan and bringing to a rapid boil. I purchased the boba that cooks in 5 minutes. Boil for 5 minutes or until soft and remove from heat.
- In a small saucepan, boil 1 cup of water. Once it comes to a rolling boil, place tea bags in and let boil for 4 minutes. Remove tea bags, then add milk and sugar. Once it starts to simmer, remove from heat.
- Prepare a cup of ice and pour the milk tea over to rapidly cool. In another cup, add boba and fill halfway with ice, then pour the chilled milked tea over. Do this twice since you will have two servings. Share with someone special and enjoy!
Notes
- The ice will water the milk tea down, so that is why I increased the sugar. You can always cool it completely first and add less sugar.
- Try using other teas like Assam Black Tea.
My Ingredients
I hope you get to try my recipe! Again, I used 5 minute boba to make it quicker to prepare. There's no difference in taste either - and just as addicting as the real stuff. Let's be addicted together! <3
Are you addicted to milk tea too? Share with me in the comments what your favorite flavors are.
Hey loves, so I read this excerpt by Mindy Kaling - which I also shared on the Hello Lovely Living Facebook page - and it got me thinking about confidence a little bit deeper. It also made me realize just how much of a struggle it is to many of us. To some degree, we all struggle with insecurities. Yes, some people are better at masking their insecurities and lack of confidence, but the truth is, we all deal with it in different ways - sometimes better than others.
When you look at a person, what are the characteristics that, to you, exude confidence? Although we'd like to think many are just "born" with confidence, that is far from the reality of things. Many of the most confident and successful people in the world did not start out that way. Actually, they struggled with self-doubt or still struggle with it. How many stories have you heard about the underdog rising to greatness? A lot, right?
It reminds me of an excerpt that I recently came across that said, "If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must first allow it to be given. This is called the subtle perception of the way things are. The soft overcomes the hard. The slow overcomes the fast. Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results." - Lao Tzu
Isn't it amazing how, in order to become the very thing we want to become, we must oftentimes first experience the opposite of that, so that we can learn to overcome it? People will not always see or realize that in order to get to a place of confidence, we must first go through a place of doubt and insecurity. It is in that testing ground that we build character, which ultimately develops our confidence.
Life's all about opportunities to change and insecurity is an opportunity: In this case, to rise up and step out beyond what you thought you were capable of. I, myself, have found that there were several seasons in my life where my confidence was at an untouchable high and I felt as if I could accomplish anything - then there were times where I experienced unquestionable lows, where I felt defeated. Confidence is not something you gain once and never have to build up again. It's something you have to constantly cultivate and develop within yourself daily. It's something that you can lose so easily, too.
So, in my experience, where do I think confidence comes from? Action. You know that very thing that you are extremely scared of doing? That thing that makes your heart beat fast and gives you butterflies? Do it! Yes, that thing. When we do not do the thing that gives us life, we are only adding to that deep insecurity that lives in us - that voice that says, "You can't do it. You're not smart enough." And on and on. The only thing that will drown out those voices is action. The moment you step out is your defining moment, which says, "I believe in myself. I have what it takes. I can do this."
Once you take consistent leaps, you'll begin to see a change in yourself and you will see that confidence is not about what you look like, what your background is, where you come from, or reserved for a special type of person, etc. It's your effort and how much you are willing to step out that determines how much confidence you have at the end of the day, because every step proves to yourself that you can do it, and that you will do it - and succeed. It's that belief in yourself and consistent action that will develop you and make you grow so that you can be prepared for the next level of challenges.
So, love, what is it that you've been shying away from doing, from stepping into? You have everything you need within you to accomplish what it is that your heart is leading you towards. The only thing to do next is take a step and believe in yourself. <3
So, how do you build your confidence? I'd love to hear in the comments! Make sure to follow me on Facebook where I share a lot of inspiring content.
There's nothing like smelling the lovely aroma that come from roasting a chicken and how it fills your entire home with deliciousness.
Days like this are my favorite because I love how effortless and simple it is to create a meal that will last me days and taste phenomenal.
Look out my loves, this is not your average store-bought roast chicken - although I do love those from time to time - it is bursting with fresh flavors of fresh herbs, garlic, and lemon. This recipe is so versatile and can be adapted to suit your taste by switching up the herbs and veggies.
I love making this meal once a week so that I can have leftovers, making life so much easier during those days where I need to prepare a meal quickly.
These leftovers will be perfect for chicken kelaguen, a Chamorro recipe from Guam that I grew up on, containing chopped chicken, lemon, peppers, and green onions. It will change your life, so maybe I'll share that next time.
Let's get into this roast chicken recipe!
Lemon Roast Chicken with Sage and Thyme
Author: Stina Abion
Published August 5, 2015
Servings: 4-6
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 2 hrs
Total time: 2 hrs 30 mins
Ingredients
- 4-5 lb whole natural chicken
- 3 rainbow carrots, cut into 2" pieces
- 2 celery stalks, cut into 2" pieces
- 3 golden potatoes, quartered
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 1/2 of a small onion, halved
- fresh stage and thyme
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 garlic cloves, whole
- 4 Tbs unsalted butter
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
- Twine to tie drumsticks
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425º. Set carrots, celery, and potatoes into baking dish. Add 5-7 thyme sprigs and 1 Tbsp each of chopped sage and thyme. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Mix to evenly coat. Add 4 lemon slices. Move veggies to the edges of the dish to create an open space in the center for the chicken.
- Prepare the butter rub by combining room temperature butter with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, chopped garlic, and 1 Tbsp each of sage and thyme.
- Massage butter rub under skin of chicken breasts, then evenly coat the whole chicken. Use remaining butter to coat chicken cavity. Stuff chicken cavity with onions, whole garlic, and lemons. Tie legs with twine to retain shape.
- Place chicken in oven and roast for 30 minutes at 425º.
- Reduce heat to 350º and bake for 1 hour 30 minutes. After an hour, check temperature and monitor until thermometer reads 190º at thigh. Once it reads 190º, it is done.
- Remove chicken from oven and let rest before cutting.
Notes
- Depending on the type of chicken you use will determine how moist your chicken turns out. I recommend using a natural chicken without any added water or solution.
- Baking time will vary, so a thermometer helps to determine exactly when your chicken is cooked.
This roast chicken recipe is the perfect go-to when you just want to throw something together and let the oven do the work for you. Using fresh, organic ingredients also makes a huge difference in flavor. I used a natural chicken that was free of antibiotics, hormones, and fed a veggetarian diet. The chicken was so moist and juicy and loaded with flavor. I really hope you get to try it out!
What are your favorite chicken recipes? I love trying new recipes. Share with me in the comments!
When we moved into our new place last year, I had high aspirations for our living room walls. With 10 foot ceilings, the sky's the limit, literally - and who wants bare walls when you have all of that space to play with? Not me! Those aspirations included an accent wall featuring an art gallery and curtains on our lone ranger window. We did paint our accent wall (yay!), but the gallery wall (sadly) never made it (along with the curtains). Fast forward to the present, and I was finally able to bring my vision to life thanks to Minted, an online art marketplace featuring art from so many talented independent artists and designers from around the world! It helps that I had some of the elements already in place for the perfect backdrop for my gallery wall, but without Minted, it wouldn't have been the same. What I was able to create was a perfect little office space that I could finally call mine, with all of the pretty touches that I can feel inspired by every time I look at it.
Disclosure: Wall art was provided courtesy of Minted. I always share my honest thoughts and opinions and stand behind products I truly believe in and would purchase myself. I include affiliate links.
Discover how I was able to easily and quickly create a gallery wall from scratch and how you can duplicate my process to create your own, too. Yes, gallery walls can look intimidating, but after going through the process, I realized just how fun and easy it actually was. With the right planning and preparation, you will think so too. Let's begin!
Find inspiration.
(via Miss Moss, Belle Maison)
Pinterest is a great place to seek inspiration and get tons of ideas for gallery wall layouts, styles, and types of framed art and objects. Here's my Pinterest board that I put together, which helped me visualize different layouts and styles. You can use it to get some ideas, too. Decide on a general idea of what look you're trying to achieve.
Measure your wall.
Choose a focal wall where you want to place your gallery. I chose an accent wall in my living room that was already painted a lovely color called Ocean Abyss by Behr Marquee. Make sure you measure the area and visualize how high you want to place it. I chose to go with eye-level. It will also depend on furniture that you plan to place in front of or around your gallery wall, so decide on that firsthand before you install it so that you can be sure that it will work with your setup. I decided to place a desk in front of my gallery wall. This is also a good time to decide how many prints you want to use. There really isn't any magic number, but balance is key and it must work within the area that you plan to place them. I went with 5 prints, with the option of adding onto that if I found other frames around the house that I wanted to incorporate.
Look for art.
Favorites: I logged onto Minted's Art Marketplace and favorited the art pieces that I liked. Favorite as many as you can, because you will need a lot of options when you finally narrow it down. Try to visualize a theme. For my gallery wall, I wanted to feel a certain way when I looked at it - to feel as if I was traveling within the prints. Ask yourself what feeling you want your gallery wall to elicit. This will inspire you and help you organize art prints within a certain theme. Also try to select a mix of prints. For example, select a variety of art that are a mix of typographic, graphic, abstract, and drawing styles. Combining a variety of prints will create an interesting gallery. Also decide on a color scheme. I chose black, white, and a print that pulled in colors that matched my accent wall.
You can also look around your house for some wall objects and framed art that you would like to include as well. If you will be shopping around at various places for your pieces, visualize your gallery wall as you go, but stay within your theme.
Create a design mockup.
Creating a mockup will help you visualize your gallery wall and make it so much easier to decide on which prints you want to purchase. First, I saved my favorites from Minted as a pdf file. To do that, from my Macbook, all I did was select file > print > save as adobe pdf.
If you have already purchased the art pieces and frames that you will be using, opted for homemade prints printed on photo printing paper; or plan on shopping at several retailers, skip to Step 6.
I created my mockup using Adobe Illustrator (editing software).
My step-by-step process:
Layout all prints: I opened the pdf file page-by-page and was able to move each print around as a separate thumbnail.
Select prints and arrange: I selected the prints that I thought would look good together, then tried different layouts and arrangements until I had my final picks.
Choose sizes and frames: I went back onto Minted and decided on the sizes I wanted to go with, then scaled the mockup prints to 25% of actual size so it would give me a true idea of how they looked in relation to each other. I also chose several frames that I liked, then copied and pasted a photo of each into Illustrator and arranged them until I could find a good mix of frames that I liked.
Layout final picks: Once I had decided on which frames I wanted, I created several layouts, then picked a tentative layout to go with.
If you are planning on incorporating additional prints or objects that you will be purchasing separately or already have on hand, your imagination will help here. Visualize! Don't be worried if your layout changes, you will have another round of laying them all out.
1. Emerald Blades limited edition print by Artsy Canvas Girl Designs 14" x 11" whitewashed herringbone // 2. Zebra from Above limited edition print by Mary Ann G. Tusa 14" x 11" whitewashed herringbone // 3. Son limited edition print by Lori Wemple 11" x 14" distressed charcoal stain // 4. Ruffled Feather limited edition print by Sarah Luna 8" x 8" white premium wood // 5. Let's Get Lost by Sam Dubeau 8" x 10" black premium wood
These are the prints that I chose and the tentative layout I went with, which ended up changing later. I chose a mix of frames - there are so many pretty ones available on Minted that it took me several days to decide on these. I wanted my gallery wall to look less structured and more like I had collected a bunch of different prints over time.
I know my process is a little complex (thanks to being a graphic designer *eek*), so don't freak out if you don't have any fancy programs, there is an easy way! Minted has a tool on their site that lets you create boards. Here are a couple of mockups that I created for fun using their tool:
Let's Get Lost board by Cristina. See more art prints on Minted
My Art Wall board by Cristina. See more Minted wall art
Purchase your art.
Now that you are all set with your mockup, you can now commit to the prints and make your purchase. In the meantime, start gathering the supplies you will need to hang your frames.
Supplies you will need: Screws, drywall anchors, drill and drill bits, tape, paper, scissors, measuring tape or ruler, and a pencil.
Let me tell you, I was so pleased with the way my Minted pieces arrived. They arrived straight to my door so quickly, in just 4 days! Each frame was individually packed and secured with cardboard packaging. The print itself was even wrapped in plastic and each came with individual cards with details about the artist and print. I could tell immediately that they cared about the details, which I am always fond of when it comes to products. Each print were true to color just as I had viewed them on the site, so I was really excited about that.
Before you get all excited to unwrap all of your pieces, hold your horses! I found that it was so much easier to keep my frames clean by leaving them in the plastic that it came with. Your frames will be squeaky clean once you finally hang them.
Lay out your art.
Gather all of your pieces and lay them out. If you created a mockup, refer to it, but adjust and change it as you like because everything always looks different in person. Try different layouts and see what looks best. You could even take photos of each layout so you can compare them. Decide on the amount of spacing you want between each piece and measure it out to see how it actually looks. Once you're happy with it, leave them laid out until you're ready to hang them. This is my rough layout - I adjusted the spacing of these later so that it was even. I decided that the vertical layout that I had done for my mockup was too narrow for the space. I also added a black mirror that I already had from IKEA.
Create a wall mockup.
Use your frames to create outlines on paper and then cut them out. Do this for all pieces. Place the cutouts on the wall relative to how you laid them out in step 6. For each cutout, I marked a center guide 3" from the top of each frame and 2" for the mirror. Make sure to check how low your wire sits to compensate for where your holes will need to be. What I did was measure the spacing between each piece at 4" and aligned the two smaller pieces with the edge of the bigger pieces on each side. Since I already had a stud on my wall, I had to use that as the starting point for the center frame, so that is why there is more space on the right side of the wall. I then laid out the other pieces, making sure to align them to create order and centering the frames at each end horizontally. For my wall mounts, I used drywall anchors, so it was very easy to install. Wherever you marked your center guides is where you will drill your holes.
Hang your art and enjoy.
Once all of your screws are in, hang your frames and measure the spacing to make sure it is equal on all sides. Voila! There you have your beautiful gallery wall! Add your furniture back in place and don't forget some lighting to set the mood. It really does change the whole feeling of a room. I was just amazed with how great this gallery turned out, and I couldn't have been more pleased with the results.
I hope you had an amazing time with me. I know this was a long post, so thanks for staying 'til the end and putting up with my endless rambling (haha). I am so excited to get to do this and can't wait to share more exciting projects like these. Let me know if you'd like to see my entire living room. It's not exactly complete, but I'd love to share what I have.
Thank you so much to Minted for giving me this opportunity to design my space with these incredible works of art. I am hooked on what the company is all about - quality, detail, and giving back to the community. I love it when companies have depth and purpose.
If you are ever looking for wall art, stationary, home decor, children's decor, or fabrics, I highly encourage you to visit Minted's website. I was honestly blown away with all of their products.
That is all lovelies, until next time! If you have any questions or if I missed anything, please comment below and I'll get back to you.
Will you be creating a gallery wall? Share with me in the comments! <3
