My Inspiration…
January 28, 2010
My new apartment is rather temporary (we’re moving again in four months…), but still desperately needs a little something. Today I created this inspiration board to lift my spirits. It’s plastered with things I love (click to enlarge if you like). A run through starting in the top left corner — a letter press “K” from Kate’s Paperie in Soho, on old photograph given to me by my French host family of their estate in Provence, a pretty silk flower from H&M (love a good bargain), a fortune I found in a cookie the week I moved to West Virginia that reads “Great things happen when men and mountains meet,” the T magazine logo done up in jewels by Karl Lagerfeld, “You always look so cool” quote by Fitzgerald, admission buttons from the Met, a vintage monogrammed locket, a card from my grandmother with photos she took of the vineyards back home in California (sent to me when I lived in Switzerland), a black and white photo of my grandparents leaving for their honeymoon, a poem torn from a book, a polaroid of John I took in Maine (its so cute—he’s blinking), a photo of grandmama Rita from the sixties in her trademark HUGE sunglasses, a childhood snapshot of myself looking like a boy (my mom thought the haircut was cute—thanks mom), a postcard of an Alex Katz painting… Have you had enough? Now it’s your turn. What would I find on your inspiration board?
What, my darling readers, inspires you???
Comments
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Lauren,
This sounds AMAZING. I want to see it someday, especially the photos of your parents. Ummm, Boyz II Men?! It was my first concert ever!!! That definitely makes us kindred spirits….
XXXX Kate -
I love looking at people’s inspiration boards! I did a blog post about mine almost a year ago – http://spryonthewall.blogspot.com/2009/03/cut-and-paste.html
Nothing spectacular and it’s changed a little bit since then. They are so much fun how they evolve! Great post! -
OKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK STOP IT RIGHT NOW. This might just be the prettiest inspiration board I’ve ever seen! Usually when I see a inspiration board its messiness makes my head spin but yours…YOURS IS SO neatly put together and such great elements. My favorite is that K from Kate’s. Love letterpress and LOVE Kate’s.
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Jenny — Your wall is so beautiful! I just about died when I saw the big ole wrinkle-y pug on there! Thanks so much for sharing it with me!
Lauren — Thank you my dear!! I too LOVE letterpress and Kate’s Paperie—it’s an addiction.
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I have a confession: I bought an inspiration board not too long ago, but there’s not much up there yet. Something I must change. One weekend soon, I’m going to go out and wander about the streets of San Diego to see what I can find. Or maybe I’ll just wait until I get back to NYC and wander those streets too. Right now, there’s a calendar up there from Postal Press, my personal mission statement, and a page ripped from a science magazine. I do, however, keep an inspiration notebook of sorts on my computer that I fill with all sorts of images and quotes and links to awesome websites.
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Brandi — You’ll fill it eventually and I can’t wait to see it when you do! It’s better when they evolve over time anyhow. Most everything on my board I’ve collected over the years. I have binders and binders full of images saved since junior high when I first started reading Vogue and the likes (magazine pages, calling cards, photographs…). It’s so fun to go through years later! I want to hear more about this personal mission statement of yours. You never fail to inspire!
XX Kate -
I love your inspiration board! Well done – it is nice to see one where you can actually see what the inspirations are! Mine are: new beginnings, travel, color, and … oh, too many to list! But I would have to add my grandmother – 100 years old in 2 weeks, and still a spunky little brat!
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Stephanie — I wish I could meet this grandmother of yours! 100 years and still has spunk, now that’s impressive! Travel, color and new beginnings—I just love them all! XX Kate
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Natalie says:
I tell ya Kate you are just killin it today with these posts! Your board rocks (I for one am not shocked). Looking at it makes me want to leave work early and spend the afternoon in my apartment with a box of push pins! A few highlights from my own – a sketch of St Peter’s in Rome from a dear architect friend (with accompanying note that he “hopes we’ll both find ourselves back there soon” – how true), a photo torn from a JBKO biography (that paparazzi shot, Ron Galella I think? She’s crossing 5th Avenue, sunglasses in hand). Then there are some garden variety pages from Vogue, a mini Topshop catalog of Kate Moss modeling her 2008 holiday collection, and a backstage pass from a G. Love & Special Sauce show (It’s true. Love me some G & Special Sauce. Ha!).
P.S. Spent my lunch hour at the Renwick. So good. Thought of you!
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Natalie—You kill me! Is it sad that I want John and I to move to D.C. just so that we can hang out?! I want to go to the Renwick at lunch! You could be home with your pushpins too if you were willing to live in West Virginia (don’t do it!). I want to see this sketch of St. Peter’s (is this architect you speak of cute? Say yes—I’m imagining him to be very handsome…) and I think I know the Jackie photo you have up! By the way, how have I never seen her abbreviated JBKO? That’s genius. Using it from now on.
XXX Kate -
No! Not sad! Move to D.C.!!!
As for the architect – Elijah – very cute. A dear friend since 3rd grade. He went to Notre Dame and I to Saint Mary’s, so we stayed close through college. And actually – some news I am very happy to share – I’ve just been admitted to the Corcoran for grad school (I’m thrilled!) and he made me promise, once I have my design degree, we’d start our own little firm. We’re dreamers, of course, but then I love to dream. Like right now, dreaming of an afternoon full of push pins in West Virginia… ahh, bliss!
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Natalie — CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I’m so excited for you! When I come to visit you’ll have to give me a tour of the Corcoran—I can’t believe I didn’t make it when we were last in D.C.! Oh and I don’t think I’ve ever heard bliss and WV used in the same sentence, but it works! And as for the boy—he sounds like a cutie to be sure. XX
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Oh, I love it! I’ve been meaning to do something like this for ages, and seeing YOUR inspiration just might make me do it! So, ARE you coming to DC?
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Thanks bunches Kate! We’re on for a Corcoran tour. Until then, keep up these fabulous posts, live from, what is it? – “Wild and Wonderful” West Virginia, right??! XXXX
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Kelly Anne — I’m definitely going to be in D.C. again soon for a visit and very possibly permanently as of June! Keep your fingers crossed! XX Kate
Natalie — Thanks for the embarrassment. Yes, it’s “wild and wonderful”—that’s me! hahaha.
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Wow! DC is being represented well here!
I just moved back to DC from NYC, and love learning that there are so many creative folks in the city!
I find inspiration in my neighborhood, Capitol Hill, all the time. Eastern Market and Lincoln Park and wonderful places to hang out and let the mind wander.
Crossing my fingers for you, Kate!
~Tara
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Tara — All you D.C. ladies are making me jealous! It also just so happens that my best friend from boarding school in California recently moved to Georgetown! I’m coming to visit again soon and will be sure to explore Eastern Market and Lincoln Park! Capitol Hill too! If I move out there we’re having a blogging girls soiree and you MUST come!
XX Kate -
Oh Kate, I would love to come!
I did my undergrad at Georgetown and simply love it! Capitol Hill has a lot of similar charm, but lots of younger couples, dogs, babies, and great new bars and restaurants. It’s a wonderful place to live (although I miss the West Village from time to time)!
Keep us all posted!
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Oh Kate, I love this so much. I love inspiration boards! I see your admission tag from the Met too! I might just have to share mine up on my closet doors. But you make me want to do another one pronto!
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Prippy — I used to live in the East Village in NYC. Miss it so! Will definitely keep you posted…
Haydee — I so want to see your closet door inspiration collage! Do post!
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I love your board – I have one myself, but now that were downsizing to a teensy beach apartment I have no idea where I will keep it!
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Nichole says:
Oh my god, please send John to Lewis & Clark, please move to Portland, and please make me inspiration boards!
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I just found your blog and really like it. My inspiration board would have photos of Carmel cottages, beaches, dogs, tulips, and soft colors. Thanks for sharing
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Sarah — As in Carmel, California cottages?! I went to boarding school in Monterey and Carmel is one of my favorite places on earth! Thanks so much for stopping by! XX Kate
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That is a wonderful INSPIRATION board! I just love creating them, I do think I could use a new one in my office…to bring in the new year, and some prospective big changes coming!
xoxo Thanks for Stopping by Mi Vida Bonita!
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I want to do an inspiration board now–love yours. My studio has lots of inspiration all around, though and I think it brings great karma! I love anything from the sea, so there are jars of shells, sea glass and lots of vintage!
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Summer says:
Kate, I saw this wedding and I just thought of you…
http://www.publishersweekly.com/blog/660000266/post/360049236.html?nid=3340
thought you would enjoy this.
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Thank you Summer! I’m touched you thought of me. What a BEAUTIFUL wedding! I love that it appears relatively low-key and simple, yet absolutely lovely. I also love that they had people read poems aloud! I want to do the same at our ceremony. So much inspiration!
XX Kate -
I LOVE this board, I LOVE your blog as well:o) its funny you mention Kate’s Paperie in Soho, its a place my friend told me about that I am DYING to go to! I guess I need to get my tush to NYC soon (I live outside of Philadelphia). Have a great weekend! xo
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This is AMAZING! LOVE the quatrefoil box! Great blog as well! What inspires me? Beautiful photography, people who do amazing things for others…
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Keely — I love “people who do amazing things for others.” Such a sweet thought. Thanks for stopping by! XOXO
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Oooh, I love it! We are inspired by very similar things- from the butterfly taxidermy and elements of Kate Spade right down to the admission button from the met and the silk flower (I love silk flowers). all on my board, too! And, when I come across that hermès spring ad campaign, you better believe that’s going up as well. I kind of lost control of my inspiration board and it took over an entire wall. c’est la vie. A photo: http://alovelybeing.com/storage/myboard.jpg (never mind my unhealthy obsession with silhouettes)
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love, love, love….
i am OBSESSED with inspiration boards. i just have a hard time switching them out and taking things down, so i have run out of wall space!
yours is PERFECTION.you’ve inspired me to refresh mine… pics to come.
cannot WAIT to hear all about your hush hush project.
happy weekend! -
I think I need to print this photo of your inspiration board for my inspiration board! LOVE everything! Mine evolves somewhat, but the constants are a heart-shaped skeleton key Martin bought me at Brooklyn Flea, my Grandfather’s Navy dog tags, Kathleen Lolley buttons, sketches and templates of whatever I’m working on, an annotated map of Madrid, drawings and cards from Martin and the kids, fabric swatches, various old photos…now that I’m assessing it, it seems like a mess! You’ve inspired me to re-do it! Maybe that will be my weekend project xo
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My board has a photo of my babies, my love, and all the things that inspire me, color, good tastes, chic, clips, quotes, killer shoes, tid-bits, remnants and a bit of history.
love your board. May I have permission to do an interview with you on this?
pve -
you’ve done it again my friend…love the board, the colors and the bits of personal 3-d moments scattered about..
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Amanda — Your grandfather’s navy dog tags? What a BEAUTIFUL thing to have on your board. I have a little brass duck paperweight that used to sit on my grandfather’s desk and it is one of my most treasured possessions. If you re-do your board this weekend you must post photos. I take that back, even if you don’t re-do it you must share it with us! XOXO
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I have an INSPIRATION board, but I think after my office RE-DO , it will look alot nice like this one! Thank you for sharing!
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Jen Ramos — You’ll never believe it, I got the box at T.J.Maxx! It was one of my best bargain finds ever. I just love it. Everything else in front of the board is vintage… Thanks for stopping by! XX Kate
I have an inspiration board too! On mine are postcards from places I’ve been and from friends who have traveled to places I want to go. Pictures of my parents from when they were in college, both looking retro-awesome – my mom a total hippie with a head scarf in a field of flowers and my dad very preppy on his college campus covered in snow. A picture of me as a little girl with a beloved uncle who passed away. Concert stubs (my personal favorite, Boyz II Men). My ‘staff’ tag from when I was a floor manager at the British Independent Film Awards. And a very small Venetian mask.