Favorite Things

Today I thought I’d do something different, and if we like it, I may continue this as a recurring feature. TONS of bloggers do a “favorite things” feature every week or month, so why shouldn’t I?  I had this idea while browsing through Society6. It’s a website that supports artists by turning their work into art prints, iPhone covers, pillows, rugs, shower curtains, clocks, mugs, and even tapestries. I’ve seen them start small and grow into something great! Because Society6 takes care of production, the artists have more free time to create. It’s perfect for me because I just can’t be bothered to find a quality photo printer, let alone fabricate iPhone covers myself!

I’m a true believer in supporting one another. Living the creative life isn’t always straightforward, and the least I can do is help others thrive – hopefully that karma will keep circling around everyone, and we can all support one anothers’ dreams.

Coffee Spoon by Cold War Kids on Grooveshark

Favorite Things / French Californian

Pillow // Snow Print // Dotted Rug // Book: 1Q84, Haruki Murakami // Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera // Memoirs of a Geisha: A Novel

After visiting Sweden last month I’ve discovered a new appreciation for snow, which is why I picked this snowy tree print. I love the pure brightness of snow, how it amplifies light. I think this photograph really captures that, as well as being sort of graphic and abstract as a texture.

I’ve also been really into geometric patterns. The one on this pillow is almost kaleidoscopic, but in a minimal way. One of my favorite colours is that muted-neon, turquoise-mint; I could fill an entire house with shades of blue-green. The bright white and black feels super clean precise too, and I like that.

This rug (yes, it’s a rug) doesn’t need much explanation does it? Cheeky black and white polka dots? I’ll take them any day.

I thought I’d also include two other things that have made my life a little richer, a book and a camera. I think everyone should have an instax. Instant film is so fun. I myself have the wide version of the Instax, and I cherish each and every photo I’ve taken with it. Some of my  favorite moments – camping near Pismo Beach in California, and taking a road trip through Normandy with my best friend – have been recorded using an Instax.

I’ve never been much of a reader – after Harry Potter and all the forced high school reading assignments, I kinda just gave up on reading anything else for pleasure. I’m sorry, but how can anything possibly live up to the magical epic that is Harry Potter? But moving on – one book that actually kept me interested is 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. Perhaps you’ve heard some of the buzz surrounding this author, but he’s Japanese and arguably one of the most popular and experimental of our time. Let’s just say that 1Q84 is about parallel universes, nuances of the human mind, what keeps us going, loneliness… very much considered magic realism, which I’ve decided is now my favorite genre. I don’t know how much the book ties into Japanese culture, but I have a deep desire to travel through Japan, probably ever since I read Memoirs of a Geisha.

I hope you liked this favourite things post! It was pretty enjoyable to create, so I might do it again!

I'm a Californian in my mid-twenties who studied Art History and lived in France for 3 years. I blog honestly about my travels, share my thoughts on life, and get poetic about art and photography. I also sell prints of my photographs on Etsy.

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