Quick bit of cuteness

Okay, I know these are from Pottery Barn but look how cute these ornaments are!! Just one of many jarring reminders that the Christmas slash holiday season is right around the corner! I'm so excited !!!

Look at them playing!

FORTY TWO DAYS if you want to get specific.


Alicia B.

Spain Travels: Part Two

I'm so happy about all the interest I've gotten so far from my little trip to Spain--thanks! The other things that caught my eye walking around Spain were the iron work and the doors as well.

Isn't this woodworking incredible? Sorry, this was taken at night...after some Sangria.

I love the curving in this doorway.

This is a big door to a church in Figueres.

Some of the art nouveau style that I saw all over Barcelona. Gorgeous and whimsical!

I think this is in Madrid. More of that curvy quality to it.

I couldn't not include this one. Who lived here? So gorgeous.

This is one of many intricate iron work street lamps all around Barcelona.

Rawr!

I loved these ironwork balconies just off the square in Madrid. Isn't that red incredible?

So simple and beautiful painted black.

They were all so different and beautiful. I love to look at the ironwork all around New York, but I was blown away by the amount of it in Spain. Every now and then there would be a very pretty door. I just can't help but imagine who lived there, the carpenter that made it, probably by hand, and how long it has been there? Something to think about.

Also, I've added some of my favorite pictures to Etsy. I don't mean to "sell myself" but I hope you like them!


Alicia B.

Spain Travels: Part one

Traveling is a really great way to see design from other places first hand. Pictures are great but to really take in a city, culturally, and design-wise, the only way is to visit it. Eat there, walk around, visit museums, talk to people...or just be a complete nerd, like yours truly, and take over 300 pictures in seven days so that you don't forget one thing. And try to use the Spanish that you've learned from Sesame Street twenty years ago.

A Gaudi house in Barcelona

So, after all the great guesses I got (none), you got it, I went to Spain! I arrived in Madrid with the parents and met up with my younger sister, then we traveled up to Barcelona, Figueres, and Cadaques. I was blown away by Barcelona. I think it was my favorite place of the trip--the architecture there is amazing. It's a mix of Gaudi masterpieces, art nouveau, traditional Spanish architecture and mixed in when you're not expecting it are some great modern buildings.

Today's feature is the tile work. The tile work all over Spain was gorgeous. It's authentic and evokes the feeling of true craftsmanship when you look at it. I took lots of pics of it to put up on here so I hope you enjoy it too. It's such a beautiful design feature.

Store front tiles.

I love this rich blue and white one.

This is taken at a construction site in Toledo. I hope they don't destroy this original tile work!

Tiles in the foyer of just a regular walk up apartment building.

Taken at Park Guell. Amazed.

Stairway taken at an unassuming restaurant in Toledo.

Pretty stairway in Cadaques.

Most of these tiles were just right there in a regular Spanish house, not in someones high end penthouse. Next stop: Iron work around Spain!



Alicia B.

Alicia B. Returns

Well, I'm back! Did you all miss me? While I had a lovely time and it was great to get away from the big bad city for a week, I'm glad to be back. While I am busy at work, and organizing pictures, unpacking, and getting my life back together, here is a little quiz! WHERE DID I GO?? My only hint is the picture below. Go.
PS, I'd love to thank my dear roommate for guest blogging in my absence. I hope you all learned a lot from her very insightful post. There are many different facets to the arts world and design is only one small (but rad) part of it. Thanks!

Alicia B.

Guest Blogger: Gallerina

Hi everyone! Aliciabdesigns asked me to (attempt) to fill her shoes while she was off enjoying a much deserved, swanky vacation. A confession: I do not read design blogs (except this one), or follow trends...but I do work in a New York contemporary art gallery in Chelsea. (Photo: Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times)
One thing which art history professors and 'serious' art collectors absolutely loathe, is the idea of purchasing art for decorative reasons. Calling the work of an artist 'decorative' is the GREATEST of slights. Art should be valued separately, collected, studied and experienced in a museum-like, white walled, vacuum...? Well, besides being completely sterile, this idea flagrantly ignores 99% of history which proves art is decorative, and meant to be placed in homes and enjoyed.One contemporary Swedish artist has managed to make both museums and designers happy: Eva Hild. Her ceramic sculptures are most definitely fine art, the smooth white surfaces and seamless loops look gorgeous in both contemporary and traditional settings. They are handmade using the coiling technique, and take months to complete. Her work is found in fine art museums all over the world, and she is consistently asked to do special public commissions (architects adore her as well).(Public commission in Korea)
Thomas Pheasant is one designer who has used Eva Hild's work in his spaces. This room below from Architectural Digest "Betting the House" features Hild's work as a focal point for a spacious foyer/stairwell.Eva's work manages to bridge the gap between the fine art world and the decorative craft world...what do you think?

AND I'm gone.

Well all, I'm off for the next week on vacation. Don't worry though, you'll still be kept amused by my two guest bloggers. They are very creative lovely ladies, so you're in good hands. Here are things to remember while I'm gone:

Keep being creative and amazing.
Vote on Tuesday.
Be good to yourself (who am I, Oprah?).
Don't miss me TOO much, but just enough.

Have a great, beautiful, and creative week!


Alicia B.