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Christina of Tide & Bloom

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français fern

For the first print of 2015, I decided it was time to incorporate some hand lettering into my work. I knew I wanted to create something romantic for Valentine’s Day, but I was afraid it could turn into something trite. While I’m a big fan of a bunch of stuff already out there, I just wanted to make something at least a little different. Something that would be a bit more unexpected. And then it just happened upon me one afternoon, all of a sudden.

français fern

This famous French phrase, technically a couplet, is something I recalled from my high school days. Don’t ask me where I originally saw it – I think maybe on a locket from Etsy somewhere. Anyways, it is originally written by Rosemonde Gérard, from her poem, “L’éternelle chanson” (“The Eternal Song”) or “Les Vieux” (“The Old Ones”) and translates to:

For, you see,
each day I love you more,
Today more than yesterday
and less than tomorrow.

What do you think? .. I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback. If you do love it, they’re now available for purchase in the shop here!

all day every day plaid

So I literally wore this plaid button-down dress four times last week. I’m dead serious, just ask any of my co-workers! First day as a dress with a belt (as you saw), second day unbuttoned over jeans and a tee shirt, third day unbuttoned and tied up in a knot over a black pencil dress, and fourth day below. I think it’s safe to say this was a good buy…

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plaid casual

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So. This dress is my new favorite obsession. I’m so glad plaid is back and may it never ever go out of style. I’ve already worn this dress twice since I bought it (… like on Monday?) and I’m still finding new awesome outfits to make out of it. The plaid is relaxed, the silhouette is androgynous and I’ll wear this all year round. Total win all around.

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lady brunch at ladybird

I had been hearing lots of things about Ladybird, so it was time I find out firsthand. Perfect opportunity for a lady brunch, right?

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When you get into your late 20s, brunch unfortunately starts to lose its luster. You no longer have the availability to devote hours and hours on a Sunday to sitting around gabbing over mimosas. But every now and then, it’s necessary to indulge and enjoy the company of other lovely ladies. A couple hours out of your errand-running is nothing compared to to some good-hearted laughs with friends. Ladybird was a great spot to spend some quality time – family-style tables, down-home casual breakfast food, and endless cups of coffee.

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Everything was pretty darn delightful here (company included obviously). Their brunch selection covers anything you might be craving for a cozy weekend morning. I myself went for the savory mexican flavors with a cast iron pan full of chips, salsa, avocado, an egg. You know, tasty stuff. Other delicious choices on our table included the deviled eggs, beignets, farro bowl, hot chicken biscuits, and breakfast flatbread.

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comfort first

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I can’t help it. Winter makes me want to hide in a baggy long sweater! My obsessions turn towards tried and true accessories – beanies, fingerless gloves, booties. I love breaking all of these out of my drawers and super thankful that they’re still in style. What’s your favorite cold weather accessory?

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ladycrush: alice

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Name: Alice
Day Job: Department Manager at Anthropologie
Dream Job: Textile Designer

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How would you describe your style? My style really depends on my mood. That sounds cliche, I know, but it’s true. I usually like to mix vintage with new trends. In the winter I’m always in a scarf, in the summer I’m always in a high-waisted skirt. Being so petite, you hardly ever catch me wearing flats so I’ve invested a lot of time into my shoe collection! If I was stranded on a deserted island, I would chose to be alone with a trunk of all my shoes. Is that weird? Probably.

Where are your favorite places to shop for clothes? If it’s not from Anthro or an URBN shop, it’s from a local thrift store. I also have my own Etsy shop where I sell vintage clothing that I’ve found over the years. Check it out! Hanger Threads

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kudzu part two

Well, I knew this time was bound to come.. the day when I start blogging about my favorite Atlanta spots more than once.

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It’s not that I’ve run out of new places to try (there are plenty more still on my list); some places are just full to the brim with beauty. Taking a second look and renewing that inspiration is never a bad thing. Today, I take a trip back to one of my favorite places for vintage and retro-inspired finds, Kudzu Antique Market.

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Vendor stalls as far as the eye can see hold everything from mid-century furniture to old country southern knick knacks. It’s a Goldilocks-size antique mall, large enough to fill your afternoon with wonderment but not so overwhelming that you’ll give up on finding some little treasures.

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The thing I love most about this place is the vendors who set up their stalls in such a way that it becomes like a microcosm, their own little treasure trove that we have privileged access to. Some are serious, some are quirky, and all are elegant in their own way. 

starting from nothing

“More than in any other vocation, being an artist means always starting from nothing. Our work as artists is courageous and scary. There is no brief that comes along with it, no problem solving that’s given as a task… An artist’s work is almost entirely inquiry based and self-regulated. It is a fragile process of teaching oneself to work alone, and focusing on how to hone your quirky creative obsessions so that they eventually become so oddly specific that they can only be your own.

In those moments when you feel discouraged or lost in the studio, or when you experience rejection, rest completely assured that what you don’t know about something is also a form of knowledge, though much harder to understand. In many ways, making art is like blindly trying to see the shape of what you don’t yet know. Whenever you catch a little a glimpse of that blind spot, of your ignorance, of your vulnerability, of that unknown, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to stare at it. Instead, try to relish in its profound mystery. Art is about taking the risk of engaging in something somewhat ridiculous and irrational simply because you need to get a closer look at it, you simply need to break it open to see what’s inside.