This photo always makes me smile, snapped in London in 1997 with a $4.99 disposable camera, long before I owned a digital one. There I was, young and naive in Knightsbridge, admiring a witty sign advertising a soon to open Seattle’s Best Coffee shop. The sign made me smile, so I quickly snapped a photo of it as I darted towards the bus, one that my friend had already boarded, her face pressed against the window with arms motioning for me to hurry up. It was only after developing the film that I noticed a traditional black London cab, a great detail that I didn’t even notice at the time, a detail that resulted in a photo that I’ll always cherish.

Thirteen visits to London later, I still reflect upon my earlier adventures photographing anything and anyone that I deemed to be cool. Long before I realized that taking photos inside of Harrods‘ was a huge no-no (I was nearly escorted out of the building once). Even strangers feeding the ducks at Kensington Gardens were photo worthy back then, times when I fearlessly snapped whatever I saw, caring less about who was watching or whether the photo would be of quality or not. I was never on a mission for the perfect photo, yet I always returned from vacations with some beautiful shots.

I wish that I still approached photography that way, haphazardly, without lining things up, adjusting the lens, waiting for people to move so I could get the full shot. Seeing things through the eyes of a girl and not a woman. Looking at everything through naive eyes, thinking all things were so amazing and awesome and worthy of a simple photo, a captured moment of time on paper. Times when I tried to steady the camera from giggling so hard while photographing a business man dribbling pistachio ice cream down his crisp white shirt. Times when we all ran very free, never worrying about what others thought of us, not caring whether a photo would be worthy of framing.

From now on, I will not take a photo because I think it will produce a beautiful picture. I will simply point and click whenever I see something that evokes some feeling in me. I will snap without thought. I will run free as I did in 1997, snapping photos of funny signs in London.

(psst: Harrods’ has a great online home and leisure shopping site…)

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Alec over at Apartment Therapy LA featured my friend Michelle today. Click here to read all about it! I’m so excited to see here featured on such a great website.

::BIG SMILE::

The above photo was a commissioned piece from Michelle, it’s of my husbands oma + opa along with his mutti over in Germany. I love the retro bursts she added to the canvas on the right side in lime and orange. She embedded all of these beautiful images – if you look carefully you can see the top half of a house beneath the baby – that’s his oma’s shop in Germany. To the left of his opa, you can spot a girl writing. That’s me, since my husband and I met online via an article I had written back in 1998. There are also images of cameras, astronomy, music, nature, and many other things that my husband loves. My husband was really moved when this piece arrived. It’s the perfect present for someone you love.

More Spring Sales! This time, it’s at Hold Everything where you can find amazing deals on items that will whip your disorganized pack rat self into a regular martha stewart goddess. Hurry for best selection, sale lasts only until March 26th. Click here to view sale items, many with free shipping.

(all photos from hold everything)

Don’t miss the West Elm Spring Sale, starting today! Bath mats for $12.99. Floral and watercolor stripe pillows from $12.99-16.99. Hip seating, a great little bench, and more!

(all photos are from west elm)

decor8: Hi Camilla. First of all, I love your work, especially your paintings and the adorable crochet animals that you make. Can you tell decor8 readers a little bit about yourself?

Camilla: Sure. I’m Camilla Engman and I live and work in Gothenburg, Sweden.

decor8: What do you like about Gothenburg?

Camilla: I like that the four seasons of the year are so different, although I’d prefer if the summer season was a little longer. I love the nature and the easy access of our nature.

decor8: Same here in New England, summers are too short. Tell us, what is your business and how did you get started?

Camilla: I’m a graphic designer, illustrator, artist. I’ve always made pictures. I attended art school for two years, and then spent five years studying Graphic Design at the HDK School of Design and Crafts at Gothenburg University.

decor8: Do you sell your items in any stores online or in the USA?

Camilla: Yes, at different places. I’ve sold my calendar at Moca, calendar and
prints and other stuff at ArtStar Philly, Paperboat Gallery, Reform
School, Compound…. Also artwork at Magpie, Junc Gallery. ArtStar is
the only online shop, I think.

decor8: I love artstar, it’s such a neat shop. Where do you find inspiration? Other artists? Places? Websites?

Camilla: Nature. The past. Galleries. Books. Internet. Different artists in different
moods.

decor8: What are the main characteristics of your work and your work
method?

Camilla: It’s like a snapshot, something is going to or has already happened. A
story interrupted. I don’t have a particular theme that I work with, I just have my ensemble that appears in different shapes.

decor8: How does your work reflect your personality?

Camilla: You can see I’m a very kind person ;)

decor8: Out of all the places you’ve seen in your life, where would you live if money were no obstacle and why?

Camilla: In the swedish summer.

decor8: What are ten things that you can’t live without?

Camilla: Paper, pen, my computer, chocolate, coffee, wine, a sofa, my camera,
my Teva sandals, nature and sun.

decor8: Thank you so much Camilla for taking time to tell us about yourself. Please keep in touch and we wish you the best of success. May your days be creative and your summers, much longer!

You can view Camillia’s website here. She also has a blog with beautiful images and inspiration.


(all photos are from camilla engman)