A few of my favorite things: Mer Mag

Hello friends, both new and old! This is Mer from the Mer Mag blog and I'm so happy to help the lovely Holly out while she is en route and in the midst of moving mania. Her timing was great as I myself am looking to move out of my little home come September (not overseas of course...more like over a few blocks). So what better time to share with you a few of my favorite magical spaces in my current location?

This little display makes me happy as it's the first thing I see when I walk through the door. I'm very fond of the vintage wire basket I purchased a couple of years ago on ebay (my husband thinks it a tetanus trap waiting to happen...but design always comes before health right?) and as a magazine hoarder I find this to be a tidy and attractive way to keep everything all together. In fact I like this little spot so much that it's one of the few spaces I insist on always keeping in order. Jon (the huz) knows better than to download his keys and coins atop this dresser (a second hand mid-century modern steal by the way...also a love of mine).

Where the “magic” happens. Believe it or not I do most of my work here...work meaning illustration, blogging, printing, scanning, etc (crafting/sewing happens elsewhere). Because it's so small I'm forced to keep it simple, which I like. I'm often drawn to glorious looking clutter but for the teensy-weensy space that I'm currently in I find my creativity works better with things more simple and minimal. I'm also very happy to sit down to a painting that my little one and I worked on together during an arts and crafts afternoon. The memory is as bright and sunny as the painting.

This clock display is adjacent to my work desk. With clients on both coasts and even in the UK I find this set up very useful. I threw up a few hooks for displaying inspiration, current projects or paperwork that needs my attention.

I love all the art supplies I have around the house. They add such a fun splash of color and help keep me ready to create whenever inspiration strikes. This set of colored pencils in particular produces a smile as it's meant for small hands and is part of a coffee table display that is both functional and beautiful. With two littles running around it's crucial (and fun!) to incorporate small design into the home.

You know how I mentioned that I was a magazine hoarder? Well that's only partially true. I'm a magazine "page" hoarder. In the not too distant past when the world was filled with exquisite publications at every turn I made it my personal responsibility to absorb as much of them as possible. I did that (and still do) by tearing out pages that speak to me and then proceed to categorize them in my "genius files" (a term I fondly borrow from Anna Sui who does the same thing with tear sheets that inspire her). I'm a little OCD about this and am still not sure why I do it...only that it makes me happy...if not a little crazy. I guess I love that I have my own "tailored-made" magazines when I'm through ("magazines" that I treasure even more now that so many of the source publications are out of print).

This is a jewelery display that I simply think is pretty. With a nine month old on the hip, wearing these necklaces for a long periods of time is out of the question so I appreciate that I still get to enjoy them here.

Being a visual person, physical spaces like these are necessary for my peace of mind but I also find a great deal of inspiration in music, film and those around me. I've always been a fan of Tori Amos music videos (and who doesn't love her music?). If ever I'm in a creative funk I just pop in my Tori Amos video collection and the collaboration of music and visuals always seems to get my juices going. I listen to Pandora stations (current favs are Joanna Newsome, Howard Jones, Lykke Li, and Vampire Weekend) when I can but often find that the "music" of my littles is just about as much audio as I can handle. My family and friends inspire me a great deal. Things I want for my children, but can't seem to find or afford, is one of my greatest source of inspiration as of late.

And to end I'm to give you some of my favorite advice. There are so many little sayings that I adore but one that seems to be a constant is "Do it today, you'll be ahead." I can be slacker in many areas of life while indulgent in others and so to try and get things done (that I might be dreading) this little idiom rings in my head, helping me along.

Thanks again Holly and to all of you have trudged through this with me! I've so enjoyed spending a little time with you and the opportunity to share a bit of my world with you. - Mer

(images: mer mag)