The Art Of — natural

Michelle Milowe is a home decorator and Etsy shop owner inspired by all things vintage. Her collections of found goods are transformed into timeless treasures for your home. Michelle's style is filled with subtle hues and textures to invoke a peaceful environment and showcases the twice-loved treasures she discovers. 

"Hi, my name is Michelle Milowe. I am a twenty-something, type 4 (for my enneagram enthusiasts out there) homebody that loves all things floral, cheesy, and vintage. My husband and I recently purchased a 1970’s ranch that we are in the process of making our own—which is something like a modern European-inspired country cottage (I think)." 

"I love seeking out the beauty in the ordinary and the overlooked, and thrift shops, estate sales, and flea markets are just a few of the many places I find it. I select items based on their tones and textures and how they would look with other tones and textures—such as brass candlesticks blanketed in crisp white linen and a drapey ivy plant on stacks of yellowed ivory books. I am a fan of chippy whites and patina metals, stoneware crocks and wooden bowls, moody paintings and pieces of architecture. If these items don’t end up in my shop, I style them in my home, mixing the old with new."

“The true way to live is to enjoy every moment as it passes,
and surely it is in the everyday things around us that
the beauty of life lies.”

Through my home, my Etsy shop, and the way I live, I hope to impart an appreciation of the moments and the everyday things in which there is so much beauty to be found."

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 Interested in her Etsy Store? Visit her website here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLittleKettle

SHIMMERING FLOWERS & RESTORATIVE MOMENTS with Kaila Jackson of Blue Green Patina

My name is Kaila Jackson. I'm a watercolor artist living on a little piece of countryside in the state of Ohio. My mission is to bring beauty to the world wherever I can.

Flowers are an obsession of mine - the beauty, the whimsy, the happiness they bring to a human, a home, or a life. I buy them, I grow them, I paint them. Usually in shades of pink.

Quiet + Creative Spaces

Before I paint, I set my space. I want a quiet room, a glass of wine or a cup of tea, fresh flowers on my table, and always, a candle. The day of the week doesn't matter. Snow flurries, a thunderstorm, or blue-skies - my requirements are the same.

Within that space I can always decompress. I dip my paintbrush and allow the twisted floral vines of my mind to unravel into swirls and brushstrokes that become shimmering flowers, spilling out of a basket or a vase. Painting is, for me, restorative. I find a sense of calm in my routine and look forward to that daily quiet, my paints, the drink, the flowers, and the candle.

BUILDING WARM, INVITING SPACES WITH A FUNCTION with Kristin Lenz of White Arrows Home

My name is Kristin Lenz. I'm a decor consultant, stylist, and White Arrows Home blogger. I live "Up North" in Wisconsin with my husband and five children. I share my love of North Woods Living on my blog. I'm inspired by the outdoors, especially the views from my lakeside log cabin home. I enjoy the outdoors in every season and I style my home to be warm and welcoming for family, friends and guests. I'm passionate about building family memories for my children, decorating, and entertaining. 

"One of the easiest ways to add warmth to a home is through candles. They instantly make a space calming and cozy." 

Cozy North Woods Living + Camp Paradise

My home is a full log cabin named "Camp Paradise," on the shores of a lake in The North Woods of Wisconsin. It is filled with a mix of antique, vintage and new pieces. It reflects nostalgic camp style with the elegance of a grand old lodge. 

A top priority for me is styling and restyling rooms to fit function for families while maintaining warmth and comfort. My spaces have an abundance of cozy spots to curl up with a book, nap, visit with friends or play games. Cozy spaces make you want to linger longer. Candles add a classic touch, whether a votive on a side table next to a reading chair, tapers on the dining room table or pillars on the mantel. 

When choosing pieces for homes I select items that can be used in multiple rooms and spaces. This makes the idea of "shopping your home" fun and budget friendly when restyling a space. I often advise my clients and readers on how to bring something from one room to another and make it feel new. 

I am constantly dreaming of ways to remodel, redecorate and style cottages, cabins, lake houses and homes. I often layer classic aesthetics with modern trends in my designs. I love using white shiplap and light nautical colors or knotty pine walls, plaid carpets and antlers. I use my blog, White Arrows Home, to design spaces for individuals and families to experience the "Up North" and find a retreat where they can relax, recreate and reconnect with themselves and nature.

HAND DYED, HAND SPUN, NATURAL YARN PRODUCTS with Liesl Maertens of Buckaloo View

My name is Liesl Maertens. I'm a knitter, seamstress, natural dyer, spinner and designer. I live on a small farm in North Western NJ that has been in my family for over a century called Buckaloo View. For a few decades now, it hasn't been an active farm. But with the help of my mom, I am in the process of bringing it back to life. I forage and grow materials to dye fibers with. In 2018, I'll be getting goats, sheep and alpaca for fiber production, so I can raise and spin my own yarn to dye. My goal is to have a self-sustaining farm and live as closely and quietly to the land as possible.

Natural Dyes + Fibers

I prefer to grow and forage as much dye material as I can. My favorites are black walnuts, marigolds, cosmos and goldenrod, as well as various kitchen scraps, such as onion skins and avocado pits. 

Certain things like black walnut hulls have high levels of tannin that naturally adhere to fiber easily. The fiber itself plays a role, cellulose based or protein based fiber take color differently and certain preparations need to be done to help color stick. Silk, alpaca and even different breeds of wool all take dye differently. You can use modifiers like vinegar or baking soda to alter the pH of a dye bath and change the color. Through research and experimentation, I've discovered which dyes work best with corresponding fibers to get the results I desire.

I love the fact that I can incorporate my love of nature and plants in my art - from dyeing fiber naturally to the inspiration behind many of my knitted designs. Slow, artful living and embracing simplicity is important to me. Wearing handmade items and filling my home with products that have a story is essential. There isn't anything more relaxing than putting my feet up after a long day, sipping a cup of tea, lighting a hand poured artisan candle and knitting a new design.

Visit her blog here: www.buckalooview.com

Or follow her on social media @BuckalooView