A few of my favorite things: INK+WIT

Hello! I'm Tara Hogan from the INK+WIT blog and I'm visiting today to share a few of my favorite things, also as part of Holly's guest series. Featured are five of my favorite photos inside and outside around my home. I hope that you enjoy them!

Our kitchen was a project to fix up. We have a 100 year old home where the kitchen tile and countertop were in such bad shape. Every time I walk into the kitchen I feel like we have made such great progress. I took all the cabinet doors off as they were of no use anyway and created more of a café feel which makes me really happy and also gives you a reason to keep all of your cabinets meaningful and cleaned out. The kitchen to me is the foundation of the home as it nourishes you and brings people together.

This space has a wood burning cast iron stove you can not see here in this photo but it is quite nice. The white wall you see was just sheet rocked and we took down the stove pipes as they were rusted and falling down. This area is a nice place for eye relief. It has become a little gallery for me to display my work. It reminds me of some of the old gallery spaces I saw while in Tallinn, Estonia.

This is our dear cat Abby. She is the softest cat ever! And, very sweet with the exception of eating paper. She jumps on my desk and tries to chew all my magazines. She is lounging on our sun porch (in need of a paint job.)

We have a barn that takes the place of a garage. This barn reminds me of CT, my native state. It is very New England. The wooden deck you see was just built by my father this summer. It will always remind me of him. He is an amazing engineer and craftsman.

A glimpse from my studio shelves which house inventory for INK+WIT, supplies, and of course all of my little Fisher Price animals I saved from my childhood. I love animals as you can see from all the INK+WIT illustration. Having these little nostalgic toys around reminds me to stay young and always play when I am creating. It helps you not take yourself too seriously.

The Fox and the Grapes illustrated by me on maple block seen on my messy art table. The white dish I use to put my inks in is a salt and pepper dish from Pottery Barn. I love painting and drawing on wood. I have a ton of paper scraps I use to collage into my pieces.

I saved this Garbage Pail Kid with my name, “Tara” and it totally makes me laugh as I had a HUGE collection of these and have not seen them since 1985. The little rooster is a memento from my childhood toys and the wood block and lead type make my initials.

I love France. There are so many little treasures around my studio that I took home from my two trips to France. Little books, sketches, and paper memorabilia make me happy.

INK+WIT around my office and studio. I love buttons.

INSPIRED BY...

Recently, I have been inspired, funnily enough, by HBO’s series Entourage. It is the one series I watch now. My husband and I stay up Sunday night and laugh wholeheartedly at Jeremy Piven's mannerisms. It sucked me in, I admit it. But, I enjoy every minute of this show for the simple fact that the characters are funny and the music always catches me off guard. I heard De La Soul, The Cure, and Violent Femmes in the last few seasons all at once and it reminds me of so many good times in high school and college. I love those bands. This show inspires me to have fun while going after everything I want in life. And, starring at Adrian Grenier is not too bad either. I have also been blogging more and more about children’s apparel, toys, and gadgets. I have been inspired by Handmade Charlotte, Kice Kice, and Tamar Mogendorff. Their ideas and way with ease of materials is magic. All are so different and take you into a storybook place. I love that.

Speaking of getting sucked into something I am now a coconut milkshake junky. Since I am vegan and pretty much allergic to a ton of food at this point I have gotten very creative in the last year. Looking for some refreshment? Saw open a Young Thai Coconut, pour the water in your blender, scrape out the meat, add 1 tablespoon of Agave Nectar, pinch of cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of raw cacao powder. Best chocolate vegan non dairy milkshake you will ever have and I have had all the dairy stuff back in the day and this is mighty fine.

ADVICE...

One of the best quotes I ever read was in typography designer, Gill Sans, An Essay on Typography. “If you look after goodness and truth beauty will take care of itself.” I love how straight to the point this is and how it communicates all forms of beauty. If you take care of the inside the outside will follow on all levels both physical, mental, and spiritual. If you do good, good will follow. But, of course, you cannot expect anything in return for your goodness. Staying humble is wise. -Tara

(images: tara hogan)