One of my goals for a while now has been to improve my photography skills. I would love to take crisper photos with a sense of the story I am trying to tell. Sometimes, I think I like too many different styles and cannot nail down the style that is most “me”. I love to use Instagram because the filters can make a big impact and who doesn’t always have their phone to snap a pic? I did a little study of some of the bloggers/artists I follow on Instagram and I’m going to show you a sample of their feed and what I like about them…

First, my mentor and friend Marian aka Miss Mustard Seed:

I like her closeups and subject matter (obviously the blue and white!). Her photos have a softness to them that appeals to me and I also like how you feel like you could reach out and run your hand over the furniture or pick up one of the dishes.

Next, one of my fellow MMSMP retailers, Wendy at Front Porch Mercantile:

Wendy lives in Atlantic Canada and visits her little cottage by the sea quite often. This town is so cute, I cannot stand it! Wendy focuses on the brights and old, worn sea scenes. As an added bonus, she will often share the professional photos of her husband, John. I think he should do a photo book — his shots are breathtaking. Wendy’s images give me the feeling of walking down by the docks in her little town ( I can’t wait to see it in person some day!)

Next, Zionsville’s own internationally-known artist, Nancy Noel:

Nancy’s Instagram feed is an eclectic mix of her animals and artwork. Look at how she captured the light in the eyes of her live subject on the left and the light in the eyes in her painting on the right. She is an amazing artist I was lucky enough to meet recently! Her photos make the animals, live or on canvas, show us a little glimpse of their personalities.

Next up is Kriste of the Rosemary and Thyme blog:

Kriste helps Marian at her studio and I was lucky enough to meet her when I went to PA last year. She is a youngin’ and has a fresh perspective on photography that I am really inspired by. That table, the clothes shots and the little nooks around her house or the studio are given a fresh vibe when Kriste is behind the lens (or phone).

Finally, Vibeke Design blog:

This lady is the ultimate #photographygoals for me. I love it all: the staging, the lighting, the textures…I can’t get enough! Each image is more beautiful than the last. 

I have read several articles about hygge (pronounced HOO|gah) and I am completely smitten. Hygge is not a concrete item, but more a feeling given this name from the Danish. It can roughly be translated to contentment in English. It is a distinctly Scandinavian concept though it has been making its way across the Atlantic to the US. 

Hygge is a sense of togetherness and fulfillment of simple pleasures. It means different things to different people. Some talk about taking walks by a lake with their boyfriend and others cooking an old family recipe. Because it originates in the Scandinavian countries, it is also feeling warmth inside while it is cold outside. All images are from Vibeke Design, a Scandinavian blogger whose images, to me, exemplify hygge. 

One defining characteristic of hygge is creating a sense of home, for yourself and your guests. What things surround you? Are they meaningful or just things? Some carefully chosen items to surround yourself with are: plants, heirlooms, books, music, a defined workspace and corners to recharge.

 

The idea of a corner to recharge is especially appealing to me. Nothing is more hygge to me than to sit for a few minutes in a tucked away space with a good book. As a working mom with four boys, these moments are few a far between during the school year and busy months at the store. However, I am making an effort to cut away little snippets for myself and having a beautiful space just for me is a top goal for 2017.

This spring, I also want to immerse myself in learning more about flowers. I know what I like, but would love to learn more about when certain flowers bloom and how to creep through the spring and summer with new growth throughout the season. When we lived in The Village, we purchased our first home from an elderly woman who had her flower garden timed so beautifully. I still think of it in awe.

One of the many beautiful aspects of Vibeke Design’s photos are her use of light in the pictures. I’ve honestly not given much thought to soft lighting, but it certainly provides a mood, doesn’t it? As I focus more on my photography, I want to include more interesting and natural light. I also want to create a more naturally lit home and store to see how it changes the feeling of living and working in natural light.

2017 is going to be the Year of the Hygge for me. I have already scheduled to focus on photography and floral. I hope you will be involved in my search for contentment and start one of your own!