A few days ago, Yoko Ono posted this remarkable message on her instagram, a perfect New Year’s wish. We’ve found some compelling images to go with it, and Ono’s spare, powerful recording of “Imagine”.
Read MoreThe Lights: A Father and Son’s Luminous Monument to Creative Obsession
Every December in a village in northern Argentina, Jorge Gervasi and his son transform their modest family home into an elaborate display of blinking lights. This sweet, slightly Fellini-esque short film captures the hard work, missteps and dreams that go into it their remarkable Christmas monument.
Read MoreGifts that ‘Encourage Wonder and Reflection’
The recent post about Mister Rogers got me thinking about how to give gifts that “encourage wonder and reflection? Here are some gift books that do just that.
Read MoreMister Rogers on The One of the Simplest Yet Rarest Gifts We Can Give
In this short video clip, the remarkable Fred Rogers describes one of the most powerful gifts he was given in his life, and got us wondering how we can give, and encourage it ourselves?
Read MoreHow to Shop Improvised Life
One of the things I let go of during the renovation of Improvised Life was its Shop, a compendium of items I’ve found worth the money to buy. Here’s how you can still easily shop items recommended in Improvised Life.
Read More‘Beautiful News’: A Daily Hit of Positive to Antidote the Media’s Dark Worldview
Over half a century ago in 1967, John Lennon’s ‘A Day in the Life” nailed the feeling of hurried daily life infused with dark news that continues to reverberate today. Check out this antidote to the relentless daily barrage of bleak news…
Read MoreScent Your Space with “Eaux Fraîches” of Green Leaves, Grass, Loam
Always on the lookout for ways to transform my space and mood, I recently stumbled on a bargain of heady transformation: a $20 way to subtly evoke Nature indoors.
Read MoreCopy This: Pamela Hovland’s Holiday Wreath
Spotted on the instagram of designer Pamela Hovland, who masterminded Improvised Life’s first iteration ten years ago: her holiday wreath in an imaginative, uniquely festive application…
Read MoreWelcome to the New Improvised Life
At ten years old, Improvised Life’s architecture and organization needed a serious refresh. And so did I. The new site is designed to be easier and more fun to use, for you and for me. No doubt, the new look will be a bit disorienting for those used to its former look. Please give yourself time (and patience) to get acclimated…
Read MoreLinen Room Divider, Napkin, Tablecloth, Pillow DIY Without Sewing
Over the years, I’ve learned that making linen room dividers, tablecloths, napkins and slipcovers does NOT have to involve sewing…
Read MoreListing What You Like Yields Mighty Benefits and Poetry
At the great Artist’s Prints and Multiples, we came across these inspired fridge magnets. We realized that making lists of “likes” can provide the same benefits as counting blessings AND work curiously like poetry…
Read MoreHouse Tour: Massimo Vitali’s Chill “Natural Habitat” in a 14th Century Church
With its practical, vin-ordinaire fridge and quirky design decisions, photographer Massimo Vitali’s remarkable home in an ancient church has some very cool ideas to steal.
Read MoreGordon Hempton: Silence is the Presence of Everything
This lovely immersive video follows acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton to one of the quietest places on earth. It draws our awareness to just what it is we’re hearing, or not, and the unique, extraordinarily complex sounds of silence.
Read MorePatti Smith: “The Secret to Improvisation I Have Accessed My Whole Life”
As we work to move Improvised Life to a new form, we came across this passage from Just Kids, Patti Smith’s memoir of finding her artistic voice: the secret of improvisation she learned from Sam Shepard.
Read MoreLee Krasner on How to Build Joy, Discovery and the Unexpected into Work and Life
Artsy’s Alexxa Gotthardt combed through interviews with legendary abstract expressionist artist Lee Krasner for her insights into “how to be an artist”, with three essential lessons.
Read MoreInspiring, Do-able Interior Design Ideas from Paola Navone
Whenever we look at designer Paola Navone’s homes, we come away with a zillion ideas that we could actually do, without a ton of dough. Here are our favorite steal-able ideas.
Read MoreWendell Berry on The Real Work We Do
We know quite a few people who are making major life changes these days, living with the question of what to do next, waiting for the path to become clear. What’s the mindset to embrace in limbo: all questions, few clues, no answers?
Read MoreWhat is it that I can offer in this present moment? What about it is asking for a deeper look?Garrett Bradley
Lessons in Slowing Down (Pico Iyer, Vija Celmins, W.S. Merwin…)
The past week or so, the same message arrived through a variety of sources: in an email sent by a friend, a poem stumbled on on instagram, a notice of a museum exhibition…
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