CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 35 work does seem to be inspired by only women, but I get inspiration from both women and men. Growing up, I did not watch much TV because I was too busy drawing and painting. While the other kids would watch cartoons and play sports… I was the weird child that was enamored with watching Martha Stew- art, Laynette Jennings, and Christopher Lowell. ey probably inspired me the most! I have quite a long list of muses. Steve Tyrell, is a great musician that re- ally gets my creativity flowing. Whether it's with a glass of great wine and cook- ing, or in my studio painting; I always get my best work done while listening to him. Kelly Sheppard Shatat from Moon and Lola is another one of my muses, she's amazing! I love how she stays cur- rent, always in the press, coming up with killer ideas and how she markets herself. I admire her a lot. I also get much inspi- ration from friends, as well as other crea- tives like James Farmer, Natalie Dupree, Ina Garten and Kate Spade." Although Ard doesn't consider his style traditionally "southern," there are a few tidbits about him that are charm- ingly so. A few of his past commis- sioned pieces were monogrammed or hand-painted wine glasses. Paired with some delicious swirls of paint and funky polka-dots, these adorable glasses were made specially for someone with a unique arrangement of letters. Ard dis- cussed this specific style, "Monogram- ming has been around for ages dating back to the Greeks and Romans. When early settlers from England arrived, many of their belongings were engraved with their monogram and crest. In the south, we are what we are taught and traditions we hold dear. While other parts of the U.S. may consider it passé; we as southerners know it was here long before us and is an art that will continue long aer us!" Ard continued, "Person- ally, I think used with taste and a little modesty it can be very distinguishing. Let us not forget the prestigious LV on Louis Vuitton and interlocking CC on Chanel are both monograms. I'm sure all southerners will agree with me, when I use the southern endearment 'Bless your heart,' for all those that don't care for monogramming!" vibradrda@aol.com ~ www.vibrasgifts.com ~ 910.897.4004 ~ 7390 Plain View Hwy. in Dunn 910.920.1590 ~ 214 Mason Street in Downtown Fayetteville Vibra's is off Green St. behind the Downtown Post Office or access Vibra's by Ray Avenue across from Festival Park ViBRa's OF FAYETTEVILLE Owners Megan Barefoot Stewart & Donna Herring Barefoot Fashionable Jewelry & Clothing Boutique Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan

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