I’m obsessed with Pinterest and I know most of you are too, so I know you’ll relate to this. You know when you find a blog and you’re scrolling and you find yourself pinning every single thing on the page? Like, this blogger knows what I like?! Well, that’s how Fly is for me. Andrea Pippins, Fly’s sole editor, started the blog in 2006 as “a daily resource to inspire young women to pursue their creative passions.” From fashion trends and wallpaper patterns to vintage artwork and color palettes, Andrea shares a sampling of it all for her readers on a daily basis. I’m particularly fond of her fashion picks – they’re always full of color and pattern, and I’m constantly thinking, “That’s so daring! Could I do that? I should do that!” Her goal is to continually empower people to be individualistic and creative in every way, just like this.
Andrea comes from a visual communications background and has a MFA in graphic design that has landed her positions working with well-known design publications and brands, such as Hallmark Cards, TV Land/Nick at Nite, Free People, Nickelodeon and Creative Quarterly. Her original posts give her an opportunity to showcase her expertise and showcase new talent as well.
Read on to see why we heart Fly so.
One of my favorite features on Fly is Fly Girl of the Week. FGOTW focuses on celebrating strong, interesting, inspiring and creative women from diverse backgrounds. Women from all across the world can nominate themselves by sharing their life experiences, passions and inspiration among each other. It allows people globally to connect in an aspirational way while also promoting their own personal brands.
What I Like Right Now is a well-laid out image of Andrea’s current faves. Whenever she shared her golden list I thought we must be sisters, because I was in the middle of a golden haze myself. I love how some months her list is full of current reads and delicious snacks, while others are lined with current beauty must-haves and jewelry trends. Either way, I enjoy discovering what’s topping her list at the moment because I usually end up finding some things to add to my own, like these Trinket Flats from Anthropologie and Paula Scher: Maps, a book of maps painted by designer Paula Scher herself.
You’ll immediately notice Andrea’s incredible eye for textiles and patterns. Many of her interior and fashion finds relate to her love of graphic design, too. “I think our interests in all facets of our lives influence how we dress, collect art and decorate/design our homes. Seeing a color in a painting can inspire one to incorporate that hue into their wardrobe or influence someone to buy a pillow within that same palette,” Andrea says. “From the perspective of a graphic designer, I am constantly looking to other areas of design for inspiration in color, composition and texture.”
Check out some of Andrea’s coolest picks that I was instantly drooling over.
She’s also an excellent source when it comes to color trends, and her posts are always full of pretty hues. I think we’re all a bit intrigued by bright colors, so it’s nice to come to place where we can get a constant dose in various forms. Her hot neon lime collection even inspired me to paint my nails a luscious highlighter hue. (I couldn’t resist!)
Hot Neon Lime
As part of her grad school thesis project Andrea created I Love My Hair, which was originally a movement to inspire African-American women to embrace their naturally curly hair. Years later, I Love My Hair has become a brand that now offers special prints and designs to celebrate its original cause. “I shared a few images on my site just for fun and received tons of comments and emails asking me to sell the artwork, so I opened up the online shop,” says Andrea. “It always sells out! I’m always trying to keep up with the orders!” Stay posted, because Andrea says there’s a surprise collaboration happening in the spring with I Love My Hair. We can’t wait!
When it comes to fashion, design and hot trends, Fly is a go-to for me. Every time I stop by I know exactly what I’m getting, and it’s Andrea’s incredible picks that will always keep me coming back for more each day. Head over to Fly and check it out for yourself!
Is there a blog, like Fly for me, that speaks to your style? Tell us all about it below.
[...] the Month: Meet Andrea Pippins From Fly HGTV Design Happens Sat, February 4, 2012 11:00 PM UTC HGTV Design Happens Rate Share (function(){var [...]
I started reading Andrea's blog in 2009. She's such an inspiration.
Yay!! I love Andrea's blog!! Great feature!! from my fave channel HGTV!!
Nice coverage, Great Blog! Congrats Andrea!
I love Fly and adore Andrea as a person even more. She's just as bright and colorful as her picks. It's great that you're highlighting her! Oh and another blog I love is Design Wonderland!
Thanks for sharing! I'll have to add that one to my feed
What a superb blog! Thanks for introducing. I really needed the bright colors this week!
I'm new to FLY and blown away by the class, culture and vivid color of the site!
As a lover of textiles and all things colorful, I look forward to see what FLY is going to do next.
FLY is such an inspirational site. Andrea is a sweetheart! Congratulations….
thanks to the HGTV Pinterest board, I stumbled across FLY. First time EVER that I clicked through a pin and kept clicking through until I got to the original source. Gotta say this – always happy to see a sister doing her thing in blog land – especially on the design side.
New FLY follower.
Bernadette http://www.b3hd.blogspot.com
Fly is one of my favorite blogs. Go Andrea!
Hello. Does anyone have any advice on how to remove wallpaper that has been painted over. We would appreciate any words of wisdom. Thank you from a new home owner of an older home.
Just finished doing exactly that. Buy a "Paper Tiger" scoring tool (preferably the one with three rotating blades instead of just one, to save time.) Score the entire surface of the wall you want to remove the paper from. Buy a garden-style pump sprayer, and fill with water (it works just as well as the "wallpaper removal" products.
Then soak the heck out of the wallpaper. I mean SOAK it. To make this job doable (without spending hours scraping in vain), you'll spray down your walls at least three times, waiting about 10 or 15 minutes between each spray for it to soak in. You're doing it right if you have water cascading down the walls onto your floor.
Then use a scraper to peel the paper away. Again, you did it right if the paper wants to pull off the wall.
Good luck!
My mom has beige 4 x 4 tiles for her backsplash. Rather than cutting out all the tile and starting over, I would like to create the subway tile look, to make 4 x 8 tiles. I am thinking i need to fill in the grout of 2 tiles nest to oneanother with something, and faux paint; bu what may I use to 'fill in' 2 tiles?
Those design and style are really fantastic this is my first time to see like this god job,, keep it up..
CZ 858