Loooove it

        I came across a few things just now on Pinterest and thought I would share quickly. This flooring is made from wine boxes. I LOVE IT and want right now. The second image is of a re-purposed window made into a table.

http://pinterest.com/pin/266134659200842610/

http://pinterest.com/pin/38773246762796005/

The Chalk Board Wall

     As you all know, I have trouble sometimes thinking out of the box. It is a big thing for me because as a designer, you are trying to create an original space (or I am anyways), if a client is going to pay the big bucks... you had better have some cool ideas. This is where this idea comes into play- A chalk board wall. I know you may have come across it before.. but I love it. I'm wondering if you would just use chalkboard paint, or if this would have to be installed? I think chalkboard paint would work; I think I am going to try it/look into it.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/clytie-claudias-storied-pieces-house-tour-171721

http://style-files.com/2008/09/02/blackboard-walls/

http://www.designsponge.com/2011/04/sneak-peek-kirra-jamison-dane-lovett.html/4_kirra

http://cabbageroseblog.com/page/8

The bad blogger and the bad designer

      Ok, so I've been a bad blogger and designer have abandoned ship lately. I find that when I'm not working I become un-motivated and don't look into design things as much as I should. You would think that as a designer, when you don't have design work to do, you would take the time to do some research. Apparently not. 
    As a quick update, I just got hired at a different job which I'm totally pumped about. It sounds like the perfect "dream job" right now and I hope it works out this time. *Fingers crossed*. 
   With this being said, I'm going to try to make a better effort to post more and get back into researching design related things. I was at a party this weekend and was asked "So, as a designer, what are the design trends right now" and I didn't know how to answer that. I'm not one for design trends anyways, because lets face it, interiors can get very pricey and if your spending dollas, you don't want to be over your space in like two years. That being said, its not that I like traditional things (infact I despise traditional) but I do love modern spaces. Here are some images of super modern spaces that I LOVE. Next post's assignment is to look into a design trend for right now, because lets face facts here... I should know this. 

http://wkarch.com/projects/eugenie

http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.ca/search?updated-max=2012-07-20T10:56:00-04:00

http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/29209037_4SM7U0CI_c.jpg

Plan #1

     Here's the plan. Recently as you know if you have been reading along, that I'm trying to think of ways to make some extra money. Here again comes thinking outside of the box that I talk about so often. I've had a few ideas... but the one I think I'm going to go with is lace knitting. I don't think many knitters take on lace knitting because a)it takes time and b)it can get complicated. I love it; I think its fun and challenging and I'm always up for a challenge. I was thinking of some really nice light mohair scarves, and some cowls, and a while ago I knitted up a very nice (and surprisingly warm) lace throw. Here are some inspiration images:

http://www.purlbee.com/checkerboard-lace-scarf/

Not what I had in mind, but super neat idea!

http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2012/02/sat-nite-special-120-old-windows.html

http://store.vogueknitting.com/p-2242-lace-cover-up.aspx

http://brooklyntweed.net/blog/?p=967

Biscotti making, rain listening

Here are some suitable songs to listen to today, while you read:

            As of late, I've really had the urge to create things with my hands. This started last weekend I think when I was feeling a little down and a little sick with what has been going on the world and how busy people are and how little things don't seem to matter anymore sometimes. I think this all spiraled from being up north a few weekends ago when I had time to just be somewhere without thinking about work (or lack there of), or anything else that is going on right now. It was nice to just sit on the dock with the fresh air (and trust me, up north air is SO much fresher/cleaner then the air that I breathe on a daily basis) and read a book and think about nothing. That being said, when I got home, I kinda hit the wall. I just wanted to be back up north again where things seem to be going at a slower pace and where people aren't texting while walking their dog, or dressed to the nine's to go grocery shopping. I think this need to create things with my hands has come from that weekend. Last weekend I made a pie, dough from scratch and all, and during the week I picked blueberries. Today, while I was reading outside it started to rain (I was covered with a roof on a porch). I decided rather then to go inside, I would just sit there and listen to the rain and read. I knew that inside, the TV was on, the air was blasting; I was not interested. I read outside until I felt satisfied then came inside to bake muffins. It was so gratifying to do something so simple. Muffins where ready and out of the oven and I still felt like doing more. I moved onto chocolate anise biscotti. I'm one of those people that always has to have music on, no matter what is happening, but today, I just opened the window, and baked to the sound of the thunder and rain. Someone in the house turned on the TV to watch more news coverage of an incident that recently happened and I couldn't take it. How dare you ruin my biscotti making, rain listening time with your stupid news story that has already received enough coverage. I'm trying to do something positive with my day, and here you are plunking yourself down in front of the TV to watch another hour of this awful news story that I now have to listen to. I opened the window wider so that the sound of the rain and thunder would drown out the news lady and the horrid story. I think there is something to be said about doing something productive with your hands. It doesn't happen that much any more I don't think. Why bake biscotti when you can just go to Starbucks and buy some? Why knit a scarf when you can just buy one? The list goes on. I feels good to me- it just feels good, and that's all there is too it. It slows me down, when I'm submerged in a society where everything is go go go. 

*Image not mine, I don't know where it came from

*Image not mine, I don't know where it came from

The chocolate anise biscotti I made (I have yet to try)

If they can do it......

            Hello all. A few things to say today. Because I was recently laid off from my new job that I really enjoyed, I now have a lot of spare time on my hands. TOO much spare time. I am not good with too much spare time, infact I'm only good with minuscule amounts of spare time. I'm one of those people who ALWAYS has to be buzy. That means that I'm knitting while watching TV, reading a good book, or have to be doing something productive at least 90% of the time. In the summer it's ok to be laying on the beach for a day I guess. When I'm not working, I feel useless and like a total loser and bum and like I'm not being a contributing member of society. I feel like I'm not my best self because I'm not doing something that I love and I'm just doing little things at home to make up the time. This time, I've tried to make the best of the time that I have off (even though it has been a major struggle). 
         With all of this being said I've decided to use my other creative abilities and think of ways in which I can make some extra money. I must say, I'm a really good knitter, and baker. How does one realistically make money off of this though? I looked into a festival that is going to be at the end of August so that I could sell some of my knitted items... and calculated that I couldn't do it this year because a)Its to expensive ($400 for your booth) and that would mean that I would have to sell 13 items at $30.00each which brings me to b)I don't have 30 items to sell and won't before the end of August is over. So I couldn't do that one. I then decided that I should be teaching some knitting classes...I've thought about this before but never went through the motions of actually trying to do so. I've put up signs (the kind with the tabs at the bottom with an email/phone number on the bottom) and I also created a facebook page as well tweeting (tweet-ing?) about it and facebooking about it. So far, one potential taker. Doesn't anyone want to learn how to knit?! I've now decided that in the mean time, I'm going to knit several "lace" pieces and try to sell them. Knitting lace is a)Very pretty and b)I don't think a lot of people do it so I'm hoping that if I make enough things people will be interested in buying them. I also thought about making a few baked items and selling them at the outdoor market once a week. Thinking off all of these things makes me feel like a crazy person, like what am I doing?!
           This post is getting much longer then intended by the way. I really came here today so share with you a few people who are "independent artists" as I call them, who are just doing their own thing, doing what they love, doing what they are good at, and making money from it. If they can do it, why can't I? WHY can't I? That seems to be the problem/question. WHY can't I. Check out these artists who have seemed to be able to figure it out. (I feel bitter).

Jenna Rose:
http://jennarose.ca/

http://jennarose.ca/collection2.html

http://jennarose.ca/collection11.html

http://jennarose.ca/collection14.html

This girl seems to know how to make some extra dollas on the side with her knitting. Here is a scarf of her's:

Good night, day: http://goodnightday.bigcartel.com/

(May I also mention that this girl doesn't at all look like she wants to be wearing that scarf)

http://goodnightday.bigcartel.com/product/meaford-lambs-wool-cowl-hand-dip-dyed-in-burnt-orange-hues

Brooklyn Rehab: http://www.etsy.com/shop/brooklynrehab

Cute lockets

*Note: All of these artists can be found at White Elephant (A GREAT store that is worth checking out). Everything in there is handmade by an independent artist. Check it out: http://www.whiteelephantshop.ca/

1950's Photographer

     Today at work I was asked to do some research on 1950's design as there may be a client, who's a photographer, looking to design her photography studio in a 1950's style. In doing this, I came across a photographer named Vivian Maier. 
   I found some inspiration in this and thought it would be interesting to design a wall of black and white images by Vivan Maier against a coloured wall so I began looking at some of her photos. May I also note that I love the 50's (not like tacky diner style 50's with poodles and black and white checkered flooring) but just the whole ideal and lifestyle of the 50's. To me her images really captured that time. 
     Vivan Maier has an interesting story (don't worry I will make it short). She was a nanny (who grew up in France and moved to NY, and didn't have a lot of money) but loved taking pictures in her spare time. She took thousands of pictures during the 50's and for decades after (100,000 to be exact) and stashed the negatives in a "locker" that she had at her apartment. In 2007 they were discovered at an auction two years before she died. What I like most about this story is that she wasn't trying. She wasn't trying to be a famous photographer, she just loved taking pictures.. and they are amazing.
Here are some of her photo's:


*Note: ALL photos are Vivian Maier's and come from the following link-
http://www.vivianmaier.com/

  

Work struggles... drawing struggles.....and lots of tracing paper later

    So I have something to say. Today, Im feeling rather useless at work and like I don't know what I'm doing. I'm sure many of you can relate. What do you do when you feel this way? How do you solve this problem? Your asked to do something at work, and it takes you much much MUCH much longer then it should have; you don't know why, you don't know how, there is no reason other then thinking to yourself "Its because I suck"- which clearly isn't the case, but thats not to say that thats not how you FEEL. 
   My boss showed me some drawings that he had done years ago.. and they were amazing. Yes I'm aware that I don't have his experience, but how did he get there. If i'm sitting here trying to do this sketch of a floor plan... and it doesn't look like how it's supposed to.. how do you get from point A to B and when does that happen if it needs to happen like NOW. No i'm not expected to have the same kind of skills that a senior designer would have.. but how do you get there. I feel like I am living in a time where everyone my age wants things NOW. I know that I need to relax and just learn.. but I feel useless. When I'm using 100 pieces of tracing paper and talking all day to do something that should have taken a few hours.. I feel like I "suck" and like I don't know what Im doing. Give me a computer... some AUTOCADD (or  PowerCADD in my case) and I'm good to go. Give me a piece of paper and a pen... not so much. I like hand drawing.. but Im not that great at it especially under pressure. I feel like I should know these things (how to draw properly)... and I don't. I feel like I should be able to do these kinda things with my eyes closed... but I can't. Being the girl with little experience who just wants to be  the best designer she can be is hard. I re-read that sentence and realize that I am being the best designer that I can be RIGHT NOW. Its not like I didn't want to do the drawing, or didn't try, or didn't care.. I just haven't done a lot of these kinds of things which explains my lack of ability which explains why it took so long. But even still..it doesn't feel so great and it makes you feel like your boss is thinking "Why did I hire this girl". Hope you all can relate.. that is my post for today. No pretty pictures.. just me explaining how I feel today at work. 

I lied... I have a picture.. of hand drawings that I wish I was able to do:

(Drawing is not mine...see link below)

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbs-Fpc_KECd0svBHpQ6DiLPke4ouT2bUD6cbCsQPMYGNscQuU9lk6_bDu81GHfvplOzVB5sDgevLJHSOQ1uDG3jPBHOLQhSGlbJ41DLIoqtP5Oc9HSfv1KoAYloG3l_xH-RaWS5-e4gg/s1600/mixedusebldg-concept+sketch.jpg

Fish light? Oh yes, thats right.

      Awesome lighting that I (well my co-worker) came across today. The company is called Yellow Goat Design and they are out of Australia. I'm always looking for things that are interesting and that I've never seen before.. after all.. isn't that why we are designers? To create unique spaces?!
      I will never understand designers (of any kind) who lack creativity and design things that aren't unique or interesting in some way. Isn't that your job?!  Isn't that why you became a designer? Because you have creative ability and are artsy fartsy? Anyways, before I get heated about it... here are some really neat lighting installations (reminds me of Carrie from Sex and the City when she's explaining to her girlfriends what her artist boyfriend is working on and he corrects her and says that they are actually large scale lighting installations lol). It is crazy to me the things that people come up with.. where did that idea come from? For example, look at the first light called "Fishball" how does one come up with the idea to create a large light that looks like a school of fish..they even look like they are in motion. Its crazy. 

*Note: All images are from Yellow Goat Design. Here is the link if you want to check it out-
http://www.yellowgoat.com.au/

"Fishball"

http://www.yellowgoat.com.au/E1230::221662:Fishball

"Fiction"

http://www.yellowgoat.com.au/E1230::219100:Fiction

"In Black"

http://www.yellowgoat.com.au/E1230::219097:In-Black

"Lanterns"- Now this is amazing

http://www.yellowgoat.com.au/E14335::158386:Lanterns

I want!

      Today at the office while I was doing some neatening up I came across a business card for a company called Artcraft Kitchens- They are based in Niagara Falls Ontario. I went on their website and literally gasped when I saw some of these kitchens. They are architecturally interesting, modern, and simple. 

    If you read my post from a while ago about windows, you would know that lots windows and natural light in a home is a MUST for me. I love cooking and if I had my own house/apartment I would definitely be the friend who has people over all the time. That being said, I want to be in this kitchen NOW (the second one is really nice as well).

The following four images are from the link listed here: http://www.artcraftkitchens.com/portfolio_featured.php

This kitchen was designed by Richard Knight- Korts & Night

This is the other kitchen I was talking about:

The previous three photos above are from the following link: http://www.artcraftkitchens.com/portfolio_featured.php

If I call this something besides "Green Design" will you read it?

          I was doing research for some kitchen appliances the other morning at work, and there were some really great video's posted on the website. Not boring ones...good ones! Check them out! There are some really high profile designers and architects speaking about kitchen design and design in general. I particularly found Michael McDonough's parts to be rather interesting. When I was at school, we read a book that was written by him and another guy. The book is called "Cradle to Cradle"and it's defiantly a must read for designers (or anyone who's interested in design. The book is about the environmental impacts design has and ways in which we can and have to change these negative impacts. It really creates awareness. I also came across Michael McDonough's website and it looks like he has some interesting video's up there as well including a series that he did which is narrated by Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman (It would be funny/awesome... if Brad Pitt was dressed up as Louis from Interview with the Vampire and there was a little thumbnail at the bottom of the video of him doing the narration to the video lol)

Here is the link for the videos: http://www.subzero-wolf.com/kitchen-design-plans/kitchen-design-ideas.aspx

Here is the link for "Cradle to Cradle": http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm

Here is the link for Michael McDonough's series (or maybe he's just featured in it)-which I have yet to watch: http://www.pbs.org/e2/ 
or try this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDnvY6xHOjw

Here is a clip from one of the video's in the series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuQhlfSsqw4&feature=context-shows&list=SL

Something to share

   So I came across this company (Galbraith and Paul) while doing my "paisley" post. They have really nice stuff- fabrics and wallpaper. From what I understand they are a small company (a couple) and they do their own block printing etc. Check it out: 
http://www.galbraithandpaul.com/

Images from their website:

"Pomegranate"

"Birds Silhouette"

"Pizzelle"

"Lotus" wallpaper (LOVE it)

"Tulip" wallpaper

Oooooo and look at their neat lighting!

They also design rugs. I really like this one, "Tulip" (and the entire room)

     Its nice to see small company's now a days and you should try supporting small businesses when possible. If you know of a small company and would like to share...please do :)

Here is their website again: http://www.galbraithandpaul.com/

Paisley

     So lately I have been a little stumped about what to blog about. Today, I clicked on the first image I liked on Pinterest and decided to use that as inspiration for todays post. As you know (from SEVERAL posts ago) I totally love retro design (and funnily enough I also love modern design). That being said I think paisley can be used in such a way that it looks more modern and less 70's (not that there's anything wrong with that). Im definitely not a fan of all paisley prints- I don't like anything overkill obviously or small paisley's, and I know sometimes paisley can look a little "grandma" (whatever that means) but used in the correct application... it can look really cool and fun. See pictures below: 

http://www.designsponge.com/

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/444221/list/couches

Paisley inspired bracelet. Can I have this now please?

http://pinterest.com/pin/247486941993025288/

http://homedreamsandcolorschemes.tumblr.com/post/9460656380

http://pinterest.com/pin/171488698281455521/

New/Modern paisley

http://www.galbraithandpaul.com/textiles-index.php

More traditional paisley (the kind I dont like)

http://www.fschumacher.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=174883