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

Super Neat Architecture

        Look at these cool structures! If I wasn't in interior design (and if I was smarter lol-joking) I would take architecture.... but Im no Dr.Cipriano (hehe). 


*Note: None of these images are mine, I don't know where I got them.

So so cool (And look at that spooky little cemetery beside and the fog). Love it. 

 Imagine being in there? You would feel like you were going to topple off at any moment. But imagine the view...

 Angkor Wat. I did a project on this in art history class but don't remember to much about it except that its super cool...

Modern architecture. Love it. I love how the shapes are all stacked on top of each other. 

Brr! But I could totally live in something like that.

I can't remember what this is....its pretty though...A more historical example of architecture. Super detailed.