Roominations

Postcard

2010-09-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Poster!

2010-09-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

The 45 Lessons

2009-08-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19.. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Baby, come back (Picture that singing mop)

2009-08-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hello faithful readers! Hello, hello, are you still there (tumbleweed passing and the sounds of chirping.) Okay, I deserve that. It, again, has been a long time since I have written last. I get it if you have decided to abandon ship. But, my lack of writing has not been about being too busy to write. (Finally!) Rather, I have been trying to decide what to do about the direction of this blog. I promise I am not abandoning ship--instead I have decided to steer things in a different direction.

As much as I love design, I am engrossed in it all day long every day and have decided that I am not as inspired as I used to be by writing about it.

And, there it is again! That word again--inspired! I took the afternoon and have read through my blog in it's entirety and I would say the word "inspiration" or some derivitive of it appears in almost every post that I write. I have decided to take this as a sign that maybe inspiration should be the focus of my blog--roominations about life, what's important, and what it means to truly live. Of course, art and design is still inspiring to me and will be a main topic here, but my life has been inspired by so many things that have nothing to do with design and everything to do with having that overwhelming I'M ALIVE feeling.

The first two years I was back in Chicago, I lead a very singular life revolving around developing my art and design. Through these intense years, I realized that I am more of a generalist--not a specialist! It drove me nuts to put such a strong emphasis on one interest that it took all my time from all the other eight million things that interest me.

I have savored the past eight months and my ability to be able to water my other interests and watch them grow. So, as my blog may become a bit scattered, I am going to focus more on my writing and the inspiration I find in my unending joy of just living. Oh, and I'm sure I will throw in my inane ramblings about the quirks of life. I am not promising fluffy bunnies here.

I would be remiss if I took all the credit for this change in the direction in my blog. I was recently instant messaging with an old friend and co-worker who I did Americorps with back in my ghetto Baltimore days. She told me she had read my blog and that I should write a book about what is important in life--I believe that's how she put it. First of all, this may be ranked in the top three compliments I have gotten in my entire life. Secondly, I may not have time to write a book, but I sure as heck can blog the crap out of my observations on life, love, inspiration, and living a life less ordinary. Thanks, Jackie!

So, I hope all of you enjoy this new focus and the fact that I will be posting more regularly now. I'm excited for this change!

http://forgottenchicago.com/features/chicago-architecture/st-ignatius-architectural-ornament-graveyard/

2009-03-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

Check out http://www.forgottenchicago.com/ and find out the background on all of the amazing artifacts adorning my high school, good old St. Ignatius. Go Wolfpack. Also, find out some cool and interesting facts about architecture in Chicago.

2009-03-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

Shelves made of chairs-Awesome! (Photo is from a store in Japan.)

Brad in the City

2009-01-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

Hello all. Yes, I've dropped the ball on my blog for the past few months. The holidays and getting laid off and then rehired in a new (and WAY better) position at work are the culprits conspiring together to steal my time. But, this year it is a whole new Margey and I am only taking one class this semester and focusing on my art, friends, boyfriend, family, new job and (gasp) myself. The above work is a commissioned painting that my coworker asked me to do after he saw my work at Imagine (he bought the pink lady painting.) It was really fun to do this for him and I was pleased with how it turned out. I was even more pleased when I saw how excited he was when he got it and that he told me he was going to spread the word to his friends. Yay. Enjoy :)

Ugliest Chair Ever

2008-11-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

This is so ridiculously heinous, I just had to share it.

Speaking of nontraditional materials. . .

2008-11-19T17:33:00.001-08:00

Check out this article on the "scrap house" on Dwell's website, http://www.dwell.com/homes/green/33933454.html

2008-11-19T17:12:00.000-08:00

I love it when materials are used in non-traditional ways in interior spaces! These tile walls blew me away. I absolutely love them! I know this space is very modern, but the graceful curves of the chandelier warm up the space and add elegance. Wow.

http://www.aiweiwei.com/html/works.htm

2008-11-10T14:04:00.001-08:00

The only room I've ever seen that has more bikes than Sean's Room.

Provocative photo from Todd Selby

2008-11-08T14:38:00.000-08:00

I want this hat and dress and check out the candle wax waterfall in the background!

The Imperfect Hello has been completed

2008-11-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

Quote my friend, "I love you. I'm so glad you called."

I'm going to be doing this more often.

The Imperfect Hello

2008-11-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

This was a blog written by Christine Kane on her blog, http://www.christinekane.com/blog. She is very inspirational and has many great insights to share. Please take a moment to visit her site. For anyone who is creative, she is a voice of wisdom.

I especially appreciated the following blog and wanted to share it with all of you. It's ironic that I read this today of all days because I was just thinking earlier about how I think that it is actually my perfectionist tendencies that help me maintain my all A streak in design school, NOT necessarily my creativity. It's this same search for creative perfection that causes weekly freak-outs, loss of sleep, and most DEFINITELY (and detrimentally) my disconnection with my friends and my own thoughts. I have really tried to examine these tendencies lately and mitigate my desire to succeed in a creative environment AND have a fulfilling and wonderfully diverse life. I am really trying here, friends and family. I swear! I even told Sean to help keep me in check.

I am really going to try to incorporate imperfect hellos into my life. As a matter of fact, I am going to make one now. I am going to call my friend who moved to Chicago six months ago who I haven't even seen and who I hold very dear to my heart. (You know who you are--and you're just about to get a phone call from me).

Do you ever have those times when you’re just plain really busy?
I do.
In fact, I’ve been there a lot lately with all the shifts and changes happening in my career, and all the shows and speaking I’ve done lately.
Now, here’s the thing about me.
I can be in one of these busy places, and yet I’ll find myself spending a good 30 minutes scrubbing the kitchen faucet with an old toothbrush or something inane like that.
Enter The Drill Sergeant.
There’s this little perfectionist Drill Sergeant in me that tries to keep everything on task and doesn’t want anything to go wrong. She knows that I’m such an “in-the-moment” person that it’s very easy for me to wander off on little activity tangents that often involve scrubbing things with old toothbrushes.
The Drill Sergeant means well, but she can get a little power-hungry…
“You have to leave for Albany tomorrow,” she barks. “You don’t have time to write that email!”
“No you can’t go out for lunch tomorrow! You have a phone meeting to prepare for!”
These busy times don’t last forever, of course. But when I have them, it’s important that I do stay focused and on-task, so I don’t mind a little help from the Drill Sergeant.
One day when I was in such a busy state, I thought of my friend Kathy. I thought of how we hadn’t really talked in a few weeks. I wondered what was going on, how her house sale was going, and how her law school applications were coming along.
I was just about to grab the phone to call her and say hi when I heard the Drill Sergeant remind me of my schedule.
She was right.
I had a flight the very next day, and a meeting with my accountant that afternoon.
So, I created a compromise.
I called Kathy.
When she picked up I said, “This is officially an Imperfect Hello. I know we have a million things to catch up on, and that if I were truly a good friend, I’d set aside an hour for catching up. I don’t have an hour. But I was thinking of you. And I’d rather say hello imperfectly than not say hello at all.”
Kathy knows me well, and she has several of her own perfection-seeking Drill Sergeants in her head.
She burst out laughing, and said, “Well, I’m so glad you opted for imperfection!”
We talked for about 3 minutes, and we both hung up smiling.
I’m writing this post today for two reasons:
The first reason is that many of you have your own busy lives. I know it’s easy to put people aside because you’re holding out for a more “perfect” version of yourself, or for a few unscheduled hours of free time when you can really catch up.
This is your official permission to not be perfect.
Try the Imperfect Hello some time. I’ve used it a lot in these past two months. It keeps you connected, it allows you to stay focused, and it builds your courage, too. (Besides, most people love the idea and will start using it themselves!)
The second reason is that I’m home this week catching up after two months of nearly constant traveling, and this is - as you might have guessed - an “Imperfect Blog post.”

Self-Portrait

2008-11-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

I did this for my drawing class last year. It is a picture of me holding a mirror.

Imagine

2008-11-07T15:10:00.000-08:00

The final of a series of paintings I did for Imagine--title inspired by the name of the occasion itself. I had so much fun doing these paintings, I hope they earn some money for DIFFA. We'll see next Friday. . .

A Bird No Longer in Flight

2008-11-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

A pair of mixed media paintings

Over the Hills and Far Away

2008-11-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

Here is another mixed media painting I created for Imagine. I like using mixed media because it is symbolic of my hodge-podge life. A little bit of this and little bit of that for this gal :)

Pretty Little Things

2008-11-06T20:49:00.000-08:00

I created several mixed media paintings for Imagine--a student-run silent auction that our school holds. Proceeds are going to DIFFA-The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. I used paint, fabric, paper, modge-podge, ink, and vintage jewelry. As the title suggests, I hope this 12" x 12" painting finds itself a home with an owner who appreciates how sweet it is.

Axonometric Drawing

2008-11-06T20:26:00.000-08:00

That's what we call this type of drawing in "the biz". I drew this in my first drafting class. It is a fictional coffee shop I designed for the first floor of Harrington called Perk. The circular furniture is meant to mimic bubbles perculating :)

I Heart this Lamp!

2008-10-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

I love how this bold Mark Sadler adjustable Twiggy Lamp is juxtaposed with the more traditional peices in this room. Too bad it's a little outside of my budget--$2,125. But, if anyone is looking for a Christmas present for me. . .

http://www.theblackapple.typepad.com/

2008-10-25T10:40:00.001-07:00

Emily Martin is one of the most popular artists on ETSY and I can see why from her art. The picture shown above, though, shows her interior design talent. I love how she created an off-balance cluster of silhouettes in the corner of this room with a slanted ceiling. Take some time to look at her website and experience her whimsy and almost meloncholy artwork and designs.

Disclaimer

2008-10-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Okay, I should have put a disclaimer on my last entry that I was severely sleep-deprived after creating a 26 page computerized portfolio in Photoshop for a design consultatation that I donated for a silent auction for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in two weekends. I literally went without sleep and even food (and this is me we are talking about!!!) to work a total of thirty-five hours in two weekends to create a portfolio that I hoped would inspire some high bidding in the name of charity. Clearly, I hit the point of insanity.

Well, two break-downs at Kinkos, an insane blog posting, and lots of screaming at Photoshop later, the portfolio was a success. The event was last night and my classmate who asked me for the donation said that it did great at the auction. She wasn't sure about the ending number for the bidding, but I know that I generated at least $100 because that is where they started the bids. I can't wait to hear from the winner. All I know about him is he's a guy. I can't wait to see his space and hear what he is thinking. I will keep all of you posted.

That being said, I had to scan all of my work from school and my free-lance work, so I will be posting a lot in the coming weeks for all of you to see why you never hear from me and I only come out of my hole in between semesters.

I thank all those who expressed concern about my well-being due to my last crazy posting. The men in white suits haven't shown up yet. (Although, I think Sean has been tempted to call them.) It's nice to know people love and care about me. I don't think I could get through the challenges of my hectic schedule without the support of those who are close to me!

Completely Personal, Not Design-Related

2008-10-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, I will get right to the punch here. I'm exhausted. No, let me put it another way. I'm tired of saying how exhausted I am.

I have done and seen a lot in my short little life. I have experienced whole life upheavals, moved across the world and back again, seen human suffering and extreme poverty close-up, said good-bye to loved ones, had a broken heart, etc. And, I think I can honestly say that these past few years of my life have been even more challenging than any of these experiences.

What? You say disbelievingly. Aren't you in love? Aren't you pursuing your dreams? You have cool friends. A great place to live. You are close to your family. HELLO?

I know, I know. But, the thing is, I am too tired to enjoy any of it. I'm just tired. I am tired all the time. I've never felt anything like this. It's like watching this great life with a huge cataract of exaustion over it. There is always this gentle haze or veil over everything. This looming other that takes over my life and that I always have to account for and plan around. Well, I could go out with my friends, but then who would watch my exhaustion. Dinner with my parents? Well, I hope my exhaustion can go. Sean and I can hang out, but only after I spend the day with exhaustion.

I don't know how much longer I can do this to myself! My mind and body are spent.

I feel myself putting people at a distance because I know that all I am going to want to talk about is how stressed and tired I am. Unless, I've built up years of credit, this is just lame. There are only the select few in my life right now who know the previous less tired version of myself. But, it's hard to talk to them too. Through the lens of my current life, these other lifetimes were amazing and exhaustion-free. I had no idea how great I had it. And, I want to plead with the people who have just met me in the past few years and say, "I swear this isn't who I am! I value balance. I take long walks. I journal. I have long phone conversations with the people I love. The people in my life ARE my life."

But, see, I am not living these values that are so core to me. So, how can I claim that these things are who I am? Who I am right now is a workaholic. A very tired workaholic. One of those who could possibly be the main character on a Hallmark channel spin-off of It's a Wonderful Life. The person who needs an epiphany because she gets angry at teenagers in love on the El at 10:30 at night because she has been up since 6:15 working all day. (Violins, anyone?)

I feel like that old aunt who is painful to be around because she only wants to talk about the past and then complain about bunyons. Like that aunt, nobody wants to hear about my great past. Unlike that aunt, my big bunyon comes in the form of 45 hours of work a week, 8 hours of class, and 10-20 hours of homework every weekend. An impossible schedule that doesn't allow me time to do anything outside what is absolutely necesary to get done. Down-time, what's that?

I find myself saying things like, "if only I didn't have to hang out with my sister "or "well, I have to go to that party" or "oh my god, I haven't even noticed that I have dandruff and my hairdresser is using a snowblower to dry my hair." This really happened! I was too busy to notice I have embarrassing little white flakes! The ones from the commercials. The affliction that happens to other people, not me. How did I not realize that I needed to buy medicated Shampoo asap?

I didn't notice because I don't have time for the little things. In some ways, this has actually been beneficial. I don't obsess over calories anymore. I haven't spent hours obsessing over my stomach in the mirror since I enrolled in design school. This is something that used to weigh me down (literally) and now I scarcely think about it. Sophomore year of college, this would have been a release from a mental jail. I don't mind my body. I've actually come to like it because without it, I couldn't accomplish the creative work I do and I certainly couldn't maintain my schedule.

This schedule that will supposedly get me to my dream of being a designer.

And, isn't this what it is all about? I got to the point in my life, a few years ago, when I realized the best thing I can do for this world is share my talents. It took me a while to figure out what these talents were. But, now that I know, this is what I plan on doing-share my creativity with the world because not everyone is blessed with a creative mind. I'm not going to lie, I question the sacrifice I make every day to hopefully actualize a life as a designer. Was I actually cursed with a creative mind? Why can't I just sit at a desk and make more money than I do now and go home at the end of the day? Maybe this is a better fit for me? I obsess over whether I am making the right decision. But, I know that I am destined to live a life less ordinary for the rest of my life. I am the person who goes by the motto, "live every day to the fullest." While I sacrifice my sanity daily to make this happen, I can't picture another way to live right now. But, I sure as heck have a long loooooong list of things I am going to do when this madness is all over. (Sleep is very high on this list.) August 22, 2009, if any one would like to know. This highlighted day on my calendar is when I will obtain my degree for free from Harrington College of Design with which I can work in the design field for 4 years and then become a licenced Interior Designer. I know it's not the date that marks the end of the journey of hard work, but it will be the fork in the road that will lead me to my next exciting path.

Okay, so I guess this post did become design-related. Why didn't anyone ever tell me finding your passion and pursuing your dreams drives you to slight madness and consuming obsession? Who knew?

New Art/Design Hero

2008-09-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

Alyson Fox is amazingly inspirational! Check out her site, www.alysonfox.com. I want her house. I want her prints. I want her clothes. I want her jewelry.

I think I want to be her. Or just cool like her :)

2008-08-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

Another image from theselby.com--aka, my newest internet haunt. I'm completely coveting the wood carving on the far wall. I also love the choice of colors in this room (i.e. the lime green door!) And, how cool is this floor?! I could spend some serious time in this eclectic heaven.

Tour of My Apartment

2008-08-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to post pictures of my apartment for quite some time now, but have never seemed to be able to make the time to do it. Well, on this wonderfully sunny summer Chicago day, I took a personal day today to "do homework" and figured this would be a great way to procrastinate since the lighting in my apartment is perfect for photo taking! Enjoy a walk through of the world of Sean and Margey.

ENTRYWAY

As my friend Emily pointed out, this area went unnoticed before and now it is a space to be enjoyed with my mom's artwork, an old bright yellow filing cabinet, an owl hook from Urban Outfitters and some magazine racks from Target.

A Happy Buddha greets you as you enter our apartment

LIVING ROOM/TV ROOM

Anyone who knows Sean and I knows that we had a little "battle of the sexes debate" over our couch---mine v. his. But, I think even he will admit that the vintage orange couch is an awesome focal point of our apartment. I scored the couch and the "surfboard" coffee table from a thrift shop in my parent's neighborhood. My mom and I took the table, which had an awful stain on the top, to a car detailing place and had them spray paint it. The shag rug was a bargain at Urban Outfitters and my mom got the standing lamp for free when it came to her not functioning! (It has since been fixed and we love the way it highlights the painting at night.)

My favorite Website!

My mom's beautiful painting.

Sign that Sean has been here

I got these vintage chairs on Craig's List and they rock. No, literally, they are rocking chairs.

Another sign of my slight obsession

The lamp in this photo was given to us by Sean's mom. I updated it by painting it a shiny black and getting a new shade and I love it.

I replaced all the switch plates in our apt with stainless steel. It's a small touch, but everyone notices them. Did I mention this is a cheap solution to modernizing an old apartment?

BEDROOM

This lamp was a CB2 splurge and I love it! I also painted an old dresser that Sean was going to throw out black and this revived the piece. (Does anyone else hear Rolling Stones in their head?)

A cluster of pictures above our bed

I love to mix old and new as seen here with the blend of a modern dresser from CB2 and a vintage mirror, vases, and jewelry box. The chandelier adds a sophisticated touch.

I got these vases at a thrift shop out in Utah

Random art on the wall

Art that I purchased from The One of a Kind Art Show at the Merchandise Mart

A chair I painted and reupholstered and the "Owl" pillow that Sean and my nieces love!

More artwork care of Denise Murray. A.k.a my mom. A.k.a the best artist I l know.

DINING ROOM

I love the color on the walls in this room because it changes all day from yellow to ochre to green at night. I had friends over for a party at night and they wouldn't believe that the color was yellow. Now, that's fun with color theory!

I'm not going to lie, sometimes I talk to my plants. Don't worry about it. And, I absolutely covet this vintage fan that my mom got for me at a garage sale.

I'm sorry Zak, you are never getting this bookshelf back.

Vintage memorabilia from Sean's dad.

Since my easel has been out of commission for a while, I use it to showcase another love of mine--the band Chicago!

I don't think anyone comes to the apartment without commenting on the red bike.

More signs of Sean. Here is his dad's camera collection.

Sean and I have fun with this little guy putting him in different poses and places in the apartment.

An old radio that Sean fought for on eBay and a modern record player.

I got this credenza for free! An antique shop was throwing it away and I literally took it from the alley. Score!

I love this bowl! The table is from my mom and the chairs are from my sister. She bought them at this little known place called IKEA.

We are definitely pro-bikes in our apartment :)

Old fishing thingies--Sean could tell you more.

JC breaks bread with us whenever we sit down to eat.

BATHROOM

I actually painted these paintings the day of our first party in manic Margey mode because there was a horrible mark on the wall before I painted them blue. Even though they were a last minute creation, I really enjoy them.

Sean hooked me on to hookless shower curtains.

The paintings were inspired by the window film we used, so no one can see into our shower.

KITCHEN

My mom gave me this stand

I got this old blender at a garage sale. It still works!

I just love the way this looks. There isn't even anything in it.

Combining Sean and my "design visions" gets interesting sometimes.

Lastly, an old tin in the kitchen. I just love the shodows in this picture.

I hope you enjoyed a walk through our apartment!

(Note: Sean's room did not make it to the tour for reasons of messiness and recliner-related design issues.)

2008-08-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Check out Kenyan and Grace's country home at http://www.theselby.com/. I love that nothing about the their life seems to fit convention. They have a pegleg collection, for heaven's sake! Another reminder that convention is boring, overdone, and highly overrated. (At least in my humble opinion.)

http://ariyamastudio.com/home.html

2008-08-03T20:19:00.001-07:00

I officially became a purchaser of art when I bought an original of this print entitled, "Lakefront" at the One of a Kind Art Show at the Merchandise Mart last December. I chose this particular piece because of sentimental value, but all of Hiroshi Ariyama's art captures the liveliness and beauty that is Chicago life.

I've posted several of his "El series" below for all of your viewing pleasure. I think they are so engrossing and almost eerie, not unlike the El experience itself. He captures the isolation and human detachment of public transportation.

2008-08-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

I sketched this on a particularly grueling day in the world of Harrington College of Design admissions. I hope I can make it through this week without feeling this way!

A Few of My Favorite Things. . .

2008-08-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

I would like to give a little shout-out to vintage planters! I love mine and, as you can see from the bottom image, they don't always need to hold plants.

http://zakrose.blogspot.com/

2008-08-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

Check out my buddy, Zak's website! He is an amazing furniture maker who has recently relocated back to Chicago from San Francisco where he worked for Woodshanti Cooperative--a worker-owned coop that builds custom furniture from only green materials. He is an awesome guy and, if you are looking for custom furniture, he is someone you need to get to know because he has brought his expertise back to the Windy City. Lucky for us!

Aaaaahhhhh!!!!

2008-07-26T12:10:00.001-07:00

It's the attack of the oversized hobo bag!!! Urban Outfitters, what's the deal?!

It's like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man of handbags. . .

www.matteart.net

2008-07-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, someone needs to start cranking out some babies because I would love to design a children's room around this artist's work. And, obviously, it's all about me.

www.theselby.com

2008-07-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

This website is so inspiring! I haven't felt the tingle of creativity and inspiration in a while. I would say I've been feeling pretty burned out since the whole killing myself working full time and taking three classes thing, but this site reminds me why I am doing what I am doing. Check out all the hidden treasures found in these artists' homes.

I'm going to be one of these people one day or I am going to design their homes. Mark my words!

Gasp!

2008-07-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

Could it be? I actually have another roomination for all of you!

It's interesting that I am drawn to this particular room because it doesn't contain any elements of my personal style. I prefer rich bold colors, midcentury modern accents, quirky mismatched furniture, and vintage building accents like crown moldings, etc. But, I think the fact that all of this is missing and I still love this space shows that this apartment is impeccably designed.

The designer, James Rixner, mimics the angular construction of this modern apartment with his furniture choices. His peices are classic, sleek, comfortable, and well-made. The color palette is understated, soothing, and cohesive. I appreciate his use of texture on the wallpaper with its subtle graininess. He emphasizes shape by accenting the room with white pottery. The large-scale vases near the windows create height and visual interest. The chandelier is the "pop" in this room. (The elusive "pop" that every design show is talking about.) It is fun, bold, and almost organic in form mimicking a snowflake or a dandelion.

While I can't imagine eating in this room or children touching this room with a ten foot plastic kid's fishing pole, I appreciate this design for its stark, chic, and contemporary elements. It may not be the most liveable space for me personally, but I would not mind listening to Norah Jones and having a cocktail with the owners while we discuss the latest art gallery opening. But, rest assured, I would definately stay from the red wine :)

I don't know whether I love it or hate it!

2008-07-23T14:17:00.000-07:00

I can guarantee this number gets comments wherever it goes!

Clever!

2008-07-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

I love this artist's "jetsetting" stationary and journal set. The artist's name is Noelle Griskey and she was a featured artist on Etsy.com. Her shop is called Jet Set Paper. It's ironic that I see this today of all days because I was just reading an article earlier today about how rejuvinating travel is because it allows an opportunity to take a break from daily concerns. Seeing this stationary reminds me how much clarity, inspiration, and freedom I feel when I discover new places. But, it also reminds me I have a place to go home to. Sweet Chi Town!

Project Runway

2008-07-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

One more day. . .

Running with Scissors

2008-07-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't felt torturous separation anxiety by having to put down a book that I was really into in quite some time. That is, until I read Running with Scissors! I guess I am behind the times on this one because all of my favorite reader friends responded with a big "duh" when I told them how enamored I was with this book. But, I am still going to give it a glowing post.

If you want to wipe away tears of laughter and step into the inane life of Augusten Burroughs, then pick up this off-the-wall memoir. Burroughs, who feels like your best friend by the end of the book with his frank honesty and endearing fallibilities, takes you through the chronicles of his crazy adventures. The fact that I was envious of his almost torturous existence is a testimony to the strength of his wit. Warning for more conservative readers, this book will most likely be a bit much for you because he tells us everything. And, I mean everything! But, for those of you who can appreciate a life less ordinary (or completely out of the ordinary), this book will have you in stitches.

2008-07-14T16:51:00.000-07:00

Phillipe Starck's designs are just so hot! Who puts chalk walls in a dining room?! I love it. I also love how he blends more ornate peices (the chandelier) with more modern sleek peices (the silver stools.) Please note, also, that there is an unexpected easy chair just hanging out here. Check out this prolific designer at http://www.starck.com/.

Another Public Art Work

2008-07-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

What joy people must feel when they unexpectedly come upon this mural?! There just isn't enough hearts with smiles painted on things these days :) Thank heaven, we have Chris Uphues to remedy this. Check out more of this artist's work, at his website http://www.chrisuphues.com/.

lusummers.etsy.com

2008-07-12T10:03:00.001-07:00

I love Lucie Summers whimsy collages! Check out her use of mixed media on Etsy or on her blog, http://www.blu-shed.blogspot.com/. I especially enjoy the pages from vintage books.

www.zellabrown.com

2008-07-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

Check out the website for Trisha London's beautifully elegant yet totally hip store in Wicker Park. I am completely coveting everything on the website. She is an interior designer who graduated from Harrington and I hope she realizes she is going to have a new best friend very soon. Me!

Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls

2008-07-10T10:07:00.000-07:00

The following article talks about a public art project in New York that I thought was very clever and just plain cool. I especially found the economic portion interesting. I think it's awesome that artistic expression in a landscape can boost our economy. Enjoy.

Artist’s Waterfalls Turn on NYC

Danish artist Olafur Eliasson designs and builds four cataracts that he hopes will provide spectators with a new view of the city’s skyline.
By Verena Dobnik, AP

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If they pay attention to it at all, many people view the water off Manhattan's East Side as a flat, even boring expanse stretching under a series of bridges.Not this summer.Now until Oct. 13, four mammoth waterfalls roar and plunge into the East River and New York Harbor in a multimillion-dollar engineering feat designed by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson."Here in New York, water is everywhere. We take the water for granted," Eliasson said. "I want to suggest — now, it's not about the land, now it's about what's between the land.""The New York City Waterfalls" is the city's largest public art project since 2005, when artists Christo and his wife, Jeanne-Claude, adorned 23 miles of Central Park's paths with thousands of saffron drapes. Eliasson, 41, creates indoor weather systems that incorporate elements like temperature, moisture, aroma and light. He's best known for his 2003 tour de force, "The Weather Project," which drew about 2 million people to London's Tate Modern to see a glowing sun "rise" in a gallery — an effect he created by using a mist machine, mirrors and hundreds of light bulbs.For this project, since there are no cliffs for water to pour over, metal scaffolds provide the framework for each waterfall. A system of pumps carries water up to a trough, where it will be released in a frothy cascade — about 35,000 gallons every minute for all four falls.The falls will be turned on every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and illuminated after sunset.They will roar off Governors Island in the harbor and into the East River at the Brooklyn base of the Brooklyn Bridge, Pier 35 near the Manhattan Bridge and off the Brooklyn Promenade. The highest will stand 120 feet tall, or almost the height of the Statue of Liberty, minus its pedestal.They will be visible from the Brooklyn and Manhattan waterfronts and from the pedestrian and bike lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge."My work is ... about the relationship between the waterfalls, the journey around this part of town and the spectator," Eliasson said. "I want people to see something which is personal. I want them to see themselves, essentially. I'm not offended when people say 'This is not art.'""Waterfalls" is expected to generate at least $55 million in economic activity for the city."The project promises to make a big splash in our local economy by attracting thousands of sightseers to town, who will then spend money in our restaurants, hotels and stores," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.Hotels are advertising special packages and tourist agencies are offering bicycle and boat excursions.More than 5 million people saw "Gates," including about 1.5 million out-of-town visitors, pumping about $254 million into the economy.The $15.5 million cost of "Waterfalls" was raised by the Public Art Fund, a private not-for-profit organization. Individuals, foundations and corporations — including Bloomberg's own media company, Bloomberg LP — donated $13.5 million, and a state agency picked up the rest of the tab.It's not the first time Eliasson has experimented with water. In his 1993 "Beauty," he produced a rainbow in a Danish gallery by projecting light across a fine mist of water. And for a work called "Green River" in 2000, he poured nontoxic green dye into a river in Stockholm.Children were included in the plans for "Waterfalls." The Public Art Fund collaborated with the city's Department of Education to assemble study guides for teachers taking their classes to see the displays."Children tend to see things very different than grown-ups," Eliasson said, explaining that while adults might see a static landscape in a waterfall, a child may see it as vital and changing.Eliasson said the goal of his project was to take spectators, regardless of age, beyond the two-dimensional postcard image of the New York skyline."New York is sort of the icon of the modern city. ... It's a city everybody has a view on," he said. "There's something quite challenging about trying to, let's say, shake the image that people have of this city."On the Web:Waterfalls: http://www.nycwaterfalls.org/

2008-05-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

As the sun finally decides to creep out on this gloomy friday afternoon, I would like to salute the bicycle with this drawing I did for my Drawing II Class. Let's hope it stays nice out, so Sean and I and friends can ride in Critical Mass!

Automat

2008-05-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

Can you tell what this is?

Does this help?

How about this?

The first two pictures are of a painstaking project I had to do for my color theory class. It is called the "pixelation" project and is dreaded by all students at Harrington. Basically, we have to take a picture and pixelize it by gridding the image out and mixing all the colors that are in each square without allowing two of the same colors to be next to each other. Did I mention we can only use primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) and white? I counted and I had 413 little squares gridded out on my image. Of those, at least 1/3 of the squares were black. I'm no mathemetician, but that is over 100 different shades of black that I had to mix myself. Insane! The squares were so small that I applied my paint with a thumb tack. I'm not even kidding. It was a labor of love, to say the least.

As the second image shows, though, it was all worth it. The first picture is a close-up of the project and, as you can see, it looks like kind of a jumble. When you stand away from the pixelized image, though, it becomes the 1927 painting by Edward Hopper entitled "Automat." Or, atleast, a close replica.

I was actually reminded of this project and wanted to share it with all of you when I went to the recent Hopper exhibit at the art institute and was moved, once again, by the beautiful and tragic isolation in this painting (and most other paintings by Hopper.)

Also, I don't want to toot my own horn, but the project was chosen by my teacher to be diplayed before our school's accrediting body as an example of outstanding work. Thanks, Ed, for the inspiration!

Contemplative

2008-05-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

Getting Even More Sketchy

2008-05-30T11:20:00.001-07:00

Charcoal and graphite on paper.

My Favorite Sketch

2008-05-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

I drew this from an image I found on the internet. I love her sassy stance and bold femininity.

2008-05-30T08:45:00.001-07:00

When are we going to have our next semi-annual "monthly" craft night?!

Only the Bicycle Remains Pure in Heart

2008-05-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a painting I did for Sean for his birthday last year. I wonder what I will give him for his THIRTIETH birthday this year. Did I mention my boyfriend is old?

2008-05-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

Not going to lie. . . gettin REAL excited for the big premier this weekend!!!!

2008-05-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the chandelier, Mom. I love it!

Some of You May Recognize This. . .

2008-05-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

I framed the original drawing of Sean and my Christmas card from this past year.

Photo: Wig Shop in New York

2008-05-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

Freelance Logo Work

2008-05-26T19:12:00.000-07:00

I created these for a woman who was starting an on-line jewelry business. She chose the middle logo.

Sketch to Capture My Mood

2008-05-26T19:08:00.001-07:00

A Little Painting I Created

2008-05-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

Before and After

2008-05-25T09:56:00.001-07:00

Chair= $12.oo at a thrift shop

Herringbone Fabric= $8.00 at JoAnn Fabric

"Summer Squash" Paint= $8.00 at Home Depot

I spent a total of $28.00 to rehab this chair. What do you folks think? (Positive comments encouraged. Negative comments discouraged. Ha ha.)

Our House is a Very, Very Fine House. . .

2008-05-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I had my family over for a Mother's Day lunch. It wasn't a monumental day in the grand scheme of things. For me, though, it was a very special day.

Traveling and living in other places was an awesome experience, to say the least. But, even in the awe of new tastes, experiences, friends, cultures, etc, all I ever wanted was a place to call "home." No matter how many pictures I hung or homecooked meals that permeated the walls of the places I inhabited, no location I lived ever came close to the warmth and comfort of my childhood home.

So, one can imagine my surprise when I moved back to Chicago and felt like more of an outsider in the city of my youth and my parent's home than I did in Utah or even the ghetto. How could this have happened? Isn't this the place I longed for during years of, at times, extremely lonely travel?

Okay, granted I was 26 and living with my parents and had a rather, umm, "humble" amount of money in the bank; which was not how I envisioned myself at this point. I also had no idea what I wanted to be when I "grew up" and there were a lot of challenges happening with my family, at this time. ("Challenges" that opened up whole new levels of joy.) So, all I actually wanted was a one way ticket out of there. No offense to the "50 and over crowd", Mom and Dad.

I learned "home" was not crawling back to the womb. My parents house would always be a place of love, comfort, and belonging, but it no longer felt right to set up camp there. Home needed to be a place I created for myself. Home, for me, could no longer be built on a transient foundation. A true home was not a place of temporary stay. Home was something I was going make in my heart and in mind. My "home" would endure with me, even in times when I would get restless and have an overwhelming desire to flee.

I've known that I always wanted this crazy, cold, huge, lively, beautiful, quirky city of Chicago to be my home. The challenge was to redefine what I needed from this new home. Because the needs I had as a young girl of eighteen when I left the first time simply no longer applied.

So I can finally say, after almost exactly two years after I moved back to Chicago, I officially have a home. I have a home! I have a place that isn't just in my heart or in memories. I have a physical place that gives me a sense of safety in this chaotic world. I have matching plates and glasses. I have large scale artwork. I have bed linens and a dining room table. Hell, thanks to Sean, we have a flat screen TV. I've really moved up in the world!

I am not valuing these things because our materialistic society says that these are things that I need. These are simply signs of making a commitment and an investment to a place I love. Painting the walls and adding special touches show that Sean and I love where we live. I have a refuge where I belong. I have four walls that are filled with memories and love.

I shared my special abode with my family for the first time on Mother's Day. It felt very special to be able to have them over (even if we were just eating turkey sandwiches.) I lit candles. Sean and I cleaned everything spotless. There were appetizers involved. It all felt very "adult."

I'm starting to think maybe growing up ain't so bad because I am truly grateful right now to be close to my family and, at the same time, have my own life and a beautiful home in this grand city of Chicago!

2008-05-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

Check out MichelleBrusegaard.etsy.com. I love her vintage barbie photography.

(I really think Spring is bringing out the kid in me.)

Standard Station, 1966

2008-05-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

Sean and I fell hard for this screen print by Edward Ruscha at the Art Institute on Friday. If anyone sees a print of this being sold anywhere, let me know!

Oh, and go see his mixed media exhibit at the Art Institute. It's on display until June 1st.

Stop and Smell the Flowers

2008-05-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Spring Everyone!

On a pricelessly beautiful day like today, when little green buds are busting forth everywhere and the sky is a big blue sea of daydreaming happiness, I'd like to salute vintage flower pins as a perfect way to revitalize spring fashion.

Sometimes I think I am growing out of my vintage obsession and moving into more sensible, mature, attire. Then, I look at my vintage pin collection and I become enamored with the dainty innocense of these precious little treasures.

So, drive with the windows down, drink lemonade, walk in grass without shoes, and wear the gaudiest, most unmatchy, FUN pin you can find in rememberence of days when picking flowers was a very important utilization of your time.

2008-05-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

I love this artist's creations! Courtney Anne Chu takes clothing and repurposes them. She's local to Chicago. Check out her website and see her funky designs. (http://www.courtneycourtney.com/)

Look Who's Back, back again!

2008-04-22T11:42:00.001-07:00

Yes, I have been the real slim shady lately when it comes to my Blog. I knew this would happen at some point and apologize for my lack of writing.

Admittedly, though, my life has been pretty insane the past few weeks. I finished my finals last week and have been promoted at work without my previous position being filled. So, I have been a busy gal without a moment to spare. Did I also mention that I got the wild hair to paint my whole apartment? Pictures and final projects to be posted soon.

So, with this whole promotion thing, I am now the proud owner of my first ever cubicle. Yay me! With this new space, comes a new design challenge. My question to all of you is, "how have you decorated your cubicles/work spaces so that you are able to finish your work AND create a calming atmosphere amidst the chaos of an office atmosphere?

As I research this via the internet, I will keep you all posted on what I find. But, I'd like to hear your suggestions since I am extremely interested in Commercial Design as opposed to residential design. I find it so interesting that we spend the majority of our time at work and seem to invest nothing in making it an enjoyable and aesthetic atmosphere for ourselves. But, this is also coming from the girl who is devising a color scheme and planning on creating cubicle art for my workspace (Note: I'm a nerd.)

More to come. . .

Y-Me Breast Cancer Walk

2008-04-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

My family and I are walking in the Y-Me Breast Cancer walk on Mother's Day. Check out my website and feel free to make a donation. We are walking in honor of my dad's mother who lost her life to breast cancer at a very young age when my dad was just 22.

http://main.y-me.org/site/TR?px=2177195&pg=personal&fr_id=1241

I love you, Dad!

I have cool co-workers!

2008-04-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

This one of many paintings done by a teacher here at Harrington. His name is Ryan Kapp and I LOVE his work. His website is http://www.ryankapp.com/. He likes to hear feedback, so e-mail him and let him know what you think!

A Kitchen Fiesta

2008-03-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

I just had to post this picture. This room is fun times ten! I love the unexpected color combos.

To All My Ladies

2008-03-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite things about my life is I have never been without companionship. No, I am not one of those girls who always has a boyfriend. I am one of those girls who “dates” her female friends! Therefore, I have never been without someone to call on speed dial to share my triumphs, a cup of tea to sip on while I share my heartache, and growth through the keen observations of another. I am so lucky!

All my life, I have known the most wonderful women! My friends have been my beacons, my road maps, my soul mates. Each of my close girlfriends has mirrored back to me such a beautiful version of myself when I look in their eyes. I can truly say I would not be half as confident as I am today if I wasn’t inspired by the boldness, ambition, and beautiful spirits of my ladies.

So, as Women’s Month comes to an end, I would like to personally thank each of the gorgeous women in my life. I will not put names, but I am fairly certain, oh friends of past and present, you will know who you are. I hope you recognize my gratitude for the unique gifts you have brought to my life. So, in no particular order. . .

Thank you for teaching me perseverance and that it’s funny how people will first notice your smile and laughter above anything else. Thank you for showing me that loving unabashedly is the only way to go. Thank you for setting such an example of a self-made woman that I couldn’t help but follow for a while. Thank you for FUN. Thank you for sharing your musical talent with me and thoughtfulness I could only hope to achieve. Thank you for teaching me to never forget the kid in me and showing me that the world can be my playground. I hope we meet somewhere over the rainbow again. Thank you for showing me refinement, dignity, and cool calmness in a chaotic place. You will always be family. Thank you for showing me it’s okay to appreciate things solely for their beauty. You seem to find beauty wherever you go (even in me). I hope your refinement rubs off on me. Thank you for creativity, kindness, and revealing slowly that there is more to you than meets the eye. Thank you for freely sharing your tenderness. You will never be able to be anything than who you are and I love that! Your humor and honesty are so refreshing. Thank you for your insane sense of humor and jokes that never get old. Thank you for a deep appreciation of nature and your ability to put a positive spin on most anything and everything—and god knows, we have discussed most everything. Never lose your tenacious spirit. I count on it. Thank you for teaching me what it means to be mature even though you are years younger than me and for wearing your beauty in the most admirable way. You’re a hero and don’t forget it, Super Woman. Thank you for laughs, inane goofiness, and the service you have given the world. Thank you for your pureness of heart. I only "knew" you for four months and I know you better than friends I've had for years. Thank you for your belief in my creativity. We will be design partners one day! Thank you for loving me like a sister when all I saw was awkwardness. What amazing women we have become! Thank you for the laughs you gave me. You refreshed my soul when it was in a really murky place. Thank you for being down to earth and reminding me that fun is very important. I couldn’t get through the grind without you. Thank you for your funkiness and how fabulous I feel when I am near you. Thank you for being my hetero life partner, my support, and a true constant in my life. Your example is a standard I hold myself to. Thank you for your free spirit and vast depths. Thank you for fierce loyalty many years later. May our friendship last a life-time. Thank you for believing in me and my art. Thank you for your positivity despite what is happening in your life and your quirkiness. I look forward to the future of our friendship. Thank you for your confidence, sexiness, and your drive. It is contagious. Thank you for showing me the beauty of simple dreams. Thank you for sharing an intelligent mind I can’t imagine having. Thank you for giving me life, my creativity, your creativity, and unwavering love and support. You are my biggest fan and I don’t know how I would get through life without my own personal cheering section. Thank you for your sense of humor. Can anyone else tell a story the way you do? Thank you for showing me what it means to be hard-working, taking care of me in a foreign country, and seriously making me want to wet my pants with laughter. Thank you for showing me what it means to have unwavering faith. Thank you for speaking so candidly with me and never letting our differences come between us. Thank you for always believing in love even when it beat you up and left you in a gutter. I knew it would eventually raise you up. I wish you knew how cool you are.

And, I guess that last line goes for all of you!

“Experience the joy and the adventure of being the woman who is beyond the image reflected in the mirror.” –Paulo Coehlo

Why I Love This Room

2008-03-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it! I am an apartmenttherapy.com junkie. It is an interior design blog that is continuously updated throughout the day with different postings related to all things interior design. I can’t get enough! Because it is constantly updated, it feels like I am flipping through an electronic magazine. I love it. So, I’ve decided that I am going to do a weekly post on my favorite room from apartment therapy from the previous week and tell why I love it.

The above is my first selection. It is an interior from the third floor of a converted Victorian home in Wicker Park. I was especially interested in this posting because I used to live in this neighborhood. I would jog down Hoyne between North Avenue and Division and try to imagine the beautiful interiors of this spectacular tree-lined, mansion-filled, Chicago historical street. If you get a chance to ride your bike, walk, or even drive down this enchanting stretch, it’s well worth taking this side street to get to your destination. As a matter of fact, I think that it is a destination in itself.

There are three key interior design elements that attracted me to this room. The first of which, is the color choice that the tenants made. Navy gives this small space a splash of bold, yet dignified, color. Accented by white and yellow/gold, navy gives this room a regal sense eliciting visions of women clad in sailor inspired outfits cocktailing on a yacht. This refined color palette is juxtaposed with kitschy midcentury modern accent pieces like the vase on the coffee table and the bucket chairs. I love the non-functional television set on the side table! It appears to me that it is being displayed simply for its 1960’s industrial design. I’m sure it is an instant conversation piece—unlike the televisions of today, which seem to suck the conversation out of a sitting room. Lastly, I love the texture of the rug and throw on the couch. They give a sense of warmth and definitely add to the funky, retro factor. I would love to sit and chat for hours with the owner in this lovely little spot on Hoyne.

I just realized, this is my first official roomination! There will be many more to come. Till next week...

Timeout Kinda Dropped the Ball

2008-03-22T13:36:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking about buying a place instead of renting, read the following article in Timeout. It will not shed any light on the subject. Rather, you will question the sanity of the people who are even possibly considering buying a place on their means and it will make you feel better about your financial situation and grasp on reality.

http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles/home-living/27818/should-they-rent-or-buy

See, I told you so. It sure made me feel better about myself. Seriously, how can you make 150,000 dollars a year and not have any savings and only a boat loan to show for it?!

Well, I'm off to go buy single family home on Lakeshore Drive.

Violet

2008-03-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

Violet represents harmony of the universe in Chinese painting. The combination of red and blue represents the yin and the yang. Therefore, violet is the color of balance. I think this is part of the reason I have always been drawn to violet, even as a young girl. I love the combination of the bold and fiery red with the more tranquil and peaceful blue.

My research of the color, violet, reveals that several different cultures revere this color as a sign of luxury and elegance. For instance, most chocolate in England is wrapped in violet because it is an indulgence.

I also have found that violet is generally known as the color of piety and warmth. The tinted shades are described as delicate and lovely. Tints of purple, such as mauve, lilac, and lavender, are used more often in homes because they are softer, more restful, and promote calmness. Violet, when darkened, can become menacing or almost terrifying. However, these bold violets can be used in room design to revitalize a room. Also, there were striking differences in the description of blue-violet and red-violet. Blue-violet expresses solitude, whereas, red-violet represents divine love and spirituality.

I think that I am personally drawn to violet because of it’s rarity in the natural world. Very few things are naturally purple making it unique and special. I am reminded of sunsets at dusk, eggplants, and small violets. I especially enjoy interiors painted purple. I had a grayish-purple room with a burnt orange couch in my old apartment and I loved it. I don't think I will ever tire of violet's lovely and varied shades.

Photoshop Project

2008-03-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

I originally created this blog to catalogue my school creations and write about design.

But, alas, my varied interests and personal observations about life have "gotten in the way." So, I thought I would share my latest Photoshop creation with all of you. Our assignment was to take a photo and turn it into something that mimics a certain artist's style or a certain period of art. I decided to mimic Art Deco posters, while also incorporating some of my own style (and French that makes no sense, apparently). So, I turned the above photo of famous 1930's actress, Carol Lombard, into what is posted below. Let me know what you think.

Eat, Pray, Love

2008-03-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

Again, I will reiterate that sometimes I do put forth the effort to discover books, movies, music, etc. on my own. And, sometimes, I'm lazy and I go into a bookshop on a Friday after getting paid my meager wage and want to treat myself with a new book and I'm tired after a long day of work and I just go on what my friends recommend or what has been on the NY Times Best-Seller list. (At least I frequent local book shops. I've got that going for me.)

Anyways, I bought Eat, Pray, Love last Friday on the recommendation that it might just change my life. My friend wouldn't even let me borrow her copy. Not out of selfishness, but embarrassment that she has written all over the margins and highlighted passages all throughout. And, though, I have been feeling quite content these days finally going to school for something I love and living with a man I love, I have never been one to turn down an opportunity for reincarnation. Plus, I couldn't help but be intrigued; I love highlighting books and making notes! I was an English major afterall.

And, I have to say, the can of worms I knew this book would open has not only caused several crying jags and an existential crisis, but also bizarre dreams combining emotions from several places and times in my life. Even my subconscious can't get away from Elizabeth Gilbert's powerful prose. (I choose the word, "prose" because of this book's poetic and poignant nature.)

She speaks to the reader (and my soul) like you are sitting in the local coffee shop talking about everything and nothing at all.

I can't help but feel haunted by the parallels of my life compared to hers and am currently navigating how I incorporate my previous "lives" with the one I am currently living. No, I am not getting all Shirley McClain on you folks. By "previous lives," I mean the many incarnations I have gone through (see "Scarves" Post below.) How does one take a life less ordinary and come to peace with the ordinary?

It's so easy to see beauty around you when you are traveling and seeing things with fresh eyes and a completely clean-slated heart. But, how do you keep this open-minded perspective when seeing things you have known your whole life?

This has been a struggle for me since I have moved home to Chicago, started my first requisite nine-to-five job, a serious relationship, and the rebuilding of friendships I left high and dry for years. Commitments sprouting up everywhere--when I was used to running in open fields of freedom for years.

It feels like I have been spinning my tires on ice trying to get away from the present reality of my life without actually going anywhere. (Not unlike trying to get my car that was frozen in ice in front of my apartment building for a month to move--thanks for the metaphor, my sweet Cirrus.) And, I haven't quite understood where that inclination was coming from. I see now from this book and some meditation on my life that I have been living in frantic fear and anxiety. I've been thinking thoughts like "this is it, this is the rest of your life." (Insert ominous echoing voice over.) I actually wrote my best friend last night that I hoped I wouldn't regret making the choice to move home when I turn forty and look at my life.

PS, that's in TWELVE years! Who the hell can predict what they are going to be thinking twelve years down the line? TWELVE years ago I had just had my first real kiss from my first real boyfriend (Who was shorter than me at the time. Our dance pictures are awesome.) If you asked that awkward sixteen year old what she would be like when she was twenty-eight, she couldn't have possibly conceived how cool and interesting her life would become. Not even close.

So, if anything, Eat Pray Love has reaffirmed to me once again how important it is to question everything and really listen to the answers, the neccesity of suffering to insight growth, to let go of fear and fill that void with faith, and to become secure with my inherent human flaws. It's okay to not have everything figured out and it's best sometimes to just stop and quiet yourself.

Please read this book all of you. If, for nothing else, than to do a little Spring Soul Cleaning. Daylight savings time is this Sunday afterall.

"It's a sacrifice to let [thoughts] go, of course. It's a loss of old habits, comforting old grudges and familiar vignettes. Of course this all takes practice and effort. It's not a teaching you can hear once and then expect to master immediately. It's constant vigilence and I want to do it." -Elizabeth Gilbert

(The picture is me, circa 1996.)

Run, don't walk. . .

2008-03-06T07:48:00.001-08:00

. . .to go rent "Once"!

Sometimes, I am that interesting person who knows cool indie films and music before they become mainstream. But, not in this case, I clearly saw Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglove perform "Falling" on the Academy Awards and was, at once, enraptured by their beautifully melancholic tune and knew I had to see the film. Click on this link to see a clip of "Falling" as performed in the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LMv0BOKkWc

Do yourself a favor, cozy up with this movie, some tea, and enjoy the pureness of this inspiring and simple (yet paradoxically complex) Irish film.

Borghese Nail Lacquer Vernis

2008-03-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

I know, another nail recommendation, but this is the best brand of nail polish I have ever used. Probably because it isn't nail polish! It's lacquer, which means it lasts twice as long. It's kind of pricey (being sold at Walgreens for fourteen dollars), but completely worth it with all the compliments you will get. I have used the the Notte Black and the Rubino Red and loved both.

March is Women's History Month!

2008-03-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

That is why inboxes are filling up everywhere with inspirational forwards about women. (The ones I pretend to be too cool to like, but that I secretly love.) So, per a forward I received today. . .

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
a feeling of control over her destiny.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

Thank you Maya Angelou.

Food for Thought

2008-02-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

Literally! Check out http://www.chrisjordan.com/. His work is so powerful. I was equally awed and aghast at his exhibit, "Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait."

Scarves

2008-02-28T12:11:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a slight obsession with neck “bling.” And, I’m not talking gold oversized jewelry. I’m talking scarves. It is a very rare occasion that my neck is exposed—about as rare as the leap year that will be happening tomorrow or the eclipse that happened last week.

I would like to say, I have no idea why I am so enamored by my little throat-hugging friends and that maybe I am always just really cold. But the fact is, I am quite aware of why I covet scarves so much. And, it has nothing to do with the chill in the air.

I recall with fondness the first scarf that sparked my instant love affair. It was a cheap striped red, orange, grey, and purple winter scarf that I bought in Ireland while studying abroad. A couple weeks after I bought it, I was elated when an Irish family stopped me on the street and asked me for directions because they thought I was a native. Now it could have been the freckles all over my face but, at the time, I attributed it all to the scarf. I felt like it instantly gave the air of sophistication and exoticism that is Europe. I wore that scarf for years after I came back (I still have it and wear it from time to time.)

I look at my vast collection of scarves and they tell me the story of where I’ve been. I am reminded of the many phases/transformations I have gone through. The places I have seen. I have my European scarves that remind me of writing in my journal and sipping tea in Ireland, Paris, London, etc. I have my pseudo “fancy” scarves that I used to wear bar hopping in college (“Were those pretzels I was wearing?”) My “thrift shop find” scarves from Baltimore that I bought because I was so poor and hanging out with my “hipster” artsy friends while entering the dark abyss known as inner-city American life on a daily basis. I have my scarves from Asia. I swear I can smell the streets and open markets of China when I put them on. My African scarves—beautiful native prints that elicit visions of that sunrise over the Indian Ocean. And, then there are my pseudo-hippie scarves that I donned in Utah. The one from my best friend that she knitted while doing Peace Corps; which is about twenty feet long—a testament to how much time she had living in a small African Village. I wore it almost every day I bartended in that quaint mountain town. And, my current scarf collection. . .what says artist more than a decorative scarf?! Perhaps, it’s because scarves are more form over function just like art, itself. Or maybe artists are just colder than the average person. (Probably not.) Regardless, I wrap my scarves around my neck every morning and it makes me feel like I am about to go my artist’s studio and create all day as light filters in through windows with sills covered in old bottles stained by paintbrushes. (Not going to my mind-numbing administrative assistant job answering phones and staring at Excel all day.)

My scarves are my life. They are my past. They are what I hope to be one day. So, much more than an accessory--they are a part of me.

Can't Resist

2008-02-26T14:29:00.000-08:00

Just one blog on the Academy Awards. . .

I will refrain from writing about how red dresses were the "it" thing this year at the Oscars. (Was anyone else hearing Chris De Burgh in their head?)

I will, however, say Kathryn Heigl was absolutely stunning. You go girl!

Fashion as Interior Design

2008-02-26T14:05:00.000-08:00

I have seen the trend of using clothing as an Interior Design element in several apartmenttherapy.com blogs and I think this is a great way to display your individual style through decorating.

I used to do clothing displays for a non-profit thrift shop I helped manage in Logan, UT (Somebody's Attic--all proceeds go to preventing domestic abuse--a great find if you happen to be in northern Utah) and it is a really fun way to bring life to a room. There's something very intimate about clothing that instantly brings personality.

However, unfortunately, don't think that a pile of dirty clothes in the corner of your bedroom counts. Sorry folks.

My New Thing

2008-02-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

My new thing is always having a “new thing.”

“New things” that will make my life feel less hectic and more fulfilling. I engage in an activity that feels meaningful and reminds me that life is supposed to be enjoyed. Then, I always resolve that I am going to do “insert inspiring endeavor here” more.

But, inevitably, I get caught up and those more pleasurable activities (i.e. painting, writing, meditating, time with my boyfriend, home-cooked meals) fall to the wayside.

I have become a victim of the plague facing our society today—the stress plague. It seems this is a topic everyone is talking about, so I thought I would put in my two cents.

I can’t speak for everyone in society but I think most people my age put a lot of undo pressure on themselves to do it all because we have been taught we can do it all. Making lists. Resolutions. Running from here to there. Multi-tasking. They are a way of life.

I know I am a REPEAT offender. In my world, it seems like it is all about the end rather than the means. Seeing that little check next to the task on my list of things to do and knowing that I can move onto the next thing. Even if it something I want to do like getting together with friends.

I remember telling my best friend a couple years ago that I felt like I could never relax. The same best friend who has told me upon many occasions that I am the one who taught her how to have fun. What happened to that young mischievous girl I once was? The girl who was forcing her best friend to drink a warm Old Style in her parent’s basement and laughing about everything and nothing all at the same time? The girl I used to be?

Is this what it means to turn from a girl into a woman? Being an adult equals stress?

Then I think this may simply be an attribute of a continuing education student. I’ve floundered for years and finally found my passion and just want to live it. Making up for “lost” time. The time in which my mantra was “not all those who wander are lost.” (J.R.R Tolkien) Sometimes, I wish the next year and half would get lost, so I can just relax with my degree in hand.

But, the reality is, I probably won’t feel calm then either. And I think to myself, when am I just going to be able to slow down and enjoy life? Because, the next stage of life is looming around the corner and it will most likely involve a career and lots of Huggies, Teletubbies, and a constant flow of Wet Ones. Aahhh!

One of my biggest resolutions in life (possibly the biggest), the one “thing” I always promised myself is that I would never be that haggard mom who has let herself go. And, I think this may be where a big part of my inward pressure comes from. I spent my whole life thus far wanting my parents to be proud of me. After all, they provided me with a warm strong foundation and I’ve wanted to show them I can build a beautiful life on top of it. Now I so badly want to pay it forward and I feel like I have to have it all together before I can even think about bringing a child into my world. I want my children to have a mother who teaches them that their mom can do it all. And, enjoy it all calmly and gracefully. A superwoman who wears power suits under her aprons as she dances around the kitchen in stilettos serving up soufflés (all organic ingredients of course). Totally realistic. Perfection. No pressure there.

The reality this day and age, though, is relaxation needs to be a habit. A relaxation routine, if you will. (And, I will!) Unlike easily acquired habits (caffeine, refined sugar, bad reality television shows about models)—it’s a habit that needs to be cultivated and nurtured. And, no one activity is going to be the supreme outlet to dealing with life’s pressures. It’s going to take a whole lot more than one yoga class to find inner balance.

It’s going to be a culmination of many simple stress solutions that will be the basis for a fulfilling life.

So, as my outlook reminder ironically pops up to tell me to “just relax” with a picture of my niece’s little belly here at my work computer (I swear, that just happened)—I will probably continue to resolve to do creative things to remind myself what is important in life. Constant “new things.” And, that’s okay.

Because making time for long bike rides, blowing bubbles, journaling, sipping tea, bubble baths, craft days, playing with my nieces, calling my grandma, making a painting for a friend, watching an old movie (etc!) may not solve all my life’s problems. In fact, they may be yet another thing to put on my list of things-to-do. But, if even for a brief moment, I get that tingly “I’m ALIVE” feeling—it’s worth the extra check on my list.

(PS, The image is of me in the desert in Southern Utah.)

Postcard Advice

2008-02-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

Last year, my girlfriends and I resolved to have a craft night once a month. A year and only two craft nights later, I stumbled upon one of the peices I made that first night we got together to celebrate art.

We made postcards for an on-line project called "Postcard Advice" (http://postcardadvice.com/.) A friend of one of the girls was inspired by the popular project Post Secret. Postcard Advice, however, encourages people to share bits of advice on a postcard (hence the name) and send it in to the website to be posted.

I sent in the above postcard.

Nail Candy

2008-02-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

Russian Navy, part of OPI's Russian collection, is hot! Or, as Christian on "Project Runway" would say, this nail polish color is "fierce." It's all the rage amongst my lady pals. I highly recommend it. It's a great alternative to the black nail polish trend. And, because it's OPI it lasts for several days without chipping. Fierce.

My Apple Tree

2008-02-13T17:36:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite paintings by my mom. I am just hoping that I can be half the artist and designer she is.

Southside Wisdom

2008-02-13T11:49:00.001-08:00

So, what's the name of the game these days in interior design?

Mid-century Modern, of course! And, some people appreciate the knock-offs. But, I myself, like the real thing. No high-fructose furniture for this girl. I want the real sugar for my pad.

So, being a native Southside of Chicago gal, I know of a wonderful hidden gem for all sorts of mid-cetury modern treasures. The same peices that Northsiders in the city pay two to three times for! Proving diamonds in the rough streets of the Southside don't always come in the form of some guy's grill (check urbandictionary.com if you don't know what a "grill" is). And, though it pains me to give away my secret, I figure I gotta get into heaven somehow. (It's questionable with all the gossiping I do about my coworkers.) So, here goes. . .

Blue Island, IL has at least 10 awesome antique stores located within feet of each other on Old Western Avenue between 127th and 131st streets--my personal favorite stretch of the longest street in Chicago (and, as rumor has it, North America.) Old Western Ave is an absolute festival of antique shopping fun. There is a three story antique mall called Three Sisters that has over 70 vendors. The upstairs is all furniture, whereas the first floor and the basement, are an array of tchotchke fun. I can't help but get lost in all the awesome finds. Everytime I go there, I feel like I am raiding the hippest grandma's attic. Another one of my favorite shops is The Blue Island Antique Emporium. Like Three Sisters, it has more than one floor and has about 30 vendors. I actually scored a free, wait let me put on the caps-lock, FREE 1960's consul that the owners were bringing it out to the alley because it wasn't selling. (Sometimes, I think Southsiders wouldn't know cool and funky unless they smelled three month old milk. Part of the reason there are always great finds!) The consul still has the original vintage drawer pulls eliciting many a compliment from envious friends. Their vintage clothing is also a ton of fun and brings me back to my days of dress-up. Although, the best place, to find vintage clothing finds is accross the street at a small shop called Beverly Antiques. I scored the coolest pink plaid swing coat from there.

And, amidst wonderful antique shopping, there are an array of ma and pop storefronts and restaurants including a bakery, garden store (Carr's Gardens), and a few watering holes where everyone knows each other's middle name. Blue Island is a melting pot of different ethnicities and this stretch of Western proves it. My favorite restaurant in the area is Mario's--it's the best Mexican Food on the Southside--just ask someone how to get there and they'll direct you!

So, if you want to take a day trip to somewhere off the beaten path right outside the city limits of Chicago, Blue Island is the place for you. Trust me, fellow coveters of midcentury-modern antiques, you will not be dissapointed!

Why?

2008-02-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

Why would you ever spend $89.99 (was $138) on this cashmere critter tee from J Crew?

Do I even have to waste my breath on the "whole children starving in third worlds" thing?

And, it's seriously ugly. Why?

Chivalry is Dead. . .

2008-02-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Or, at least, in serious need of those medical shocker things that they use to resuscitate people in House! (Only after House has discovered the patient is going into cardiac arrest because they dislocated their finger and the joint is now leeking a rare poison to the ear canal cutting off bloodflow to the hypothalamous or some crap like that.)

I consider myself an independant woman of the 21st century, but yesterday I was questioning if we haven't all just shot ourselves in the foot. I had at least 5-7 able-bodied men walk past me as I backbreakingly scraped a foot of ice and snow off my car--a half hour homage to winter in Chicago. I even knew one of the lovely gentleman. He gave me a nice salutation as he kept walking on by. I could tell it didn't even occur to him to help me. This would never have been the case in my mother and father's era.

Am I saying we should go back to the days of pinafores, waiting by the phone, or dances where you leave room for the holy spirit? No.

But, what is the line here on common decency?

Yes, I was able to clean the snow off my car by myself.

No, I didn't need a man to do it for me.

Would the simple gesture of a gentleman asking me if I needed help, at which point I would have kindly declined, sufficed?

Yes.

(Make a mental note, guys.)

To Know You is To Love You (And Vice-Versa)

2008-02-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

Have you ever caught yourself harboring resentment towards someone you have never even spoken to?

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but it happens to me all the time. At stores. On public transportation. In restaurants or bars. When new people start at work. With my neighbors. I really find the most creative nuances to define as annoyances. I don't like someone because they wear flood pants. I can't stand this guys gel-filled hair. Look at her crooked teeth (by the way, my teeth are NOT straight.)

It could be that someone swaggering around. Why not just walk? I hate overconfidence and arrogance. I don't like that person. (Who defines a swagger anyways?)

And, it makes me wonder how I can be so completely shallow and closed-off. Small-minded at best! How is this possible when I have friends of all different ethnicities, backgrounds, etc? I have always worked in jobs where I have a lot of interaction with people. I have even lived in other countries and all around America. I did a year of Americorps, for Christ's sake. How can it be possible that I judge so many people?! I swear I am not a bad person.

And, then it hit me one day--I hate everyone I don't know and love everyone I do! What kind of sense does that make? As in, I hate people, but love persons.

This was especially made apparant when I taught English in China. As a whole, I would get extremely frustrated with the Chinese poplulation. But, one-on one, I made some of the dearest friendships I have ever had. Ones I still cherish to this day.

So, why do I do this?

Is it a defense mechanism? If I already dislike them, why would it matter if they don't like me? Latent behaviors from being picked on in grade school?

Is it pure intollerance? Willful ignorance? Yikes.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who is like this. Please tell me someone else has judged someone on their bad highlights and later came to find that said person is one of the most intriguing and wonderful friends ever--chunky highlights and all!

To all those people in the world who I have never talked to (and am probably irrationally judging right now), would you like to get a coffee?

(And, why is that random guy in the other room talking so loudly?! So annoying. . .)

A Hazy Shade of Winter

2008-02-01T13:29:00.000-08:00

I had my iPod on shuffle this morning and "A Hazy Shade of Winter" ironically happened to play on this day of all days that Chicago got completely dumped on. Snow everywhere. We're talking major school closings and an advisory not to leave the house.

So, as I drudged along in foots worth of snow to work listening to a little Simon and Garfunkel, I started to think about the color, gray. (Since my color theory class, these are the types of things I think about--did I mention I got an A? And I'm a total nerd.)

I have to say that I am enamored with grey! I don't think it's hazy or dreary at all.

I think that it is the most fascinating color there is. Interior Design school really forces you to appreciate a good neutral. They are so much more work than primary colors. Try to mix a paint swatch to create the same shade of gray twice and you will know what I am talking about. A little black a little white, red, yellow, blue--this color has it all.

Okay, I know that you really can't ever mix the same shade of a color twice, but grey is seriously complex. It's like the binomial equation of color. PS, I don't even know what binomial equations are. Hold on. Okay, I just googled the term and it's a real term. Here's a link: http://mathworld.wolfram.com/BinomialDifferentialEquation.html

I digress.

Gray is everywhere nowadays in fashion and interiors--specifically the charcoal grey family. And, I couldn't be more supportive of this trend. I don't think I leave the house without at least one grey item a day. It helps that my coat is gray and it's the dead of winter. Seriously, though, I have gray flat boots and they have been my best purchase of the season pairing them with browns and blacks alike. I wear them almost everyday proving the power of gray. The same goes with interiors. Gray does not have to play the part of a neutral accent color. As a matter of fact, I love rooms in which grey is the star player. Charcoal gray walls are hot. And, with bold accent peices in neon colors or fiery reds or oranges, they make any room contemporary and cool (not in a hazy shade of winter way.) Grey peices of furniture can also play the star role. I am secretly on the hunt for the perfect grey velvet sleak-line midcentury-modern couch. Shhh, don't tell my boyfriend.

The only thing I will say is, though, buyer beware of the difference between the cool gray family and the warm grey family. While, it can be interesting to mix all types of gray purposely. When picking a few select grey peices to stand out--stick with one family or the other. Because if you put a warm grey next to a very cool grey. You are going to wonder why you thought that blue peice (a cool gray) would match that brown peice (a more warm grey). Oh, gray, you trickster!

And, lastly, since I'm already anthropomorphisizing the the color gray (if you don't know the meaning of this word--google it and impress all your friends--yes that's SIX syllables friends.) According to interiordezine.com, grey is "steady, deliberate, dignified, protective" along with being extremely versatile (note: it even goes by two different spellings--as demonstrated in this blog.) I don't see anything hazy about how fabulous gray is. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Paul and Art!

Blog Intro

2008-01-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

Successful design encompasses different dichotomies. Effective design takes convention and makes it innovation. Well-thought out and meticulously executed ideas translate into apparently simple and effortless design. That which is old is made new in a different context. Design should be practical, yet aesthetically pleasing. Universally understood yet uniquely presented. Succinct, but thought-provoking. The restraint it takes to design something well creates freedom for those encountering the design. Good design is inherently ironic. Mastering the paradoxes of design is going to be a life-long goal of my design career.

This is my design philosophy.

A little about me. . . I'm an Interior Design student in my fourth semester at Harrington College of Design located in downtown Chicago. I'm attending part-time, since I work full-time at the school in the admissions office. I already have a degree in English and Psychology. So, I'm hoping to make my writings a fusion of all of my interests--design, writing, studying the quirks and beauty of the human experience, etc. I am also interested in humor--specifically sarcasm.

I will be keeping track of all the fun, exciting, and most often tediously wonderful creations I get to work on for school and as freelance work as well as keeping running commentary on whatever subject seems to inspire me. More to come soon. . .