Love/Hate

For some reason, even though my experience lies mostly in the commercial design realm, I have seen at least 3 headboards today that I both love and hate for various reasons. After gathering my thoughts about the following, I have come to realize why I still don't have matching furniture or "any nice things" - because I'm cynical and I can't make up my mind. Before I show you my findings, however, I need to bring it to everyone's attention that there exists furniture that is literally inspired by Super Mario: see below. Although before I realized it was Mario-based, I thought it was more inspired by pixels and technology and I kind of thought it was cool; I'm fickle.


First we have this classy, sophisticated and soft piece that would look beautiful in anyone's house but mine. It just looks so thought out and well proportioned, that I can't help but love it.


However...I also happen to think it looks like one of these, and now I can't get past it:

Next up, an interesting thought - patchwork headboard. Reasons I think this is cool: its a great way to personalize your furniture, its a great way to use up all the cool remnants of projects past that I have laying around, it has the opportunity to be one-of-a-kind, and it's colorful, which I always love.

Reasons I hate it: I feel like it would be cool and novel for only a short time before it started seeming kind of cheesy, also I would worry about maintenance of the headboard, and of the bedding used because I'm sure every one of those fabrics used has different fiber content and cleaning instruction. Also, the fact that its upholstered with lots of small pieces sewn together makes me wonder how it would hold up structurally. Lastly, well, I feel like you'd get tired of it quickly, and it wouldn't stand the test of time like your grandmother's comfortable quilts.

This last one, from Crate & Barrel, I have a hard time hating. Its beautiful. Proportionally, its beautiful. In terms of scale, its beautiful. Stylistically, its beautiful. I love the simplicity of it - not fussy, or dainty in any way, which is right up my alley. I feel like I'd really love to sleep in this except for...

...this. Unfortunately, due to my, um, vertically endowed stature, I don't think I'd be able to sleep very well in this bed. My feet would probably hang off, and I'd always be stubbing my toe and whatnot. Kind of maddening when I really get to thinking about it! Oh well, this is why I still have no headboard or foot board!

DNA Evidence

I am loving this DNA Art Stuff. It is, in my opinion, such a really cool, subtle way to personalize artwork in your home. I'm not big on buying art that doesn't mean anything to me, and I certainly can't wait to purchase one of these because will literally be a graphic representation of myself.

The really cool part, that I love, is that you can mix your DNA with someone elses to make his/hers combinations to hang over a bed or wherever. Really cool and graphic. The finger print ones are just as cool! Love love love!

Leave It To Cleaver

Okay, so, maybe the necklace is a little scary, but I absolutely LOVE ModCloth. Its inexpensive, easily accessible online, and I love their style. I find a lot of great inspiration on this site.

Current trending topics in my stylistic eyes are: nautical theme, in both fashion and interiors; sharp angles; bold colors; layers; and an effortless kind of look. It's moments like these when I'm really glad I went to school for fashion merchandising as well as interior design, because I feel very blessed to be able to use both in my daily life and blur the lines between. They're so interrelated as it is, but I love being able to translate one into the other.

Team Brendan

Apologies for the sparse projects lately - it has been a really busy month or so!

As some may already know, a good friend of mine, Brendan, committed suicide this past January. Needless to say, 2010 has been a tough year for all of his friends and family.

I honestly hope that news like that is something that most people never have to receive. For this reason, I am joining Team Brendan in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness walk on November 7th. I am registered with the AFSP's website to receive tax deductable donations, and that is great, but I really want to show up to support his wonderful parents, and brother, and remember all of the good times. He was, after all, my little buddy.

Mmm Mmm Banana Pudding Pie

I was looking for a quick dessert to make out of whatever I had lying around in the kitchen last Sunday, when I came across a few old family recipes that I tried to cobble together. The boys finished it in one sitting, so I guess that's a good sign! I've also added it to my recipe box on www.tastebook.com. Definitely worth a look if you haven't seen it yet!

1.5 C vanilla wafers

1/2 C macadamia nuts

1/2 tsp salt

3Tbsp melted butter

1 large, ripe banana

1 large box of french vanilla instant pudding

2 C milk

Instructions: Preheat overn to 350. Crush vanilla wafers in food processor, along with macadamia nuts. Add salt. Add melted butter until all crumbs are moistened. Press into ungreased pie pan. (I use the bottom side of my measuring cup for this.) Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool.

Make pudding according to instructions on box. (Yes, you could make actual stovetop pudding, but then it takes longer to cool before you can eat it!)

When crust has cooled, put banana slices in the bottom. Pour prepared pudding mixture over top of the banana slices, and smooth around to your liking. Let sit at least 30 minutes, if you can ignore the aroma for that long!

Enjoy!

Also, while google searching for existing recipes like this, I ran across this dress named the "pudding pie" dress by Lulu's via http://www.thegloss.com/. Love it. I am already in the process of deconstructing it in my head to figure out how it is made. Coming soon!

Chicken + Broccoli + YUM

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to cook. Not only from recipes, but I enjoy experimenting and making things my own. Also of concern, I try to watch what I'm eating, just for health's sake. Then there's always the issue of price...

I must say, I really created a winner tonight. Less than $3 per serving, better than take out, and somewhat healthy! If you like chinese takeout, you should definitely try this. It feeds 2 moderately hungry adults.

Better -Than-Take Out Chicken & Broccoli:

You'll need:

• 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast


• 1 cup medium grain rice (or jasmine rice)


• 1-1/2 or 2 cups of broccoli florets (adjust per your taste, of course)


• 1 cup chicken broth


• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp corn starch


• 2 Tbsp butter (yeah, this is the only "bad" thing in this meal)


• 2 cloves garlic - minced


• 2 Tbsp soy sauce


• pinch of dry red chili flake

1. Put broccoli on to steam (Brian and I don't really like our broccoli too crunchy, so I steamed it first). Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add rice, turn heat to low, and cover for 20 minutes.


2. Clean icky bits from chicken breast, butterfly, and cut into 1/2" cubes. Melt the butter in a wok (or good pan if you don't have a wok), and add chicken. Add pinch of salt and pepper, and cook on med - high heat until the chicken is golden brown. Remove chicken from pan, and put on paper towel. Add garlic and chili flake to remaining butter - don't let burn.


3. Add corn starch to chicken broth and soy sauce in a seperate bowl. Put steamed broccoli into wok with garlic and toss to coat. Pour in chicken broth mixture and stir. You'll want to bring this up to at least a simmer to thicken the sauce. Add chicken back to wok, and toss to coat. Simmer until sauce is a desired thickness, then serve on rice! So yum.

This really only took 20 minutes to make. So much yummier, healthier, cheaper, and quicker than actual take out!

Cooper

Okay, I am a font nerd. I absolutetly love this font and I made a few "occasional" cards to give out as little gifts. I'm also loving these color cominations right now. I've been on a yellow/navy/grey kick for a while - can't get enough!

I'm glad to finally have internet back - my modem overheated and fried itself. It is amazing how spoiled I am at home having all my wireless devices.

Becky's Bites

Recently I've been super enthralled by anything that is graphically iconic. I love creating my own icons and using them like stamps on any graphic projects I am working on.

Recently, I was invited to a kitchen themed bridal shower for a friend. In addition to something off her registry, I wanted to make her something really special and personal that would serve her in her kitchen adventures. So, I thought, how about recipe cards? I know we all have our different ways of keeping track of our favorites - mine is a pile of books and recipe cards on a bookshelf - but I thought these special cards could be used to document meaningful dishes for her and her new husband.

Here are the veggie and the chicken one. I also made some for Chicken, Pork, Beef, Breads, and Desserts. I also made a differently formatted one that is the "take out" category for them to write info for their favorite take out places. I am open to other suggestions, of course. :) The appropriate icon is on one side, and the lines for writing are on the other. They are formatted to a 5" x 5" square and I wrapped them with kitchen twine and put them in a little carrying case for protection

Dressed

So back in February, I was approached by my Knoll rep in response to an IIDA event's call for entries. The "Dressed" event was for interior designers in the Atlanta area (me) to use interior design resources (materials, thinking, etc) to create runway garments. We were provided professional models, but my team decided that, since I am way over 6'-0" myself, I might as well model my garment too. In hindsight, I shall allow myself more time in the future when I plan to design, make, AND wear a garment that will be photographed. :)

Featured in my garment are two different colors of Knoll "Silver Screen" drapery fabric, as well as a belt made of Risom Chair webbing.

I had a blast during the actual event. I will never ever complain about getting my hair and makeup done! In the end, I got to parade my creation in front of all of my peers at a fabulous venue, with Project Runway's Anthony Williams (hilarious) behind the mic. Much gratitude to my Knoll/CE team members: Kerry Seiling, and Tracy Bennett, and to my design partner since birth: MOM! Love you all.

Sorry I'm Slow...

I promise I'm not completely ignoring the blog, but I've been working for...8 days straight now on a presentation for work. I barely have time to sleep, much less blog. But I WILL get a new project up this week. :) Promise!

Quick Ship

During a fit of boredom and inspiration last fall, I agreed to make a wedding dress for my friend Amanda. Being a victim of non-average shape myself, I could certainly indentify with the hassle that goes along with finding something that fits me perfectly. I asked Amanda to send me pictures of herself in all of the dresses she'd tried on, along with notes on what she liked or didn't like. Together, through a few sketches and fabric samples, we came up with a plan and put it into action.

She planned on eloping to NYC, during what turned out to be a bit of a blizzard, to get married under the Brooklyn Bridge. How romantic! My wonderful mother and I worked dilligently to put together this dress in a shorter than average timeframe (about a week) and hoped for the best.

I must say, I was more than pleased to zip the bride up in it the first time - she looked stunning! Of course, not even a potato sack could make her look bad. :) My favorite parts were the ruffled bottom in the back and the covered buttons I made to go down the back of the dress.

This is one of my favorite projects of the past year. I really enjoyed the challenge and most of all, I enjoyed making the bride happy on her special day. Although I would absolutely love to take on more projects like this, I can't say that I'd ever take on the challenge of such a short time frame again!

(An original concept sketch that got developed into the final product.)

Please note the absolutely amazing photography by Red Fly Studio. The rest of the photos (including some of the bride ice skating in her dress (!) can be found here at Red Fly Studio's Blog.

A Date to Remember

I was having lunch with a rep one day last year, when she expressed to me her frustration with finding a quirky and fun save the date for her wedding. She sent me an example of one that her mother had found that used a collection of graphic images and interesting fonts to tell the couple's story. I offered to take a crack at making one for her, and in about a week we came to the final product that she ended up loving.

I realize it isn't formal, but this kind of thing is just perfect for some couples. Actually, I really enjoyed doing it! I would love to make these things on a regular basis.

I sent her the raw file, and she had it printed (she had a connection with someone, I believe) on cream paper that was just a click below card stock. The final dimensions ended up being about 5" w x 11" l - she had to fold them and tie them with a ribbon to make them fit into a standard envelope. I was ecstatic when she brought me one tied neatly with the blue ribbon. She also stuck a little save the date magnet in each one.

Here is what it looked like, with minor tweaks:

(Please note, names were changed for the couple's privacy.)

My First

Welp, I've decided that I'm going to jump on the blog wagon to see where it takes me. I've been told that some of the things I make might be of interest to someone out there in the big wide world. So, here goes nothing!

I have a few past projects that I'll be showing off soon, because I really enjoy showing off the things I love doing. All of the invitations, garments, and other randoms are products of my inspiration and motivation to create. Eventually, I'd love to make a steady hobby out of doing these odds and ends because I really do enjoy showing them off. :)

Stay tuned!