A New Way of Looking at My Blog

Hi everyone.  I am sorry that I have been a bit tardy in writing.  I was busy with some last minute client projects - some window treatments to install...a faux finishing project and a home staging project.  Then - over the weekend, I took a wonderful Blogging Class (Road Trip, Blogging Your Way NYC) with the delightful Holly Becker, the wunder-blogger (did I just coin a new word?) behind the successful decor8 and Leslie Shewring of A Creative Mint.  There was so much to learn but I know that I came away with a lot of very important ideas.  I also learned how to operate my Nikon 3100D Digital SLR camera much better - and I learned some new tricks on PhotoShop Elements. Here are some of the pictures I took at the workshop.

One of the other delightful things about taking the class was finally meeting one of the first people who ever commented on my blog - Shawn Byles of the blog Jamaica Byles.  Shawn is an awesome textile designer and I encourage you to check out her blog. She will be revamping her blog as well though, after attending this wonderful workshop.

The Big Aha Moment: I think that the one critical thing that I learned was that I needed to share my creative process on my blog.  What inspires me to create such and such a faux finish or to concoct a particular color scheme in a room. My inspirations come from many, varied places - it could be a photo of an old house in Provence, the colors in a painting, an advertisement in a magazine.  Inspiration is everywhere.  But, as a creative person - I usually just show the final product. 

So, not many people really understand the process that brought that particular look together.  I now know that I need to "tell the story" behind a room, a color scheme...a finish.  I know that I have done that at times (especially when I am giving some of steps in the recipe) but I am not "showing" the whole story.  Not only the reason behind the look, but the process: Show the tools, the bottles of tints that comprise the color, the bucket of plaster and me applying it.  Or when it comes to using fabrics in a room - perhaps I should show the fabric showroom and how I come to choose several fabrics amid a sea of possibilities. 

To compose those shots, it takes another skill that I am only beginning to develop - styling.   It's one thing to pull some colors, finishes and accessories together in a room...but to pull it together for a photo shoot is another thing. I have to exercise this muscle and better my eye for this. I know that I will be taking a ton of photographs until I am happy with the result.  For the above photos I must have taken hundreds of less of than beautiful shots before I loved the result.  Learning to work the camera (changing the fstop and the shutter speed...the ISO) plus styling the photos is new to me so it will take a while to really get the hang of it.  But, I know that it will make my blog more useful as well as beautiful to my readers.

Holly Becker from decor8 blog...and me

Thank you Holly and Leslie for a great class.  Looking forward to implementing everything I learned!
And...thank you for reading!

Great Gift Ideas from a Fabulous Store - Henry Road

I wish I could just hop on a plane to Los Angeles to be in the company of Paula Smail, the owner of Henry Road in Studio City in California.  She descibes herself as a "Shopkeeper, Designer, Daydreamer" and she has dreamed up a great store - chock full of great items and gifts. Oh well - a trip is not possible...but she has an online store that is so inventive and inspiring that it's easy to be a very clever gift-giver this holiday season.

A view of the store, via Henry Road

She also has a online magazine that is full of great accessorizing ideas, interviews with artists and much more. Just looking at the images in this magazine will give you great tips on how to arrange your art objects, books and accessories. On the website, you'll also find a link to her fabulous blog - well worth the look. 

I have pulled together a "Top 10 Gifts" from the catalogue - but please go take a peek at all of the offerings because I know that you will find some great ideas for even the pickiest people on your gift list! We all have a few of those, don't we!?!  And with everyone tightening their belts these days - each one of these gifts is easy on the wallet.

It was hard to pick only 10, believe me - but I've heard that blog readers love short lists - so here it goes!

For Kids...Or Kids at Heart!

Number 1 

The Scratch Off Map: This is based on the "scratch off ticket" idea - but here you scratch off where you've been in the world.  Great for kids as well as grownups.  Perfect for the world traveller or someone planning to do some travelling.  Cost: $20

Number 2  

Classic Baby Blocks:  Made in the USA and toxic free, these blocks will also help a little one learn math.  I could have used these as a kid...I can spell but don't ask me a math question.  Cost: $40 for a set of embossed blocks with canvas bag. 

Number 3  

Dog Balloon Bookends: These come in orange and purple and I think they are great accessories for a kid's room. Colorful and useful, they may help get your kids to read more. Cost: $40

For the Guys...

 

Number 4  



Billiard Ball Bottle Stoppers: I love these for a bar or...well why not - a pool room!  My husband always hates to use the girly ones that I have - so I know that he would appreciate these instead.  Cost: $30

Number 5  

Vintage Gas Station Numbers: For the guys on your list - but also for anyone who wants to add a little vintage vibe in a family room, kitchen - even the mantle. Cost: $35

For Her...

Number 6 

Queen of Everything Mug:  Show her how you really feel with this adorable mug.  For $15, it's a bargain way to make her smile!

Number 7 

A Pretty Pouf:  Then give her something to rest her Queenly feet on!  It's colorful - and a great spot of color for just about any room.  Cost: $220

Number 8 

Spread the Love Butter Knives: Keep the love going with this thoughtful gift. Great for "her" and for anyone who wants to add a little loving touch to the dinner table.  Cost: $16

Number 9 

Decorative Hand Cream:  What woman wouldn't mind keeping one of these gorgeous little tubes in her purse?  They are pretty enough to keep out on the bath or kitchen counter.  Cost: $18

 Number 10 

Decorate by Holly Becker:  This book, by Holly Becker who started the design blog, Decor8, is a must have book for anyone who loves to decorate their home.  There are so many photographs with great ideas that you can implement right away.  I just took a blogging course taught by Holly - and I can say without hesitation - that she is one of the most creative people and the book is so inspirational. Cost: $35. The store has a great collection of other books that would be great for gift giving. 

OK - Number 10.5 

I just had to include these decorative pillars for $25 each.  I am going to buy at least one - the Thistle - for my husband who loves that plant. I think in the US it's sometimes a weed...but over in Europe it's seen in gardens. My husband and I picked a thistle pod in one of the gardens near the Eiffel tower and we've loved the thistle ever since.

So spread a little cheer - for not too much money.  Let me know if you've found some great finds and fabulous sites for gift ideas.  I would love to hear about them!