NYIGF 2012

This was my first year attending the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) and wow, pre-tty amazing. If I even attempted to cover everything I saw or experienced I probably wouldn't have to do another post until something like December, so I have decided to cover one topic of interest.....my  pint sized pillow fetish, yes, yes pillow fetish.....

First, let's talk about COCOCOZY.   Besides seeing her wonderful collection, I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting it up with Coco.  What a FABULOUS personality, completely INSPIRING! I have been a fan of her blog for some time, such a thrill to meet in person. I luv the clean sophistication of her graphic designs along with the serene color palette, then adding splashes of bold of colors.

(photo: courtesy of: Cococozy)

(photo: courtesy of: Cococozy)

These were some of my personal favorites:

Another fav was PEHUEN Home.  Description for this line...LUX with a capital La La LUX and at the same time a very comfortable and casual feel.  Casual and chic, always a winning combination for me.

And just when I think I have been CHEVRON-ED TO DEATH....it pulls me back in..

I seriously wanted to roll around in this booth and bury my face in these throws, but rest assured I did exercise professional restraint...this time.

My next stop,  Ryan Studio.  I named their collection "The Bold and The Beautiful"(I know, I know). Bold colors and patterns, Beautifully executed.

Then I sauntered over to Eco-Accents.  Always curious about what people are coming up with in our "Eco" world so I took a peek.  

I love the "tongue and cheekiness" of their ocean/beach themed collection. The graphics are intentionally fun and sketchy, almost caricature like with vibrant colors.   The fabrics, appropriately casual (burlap, jute fringe and natural cotton).  They offer way more than pillows so check out their website http://ecoaccents.com/

After my pillow haze, I stumbled on this little gem of a company Liebenswert which means "lovable" in German.  My mother would call it a "wash tub" plain and simple, but they have made it into whimsical outdoor seating.  The top/seat is removable with storage inside, very solid and sturdy.  I love creative thinking outside the box.  Casual, Cute and yes, Lovable.......so apropos.

I can so see these on a deck at a great casual summer party!
(Please ignore legs in the  shot, I am working on my photog skillz.)

I thought their marketing material design was pretty "Liebenswert" too.

My final NYIGF 2012 inspiration exhibitor gaining major cool points for overall fabulousness-ness is, drum roll please.....STAY TUNED.   I feel an inspired illustration coming on.....

Getting Married!

Well I'm already married.  Sorry if you had a moment of unwarranted  excitement from my title.  Yes, I happily tied the knot years ago with my one and only, but I can't get enough of wedding event design and fashion.  Sometimes I redesign my wedding in my head over and over when I am feeling particularly creative, romantic....or extremely bored (whichever comes first), but in the design and fashion world with ever changing and evolving styles, who can resist?


My latest wedding interior and style crush is a french bohemian theme....I hate the term "theme', but mmmmmm this is it. The place I would start?  BHLDN  (pronounced "be-hol-den). BHLDN is Anthropologie's wedding line store that has vintage-inspired, bohemian wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, shoes, accessories, jewelry and wedding decorations...INSPIRED DESIGN...........PURE ROMANCE. Check our their Houston grand opening video:



BHLDN + Houston from BHLDN on Vimeo.

I was introduced to BHLDN by one of Anthropologie's project marketing execs (who by the way has one of the coolest jobs EVER) and I was instantly in love.. (uh not with the exec, with BHLDN of course).  The interior store design and detail is amazing.  Now they have a store in Chicago as well as Houston, so all you Texans and Shy-Town-ites should check them out.   If me and hubby were just getting ready to jump the broom, this would definitely be the place we would skipping off to .....

What is your wedding event style inspiration??

Doodling Around...

I am still getting used to my role in the whole "blogosphere" and adding it to my every day business life, so more content to come!  But in the meantime, hope you enjoy my latest, just doodling around.....

Hmmm. Life in a Tiffany Box?

Gold In My Toolbox....

I have to admit, being able to draw what you see and design in your head is pretty cool, but it does have its challenges.   Finding new tools that help with efficiency in the course of this creative process and in business overall is like discovering a little piece of gold!

Always on the hunt for useful tools to use in my hand rendered illustrations and 3D computer model renderings, a few years ago I stumbled on a company named Form Fonts. They create simple and intricate design pieces that 3D computer renderers and designers don't always have time to tackle, especially if it is specific to certain manufacturers. They do a FABULOUS job.  Learn more about this process and check out my guest interview at Form Fonts here: What Visualization Tools Are In Your Communications Box?.  

This is a current condo project I am currently working on where I am creating a rendered model and requested one of my favorite pendant lighting pieces to be made, Moon Scrap Lights from graypants.  See the pendant lights over the table?

Below are the actual pictures sent to Form Fonts along with spec information. I luuvv these lights! They are made from scraps of corrugated cardboard!

Form Fonts developed this lighting into a model component affording me the time to continue to focus on the over all design of the project and stay on track with my timeline.  This is what they completed and sent back to me to pop right into my model.  Amazing right?

Here is another project I am working on involving a family recreation/entertainment area design in my client's  lower level.   I requested modeling components in a different presentation style:

These are a couple of the pieces I sent to be created...... saving me loads of time:

Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair. Photo:Courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids

This is what they sent back to me for my model (looks better than the real picture...)

Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair. Photo: Courtesy of Form Fonts

                                         

Langley Ottomans. Photo:Courtesy of School House Electric & Supply Co.

Langley Ottoman Set:  Photo: Courtesy of Form Fonts

                          

Using Form Fonts services for my many other 3D projects has proven to be such a valuable tool for my business.   For all of you Sketchup, AutoCAD, 3DS Max and Collada users out there, check them out.  If you are a designer and just want to see more of the amazing modeling components they create for hundreds of users, check out their website at: www.formfonts.com.

Make sure you STAY TUNED.  I will be posting the final renderings from this post and from my guest interview once completed, hopefully very soon!  
PS.:  Feel free to share with us the GOLD you have in YOUR DESIGN TOOLBOX!!!

Adeus!

"B" Day....

Well, here I am, officially putting "my blog thang" down as of right now.  Correct, you guessed it, this post has nothing to do with Beyonce or anybody else's "B" day for that matter, but the birth of my first blog post today.  You can read more about me in my profile of course, but I am an interior designer and illustrator who is absolutely passionate about the world of design and design illustration.


I have a lot of past and recent works I will be posting soon.  Below is one of my latest renderings I completed as a thank you note after meeting with one of my absolute "blogger faves", Naomi Stein at Design Manifest.  She took time out of her busy schedule to get together and chit chat about the world of blogging.  She loved it, posted it and gave me a gracious "shout out" on her blog:  http://www.designmanifest.blogspot.com/2012/06/sweetest-gift-ever.html, which was so amazing to me..

No matter if I am illustrating one of my own design projects or working for someone who just commissions a drawing,  I loooove this creative process.   I was self taught early on, moved on to some formal instruction in  school, but gained so much more as I continued teaching myself new things and adding guidance from some phenomenal designers and artists along the way.  Keep watching, I plan on interviewing some of these very cool "peeps" soon so you can see the great work they do! 

  

The drawings you see here were done in marker. The one above, on my banner, I did right after Naomi posted my rendering.  I was inspired by the appreciation and knew that I was feeling that "now or never" in the pit of my stomach. So I decided to jump right in.

One of my earlier renderings

I work with markers, pencil, computer renderings, watercolors, 3D models and animations, Photoshop, yadda, yadda, yadda  it's all fun, I love it all and I plan to show you all that I love in design. The elevation rendering below is a more structured vs. loose drawing for a kitchen design concept project I was working on.

Rendered elevation drawings

These are just a couple of teeny, tiny examples of work that I have done, but stay tuned, much much MUCH more to come.  My plan is to share my designs, drawings, renderings/illustrations and design inspiration from any and everywhere.  Whistles wet yet? I hope so.

Oh yeah, here is where the "magic happens"...well some of it anyway....

Hope to see more of you!  Adeus!

  

STAY TUNED......