Inspire

Inspire

Monday, March 28, 2011

Wanderlust

I have wanted to explore for years.  I have this stir crazy wanderlust that continues to gain momentum each year that passes by.  I will unveil myself a bit here and admit that one of my biggest regrets in life is lack of travel.  I feel this void.  I feel a bit empty that I have never really seen the world, seen different cultures.  Its as if there is this giant color wheel, filled with such a magnificent variety and I have only seen a few shades of purple.  How boring.  I find myself so intrigued by other people's stories of travel, yet envious at the same time.  Not only do I want to see the world for my own self exploration but I want the hinges of my "out of the box" box to be oiled and not so rusty.  I feel so closed off at times from opportunities and inspiration in other cultures.  It frustrates me.  Of course I know the answer to my woes, just go for it.  Travel.  See the world through MY eyes and no one else's.  Travel can, at times, be intimidating.  But, as much as we sometimes hesitate in the face of NEW, we embrace it too.  Some of us crave, thrive, consume all that is unknown, different. My soul is an arrow directly down the middle.  I do hesitate at the idea of my comfort zone being compromised , but I have taught myself to push through the fear, breathe and just take it on.  An unbelievable freedom takes over when you do.
I know, if I take my adventures someday, I will be overwhelmed by the inspiration I will find, not just in design but in any part of life.  The things I could see, bring back with me.  The colors, the aesthetic, the linens and fabrics.  The architecture and fashion.  The plates of colorful food,  the markets.  The smiles of strangers passing by.  The way people move, how they shake hands, embrace and enjoy.  People's time spent and time lost.  Suns setting, how the wind smells and hits my face or those earthly felt scents of the morning. The love between people, even their hate.  Who knows?
I once worked at a accessories boutique where the entire collection sold was inspired by items found around the world.  I have always admired the owner, and taken her with me every step of my creative way.  She once told me that the beauty she saw throughout her life, traveling and exploring was the sole reason she opened her store.  I loved that.  She wanted to share.  Express her gratitude to the places that defined her.  And guess what, she was successful at it.  I hope to accomplish what she did at some point in my life.  Gain inspiration through a narrow street filled with colorful doorways and window panes or an overwhelming piece of architecture.  Indulge in a succulent meal made specifically for me and from only the freshest local ingredients, take in the vast beauty and loneliness of the desert or see the ocean from a different part of the world.  And mostly, I hope to feel the overwhelming joy of gaining a new view and adding a few more colors onto my color wheel.

Below is some inspiration from the wonderful places I hope to visit and explore someday.  Enjoy!


Thailand







Africa









Greece

 






Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Dirt Poor and Fabulous.

Continuous buzzing.  My head today.  Ugh.  It's a carnival.  Rapid thoughts Ferris wheeling their way around, hitting each side and then back again like a fish in a fish bowl.  I feel like a Picasso painting.... two heads as one, a nose where a mouth should be, eyes on my forehead.  There is a particular kind of beauty in this chaos.  So I am going to just accept my head as it is today, in it's kaleidoscope of messiness and just write.  So forgive the zig zags.......
I'm an accessories person.  I just love them.  I really do.  They can take any boring, stagnant room and just give it a hell yeah vibe that is so great.  I mean even with just a touch, nothing extreme, just a splash of something.... transformation. I just recently did this to my own apartment.  I threw a few things here, a few things there, hung a few fab pieces of art and boom.....my home was born.  So I'm focusing on cheap accessorizing today because like many of you out there.....I am not of a "hearty" financial standing.  I have actually started to convince myself that my bank account might be the first known Black Hole of Internet banking.  All of my money is actually being pulled through to another galaxy by some magnetic force unexplainable to mankind.  Unfortunately the bank tellers don't share my theory.  So until I can prove otherwise, plain and simple.... I'm dirt poor.
But alas followers and design lovers, we will not compromise our needs......our need to decorate, design, create and really L.I.V.E in our own space.  Our home is our canvas, well it's mine anyway.  And I refuse to give up just because I'm broke.  Yes, we are capable of convincing ourselves that a $300 pillow is a necessity.  Yes, we are capable of believing that without that lamp shade our whole color scheme will be thrown off and anyone who is aware of such torture would understand and support the purchase.  And by god, yes, we are ALL capable of knowing that we will purchase the pricey side table that will fit oh so perfectly in that empty corner because we can no longer live with the harsh continuous scream of desperation "FILL ME!  I'M EMPTY! DISPLAY SOMETHING HERE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!"
But you know what?  Not having that fabulous expensive designer throw (that I saw in a store window the other day, which costs $400 dollars, that would look absolutely perfect on my gray velvet chair) is not going to kill me.  In fact, it might actually make me stronger.  Stronger in that I walked away from it.  I turned away from that window, lip trembling, mind racing WHY WHY??!, and forced myself to research other, cheaper options.  These acts of strength have not only helped my financial black hole but have pleasantly made me realize that this kind of research, is, well, it's just so fun.  It really is.  You wouldn't believe how many fabulous alternatives there are, if you just take a little time.  And I'm telling you, you will get lost in bargain shopping la la land.  And like all of you, I adore having a home with style, a direct representation of who I am.  And like many of you, I tend to be drawn to the most expensive and obscene anything.  But guess what, i can buy without breaking the bank.  Or, I can be creative and make my pillows, or distress a cheap armourer on my own.  I can shop the bargain bin and do it PROUDLY.  So I encourage you, fellow creative comrades, design guru's and those who collapse in the midst of those devil disguised price tags..... to take a field trip from your everyday charge card and go out, stand tall, find the sales, dig through the bargain bins and don't be afraid to get your hands fabulously dirty.

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http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/roundup/roundup-15-thrifty-frugal-inexpensive-ideas-095961