Fit for a 'Tween

Today, I created a story board for a "tween's" room based on the colors pink and orange. I didn't want to overdo it, so I ended up incorporating warm grey and woods. The items are sourced from to-the-trade companies as well as the lovely Anthropologie and Serena and Lily. If you have any questions about sources, just email me!

click image to see details

I wish I could actually put this room together. I think it would be a space a young girl could love and really grow into. 

Jewelry Lust List

I've always been intrigued by jewelry design. How do designers manipulate the precious metals? Cut the perfect stones? I imagine if I took a class in metal work, I would quickly become obsessed. So today I'm posting a top twelve list. Insert Eye Candy Here:

Engine Gears

Last year, I ventured headlong into light fixture design. Here is an example of a lamp I created:

It all started with a trip to my local scrap yard. I filled a bucket with old engine gears...

After cleaning the rusty old things with a hard wire brush, I welded a stack of gears, staggering the rings. This is the part where I have to mention- we do not create in a vacuum. Behind every design is at least three people. I have to give credit to Jean and Oliver, two fantastically talented designers who graciously taught me to weld, cut wood, basically build anything... Thank you thank you so much.

So that really is me welding under that heavy awkward helmet. Shocking, I know...

Here is the welded stack of gears. The metal is beautifully burnished from the heat of the welding torch. There is something about this gilded tower that is at once hard, cold, & masculine and yet somehow feminine, shiny; like jewelry. 

Next, I attached the stack to a wood base, painted a warm brown bronze. Jean gets all the credit here. I'm deathly afraid of loud wood-working tools, saws, drills, and grinders.

It's not perfect; it was my first welding project. I'm sure with practice I'll be pretty adept at welding. Now all it needs is a duponi silk lamp shade in a barrel shape! 

Launch

I'm launching a blog. It's a lot of pressure. I want to share my ideas, gain inspiration from others, and just generally put it out there...

Because I'm a terrible self-promoter, I suppose I'll forgo the compulsion to discuss my design ideas and instead start my blog discussing something I've recently discovered... And Love. Being that I am a recent citizen of Charlotte, I'm only now learning of hot spots that most Charlotteans will roll their eyes at as I pour over all the reasons I love said hot spot. But here goes: I discovered "Phat Burrito," the hipster burrito restaurant in the hip "SouthEnd" neighborhood in Charlotte. Let me say, I will never eat at Chipotle or Quidoba again (no offense large chains.)
I ordered the veggie burrito for only $6.50 and I'm happy to report, it really is a "phat" burrito. I mean "two meals worth of phatness." Talk about a deal.
Suddenly I feel like Rachel Ray. Maybe I'm over-selling it.

Phat Burrito