The Mirror

I downloaded "Pomp & Circumstance" a few months ago when I heard that they used it in Alexander McQueen's Fall 2010 Fashion Show. I always loved that song as a child, and I thought that was so fitting and emotional that they would use it to show the first collection, that were half his designs, after his death this spring. And the music has since inspired and stirred me. But back to this in a moment.

I spent the morning at MCC in the sewing lab, and being on MCC's campus took me back to a few years ago when I decided to pursue fashion, design, Parsons and New York City.

Then I met Bob for lunch to go over remodeling plans and discuss cabinetry. After that it was off to ASU to do some research at Hayden Library. Being on ASU's campus was a "total trip". Hayden Library and the Business School felt haunted with memories of a time long gone, and a life that was so utterly different!

As cliche' as this sounds, when I stood in the bathroom -- one of which I had used on a regular basis ten years ago -- and looked in the mirror, I thought about how the girl looking back at me is so different. Of course that would be very scary if ten years had gone by and I was that same girl! But still it was an odd feeling being in that same bathroom, looking in that same mirror and comparing the life I had then, and the life I have now.

Prototypes, home remodels, some of the same dear friends, and several wonderful add-ons...there was a lot bouncing around my head. And I used to stand in that bathroom and compare finance and management notes with Kristin Horton, and then head to the "tables" to chat with the UKAZU crew and convince Brian Lutz that we should plan a trip to Thailand.

And than what was even more of a trip was the fact that as I dug around for fashion articles and statistics at the library for my latest endeavour, the more I came across articles written by people I have interned with, worked for and know because of my time in New York City, Parsons and the fashion industry.

Talk about closing out the circle...no wait, that would be when Pomp and Circumstance came on my CD player and I contemplated the day, the past ten years, my life and where I am going next...

I Dare You...

I was with Bob Wilkinson at La Grande Orange last week and we started flipping through books while we ate lunch. I flipped through the book "Think Big" which is made up entirely of quotes regarding creativity, inspiration, going after your ideas and dreams while being movtivated to think outside the box. The book of course resonated with me and I bought it.

I always look back over the year{s} on the eve of my birthday. I can remember doing it all the way back to when I was a little girl. So much has changed in the course of _X__ years, wait I am not going to tell you how many candles I will be blowing out tomorrow ;-) but the point is that, as I reflect over my life, there is a lot to take in and a lot to think about.

This quote from "Think Big" struck me as the perfect birthday-eve quote "I dare you to, while there is still time, to have a magnificent obsession" -- William Danforth. Birthdays prove to us that the years are fleeting and time stops FOR NO ONE. We have one shot at this life and we can dilly-dally, waste our time and energy, or we can go forth and do SOMETHING really magnificent.

And whatever that "Magnificent Obsession" is, is up to you. We all have different goals, dreams and purposes. And the race is truly only against the amount of time we are given.

This is the tenth birthday that I am not getting to celebrate with my parents. Of course, it makes me incredilby sad, and they are on my mind all the time -- for some reason they have been in my dreams every night this week! But I refuse to sulk and wallow in their accident. They are gone, but I am not. I was given more time and now I am going to go out and do something with my "Magnificent Obsession" -- what will you do with yours?

Vision

Making mood and vision boards were practically a part of almost every class I attended at Parsons. And for good reason, it is an essential tool that communicates ideas, concepts, inspiration and vision in the fashion industry. I put together many boards while at Oscar de la Renta, American Eagle, and other private label firms.

Vision boards are not limited to only fashion either. Bob Wilkinson and I spent an entire Saturday covering a rather large piece of particle board with images from Dwell, Architectural Digest and other design magazines in order for me to show him what I wanted done to my "Beadle Box" remodel.

So last week when both Ashley Bugg and Alexandra Evjen suggested I create a mood board to help with my brand and latest collection, I WAS all about it. They had attended Promise Tangeman's "Show It" marketing and branding conference and Promise was talking about creating vision boards there. I figured it would be a great exercise for Tracey Martin and I.

Making mood boards ranks up with there with one of my favorite activities!

Al Beadle or Whitney Port?

In January Cassy Saba and I were walking through NY's garment district. We were leaving Laura Bennett's (3rd season Project Runway finalist) apartment on our way to talk to Laura's manufacturing company when Cassy spotted Whitney Port, MTV Reality Star. I was on my iPhone scrolling through an email that Heather Maclean (my real estate agent) had sent me. I was in the market for a new home and Heather had graciously been showing me homes since the summer.

I wanted something modern. I wanted to be in the Arcadia area. I was partial to Al Beadle homes and mid-century modern design. As I flipped through the MLS listing Heather sent me, my heart stopped. The Camelback Place Townhouse she sent me was PERFECT! It was in the heart of the Arcadia-Biltmore area, it was mid-century modern, it was an Al Beadle design and the price was phenomenal for a Beadle home at the golden intersection of 32nd and Camelback. Cassy grabbed me as she let out a scream and booked it down the street to run after Whitney. Cassy is a jewelry designer and she wanted to connect with Whitney to show her designs. I know the importance of having a celebrity wear your designs and the marketing impact it can create. But instead of chasing Whitney I scrambled to call Heather and tell her I wanted that HOME and that we should put an offer in! I had not even been inside the townhouse but I knew it had to be mine.

Three days later when I was back in Phoenix, Heather showed me the home and I put in an offer later that day. That was only the beginning of what turned into a very stressful roller-coaster ride! First someone outbid me, then a month later their offer fell through, so I put in another offer, then the appraisal did not match the seller's price and the lending piece got screwed up. One moment we would have great news and the very next, very deflating news, it was like Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" song. Finally at the end of March I closed escrow and the deed was recorded. The place is finally mine!

It needs a good deal of work. But that is okay. I am hiring my friend Bob Wilkinson to completely remodel the place. We have a ton of ideas and we are going to create a masterpiece & turn this townhouse into one huge art piece. I am Bob's first official client since going out on his own and starting a design-build firm, Worksite.

So I may not have connected with Whitney Port but I got my "Beadle Box". And who knows, if Bob and I do an amazing-enough remodel, maybe we can be featured in a design magazine, and Whitney is no stranger to the world of high-end magazines ;-)

Principles

My friend Bob, who is an architect introduced me to Ray Kappe's work. Ray is also an architect. Ray was asked what he thought were the ten most important principles that helped him become a successful architect, planner and educator...I thought they were very good principles for anyone in any field.

1) Think positively, not negatively
2) Accept structure but know that it is to be questioned and broken when necessary
3)Always be willing to explore, experiment and invent. Do not accept the status quo
4)Know your yourself and keep your work consistent with who you are and how you think
5) Maintain good moral and social values
6) Be humble, honest, compassionate and egalitarian
7) Have conviction about your work
8) Be open and say yes to most ideas and requests. The good ones will be valuable; the bad ones will cease to exist
9) Allow employees and fellow workers freedom and the ability to work to their strengths. Avoid hierarchy
10) Money should be the residual of work, not the goal. But do not compromise your worth

Creative Synergy

On top of everything else that is going on, I am helping my old boss, Cathy Jahnke with Cjcommunications, with the grand opening of Barney's at Scottsdale Fashion Square in October. She purchased 150 mannequins and her concept is to have artists, designers and other imaginative types use the mannequins as their canvas and create something really spectacular.  The event will be called "The Mannequin Is Our Muse". 

The mannequins will be displayed through out Scottsdale Fashion Square, with the top 5 mannequins being auctioned off and the proceeds going to the Scottsdale Art Museum. Local celebrities will be the judge of the contest. Simon Doonan, creative director of Barney's, as well as installation artist Janice Leonard (AZ 88 and Bar 89) are both participating in creating a mannequin. 

I am collaborating with my friend Bob Wilkinson who is an architect and we might even get to work with another architect Bill Tonnesen on the mannequin project. 

I know NYC is a mecca of creativity, but everyday seems to bring more opportunities for some absolutely fabulous creative synergy right here in Arizona. I could sit and brainstorm with Bob for hours ideas on what to do with our mannequin. We are started experimenting last weekend with various ideas and art mediums. It felt like my soul was being artistically fed. 

And then there is my photographer Ashley Bugg we got together yesterday to do still-life shots of my headbands. It is like Ashley is my creative kindred spirit. She totally understands my vision and her ideas are off the charts! Working with her is a pure delight! And I am totally bouncing off the wall with ideas, excitement and concepts when I am around Ashley. 

Oprah's magazine "O" magazine contacted me about my headbands. And Ashley is going to help me put together a Look Book and Line Sheet for the magazine. I think our finished product will be pretty slick. And of course my mannequin with Bob is going to be out of control. 

Creativity, I love it! It is my addiction and high...