Right now, I’m on the hunt for inspiration…

I thought I’d turn to two creative minds to help with the process,  Bjork and Michel Gondry.

Both are fabulously creative artists and like a couple of Mad Scientists they are always experimenting. When they collide I am always thoroughly entertained.

Most of what intrigues me is their approach to their respective arts. Both Bjork and Gondry possess a child like quality that is woven throught their work. You never get the feeling that  things are over produced, too slick but rather they use simple processes, seemingly DIY, to create fun interesting, effects visually and musically.

Their work is instinctual and organic and right now, I think I’m going to take a cue from them. I want to simplify my creative process,  get my hands dirty and see what amazing things happen.

Happy Monday everyone!!! I hope your weekend was AMAZING!

If you are following me on Twitter, you will know then you will know that I mentioned that I will be traveling to Paris in July. WOOHOO! I consider it an early b-day gift to myself (I’m an August baby) and couldn’t be more excited. A couple of years ago, I took a trip there and fell head over heels in love with the city. I’m thrilled to be going back. However the last time I went I was neither a designer nor a blogger, so I am approaching this vacation as inspiring 10 day  relaxing yet creative adventure.

Because I have about a month before my departure, I have started to put together a list of things I am considering taking with me.

Now I present to you:

1. Paris: Made by Hand

Every blogger and their mama has been talking about Pia Jane Bijkerk’s book. I have been totally slacking on buying it,  but I recently I flipped through a friend’s copy and was awestruck. As a stylist extraordinaire, living on a houseboat in Amsterdam and who knows the inside scoop on designer shops and decorator’s haunts in Paris, Pia has one of my  design dream lives (I’m a Leo, so I get nine including my own wonderful one). It only makes sense that I need take her book with me.

2. The Flip Mino HD:

Somewhere beneath my designing-woman surface, I like to believe a documentary filmmaker  lies who is ready to be unleashed. What better way to uncover my inner renaissance woman than to document my own  design finds and on the streets of Paris?

3. Moleskine Cahier sketchbooks:

The paper in these sketchbooks is perfect and I’m VERY picky about the paper which I use to draw and write. Plus they are lightweight, can fit easily in purse, and come as 3 pack which is great should my trip spark a ton of creative ideas that can not be limited to just one book.

4. The Polaroid PoGo:

I have been looking at this for a while and this is a must have for me. The PoGo would be great for  my sketchbook as you can peel the back of the  2″ x 3″ prints and stick them right into the book. Perfect to document the sights and my adventures along the way. Plus the PoGo is small enough to can fit in my purse and I can hook it right up to my camera and print away!!!

So what  would I carry all these things in? Well, I’d love for it to be something like this lovely number:

Plus it’s roomy enough that I could bring Princess Tam Tam along for the fun! I can’t wait! I’m off to practice my French.

Do you have a suggestion for the trip? If you do leave a comment and let me know.

It’s raining and gloomy outside, so today, I need a bit of an inspiration boost in wonderland. For that, I turned to Tim Walker’s gorgeous photography to see me through the day. I’m in awe of the amazing visual stories he tells with his camera.

{blurring outside and inside living  but only with exquisite floating desserts, of course.}

{sweet Lord, this is love; I’m pretty sure I could build a room around this photo alone.}

The London-based photographer blurs the line between fantasy and reality creating a world in which I’d love to retreat (at my leisure of course). The photographic details, textures and the way the photos are lit amaze me.

{wanted: oversized floor length pearls}

And the above photo reminds me of one I took while studying in London.

{ hmm…it’s pretty much the same. this was taken at a shop window at Liberty, the best department store in the world!}

Of course, I also need Tim Walker’s book but in he meantime, I found some fun videos that help boost the inspiration factor a little bit more.

Here’s two Inside looks at Vogue Magazine:

And a bit more behind the scenes action:

Somehow seeing the behind the scenes videos don’t destroy the fantasy for me. In fact it enhances it for me because i love seeing all that goes in to creating these beautiful, lush images.

This is just what I need for a rainy Tuesday.

I do not profess to be all knowing when it comes to sustainable design, but I consider myself rather informed on the basics and continue to learn more. At work the other day I had the opportunity to sit down for a lunch presentation with a design rep to discuss the high-end brand they represented. The firm I work for is very green, so when it came question & answer time, the other designers and I were surprised at the lack of green knowledge and to learn that the company they represented had made almost no efforts in the way of green education.  To be honest, It made me sad to think that in 2009 any design brand would completely ignore the environmental impact of their company. Then I wondered how many designers work in that same bubble.

So short of studying and taking the LEED exam, how does one become more informed about sustainable design?  Here are some ideas:

• Online Continuing Education: Metropolis Magazine offers  informative courses which you can answer questions and submit back to the Magazine for credit. (It does cost $25 to submit for credit but you can read for free.)
• Look to other designers who work in a similar style as you, only green. One of my favorites designers is Kelly LaPlante and her firm Organic Interior Design.
• Check out green design sites: I heart Sprig and Ecofabulous. they are both fun and informative.
• Listen to Podcasts: Personal Life Media has two that I listen to, Green Talk Radio and Living Green.

In addition here are some books I’ve read:

• Cradle to Cradle
• Sustainable Commercial Interiors
• A Natural History of the Senses
• Business as Unusual

And few from my wish list:

• Sustainable Fashion and Textiles
• Sustainable Residential Interiors
• Ecologique
• Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
• Biomimicry

{image via treehugger}

Don’t get me wrong I still have a ton of work to do (like sit for my LEED exam), but I just couldn’t ignore the events that occured earlier in the week. Sustainability is not a luxury, it is a necessity and its something we all should be thinking about as we design. We can all choose to be wonderfully informed.

Happy EARTH DAY!!!

xoxo, Jessica

I’ve finally decided that I needed some calling/business cards. I’m starting to go to more design events representing not only myself but also Design Wonderland so I wanted something a fun and little different (like my beloved blog). That’s when I found ICINGS PRINTS.

You provide the info you want on the card and Designer Aislinn Chuahiock emails back a draft for your approval. After that, You get a high-res final draft that you can print at home or send out to print ( I chose to send mine out to be printed because I found out that I’m picky about card stock – who knew?).

Aislinn is very friendly and helpful. She did a wonderful job and I’m pretty excited about the way they turned out. I can’t wait to share them with you once I get my final printed copies back. Check out her etsy site for her full line of printable and customizable stationary.

Happy Monday!

xoxo, Jessica