tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38085990116994836512024-03-06T02:18:00.482-05:00bluedogz designNews on Bluedogz Design and the Gift Community. As a special bonus for stopping by, you get my thoughts on style, design, trade shows, saving money, spending money, what I love, what I hate, what and who inspires me and my "what I'm into" du jour!bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-57571061777286168542016-04-20T12:30:00.001-04:002020-10-21T09:36:46.108-04:00Harlem Candle Co. Packaging DesignI have had the pleasure of working with Teri, founder of <a href="http://harlemcandlecompany.com/" target="_blank">Harlem Candle Co</a>. for about a year now.<br />
She came to me for a logo upgrade and needing packaging and labels for her candle line.<br />
<br />
Truth be told, I actually really liked her logo.<br />
Usually when clients tell me that they need help with their logos, they do.<br />
The story usually starts with<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>My Mom (or, best friend, 12 yr old nephew, boyfriend etc) got a copy of Photoshop and created this logo for me...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Coincidentally, Teri's logo story started the same way, however in this case, her Dad ;-)<br />1. Was smart enough to use Illustrator to create a vector based logo<br />
2. Kept it simple and clean looking<br />
3. Has talent!<br />
I tweaked a few details, made some slight typography changes but by and large, the essence of what he had created stayed. I thought he had done a great job!<br />
<br />
Teri had been using labels on her various candles before coming to me, however, this time, she wanted her new labels to really reflect where she was taking the line, with luxurious new fragrances and new glass vessels. She also felt that she was ready to take things to the next level in terms of her brand and wanted me to design some custom packaging for the line<br />
<br />
We started by creating the labels for both beauty and utility ; a label for each fragrance in a rich saturated corresponding colour and a gold foil. Since custom boxes can get expensive and Teri was starting this venture with a <i>small-ish</i> print run, we opted on only one box design for all the different fragrances. I did this by creating an area on the front of the box that could accommodate the same label as the vessel, so every boxed candle would have a label on the front of the outside of the box and on the glass candle vessel. Since we could use the same label, it increased her label volume and thus, ended up bringing her (per piece) label price down, so it worked out perfectly. By only creating one box at this point, it also ruled out some of the pitfalls of printing lots of different custom boxes, like running out of some and having overstock on others. With this scenario, we only had to worry about labels. Plus, Teri could introduce new fragrances by only adding a new label to the existing box.<br />
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I stayed with the classic black and gold of the original Harlem Candle Co. aesthetic for the boxes and created an all over pattern using the H, accented by spot gloss on the H's. This gives the box some texture and although the H pattern is black on the black background, it stands out in a subtle way depending on how light catches the gloss and resembling custom wallpaper. On the inside of the box, Teri was granted permission by the family of the late artist Elmer Simms Campbell to use the amazing illustration of his Harlem Night Club Map.<br />
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<br />
In March, Teri presented her all-new line in her <a href="http://www.harlemcandlecompany.com/blogs/news/115713669-harlem-candle-company-architectural-digest-design-show" target="_blank">exquisitely designed booth</a> at the Architectural Digest Design Show in NYC, it was a huge success!<br />
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We are working on her next new ideas together and I'll be sure to keep you in the loop.<br />
You can enjoy these beautiful candles in your own home, (I have burned several and the fragrances are divine), definitely <a href="http://harlemcandlecompany.com/" target="_blank">order</a> a few for yourself or someone you really love!bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-53831329151850116652016-01-18T13:03:00.003-05:002020-10-26T12:18:05.754-04:00Private Label CandlesHappy 2016!<br />
<br />
This year I am not going to call it anything, like a resolution, I am just going to do it.<br />
So, let's do this.<br />
<br />
First up, Private Label.<br />
I know I get retailers and wholesalers and designers and event peeps here, (because you write to me, and I enjoy that), so I thought this might be fun to share, plus I'm super excited about it.<br />
<br />
Just launched,<br />
the <i>Private Label Boutique</i> with my awesome clients <a href="http://scentations.com/" target="_blank">Scentations Home Fragrance</a>.<br />
What is it, you ask?<br />
It's a small-batch run program starting at just 100 candles.<br />
Scentations is a 30 year old, second generation family run home fragrance company that makes beautiful candles and home fragrance products in Pocahontas Arkansas. They have been taking care of large private label accounts for many years, but now, I have helped them design a simple and affordable way to offer custom candles to smaller retailers, for events or corporate opportunities. <br />It's a super simple process where you choose your vessel (4 offered), your fragrance (over 20 offered) and your label shape and style (designed by yours truly). <br />It honestly could not get any simpler. We can also add your logo and use your requested colors.<br />
<br />If you are planning an event or have always wanted to create your own line of custom candles for your retail environment, event or even your design business, <br />you should definitely get in touch with Scentations.<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-64366742155473284102015-01-06T14:45:00.001-05:002015-01-07T11:40:01.095-05:00The Mock-up; From an idea to a boothHappy 2015!<br />
I decided not to wait another 2 years before my next blog posting, :-)<br />
I have been asked over and over again - <i>Nadine, how do you come up with fresh booth ideas for smaller companies who don't want to spend a gazillion bucks and who want an awesome booth but with a relatively quick set up and tear down</i>.<br />
Here it is, my (now) not so secret process.<br />
I start with A LOT of thought, much is pretty straight forward, but each case is always a little different. I think about the product that is being sold, how it will be sold at retail, who I want to sell it to, and, what type of a setting suits the product. I go through the obvious list of what the exhibiting company has or has not already done in terms of a booth pre- Nadine. <br />
Do they have a catalog? great photography? full on branding? or maybe things are a little scattered look-wise, maybe we want to make the look more cohesive and pardon the expression "on brand" (ugh). So many questions, but SO important to know before you start to mock things up.<br />
...How big is the booth? (usually my client's booths are between a 10x10 and 10x15), how many products do we need to show? do we want to do a lot of repeat? ie: 12 of each item? if there are only a few items in the line, or, is the line vast and the booth space limited?<br />
<br />
Now, what about style? Visual inspiration.<br />
The line could be gorgeous dainty jewelry, but how am I going to get buyers out of the aisle and into this booth to take the time to look at the gorgeous dainty jewelry, when there's a daiquiri machine a few booths down and a clown and puppies? (not quite, but almost)<br />
<br />
Does my client's line have great style already? or does it need to find its look? Is there something in the line that can inspire the entire look of the booth, maybe a great photo in their catalog that can get the ball rolling?... How extravagant can I get with this booth? What's the budget? Can we ship in 10ft antique armoires?, yeah, didn't think so.<br />
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I happen to think in images, I can build a booth in my head first, literally swapping out fixtures, paint colors and signage with my eyes closed, lying in bed. Odd? probably, but it's how I roll. Funny thing is, when I was doing my own booths, I rarely did any kinds of visual mock-ups, I imagined my booths and simply made lists. (When I look back on it, I probably would have saved some time by mocking it up after imagining it, but too late now). Most of my clients are not into the whole imagining thing, understandably, they want to see it, or something very close to it, before they show up in the booth, so I create mock-ups, and that is what we are going to talk about today.<br />
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I am going to take the initial launch of the lovely <a href="http://www.eleven-point.com/" target="_blank">Eleven Point - Fragrance Merchants</a> line, this past summer. Before we did anything in terms of a trade show for his newest brand, David (the owner) wanted to see something that he could really sink his teeth into, all the pretty words and descriptions weren't going to cut it, he wanted visuals. Here is what the very first mock-up looked like.<br />
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A little background, the line is inspired by nature, the fragrances, memories and experiences David and his family had growing up on the Eleven Point River. The initial launch would show 6 different fragrances in 6 different product categories (white glass vessel candle, black glass vessel candle, reed diffuser, room mist, travel tin candle and fragrant sachet). The line was designed to coordinate in rustic or modern settings, for women or for men. To have a lived-in comfortable, relaxed look with sophistication and elegance, focusing on the amazing fragrances of the line; River Fern, Bonfire, Cotton Creek, Honeysuckle Rain, Coconut Moon (my favorite) and Blackberry.<br />
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Charcoal painted walls with the box pattern as wallpaper down each wall, gold wall sconces, signage like the brand's packaging, two perfectly weathered leather club chairs, one large wooden wall shelf, large nested table set and weathered wooden floors. I knew this was simply a jumping off point to get things moving along, it might not <i>all</i> be feasible, but we needed a start. Also, when starting with a mock-up like this, you can really walk through a few orders in your head and really think about what you need in your booth in terms of supplies and what you need to show in terms of product. And yes, it's a wholesale show and buyers know how to buy, but buyers are also regular people who shop too, so I like to think about what I like, what attracts me to a store, how I like to shop.<br />
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It just so happened that before doing the Eleven Point booth, reps and showrooms were hired, so we quickly switched things up for the limited space of a showroom. Here are the mock-ups. <br />
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Dallas showroom, approximately 8 feet of wall and approx 6 feet of floor. </div>
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Here's the Mock -up </div>
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in progress </div>
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end result (very bad photo/color) </div>
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Las Vegas showroom, 8 feet of wall with about 10 feet of floor. </div>
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Wait, what now? I can have ceiling electricity?... we can do this. </div>
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They might have a table we can use? it's rectangular? okey dokey.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_ZVmX2HQVaf2sICRkQVHpLY62lwDk3tdbJ0JfVQMZ0qpSFcKDJS-vxf8Wb4fO4mIVS_N8cWTY6UAb_71N6FrTfCZOq5EBJL48pQGPngn_pquNPI28zN81R_SCDsZXnpRpXXRXasTqcU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-06+at+12.53.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_ZVmX2HQVaf2sICRkQVHpLY62lwDk3tdbJ0JfVQMZ0qpSFcKDJS-vxf8Wb4fO4mIVS_N8cWTY6UAb_71N6FrTfCZOq5EBJL48pQGPngn_pquNPI28zN81R_SCDsZXnpRpXXRXasTqcU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-06+at+12.53.32+PM.png" height="320" width="289" /> </a></div>
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result (excuse the photo quality, it's all they sent me!)</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjp6zXvxRO8T3Iifmg-bxBKqtebI3BuL5KhJ7UaximyALVHLOx0gWOn13kUPOHYAVgDlNSX20iFm_wjW5S8HsB5svRvHJyRdUVncKXhoIm-mE87wLFhM5t0MI1MY_sC_HBTcxxsyc885c/s1600/IMG_20140722_093954_888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjp6zXvxRO8T3Iifmg-bxBKqtebI3BuL5KhJ7UaximyALVHLOx0gWOn13kUPOHYAVgDlNSX20iFm_wjW5S8HsB5svRvHJyRdUVncKXhoIm-mE87wLFhM5t0MI1MY_sC_HBTcxxsyc885c/s1600/IMG_20140722_093954_888.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTkt13tf0H5qDtXV7bZkp8Z9jBvHtVYp4yppUq6uVa-NxIp_4Ee_G3hWJNQitRqxQDVg9USz_SrzPR5G6SUY5yjXQGkNE0hP_pXh85Pbl0VsiWJnWK4u4GyJ9nqGZXI4vKleh848scbI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTkt13tf0H5qDtXV7bZkp8Z9jBvHtVYp4yppUq6uVa-NxIp_4Ee_G3hWJNQitRqxQDVg9USz_SrzPR5G6SUY5yjXQGkNE0hP_pXh85Pbl0VsiWJnWK4u4GyJ9nqGZXI4vKleh848scbI/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="239" /> </a><br />
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Atlanta - variation on the same theme, again with a round table</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19L6sptETynWAOMiNswhKLTLLGvDtSX28cnqqPBy_0wJJExspRcH3Zt8N8tV81c-x9jsbGcgY8vn4gHAzh_TxLYTIfVB-RjK8vYHPQhZ1eNhqoQPMU5rbuSYJRd0q_hPqHcC2gYKw3yA/s1600/20140707_194606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19L6sptETynWAOMiNswhKLTLLGvDtSX28cnqqPBy_0wJJExspRcH3Zt8N8tV81c-x9jsbGcgY8vn4gHAzh_TxLYTIfVB-RjK8vYHPQhZ1eNhqoQPMU5rbuSYJRd0q_hPqHcC2gYKw3yA/s1600/20140707_194606.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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You are getting the idea now, right?<br />
For technical info, I use Adobe Illustrator to create these mock-ups, truth be told, I wish I could use Illustrator for everything, it's amazing. But if you are not into the big guns software, you can certainly use other things, or even draw it out, or make your life a little simpler and call us.<br />
(please note that we were NOT present for any of these <i>showroom</i> set-ups, they were done by the showrooms themselves based on our mock-ups, and, they did a great job! This go around of shows, I am getting <i>really</i> detailed about exactly where we want product displayed and on how many samples are sent to each show, you will see that soon, Atlanta is being set up right this second as I type this post :-)<br />
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Here are few sources for items that were used in the showrooms - <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/round+blanca+table.do?&from=fn" target="_blank">round table</a> in Las Vegas Showroom, battery powered wall sconces were purchased on ebay for all showrooms, custom self-adhesive <a href="http://www.muralsyourway.com/" target="_blank">wallpaper</a>. <br />
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Next up, how we tried a few looks before settling on <a href="http://bluedogzdesigncom.blogspot.ca/2014/12/eleven-point-booth-design.html" target="_blank">this</a> NY Booth last summer.bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-73119312861152473612014-12-22T08:45:00.001-05:002020-10-26T12:18:54.832-04:00Eleven Point - Booth DesignIt has been forever. UGH. My apologies.<br />
Lately I have had so many emails and messages and even a few phone calls from you awesome people who tell me that you are waiting for me to post more booth stuff.<br />
Good news. I have new booth stuff for you.<br />
It's actually from August 2014 NY NOW. Pretty new.<br />
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This is the <a href="http://www.eleven-point.com/" target="_blank">Eleven Point</a> Home Fragrance booth. It was on Pier 94 and the newest brand introduction of my awesome client <a href="http://www.scentations.com/" target="_blank">Scentations</a> Home Fragrance. I love love love working with this company, and am so proud of what we created for Eleven Point. I will post more about the line separately, but let's get to what you are asking for, the booth stuff.<br />
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This was a 10"x10" corner booth. As with most of us, they didn't want to spend a gazillion dollars on a booth but, they still wanted a presence. The goal was to create a little wholesale shop where buyers could see the line, quickly understand the line, experience the fragrances and place orders.<br />
The NY NOW show is offering some new options for walls these days, so there was no need for foam board this time. We decided to order the MDF panel option and have them paint it for us, you just need to supply them with the Behr paint color (I chose a charcoal grey). We needed 2 ten foot walls done (since we had a corner). On the Piers we did this through FB International (via the show). The pricing was somewhere around $150 per panel (painted) and we needed 6 panels (they cut them and price them to just a little over 3' each since most of the booths are sold in 10' increments, if you go to Lowe's or Home Depot, they will be 4'x8' and you will pay around $25/panel unpainted), the unpainted was $120/panel. Not cheap. I know. <br />
If you are local, the process they used to make the walls was super simple (explained below) and it could be easily done for WAY cheaper, but, if you are not local, it could be a pain to get this done on your own as the panels are not easy to transport and move around, they aren't heavy, this particular MDF was only 3/8" thick, these panels are floppy and cumbersome and 8 ft long.<br />
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If you decide to build a booth like this yourself, I would definitely go for the heavier MDF so that screwing into it wouldn't be an issue if you wanted to hang shelves or anything heavy-ish and remember to get the panels cut to your booth size so they fit your walls, or, you can always take 3 panels per wall and place your middle panel over the 2 others and the empty space, so that there wouldn't be cutting involved (and it looks pretty cool too). <br />I talked about this method with foam board <a href="http://bluedogzdesigncom.blogspot.ca/2010/07/more-layout-options.html" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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Let's get to it...introducing the August 2014 Eleven Point booth<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcNypd2fOO7aGg_fgQUhuVVqBYbTb_35Sj5rGK_9M6yGQwmqiwxCiwZR7IICMNO5K0UY7v7GmPXdBnQ0dVrQsu4Uc2uk6DglyY-W4UEsj3B85Yn-J3ZzmBapn5ZYJhQoZSYmiFCBpTE0/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcNypd2fOO7aGg_fgQUhuVVqBYbTb_35Sj5rGK_9M6yGQwmqiwxCiwZR7IICMNO5K0UY7v7GmPXdBnQ0dVrQsu4Uc2uk6DglyY-W4UEsj3B85Yn-J3ZzmBapn5ZYJhQoZSYmiFCBpTE0/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
Here's what I did.<br />
As mentioned the walls were ready to go - well, almost, when I got to the booth they were still being painted, but, it was done quickly. In a nutshell, this is what FB International did for the walls - they screwed in 2 little silver squared inverted U brackets at the top of each of the panels and simply hung them over the squared bars of the booth structure. (This is new too, remember how the booths were all loose drape over round poles? square now.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsATBraqnC_FnxAYWyFqu1qi7jIK0Y_zlE59oKlI6SXEFgAA_fu5wC7dh__Jxni-ydBInEgLoSSdH0CQAJ7io86t2_x0T7rXNJDqydhLnHh6PiRpkxkfVgqs7-77MWJGpuWJXmmlq-Xew/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-21+at+10.36.13+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsATBraqnC_FnxAYWyFqu1qi7jIK0Y_zlE59oKlI6SXEFgAA_fu5wC7dh__Jxni-ydBInEgLoSSdH0CQAJ7io86t2_x0T7rXNJDqydhLnHh6PiRpkxkfVgqs7-77MWJGpuWJXmmlq-Xew/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-21+at+10.36.13+AM.png" height="320" width="224" /></a></div>
No, they were not super strong and yes, a few of the brackets fell off and I had to have FB come and put them back in. MDF is not the greatest stuff to screw into, often screws don't catch and slip right out, this is what was happening, but it was fixable.<br />
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I had ordered a strip of wallpaper that was the same pattern I had designed in the line's packaging to personalize the space - I worked with <a href="http://www.muralsyourway.com/" target="_blank">Murals Your Way</a> for this and used this same idea in all of our summer showrooms. It was easy and quick to install and is actually removable, so it can be used for a few shows if you need. Since my wall paint was pretty fresh, the vinyl didn't stick as securely as I would have liked, so I just added a few staples to make sure it was not going to unpeel.<br />
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For the booth sign, I had our graphics printed at <a href="http://www.fedex.com/us/office/printing-services.html" target="_blank">Fedex Kinkos</a> and I spray painted an old textured frame gold.<br />
The wall sconces were a fun addition, they are battery operated, and don't shed much light, but they added a nice touch to the booth and didn't require wiring to install, only a plastic pushpin.<br />
I bought several sets (again for all of our showrooms) on ebay. This particular set I sprayed gold quickly, to match the frame and the other booth details (they were originally a bronze color).<br />
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The frames on the wall were super lightweight black plastic <a href="http://www.ikea.com/" target="_blank">Ikea</a> frames (with plexi fronts rather than glass) and each one had a fragrance description from the Eleven Point line that I laid out and, again, printed at Kinkos. I had originally wanted to place 6 frames on one wall and 3 on the other, but that didn't happen, so I did a quick adjustment and put all 9 on the same wall. <br />Since the frames were so light, I used heavy duty velcro tape to stick them to the walls, MUCH faster and more forgiving than nails and hooks. <br />
The cute linen grey bench was a score at TJ Max.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/round-to-oval-x-base-extension-table.do?&from=fn" target="_blank">table</a> is from World Market, a gorgeous extendable table that we will be using for a while and was surprisingly easy to assemble (sign up for their emails and you will get great coupons and free shipping vouchers).<br />
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The carpet is from the wonderful <a href="http://www.flokatirug.net/shopping/" target="_blank">Flokati Phil</a>. I have had one of his Flokati rugs in our loft for many years and love it, so I called him to help me find the right one for the Eleven Point Booth. Once I was in the booth, I realized that an oval shape was the way to go, so all I did was tuck the corners under and it became this awesome puffy oval soft addition to the booth.<br />
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For the shelf under the Eleven Point sign, I used light metal brackets from <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30140004/" target="_blank">Ikea</a> and sprayed them gold, and a piece of wood that I had cut to the length I wanted at Home Depot. I added a coat of wood stain to it to bring it to the color of the other woods in the booth. I stained the extra piece they had cut off for me, and used it as a riser in the middle of the table to add a second layer to the main display.<br />
Since the MDF walls were not very sturdy, I used my <a href="http://bluedogzdesigncom.blogspot.ca/2010/07/shelves.html" target="_blank">foam board trick</a> and placed 2 pieces of scrap wood behind the shelf brackets to screw into - this added a lot of strength to the shelf.<br />
(I would NOT have done a wall of shelves on these walls without doing some serious securing first, and even then, these thin MDF walls are not built for lots of shelving, I wouldn't risk it).<br />
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Here are some photos of the process, and the finished booth.<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-90020894254657376142012-11-08T11:32:00.002-05:002020-10-26T12:19:11.954-04:00so obnoxious!I love how <a href="http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac305/fassopony/21164_10151220897009861_1013490115_n.jpg" target="_blank">Nordstrom</a> posts about how the Christmas stuff shouldn't go up before Thanksgiving has happened, I so agree, and I love their attitude...however, if we wait, this inventory is going to be GONE.<br />
This is an exception. So, at the risk of being completely obnoxious, here we go, <br />the pre- US Thanksgiving, obnoxious holiday sale!<br />
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<a href="http://www.bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20mini%20ribbon%20boxes.htm" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hcyFMKh-5kVstSawTy_qxvOjWAOT2b13BbldGEp21vHcLWGS3GWpbNyrqnjf36ACqO8Qs89xalkB25jAX6uXfEDG_D8Sx3RoSElCcFyPltQFdl1iXH0BVHvKb5H91cl8LcMXH8HUNpA/s640/holiday-sale-mini-ribbon-boxes-mailing.jpg" width="425" /><span id="goog_139594574"></span></a><span id="goog_139594575"></span></div>
Stock up, make a great Advent calender with lots of little boxes, use them to dress up your holiday table, package all your special little gifts in them...they are perfect, and, we are practically giving them away!<br />
You might also consider some holiday <a href="http://www.bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20teeny%20tag%20patterns.htm" target="_blank">teeny tags</a> while you're at it...:-) bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-55782969829643866002012-11-01T19:00:00.002-04:002020-10-26T12:19:29.636-04:00Help us empty our warehouse!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bluedogzdesign.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMoBrhY93KgD27ScilJ7t1yPeoS1DQzs5R3JoANnQAUFBWRCz0XIsYrbSHOkQr5VDluq3pKk-g_cnCTCplEEv3TR5sNSyDfp4GgB_1LRZHhLZuBaGouR0_PtTkCJubRzcGvgAr9HFE9E/s640/pinterest-warehouse-sale.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
We need to empty our Warehouse and all your favorite BlueDogz Design products are available at ridiculously low prices. If you are a retailer, of course, we have some super specials for you too, so get in touch asap (full displays, and fab holiday products, and yes, also at ridiculously crazy low prices!)<br />
email : nadine(at)bluedogzdesign(dot)com<br />
or, just <a href="http://www.bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20contact%20us.htm" target="_blank">call</a> us!<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-50853405915355743772012-08-22T13:30:00.002-04:002020-10-26T12:19:55.790-04:00laser beams and loveHere's something that I have been thinking about lately, it makes me feel slightly comforted and slightly depressed, but here it is.<br />
What if, we all had little laser beams and when the time is right for us, we release our beams at people.<br />
The actual targets of our beams might not have much to do with anything except that we are ready, they are there, and there is something that is drawing us to them (good looks, sweet smile, charisma, their smell...)<br />
What if, when we are ready for something in our lives, maybe we just aim and shoot? Then, we go about doing what we are ready to do, in terms of learning about ourselves, surrendering, trusting, committing, or in so many cases, suffering. Maybe, because <i>who</i> gets shot, is, mostly arbitrary, in my laser beam equation, this leads to so much of our suffering, heartbreak, loneliness...divorce?<br />
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I mean, think about your failed relationships, or just some of the jerks you even fell for, the ones that really hurt, you were probably ready for something that the person you laser shot was not ready for, or maybe even not looking for...Then, we go around heartbroken and sad because we made this huge effort and perhaps spent years of our lives in it, we shot our beam at this person and we didn't get what we were shooting for.<br />
We even go out to shoot new targets and tell these new targets about our bad past shots (or they tell you about theirs)! (a little fucked up, right?).<br />
Think about that shot you had that cost you so much time and suffering, only to turn out to be a TOTAL waste of time...and yet, even though you know it, you still think about them, they still jump around in your head like target practice and all you want to do is shoot them, although not so much with your fancy little laser beam... I think that these shots, the ones we just can't let go of are probably because we had big shit to learn or try to learn, we were super ready for it and the targets were just dead wrong. Because other bad shots, well, they just don't haunt us. See what I'm saying?<br />
Anyhow, it's not that I am not a romantic, or don't believe in love, au contraire, but seriously, does life need to be this intense?...<br />
and, like magic, just as I typed this last sentence, a past shot, a LONG shot comes to mind. He was so un-intense, so un-passionate about me that I could have died a thousand deaths and he never would have even noticed, until, as a good friend recently reminded me, he noticed that my half of the bills weren't paid.<br />
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So, yes, I will take the intensity, I will aim again, I will shoot and I will see who gets hit with my beam and try and decide whether I should quickly throw it back in and let it go or take it home and figure out what it is I am supposed to learn from it. And I am not saying that it might not take a few shots at the same target sometimes, but, maybe every so often, two people target each other, simultaneously, both shoot, and both happen to have the same stuff to learn. And, then again, sometimes the short shots are pretty great too, don't you think?bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-77591246050229921782012-08-10T07:57:00.002-04:002020-10-26T12:20:12.840-04:00A Cocktail Party!Yesterday my Mom called asking for a favor...could I please whip something up to send via email, for a cocktail party that she and her husband will be hosting...here's what happened! (if you ever need invitations, announcements, postcards etc, I would love to whip something up for you too)<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-92014659244915633642012-08-07T15:38:00.001-04:002020-10-26T12:20:21.644-04:00100 years young!This will be the first and only time that I have the opportunity to design an invitation for my grandfather's 100th birthday party, this September. What an honor. I kept it simple and sophisticated, in greys and black on a just-off-white card, and charcoal grey envelope (from one of my favorite paper stores in the world, <a href="http://www.nota-bene.ca/" target="_blank">Nota Bene</a>). I printed them on my HP ink jet printer.<br />
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My grandfather is quite an amazing man, he grew up in Montreal, adored my fabulous grandmother Frances until she passed away, and told me just last week, that he lots of plans with her when he joins her one day. He played football for the very first Professional Montreal Football club and worked in the textile business selling fabrics for many many years. He had hip replacement surgery in his nineties and decided that it was a good time to give up his driver's license, 2 years ago (thank GOD!).<br />
He still lives on his own, resents wearing his hearing aid and teeth, and is as sharp as a tack.<br />
I only hope that I will have as long and as amazing a life as my grandpa Irving.<br />
It should be quite a party :-)<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-23129411978220731052012-06-12T16:59:00.001-04:002020-10-26T12:20:35.566-04:00The Head of the Class!I have done some fun little jobs lately, like immediate gratification for a designer.<br />
As much as I love the big jobs, sometimes the little ones are just, well, refreshing!<br />
Both were to design new website headers.<br />
The first was for the adorable and talented Nicole Cohen of <a href="http://www.sketch42blog.com/" target="_blank">www.sketch42blog.com</a> <br />She was a dream client, really knew what she wanted and could communicate it beautifully (sounds like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how hard it can be for some clients to tell you what they want!).<br />
Plus, I was using her gorgeous painting as the header's backdrop...hello?, again, makes my job easy. She told me what she was thinking, I proposed some ideas and, as she is so adept at doing (read her <a href="http://www.sketch42blog.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>!) she took it to the streets for opinions...In the end, chose the typography that she liked the best. I think she chose very well and am proud to say that I helped her design her new header. I am a fan of her blog and her work, take my advice, spend some time on her site.<br />
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The next header was for my fabulous friend, writer (can't-believe-we-met-through-twitter-because-she-feels-like-freaking-family!) <a href="http://www.nataliekarneef.com/">www.nataliekarneef.com</a> She, knew a little less, what she wanted, but, she did know what she liked, again, a good starting point (read on). My challenge was to find the thread that brought all the things she liked together (or some of them). Here are some examples of what she liked; vintage-ish, turquoise, red, brown, green, granny wallpaper, flowers, black and white photographs, good humor, drinking humor (she'll appreciate me sharing that!) and naturally, as you'd suspect... old maps, typewriters, motorbikes and scooters... (this was not the entire list) but, let's face it, it's pretty obvious, right?<br />
Here's what she got,<br />
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<a href="http://www.nataliekarneef.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3O5YUbKs10aYuRaWqujSz7mBkEnViL2otH2PPN1cGUIpMP4gEhO8nxyBx3m65tDd0pSeoRyz1yB-nvWRqurrozpvb1vw51Idp7bm5zQ8lrH1sCpXv46_mLqLSRe1CqoiEuw9r88syns/s320/nat+karneef+header.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ok, it might not have been <i>that</i> simple, we went back and forth a few times, hey, I am a designer, not a psychic, but seriously, want to know how much fun is it to go back and forth and throw around ideas about headers until the cows come home with someone you adore?...you can't even put a price on that kind of fun!<br />
Would I sound super cocky saying that I freaking love the result?..oh well.<br />
Oh, and, get familiar with Natalie, and her <a href="http://www.nataliekarneef.com/" target="_blank">writing</a>, you will be happy you did! <br />
Need a header? get in touch. Headers make me happy. (that sounds wrong)<br />
<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-6263983737929489742012-05-17T15:34:00.001-04:002020-10-26T12:20:48.672-04:00getting paid...and what you might have wanted to say at some point.The whole getting paid part of being a designer, gets grey, doesn't it?<br />
I mean, our self esteem, confidence, self loathing, cockiness, future rent payments...they are all part of it aren't they? But are they?...This video de-personalizes the whole getting paid thing, at least it has for me. I have learned a lot from this and feel it's my design-duty to share it with you now. So if you design at all, and have clients, or intend to have clients, do yourself a favor and watch.<br />
Because designers are rent paying, food eating, traveling people too dammit! (enjoy, i did!)<br />
By Mike Monteiro of <a href="http://www.muledisign.com/" target="_blank">www.muledisign.com</a> <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/22053820" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-3584525517140437972012-04-27T07:53:00.002-04:002020-10-26T12:20:59.900-04:00Party PrePacks!We have some limited quantities left in our warehouse of some of our very best selling boxes, so rather than just having them end quietly, they are going out with a BANG!<br />
We have partnered them with the most adorably coordinating teeny tags for <a href="http://bluedogzdesign.com/party%20prepacks.htm" target="_blank"><br />party favor prepacks</a>. Don't wait too long...they are selling out.<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-15916449335141776662012-04-20T14:42:00.001-04:002020-10-26T12:21:10.911-04:00Portfolio Photo ShootThe other day I woke up and decided that it was time to get organized. And, quickly!<br />I had an opportunity to get my design work in front of one the biggest giftware companies in the world, and it had to be done within 5 days... In essence, I needed to get my portfolio together. FAST. I could not let this opportunity pass me by, even if the endeavor felt, well, daunting.<br />I called my close friend and talented photographer <a href="http://www.lynnpoulin.com/" target="_blank">Lynn Poulin</a> and asked her if she had time for a sesh, she said "sure girl" in her cute way. I promised that I would do the styling and she could work her magic.<br />
I also frantically called one of my larger clients, who I have just finished up several collections for and <strike>asked</strike> begged for samples/mock ups to use (since some of the products are in the process of being produced, as we speak!). Although I didn't get all the collections I had hoped to include, I did get enough to show what I am up to these days. The shoot was, I would have to say, one of the very best we have ever done together.<br />
I had gone back and forth in my mind about what to do, super simple, a little styled, a lot styled. I quickly spoke to Lynn about some of my ideas before starting and she pushed me to <i>do my thing</i>. <br />(partyware for www.pierrebelvedere.com)<br />
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It's so easy to get influenced by what we see all over the internet, all over Pinterest, etc, but when I started to play around and just let myself go where I felt the photos needed to go, they turned out very me, very my style, simply put, what I do best. I am excited to share some of my new products/designs with you.bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-23484579914146017312012-04-07T10:28:00.001-04:002020-10-26T12:21:21.118-04:00Packaging the easy way!You know how you always see such beautiful, simple things in magazines or online and think, <br />"why don't I ever do something like that?" <br />I get people telling me that about my little stylings or projects all the time.<br />
So, here's a really simple one.<br />
I used clear cello bags from my local craft store, I picked up a bag of colorful gumballs at the local grocery store and I used teeny tags from my line, which you can buy, <a href="http://bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20teeny%20tags.htm" target="_blank">right here</a> (and, coincidentally, they are on sale!)<br />
You can put anything inside the bags, of course, the more colorful and fun, the better! How about a homemade cookie or some fun beads and colorful string?...Best party favors ever and most of all, super easy to make!<br />Now, go forth and have fun!<br />
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<a href="http://bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20teeny%20tags.htm" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPu16rZkOBUzUIGlpnqjocqCbvAiE56FB9yL7BkIc8KfAfo_DWd1p4CtDURqDyzAajMbjU3EP0jbstRl3JqRiEggtHXmdTRr6cpFHH5LEeu0dUor4LwqWTbgdcfpTEMgkXOa_7HjKeXc/s400/teeny-tag-gumballs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-61958976164571849882012-03-15T19:26:00.002-04:002012-03-15T19:26:57.872-04:00random photo stylingI have been wanting, for a very long time, to learn how to take good photos. I am using a little point and shoot, but I am determined to get some results with it... I played around today and tried some new things.<br />
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If anyone wants to offer up advice, you are MORE than welcome!<br />
I enjoy the styling part much more than the actual clicking part, but I'm hoping that as (if!) I get better, I will enjoy the picture part too.<br />
Here is a little silk scarf in a <a href="http://bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20CC%20boxes.htm" target="_blank">BlueDogz Design CC box</a> (I think this is a great gift idea!), a <a href="http://bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20teeny%20tags.htm" target="_blank">teeny tag</a> used as a keychain, some favorite bracelets, an elephant (yep, random) and my favorite aviators (an ebay purchase from many years ago).bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-23706972172263861352012-03-08T15:16:00.000-05:002012-03-08T15:16:01.417-05:00I cried, I laughed...I made a new fort!After yesterday's breakdown, I got back to making something that I had been wanting to make for a while...a new fort for her tiny-ness!<br />A little over a year ago I put this little sucker together:<br />
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It was pretty simple, some large dowel, tied together with lots of ribbon and and old drop cloth that I draped over the structure, trimmed and sort of sewed into place. We had some good times in the little teepee fort, but, since we only have one, broom sized closet in our entire loft, and no where to really hide anything; after the initial new teepee play week was over, it became more of a pain to walk around than much else. <br />
I folded it up, as best I could and hid it as best I could, which wasn't so great, as it ended up kind of sticking out from under the never-used-crib which is right beside the big bed. She still plays with it every so often, but it falls over lots, is getting harder and harder to set up and generally just kind of bugs me.<br />
...Ever since I got <a href="http://www.katierogersfengshui.com/Site/Home.html" target="_blank">KatieFengShui-ed</a>...I don't know, I just have trouble having stuff hanging around that is not really doing anything... So, the other day, there I was on good ole' Pinterest, my favorite time suck (are you following my pins? you should <a href="http://pinterest.com/bluedogzdesign/" target="_blank">http://pinterest.com/bluedogzdesign </a>)when I came across <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/58190024/tablecloth-play-house" target="_blank">this little beauty</a>.<br />
Not only was it very very pretty, but I loved that when it wasn't being used, it could be folded up and put away. Here's what happened.<br />
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(and, all this with my reverse sewing lever not working on my cheap little sewing machine).<br />
I used, all together now- IKEA fabrics for the details and 2 big canvas drop cloths that I sewed together for the actual house part. You can pick them up at any local hardware store and they are great for these types of projects or for any indoor forts in general. (indoor forts...that almost sounded like...oh, never mind)<br />
I think she is going to LOVE it!bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-37185466071248924152012-03-07T10:24:00.000-05:002012-03-07T10:24:14.655-05:00this isn't about design or how to make somethingI am never 100% sure if I should or I shouldn't on this blog, (do you ever feel that way?) <br />
I have experienced moments and thought,<br />
"man, I am SO going to blog about this"<br />
and then, I start to type and I delete and that's the end of that.<br />
What usually happens after that is that I don't blog for a while, even a long while.<br />
These past couple of years have not been easy, no, they have been the hardest years of my life, and, they have also been the very best years of my life. I have felt things that I have never felt before, hurt bigger than ever, loved bigger than ever, I guess maybe they go hand in hand. <br />
<br />
I sometimes just wish I could get things super clear and focused in terms of my blog, you know, blog about my design life, things that are pretty. But, that's not what life has been like, is life ever really like that?<br />
For some bloggers it looks that way, but I would bet it's not. Because the thing is, we are all human, and even if we love pretty things and get excited about a new product, or some new thing we can't get enough of, we go through stuff and we bring it to our work.<br />
I mean, come on, we are artists, we are people, we feel shit! <br />
<br />
This morning I placed a call for my daughter's daddy. I called a place here in Montreal called Criphase, for men who were victims of abuse as children. He has been struggling, REALLY struggling for a long long time, thinking that he can just <i>get over it</i>, or stop thinking about it. I can't tell you how terrifically painful it has been to watch him suffer, to see his life falling apart slowly but steadily because he simply doesn't know where to put his pain. I see the patterns in his life, his professional relationships, his friendships, they all look the same, he loses, he puts himself in danger, he goes out of his way for the people who never acknowledge him or thank him or care. He seems compelled to run from what is good and safe towards what is risky and mean and dangerous. Then he doesn't like it, and it hurts and it feels bad (as it should) and he beats himself up again for having chosen the same choice, again.<br />
He left 2 years ago to take care of things, because he wanted to do better to "clean stuff up"...<br />
I have learned that all I can really do, is support, care, listen and keep myself and our child safe from pain and disappointment. It really is true, you can't help someone who isn't ready to be helped. May I just say, this has not been the easiest of lessons for me to grasp.<br />
A few days ago he brought up Criphase, he said,<br />
"yeah, I should really give them a call and see what it's about".<br />
I pulled the best poker face I could muster and said- "really? you think?"... We laughed.<br />
<br />
But, then he just squirmed and looked all uncomfortable.<br />
I thought about something my Mom once told me about people getting stuck. That we all have places where we get stuck, but sometimes with just a little help over those spots, we can do it, we can move on and get the job done, but, without the help, we quit, and we might always quit at these same spots over and over again. This is what I was thinking about, LOUD in my head... like rapid fire stuck/stuck/stuck/stuck...<br />
I asked him if there was anything I could do to help, could this be his <i>stuck</i> place?<br />
him: "Um, yes, if you want?"<br />
me: "ok, well, REALLY? ... do you want me to call and get some information... maybe?"<br />
him: "yes"<br />
in my head: (HOLY COW. OK! ok, be cool, BE COOL)<br />
I woke up Monday morning and after getting the little one to her play school I dialed the number.<br />
got voicemail. left a message.<br />
Yesterday morning, I woke up and saw that they had called.<br />
I called back and got to the person who had left the message.<br />
The first thing she said to me was:<br />
<br />
"Thank you for calling for your daughter's dad, for having the courage to call for him".<br />
<br />
Apparently that's all I needed to start sobbing like a baby, like REALLY sobbing.<br />
WTF? I was not abused, I had a great childhood, I was the one who had to be strong, the one holding down the fort, the one making sure our daughter was far away from the pain, felt good, felt safe.<br />
So much for <i>that</i> girl. <br />
As soon as I could breath again, I apologized for the sudden HUGE emotional breakdown and then, worse maybe, I sort of started to laugh, a reaction to my own shock at my <i>own</i> reaction?... Heck, I don't know, all I know is that it apparently had to come out, and I realized, quite quickly during this breakdown that I was probably in pretty darn good hands, so, what the fuck, I let it out.<br />
The words just seemed to flow out of me like some crazy free associative meltdown.<br />
"I didn't expect to start crying like this, it's just, I have seen him in so much pain for such a long time and it hurts so much to see someone you love hurt so much and not be able to do anything to help, and I see the patterns and the people and the pain and it's the same thing over and over again and I just wish, hope, that he can get some help, and, he has NO money, like NO MONEY and I'm trying so hard to be strong and to help and I am... so tired"<br />
and<br />
I started that weird sort of laugh again...and at that point <i>she</i> started to laugh too and we laughed.<br />
We laughed. And, I felt better, relieved, surprised, and maybe even a little excited by the hope that maybe he was ready, ready to get some help, a step towards, maybe. just maybe. For himself, for his kids, for us.<br />
maybe. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iQDYd6KG_iWrissfb8bETtvBl2thvLPO1YFci_j9CBfEKDLTBnX0tSD2B3PB5cSrHDbfa4nYrpP7H_8BjYLdVJiFqck0BDpmQcbJ2VFjbL1jZ91o40wXz8EVHGHhK_cvpwN0VIavoXA/s1600/mandm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iQDYd6KG_iWrissfb8bETtvBl2thvLPO1YFci_j9CBfEKDLTBnX0tSD2B3PB5cSrHDbfa4nYrpP7H_8BjYLdVJiFqck0BDpmQcbJ2VFjbL1jZ91o40wXz8EVHGHhK_cvpwN0VIavoXA/s320/mandm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-33156569782700830022012-01-30T13:20:00.000-05:002012-01-30T13:20:12.028-05:00Sarah's Chandelier (how to wire a chandelier to plug in)When my Dad's Mom, my Grammy, passed away several years ago, most of what was left in her apartment was sold. There wasn't a whole lot of great value, but I liked her chandeliers. There were two, one smaller, one a little bigger. I painted the smaller one white and used it in the bedroom of the house I owned with a former boyfriend. That little chandelier, stayed in that house. When former said boyfriend and co-owner of said house turned into very angry person when I wanted to leave, and then even angrier when "negotiating" his purchasing of my portion of the house, said small sweet chandelier got caught up in an apparent custody battle. <br />I asked him if I could pick it up a few times, but it was clear that he was going to hold that chandelier hostage...I decided to let her go. Seems he felt quite attached to that little fixture. I moved on.<br />
Well, for some reason, I had totally forgotten about the other, larger chandelier...A few weeks ago, as I was truffeling through my father's basement aka my storage area, I came across her... She came to the loft for a visit and I began to ponder her future.<br />
Our loft only has 2 actual spots to wire lighting into the ceiling, one in the kitchen and one in the entrance hall, and I decided to leave the simplistic white ball lights with the foot long stems...I like them, they suit the place. So my first step was deciding that I would like to wire the chandelier to plug in, rather then wire into the ceiling.<br />
I googled like mad and found that the descriptions were a little tedious and complicated.<br />
I went to my local Home Depot with a few photos instead. <br />
this was what I found at the end of the wire (this was where you would wire the chandelier into the ceiling)<br />
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When I opened up the chandelier, it was pretty straightforward...Each of the little lights had both a black and white wire running from it (these wires are attached to the actual candles that hold each light). These wires all met under the ornate bottom cover part of the chandelier, that came off very easily by simply unscrewing the parts beneath it (don't let any of this confuse you, it's super simple and your fixture will likely be a little different anyhow, so don't dwell). All the white wires were assembled with a plastic cap and some electrical tape, all the black wires were assembled with a plastic cap and some electrical tape...c'est tout!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQk49rXZU0Ji1IUKot7fKQ7QDD30swhplrMCss1CqqOXTkmjTTh6YXW8aXUcXFvsBQZFu2yFRnoPJO_u1l1DWKqq97glO0bU29-arpBhOc0ckBACYvuOgmxiTq8HZQJuDhIJGDqCnzwM/s1600/IMG-20120104-00042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQk49rXZU0Ji1IUKot7fKQ7QDD30swhplrMCss1CqqOXTkmjTTh6YXW8aXUcXFvsBQZFu2yFRnoPJO_u1l1DWKqq97glO0bU29-arpBhOc0ckBACYvuOgmxiTq8HZQJuDhIJGDqCnzwM/s320/IMG-20120104-00042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I checked all the lights to make sure that the wiring was working...I had one broken one, which I was able to replace for $2, the little candles (the electrical bits that your chandelier bulbs screw onto) might look complicated, but again, piece o cake!...like any lamp, you put the white wire around one screw and the black wire around the other, tighten the screws around the wire ends, and voila, done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbHfzefxLCMCSZ-i4YCkSjfLxnxtJ36BT07x1h2LS7Em3I-9xYNxQC_wvTPM_7TVzx_DiPUQP58c8ebSU2XTpDhPi_eG38yV1_UcRoHUWgEP4iDQxjodb2QIkZ773A35cAXiTjA6vvis/s1600/IMG-20120104-00043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbHfzefxLCMCSZ-i4YCkSjfLxnxtJ36BT07x1h2LS7Em3I-9xYNxQC_wvTPM_7TVzx_DiPUQP58c8ebSU2XTpDhPi_eG38yV1_UcRoHUWgEP4iDQxjodb2QIkZ773A35cAXiTjA6vvis/s320/IMG-20120104-00043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So, it was really the wires just hanging out the top that I needed to concern myself with. How to get this situation to plug in. My Home Depot guy showed me how. I bought a simple wire kit with a switch on it and a plug, the ends were bare, like my wire. All I had to do was attach the ends of my wires to the ends of the plug wires, twist a plastic cap onto them to hold them in place and (Home Depot helper suggested) I wrapped each little plastic capped-wire-couple with some electrical tape. DONE!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU9OoAhtnWooninUQgkK06gRcfwmeW7cKyxBxMU-i62Hh5qZBnbueKbuJixhlQQA6UOGejs_j2SRfNJLWjQqAlrBoiq9PyhjYYWBhBrYAlXZgw_BQPhZrQlTK-SJY7Tg_mo5siWe1ENw/s1600/IMG-20120104-00044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU9OoAhtnWooninUQgkK06gRcfwmeW7cKyxBxMU-i62Hh5qZBnbueKbuJixhlQQA6UOGejs_j2SRfNJLWjQqAlrBoiq9PyhjYYWBhBrYAlXZgw_BQPhZrQlTK-SJY7Tg_mo5siWe1ENw/s320/IMG-20120104-00044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I then held my breath and plugged her in (with the single chandelier light I had on hand)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtvHvSxck__50vfG0Jm0Jtl-9JKNFLCy1gNfsW6C7qUhNknuMm5K7BF8g9Ff3_K0k1suq_ArvVnRP4uAavF2Ur0OHGvXawt04o1jABFkxxFf-ewssm2h2XZ7_oV0ZYvyOcJyS_-Qf1SA/s1600/IMG-20120104-00051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtvHvSxck__50vfG0Jm0Jtl-9JKNFLCy1gNfsW6C7qUhNknuMm5K7BF8g9Ff3_K0k1suq_ArvVnRP4uAavF2Ur0OHGvXawt04o1jABFkxxFf-ewssm2h2XZ7_oV0ZYvyOcJyS_-Qf1SA/s320/IMG-20120104-00051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Now came the decisions. Style decisions. The fun part. I spent a few days pondering my possibilities... I could spray the entire thing in a fun modern color (once painted, a chandelier is not easy to unpaint...which is fine, but I was not ready yet), what color candlestick covers, what kind of light bulbs...the thoughts went on and on....Finally, not being able to patiently make any decisions, because the excitement of getting it up and working was more than I could handle (you can tell where my life presently is on the excitement scale), I ran (well, I drove) back to Home Depot (whereupon we had a <a href="http://rickgenest.com/" target="_blank">Zombie</a> boy sighting) and, with Tess chatting my ear off and her burning desire to pull every single plant in the plant section off shelves, I spotted some teeny little pink bulbs. Tess approved...she actually more than approved, she did a happy dance, and song and pulled more stuff off shelves in her state of pink bulb happiness. I grabbed 10 of the them, threw her and the bulbs into the shopping cart and high tailed it back home.<br />
Here's what happened. I did not paint, I have not even decided on
candlestick covers, I put the little pink bulbs in, placed a big heavy
hook into one of our wooden beams and she is so darn pretty that I might
not change another darn thing about her. Tess finds the pinkish red
lighting fun and exciting and wants it on as soon as she wakes up in the
morning until she goes to sleep at night. I will keep you posted if I
decide to continue the chandelier transformation, but for right now, I
am simply enjoying her prettiness.<br />
And to the ex boyfriend who might
still have the smaller chandelier, painted in the distressed white
shabby chic-like style of yore, I truly hope you are enjoying your chandelier, as much
as we are enjoying ours. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2jHVgpdLucebDxMj9Ao_68sjUlPa5eQlhDSkhyphenhyphenWDb1sVvssstuZl6dOAs1koTZX41wKNmGueevI7b-LgUByaVORwRdS6GhbsB_zkeATPorCB_g3OVAZZkKQZWuBXH783jkLIlKVy3_c/s1600/chandelier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2jHVgpdLucebDxMj9Ao_68sjUlPa5eQlhDSkhyphenhyphenWDb1sVvssstuZl6dOAs1koTZX41wKNmGueevI7b-LgUByaVORwRdS6GhbsB_zkeATPorCB_g3OVAZZkKQZWuBXH783jkLIlKVy3_c/s400/chandelier.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcANUMs2_tCcVC8WtAdSTYjDCwzQgiWiWENNAmzcNa6u873__fsh1REQaS3rccS3gwq1Eyw4C4DZzeNTrn_esbH-nMQ_j2HpowAcWbefbpO4Mi_UEP9zZZmXtk9CeNYivKRy31-jVY5cY/s1600/chandelier+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcANUMs2_tCcVC8WtAdSTYjDCwzQgiWiWENNAmzcNa6u873__fsh1REQaS3rccS3gwq1Eyw4C4DZzeNTrn_esbH-nMQ_j2HpowAcWbefbpO4Mi_UEP9zZZmXtk9CeNYivKRy31-jVY5cY/s400/chandelier+2.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerz4U_QuZPq6Nnd3g5IERUCl-VlCFdH9EZ_oDC6EiEv0u_UPKq-MMXpdE9alFgpf5zcsby7soORnuhzdtDhYMry3bEQgOQ4z61xjJ20cyiQVM7XHQdrs-vqcpAASw4XBFROy-BF_LIGk/s1600/chandelier+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerz4U_QuZPq6Nnd3g5IERUCl-VlCFdH9EZ_oDC6EiEv0u_UPKq-MMXpdE9alFgpf5zcsby7soORnuhzdtDhYMry3bEQgOQ4z61xjJ20cyiQVM7XHQdrs-vqcpAASw4XBFROy-BF_LIGk/s400/chandelier+3.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>
Now, go forth and make something old new again! Make it yours and most of all, enjoy it!<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-68876514141358720082012-01-26T14:33:00.000-05:002012-01-26T14:34:53.218-05:00It's super simple, sweet and not too lateHave you ever thought, on February the 14th - UGH, I should have got my $&it together and made something cute for my boyfriend/girlfriend/kids/mom/bestie/crush...etc? You know, nothing super crazy fancy shmancy, but just something heartfelt and simple (I like heartfelt and simple, you?)...Well, this year I did it, and, if you want in on this pretty little idea, I am sharing...<br />
I simply took one of our little <a href="http://bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20mini%20ribbon%20boxes.htm" target="_blank">Mini Ribbon Boxes</a> (which are coincidentally on sale) and crafted a little love note to fold inside. I leave the rest, (and,<i> the rest</i> is not imperative), but you <i>could</i> add a tiny heart chocolate, a little photo of yourself or yourself with your Valentine, a pretty piece of jewelry, like an engagement ring even... or a folded up gift certificate for a complimentary make-out session (choose this person wisely).<br />
Now listen, you might say<br />
YES! I am ordering <a href="http://bluedogzdesign.com/bdd%20mini%20ribbon%20boxes.htm" target="_blank">the mini ribbon box</a> and I am doing this! and then get to the shipping charges and get angry...don't... Realize that we have no control over shipping charges and only charge you what we pay (sometimes even less), so be a good little shopper and stock up on a few boxes, this way the shipping becomes, well, like nothing. I am so happy that we had this little talk.<br />
Now go, make pretty things and share the love!<br />
xo Nadine<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPV1PkxbQGuDKqyozUbL9yii4T1geV3bulMtGwc0uxDPvGsiU7d1chteogcV8dQ1nEhu4D-aVgx9l6sgUVCrc65dE5pf6tkwvTmy79CsMX1GBFCqA_8eeLjNY2WkKj2t2z-Givew62gM/s1600/valentines+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPV1PkxbQGuDKqyozUbL9yii4T1geV3bulMtGwc0uxDPvGsiU7d1chteogcV8dQ1nEhu4D-aVgx9l6sgUVCrc65dE5pf6tkwvTmy79CsMX1GBFCqA_8eeLjNY2WkKj2t2z-Givew62gM/s400/valentines+1.jpg" width="350" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jklcRy8shghBQVFn9yoK4ND8JF1p4111MvF7LUHEFL1qg8mhzjMHWgP1D79aUxoyuKAMrah3URtUJRcqvi5OTYnPotk7OujivssKbcOdQ8av6XI-WAFxVUMRo4UISYQ27QvZzWf1Cyo/s1600/valentines+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jklcRy8shghBQVFn9yoK4ND8JF1p4111MvF7LUHEFL1qg8mhzjMHWgP1D79aUxoyuKAMrah3URtUJRcqvi5OTYnPotk7OujivssKbcOdQ8av6XI-WAFxVUMRo4UISYQ27QvZzWf1Cyo/s1600/valentines+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jklcRy8shghBQVFn9yoK4ND8JF1p4111MvF7LUHEFL1qg8mhzjMHWgP1D79aUxoyuKAMrah3URtUJRcqvi5OTYnPotk7OujivssKbcOdQ8av6XI-WAFxVUMRo4UISYQ27QvZzWf1Cyo/s320/valentines+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsvm4vZ1rBpsNIkWjvMVnMXIIbS0r4VzFNnjmr_X3d95sGNngWDXjBu2mbv5bCKkReVfvuyPt0slBuEI886JjMNdYHwnoUo9-3dEFTTXpJut4IR_vDOOArqyH2kkvXpLFVdTvRQl5jrc/s1600/valentines+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsvm4vZ1rBpsNIkWjvMVnMXIIbS0r4VzFNnjmr_X3d95sGNngWDXjBu2mbv5bCKkReVfvuyPt0slBuEI886JjMNdYHwnoUo9-3dEFTTXpJut4IR_vDOOArqyH2kkvXpLFVdTvRQl5jrc/s320/valentines+3.jpg" width="312" /> </a></div>
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as an added bonus, <a href="http://www.bluedogzdesign.com/Valentines%20print%20out.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> is the paper print out that says - <a href="http://www.bluedogzdesign.com/Valentines%20print%20out.pdf" target="_blank">I LOVE YOU SO MUCH</a>.</div>
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This is for letter sized 8.5" x 11" paper. Print page 1 and then flip over your sheet of paper and print page 2 on the back, cut it out, fold it on the lines, and presto, you're in business! (if you have some heavy stock paper or card stock, it looks prettier!)</div>
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<br /></div>bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-39147413354434928532012-01-24T15:49:00.001-05:002012-01-24T15:49:24.275-05:00Harry's BirthdayI hadn't caught up with my friend Mandy in forever, I had five minutes yesterday and I called her. She didn't even say "hello" she went right into "oh my god, I was just thinking about you" in her bubbly way... She was also scrambling to get something together for her adorable Harry's 7th birthday party. Since I had an hour to kill, and let's face it, it doesn't take much for me to agree to make stuff, I offered to throw something together for her. She was thrilled, here's what she told me,<br />
- Harry's Winter Classic, it's a skating party and I was trying to find something cute and vintage - Coincidentally, I had just the thing!...Here's what happened,<br />
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Kind of makes me want to be seven again... Happy Birthday Harry!</div>bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-19927493787666844362012-01-02T17:06:00.000-05:002012-01-02T17:06:57.187-05:00a little new year Feng Shui-ingAs 2011 was ending, I had this feeling of urgency to really start 2012 with a bang.<br />
I have never really paid much attention to starting new or fresh on January 1st, but somehow, this year felt different, it felt necessary.<br />
I pulled out my old notes from <a href="http://www.katierogersfengshui.com/" target="_blank">Katie Rogers</a> (my Feng Shui mentor turned friend) and looked at the objectives I had a year ago and her suggestions and recommendations from our long distance consultation.<br />It was pretty amazing how much of what we had discussed had taken form in my life. From my company shifting and transitioning to designing for other companies to my finances. A year can make a big big difference.<br />
I also realized how I can easily tell myself that I haven't achieved something or haven't done as well as I should have, yet I rarely take the time to look at what I actually do get done. This year, yesterday as a matter of fact, I decided to create a little list for myself of what I have achieved in the past year, and mostly, what I am grateful for. I know, you have probably all been doing this forever, but it's new to me, and it felt really good. If you haven't done it and are late joining the party, as I am, try it, you will be in for a pleasant surprise.<br />
Well, my urgency for starting 2012 just right manifested itself in my living space (yeah, I know, there's a shocker!). I have to say, I love this place so much and have the best time playing in it, it brings me endless hours of joy (now, how to get the landlord to sell it to me!)...Anyhow, I checked my Feng Shui list and immediately saw that I could improve quickly and inexpensively.<br />
I started with a little more charcoal grey paint. I had it leftover from <a href="http://bluedogzdesigncom.blogspot.com/2010/12/before-and-afterthe-sleep-caveaka-la.html" target="_blank">here</a>. So that certainly made the project take shape quickly, but I'm telling you, I love the grey! Having been a "white" wall girl for so long and loving that California white washed fabulous soft, comfortable look, I just never would have imagined how warm and cocooning and wonderfully elegant I find the grey. I started with the last white wall in the loft (remember, there aren't too many walls in here and the 2 largest ones are brick)<br />
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here's the before </div>
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and here's the after</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_kZw7prt8qp_Zwkj_ILsrQK3SK3u9RRAj_V1XVzLMBoUbOEk2vkOEezK7A-V_UfvgCqY1IjEArCyVdv76wAyVV1MBGk5MQqPmbKSKYK5_cIykxnQMWKW04f7XZKWiJO6mKB6aHqeieo/s1600/new+gray+wall+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_kZw7prt8qp_Zwkj_ILsrQK3SK3u9RRAj_V1XVzLMBoUbOEk2vkOEezK7A-V_UfvgCqY1IjEArCyVdv76wAyVV1MBGk5MQqPmbKSKYK5_cIykxnQMWKW04f7XZKWiJO6mKB6aHqeieo/s320/new+gray+wall+1.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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alright, here's the total wall...</div>
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this photo sucks and apparently my fabulous design sense<br />told me that I didn't need to worry about Tess' table and lunch<br />in the photo...ugh.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qqpN_xWlzKyNxy8xZDPy_wgnD5bKJ2Ico6lQapqgKmxtpRpGiZra1E-EdxJeEX9mVbJ1hlCqnW8euMctEuXlibv2G0JoZAjP-conXuXN8dLEL3Vf34Q-1BD6RNhkHpiifck6DLxPaUQ/s1600/full+gray+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qqpN_xWlzKyNxy8xZDPy_wgnD5bKJ2Ico6lQapqgKmxtpRpGiZra1E-EdxJeEX9mVbJ1hlCqnW8euMctEuXlibv2G0JoZAjP-conXuXN8dLEL3Vf34Q-1BD6RNhkHpiifck6DLxPaUQ/s320/full+gray+wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I also started to re-arrange some of my art and my big gold mirror. At one point I thought I should run to IKEA and buy all new frames and really <i>do it</i>, until my better sense (*cough* bank account) kicked in and I said, meh, I can make do...which, I actually think worked out in the end. I moved the big gold mirror to the entrance hall, just to the left of the kitchen ( I was tired of standing on my coffee table to see if my shoes looked good with what I was wearing) and decided to worry about a new mirror later...Since the mirror was there now, I took my fabulous <strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.christianchaize.com/" target="_blank">Christian Chaize</a> photographs from <a href="http://www.20x200.com/" target="_blank">20x200</a> and put them on the grey wall, with Tess' blackboard (an early bluedogz design piece that I still had kicking around)...To top it off, my amazing <a href="http://www.marctetro.com/" target="_blank">Marc Tetro</a> print, which pops even more than it usually does (which is hard to believe) on this wall! </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">I also put my little print of the vintage NYC map on the inside kitchen wall, normally, I had my <a href="http://www.mynameisandy.com/ShopAndyDavisArt.aspx" target="_blank">Andy Davis</a> surf print there, but I decided to move it...mixing things up in Feng Shui is key and I felt that things were becoming a little too predictable and stagnant...not good at all. Moving stuff keeps things alive and Chi flowing (just ask Katie!), plus, it gives you the feeling that you have a new house (kind of)...and that's exciting (to me). You like so far?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Then I had to address the living room, where it looked like I had lost a tooth, without the gold mirror.<br />(or maybe more like a lost my "grill")</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">from this:</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI_HvocqbX2AJoGRIvirQljmyvPrttI9w77FqF2usceej267tB34GOaPNOwEWSwVqKBs62OI9Mg-qNGaXf603ozMYdkaAusLzlqrE3B5t4qD2QLDTsySJ63h2V0zVpf0ZhzFjWOru7Bg/s1600/old+living+room+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI_HvocqbX2AJoGRIvirQljmyvPrttI9w77FqF2usceej267tB34GOaPNOwEWSwVqKBs62OI9Mg-qNGaXf603ozMYdkaAusLzlqrE3B5t4qD2QLDTsySJ63h2V0zVpf0ZhzFjWOru7Bg/s320/old+living+room+wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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to this (think lisp)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBQ6ppfl50DrUSTntwkL3VBdlVq_lohyphenhyphen7pyD976arCigypxLPjUPretzDjfS_G-FApP5m5FGCNiJUm3Reyz1QgZkR3oQ0UwGU38gIDZJVz5U5FE7LAewOI5ndKx5rtVlNhp4fbFh2J6I/s1600/empty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBQ6ppfl50DrUSTntwkL3VBdlVq_lohyphenhyphen7pyD976arCigypxLPjUPretzDjfS_G-FApP5m5FGCNiJUm3Reyz1QgZkR3oQ0UwGU38gIDZJVz5U5FE7LAewOI5ndKx5rtVlNhp4fbFh2J6I/s320/empty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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to this!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxp3x6Tphtes2HJRVryzZPwjKyOJNAOIegip2S9X_GO_WCcAymRG4DSvO6lL0tUiQNJdr-rvYWqf8i_YJXUo9e3NVDHpwYJ-NvJCcRM_1LC2Mp4Fb9pn19Nt9GfcMbdc2cgIBWGMuijs/s1600/new+living+room+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxp3x6Tphtes2HJRVryzZPwjKyOJNAOIegip2S9X_GO_WCcAymRG4DSvO6lL0tUiQNJdr-rvYWqf8i_YJXUo9e3NVDHpwYJ-NvJCcRM_1LC2Mp4Fb9pn19Nt9GfcMbdc2cgIBWGMuijs/s320/new+living+room+wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So much better, right?...I remembered that this rounded corner mirror was just collecting dust in my dad's basement, so I grabbed it, and the Paris map above it had been leaning precariously on a wall for months (NOT good Feng Shui at all!) and my <a href="http://www.mynameisandy.com/ShopAndyDavisArt.aspx" target="_blank">Andy Davis</a> surf couple print had spent a day or so, after I had taken it out of the kitchen leaning too...This leaning thing is a slippery slope, just saying, so I figured, get it on the wall and then deal later...I did, and I am loving it. I have a few more pieces that I absolutely love and have a lot of meaning to me that I will be framing soon and that are quite a bit smaller than these, I think I might end up with a pretty cool art wall above the couch. Added bonus? My living room is in my prosperity corner, let's face it, I MUST feel good there if I want to prosper. This whole little revamp is feeling good.<br />I also folded up the second cow hide rug that was under my dining room table for a change, just because it was feeling tired...I am sure I will put it back at some point, but for now, it feels right without it.<br />
Next up...a chandelier make over...stay tuned!<br />
and hey, move your stuff around if you need a change or a quick re-charge, and if you don't absolutely love it, dump it! Happy New Year everyone!<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-65200223694934036002011-12-21T13:13:00.001-05:002011-12-21T13:14:17.580-05:00Wholesale PricingI wrote another piece for the very cool <a href="http://www.vianza.com/blog/indie-business-101-pricing" target="_blank">Vianza</a>, this time about wholesale pricing.<br />
I also spent some time this past week reading all a lot of the amazing information on their blog. So much great stuff. If you are starting a business, restructuring your business, a designer, a retailer or just interested in business in general and Indie Biz...you really need to get familiar with <a href="http://www.vianza.com/" target="_blank">Vianza.</a><br />
here is my latest <a href="http://www.vianza.com/blog/indie-business-101-pricing" target="_blank">article</a>,<br />
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and, if I don't see you before this weekend,<br />
Have a safe wonderful holiday weekend,<br />
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thank you for reading!bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-67635508514503225162011-12-14T13:03:00.000-05:002011-12-27T17:08:30.760-05:00The little open letter that could, an Update.<a href="http://nataliekarneef.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Natalie's</a> open letter to H&M is gaining momentum, here are some more links :<br />
<a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/Dragon+Tattoo+fashion+victims/5848358/story.html" target="_blank">Montreal Gazette</a><br />
<a href="http://fashionista.com/2011/12/does-the-new-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-hm-collection-minimize-the-experience-of-rape-survivors/" target="_blank">Fashionista</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thestar.com/living/fashion/article/1101387--does-h-m-s-dragon-tattoo-line-glamourize-rape-survivors" target="_blank">The Star</a><br />
<a href="http://thetattooedgirl.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/fashion-rape-survival-and-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/" target="_blank">The Tattooed Girl</a><br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-80763611663738051262011-12-14T12:44:00.001-05:002011-12-14T12:44:31.639-05:00Thinking of doing a trade show?It seems my blog posts about trade show booths get a lot of hits, especially right before trade show season starts (like <a href="http://bluedogzdesigncom.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyigfit-cameit-wentwe-survived.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://bluedogzdesigncom.blogspot.com/2009/10/extras-tips-and-tricks-for-your-next.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://bluedogzdesigncom.blogspot.com/2010/07/shelves.html" target="_blank">here</a>). I also get a little rush of emails with questions,<br />
usually with a large HELP in the subject line.<br />
I am thrilled that you like the info!<br />
There is a new <a href="http://www.vianza.com/" target="_blank">Indie Biz platform</a> on the block called Vianza, I haven't seen anything like it and so far I like what I see. I am writing a few guest blog posts for them about trade shows and business.<br /><a href="http://www.vianza.com/blog/indie-business-101-picking-trade-show" target="_blank">Here</a> is my first, things to think about or how to know if you're ready to do a trade show, hope you enjoy!<br />
oh, and don't forget, if you have questions, comments, thoughts, feel free to let me know!<br />
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<br />bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3808599011699483651.post-61728628052500338502011-12-10T08:47:00.001-05:002011-12-10T10:45:22.849-05:00The little open letter that could. Happy Holidays!This past week as I was designing, I thought to myself - I wonder if I will ever make a difference in the world. I know, sounds a little dramatic, but it's true.<br />
Then, last evening, I received this note :<br />
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Nadine,</div>
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I just needed to thank you again
for connecting me with Christina. I can't believe my little letter made
it all the way to H&M... And to so many other readers and potential
shoppers. That's all because of you. It's so important to challenge the
Goliaths of this world... And today you are proof that one person can
make a big difference.</div>
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I hope you're having a wonderful evening!!</div>
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Natalie xo</div>
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I cried. </div>
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a lot.</div>
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I love this story.</div>
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I joined twitter a few years ago, and I love it. I follow roughly 300 people and there is probably a handful who I <i>always</i> look forward to reading. One is <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/BinkleyOnStyle" target="_blank">Christina Binkley</a> of the Wall Street Journal in LA. Christina goes to every major fashion week, tweets and writes about it all and overall simply writes the best pieces on style. Christina has clout, when she writes, people read, she's big. She is also incredibly approachable and generous and I say this all from knowing her on Twitter. I read, whatever she writes. Voila, c'est tout.</div>
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The other person is Natalie Karneef, a writer here in Montreal. She writes for various magazines and newspapers, but it's her blog that I read and love. Whenever she posts anything on twitter about a new blog post, I click, I read and I usually cry. She writes about her life, her in- laws, her feelings. I adore the way she writes, she doesn't have a big super fancy high traffic blog, but she should. Her writing is so heartfelt and honest and real. </div>
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Last week, before going to bed, Tess was watching one of her shows on TV and I was flicking through twitter on my BlackBerry, squinting and trying to read. I saw a tweet from Natalie, it said something about an open letter to H&M, with a link. I clicked, (as I always do), and there I sat, desperately trying to read the post on that teeny stupid screen with my 44 yr old, (waiting just a little longer to get glasses) eyes and a loud kiddie show in the background. The letter was in regards to H&M's new line launching, based on the character Lisbeth Salander from the book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. </div>
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<a href="http://nataliekarneef.blogspot.com/2011/11/open-letter-to-h-from-rape-survivor.html" target="_blank">Here</a> is the letter.</div>
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I was moved by the letter, I thought about how insensitive H&M was and Natalie and I sent a few tweets back and forth wondering how the mass merchant couldn't have thought of who they might offend...Blame it on the teeny screen, the kiddie show or maybe fatigue, somewhere along the way, I had not understood that the letter was in fact written by Natalie, that she was the rape victim. I don't know why I hadn't understood this...I was sure that Natalie had re-posted the letter and that it was something that was circulating on the internet or in the fashion/style bloggisphere.<br />
Fast forward to 2 days ago and there I was, on my larger, more readable computer screen and up pops a tweet from Christina. It was something about how she was writing about H&M's launching of their new Girl With the Dragon Tattoo line. I quickly sent her a private message saying that I am sure she has read about the open letter to H&M, but if not, there was one out there definitely worth reading.<br />
She responded that she hadn't seen it and asked me to send her the link.<br />
I clicked over to Natalie's blog and as I was copying the URL I decided to re-read it.<br />
That's when I understood. The letter had been written by Natalie, she was the rape victim. I clicked through all her links in the post (which are just a visual nuisance when reading on a postage sized smart phone screen) and the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2010/03/19/montreal-woman-travel-to-greece-for-rape-trial.html" target="_blank">story</a> started to come together.<br />
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I quickly started frantically messaging Natalie, apologizing for my oversight the previous week and what must have seemed so nonchalant in responding to her story, I felt like such an ass. I also told her that I was sharing it with Christina Binkley of the WSJ. </div>
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Then I started to frantically message Christina (remember, you only get 140 characters per tweet...so I sent a string of tweets to both of them!) telling her that this open letter was not what I had thought, but in fact, written by my twitter friend and not something circulating (at that point) widely.</div>
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I quickly got a message from Natalie telling me not to worry, that she was touched I was writing back and thrilled that I had passed it on to Christina. I also got a note back from Christina thanking me for the link and telling me that she would be writing about it. Ah, nice!</div>
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Well, this catches you up to last evening, and the sweet note Natalie sent to me.</div>
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From the note, I had assumed (and god knows, I am really in NO position to be assuming!) that Christina had been in touch with Natalie and that she had probably told Natalie that she would be sending her link to H&M. </div>
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I just love when this stuff happens, don't you?</div>
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But wait...</div>
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Look at <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2011/12/09/fashion-rape-survival-and-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo/" target="_blank">this</a> .</div>
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I told you Ms. Binkley had clout. Not only did she write one of her great pieces, yet again, but she clearly put Natalie's letter into the right hands and there is a response! (Just wait, I guarantee this whole story is only starting to get legs now!)</div>
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Maybe it's that magical time of the year. </div>
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I love and have always loved to connect people but this connection just feels different, it feels so much closer to home. I haven't worked out all that I am feeling inside, but I am so very grateful on so many levels; that Christina brought Natalie's letter to a much larger audience. That Natalie has never given up or backed down in her fight for justice. And maybe somehow, on some level, because so many of the most special people in my life have been hurt, abused and molested, maybe somehow, this connection is for all of you. Thank you all for being so strong, amazing and special to me. And a special thank you to the person who's abuse hits the closest to home, my perfect daughter's daddy. I will always be your witness. And I will always be grateful. </div>
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Happy Holidays everyone, from the bottom of my heart.<br />
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bluedogz designhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09008893522499052832noreply@blogger.com1