The Trend Spot

Yummy Studded Shoes

2012-02-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

Hip and edgy studded shoes for every kind of girl. Free People

Pillow Talk

2012-02-08T08:47:00.000-08:00

Every year I go in search of the perfect Valentine's Day card for my hubby, and if I am inspired and have some extra time I make my own. I like to give really personalized gifts and this pillow project is perfect for that. Seriously, if you can hold a marker you can do this project. Here is where you can find the easy instructions.

A Train Trip to Hanford

2012-02-04T16:33:00.000-08:00

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip.....

My husband loves ice cream. His birthday is coming up so I had the bright idea of loading up the family and a teenage stowaway and taking the much talked about train trip to Hanford to experience the 'best ice cream in the world' at Superior Dairy. Some of the kids had never been on an Amtrak train so we thought it would be a fun experience. We really did think that. Really...

There was just one little snag in our plans: our train to Hanford was over an hour late. It kind of put a wrench in our day. We had pre-purchased round trip tickets - the plan was to leave Fresno at 11:35 for Hanford, have lunch and some ice cream, and then catch the 2:42pm train back from Hanford to Fresno. Plenty of time (we thought) to walk to Superior Dairy from the depot, eat in a leisurely manner, walk back to the depot and head home. Well, that was how it was supposed to be.....but with the train from Fresno being so late we had to rush through our day in order to be back to our train for a 2:42pm departure.

Here's how the day played out: We arrived in Hanford at 1pm, and started walking toward Superior Dairy. On the way we stopped at Burger King for a bathroom break. We decided it would save time to grab a quick burger there. We then power-walked to Superior Dairy from BK, and got our ice cream. The place was so crowded they didn't think they could serve us in time if we sat down to order ice cream from the menu so we got the world's thickest milkshakes to go, hurried back to the depot with 10-minutes to spare, and ate our shakes with a spoon because they would not go up a straw no matter how long we stood in the sun waiting for the train to arrive. We got back on the train heading north, and enjoyed the ride home, enjoying the remainder of our shakes. We were back in Fresno by 3:30pm.

Here's our day in pictures...............

The 3 boys bought snacks, ate them, and then sat there waiting for the train.

Here they are after only 30 minutes. Have you ever spent time with 3 bored boys in a train station? This is what they looked like after we reined them in.

Fresno, 12:15pm, no train in sight...

And just-like-that our train arrives, we hop on board and off we go! We arrive in Hanford in under 40 minutes.

We got off the train and followed other ice cream seekers toward our destination. Look, I see it.....Superior Dairy. Just a few short blocks from the train station.

After waiting in the busy parlor, we got our shakes and hurried back to the depot with about 10 minutes to spare.

Here we are, eating our milkshakes at the train station so we don't miss our ride back home.

Everyone keeps looking for our train to come....

Safely on board, my husband eats his ice cream.

Even though it didn't quite go as planned, I'm glad we did it. Check that off our local bucket list.

And away we go!

Heart Mug

2012-02-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

Every month at iLoveToCreate we have our sales and marketing meeting to keep us all informed on the happenings of our company. As a part of that meeting we usually have something creative we get to do - like playing with fabric paint and markers, using our Body Art products to make temporary tattoos, or painting a ceramic project. We take every opportunity to be creative! Here's what we got to make at the last meeting....a ceramic coffee mug with a heart-shaped handle, just in time for Valentine's Day. I'm a 'purple' girl as you can see. I was going for a leopard spot look for my design...not wanting to paint a traditional red heart on my cup.

What I love most about painting ceramics is the 'surprise' factor -- before you fire the piece in a kiln the paint looks dull and chalky. But when you see it after it's fired--wow! It's all shiny and colorful and pretty!

CHA 12 Anaheim

2012-01-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

CHA was a whirlwind trip for me this year. With only 24 ours to spend in southern California, I left home early Saturday morning and arrived in Anaheim mid-afternoon to find our iLoveToCreate show booth almost completely ready for opening day on Sunday. Lots of hard work and creativity went into this year's booth, and it showed. Sunday morning we started the day with an early breakfast and a key-note presentation on the new creative consumer by a panel of industry experts, including iLTC's own Valerie Marderosian. I walked the show at a fast clip, attended a seminar, and was back on the road home. Here's some pics from CHA:

Hope Perkins did live body art on our model in the booth. It was a work in progress throughout the day. It kept people coming back to see the final look.

Two of our fabulous designers, Kathy Cano Murillo aka the Crafty Chica (above) and Pattie Wilkinson aka PattieWack

And our Swell Designer, Alexa Westerfield, at her post in our Blogger's Lounge.

On Saturday, Allee and I had to go find a place to have a giant red balloon inflated as part of our 'show-stopper' piece.

Yummies could be found all around our booth for anyone to enjoy. My favorites were the pink heart-shaped Peeps.

Me and my sweet friend, Chris Wallace, from Walnut Hollow.

The iLTC entry in the Innovations area of the show - our deluxe heat-setting tool that allows you to apply crystals on a vertical surface without dropping them.

Regan and Allee

Fashion art created for our booth by a designer who works with fashion icon, Betsey Johnson.

Almost done! The body art didn't stop until the end of the day. Unfortunately, my day ended before the body art did. Each day features a new body art work in progress.

Inspired by Advance Style

2012-01-26T15:53:00.000-08:00

I found this story while reading a blog post by TODAY show's style host, Bobbie Thomas. I am so inspired! Ari Seth Cohen is spotlighting stylish seniors on his blog Advanced Style and in a book by the same name.

It's fascinating to see all these stylish women who are not afraid to be bold in their fashion choices. Here are a couple of images from the blog. I seriously want these glasses...

Ready-To-Wear Art

2012-01-24T12:20:00.000-08:00

Design duo Rodarte (the Mulleavy sisters) are inspired by art, at least for Spring 2012. Their muse? Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh. I studied fine art in college (and graduated with a degree in the same), and spent a whole lot of time admiring the Impressionist painters in several art history classes. Van Gogh was one of my favorites.

In the February issue of VOGUE, superstar Taylor Swift wears this off-the-shoulder piece from the spring collection. See the color palette and brush stroke quality of the fabric that is in the painting, Starry Night?

For more of this collection, watch this video.

Valentine's Day Inspiration

2012-01-19T14:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! It's almost Valentine's day, and that means love is on trend! Since I'm always busy and end up waiting until the last minute to pull Valentine's Day together, I decided to cruise around on the www to do a little early window shopping to see what inspires me. Here's some interesting ideas and finds...

image, Decor8

shoes, hearts, headband from Ban.do Hearts

earrings, Anthropologie

heart-shaped coin purse, Urban Outfitters

Annie boots in Rhubarb, Sundance

Metal magnets, Sundance

Cocktails, Fashionably Bombed

bowls, West Elm

crocheted heart, Etsy

Smittens, Etsy

Jeffrey Campbell Booties

2012-01-17T10:17:00.000-08:00

I found these fabulous booties by Jeffrey Campbell at Urban Outfitters. I LOVE them. They are like art for your feet. They are all so amazing I am not sure which is my favorite.

Dynamic Duo

2012-01-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

Tangerine & turquoise make a dynamic color duo. That's because they are complimentary colors -- colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. When put together, they 'pop'. I'm not naturally drawn to orange in large doses, but combining it with turquoise is a great way to make the trend work for me. That's good to know since we'll probably be seeing quite a bit of it as Pantone named Tangerine Tango its 'Color of the Year' for 2012. Get inspired and make it work for you, too.

Anthropologie

Polyvore

Traditional Home

Jennifer Hudson

Absolut-ly Creative!

2012-01-13T15:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! Here's some artistic inspiration to kick off your weekend...

A lot happens in a week...

2012-01-09T12:43:00.000-08:00

A lot happens in a week. Last time I posted it was December 29th--right on the brink of a new year. I wanted to write about my reflections on the past year, or my resolutions for 2012. Instead, my old German Shepherd, Phoebe, who was struggling with old age as it was, went downhill over the New Year's weekend. (This picture was taken back in September). We said goodbye to our good friend on Wednesday, January 4th at Abby Pet Hospital. I have to give high praises to the staff at Abby Pet because they were so attentive to my husband and I as I sobbed and held Phoebe's head in my arms for the last time. Goodbye, sweet girl... My backyard (and my heart) are a little empty right now.

Two days after this I left for a pre-planned weekend at Pismo Beach to join several of my girlfriends from high school to celebrate our friend Jamie's birthday. Her two daughters arranged everything as a surprise for their mom. We were part of the surprise.

Here's the view from our hotel...

Without giving away her age I will say it was a milestone birthday--one we are all celebrating this year. It was so much fun - just what I needed after losing Phoebe. Here's what we did: We walked on the beach, shopped in San Louis Obispo (the picture below shows us cutting through the famous Bubble Gum Alley), gossiped in an oceanfront hot tub until we were prunes, ate See's Candy without feeling guilty, drank champagne in a limousine while enduring green strobe lights, toasted Jamie at sunset on the beach, took pictures of each other, ate Italian food, drank more champagne in a limo, discovered how to turn off the strobe lights, made fun of Andy-the-limo-driver when he drove us through a strip mall shopping center and bottomed out, rocked out to the music we loved in high school, and laughed over old pictures of us from our younger days. Wow, time flies when you are living life! We all looked pretty good, too, but Jamie looked the best!

Happy Birthday, Jamie!

Spot On

2011-12-29T14:23:00.000-08:00

It may not displace the ever popular exotic animal prints we are used to seeing, but the faux Dalmatian look is a hot alternative to leopard. I think the coat is a bit much.... very, Cruella Deville.

Asos

Topshop

Penelope + Coco

Topshop

Sonia Rykiel

I prefer this:

A Social Network Christmas

2011-12-22T15:14:00.000-08:00

I saw this at church last Sunday. It is very well done, and gives you an idea of how the Christmas story would play out with today's social media.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas

Chanel's Metiers d'art video

2011-12-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

This beautiful video shows Chanel's new Metiers d'art collection, inspired by India’s Maharajas and lavish palaces. See how the pieces came together at embroidery house Lesage and button and jewelry atelier Desrues.

Just for fun...

2011-12-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

I received a picture today in an email of this beautiful and rare albino peacock, and it sent me on a search...

where I found this poor guy - a funky mix of white and blue!

Dragon Tattoo Fashion Controversy

2011-12-20T10:26:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the highly anticipated film, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", which hits theaters on December 21, costume designer Trish Summerville has created a women’s collection full of pieces inspired by the film’s anti-heroine, Lisbeth Salander. H&M unveiled the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Pop-Up Shop in New York City that was opened for three days only (December 14th-16th). The 30-piece collection captures the edgy urban feel that defines the Lisbeth Salander character, with leather jackets, ripped jeans and dark slouchy hoodies. It is available in 180 H&M stores worldwide, as well as online.

The bigger story here is all the controversy swirling around the inspiration for this line. It seems that H & M and Trish Summerville, who also designed the costumes for the film, are being called irresponsible for glamorizing the hard-edged wardrobe of the movie's main character - a rape survivor - to create a chic new fashion line. In an interview with The Associated Press Eva Gabrielsson, the longtime partner of the late author of the book, says that Stieg Larsson wouldn't have approved of merchandising like this. Instead, she thinks Larsson would have used the buzz around his work to call attention to violence and discrimination against women. Read more, and then decide for yourselves.

Barbie At BLEACH

2011-12-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

Barbie has really taken the plunge lately into all things Body Art. The girl is on fire! Case in point: Hairstylist Alex Brownsell of BLEACH salon in London has recently styled Barbie - using an inkjet printer, Barbie Design Printables and clip-on hair extensions provided in a kit by BLEACH - with eight different looks, each with a coordinating outfit. My Barbies never looked this hip!

The Elizabeth Taylor Collection

2011-12-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

I've been sick with a cold and cough the past couple of days and haven't spent much time on my computer. However, one event I've been aware of (captivated by?) is the NYC auction of "The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor." Clothing, jewelry and artwork owned by actress, activist, and icon Elizabeth Taylor are on display at Christie's auction house in New York, and will be auctioned live and online from today through December 17.

Elizabeth had such a great sense of style, back before stylists were used to dress celebrities. What I love about this auction is that there is a story associated with each piece, giving t

he new owner an emotional connection to Elizabeth Taylor. For example, there's a tiara with this story attached: Husband Mike Todd gave it to her because, he told you, "You are my queen, and you need a crown." It's reported that Ms. Taylor wore it to swim in her pool. Isn't that wild? If you are fortunate enough to buy anything from this collection, you'll be buying a piece of pop culture and fashion history. Watch this video to see more.

Pantone's Color of the Year 2012

2011-12-08T10:24:00.000-08:00

Drum roll please......

Tangerine Tango!

The deep red-orange color is intended to give us all a big energy boost; a refresh and a recharge. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Institute says this:

Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it. Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.

Let There Be Light

2011-12-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Etsy's blog and found it to be creative and inspirational. Watch it and see what you think. For more videos like this one, click here.

Clementine Candle

2011-12-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday, everyone! Okay, so I don't mean to be a complete Apartment Therapy groupie, but...............this is such a clever idea and I've never seen it before, so I had to share it.

How To Make a Clementine Candle from maxwell gillingham-ryan on Vimeo.

Alternative Christmas Trees

2011-12-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

For the record, I am a pine-loving-real-Christmas-tree-displaying kind of girl. However, I love this idea of creating alternative Christmas trees in your home instead of having the traditional pine version. Here's some wonderful DIY 'trees' from Apartment Therapy:

For more info on these trees, and to see even more DIY inspiration, click here.

Visibly Indivisible

2011-11-30T08:55:00.000-08:00

adjective - not divisible; not separable into parts; incapable of being divided: one nation indivisible.

I stopped at Starbucks last night to use my laptop and order a drink when I noticed a display about creating jobs in America with a $5 donation. I asked the barista about the wristbands and the program, and he told me that starting this week every Starbucks in the U.S. has "Indivisible" wristbands available for a $5 donation, and the proceeds benefit the "Create Jobs for USA" Fund, which pools donations from Starbucks customers, employees and concerned citizens into a nationwide fund to be used for community business loans in the United States. This program, plus the "Indivisible" wristbands provide Americans an opportunity to help support job creation at a time when we have alarming unemployment and many struggling small businesses. The more we stimulate demand and increase the purchasing power of the middle class consumer, the faster we will recover.

I made the decision to be a supporter for several reasons: 1) I don't know of anyone who hasn't been effected by the economy; 2) I recognize that I am so blessed to have a job with a company that continues to weather the storm; 3) My donation is the price of a cup of coffee; 4) 100% of my donation goes to the OFN to create and sustain jobs; and 5) I feel good about wearing the wristband that reminds me to think about the needs of others.

Friendship Jewelry

2011-11-18T10:35:00.000-08:00

Woven friendship bracelets are not new - I remember making and swapping them with my friends when we were in elementary school. As with most trends, this one has returned. Instead of kid-made bracelets these pieces are stylish enought to share with your grown-up besties! I especially love the ones that are embellished with pieces of chain or rhinestones.

(Source: WhoWhatWear Accessory Spotlight)

Dannijo Lulu Bracelet

Aurelie Bidermann

ASOS

Personalized Food

2011-11-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

Heinz in the UK is using Facebook as a platform for fans to send personalized tins of soup to friends suffering with a cold. Think of it as an alternative to a traditional "Get Well Soon" card. In October, after becoming a fan of the Heinz UK Facebook page, users could customize a can of Cream of Tomato or Chicken soup with the name of a sick friend or loved one, to be delivered within three to four days. The service was only available in the UK. The campaign reportedly created a considerably amount activity on Twitter, further proof that consumers engage in ideas that allow them to personalize and share.

Kraft Canada brand, Maynards Canada, held a contest giving customers the chance to have ehir face immortalized in Maynards candy. The idea was to let fans express their choice of favorite candy and give them the chance to have their face become a Maynards candy. Fun! The competition was managed via Facebook.

(Story source: Springwise)

Faux Trophy Heads

2011-11-15T14:18:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Khoshbin Apartment Therapy

Okay, so what's with all the faux animal trophy heads I keep seeing pop up on blogs and in home decor stores? Wasn't this trend a big deal a couple of years ago? It all began with the antler trend, and here we are again - crafty style! Many are made from papier mache (literally meaning, chewed paper). Some are covered with yarn and textiles. My personal fave? The rabbit head from Anthropologie. I know this trend has been bubbling up for awhile now, so I can't really say it's a 'Trend Alert'. More of a 'Trend Notice'. I think they're great. Would you incorporate one of these heads into your home decor?

Joy on the Beach

2011-11-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

I haven't shared anything personal for a long time, so I thought I'd share these pictures. Three weeks ago my sweet niece, Lisa, passed away at the very young age of 46. Our family attended her funeral a week later. It was a beautiful sunny weekend - almost rare because of the fog that rolls in on the peninsula. Anyway, on our last day there we promised the boys we would stop on the beach and let them collect treasures on the shore. The morning started out sunny but by 11am the fog was rolling in. As you can see, that didn't stop our boys from inching their way toward the waves and playing with such joy I didn't have the heart to stop them. I even took pictures of their footprints... and I thought about how our lives and the time we spend here on earth is just as fleeting as our footprints on wet sand. Goodbye, Lisa. xoxoxo

Statement Collars

2011-11-07T09:22:00.000-08:00

Eleven Objects

I LOVE this trend that I came across last week while cruising through some of my favorite blogs and websites. These fashionable detachable lapels may be giving 'statement necklaces' a run for their money.

Breaking Dawn DIY Project

2011-11-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, all you Twilight fans know that the next installment of this series is about to debut on November 17. You'll be there wearing your best vampiresque (or Lupus-inspired) attire to show your loyalty to either Edward or Jacob. My friend, Regan, is a major, major Edward fan (she even keeps the Edward doll/action figure(?) in a box.) She was given this canvas tote by a friend who rescued it at a yard sale. Can you imagine getting rid of this for pennies on dollar?! Anyway, she brought it to me and asked if I would use our fangtastic paints and crystals to make it debut-ready for the Breaking Dawn premier. Being that I am partial to all creatures of the night, I agreed.

Here's the products you'll need: Tulip Shimmer Fabric Paint (Shimmer Red), Tulip Glam it Up! Crystals (Red), heat setting tool, Tulip Fabric Markers, and Tulip Soft Fabric Paint (Opal). You will also need two paint brushes: one small round for painting the word, Twilight, and a larger soft flat brush (my preference) for painting the Opal Soft Paint on Edward's face. And, of course, some Twilight merchandise, like this black & white tote.

Use your large paint brush and apply Opal soft paint to Edward's face to give him his shimmery sun-kissed skin. Avoid his eyes and lips!

Use various colors of the fabric markers to color his hair, eyes, eyebrows, lips, the outline of his face, and the word 'Twilight'. Don't overdue it! Leave some white area for added graphic drama.

Once you've use the markers to fill in the word 'Twilight', use your smaller brush to apply the Shimmer Red fabric glitter paint to really make the word stand out. It's worth the extra effort.

(See how shimmery Edward's skin is in this shot... Yummy!)

Use the heat tool to apply the red crystals randomly on the background on the tote. I clustered more crystals close to Edward and applied less of them as I moved away from his image. Tip: add the crystals to the tote in between the other steps while the paint is drying.

Here's the finished piece!

Now all Regan has to do is fill this baby up and go stand in line and wait for the theater to open.

Here is some vamp-inspired merchandise that will really get your blood flowing:

An iPhone skin

Vampire Charm by Juicy Couture

Explore the worldwide phenomenon of The Twilight Saga by connecting with other fans on your iPhone or iPod Touch using the official "Twilight Tracker" App. Socialize with Twilighters around the globe and gain access to content for all movies from The Twilight Saga series.

Supper Settings

2011-11-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

As part of my job I have the pleasure of combing websites and catalogs for trend sightings and stories that assist my company in developing new products and color palettes. We are a craft and ceramic paint manufacturer so I am interested in home decor and table settings as well as fashion and crafting. While perusing Anthropologie's website today I came across this beautiful video that shows off their trendy table settings - Woodsy, Painterly, Preppy, Eclectic, and Femme. It's fabulous and quite inspiring how it moves from one place setting to the next. These are just two still pictures that show Woodsy (top) and Painterly (bottom).

RTW Paint Drips & Spray Look

2011-10-25T11:19:00.002-07:00

Paint Drips & Spray

Here's an artsy trend seen on the runway: Designer Prabal Gurung - Spring 2012 Ready To Wear - the look of paint drips and spray paint. Very urban chic!

Here's some DIY projects that will inspire you to get your inner street artist in gear:

Graffiti LOVE Tee

Brushed-On Attitude dress

Graffiti Glam Cap

Feathers & Fairy Dusk Tee

Visionaries: Tom Ford Documentary

2011-10-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

Last night I tuned into a new show on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) called Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind. For me, the name of this show alone made my heart pound. Five minutes into it I found myself recording the entire series. Fashion designer and film maker (A Single Man) Tom Ford was interviewed - a rare treat; the man does not give many interviews - and gave a candid and inspiring peek into his creative process and the way he sees and interprets trends. I was completely knocked over by his creative genius and the way he thinks.

Here's how OWN describes the show:

What does it take to see beyond what’s there, to invent something original? OWN is about to turn the mystery of creativity into inspiration. In Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind, some of the world’s most creative thinkers such as Tyler Perry, Will.i.am, James Cameron, Tom Ford and Annie Lebovitz take us into their process. There’s nothing like seeing how creative people make things happen to get our own mojo going.

New York Times Personality Quiz

2011-10-20T11:11:00.001-07:00

I read this and thought it would be interesting to take the quiz. It's really a tool for the NY Times marketing department to personalize product recommendations for its readers. So I did. It's great, you just click on the picture that best describes your preferences based on the question asked. Simple. Here's the pictures I chose to represent me:

Here's what the quiz revealed about me:

You're a trendsetter...

A born creative, you love to be in control of your own style and have an appreciation of style in others too. One of life's pleasures is watching as something beautiful take shape, whether it's a carefully selected outfit or a piece of art. Being the tactile person you are, if you can get involved in it's creation then all the better. You are thoughtful and original in your outlook. You like to be made to think and often seek out ways to expand your horizons.
Lively and confident, you're someone who likes to make a big impression. You understand that first impressions count and that you won't always get a second chance. You've got great taste and strive to be one step ahead of the crowd. Your passion for fashion means you've got a bit of a reputation amongst your friends for creating your own style. Keeping an eye on the trends, you know what suits you but while adopting the values of society in dress and taste, you are just as concerned with inward, spiritual beauty as with looks. The key is to allow yourself to appreciate life's journey while holding fast to that which matters most to you.

Play Time

2011-10-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

Every now and then we get to have a quick 'play time' at work where we get to use our products - some brand new, some old favorites - and make stuff. Everything is provided and all we have to do is sit down and choose substrates to paint, glue, decorate and embellish any way we want. Today I made this beaded cuff using a plain silver metal cuff, a bag of various glass beads, and E-6000 adhesive. This chic beaded cuff was created and ready to wear within 15 minutes.

Terri O and Beads in a Bottle

2011-10-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

Here, Crafting celebrity Terri O shows how to use our fabulous Beads in a Bottle to get high-fashion looks on a budget.

Inspired by the Hive

2011-10-10T14:58:00.001-07:00

I saw these wonderful textural honeycomb vases from West Elm and decided to see if I could find some more hive-inspired designs.

Hexy Wall

Painted linen napkins

Cloud Table

Plates by Garden and Gun

Arrow and Apple

More From Target

2011-10-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled across some good news:

Target's announced the release of three holiday designer collaborations starting October 30.

Famed South African milliner Albertus Swanepoel, who has designed hats for Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang will have 14 hat designs to choose from - all priced at $20., including a cute leopard fedora, that is my favorite!

LA-based jewelry designer Dana Kellin will have fabulous statement jewelry that is sure to be a hit at all the holiday soirees.

Lingerie and Loungewear designer Josie Natori will have 11 sweet and sexy looks to choose from.

To see more, go here.

A Cheerful Thought...

2011-10-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird (or two) will come.

(Chinese Proverb)

And you never know, they may build a nest and start a quartet!

Teri's Wedding Jewelry

2011-10-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite stress relievers is making jewelry. My style is very eclectic, so I mix and match metals, gemstones, vintage finds, etc. I love a great remake! Last month my friend Teri got married and asked me to make the jewelry for her wedding. She wanted a vintage looking bracelet with a pair of long earrings to set off the beautiful champagne lace gown she would be wearing. Here's what I came up with after looking through all my bins of bead, gemstones, and findings. I must confess I did have to do a little shopping in some antique stores to find the perfect Victorian shoe buckle for the centerpiece of the bracelet. I had my friend Regan model them so I could take pictures to send to Teri for approval. Teri loves birds so I included this pewter bird by this artist. She loved them! Here is the happy couple. Congratulations Teri & Scott!

The Letter J

2011-09-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

I am still loving the typography trend, and so when I walked into Urban Ornaments to spend my Groupon discount certificate before it expired my eye went right to the stacks of metal letters, numbers and type symbols that adorn this trendy boutique in Old Town Clovis. Best of all, some of the already framed and painted letters were on sale to make way for the new ones waiting to be displayed for the holiday season. They even had the letter J! For half off! My plan is to hang it in my cube at work on this big blank wall that screams for something interesting. Right now it's just leaning. But I think it's perfect!

Gypsy Girls

2011-09-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

I love this! Designer Emilio Pucci's SS 12 collection for Milan Fashion Week included this gypsy-inspired look. It's so beautiful and exotic.

Speaking of Tori Spelling and Missoni...

2011-09-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Missoni, Tori Spelling had a Missoni For Target experience that I thought was funny. Here it is. Picture below, taken by Tori Spelling.

So that's how my day got started...

2011-09-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

I woke up really early this morning - 3:45am to be exact - and could not get back to sleep. Luckily, I heard our morning newspaper hit the front door at about 4am. (Yes, I still like to read the local paper in my hands while holding a cup of coffee.) So I got up and read through it. In the Business section was a story, Target Customers Seeing Red. We all know the story about how their website crashed the day Missoni merchandise debuted at Target on September 13th. But the worst of it is that Missoni orders that were placed have either been delayed or even canceled. (Yikes!, I thought, sipping my coffee...) The article went on to say "that customers are blasting Target on websites such as Facebook and Twitter at a time when Americans worried about the economy are easily being influenced by what their friends say on social media websites." What was meant to be a cool thing for customers - having affordable access to a designer collection like Missoni - has turned out to be a hot mess for Target. Riding on the success of last year's partnership with Liberty of London, Target tried to re-create the same success with the Missoni line. But too much hype created a shopping frenzy that rivaled Black Friday madness. Fans of both Missoni and Target were left disappointed and they are still talking about it. For a business, chatter and presence on social media sites can be your very best friend, or your biggest nightmare. Gulp. Definitely something to think about...

So that's how my day got started... Glad it's Friday! Enjoy the weekend.

Twenty Days

2011-09-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

Has it seriously been 20 days since my last blog entry?! Let me tell you, I have been bizz-ee! Here's a recap:
I went to CCSA in Birmingham, Alabama, and LOVED it! Here's the view from my window at our hotel.Here's our show booth.The people I met were amazing. I had the great privilege of sharing trends with many of the attendees, and walking the show to see what people are up to in the ceramic market. Here is the Make It Take It we offered in our booth. People painted the hugely popular little monsters from the Tiny Tots Collection.

Yummies! Cookies made by an Etsy artist were giveaways in our booth.In the evenings we left the hotel to have dinner at some of the local eateries and enjoyed some really amazing food--like barbecued shrimp and grits. I had never had grits before, so it was really a treat to enjoy the southern cuisine. I would do it again in a heartbeat!

This is a dress made from broken ceramic pieces. Everyone wanted this as a display piece for their studios.As soon as I got back to California, I headed into full designer mode to create an art piece that would speak to the trends for 2012-13. I then have to use this art piece to give a trend presentation to our major clients. I always enjoy the challenge of doing this, and this time was no exception. As soon as it's photographed I will share bits of it with you.

Now that I am back at my desk I am playing catch-up with the work that got set aside so I could do all the stuff I just told you about. It's already Thursday and I am finally starting to breathe again................and I am definitely looking forward to a quiet weekend.

The Trend Spot at CCSA

2011-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Is there anything better than a 3 day weekend?! I am busy preparing for a great opportunity next week to share my trend expertise with the wonderful people attending CCSA (Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association) in Birmingham, Alabama. Not only will I give a presentation on trends, I will be able to share and advise anyone attending the show when they come by our booth. We'll be giving out these cool light-up buttons promoting the Trend Spot. I'll be like a fortune teller, except I'll be telling people how embracing the latest trends may enhance their future. I can't wait! Check out my latest feathers...

Eye Accessories

2011-08-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

Because sometimes eye shadow is just not enough!

Protection

2011-08-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

I love this shot. It came in one of those inspiring emails that everyone receives now and then in their in box. Doesn't everyone need to feel loved, protected, covered and safe? I don't know who the photographer is but I bet they felt privileged to see this.

Head Gear

2011-08-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

It's been said that a woman's hair is her crowning glory. Now you can add a little more glory to your crown with hair ornaments from native leather headbands with beads and feathers, to hippie-inspired flower wreaths and blingy wedding adornments.

These are from Urban Outfitters:

French VogueCelebrities like Kim Kardshian and Anne Hathaway are wearing head gear as well:

Day Tripping

2011-08-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

I took a little break today and visited some extraordinary places.............on Pinterest. Here are five breathtaking places I will probably never see in person but am so grateful to know they really exist.

The Acropolis in Athens, Greece
Bangalore, India

Passageway to the sea, isle of Crete, Greece

Bonifacio, Corsica, France

The Bridge of Immortals, Huanghsan, China

Almost here! Missoni at Target

2011-08-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to shop for Missoni at Target next month. Here are just a few of the 400 product offerings. To see more, click here.

Having a Bokja moment...

2011-08-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

LOVE LOVE LOVE this furniture by Bokja located in Beirut.

Paperware Cups

2011-08-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

'Finest Paperware' by Rebecca Wilson, 'Blue Delft' in porcelain. All images courtesy of Rebecca Wilson

Responding to the wasteful culture of convenience and consumption, Scottish ceramicist Rebecca Wilson elevates the paper cup into an art object, with hand-drawn patterns and produced by slip-casting techniques. The artist explains her process:'to create a ‘symmetry of opposites’ some of these cups are assembled from cast sheets of handmade paper; others are hand-built from sheets of specially a specially formulated porcelain and paper pulp mixture. The ‘jasperware’ set emulates wedgewood’s iconic range using stained paper and porcelain, and embossed relief details in white. The dutch classic ‘blue delft’ is alluded to in hand drawn details in blue Biro, which have been scanned and digitally transformed into enamel decals for application to porcelain.'

Nostalgia Trend

2011-08-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Why are the 50's, 60's and 70's so influential on our society now? Why are we so nostalgic? Nostalgia is defined as 'a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time'. Were we as a society happier in the 50's, 60's and 70's than we are now? Over the weekend I went to the movies with my girlfriends to see 'The Help'. I loved the movie and the message it has, but I can't imagine that people were happier then, at least not in retrospect. Each decade has its high moments and its low ones, and we can learn from what we've experienced. Maybe it's the voyeur in us that wants to peer into the past in order to make sense of where we are now. I think as we continue to simplify our lives we will continue to look back to what we think were simpler times for our courage and inspiration. The 50's were a time when America was prospering and creating new opportunities. The 60's were a time of rebellion and youth culture trying their wings, flapping against tradition and the paradigms of society. And the 70's was a time of self awareness and self empowerment, inspiring creativity and freedom. Like it or not we are all connected through technology and time, past and present. It truly is a small world.

Inspiration Friday

2011-08-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

"I hearby declare that Friday is Inspiration Day," she said as she stared at her computer screen late Friday afternoon, wondering what in the world she was going to write about. Actually, there is much to write about and so very little time. Therefore, be inspired by these three things:

1. BOOK PALLET by Yusuke Suzuki

2. WONDERPUSS OCTYPUS Puff paint creations. Really amazing!

3. BIG SUR, because really, is there anything more breathtaking than a look at the ocean?

Trendy DIY Headboards

2011-08-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

While traveling through my daily online trend journeys I came across these Cheap and Chic Headboard Projects at Better Homes and Gardens. My very favorite is the last one that uses fabric markers and a curtain panel. Hey, I want to try that! Click on the link for more on how to make these yourself, and for further inspiration.

Limited Edition LOVE

2011-08-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Inspired by a wedding ring and ring box, a limited edition bottle and box is created for Kim Kardashian's fragrance line. 1,000 bottles are made."Made specifically for her wedding day, the soft, feminine scent with notes of pink freesia, jasmine, and sandalwood. Housed in a deluxe platinum finish vessel embellished with 450 hand laid clear cut stones, each limited edition bottle is numbered and signed by Kim.

1,000 bottles in existence: one for Kardashian to wear on her wedding day, 200 to give to guests during her bridal shower, and 799 made available to her fans.The bottle is presented in a noir velvet finish case, inspired by a ring box." Designed by Maesa Group

(Source: The Dieline Network blog)

Last Friday

2011-08-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

On Friday night we headed out to Old Town Clovis to check out Farmers Market and to peek inside the antique stores that were open because I am on the hunt for some vintage jewelry I can use in a jewelry remake. We parked by a great pizzeria called Michaelangelo's. We had never eaten there before even though we found out later that they have been at this same location for 12 years. After we were done shopping we headed back for pizza. If you want to eat the best pizza in the world, you have to try Michaelangelo's! And they are so nice there! The flowers I bought at the farmers market were bagged with about a cup of water on the bottom. I laid the flowers down on our table and flooded it. No worries....they were quick to soak up my mess, and they even brought me a pitcher to rest my flowers in until we were ready to go.

Top Trends for Fall 2011

2011-08-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Collage Studies
Color Forms

Parka City

Psychedelic Fur

Sixties Minutes

Spotty Service

Tux Love

For more on this trend, click here.

Be Strong

2011-08-02T16:33:00.000-07:00

I saw this photograph one day while I was looking for an inspirational quote for a project I was working on. I've read this statement before and, more than once, have found myself living it. When I've struggled or been blindsided by life (if you don't know what I am talking about you haven't live long enough) I rely on my faith in God and what I call the fight in my gut (thank you, dad) to get me through. Crumbling is never a permanent option. Strength is something you gain when you endure a trial and come out the other side. You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. This entry goes out to three of my friends who are learning just how strong they really are.

Go West!

2011-07-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Described as Seventies American meets Calamity Jane, Navajo and the American west was the featured trend in the February 2011 issue of Show Daily publication, WWDMAGIC. This trend can be seen all over the retail scene from friendship bracelets and feathered accessories, to fringed garments, to denim and suede apparel mixed with desert hues and vibrant color palettes. It's such an easy look to incorporate into your wardrobe because of the mix and match ability of the elements of this trend. Many of the same details of this Navajo look are found in the Bohemian trend as well. Lace, denim, fringe, corsets, etc., all flow easily between the two looks. The tribal elements play a role as well in the form of the bold American Indian and Aztecan prints and designs. Designers like Ralph Lauren have been doing this look for years--casual, comfortable, American cowboy out west. It's a modern classic.

Rockin' Moroccan

2011-07-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

One of my very favorite shows this year is "Million Dollar Decorators" on Bravo. I am addicted! If you love interior design and peeking inside homes, hotels and hot spots this is the show for you. There was one episode where interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard remade a room at the Colony Palms Hotel (photo, above) using a Moroccan-inspired theme. I loved it. It inspired me to add a bit of the exotic to my living room with some affordable accessories.

I added a beautiful ornately painted candle holder from Cost Plus World Market to my coffee table.

I gathered together all of my wood block prints and displayed them on my end table. They are like having little sculptures with a ton of history behind them. I find them in antique stores and estate sales. They are used to make dyed prints on fabric. I found these colorful pillows with beaded and embroidered details at Home Goods--a favorite store for cool and affordable home accents.

This cut-out clay lantern is from Pottery Barn. It comes in a tall version as well as this shorter one. When the candle inside is lit it puts on a light show on my ceiling. Great ambiance!

Another Random Act of Kindness

2011-07-20T12:37:00.000-07:00

Today I've been working pretty constantly on a trend presentation I am giving in September at a convention. With only 30 minutes to catch lunch, I headed to Panda Express to get a rice bowl. I bumped into a co-worker who happened to be ahead of me in line. As we chatted and waited to pay we noticed there was a problem. Apparently the cash register wasn't in the mood to process credit/debit cards. Cashless, my co-worker and I both held up our cards when asked how we planned to pay. Oh no, what are we gonna do? At that moment, the guy working the register decided that rather than have us walk out hungry he told us our lunches were on him. What?! No, no, no, we said. He insisted. We asked if we could at least have a copy of the receipts to pay back Panda the next time we come in. Nope, no worries. I then looked at his name tag. His name is Yee. Thanks, Yee! Lucky for Yee there was only 3 of us waiting to pay at the time. What a nice example of real customer service. I made it back to my desk with just enough time to eat and get back to my trend report. Another random act of kindness exhibited at lunchtime! By the way, I opened my fortune cookie and it read: Enjoy the good luck a companion brings you. Maybe bumping into my co-worker paid off.

Simply Chic Disposable (and artsy) Dinnerware

2011-07-18T15:34:00.001-07:00

I like the idea of serving really chic disposable plates at gatherings that require more than the standard paper plate I use with my children. Of course, just because something is disposable doesn't necessarily mean it's a throwaway item after the first use. It might just mean it breaks down really well after it is thrown away. Resposable Dinnerware is a creative new approach to dinnerware. This line can be reused a number of times if needed and then disposed of, making them resposable! Or you can throw them out after just one use eliminating clean-up time, without compromising style!. While I may not be the greenest leaf on the tree, I do like to practice earth-friendly living whenever I can. Wasara offers 100% tree-free products made from sugar cane fiber, bamboo and reed pulp that are fully biodegradable and compostable. Veneerware is made from 100% organically-grown bamboo and is an elegant alternative to paper or plastic plates. Plus, it too is biodegradable and breaks down in 4-6 months after disposal.

Palm Leaf products are environmentally friendly palm dishes made from a natural, renewable, and biodegradable raw material. Naturally discarded sheaths of the leaves of the Adaka palm tree are collected, which in the course of its biological life cycle, dry, fall and regenerate. No trees are cut down. The palm sheaths are then cleaned in fresh spring water and molded into shapes.

Off to camp...

2011-07-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I spent Saturday getting my boys packed up and ready for camp: the oldest was headed to the mountains with his Boy Scout troop, the youngest to a church camp less than an hour away. Both of them were very excited to go, and their dad and I were equally excited to see them go. On Sunday we dropped our Boy Scout off around 9am at a place where the Boy Scouts were gathering to leave. And then we had to deliver the little fella between 2 and 4 pm. to his camp in the mountains. Last night our house was so quiet! No electric guitars blaring, no raised voices over whose turn it is to choose a video game, no jokes and stories during dinner, no one to hear me yell HAS ANYONE FED THE DOGS YET? It was really nice....until bedtime. I headed down the hall and saw their empty beds and wondered what they were doing at that very moment. I know one thing for sure, they both told me they would miss the dog. The dog! My youngest son had me include in his duffle bag a picture of the dog so he wouldn't be homesick. When we got him settled into his cabin and he chose his bunk, he laid out his sleeping bag and pillow and stuck Gabby's picture underneath it. Isn't that just like a kid? We'll see if he makes it to the end of the week.

A Random Act of Kindness

2011-07-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

As part of my job as a trends specialist, I write articles for various magazines within the craft and hobby industry. Recently I wrote about the trend of business owners and employees who offer 'random acts of kindness' as an way to build customer relations. I mentioned several businesses and described what they were doing, and how appreciative their customers were. Well, today it happened to me! I made an online lunch order to Chipotle as I do every few weeks. Just for me; just one Fajita Bowl and a drink. I like Chipotle but it's not like I hang out there. I maybe go twice a month. Anyway, my friend and I head over there to pick up my lunch. We walk up to the front of the line to pay--when you order online you just go in, pay for it if you haven't already, and they hand your food to you--and as I am handing the girl my credit card she says, No, no, lunch is on us today because you are a good customer and we want to thank you! What? Excuse me? Really?! Yes! And here's a bag of chips to go with that. My friend is looking at me like 'how do you rate?' I said to her, It's a 'random act of kindness', just like I wrote about. It makes the customer feel great and builds goodwill. And you know what? It really does. Thank you, Chipotle. That was a super nice thing you did for me!

The Nail Polish Economy

2011-07-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

It used to be that the sales of lipstick was best way to gauge the economy. Well, move over lipstick! The new must-have body art accessory is nail polish. Last year Volvo offered three shades of nail polish to match the latest hues of their cars. It's not like I haven't talked about this before, but is there any TV show, blockbuster movie, pop star, or celebrity out there who doesn't have a nail polish deal with OPI? Even the Kardasians have a nail line--in 14 "Kolors"--coming out in time for the holidays.

The Summer Dream

2011-07-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest desktop image. I didn't take this picture, not even close. I found it on the Internet. I think I am experiencing a mid-summer crisis! I just can't stop thinking about this, my summer dream: I am on the secluded beach. I am looking out on the pale blue-green water (just like the one in this picture). All I can hear is the sound of the surf and my heartbeat--steady and relaxed. I have one of many summer reads in my beach tote. You know, the list of summer 'must-reads' that all the magazines recommend. Whenever I read those lists I think, Are there really people who lay around in the summer reading through this list of books? Can I sign up to become one? I have not had a real vacation, one where you go somewhere for at least a week and decompress, since I returned to work in 2005. I tend to spend my vacation time 2-3 days at a time on things like Awards Day at my boys' school, family weddings, family business, and to just get caught up on my life. I really do need to book a real vacation, on the beach, with a book, the sun on my face, and the sound of the surf and my heartbeat. Nice dream............ Did I mention I have a husband and two boys? My dream will have to adjust to fit the laughing, the playing, the bickering, and the demands for food, drinks, a towel, and a TV.

Nailed It!

2011-07-12T11:06:00.000-07:00

I found this story on Fashionista.com and just had to pass it along. With tie-dye being white hot it was only a matter of time before someone figured out how to make nail polish follow the trend.

Yarn it!

2011-07-12T10:45:00.001-07:00

Photograph: Bournemouth News/Rex Features

Wheel spun ... a yarnbombed bus in Mexico City. This is so inspiring... It makes me want to knit a sweater for my truck!

William & Kate in L.A. getting crafty!

2011-07-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

This was spotted by our own Swell Designer! Here's our Duncan® Ceramic glazes (at left on the shelves) in this photo of Will and Kate at the Inner City Arts Center in L.A! They got crafty with kids painting and doing ceramics. So much fun!

Celestial Inspired Tote Project

2011-07-08T11:28:00.001-07:00

Get inspired by the celestial trend and make a super easy, stylish tote that you can load up with your favorite summer must-haves and head out the door.

Here's what you need:

A tote. I picked up this canvas tote bag fully lined at Walmart for a mere $10.Tulip Fabric Sprays in several colors. I chose Sapphire, Dark Teal, Black, and Grape.

Tulip Glam-It-Up Crystals and cordless heat setting tool

Here's how you make it:

To create the look of a night sky, spray your tote with the Sapphire color first. Spray completely around the bottom of the tote. Next, spray the Dark Teal above the Sapphire color, letting the overspray blend the two colors. Spray Asphalt (black) on the bottom area of the bag. Be careful not to cover too much of the Sapphire and Dark Teal.Finally, spray on light touches of Grape here and there. Let dry.

To create twinkling lights in your sky, use the heat tool to randomly apply the crystals. It takes about 10 seconds per crystal. Use as many as you like.

Pack your tote and get going!

Star Gazing

2011-07-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

Since my son joined Boy Scouts he's had to do various tasks in order to earn merit badges. One thing he's been working on this month is an astronomy badge. Part of earning this is that he has to get up one morning each week (for about 5-6 weeks) at 5am in order to observe a certain star in the sky. Apparently this star is best observed around 5am and disappears after about 5:15am. He then has to draw it and write about it in order to chart its movement in the early morning sky. Usually my husband is the one to get up extra early to get our son up and out in the front yard to make his observations. One morning this task fell to me. I usually try to squeeze in as much sleep as possible in the mornings before I rush off to work. My son and I stepped out into the cool of the early dawn morning and looked up. It was beautiful. I was glad I got up and had this brief moment of star gazing with my Boy Scout. It also made me think about the trend in celestial fashion that is here for spring and summer. I decided to make a galaxy-inspired project to commemorate our star gazing mornings.

Cool Never Fades at Target

2011-07-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool thing I found as I was checking out the latest Seventeen magazine featuring Emma Watson on the cover. It's the Vintage Varsity Fall Collection at Target. Screen printing is HOT, and the gang at Target knows it. They traveled to the Hamilton Wood Type Museum in search of unique and timeless designs. What they discovered was a designer's dream--walls covered with inspirational, classic prints, some of which haven't been seen in decades. Their point? Cool Never Fades.

LOVE this!

2011-07-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

What tech geek wouldn't love this ring? A blend of romanticism and technology, this pendrive is shaped like a ring and even comes in a giftbox. Find it here.

A Change of Plans

2011-06-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

Crazy, crazy weekend! We were supposed to go camping with the Boy Scouts - our first time with the troop--but my son came down with a cold. In a way I was thankful--his cold bought us some time. We had purchased most of our camping gear, all of it piled in our front living area, during the week. You see, we haven't been camping since before we had kids. Here's why, in the most condensed version: all our camping gear was lost in a flood in 1997, then we had babies, then we were poor, then the boys grew up a little, we were less poor but had very little PTO, then we got older and only liked the idea of going camping, then we decided we better get our boys into outdoor activities and shelve the tech gadgets as forms of entertainment, and then we were invited to join the Boy Scouts and here we are! Our biggest obstacle was that we didn't have a camping friendly vehicle. We thought about renting a truck but HELLO they want anywhere from $90-$150 per day. At that rate we'd be poor again! Then my husband found a small SUV type vehicle to rent and we were good to go! I even took Friday off work. Then my son caught a cold and it changed our plans. Instead of going camping we stayed home and had a yard sale. This meant cleaning out closets and hauling out furniture and whatever else has been precariously stacked in our garage into the driveway. We did use our new shade canopy we bought for camping in our driveway to put our tables under to block the near 100 degree sunshine from melting our treasure hunters. Do you know we had a number of people ask us how much the canopy was going for? Seriously! Anyway, on Sunday we rolled out of bed like tinmen after a rainstorm and made our way to the living room to enjoy some coffee and our newspaper--yes, we still enjoy holding paper in our hands while we read. On the third or fourth page of our paper was a full-page add for a big blow-out sale on cars and trucks. My husband oiled his joints and headed out the door around 11:30, and by 6pm we were proud owners of a big truck that practically screams camping! It's even dark green. My PT Cruiser didn't make it back home, it was traded in, and I am now a truck driving mom. Hmmm..........still getting used to that. Our next camp out is in July. We are so ready! Except we're poor again..............

The Chevron Stripe

2011-06-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

Virginia Johnson tote bag as seen on Daily Candy.

Alexa Vega wears this chevron striped dress by Gypsey 05 to the MTV Movie Awards Gifting Suite. Gypsey 05 is known for its beautifully dyed garments. Don't be afraid to DIY it yourself!

Miley Cyrus carries a Giorgio Armani chevron striped bag.

Top Shop

Mermaid Mood

2011-06-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

John William Waterhouse

For whatever reason, I am thinking about mermaids and the allure of the sea. Maybe it's because it's 103 outside and I am anchored to my desk for the rest of the afternoon with no hope of walking along the sandy edge of the Pacific Ocean any time soon. I don't even own a pool! Or maybe I am thinking about them because I need a creative escape and mermaids are the coolest myth I know.

Bebe Long Mermaids and Prada

Something's Bugging Me............

2011-06-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Jessica Kagan Cushman

Pillow by Jonathan Adler

Alexander McQueen

Wingbeat rug / Anthropologie
Blumarine

Siecile

Anthropologies' March catalog

Blues

2011-06-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Blues in various shades and hues - like Delft, Cobalt, and Spruce - are definitely on trend for fashion and home decor. Inspired by the sky, the ocean, and natures minerals and gemstones, blues are calming and regal. Blue is a key color trend and will remain strong in the coming seasons.

Dip Dyed Denim

2011-06-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

Jessica Alba

Akademiks

You can dip 'em in bleach or dip 'em in color; either way you'll be right on trend! Erica Domesek gives you the D.I.Y. version. And you can find all the right dye colors at iLoveToCreate!

Get dippin'!

Americana Trend & DIY Project

2011-06-06T15:27:00.001-07:00

In case you haven't noticed there are a number of trends that are happening and evolving all at the same time, that are like pieces to a puzzle, coming together. Americana -- taking pride in our American heritage -- is a movement that is being seen on the runways and across all markets. It's not so much about waving the American flag or wearing red, white and blue (although that is a part of it) -- it's about brands returning to what defined them in the beginning; it's about authenticity and value; and its about nostalgia and tradition. The interest in handcrafts like crochet and macrame, canning and even urban gardening have their roots in American tradition. As part of the huge tribal trend, the Native American prints, textures, and colors are having a heavy influence on the fashion and interior decor markets. Brands like Ralph Lauren continue to provide vintage style with a modern Americana feel. Rodarte brings us patchwork patterns on the Fall runway, reminding us of a simpler life where materials were reclaimed and reused to make something new. And of course, denim is always at the heart of American fashion. Denim fabrics in all kinds of finishes, and in combinations with other fabrics like leather and lace rule.My project is a combination of reclaimed denim and the classic American white tank or tee-shirt. It's perfect for the July 4th holiday, and for celebrating all that America represents.
Here's what you'll need:Tulip One-Step Dye - Red
Aleene's Fabric Fusion adhesive
A scrap piece of denim
A star template made from paper
A pencil, marker or white chalk pencil
A foam brush
Scissors
A small cup

Here's how you make your Americana-inspired top:

Draw and cut out a star(s) from a piece of paper. Place the star template on the denim scrap and trace with a pencil. Cut out the denim star and set aside. (You may wish to distress the star by pulling some of the threads along the edges.)Following the dye instructions on the Tulip One Step Dye box, mix water with your color and add some of the dye to a small cup.
Dampen the white tank with water and squeeze out the excess--it should be damp, not wet. Lay the tank top on flat covered surface and smooth it out in preparation for the dye application.

Dip the sponge brush into the dye in the cup and begin to apply it across the tank starting at the very bottom. The dye will soak through so don't worry about painting the backside. Leave about 2"-3" between each stripe.
The stripes will bleed a bit, creating a handmade irregular stripe. Continue to make as many stripes as you like. Be sure to follow the dye instructions for allowing dye to sit before rinsing and washing.After the tank has been thoroughly rinsed, washed, and dried, use the Aleene's Fabric Fusion to adhere the denim stars. Let dry 2-4 hours before wearing, and 48 hours before washing.

Design Sponge

2011-06-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

I just had a 'smack my head' moment! I wrote on my previous entry about loving my voyeuristic roamings through Apartment Therapy, but I have to give equal props to another favorite DIY/home decor site, Design Sponge. Hmmm, I wonder what Liz is thinking.......

Apartment Therapy

2011-06-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

Real people. Real places. Real house tours.....

If you are like me you LOVE to check out other peoples homes. I am curious about how they style their place and how they deal with their design challenges. I want to see their backyards, courtyards, and balconies. I admire a great color scheme, a great kitchen, and bathroom. I want to see how they artfully arrange their stuff. Here's a favorite site that let's me do all these things. You get to tour the home, and get some basic info on the owners and the house--like how long they've lived there and the square footage of the place. Here's a great example of what I mean:

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-05-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready for a much needed 3 day weekend this Memorial Day. The weather is perfect--around 70 degrees--and there are a lot of things to do, although taking a break is definitely on my list. Here's how I plan to spend my weekend: Tonight my family and I will most likely head over to the Farmer's Market in Old Town Clovis held every Friday evening. This is why I LOVE living in the Central Valley--we grow the best produce in the world and it's all fresh and delicious. My brother and his family live in Colorado Springs, and they just don't have easy access to the kinds of wonderful summer foods like we grow here. Of course, they have fresh air and beautiful views of the mountains. So it's all a trade off. I also really want to see the move, Water For Elephants. I read the book when it first came out and loved it. I think the movie will be awesome. It probably won't happen this weekend because the whole family also wants to see Kung Fu Panda 2. On Sunday, we may head back over to Old Town Clovis because it is time for the Antique & Collectible Fair that is so much fun. We always end up with some treasures--I find pieces of jewelry for refashioning, and my guys usually pick up a pocket knife or tool of some kind. On Monday...........maybe a barbecue or a drive to the lake. Who knows??? That's what is so great about having a long weekend before me. I can do anything I want!

American Idol Finale - The Thrill is Gone!

2011-05-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

I will tune in, but not enthusiastically. I miss Haley and Casey, my two favorites. My hope is that they'll get married and produce some growling super singers for American Idol 2025. So my prediction for the big Idol winner is: Scotty or Lauren. They're interchangeable, either or. I have to go to Boy Scouts tonight so I don't get to watch the show live. Without Haley in the top two the show has lost it's edge for me. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Big snooze!

Tulip Tie-Dye & Debby Ryan's 18th Birthday Party!

2011-05-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Exciting happenings over last weekend! Debby Ryan -- known for her roles as Bailey Pickett on Disney's "The Suite Life on Deck" and as 'Abby' in her television film "16 Wishes" -- LOVES tie-dye. As part of a surprise activity for her 18th birthday, iLTC was invited to bring Tulip tie-dye products to her celebrity packed birthday party. Allee and Regan, our iLoveToCreate tie-dye experts, were more than eager to share all their tie-dye and design expertise with Debby and her friends. Regan made this cool dress and scarf to wear for the big night using Tulip fashion dyes. Allee and Regan packed our van with all kinds of creative goodies, plus blank tees, tanks, and scarves--and headed for Backside Records in Burbank to attend the event.

Here are some pics from the party:Looks like Debby and her friends had a blast! Happy Birthday, Debby!Here's an inspiring thought: throw your own Tulip Tie-Dye Party to celebrate your special events. It's easy, fun and affordable with these kits.

Chokers For Fall

2011-05-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

It's been said that the choker necklace may have began as a fashion statement started by the young ladies of France in response to the French Revolution. It seems these female expatriots wore red ribbons tied at their throats to symbolize those who perished at the guillotines, and as a testament to their own narrow escape. Gulp!For fall, designers are showing off their face-framing chic choker necklaces. Style.com says these neck toppers are not just for the runway. Expect to see chokers on the throats of the style-conscious women in your town. See more chokers at Style.com.Chokers were fashionable in the 70's - check out Stevie Nicks - and have that rocker-chic/boho vibe that is so cool again.

My American Idol picks...

2011-05-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

Last night we had to go shopping right after dinner to get my son some hiking boots and survival supplies because he (our family, really) joined the Boy Scouts and his first camp-out is this weekend. Anyway, we didn't get home until after America Idol started. Thank goodness for TiVo! My husband and I stayed up until after 11pm to watch it.

Here's my picks for home stretch:

Tonight, Lauren goes home. Sorry, Lauren, I still think your best song of the season was your audition, when you sang Steven Tyler's song. You were loose and vivacious and kinda wild-cute. You are still awesome, but you're my pick for #3.That leaves Haley and Scotty.............. Haley rocked last night! I mean, seriously, singing Led Zeppelin the way she did just nailed it for me. Haley, you deserve to be the 2011 American Idol. Having said that, Scotty could still take it, although I think he should be runner up. He hasn't really taken any big risks. He's never been in the bottom three. He's solid. He's a sweetheart. I like him. But I think Haley should win. We'll see.....................

The Dress Project

2011-05-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

I love this concept: The Dress Project is a collection of hand-painted dresses in silks and cottons. The fabric is painted the same way an artist might paint a large canvas. Artist Naomi Clark tells a story through her abstract and energetic scenes on the entire length of the yardage. Then the material is cut and fashioned into a dress.

Dyed in the Worm

2011-05-16T14:20:00.001-07:00

This really is 'news of the weird' but I find it so intriguing and I want to share it. I read an article in the New York Times about researchers in Singapore who fed chemical dyes to silkworms in order to yield a fluorescent silk, thus eliminating the dye process that creates polluted wastewater. The pink silkworm above was reportedly fed a diet of mulberries and fluorescent dye. The coloring process doesn't modify the worms' genes--it just gives them a chemical cocktail that makes them product colorful silk. This could have medical uses as well. According to New Scientist this method could also be used to dope silks with other materials, like antibacterial properties so they could be used a wound dressings. Amazing!

Weekend

2011-05-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

I am so glad it is Friday! It's been a long week and I am looking forward to the weekend. My plans for Saturday are to attend a women's brunch I was invited to by my wonderful neighbor,and then go have a long overdue massage in the afternoon. What a relaxing treat! I will close my eyes and think of someplace magical like this.

Trendspot Inspiration

2011-05-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

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Want to be inspired by some of the greatest artists in history? You can view their artwork and visit some of the top museums in the world with the Google Art Project. It's easy! Select a museum from the home page, and select either 'Explore the Museum' or 'View Artwork'. You can even create and share your own collections online. Get more here.

1 Big Storm, 2 Kids, 3 Ducks

2011-05-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we experienced quite the storm......lots of hail, pelting rain, thunder, lightning and winds that some would describe as almost tornado-like! Mind you, we were experiencing mid-90 degree weather just last week. I left work around 5pm and came home to this........my children playing in a downed tree in our neighbors yard across the street. There were also ducks taking refuge on our front lawn. Not quite as exciting as this, but pretty big stuff for our neighborhood.

Big Hat Days

2011-05-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

Between the royal wedding and the Kentucky Derby we're seen our share of big hats in the news lately. Is the next big reality show going to be Who Wants To Be A 'Millin-aire'? Will designing, creating and wearing head ornaments be the next big thing? Hats are always cool and often demand a great deal of confidence to pull them off. Worn well, they command attention and respect. Worn not so well, they can, well, turn your outfit into a hot mess. Here are some toppers from the Kentucky Derby and the royal wedding that really worked....

Mother's Day Weekend

2011-05-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

Did everyone have a great Mother's Day? I must say I enjoyed my entire weekend with my family. We didn't do anything over the top or have a destination event planned like in the past. No, we basically hung out and did family stuff--we went shopping for summer clothes because it gets really hot, really fast here in Fresno and my boys have outgrown their shorts and tees from just a few months ago. We also hit Costco to restock our pantry and refrigerators. We did rent movies and we all enjoyed a barbecued meal on Sunday...yummy!

The Perfect Summer Color Palette

2011-05-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

A bright pop of color is on trend for this summer! See the full color story here.

What do stylish moms wear?

2011-05-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

Here's what WhoWhatWear Daily shows...................For more on this story click here. You may also subscribe to a daily dose of WhoWhatWear.

Crackle Polish

2011-05-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

I guess O.P.I. isn't the only one to come out with a crackle polish. The shatter effect is one of the hottest trends in nails and is no longer limited to Katy Perry's nail polish collection. What specialty finish will be next???

Urban Camouflage

2011-05-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

When I attended Sourcing At MAGIC in February I picked up some info on a company named PHLAGE Urban Camouflage. I found their lookbook online and had to share. I think the photo styling is what makes the fashion garment so exciting to look at. My favorite pics are those that have the pop of color against a black & white background. See more here.