Personal Archives.

(Mom and I in Madison, Wisconsin. Fall of 1987)

As you can see, I've been taking photos since I could walk. Since then I've studied photography in London, graduated from the University of Massachusetts Anherst with a BFA, taken photos for various websites, magazines, headshots, and exhibits.

All of my past experiences affect the way I think and design now; thus, a look at my (more recent due to computer issues) personal archives...

and more...

"Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!" -Pink Floyd

"...We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.” -Anais Nin

Music Inspiration.

On Friday [the 13th] I went to one of the most stimulating shows of my life: Bassnectar. I have been to countless concerts and festivals in my day, but nothing quite compared to the beats of this DJ, Lorin Ashton. The multi-faceted sounds, the flow, and the music samples he uses --from The Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins to Hip-Hop-- are so well put together it's outrageous. When you aren't moving you are staring in awe at the video show behind and Lorin's waterfall of hair. Afterwards a few of my friends and I had the opportunity to meet the whole crew in the "Greenroom" only to find that their kindness matched the talent...sadly I don't have the opportunity to hop on the last leg of their tour like some of my freelancing friends (boo 9-5's)...wubwubwub. Please do yourself a favor and take part in this musical revolution. Learn More: http://www.bassnectar.net/

If music be the food of love, play on. -Shakespeare

“I like too many things and get all confused and hung-up running from one falling star to another till I drop. This is the night, what it does to you. I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion.”

-Jack Kerouac

Editorial Inspiration.

There is something about a shiny new fashion magazine that makes girls -not unlike myself- quite giddy. I take a lot of inspiration from editorials because they often push the envelope and envelop all that is NOW. It's amazing how many people it takes to produce a single editorial [not even to mention pre- or post-production] :the photographer, stylist, make-up artist, hair stylist, light coordinator, prop designer, set designer, multiple assistants, and coffee gofers... I am especially intrigued by editorials when the artistry (and the story) of the images overshadow everything else. Here are some that made me double-take:

Art Inspiration.

The key to being a good designer is to gather inspiration from everything around you. Throughout this blog I'll be posting art, photos, food, advertisements, editorials and etcetera that I find beautiful, unique or inspirational in some way. Such as:

Home Sweet Brooklyn.

We found it! We found it! The perfect place to make our home. With that said, it's hard to make an apartment feel like home without investing a lot of time and money into it. The key is to refresh the things you have, while adding flea market finds, the random Ikea and Pearl River Mart elements, and LOTS of paint. While paint can be expensive, it is certainly the cheapest way to completely re-vamp a flat space and make it your own...

BEFORE:

The key was to take advantage of the amazing lighting and high ceilings, while creating separate spaces within the large living area...This was done (without too much calculation) by creating defined living, dining, kitchen, and hallway spaces with furniture and paint...

AFTER:

The living room walls are painted with Eucalyptus Leaf and the hallway and kitchen walls are

painted with Orange Spice.

I'd say the apartment is about 90% done. It is the perfect place to have anything from a small dinner party to a rager, but my favorite thing to do is to sit on my couch with a cup of coffee on Sunday morning, with the sun shining through all SIX windows, and watch the train roll through to Manhattan...