A Peak at my Block Printed Fabric...

Yesterday...I finally started working on my block printed fabric! This is something I have wanted to do for quite some time now... I have sketch books with many drawings in them and so many ideas in my head. I have carved out blocks of my drawings, purchased paint and all of the materials needed for surface design..Read book after book and researched other textile designers for inspiration..but I haven't actually put it all into action until now... So here is a sneak peak at the very beginning of Mimi Betancourt Textiles...I have selected to show you a couple of geometrics, although I'm pretty fond of florals and Japanese motifs as well. Today I was playing with mediums (block printing and silk screening) and mixing lots of color...I had a such a blast and I am so inspired. I have a long road ahead, but I know it's all going to happen exactly the way I dream it...Enjoy!

Love....

My new home office/studio...

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I posted on Friday and talked about moving forward towards having everything that I want...and why not, right? Well, I didn't have much time to post last week because I was working on my new home office/studio space. I thought you might be interested in seeing the progress.

OK..this was originally a dining room. Then it became the doggy room (my son calls it the doggy room). Then it became the office/dining room...then the "whatever"you throw in there room...We only eat dinner in this space on Thanksgiving...literally! My husband and the kids use the computer in here..I have my own laptop to work off of thank goodness!

By the way, I took this picture when my husband already started working on the book shelf, so everything is pushed to the corner. I really don't live this way...I did however manage to stuff all of my books into this one bookshelf and storage below. I also managed to stick the computer in there...So as you can see, we really needed to do something.

The point of this first step is for me to have a home studio to finally put my dreams into action.

As I push forward, I will be documenting my progress and certainly sharing the love...It's not completed yet. There are still small things I would like to add/change, but it is a start. I also had to do this on a SERIOUS budget...I'm talking under $500 for everything! So...Here it is..the beginning..Enjoy!

I put together a CAD drawing of the unit I wanted my husband to build..The plywood comes in 4x8 sheets, so I made the unit 8' high x 8' wide. That made this piece much easier for him to cut and it cost about $275.00 including the molding and the sheets for the back piece.

So much storage now...I love it! By the way...the liquor tray was in there when the space was a dining room...You never know when you might need a drink...

This corner is where that black cabinet was...what a change.

Gotta go...off to work!

Happy Weekend...

Here's a thought..don't you think? Having everything you want can seem impossible. What if you really take a moment to stop and think about what that truly means to you? It's like the Oprah "Aha" moment. Well, as you already know..I have been job hunting for a while now and the dream job I had built up in my head has not come knocking at my door.

It has certainly been a learning process and it has proven that I was right all along...What I mean is that the little voice inside my head was right all along..It is OK to have everything I want.

I truly want to create...inspire...make a difference...be with my children...spend time with my husband...go on a vacation to the South of Italy...blog everyday...design...decorate..take an upholstery class...and...by the way, I can make a great living doing what I love too! It's not impossible for me to have any of these things. So...the first step is to recognize it and the next is to take baby steps towards making it all happen. Authenticity is the word..I can have everything I want, because it is truly what makes me...Me! Why not?

So...this week I was a busy bee working on my unused dining room and converting it into my new and inspiring office/studio. It was hard to step away from the computer for a week..but I had to do it or I could never get this first step done.

Next weeks agenda...To actually take my sketches and put them to screen and fabric...

Oh...I can't wait! It's all out in the open and on my new inspiration board! My love for fabric will become a reality soon..Stay tuned.

Hope this inspires you to think about how it is so OK to have "everything" you want too!

Happy Weekend!

From the desk of Lola...

I get so excited when I find a cool designer and I can share the love...Alexandra Loew was recognized by our beloved Domino magazine, as a "Top Ten" rising talent and she is the brainchild behind these fab interiors. The name is so catchy, isn't it? Turns out she's such a huge fan of the movie Charlies Angles and the mysterious "Charlie"... that she dreamt up her own fictional character "Lola". Hence...the inspiration for the name of her LA based design firm "From the desk of Lola". I fell in love with her design aesthetic immediately...Love your style..so glad I found you Lola!

Happy Weekend...

Love this picture...inspiring me to pamper myself a little this weekend. Maybe I'll go buy myself a new book..a brand new nail color....give myself a mini facial and rent a really funny movie!

Just perfect! Hope you consider pampering yourself a little too...why not, your worth it!

Happy Weekend...

photo visualize.us

Remembering 9/11..

My heart is full of love and compassion for the many families who lost loved ones and for the brave men and woman who risked their own lives to help others September, 11 2001. I live just across the river from Manhattan and I remember that day so vividly...and still, every time I pass by it when I'm in Manhattan, it feels surreal. To my kind friend John who lost his life in the towers...you are missed.

The power of grey...

We usually paint the wood work in our homes white. Here's another thought...Why not go grey? Take a look at these beautiful photos..they're just fabulous! Going grey could be the simple and affordable change you've been looking for and.... the color is versatile and looks very chic...Enjoy!

Levenson McDavid Architects, P.C.

Valerie Pasquiou Interiors

Image #1 courtesy of Kate Sellers and image #4 Living etc.

David Wiseman...ceiling art

Hi my blogger friends...I'm so happy to be back! I had a wonderful and productive weekend. I was searching for some original content in the wee hours of the night and found this wonderfully talented artist, David Wiseman. Just breathtaking...David's sculptural art interprets nature in the most unique way. From what I can see his medium may be plaster, porcelain and bronze, although I'm not absolutely sure because there isn't too much background information on him. I do know that in addition to his commissioned work, he does bronze fireplace covers, lighting, vases in crystal and porcelain, as well as some unique children's accessories. His original pieces are available through The R Gallery in NYC. I hope to one day be able to actually use him on a design project...He is just incredible artisan..Enjoy!

Happy Weekend....

I don't know about you...but I cannot believe that this is the end of summer already. Some of you have traveled to far away places that one can only dream of...

and some of you are on your way... We have one last weekend to make memories...Hope you enjoyed the summer of 2009. I sure did!

Happy Weekend!

Images photographed by Prabuddha Dasgupta

At Home with Tibi founder...Amy Smilovic

I have been looking for design inspiration for my new home office and I came across these great photos of Tibi Founder, Amy Smilovic.. in her own fabulous office. I really love the inspiration board and wall below...It shows how similiar the design process is, whether it's for fashion or interiors. Amy popped up yesterday too when I was organizing my magazine shelves. I found a very worn June 2008 issue of InStyle, featuring Amy Smilovic's Connecticut home. I'm So glad I did, because the color palette is totally what I was looking for. I actually carried around that magazine last year for a whole month trying to match my roman blinds fabric to her yellow chaise. Since she popped up twice in two days, I just had to feature her.

Amy Smilovic is the founder of the fabulous Tibi clothing line if you don't already know. Her story is pretty inspiring. She founded her company in 1997, shortly after she and her husband moved to Hong Kong. Her husband was transferred there with his job at American Express. Amy was also an employee with American Express and continuing with the company would have met reporting to him! Read more about Amy's great story on Ladies Who Launch, you'll enjoy it. BTW...My InStyle issue that features Amy Smilovic's home is in such bad shape that I had to search for better pictures. Good thing...because I found Mark Lund. These beautiful pictures of Amy's home and her family were photographed by the very talented Mark, who is an interior lifestyle photographer. Click here to check out his blog...What great finds today...Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of New York Social Diary and Lund Photo

Rees Roberts + Partners

Rees Roberts + Partners LLC is on my list of favorite designers. The firm was established in 2007 and already has a very impressive portfolio. Rees Roberts encompasses a wide range of projects from townhouses, apartments in Manhattan to country houses in Upstate New York.

Best known for their innovative landscape design, Rees Roberts integrates the built structure with its natural environment and seeks sustainable and ecologically meaningful design solutions.

Perfectly edited design; Tailored and chic....Enjoy!