Happy Thanksgiving!

Since thanks are in order I'd like to thank some people for the design and computer help they've given me in developing my blog.  My daughter Bridget, (New Zealand) and Bryce Martin (Bowman) have given lots of tips and recommendations for making the blog effective and enjoyable to read.  I've learned that I can learn this new way of communicating.  Thanksgiving draws us into a time of reflection as we say goodbye to Fall and allow Winter to have its full sway even though it means snow and cold temperatures.

Fall in all its Beauty

Harvest Sunflower Tray

Harvest Charm

Fall is the season we put our yards to bed, cleaning out gardens and flowerbeds - when the snow flies we can allow the blanket to softly cover the ground we've worked all summer - I think the earth needs the rest.
The warm homey colors of Fall are reflected in my autumn trays that I display around the house.  My daughter, Bridget started us on the tray making journey.  She saw them in a magazine and thought we could try to make some.  My first was a tray of my Mother's - it is decorated with a collage of furnishings, lighting and pillows - in orange, yellow, green and ivory and has feet added to the bottom for stability.  On top of the collage I place a piece of glass cut to the size of the tray.  I use my trays with centerpieces, for serving company and even for my own enjoyment when I am having tea.  I have trays painted "Va va voom", my living room color, and white winter trays done with Christmas cards for the collage and of course spring trays done in pink pastels.  I have taught many classes on tray making and have thoroughly enjoyed sharing how to fabricate them. 

A couple of colorful, fun MN projects

original wicker chairs

my new blue chairs

As we've worked on the log home I asked our grand daughter, Josephine, what she thinks the cabin needs?  She says we should "add some color".  I agreed as all our interior walls are honey colored logs.  The color palette we've chosen is cobalt blue, orange, emerald green, red & yellow. 

For our transitional dining room set I decided to paint 4 wicker chairs and a table base the deep cobalt blue and I've reupholstered the cushions with a fabric that looks very Mediterranean and sports all of the chosen colors.  For our sun room I've painted 2 wicker chairs bright orange - the fabric for the cushions has a dark blue background with tiny lizards in fun colors.

   

original wicker chairs

my new orange wicker chairs

Rural Women's Conference 2015

Screen before painting

Screen after painting

The day begins with coffee, tea and pastries for the 400+ women attending.  Then there is shopping to be done at the 20+ women's businesses who are showcasing their work.  Keynote speakers, designers, a fashion show, door prizes, and a delicious lunch round out the day.  Every attendee is sent home with a gift bag.  The day is full of inspiration and encouragement for ladies from 18-80.

I had the opportunity to showcase my business, "Design Consulting" at our most recent RWC.  I decided to use cobalt blue and orange as the colors for the display.  I painted a folding screen and added copper leaves and a wreath.  For my table I displayed a large fall bouquet in a blue vase with yellow and orange flowers and touches of cobalt.  Pumpkins and large copper leaves rounded out the display.      

Table decorations

Design Project - a log home!

MN Design Project

What do the numbers 1, 2, 4, 40 and 460 have to do with each other?  These numbers describe our latest design project - 1 log home, 2 people with very different ideas, 4 out buildings, 40 acres and 460 miles from our present home to the new one. 

We are at work on a retirement home in the MN woods - it is especially exciting as it is the first home we've purchased together since we got married.  We both love log homes so are very excited to be putting our own touches on it.  Family members will be helping with the work and as our grand daughter says "it is a team project".  The cabin has good bones but needs some tender loving care to bring it back to its initial beauty.
We will keep you posted on the progress we make as we go through the process of making it into our "new home".



 

Fun with Lighting

Tess's Lamp

Years ago I fabricated my first light fixture - it was purely experimental and I did not know if it would work.  It was 6 sided and each side was composed of clear Contac paper onto which I stuck yellow, orange, red, and brown torn pieces of tissue paper.  My Dad helped my build the frame and figure out how to light it.  Our first lighting of it was with two 40W bulbs hanging down the center of the lamp - it glowed!  Later, when small decorative lights came out on the market I used strings of them to light it.  My Sister, Tess, used my idea and built a smaller version of my lamp - she lent it to me so I use different fabrics on it as I go through the seasons.  Right now it is all oranges, browns and greens.

My bathroom chandelier is an idea I found on HGTV - it is constructed of 2 metal wreath rings that hang one inside the other connected by metal key rings.  From these two rings hang beads in a variety of colors.  For my summer chandelier I have orange disks, green leaf beads, and magenta string beads - the colors make me think of sunny summer days. 

Bathroom Chandelier

Found Objects

Throughout my design life I have found objects that others would throw away, reclaimed them, and found new uses for them in my interiors.


French window

2 French windows were the first items - I painted them cream puff (a soft white), and eventually added mirrors in each of the 24 spaces - they now hang in my living room.  A china cabinet door given to me by my brother, Tim,  has had a mirror added to it and I painted it va va voom, (a cross between magenta and raspberry) - it, too, has found a spot in my living room.  12 clear Ball canning lids have been fabricated into a stain glass piece.
What enjoyment I have found in working with old items and giving them new life!

China cabinet door

Stained Glass w/Ball lids

How I Develop Ideas

When I began developing my Interior Design business, Design Consulting, one of my goals was to provide good, comprehensive, and up-to-date information and ideas for each client's particular design challenges.
To do that I rely on my interior design training and my desire to keep learning and growing in my field.  The more I know the more I have to offer clients - and with each client I am looking at their situation with "fresh eyes".
One client I worked with does extensive quilting and embroidering.  She needed a way to keep embroidery books and materials accessible.  I suggested a cabinet with a canted top for her sample book and shelves under that for the thread boxes.  Her grandson built the cabinet for a Bowman County Fair project and he won a blue ribbon for it.

Here's the blue ribbon winner!

Facing the Giants Again!

Here we go again with another post plus pictures so the learning curve continues. My daughter Bridget is tutoring me long distance - thank you Bridget.

In May I had an opportunity to speak at a Women's Conference in Williston, ND on "Maximizing God's Design for your Life".  The 100 ladies that attended learned about my walk with the Lord and the gifts He has been refining and developing in me.  One of my gifts is working with Interior Design and for the conference I set 6 tables with a variety of tablescaping ideas.  Following are pictures of 3 tables I put together for the conference.  They are Hawaiian, Summer Party, and Blue on Blue.

Summer Party

Hawaiian

At the conference

Blue on Blue

Working the Technology

Since my last entry something has been preventing me from getting on my blog site - more of that learning curve to master.  I have blessed with people who will teach me the skills I need to, not just exist, but thrive in this blog world.

On to some design thoughts:

Summer always makes me think of color - it surrounds us and can brighten any day.

A few months ago I painted a wall in my living room a new color for me - va va voom - a cross between raspberry and purple.  That peaked my interest in trying a color combination on a small dresser and armoire in my kitchen.  I saw this idea in a magazine using all the colors on one color chip to repaint a dresser - from light to dark, from top to bottom - it was fun and different and a great new experiment.

Facing My Fear: Blogging

I know this is June 1 and I have not added to my blog for a few months - at one point I thought perhaps I am just not cut out for blogging but then thought, wait a minute, "I'm a MOM, I can do this" - so here we go!

The Brooks Family.

As a designer, I am learning the world of blogging and using it to inform, educate, and pass on design tips.  The pursuit of learning involved in my business keeps me striving to bring the best of the design world to my clients.

My goal is to blog weekly with all sorts of ideas about interior design and my business "Design Consulting."  I'll mention design difficulties I've helped clients maneuver through.   I'll cover all sorts of design tips, information from the pros, new products coming onto the market, and how to use accessories.  We'll even travel to gardens to look at design spaces there and see how "greens" can add life and warmth. So here we go of into the great, wide, wonderful world of design and all its mysteries.

You can also see my monthly articles in the Bowman County Pioneer. Here's what I wrote for last month: All about calligraphy.

http://www.bowmanextra.com/2015/05/29/design-spaces-i-love-calligraphy/

Cheers!

The New Year

As we finish out the first month of 2015 and fully embrace the new year we are presented with untold possibilities for design in our spaces.
As I look at my environment I am amazed at the variety of  textures and colors that abound.  Even in this winter season I see all shades of browns, greys and tans - white in every shade and showing hints of many colors.  Clear blue in the sky and gorgeous red, pink, blue, and yellow sunsets.  What I see in January lets my mind rest a bit from the busy holiday season.  It calms me and invigorates me as I head into the rest of the year.

Thoughts as we leave 2014

Just a note as we close out 2014 and launch into 2015 -  a couple of quotes printed by my brother, Mark Kokott , (calligrapher), come to mind, "The secret of Christmas is not the things you do at Christmas-time - but the Christmas things you do all year through" -  this approach keeps the spirit of giving alive all year.  And speaking of Christmas things all year through, "You can never do a kindness too soon - for you never know how soon it will be too late".
Off to the diverse world of design, color, shape, form and texture - perhaps you'll be adding one or more of these to your design space in 2015.