K9 Couture Co. is a small, locally owned company I was introduced to shortly before leaving Oklahoma City. Crystal Young is the dog collar creator, as well as a veterinary tech, with a passion for animals. (A girl after my own heart!) She borrowed her mother-in-law’s sewing machine, taught herself how to use it, and K9 Couture Co. was born. Everything is chosen and made by Crystal herself. The collars are especially comfortable for your pup with a dose of style for you.
Making : pile after pile of broken down cardboard packing boxes Cooking : I’ve been on a breakfast sandwich kick (apple English muffin + egg + cheddar) Drinking : (diet) lemonade Reading : The Book of Life, the third book in the All Souls Trilogy Wanting : fall to slow down already Looking : for the perfect dining room table and chairs Playing : old mixtapes Deciding : whether I need to make another trip to Lowes today Wishing : that this house could set itself up Enjoying : reacquainting myself with my hometown Waiting : to put up Halloween decorations for another week Liking : the sight of the changing leaves Wondering : how long it will take for this town to feel like home once again Loving : all the help my family has been offering up as I get settled in Pondering : how best to set up my office Considering : when and where to buy this year’s pumpkins Watching : Parenthood Hoping : the headache I woke up with goes away soon Marveling : at how much I love the local farmer’s market! Needing : to go grocery shopping Smelling : Bebe, who is laying next to me and desperately needs bathed Wearing : my hoodie, constantly Following : college football like whoa (Boomer Sooner!) Wanting : a cheeseburger for lunch Noticing : how the grass seems to grow slower here Knowing : that I need to have a few electrical outlets upgraded asap Thinking : about what to pack for the beach next weekend Feeling : overwhelmed Admiring : people who seem to juggle it all seamlessly Sorting : through everything I’ve unpacked, trying to find its place here Buying : washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc. Getting : tired of spending money Bookmarking : more articles than I have time to read, mainly about haunted stuff Disliking : the slow process of setting up house Opening : bills, bills, BILLS Feeling : anticipation
I’ve added a lot of great pieces to The Marketplace over the past month, especially in the Wear It and House Goods categories. You should definitely pop over to take a look, and if you aren’t already following @designcrush on Twitter do because you might catch a promo for free shipping!
Now that fall has hit us – okay, some of us more than others – I’m ready for spots of bright color in unexpected places. The above yellow shibori tea towel by Kristen Chandler has been such a happy spot in my kitchen for the past month. It’s a great size and the material is just the right thickness and absorbency.
Since moving I’m still in the process of framing the most recent additions to my art collection. Fading Lake Day by Lisa Golightly (one of my all-time favorite artists) has been sitting on the windowsill in my dining room for the time being and catches the best light every afternoon, a good match for Lisa’s washed out style.
Speaking of my new place, one of the first things I like to do after a move is do my very best to make it smell familiar. Like me, not its previous occupants. Wildfolk has an incredible line of eco-conscious, GMO-free, soy wax candles that are packaged the nicest recycled amber glass jars. I’ve been burning this night jasmine.
This Hapi Raw Silk Tray by Kristi Kohut is quite sturdy (perfect for this clumsy girl) and so pretty. I love the versatility of the 12 x 12″ size, I’ve been using it for my afternoon snack every day but plan on using it on my dresser as well!
And while we’re on the topic of snacks, this set of two walnut and beech double stripe snack bowls by Araya Jensen has made quite a few late night trips out to the living room full of dry roasted almonds (fine, and maybe a few kernels of candy corn). The natural woods and earthy tones also make them fantastic for fall entertaining.
This petit wood bud vase by Melanie Abrantes has been working overtime lately. It’s just the smallest, most perfect piece to hold a single bud that there ever was and the farmer’s market blooms I pick up on Saturdays have been keeping it busy.
As I drive out of Oklahoma City this morning on my way to the next chapter awaiting me in Pennsylvania, there really seems no more fitting post than a tribute to the city I’ve come to love beyond measure. Seamus Payne of The Coolist visited recently and put together this documentary – City Rising // Oklahoma City – that captures the city I know and have watched grow for the past decade. Our city is everything here and much, much more. So goodbye for now Oklahoma, you’ll always have a piece of my heart.
There was a time, not long ago, when cities like Austin and Portland didn’t exist as we see them today. Before these towns became great American cities, they were communities on the rise just waiting for their stories to be told. There are more like them, and one stands out. For every covered wagon or cowboy hat in Oklahoma City, there’s a tech startup and cultural story waiting to be discovered. I traveled to OKC to witness these stories firsthand. I trained with Olympic athletes, spoke to entrepreneurs and craftspeople about the businesses of tomorrow and even stood on the Chesapeake Arena’s center circle where NBA star Kevin Durant goes to work. I left intrigued and encouraged, having witnessed a city on the rise that is just waiting to be discovered. OKC will surprise you. (It surprised me.) It’s a rising beacon of tech, culture and sport in the center of the Great Plains. Join me as I experience Oklahoma City firsthand.
Making : box upon box as I pack up for the move next week (eek!) Cooking : does cereal count? (looking forward to getting back into it this fall) Drinking : iced coffee galore Reading : CNN’s site several times a day Wanting : enough time to say goodbye to my friends here in Oklahoma City Looking : at the dogs who are resting peacefully (for once) Playing : not much – I’m in a music rut! Deciding : whether I can wait to buy groceries until tomorrow Wishing : for all of my favorite people to live in the same town Enjoying : a summer-long marathon of Criminal Minds Waiting : for college and pro football season to start this weekend! Liking : this feeling of culling down all of my belongings Wondering : how the pups are going to handle this 2-day long road trip Loving : how busy my evenings have been with lots of dinners and good conversation Pondering : how best to pack up my art collection Considering : lunch Watching : again, Criminal Minds Hoping : this last week goes just right – not too fast, not too slow Marveling : at how summer has flown by this year! Needing : the weather to drop below triple digits (please?) Smelling : he sandalwood candle burning in my living room Wearing : lots of tank tops Following : several new Pittsburgh-based handles on Twitter Wanting : PIZZA Noticing : how different regions of the country go back to school at different times Knowing : that my Mom gets here tomorrow to help me finish packing Thinking : about how I’m glad I worked ahead on posts Feeling : excited about football season Admiring : my friend Clarisha for raising such a beautiful, smart daughter Sorting : through old beauty products Buying : nothing, saving my pennies for the house closing Getting : a new (old) house Bookmarking : podcasts to download for the long drive to PA Disliking : saying so many goodbyes Opening : lots of mortgage paperwork Feeling : excited
This morning I’m happy to be starting a new monthly feature, highlighting the goods of a few makers I’m currently carrying in The Marketplace! You might remember that a few months ago I opened a shop through Great.ly and have been keeping it stocked with the best of the best art and design ever since. I’m so happy to be able to share the work of the creators I love and now to be able to give you a fast and easy way to bring them into your own home.
One of the first pieces I added to the shop was this set of four Raindrop Napkins by Hallie Gray. Each one measures a generous 19 x 19″ and is hand-block printed with non-toxic AZO-free dyes. I’m looking forward to using them at dinner parties this fall and socking a few sets away for hostess gifts this holiday season!
I’ve been using this Expandable Pop Market Tote made by Orchid Sage for just about everything – the market, the lake, and more. Its leather handles and waxed canvas body make it feel nearly indestructible and I especially like the expandable side pockets that give me extra space for things like snacks and/or the dogs’ leashes.
The latest addition to my jewelry collection is this sweet brass cuff with cord from Meredith Peck. I’ve found it goes with just about everything and is great for layering with other pieces, it’s also large enough that I’ll be putting it over sleeves come cooler weather. The addition of the thin Chinese knotting cord takes this piece from average to extra special.
I’ve been a longtime fan of this artist, so it’s always nice to see her work gracing the “shelves” of my shop. Twenty-One by Lisa Krannichfeld is in her typical style of portraits of watercolored beauties, and for now this one is gracing my mantel alongside a boastful mermaid. (I think suspect they have some interesting conversations when I’m not looking.)
The only thing I really miss about regularly moving from apartment to apartment in my 20s is the necessary culling that happened with every relocation. I like going through my belongings to find the things I forgot I had, the things that I’m over, and the things that deserve a better life. Now I donate a few times a year, but there are always a few pieces that are maybe just a bit too good to put in a trash bag or cardboard box.
I’ve gathered some of those pieces as I pack up my life to move halfway across the country and am going to be posting them in the next few days for an Instagram sale. This sale is for Oklahoma City locals who can pick up their purchase only. The Sunbeam mixer above as well as pillows, lamps, art, and more will be available. If you’re local and looking for some deals you can follow along at @designcrush!
Ever wanted to attend Alt, but couldn’t get yourself to Salt Lake City? NO PROBLEM. I’m happy to share that I’ll be teaching at next month’s Alt for Everyone once again. All of the knowledge and tips that are dropped at Alt brought to you in the comfort and convenience of your laptop screen! Wear your PJs, lounge in bed, whatever because no one can see you. I’ll be sharing a case study on Design Crush and how I made it the site you read today, I’ll also be sharing advice on how to grow your own blog. (You can check out the full working schedule here.)
For the registration price you’ll get to attend:
– 7 online classes of your choice
– 1 online keynote session
– 1 virtual social meet-up
Don’t forget, a box full of goodies will show up in your mailbox as well! And for the fourth Alt for Everyone you will have the option of adding more classes for an additional price. Take up to 13(!) amazing classes. Read more about Alt for Everyone and register here. Hope to see you Saturday, September 27th in my class!
I love a solid piece of furniture that can do double (or triple!) duty in my home because I’m most definitely a re-arranger. So when Target invited me to choose an item from their revamped Room Essentials line to style three ways I was all in. More than one piece caught my eye, but I couldn’t stop thinking about this Parsons Desk and its clean lines and unmarked surface.
The entry is a busy part of my home – it’s where I drop my bag, the mail, my keys, and whatever else I happen to be carrying when I traipse indoors. For that reason I like to keep it tidy, but pretty with a vase of fresh cut flowers, an accessory or two, and done.
The office is the most obvious spot to place the Parsons Desk, but I can’t say enough about how it’s the perfect size for all I need it to hold. (I tend to get a little too cluttered when given more space than necessary.) My laptop, my planner, and some basic supplies leave me ready to work – or play online! – for hours.
This last might just be my favorite – ever thought of using a small desk as a vanity in your bedroom? Me either until this one came along into my life. I can’t tell you how much nicer it feels to sit down here and put on my face, much better than sitting on the toilet lid and leaning over the bathroom counter! Dare I say it’s a luxury even?
How would you use the Parsons Desk in your own home?
After over twelve months of end-of-month Instagram updates we’re changing it up a little around here. (Of course you can still follow @designcrush on Instagram.) While pictures really are worth a thousand words, sometimes it’s just nice to use the words instead. So for now we’ll be closing out each month with a much more verbal goodbye, with a nod towards Meet Me at Mike’s for the idea of this list. Join in if you’d like!
Making : lists of style props to use for a photo shoot I have later today Cooking : rarely, this summer has been crazy busy Drinking : lots and lots of H2O and iced tea Reading : the latest issue of The New Yorker Wanting : this move across half the country to be over already Looking : at photos that need edited Playing : Jenny Lewis’s latest – The Voyager Deciding : what pieces to put in a little Instagram sale I’ll be having in the next week or so Wishing : for more free time Enjoying : cuddles with my pups, Piper and Bebe Waiting : for college and pro football season to start Liking : this crazy cool weather we’ve been experiencing – 20+ degrees below normal! Wondering : what it will feel like to live back in my hometown Loving : how green my lawn is this year Pondering : whether I can wait another day to go to the grocery store Considering : whether or not to throw out my half dead orchid Watching : The Leftovers, Food Fighters, True Blood, Masters of Sex Hoping : for some great last hangouts with friends before I leave town Marveling : at how some of my best friends are all because of this site Needing : more coffee Smelling : the scent of recently fallen rain Wearing : my Marcel Warby Parker glasses Following : Jenny‘s house progress Wanting : carbs! Noticing : lots of State of the Blog posts lately Knowing : that I’m about to start a huge, new, awesome chapter of my life Thinking : about how I absolutely have to do laundry today Feeling : excited about closing on my new house! Admiring : risk takers Sorting : through every single possession I own Buying : super exciting things like home inspections and insurance Getting : lots of positive reinforcement and support Bookmarking : healthy diabetes-friendly recipes Disliking : how this summer is flying by Opening : the windows – WIDE Feeling : anxious
