Welcome to the latest incarnation of Design Crush!
Once again I had the pleasure of working with Cooper Multimedia during the three month process of giving the site a facelift. Tim and Erin are a dream and really helped me with making my vision a reality. When we started in July I thought I knew exactly how I wanted things to look, but it’s funny how they translate once they’re on screen versus a piece of paper. That’s something I will never get used to as a designer. But between the three of us we made it here and I am very, very happy.
Some new features:
• A press page! Still a work in progress and completely surreal to compile.
• Simplified horizontal navigation at the top of the page. (The rollovers are one of my favorite parts!)
• A new social media icon link to me on Pinterest.
As much as I’ve grown and changed in 31 years, one thing has remained a constant. My love of animals. Several of my friends foster dogs and cats and, well, it seemed like only a matter of time before I fell into the system as well.
Last Monday I received my first two charges: Sophie and Petunia. One miniature pinscher and one Italian greyhound(?). Both 6-months(ish) old, both with massive ears. Sophie is more timid, but plays a mean rope. Petunia is a hardcore play-all-the-timer, but gives good snuggles too. Both are lovers and being potty trained (a first for me!). This fostering thing is no joke, it is definitely work. I take them outside at least once an hour, break up dog fights, and listen to whines when it’s time for bed and they have to be crated. I don’t think I’d be able to do it if I weren’t working from home right now, that’s for sure. But I know when they go up for adoption in less than two weeks I’m going to feel the biggest sense of accomplishment (and a little sadness) as I send them off to their new homes.
For those of you in Oklahoma City, both Sophie and Petunia (along with 598 other animals) will be up for adoption at Midnight Woofness October 15-16!
By nature I’m a little hesitant when it comes to celebrity lines of fashion and jewelry because I rarely like them and it seems like a name was just slapped on to boost sales. But I must admit that Kate Bosworth and her design partner Cher Coulter really seem to have nailed it with JewelMint. About a month ago the company contacted me to see if I’d like to take a look at their collection and select a few pieces that highlighted trends I was seeing and wearing myself.
The first piece I chose was the Silver Zip bracelet that looks like a zipper flash-frozen into a bangle. The Encore necklaces are two tassled necklaces with color blocking and beads that can be worn together or separately. And then the New Heights bracelet, which is actually a version of a friendship bracelet that wraps several times around your wrist and closes with a clever silver belt-bucklish clasp.
Each piece showed up in its own magnetic box encased in a velvet pouch and sporting a card telling all about my new jewelry. I’ve worn all three pieces several times now and have never once told someone where I got them unless they complimented me. And wow, did they! The New Heights bracelet has received the most raves by far and I wear it nearly every day, with the Silver Zip bracelet coming in a close second.
Surprisingly each piece only costs $29.99 because the entire shebang is based on a monthly membership system (but don’t worry, you can skips months and not be charged). Start off by taking a style test to send you towards pieces you’re most likely to gravitate towards or just start looking around. Check out how it all works right here.
The kind people over at JewelMint are offering all readers 50% off when you make your first purchase today through Friday using the code DesignCrush50. Take a look, you’re not likely to be disappointed!
This is a sponsored post, however all opinions and editorial content are my own.
The latest Project Runway episode was the HP/Intel pattern challenge. And let me start off by saying it was the most difficult for a few reasons.
1. We had to turn it in two weeks early, without seeing the episode and the full parameters.
2. We didn’t have the same Intel program the designers used because it’s not for sale.
But we also got off easy because we neither had to work in a team of five, create several looks, or a shoot a video for the models to walk to during the runway show. So I guess things evened out in the end.
I had to cheat a little and design my pattern in Illustrator, simple because I wanted it to look clean and that’s not something I was able to do on the Touch Screen in Art Rage. Here’s the result:
I went with a mod minidress that ended up being sort of an updated Breakfast at Tiffany’s look once I used the Piperlimewall to accessorize. In the end I was surprisingly happy with the result.
If you’ve been following along from the start, you know that last Friday I had the opportunity to attend the Project Runway finale runway show at New York Fashion Week. And wow, what an amazing experience. But I’ll be saving all that to share until the finale airs, along with the Project Runway Reunion party that took place Saturday night. This will also be the last challenge I’ll be participating in – I’m saying auf wiedersehen for now!
If you’d like to see all of my creations, check them out here. And if you haven’t seen this past week’s episode you can catch it right now.
Full Disclosure: HP provided me with a TouchSmart 610 for use. All content and opinions are mine. I have not been financially compensated by HP or Project Runway.
One thing you might not/probably don’t know is that Oklahoma has a really great blogging community. In this day and age I’m sure lots of cities do, but after living in Oklahoma City for a few years I’m used to fighting the stereotypes.
A few weeks ago a local OKC blogger and Twitter friend, Danielle, emailed me to see if I’d be interested in attending a blogger meetup. I said sure, just let me know when and where and I’ll be there. The next thing I knew there was a time and location nailed down and sponsors involved – talk about putting thoughts into action! She and Rachel Shingleton worked together to assemble a group of female bloggers (mainly design, food, fashion,and lifestyle types) in the OKC area for a night out of talking life and shop. I’d already met about two thirds of them and the newbies certainly did not disappoint.
I snagged a great seat at one end of the table and had fun watching it fill up and the night progress. And since I’ve been fighting a cold all week I opted out of Cheever’s wine list and went with hot tea. In 100 degree weather. Of course everyone thought I was crazy. The biggest disappointment is that I failed to take a photo of the glorious savory strudel Danielle and I shared, I plan on recreating it very, very soon.
Those of you who know me well know that nothing makes me happier than a good swag bag. (I’ve been known to get somewhere an hour earlier to ensure that I get one in a limited quantity situation.) I was completely impressed with the outpouring of generosity from all the local shops approached, and was flattered when asked to create a mixtape for the occasion.
I had a blast connecting with everyone, hopefully this becomes an event with an even bigger reach sometime soon. Thanks so much to Danielle and Rachel for making it happen!
This past week’s challenge on Project Runway was mega creative and I loved it. Each contestant was paired with a student from the Harlem School of the Arts who created a special painting that was to be the inspiration for each designer’s avant-garde look. I wasn’t lucky enough to be able to pair with a student, but I was lucky enough to have the honor of using a painting by my lovely friend Lisa Congdon.
The idea was to create a look inspired by, but not mimicking, the painting. I chose a heavy white canvas as the base fabric for my large, flowing skirt. Then I attached rectangular cut pieces of fabric in all the colors represented in the barn and attached them with a hot glue gun (not enough time to sew them all on!) in a brick-like pattern. For the top I went with a raw silk the color of an overcast sky (poetic, no?) and created a voluminous half-sleeved, cropped blouse with a curvy abstract neckline. I then painted some abstract “trees” reaching up into the “sky” of it all. “Avant-garde” design is described as something you wouldn’t really see people on the streets wearing, but would definitely see on the runway or Lady Gaga. I think this is right along those lines, for sure.
Later this week I’ll be jetting off to New York Fashion Week and the taping of this season’s Project Runway finale! And don’t worry, I’ll be bringing back a full report. If you haven’t seen my designs from the season up to this point, you can check them out here. And if you need to catch up on the season you can watch full episodes for free right online.
Full Disclosure: HP provided me with a TouchSmart 610 for use. All content and opinions are mine. I have not been financially compensated by HP or Project Runway.
As I sat down to watch this past week’s episode of Project Runway, I was already feeling creatively stumped. But the second they announced the challenge (but only after making the designers run around an indoor track) I had no ideas whatsoever. The task assigned was to create an outfit – actually three, but I’m only one person here not a team – using denim and/or suede to be worn with Heidi’s upcoming line of New Balance sneakers.
It quickly became apparent that Heidi wasn’t looking for something athletic, but rather an outfit that felt right with the shoes. A serious challenge. Out the window went my past strategy of sketching along during the show and in came the oh-my-god-I-need-to-make-SOMETHING mentality. After about three attempts while sitting down at the HP Touch Screen 610, I came up with this:
I created a sleeveless knee-length ombre suede dress in a tan to olive gradient. It features a deep scoop neck, off-center front slit, and oversize armholes. I then topped it with a cropped black denim jacket with three quarter length sleeves, a banded collar, and copper stud work along the front. To complete the challenge I paired it all with the 410 sneaker in black.
If you haven’t watched Episode 5 yet, catch up right here. You can also see all of my past designs here.
Full Disclosure: HP provided me with a TouchSmart 610 for use. All content and opinions are mine. I have not been financially compensated by HP or Project Runway.
There is no greater design terror than being charged with creating something specifically for your boss’s personal use.
Enter the Nina Garcia Day-to-Night Challenge and my least favorite judge. The garment we were creating needed to be something that would easily transition from day to night wear.
Turns out Nina was a nightmare client (shocking) and started by immediately rambling off a long list of what she does not like – pattern, color, basically anything of interest. Luckily, each contestant was treated to a one-on-one consultation with Ms. Garcia after the sketch phase. To which she showed up wearing a bright orange blouse with patterned sweater vest. Oh, the hypocrisy! Nina then proceeded to lead each and every designer down a path of wrong direction.
After making notes and sketches while watching the episode, I got to work on the HP Touch Smart 610. This is the first week where my final garment ended up diverting from my sketch fairly drastically. I blame some of this on the overly opinionated eye of my naked assistant who was heavy with the over the shoulder critiques.
I started off with a sort of A-line shift, fitted on top and created out of heavy black canvas. A risqué and edgy choice of material perhaps, but I’ve played it fairly safe so far. I then lined the piece in gold silk and added a one inch wide zipper about four inches off-center to the entire length of the piece. When zipped the dress remains corporate, yet sassy. And when unzipped slightly the neckline folds over to reveal the gold lining and play up a little sex appeal.
If you haven’t caught episode 4 you can watch it right here.
Full Disclosure: HP provided me with a TouchSmart 610 for use. All content and opinions are mine. I have not been financially compensated by HP or Project Runway.
