Monday, December 31, 2012

So Long 2012. You've been Amazing!

I'm fighting a cold on this last day of 2012. Not cool. 
But since 2012 has been so good to me, I won't whine about this little hiccup.
Instead, I wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for all the positive vibes that have come my way this year.
I entered the blogosphere in February and didn't know what to expect! The silence was deafening. Debbie started blogging with me in March and we persevered through the silence. 
Eventually we started getting a few followers, and over the year can say we have formed some amazing friendships with fellow bloggers and readers. 
After nine years and many reincarnations in the design business, I can honestly say 2012 was the year my business came full circle. Patience is indeed a virtue.
I finally settled on a logo I really love. Relaunched my website and started an online store.
 



 


We also worked on some pretty amazing projects this year.







 

 
I was humbled to be featured in my hometown newspaper, a local magazine, on design sites Houzz and Design Shuffle, and Front and Main, the blog for West Elm and to be named one of South Florida's 40 under 40 black professionals and featured in Legacy Magazine.  


    Thanks too for allowing me the occasional musings on motherhood as I shared my journey as a first time mom with the lil man, Xavier.
 
It's been real. Can't wait to continue this growth and to share it with you guys. All the blessings for 2013. See y'all next year.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Person of the Year

I think this photo says it all. 


http://lightbox.time.com/2012/12/19/behind-the-obama-cover-person-of-the-year-2012/?iid=lf|around#1

Congrats Mr. President.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Monday Blues

Heavy heart all weekend as like you, I've tried to make sense of Friday's mass killing in Newtown, Connecticut. 
Hard to be festive this season when your heart is aching for the parents of those 20 children, plus the family and friends of the six adults who are no longer with us. I've hugged Xavier so much this weekend that he has to be wondering what is wrong with this lady. The only thing wrong, is that I've come to truly understand how fickle this life really is. To the family and friends of all the victims, you are in our prayers.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Miami Designs Featured on Houzz

TGIF!!!!!!!!! We're so hyped it's the weekend! Not that we'll be resting much since we're in the midst of trying to wrap up a few projects by years end. Anyhoo, your favorite design firm was featured on Houzz this week among some local heavy weights, including one of my local faves, Dkor designs. We're debunking the myth that Miami design lacks sophistication. Go forth and check it out. If you're not on Houzz daily checking out the amazing conversations and photos then you're asleep at the design wheel, for sure. That's all folks. Cheers to the freaking weekend. Make it worth your while.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

My Fabric Store Exploits

I once spent an entire day at a fabric store. From open to close, the bff and I scoured the store from top to bottom for various projects and had plenty of wine with the owner, a crazy Trinidadian named Jam, who has since moved back to Trini. It was a riot. Suffice it to say, I love me a fabric store. I hadn't spent much time in fabric stores this year since most of our projects have been kitchens and baths. But in recent weeks I've had some projects that require some fabric flair so I headed to my trusted favorites.
These selections are from perhaps my very fave, Designer Discount Fabrics in Dania Beach. I've had my share of wine and some yummy baked treats here and the ladies, especially Nita and Jackie (and Julian, the one gent) know how to make their clients feel special. I can call ahead for something and have it ready. Or I can chill there for hours gathering samples for various projects and they simply let you do your thing or jump in to suggest you add just the right trim to turn a tufted chair into a showstopper. I loves this place.
Their fabric stole the show in this recent project.



This outdoor fabric from DDF now adorns the cushion on an amazing chaise I once owned, but recently sold to a client.



When the budget is squeezed, I take my talents further south to Arnolds Fabric N Trim  in North Miami. I mean, this place is bananas. I'm talking fabric that starts at $1 a yard and costs no more than $10. Suffice it to say, it's a fave among the DIY set. It's often a zoo here with men and women fighting over the latest fabric being rolled in. The only drawback here is that once it's gone, it's gone. Aint no reordering of anything so if you're unsure about how much yards you'll need for something, then just get a few extra so you're not left standing outside on the street corner wailing to your mama as you bemoan the fact that aint no more of that fabric left to finish out a chair or God forbid, a freaking outfit.


I shopped here for fabric for the Obama event Asanyah and I did earlier this year.

And this Wingback chair in my office - which I rescued from the freaking trash! - was reupholstered with fabric from Armolds that cost $2 a yard. 

That's it peeps. Now you know the story behind my fabric store jaunts frequently chronicled over on Instagram. Do you have a fabric store fave in South Florida that I need to check out? Or just a fave in your neck of the woods that you need to share with us? Holla, holla, holla!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Art Basel Miami Rewind

So we survived Art Basel Miami, an event that is not for the faint of heart.
Mind you, we were rather tame. I drank sparingly (had to start a new project at the crack of dawn on Saturday) but chowed down in a major way on the freebies, and then had some amazing fare at Gigi- including some corn bread with bacon butter! The chef who invented that creation should be serenaded. Everyday.
Celebrities were in full swing and sightings were chronicled all over town. The artists are from all over the world so many varied languages could be heard, and in many cases, artists couldn't communicate with patrons - except of course via their art. Money exchanging hands is however a universal language.
I did Basel this year with three amazing clients - who are also all related: Pat, Jina and Jazmine aka Jazaaaaaaaayy.
Like her mom's home, Jina's home will be a long term project for NWD and since it's her first home, I suggested we tackle Basel to help her get a feel of the kind of art she likes, and eventually would like to see throughout her home. I learned a LOT.
To begin with, there will be no naked people hanging on her walls. Folks and creatures with no heads are also not welcome. She wants nothing on them walls that will scare her in the middle of the night. Nuff said. 
The shots of these naked Parisians were quite the draw. I mean, it takes some major balls of steel to pose nude when your six pack took a vacation many moons ago. The artist Idan Wizen posted a call for folks willing to post nude for his project and received over 350 responses in a day. The French are a bold set. On Basel's first night, Wizen said he'd already sold seven prints of the naked woman. I mean, she looks like a ball of fun but um, okay.

These mini sculptures were a Jina fave. 

  
 Though not a fan of intensely bold colors in her art, she was drawn to this collection by Robert Langford.


Jina, Jazmine and Pat hang with the artist Tupicalo who is also a tattoo artist in high demand. He was hella fun. Gotta have many hustles in this town.



This pop art collection was a Jazmine fave.

These were among Pat's faves: vacuum, golf clubs, bottles and a propeller? Art.

This mini motorcycle is made up of some interesting parts including horns. Yes, horns.

The Korean artist Kim Young Woo, spoke no English but clearly understands that "Talk to the Hand" is a universal language. The red slippers? Too fab.
One man's art is another man's annoyance? This installation of babies as chained submissive animals was er, how do I say this? a tad disturbing.
Which explains why this station of bubbly was right next to it. Gotta have a buzz on to enjoy that one.

Yep, art hung from the ceilings. No space was left unfilled in this tent.
To our disappointment, we weren't able to attend the black artists tents/events across town. My friend Asanyah attended several events and shared some cool photos of her faves. Her head too was an art installation:

Photo

Photo: Joseph Eze Still Life with Four Branches  #ArtAfrica
Artist Joseph Eze, Still Life with Four Branches

Photo: T. Elliot local artist. #ArtAfrica
Local Artist, T. Elliot

So that's all folks. We purchased nothing (many pieces we saw and liked cost thousands of dollars). But the point was to get her thinking of her likes/dislikes and to plot how/when she'll start investing in pieces and to now visit local artists to get some affordable pieces. Let the collection begin! 



Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Art Basel Miami Sneak Peak

So we survived Art Basel! And that is NO easy feat. The free wine and food was aplenty and the art? Well, as irreverent as it gets. Here's a sneak peak.
Swing by tomorrow for the full post. Cheers to a fab day!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Pssst. We're Alive. And Well.




Hey peeps,
So sorry to have seemingly disappeared but we are knee deep in proposals and design plans for next year, plus closing out existing projects, which means it's been a bit insane. 
Somewhere in that mix I also need to dust off the holiday ornaments and put up a tree for the munchkin! Lord, I'm such a horrible mom cause every child deserves to be seeing some twinkling holiday lights right about now no?
Did I mention that it's also Art Basel week in Miami? I'm especially psyched because black and Latino artists are on fire this year at Basel and I can't wait to see what's in store. If you've never been to Basel, then just picture an endless village (s) filled with amazing art installations, topped off with loads of events with free wine and it's sheer bacchanal. This year I'm checking it out with the amazing client Jina B. who is trying to acquire art for her new home. Can't wait.
We'll return next week with frequent posts. 
For Reals.

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