I may have mentioned once or twice or a dozen times before that I thrive on chaos. Love a deadline - well I don't really, but I need them to make me focus and make magic happen. Too much leeway and I'm toast.

I love having a full plate. However, I am realizing that the full plate with extra stuffing that I'm used to noshing on, isn't quite the same now that I have a two year old. Truth be told, often I'm full before the appetizers are cleared away. Having a child has changed me forever more. I was warned/promised that this would happen. He is truly the best thing that I have ever done. Full stop. Don't even need to finish that thought.

People often nudge me or brashly suggest that I should have another. The sad/pathetic/truth though is that I already have another - my business. Maybe sad/pathetic aren't right there, in fact, they aren't - I'm very proud of the work that I have done to get to this point - the business that I have built from nothing but a dream that I made into a reality. I have to say, I don't think it would be fair to either baby to add to the mix. But I gotta say - my husband and I make REALLY cute, smart, funny kids. DAY-UMMMMMMM.

I kinda forgot why I was gnattering on about this but managed to jog my own memory. It actually doesn't make much sense but often, my crazy ideas don't appear to at first, gain traction and then voila - Brilliance. Okay, I am reaching here. Aspiring to great things but it's really just a simple blog post. You see, given the Christmas Deadlines that are looming (is it PC to call it Christmas - I mean I really am working to a Dec. 24th deadline) I am up to my eyeballs in details, installations, orders and decision making. My husband announced after saying goodnight to our dinner guests (that's a whole other blogpost aka rant) that he was going to bed to read. I said, "I'll be up shortly, I've got to whip up some sort of a blog post."

He responded, "Why don't you blog about the gems/minerals we saw yesterday - you took like a million pictures..." A bless him. He was being helpful.

I retorted; "Yes, well I plan to but that's an involved post, I've got to save all the pictures to jpeg then upload them, write my witty repartee... yada yada yada..."

He comes back with this gem - maybe you can relate... "Just upload them to iPhoto and then export them."

Um... upload them to iPhoto and export them to where exactly - the Congo? Exporting sure sounds like it's got a lotta redtape involved  you sure about that? "How is that going to help me, I still have to do something to make them go somewhere and be something that I need them to be...? Wouldn't it just be faster to do my lil system to save them to jpegs?"

"It will be way faster, " he announces unconvincingly and off he goes.

So I plug in my phone, waiting for the instaneous uploading to commence so that the promised exporting to I'm not sure where will ensue and the speed with which I can upload these fabulous pictures that I took will dazzle me and voila I will be writing exceptionally witty repartee, you'll swear I'm brilliant and voila - you will insist on coming to the ROM to see these stunning minerals in person and hire me to design your homes all around the world because the creativity in my bones has yet to be rivaled.

Ya, um, the pictures they aren't uploading.

Now what the hell am I supposed to blog about?

Started writing a blog, then got sidetracked, then wrote another blog, deleted it.

Not really in a blogging frame of mind today. Maybe later. Maybe tomorrow.

Hope your weekend was refreshing, rejuvenating & relaxing. I hear all of those things are fabulous.

Allegedly.

Today aka yesterday was one of those days.

Can't win for trying. Or is it Can't Lose for Trying? Clearly, I can't get even this saying out right. 

You've heard me say it once, you'll hear it a THOUSAND times. Design is NOT glamorous. It's a slog. Today/yesterday was a slog. We are working feverishly trying to get everything in in time for Christmas. So many little details on top of keeping track of our time billings, managing our client's budgets, trouble shooting finishes on hardware of fixtures that don't seem to match, convincing clients that they need X in their life instead of Y. Sourcing the right finishing touches so that they can be ordered or procured in time for the big reveal.

It's a circus. It's a Ferris Wheel. It's the Tilt a Whirl.

You wonder why I insist that your designer needs care & watering - occasional morsel thrown their way? The worry, the stress, the anticipation - it's all for you. Most designers, are just trying to eke out a living. Don't see a collection of Birkin's in this red head's closet - not for lack of want though. Sigh. I'll settle for my Prada. After today, I've more than earned it that's for damn sure.

Did I tell you about the supplier that we ordered a set of kitchen chairs for a client from back in September. They were in stock, but we didn't want them delivered right away. Gave them a CC to secure them - Please Process we said. Called yesterday to arrange delivery, they can't find the chairs. Not sure if they had them back when we supposedly ordered/paid for them. They never billed us, that's one good thing. Now they've said they'd honour that price but on a new set - we chose what I feel is a SUPERIOR style and choice to the initial one. Love them. Clients love them. Supplier says - no stock yet, but the first shipment is going to X. Um ya. That's not making me happy. Me thinks that X should wait for SECOND shipment and client ME who was disappointed because of their screw up, My Clients who have been patient and understanding are now going to be further inconvenienced?

Wanna talk about the fabric company that keeps back ordering my fabrics and missing deadlines for work rooms.... ya that's depressing. And it's not just that one supplier. 

Want me to rant about all of these companies who shipped their manufacturing to the middle east and beyond?

Want me to rant about the premiums Canadians pay to have the same product as their US counterparts? Hell the Head of the Bank of Canada is even complaining about it... seriously.

Now please don't think I'm ensconced in my office swirling in a pool of negativity. This is what I signed up for. But for goodness sakes, please remember that designers like me work hard to make things beautiful. It's not that we just throw a pillow here or toss a vase there. It's work. Hard, Hard, Hard work sometimes.

I need to focus on beauty & remind myself it's worth it. 

We all know that I am fast developing a reputation for being Anti-Frugalista... WHY? Well because far too many people are focusing on accumulating crap to be perfectly honest. There has been a devaluing of waiting or saving until you can afford to do it right in our society. Perhaps it's the immediacy of well the world brought to us via the internet. Maybe it's design blogs and the sharing of beautiful things via Pinterest that makes people salivate and want it NOW NOW NOW but the price tag assocaited with that is well less than palitable. If Oprah was still on, I'd suggest she do a story on it... heck she could make it into a year long series.

Don't be fooled though. I've long been an advocate of mixing and matching different price points to achieve an end result that both you and your banker can live with. I really don't like calling it High/Low because sometimes the Low is of high quality but you scored a deal and other times, well frankly people will spend a lot of money on a piece of Merde that we then have to incorporate into the space.... it's really a mixed bag and one of my talents is making it all work together so it's hard to spot what was what. Side Note: If you are thinking of becoming a designer or wishing you were - you MUST be able to be a Creative Accountant. A lot of juggling and massaging budgets with this gig.

To that end, here are a few of my current faves found from popular Retailers. Consider it my early Christmas Present to you!!

Writing a blog post & watching tv for example. Normally, I don't have a problem doing this however this is being written on a Tuesday evening. My eyes are being assaulted by well I can't even bear to talk about it. 

I should do a Web Series on Design Projects scratch that THINGS that offend me. However, I would probably I mean definitely end up offending so that's hardly ideal though it WOULD be funny. Think of Joan Rivers and that whole Horrible Fashion Police show. I don't watch it but well on occasion I have caught it and it's funny.  Well funny-ish. The ish is important. I can't help being so opinionated. I was born this way. I'm a Type A, Eldest or is it Elder? Child who just so happens to be a redhead. I'm like the Perfect Storm of Opinionated. I'm at a loss for what some people think of as tasteful or appropriate let alone good looking. I mean I'm sure it's a to each their own. But well, Um - I'm truly flustered by fugly. No wait, I'm flustered by what I perceive as the Muzzle that I'm forced to wear instead of speaking my mind freely.

Ooohhh Heidi Klum got a hair cut in the middle of the season of Project Runway. Is she allowed to do that? Continuity???

Nice Segue huh?

Oh wait, she just tuck & rolled it. Disregard earlier comment.

Thank GOD I have a PVR & a fast forward button. Let's just say that some days it is the only thing that saves me from hurling things at my tv. Did I mention I'm passionate? Perhaps that is just  a given. God this muzzle is chaffing.

Speaking of internal struggles - Our Wineva Road clients are wrestling with a few choices. Specifically, what tile to do in the front foyer. We love love love the black and white trellis design in marble. It's esssspensive. I suggested a black with white mosaic option, they feel it looks too much like their bathrooms.

What do you think about black/white check or diamonds... I think it's a bit dated non? Or maybe it's just a classic that I think of as predictable?

Did I mention that I found a 14ft antique persian runner in turquoise and gold? It kinda looks like: