{creative kids} seedling

Seedling (featured here in a Resene Paint ad) is just gorgeous...here's what they say on their home page...

'Seedling is all about giving kids the opportunity to explore their world and their abilities.  A child's natural instinct is to get involved, give anything a go, think creatively and ask questions.  Seedling creates kits to nurture this process and engage young minds, planting ideas that grow a passion for creative thinking.  So get out there, give it a go and remember; it's the experience, not the end result, that is the most valuable thing you can give your kids.'

and I couldn't agree more!

http://www.seedling.co.nz/

{style file} design sponge

design*sponge is a blog I have really enjoyed exploring...there are sneek peaks at designers homes, product guides, mini trends, DIY, and one of my favourite bits... a collection of makeovers from readers...I love this one of an entrance...

...soothing base colours with little splashes of colour and asymmetry that to bring it to life...I especially love the blue door and the vintage sign hanging above it!

click here to read all the details of this makeover at design*sponge

{styling inspiration}

via...

{stylist} deb mclean

Love the flooring...but love the styling more!!

I spotted these gorgeous images at Deb McLean's blog, busybeingfabulous earlier this week and wanted to share... They are from a Doswell & McLean shoot for Harper & Sandilands, of their new flooring range.

I've mentioned Deb McLean before (in my first interior styling project)...I love her styling and aspire to be like her when I grow up (haha, I'm probably older than her!!!!)

There's a great interview with her over at designisborn and you can view her gorgeous portfolio at her website http://www.debmclean.com/

And here's something I just discovered over at decor8 (this is especially for those of you who say you can't do your styling assignment properly because you don't have the right camera...) guess what camera Deb has used to take the following pics...

her iphone camera!! yep...an iphone camera!

(so no excuses girls!)

Tanya x

{study update}

Another busy week! I can't believe it's Thursday again already... where do the days go?

Tech drawing - blah... I know I need to understand it, but it's really not my favourite thing to do...

Interior Solutions - part one of the getaway project is due next week...created my mood board in class, I really enjoy doing those...lots of fun flicking through magazines and finding inspiration! Finished my layout and location research last week...so I think it's just a case of pulling it all together for presentation! Here's a quick peek at my mood board so far...

Soft Furnishing - this week I finished and handed in my window treatment assignment (forgot to take photos though...so will have to share when I get them back next week!)

2D design - I think I've finished project 2 - design a vinyl wrap for a laptop...will post the full project in another post...but here's a little looksee at the development...

But what I am most excited about is my magazine spread for interior styling...I am really loving styling... but can't decide between country and retro for this project, so I've done two shoots...here's where I'm at so far...what do you think?

bright, bold and retro...

or relaxed country?

hmmm...and then this way or the other way?

...so...back to work...busy busy!!

{design blogs} miss mustard seed

what a lovely blog...so many gorgeous images...here are a few of my favourites

love the vintage fan and books

love the contrast of the shiny gold and distressed finishes...and very cool vintage camera

a simple enamel jug filled with greenery atop a set of distressed drawers...colours, the angle of the shot and the contrast against the light background...just lovely!

beautiful close up shot of one of Marian's pieces

and what is there not to love about green apples?

...it has a union jack!! need I say more?

well worth a visit!!
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/

{style file} the phrena

I seem to be coming across gorgeous lamps everywhere at the moment!

I spotted this one while searching for charms for my daughters upcoming party...hmmm sidetracked again

just lovely...the repetition of flower petal shapes and the way the light filters through the paper-like structure.

it's called the Phrena by designer Karl Zhan.

Created from the “simplicity of opening a book, the pages of this light work together to create perfect symmetry.”  artecnicainc.com

and because i'm nosy and like to know about the people that design these gorgeous objects... here's a little about Karl Zhan (from artecnica)

Karl Zahn studied Industrial Design at the Rhode Island School of Design with an emphasis on manufacturing and fabrication. Studying in Denmark in 2002 supported his love of handcraft and his style bears a danish modern sensibility. His work deals with materiality and explores the practical and emotional relationship we have with products in this increasingly complicated world driven by technology and fraught with environmental guilt.

via artecnica

{special events} cinco de mayo & the festival of carla

A little brighter than my usual pics...but this one is dedicated to my gorgeous friend Carla!! Wishing you every happiness on your special day my lovely friend, hope the festival continues through the weekend!! x

via...

{study update} term 2

Happy to report that I survived the first week back into term two!

We have new projects in each unit...some of I am really looking forward to!

• interior styling - we get to style a lifestyle photoshoot for a mock interiors magazine spread!  The theme is "texture, colour and pattern"
• interior solutions - we are changing the layout, and decorating the living areas of a getaway cottage in a national park.
• 2d design - we are designing a vinyl wrap for a laptop
• drafting - we are trying out axonometric drawings...I think the name says it all!!
• soft furnishing and furniture - continuing with our window treatment project 

First step...research...need to investigate interior magazine articles and photoshoots,  look into national parks, take some photos...and some more photos, and try to get my head around the wire frame axonometric drawing!

discovered another blog today...Life in the Fun Lane by Holly of Whiteberry Reinvented ... love it!

{design classics} george nelson lamps

image via emmas designblogg



Nelson bubble lamps, designed by George Nelson in 1947, a true design classic...

 love, love, love the Nelson saucer!

available in perth from Alti Lighting http://www.alti.com.au/ 

(just in case anyone wants to buy me a really expensive present!)

Here's a little information about the designer, George Nelson (via Alti Lighting)

George Nelson

'George Nelson was one of the pioneers of modernism, and his designs, which are still popular today epitomize the perfect balance between form and function. Born in 1908 in Hartford, CT, George Nelson was part of a generation of American architects whose abilities and virtues were limited by the economic restrictions of the Great Depression. George Nelson, a Yale University graduate, turned toward interior design like many of his peers.

From the mid 1930’s throughout the 1940’s, Nelson held several positions at various design-related publications, including first associate editor of “Architectural Forum.” During this time, he stood firmly for the founding principles of modernism and denounced the “selling out” of many so-called modernists to the growing presence of commercialism. But it was also during this time when, in 1945, he became head designer for Herman Miller, a furniture company based in Zeeland, MI'
(info source http://www.alti.com.au/)

{style file} union jack

I love seeing the union jack pop up everywhere in fashion and interiors!

photographer: harold david

via http://dailyimprint.blogspot.com/

http://www.anthropologie.com/

via quintessential duckeggblue

{style file} jeremy cole's aloe blossom

how gorgeous are these lamps? designed by artisan, Jeremy Cole.





Inspired by the agave plant, and crafted from porcelain,

the aloe blossom is definately my favourite in his collection,

and one I hope to own one someday!

and this delicate porcelain orchid, lit from below...just beautiful!

{interior styling - project two} style an apartment

This project gave me the chance to decorate two rooms of an apartment in one of my favourite styles, French Provincial style...it was quite a challenging project...probably spent about 30 hours on it..but I am very happy with the finished boards...I wouldn't mind redecorating my bedroom and ensuite!! x


board 1 - main bedroom



board 2 - ensuite

  I created the elevations & perspectives in pencil, copied onto tracing paper in fine felt tip pen, made copies onto art paper and coloured with watercolour...here's a closer look...click for larger pics.

{resource file - wallpaper} moore & moore

http://www.moorewallpaper.com.au/

Moore & Moore was established by Lynne Testoni, a former lifestyle journalist and marketing consultant, and launched in 2010.  I spotted this sneak peek of her gorgeous home over at design*sponge

{soft furnishings and furniture - project 1}



furniture and soft furnishing selections for a five star hotel




furniture and soft furnishing selections for a traditional home



furniture and soft furnishing selection for a contemporary home



{exploring 2D design - project one} design a door



first we had to choose and explore an idea - i chose art nouveau



we then had to develop concepts for doors



then we created a scale drawing of one of the concepts



and produced a coloured elevation of the door, in my case, a revolving door to a children's garden