Furniture Link Posted Here Too!

Just look for the Bombay Chest on Clearance! Love it!!!

Falling in love with unfinished furniture!

Hi all -

In my last post I talked about DIY projects and it got me thinking about starting a new furniture painting project this weekend. I've been admiring a painted armoire, but I don't have the time to tackle something that large right now. Plus I'm too much of an instant gratification person!

So I was making plans to scour the unfinished furniture market locally because I haven't really done that well with flea market sales in Raleigh. But I found a fantastic deal for a beautiful Bombe Chest of drawers that would make the perfect addition to my bedroom once painted. (See my website for all my product links!) This chest is gorgeous, and for the price, with free shipping my husband can't complain.

Now, I'll just have to pick the best colors and come up with a creative pattern to paint!

As Rachel Ray would say - YUM - OH!

Creatively yours,

Lise

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When does it make sense to Do-it-Yourself?

I buy furnishings from sources around the world. However, I am an advocate for encouraging everyone to take on their own creative projects when it makes sense to do so. For various reasons, I suggest you start with projects you never thought you could do on your own. Usually they require a certain leap of creative faith and may also include paint, brushes, fabric, embellishments and an eye for detail. But be reasonable about what you can tackle.

Case in point - before my son was born I bought a stepstool and custom painted it for him. It has his name dead center. It also has pictures of a wizard, a bee, sailboat, bunny and a scruffy dog. It is not what I consider my best work technically or artistically. However, it became a conversation starter with my son, a game of naming objects, and a useful piece of furniture. It's also destined to be with him for the better part of his life just because of the sentimental value. So this project - decidedly worth it! These types of projects build what I call your "creative confidence." For some of us, this is so important!

Once the creative confidence is firmly established, it sometimes makes better sense to buy rather than "build."

Mainstream retailers such as Home Goods, Target, Marshalls, and others offer some fairly creative ideas for your home at reasonable prices. Target in fact, runs an annual sale with global furnishings. These are fun, and rather inexpensive furnishings. A bit more creative than the standard fare. Take a look at the Target stuff. Insider secret: Some designers shop retail - especially the redesigners!
So at a high level, when trying to decide whether to do it yourself. The first question I ask is whether it's worth my creative time and investment in the work vs. the cost and function - (e.g. can I find it elsewhere at a better price) - OR will I gain such happiness from doing it myself at maybe even a higher cost? Then of course there's the other option of buying another artisan's work! But more on that later...

Send me pictures of your projects that have been worth doing yourself.


Creatively yours,

Lise
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Hailstorm

Style Points - 4 Reasons to Live with Empty Rooms

Moving up to a larger home can often leave you with an empty room or two. Living with an empty space can be so unsettling for some. But I am an advocate for feeling the fear and doing it anyway!

Here are four good reasons for living with empty rooms for a while...

• Bravery!!! Living with empty rooms makes you that much tougher. Please disregard what others might think of your empty room! Ignore your guest's strange stares. Push on past awkward silences and by all means don't offer up any excuses. Just be.... still... and be comfortable with your decisions.
  
• Empty rooms inspire creative thoughts and new ideas. I was able to put a sofa and bookshelves in a client's dining room because it made for a great reading room when formal dinners were not served - and it just made good sense. When parties were scheduled, the dining room was cozy and inviting. More guests remained in the dining room than in the kitchen! But the most unused room in the house was now a great getaway.
  
• If the room remains empty long enough - it might inspire a thought or two about your true functional requirements. Resist the urge to make the empty room a catchall room for old furniture. PURGE. You'll be delighted that you waited to collect what you love instead of just filling the room up in order to say "it's done."
  
• Allow yourself to be BOLD! Linger a while at the paint store. Select three bold colors you love, and three more subdued colors. Paint an art canvas with the colors you love best and hang them in the room. Observe how the colors change throughout the day. Decide to use one or more in the room only after you've lived with it for a while. Make furniture selections afterwards.
  

Creatively yours,

Lise

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The Big Comfy Couch Store

New Trends in Design & Comfortable Living

For the past several years I have seen the emergence of a new trend called ‘Lifestyling’. Lifestyling encompasses many elements on gracious living, extravagant and memorable entertaining, architecture, home design, and tips on where to live comfortably in spaces large and small, with less effort or clutter than you can imagine. In fact, this trend has effectively blurred the lines of traditional titles and professions. New ideas and new inspiration have created new sales to the tune of over 70 million dollars for one large company.

But haven’t good ideas for living always been around? The answer is yes. Certainly there have been people in the past that shared tips and ideas through books and magazine articles on how to entertain, or make a special recipe; they were mostly focused on one area. Lifestyling gurus help you capture all the pieces and put them together graciously and quickly. Collectively, they promote ideas on living, entertaining, decorating, gardening, fashion and design. The focus of some of the ideas is glamorous while others are much more practical. In fact, some of the ideas are not really "new" at all, just regenerated information with a twist. Today, Lifestyling books contain the complete picture. Add to that the convenience aspect. We can obtain many of these ideas in articles, books, websites, TV and video. Product endorsements and specialized lines are also available to top Life Stylists. Can you see why the opportunities are endless?

Who are the Life Stylists?

Unless you’ve been whisked away to an island without TV, Internet access or a newspaper, you can’t escape the ideas and publicity generated by Ms. Martha Stewart. Hands down, Martha is the most well known Life Stylist out there. Whatever your take on her style, or where her career is currently headed, she has created a multi-million dollar industry all to herself.
You may also be familiar with other Life Stylists like Susie Coelho, Carolyne Roehm, Sheila Bridges, Katie Brown and Colin Cowie to name a few. These Life Stylists were former fashion models and business owners, interior or furniture designers, caterers or event planners. Whatever their background, the ideas and information contribute in large ways to this new industry. In an era when fast food and fast pace reign supreme, and etiquette and formal parties have fallen off, they have brought the idea of homemaking and fabulous entertaining back into style.

Standing out within a proven trend

All of the ideas are not perfect for everyone. In a world where we are embracing our diversity and individual contributions, there is no doubt that the current crop of Life Stylists can stand a few more ideas. We are all becoming conditioned to receiving large amounts of information at a time. Think about how a consumer might question the value of a cookbook with just recipes over a book that explains how to shop, prepare, serve, decorate and entertain all in one book. Which do you think might capture more interest? Are your services just as interesting?

Are you capitalizing on this trend?

We are all guilty of focusing on our core competencies. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But once you’ve become efficient or obtained expert status in one area, it’s time to expand your offerings. If you want to expand your offerings by turning what you do into a lifestyle brand -- think big and think differently. Thinking of yourself as a complete brand is worthwhile to you, your clients, and your current revenue.

Look at ways you can naturally and effortlessly expand what you do. For example, I hired a caterer recently to provide food for a shower I was throwing. It would have made my life much easier if he had offered to provide complete event-planning services as well. It is a natural expansion. Even If he doesn’t know a thing about planning those events or did not have the staff to do so he can easily team up with event planners that do.

Riding the trend requires a different way of thinking. Caterers are not just providing food; they become consultants in entertaining. Decorators don’t just decorate; they style a room around a style of life.

Can you do it too?

Of course you can! Begin where you are with what you have.

• Take note of the new trend and think about what compliments your current services;
  
• Think about how to make your client’s life easier by providing more ideas, value and assistance in executing those ideas. If you don’t know how to do something different, seek out the information and learn it, or
  
• Team up with other professionals that add something complimentary to your core service;
  
• Reinvent your title to match your new service offerings;
  
• Educate your client with the information you have, but have not used and;
  
• Strive to provide something unique in your market.

Creatively Yours,


Lise

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So how does creativity play a role in a good design?

My long-held theory is that we are all connected to certain places we've been. It can be either places we have lived, or places we have simply visited. These places, just like certain scents and foods make a lingering impression on our psyche. Just like you know almost instantly whether you feel comfortable around certain people; you can have the same instant feelings about a place. You either feel comfortable, or you don't. Most times you can't pinpoint why you feel the way you do. You just do.

While there are certainly more obvious examples I can give - like knowing that there are certain places I have lived that I will never live again; due mostly to negative experiences. There are other more subtle reasons that I feel comfortable in a space. For example, I know I like a sofa with down cushions that you can sink into. Why? Because my grandparent's owned one and when I wanted to take a nap in a peaceful part of the house, I could go into the living room and curl up on that sofa. And so for me, sofas with a harder cushion just don't make me feel comfortable. (Notice the connection between space and feeling?)

Another sofa style I really love is one with a clean line and a tight back (tuxedo style) in ultrasuede or leather. This sofa style is almost the exact opposite of the big down-cushioned sofa I described above. I probably wouldn't use this in a room I planned to make myself totally comfortable in, but I would use it in a room where I wanted to be alert, creative, and/or playful. This is because I connect this style of sofa with my parent's sofa that I grew up with. It was in the family room of my parent's house. I was always pretty active there, often sitting on the floor with my back against the front of the sofa. So today, if I want to create a room where I want to elicit similar feelings, I could use that style with maybe some floor pillows, (now that I'm older) and some soft carpeting and room to store creative activities. Walking into this room would immediately bring out creativity and playfulness.

I have known other people that have escaped a wonderful apartment or house simply because they were still seeking comfort. I have also known of cases where people sought, what might seem, less-than-ideal spaces because it reminded them of home. From the outside, it appears that people just don't make sense. But that's because the issues haven't been explored deeply enough.

I use art and creative exercises as a way to examine these lifestyle subtleties. I do so, because it's just not enough to make something look pretty or well designed. I want to make it work. I want people to feel at ease in a space, and I want people to embrace their creativity and take control of the outcome. The whole issue is collaborative. First our collaboration, then once the space is finished, your collaboration with your family and friends. Your thoughtfully designed spaces tell people how you want to live and interact with the rest of the world.

Creatively yours,


Lise

ArtisticLifestyling: What? Let me guess - you're not the creative type right?

ArtisticLifestyling: What? Let me guess - you're not the creative type right?

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Create More, Spend Less at www.CreateForLess.com

Interior Design is Dead!

And no, this isn’t a trend. In fact, I am emphatically “anti-trend”. Basically I believe that the bar has been raised for interior designers, because these days it’s just not enough to study design in school and sell furnishings from your favorite vendor. The overall process appeal is lost. And it definitely doesn’t come across authentically to those clients wanting a unique home and lifestyle. I strongly believe that great home styling is done through careful behavioral analysis, psychology, planning, development, study, tracking and flawless delivery. In other words, you need a great eye for detail and the overall process takes time and effort.

To illustrate my point, just look at how many divergent interior design shows are on television today. Some focus on color, others on furniture arrangements, and some on simply recreating a picture of a room on a budget (low cost/high style). What we sometimes fail to consider is the real impact of the design on the people that live there. Do we ever know the details about how they want to live or feel when the design job is finished? What happens when the cameras are gone and people use the space? I’d love to see a show where they revisit a home that was done on the cheap to find out how it’s really working (or not).

In my opinion, what makes a house a home is being able to enhance or remove something from your surroundings until you feel the way your surroundings encourage you to feel. For example, I want my studio to encourage creativity and I want my bedroom to encourage rest and relaxation. I’ve said it before… great designers don’t just decorate; they style a room around a style of life.

A really awesome designer is able to help people reach into their memories and pull out details that will recreate special places and times. Resist conventional, mainstream ideas about how you should furnish your home. Create unique and interesting living spaces for yourself; both at home and at work. Work with a design team that specializes in you. Defy the nonsense about quick makeovers. And don’t work with people who are out to turn a profit quickly and leave you with a bunch of trendy new accessories and rearranged furniture. In the end, make sure your home makes a connection to you and your lifestyle.

People in the design field must do more to elevate the overall idea of creating a lifestyle at home. To do anything less than this is to ensure the death of interior design as we know it today.

Creative Living...

This is an article that I wrote a couple of years ago. I think it bears running again because it still rings true for me today.


9 Ways to Live Creatively

Creativity - according to Webster's it means having the ability or power to create; characterized by originality and expressiveness; imaginative. Ok that sounds great, wouldn't we all like to be more creative every day? Sometimes the hardest part to trying something new is the first step. Here are nine inspired steps to help you start living a creative way of life:

1. Be willing to try something new.

When was the last time you stepped out of your everyday routine and did something totally different? Taking a dance class, going to a concert to experience something different than what you normally listen to on the radio, or even picking up a pencil and sketching the trees in your own backyard is creative action. Creative thinking and creative action start with a new decision about how you're going to spend your time.

2. Create something with your own hands on a regular basis.

There are plenty of opportunities to express your creative side. Even mundane tasks like setting the table allow you to try something new. For example, instead of buying new napkin holders, my daughter and I made our own out of some extra wire and brightly colored beads. They turned out awesome. We were both so proud of them and they are treasured pieces we will use for years.




3. Express yourself through visual, performing arts, or creative writing, music, or dance.
You can turn off the television and do some creative journaling every evening instead of tuning in and shutting down. Create a play with the kids. Try lip synching to a new video on television. Take turns creating a different ending to a familiar fairy tale. Use your imagination.

4. Make creativity a habit.
If you already dabble in creativity, make it a habit by scheduling time on your calendar for it. You're more likely to live creatively if you actively write down your intentions. You don't even have to sign up for a formal class. Try it for 30 minutes every week and increase the time spent on these activities from there.

5. Display something in your home and office that you made yourself.
Your surroundings reflect your ideas. What better way to inspire more creativity, charm, and character than to include objects that you have made? Hand-made objects give you more to talk about, more vivid memories, and provide richer experiences overall than buying something similar. Over time it is also a visual reminder of how far you've come since your first started creating.

6. Visit creative spaces
Museums, art shows, gallery exhibits, theatre, performances these places remind us of our own innate creative abilities. Plus they're fun to visit.

7. Take time to find new inspiration
Inspiration can be found in a variety of different places. Ask people you've known for years what creative stuff they do - you may be pleasantly surprised. Research within your own family. I bet you'll find someone in your family that is artistic and can be a source of inspiration for you.

8. Ask Questions
Stay involved with other creative people. Inspire others with questions about their progress in their own endeavors. Something they say to you could provide you with an idea that moves you in a new direction.

9. Provide a creative outlet for someone that is new to the idea of living creatively
Just when you've figured out some new ways to live creatively, share your knowledge. Give the information away to someone who is totally new to the ideas. They will undoubtedly have a twist on your information that allows you to learn something new and keep growing.

I hope you make time in your life for some creative activities today!

Creatively yours,

Lise

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Ta Daaa.... Creative Kids Rooms!

I recently read an article about kids playrooms. For the creative and somewhat adventurous parent, this topic makes your heart beat fast! The article talked about all the elements you need in your kids playroom to inspire acting, growth, creativity and surprise. Let's look at some ideas for how to include each of those elements in your child's playroom or bedroom...

1. Acting
   
   Well the first thing I think of is a stage of some sort and long curtains. You can have a platform built that spans the length of the room. Cover it with an inexpensive carpet in a different color and plop a mattress and box spring on top near a corner. Partially surround the entire platform with a whimsical curtain. Make sure the curtain can withstand the tug of tiny hands. I like the idea of making a curtain with deep pointed fringe at the top. Kind of like what you'd see on a circus big top. Use lots of color and see if you can match certain details on the curtain with those in the bedding. This should inspire kids to be the next Julia Roberts or Dr. McDreamy :-)
   
   
2. Growing
   
   This an interesting element to include for a child's room. I interpreted this element two ways. First I thought of going the usual route with painting or hanging a growth chart on a wall or door way. Kids love to measure themselves against where they were last week. Keep the chart details whimsical. You can try painting a winding beanstalk, or skinny monster. I think they'd love it. Growth to me also meant keeping the room open to transition. There is no sense investing a great deal of money in teeny toddler-sized chairs when they are soon to be outgrown. Instead, create or purchase transitional pieces like beanbag chairs that look like pumpkins or tomatoes. Big floor pillows are good too. They can easily be covered in new fabrics when the theme in the room changes.
   
   
3. Creativity
   
   Of course this element is right up my alley. All kids should have a place to be creative - just like mom and dad! In a bedroom I like to include bulletin boards and/or chalkboards on the wall, and if space allows - an easel for drawing. (Paint and water are better left for a room provides for easier clean up.) I also like to include a big chest for costumes created with the help of mom and dad. Big hats and fun shoes can inspire a series of dramatic plays on the stage. (See Number 1 above). I also enjoy hanging pieces like fanciful birds, colorful planes or bright old-fashioned hot air balloons right from the ceiling using fishing wire. There is nothing like letting your imagination take you far away before you drift off to sleep.
   
   
4. Surprise!
   
   Using any of the ideas above will give you an element of surprise and whimsy. However, if you're clever, you can include a hidden surprise too. Use the back of the closet, or a corner space to eek out privacy and solitude. Paint it in a subdued color that contrasts with the rest of the room. Include a good light source and quiet activities like puzzles, books, traditional wooden toys, and appropriate storage to keep it tidy.
   
   

Creatively yours,

Lise

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Studio Design - Do you Have Room for Creativity??

Creative play spaces aren't just for kids. Everyone should have a space where they can be wildly creative. A dedicated space that inspires you. Not your kitchen table -but a room or a studio where you don't have to clean up at the end of the day.

If you are toying with the idea of creating your own personal space for art or hobbies or if you have already created such a space - please send me your photos and ideas. I would love to share it with everyone. Here are some of my tips for creating home studios:

- First make it functional, and then make it fun! Plan your workspace to include appropriate storage for the types of projects you work on. My studio has flat file drawers for large papers, along with a walk in closet to store paint and mosaic tiles. Will you need drawer space, cabinets, cubbies, or closet space? Be creative. Storage doesn't have to be expensive. Save baby food jars or old muffin tins to store smaller items and re-purpose old furniture into unique and useful storage pieces.




- Include a large work surface to spread out - two if possible. Creative people are often found working on multiple projects. Will your studio support more than one endeavor?

- Don't strain your eyes! How many times did your parent's tell you not to read in the dark? Unless you work with photography make sure you have a room filled with light. Windows are ideal, however solar tubes and fluorescent lighting designed to mimic natural daylight are good alternatives if you're without windows or if you prefer to work at night.

- Are you sufficiently wired? With all of the great information on the Internet about almost any hobby, it would be wise to include some form of Internet connectivity in your studio plans. If you have an older home and don't have an Internet outlet, buy a router and go wireless. Printers and digital cameras are near the top of my list for essential studio equipment.

- Keep it comfortable. Imagine those late nights when you are completely engrossed with your work. Now imagine that you're leaving the studio at 2 a.m. after standing or sitting on a hard surface! If your space allows, choose a chair you can lounge in while you cruise the Internet for hobby ideas. If you stand up for long periods of time, include a cushioned pad for the floor. (Cashiers use these at some stores - take a look). However you work, make sure you’re comfortable and that you consider ergonomics as you work.

- Furnish your space with things you love. For your first studio project, look for an old desk or bookshelf and paint it the color you love. Here in your work space, it doesn't matter if it's fuchsia with white polka dots. Nothing in your studio has to match the rest of your house!

- Hang, post, & display things to arouse your creativity. If you can find your muse in old buttons, bright ribbon, museum postcards, beautiful seashells, or a gorgeous tassel - then by all means, include it in your new studio. Hang your treasures on a bulletin board so you can see them. Use chalkboard or magnetic paint directly on the wall to create mores space for inspired words and materials.

Creatively yours,

Lise
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Original Art Inspired By Fabric, Fashion and Interior Design

Original Art Inspired By Fabric, Fashion and Interior Design

Garden Design for Kids

I often use my home as one big canvas for experimenting. (Thank goodness my family is used to me and my creative ideas.) As the weather warms up here in North Carolina, I'm ready to dig into my next big project which involves creating a garden room for my kids.

I've already started on sketches of the outdoor space, and the functional aspects - for what a one and five year old might like to use. This is usually the first step in my design process - just getting the ideas out on paper and figuring out what really works. This way I also have something to show my son, and see if it meets with his approval. So far, he's my toughest client, but he's coming around.

Last weekend, we agreed on creating a small garden and play area within view of my kitchen windows and back deck. Since it is really hot here in the summer months, it is important for me to create shady areas. Right now, there are no trees in the area to offer this shade, so with my husband's assistance, I'll create a tee-pee like structure out of bamboo or willow to support the growth of large vines. We have also decided on a sunflower room with giant sunflowers.
I think both of these areas will offer some shady spots.

The kids garden will also have these key elements in the overall design:

- Garden Art (of course)
- A shallow water feature
- Edible plants to learn about gardening
- Sand for play
- Some sort of hand-built fencing material around the garden
- Transitional spaces for next year

I've also decided that this is a multi-year project. The kids aren't old enough yet for the tree house I've designed. But maybe in a few more years...

To get them in on the idea, we started with a book A Child's Garden: Introducing Your Child to the Joys of the Garden


After a few evening stories, we decided on some plants. We are currently considering:

- Lamb's ear
- Tomato plants
- Giant Sunflowers
- Pumpkins
- Carrots
- Small potatoes

Right now my yard is completely blank so I'm hoping that this project will take root pretty quickly.

I'll keep you all posted :-)

Creatively yours,

Lise

Art and Design

Maybe you've faced it before – a new house with an empty room or two. This room is just crying out for some furniture. So off you go to purchase a sofa you admire - then a chair. Or perhaps you purchase a full living room set complete with tables and rugs. With delivery a few weeks off you can just picture your living room (and not surprisingly, it looks just like the showroom). The delivery day arrives and you can't wait to cut the tags off of your new furnishings. You may have to position the sofa a few times to get it just so, but all in all, you're pretty satisfied – until you notice there's no art on the wall. And so you decide to buy some art that matches the sofa. I cringe a little while I write this, but in reality that is how many of us choose art. In fact, little confession, I still have art in my house that I bought because the frames matched!

If you have also considered buying art in an afterthought, you're not alone. We have all been taught that accessories finish off a room. In fact, if you've ever watched a design show, you'll notice that some professional designers decide on the art once fabric, furniture and rugs have been selected. So maybe we've all been brainwashed to believe that filling our space with art doesn't require much planning – just the ability to carry a swatch of fabric to a store. Well, just for a moment, I'd like you to think about your art and why you might acquire it sooner rather than later.

Art inspires creativity. First choose art that appeals to you, and then let your furniture and accessory purchases be influenced by the art you have selected. This shift in viewpoint allows for freedom of expression. Through the process of seeking out new art, and finding something you'd like to live with, you open your mind to all the new possibilities. Perhaps an abstract piece of art inspires you to consider an eclectic collection of furniture instead of a uniform suite. Maybe art with cool beach tones allows you to consider that slip covered furniture with a nautical appeal. Or a tropical print encourages you to use a hand-painted floorcloth in vivid hues in your new artistically inspired room.

Consider the structural elements in your room. Many living areas have unique architectural details that historically have been used to display important art. By only focusing on furniture placement or accessorizing, you may lose sight of some of your home's great details. If the architectural details are not what they once were, before you rip it out, liven it up. Apply a mosaic design or faux finish to your fireplace surround. When you're thinking about changing things break out of the familiar and experiment with your creativity.

For some creative inspiration, find the nearest child. Generally, young children are much more free to express themselves than some adults, and when it comes to design, I can say from experience that they'll have their own unique opinions on what goes in their rooms. Take a cue from your child's artwork when you design their rooms. This way they are more inclined to love it when you're done. Gather together several of their favorite paintings or sketches, and note their favorite color, or emerging themes. You can copy these same themes through painted fabric, a wall mural, unique stained glass for the window, a floorcloth or even a quilted wall hanging. Don't forget to frame and hang the original artwork that inspired their new design.

So set out to design your living spaces with art as forethought. You will appreciate the art for what it adds to the overall project as well as the positive feeling you experience when you see it. And then you may begin to wonder why you ever tried to buy art that matches that pillow with the odd purple color. Happy art collecting!

Creatively yours

Lise

P.S. If you're ready to start looking at your home from a unique, artistic perspective. Email me for a free e-book on how to get started.

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What? Let me guess - you're not the creative type right?

Yes. I've heard this before. As you may know, I used to run an arts education center and I found that people were really hesitant about proclaiming artist status. Most people would immediately decide that the art they were looking at was way beyond their capabilities. This is a big misnomer, built, I believe, on fear. Granted - you may not be able to draw a portrait with the precision of a master artist on your first try, but the creativity gene is in everyone's DNA!!
Here are a few clues about how to open up and create art:

• Cut yourself some slack and then let loose.
• Give yourself permission to experiment with crayons, markers, stamps, scissors and paper. Yes, just like in kindergarten!
• Doodle squiggly lines. Color them in and hang them up on your fridge.
• Move from a sketch pad to a big canvas. (This was very scary for me too!)
• Don't be afraid to paint a big swatch of color across the canvas. - Really GO for it!
• For added support, paint with your spouse and hang the finished product over the mantle. (See the Creativity for Couples link) I can't tell you how many people have received a boost to their ego after seeing their own art hanging on the wall. It's truly liberating.

So first - be creative. Then relax and take it all in.

Creatively yours,

Lise

Welcome to the Artistic Lifestyling blog

I'd like to welcome you to the Artistic Lifestyling blog. I've decided on this format because it's MUCH easier than sending our newsletters weekly. Feel free to subscribe to the blog so that you can keep abreast of our musings on such topics as:

Indoor & Outdoor Design
New projects
Children's garden and activity rooms
Creativity @ Home Workshops
New Merchandise and Artists
I hope you enjoy the Artistic Lifestyling blog.

Creatively yours,

Lise