Making Dorm Rooms a Little Greener

Last year I posted some information about how to make a drab dorm room into something better. Today there is an article in the Washington Post about how dorm room decor is becoming big business - and incidentally, becoming more green.

They do note that decorating many dorm rooms each year is more about consumption than it is about recycling, reusing or reducing - but if we all do a little better in our shopping decisions - we can help the planet in the long run. So let's see how we can shop greener for your new dorm room...

- Linens -

A new move to a dorm room requires new bedding? Not quite. If you happen to have an extra-long twin at home, consider taking your linens from home. Second best idea is to buy revived vintage linens and hand-made pillows. There are more than a few places on Etsy for you to shop for bedding and pillows. And one of the best reasons to shop Etsy is that you know your dorm room will never look like any other room. Pillows and sheets can also be sent to your child mid-year :: just around the time when they should be getting some extra rest in anticipation of mid-terms. There's a nice subtle hint. Anyway - check out:
Joom
Use it Again
Cat Nap Cottage

If your bed has a plain metal or wood headboard, make it cozier by covering it with a simple fabric slipcover.

- Small spaces + active young adults = the need for clean fragrance. But not any fragrance - try soy candles which are clean burning and low soot. Or if burning things in the room is restricted, turn to natural spray air fresheners.

Check here:
Wendy Lous Natural Bath
Let Your Light Shine
Angel Bella Body

Now then onto lighting. Forgo the cheaply made and boring desk lamp from Walmart and opt for something more fun and funky. Buying smart now means at the end of our undergrad program, we won't want to trash these beautiful light sources - but cherish them forever. Some of my favorites are:

Nightlights at Gamiworks
or Beetnik
and Yours Truly.

Now finally the walls. Most freshman dorms I've seen are small and well... ugly. I mentioned several ideas last year for covering the walls. But I'm always inspired to find new wall adornments. Here are a few:

Magnetic Chalk Boards
Memo Board
Skinny Magnet Board
Thumbtacks

And here are yet a few more things to inspire you as you deck out your new dorm.

Sew Your Own Dorm Stuff
Keeping Chests for extra storage.
Bedroom Design Kit for laying out your dorm room before you get there!

Enjoy!

Lise

Update:

Soy Candles Sources from Etsy include:

Jen San Candles

Unscented Soy Candles

My personal favorite Soy Candles because it looks like it's in a recycled tin can! :-) 

Thanks to Ashley Sue for reminding me to add these!

Art for Kids

Most parents have an arsenal of drawings from their kids school art projects. From kindergarten through high school I myself have collected more than my fair share of beautiful scribbles and awesome doodles. Yet, if we only collect and save art from our kids, we're missing out on a valuable lesson in creativity, and perhaps your children's first investment pieces in art.

Here are a few links to some artists who create art that would be ideal for your children's art collections:

- Keith Norval
- Kristiana Pärn
- Amber Alexander
- Jelene's Pop Art
- Maggie's World

Once you've started the collections for them, let the kids help pick their new additions. They will appreciate visiting galleries and art shows to speak with the artists and look at art just as much, (if not more than) the adults. You'll know they're completely hooked when they start spending their allowance on new pieces.

Enjoy!

Lise

Keep your Stories

It’s 4:34 a.m. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that it’s highly unusual for me to be up at this time writing anything. But I was awakened by a dream about my mom that has urged me out of bed to write this to you.

As you know from the last few posts, I’m working on a new project for my company. It’s called The Keeping Collection. Over the past several weeks I have been knee deep in researching just the right product lines to offer. I’m working alongside three women and one man who are at different stages in their lives. Long before this collection came about, each of these people had already taken time to document the things they love in various ways. So in some ways we are all connected to this project by our love of documenting the life story.

This is so important because we all have a finite number of days here and as I am knee deep in all of this research about all sorts of things, I realized that it’s not the products that are important. It’s why you choose to keep certain things for certain people. That’s what this collection represents. It represents a commitment to taking the time to keep your legacy (ideas, dreams, fleeting thoughts, memories of your past, artwork, etc.) alive, along with all those pretty little gifts.

So what really got me out of bed this morning was this thinking that there are plenty of people (and this is specifically not reserved for moms) but everyone who lets each day slip past without preserving your outlook on life for the people that matter to you.

I definitely appreciate seeing photos but I also want to see the full, in-depth journals; the heart felt letters; mindless doodles; house plans; kitchen storage ideas; anything that gives me a richer picture of the person. In fact, the single most important thing that I would have wanted is a hand-written journal from my mother. Written specifically for me over the years, to Lise the 28 year old daughter she never met, and the 35, and to the future 40, and even the 90 year old. I often wonder what she would want me to know at these stages of life.

So this is what drives me to create this collection, and something for my own children as well. I have plans to turn this blog into a book for my kids. Any personal blog is, in fact, a perfect addition to a keeping collection. And we'll show you how to do that too if you want.

What else will I keep?

What I miss are the recipes for cooking and baking things that my mom and grandmother probably found effortless – yet in some cases, I can’t discern just the right ingredients anymore. So I would keep my every day recipes.

I miss hearing them laugh. So I will record a few conversations.

I wonder what they would have said about various situations I’ve found myself in. I missed out on years of advice. From their perspective, what did I need to know? What was important to them? I would share that advice.

I will tell my family how I see them in this world and how often I tell other people about their accomplishments. I'll throw in my hopes and dreams for each of them and not just once, but often enough for them to get a real picture of how they've changed and grown throughout the years.

What are you going to keep?

If you ever feel like quittin - read this...

One day I decided to quit...

I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me... "Look around", He said...

Read more here...


Enjoy!

Lise

Embellished...

I thought I would share a few snapshots of some of the embellishments slated for use in upcoming Jump Off Design boxes.

I love the ethereal quality of this particular flower. We are trying to choose between a lampshade or silk pillow project; or even a very simple project - using it to adorn a tassel that hangs from your doorknob.

And speaking of tassels, we've found some gorgeous and colorful options. Since this is so cute, I'd probably hang it on a door that I use daily, just so I could admire it often.

This flower is made from tin in a design that's not for the timid. One project idea is to use several around an otherwise plain round mirror. It could be painted or left in its natural state.

And finally I looked at this trim and immediately thought about redoing the back sun porch pillows with this trim. Hot. Spicy. Fun.

Margaritas, chips and salsa anyone?

All photos courtesy of VVR.

A Creative Home

She was sourcing products from various time zones in countries she's never visited. Trying to find the things that fit into her idea of a creative home. A creative home beckons you like a well kept secret, perhaps beyond a vine-covered brick wall just past a wrought-iron gate. It is a home that is definitely customized for the people that live there, life-inspired, friendly, approachable and memorable...

So for the last several weeks, she's been asking herself what kinds of beautiful things go into a creative home? And here's what she mentioned to me...

She intends to provide the raw ingredients for creativity like trims, buttons, and notions from all around the globe. And vivid fabrics. Some screen printed by hand, some imported from far away lands with authentic designs that can't be found locally. And many more fabrics that are domestically produced by independent design studios and artists.

She's discovered a few products that will allow you to design and redesign your creative home to your heart's content. Portfolios to carry and keep your notes, photos and dreams about your home and your life.

And then she remembered that she's downshifting into a lifestyle of simplicity. She has made a point to keep the things she loves, pull them out of her storage bin and live with them every day instead of buying new every time. And perhaps others were as well. So she created a few project kits for creating unique and quirky mixtures of textures and textiles, including the ability to remix your own vintage fabrics.

But because she can't cover everything with her vintage fabrics, she found some paint that doesn't require her to work outside because of the smell. Eco-friendly paints, dry pigments, stains, glazes and patinas - all to help her color her environment and make it her own.

She has a great appreciation for tradition and loves the feel of letterpress stationery and hand embroidered linens; but she requires a more modern and whimsical design. So she's found a source to help her customize some luxurious towels, bedding, and paperie with some very creative monograms. Things worth saving for her children to use when they marry and move away.

However, it seems the thing she loves the most are the ribbons. She has been dreaming of ribbons made of velvet, silk, and cotton. How she loves to embellish...

oh and then there's the art....

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The e-boutique at Artistic Lifestyling is launching soon...

What one word would you add to your walls?

I love rooms that feature words on the walls. And while I like more than a few quotes I thought it would be interesting to pull together a list of my favorite single words that would have enough impact on the wall by themselves. So here goes -

In your meditation room:

Breathe
Relax
Trust
Pray
Believe
Start
Reach
Love
Live
Dream


In your kitchen:

Bite
Eat
Enjoy
Partake
Nibble
Nosh
Try
Drink

In your office:

Dream
Do
Be
Concentrate
Acquire
Connect
Moderate
Leap
Accomplish
Resolve
Decide
Promote
Brainstorm
Ask
Move
Call
Promise

In your laundry room:

Clean
Pure
Rinse
Wash
Soap
Sort
Fold
Fluff
Dry

In your bedroom:

Sleep
Dream
Catnap
Snooze
Bunk
Nap
Relax
zzzz
R.E.M

In your craft room:

Scrap
Create
Craft
Glue
Handmade
Teach
Share
Paper
Scissors
Art
Make
Try
Experiment
Yarn
Needles
Sew
Paint


Now it's your turn, feel free to leave a comment with your own wall word suggestions.

Lise

I Haven't Forgotten...

I learned a lot of stuff from my family.

My brother teaches me how to take things apart and put them back together - he's a mechanic today and often called Mr. Fix It.

My grandfather taught me how to garden and use hand tools. He also stressed that you must be neat when you work and not rush - especially when painting. He was a skilled craftsman.

My grandmother suggested I do something with computers, which I did. She also taught me about how to invest in the stock market - plus how to cook, sew and crochet. She was a seamstress by day, and ahead of her time in many ways.

My mother taught me so many things - most notably how to entertain, paint, draw, laugh and travel well. She was an artist, designer and best friend to many.

My father continues to teach me the art of big talk, and the finer points of cooking with various herbs. (lots of them). He's a retired HR consultant.

My aunt taught me to appreciate hand knitted sweaters and blankets. Though I admit I don't knit very well - yet.

I learned a lot of stuff from my family - and luckily I haven't forgotten.

What did you learn from your family that you still use today? What inspires you?

Artistic Ceilings

I have this issue and I am reminded of it every day that I wake up. My ceiling is bare. It's not flat - I have this decorative trey ceiling complete with trim. But it is still fairly boring and it needs help.

All ceilings should have something interesting to look at. Whether it is an inspiring color or some detail that you like. I think that this is important, especially in hospitals - where there are so many people who stare at the ceilings all day. It could be a surface for inspiration. I mean - imagine if you could stare at the work of Chagall or Michelangelo? That might just make a few people feel better while they're stuck in a hospital bed.

Anyway - I think I've found a stencil company that I'll use. Visit them here: Modello Designs.
They have beautiful designs, and you can even design your own stencil from your own artwork. And that's all I needed to see to make my decision.

Of course there are other ways to create something interesting for your ceiling:

• Paint a mural
• Use wallpaper (The Cheesecake Factory uses wallpaper on their ceilings and niches)
  
• Attach a decorative medallion
• Use interesting lighting - anything from rope lights to decorative chandeliers
  
• Or try glass
  
• Finally, try your hand at decorative plastering like they did years ago. (Be sure to click that link they are awesome!!!)
  

I hope this inspires you to create something interesting for your own ceiling.

Be creative,

Lise

Jump off Design - Tween Color

Inspiration Palette for Jump Off Design Box. This is for teens who prefer brights plus modern touches of unique storage and wall art that changes easily.

Jump off Design - Natural Palette

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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