Holiday Table Inspiration

Can you believe Christmas is in TWO DAYS? I tend to be a bit of a procrastinator at times, and this holiday season is no different. Gift wrapping will probably happen around 7pm Christmas eve, and I just now decided what I'm making as a contribution to Christmas dinner. Anyway, the table setting is also something I've been thinking about last minute - but maybe that's a good thing. Overdone table settings can be distracting, cluttered, and overwhelming. I'm thinking that since I'm doing this last minute, it will hopefully be simple and clean. 

Photo : Country Living, Ryan Benyi

Photo : Distinctly Montana, Mery Donald

Photo : House Beautiful

If you are in the need of a quick holiday centerpiece, and aren't afraid of breaking away from the traditional red, green, white, silver, gold color scheme, grab a basket of clementines and a simple vase/hurricane - DONE!

Photo : Earth First

Even though this time of year can be stressful, remember to keep your cool and remind yourself of what is really important. It's not how perfect your table looks, but who is gathered around it. Happy Holidays!

Fired to Hired, by Tory Johnson

First off, the Chester Night seemed to be a huge success! The gallery was full of people, and the windows looked great! Lori RE-introduced me to Carrie Gustafson and her husband. They are the sweetest people, and cutest couple! Anyway, I'm just psyched that I was able to be part of the big night :0) Lori had some professional photos taken, so those will be posted soon!

On to my weekly post... 

Now that I have a little extra time on my hands, I have been reading a lot. But given my (self diagnosed) ADHD, I am never able to stick to just one. I am between three books right now, and I really want to share them with you! Let's start with "Fired to Hired", and I'll share the other ones another time...

"Fired to Hired" 

Tory Johnson

WHO IS TORY?
Tory Johnson is the CEO of Women for Hire; a company which provides recruitment services for leading employers and professional women. She has helped thousands of women, from all over the country, launch and advance their careers. I first heard of Tory on Good Morning America recently. She was talking about the current state of our economy and how the unemployment rate had skyrocketed, while also promoting her newest book "Fired to Hired" -  I went on Amazon.com immediately and purchased the book for less than $10 (including shipping). 


WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK?

Everyone - whether you have a job or are jobless! I know this may sound like a "cheesy" self help book - but I PROMISE you it isn't! As many people have discovered recently (including myself), jobs come just as quickly as they go. You need to ALWAYS be prepared. Don't wait until you have lost your job to get your resume and portfolio together. Don't wait until you have been unemployed for a month before you start trying to get back in touch with classmates, teachers, old coworkers, industry acquaintences, etc. How does that saying go? "Don't put off until tomorrow, what you can do today..." Start now! 


SOME TIDBITS 
This book is packed with useful tools and motivational pep talks, so I can't possibly mention them all. Here are just a few that stood out to me so far...


"Get on Your Way" (after job loss)
1. Do not Panic
2. Set that alarm
3. Get off your butt
4. Keep a job journal (I just started one!)
5. Be prepared for rejection
6. Set mini goals
7. Reward yourself
pg. 19-25


Tory continuously reinforces her belief that attitude is everything. Positive thinking will take you lightyears further than negative thinking will. She refers to toxic & negative feelings as "blah" and the uplifting & positive ones as "ah".


Examples :
Blah - " No job, no money, no hope. "
Ah - " New life, new energy, new way to focus on what I really want to do. "
pg. 16


Blah - " What am I going to do now? "
Ah - " I'm going to take what I've learned and find the job I've always dreamed of! "
pg. 32


She is also really big on promoting yourself and your "brand". She encourages readers to have business cards at the ready in all situations, join online networking sites like Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter. I have been on Facebook for about a year, and I just joined LinkedIn today (which has amazing networking possibilities!)... but I'm still on the fence about Twitter... what the heck is it?! 


BOTTOM LINE
...this is a great book to use as a tool to getting the most out of your current job, or finding the one that suits you best. Even if you think you are content where you are professionally, I still think this book is a great read. You never know what could happen tomorrow, so why not be prepared today?


WORK CITED
Johnson, Tory. Fired to Hired. New York: Berkley Books, 2009

Save The Date!

Okay everyone, let's SAVE THE DATE!...

Friday December 4th, 5-9pm

Lori Warner Gallery opening of the "12 Designs of Christmas"

AND

Chester CT's Annual "Chester Night"

Come enjoy the festivities of "Chester Night" ... great artwork, food, decorating and more will be going on. Make sure to stop by Lori Warner's Gallery to see the latest pieces from these artists & designers... (and of course our holiday window displays we've been working so hard on!)

Lori Warner

- printmaking & encaustic painting

Jacqueline Kangley

-handbagdesigner

Ann Lightfoot

-jewelry designer

Jen Thayer Karl

-ceramic sculpture

Carrie Gustafson

-glass artist

Mandy Carroll

-jewelry designer

Other participating vendors include (but not limited to)...

Dina Varano Gallery

Peekabooquet

The Colt House Gallery & Antiques

Connecticut River Artisans

Leif Nilsson Spring Street Studio & Gallery

Caryn B. Davis Photography

Chester Gallery

River Tavern

Jill Butler Art & Design

C&G Unparalleled Apparel

L&E Restaurant

EO Art Lab

Mystic Sisters Antiques

Ceramica

Hammered Edge Studio & Gallery

Hope to see you all there!

Lori Warner Gallery, Chester CT

Lori Warner Gallery just opened in Chester, CT over the summer. I stopped by about a month ago to drop off my resume, and express my interest in volunteering for the gallery. I met Lori, and one of her designers who exhibits in the gallery, Jacqueline. Lori is a fine artist, who specializes in printmaking. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design, and lived/worked in Boston before moving back to CT. The gallery space is small, beautifully organic, and uncluttered. They have done a great job of exhibiting the work, without making the space feel too crowded.

I received an email from Lori & Jackie last week asking if I would be interested in helping them design & set up their holiday window displays for the current exhibit that is opening on Friday, December 4th ..... I'm so excited! I followed up with Jackie, and am going in to see what they have in store for me on Wednesday afternoon. Now, this is their FIRST holiday window display at this gallery... it is really a big deal for them, and I'm so thrilled they have asked me to be apart of it! Here's the scoop so far...

DECEMBER 4th - Friday, 5 - 9pm

Opening: “Twelve Designs of Christmas” Holiday Exhibition

Twelve drums displaying,

Eleven stones suspended,

Ten blankets bundled,

Nine bracelets blinging,

Eight handbags hanging,

Seven scented candles,

Six sconces sparkling,

Five golden rings,

Four felted birds,

Three framed paintings,

Two granite birdbaths,

And a partridge in a pear tree!

" Stroll into the gallery for the opening of our new show, 12 Designs of Christmas. Our artists and designers have each personally selected twelve of their favorite pieces to exhibit for the holidays, from stocking stuffers to spectacular one-of-a-kind works of art. Featured works include Lori Warner prints, Jacqueline Kangley handbags, jewelry by Ann Lightfoot and Reverie, Jen Thayer Karl ceramic sculpture, and glass by Smithsonian award-winning artist Carrie Gustafson. Many of the participating artists will be in the gallery to discuss their work. "

And what's really wild, is I have met Carrie Gustafson (one of the contributing artists for this gallery) at a showroom called DScale, which located in Boston's South End. She was exhibiting her work there as part of the South End's "First Fridays" (where a number of local artists open their studios to the public). Anyway, DScale is a venture headed by Interior Designer Dennis Duffy, who I used to work for right out of college. Small world!

Her work is incredible... each piece is a work of art. You MUST see them in person to truly get how special they are.

This opening is coinciding with Chester's Annual Holiday Night! There will be tons of festivities, shopping, food, carolers, decorating, and much much more! Please come by and support the arts & small business owners of Chester, CT.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4th 5-8pm... Hope to see you there!

Brand New!

Hello and Welcome! I started this blog a week ago, but have not posted anything yet because I wanted to make sure I had a clear idea/concept/direction. I think I have it...

BELLE DESIGNS ORIGIN

First off, belle designs is a name that I developed my first year in college. Belle (as most may know) means "beautiful" in French... and it also contains my initials "elle". It's a name I'm incredibly comfortable with, as I've had it for so long, so it seemed like the perfect "identity" for my blog.

A BIT OF WHO I AM & WHERE I'M COMING FROM

I am an interior designer, a creative mind, an appreciator of the arts, a lover of anything locally made, a laugher at people falling down (including myself), a cryer at cheesy citibank commercials, and everything between - and I have an immense drive to find a healthy balance between my personal & professional life. I just recently moved back to Connecticut after attending the New England School of Art & Design in Boston - where I was also employed with a number of interior design firms. The decision to move back did not come easy. After months of back and forth, my husband and I decided it was the right time... however I was still filled with doubt.

WHY BLOG?

I have been back in CT since June, and (after a couple months of wondering if I made the right decision) have officially set forth on a path of self discovery. It's all very scary, but exciting! In our current economic struggle, we all have to bend a bit more than we're used to. For my first few months in CT, I was looking at this whole "can't find a job" thing as a blemish on my professional career - and I couldn't wait for it to go away. After some soul searching, I have realized that I will never have this opportunity again... the opportunity to dig around, scan my surroundings, hack away at the underbrush of what I thought my career path was, and really get my hands dirty. I have realized that I may not have my "dream job", but I have A job... which is fine by me, because not everyone is so lucky.

I plan to document my explorations, share my interests and inspirations, inform and report on local events, and hopefully encourage others to find their true paths as well.

WHAT NOW?

I'm staying positive positive positive! (and for all you non-early risers... I'm the kind of gal you wanna punch in the face because I tend to be so perky perky perky in the morning... and this is before my coffee). I want to learn, and investigate, and research all possible roads one can travel down with a design degree. Maybe flat out interior design at a residential or commercial design firm isn't where I end up, or maybe it is. My point is simple - this is my life.... right now. I refuse to shut my eyes and wait for it all to be over simply because things aren't "working out as planned". I tend to have the most fun when things aren't planned anyway :0)

Please stay tuned!