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!