A fabulous design book (for designers and “wanna be’s” alike), Downtown Chic is a wonderfully inspirational book full of beautiful pictures, as well as a practical guide to the “ups and downs” of renovation, vintage shopping, and architecture. Couple, Robert and Cortney Novogratz start with the tale of their first renovation of a town house in Chelsea, and share how this project lead to a passion and career in architecture and redesign. Their experience is priceless and they share it with us! I love how the practical tips shared in this book, break down the barriers that architects and designers have built to keep the passionate yet common man out. There are tips on hiring contractors, finding great vintage decor, hanging collections of wall-art, and turning negatives into positives (my favorite tip guide). This is a must read for any design-buff out there who wants to be inspired and motivated to complete projects (maybe a New Year’s Resolution) with vintage flair. Below I have shared just a couple of the great pictures (I am not going to ruin the book for you though) this book is filled with.

This pictures (above) is so amazing! The mirror is breathtaking. You’ll never guess where Robert and Cortney picked it up, the Biltmore Hotel. A little piece of Biltmore style right in your home. That is my dream!

via ink+wit

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge:

Best Business/Organization Discovery

Joe Strummer, punk legend and proponent of ethnic tolerance, world music, social justice and underdogs everywhere, has been gone seven years today.

In the aftermath of his death, Strummerville was formed by his family and friends to continue the humanitarian efforts that he was known for.

Strummerville is Joe’s foundation for new music. They lend their support by providing resources and assistance to new and struggling artists worldwide.

Some of their work, as noted on their website, are:

New Music Fund

We help people make music and have helped put over 40 bands into recording studios around the country so far this year. If you are a musician or band who needs support. Please get in touch hopefully we can help.

A Platform For New Music

Our DIY page on this site provides a platform for un-signed bands to showcase music with a totally up to date download chart giving music for free and helping to spread the word.

Strummerville bus

We have our magic Strummerville bus that bands can borrow for gigs and tours

Festival campfire sessions

We keep the campfire burning at festivals across the UK and showcase new talent at our campfire sessions. In 2009 we were at Glastonbury, Endorse It In Dorset, Secret Garden Party and Frankstock.

Strummerville Mentor Bank

We have a selection of friends and mentors who give practical advice to artists and bands.

Strummerville Rehearsal And Songwriting Rooms At Oh Yeah, Belfast

We opened two new rooms on 02 May 2009 in the heart of Belfast. Both are decorated in Joe’s handwritten lyrics and musings and Clash memorabilia.

Strummerville Rehearsal And Songwriting Rooms At The Roundhouse, London

The Strummerville Studio is an 11m” studio in the Roundhouse Studios that is used for workshops and tuition as well as individual practice. It is decorated with some of Joe’s own handwritten lyrics and memorabilia from The Clash and permanently contains a mixer, amps, speakers, stands, and other equipment and instruments.

The Roundhouse Studios is for young people 13-25 years old. Unlike typical arts venues with an education department, the Roundhouse Studios is fundamental to the ethos of the whole organisation, providing a space not only for creative thinking, but also state-of-the-art facilities for accessible, affordable and practical training for all types of young people from diverse backgrounds and situations. Many of the young people who take part in projects at the Roundhouse are socially excluded in some way and do not normally have access to creative opportunities.

Rookie-a-go-go

Strummerville supports the unsigned bands performing at the amazing Fuji Rock Festival by sponsoring the Rookie-a-go-go stage at the festival.

Special projects fund

Strummerville support SAMM MERSEYSIDE, an organization run by and for the people who have been bereaved as a result of a Murder or Manslaughter. We are helping them with a campaign track for the SAMM which will include a video to really try and connect with kids are are affecting these murders and try and bring about some change.

Strummerville are working with FAIRTUNES to build a studio in Bogota, Colombia. Fairtunes works with the objective of providing music and radio studios for people in impoverished communities. FairTunes aims to specialise in supplying equipment and training, whilst creating opportunities for involvement in music and media.

Another great cause we are happy to support here at Strummerville is The SOPHIE LANCASTER FOUNDATION, which aims to raise awareness of prejudice against subcultures so young people and adults alike can feel free and safe to express their individuality.

(There are several additional organizations listed at their website.)

Also, starting today at Strummerville, you can purchase reproductions of the handmade Christmas cards that Joe sent out to his family right before he died.

…

So, while every year I’m saddened that Joe is gone, I know that his spirit continues to live on in Strummerville, breaking down barriers to unite music lovers globally and galvanize average citizens to make a change.

For your spirit, your message, your music, and your passion, I say thank you, Joe.

I’d like to say people can change anything they want to; and that means everything in the world. People are running about following their little tracks. I am one of them. But we’ve all gotta stop… just stop following our own little mouse trail. People can do anything; this is something that I’m beginning to learn. People are out there doing bad things to each other; it’s because they’ve been dehumanized. It’s time to take that humanity back into the centre of the ring and follow that for a time. Greed… it ain’t going anywhere! They should have that on a big billboard across Times Square. Think on that. Without people you’re nothing.

Need some inspiration for those last minute Christmas cards?

Need more inspiration? Make sure you stop in the store! We’re here to help you create your holiday card masterpieces, and we’ve got tons of samples to check out!!!

It’s been known by my friends and family that I am obsessed with anything and everything regarding Sherlock Holmes; his infamous deductions, lifestyle, and the culture and society of which he belonged has long been my fascination to explore and to recreate a contemporary version of his world. And, being a designer, hope that will come true with this self-initiated project. This has taken me a couple of months to do, so I hope you like it.

Happy holidays everyone!

4 Questions We Should Ask Ourselves To Have A Killer Year In 2010!

Hey folks! We just wrapped up our 2009 “Gladiator U” webinar series with our 4 Questions event and it was awesome! If you want to watch, listen to our download the recording just click on the image below. The short version goes like this!

To have a killer year in 2010 ask yourself, personally and professionally, individually and collectively (family or business) these 4 important questions …

#1 – What did we do this year that worked? How can we do more of it?

#2 – What did we do that didn’t work or deliver a solid ROI for our time and/or money? How do we get rid of it?

#3 – What do we want to try that is new?

#4 – What do I want to do that is big?

Again … to check out the recording just click on the image below! Let us know what you think …

Every year the Christmas season seems to come and go faster and faster.  I remember as a child looking through the Sears and J.C. Penny catalogs.  I had those catalogs memorized.  The train sets were my favorites, then I graduated to Hot Wheels, and then it was getting ski’s.  Oh, I remember getting a plastic slide and we would take turns sliding down the steps inside where we lived above the funeral home to the downstairs bashing our bodies against the wall at night.  We would then get up early and play with our gifts until mom was tired of us and then we’d go outside and keep playing until someone told us we had to come in or I got hungry.  That’s over 40 years ago now but I remember it like yesterday.  I’m sure you all have fond memories of your Christmas’s with family.  This is the season for families, friends, and celebrating the birth of Jesus.  It’s also a time for fun winter activites and with another snowstorm approaching tomorrow it will be a snowy Christmas that everyone will remember.  The last big snowstorm I drove in to get home was back in 1987.  I was in Park Falls Wi. and had just been there a couple weeks practicing and I had to work until 3pm on Christmas eve.  It had started snowing heavily at noon and I adventured out in the snow with my 1980 Chevy Citation XL and couldn’t go over 35 MPH and it took me 5 hours to get home. Mom’s home made stuffing was pretty much gone but mom saved a big plate of food as they anxiously had awaited my arrival.  No cell phomes back then, just plenty of worried folks.

We are having Cristmas eve at my folks in St. Croix Falls and then having Mary’s family over for Christmas day.  I’m especially happy to still have my parents around.  My dad has been in poor health for many years but keeps surprising us all as he keeps getting to every St. Croix falls athletic event.  Mom had a tough year with her heart but had a successful by-pass surgery at Mayo and looks and moves better now than she did 20 years ago. 

I want to wish all of you a blessed holiday season.  Count your blessings every night before you go to bed.  God wants you to have a prosperous life in all aspects.  I look forward to guiding you to a better quality of life and seeing you all be healthier in 2010 then 2009.  You are never done working on being healthy so enjoy the journey as much as you do the holidays.  For those of you that have lost friends and family this year I know that the holidays can be a tough time.  Hang in there , I’ll be thinking of you.     Until after Christmas, leave a little stuffing for Santa.   Dr. E

This whole series is brilliant.

This past weekend, my college friend Nikki and her wonderful fiance JT finally got hitched!  It was great to spend a few days celebrating their love with them.  From the rehearsal dinner at a local bar (where the couple first met!) to their elegant hotel ballroom reception, it was a blast to celebrate their love and support them as they embark on their new life as husband and wife.  Here’s a few pics to recap the wonderful event:

The Bride’s Beautiful Dress

  The ceremony
The couple had a really beautiful ceremony, with many interesting components.  Among my favorite was the wine box ceremony, in which the couple placed a bottle of wine, two glasses, and love letters to each other in a box, which was then sealed.  The point is not to open the box until their marriage is in crisis—if it is, then they are to open the box, share the wine, and read the love letters they wrote to each other on their wedding day.  Hopefully, they will never have to open the box—except in celebration, which they are to do when they reach their 10 year wedding anniversary.  If they haven’t opened the box by then, they are to open it at that time to celebrate!

   Exchanging vows

The beautiful bride

Wedding Cake

 
Groom’s Cake
The bride and groom are both huge music lovers, and this was meant to be a celebration of all of the concerts they have attended together over the years.  The smiley face on the left side of the cake is the symbol for Summerfest, a local music festival here in Milwaukee, and the exit sign is for Exit 33, which is the highway exit for Alpine Valley Music Theater.  Pretty neat, no?

  Centerpieces
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to snap a great pic of them, but at least you get the idea.  They were cylindrical vases filled with gold, silver, and white Christmas ornaments.  Placed  atop a mirror and adorned with pine, they were perfect for a winter wedding! 

Since I was running around playing coordinator, I wasn’t able to get too many great wedding detail shots…but at least you get the idea!  It was a really fun wedding and I couldn’t be happier for the couple.

Congratulations Nikki & JT—thank you for allowing us to be part of your day!

This beautiful article is courtesy of Petrea King, founder and CEO of the Quest for Life Foundation (one of our Alliance Charities)

The Empty Chair at Christmas

A Father Dead

I cannot speak to my children about their father –
He is lost to them and to me.
There is an empty space where a father should be.
There is an empty space where a husband should be.
There is a sea of grief between me and my children
And I cannot speak of their father.
Perhaps they think that I have forgotten him
After all these years.
It is just that I cannot speak of him
Because of all these tears.

Marjorie Pizer

Grief is a strange beast that we learn to live with. We don’t get ‘over it’ as if it were a surmountable obstacle. We can become more comfortable with our discomfort but there is no finite time for grief as there is no finite time for love. Grief is often a private affair that others cannot share or perhaps even understand. Grief can spring out of drawers and cupboards, off shelves, from photographs, wafts to our nostrils upon a perfume, is precipitated by music, clutches at our heart, hollows out our insides and plummets us to the depths. It is indeed a strange beast to know and understand, to embrace, digest and assimilate.

Anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions and Christmas evoke powerful reminders of grief. We grieve again at the birth of a child, a marriage, a celebration when we mourn the absence of a loved-one no longer physically present in our lives; that that person is not there to celebrate, commiserate, acknowledge, share or witness the event.

Many people don’t understand the sheer physicality of grief. The chemical consequences of our emotions can create a powerful visceral reaction. Our heart can indeed feel like it’s breaking and many people describe a sense of feeling ‘amputated’ – as if a part of them has been severed.

Another little known or understood aspect of this is that it is not uncommon for people to have the physical symptoms that their departed loved-one experienced during an illness or trauma. Respiratory illnesses, headaches or migraines, aching bones or physical pain in the same body area that our loved-one experienced their discomfort is often the cause of people having all sorts of tests to find a diagnosis or gain relief. It is always worthy of deeper exploration when a physical symptom is present to see whether an anniversary, birthday or other special occasion may be contributing to the experience.

A client of mine experienced a migraine on the 13^th day of every month that would last for several incapacitating days. It transpired that her husbands’ cerebral haemorrhage that precipitated his death in a car crash occurred on the same date. Once she was cognizant of this fact she was able to build in a series of rituals and practices that enabled her to more consciously acknowledge the date. These included having a warm bath for several nights before the 13^th, going for a walk on their favourite bush track, scheduling a massage, lighting a candle by his photo and playing some shared special music. These simple additions to her life enabled her to give expression to her memories and feelings in a more conscious way – and her migraines stopped.

There is no right way to grieve and members of a family will often react very differently. Some people want solitude while other people won’t want to be alone. Some people want to talk about a loved-one while others may find the conversation too difficult. Some people become oversensitive to everything while others are oblivious to all but their own thoughts and feelings.

Christmas can evoke powerful memories of past family gatherings regardless of whether they were happy or difficult occasions. Many families struggle to relate happily to one another at Christmas-time and this can compound our grief in unexpected ways. Being prepared for this is really important rather than just hoping that things will be ok. Getting caught ‘off guard’ compounds our feelings of grief so setting aside time to consider how we might traverse these days more consciously can assist us to be as comfortable with our discomfort as possible.

The first Christmas after a loved-one dies is often traumatic as the empty space that person filled in our lives simply gapes at us. However, it is very common for the second, third or subsequent Christmases to be difficult or devastating as we fully comprehend the consequences of our lost love.

One of the most helpful sessions in our grief program (called Healing Grief) involves people identifying the behaviours, the environments and the things that they do or have in their lives that give them a strong sense of connection with themselves. Participants in our programs list things like being in nature, fresh flowers, listening to or making music, a good talk to a real friend, warm baths, massage, support groups or counseling, prayer, meditation, rituals, dancing, singing, perfumes, candle light, aromatherapy, bushwalking, the company of pets, small children, friends or family, visiting special places that are meaningful, keeping a journal, having a good cry, painting, hobbies, craftwork, exercise, yoga or being in the garden. Increasing the number of these activities – or the ones that we find individually useful – around Christmas or other potentially challenging days can be very helpful in minimizing distress.

This is often quite difficult with the busyness of Christmas however making some of these activities a priority in the lead up to this time can be very helpful. Scheduling in some time for ourselves so that we can express sadness, disbelief, anger or frustration can be more effective than it coming out in less helpful reactive language or behaviours. Making time for tears or for sadness gives us greater capacity to respond to other people rather than simply react unskillfully.

Setting aside time for reflection so that we honour the relationship we have lost or writing to the person can be helpful. Visiting the cemetery or a favourite shared place in the lead up to Christmas or doing something that you both enjoyed previously can assist people with their feelings of grief while for others creating a new way of experiencing Christmas might be appropriate, perhaps changing the food we traditionally eat or the venue. Opening Christmas gifts at a different time or changing our usual routine can create a new way of experiencing this time together. Keeping a candle lit by a photo of our loved-one or creating a special decoration or flower arrangement in their memory can help us acknowledge their continuing presence in our life even though they are physically absent.

The key is to set aside time to acknowledge our feelings of grief and to consciously choose how we will spend this time together rather than just hoping that we ‘get through it’.

Young children experience grief in powerful ways too. It is often thought that young children have little concept of death but this certainly hasn’t been my experience. It is crucial to provide a child with strategies and rituals that help them to assimilate the reality of loss as well as instilling the possibility of a continuing loving relationship with someone no longer physically present in their life.

Wrapping young children up in a rainbow and connecting up from heart to heart before they go to sleep can be an immensely helpful ritual for children. The child can then send a rainbow from their heart to the loved one who has passed on or, perhaps to a tree or garden if one has been created in memory of the person or to their photograph if a child has one by their bed. The ritual involves telling the child that you’re going to wrap them up in a rainbow and connect up your hearts via a rainbow. You then run your hand from the top of the child’s head to the tips of their toes asking them to imagine you’re wrapping them up in a cloud of red, the colour of strawberries, fire engines and tomatoes. You ask the child if they can see the colour and of course, children always can. You continue with each of the seven colours of the rainbow all the while running your hand gently from the top of their head to the tips of their toes. Then place your hand upon their heart and ask them to imagine a really bright rainbow that starts in their heart and that comes across to your heart – while you move your hand to your heart.

The little prayer I used with my children when I started wrapping them up in rainbows before they went to sleep when they were aged four and seven went like this:

I wrap you in a rainbow of light to care for you all through the night.

Your guardian angel watches from above and showers you with her great love.

A child can then send a rainbow from their heart to other family members as well as to the person who has passed on. This simple ritual generally stops nightmares and separation anxiety and is very helpful as a way for children to remain connected to the people they love. The full Rainbow Ritual can be freely downloaded from the resource page at www.questforlife.com.au and has also been written into a children’s book called You, Me & the Rainbow which is available at the Quest online shop. There are also beautiful little rainbow ribbons available with a heart on each end. Children love to have these as a visual reminder of the loving connection they have with the person who has passed on and often like to have them tied to their bed head.

Young children also enjoy making a Christmas decoration that is especially in memory of their loved one who has passed on. This can be hung upon the Christmas tree of displayed on the mantelpiece or on the Christmas table.

Many people berate themselves for having a good time or for laughing and enjoying themselves when they are grieving. This too is very normal and understandable. Some people think they must be in denial or they feel guilty or mortified that they can find pleasure in anything after the dreadful pain of loss. Having fun or enjoying each other’s company is not a sign that we miss a loved-one any the less.

Traditionally, Christmas is a time of happiness, shared times, excitement, reunion and love. Even at the best of times, this can be an enormous and unrealistic pressure on individuals and families and for those who are grieving, Christmas can feel full of potential pain. For some people it will feel like all the world is having a wonderful time with their loved ones and the grieving person is starkly reminded of their alone-ness and the loss of their loved-one. Feeling the pressure of having to be happy, jovial or even pleased to see people, can feel insurmountable and only accentuates the pain of loss.

By honouring our unique way of embracing grief and removing the pressure of other people’s – and our own – expectations of how we should grieve, we can create a healing pathway for ourselves. There is no healthy way around grief. Just as the potter knows that the pot is made strong by the furnace of heat, we must traverse the depths of griefs’ valleys if we are to discover compassion for ourselves and for all people that likewise suffer.

Petrea King
Author: Sometimes Hearts Have to Break
Founding Director
Quest for Life Foundation
www.questforlife.com.au
ph: 02 4883 6599

I love the way they advertise their products with 2D illustrated scenarios!

I.
It would be a lie
to say I died in my sleep or in my old age.
I died over the past three years.

II.
All I wanted to do
was talk to the stars
and feast on the sky.

III.
It would be a sin
to say I didn’t enjoy it.
I slept with ten thousand cuts.

IV.
All I wanted to do
was rest, stop routine,
wander, a recluse.

V.
It would be a plagiarism
to say I was in love.
I read from pages stolen.

VI.
Stolen from a dirty romance novel,
direct from Penthouse Forum;
Scene after scene, Cue after cue.

VII.
Stolen from the back of my imagination,
and the back street where I got drunk
and said I didn’t love you anymore.

VIII.
Stolen from the day at my friend’s apartment
when I got high and tried to write a poem
and found myself tasteless.

IX.
I died.

X.
Those nights dancing at
that same house,
with friends or making out.

XI.
Mouth to mouth, swallowing mouthfuls
of “I told you so.”
It’s not so bad, to have died.

XII.
Maybe it was the best thing.
My death.
Now that I’ve faced that…

XIII.
What’s left to live for
now that you’re gone
and I’ve died?

XIV.
Myself.
My fabulous, beautiful, wonderful, ugly, jealous,
broken, whole self.

My presents are wrapped and under the tree, my cards are lovingly signed and sent, I’ve eaten my fill of holiday treats, and tomorrow I head home to spend Christmas with my family. Now that I’m done with the crazy preparation part of Christmas, I can reflect and enjoy on what it is that makes Christmas so special to me.

Family goes without saying, as does the spirit of giving. So, I’m going to jump to the wonderful Christmas-isms that can be captured in a photograph instead.

So, without further ado, here’s a mosaic of Christmas-themed lovelies!

Merry Christmas, all, and a Happy New Year!

Creative trade show marketing ideas are being used on the exhibit floor to attract attendees. Observant exhibitors can gain valuable inspiration from watching what others are doing around them.
Continue reading …

Creative trade show marketing ideas are being used on the exhibit floor to attract attendees. Observant exhibitors can gain valuable inspiration from watching what others are doing around them.
Continue reading …

Let your imagination go with me to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands…white sand beaches under your toes, turquoise ocean lapping the shore, silver fish darting around your legs. Inspired by this memory of colors, I created a multi-strand pearl, turquoise shell, and seed bead necklace. I used some of Grandma Kathy’s freshwater rice pearls and turquoise delica and crystal 2-cut seed beads, combining them with turquoise shell beads purchased at JoAnn’s.

Even on a grey winter day in the Pacific Northwest, I can feel the golden yellow sun.