Life

Living ITP

Since moving inside the perimeter, (the part of the city that Atlantans proudly refer to as living ITP) space has taken on a new shape for my family of four, two dogs, and cat. To sum it up, space is TIGHT. 

For the first two years, I would lug my ginormous iMac to the kitchen table to work on design projects. It would get pushed to the edge to make room for dinner and lugged back upstairs when guests came over. A solution, sure. But, for anyone who knows me and my (okay, I'll admit it...) obsessive nature, it wasn't going to pan out as a long-term solution.

Without the luxury of adding to our square footage, I decided to make use of the space we already had. I would create a CLOFFICE! A what? 

I turned our downstairs closet into a compact, yet brilliant office! I can't express how important it is to have a space that nurtures and inspires your creativity. I wish I had taken a before picture, but I can assure you that it was a jumbled mess . . . one of those closets that you open and pray that you don't get hit over the head with falling debris. Now, it is my HAPPY PLACE! 

(By the way, the lovely print of Jane Austen book spines is from artist Jane Mount. She "paints portraits of people through spines of their favorite books." These adorable works of art are super affordable and makes the perfect gift for any book lover!) 

Field Day

Field Day is the reason I walked away from the traditional "9 to 5." Well, not Field Day specifically, but for the opportunity to be a part of my boys' daylight hours. It was the best decision I've ever made and am incredibly grateful that I had that choice to make.

I've finally struck a balance . . . something that I know all of us working Moms have struggled with at some point. For me, it's not exactly a "balance," but more of a harmonious approach to work and life. I can continue to immerse myself in a cloud of creative while simultaneously packing lunches and painting Field Day shirts. I love that women are beginning to embrace the fact that the dual responsibilities of work and caretaker no longer have to be exclusive of one another.

Don't get me wrong. It doesn't mean that life is easy. Most days it's crazy. But it's my crazy and I love it.  

I like how designer, writer, curator Ellen Lupton shares that her "big interest now is how design relates to everyday situations, from making your bed to raising your kids. Design is a form of thought and action, as well as an approach to creativity." (from Women of Design by Gomaz-Palacio and Vit, page 125)