On the Subject of Inspiration...

Has this ever happened to you?

You're driving along in your car, and it's bright so you reach up for your sunglasses and realize they are still on the file cabinet at home, which by the way, still needs those new files in it that you were supposed to be labeling yesterday when you ran out of the office because child #2 figured out that if she played in the plant dirt, she would get a nice warm bath, again, which didn't do much since she is currently in the backseat covered in dumdum sucker and fishy crackers, which reminds you that you are STILL in the car listening to that obnoxious radio commercial that plays every 2 minutes and that bright sun is literally RIGHT in your eyes...where ARE those sunglasses?!!!  And then you pull up to your destination wondering how in the world you got from point A to point B without paying attention?

Such is life.

One day you're five, next day you realize you just spent a Friday night talking Medicare changes with your husband.

So when something comes along that makes you stop, think, and write it down, it's really quite an experience.

In June I entered the previously noted "What Inspires You?" contest.  The first requirement was a 100 word essay on "What Inpires You?" accompanied with a photo.  So many things inspire me, but I thought back to a time when I was truly struck with inspiration, and luckily, I had a photo.  This was my first entry:

 My inspiration, often disguised, was once boats at sunset. The movement of line struck me and I saw potential: the base of a modern chair, the cables of an eccentric light fixture, a work of abstract art. The sunset blended grey blues with temperate oranges and I saw a vivid master suite with an atmosphere of balmy repose.

Inspiration is simple, ornate, historic, progressive and the art of combining it all. Inspiration is individual creations, first-time ever debuts. And in the search for beauty in hidden places, the recognition of such makes not only design, but life overall, truly inspirational.

My first entry was selected as one of the top 100 essays (a quarter-finalist).  The next round asked for a 350 word essayabout an interior or architectural design topic that communicated both my unique passion for design and writing style.  I submitted the following:

On the Concept of Good Design

I once bought a can opener. It was a sleek blend of black and chrome. It fit comfortably in my hand. It was functional with a practical price tag. It washed up easily and hid discreetly in my kitchen drawer. It performed its purpose, and simply put, it was good.

The day I bought that can opener, a light turned on in my head, and a design philosophy was born. From then on I knew: good design is everywhere, waiting to be recognized and utilized. It doesn’t have to be flashy. It doesn’t have to be brand name. It doesn’t have to be exactly what I’m looking for. But it is always in the details.

Good design can be an object alone, like my can opener, or it can be larger. In an interior space, for example, good design radiates into a feeling, which envelopes me. Color, line and light sweeten my senses and sway my mood. I taste the cranberry reds, I swim in the sea foam greens. Pattern, shape and texture position me in time and tell me a story. I wonder at baroque intricacies and drool over the influence of Greek klismos. The design has no pinpoint to its greatness, only a subtle rhythm that unites it and makes me wonder at the ease of the union. Although it may or may not be my personal style of choice, I am comfortable and I want to stay. This is good design.

Basic design elements and principles apply to all venues. I once found in my late grandmother’s belongings a 1950’s swimsuit, originally made in San Francisco. The line, pattern and material used kept it bold and beautiful for over forty years, and the quality of the make allowed it to be usable still. Good design means timelessness! The day I walked into a public restroom with my toddler and saw a child-sized sink and soap dispenser, I almost jumped with joy. Good design means progression!

My passion is in the quest for good design. My thrill is in recognizing it, utilizing it, and sharing it.

My second essay qualified me as one of ten semi-finalists.  I was then asked to create a video that was no longer than 3 minutes which was both entertaining and informative about some element of home design.  It could only be 10mb, so it's a little grainy.  If you had seen it at 90 mb, you could actually make out my facial features! Here it is on the website. Mine is the second one.

I am one of three finalists in the competition.  I was interviewed via telephone by the celebrity dream panel of judges.  Just talking with them was inspiring!  The results will be out on or around November 7th!

I have loved every minute.  It has helped me pay attention between point A and point B!  Regardless of the outcome, I have lived, loved and learned.  There is no such thing as a wasted experience.



And I'm just dying to know..."What Inspires You?"