rolling with it

hey guys, how’s your weekend going? it’s mid january and the pull to slack is calling but i did want to get here and keep the momentum. if you’re still here i want to say thanks you tell you how much i appreciate your comments, suggestions and camaraderie.

so what’s been happening today, day 5 of this challenge? hmmm.  i was going to say not much but that’s not true. in fact i think we underestimate all we do in a day. if nothing else, this experiment has me see what each day’s brought. after organizing my office the other day, i got tough and decided to curate and edit with an iron fist. what didn’t make the cut went to the living room where i had an impromptu estate sale on craigslist today. sadly my chandelier was sold but then again, i’d love to chandelier shop. it’s like getting a new piece of jewelry and there is so much vintage out there. (did i just create a reason for a pinterest break)?  ahhh that was fun. and it made me start a new board for lighting just now:

this is probably the most fab cause of its story: kimgray.co.za-hellooow-handmade. the chandeliers are made from recycled paper clay and by women with HIV, empowering them with skills and confidence.

ok, you’re probably gonna think i’m all over the map with no clear vision and maybe that’s part of my…i don’t want to say problem cause that’s negative so let’s just say roadblock. having worked for myself for the past couple decades i’ve had the luxury of indulging in broad strokes of exploration into everything from manufacturing, app development, traveling, selling and writing. while those strokes have been entertaining and helped TPA  grow, it was hard to maintain all the spinning plates so some have been neglected.

for example, it’s been 20 years since The Paris Apartment, Romantic Decor on a Flea Market Budget was published and it’s now officially out of print (although still available on amazon). i think that was another reason for this burnout phase. it’s going to take time and money to purchase the galleys and have a publisher reprint it. if i had it my way i’d change the cover and have a celebration. but it’s 7k to get the pages from the publisher.

well, one thing we always have is the ability to create something new, right? with that in mind i pulled out some of notes and manuscripts that have been boxed up for years. the follow-up to the paris apartment has been written for a while we but never photographed the apartments and homes to go with it.  i met with a photographer yesterday who agreed to do it starting with liz, keni and the gang down here. if you’re thinking of giving your boudoir a makeover let me know. this note came in today so i took it as a sign. maybe this time next year there will be another book finished. either way it will be fun to get back in the saddle and collaborate on some before and afters with friends old and new. this is my kind of gal. the pics are some of her inspiration:

Hello Claudia,  I was googling and using pintrest using search words such as Marie Antionette, french budiors, french bedrooms, and have seen sooo many beautiful inspirations.  The room I have that I want redone, is to be a office/boudior.  I want to have a desk, either a bookshelf or something to put all my books, a vanity to get ready, do makeup and hair, and I need some type of piece of furniture to put lingeret, pocketbooks, makeup, hair dryer and stuff to be put away and organized.  I would also like to either put a chair or very small couch for a guest.  The room is small it’s 11 by 11.

how could i resist?

et alors, not to go on and on, voilà, behold the video for today. not sure why i wanted to do one each day during the project, especially when i look like such a psycho but c’est la vie, i’m doing it.

ok, that’s it, it’s saturday night at 10pm. that means anything could happen. i have to go find out what. have a great night!