Blogger’s Favorites – Lovely Cousin Erin

I've tried to write an adequate intro to this blogger's favorite post three different times, but, well... I'm failing. Apparently I love my cousin Erin so much, it’s hard to find words perfect enough to describe her...

How about this -- She’s insanely lovely and kind and smart and funny and creative and talented and pretty much my third sister. Check her out here and here…

Herewith Erin’s favorites. Enjoy and happy Friday!

When Joslyn asked me to do this the first thing I did was go back through and see what all the other bloggers wrote as their favorites. What I found was a million of my favorite things. In fact, my apologies if I am being redundant in some of my faves… but great minds think alike huh? I read Joslyn’s blog religiously not only because I am related to her but because well…she just rocks!! I find endless amounts of inspiration from her and her awesome recommendations. I know all of you would agree it is an honor.

1. Rosebud Salve- I got hooked on this when I was 15 before it even came to Sephora. My aunt (J's mom) got me hooked on this miracle salve. I seriously catch myself slathering it on everything, lips, cuticles, nose (in the winter).
   
2. Accessories- My personal mantra is to dress up the drab with a few accessories. You can turn any plain black tee and jeans into elegant brilliance with a statement necklace and some groovy shoes. **this works for the home as well :) or at least I am banking my job on it!**
   
3. iPhone- This silly little gadget has become my world. I travel alot, it basically replaces my computer with email, GPS, internet, suggestions for dining, metric conversions, blogging, calendar, really anything you can imagine, this lovely little device has been there for me... oh yea and it's a phone too.
   
4. Manolo Blahnik by Francesco Clemente limited edition (of 21) boots- My uber stylish mom got these for me at an amFAR event. I can count the times I’ve worn them on one hand… but they make me smile every morning when I open my closet.
   
5. Moleskin sketchbooks- I always have one with me for notes, sketches, scraps. The thick paper doesn't bleed and well they are just functional.
   
6. Books- also another thing I always have with me. Classics, trashy novels, enlightening novels, educational novels, trendy novels... I don't discriminate, just gimme a book to read.
   
7. My camera (but more importantly my photos)- I'd say I have a favorite... but I don't. (I have also messed a few up in my day) However, I do find it absolutely vital to life to always have some sort of camera in my possession. Currently, and for the last 4 years, which is a record, I've had the Sony Cybershot. It simply won't die!
   
8. Food- I love cooking food, eating out, eating in, trying new things... basically just food. (total fat girl statement, I know).
   
9. ADVENTURE- this is my top favorite thing ever. I love adventure, small and large. Since I can remember I have come up with crazy ideas to try a new adventure. Adventures like traveling to Finland in the dead of winter for 3 weeks to build snow installations, to packing my bags and moving to Manchester for a semester, to signing up for something as geeky as hand bells so that I could travel to Puerto Rico, Switzerland and Vancouver. My next adventure is to Japan to visit my little brother... so excited.

Colors Show

An unseen and original show that combines artistic performances and visual effects. This 35 minutes show performed by 3 people is a truly festival of colors.

Transformers Autobot Bumblebee Build

An in-depth look at the five-plus hour process of erecting the 18-foot tall, 3,700 pound replica of the Transformers Autobot Bumblebee by Chevrolet for the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

Kate Cordsen Photo

In interior design there are many roles that you can take on: designer, shop girl/guy, buyer, stylist, etc. Most of the time nobody thinks a TON about the photographer for the designer. In magazines that we see, we all look through the beautiful pictures and comment on the selections by the designer but the photographer plays a very important role. They essentially put forth the vision of the designer. A few weeks ago, I blogged on the amazing designer Cheryl Tague and I had the privilege of talking with the photographer behind her work, Kate Cordsen. Enjoy/learn!
To an amateur photographer like myself, your work is incredibly inspiring. How did you get started in the business of interior design photography?

Thanks Alicia. In an incarnation before photography, I was trained as an art historian. This love and understanding of art extends to the decorative arts and to interiors. So when I went back to school for photography, it was natural for me to specialize in interiors.


Were you always interested in a career like this?

Photography has a wonderful democratic nature to it. We have all been taking and appreciating images since we were children. It has been a dream for me to take that interest and build it into a profession.
Where do you see your work in the next 5-10 years?

A photographer friend told me that I will be astonished at how my photography will evolve through the years. He was right. I am slowly segueing from commercial and editorial work to fine art photography. Five years ago I would have never guessed that I would be doing large abstract landscapes.

What advice would you offer to interior designers looking to make their space more appealing or marketable? or in general?

What I say to all interior designers who will listen is: document your work! You are artists and your art is ephemeral.

What do you find most exciting about interior spaces? Light ? Pattern? Placement of objects?

Like any photographer, I am attracted to light. This is true in interiors as well.

What attracts you to a space? Are you more interested in contemplative spaces? Playful spaces?

Every good interior needs to start with good architecture. I am most attracted to the foundation of a room: the floors, the windows, the molding, the light, than to any overall decoration.


What is the biggest mistake you see interior designers make in residential spaces?

It is more a mistake that the clients often make...which is not spending time and money on art.

Melissa Barbieri

Who are your favorite interior designers/artists?

As you know, inspiration comes in many forms. I am loving the unexpected feeling of community that has risen from the economic crisis. In the arts: Eudora Welty's short stories and photographs, Halston's designs from the 70s, and Whistler's landscapes all have a perfect though deceptive simplicity.

Kate is a mother of two, lives in NYC and Connecticut and is amazingly talented. As someone who is interested in both interior design and photography, this was truly a pleasure. I was an art history major as well...this bodes well for me. Ha. Check out Kate's work on her website HERE. Like she said above, she's moving into more fine arts photography and you can see her work at katecordsen.com. It's beautiful and mysterious. Thanks again, Kate! PS--all the pictures here are from her websites.


Alicia B.

A Little List

Six* things I’m (especially) fond of today, in no particular order...

* Because six is really so much more fun that five, no?

This ensemble from Urban Renewal...


Sherrie’s handmade French clay soap

This recently stumbled upon blog …great recipes, very lovely.

This Ikat slipper chair…I can’t help it, I still love Ikat.

Cue’s little book of optimism, featuring cut-paper illustrations. Send them a self addressed stamped envelope and they’ll send you one for free.

Ten dollar drawings... Genius.