Hot AND Shady, Barbara Kaslow Designs

(NOTE:  OK, we are NOT currently in a HEATWAVE.  
I have been away. 
 I hope you HAVE noticed. 
I had nearly completed this blog post just before my beloved Daddy passed away very unexpectedly last summer.  It has been my toughest period ever filled with great losses of loved ones and tragedy, my oldest son had a catastrophic car accident in late December (thankfully he is well on the road to complete recovery),
 and I have had writer's block,
 but I am finally back, and going to go ahead and post this unseasonably.
I think you will enjoy it anyway!
I hope better late than never, Barbara.
And of course, in these parts, we ARE just around the corner from yet another
HEATWAVE!)

WE ARE IN A HEATWAVE!

Today is the third day with 

actual temps over 100, and 

the heat index hit 106 yesterday.

SOOOOOO, 

I'm thinking SHADE . . .

Daddy, my son Trainor, and I stood on the balcony of Oak Alley and enjoyed this,
 one of my favorite views anywhere.

TREES,

(Like the shady, old oaks and cool shady caladiums at Oak Alley Plantation 

down the road AND the bayou in Louisiana)

Sun SHADE(s),

SHADES at the beach,

Which SHADE do you prefer?

And since design is NEVER off my mind . . .

 window SHADES 

and of course 

lamp SHADES!

I am ALWAYS trying to spot 
the perfect SHADE.
Lots of times that means
 I need to have one made.

Along with my friend and
 fellow BlogFest 2012 attendee and designer/blogger
 Sarah O'Neill
of Storibook Designs,

Sarah adorned in one of Barbara's fabulous, hand feathered shades

I recently spent a cool, rainy morning 

(boy I am wishing for that now!)

 with 

New York designer

 Barbara Kaslow and her
 fabulous custom SHADES.
THEY were hot!

Barbara donning another of her fabulous, hand feathered shades

Artist

Doodler

Designer

Barbara generously shared her 
creative process in detail

with Sarah and me, from her sketching . . .

to her transfer of designs to blocks . . .

to the final designs, these on papers.

Barbara actually freehandedly paints many of the lampshades.

Barbara with the block she used to hand print this shade

This was one of my favorite of many of Barbara's fantastic handmade shades.
This one was printed with one of her hand cut blocks.

Barbara painted these shades freehanded.

Her art, her shades, have been 
featured nationwide and internationally in 
publications like House Beautiful.

Barbara's sweet baby Angel napped while we chatted.
He has it 'made in the shade' so to speak!

And by the way, did you notice that those northeastern 'partying with 
shades on their heads'
 girls Barbara and Sarah 
failed to catch 'lil ole southern me 
with a  lampshade on my head!
I guess I am just too cool
 even if I'm not 'in the shade'!

My new green shades for the St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday

For more of Barbara Kaslow's fabulous shades, visit her on Facebook HERE 
or
contact her here

Stay shady my friends!

photo credits: Marilyn Trainor Storey

Aha! Again and Again, Thanks House Beautiful

Aha!  
I seem to be having a lot of those

 "aha moments" lately.
Or maybe I am just noticing them more
since I began my design blog.

In my so far short, but nevertheless exciting,  enlightening, and very enriching design blogging career, I have been having

 "aha moment" after "aha moment".

I just returned from Blogfest 2012 sponsored by Kravet in New York City.  Blogfest was chock full of  "aha moments", but first just a bit of my design blogging history.

I love stories and sharing.

About a year ago, 
after closing my retail store,
 I decided I wanted to start a design blog. 

A vignette in my retail design studio including my custom leafed and marbleized console and
 my custom match boxes.
Oh, and of course BIRDS!

Fabulous architectural fragments like this
 glazed concrete one always give me an "aha moment".

 I researched and planned. 

 I hired a talented graphic designer

 to design my blog template.

 I made copious lists of blog

 topics and ideas.

I scheduled and publicized my launch date.

Only one thing remained . . .

I had to find my voice.

I tried a little of this, and a little of that, but I wasn't happy with what I was writing until . . .

the September 2011 issue of House Beautiful 
arrived in my mailbox and just in time!

AHA! 

I knew how and why and what 
I was going to write.


It all became crystal clear.

I love Barry Dixon's work, I love birds, and I love pink.  The ideas and the words flowed for my inaugural blog post
Birds of a Feather: Barry, Birds, AND Pink. 

A selection of Barry Dixon's fabrics and trims in peaches and PINKS for Vervain

Not only was that House Beautiful cover an  epiphany for the voice, tone, and content of my first blog, it started me on my path of seemingly unending "aha moments".

As a result of my design blogging,
 I have found new clients.

An outdoor room I designed for Gardens of Madison County.
Lots of custom work was included and the homeowner became a client.

I love designing tabletops and partyscapes as well.

The outdoor room included custom cushions and pillows,
custom sconces, a custom mantle, and a custom piece made of salvage over the mantle, as well as custom florals throughout.

I have renewed old and inspirational friendships.

Me with my lifelong friend the uber talented furniture and furnishings
designer John Lyle of John Lyle Design.

John's studio in New York.

John Lyle console and fireplace screen used as an objet
 in the Kips Bay kitchen.

I have travelled to fun and "aha" filled places.

CA'D'ZAN in Sarasota, Florida
The wonderful Venetian Gothic home of John and Mable Ringling
Blog post coming soon!

 I have met wonderful new people. 

Me with my fellow Mississippi Deltan,
 the charming and debonair editor of House Beautiful Newell Turner

I have broadened and enriched my own knowledge 

Gilded view from my friend and fabric designer
Lucy Rose Singh's New York apartment

I completed my first outdoor gilding project.

and my own designs.

I am using more neutrals and blues,
inspired by my friend interior and furniture and objets
designer Nancy Price

A shell encrusted bust from Nancy Price's line for Design Legacy

I look forward to sharing more of my "aha" filled trip to Blogfest 2012 here in the next few weeks, but here is just a peak . . .


AHA!  
I love this decoupage look 
made of antique lady images in
 Alexa Hampton's bedroom at Kips Bay.
This is something I can easily create for clients from antique prints in my collection. 

Alexa Hampton Bedroom at Kip's Bay Showhouse.

AHA!
 I loved Kravet's design studio tour. 
I really want to design fabric.

This hand blocked print from Lee Jofa
 is indeed gorgeous and a true fabric inspiration.

AHA!
I love MINTY green and
 I want to use it in a project soon.

Katie Leede's minty fresh bedroom at the Modern Life Concept House
 sponsored by Elle Decor.
I use green often, but want to incorporate this minty hue soon.

And thank you for that biggest "AHA" of all, House Beautiful, 
the AHA that got me started!

I am thrilled that House Beautiful is now Pinterest enabled.  AHA!

Are you taking time to notice your 
"aha moments"?


I hope you will.

photos: Marilyn Storey with exception of House Beautiful covers