January 2nd, 2011
Decade(s) of Design
Welcome to the new decade! I know many people who are eager to put 2010 behind them and I certainly count myself among them. I’ll cop to having been in a major funk the last couple of months, i.e. loss of interest, loss of creative spirit, loss of clear direction, loss of confidence. Basically, a serious loss of MOJO! After some major mental mind mapping , I feel like I’ve cleared out some major cobwebs and cast off the self-inflicted chains that I was tying my brain and body up with. Now…..I’m BAAAACK with a clear focus and the creative juices are flowing again. I’m looking forward to redesigning my businesses, websites, this BLOG, and more-by revisiting my “roots’ of designing timeless stencils and educating and inspiring a broad range of customers with innovative ways to use them! After 26 years of stenciling and decorative painting I’m feeling like I’ve come full circle and am ready to introduce a whole new generation of creative decorators to the art of stenciling. Man! that makes my sound old, doesn’t it?? I guess if you hang around in the water long enough you get to catch the next big wave!!
Anyway, after clearing out the Christmas decorations I began poking around in some piles of design magazines that I’ve stashed here and there and came across several old issues from a decade ago.
What strikes me is that all of the design featured on these covers is timeless and classic in its own way.
While design “fashion” comes and goes, good, classic design is always relevant, always appreciated, always in style. Here’s to “classics”, a better year, and another decade of great design!!
Copyright © Designamour
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:27 pm
When you said you were going through your magazine stack, I assumed we were talking about the same thing. You had 10 year old magazines in your stack? Once again, you beat me. Mine were only months old. Overachiever!
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Glad you have your mojo back, Melanie. I am all for the classic designs, using them in new, creative ways. So many of your stencil designs, some that I have had for 10+ years, are still the ones I reach for when designing a project for a client. A good design is a good design…period. Crossed Garland, Moorish Trellis, Fabric Damask, Basketweave… these are all “older” stencil designs of yours that I still use today. As a matter of fact, I’m presenting a series of samples to a client tomorrow, featuring the Moorish Trellis design. These rooms pictured above, from 2000, could have been designed last week. I think after 26 years you just needed a little break from it all to recharge your batteries. We all get in these slumps, doubt ourselves, lose our creativity… temporarily. I can’t wait to see what is in store for all of us in 2011, as you roll out some new surprises.
January 3rd, 2011 at 9:29 am
I am thrilled to hear this! A whole new generation is waiting for you and I, for one, can’t wait to see what you come up with.
January 3rd, 2011 at 6:17 pm
It’s always so exciting to see how you interpret the design trends, see colors and introduce patterns: forever beautiful, elegant and yet it always maintains a sense of colorful fun. I think 2011 will be extremely good to you and it turn, leave us (including that new generation) inspired to continually strive for creative beauty. You rock it, Melanie!