Happy New Year everyone! I'm back after a couple of weeks of renewal and reflection. Here's what I've been thinking about...

I’ve been a designer and “maker of things” my entire life. I didn’t choose it as a professional career, it chose me. I have always approached any project as an artist first and a problem solver second. I’m always looking at things and thinking how can I make that more beautiful, useful and meaningful? Ever since I was little my grandmother and my mother would show me the difference in the quality of how things were made. It was important at the time because when they were young they didn’t have much, so what you purchased needed to last. Since as long as I can remember, I have done the same.

I personally hope that the era of acquiring stuff just to say you have more stuff, has finally gone so that we can go back to Thoughfully Designed homes and products.

So I'm happy to report I have yet another fun project for 2010...my home. Yup, it's time for me to work on this place we built 7 years ago. With all that's going on these days, I'm more grateful than ever to live in a home Bill and I designed. But over the years, I have let a few things go around here and I feel that's just a little disrespectful to this home that provides such comfort for my family. Plus, the fact that, I love the art of homemaking. I'm an old fashioned, back to basics gal at heart, that finds great joy in being domestic and creating beautiful spaces.

I want you to be part of this Project too and I hope you leave me comments and ideas on what you're doing to improve your home....and ask me questions. I'm happy to share design advice and resources with you! To read more about this little project you can click on my link in my side bar "My 2010 Project".

First project, my garden....neglected waaaaaay too long!

But in the front of my house are the roses my mother tends to daily so they look amazing. Apparently these roses didn't get the memo about not blooming in January... :-)