Since I am no longer renting in Kent, I felt an update was appropriate - refresh, renew, rename.
Plus, I feel like my brain is overwhelmed with these awesome and awe-inspiring ideas on a daily basis and I just don't have anywhere to release it all. So instead of just "finished" products as they slowly occur, I thought I would get into the habit of posting inspirational pictures and ideas that I find too good to pass up. It is just as valuable to me as it is to all of you - it gives me a virtual catalogue (besides bookmarking everything I like) to keep all of my design desires in one place. Plus it provides a portal for you to be able to feel the love on all of the nifty and funky designs I come across. So please peruse and enjoy :) Happy Designing!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Do What You Love & Love What You Do
I know, I know, it's been awhile. But cut me some slack...I've been busy getting a life!
It's time to share with you a little less creativity and a little more reality.......
I truly believe that once you have hit rock bottom in the job market, that is when you have no where else to go but UP. I'm living proof of this statement. After over 6 years doing a job I adored, I was ready to move on to a position that would allow me to grow. As much as I loved The Frame Depot, I knew I would never be seen as much more than the 17 year old kid who's grandma got her the job. There was no growth potential there. Although I was good at it and had a degree in design, in a company with only 3 employees, I would always be the low man on the totem pole. So I left a world I was comfortable in to explore greener pastures. Believe me, those pastures were more full of cow pies than green grass. My "between" job was a glorified receptionist. It was not only intellectually UNstimulating, but it was downright depressing. For 6 months I faced the daily grind of having to actually drag myself out of bed every morning and psych myself up. I became grumpy, irritable, and just plain mean to everyone in my personal life. Although he never admitted it, I was beginning to not resemble the woman my fiance' had fallen in love with.
The benefits were spectacular - 2 weeks paid vacation, 12 personal/sick days, free medical and dental coverage - and the hours were perfect. But at what point do you sacrifice your happiness for the "perks"?
I put in application after application to any job that looked somewhat interesting. I had a few return emails (mostly asking me for my credit score before they could set up an interview). And then nothing for a couple of months. I got discouraged, finally accepting the fact that college meant nothing for me and my degree basically amounted to a wonderfully worded piece of paper in a fancy leatherbound folder that was currently in a box in the basement.
And then one week, I got a hit. A gentleman called me from a company that I hadn't even remembered applying to. We set up an interview and it had gone well. It was for a carpet and flooring company that was currently seeking someone with a design degree (and preferably a woman) to offset the "salesman" personna that this kind of industry often received. It seemed great and I was looking forward to hearing from him within a week as to whether I got the job.
And then...I got another hit. I had sent an impromptu application to an ad in the paper for a "personal assistant" having no idea what to expect. A woman called me - one who talked a mile a minute and was full of "great ideas". She went on and on about this clothing/interiors/furniture store she was opening up in a couple of months. I was apparantly just the thing she was looking for. She was going to hire me right away to help get the store set up and ready. I would be responsible for in-store displays, window displays, interior design services, upholstery work, the whole nine yards. She was even going to pay me extra so I could go and get my own health insurance policy until Dan and I got married. Sounds perfect, right? Well, I met with her business partner, we discussed details, but I was still uneasy. This woman ran her life and her business at an incredibly fast pace and I was worried about getting lost in the fray. I didn't want to tag along for this crazy lady's "fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants" business venture.
So when Carpet Guy called and told me the job was mine if I wanted it, I told him I needed a few days to think. I went from zero prospects to two in just one week!
I weighed all the pros and cons of each offer and went back and forth trying to make my decision. Carpet Guy actually called the next day, offering more hours, more money, and reminded me how interested in me they really were. Needless to say, it felt good to be wanted! Ultimately, I had decided to go with Crazy Lady's offer and would see where it took me. It was the less reliable of the two, but it sounded the most glamorous. Until the woman called and said she reviewed her budget, and realized she just wasn't ready to hire someone full-time yet. Boy, did that let the wind outta my sails. But the beauty?? I had another job offer on the table!
I immediately called Carpet Guy, graciously accepted the position, and started two weeks later.
It's been two weeks since I started this new adventure, and I am happy to report that this has been the best decision I've made (besides choosing to marry Dan, of course!). I am in a position that is actually respected, my creativity is utilized every day, I have business cards with my name on them followed by the title "Interior Designer", and my diploma is framed and hanging above my desk.
So, my point, you ask? At the risk of sounding like every sappy self-help guru out there preaching about living your dreams, I say LIVE YOUR DREAMS!! I know it sounds cheesy, and I know for those of you still stuck in that terribly soul-crushing job it sounds as far away as the moon. But after 6 years of a job going nowhere, 6 months of a job that left me in tears, and a million unreturned job applications, I finally get the opportunity to put my knowledge, instincts, creative prowess, and college education to good use. I'm happy, successful, and respected. And really, who could ask for more??
Check out my new career at the company website (and note the giant yellow banner on the homepage!) http://www.heritage-carpet.com/
And here is a image of the store window I got to design the first week on the job (the medium is discarded carpet tubes and flowers made from carpet company fliers)
And the coveted business cards that were waiting for me on my first day (I've given them out like candy!)
It's time to share with you a little less creativity and a little more reality.......
I truly believe that once you have hit rock bottom in the job market, that is when you have no where else to go but UP. I'm living proof of this statement. After over 6 years doing a job I adored, I was ready to move on to a position that would allow me to grow. As much as I loved The Frame Depot, I knew I would never be seen as much more than the 17 year old kid who's grandma got her the job. There was no growth potential there. Although I was good at it and had a degree in design, in a company with only 3 employees, I would always be the low man on the totem pole. So I left a world I was comfortable in to explore greener pastures. Believe me, those pastures were more full of cow pies than green grass. My "between" job was a glorified receptionist. It was not only intellectually UNstimulating, but it was downright depressing. For 6 months I faced the daily grind of having to actually drag myself out of bed every morning and psych myself up. I became grumpy, irritable, and just plain mean to everyone in my personal life. Although he never admitted it, I was beginning to not resemble the woman my fiance' had fallen in love with.
The benefits were spectacular - 2 weeks paid vacation, 12 personal/sick days, free medical and dental coverage - and the hours were perfect. But at what point do you sacrifice your happiness for the "perks"?
I put in application after application to any job that looked somewhat interesting. I had a few return emails (mostly asking me for my credit score before they could set up an interview). And then nothing for a couple of months. I got discouraged, finally accepting the fact that college meant nothing for me and my degree basically amounted to a wonderfully worded piece of paper in a fancy leatherbound folder that was currently in a box in the basement.
And then one week, I got a hit. A gentleman called me from a company that I hadn't even remembered applying to. We set up an interview and it had gone well. It was for a carpet and flooring company that was currently seeking someone with a design degree (and preferably a woman) to offset the "salesman" personna that this kind of industry often received. It seemed great and I was looking forward to hearing from him within a week as to whether I got the job.
And then...I got another hit. I had sent an impromptu application to an ad in the paper for a "personal assistant" having no idea what to expect. A woman called me - one who talked a mile a minute and was full of "great ideas". She went on and on about this clothing/interiors/furniture store she was opening up in a couple of months. I was apparantly just the thing she was looking for. She was going to hire me right away to help get the store set up and ready. I would be responsible for in-store displays, window displays, interior design services, upholstery work, the whole nine yards. She was even going to pay me extra so I could go and get my own health insurance policy until Dan and I got married. Sounds perfect, right? Well, I met with her business partner, we discussed details, but I was still uneasy. This woman ran her life and her business at an incredibly fast pace and I was worried about getting lost in the fray. I didn't want to tag along for this crazy lady's "fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants" business venture.
So when Carpet Guy called and told me the job was mine if I wanted it, I told him I needed a few days to think. I went from zero prospects to two in just one week!
I weighed all the pros and cons of each offer and went back and forth trying to make my decision. Carpet Guy actually called the next day, offering more hours, more money, and reminded me how interested in me they really were. Needless to say, it felt good to be wanted! Ultimately, I had decided to go with Crazy Lady's offer and would see where it took me. It was the less reliable of the two, but it sounded the most glamorous. Until the woman called and said she reviewed her budget, and realized she just wasn't ready to hire someone full-time yet. Boy, did that let the wind outta my sails. But the beauty?? I had another job offer on the table!
I immediately called Carpet Guy, graciously accepted the position, and started two weeks later.
It's been two weeks since I started this new adventure, and I am happy to report that this has been the best decision I've made (besides choosing to marry Dan, of course!). I am in a position that is actually respected, my creativity is utilized every day, I have business cards with my name on them followed by the title "Interior Designer", and my diploma is framed and hanging above my desk.
So, my point, you ask? At the risk of sounding like every sappy self-help guru out there preaching about living your dreams, I say LIVE YOUR DREAMS!! I know it sounds cheesy, and I know for those of you still stuck in that terribly soul-crushing job it sounds as far away as the moon. But after 6 years of a job going nowhere, 6 months of a job that left me in tears, and a million unreturned job applications, I finally get the opportunity to put my knowledge, instincts, creative prowess, and college education to good use. I'm happy, successful, and respected. And really, who could ask for more??
Check out my new career at the company website (and note the giant yellow banner on the homepage!) http://www.heritage-carpet.com/
And here is a image of the store window I got to design the first week on the job (the medium is discarded carpet tubes and flowers made from carpet company fliers)
Until next time, I will be living the dream and changing the world one flooring sample at a time :)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
J. Paris Designs At Your Service
Ladies and Gentle Fellows!!! I give you my BRAND...NEW...STUDIO!!!
The colored bins in the corner house all my supplies and fabrics.
This table in the center is the perfect size and height for maneuvering around while working on reupholstering a chair. Plus, the curtain around it hides all the crap I stuffed under it!!
From this angle, you can see my blackboard wall intended to jot down any crazy inspirations as they come to me (or just random doodles!).
My AWESOME work desk that runs the whole length of one wall is wear I stash my sewing machine and Dremel scroll saw (bought for me by my dad for $20 at a garage sale!!).
Shelves above the desk hold all my knick knacks (just recently found the giant wooden spool on the top shelf along w/ a few other smaller ones at an antique store in New York - also found the cool green cubby there too!).
Bulletin boards, dry erase boards, and clip boards....all meant to hold inspriations, project measurements, product receipts, and thank you cards from satisfied customers :)
Studio lighting that was added by my wonderful fiancee and his electrically inclined friend. As soon as these bad boys went up, it REALLY felt like a studio space! Spotlight on the prettiness :) :)
An homage to my namesake. I painted this several years ago and never had a good home for it. I think it fits quite perfectly here at the entrance to J. Paris Designs!
All in all, this room has become an incredible realization that yes, Jessica, you CAN do this some day, and you have a great support system working behind you....who knew?? ;)
While still a work in progress (and currently serving as "Wedding Ideas Central"), this amazing, colorful, cluttered, and exciting space screams ME at a very high decibel!!
Thanks for watching !! and stay tuned !!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
J. Paris Designs....it's officially almost official!
If you followed on my blog, then you know I want to do this thing, like for real. I would love nothing more than to sell my stuff to people who can appreciate (and even if they can't, those who can pay) the quality, love, and labor that I put into each and every project I come up with. I'm passionate about making my four years of college actually worth something (and proving to my dad that his money wasn't entirely wasted) by actually having a career in the field I studied in. So, enough rambling, I started a semi-business.
Kudos and thanks to my excellent graphic designer Jon for creating such an incredibly stellar logo!!
It's a side-gig, something I do in the evenings and on the weekends. I have sold some stuff and had some other stuff ordered. It's coming in slowly, but it's actually kinda working! I got business cards printed up and plan on giving them out like candy. I can't quit my day job yet (sad face), but it keeps me sane since I sit behind a computer all day at work.
Anyways, check out my facebook page at www.facebook.com/jparisdesigns and keep your fingers crossed for me, ok??
Until next time...... :)
Studio Space!!
So let's talk about how great my boyfriend Dan is?? Not only does he fully support my eccentric style and my tendency to fill up his garage, back porch, breezeway, and basement with my latest treasures, he has now allowed me to move into his basement!! I know, I know, you're thinking "the basement??!" but hear me out.....it's for studio space!!
J. Paris Designs has become my new business venture.
I get full reign of a section of the basement the realtor had affectionatly listed as the "finished" basement.
Homey, right??
Dan had been using it as storage space, but when I started using a stapler in his driveway to work on my projects, I think he got a little worried about his tires and suggested I move things downstairs. He cleared things out and built me....
....a really awesome custom 4x4' rolling work table!
and...
...a 7' long counter perfect for sewing, crafting, working, sleeping, etc.
It's still a work in progress, but I plan to have it finished up in the next week or two.
The funny part?? Dan actually thinks that this is going to eliminate my need for his garage, porch, patio, etc.....silly boy ;)
Love you & THANKS!!!!
Grandma Goes Modern
A friend of mine (we'll call her Maggie...because that's her name) had a cute little chair and matching ottoman that was her grandmother's. When she showed it to me in all its flowery splendor, I fell in love with it instantly! It was like a tiny version of a grown-up chair (seriously, it only came up to my waist). It was old and the fabric was threadbare, faded, and ripped just by looking at it. But it was solid and the cushions were decent....in other words, it needed my help.
So I stripped it!
Who even knew it had legs under that ruffle??
Ideally, I had hoped the fabric would come off in sections so that I could measure and label and determine how it all went back together. Unfortunately, the old fabric was so threadbare that it literally ripped off...so much for measuring!!
I added some extra cush to the cushion just to fill it out more. I think I used approx. a box and a half of staples just on this one project! (definitely caused me to seriously consider purchasing an air compressed stapler in the very near future).
So here she sits, matching ottoman and all. I was lucky that I told Maggie to add a couple extra yards to her fabric order when she picked it out. I used every last bit of 10 yards!! I swear I didn't waste any or mess up either...it just really takes that much!
Sexy backside
*Note my pretty little pleating on the arms :)
Overall, it was a successful venture for me and the chair. And Maggie was an excellent client who was very generous. I look forward to many future furniture adventures with you!! :)
Thanks!!
Velvety Goodnessx2
Fabulous NEWS!!! Turns out, people really like my stuff and want to buy it and give me money and stuff!! The gentleman who bought the chair from the post directly below this (see velvety goodness part 1) liked the chair so much he ordered another one!! Lucky for him, I had a match!!
I only had enough of the previous fabric for one chair, but I promised him something that was complimentary with similar style, color, and pattern. I think the two are a fair match.
In fact, he liked the new fabric so much, he ordered four throw pillows for the sofa in the same room. Excellent!!
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