Treat

Guest blogger on Get Togetha

If you want to make sure that your next get together is done right, then the place to get ideas is Get Togetha, a lifestyle company that advises you on how to make your next special gathering spectacular. 

Also, check out the Blog Crush series and learn a little about me in my interview with Get Togetha founder, Melinda Lewis. The interview will be posted Tuesday on the Get Togetha web site.

Sushi Style

Never underestimate an inspiration source. Check out this hot new Atlanta spot called Sushi Style. It's a brand new line created by Graphic Designer and Portfolio Center instructor, Mimi Tin. Her functionally designed ottomans are inspired by—you guessed it—sushi. Use them separately and place them back together using the "seaweed" wrap. To learn more about Sushi Style, click here.

Studio Photography: Dongsoo Choi. Photos on Location: Joe Martinez

Under the Canopy

Under the Canopy makes beautiful organic bedding and fashion.

Sign up for the Rug Giveaway!

Yep, you read that right! CSN Rugs has offered to give away this beautiful 2'3" x 4'3" contemporary rug to one lucky Treat blog reader! You know how much I love rugs, it was so hard to pick which one to give away!

Features:

• Deep, rich colors of beige and desert sand

• Design to compliment any home décor

• Contemporary rug machine woven in Belgium

• 80% twisted, heatset poly and 20% bcf
  
  

To play in the giveaway, just follow these three steps:

1.  Write a comment in any category on the Treat blog (this post included)
2.  Also type the words "Treat blog is making my life more beautiful!" (in addition to your comment).
3.  Include your name and e-mail address.

That's it! One lucky winner will be chosen. If you live in the U.S. or Canada, the rug will be shipped to you free. Giveaway ends Tuesday, June 30, 2009. So follow the three easy steps by then. Winner will be announced Friday, July 3, 2009.

GOOD LUCK!

Rug Giveaway! Coming soon.

For details, see tomorrow's post.

My Design Youth Forum Update

Just wanted to let you know that the Design Youth Forum that took place on Friday, March 27th at UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago) was a success. The students took a class in Graphic Design, Fashion, Industrial, Multi-Media, Interior Design, or Architecture with the theme being Sustainability. The students had so much fun, and I did too. It's amazing to hear the thoughts of young kids. They see ideas that older adults take for granted. So, it was refreshing to hear they're thoughts and see their brightened eyes and smiles when we exchanged ideas. So, if you ever have the time, it would be great to meet some of my Treat readers at one of the Project Osmosis events. I'll be continuing to post events in the future, so be on the look out!

Attention high school students! Design Youth Forum

Click image to view larger, or read information below.

The OSMOSIS Education Mentoring Initiative™ Design Youth Forum is a day-long event in which area high school students choose from workshops in Industrial, Multi-Media, Graphic, Fashion, Architecture, or Interior Design. Along with emersing students in a college learning environment, the Design Youth Forum provides instruction in the following:

• Basic principles of design
• Career opportunities
• A design project and critique

Students will be addressed by the college design and admissions faculty regarding the details of their particular design programs. In addition, students will be encouraged to register for candidacy in the OSMOSIS Education/Mentoring Initiative™ Mentoring Program.

STUDENTS! Register today. Walk-ins welcomed!

Space is limited. First serve basis. Giveaways and gift bags for every participant! Design Youth Forum Packets (Registration) will be mailed upon reservation.

RSVP by March 20th, 2009 to info@projectosmosis.org or call 773-779-1352

Please provide name of school, e-mail, and contact information with your reservation. 

Sponsored by Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation and AIGA.

Project Osmosis All High School Design Competition

Calling all Chicago area High School students! Show your creative talent at the annual Project Osmosis All High School Design Competition. To participate, you must be a high school student. No submissions will be accepted after December 5, 2008. Winners will be notified by mail no later than January 5, 2009. For more information, entry forms, and contest rules, visit projectosmosis.org.

Inspiring textiles by Kravet

Inspiring images from Kravet, a family owned business that makes these beautiful fabrics, furniture, carpets, and more. These are some of my favorite designs from their collections.

Click on image to view larger.

Bring the outdoors in with Lotta Helleberg's designs

I love these simple textiles by Etsy shop owner Lotta Helleberg of Charlottesville, VA. The textured fabrics she uses are perfect with the simple and elegant designs that she creates. To learn more about her work, check out her website Inleaf and blog.

Wallpaper inspiration by Linda Barker

If you look at HGTV, you'd think that wallpaper was out of style, but that's so not true. Nothing's out of style if you know how to rock it. Linda Barker, on Totallyhome.co.uk, has some beautiful collections of wallpaper she's designed. If you've thought about using wallpaper, but not sure how it will work out, try it out like paint. Wallpaper one wall and paint the others, or wallpaper the bottom half and paint the upper.

Got a case of the Mondays? Here's how you can change your mood.

I've heard that surrounding yourself around gray helps to stimulate creativity. I guess because the color is so neutral that one's instinct is to want to visualize color, movement, or anything that seems different.

A change in scenery is another way to get the creative juices flowing. If you're like most Americans right now, and your budget is shot because of high gas prices and the climbing price of food, then consider checking out the Mood-factory—a company that creates mood lighting to help improve moods. The 25W bulbs are mercury free and energy, earth, and animal friendly. "Why spend money on lighting?," you ask. "It's not a necessity." Well, in essence, it is a necessity. You have to have a variety of things to help spark your creativity. Afterall, you're a creative, and the show—"show" being whatever creative industry you work in—must go on! The world needs you to create designs and art that will help uplift people and keep businesses competitive, thriving during this economic downturn. It's a part of the cycle of improving the "all American dollar," not only in the US, but worldwide. Quality products are a must to keep these business afloat, thus design is essential right now. These mood lights are an inexpensive way to drastically change the mood of your room—and maybe even your own mood.

What do you think? Was that a good enough excuse to get one? =)

Check below for Mood-factory's simple explanations for how different colors affect your mood. If you don't already have it, you should also check out this Designer favorite: Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color by Leatrice Eisemann.

• Green is associated with growth, fruitfulness, and renewal.
• Red, being the color of blood and fire, brings feelings of warmth, excitement, and passion.
• Hot Pink is a vivacious and fun color, full of pure confidence.
• Blues, referring to the sky and lakes, are associated with spirituality, cleanliness, and tranquility.
• Yellow is the color of sunlight and fruits, and brings feelings of cheer, hope, and vitality.
• Orange, with its reference to fire and sunset, evokes feelings of energy and excitement.
• Purple, which rarely occurs in nature, is linked to spirituality, mysticism, and creativity.

from mood-factory.com

Joom on Etsy

I love birds—and Joom in San Francisco does a fine job creating simplified, beautiful birds. Find pillows, greeting cards, and display art of birds singing, flying, and observing in beautiful pastels mixed with bold colors.

More dishes to love

Ok, so you already know that if I had a few grand to purchase things for my home, I'd buy a dozen rugs.The other thing that I'd get? Hmmm...that would have to be dishes! I'd love to mix and match them so that every guest would have a special set for themselves. Check out these beautiful dinnerware pieces at Horchow.