Terri Conrad Designs

The Bliss of Balance

“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” ~ Robert Fulghum (oh to have that many hours in my day!)

I am in need of balance - how about you? Ever feel like you're being pulled in more directions than you have legs to carry you? (photo compliments of the Blessed Nest )

I am longing for this

 

the comfort of Mother Nature - quiet solitude, walking, talking with (and listening to) God, my hand in His

(photo compliments of the talented Sharyn Sowell)

Or perhaps a comfy, cozy spot to read, write, draw & doodle

 

may your day be blessed

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& blissfully balanced

xoxo

Terri

 

The Color Purple . . .

and a 13 year old's bedroom makeover...what's a mother to do?

The days are gone of my having free reign on color, style, and choice in my daughter's personal, private and soon to be purple space - her bedroom. She has selected these analogous colors

in solids, and I sooooo want to bring in a triadic color (apple green or coral) - for what I perceive as balance, and, of course, pattern, oh yes, pattern is a must - somewhere!

If we go triadic, Jessica prefers coral, which I like because it's the more unpredictable of the two, and I like that.

No flowers, no girlly-twirly cute, no princess, no rock & roll - hmm with what are we left to accent this room? The commercial market is saturated with all of the above, and very, very little in these brighter, bolder, more graphic elements. So, when the necessity presents itself, what, oh what do we do? We create it - and that is exactly what we are going to do.

Do you have a daughter who does not fit the cookie cutter cliche of the commercial market?

I was looking at wallpaper and fabric last night, trying to find something to tie this all together - the piece de resistance - and I found myself wishing I had both full fabric and wall paper licenses already in market. There are a few patterns I would choose from for hand made pillows, window coverings, bed skirt, lamp shade, etc.

Until then, we've purchased the bedding, it's a solid chenille blu, with solid purple linens - and she intends on solid purple walls with furniture in white. I just may have to shop Anthro for some fun hardware for a touch of Terri to the room.

Here are a few purple bedroom ideas I like . . .hmm, I wonder if I can inspire the 13 year old with these?

 

and these which are a bit more on bolder side

 

 

Check here for more inspiration on purple bedroom ideas and visit us again soon to see the outcome!

Have a delightfully purple-icious  day.

xoxo

Terri

Come with me to see . . .

Hello, hello,

What a blessed, lovely day it is today here in the northern parts of Los Angeles (shhh . . .I am supposed to be cleaning my house - yes we artists clean house too) but I just had to share with you something I know you will enjoy and appreciate.

Working from home can often be a quiet place to be - and extra effort must be taken to stay connected with friends - out there; and what a delight it is to connect with new friends thus making our life & our day a little bit brighter.

Vicki, Artist and Photographer at Simply Hue, is featuring Terri Conrad Designs today on her lovely, lovely blog. 

The color in her pic here is enough to know this is a girl after my own heart . . .love, love LOVE the crisp, clean, yet bespoke feel of her work.

Thank you, Vicki. You've certainly made my day brighter today.

To add icing onto the cupcake, one of Simply Hue's readers, and fellow creative Trisha Brink shared an oh so sweet comment about my work.  Trish owns Grandflora, a delightful gift & home decor boutique that is just the kind of shoppe I so enjoy walking thru & shopping at, to fill my little ol' creative (but vintage) tea cup.

Thank you, Trisha, for your kind words about my work and bringing me into your creative world by sharing them.

 

So, the hands on the clock are ticking away, the house cleaning must now wait (oh phooh!) as my youngest, Katelyn, is on minimum day today, and we have a lunch date, and then shopping for new ballet attire planned. Cleaning and a bit of work shall come later today and tomorrow. Sunday, my family and I are off to the Long Beach Antique Show. Today, my fabulous agents are off to NYC for the Surtex  licensing show - something we all look forward to each year.  Blessings, each and all (yes, even the house cleaning)!

Hoping your day is brightened by visiting my new-found friends Simply Hue and Grandflora.

xoxo

Terri

Right round, and around

Hello Dear Friends . . .whew! I am dizzy busy. Ever feel like you're doing this:

So many plates, and so few hands to spin them. I like that she has someone watching over her as she tries to keep these plates up and spinning. Will he catch one should it fall? Gasp! I dare her to let one slow enough to fall. Notice the tiara she is wearing . . .she must be queen of plate spinning.

I am just grateful my plates are full, and spinning, and I have the hands to twirl them :o)

Speaking of (ahem, writing of) twirling, we have a late, oh so late, but not forgotten very special Congratulations to Janet Wecker Frisch over at Joy Studio. She won our girly-twirly store-what-you-wish caddie. 

Janet's art is truly delightful, fanciful, and oh so wonderful. Do allow for "an appointed time" to pay her a visit, say hello and see what she's up to - you will fall in love with her work.

Janet attended the recent ME Workshop, and oh, does it look like it was fun. With my recent decision to make the time to take care of me . . .I have promised myself the opportunity to attend at least one artist's workshop a year, and as soon as the announcement goes up for another ME workshop, I shall be first in line to sign up! Have you attended an artist's workshop that you recommend? I'd love to hear about it.

Til then,

I can be found going round and around.

More soon -

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

This is a day I personally celebrate the blessed gift of being a mom, and the children who bestow this title on me.

To my snickerdoodle Jessica,

and my sweetpea Katelyn -

YOU are my everything!

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If like me, you are a motherless daughter, please know you are not alone - you are a blooming beautiful flower in a fragrant bouquet. 

I hope you will find comfort in this post.

My family and I are going antiquing for the day - oh happy day!

May you and yours be abundantly blessed.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Terri