Friday 2 March 2012

what our blog wants to be when it grows up

Welcome to the very first DTTD imagine.design.create blog post!

edin jax

And what better way to kick off a brand new blog than by participating in a great blog-hop party called What does your blog want to be when it grows up?, hosted by these five lovely ladies (and a few others)…

Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage | Karah @ the space between | Linda @ it all started with paint
KariAnne @
Thistlewood Farm | Andrea @ The Cottage Market

thistlewood farm

The timing couldn’t be any better for our blog – DTTD – to tell us what it wants to be when it grows up, seeing as it’s officially a brand new baby blog, born today :-)  We’ve named it DTTD imagine.design.create, but like any cool & hip blog it wants to have a cool & hip nickname. Create D Flava a.k.a. Spunky Squeeze is a bit of a mouthful, so we settled on DTTD
logo3
If you haven’t been with us from the very beginning, here’s a super-brief synopsis of how DTTD came to be.
  • January 2009, Kelly & Victoria launch DesignTies together. We always called it DT :-)
  • October 2010, Victoria decides to step back from blogging, DT is retired and Kelly launches JAX does design.
  • May 2011, Victoria tip-toes back into blogging and launches Edin’s House.
  • November 2011, Kelly is lonely and wants her blog buddy back. Victoria’s tip-toe style of blogging works better with an enthusiastic, creative and prolific writer like Kelly and so she readily agrees to a renewed partnership!
  • March 2012, Kelly & Victoria launch DTTD – which is our funky way of saying DesignTies2 with less letters :-)
And as for the imagine.design.create tagline – that’s what DTTD is going to be all about. Which brings us back to the original topic: what does our blog want to be when it grows up?
 
Well, let’s ask it!
DTTD Blurb
Alrighty then… guess that pretty much sums up DTTD’s personal perspective!
 
Now let’s see what Kelly’s top five goals for DTTD are…
 
1. Design world domination. Are you sensing a theme here? ;-) Well, OK, seeing as that isn’t likely to happen, I’ll take a moderate amount of fame and glory :-) Hey, I’m not doing this for the money, I’ve gotta get SOMETHING out of it! I really want DTTD to hang out with the big kids in the blog playground. I know that’s a lot to hope for, but if you’re going to dream, I say dream big!
 
2. Build my business, JAX Decor & Design. One thing I’ve learned is that if I want to build my business, I need to put my business out there and show people my design work. I’m not the kind to toot my own horn, but if nobody else will toot it for me, then I better start tooting it myself. So, be sure to head over to my JAX Decor & Design Facebook page and my JAX Decor & Design web site!
jax web site
3. Have pen, will write. I’ve been writing ever since I could pick up a pencil and sort out the alphabet. I have a BA in English, and my day job for the past 12 years has been technical writing. I want to combine my love for writing with my passion for design – are you listening House & Home and Style At Home?! Yes, I know you’re competitors, but I have to cover all my bases. I’m nonpartisan like that.
 
4. authenticity.branding.consistency. Be myself (minus the road rage potty mouth), keep focused, stay on-topic. Even if I want to tell you all about the amazing healthy Ultimate Chocolate Fudge Pie that is TO DIE FOR, I won’t. Because this isn’t a food blog, this is a design blog!
tofu pie
{Cripes, day 1 and goal #3 is already out the window. But you’ll thank me for it, trust me!}
 
final from side[5]5. To be inspired and to be inspiring. There are so many awesome, talented, creative design bloggers out there. I’m inspired by things I see on blogs every day, and I want to do the same for everyone who visits DTTD. Here’s just one example – my bubble light fixture inspired by Jenna at Homeslice.
 
Inspiration 2











And what about Victoria’s goals for DTTD?
 
Well lovely DTTD readers, I’ve never been very good at writing out specific goals. I’m more of a capital P Plan Chickie! An admission: with a kind of undefined, greyish plan in place to do what I love, I left my job of 9+ years just 2 weeks ago! Eeeek!! Yep. My husband thinks “eeeek!!” too. He’s very mortgage focused ;-)
 
Now given that my plan is still murky, grey and grainy, I suppose it’s timely that I’m “forced” (by Kelly; she’s a task master!) to write down some goals for our lovingly resurrected DesignTies blog… especially since we want DT to transform into the more imaginative, design-focused and creative DTTD!
 
So with our tagline in mind – imagine.design.create – I share with you my goals for DTTD
 
Imagine. I believe that both Kelly and I are very imaginative and that our imagination will be reflected in what we bring to our DTTD readers. The question is what can we imagine and – more importantly – how ORIGINAL will our imaginings be? Therein lies my goal… originality in my imaginings! The blog-iverse is filled with imaginative bloggers. DTTD needs to be seen as a blog where our readers can find original, imaginative content. We can’t always achieve this goal, but we can push ourselves; we can strive for the originality that not only bring readers back, but continues to nourish our art, design and blog posts :-)
 
Design. Whether it be the projects we complete, the products we find (or make!) or the story boards we’re inspired to create, we’ll share all that we love about design! Kelly is a great writer, and she finds it extremely easy to do. Me… not so much!! My goal will be to share my love of design with our DTTD readers at least twice each week.
 
Create. I have so many things I want to create, so many projects either on the go or stuck in my head! For me – and for DTTD – I will get my projects done! I will start my new projects. I will create what I imagine! :-)  And I’ll write about them. More importantly (to me anyway), I’ll buy a new camera and learn to use it well so that my photos do my projects credit!!! Hahaha!
 
Art Prints and ResinArtA personal goal… I’m in the process of creating a home goods product line called EdinHome’s edie+tori collection. Art and graphic prints will be my primary focus for now. I’m taking some favourite creations made by my Mom, Laura Lambert Petrie, and reproducing them in a few different mediums – prints for framing, prints on canvas, ResinArt, perhaps colour block prints and definitely cards. I’ll also reproduce some of my photography for ResinArt and a few of my brother Brad Lambert’s illustrations. I’m currently preparing for the Scout Handmade + Vintage Market (hosted by Birch + Bird), and I plan (capital P Plan LOL!) on opening an Etsy store soon. Future products: designer pillows, original art, bowls, refinished vintage finds… what ever I put the edie+tori collection name on will be handmade or designed by me.
There! By sharing with the world I’ve just committed to my Plan… my Goal!
No turning back now! Happiness!!
 
Kelly and I will be working individually and together to achieve our DTTD goals. We hope all readers will be inspired by all that we have to share as we imagine.design.create!
 
 
sigs
 
Click here to follow DTTD on Twitter – it already has its very own account :-)
Our personal Twitter accounts can be accessed in our personalized sidebars. Follow us!!
 

36 comments:

  1. Looks great, Ladies!! Congrats on the new blog and keep up the good work! I'll be back (I am design-challenged...)

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    1. Thanks Rona :-) I hope we can give you some design inspiration :-)

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  2. So glad you two have joined up on this new blog adventure! I get a kick out of you both and am looking forward to following your projects and ideas. Congrats!

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  3. Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing all the inspiration I know you two ladies can deliver.

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  4. Very exciting! Congrats. I'm looking forward to reading all your fabulous future posts.

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  5. Congrats you two. Can't wait to see how you can inspire us!

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  6. Congrats! Very exciting times ahead and I so look forward to all the fabulous posts!

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  7. Wow - so glad to see Kelly in this new adventure and to meet you Victoria! Sounds like you're the perfect blog match made in heaven!

    Love your goals - Kelly, I wouldn't mind a little potty mouth road rage thrown in one in awhile (I have the same affliction)!

    Victoria - a blog, a new home goods collection and an Etsy shop - you go girl!

    So glad to be part of your launch and here's to seeing more great design and having a blast!
    (Linky following)!
    Kelly

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  8. What a beautiful blog!! Looking forward to following you~
    Bristol

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  9. What a dynamic duo!! Can't wait to be inspired by your new venture(s). Congrats to you both.

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  10. How wonderful that you were able to kick-off your first blog post at our link party! And I totally forgot to put blog world domination on my goals list ... maybe next year ...

    Hmmm ...

    Looks like you're well on your way. You both bring so much blog and design experience to the table ...

    I think I might start referring to you as "Double Trouble" ...

    :)

    Linda

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  11. Wishing you much success with your new blog! I love your goals and am anxious for the inspiration to begin! :)

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  12. HOW AWESOME!!! I just responded to your comment on the link party...for some reason got the impression that you hadn't linked up. But, of course, came to check out the new blog and here are your fun goals!! Seriously, what a great first post!! So great to see the excitement in you guys reuniting!!! Can't wait to follow your journey!
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

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    1. Thanks so much, Karah :-) Your great blog party is what got our butts in gear to make our official blog launch today :-) Hope we can keep the excitement going!

      Kelly

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  13. Always fun to 'meet' new friends. Love the artwork, btw!

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  14. Hey....wait....can't we hear more about the pie? Your new blog looks incredible and what a great story.

    Congratulations and so excited you are joining our party.

    blessings,
    karianne

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    1. Karianne, the link to the pie recipe is there, but kind of hard to see. Blog tweak #1, make links darker!

      Here you go:

      http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/09/06/the-ultimate-chocolate-fudge-pie/

      Enjoy!
      Kelly

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  15. This is one FABULOUS POST!!!!!! Your new blog looks amazing and I can't wait to watch it GROW!!!! hugs...

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  16. You are off to a great start! Best of luck with DTTD!

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  17. Love your goals, go ahead and give ua a little road rage and awesome recipes ; ). Have a great weekend!
    Debbie

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  18. Victoria and Kelly.

    So glad you're back together again!!! I've often visited before and I'll update my blogroll to reflect this new added adventure. So thrilled and looking forward to what's ahead for you both. Big hugs ladies!

    Bette

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    1. Thanks for updating your blogroll with DTTD, Bette :-) We're looking forward to sharing lots of great projects and information with you and our other readers :-)

      Kelly

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  19. why stop at design blog domination?!??! what about world domination! ;) this was so fun to read and it looks like you ladies are in for a fun ride!

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  20. I love happy reunions! Congrats ladies!

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  21. YAY!!! anything to get Victoria blogging more makes me a little giddy inside!! Can't wait to see the blog world domination take place! I'll be your biggest fan!

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  22. Congrats on the new blog! Look forward to seeing all your goodies to come Victoria! :)

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  23. I found you when you were Design Ties and followed you religiously! So happy the two have you are reunited once again!!

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  24. Congrats on your partnership and all your future plans! ;) Looking forward to much fabulosity! ;)

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  25. Love the new blog!! It looks fabulous:)

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  26. Love your spirit and your style, girls!! Welcome to a fun journey!

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    1. Thanks so much Heidi... we hope to see you back to DTTD often!!
      Victoria

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  27. Congrats! Glad to see that you two gals are a blogging team again. (Have you bookmarked.) -Brenda-

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  28. We so needed you guys!!! Looking forward to all of your future posts!

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