Focus on Design is a Habit

Having a life focus on design has been a constant in my life since before I can remember.

I always sewed my own clothes in middle school and high school.

Learning all the needed skills from a Mother that sewed everything.

She supported us for years by sewing wedding party clothing for many brides.

She sewed costumes for theatre troups.

She sewed performance costumes for ballet, tap, and jazz.

She was the go to seamstress in the neighborhood, after her full time job of being a nurse.

She was always creating something.

One Easter she sewed new dresses for all of us girls (three of us)

and matching pastel coats.  The boys (three of them) got new shirts,

and shorts for the little guys and pants for my older brother.

She stayed up late after we were in bed and we could hear the sewing machine 

whirring and purring into the night.

She had more energy than most  people that I knew.

And the creativity was not just sewing, but alot of it related to that.

She created patterns, made patterns, and combined patterns.

She did handmade button holes and details like smocking,

and pleating.  She tailored clothing before it was called that.

So growing up with this kind of influence, it is no wonder that all of us kids

are creative and constantly making things.

I passed that on to my kids in many different ways.

Not sewing, although I did that routinely their whole lives.

But cooking, and creating food that is gorgeous.

Also making table linens, decorating dishes, and detailing other serving dishes for dinner parties.

Flowers.

Accents.

Creating themes for parties and decorating the house to reflect something fun.

But Design in life goes way beyond these things.

Design in life is actually creating a life concept where ever you are.

Making spaces your own.  

Your car.

Your house.

Your office.

Any hotel you stay in.

It all gets transformed when you lead with Design.

And it just happens.  

It is not a pushed or driven act.

It is the way you unpack your suitcase when traveling.

Or the way you do or do not make the bed,

use the bath linens

or arrange your lap top on the desk.

It all goes back to design.

And leading with Design is just the way that some of us live.