Secret: kept from knowlege or view; marked by the habit of discretion; I love to plan parties!

Ooops. That title doesn't make much sense and I might be getting in too deep, but I just can't contain my excitement.

I really enjoy parties. I enjoy big parties, themed parties, birthday parties, music parties, no reason parties and most particularly wedding parties. There's nothing quite like having friends and family together to celebrate ...the splendor, the imagination, the chaos! Like my thoughts on facilitating life through the spaces around us, I do the same for said get-togethers. These are some shots of a one year old birthday party I prettied for a lovely friends daughter, followed by a wedding where I just made sure things were getting done. I fancy myself a seer and a doer, and on your wedding day, it's really helpful to have one of those :)

Hope you have some celebrations of your own planned. If you need a little help ... kellymarie@certainspectacle.com ;)

 

Find: to discover by the intellect or feeling; to meet with; a particular object of my affection.

Inspiration is quite tangible for me, meaning, I like to be able to touch it. I am in an industry (if it's not clear yet, this Certain Spectacle is my work) where what I produce is highly affected by the work of other dreamers and creators. If I could, I would build, stitch, paint and weld every last detail, but as it stands I rely heavily on talented furniture designers, artists, carpenters, lightologists, etc.

What I love about the way I do what I do, is that I get to see, touch, smell, and even hear the stories behind the goods that will be the basis for a new space. A space that will have it's own sights, smells, tastes and stories. These are a few new finds I am particularly fond of.

I brought the farm table, old red amunition box, and mirror home that day. The mantle from an old mansion on Logan Blvd would have come with me too if I could have carried it.

Granite: a very hard natural igneous rock formation of visibly crystalline texture, formed essentially of quartz and orthoclase or microcline and used especially for beauty induced moments of awe.

I've seen so many good things this week. A smattering of happy faces at the sight of new furniture, a new home, and new work space. I truly enjoy getting to share those moments with people. Spaces excite me, and I am even more pleased when they excite other people.

With all of that going on, as well as some fantastic finds, I had a moment. It happened at the end of a long shopping day with a client in Naperville. Hoping to find just the right bathroom counter, we wandered over to a granite warehouse. I thought I had my mind wrapped around granite, but no, I have never seen so much natural occurring beauty in my life. This stuff is just sitting under layers of dirt! It's incredible to think that there are things like this out there that have been created for the sheer goodness of beauty, to be seen, or maybe not.

My absolute favorite slab. After twenty two rows of piece after piece I turned the corner to find this one standing alone. I thought at first that it was a photograph of the surface of the earth. Friends, this is a solid, one of a kind, slab of honed and polished rock. Oh how he delights.

Caliper: any of various measuring instruments having two adjustable arms, legs, or jaws used especially to measure diameter; also for the purpose of wall art.

Sharing some of my latest finds. The Calipers are ... well, explained above. The metal objects that appear to be little shoes, are shoe molds. Otherwise known as $1 paper weights, rustic display decor, or my next and most outrageous undertaking of becoming a cobbler of children's shoes. (The latter is quite unlikely.)

 These fancy finds will be landing in a space that is in process, the studio space that I am currently writing from. Hope to share it with you soon!