VERA BLOUIN

I was using the restroom early and started thinking (tmi, sorry) about this Vice Guide video "You Don't know Shit".  My mind had a flash back of a New Yorkers waste, the journey it takes once they flush and the end result.  Thanks to those guys I found myself pleasantly surprised and educated to learn about human compost.  Somehow the idea of someone else's crap being used as fertilizer to grow food for me to consume didn't sound all that tasty (though I am not opposed to the idea of my own).  I don't even want to get started on this whole "Peecycling" I read about thanks to National Geographic, anyhow I began to think, as I always do.  

I found it quite interesting to see the massive equipment used to clean, filter, and sort through all their junk.  How much of natures energy was consumed in the process?  Keep in mind, that is just one necessary evil to keep us and our bowel movements a safe arm distance away but what about everything else we seemingly need on a day to day basis?  My mind wouldn't allow me to rest on poop alone, I began to ponder our concrete towers and stripping earth of the resources it needs to protect us, all in the name of vanity.  I know it is kind of hypocritical of me when I encourage consumption to an extent as a designer.  Though don't judge too harshly, I am a designer with a hippy heart.  

I recently began my studies in Permaculture which is probably why I am on a soap box today and as a result my mind has been in overdrive.  It got me thinking, how have I contributed as simply one citizen of the world to its destruction? Then yesterday I watched this movie "Jupiter Ascending", fiction of course.  It was about our planet getting to a point where it could no longer sustain us and once it reached its breaking point we would be harvested, at least that was my interpretation.  

The earth alone is a well designed machine, just like human beings, where if anything is wrong it has a cure but every wound needs time to heal and the earth much more so than the human body.  If you cut your finger it may take a couple minutes to stop bleeding, then a day or so to start scabbing up and not long after that you are good as new.  Now imagine when we cut down a tree, if we were to plant a new one it its place it would take years to provide that same ground with the nourishment and organisms it had before to sustain life.  

The one question that keeps plaguing my mind is what can I/we do?  Nature has a beautiful way of fixing itself which in return will and can save all of life in its own way.  However we need to be willing to allow it to do the job it was assigned and possibly step back into our roll as simply its care takers while there is still life left on this planet.  

I just don't want this earth to get a point where because of our own materialistic needs we end up destroying it and ourselves, for what?  That is like the man trying to get all the riches in the world with no one to inherit it when he dies.  If each of us, as individuals, were to give even something as little as using less lights daily, I can only imagine the tidal wave it would have for life on this earth.  After all there are roughly 7 billion people sucking off the tit of earths welfare plan, that's the least we could do.

Lately, I have been thinking about myself, design and nature cause that is who I am to the core.  Design has become my literally living, breathing, journey that is just as much a part of me as my need for good food.  

My wonderful mind has been going back and forth asking what do I want to be remembered for as being my art form in life.  Every great architect, artist, or even fashion designer has their own distinct style but what will be mine?  What will separate me from every other designer out there.  It is one thing to be a great designer and another to the be THE designer.  

Doing design for others you can accidentally get caught up in someones else's style and easily forget what made you so important in the first place, YOU.  I have always lived under the premise that if you are going to do something why not be the best at what you do and see what happens.  No one ever looses from trying.

Today I decided that I will start focusing as much of my energy as I can between projects of course on developing my individual sustainable design style.  Which means for me, taking my first step into becoming permaculture certified. 

Permaculture, is basically a system designed to help you set up a sustainable way of living.  My idea of a perfect world would be one in which every living thing would have the natural resources it needs to not only survive but live, that was how life was originally designed to be.   For me, no longer should man be thought of as the measure of all things but rather life.   

Having worked on sustainable design projects in that past I have a great knowledge base to build up from.  However, with the ever increasing technology out there I realize it is probably important for me to truly get a grasp of the land first.  Getting to know mother nature a little better in my opinion is a great start.  

So here I go, starting on my journey where I can make permaculture design become just as important for the interior as it is for the exterior... 

Sman Cruisers

Of course this is all still new and design aside, I thought to share with you something quite personal to me, and that is bicycles.  Yes I have a small little obsession with bikes and now that I am not daily riding at the moment, I very much envy those free spirits who do.  However, don't fret for me I will soon find my way back onto two wheels of heaven shortly.

Living in Thailand sometimes well quality is not always the best, however, to be quite honest that is the case nearly everywhere you go, so maybe not just a Thailand issue.  So Thailand aside, I used to own probably one of the cheapest bicycles ever.  I bought it when I was living in the south and lets just say I had to carry with me a set of tools. Who was to say when I would need to adjust the ever wobbling seat or tighten a loose pedal, quality was not its great feature.  

However, even through my embarrassing bike struggles I became an elitist in mind during that time.  I found myself looking at those “car”and “motorbike” people and thought they would be so much cooler if they were on a bike too.   Nodding my head in understanding at other bike people during my journeys realizing we were some of the greatest people ever  Once the proud of owner of Sophie, my 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, I probably should be the last to snub someone for their oil sucking, earth destroying vehicles of choice. However, during that time I made daily biking my transportation of choice.  The wind against my face and the feeling of fresh rain on my skin, I was like car what?!? 

Considering I said I used to bike daily I am now at the point where I want those two sets of rubber wheels back.  Though not exactly, those, I am thinking quality this time.  Any old bike will not do, something modern, unique, that screams mid life crisis purchase, just kidding. 

Anyhow, after doing an abundance of research on aluminum, bamboo and wooden bikes I found Sman Cruisers. Each bike is literally a one of a kind, hand built, all wooden creation by Arnolt van der Sman.  All I can say, for me is that they are the epitome of architecture on two wheels. I am not certain yet if I want to get one as a daily cruiser but a show bike one day, absolutely. 

It just occurred to me, you know how they have car shows for people to share their whipped out rides, how cool would it be to do bike shows and showcase some of the most unique bikes on the planet. Just thoughts.

If you haven’t figured by now I am all about sustainable everything. Happy food, clean water, and a little hugging on the trees makes for a great day in my world :)  As an interior designer and well just a human being, I find that people don’t always see the world in my eyes, not saying that is the right way either. However for some reason, I have this grand belief that if we as individuals would be more conscious of the roles we play and our responsibility with regard to life, oh what a world this could be.  There would be a massive alteration in how we treat others, treat nature, and thus our universe becomes so much bigger.

With that being said I would like to introduce to you three artists I have wondered upon in my discoveries on the Internet scouring for brilliance.  Do you remember the “3 R’s” you hopefully learned in school or randomly from a poster on the streets?  Reduce, Re-use, Recycle…yes/no/maybe?  No concerns, once done here I have no doubt you will be reminded that it is definitely in to be all hippy planet loving and you can do it the cool way minus the tie dyed shirts.

Dead Star by Michel de Broin

The piece above is made from residual batteries whose life on the job literally just ran out.  Instead of these little guys living their golden years in a state of nothingness, it was decided they weren't done yet.  A once overworked and much under appreciated source of power is given a new breath of life through art.

Brigitte Bardot by Scott Fife

What do you do with when all you have is archival cardboard, drywall screws, and glue?  You create an amazing piece of art work, of course, at least that is what Seattle based artist Scott Fife does.  This was seriously love at first sight for me and I am talking about the kind of love that only happens in movies love.

Emergence by Sayaka Ganz

Last but certainly not least in this journey of saving the planet I would like to introduce you to why Japan is awesome!  Not too long ago I was told and I quote “Japan is sooo 1990″, ummm not sure what rock that person has been living under but I probably should of told them it might be time to come out.  Any country that can boast having Mount Fuji, some of the best architecture in the world and gave birth to Sayaka Ganz and her reclaimed pieces is definitely ahead of many.  Scrap metal, spirited horses, freeing themselves from the boundaries of my imagination, sounds like my idea of good times.

Don't let the fear of the unknown be a guiding force for the decisions in your life.  

Most of my life I have been guided by some unknown force that enjoys taking risks.  Once upon a time long ago in some far off place, I heard the phrase no risk no reward and decided to make that my life motto.  Personal opinion here, but I believe if people were willing to take more risks without thinking too much about what if, they might be surprised at the end result.  Sometimes our mind can go into over drive and we end up tactfully calculating ourselves out of possibly the best thing in life.   

Recently I was headed to meet with a potential client to discuss a new project and my nerves were all out of sync.  So, what do you do when you are freaking out over absolutely nothing? You phone a friend.  

Generally speaking I am a confident little character.  I know who I am for the most part and accept the journey as I evolve.  However, this meeting in my mind was different than all the rest.  I have done both residential and commercial design yet up until that evening had not touched my hand to designing a bar.  Here I was about to go meet with someone to discuss something out of my zone of expertise, or so I thought.

Yes, I love my occasional beer and round of chats with random people in a nice place but to actually design one, could I do this?  That was the question of the day swirling through my mind as I edged closer and closer to my destination.  The funny thing is I submitted a proposal knowing good and well that this was new territory (of course I made him aware of this fact), and here I was being presented with the possible jolt I wanted and fear started creeping in my bones.  I have been gifted with a mind that thinks a bit like an engineer but sometimes in overdrive.  It can be a gift in so many ways but also an unwelcome curse.  My mind was screaming, “Can you actually do this, what if he selects me, would I really truly be able to come up with a creative enough idea?...”  I don’t like doubting myself, for me I always believe that everything is possible as long as knowledge and the ability to do are attainable. 

Now here I was, on the way to this meeting, freaking out talking to my friend and was reminded that design is design.  You go through pretty much the same thought process regardless of the type of project.  Of course things are going vary but they do on any other project as well.  Nothing in life is ever the same.  If you run a half marathon or full the trails to get to the finish line are always different but regardless it is still a marathon none the less.  That is the same with design it is all design but how you go about getting to your end result is what makes it worth it.  

Needless to say, after being calmed I went to the meeting with my chin up, still a little nervous but thanks to a great friend was able to drop the fears and what if’s.  A day later found out I was awarded the project.  However, let’s say I had gone into that meeting smelling like our worst enemy fear, do you think this client would have even given me the time of day or taken a risk on me, absolutely not.  Why would someone believe in you if you are too scared to believe in yourself?

Life has a funny way of when we want and need something giving it to us because we simply asked.  Yet when the idea of actually receiving becomes a reality fear creeps in and always tries to take over.  I don’t know why that is.  However, fear is nothing short of that little bad angel on our shoulder trying to hold us back from all the great things in life that are already ours if we are willing to accept it. 

So I would like to leave you with this thought.  Never make a decision where the answer comes from fear.  Just breath, clear your mind, know that on the opposite end of fear is peace and with peace comes success.   

Our whole life we are prepped for change.  From birth we realize that at some point we have to get out there and explore the world.  It is the animal instinct in us, part of our predatory nature to seek out and conquer.  Why else do you think we decided it was probably better to not remain simply cave men.  Nothing ever stays the same and if it does it will eventually die. 

I always had an unquenchable thirst in me to keep moving forward.  I am reminded in my childhood how I felt just a bit sorry for those who only ever experienced their own town or state, never branching out of the comfort of the familiar for whatever reason.  Something in me felt a sense of superiority intellectually (obviously I wasn't) because I was exposed to the freedom of venturing into the unknown, partly due to my father.  Even now in his moderately old age he still has that same zest for life seeking and being open.  He always told us, "Never believe something cause it is what I believe.  Seek, ask why and when you get to a point where you no longer have questions, there is your truth".  Even in our home nothing ever stayed the same.  My dad was always building something new or my mom freshening up the home simply because maybe it was spring or a necessity.  I can't recall a time whether in my home or otherwise where I was introduced to a stagnant life or even mind.  My mother used to say that, "just because you are out of school doesn't mean your brain stops working".  We were always doing something, mind always nourished and that was not a bad thing.  

Throughout my life I have made to some what seems crazy impulsive decisions.  Many have told me Vera you need to be realistic.  My natural response was what is realistic?  Why would I want to live someone else's ideal of real or even practical?  I don't ever want to be the one sitting on the side lines of a game, I want to not only be in it but an active and major part of it.  For me that is life. 

Because of my life choices, I have really had the privilege to do a lot that others don't see and doing so as a single woman.  Be open to change, you don't need others to make life happen for you.  If you free yourself from the things and people that want to hold you in that moment you will find your purpose.  

It is truly my belief that we were put on this planet to do the thing that drives us, or passion.  Anything else is simply settling for second best, and like I said in my last post, for a human being who potentially has a 1 in 700 trillionth chance at birth even the simple fact that we are here means we are already winners.  

We just have to be willing to take the road less traveled and see it through.

Since conception we are aware of the necessity to evolve.  Children don't come into the world even understanding the concept of can't.  No one tells a child who is learning to walk, oh you can't do that.  They are screaming "You can do it", usually in a high pitched excited voice at those first steps.  So why is it, as we go along in life, that we begin to believe we can't when were born winners, all of us.

I watched this Ted Talk on YouTube sometime ago given by Mel Robbins titled 'F--- You -- how to stop screwing yourself over', and there was one thing she noted that kept resonating in my spirit, scientist did a study on the probability of being born.  They concluded that for one person to be born on this planet they have an approximately 1 in 700 trillionth chance at life.  After hearing that I was like man that is some powerful knowledge.  To think that out of those odds I, you, the person on the street were selected to breath life onto this planet.  What an amazing thought, to even attempt to digest that takes a bit of effort.

So given the odds of our even being born why do we at some point in life feed into this can't mindset.  Like my parents used to say can't isn't isn't a word and the world has made those few letters a reality for so many of us.  Why?

I have had people over the years to tell me Vera you need to be more realistic and my response is always what is realistic.  I mean if the seed was planted in me to do something then why not do it, it was put there for a purpose.  I strongly believe we all have talents but for whatever reason we begin to listen to those "rational" beings in our life who are ruled by fear rather then silencing that voice to hear the power inside us.

As designer one of the things I absolutely do not like hearing people say is can't.  For me everything is possible it is just how you go about creating that reality for your client.  Yes sometimes we will be with what we feel is the seemingly impossible, but for me it is always a matter of how can we make this happen.  I can hardly image Steve Jobs going well we can't make this I-Phone, or Henry Ford saying yeah we can't make this V-8 truck it is just not possible.  

If I haven't learned anything over the years is that life is about the choices and the decisions you make.  If you choose to be of those people that feeds into the "I can't" mindset then don't complain about where you are.  Especially when your life started out as you winning against great odds.  Don't put limits on the greatness that is inside you!

Lighting and I have a love hate relationship, I know you are probably looking at me sides for that statement but it is okay.  As a designer I understand the necessity and power of light.  Literally if a room sat empty and the only thing you could do to dress it up was through lighting, then you are in luck because the options are virtually limitless.  So why the love hate?  I am very big on using as much natural light if possible in a room, if I don’t have to flick that switch then I am all the happier.  I know, I know the world doesn't revolve around me, which is why I have come to terms with the fact that artificial light is a great gift that should be respected and not overly consumed.

So with that being said I thought today I would share with you some really great lighting made of recycled materials, all in the spirit of conservation.  

N 34 Light by Chengyuan Wei  

Chengyuan Wei is an industrial designer from Hangzhous China.  The great thing about this light is that it an origami design made from folded paper and the light reacts to the user.  I can only imagine creating this out of newspaper or old magazine or host of so many other materials.

Spoon Lamp by Studio Verissimo

I am more of a tea person myself, but there is nothing wrong with a coffee drinker.  The lamp was designed with coffee stirrers.  I like the fact that instead of them simply going to waste they were reused in a pretty brilliant way.  The next time I see a friend drink coffee instead of trying to pursued them to gravitate to the tea life, I may have to start asking them what kind of stirrers they use.

Coffee Filter Lamp By Christian DuCharme 

A great swedish designer Christian DuCharme, designed this lamp out of coffee filters.  This is such an excellent and innovative way of using those filters for art instead of making coffee.  I love this idea, I might even have to try to create my own version just for fun.  Actually I will do it and post a picture for you lovelies to see, so to be continued on this post.

Book Lamp by Ragip Erdem

For anyone who has every been taken to a far away land through a book will understand the power of this particular lamp.  Have you ever looked at something and thought immediately if only.  The great thing is that literally this lamp uses every part of the book leaving nothing to waste.  So if you are up to create a bit of a mood this may be just the way to go.

There is a saying by Freud that goes something to the effect, things that happen in your childhood affect your adult lifestyle, and I strongly believe that.  Like many, when I look back on my childhood I am reminded of the experiences and people that unbeknownst to them left a permanent stamp in my mind.  As a result those experiences became a small part of the guiding force from which I make my own life choices.

If it weren't for my first grade teacher I probably wouldn't have become a vegetarian but who knows.  On a field trip to a plant where pigs were later turned into hot dogs was just a bit much for me.  All I can remember thinking at the end of that whole experience, “What is wrong with these people?  Why on earth are they eating those hot dogs, didn't they see what I just saw?”.  Teachers have a very powerful influence on the life of a child and sadly many of them don’t even come close to getting the credit or praise they deserve.

I am a product of the 80’s and that comes with its own history.  Growing up I saw campaign after campaign in one form or another telling people to save the planet.  Signs were all over the place with earth as the focal point encouraging people to become nature conscious.  The media eventually gravitated to save the dolphins and save the whales.  I remember those advertisements being displayed proudly on tie dyed t-shirts everywhere I went.  Then there was the 3r’s, reduce, reuse and recycle.  I can’t forget the best one yet, Earth Day, this was set aside as the one day where people shared mother nature and how we as humans could be better, yet as I grew the celebration and respect for that day became less and less.   

Speed up to modern day 2015, and what is sad is that people are still screaming save the planet and it seems only a minority of the population is listening, I guess some is better than none.  Now at least we have more people trying to live more sustainable lives with their Net Zero homes, tiny houses, eco friendly products, recycled furniture, living off the land and clean lifestyles.  We also have great groups whether you agree with there methods or not trying to create change like PETA and Greenpeace.

One of the greatest memories I have is of a family (Father, Mother and two daughters) I met living on the outskirts of Louisville, KY living far back in the trees and away from what seemed like at the time all of civilization.  It was the 80’s and they were living off the land.  No electricity, no phone, no technology, no connection to artificial life or the city and they were happy.  They lived in a small cabin which was open to the elements and life, no doors, no borders, they were free.  The water they drank came from their well, food came from seeds they planted and harvested on their land and electricity was a burning fire or homemade candles. Visiting them I had this feeling of always pure joy and longing to be just like them and I still long for that.  I imagine that is the purpose of this life, for us to live, do our part and simply be free of chains.

I have found over the years as a designer that nothing I design is entirely originally all of my own creation.  All things which exist on this universe are the design of someone else, whether it is the leaf, bird in the air, sweater in the shop or even cake on a plate.  Every creative whether artist, musician, architect, designer or even builder has either seen something or someone that inspires them to a point that awakens the giant within and if they follow, it can turn simple creatives into masters of their craft. 

Renoir had his redheads, Da Vinci had Mona Lisa (yes I know there is a lot that goes with me saying that),  Van Gogh had his demons and the list goes on.  Those individuals and many other great creatives you might say "Oh, but they had the skill, vision and drive to achieve that level of excellence".  However I believe we all have that greatness in us it is just a matter of finding our inspiration.  I am pretty sure without, it is possible the guys I listed above we would be like, "who?"   

As a designer and just an all around creative person, my entire life I have been flooded with the influence of things and people that inspire me.  As a child it began with seeing my father build or my mother paint some wonderful portrait of us.  I feel that as designers and artists we are simply a channel in which history whether on a grand scale or small continues and cycles through us.  We keep people, creation, architecture, and so many other things alive through our designs.  Though I think it is important to remember that, our work is is simply a continuation of picking up where someone else left off, all an evolutionary process.  

I said all that to say before I share with you my own designs, I think it truly necessary to give you a few who have inspired my own path and have been my influences in how I approach design.  Simply giving credit where credit is due and realizing that nothing I ever do is simply just my own.  There are those whose sweat blood and tears soaked the pathway for so many of us designers to follow.  

One of the most iconic designs from the genius that is Frank Lloyd Wright is the Falling water home aka Kaufmann house in Pennsylvania.  This house embodies really all his principles of organic architecture.  I had the pleasure of going to Taliesin West in Scottsdale, AZ and have to say this was a man who in every since of the word believed what he designed.  For Wright a home or really any structure was supposed to spring from the earth as if it was always meant to be.

Le Corbusier was in my opinion one of the greatest out there.  This guy was all about brutalism, meaning creating these stark massive concrete blocks forms paired with steel.  I can't say enough about him so I will let the simple effortlessness of his design speak for itself.  Here is a man who saw that pairing concrete with stone and wood was a way to turn a building into an artform and said "A house is a machine for living".  Which when we think about it, even in our modern day he so very true.