Being Creative Means You Can Create in Diverse Areas!

Mixtape Necklace © 2013 Ian Vandenberg Design

Our regular readers may have noticed that my posts lately have been a lot about creativity, and that's very exciting to me. Our courses at Sheffield School are all geared to creative professionals, and by that we mean anyone who would like to pursue a hobby or personal interest more seriously or possibly earn extra money through creative pursuits or open up a new business in a creative endeavor.
 

Arbor table © 2013 Ian Vandenberg Design

I recently ran into a young Toronto, Canada designer whose creations run into both jewelry design and furniture design. How exciting is that! Designer Ian Vandenberg wants to create more jewelry and more furniture in the coming year, and it's great that he doesn't feel the need to pigeon-hold his output into just one area. Here's how Ian sees his creative future shaping up.

Over the next few years I would like to continue to develop lasting relationships with retailers who appreciate good design and local manufacturing. 

Ian would like to have his own online store selling directly to consumers. Follow Ian and encourage a fellow creative professional! Right now, look for his work for sale at

•  Etsy and Ideacious

If you're interested in learning more about how to take your creative interests to the next level, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

How to Get a Design Proposal Accepted: Get Inside Your Client's Head

So you've spent a lot of time as an interior designer putting together a great client proposal. You've done the shopping, your homework has been flawless, your creative shines through each element of the design you're giving to your client - but something is wrong! Your client isn't budging. They want to see more chairs (after you've showed them every chair in your local showrooms) or they're balking about the budget, or the color's not quite right, or.... What's a designer to do?

I tried tackling this all-too-common issue for interior designers (and other creative businesspeople who are trying to cater to the custom design needs of their clients) and wrote an article for the Williams-Sonoma Designer Marketplace Blog called Why You Should Care (a Lot) About Getting Inside Your Client's Head. Click on the link and enjoy. Please tell me what you think and leave a comment on the W-S blog - and look through the blog as it's a great resource for design lovers.

If you're interested in learning more about how to take your creative interests to the next level, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

5 Inspiring Jewelry Pieces from This Year's Winter Antiques Show

Cartier Carved Bead Brooch, 1940, from A La Vieille Russie

I've noticed how jewelry has successfully invaded the world of interior design, and I say that in a good way. Interior design is at the nexus of fashion, and jewelry appeals to the design savvy as an extension of where we live and how we decorate. Go to any interiors show, and you'll find jewelry to be a big part of the exhibition space. "Handmade" is one of the hot buzz words in design, and jewelry has always been about hand crafting beautiful wearable art objects. Here are some of my favorites from January's Winter Antiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC. In this best-dealers-only curated show, I found some of the world's finest jewelry on display. Click on each photo for more information.

Antique gold bangle snake bracelet, 1880, from Kentshire

Gold pendant necklace, 1969, by Lucio del Pezzo from Didier Ltd.

Double ball beaded earrings in lavender and tanzanite by Axel Russmeyer from Kentshire
Gold necklace, 1969, by Arnaldo Pomodoro from Didier Ltd.

If you're interested in learning more about wedding planning and decor, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

4 Favorite Wedding Inspiration Color Stories

Pink Color Story {Photos by: Perfect Bound / Studio Straulino / Kate Spade / Oh Joy}

Do you know what we mean by a wedding color story? It's basically taking swatches of colors that provide complimentary hues, soothing monochromatic tones, and/or bold contrasting choices to begin selecting how a wedding will ultimately be styled - from the colors of bridesmaids dresses to the bridal bouquet and reception table decor. 

Green Color Story {Photos by: Alexandra Grablewski / Max Wanger / Design*Sponge / Johnny Miller / via The City Sage}

The color swatches is where you begin. But then you start to add online photos to your Pinterest page, print out photos from online, or cut them out of newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and other print sources to add real-life images to help bring the colors to life. One color swatch might be brought to life in a pair of shoes, the trim on a dress, or the wallpaper in a chic living room. Usually the color story begins with fashion and then the story grows and grows from there. But the swatches interrelate to help tell the complete story.

Neutral Color Story {Photos by: miles aldridge / deb mclean / jose villa / deb mclean}

Our friends at 100 Layer Cake, the most popular wedding blog on the planet, have created beautiful color stories. Click here to see collections of their color stories. Start by clicking on your favorite color, and then you'll find multiple "storyboards" to go with that color and expand upon it. Color stories and these color boards are great inspirational ways to help plan a wedding. Remember: a picture is worth a thousand words. Color stories are told with color swatches and photographs, and they're an essential component of planning a visully stunning event. Click on any of our four favorite color stories to see more.

Metallic Color Story {Photos by: cabin 7 / Nicolette Camille / Conroy & Wilcox via Randi Brookman Harris’s blog / Alexandra Grablewski}

Thanks to 100 Layer Cake for their beautiful photographs, posts, and wedding and event inspiration. 100 Layer Cake is a unique, comprehensive wedding and event planning resource for and by thoughtful, crafty modern women. Their vendors, projects, weddings, resources, sponsors, and marketplace are hand-picked and thoroughly researched with the hope that every single one is a truly unique addition to both your wedding and your planning process. Visit the 100 Layer Cake website today.

If you're interested in learning more about wedding planning and decor, we encourage you to explore the Sheffield School, New York, NY. Sheffield began as an Interior Design school in 1985, and then expanded our course offerings to train people in other design-related fields, including Feng Shui, Wedding and Event Planning, and Jewelry Design. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any school in the world.

Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.

Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.

6 Last-Minute Easter Ideas

We usually don't blog on the weekends, but we wanted to wish you and your family Happy Spring, Happy Passover, and Happy Easter - and quickly share with you 6 Vibrant Easter Ideas for Springtime Events. These are great party ideas to celebrate the season.