LotusHaus

My inspiration for the near Future! } Kate Fujimoto Event Design

Whoa, how do I contain my excitement? I finally found a career inspiration that closely matches my lifestyle, my experience and my aesthetic! Today I discovered the story of Kate Fujimoto... a fashion designer - turned wife - turned event designer! Kate Fujimoto worked as a fashion designer and product manager for labels such as Trina Turk and Betsey Johnson.  She was getting frustrated with the corporate structure and felt that her aesthetic didn’t necessarily match up to some of the companies she worked with. After planning her own wedding, Kate began to consider a career in event design. She took on small events at first, but with a growing client list, the budding designer launched Kate Fujimoto Event Design in November 2007. With an emphasis on color, texture and trim, she treats events as landscapes similar to fashion designs, and applies her expertise to every aspect of presentation. Kate often looks to the venue first— much like she used to look to the human form—to find ways to enhance its features...Kate, you are my she-ro!

Inspiration for the Week...and all the days of your life

To all of you, my wonderful and gracious readers, I wish you all the peace in the world and...

May the sun
Bring you new energy by day,
May the moon
Softly restore you by night,
May the rain
Wash away your worries
May the breeze
Blow new strength into your being
May you walk
Gently through the world and know
Its beauty all the days of your life
-Apache Blessing

Fancy and Frida

Be sure to check out Jubella's beautiful post about the amazing artist, Frida Kahlo...her life is an inspiration to me and this post really made my day! (image via Jubella)

Kiss The Earth } Happy Earth Day!

Kiss The Earth poem adapted from Thich Nhat Hanh: Buddhism in Action, by Maura D. Shaw (Skylight Paths, 2004).  For some additional inspiration I highly recommend any book by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.  Peace is Every Step is one of my favorite reads.

Take a moment now to watch this earth inspiring clip from the Planet Earth Series by BBC via KarmaTube

Current Inspiration } Seven Soulful Secrets

While searching for some self-employed and womanly inspiration at a bookstore, this book entitled, Seven Soulful Secrets whispered sweet somethings in my ear! Stephanie Stokes Oliver has an amazing story of perserverance with a journalism career that started at Glamour & Essence and continued with the launching of Heart & Soul magazine.  This book is very down-to-earth and contains lots of inspirational stories of creative and wise women. I highly recommend this book for those of you stuck in a rut!

Lotus Wish Necklace } For Brides to Be!

Here Comes The Bride! This gold dipped lotus flower necklace by Dogeared is the sweetest and most sentimental bridal shower gift I have ever come across! The simple act of making a wish and marking it with a heartfelt jewel is such an endearing act of intention. Your wishes are bound to come true! Thoughts and words are powerful when spoken aloud and focused upon in the material world. Check out the great selection of sentimental thoughts and jewel gifts available at Dogeared.

Happy New Year 2008

Scratch Patch } Organic and Natural Healing through Gem Stones

I opened up the latest Seattle Conscious Choice magazine and was magically inspired. Amanda Lamprecht is an amazing woman that helps others heal through many mediums. As the founder of the Joyful Healing Arts Center in West Seattle which offers wellness through yoga, music and sound therapy, Amanda has added another dimension of healing inspired by her South African roots.

Scratch Patch is a sensory experience in the Roosevelt district where you can immerse yourself in a sea of smooth, colorful gemstones and enjoy a sense of beauty and connection with nature. The experience is simple but oh so serene. Grab a plush flower basket, plop down and "scratch" around the thousands of beautiful gemstones that cover the floor, all the while listening to the sounds of birds chirping.

I surprised my hubby with a little trip to Scratch Patch yesterday (camera phone photos suck! oh well). As a DJ, I thought it would be fun for him because he "scratches" on the turntables. For me, it was the ultimate creative experience in color therapy. I'm the type of gal that likes going to the bead and jewelry shows for the sheer pleasure of handling the smooth surfaces and taking in all of the natural sparkling colors. Anyone who has seen Amelie's guilty pleasure of sliding her hand into a barrel of smooth beans, knows what I'm talking about. I had a lot of fun creating different color combinations and learning about the properties of the different stones. Amanda was such a wonderful soul and had such a positive and comforting vibe. Definitely an organic and natural experience! Take a friend and get to scratching! Oh and don't forget to check out Amanda's gem stone jewelry and her new children's jewelry collection!

Aani and the Tree Huggers } Save a Beloved Forest

Aani and the Tree Huggers is based on a true event in northern India, and presents an enduring message of bravery and environmental action. Aani, a young girl in a large Indian family, makes a decisive move to save her special tree from the cutters that have stormed their beloved forest.

This story is based on actual events known as the Chipko Andolan (Hug the Tree Movement), which took place in northern India in the 1970s. These were the original Tree Huggers! Because of this movement councils in India meet within most villages to decide how many trees can be cut without endangering the land and those who live there, and also, new trees are planted each spring. There is much to be learned and remembered here.

Help our next generation cherish the wonders of our environment. Share this book with them and relive the spirit of the original Tree Hugger movement. Go here to purchase a copy and make it a cherished heirloom for generations to come.

Get Amp'ed } Alternative Motivational Posters

Grow...Focus...Integrity... These are motivational concepts that until now were only conveyed with slick photography, clever quotes and a gallery wall in your HR department. Tired of these ho hum pieces, Right Brain Terrain has created illustrative & graphic "Alternative Motivational Posters," using rock concert posters for inspiration. Not only are these posters exciting and well-designed, they're made with 100% Post-Consumer Recycled, FSC Certified Papers, Certified Processed Chlorine Free, printed with Soy/vegetable Inks, and made with 100% Green Energy. Grab one today and you could be inspired by both the artwork's message and its green roots!