May 2013 ~ MAD DREAM DESIGN

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Mad Style // Beach Style

Paddling season is up and running with the third race of the season happening tomorrow. One thing the paddling season brings are those at the beach all day kind of days.

Summer is upon us and in California we have been having some great weather, but we also get a huge marine layer in the am, June gloom and eventually wonderful warm nights. So what should a girl pack for a whole day at the beach? I am talking waking up at 3am and not getting home till 6pm kinda beach day. I know, not your average day at the beach, but they are the best!

These are my favorite essentials for spending a day at the beach with my paddling ohana and getting a work out in while I am at it!

Inspiration:
(once the sun comes out)

I love this...hat, chambray cover up and a comfy pair of shorts = perfect.

The faves:

*At 3am I have got my leggings and big jacket on. I usually stuff my feet into my comfy uggs, grab my beach bag and go. There is no time for hair, so I almost always have a hat on.

Jacket: Patagonia Down Sweater Full-Zip Hoodie
Leggings: Lululemon Wunder Under
Bag: Roxy Start Stop Bag
Hat: Rip Curl Island Fever Trucker Hat

*We race in the mornings, so it is still cooler with the marine layer, but I always make sure to have sunscreen on, along with my favorite bathing suit top. We are all about cross and racer backs when it comes to tops.

Bathing Suit: Patagonia Print Kupala Top
Towel: Land's End Dot Beach Towel
Sunscreen: Neutrogena Suncare

NAC surfing in Santa Barbra, CA:

Photo Credit: C. Silvester

*After our race it is all about showering off and getting some food before the guys get back. The sun is usually out by now and it is warming up so I love an outfit like my inspiration above or a good sundress. Fun sunglasses are a must.

Sandals: Rainbows - Expresso Leather
Chambray Shirt: J. Crew Selvedge Chambray
Sunglasses: Sabre
T-Shirt: Rip Curl X Heather Brown Tee Into the Sea
+ my fave pair of denim shorts!

Photo Credit

Now after completing this Friday's favorites for the beach, all I can think about is August! On my birthday, I will be off to Hawaii for a full 10 days...GET ME THERE!

Happy Friday!!!

Heart Art // "We the People" Art

Happy Memorial Day!

The Tarnished series by Saber

All Photos from Saberone.com

Saber has long been known for his graffiti work in Los Angeles, CA. He become legend when he painted the largest graffiti piece ever on a cement bank in the LA River. He more recently has begun to exhibit his fine art and created some major controversy with the Tarnished series (above) and has been featured in major exhibitions at Street Cred (Pasadena Museum of Art), Art of the Street (MoCA) and at Opera Gallery (New York).

Controversy over the Tarnished series stems from a misinterpretation of the work, in that critics felt like the graffiti was defiling the American Flag. Saber has quite a different take on it and finds it to be more empowering then disgraceful. I could not help but to be reminded of Jasper Johns' paintings of the American flag when I first saw this series from Saber. On Saber's blog I found this quote that I think sums it up nicely: "Like Jasper Johns before him, Saber seems to have grasped the endless diversity of meaning that can be found in the symbol of our nation." Embracing the "we the people" movement, rather than a lash out toward America as a whole.

What do you think of Saber's work? And the integration of graffiti into fine art? I personally love the juxtaposition it creates. Graffiti is art and I find it far more interesting when displayed in a fine art medium. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Enjoy!

Mad Style // Giveway for FFF

Happy Friday!

Okay guys, this is a fun week, because Mad Dream Design is in, not one, but two giveaways!!!

Mad Dream Design on Feast.Fashion.Faves

My good friend Amanda stopped by my shop a few weeks ago to check out what I was up to and to do a fun interview! I am very excited that this weekend she is featuring my interview and designs on her blog Feast.Fashion.Faves! Check it out here!

Her photos are gorgeous, fun and natural. She hand picked my Arrow Drop earrings in copper to giveaway, because they are my most original design and for what they represent. To find out more about this design check them out in my shop!

Arrow Drop Earrings

This design was inspired by a the waves and ripples of the ocean's surface and the dash marks made by an arrow across a surface. Plus, 5% of the purchase price goes to BlueVoice.org, an ocean conservation organization founded in 2000 by Hardy Jones and Ted Danson. Its mission is to protect dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals and to raise popular awareness about the plight of the oceans. Find out more at www.bluevoice.org.

FFF for FFF
feast.fashion.faves for falling for friday

Not only do we love Friday, but we also love a great fashion blog!
Here is one with some Mad Style!

Feast.Fashion.Faves

If you have not been over to her blog yet...you should because it is a great resource for food, fashion and stylish favorites with a Southern California flavor. She has some of the best style to boot! FFF is celebrating its two year anniversary! Congrats Amanda, keep it coming!

Now head on over to Amanda's blog to enter for a chance to win my Arrow earrings!

There is also another chance to win a pair of my Bolt Drop earrings at Westover Manor!

Good Luck Friends and have a wonderful long weekend!

xo,

Summer Dreamin'

Who is dreaming of summer? I know I am.

We have gotten a taste of it the past few weeks here in California and I am loving it! I wish I could be outside more..that is the hardest part about working in an office...summer time. Along with dreaming of summer, I also have a lot of big goals to cover over the next 3 and half months.

In this week's 52 Lists Project, Moorea has prompted us to list our Summer goals! Ah yes, this is a good one because I need some to get me through the summer, first to make it awesome and second to make it a successful one!

Week 20
list your summer goals.
complete my Summer 2013 line. (Hint: July!!!)
go to hawaii. (August, cant wait!)
paddle. paddle. paddle.
camping. a lazy weekend here or there.
continue building my freelance graphic design business.
get some Vitamin D. lay out by the pool.
more custom orders. (Yes, I want to make you something amazing!)
SanO dayzzz. surf. beach.
engagement photos. save the dates. food tasting.
more wedding planning.
shop and business plan for rest of the year.
start on 2013 holiday line.
celebrate my birthday.
catch up. organize. create.
help build and learn wordpress web design.
revamp my website. (fun updates coming soon!)
go to a wedding. take a day off for my shop.
complete my business license process!
go to bed earlier. wake up earlier.
go on some runs. go to the movies.
find a new tv series on netflix. (Any suggestions?)
hang out at home with my faves.
backyard bbqs. eat s'mores. camp fires.
watch the sunset.

Yeah I love summer. What is on your list for summer? Share below!

xo,

Heart Art // Mad Dream Design

In the last post of this series I introduced my Spring 2013 Collection, Tribe Vibes.
Check um' out on Etsy!

I am a big believer in protecting our earth, preserving species, experiencing nature as it is meant to be seen - out in the wild. Animals and the ocean are a huge part of my life. I have 3 cats, 1 dog and a bird + all the animal friends I get to see on the water while I am paddling. The ocean is what makes our world so special and it is full of amazing creatures...many we have not even found yet. My work will always be inspired by nature, whether it is animals, plants, cultures, the ocean, the desert or sky. So I knew when I started my shop that I wanted to donate proceeds to non-profit organizations that are helping our oceans, deserts, plants and animals. My Spring Collection is donating 5% of each purchase to these six organizations.

Meet the Organizations

Falcon Ridge

The Marine Mammal Center

Blue Voice

Barks of Love
Enter to win a pair of Bolt drop earrings here!

A Gift for Animals

BLES

Stop by the shop and say hello! Or go check out some of these amazing organizations to learn more about what they are doing for our planet!

Enjoy!

Win a Pair!

Happy Monday!

Are you looking to get a pair of Mad Dream Design Drop Earrings?
If so, you are in luck...this month I am apart of a group giveaway over at Westover Manor!

Giveaway happening here!

Head on over to Kelly's blog to enter to win!

I am offering a pair of my Bolt Drop Earrings, where 5% of the purchase price goes to Barks of Love, the only non-profit canine rescue program in Orange County committed to matching dogs with ideal foster families that will give them the best chance at permanent, loving homes. Find out more at www.barksoflove.org.

Bolt Earrings from Mad Dream Design

Along with my earrings, I am offering a $10 store credit (Hint: Summer 2013 line is coming in July!), there is a bohemian headband from Just Dawnelle Designs, and a premade logo set from The Skinny Triangle.

Good Luck!
xo

Mad Style // Palm Springs Retreat

Introducing a new series called Mad Style!

Mad Dream Design will be bringing you fun style posts that range from travel to beautiful homes to the craziest designs through the Mad Style series, so stay tuned.

Palm Springs Oasis

Mom's deserve to relax on Mother's Day and in our family the best way to relax is by the pool on a warm day. Naps, food, cold drinks and pool rafts are a must, plus a lot of family silliness.

For the perfect Mother's Day adventure, we drove out to Palm Springs to spend the day by our own private pool in one of the most stylish houses I have been to in a long time.

This house, located in Palm Springs' Old Movie Colony, was built in 1934, and was once owned by Bill Crosby. It has been restored into a charming villa with everything you need for a relaxing weekend away.

This house kind of has it all. You can feel the history as soon as you walk in the giant wood doors. It is an old adobe style Spanish villa with white wash walls and exposed wood beams and ceiling. The courtyard and the wood doors under a hall like trellis remind me of a Spanish Mission.

Right away you are taken in by the open, yet cozy feeling of the house. The entry leads to a mass of french doors in the dinning area, that over look the large courtyard and pool deck. There is a retro vibe in a lot of the details, like the bright color walls, an old jute box, bright white and yellow patio furniture, and a neon sign labeling the cantina in the back of the courtyard.

You can find more photos here:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/722266

Enjoy!

Who Do I Want To Be?

Oh what a question...

The past year has been big for me...it may not seem that way to everyone, but that is not important, because I have been working on myself, for myself. I have failed at times, but I try to catch myself, work through it and get back at it. It has not been easy, and by no means am I even close to being done...this is a life long process, right?

I have also been focusing on this question, because as I started Mad Dream Design and I wanted it to represent me...or the person I am striving to be. I wanted it to be something that grew with me and found its place in the world like I am trying to do. Of course, the goal is the end result, but really it is all about the journey and spreading the good that only you have been given to create.

I have to remind myself of this constantly...seriously, just had to remind myself of that this past weekend! I love a good adventure, so I am definitely all in for life being the best one. Just show me the ways.

Print and Photo by Katie Swanson

This week in the 52 Lists project with Moorea Seal, we are answering just that question. Who do I want to be? Who am I? What do I want to be known for?

Week 19
the things you want to be known for.

a great listener.
a well rounded person.
an expert s'more maker.
passionate. intuitive.
a loving wife (soon).
honest. inspirational.
an ocean lover. different.
a good friend. wise.
creative. my art.
having good taste.
a family girl. a sweet daughter.
a well traveled girl.
an animal activist.
my smile. my style.
not afraid to laugh at myself.
having a sense of humor.
my jewelry. my designs.
a camper. an outdoorsy girl.
a great older sister.
an interest in the well being of others.
getting stuff done.
a good spirit. a brave soul.
an amazing mother (someday).
being true to myself.

What do you do to work on yourself? What do you want to be? What do you want to be known for? I am interested to see the similarities and the differences between our lists! Also, what do you need to work on most for yourself? Share in the comments below!

For me I need to work on not being a perfectionist, and that what I am, or doing, is enough. Perfection means the end...nothing else to discover or know...where is the fun in that? Mistakes are lessons, or an opportunity for something else, and not always a bad thing. Failure still means I was trying, so I can get up and try again, because if I didn't even start then where would I be? I am no master of this, but maybe someday I will be better at it.

xo,

Let's get Jazzed!

Week 18 // 52 Lists Project // The ways I am energized!

So I am back! Last week was hard to blog for some reason and the 52 Lists project for Week 17 was the people I admire. I did this list but decided not to post it because it while in the middle of writing it got really personal. Yes I could explain who everyone was, but I really didn't want to do that here. I enjoyed Week 17's list for the purpose of doing the list. Examining the things you love or admire about a person and in my case it is almost always the people closest to me. I was able to honor them in my list and in my heart last week. It was definitely on my mind.

This week I am feeling a lot more energy, and it just so happens to be a prompt about what makes you feel energized! I thought this list was fun, especially after the seriousness of last week's prompt. Energy is fun, and when I get it I like to use it for every last drop.

I took a Predictive Index Test at work and it showed my energy level to be at 82, so basically I am a marathon runner in training. Let me break it down a bit, for those who have not taken the test. In the test, the number for energy is not how much energy you have, but how you use it. There are people with a low number who need major down time between big projects or pushes. An average number offers that you need to do some, then break, do more, then break and so on. A high number means you just go, go, go from the time you wake up, till the time you go to bed. I am at the high end of average and low end of high...so I have endurance and most days are spent going and going from when I open my eyes in the morning, until I close them at night. Here is the catch...I need a day, usually about once a month where I do absolutely nothing...I mean my energy level is 0 and I literally cannot do anything.

So what energizes me? Here is the list.

Week 18
list the ways you are energized.

coffee. water. lists.
reading a good book.
writing in the mornings.
walking with ozzie.
drawing. napping.
laughing with jimi.
a peaceful night at home.
getting in the shop.
being in/on the water.
a little lunch break outside.
coming home after a long day.
a hot shower. yoga. music.
warm breezes in the late afternoon.
a good meal. the sun on my skin.
the smell of cinnamon.
crisp, cool morning air.
morning paddles.
getting stuff done.
the sound of waves.
new threads. cleaning.
camping. traveling.
break throughs.

music: nothing like a good song to get you to work or get you home.
being in water: nothing compares to being submerged in water.
the sound of waves: their energy is nothing short of inspiring.
break throughs: nothing like a good idea to get you moving.
traveling: this might be weird, but when traveling I have a ton more energy!
oh and naps...i like those.

When we did the Predictive Index at work, we discussed it as a team and now we understand ourselves and our teammates so much more knowing how they tick, what they need for energy. We found that we actually have a very well rounded, stable team...which being apart of R&D is an important thing. Like Moorea said, as introverts and extroverts we spend our energy and receive energy in such different ways, that is good to understand yourself and where others come from. I know I am introverted in most situations and need time to myself to find energy. Are you Introvert or Extrovert? How do you gain and spend your energy? What are your energy levels like? Can you keep pushing all day, or do you need some healthy breaks? I find this all very interesting, so share in the comments below!