Front & Center!

Soooo  I have been a very busy bee lately.  This past weekend as you know was my mom's birthday.  I had also mentioned that we would be back in KC on Sunday because Hannah wanted to go to this concert.  So her friend ended up not being able to go, so who got stuck taking her then; me of course.  At first I was kind of indifferent about it, because I didn't really know the bands playing.  I knew Stephen Malkmus from the band he was in before (Pavement) but other than that I really didn't know how this would be.  And let me tell you, it was AMAZING!!  Now keep in mind I have never been to a concert (I know, I know...  for someone soooo into music this seems crazy, but since I am one of well one that likes the kind of music I do, its hard to motivate yourself to go to a concert alone.  Hopefully Hannah and I, and even Grant and I can go to some more concerts...soon!).  

Hannah and I get ready and head towards Lawrence to get there by 6:45ish.  We grab some dinner, and then head to The Granada.  The opener was The Nurses, and then the headliner was Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks.  So before leaving I heard one song from Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, and I liked it so I assumed it would be a nice show.  Since we got there so early, we got a spot front and center stage.  Like I was leaning on the stage, right up there, all up in their business.  So awesome!  I loved every single song The Nurses played.  They're really not well known, but I loved them!  (and I bought their vinyl LP at the end of the show! yay!)  They had a kind of more mellow style to them, which I am always attracted to.  Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks are a bit more up beat, and he goes into these amazing guitar solos.  I'll quit talking and let you enjoy some tracks from them...

The Nurses - Technicolor

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Stick Figures In Love

So the next day Hannah found pictures of us at the concert from people with The Granada.  This was so awesome!  I posted most of them below.  Click on the images to follow them to The Granada's Facebook Page and like them.  

This was a really great concert!  I had so much fun, and it was great spending time with my lil sis too!  This is definitely something that we both really enjoy and are passionate about; music.  I hope we get to do this a lot!

Alright, so the rest of this week so far has been pretty good as well.  At work I got put on a project to assist a few designers.  I have been working on pulling inspirational images, laying out the kitchen, and pulling specifications for appliances that will be in the kitchen design.  I enjoyed doing this a lot, and I hope that while I'm there I get to more things like this.  Today was really crazy because not only did I have to work on that project, but I also had to get another couple projects going for someone else and there was a huge event taking place tonight.  KU Med was actually hosting it, but they were using our showroom, so of course I helped get things tidied up and ready for the big event.  Crazy crazy day, but it was a good one at least!  Tomorrow I'm going in early to finish up the drawings to get ready to show them to the client.  I better be getting to bed then.  Have a great Wednesday everyone!

I would show my my jobs to my mother, and she would always say the same thing: “That’s nice dear.” And then she would say, “Did you write it?” or “Did you do the drawing?” or “Did you take the pictures?” I’d always answer “no,” then I realized the problem. My answer was then, “I made this happen. It’s called design.”  - Brian Webb

Best, 

Megan

Music makes my world go 'round

Oh how I love my music.  Isn't it funny how some songs and some lyrics just move you?  Maybe I'm just a little too emotional about my music, but I love the way I feel when listening to songs that make my heart ache or make me jump for joy.  Music is definitely something I run to when I'm having a bad day or something.  Since tonight has been a little stressful, I have definitely taken advantage of this free time to listen to some music.

I am not only a digital music lover (like most of us are these days) but I also love listening to my ever-growing vinyl collection.  I know people don't believe this when we say this, but they really do just sound so much better.  Its more of an experience than it is just listening to one track at a time through a digital copy.  If the artist has thought about his or her 'journey' through the album it will flow through smoothly; and that is what I LOVE about a good record.  Now I know I must sound like a hippy, but hey.  I'm going to keep listening to my records and enjoying them.

So this post is pretty random, but I wanted to get my mind off of things and talk about something that calms me down and keeps me sane.  I will try and have a better and longer post soon.  For now I'm going to continue to listen to my music and try and get some much needed sleep.

Designers have a dual duty; contractually to their clients and morally to the later users and recipients of their work.  - Hans Höger

Best,

Megan

5 things that I cannot live without!

1.  LOVE!

This is something that is very near and dear to my heart.  Ever since I can remember I have been a hopeless romantic and a sucker for anything to do with true love.  I definitely wear my heart on my sleeve.  Love is something that I NEED in my life.  Not only from my friends and family, but I need that someone in my life who is my best friend and loves me for me.  

...and I've found it.  :)  I am so very happy.  It's easy; I don't have to work at it like I have in the past.  It's sincere, true love.  This is the way I always have imagined it to be.  It's so amazing how this all happened and how lucky we are to have found each other.  I feel so comfortable, and I don't have to pretend to be someone else around him.  It's hard to believe that we've been together for almost a year (still have a few months to go), and I still feel just as in love as I did the first time we said it to each other.


2.  FAMILY!

My family is my rock.  They are the ones who have molded me into the young woman I have grown to be.  I will be forever grateful for where I came from and all of the great memories I have with them.  Although we may not be perfect, we are a family and we love each other.



3.  FRIENDS!

My friends are AMAZING!  I don't know what I would do with out my girlfriends!  Although I don't get to see them very often, we do stay in touch and remain the best of friends in all parts of the country.  I don't have a lot of friends, but the few friends that I do hold dear are very important to me!  I love you all very much, and you keep me sane!



4.  INSPIRATION!

I find inspiration everywhere.  Everyone needs inspiration in their life, and I really love looking through images, quotes, etc. to get inspired for a new project.  With pinterest in my life now (lol) finding inspiration, for even dinner, has become a fun experience!

5.  MUSIC!

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE love love music.  I am kind of a nerd when it comes to music really.  It's always been something in my life that brings emotions out in me, and just really makes me happy. If I couldn't listen to music, I would be a very sad Megan.

i love this artist!

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday afternoon!  And a great start to your work week!

Design is the search for a magical balance between business and art; art and craft; intuition and reason; concept and detail; playfulness and formality; client and designer; designer and printer; and printer and public.  - Valerie Pettis

Best,
Megan

My secret lover...

Well what I'm really talking about is my love for music; another thing that has been more prevalent in my life now that I have a bit more free time.  Music has always been very close to my heart.  Growing up I have vivid memories riding around with my dad listening to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, etc.  My dad is the source for many of my hobbies you could say, and we definitely share a passion for music.  He got me interested in vinyl records at a young age and now my collection keeps growing and growing.  So I thought that I would share some of my obsessions lately...

First off we have a band from Irvine, California called Young the Giant.  Their single Cough Syrup can be heard on Sirus AltNation, but I prefer this song much more of the same album.  This video is an acoustic live version which is really great!  It's called 'Apartment'

Next up we have Washed Out.  I have heard a few of their songs, and didn't even realize it was them.  This past weekend when watching Portlandia I was reminded of how great this song really is!  Very mellow and chill.  

This band has become a new favorite, and you just gotta love a female vocalist.  The Joy Formidable's song Whirring is a great up-beat song. 

So if indie bands can be called "well known" this band would be the perfect definition of that.  Fleet Foxes has that perfect mix of great vocals, lots of instruments, and a touch of folk to their music.  Love, love, love them. This song isn't new by any means, but I find myself listening to it a lot lately.

Of Monsters and Men has been playing on my local station here in Columbia, and I can't get enough of this song.  Gotta love that accordion!  :-P

If I were to have any secret lovers, this band takes the cake!  I have been totally obsessed with them since my Junior year in high school!  The Black Keys just came out with a new album entitled El Camino, and their first single on this album is 'Lonely Boy'.  Although this album was produced by Dangermouse (and you can definitely tell the difference between this album and their previous 'Brothers'), it still rings true to their original sound and style.  Gotta love these bluesy boys. (p.s. if you don't know the band, this guy is not Dan Auerbach or Patrick Carney in the video.)

I don't know what it is about this band, and particularly this song, but its soooo addicting!  The Cults just make me smile with this one.  The rest of the album is pretty good too!

So this one has been on my recently played for several months now.  I just don't get tired of Grizzly Bear.  I just love the melodic nature of this track.  Music video is a bit weird, but hey.

Monsters of Folk is another band that I have been listening to for quite a while, and just haven't ever gotten tired of this song.  They're not that well known, so I thought I'd share!

This next one is a hit of miss with people.  Some people can't stand his voice, but I love this album and his voice.  It's not for everyone.  Although Bon Iver's most popular song is probably Skinny Love, this song is also one of my favorites.

Obsessed with this song!!!  So basically if there is clapping or whistling in a song, you can almost be sure I will LOVE it.  lol  Heart it Races by Dr. Dog is just such a great song!

Iron & Wine has been around for a while, and I have always been a fan.  I guess I really dig the lo-fi stuff, cause I find myself listening to him a lot.  This is one of my favorites from him (and I just recently got this on vinyl)  His voice just makes me melt.  

And to end this post, a song that myself and someone very close to me ;) loves right now is from Gotye.  The lyrics just give me chills; in a good way.  

Such a beautiful yellow and white pattern.  The floral
is not so overpowering either it will really look nice
among other patterns.

Now that that is out of my system (for a while) I wanted to share with you some AMAZING fabric I found while looking at etsy last night.  Pretty sure I'm going to get a yard of this to reupholster that cane back chair I mentioned yesterday.  This little beauty is only $10.95 per yard, so I think I'm going to snatch it up.  It will look so great on my chair once it is painted white.  I love that it has that vintage look too, which I think will play nicely with the bold graphic patterns I already have going on.  eeee!  I'm as giddy as a school girl.  :-P  So with that I must be going to work now.  Hope you have a wonderful day!  

This is the closest picture I found on google images as to
what my cane back chair looks like.  This one has more
detail on the legs though.

I'm convinced that without bad design, the world would be a far less stimulating place; we would have nothing to marvel over and nothing to be nostalgic about. - Carrie Phillips

Best,

Megan