These days I spend 90% of my time, when at home, in my bedroom. This was never the case in the past, preferring to sprawl out in my livingroom or lounge in my backyard. But in my current dwelling, my bedroom is my everything room just because it's the one room in the house that is all about me. It's the place I do yoga, write papers for school, sketch new designs for Jypsea Leathergoods, mediate and of course, sleep.
I even have a sewing machine in here behind a beautiful Asian screen.
Here are some shots:
Get great bedding sets, amazing scented candles/incenses, comfy pillows, a few pieces of furniture that really speak to your personal aesthetic, and art that you enjoy; you'll barely leave your little retreat either.
Pantone has named "Marsala" the Color of the Year for 2015. It's a shade of red that we haven't really seen much of so it's FRESH! Marsala is a warm, mood-shifting color for me. Before I knew it was gonna be the Pantone Color of the Year, I had already bought a "Marsala-esque" lip color by Maybelline called "Plum Paradise" that I absolutely love. It isn't a "look at ME" red...it's more of a "LONG for me" red! Instant sophistication!
Here are some easy ways to bring this sultry, head-turning color into your life.
A great pair of leather pants by Rebecca Minkoff.
A solid dress ala Beyonce in a Marsala dress at the Billboard Women in Music Luncheon
Marsala home accents: rug and throw pillows
Marsala Love Seat
Marsala Nail Color
Mac and Nars both have a Marsala Lip Stick
How will you incorporate the color Marsala into your life?
I met Malene Barnett approximately 2 yrs ago at a Tory Burch Foundation Networking event that mutual friend, handbag designer Nneka Saran, had invited me to. Nneka and Malene were both participants in the intensive entrepreneurship program that took place earlier in that year. As I was meeting women throughout the room and exchanging business cards, not one but ALL said to me, "You must meet Malene!" once I told them I was starting a line of home goods. So I marched over to woman with the tapered haircut, silky smooth brown skin and smile as bright as the sun; and introduced myself. Now, just so you know, that's not really my style. I prefer introductions because people can be cold and standoffish and downright rude when approached by a stranger but not Malene. She greeted me warmly. We quickly discovered that we were FIT alums and the conversation flowed smoothly. I asked her questions about approaching new stores with my line and she so graciously dispensed advice that still stays in the back on my mind to this day.
In the next few days I received my FIT magazine, HUE and guess who was featured? Malene B, of course! Her work has been featured in countless magazines and online publications and rightfully so. Malene B. Carpets are not just beautiful, they are soulful and come from a place of authenticity inspired by her travels. It has been an honor to have the opportunity to interview one of my favorite designers for The Lifestyles of the Authentic & Creative.
1. Please introduce yourself.
My name is Malene Barnett and I’m the Design Director and Principal of Malene B Carpets.
2. What do you create?
We make handmade custom carpets and home furnishings for luxury residential and commercial environments. Each product we create is inspired from my travels and passion for all things art and culture.
3. How did you get started on your creative path?
My creative story starts in third grade when I was placed in an artistically talented program. The kids were encouraged to express themselves through drawing and painting.
4. What inspires you to create? I love culture, rituals, celebrations and the stories behind these traditions. Combined with our planets landscape, these elements set the stage for creating the quintessentialMaleneB design.
5. How have you been able to make a living by being you authentic & creative self?
I worked in the rug industry with major players for 10 years. And, before launching my business, I studied the design industry and the paths of its most renown entrepreneurs. My personal savings were the foundation for opening Malene B Carpets. To date, I have not taken out a bank loans to support this venture.
Prior to opening, I purchased a house. Since my home was priority, a grassroots approach to business building was its format. I relied on word of mouth, heavily networked and developed great relationships with media.
The first 4.5 years were really rocky. I had no credit cards -- maxed out on home renovations. I operated on a cash basis and only bought what was affordable. If I couldn’t afford something, I created it or waited until I could afford it. I trimmed spending to the basics: no cable, no landline phone and no vacations. My life had to be simplified to accommodate my entrepreneurial lifestyle.
6. What new projects are your working on?
In the Spring of 2015, I’m launching a new collection of carpets, tile, wallpaper and decorative accessories all inspired by my mother’s homeland, the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. Also, I recently forged
a partnership with Kravet, with whom I will launch a carpet collection in 2016.
Receive more frank business advice from Malene B. on this amazing panel of entrepreneurial women designers on February 15th in Montclair, NJ.I'll be there.
It's so inspiring to see how bootstrapping, dedication, building relationships, and creating a beautiful product line will pan out and bring our entrepreneurial dreams to fruition.
Many, many thanks to Malene B. for sharing her passion with us.
Join us on JC Fridays, a quarterly city-wide
celebration of the arts in Jersey City, as the latest work from
designer/artist Terina Nicole, founder of Jypsea Leathergoods is
presented at Ed's Salvage Co. Participate in a fab design DIY project and goodie bag giveaway! (while supplies last) in conjunction with Etsy 2014 Craft Party!
Free and open to the public.
June 6th, 6:30-8:30pm at 672 Bergen St., Jersey City
Terina Nicole is a New Jersey City University graduate student, Fashion Institute of Technology
alumni and creator of Jypsea – a home & body luxe line of leather
goods. The collection’s focus is jewelry, handbags, small leather
objects and furnishings. Materials used includes exotic skins, up-cycled
finds, wood and metal; with all, she provides an infusion of soul.
I was once OBSESSED with H & M. Its cheap chic mixed with my hi-end vintage attire for the perfect hi-lo fashion cocktail beautifully. But alas, being self-employed means more time spent at home than out in the world, which means a lot less shopping for cheap chic.
BUT now my love affair is reunited as they introduce home goods! As you already know, I am a home goods designer myself so the new cocktail du jour will be their cheap chic mixed with Jypsea Leathergoods for the perfectly, fabulous loung-y home environment. Joy!
Pieces starting just $4!
Jypsea Leathergoods is no longer just about handcrafted, one-of-a-kind handbags. Leather & exotic skin home decor and small furnishings are now on the menu. Check out
some of my latest projects:
Leather "Goddess" Belt upcycled from leather jeans.
Show Mom how much you care. Get her something that will make her BEAM with PRIDE every time she sets the table! 20% Off All Tableware at www.Jypsea.com
Join me, NJ-based Designer/Leather Artisan Meca McKinney of Jypsea.com, as I reveal my debut collection of leather & exotic skin handcrafted HOME GOODS in Brooklyn, NY on 4/20/13.
RSVP: http://jypseahomelaunch.eventbrite.com
Free admission with RSVP & dessert platter and VIP Swag Bags for Press & Shoppers.
I have always loved home decor, interior design and architecture and today I began my first day on a home staging job. I love it. Love it. Love it. Coincidentally, I just surfed onto this great site, Vintage Revivals, full of home decor tips using vintage/thift furniture, which is my specialty. So here's a dope diy project: Make your own zebra print rug. I particularly love it because in my first vintage boutique, PYT, I had red walls and a zebra rug I paid so much for (which made me feel soooo mature and sophisticated)...this was a decade ago and I now think spending too much $$ is just plain dumb but I digrest...Enjoy! xo
Why home accessories? Because accessories are the medium through which we explore trends, take risks, and, ultimately, express ourselves. Of all possible design choices, we believe the objects placed in a room are most likely to reflect one’s personality and life experiences. They may include that gift from a dear friend, unique find from a favorite boutique, or souvenir from travels afar.
To facilitate and inspire this form of expression, you’ll notice Sukio’s products are rare and eclectic - our collections, small. We don’t offer the world. Rather, Sukio provides a curated array of goods - each chosen for their quality and aesthetic.
Funny but when I was growing up in Newark, NJ, using old furniture to decorate the apartment was simply called "making due with what you have". My mom's "romantic country" style of decor combined "vintage" pieces with the new to make us a cozy home, which earned her major compliments from the aunties.
My own personal style is very modern. I love sleek angular pieces with clean lines but because of my time spent trailing behind my mom in vintage shops, antiquing, and hitting flea markets wherever we traveled, I have a serious adoration of vintage furniture just like my mom. Modern furniture with that futuristic feel from the '50s is what I LIVE for.
But apparently mom & I aren't the only ones. Read about this new trend of repurposing vintage furniture and accessories for modern homes right here: http://www.ecostiletto.com/index.php?/GoodLife/Comments/
I'm such the home decor AND diy fanatic so of course I find this project to be so me. I hope you dig it to. Super simple but ultra-fabulous. Check it out then please be sure to take pics and show us your finished version.
This smart innovation inspires in innumerable ways. First of all, the newly launched enterprise Frocksandflats.com marries fashion design and interior design in a way never seen before. Secondly, since we are on the topic of marriages, Kevin and Rasheedah are not just genius business owners but are also my favorite married couple. I've know Rasheedah since our college days in NYC. We met in our 2nd semester draping class at FIT and I fell in love with her Lauryn Hill-esque steez from day one. Once I discovered that we were the same age, from practically the same 'hood in Jersey and had mutual friends, it was ON! She and I have journeyed through the fashion industry together as designers in corporate America, freelancers, boutique owners, wives, mothers, teachers, and entrepreneurs...always able to relate to one another's experiences. Therefore to now see how her super hubby Kevin, who is also known to hook-up a slammin' Jamaican feast (lucky girl!), and she have combined their brilliant talents for the ultimate venture, Frocksandflats.com, just blows my mind.
Peep it.
Q & A with Rasheedah Blackwood, Co-founder of Frocksandflats.com 1. What gave you two the courage to use your creative talents to be start your business now? Before the company started we had so many people requesting us to do things for them such as go shopping with them for clothes to wear to an event, make something, or re-do a room in their home. We were just encouraged by all of the requests and knew for sure that we should really just be doing this.....NOW.
2. What exactly makes this work authentic? No one is offering interior design and fashion design combined. If you have an event to attend, we can design your outfit and if your living room is crappy, we can re-design it while you are at the event. Or, as another example, say you find out that you are pregnant but you insist that you want to remain your-normally-fly-fashionista-self. We can keep you FLY by designing your chic maternity wardrobe and the maternity room in your home at once.
3. Rasheedah, what inspires you to create? My work is inspired by everything I love. I can see something as simple as a suitcase and use it as inspiration. The trim can become the trim on a garment and/or in a room as a border. I'm inspired constantly by conversations, art, music, nature, my sons....it's never-ending. But our products/designs, although from our own inspiration, are custom-suited to fit the client’s personality.
4. As a husband and wife team, how do you find working with Kevin? It is a huge challenge working with my husband (LOL) so we've decided to behave as business partners while working, by simply doing our separate jobs out of each other's hair. Once the job is over, we then happily revert back to husband and wife.
5. What can we expect from Frocksandflats.com in the near future? A product line-Dresses and home accents will be available at website soon.
Join us on JC Fridays, a quarterly city-wide
celebration of the arts in Jersey City, as the latest work from
designer/artist Terina Nicole, founder of Jypsea Leathergoods is
presented at Ed's Salvage Co. 
Simple: 2x4s, a scrap piece of junk plywood, some very beautiful fabric. Tah Dah!
.jpg)
