Ah yes – I now have twice the muscle mass than I did at this time last week. We moved in, with a ton of furniture. There have been some incredibly late nights, a full week of 16 hour work days and a few bruises, but we made it.
So, here’s the plan – we’ve built a wall to make an ‘entrance way’ type feel for the first steps through the front door. We’re going to put our logo on this wall. It’s going to look fantastic.
Karl spent the better part of this week building the wall with space for electrical, etc. We have also been trying to work while shuffling around the masses of random decor spread around the room. (We finally have internet here too, phew). I’ve included a couple of before/after shots so you can get a feel of the layout. One looking in from the door, the other looking in from the windows:
As you can probably see by the bits and pieces of retro furniture, we’ve got a theme going on here. I can’t wait to get everything in its place and clean! (drywall dust is not my friend). Our awesome friend, Gavin, donated a kitchen cabinet for our kitchen area and the rest is meticulously picked piece by piece from local antique stores and thrift stores.
Now all that is left to do is organize and start working. More photos to come
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Sweet – this week / weekend has been the busiest I’ve ever experienced in my life, but it’s been worth it! Thursday afternoon and evening were mad painting days (thanks so much Marty, Dana, Ramy & Rebecca for your painting help). We now have three white walls and one pretty blue wall. We’re in love with the colour even though it only took us a minute to choose it.
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White = Debbie Travis CM19N, Canvas White
Blue = Debbie Travis D8E, Jazz Cool
The most difficult areas of the room were painting behind all of the beautiful cabling on the walls and getting up to the 20 foot high ceilings to do the edging. Karl was brave on the ladder & he did an impeccable job.
More updates to come…
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I’m a nut for interior design & renovation blogs (i.e. Manhattan Nest & Door Sixteen) and thought since I’ve just signed up for some serious renovation myself, why not bring you on the journey with me!?
Here’s the story – Karl & I set up our Graphic Design Agency a few years ago in Sydney, Australia. As much as I loved the country, my family is in Ontario, so back we came to be close to them. Since then, CuteGecko (yes, the site is getting a renovation as well) set up in a home office, then moved into a home-away-from-home office with our dear friends, tinyHippos, and now both companies are moving into real office space in Kitchener at the Tannery. The Tannery is a unique new building which has been converted from historical warehouse space into office space. There are a number of prestigious companies moving into this area with half of the building being designated for more upscale and ‘finished’ space. That being said, our new office will be in the other half of the building and we’ll be provided with 4 walls, 2 windows and a door. Know what this means? Major renovation for the Geckos!
We’ve spent the best part of the past two weeks hunting for furniture, hardware and inspiration as we gear up to get the keys on Friday. For now, I only have a few before pictures to show – the walls haven’t even been finished yet, but here you can get an idea of the size of what we’re looking at. Don’t forget to check back for updates, I plan on posting some pictures of the furniture we’ve got for now and maybe a floor-plan of our ideas.
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… and you can too! Our friend, the fantastic and caring Anum, is co-organizing an event that will impact the changed lives of the flood victims.
Next Monday, October 18, heARTS for Pakistan is happening at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto at 6pm. We’re heading there to not only support flood victims, but also for the chance to bid on amazing art by local artists such as Ramy Nassar, Frank Chen, Randy Hryhorczuk and lots more.
For a taste of some of the art up for sale, head to the facebook page or check out the heARTS for Pakistan website for more information about the organizers, sponsors and plans for the evening. It promises to be an amazing evening, so get your tickets here & we’ll see you there!
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This year for my birthday, the lovely Karl sent me on a glass blowing weekend in Elora at Blown Away Glass Studio. We had been there a year ago and he remembered that I had expressed interest in the course. A couple of weeks ago, I took the course and was amazed by the results. If you’ve ever wondered how any beautiful glass sculpture is made, take this course and realize how ridiculously difficult it is to work with glass. Imagine moulding something with the consistency of hot taffy while ensuring it doesn’t get too cool and re-heating it at lava temperatures several times.
Even though it was hard to do, I am very happy with the results of my first attempt. Check out some of my favourites (& keep in mind it’s REALLY difficult to photograph glass):
Here’s a little clip of the my skills – or lack of…
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It’s been too long since I’ve posted anything – life as an entrepreneur is getting SO busy. In the past couple of weeks, we’ve Incorporated (CuteGecko Inc.), attended the KW Women of the Year evening (at which I was nominated in the Entrepreneur category with some other fantastic local women), added a third Gecko to our company (Anum, you’re so awesome), started the office-moving process (I’ll let you know where to once it’s finalized… but it’s spectacular!), began building a brand new CuteGecko website, and was nominated as an Owner Representative for my local Libro branch council. You know, all this while continuing to support our lovely design clients as well as volunteering with countless boards and charities. Phew, I’m tired and excited to see what these new endeavors bring.
Now for the fun stuff: Last Monday evening, my talented and beautiful friend Julia took me to see Jason Mraz in the John Labbatt Centre. I’ll be the first to say, I think Jason’s music rocks, but I had no idea how much I would love this concert. The band supplied such an amazing vibe for the whole audience, we couldn’t help leaving with a ‘peace’ and ‘love’ attitude. Watch this video – I love this song: Beautiful Mess.
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Last Thursday night, Karl & I were among the crowd at The Museum‘s grand opening gala for the Titanic Artifact Exhibition.
On April 15, 1912, the ship once called unsinkable, fell to the bottom of the ocean floor. Now 98 years later, The Museum welcomes visitors to pay tribute to this tragedy at Titanic:The Artifact Exhibition.
The evening began with a glass of champagne and few sponsors and members of staff opening the event. We then enjoyed some of the food which would have been prepared for the passengers of the original voyage – Cornish Pasties, yum! After a drink or two and lots of mingling, we set sail on the tour. The curators of this exhibit did an excellent job of helping us really identify with those on board the ship. We were each given a boarding pass with the name, age, origin and background story of one of the passengers. We were to follow their story until the end of the tour where we found out if our person lived or died. I was a 14 year old girl in 3rd class and I lived! Sadly, Karl’s 24 year old guy died, but this experience helped us to realize that everyone on this ship had their own reasons for being there and real lives were lost in the tragedy.
Among other things, the exhibit was beautifully laid out and the artifacts were intriguing. I definitely recommend heading to Kitchener to see the Titanic before it’s over.
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Oh wow, I’m totally blown away this morning after the incredible evening we had last night. From start to finish, we felt thought of, well taken care of and entertained as the evening sped by too fast – I want to go again!
Organized by Hilary Abel and her team, the evening began with registration in the caboose – complete with boarding pass and info package beautifully designed by MFX Partners. We then mingled with our fellow passengers and boarded the train to wait excitedly for our departure. I had a chance to visit every car in the train and enjoy meeting lots of new people along the way. Here’s what I found:
- Hackerspace – featuring Deadbeatblast working with Chip Tunes & Creations by KWArtzlab (in essence, an amazing DJ playing tunes off of his Nintendo Gameboy.. yes, seriously awesome… and an artist featuring creative digital clocks)
The Gallery – featuring the work of Jennifer Gough of Mind’s Eye Studio (If you haven’t seen Jennifer’s paintings, don’t mind my terrible iPhone pics, check out her website)- Naked Car – featuring the music of KW Symphony Youth Orchestra & Life Drawing by KW|AG (Yes, there really was an old naked guy being drawn in here. Although I didn’t personally spend much time in here, the car was a hit with every space being filled with artists drawing at the tables)
- Dine & Design – featuring culinary art by Nick & Nat’s Uptown 21 & a new look at design by MFX Partners (yummy yummy food & & inspirational wall of post-it’s. Passengers were encouraged to write about what would make a better community – I’m excited to see the results of this!)
I♥VideoArt – featuring a CAFKA installation by Jillian McDonald (hilariously and wonderfully thought out.. this is a good one. The car featured a movie about zombies during the entire trip. When we arrived back to Waterloo, the train was literally attacked by Zombies. The people in my car easily went along with the story, screaming and being ‘terrified’ by the zombies – love love love it!)- During our approx. hour long stay in St. Jacobs, we spent time in the train house (not sure what to call it – there were huge locomotives under a roof)
listening to the fabulous Vacuity play a set and admiring artworks by Aaron Bartley. Outside was an interactive graffiti display with passengers adding their bit.
After arriving back to Waterloo and saving ourselves from the Zombies, we enjoyed an Afterparty at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery with music, food & drink. I can’t even begin to explain the sheer wonder at the amazingness of this event. Hilary, seriously, stellar.
Praise for Hilary Abel:
Only a seriously creative mind could have come up with an idea like this
I want to do this again, but how could we ever top something so amazing?!
I could probably go on forever with this, but I suppose you’ve gotten the hint – everyone had an amazing time and we’re all ridiculously proud and honoured to have such a talented friend in H.
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***Update: Steel Rail Sessions, Friday September 24th!! Tickets on sale at NOON today! Go HERE to Purchase***
A friend of mine has managed to organize the most amazingly awesome creative event I’ve ever heard of… and You’ve got the chance to experience it!
It’s called Steel Rail Sessions – Follow them on Twitter and check RQ Magazine.
Here’s the info:
Steel Rail Sessions : moving art
A collaborative art event… on a train.
Can you believe it?? How awesome is that?
Get on the Waterloo Central Railway Waterloo & experience how creative our cities really are. Upon your return to Waterloo, join us for the after-party & opening of the new exhibit at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery.
Event is 19+, Cash Bar Available
Pay attention to this bit:
Check in at 7pm, Train departs at 8pm
After-party at 10:30pm
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 8th.
Wow, all that for only…
1 Round Trip Ticket to Ride – $15
& 1 Afterparty Admission – $10
I’ll post again when the tickets go on sale – but for now, just get excited!
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Where has the summer gone? How did we get to September already?? Last weekend was our 3-Pitch baseball tournament – lovely day for it (even a bit hot…) so we lathered on the sun-screen and gave it our all. Having lost every game during regular season, we weren’t really in the running for tournament winners. The games were organized so that the three worst teams played the three best teams , and the winners from these games would advance. Well, surprise! We didn’t win any games here either, but we also didn’t come in dead last! We were SECOND last!! :)
Hahaha, I loved this baseball season & had a blast with everyone on all of those hot Sunday afternoons. After the tournament, we had a team BBQ at Julia’s that may have ended in a rowdy basement dance-party – but there are no videos to prove it… (Ramy that’s you. Delete, delete, delete.)
My lovely team also voted on a few favourite moments during the season and I ended up with the female MVP award (not sure how this happened as I only actually played well during one of our games – although I might have had the best attendance, yep that explains it!)
So I made this little collage of the folks who were still playing for ‘team battered’ in the last moments of the season. Sorry to those of you that I missed, but I didn’t think to bring out the camera until it was almost too late. An awesome team picture can be found on my other baseball post, thanks to Ramy
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