I often think about the difference between 'curating' and 'creating'--my job lately has entailed a lot of curating--be it blogging for myself or other companies, curating special sales--or picking out items for someone's home. I love curating.  That having been said, as a designer, I was missing 'creating' --not just choosing and arranging what's lovely, but making something lovely, from scratch--starting with a blank canvas and creating something from my imagination.

Designing takes practice and commitment and being so caught up in curating lately--I have not had to much time to create. So needless to say, I was excited when an opportunity came along last week to do some actual pattern design. I LOVE designing patterns and it had been a while since I've worked on one. Pictured above are a few of the designs that did not make the cut--but that I had so much fun working on--I thought I'd share them with you here.

Do you teeter between creating and curating? What do you get out of each one?

OK--happy Friday all--off to go curate some pretty stuff. Haha!

The banana-leaves in design conjure up cultural references ranging from the Beverly Hills Hotel, to the Golden Girls, to Indochine in NYC, and the home of Nikki Hilton--but to me, it says one thing: JUNGALOW! As the summer months approach there's been a banana-leaf explosion in the mags and online. Here are some of my faves:

Banana Leaf Pendant
Banana Leaf Umbrella
Banana Leaf T-shirt
Pants
Plexi-glass heel 
Wicker Chair
Clutch
Leaf Plate 
Bikini Bottom
Sandals
Club Chairs

Call me crazy, you're not the first and you certainly won't be the last--but I feel as though there is something very, very cool about these vintage Paint by Number paintings. It's weird I know. 

landscape with river (uploaded by user)
Birch Tree 
Deer 
Lighthouse
Country Inn
landscape
Flowers

Scarf by Tilo
Bend Seating (found via Design Sponge)
Chalayan T-shirt Dress
Bracelet via Gorjana
Cosmetic case by Miloo
Slippers from Onstail
Silk Dress
Pillows by Maison Bertet
Wallpaper
Wallpaper+sofa