Target Tuesday.

In honor of our make-up wearing, costumed loving Halloween merriment, I wanted to slip in a little holiday festivities for our TT today. Typically I wouldn't add Halloween to my category list of Target Tuesday must haves. But this year will be my nieces last youth, dress up to get free candy before you are an adult, Halloween. She is delighted and sad all in one big plastic pumpkin container of candy. Oh to be young again!

Halloween isn't really one of MY favorite holidays. But, I do love the magic, excitement, and anticipation it brings to young faces everywhere. I enjoy seeing the wonder, fear, and make believe pleasure it brings to young and old alike. And who doesn't love candy! IT HAS SUGAR IN IT!!!

So for my lovely niece, and her bon voyage to youth, I will design a decorative over-the-top acrylic candy container. Carved and molded into fun ghouls, princesses, and Vampires (what is halloween with out vampires?) They will be light to carry, clear so candy can be visible (you have to SEE the potential sugar count) and they will have ribbons for handles. Once the night of Halloween has wrapped up, the decorative acrylic holder can be used as a candy dish, candle holder, or a vodka mug, I mean beer mug. Candy and vodka! Who doesn't love that combo?

And I suppose for those of you are caring, involved, and conscious these delightful containers can be used to plant a tree, or shrub and give as a gift. Multi functional. Love that!

TARGET TUESDAY!

So have ya'll noticed a little lapse in my presence? Yes, yes Im fully aware. I have a laundry list of excuses. Ive been so busy clipping my toenails, washing my hair, catching up on guilty pleasures, eating doritos, and trapping raindrops on my tongue. Gotta wash those oreos down with something! As much as I love fall, it definitely plays havoc on my mood and motivation; or lack there of. I have been motivated about as much as a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. Ehh!

We had 23 straight days of rain. Then like church is to Sunday's the sun came, the angels were singing and I found myself frolicking in the office, and skipping through the halls. But all good things must come to an end. The frolicking turned to angry A.D.D and the angels left only to be replaced by lucifer, I mean doritos and oreos. It has been raining, drizzling, pouring blah, blah, for the last two days. I swear to holy heaven on earth if I eat any more oreos, sugar snaps, juji fruits, dots (lord have mercy they have SUGER in them) Im going to catch ADHD, with a side of no attention span, and a week long overdose in the form of a much needed nap. So this week my TT will focus on one of my favorite, favorite garments-ROBES!

ioffer.com

Robes are toasty warm, and best of all ONE SIZE FITS ALL! Plenty of room for oreos, fruit slices, and olive garden; OH and don't forget a slice of homemade peach pie. YUM! But despite my love for the frumpy, solid colored terry robe, I have decided that I am going to amp it up a notch. My robes will be made of silk, but lined in flannel. I want to have gorgeous colorful patterns that remind me of fall, winter and spring, so when Im stuffing my face there will be a small reminder of the importance to have the shape of a woman, and not Mr potato head. No guarantee that the silhouette you once donned over the summer will return, but remember ladies, one size fits all, so plenty of room for expansion!

They will have the warmth of flannel but the exterior luxury of silk. (You have to feel pretty when you're munching on doritos.) The patterns will be large over exaggerated paisley's, damasks, polka dots, and florals. They will be fun, pretty, warm and most of all COMFORTABLE! And when Spring returns, the birds start chirping, and the snow melts you will have the ability to remove the flannel lining for a comfortable summer cover up.

http://www.hillesodesigns.com

I hope all of you are making your way through this fall frolicking and skipping through the halls. But if you are not, grab a bag of oreos (double stuffed) throw on your beautiful silk Target robe, and plop in front of the tube to watch a new episode of CSI-Miami, and maybe even a little Oprah!

TARGET TUESDAY!

So Im a little behind with my Target Tuesday today. I have been in the midst of a design crisis! Oh my! I received a call from a client last Wednesday. She needed accessories for her home for a big party on Saturday. Typically I don't rush to the demands of a "party". But she is a very good client. Despite being submerged in inventory, 35 other active clients, and a new contract with Comfort Inn suites, I made it happen. To my great disappointment and shock she emailed me this morning saying that she was returning SOME of the items. Typically on an accessories installation a client will return one or two items. She returned 80%!!

Accessories are the jewelry of the home. They make it complete. But in spite of the results they bring, installs are time consuming, hectic, costly, and they require man power. When a client decides to return items they have a heart attack when they get charged for TIME. I cannot do this for FREE. So alas I have been in the midst of a design crisis today. Not to mention the fact that 4 of the items returned were damaged. SO I charged a small fee to cover the fact that these items now have to be discounted. HEART ATTACK!! Holy jesus hit the brakes! You mean I have to PAY you to shop, pick, wrap, load, unload, unwrap, and place the items?! And I have to be RESPONSIBLE to get them back to you in pristine condition. Preposterous! Target takes my returns! So on with the SHOW!

In honor of my lovely, cranky, worn out bloggy friend Kristin (from cup of chaos) we are going to focus on accessories for the kitchen island. What does this have to do with my crisis? Absolutely nothing. What does this have to do with Kristen? Absolutely nothing. But she asked me nicely with a "pretty please" and a "cherry on top". With the kind of day I have had a "please" with a side of "cherries" will get you about anything today. So our kitchen island accessory of choice, Glass canisters. I love, love, love glass canisters. They add sparkle and sophistication to your counter, especially when they have lids! They are spectacular containers for coffee, fruit bars, snack bars, pasta, snack packs, fruit, candy (it has SUGAR in it!!) and crackers. It is a great way to "contain" everyday items in an up to date, stylish way. And when snacks look this good it makes them fun to display, fill and eat! YUM!

So my dear friends I apologize for the delay in our beloved Target Tuesday. But as you have read, Ive been busy, frustrated and irritated (with a side of chaffing on the rear.) Thinking of my lovely canisters makes me happy. Actually, thinking of my lovely and dear friend, Kristen, hiding in a ditch under a bush with a martini, makes me even happier. Start counting up those quarters my love, mamas coming to join you for a drink and a pick me up! ( I have been throwing quarters at her all day in fear of ruining my heels. But those suckers are coming off and I am making the hike down the hill for a drink!) Happy target tuesday!

TARGET TUESDAY!

I swear if it wasn't for this weekly Target Tuesday commitment I would forget to come on here! As my friend and fellow Band of Barbies blogger Kristen says, Im a psycho blogger! But since business has picked up I have found it harder to get on here. Typically Im a psycho, stalking blogger with a big D on my chest (stands for DESIGNER for the new kids on the block.) I have insomnia, and I tend to have a little of the A.D.D, which makes a winning combination for the multitasking, lunatic designing blogger that I am. Or shall I say WAS. I still have the A.D.D, and I still have the insomnia but for some reason my desire and excitement has drifted. I know it is absolutely preposterous! How could someone possibly lose the interest, the desire to blog? It could be the A.D.D. I do tend to get bored quickly. Bouncing off the walls Im jumping from fabric, phone calls, emails, accessory selection and in an instant, like a tunnel visioned puppy, SQUIRREL!!!! I drop the ball and run like a foolish inefficient wacko to the grey chipmunk up the tree. Wait, what was I doing? I think I was in the middle of an email, or was it fabric? I don't have a clue, but aren't squirrels cute? I love how they play and run in the trees like a jungle gym, or is that chipmunks? I love Alvin. He is so funny. Who ever thought to make a cartoon out of them is a genius.......(So you catch the drift of how my typical day transpires.)

It never seems to amaze me that by the end of the day I am whirling in the aftermath of my days tornado. What on gods green earth did I do today? I have been busy as a mad hatter and yet nothing is done. Guess that will go to tomorrows to-do list. It may be kooky and I do have a tendency to be a high energy fruitcake but that's what keeps them coming back for more. I never loose my cool, and somehow someway my girls come through for me and make me look like a designer hero! With a big D on my chest. So for todays Target Tuesday Im going to focus on designer day planners. I usually have three or four of these suckers going on at one time. Why you ask do I need three or four...well that is because they tend to disappear for a day or two so I just start with a fresh one, until the old one pops up, makes perfect, efficient, organized sense.

I may sound like an undomesticated horse that needs training. ( And if you asked my husband he would probably agree) I may even sound a tad disheveled. But once I write something down, it is permanently carved into my brain. I don't know how it works, but I manage to remember everything. I always know what's ordered, when it is expected, who needs what, and whats to come. As long as I write it down once. So my fancy little designer planners won't be little at all. They will be at least 9x12 in size. Makes it easier to find. They will be in BRIGHT colors, also easy to find. They will have fun patterns on them and enclosed you will find lined paper and blank paper. Designers don't like restrictions or to be confined by rules so two kinds of paper gives us options. They will have pockets on the inside sleeves for additional notes, IMPORTANT posty notes, and business cards. And just to fancy it up in designer fashion I will gold and silver leaf the edges of paper. That just may discourage me from loosing it. Doubtful, but I can always make a lousy attempt with a smile on my face PROMISING my girls that I will do it.....or maybe or wont! Happy Target Tuesday!!

TARGET TUESDAY!

Well the good news is, no bar fight activity this week. But I have been very very busy. This week for Target Tuesday I am going to focus on small decorative dishes. I love little dishes. They are ideal little creatures that can be placed anywhere as a catch-all. Making your disorganization look collected, and planned.

Little porcelain dishes, with sweet what-not details, colorful edges, and fun artsy motifs are perfect for a side table, console, nightstand, end table, on their own or in a collection. They gather up keys, coins, and little stuff with ease. And when not in use consuming such little details of life, they serve as wonderful little decorative accessories. Little dishes are also quite functional as soap dishes, jewelry holders, and make wonderful gifts.

My dishes at Target will be colorful. They will have fun details, and fun pictures such as parrots, zebras, leaf motifs, old cars, and terrific raised edges with trellis or geometric patterns. My dishes will come in spiffy shapes like rectangles, ovals, squares and quatrefoils. My dishes will be made in porcelain and in acrylic. And as always they will be tailored, simple, fun and coordinate together with ease. Look forward to your comments, and thanks for visiting us on Target Tuesday!!

It's TARGET TUESDAY!!

Welcome and thank-you for joining us on our 5th (where does the time go?) Target Tuesday!! Today's special feature will be on area rugs. For those of you not familiar with my blog, type in Target Tuesday in the upper left search button. The goal is simple, the purpose straightforward. Get a line at TARGET.

One of my hallmarks as a designer is to use repeating elements. The BASICS. Baskets, pillows, artwork and rugs. Check! The items that really make a home, a home. Area rugs are just that. They create comfort, luxury and texture in a room. They are the key ingredient in making a furniture grouping a perfect society. Rugs are a sorority of sorts teamed together to organize conversation and help your furniture band in cohesive gatherings. Sounds like a potluck!

Many clients don't realize the importance that a rug brings to a furniture grouping. Im currently working on a project where the homeowner just doesn't understand why her room feels unfinished. She has added numerous accessories, case goods, and more accessories and it still feels incomplete. Her room does not house an area rug. With 15 foot ceilings and furniture swimming without a life preserver, the furniture simply drowns! Simple solution, add a rug.

TARGET has a good selection of area rugs. But the sizes are all wrong. My line will focus more on the needs of a designer's focus. How we utilize a room, and how we decorate or repurpose that room changes the needs of the rug we use. For instance, I love big area rugs in a kitchen. But a 2' wide rug in a 4' kitchen doesn't fit the bill. Im also disappointed with their out door selection. Once again the rug sizes are all wrong.

My rugs will be classic, tailored and easy to decorate around. The sizes will follow a different ideal or focus; a designer's focus! They will be easy to clean and have colors that work with any decor. My rugs will not have an oriental or highly patterned look. They will be simple in design, with larger over scaled patterns. I may even use repetitive patterns such as damasks. They will coordinate easily so that each room can have a different look that isn't cookie cutter and overly matchy.

Area rugs complete the furniture ensemble. And as much as I have seen clients reject the idea of having a rug because it is too much "hassle to clean, or walk on, or I love my wood floors" once they see the results of what a difference it makes, like christianity is to Sunday, they are born again!

Thanks for visiting us again on TT day. I look forward to your comments, and TARGET Im ready and waiting for your call!!

TARGET TUESDAY!

Well here it is folks. I am proud to announce the first and OFFICIAL:

TARGET Tuesday!!

(clapping , clapping, whistling, shouts of joy, YAY!!!) If this is your first time here I encourage you to read through my blog to get up to speed. You miss school, you miss out, and so be the case here today! I want to thank everyone for stopping by and leaving their words of wisdom, encouragement and if you feel the need to throw an occasional tomato at me, just make sure you miss the teeth. Two things mom wanted for me. College and good teeth. (thanks MOM!)

Ok so lets get down to business. Thats why we are here right? Have to have some reason for rolling out of bed. I have put some serious thought into why I should have my own line at TARGET.( Im sure Miley keeps herself up at night with thoughts like these) But I cannot divulge all the juicy details. I will reiterate the facts attentively and methodically. MEANING you must tune in each week to acquire the all important, profound and significant arguments. People, we are dealing with VERY important issues here!!

Today we will start with the kind of designer I am, and what type of accessory I generally crave. I thirst for clean and simple design. I don't like a lot of clutter and when I accessorize I use a FEW choice accessories to give personality and pop to the room. I like items that provide comfort AND indulgence. The principals I follow when choosing the objects I love: they must be tailored with ease, deliver gracefulness, be generous in functionality and last but not least, AFFORDABLE!

My first order of business in designing my accessory line. BASKETS. I love baskets. They add texture, depth, and most importantly they manage clutter. They are elegant but unpretentious. True classics to any home decor methodology. They have a common vernacular to any design approach, whether it be traditional or contemporary.

So you say, why the hell would I buy my basket from you? ( I don't know, maybe because they are awesome and designed by me? DUH!) LOL! That's not good enough reason? Well how about this. My baskets will offer different shapes and sizes. They will be unique and creative. They will work as decorative art or simply function as storage. I will weave lighter and darker colors throughout to create depth that will offer more versatility in it's use. Like all my accessories I choose they will offer a fashionable approach with the added benefit of another function or use. And the best part? They will be original, fresh, and affordable. Thanks for visiting us on TARGET Tuesday!!

Who is the fairest Designer of them all!???

MEEEE of course! These days I like to fly my DESIGNER flag high. (Don't be mistaken, Im just HIGH on life! No need to know how I achieved this magical predicament of circumstances ) For 11 years I have stayed content and complacent with living under a rock. My head in the sand. What can I say, a lot of really good things happen there. To include, but not limited to reasonable, and rational thinking. Thinking,...... thinking.... and well, more thinking. You'd be amazed at all the great things you can conjure up with SO MUCH thinking; (unequivocal dumbfounded stupidity). All the while staying low key, quiet and satisfied. Too busy getting sand out of crevices, of which the particulars of such intelligence won't enlighten any of us. BUT the tranquility of my dumbness is soon to be over turned by the Queen herself. My fortress will no longer be hushed by silence.

So why the sudden change in egotistic, self centered, boastful behavior? Call it modest pride, but more than likely it's my participation in what I like to call old age, a-hem, I mean experience. Ok, so Im gloating. But I cannot feel but a little proud and glorious ( why won't this damn flag go any higher!!) with my new found perspective/enlightenment/shear stupidity.

I made the mistake of watching HGTV last night. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a fundamental and impressive network with BIG important people; especially if you need to learn mad skills like Mcgiver. Like an Engineering mastermind, I have learned how to properly use fishing line, wire and a pair of pliers like nobody's business! Very important in these FRUGAL times. But you would be mistaken to think that the context of such a show is actually real. Disregard the blatant fact that the budgets never include all the labor but manipulate you into thinking that you can tear down, rebuild, reupholster, renovate, restore, reassemble, glue, screw and undo, all for $1000. The amplified puppet master, I mean host, with an accentuated smile, and embellished hand gestures over gliding the lily pond ten fold, you can HAVE ALL THIS and more!!!!!!! (clapping, music, and Bob Barkers beauties filled with JOY and EXCITEMENT!!! YAY!!!)

Ok so I understand that these ground breaking, pivotal shows are addictive. They throw stars in your eyes telling you that you too can achieve undeniable, alluring, spell binding elegance and beauty, all with a pair of pliers, fishing line, and wire. Don't get me wrong, you can, as long as you have the village people (jingle~young man are you listening to me, No man does it all by himself, it's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A~jingle) I mean a village to help put it all together for FREE. But who cares. The charisma of the puppet master slams you with mystique, thrill, a little glitter, and with a monumental SHAZAAM, the fairy godmother waves her wand and you have your self a beautiful room!

So why all the hatred? Never mind the fact that I have been trying to get my ground-breaking, pivotal, unprecedented and innovative show since 2006. That's irrelevant when Im trying to make my very pertinent and valuable point. Besides, I've moved on, I have TARGET now. ( I HEART TARGET!) No hatred. I've got nothing but love for HGTV. Really I do. I think they have some well celebrated and noteworthy shows. With about 80% garbage sprinkled in, but the other 20% is good enough material to carry the show, and make me tune in.

I have stupidly succumbed to the idea that each show was respectfully infected with high quality, superior design. These designers being the chosen ones. A blueprint of exceptional and accomplished design. Like a drooling servant I would gaze at the TV safeguarding my new found knowledge of calculated insight, waiting until I too could be an exceptional accomplished designer; a chosen one. Well no more. I have removed my head from the sand (still shaking my pant legs out; how on God's green earth did sand get in there....) I reject and object my thoughts of being an incompetent, substandard designer. The 80% garbage they call a show is nothing more than a vehicle for filler. (of which I will gladly help you bring that down to 75% with my ground breaking, pivotal, unprecedented show; F-O-C-U-S AMANDA!!)

I am good at what I do. It has taken me a LONG time to get to this level of confidence (old age and shear stupidity) But after seeing this show, no need for particulars, I realized that I can do better; all without hesitation or reluctance, I can confidently say this out loud. I am no longer indecisive. Never did I think I would exercise the thought of burdening myself with the responsibility of TRUSTING and INVESTING in self-confidence. After all a women finds self assurance through her husband right? HAHAHAHA! (No thanks I will do it on my own!!) But my husband is my biggest most discerning fan. However, I have decided that I AM the fairest of them all. I have to be. Why else would TARGET choose me? I refuse to stay quiet, but rather candid about how I see it. My flag will continue to fly high ( if I could just figure out how to get this damn contraption to work; where are my pliers?!!) I am shrewd, clever and wickedly talented.....(deep breaths, in out, in out; Holy shit! For the love of GOD, Good GOD did I just say that out loud??!!) But I can't help but feel a little proud and glorious for my new found perspective/enlightenment/shear stupidity. After all I am a DESIGNER, a mystical, creative, creature; the thing legends are made of ....or at least that is what I will tell myself until I pass out from hyperventilation or get stabbed by a pair of pliers trying to get my flag to fly, all because I am in a halfwitted self absorbed state of obtuse ignorance.(Designer is DOWN! I repeat Designer is DOWN)

D. All of the above

For those of you who frequent my blog you are aware of my post, MY life on the D list. If you haven't read it not only are you missing out on THE greatest post ever, but that means Im SERIOUSLY lacking in sympathy and support points. I was so inspired by all my SITSta (and non SITSta) remarks that I have decided to embark on a journey, a rally of sorts that will be of colossal and enormous proportions!!!

I am announcing my new TARGET Tuesday's!! Every week until somebody pays attention to me ( insert sad pitiful, feel-sorry-for-me-face or DAMMIT GIVE ME MY OWN LINE FACE!!!!! Which ever works first), I will be posting about all the reasons, with your support, love and encouragement, why I should have my own line at TARGET.

a) creative
b) inspiring
c) affordable
D) All of the above

Some of you may think Im crazy. (but really, who ever got anywhere with being sane!) I have admitted to having holes in my head; but that won't stop me. A household name I am not, (MILEY CYRUS!!!!!!!!!!) but I can design, implement, and sell a product to which I am more than QUALIFIED to do. I am determined and motivated to prove that it does not take a celebrity name to create a successful line. I don't sing, dance or sell million dollar records. But I can produce a product that everyone will appreciate and enjoy. Yes, this ideal may seem absurd. It may be foolish to think that a small scale, low key designer like myself can make a movement of this magnitude. However, like Martin Luther King, I have a dream. So Im going to put on my big girl panties, let my designer flag fly high, and dont forget ladies, to put on your pearls!

Amanda Burdge discusses the Items we love

The mod graphic prints from Swedish designer Orla Kiely will soon be available at Target. A new and fantastically affordable home wares line will include serving trays, tumblers, mugs and chic aprons. Kiely’s retro-inspired designs will be available starting February, both in stores and online. target.com

Inspiration for the Brush Vase started with a tin can full of brushes in my studio," says designer Harry Allen. Known for his unique and often quirky artistic vision—his gold-leafed replica of a baby pig became a must-have piece for any adventurous designer—Allen asks us to look at ordinary items in a new light. The vase includes a custom form fitting glass insert to hold water and is available in both chrome and white. areaware.com

Fireplaces by Napoleon. Available in gas or electric these beautiful fireplaces are now available in numerous contemporary options.

Let your drapes take shape with magnetic curtains from swiss designer Florian Krautli. The fabric has embedded magnets so the pliable fabric can be gathered into a variety of fun shapes.

The hand-carved Raw chairs are Swedish designer Jens Fager’s spin on traditional seating for Muuto (special order; aplusrstore.com).