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August 29, 2009

I’ve become Rodney Dangerfield

back_to_school3 I can’t believe I’m doing this, but no turning back now… I’m going back to school. Again. Crap!! Well, not really crap – but I wish I’d known back when I was in University that I would want to be an interior decorator one day. Then I wouldn’t have wasted 3 years at Uni for a BA in English. Which has been pretty useless as a career tool, let me tell you. And then I wouldn’t have wasted another 1-1/2 years going back to school to study Technical Writing. Actually, that could have turned out really well – I landed a job at Nortel before I even finished the program. It was a dream job – great pay, interesting & challenging work, good people to work with, pretty much every perk you could want… and then reality came barging in eight months later when Nortel started its spiral down the crapper. Thank  you, John Roth, for ruining my newfound career barely after it started. And then giving yourself a nice multi-million dollar bonus. Booooo!!

nortel tshirt zazzle(And if I’d planned it better, I could have gotten my awesome Herman Miller Aeron chair…)

So anyway, I have my first Basic Drafting Skills class on Monday. Since when does school start in August?? Ugh!!

drafting table dany seo

And then in two weeks, my Colour in Decor class starts.

colourlovers

I know I’m going to learn a lot, and I’m sure both classes are going to be fun – but it still feels weird to be 41 and heading back to school. I’m starting to see senior prom in a whole new way…

senior prom oregonlive

Now here’s a dilemma I’m having – what do I carry my school stuff in?? I want to buy a new cool bag

balenciaga-purple-goat-leather pursepage

Not for school, but this dog bag is just too adorable!!

houndstooth-bag mydesignerhandbag

Hubby says my Roots backpack will be perfectly fine…

roots backpackBut it just doesn’t scream “interior decorator in training” does it?? Oh well…

Check these out – over at Oops, I Craft My Pants {Off} (love that blog name!!), Erika created her own personalized notebooks and pens with paper…

craft pant notebooks craft pants pens

Pretty cute, eh?? :-) Much more fashionable than a plain old notebook and pen.

So in two more days, I’m going to officially be a student. And as much as I’m whining about going to school again, I’m really looking forward to it. And whether or not they know it, there are some bloggers who inspired me to do it…

Maria at Colour me Happy — Maria’s knowledge of colour is amazing. I share her love and passion for colour, and I want to learn everything about colour that Maria knows :-) So I had to register for Colour in Decor, even though it means having to give up my step dance class.

maria

Michelle at A Schematic Life — Michelle does the most amazing renderings. She also creates fabulous interiors and exteriors with her pens. I’m not expecting to be able to draw anywhere near as well as Michelle draws after one semester of Basic Drafting Skills. But it’ll be a step in the right direction :-)

michelle cabin

Donna at dh designs — Donna recently graduated from the same part-time Residential Decor program that I’m taking. We got together a couple of weeks ago, and babbled for hours-literally!!—about everything from the decor classes to dogs to daiquiris. And freak us both out – Donna was best friends with one of my cousins years ago when they both lived in the same part of Montreal!! Donna takes fabulous flower pictures…

donna daisy

Paul at Kitchen & Residential Design — Paul is just the nicest, most generous guy. He’s been helping me redesign my kitchen via e-mail for months. He sent me tiles samples. And he isn’t afraid to tell me that my cabinet colour sucks!! His amazing generosity inspires me to learn as much as I can about decorating so I can pay it forward like he does :-) Check out this cool floor transition he designed…

paul flooring

My blog partner Victoria — She started the DesignTies Smackdown a few weeks ago. So seeing as she wants a competition, I’m going to take more classes than her and get smarter that her!! ;-P

And really, ALL of the wonderful designers and decorators and decor lovers and bloggers we’ve “met” since we started DesignTies eight months ago have inspired me. Your talent and kindness and generosity have encouraged me to follow my dream to be an interior decorator :-)

So to all of you, a big Thank You!!

school-books sig new

24 comments:

susan said...

Kelly, Good luck and congratulations for following a dream. You will definitely need the dog bag to get off on the right foot!

Paul Anater said...

Awww Kelly, thank you! Good luck in your latest adventure, you are going to do great!

Sharon said...

Good luck&Congrats Kelly! I know this is going to be great(I've started interior design too...I got myself a new bag too haha)

Maya @ Completely Coastal said...

The senior prom picture clearly shows..., you're never too old (for anything you love to do)!

Make sure to check out my very first Giveaway @ Completely Coastal on Monday (post goes up Sunday 8PM Eastern).

Kat said...

Good luck Kelly! Congratulations on following your dream. Love the "senior prom" photo! Can't wait for you to share your adventures. Kathy

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

By your title, I thought you were going to tell us how you get no respect! LOL! Well, good for you going back to school. I knew I wanted to do interior design (back in the day) but, stupidly, never finished. Biggest and really only regret I've ever had. I did an online course afer my 40th birthday only because I didn't have the money or the patience to go through 2 more years of school.

I did go back to school as an adult and it took me 5 years to get a 2 year Associates degree in Criminal Justice. I couldn't do that again!

Anyway, I would let the bag you use seek you out. Use your backpack for now, and then check out some of the bags that the office supply stores have - really - our Staples has some really nice bags. You'll also see just how much room you need, what you'll be needing to carry, how much weight you can handle carrying, all that kind of stuff. Have fun!

Pam Kersting said...

Kelly~ we are happiest when we are learning! Drafting and Colour 101 sound like two very fun classes to take! Can't wait to read all about your trials and tribulations in your blog! You will LOVE school and I know you will do great. Maria over at Colour Me Happy is also a huge inspiration to me -- she is so talented, as is Michelle at A Schematic Life.

If you want to learn about Color in the Garden, stop by this link: http://egardens.blogspot.com/2009/01/color-in-garden.html

Also, if you ever get to take a Workshop from Mike Lin, RUN don't walk! He is from the University of Kansas and teaches sketching and drawing using a very quick method. He travels all over the country teaching design students how to draw and sketch and produce very quick and beautiful renderings.

Good luck to you!

Between you, me and the Fencepost said...

Rodney Dangerfield and the 'senior' prom. You're funny! Thanks for my Sunday morning giggle. Good luck in your course.

Donna @ Paisley and Perspective said...

You go girl! You are going to LOVE it. As Pam says, we are happiest when we are learning.

You will need a fair sized bag for all your drafting supplies. I ended up with a couple of them - a big one for my drafting supplies and a smaller one for the other classes. The colour class will be fun - you get to mix paints and make your own paint chips!

Just talking about all this has inspired me to get out my drafting board and supplies. I loved watching a space coming together on a piece of vellum.

And it WAS great getting together - I still can't believe we filled FOUR HOURS with non-stop talking. We are going to have to do it again soon!

Good luck - and look forward to hearing about all the FUN you are going to have!

mrsben said...

Great stuff Kelly glad to hear it. Best of luck to you in your course. (Are you going to Algonquin College?)

Want to also mention that I zoomed by your front door last week and it looks 'absolutely marvelous darLIN'! -Brenda-

P.S: I agree Paul is a real sweetheart, but don't tell him I said that. With all these compliments, we still want his head to fit thru a doorway. Hah!

Greet Lefèvre said...

Congratulations with your decision! You do the right thing!!
You will enjoy it.

Greet

Danica said...

Congrats, Kelly! I know you're going to have so much fun and learn tons(hopefully you'll give away from free advice when you're learning, hmmm?) I'll trade you secrets that Maria teaches us in her class. Maybe. If that's okay with her. Okay, I'm just being silly now. Remember, going back to school is what the cool kids do. ;)

Unknown said...

I am so excited for both of you...no education is a waste, and you are both so very talented!! I wish you the absolute best.

Drafting wasn't my strongest class...at least on the computer...but if you ever need anything...please ask!!

BTW..."I am turning in R.Dangerfield" was hilarious...I just had to come and see what the heck it meant!!!

Best to you both,
Michelle

Maria Killam said...

Kelly, I love that post, you are so funny! Congrats on going back to school, it's the quickest way to get where you want to go! Thanks for the mention, so sweet!
xo
Maria

Maya said...

Thanks so much for posting the Giveaway button..., yes, as long as they can ship the candle to an USA address you're good. Best of luck!!

Anonymous said...

You'll have no regrets...unlike a certain 54 year old whose original college major was interior design, but who didn't have the patience to see it through and decided advertising was way easier! Good luck to yo!

Thanks for stopping by!

Ellen

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

I think that's great that you're going back to school for something you're passionate about--and those classes sound like a lot of fun! I got an English degree, too, and consider it good training for being a blogger, at least. Ha.

girlaboutOtown said...

Congrats!

I'm in the same program, and am gaining ground slow but sure. I started when I was on mat leave, kept at it for a bit, and then let it go. I've been back at it for the past year and am more than half way through. I love how it feels to be learning later in life, since this time around I know its what I really want.

I've taken both of the courses you mention, and really enjoyed them. The colour course was truly transformative though. I've never been able to look at the world the same way since. Now, all I see is an infinite variety of colour, and it's a fabulous way to live. :)

Good for you, and good luck!

Christy said...

Oh how exciting Kelly! Best of luck to you!!!

Gayle said...

Kelly, how exciting! Good luck! You have to keep us updated on how your classes are going!

daily decorator said...

I think that's great! How are you really supposed to know what to do with your life at 17/18 years of age anyway! Good luck. Keep us posted! ~Tracy

DesignTies said...

Thanks for all the great support!! :-D

My class starts in 45 minutes, and I still don't have a bag and I have no idea what to wear -- EEEEKK!!!

Kelly

Diane Schuller said...

wow, back to school. Bravo to you. Great idea, esp. now rather than at 50! :) not totally kidding about that. I love that blog name about the crafter ... going to have to check her out :)

Marie @ Modern Ottawa said...

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll have a blast... There's no age limit to learning! And LOL @ the senior prom comment :)
- Marie

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