places to go | Roasting Plant

Perhaps I should just ignore the fact that I haven't blogged in a month and just get right into it. However, I have to tell you that it was a much needed break. I thought about subject matter and inspiration constantly, but it was kind of nice not feeling like I had to put something, ANYTHING, up on my blog just so there was a daily (or weekly) post. That being said, I always have a longing to share the things I love and the cool stuff I come across, so I've rekindled that old flame. It feels so good! Stay tuned for DAILY posts from here on out, until I get my REAL site up and running. More on that tomorrow.

Now, onto Roasting Plant. My sister took me downtown over the past weekend to show me how they turned the center of Detroit (Campus Martius, to be exact) into a full on beach scene. Totally committed to the theme, Campus Martius is filled with sand, lounge chairs, families, fountains, etc.

And perfectly, Roasting Plant fits right in. It's only location outside of New York, New York, it's a modern and refreshing place right across the street from the "beach"- an ideal place to get an iced latte for a relaxing afternoon in midtown Detroit. I recommend any of their espresso drinks. They come with a strong bite but the beans couldn't be fresher. The surge of energy will do you good. I promise.

detroit architecture

I went "urban exploring" (that's what people are calling it these days, right?) on Friday with a couple of friends in our hometown of Detroit. Detroit gets a pretty bad wrap for basically looking like a war zone - filled with crime and broken down buildings. However, I tend to think the opposite.

It doesn't take much digging around to realize that Detroit is experiencing a rebirth. While a lot of buildings are, yes, abandoned - there is a rumbling of art and culture, and pardon the cheesiness, bravery happening beneath the rubble.

{The Old Train Station in Corktown} Completely abandoned but still so beautiful.

The Guardian Building. All the original tile and structure dating back to the 1920's. 

What are your favorite buildings in Detroit (or anywhere else) that may be forgotten about or overlooked?

morning in the market

This past Saturday, I got up at 6:30 in the morning to head down to the market with my sister and my mom to get flowers, pumpkins and decorations for around the house. On the way downtown, before the coffee kicked in, I was asking myself why I was in this dreary car and wasn't in my warm bed.

But by the time we got there, I felt the energy of the people, the sun had risen, and the coffee kicked in.

My mom and sister picked up some mums, a Michigan autumn staple, and I picked up about 4 bags of fresh hot donuts. I ate about a million of them while we walked around the market, looking at the fresh produce and beautiful colors (and adorable livestock).

Although I don't have a home of my own to decorate, I did pick up a mini pumpkin for my desk. Happy Fall, everyone!

city of love

So Detroit is not exactly Paris, but it does seem more romantic than usual these days.

Maybe it's because Valentine's Day this week, or maybe it's because I'm on my 4th viewing of "Midnight in Paris", but I just seem to be noticing the beauty in the things that surround me.

In our downtown area, sometimes it's really hard to ignore the destruction, wasted space, and dismal environment. However, what makes Detroit so great is that even on the darkest of corners, there are always things to notice and appreciate. Whether it be the colorful graffiti on an overpass, or a building that is undergoing renovation, or a skating rink in the middle of a round-about, our city has some remarkable treasures.

You just have to put on some rose-colored glasses and search for it.

what kind of girl?

When fashion designers begin a collection for a new season, many ask themselves, "What kind of girl am I designing for?". Recently, I have been thinking about the same thing. As I prepare to submit pieces for review for art fairs and shows coming up later this year, I have been searching for a direction in which to take my work. Inspiration hit when I was reading an article about Anna Sui and her upcoming collection. She always has a very distinct girl in mind.


I've begun asking myself these same type of questions (such as What does she look like? What are her hobbies? Where does she live? What's her career? etc.) and I am going to try answering them through the different paintings.

Obviously, the goal is always to remain true to oneself and create art that is a reflection of the artist's perspective. However, I also like the idea of challenging myself to think of the different type of people (this time around - girls), personalities and interests and have that influence the work that I do.


So this week, I'm channeling the "classic and put together" type girl. The kind of girl who is smart and polished and always looks freshly showered. Her interests range wide, but always lean towards the conservative side (a lot of black-and-white photography, pearls, pencil skirts, and demure, ladylike hobbies). For me, that is a BIG stretch but I'll give it a try!