Abode May 2015
Abode
May 2015
Contents
www.abodemag.com
ON THE COVER photographer: courtney apple stylist: caitlin wilson pillows: caitlin wilson textiles grey spotted tribeca
Departments 2
Editors Letter
DIY Time 3
cloth napkins
Runway to Room 10
Interiors Inspired by Fashion Trends
Features
4 Nashville Nest by Cathy Higgerson 11 The Artwork Stylist by Pip Miller 16 International Inspiration by Mackenzie Horan
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There’s something special about our Abode reades. Not only do you enjoy decorating but you love your home; plus, you willingly put your trust in us and come along each month on an adventure that’s full of exciting new decor surprises – whether it’s discovering the hottest furniture trends, learning about the latest fabrics or just being inspired by the stylish rooms we feature. Connecting with you is — hands down — the best part of my job. Time and time again, I’ve met readers who tell me how much they love to create their own beautiful spaces but did not know exactly where to start. Many are looking for the perfect formula to get a look that is just right. We pull together a package of interiors by a group of talented homeowners and designers that showcase winning combinations, from brightly hued accessories set against white walls to soft shades paired with beautifullu patterned fabrics to neutral texture layered with more tactile elements. Best of all, these homes deliver useful decorating advice and tricks of the trade that you can use as stepping stones to finding your own formula, whether your style is contemporary, traditional or eclectic. Read through the pages and see for yourself. We at Abode would love to hear about your decorating formula or even see your own homes. Maybae we will feature you in another issue. Tweet us @AbodeMag.
XOXO,
The Abode team
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DIY Time Ways to repurpose cloth napkins Create Artwork 1. Cut a piece of black cotton fabric the same size as your canvas. Iron a piece of paper-backed fussible webbing, like Wonder-Under,on it – it will turn the fabric into a iron-on appliqué. Set it aside. 2. Take a profile photo, size it on your computer to fit nicely on the canvas, and print it onto paper. 3. Tape the printout to the fabric and cut out the image to create a silhouette. 4. Remove the backing from the fussible webbing and iron the silhouette onto the center of a napkin, following the package instructions. 5. Wrap the napkin around the canvas; secure it to the back with a staple gun.
Cover Boxes 1. Remove the lid and set it aside, then remove the metal label holder and discard it. 2. Place a napkin facedown. Spray the outside of the box, including its bottom, with repositionable adhesive, thencenter the bottom of the napkin. 3. Fold the napkin up over the box’s sides. At the corners, tuck the fabric under itself to create crisp seams. Tack down the seams with craft glue. 4. Trim excess fabric, leaving about an inch to fold over the box’s top. Glue the fabric inside the box 5. Repeat for the lid.
Upholster Chairs 1. Unhook the seat from the chair frame. 2. Cut a 1/4-inch-thick piece of plywood slightly smaller than the size of the seat, or have a home improvement store do it for you. Cut several pieces of batting the same size as the seat 3. Place the wood on top of the seat, followed by the batting, then a large piece of muslin. Flip the stack upside down Use a staple gun to fasten the muslin to the underside of the seat, pulling it tight as you go. Trim excess muslin. 4. Flip the seat right-side up and place a napkin over the muslin. Flip the seat over again to staple the napkin to the underside of the seat, then reattach the seat to the chair.
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Nashville
NEST By Cathy Higgerson
Photography: Leslee Mitchell
Tennessee is bursting with great design these days and it’s in no small part due to the arrival of husband and wife team Benjamin and Genifer Sohr. Together the entrepreneurial duo run pencil and paper development co., a design team that tackles a variety of projects from retail design and commercial development to architectural services, interior design, and styling. The couple and their two children lived in this Nashville home for nine short but memorable months while renovating another more permanent home across the street. Undeterred by the temporary situation, Ben and Gen still insisted on infusing the interim digs with their signature minimal but colorful style. Read on to learn what makes the creative duo tick.
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What did you love most about the place?
Ben: The setting is amazing... an old ranchstyle housenestled in a little valley dense with giant, old trees. It is quiet and serene but still only a couple minutes from shopping and food. Also, the house is simple and well built so we had a great base from which to start. Gen: We are really drawn to a house in its original, untouched state. This home has great bones, a perfect layout, and an amazing wooded lot. I love all the original details of the home-the great regency style trim work in the dining room and kitchen cabinets that seem just as current today, the amazing vintage marble mantel that the original owners scavenged from an 1800s Nashville mansion ... I loved the idea of bringing this old house back to life!
Did you have a favorite room in the house?
B: There is a large screened porch off the back of the house. Being on that porch is like being in the woods. I love to sit out there, listen to the birds, and work. It’s the best work space ever. G: The dining room, which often doubled as my work space, was top of my list. The combination of the original trim details, lots of natural light, and collection of colorful paintings was a great combination. Creating the art was a really fun family project. Benjamin, the kids, and I all collected color swatches and chose our favorite color combinations. Our super talented baby sitter, who is also a very talented artist, created all the paintings based on our swatches and color combinations.
How did you approach the decoration?
B: For me, the design process always begins by taking stuff away-removing old paneling, taking down lighting, demolishing walls. We need to reduce the space to its bare bones and get to the essence of the structure. This process gives me a clean palate from which to start working. G: We always consider future home owners in our designs. I knew we would not be in this home long and soon another lucky family would inhabit it. But our approach is pretty consistent: We use great classic materials for construction, like marble and subway tile in the bathrooms and then add an element of surprise. Something emotional that we love in this home is the fun wallpager. I adore the tree pattern from Made Like in the kid’s bathroom and the more sub de kitchen wallpaper pattern from Serena and Lily. We typically create a home that we enjoy, and usually others are drawn to it too.
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all in. There is always something from our travels that ultimately lands in a project. Most recently, it was beautiful handpainted tiles we discovered in Costa Rica. But, really, creative inspiration is everywhere- from my favorite fashion designers to grabbing dinner at our local taco shop.
Which of your current projects are you most excited about?
B: Liberty Lodge (givemelibertylodge.com). It is a design-driven retreat and community that we are developing on the outskirts of Nashville. Whether you want to escape for a couple days or to completely uproot yourself, Liberty Lodge is the place to be. G: Honestly, I can say that we are excited about ALL of our projects. We are currently renovating several amazing old houses, we are doing design development for a new retail concept, and work has just begun on Liberty Lodge, a cool getaway close to Nashville.
What’s it like collaborating with your spouse?
B: Gen and I worked together for many years before we ventured off on our own. We met at the corporate offices for Gap Inc. in San Francisco, where we were helping to launch a new brand in the ‘90s called Old Navy. Subsequently, we collaborated at other big brands including Victoria’s Secret and The Body Shop, so we knew what to expect from each other and discovered that our skill sets and aesthetics were very complementary. G: Ben thinks very big-more long term and process oriented. I love perfectingthe details. Ultimately we balance one another out, but two VERY opinionated people working together has its challenges.
Did your children have any input in the decor?
B: The kids know the drill when we get a new house. Both Lucy and Oden stake their claim on rooms and make some basic requests. However, Oden is more apt to dig into the details and he wants to discuss paint color and lighting and artwork placment. G: I think the nature of our design is generally very thoughtful toward the kids. We want everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed in our spaces. 1his home had a great downstairs that became the kids world-comfY sofa, big TV, and a very well loved royal blue ping pong table!
Growing up who or what inspired your design aesthetic?
B: I grew up in a family that was not especially creative. Until a friend dragged me into the architecture school at my university, I had no idea that having a creative career was an
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option. The instant I saw the architectural models spread around the design studio, there was no looking back! G: I believe there is a “design gene” and if you have it, you know at a very young age. My creativity was nurtured by my wonderfully talented mom. As a mom myself, I love watching our son Oden; he has creativity in spades. It’s fun to watch your kids develop their own creative voice.
Who or what is currently inspiring your design aesthetic? B: Modernism and simplicity are my creative base, however, we pull inspiration from everywhere-music, food, travel, art. Everywhere we go, we are looking for interesting stuff-old and new-to inform our work. G: We are fortunate to travel often. This is usually the time when Benjamin and I have a moment to catch our breath and take it
Do you have a dream pencil and paper co. project?
B: We’ve done lots of retail and residential work but a limited amount of hospitality. I would love to do more hotel or restaurant work. There are two brothers in Nashville, the Goldbergs, who are creating some really interesting eating and drinking establishments. I would love to partner with them. Also, Andy Spade is someone I admire for his ability to blend creativity with business. I would jump at the chance to work with him. G: Yes! Liberty Lodge. We have been dreaming up this idea of developing a little community with simple, modern cabins available to purchase and some vacation rentals. It’s located in the country just fifteen minutes from downtown Nashville and we can’t wait to bring this concept to life!
pencilandpaperco.com
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Runway to Room Interior Design Inspired by Fashion Trends
BLACK AND WHITE GRAPHIC PRINTS
Sharp contrasts in modern prints continue to grace the runway, as seen in this Carolina Herrera dress. The blackand-white color scheme is old hat to fashionistas—the trend has played out in different styles throughout the decades, from Marlene Dietrich’s tuxedo in Morocco (1930) to Jean Seberg’s horizontal stripes in Breathless (1960) to Julia Roberts’ Valentino at the 2001 Academy Awards. Modern graphic prints are taking center stage both on and off the runway. In their Fall/Winter 2014 line, Scandinavian design company Oyoy integrates graphic textiles with soft neutral woods and hints of mint. Just about any color can be used with these fun black and white prints, designed for both the modern and timeless heart.
COBALT AND STEEP BLUES
Cobalt blue isn’t going anywhere for quite a while, having made splashes at several Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 runway shows, including Rebecca Taylor’s. It’s a bold enough hue to stand on its own (like in the pictured ensemble), but it still has a special ability to complement the lighter blues in the color family.
These deep blues are being incorporated into home design, too, as pictured through the attractive integration of textiles and wall hangings in the home of Mandy Kellogg Rye (founder of design blog and boutique Waiting on Martha). The mix of blues and patterns provide necessary pops of color, all while allowing Gray Malin’s “On Top of Aspen Mountain” photo to have a co-starring role in the overall decor.
BLURRED LINES Prints that are reminiscent of Moroccan patterns have always been popular in both the fashion and interior-design worlds. Aside from the aforementioned ochre accents, Tory Burch’s Spring 2015 line also includes strong geometric patterns and blurred lines—this dichromatic stripe-print coat is a great example. Patterns that mix deep mocha and ivory tones are being adapted for the home as well. The bold print can seamlessly tie a room together, as proven in this living room designed by Tom Delavan. Although this Greenwich Village space combines antiques with modern decor, the Beni Ourain rug is the room’s statement piece.
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The
Artwork
t s i l y St
Why go around artless when you can inject color ond creativity into your life? This is the queslion that sisterly duo and accomplished property stylists, Sara and Amy Chamberlain have more than one answer for, with the launch of their latest online venture. The Artwork Stylist. By Pip Miller
Photography The Artowrk Stylist
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A
s founders of the very successful The Real Estate Stylist, Sara and Amy knew a thing about adding value and appeal to a property in which they believe artwork plays a major role. Having purchased as many as 250 works in just two years they become attuned to on artistic pulse ond through their hunting and gathering discovered some beautiful diamonds in the rough along with a gaping hate in the market. “We couldn’t find accesible photographic or large graphic works to use in our property styling. We oftern shopped ‘print’ shops and mass production import ranges yet were disillusioned with the offering. The Artwork Stylist is about delivering quality and aesthetics to a new audience,” said Amy. According to one half of the duo, Sara, The Artwork Stylist is gearned not to the property stylist or corporate market but homeowners themselves. “What we do is provide a new way of buying art in which ‘the artist meets the stylist’.” Together Sara and Amy curate and also create images that not only appeal to them, but also promise a dramatic impact in any interior. When it comes to styling a room Sara and Amy draw inspiration from art every time. It’s the building block from which in the rest of the design story develops.”It’s never a cas of ‘planking’ something in the bedroom, as it is important to create a sense of harmony in the palettes, styles and sizes of artworks selected across the interior. Bedrooms are especially important as some art styles and palettes can be too jarring to sleep with (even though our properties are all empty). The palette should be tied back to accessories and furniture but starting with the art is a great idea!” As such, Sara and Amy have partnered with established Australian photographers to sell their works in a format that does not impede their commercial works and gallery exhibitions. “The art of photography is under threat from new technology, easy-to-use filters and a fast paced consumerism. We want to harness the power of this medium as an art form and get it exposed and up in people’s homes more than ever. The Artwork Stylists supports our artists and a local fine art farmer rather than stock shots, imported frames or a poster mentality. These are pieces to aspire to, treasure and keep.” The beauty of the Artwork Stylist is its carefully edited collection that provides an easy to navigate road for art buyers. “We constantly found that online galleries (in general) were a mixture of prices, styles and artists at varying stages of their careers. On our site, consumers know they are buying
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an Australian artist, a limited edition print, a quality bespoke frame and an image that they have already seen styled in situ rather than on a gallery wall or online shop.” For Sara and Amy The Artwork Stylist is not about art for art’s sake but rather the way in which a beautiful, hand picked piece can transform a room while introducing that coveted, aspirational character that so many people yearn for but rarely achieve. “Our tagline is, ‘size matters’,” says Sara Chamberlain, one half of the The Artwork Stylist. “People faff about with lots of little pieces of art, but we say, ‘Let’s inject some value into this room’.” The Artwork Stylist began when Sara and her sister Amy, (they also run property styling business The Real Estate Stylist together), were having trouble finding well-priced art to fill the homes they transformed. “We were putting together beautiful pieces of furniture, but we were always missing the artwork,” says Amy, whose preference for statement-size pieces led her to galleries, where the price point wasn’t right. “We thought, if we’re having this problem every day, and we know everything, imagine what the average person is going through?” Launched in October last year, The Artwork Stylist curates a varied yet streamlined mix of photographs and graphics, all printed on 100 per cent cotton rag with archival ink, all limited editions of 50, framed and delivered to your door. These sisters don’t claim to be connoisseurs of the art world, but they do know how to make a room look beautiful. Quite simply, this is art styling minus the stress and the mess. You can choose your size and frame. Photos on the website show each piece styled to inspire in the sisters’ clean-without-feelingcold style. “We’re not trying to pretend this is high-value artwork that is going to appreciate over time,” says Sara. “We’re curating as stylists, not as art curators.” So far, the women have a team of four (anonymous) Melbourne artists on their books. They provide them with works that haven’t made it to exhibitions. “We say to [the artists], “You’re a shit-hot artist and we know what you charge in the gallery, but let’s see what we can do with something from your cutting-room floor,” says Amy. “You can buy a mass-produced canvas at Freedom for $800, but this is a limited-edition print from a respected artist starting at $550,” says Amy. This is high-quality art for the buyer who cares about their home’s aesthetic, and not
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the signature in the bottom corner. “If you are going to go out there into the wider world, you better be damn sure about who you are, why you exist and what you deliver,” says Amy Spotting a niche in the market for property styling with a clean, fresh look, Sara and Amy set about tajing their idea to market, a journey they walked blindly with what could be discrived as just a backpack of aplomb and eski full of determination on board. “We could see a huge shift in how properties were being presented and the images that consumers were being exposed to in magazines, blogs, and television programs,” Amy says. After completing a styling install on a particular mansion, the photography was used in a advertising campagin for a major national retailer, marking a major turning point for the girls’ business. “A crazy week of forcasts and spreadsheets ensued, to get a handle on how much further stock we were going to need to meet the rise in demand, and in fact, we almost walked away when we realized how deep our pockets were going to need to be in order to move foward.” Returning to Melbourne however, the girls secured more investment, and between May and September of that year moved into a new warehouse premises, purchased their own delivery vehicle, extended their stock and took on full-time staff. Starting off with the goal of styling one house per week, they now do two a day, and have already installed more than 90 properties in nine months, including the home of AFL footballer Chris Judd and his TV personality wife, Bec. “Sara is ultimately the business — she’s got the money smarts and the commerical knowledge, while I do a lot of the relationship management. When we design, we do it together. In the real world, our houses look completely different and our tastes in food, men and lifestyle are basically opposite. But when it comes to designing spaces for our business, it is uncanny how much we are alike. You could put us in separate locked boxes with a picture of a room and we would draw the same design, asthetic and style.” Sought-after by the cool and smart, Sara and Amy have managed to walk boldly where others have feared to tread, along the fine line of creativity and commercialism — a courageoud exploration.
www.theartworkstylist.com.au
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INTERNATIONAL
inspiration by Mackenzie Horan Photos By Courtney Apple
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I
nterior designer Caitlin Wilson is proof that a little hard work can go a long way. At just 28-years-old, she has managed to not only launch a successful interior design firm, but also introduce her own line of brightly-colored textiles—all while moving (several times) across the globe with her two little kids. Her hard work began when she first graduated from college—Caitlin turned to her phone book to search for local interior design companies in Utah, where interior design firms were scarce. After cold-calling virtually every design company in the book, she ended up landing a position at a small firm. Caitlin eventually moved on to other work, and eventually found herself with not one, but three jobs: working at an interior design firm in Salt Lake City, designing displays for a local boutique, and designing spaces for her own clients during her free time. After a very busy month working all three jobs, she decided to take a leap of faith and started her own interior design business, Caitlin Wilson Designs. A few years after launching her design company—she felt a need for young, vibrant patterns in the textile market. During a six-month stint in Hong Kong for her husband’s job, she seized the opportunity to explore fabric design. Once in Hong Kong, she walked door-to-door in the fabric district (while facing a language barrier) looking for a local manufacturer to produce her fabric designs. After six months of drawing, designing, and sampling, she launched Caitlin Wilson Textiles. Her designs, which heavily rely on her fresh use of color and bold patterns, are all over design blogs, in magazines, and taking over social media platforms like Pinterest. Everywhere we turn, Caitlin’s bright designs (and amazing pillows), are infusing life into rooms all over the country. While she is best known as an interior and textile designer, Caitlin is also quite the world traveler. Currently residing in Philadelphia
with her family, this San Francisco-native has lived in a wide variety of beautiful and culturally diverse locations across the globe. Her husband’s job allowed their family to experience life in London, Dubai, and Hong Kong, and Caitlin also spent time in Paris during college. While abroad, she picked up design inspirations that are clearly seen in her textile work. These internationally inspired patterns (including trellis’ and chevron from Dubai, and fretworks and florals from Hong Kong), combined with Caitlin’s love of bright colors, create a versatile and sophisticated design that brings a modern pop-of-color to any space.
What was your first job out of college and how did you land it? A small interior design firm in Utah—I literally searched the phone book for any kind of interior designer that I could find since they were few and far between in the town I was living. It was definitely a challenge since my boss’ style was quite different from mine, but such a great experience—learning the ins and outs of running a project/ design business, reading plans, drawing layouts, selecting materials, working with tradesmen, understanding client relationships, etc.
What were you doing before you launched Caitlin Wilson Designs? I was working at another firm in Salt Lake City and also designing displays for a local boutique. My first two clients found me—one at the boutique I worked at and the other through my personal blog. I was so ready to work on my own that I didn’t even hesitate when they asked if I could help them with their homes! I would work on the projects at night, but after just a month of juggling three jobs, I was too busy to handle my workload between the firm and my new clients. So I took
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the leap and started Caitlin Wilson Design. Leaving the 9 to 5 office job was liberating—I was so thrilled to be able to control my own projects and create unique, beautiful spaces for my clients.
What need did you see in the textile industry that inspired you to create your own line? Colorful, unique fabrics and pillows have always been the key to bringing my spaces to life. So after a few years of seeing the same patterns over and over again throughout my own and other designers spaces, I felt like there was a need for young, vibrant, fresh patterns in the market. I was living in Dubai at the time, so I was inspired by the patterns of the Middle East—the trellis’, chevrons, and classic Arabian geometrics. I didn’t have access to many showrooms when I began custom designing pillows with trim for my clients’ spaces, but I was able to talk to textile manufacturers in India about the process of designing my own fabrics. Serendipitously enough, my husband’s job took us to Hong Kong for six months, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore this idea. There I became even more entranced with the timeless Asian patterns—fretworks, florals, and unique geometrics.
How did you go about finding manufacturers for your pillows? When we found out that we would be moving to Hong Kong for six months, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore the idea of textile design. I went to the fabric district and physically walked from door-to-door asking if anyone could print small sample batches of patterns I had thought up. One thing led to another, and eventually I found a source who would work with me on a small scale, since typically ordering overseas means massive quantities and often poor
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quality. Simultaneously, I met a friend at church who had studied textile design and could help me translate my ideas into real patterns. It was an absolute kismet—we worked for six straight months drawing, designing, and sampling before we finally placed a large order of fabric by the yard that I planned to sell online once I moved back to the United States. The biggest challenge while working with the manufacturers is their lack of attention to detail and quality control. I opted to just have the fabrics made in Hong Kong, and have all the sewing done right here in Pennsylvania. That way I can ensure that every pillow and pattern match up and meet the high quality that I expect for my clients’ pillows.
How did you initially market your business ? I wish I had could say that had a calculated media strategy, but I’ll admit that most of the great press exposure just came to me! It was, and still is incredibly flattering every time I am featured in a magazine or blog. When I first launched Caitlin Wilson Textiles, I contacted all of the lovely blogger friends that I had made in recent years, sent out lots of swatch boxes to designers, and a few pillows here and there to magazines. Pinterest came out right before I launched my textiles, so that was huge! Sometimes I feel like I am living in a dream when I see myself in an article, but then I remember that I am one tired lady and this has taken a lot of hard work to get here.
How has social media (your blog, Pinterest, Instagram) affected your business? I absolutely consider social media to be the reason for the success we’ve had. The internet is such an incredible tool for creative professionals. In the past, designers could only be seen through print magazines
and word of mouth. Social media has changed our field drastically— allowing us to share ideas and make connections with other creatives and businesses to help each other succeed and be seen. Considering that I am a mom to two little ones, I would not have had the ability to market myself as easily (or really at all) without my blog, Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. I am amazed at the success we’ve had in only a year and a half. I feel very blessed to have had such great support from blogs, friends, and other creatives in the industry.
What advice can you give to other women who are looking to start their own company? I’ll be honest and say that I am still in shock at how simple running an online business can be. We have a pretty smooth operation running right out of our home office, and I feel very fortunate to be able to raise my kids and run a business all under one roof. I think the most challenging part of running a business is managing people and relationships. Whether you work with clients, have employees, and/or deal with tradespeople, they are what matter most. Yes the internet does a lot of work, but when it comes down to it you still need people to have real success. People need to feel valued, understood, and appreciated. I am constantly learning by experience how to best lead my own team, serve our customers, and strengthen professional relationships.
You have lived in London, Dubai and Hong Kong, tell us about these experiences? I grew up in San Francisco, studied abroad in Paris during college, and my parents have always traveled—so I think being a jet-setter is just in my blood! My husband’s company did the leg work for visas
which was incredibly helpful, but each place we lived brought its own unique challenges. Whether we stayed for two months or two years, we still had to set up shop to function as a family in a foreign country. Finding housing that I liked was difficult, and each country has its own quirks when it comes to comfort and standard of living. But you can make even a temporary house feel like a home with a few personal touches—like flowers, frames, and of course pillows! Luckily we didn’t have too many language issues in Dubai or London, but I did have my fair share of experiences getting lost in Hong Kong. My advice is to buy a cell phone, enjoy the local cuisine and shopping, and always have a sense of humor. Give yourself a two week settling period when you move to a new place—it will feel strange, even very strange at times, but within a few weeks your new life will start to feel familiar and it will get easier. My husband and I had so many amazing and hilarious memories together as nomads—I will always cherish the time we had abroad.
What’s your secret behind assembling colors and patterns so that they all work within a room? Just as I like to bring a dynamic aesthetic to a room for my clients, I wanted to create a collection that would help people combine patterns and colors in their own homes with confidence. I carefully designed each mini pillow collection juxtaposing patterns, colors, and scales to create the perfect balance—and at the same time versatile enough to work with a variety of styles.
What is your greatest accomplishment in your career thus far? I think of every client project as a big accomplishment because I
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learn and grow as a designer with each opportunity, and I feel lucky to be able to do what I love. I guess I would say that my greatest accomplishment would be carrying out the textile line, while still continuing to run my design business. Having a multi-faceted business can be overwhelming at times, but I thrive under pressure and truly enjoy all aspects of running my business.
What does your average workday look like? Lately, I’ve had design consultations almost every day of the week! But I actually prefer to be with my kids for three full days of the week, and only need a babysitter for one or two days. I am lucky enough to have a great team, Rachel and Thais, who help me immensely so I can pretty much be a mom most of the time. I come into the office for an hour or two a day to work on designs, or make important decisions during my kid’s nap time! This has worked really well for the last two years, but as my kids get older, it is getting more difficult! So, we have plans to get an office space and possibly retail space later this year.
What advice would you give to your 23-year-old self ? Start blogging! Take an accounting class, learn photoshop, make friends with other creatives, and share your talents with others as much as you can. Oh and did I say, start blogging?!
www.caitlinwilson.com
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