Do you ever have problems remembering important things you’ve learned? I do. For example, I love to read, in particular, on topics around psychology and spirituality. I’ll read some amazing, life-changing insight and then . . . about three months later . . . I’m like, “hmmmm, what was that again?”
Well, there is a solution for that . . .
Dr. Brene Brown, renown psychological researcher/storyteller, enlightens us that, “Creativity is the key to how the things (we learn) travel from the head to the heart to the hands.” (Brown, 2010) And that, treasured reader, is one of the reasons why I do interior decorating. Taking those learnings and creating décor out of it, you literally live with those messages which helps the insights seeps into your heart & mind.
What is this blog for?
In this blog, I will show you budget-friendly decorating tips, trends, and styles for whatever space you’re living in, whether that’s a specific room in your home, an office, a RV, or an apartment. My aim is to show you easy-to-do designs that can transform your space; as well as, add personal touches based on psychology, spirituality, and the great minds of the past & present to help motivate and inspire you. At the very core, my desire is for your home to be your own personal sanctuary. The place you want to go to for respite, play and encouragement. A space for your babies to flourish as they grow up and for you to enjoy as you grow old.
Let me explain the name
This blog is called J. Ellis by Design for a couple of reasons. One being, simply that J. Ellis is a version of my name, which is Joanna Ellis, in case you were wondering. Secondly, it’s a play on words (say it three times fast . . . do you hear it? . . . Jealous by Design).
Now, some would say that being jealous is a bad emotion, but according to Dr. Anita Johnston all emotions have “a pearl of wisdom” to give us, and jealousy is the one that teaches us what we want for ourselves, our true yearnings. (Johnston, 2000) This suits me well, since I believe good design speaks to our desires; as well as, our functional needs.
Below is a wall art décor that I made to help explain all the gifts that emotions help us to learn, and its an example of moving the things we’ve learned from our head to the heart to the hands . . . and then decorating with it ; )
What to look forward to
Since my blog is launching on Martin Luther King Day, I’ll show you a quick tip that you can do right now in your home for less than $10, which I personally love and have found to be a great conversation starter with guests.
What you’ll need: measuring tape and a pack of alphabet stickers
What you’ll do:
- Select an entry-way or area of your choice in your home
- Starting from the floor and going up, measure 5’7 with your measuring tape
- With your stickers, place the following at that measurement “5’7 – MLK”
When finished it should look something like below:
What you’ve done is place the height of Martin Luther King Jr. on your wall.
After you’ve done so, if you will, take a moment and think over the following:
While, looking at the placement, imagine where your eyes would have rested if you had met Dr. King while he was alive.
Do you have to look up or down to meet where his eyes would have been?
Or are you two close to the same height?
How does this position feel in your neck?
Your shoulders?
Now, you have a better understanding of what it would have felt like to chat with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
In my home, I have the heights of MLK, Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Gandhi, Eartha Kitt, Harriet Tubman, and Jesus in the entry-way to my dining room. I can’t tell you how I have loved walking up to it and imagining what it would be like to speak with them. I will say though, I’m 5’4 and Maya Angelou was 6 feet tall. I don’t think I could talk to her long standing up because of the crick in my neck it gives me to look up at her. I imagine, if she were alive, I would have to invite her to sit down to talk. Anyhoo, doing this small piece of decorating helps remind me that my heroes existed, they were real people and I feel inspired by their lives.
It’s tips like this one that we will explore; as well as, remodeling larger spaces focusing on principles of interior design in my future blog posts. To close out, I’ll end with one of my favorite Martin Luther King Jr. quotes in honor of his day.
P.s.
In case you were wondering, here is a short video of the entry to the dining room with the heights of my heroes (I put a mannequin in the shot to give perspective).
References
Brown, B. (2010). Gifts of Imperfections. Hazelden Publishing.
Johnston, A. (2000). Eating in the light of the moon: How women can transform their relationship with food through myths, metaphors, and storytelling. Carlsbad: Gurze Books.