moodboarding with mr. kate at create and cultivate

This past Saturday, I led a "Moodbarding with Mr. Kate" workshop at Create and Cultivate which is an annual inspiration and networking event put on by No Subject. I created a powerpoint presentation (which I hadn't done since college) and spoke about the creative process, specifically finding that spark of random inspiration, trusting it and cultivating a cohesive "map" - which is most easily expressed on a moodboard.

I laid out a table full of a random barf of items from broken pieces of tile, fabric swatches and stones to magazines and toy soldiers. The goal was to make sense of a jumble of disparate elements which is similar to any creative challenge when you're pulling together ideas. I told the group of 50 that if they didn't have a specific project they wanted to moodboard, they could make an essence board for themselves - basically YOU on a board using elements that express your aesthetic. Below is the essence board that I created for myself...

This is a moodboard I created for the little girls room I designed recently - Electric Granny Chic is what I called it with a DIY dried grapevine chandelier which I made on the board out of twine and broken pieced of champagne cork. I challenged people to think about the materials in new ways, instead of just using magazine clippings try surprising yourself with your creativity.

The finished room and the driftwood chandelier - see more photos of that room makeover here.

Photos from the Create and Cultivate event...

My friends Geri Hirsch and Erin Falconer from Leaf TV conducted a workshop with DIY painted pop bottle vases… Joey painted his tulips…he had an Queen of Hearts moment...