Almost done!

Hi!

I'm almost done with my little makeover! In the last post, I showed my fabrics all cut and ready to go. Well, everything is sewn.

I'm now working on accessories and art. As I mentioned before, I've never been a 'blue' person, so I don't even have one blue item in my house, well up until now, with the birth of my son....so, it's blue overload! I must admit, I do like turquoise though, so, it's working. I found a way to color glass vases, and now, I'm in love! I started with just a couple, because, I wasn't sure, but once I saw the end result, I searched the entire house for every single plain glass vase I could find!

Et voila! My collection of blue/turquoise vases! I just love them! This could turn into a career!!!

And finally, prepping my canvases for art!

Stay tuned!

Getting my groove on!

I had a very difficult pregnancy; I was on bed rest for almost 6 months. I had dreams of putting my baby’s nursery together, but no such luck! All I could do would be to gaze at my computer screen in envy at all the images of nurseries I found online! And I used to wonder (considering how I was feeling!), how all these mothers to be could get these things done before the baby! Oh well, apart from the very basic necessity, which my husband took care of, that was it! My son was welcomed into a very drab room! Big disappointment for mommy!

Now, after two months of healing (and total drabness!!!), I’m ready to get my groove on! Our master bedroom has an adjoining room; the retreat. I’ve transformed that into the nursery and I must say, it makes life very convenient, but now it’s time to make it fabulous!!!

Before I came to the States, I used to approach Interior design from a purely aesthetic point of view, never really thinking about the psychological impact of design. I watched a makeover on HGTV where there was a cancer survivor who just couldn’t stand the look and feel of his bedroom anymore, it just reminded him of his illness and made him feel sick! That’s the exact way I feel about our master…..my husband doesn’t get it, bless him….up until now, it was supposed to be perfect! Anyway, it’s a new day, everything has to go!




I also thought about my bedroom back at home; the above image, it was all ivory, in hindsight, I realize I needed the starkness of the room to relax me after a hectic day of work with all the visual stimulus that I experienced on a daily basis. Design Psych 101!

I’ve always been more of a ‘warm’ person when it comes to colors, reds, golds, champagnes. But with the birth of my son, everything has changed, I’m now I blue mama! And yes, I’m a girlie girl by nature, so I really have to restrain myself and make sure I’m not dolling up my son’s room! I’m moving away from traditional baby blue and working more with turquoise, I love turquoise!

And yes, why couldn't I just buy a new comforter and pillows and get Winnie the Pooh or something for baby Nana Delasie (my husband's thoughts!).....it's just not how I roll! I need to suffer for design!!!

So, here are my fabrics….




All cut, labelled and ready to sew…(I hate this part!!! I hate sewing…that’s another blog post!)


Wish me luck and watch this space!

Card making

In my last post, I mentioned card making, and then I remembered I had something to share. As I keep on saying….I haven’t worked in about 4 years, that is, since I left home. But then I remembered that last year, I went back home to help put together a friend’s wedding. I had to do most of the shopping from here in California and I ended up going to Accra with 8 suitcases!!! Nightmare! Anyway, that’s not the point of this post…

So, I tried to order invitation cards, but no one was going to make them in less than a week, and so, in the middle of three full time schools (8 classes!!!) and shopping for the wedding, I took on the task of making the cards myself. My husband and I stayed up two full nights, between printing, gluing and tying, we were able to get these cards together and post them to Ghana in time for the wedding. The process was grueling, but in hindsight, (as is always the case!!!), it was quite fun.

The theme for the wedding was Diamonds and Emeralds (birth stones of husband and wife).

I also had fun practicing my photography skills (I was taking a photography class that semester!).

And just by the way, I really don’t like the term ‘Jill of all trades’, but I really like to do a lot of things, in my mind, they’re one and the same. What does that make me?

Hence my name….Leonarda, after the true master of all skills, Leonardo da Vinci!

Enjoy!

Three blogs.....

Trying to keep up with one blog is challenging enough! But three! I keep on asking myself why I do this??? (Apart from the fact that I’m a complicated woman….my husband’s description, not mine!) Especially considering the fact that I’m a new mom and that time has become a precious and rare commodity. A couple of my friends have asked the same question. Let me see if I can explain.

In my past life, I provided a wide range of services; fashion design, interior décor, event planning and décor- these were the major services, and then there were all these other services like cakes, catering, card making, gift wrapping, flower arrangements, hats, shoes etc. Anything that I knew how to do, I did. At the time I didn’t find anything wrong with the way I was working, but in hindsight, even though my one goal/mission was “Beauty Inside, On You and All around You”, my brand appeared not to be focused and probably made me look like a wannabe “Jill of all trades”, so this time around, I’ve tried to draw some kind of lines, even though, in my mind, they are all one and the same.

I realize this created a kind of ‘block’ when it came to blogging, so I just decided to put it out there and free myself.

So, this is “Leonarda Renaissance Woman” and if you read my profile, it’s just about all the things I love; discovering them, creating them, celebrating them.

I’m an African woman living outside of Africa; it’s a major part of who I am, and so, I feel I need a different perspective when it comes to all things African, hence, “Asinti Sanaa”, my next blog.

And finally, “Petale”, a blog and brand committed to my love of flowers. Apart from blogging, I really am developing these personas into individual brands, hence the ‘lines being drawn’.

From experience on my Facebook pages, I realize there will always be an overlap somewhere which may seem repetitive, but I think eventually, I’ll be targeting different audiences, so it’s all a-okay!

Okay, done! Now, I’m ready to move on!

Let’s roll!

Welcoming myself back!

I can't believe the last time I posted anything was in DEC 2009! Thank goodness for blogger and the fact that my blog hasn't been deleted!

So, why have I been an absentee blogger? Let me see......

I started an MFA in Fashion Merchandising in 2010, in addition to trying to complete three certificates in Fashion Design, Interior Design and Art at a couple of Community Colleges, and so, I was BUSY!!!!!!

And then somewhere along the line....I became pregnant and everything in my life came to a screeching halt!

Now I'm a proud mama with a beautiful son....and I'm more motivated than ever to be the best I can possibly be, so, Leonarda is back! I promise never ever to leave my blog again!

Here's a picture of the new love of my life!
Anthony Austin Nana Kojo Nyamekye Yeiwei Delasie Busum.

I Did It!!!!!!

My 'Couture' garment is finally done!

Yay! Yipeee!

It's been a challenge, it's been a journey. Like I said before, no tailors, no seamstresses, just me! And yes, I am proud of myself, because it was HARD!

So here are the pictures.

Almost Done!

It's been a while.....too long actually!

Leonarda is doing what she does best!

Overloading herself!!!!!!

But I think that's how Leonardo Da Vinci became great, so I won't complain.

Seriously, I've been overwhelmed this semester. Last semester was a breeze, this semester, I feel like a crazy woman! Is it a possibility that too much 'knowledge/learning' could be bad? Yes, when you're attempting to take in too much in a short period of time!

I've learnt my lesson! I thought I was invincible! I'm not!

I'll share this semester's work once I'm done, and you be the judge.


Moving on.....

I'm almost done with my 'Couture' garment, and I declare here and now....NEVER AGAIN!

Did I actually say that I was going to design a collection of SEVEN???!!!

I must have been on something! Of course I can design, sketch, cut, supervise thousands of garments, but SEWING! Never again, thank you very much! So on that note, I humbly bow in humility for the tailors and seamstresses who have worked for me in the past. My respect to you!

Anyway, the garment is almost done (a few more sleepless nights to go!).

Here are some hints....




Await the finale!

And once again, I declare!

NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!