Skip to content
  • Erica
  • Portfolio
  • Services
  • Press
  • Contact
  • “The Design at your Doorstep dossier? My friends are still drooling.” – B., Vancouver, BC

    • Manifest
    • Design 101
  • I design for the senses. Especially the ears.

  • Previously:

    • Freeing Your Voice + Finding Your Melody
    • Rental Purgatory, You Say?
    • Are You Ready? I’m About to Rock Your Rental
    • Holla. A Little on the Madness that was March. Er, Winter.
    • ‘Decorating’ & Unraveling the Cringe Factor
    • The Dichotomy of Design
    • Jack Move
    • Style vs. Substance
    • I See Music – Kashmir
    • Design and the “You Hired What?!” Syndrome

Freeing Your Voice + Finding Your Melody

While I’m sinking into the inner theme songs of Mr. & Ms. B for the Rock Your Rental contest, I’ll bet you’re wondering what YOUR inner theme song sounds like. Many of you have emailed to tell me that you’ve been thinking about your record collection (“record” applies even if you’re not spinning vinyl, dig?). You’ve been telling me that you love Coltrane, and Iron and Wine, and Adele. Some of you are even dipping into the proverbial oldies and dredging up some serious emotional memories.

This is entirely the point.

And by the way, “oldies” are subjective. To some, that means Etta James. To others, we’re talking Ace of Base. Whatever floats your boat.

YOUR sound is a mix of memories; imprints of emotional resonance. Experiences are personal, and your memories are laced with the notes of forgotten melodies, lyrical turns of phrase, and rhythms you’ve long since relegated to the ‘teenage angst’ years.

Music forms the fabric of who you are. And who you’re becoming. Your musical point of view is your unique signature.

YOUR VOICE.

How you choose to communicate your voice is as important in life and business as it is in your personal space. On that note, rising star Abby Kerr of Abby Kerr Ink is launching Freeing the Voice of Your Business, a powerful, 5-module audio course designed to help you uncover and define your voice on your terms.

So listen up. Whether you’re embarking on a new business or figuring out how to creatively express yourself in any capacity, Freeing the Voice of Your Business will help you unlock your creative potential and navigate the proverbial expressive minefield as you hone in on exactly what makes you, well, you.

As part of the ‘Freeing Your Voice’ conversation, Abby invited me, along with three powerhouse personalities to share our perspectives on what ‘voice’ means, how to define and refine it, and how to sing it from the rooftops. Justine Musk of TribalWriter.com dishes on the tension between giving your voice room to breathe while calling it forth artfully and intentionally, Amna Ahmad from PragmaticHybrid.com discusses the shadows that haunt while you’re crafting your voice, Alison Gresik from Gresik.ca shares what it feels like to sink into the fullness of your voice while avoiding the fugly mimicry bug, and I jam on the world your voice wants to live in.

Heady stuff.

Freeing your voice is crucial to successfully transforming your space. I asked Abby how Freeing the Voice of Your Business applies to the context of interior design, and how you can use this knowledge in crafting your unique melody, your inner theme song, YOUR voice.

Erica: How does ‘Freeing Your Voice’ apply in the wider context of self-expression (in business or in aesthetic artistry)?

Abby: Freeing your voice is about coming into your ability to express outwardly what you know is true for you on the inside. Whether that be through a business model, through fashion, through the gifts you give, through interior design, or through your dietary choices, it’s all connected. Freeing your voice is about taking part in a larger conversation. You’re not living in a vacuum, so why behave as if you are? Your choices *do* matter. And other people need and want to hear about them.

Erica: How does one learn to let go? With all the conflicting messages (and memories) attached to things, people, and ideas, how does one tune it all out and learn to listen to the (sometimes quiet but always powerful) melody within?

Abby: Ooh, great question. Learning to let go to past stories and voices starts with remembering who you were before the story or the voice came into play for you. Sometimes that more primary, original self is SO subtle and worn at the edges that it can be hard to put your finger on. But somewhere underneath, you know who you were — and who you are. What this means for you and your voice can take all sorts of forms: oh, now I get to travel if I want to. Oh, I don’t have to cook on holidays anymore. Oh, I really hate that shade of lavender. Oh, I won’t be talked to like that. Letting go is a process, but pressing *toward* the pure, original, primary self is the way to expedite it for yourself.

Erica: What was your inspiration for creating Freeing the Voice of Your Business, and how has the experience informed your creative expression in business, in day-to-day life, and in your personal space?

Abby: GREAT question. My inspiration for creating the product was twofold: first, my awareness as a younger entrepreneur some years ago {younger, as in, in my first business incarnation} that a compelling voice that created a world for my customers was something that came naturally to me. People commented on it. I had to notice that it was a gift of mine. And let’s be honest — it’s fun to share the stuff we’re best at teaching, isn’t it?

Secondly, the inspiration came from my clients and readers who told me that voice was an issue for them — an ever present concern, almost a neurosis. Lots of people have no clue if the voice of their business is working for them or not. {Some of them hire me to tell them that.} But I wanted to create an entryway for them to start to experience their own purest and most powerful business voice on their own terms. And I wanted to invite other strong voices to join me in leading this conversation. Hence, your involvement, Erica!

Creating this course has informed my own creative expression in a very full-on and unexpected way. Thinking about voice as it relates to one’s business expression has heightened my awareness of my own business voice — and hence, doubled any neuroses I may have already had! {Quelling those as I type.} At the same time, creating this work has given me a renewed sense of commitment to keeping my own voice pure and potent. That’s something that’s really important to me, whether I’m creating content for my audience, or choosing new shoes, or straightening up my studio. It *all* connects.

Freeing the Voice of Your Business will be released Thursday, June 16th. Sign up here for Abby’s ‘Inklings’ e-newsletter to receive a quiet nudge when it’s ready. You’ll receive a complimentary 10-part e-course gift when you do. Better still, hop on over to her exclusive advance list, ‘Covered In Ink’, for a very handsome discount price.

And if you’re feeling luxy, click on the badge below (I know how valuable this will be for you so I became an official affiliate). Not only will you learn how to hone in on the You of you, you’ll receive a half-hour consultation with moi, to help you craft your voice in the context of your personal space.

We’ll excavate the disparate notes until we uncover your deepest melodies. We’ll jam on what you’re working with, the limitations that are driving you crazy, and where you want to go (aesthetically and emotionally speaking). And then I’ll help you get there.

So if you’ve been wondering how to dip your toes in the water without committing yourself to making a revolutionary transformation, now’s your time. A little renewal goes a loooong way.

Freeing the Voice of Your Business and finding your inner theme song. Now that’s beautiful harmony.

* PS ~ Send me your receipt to erica {at} ericaswansondesign {with a little dot} com. That way I can get in touch to set up our jam session. Can’t wait to meet you!

Posted in Creativity, Inspiration. Comments (0)

Rental Purgatory, You Say?

{If you’re reading this via email, click the title to view the gallery. It’ll make so much more sense that way. Promise!}

THANK YOU to all of you who entered the Rock Your Rental contest. Choosing a winner wasn’t easy, and while I’ve personally thanked each and every one of you, I’d like to thank you here. Right now. I couldn’t have done this without you, and I’m deeply grateful for the community we’re building. Cheers!

If you’re new here, let me get you up to speed. I created the Rock Your Rental contest so that I could help you break free from the decorative limitations of renting. Renting sometimes sucks, but unless you’re a college student or in an especially transient period, your living situation should never *feel* temporary, even if it is. Rock Your Rental is about giving one lucky reader the chance to transform their space ~ on their terms, within their budget, and on their timeline. And it’s giving me a chance to show all of you that no matter where you live, it should always feel like *home*.

I know renting can sometimes feel like living in aesthetic purgatory, and the sense of, “where do I even start?!” can be overwhelming. But there’s absolutely no need to ‘grin and bear it’ when it comes to your personal space. Personal space is just that… PERSONAL, and it doesn’t take bundles of cash and a couple of sledgehammers to make it feel so. More to the point, a space isn’t about the bits of ‘this and that’; it’s about how you want to FEEL.

So whatever your individual nasty happens to be ~ ugly fixtures, even uglier lighting, dusty don’t-know-how-long-they’ve-been-up window treatments, I’m about to show you that renting doesn’t have to equate to “ugh”. I’m inviting you behind the scenes for an intimate over-the-shoulder peek as I tease apart the story, get inside the minds of our winners, figure out where they’re going sideways, and best of all, what turns them on.

And the juiciest part? I’m giving you a peek inside their record collection, which will form the basis for my intuitive excavation and space orchestration. It’s what I mean when I talk about teasing out your inner theme song, and bringing the intangible essence of ‘you’ into tangible 3D form. It’s exposing inspiration and solving problems by listening.

So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to Mr. & Ms. B. Actually, let me introduce you to their bedroom, specifically. Photos are a little fuzzy, but you can definitely get the gist…

[Show as slideshow]
[View with PicLens]
Rock Your Rental Bedroom [1]
Rock Your Rental Bedroom [2]
Rock Your Rental Bedroom [3]
Rock Your Rental Bedroom [4]
Rock Your Rental Bedroom [5]
Rock Your Rental Bedroom [6]

This should be interesting, no?

Next we’ll meet the couple behind the images and break the project down. And later, I’ll bring you inside their record collection for some gorgeous inspiration, where you’ll get an idea of how to create your individual aesthetic fingerprint, by taking cues from what turns you on, auditorily speaking.

So stick around; you might just learn something new that you can use in your own space, renting or otherwise.

Posted in Creativity, I See Music, Inspiration, Super Cool Giveaway. Comments (4)

Are You Ready? I’m About to Rock Your Rental

My first house was a kaleidescope of cows and bubblegum pink walls, burnt orange-coloured carpets with black and peach wallpaper, mint coloured balloon shades, and a forest green basement with a cheap wood bar.

Yeah, baby.

It was sort of the visual equivalent of this:

It even had one of these:

Side note: I was always so disappointed that it didn’t give me a ‘mooo’ as a reward for fetching the mail.

Alas, what it did give me was a whole pile of wallpaper removal headaches and one hell of a sense of pride for clearing the ‘Grannie’ decks. But – and here’s the kicker – ripping that shit out is easy when you own the place.

And what of the millions who are currently renting?

At the moment, that would include, er, me.

Whatever your reason or circumstance, renting doesn’t mean being relegated to the back of the aesthetically-privileged line. What it DOES mean is a whole other set of headaches and a sense of pride that depends to a great extent on the largesse of your landlord.

Case in point:

Oh, and:

With:

All very lovely.

And so very not me.

But hey, let’s not forget that I do this for a living. And while I’m stripping wallpaper and pulling down dusty sheers and wondering who on earth could possibly love mauve carpeting, I figured I couldn’t be the only one feeling a sense of rental purgatory.

So.

I decided to blow the doors off.

Ready?

I’m giving away $550.

I’m going to say that again:

I’m giving away $550.

Crazy, right?!

I figured there was no better way to highlight the decorative possibilities than by holding a contest. I’ll be showing one lucky winner how to Rock Your Rental without a) blowing the budget, and b) making the landlord hyper-ventilate.

So consider this your official invitation: send me images and details of your rental nightmare. Tell me what challenges you’re facing and what you would do if you owned the place. The best (read: possibly the worst) entry will receive a Design at Your Doorstep package worth $550.

That means you’ll receive the following juicy goodness:

  • A one-on-one phone consultation. I listen deeply, and help you uncover your design objectives – the obvious ones, and the emotional ones.
  • A digital inspiration board. It’s a personal style file – in high-resolution digital packaging. From furniture selections and window treatments to colour palettes and ceiling trim, this is a visual anchor for your emerging space.
  • A priority rundown. What to do first, who to call last – from first purchase to champagne popping. And everything in between.

So come on now!

Send all the scary bits to: erica << @ >> ericaswansondesign << dot >> com. Deadline is May 15th.

Hold on to your hats…

I’m about to Rock Your Rental.

Posted in Super Cool Giveaway. Comments (6)

Holla. A Little on the Madness that was March. Er, Winter.

{If you’re reading this via email and can’t see the graphics, well, click that title and mosey on over!}

Ah, moving. Something about a change of scenery, learning new light patterns and determining new routines and hidey spots for all the little goodies is exhilarating. Exhausting, but exhilarating.

I have a feeling you’re going to like the ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots.*

*Unassuming understatement.

So while it’s been a little quiet on the home front, I’ve been getting around. In addition to being featured in some really cool spots, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some very interesting people along the way. Check it (logos are clickable):

Miss Abby Kerr is one very lovely, very talented, rising star. In addition to helping entrepreneurs up their addictability factor over at Abby Kerr Ink, Abby has been lighting up the airwaves with her Creative Solopreneur Podcasts. She features entrepreneurs who rule the realm in their particular corner of the creative world and gets them talking. Really talking. At an hour deep, it’s isn’t short, but the juicy gems hidden inside make it worth the listen. We touch on everything from inspiration and creative insecurity to cartoon voices:

Like a breath of fresh air, Breezy Mama (I know, groan) is a hotbed of advice for even hotter baby mamas. Featuring stylish tips, tricks, and how-to’s, Breezy Mama hit me up for advice on how to make the bedroom sexy. A fun read when you need a quick afternoon pick-me-up. Or when there’s, you know, something on your mind:

Really, I can’t top this:

Culture and vision, vision and culture: the stuff that keeps us from slinking back into the primordial soup. We aim to spark in our readers the sort of sky-rips-open, wonder-filled possibility that old-school, photocopied zines of yore sparked in us. Think of us as the zine-analog for which you’ve been secretly yearning.

I wax poetic on Tom Waits, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello and Fiona Apple.

And what their music looks like.

Indeed.

So after getting all hot and bothered at Jack Move, I lightened up over at Jacks and Jills to write a word or two about Designing with the Senses. Side note: this is one seriously cool site.

The beautiful and uber talented Staci Edwards is running a series that features designers’ and design bloggers’ favourite interiors. How could I resist? Thought this might be interesting for those of you who are curious as to what turns my crank:

Finally, while I don’t exactly fit into the “contemporary whimsy with a hint of vintage” genre, Shannon still asked me to participate in her guest blogger round table. I returned to hot and bothered, albeit in a slightly more restrained fashion, talking about ‘Fever’ and what that feels like to me. A Russian jazz virtuoso and dark herringbone floors. You’ll just have to look:

So, how was your winter?

And, oh, juicy ‘before’ shots are on the horizon…

Posted in Press. Comments (0)

‘Decorating’ & Unraveling the Cringe Factor

I’ve been hitting up against the heavy “shoulds”, “coulds”, and “supposed to’s” as of late. I don’t like those. They leave me feeling… exhausted.

I SHOULD be writing about interior design. I COULD be posting all kinds of pretty pictures. I’m SUPPOSED TO be interested in the ever-expanding line-up of this month’s latest and greatest.

It’s not happening.

The harder I push, the harder I struggle. My message gets distorted. My creativity withers. And so I retreat, content to bask in the silence and work on projects behind the scenes. But the struggle returns, wreaking havoc with my daily rhythm and interfering with my inspired flow. My issue?

Decorating. The word, specifically.

(toe curl)

dec·o·rate
–verb (used with object), -rat·ed, -rat·ing.
1. to furnish or adorn with something ornamental or becoming; embellish

Ornamentation… embellishment… uh huh. Do you know what that sounds like to me? Crap. Junk. Useless, meaningless bullshittery. Consumerism. Mindless trend-following. Vanity. Shallow “pretty-making”.

Blehck.

So all this tail-chasing, this spinning in place, is connected to my irrational distaste for the very definition of my chosen life’s work. A dangerous dichotomy, n’est pas?

You see, on the whole, I’m not particularly fond of the decorating industry; the constant search for this month’s shiny new thing and the “mwah” superficiality rather than a focus on the deeper correlation and interrelationship of space and well-being. And so I dip a toe in the water and wonder why I have a sudden disinterest in swimming.

Well, duh.

Part of my behind-the-scenes work has involved the refinement of my organizational coaching services (particularly popular after the Christmas season, ahem). I help clients deal with the de-construction and analysis of a space; uncovering the deeply buried, core trigger-type issues that lurk beneath the service and interfere with the unearthing of one’s true visual melody. (Heady stuff, and highly recommended before dropping some hard-earned dough on your next ‘decorating’ project.) As part of this refinement process, I’ve been reading with intense interest the evolving nature of the minimalist and simple living movements. Minimalism/materialism debate aside, Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle does a damned fine job of articulating the philosophy in ‘Minimalism Explained’. Go on, have a read.

So while I’ve been pulling on the threads and picking at the edges of my procrastination and staccato rhythm, I’ve been allowing the silence to reveal some deeper truths about my creative work. Decorating, by and large, has always meant the addition of surface ornamentation and embellishment, rather than the subtraction of all that does not serve a purpose (beauty or otherwise). My edges fray most intensely when I cannot reconcile the two.

Thus, if it weren’t for all the negative connotations and the ongoing debate surrounding its true definition in this increasingly digital world, I would certainly define myself as a ‘minimalist’; hard stance when my profession classifies me as a decorator.

(double toe curl)

But I also have a deep and loyal affinity for my possessions (which ultimately excludes me from a large sector of the current minimalist movement). After all, my things have been through the clarifying fire of scrutiny. I have thoughtfully chosen them. And that’s at the heart of what we’re talking about here… understanding the difference between ‘ornamental embellishment’ and digging at the roots of the ‘why’ of stuff.

So, here’s how I’ve untangled the conundrum: I decorate to unearth the visual and tactile beauty as an expression of a client’s life (not as idealistic as it sounds). I decorate to increase the productivity and efficiency of a particular space. I decorate because it brings me deep and satisfying pleasure.

Just don’t call me a decorator, k?

Posted in Opinions. Comments (12)

The Dichotomy of Design

Design is a fickle bitch.

Always beckoning with the more more more while you’re bursting at the seams and aching for a little letting go go go.

The bombardment is intense ~ always something new, something prettier, something shinier, something a little more than what you’ve got. And just when you’re feeling like stripping on down you’re being told to load right on up.

And this time of year brings its own brand of crazy-crazy. All those joyous carols and jingling bells trigger the harried ‘buy!’ frenzy when all we really need is a little of the ‘whoa’ brake pedal.

I’m here to remind you:

You do not need three gazillion yards of faux greenery to line the stairway.

You do not need more sparkly, crystal-y blindingly disco tree ornaments.

Most importantly, you do not need Christmas towels.

Stop now.

Take a deep breath. Breath in the memory of who you are. Things don’t make you who you are. YOU do.

So step away from the display. Sing the alphabet until the bells disappear. And when you start thinking of pulling out your musty decorations, remember to think about why you’re pulling them out in the first place.

Because those magazine spreads? Those ones that look perfectly perfect and make you feel like a raging failure? Uh-huh. Those are called Style Shots. They are not real. NOT. EVEN. REMOTELY. REAL.

Stop now.

Take a deep breath. Remember what you’re celebrating in the first place.

Tradition isn’t a retail display brought home. It’s the dusty macaroni noodle tree ornament circa 1985. It’s the eggnog-gone-totally-rum-like while you frantically wrap gifts and wonder if that noise was the sound of little feet. It’s the late nights watching Ebenezer while you curl up by the fire with the one you love.

So stop now.

Take a deep breath. Have some eggnog (spiked, if possible).

You are not your holiday decorations. Things don’t make you who you are or define your traditions.

You do.

Posted in Opinions. Comments (3)

Jack Move

Like an old-school zine. (But smarter. And sexier.)

Freshly launched. At the helm, the inimitable Emma Alvarez Gibson. Inside, “a swarm of mad geniuses”. If you’re looking for culture and vision, look no further.

I had the distinct pleasure of being invited to contribute to the inaugural issue of Jack Move Magazine. Featuring a special edition of my I See Music series, I transform Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ “Night of the Lotus Eaters” into a decadent vision of decay. Music is indeed a powerful mistress.

Have a look for yourself.

Posted in Portfolio. Comments (0)

Style vs. Substance

We seem to presume that one means the exclusion of the other…

Posted in Creativity, Inspiration. Comments (0)

I See Music – Kashmir

{If you’re reading this via email, click the title to watch the video.}

As a singer and interior designer, music fuels my work. I don’t – can’t – won’t – design anything without music. I need a playlist. A theme song. An anthem. I need to feel the rhythms that supercharge your senses, and translate those sounds into visual spaces. It’s equal parts deep listening, alchemy and intuition.

“I SEE Music” is a series of love letters to my two great romances: music + design. And you’re invited to read along. You voyeur, you.

When you feel the fear and push on

tasting the lust that lingers

pushing through

- from where you used to stand -

you need to hold the course

keep moving, thrusting forward

- from where you used to stand -

reaching

pulsing forward, resting, pulsing forward

but always moving.

And when it’s only you and your desire

shining in the moonlight,

alone and silent on the wandering path

You must keep pulsing forward.

Because sooner or later, you’ll arrive right where you need to be.

And you might find, if you look up, that the path was always right before you,

leading

- from where you used to stand -

So

KEEP MOVING.

Posted in Creativity, I See Music. Comments (2)

Design and the “You Hired What?!” Syndrome

Yeah, I know. We’re a scary bunch.

Bossy, opinionated, a little too loose with the purse strings.

And really, everything’s just fine. Just fiiiiiiiine, thankyouverymuch. A designer?! Bahhhh! Who the hell needs one of those?!

“I’m not Momma Moneybags.”
“My wife takes care of that stuff. I just make sure I pick up my socks.”
“I rent. I so much as mention a paint can and my landlord will freak.”
“Design? Isn’t that for bored housewives?”

You don’t say.

Well, here’s what I say:

If you’ve got space (any kind of space) and you don’t love it, your space isn’t working for you.
If you’re spending more than a nano-second searching for anything, sanity included, your space isn’t working for you.
If you’re afraid of the prospect of company (mother-in-law anyone?), your space isn’t working for you.
If you don’t come home to an emphatic “ahhhh”, things aren’t fiiiiiiiine and you guessed it, your space isn’t working for you.

Now, I get it. There’s the money thing. And the lack thereof.

I’ll bet that if you looked around your space right now – right this second – you can rhyme off three things you bought within the last three years that makes you shudder. You know, one of those classic, “what the hell was I thinking?!” moments. Or three. Now think of what you spent.

Uh-huh.

So before you think design isn’t for you, think again. If you’ve got the space, you’ve got the need. Whether your budget is a $100 trip to Ikea and a hearty tidy-up, or a you-better-believe-I’ve-been-saving-up-for-this-for-years, one check-in with a designer might save you three ‘oops’ disasters and a whole hell of a lot of needless angst. And oh yeah, maybe a fistful of cash.

How do you like those apples?!

Because really, we’re not half as expensive as you think and we’re only scary when we bite.

So go on then. Surprise yourself. And when someone throws you the, “you hired what?!” bullshittery, you can answer with a confident, “I hired sanity”.

That’ll show ‘em.

Posted in Opinions. Comments (1)

Midnight Affair

So I came across this:

And it seduced me into doing this:

What seduces you?

Posted in Inspiration, Portfolio. Comments (3)

So. What’s Your Art?

{If you’re reading this via email, click the title to watch the video.}

Here’s what I know:

What you do, every day, becomes part of who you are. Scraping pennies or rolling naked in your dough, you’re trading your brain power, your creativity and your most valuable asset – your time – for your daily experience.

Are you filling your heart or are you just filling your days?

When I’m working with clients, I have a front-row seat to some pretty amazing stuff. A half-finished painting. Music sheets scattered at the piano. Poems gathered in dusty notebooks. Hand-made quilts folded up in the closet. Cookbooks hiding in the back of the cupboard. A carpenter’s bench shoved at the back of a dimly-lit garage…

This stuff may not be bringing home the bacon, but these are the things that tell the world WHO YOU ARE. And whether you’re sharing your art with the outside world or not, you sure as hell shouldn’t be hiding it at home.

This is the experience you choose. This is your inside brought outside. This is you.

So. What’s your art?

And how can I help you tell your story?

Posted in Inspiration. Comments (0)

Just Break

{If you’re reading this via email, click the title to watch the video.}

As a singer and interior designer, music fuels my work. I don’t – can’t – won’t – design anything without music. I need a playlist. A theme song. An anthem. I need to feel the rhythms that supercharge your senses, and translate those sounds into visual spaces. It’s equal parts deep listening, alchemy and intuition.

“I SEE Music” is a series of love letters to my two great romances: music + design. And you’re invited to read along. You voyeur, you.

Your insides are twisted

coming outside

fraying at the seams.

And pushing ahead

pulls you under.

Hungry, and needing to be filled,

you give yourself over – listen for the voice that does not come

yet you remain

a stranger – suspended

but sometimes we break.

And you resist

hold

while what you need recedes.

So I say,

just BREAK

Unravel. Get naked in your ache.

Draw the line. And break.

“Here we are buck naked but where should we begin? When it’s not the flesh we’re after but the howling ghost within.”

So when you reach and what you need

is you

I will help you draw the line.

Hold the mirror

and show you

all the things you need but do not see

a home created

to unravel. Get naked in your ache.

So just break.

Posted in Creativity, I See Music, Inspiration. Comments (0)

Fear

Posted in Creativity, Inspiration. Comments (6)

I See Music – Angel

{If you’re reading this via email, click the title to watch the video.}

As a singer and interior designer, music fuels my work. I don’t – can’t – won’t – design anything without music. I need a playlist. A theme song. An anthem. I need to feel the rhythms that supercharge your senses, and translate those sounds into visual spaces. It’s equal parts deep listening, alchemy and intuition.

“I SEE Music” is a series of love letters to my two great romances: music + design. And you’re invited to read along. You voyeur, you.

Fear calls; pushes, pulls, sets me adrift and leaves me…

I cannot anchor. The shore fades. There is nothing now but riding the waves. No way in, no way out. I just need to ride the waves. Sink deep. Let fear overcome.

Be consumed. Tasted. Swallowed.

And in the moments of my darkest fear; when the sun fades and the boat rocks

I know this;

I will return to shore when I give in.

I need to sink. Be overcome. Let go.

Descend to the depths,

find rest with Gilgamesh.

Then, and only then

will I be delivered home.

But I must remember this; the shore is not the same.

I am not the same.

For once I taste the fear and it lingers, dancing on my tongue

and I remember being cast adrift, remember the depths

there will always, always,

be a piece of me to miss.

Photography by Marc Lagrange
Framing by Erica Swanson Design

Posted in Creativity, I See Music. Comments (0)
« Older posts
©2010 Erica Swanson Design. Site design by S.Joy Studios