Joy Junket

“How does this work serve the world?  To whatever extent it contributes healing of some form to society, to that extent the project is blessed.”–Marianne Williamson (and Kitchee Gammi Design Company business philosophy)

I was recently asked to submit a proposal for a project.  The person on the other end of the phone was rattling off the various requirements for the proposal… when she asked for a description of my business philosophy.  What a great question!  I loved the fact that she was INTERESTED in how I DO my work.  Not in if I have a fax machine or where my office was but what I believed in. 

I used to have a philosophy called “I HAVE NO CHOICE.”  As you can imagine, someone who subscribes to this mindset is generally resentful, unwilling to say NO, and rarely happy in their job.  In fact I almost quit the design business at one point because as a result of not valuing myself and my work enough, I had attracted some business that can be described difficult at best. 

I learned that in order to love my job again, I needed to value myself.  That meant coming up with a job description for the one and only employee of Kitchee Gammi Design Co. (me.)  I had to redefine my philosophy about how I wanted to continue in the design business.  Today I’m happy to say that I’m developing the confidence to take the right projects, and turn down the things that don’t fit my new vision for myself.  Any project that asks me for my business philosophy appears to be on track for one I’m interested in. 

What’s your philosophy… on how you work and play?  About what you’re willing to accept or dream for yourself?  Is it time for you to write a new job description for yourself?

“Design is an opportunity to continue telling the story, not just sum everything up.”–Tate Linden

“It’s not done yet.”–Suzi Vandersteen

I am probably at my happiest when I’m moving furniture around.  As anyone can imagine, this tends to create a lot of chaos in the house….. the dogs walk around, harummphhhh and throw themselves down on an available stretch of floor, only to be nudged out of the way as I harp “Coming through!” carrying a chair over my head.. ( I learned when I worked at the furniture store that this IS the best way to carry a chair through a crowded space.)  The kids say to me “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?  WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE WAY IT WAS?  And I sometimes ask myself the same questions!  … More

I have just returned from another fishing trip in Canada… completely rejuvenated and restored.  I used to wonder why I just LOVED being at this particular resort, why I felt such a connection to the beautiful lake that is dotted with hundreds of islands and rock shelves.  It hit me on this last visit, the lake is EAGLE lake, and when I’m there I’m surrounded by my particular animal totem… which is the Eagle!  They are everywhere, being chased by crows, chasing the seagulls, diving into the water, and quietly nesting in the trees. 

The Eagle is a constant reminder for me to develop my perspective and conserve my energy.  Eagles need to have an involvement with creation, and a willingness to experience extremes.  What a great inspiration for the design business!  I’m reminded that with design, it’s easy to get caught up in the details of a project when what’s most important is the end result. 

So what are you working on today?  Remember, it doesn’t need to be perfect, don’t get caught up in the details, develop your perspective, and ride the winds to your benefit for a change.  Have a little Eagle energy on me, really, I have enough to go around.  –Suzi

“Forgive.  Period.  Do it for you.  Do the  next right thing.”  Joy Junket Manifesto

“Great Design is Good for your Spirit.  Form and function work wonders.  Beauty Connects.”  Joy Junket Manifesto

“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle.  But I think the real miracle is to walk on earth.  Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize:  a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child-our own two eyes.  All is a miracle.”  –Thich Nhat Hanh 

A few weeks ago Dan and I took our boat out fishing on the river… at the last minute I suggested we toss Maddie in (I tend to introduce chaos into our boating excursions), because she loves fishing and being on the water… and it’s a great reminder to me, that no matter how many times she’s been on the boat, or seen us catch a fish, it’s always a total party to her, with lots of growling, barking and jumping around the offending slippery specimen.  Sometimes we examine the little thing we just caught, and throw it back in without fanfare, but with Maddie aboard nothing goes unnoticed or unheralded.   

She reminds me to monitor my everyday activities through the eyes of a dog;  to treat every homecoming with joyous celebration, to stare out the window and notice birds, lightning bugs, deer and rabbits, to look at every fish caught as a miracle, to not do too much when it’s hot outside, to sleep long and hard, and to PLAY. 

What is a miracle?  What about what isn’t a miracle?  I am content in getting some of my best lessons from my dog.  What about you?  —Suzi

“I like living.  I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.”—-Agatha Christie

“Start living your dream right now.  Baby steps count.  Forward motion motivates.”—-Joy Junket Manifesto

I get the incredible chance every time this year to work on a project that benefits many people.  It’s something that is relatively simple.  A children’s playhouse.  But this playhouse is designed by an architect, built by some dedicated and professional volunteers and I have the been given the honor to decorate it.  It’s auctioned off at a charity event and some years it has gone for as high as $22,000.00.  This year that money will be used to benefit a local children’s mental health day treatment program.  Did I mention we all do it for free? … More

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.  It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”  Albert Schweitzer

Thank you to all the wonderful people in my life who’ve been my kindling.  In a million years, I never would have imagined the people, circumstances and things that have spurned me on to do more, be more and appreciate more.  Sometimes they showed up in packages I didn’t expect.  In fact, many of them showed up as problems that were magically transformed into gifts. 

I can never repay the kindness and love that has been shown to me, but I can be someone else’s kindling…. So today I want to be kind, be understanding and be better than usual…. –Suzi

“Joy is Contagious—Expose as many people as you can.  Start an epidemic.”  Joy Junket Manifesto

I am feeling massively joyful and grateful today!  Must share five things I cannot live without….                               (Warning:  likely to change on a moments notice!)

1.  Pandora….. the John Mayer station

2.  My I Phone…. I always say it’s the greatest invention besides the John Deere tractor!

3.  My girlfriends… you know who you are… you inspire, amaze, and encourage me to be the best person I can be, I stand in awe of all of you!

4.  Beauty… including but not limited to the view from Kitchee Gammi Design Co. studio (hello Lake Superior), the view from my front door (northwoods in all it’s glory)…

5.  Books… all shapes, sizes and types of inspiration… book suggestions always appreciated.

What are your five things today???   —Suzi

If you follow along here at Joy Junket  you know that Suzi and I truly believe that your home reflects the state of your life and speaks volumes about who you are.  I believe that every object, surface, etc… truly carries its own energy, associations and spirit.   This is one of the principles of Feng Shui, the ancient art of altering the energy of a space using principles of energetic flow.  I have noticed that there are many of us out there in the world that are short on loving, intimacy and dare I say it fornication?  In light of this I wanted to create a fun way to PLAY with this idea that by altering your bedroom in small ways you could bring some great Schwing!  (schwing:  def ~urban dictionary:  An expression of immense satisfaction, to be used in the event of extreme good fortune- as popularized by Wayne’s world  Wayne and Garth. )  Singles can Schwing! along too- I added tips for those who are wanting to bring a lover into their life.  Now, I realize that these small things may not seem major to you now but, in my experience as a coach,  it seems the small things seem to get the ball rolling.  Have a great 4th of July!!!   Let us know if the Feng Schwing helps or share what would make it more powerful?

DOWNLOAD FENGSCHWING! HERE

“Those are my Party Glasses.”—-Max Vandersteen

I love the idea of “Progress not Perfection.”  Progress can be hard to see when we measure ourselves against others’  idealized standards.  I found this book in my son Max’s backpack.  He’s really not interested in if you or I think he’s a star, because he’s already living it.  What a great example for me to remember that if I believe it and live it, it really doesn’t matter what other people think. 

Max is insistent in his rock star status.  He wears his party glasses in the fishing boat, only wants T shirts with sports teams or guitars on them, and has the Justin Beiber dance fever.  He does things his own way, when the children in his kindergarten class were asked to write a story about the local PTA food drive, Max casually walked up to his teacher’s desk and handed her a piece of paper.  She asked him if it was his story and he replied, “No, I wrote a song about it.”   

That little gesture then became an opportunity to sing his song over the PA system to the whole school the next morning, to which he agreed.  After his public performance at the PA, some 5th grade teachers asked if he could come to their room and sing the song in person (he did), and then the PTA got wind of the song and asked if they could print it up in their next newsletter!  (they did).    Before we knew it, we had a popular kindergarten rock star on our hands. 

One of our JJ Manifesto Points is to “Be the revelations someone else is looking for.”  So who are your teachers?  For me, it’s someone right in front of me.  Reminding me that I don’t need to measure up to anyone else’s standards, or even my own.  I can just start living my dream right now, and paying attention to what I love.  Progress sometimes IS perfection.

Everything is possible?  How about, “It’s already happening?”  —Suzi

Paralysis…Noun: 1.  Loss of the ability to move a body part 

Design Dictionary….1.  Loss of the ability to move ANYTHING!

I get design paralysis.  Really I do.  I look around my home, feel utterly uninspired and unsatisfied and am absolutely stumped as to what to do.  In other words, I am able to see some things aren’t quite right, but am not able to move ahead and do anything about it.   I have a few warning signs I’ve learned to pay attention to when this condition sets in.

Warning signs of Design Paralysis: … More

“I wish emotional breakthroughs, true honesty and spirituality gave me goosebumps, but the reality is…furniture does.”  —Suzi Vandersteen

I can only say that I must be closely aligned with my spiritual goals if I can honestly say good furniture gives me goosebumps andI get to work in the world of design.  Years ago I got my start working in a beautiful furniture store and was privileged to learn so much from the owner, a man whose family has been in the furniture business for nearly 100 years.  … More

Sometimes it seems like the world assumes that we as women are uniquely qualified to design, decorate, shop for, and complete a room.  When in fact, I know many many women who would rather ride their horse, shop for themselves, hike a beautiful trail or read a book than have anything to do with design.  And as we say at Joy Junket, you’re excused, free to go, do and be.  I also know many women who love the idea of design but don’t know where to start.  I want to remind everyone that with design, we can have the confidence to qualify ourselves as we go.  … More

“Her style is gorgeous, provocative and ever so slightly deranged.”—Simon Doonan

I love the phrase “layered, collected, lived in and loved.”  In fact, this concept drives me in all I do in the world of design.  This approach allows for a sprinkling of the wild, weird and wonderful.  All of which, in my opinion make a fantastic space.  I use words and phrases like layered, sprinkled, dotted, artfully placed to describe a piece of the puzzle.  It’s this ability to  both include and see beyond the actual object that allows us all to create a space that truly expresses who we are.  If we take away the rest of the moving parts, and just look at the object the whole thing may seem just, well…. deranged.  I’ll give you an example. … More

“People are apt to creat “workarounds” when their natural ways of working aren’t supported.”—Extreme Makeover for the Private Office,  Steelcase Inc.

Wow, all I can say is isn’t that the truth?  And not just in our offices, but in our entire home environment!  A “workaround” is also often an inefficient time-waster that is also accepted without much question.  Because it’s necessary to get the job done (Steelcase). … More

“Start living your dream right nown”  JJ Manifesto  Point #15

Here’s a Joy Junket challenge for these few days before the Holidays… How about doing ONLY the things you want to do?  In other words, let go of the expectations of others, and more importantly let go of the expectations you put on yourself.  Whatever you’ve done… it’s enough.  A few years ago I learned the phrase, “I’m responsible for the effort, not the outcome.”  I think when we try to do too much we are trying to influence the outcome or trying to control the outcome. 

So, here’s your hall pass.  Go out, have fun, do only what you want, and bring a sense of serenity to things you have to do.  Enjoy yourself, and take a minute to think about your dreams!  –Suzi