Design Fever?

Know that feeling you get when spring rolls around and you've got the worst itch to play hooky to lay out and soak up the sun?  No, I don't have spring fever (especially not with how the weather has been lately), but I have design fever.  Yes, I adore my job at Saxton (and my recent promotion to "Interior Design Consultant") but I am missing the search for the concept, the freedom of space planning, the excitement of selecting colors and materials, etc.  Just to give you an idea of how bad it is, I have a horrible headache, and instead of taking a nap and resting it off, I laid in the tub and sketched.... I brainstormed....and I came up with an idea.  A way to keep my skills honed, feel freedom of the design process and to get those wonderful design juices flowing.  I will choose one object and give myself one week to create a design around that object.  Granted my job does run me thin, so a week may not be sufficient.  But essentially I plan on taking this object (could be a piece of furniture, a decorative piece, a wallcovering, a paint, a carpet, etc) and create a perspective drawing (I have the itch to break out the prismacolor markers again) of a space incorporating it.
I feel like at the end of my senior year I was just starting to develop my style and my technique of presenting my ideas.... and I haven't touched anything in that same way since.  I am very excited to ge this started and see how it goes.
So, for my first project, i plan on doing a space I am familiar with : home.  My mom recently purchased a new bedspread for the room my husband and I stay in when we visit.  The space hasn't been redesigned since I first selected finishes, bedspread, decorations back in early high school.
Here's an image of the bedspread:

My mom has already mentioned wanting my help selecting paints and decorating the room, so I figure it's like killing two birds with one stone.
Design gods, don't fail me now!

Hello Employment!

So, after 22 years of dreaming, 4 years of design school and multiple job interviews I found the perfect job! I am officially employed at Saxton in Des Moines! I cannot believe I've finally made it and I feel like my hard work has paid off as they really made me feel wanted. The full-time (and benefits) position, which starts for me on October 4th, consists of being part receptionist and part design assistant. I will basically be training to eventually move up in the company and take on my own design projects.
I am so excited about the work they do--such a variety! And not only that, but they work with various architecture firms on projects around the country! I truly feel honored to work for such an outstanding firm. Not to mention everyone I have met there is incredibly sweet. I'm sure I'm going to love it and I'm practically counting down the hours until I arrive for my first day!
Also great news--I'm married! No longer am I Amanda Price, now I am Amanda Schneller! I feel like my life has really fallen into place and the name I tried to so hard to make for myself is coming true as my new self. :)
Just had to share the great news!
Love,
Amanda

Here's what I wore to the meeting they presented my job offer (note the 14" of hair cut off! Yes, I am proud to donate to Locks of Love!)

Busy busy busy!

Wow--where to begin. Life has been somewhat of a blur these last few weeks. (Thankfully), I had three interviews last week. It's funny--it went from hearing nothing one week to actually getting calls the next. They all went well--one place sent me home with a floor plan and told me to design a kitchen and send it back to them. It was a challenge for sure--a 9x9' space for a luxurious kitchen. It was like putting a really intense jigsaw puzzle together, but after several late nights I finally had a design down and a render done. It's now out of my hands and I was told I will hear back next week.
I'm feeling hopeful and positive, but at the same time, none of these are job offers. I'm really hoping that one will take me on and give me a chance. I miss designing.... a lot. I'm ready to get back at the drawing board and to feel like I'm using my degree.
I've also been busy working on things in my personal life--like my wedding coming up in just a little over a month! Crazy to think that a. price won't apply anymore. Not sure a. schneller has the same ring to it, but I'm sure I'll come up with another logo that I like.
So, that's officially my life in a very condensed nut-shell. I plan on writing an updated post as soon as I know from any of the possible job-ops.
Hope hope hope!
Amanda


Here is a render of the kitchen I designed. I'm so in love with the dandelion graphic on the walls :)

What does the future hold?

So the other day in my interview I had written down questions to ask. Of course, most of them were basic (benefits, hours, etc) but I had also written down a couple that I really love to ask. The first question is : "What is your favorite part of your career?" This question is SO important as it really lets me know what the job is going to be like. The owner of the place I interviewed on Friday had the best answer I've heard yet. Relationships. She truly valued the people she worked with and talked of the workplace as being a family. What a wonderful place to come to work! That really said a lot to me.
The second question I asked was : "Where do you plan on _____ being in 5/10 years?" Growth is always an appropriate and great answer. But then the question was turned onto myself. Wow... where DO I want to be in 5 years? It definitely made me stop and really think about things for a minute. My answer : I want to be happy. Being happy to me, is to be designing. If I am doing what I love, then I really can't go wrong.
I'm starting to worry though. I've had the feeling lately that I've been drowning. I'm so sad I haven't been designing as much as I would like to. I'm sad that I am struggling to pay bills (only to know that student loans are quickly approaching as well as car payments, etc). I got to wondering, how does anyone even afford a family? Not that that's what I want right now...but eventually. I can't imagine trying to be able to support a family considering I can't even support myself right now.
I just really hope this job I interviewed for on Friday pulls through. It felt comfortable, home-y, and overall like the place for me. I go back for a second interview on Tuesday. I'm hoping they see the potential in me and the desire I have to work there. Hopefully next time I post, it will be of good news.
Love,
Amanda

Maybe everything does happen for a reason?

So at the end of my last post I had mentioned how I hoped something good would come out of everything that happened that day. And, that may be true! Let me step back a few days to bring you all up to date.
Earlier last week I had gotten a phone call from the dealership that had my car. Bad news : $1500 of repairs needed to be done. After looking at the Kelly Blue Book online, I found out that my car (in good condition) was worth $1500. Mine however, has 109,000 miles on it, a smashed in door, and can't keep coolant in it to save it's life. Great. What to do what to do? After a few days of thinking on it dad had called me after work to have me come down to Des Moines. To my surprise, here was this adorable little red 2005 Chevy Aveo. What a cute car! We took a test drive, ate dinner, came back and started on the paperwork. Two days later I was driving it home!
As soon as I had gotten home from bringing it back, I knew what I had to do. I'd been meaning to call the showroom where my old car broke down and see if they had received my application I had sent them (along with a thank you card for their kindness when I was stuck there). They had received it just fine and were wanting to interview me! Yes! Friday at 10 in the morning I go back to talk to them.
I have my fingers, arms, legs, toes, and eyes crossed that this job comes through for me! One thing's for sure though--I'll be able to make it there and back with fewer problems than last time.
I knew that even though everything went wrong that day that something good just had to come from it. Maybe this is my something good :) And maybe now I have a new car to take me to a new job...
Happy 4th everyone!
Love,
Amanda



Check out my new ride!

Hope this isn't a sign....

So, the job hunt is still going full-force... with a few *cough* SEVERAL *cough* setbacks. Here's how my day of job hunting went in Des Moines last Friday:

Do you ever have those mornings where you feel like you just shouldn't get out of bed? That was my morning. I just had this feeling like I knew something was going to go wrong. But, instead of listening to myself, I got out of bed and got myself dressed and ready for my trip. Problem #1 : I can't find the right shoes. Dang. I looked everywhere--my closet, the shoe rack by the front door, deep in the pit of my closet... but no where to be found. I finally remembered I left them out in my car from the other day. Crisis #1 solved.
I got my portfolios, resumes and references loaded up into the car and finally hit the road. The drive started out nice enough--semi-blue sky, car working. As I kept driving, things quickly began to change. Dark, ominous storm clouds off to the west seemed to be coming my way. Not a problem now. I figured I would keep watching it, but I knew I'd be in the city soon and it wouldn't be a problem. Then problem #2 happened : the low fluid light came on in my car. I was told by my parents to just keep an eye on it. If it got too hot, I'd just have to pull over. I pushed on.
I finally made it into Des Moines and was by Merle Hay Mall. One block my car was still in the clear, the next minute the arrow points to hot. Crap. I pull over and look around. A Jiffy Lube is only one block away. "Ok car, we're going to make it this one block." I start it back up and quickly drive that block before I hit the red. While my car was worked on in the garage, a huge gust of wind came up. The workers quickly shut both of the garage doors and that's when problem #3 happens : the tornado sirens start going off. I hate storms. I do. They scare me. I figure I'd just wait it out there. The employee working on my car came and old me problem #4 : my fluid was extremely low, they put a whole can of coolant in, but found that it kept leaking out the bottom as soon as they put it in. Great. Well I had an appointment to make at 10:30, so I figured my car troubles weren't that bad and could wait. I hopped in the car, sirens still blowing, and drove to my first location. Then the rain hit. It was hard and it was strong and made the road difficult to see. I did, however, make it to my location just fine. Problem #5: I was locked out. Because the sirens had been going off, they decided to lock the doors. I sat in my car and patiently waited.
One interview down, off to my second location. This was just a walk-in to see if this firm needed any help or was interested in utilizing my rendering skills. I made it to the firm ok and went in. The woman wanted to keep my resume and references but felt bad keeping my portfolio because she knew it cost so much. Instead, a works sample will be emailed.
Off to the second location. I had mapquested it and found it in a business park in Des Moines. Bad thing about business parks : everything looks the same. So, I got a little lost trying to find it and ended up finding a granite distributor and showroom. Good thing to as problem #6 happened : my car began overheating again. I went in and had to wait around several minutes before someone came to help me. I told them who I was, etc, and they proceeded to tell me they don't "hire designers" and that I should "go across the street.... they might take you there." Sure enough the place I wanted was right across the street. Dur. My car barely made it. It was even closer to red then it was at Jiffy Lube. I went inside this beautiful showroom. It was absolutely stunning. I talked to the owner and she gave me an application to fill out and was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I came to the store from the get-go. Awesome! I did what I had wanted to accomplish, so I headed out.
Then problem #7 : my car won't cool down. I'm stuck. I can't even make it out of the parking lot. Will was to the rescue and left work to come down and my parents (after having lunch) made the hour drive to help. I sat in the parking lot of this beautiful showroom with my hood propped up, door open and me hanging out trying to stay cool as the sun was now beating down on my car. This could be a long wait. One of the women I had talked to inside came out to her car leaving for her lunch break, saw me, and told me to go wait inside where I could have a water and a snack. How nice of them to do that for me! I was appreciative and took them up on their offer.
Will arrived and we went and found lunch at Subway. When we got back, my parents pulled in right after us. We hit the nearby Target for a couple cans of coolant, of which an entire can we put into my car. Dad drove it, and we ended up putting more in before we even got out of the parking lot. As we drove down the interstate, mom and I watched the coolant come off my car. My car is now waiting to be looked at by the Pontiac dealership.
Problem #8 : I left my apartment key attached to the car keychain... which was left at the dealership. Looks like Will and I will be coordinating who is home and when.
Problem #9 (unrelated to the job search) : I cut my arm on a piece of display glass at work and drew blood.
Needless to say after problem #1, I should've known to turn myself around and put myself back to bed for the day. I'm hoping after all of the crap I endured that day, that maybe one of those jobs will work out for me. Something good has to come out of it, right? Right?! I sure hope so.
Will keep you updated. Thanks for reading (sorry it was a long one!)
Love,
Amanda

Life...Post-Grad

Wow, it's been a long time since I last updated! And while I feel like so much has changed, I also feel like nothing's going on.
On the good side, I've graduated! I can now say I have a BFA in Interior Design which is something I've always dreamed of. I'm proud of myself and proud of my education I've received at ISU.... now it's on to MAKING something of myself.
Job searching is scary. I'm not sure if it's fear of rejection, fear of never getting the opportunity to do what I love, or fear of settling into a career that I don't really want that scares me so much. I felt like I was off to a good start though in the beginning--the first set of my work, resume and references landed me an interview. I made the trip to Cedar Rapids and the interview went really really well--he really enjoyed my logo I'd made for myself, was impressed by the resume, and we even connected on my wedding color (which he was planning on painting a showroom space that color). Overall he gave me an "A+"...but unfortunately I had to turn down the second interview. I couldn't afford to pay rent in Cedar Rapids, Ames, pay student loans and still eat at the end of the day. And while I feel a little down because I it didn't work out, I know that where one door closes another opens.... I'm just still waiting for that door to open.
Yesterday I knew of a place in Ames that I wanted to take my portfolio package to. I got myself ready--I put on my same White House | Black Market dress and red heels I wore for graduation and drove myself out there. I first asked to see the lady I thought I was supposed to talk to... she wasn't in. I began telling an associate how I was wondering if they were hiring as I had just graduated, etc. She proceeded to tell me she didn't think they were.... but as she was telling this to me, a man came out of the back office area. "Well, actually this is the man you need to talk to." I introduced myself and he proceeded to lead me back to his office to discuss a possible position. It was a relaxed interview which overall I felt good about (just like I did the last job interview). I'm to call back on Monday, so I have my fingers crossed I hear good news and can start a full time job in an area similar to where I want to be.
I tend to find that's how my life goes. I always end up in the right place at the right time. I think that's how I know things will be ok.

There's a picture of myself at the Iowa State University College of Design Commencement.