One of my favorite places to visit here in North Carolina is Bryson City, located in the western part of the state. Bryson City is home to the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, a very popular attraction for locals and tourists alike. I absolutely love riding on the train, especially in the fall or spring of the year when the colors are bold and bright. It’s something that my family and I try to do at least once a year. 2013 marks the 25th anniversary of the GSM railroad, and during each of those years, 200,000 visitors have enjoyed the beautiful scenery of North Carolina’s mountains by taking a ride!

During the holidays there are special excursions like the wintertime Polar Express, or the upcoming July 4th Freedom Train, which will include one of the biggest fireworks displays in the state. All throughout the year, though, there are 2 main excursions to choose from when you visit the railroad. You can choose the Tuckasegee River Excursion or the Nantahala Gorge Excursion. Each one takes off in Bryson City and each trip is packed with amazing views and entertainment.

Green, green, green! Peaceful NC countryside. Photo Credit: Great Smoky Railroad

The Tuckasegee River Excursion takes you through some of the prettiest countryside in the state. It’s a relaxing and peaceful 4-hour trip that seems to go by way too fast! I’ve been on this trip twice and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. The main stop on the excursion is in the picturesque town of Dillsboro. Dillsboro has been a popular tourist town since the train started rolling through back in the late 19th century. If you’re looking for a vintage, nostalgic town, this is the place. There are lots of old-timey stores and restaurants to enjoy while you’re there and many local artists who work with clay, glass, metals and gems. And just like our coastal area is known for being a popular movie filming location (all of Nicholas Sparks’ books are based in NC and the movies are filmed here), the mountains have a claim to fame too! While you’re on the Tuckasegee River Excursion you’ll pass right by the movie set where The Fugitive (with Tommy Lee Jones & Harrison Ford) was filmed.

Foggy Nantahala Gorge. Photo Credit: Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

The 2nd main trip, The Nantahala Gorge Excursion, is another fantastic ride. You travel alongside the beautiful Nantahala River, while listening to Appalachian stories being told and bluegrass music being played. It will definitely put you in the country spirit! The Nantahala River area is a dream for anyone who loves the outdoors and outdoor activities. There’s canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, waterfalls and much more to do while you’re there. You’ll also cross over the historic Trellis Bridge, which will take you across Fontana Lake. The lake is held in place by the Fontana Dam, the highest dam east of the Rockies. It holds back around 30 miles of water!

Fontana Lake. Photo Credit: Tripadvisor.com

No matter which excursion you take, you’re sure to have a great time. I think the GSM Railroad is really one of the best ways to take in all of the beauty that the NC mountains have to offer. I’m a mountain girl at heart, so I always feels right at home sitting back in the open car of the train, feeling the wind and enjoying all of the stunning scenery as the train drifts on down the tracks.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Holly

This awesome art print comes from Katie Daisy's Etsy store and I absolutely LOVE it!

It’s been another beautiful week here at Dreamwalls and the weekend looks to be more of the same. My morning and afternoon commute to work is around 40 minutes, so I’ve been enjoying this spring weather during my drive and taking in our beautiful scenery. It makes the drive time go by faster AND helps with road rage . Appreciating nature’s beauty and protecting it is what the upcoming Earth Day is all about. Monday, April 22nd marks the 43rd annual Earth Day celebration. The very first observance of Earth Day was back on April 22nd, 1970. Since it’s founding, the EDN (Earth Day Network) has helped to put environmental protection laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act in place. The EDN works with over 22,000 partners in 192 different countries to create a greener world through our schools, work environments and national policies.

As I’ve said before, living here in North Carolina, you really get the best of all the seasons and natural landscapes. Not too much or too little of anything….it’s all just right! So, it’s only fitting that we appreciate and take care of our state’s beauty and resources, not just on Earth Day, but everyday.

This fantastic photograph, taken by Judy Kennamer of Kennamer Photography captures two of North Carolina’s state symbols; our state bird, the cardinal, and our state flower, the dogwood.

Photo Credit: Judy Kennamer Photography. This photo won Judy the 1st place prize in a Better Photo.com contest. Thanks to her for sharing this picture with us!

In the mountains, we have Transylvania County, also known as “The Land of Waterfalls“. Just simply by it’s name, you can imagine what a beautiful area it is! It’s home to more than 250 waterfalls, including the 411 foot-tall Whitewater Falls, the tallest waterfall in the eastern United States. Mist from Rainbow Falls creates colorful patterns that cascade towards the sun, giving the fall it’s name. This area has been the setting for many movies, as well, including “Last of the Mohicans” (featuring Looking Glass Falls) and the more recent and very popular “Hunger Games”.  If you’re looking for a place to spend a spring day getting lost in nature, the Land of Waterfalls is the place to do it!

A beautiful shot of Connestee Falls in Brevard, NC. Photo Credit: Asheville Visitor's Center

And then of course, there’s our coastal region, with some of the most gorgeous and peaceful beaches along the east coast. In last week’s post I talked about my current beach obsession and it’s safe to say I still have it! If you look at this shot of the Currituck Sound sunset, taken by Kevin Childress of Kevin Childress Photography, it’s easy to see why!

I love this photograph of the sunset at the Currituck Sound. Photo Credit: Kevin Childress

These are just a few of the things that make North Carolina such a great place to live. This weekend, go outside and enjoy the beauty that your home state has to offer! Have a great one

Holly

“Colors are the smiles of nature.” – Leigh Hunt

March has quickly rolled around this year, which means the beginning of spring is only a few weeks away! The weather is still pretty chilly around here, though, which got me to thinking about different indoor activities to do until the temps start to warm up a little. When I was younger and my family and I would take a trip the beach, we would always have to stop by the local aquarium to see all of the colorful fish and scary sharks. It was always a fun and memorable experience. While looking over the North Carolina Aquariums website, I noticed something really interesting. NC has 4 major state-supported aquariums; Roanoke, Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher and Jennette’s Pier. Each has their own unique array of aquatic life, but the aquarium at Pine Knolls now has an exhibit called “From the Mountains to the Sea”. The exhibit doesn’t just focus on aquatic life around the coast, it features animals from all 3 of the state’s different regions, and it’s the only one of the four aquariums with a statewide focus.

In the mountain section, you can actually feel the spray of a warm waterfall and learn about mountain trout. There are 3 different river otters in the Piedmont section, named Neuse, Pungo, and Eno. Each one of the little cuties were named after a river here in NC.

The adorable river otters Neuse, Pungo and Eno. It would be worth a trip to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium just to see these guys!

In the aquarium’s coastal area, there are beavers turtles sharing the space.  Of course, there are many other types of fish, stingrays, plant life and of course sharks to see & interact with at the aquarium, too. I thought the idea of having a statewide-focused exhibit was a really neat idea and it allows the diversity of nature here in our state to be showcased!

Holly

We’ve all had it happen to us. A deadline is tight, and the idea just isn’t “there”. We feel as though our creative well has run dry and the feeling of panic rises. Or, what’s worse,…you’re not doing creative work at all,…mired in spreadsheets or analytics and you feel it sapping you of all your strength. These are not end-of the world problems, I realize; but it can make you feel like a little piece of your soul is dying of thirst.

Never fear! Here are 5 guaranteed ways to get your creative well perking again:

1- Get a pencil moving. If you’re having to write a presentation just write whatever comes to your mind on the topic for 10 minutes. If you’re trying to come up with a design layout, sketch loosely for 10 minutes. A lot of what you come up with may be crummy,….but odds are you’ll have a glimmer in there that can inspire you to get to the real meat of the design. Just take the pressure off and promise to do it for 10 minutes.

2- Consult your quotes. I have a book of quotes that I’ve written down over the years ranging from people like David Carson to Audrey Hepburn,….even my dad is in that book. Some people have one mentor that created a lasting impact. Who is your go-to quote maker? Remind yourself. (Note: some people have inspiring quotes on their Pinterest boards. I would warn against using those in this case; for once you’re on Pinterest it could be HOURS before you emerge.)

3- Revisit old sketches. I was flipping through an old sketchbook other day and I had the thought, “If I didn’t know these were mine, I’d be impressed.” Well they were mine. And that’s okay. We are all so busy sometimes we forget we have talent. You DO have talent,….stop doubting it. You might even find an old idea that didn’t work for the original project,….but it could serve as a starting point for this one.

4- Get outside. Become like a child and look at the things you’ve seen a million times in a new way: How a flower is REALLY put together. The sounds of the different birds. The texture of  the bark, squirrel, grass, leaves. Mother nature never gets it wrong, and you can find a wealth of color combinations and inspiration there. Heck, even if it doesn’t, taking a breath and seeing something living outside can help put your stress in perspective.

5- Watch a TEDtalk – There are so many people doing creative work in all sorts of fields. Just pick one and watch it. It never fails to expand my mind and lift my spirits,…which always makes me open to receiving new ideas.  Stefan Sagmeister is one of my all-time favorites, but Ted Talks actually made a playlist specifically for designers featuring 10 of the best.

So those are my 5 go-to ways to break out of a creative dry spell. What is your secret trick that has worked? Please feel free to share!

-Mandy

“Colors are the smiles of nature.” – Leigh Hunt

"Moss Field" - via Natural Curiosities

“Draw lines, young man, many lines; from memory or from nature. It is in this way you will become a good artist.”

- Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (purportedly said to Edgar Degas)

“Moss Field” measures 40 in. x 82 in. each panel. Each “field” is different and features real Sphagnum, Spanish, and Mood moss, embedded on a wooden palette, encased in glass. It was really lovely, and I imagined myself being able to look at it all day for inspiration.

The photo at left was from the showroom of Natural Curiosities , one of my favorite destinations at High Point Market. NC is an artists’ collective of 15, helmed by Christopher Wilcox. They create lush and lavish art using ALL types of media to create one-of-a-kind artwork that is unique and poetic. I rarely ever get them on my trend reports, mainly because they do not fit into the framework of trends. They are distinctive and in a category all their own. Visit their website for more beauty.

Playful pinks make me think of Spring; and as the weeping cherry trees bloom, I’m instantly cheerful. This beautiful tree on a nearby farm makes me think of tea parties and pretend castles. Notice the horses in the background? It’s a childhood dream come true.

The pink Dreamwalls Color Glass samples we’ve worked on in the pink family are always eye-openers in the factory. I love to see our more rugged, male employees working with the pink glass – they always look a little confused as to where the end product could go. But as you may remember from my Love Culture post from February, it’s all about the end result desired. Think pink, people!

Cherry Pinks

Honesuckle pink is Pantone’s color for 2011, so I’ve been seeing it pop up more and more in fashion and home accents. It wasn’t quite as widespread at HighPoint as I thought it’d be, but I think pink will always have it’s place;…perhaps more in commercial than in residential settings. It’s a feminine, youthful color that sings fun in a way that no other color can.

Do you think pink is a polarizing color? Too gender-specific? Would you use pink in an interior design?

In addition to the yellow and purple Dreamwalls Color Glass samples from the last post, we’ve been doing a lot of green as well. These are so beautiful and varied. I think they’re my favorite. The “Witty Green” from Sherwin Williams that we sampled is so adorable. I can see it in a child’s room because it could grow to span different ages. Playful for little kids mixed with pinks and purples, or sophisticated for older teens mixed with taupes and grays.

New Growth Greens

Go outside and see the colors blossoming this weekend. Then find a way to bring that color indoors.

ATTENTION: Congratulations to Patricia L. for winning our Dreamwalls Color Glass limited-edition necklace giveaway.  I hope she enjoys it!

I once saw an Art Director at Nike speak at a HOW Design Conference. It was in Atlanta a long time ago, and I am embarrassed to say I no longer remember his name.  But the one thing I do remember is that he said Mother Nature was never wrong. If you ever get stumped for a new color or a combination that sings, just take a walk in nature. She makes amazing variations and combinations of color.

This time of year in the South, it’s a beautiful time of year to take such a walk. Everything is blooming it seems, and optimism is on the breeze. So I took a walk outside, and then through our factory and found some amazingly beautiful blooming colors of Dreamwalls Color Glass we’ve been sampling for customers. I’ll share a few of them with you here.

The Forsythia Yellows

To be completely literal, PPG Industries even named a color we did for them “Forsythia Blossom” and included it in their Architectural Glass Design Kit. We have several colors in that set, so when you contact them for yours, be sure you enjoy them all.

The Purple Wildflowers

This little wildflower is everywhere this time of year before the mowing starts. I think it’s  called Purple Phacelia, but if you know it as something else, let me know. It’s the tiniest little purple flower – almost whimsical in scale – and the sprinkling of purple never fails to make me smile.

So in conclusion, mind your Mother (Nature). She’s always right. And take the next opportunity to get outside and view the amazing colors on display for yourself. (And if you can remember the name of that How Design Conference speaker, please let me know. It’s driving me crazy.) Then, when your inspiration needs a sample, let us know.