Create to Connect!

Creative Solutions for Everyday Challenges

2010-04-16T16:30:00.000-04:00

Creativity has allowed us to engineer amazingly complex medicines, gadgets and public spaces but somehow no one has taken the time to fix these common, every day challenges. Here are some solutions I'd like to introduce:

1. Kick The Seat In Front Of You Trash Compactor (KTSIFOYTC)- Remember the scene in Star Wars when Chewbacca and Princess Leia are trapped in the large trash compactor and the walls were ominously closing in on them? I was squirming with discomfort just watching it!

For folks who can't seem to keep their restless leg syndrome under control when sitting behind you in a theatre, bus, train, airplane, etc, they will now be subject to the KTSIFOYTC. This revolutionary technology will trigger automated arms of the kicker's seat to narrow by 2" every time the offense is committed. Once the arms meet enough resistance to no longer be capable of squeezing inward, the back of the kicker's seat will begin to arc forward, folding the individual towards their legs. Hopefully by the sixth or seventh kick, the instigator will experience enough discomfort as to have finally learned to keep their jerky leg motions contained. No more having to turn around and use your Jedi mind tricks to convincingly ask the kicker to stop pelting you in the back. Audience members will finally be able to focus on the show they paid for while travelers may actually be able to "sit back, relax and enjoy the trip."

2. Automatic Gadget Volume Control (AGVC)- This technological feature will ensure that the closer a person's device is to their head (and thus their ears), the quieter the sound the device is able to make. It's understandable that when someone's phone is on the other side of the room, they'd like to hear it ring. However, if their device is on their person or, even worse, in their hands and the volume is at a level where someone down the street can hear it, this is not ok. It's especially not ok if they decide to not pick up the call and let it ring 8 times. It is painfully unfortunate that people do not know to press the "ignore", "end" or volume tab keys so that the ringer will be silenced and the caller can leave a voicemail. (There will be a tutorial for this as an added bonus feature.)

With the AGVC in place, phones will vibrate quietly whilst in one's pocket and messenger alerts will make sweet, soft chirps when sitting on the table in front of the owner. This will allow commuters alone to benefit from a measurable, if not newsworthy, decrease in stress. Not to mention us ladies just trying to relax at the nail salon sitting next to "she who chronically loses her phone in her purse and can't find it until the caller has given up".

3. Fitted Sheet Directional Tabs For Quick and Easy Bed-Making - Just because your life isn't as busy as Bill Gates or Oprah doesn't mean that you should spend an extra several minutes rotating the fitted sheet and then having to do a yoga lunge on the diagonal until it goes over all four sides. What appears to be the short side turns out to be the long side until you get to the last corner and you have to start all over again. Let's fix this one quick and easy. Sew tabs on the inside corners that say "top left" and "bottom right" so that the user will immediately succeed in an expeditious bed-making and avoid pulling a groin muscle.

4. "YOU ARE HERE" Icons for Airplane Seat Identification - So, it seems that folks who are normally very functional in getting themselves around town encounter a mental meltdown when boarding a plane and figuring out what seat they're in. They can usually locate the aisle, since the 1, 2, 3 number system is pretty widely recognized around the world. However, once they are faced with figuring out the ABC - DEF relationship to the window vs. the aisle seats, all logic breaks down. They see the curved line by the "A" and "D" seat and wonder whether it is indeed the symbol for the convex shape of the plane's exterior and thus the window? Or perhaps it is a line that represents the divide between the seats and aisle and thus a Jungian riddle... The solution: insert a small, red stick figure icon with "YOU ARE HERE" next to the aisle seats on the seating chart. No doubt that departure times will noticeably improve.

5. I Don't Drive Slow in the Passing Lane Awards Program (IDDSITPLAP)- Years of neurological brain research have shown that positive reinforcement is one of the most effective tools for teaching humans new behavior patterns. Instead of wasting energy on recurring outbursts of road rage, drivers who want to utilize the passing lane and move a little speedier than others will have a shot at eradicating the slow car in the left lane syndrome with the IDDSITPLAP. Here's how it works: Faster drivers will contribute the loose change in their car consoles to an investment fund on a monthly basis. Drivers who hover in the left lane and have frequently been the recipient of incessant honking, brights-flashing and finger extending will be invited to join the IDDSITPLAP, where they will accrue mileage points for STAYING OUT of the passing lane. The investment account will fund the rewards for member's mileage redemption with gift cards, show tickets and travel vouchers. (Assuming the members have no previous record of transgressions from #1, #2 or #4 from this list.) Faster drivers will mellow out with the feeling of free passage while slower drivers can putter in pride.

Considering that we have rechargeable SUVs on Mars and medications for surviving a bad hair day, I'm enthusiastically optimistic that these technologies would be easy to invent and thus provide a creative solution to such petty annoyances.

Add a comment and share your brilliant solutions as well!

Creative Napkin "Rings" for Weddings

2010-04-13T11:02:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Sarah Sloboda

Steering clear of "wedding in a can" products not only makes your event more meaningful but will also save you a ton of dough.

Instead of a fluffy, lacey boudoir pillow with your wedding bands tied down (or a prop pillow since the rings are being held by an adult), try this cool idea: Pick out some fabric napkins that are in your wedding colors and use your bands as the "napkin rings". Spice it up a little with embroidered text that could include a quote from the ceremony, the names of the bride & groom or something quirky that will remind you of this eventful day. They're easy for a little person to carry up the aisle and will be something you'll actually use in the future. In fact, have some extras made and give them as thank-you gifts to family and the wedding party.

Totally unique, affordable and useful.

Contact me should you want some made for your wedding or special event: blakely@hitchandbundle.com.

Unique Artwork for Children's Rooms

2010-04-11T17:57:00.001-04:00

I just finished my first stab at embroidered fabric collages for children's rooms and am happy to share the end results! I was inspired to give this a try because of all the mass-produced and incredibly expensive nursery decor you find at baby boutiques.

Each piece represents a different value that I hope to share with my child: courage, compassion, curiosity and creativity. These words are hand-embroidered with animals sewn onto upholstery fabric and then stretched onto 10" wood frames.

Having something personalized in your child's room not only adds visual interest, it contains a heightened effect because it includes a message from you. It gives the piece a voice. And whether or not the creation is something that becomes a keepsake or gets recycled down the line, your child will always know that you created something unique as an expression of your love.

As always, if craftiness is something you enjoy but don't have the time to implement, I am happy to customize an item for you! Soon, I will feature a couple of designs on hitchandbundle.com, but if you'd like to have a piece made with your own vision, send me an email and we will collaborate: blakely@hitchandbundle.com. Prices start at $50 for in-stock or supplied fabrics. I will give you a final quote once we discuss the design.

Here's how you can create your own piece:

1. Choose sturdy fabric - I recommend using scraps from your custom nursery bedding or from a fabric store. Depending on the size of canvas you prefer, add 2" on all sides for stretching. i.e., for a 10" canvas, I used a piece of 14" x 14" fabric.

2. Attach collage pieces by embroidery, sewing or fabric glue. That's right! If you're not handy with a needle, cut out images or text from fabrics and attach with fabric glue bought from a craft store. Choose pieces that not only catch your eye as a beautiful design element but also ones that symbolize or communicate something meaningful to you.

3. Connect the stretcher bars by inserting them into the pre-cut slots and ensure that the frame is square. Use a rubber mallet or hammer if needed.

4. Place fabric face down on a work table with canvas frame on top. Using a staple gun (manual ones from a craft store are fine), staple along the back one time on each side at the center of the stretcher bar. Continue to staple on each side while pulling the fabric taught, moving from the center staple out to the sides. Fold corners as you would when making a bed and staple down.

I hope you enjoy your artwork and hang it proudly!

Please subscribe to the Create to Connect blog to receive fun & fabulous ideas, observations and make new connections.