The interwebs.

I was poking around my Pinterest lists today, editing out some stuff, rearranging, adding and deleting some lists.  Ya know, digital spring cleaning.  Well, if spring ever arrives here in Chicago.  But really my goal was to organize some projects for myself so I filed through everything and created two new lists, On the Docket and On the Docket Outside.

That got me thinking about the internet in general, on what a tremendous tool it has become over the years.  When I was growing up (aw dear, here we go....), there weren't personal computers.  I think the first time I really saw one and used it was a computer programming class I took in high school, on like a Tandy or something.  I sucked at programming.  The first computer I ever owned was the Mac Plus which I got when when I was 19 or 20.  I loved that thing.

In 1993, I got my first modem and internet account, dialing into a couple of weird Usenet groups here and there.  Or checking out library card catalogues so I could make book lists before I hit them up in person.

All those beginning years doing props, if I needed to share photos with out of town set designers, I had to take Polaroids and FedEx them overnight.  If I needed to do research, guess what, go to the library or a book store, or gasp, god forbid, talk to another human!  Remember that, talking to other humans?!

But then the internet started to creep in, and digital cameras, then camera phones, holy crap!  I have to say, prop people have it infinitely easier nowadays (I had to walk to school in the snow uphill both ways....I know, I know).  eBay has become ridiculously huge for prop shoppers which I (stupidly) scoffed at at first -- you can shop the world of people's hidden treasures now.  Where it might normally take a week or more, several hundred miles driven plus hours on foot or phone, you can now find that bizarrely scripted thing online in a few short clicks.

The same holds true for a designer or homeowner -- the sites, the tools, the info, the blogs, the stores....it really is incredible what you can find to help you with any project.  Pinterest, YouTube, Etsy, eBay, Amazon, CraigsList, Houzz, store websites, reference material, images, how-to articles....I know you know all this so now even this little discussion seems antiquated.  Hey, what can I say, reflection is a funny thing.

I keep finding myself on the Apartment Therapy site with quite a bit of frequency lately.  They offer up some interesting projects and DIY stuff that's cool.  They had a little thingie about using some color in your life that I liked.  And aw jeez, I just found Abigail Ahern's Pinterest boards yesterday; I clearly need an intervention away from her.  I love Antonio Ballatore's stuff, and I must say, I am just a wee jealous as he's what I'd want to be when I grow up.  Even though I'd still like to be Todd Rosenthal when I grow up too, one of the coolest and best scenic designers I've ever worked with.

And full disclosure, I'm horrible about reading other peoples' blogs, which is terrible since I started my own little blog and if I want folks to read mine, I need to read other blogs.  *Low hanging head.*  But, I have been checking out this one, View Along the Way, and poking through this one, House*Tweaking.

What do you use on the internet when it comes to your design or home projects?  What's indispensable to you?

(And by the way, the doctor just called -- the bone cancer in Hailey's leg hadn't spread through important nodes.  Whoa, wheeewwwwwwwww.)