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creative teen, architect on demand, advice without strings, DIY Like a Hummingbird

From Curious Toddler to Creative Teen: Children Thrive on Autonomy

As DIY architect providing architectural services online, I am all about giving tools and support in the effort to encourage autonomy. This desire to be a proverbial cheerleader is in my blood thanks to the years of raising two daughters, each one a creative teen.

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dream home, architect on demand, advice without strings, DIY Like a Hummingbird

Our Dream Home Was Designed to Cultivate Family Relationships

Thanks to my daughters, I have charted a career path of an architect whose main objective is to foster creativity. I have included them in my experiments. And they have validated my efforts time and time again. Building our dream home is a good example of the collaboration.

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appropriate environment, architect on demand, advice without strings, DIY Like a Hummingbird

Creating the Appropriate Environment Requires Whole-hearted Involvement

In case you’ve been wondering why I am all of a sudden talking so much about my daughters, I’d like to explain. The reason is my new e-how-to-book DIY Like a Hummingbird: 10 Steps to Naturally Well-designed Kids’ Spaces.

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setting goals, creative teens, architect on demand, advice without strings, DIY Like a Hummingbird

How to Help Creative Teens With Setting Goals

My daughter is going away to college in a year; she will be completely in charge of her destiny. There is a lot to teach her, as all other creative teens, about setting goals between now and then.

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artist's prayer, architect on demand, advice without strings, DIY Like a Hummingbird

The Artist’s Prayer

The key to any creative pursuit, whether it’s writing the artist’s prayer or parenting, is willingness to make a commitment. It’s critical to give undivided attention.

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architect on demand, advice without strings, DIY Like a Hummingbird

Involving Kids in The Things You Love Levels the Playing Field

My younger daughter’s senior year of high school. She is leaving for college in a few months. As I am used to involving kids in the decision-making process, we’re discussing my next career move. The idea of providing online architectural services that support DIY home improvement enthusiasts came to mind when I was walking through…

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how to nurture, DIY Like a Hummingbird

How to Nurture Your Kids’ Creativity: #1 Is to Respect Their Feelings

I have been preoccupied with how to nurture my kids’ creativity ever since they were born. Recently my daughter Mia told me that a toy I made for her when she was approximately five years old is the inspiration for a collection of handbags she is designing: “Your favorite handbag as a transitional object.”

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masterplan, DIY Like an Architect

DIY Like an Architect: Learning How to Masterplan

Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: last week. My creative teens have practically learned everything about how to think like an architect. We’ve come full-circle and are practicing how to masterplan through mind mapping and collaging. It’s the final step in DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

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uniting parts, DIY Like an Architect

DIY Like an Architect: Uniting Parts with the Whole

Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week seven. My creative teens are mastering the concept of uniting parts with a whole as they learn how to think like an architect while we work our way through the steps of DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

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architect on demand, advice without strings

DIY Like an Architect: Designing with Scaled Drawings and Models Simultaneously

Architecture class at ArtCenter’s Saturday High: week six. My creative teens are practicing how to think like an architect while working on steps  8 and 9 of the DIY Like an Architect: 11-step method.

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Get to know

  • Meet Alla
  • Testimonials
  • Accolades
  • Get in touch

Get inspired

  • DIY like an architect
  • Kid-Focused Design
  • Idea books
  • Blog
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  • get to know
    • meet Alla
    • testimonials
    • accolades
    • legacy
  • get started
    • DIY like an Architect
  • get inspired
    • kid-focused design
    • ideabooks
    • blog
  • get in touch