Clearly…

I can’t stop daydreaming about cool stuff to put in my dream SF apartment. This might not be healthy – but oh well.

 

Recently, I’ve fallen in love with the clear acrylic stuff they have at CB2. This desk – yum. It takes up no visual space! Perfect for my up and coming shoebox that can’t be bothered with bulky frumpy desks. Although – I could go for a retro deco desk or sleek mid-century beauty :-)

It’s kind of hard to see here, but the “C” table on the left  - oh man, I must have one of these. Right now I’m typing on my laptop which is resting on a white piece of particle board, resting on my boyfriend’s legs that are stretched out over my lap – while nice, not ideal for couch blogging. This table would be amazing.

Rugs – art – and fun ways to store and display books keep twirling around in my brain too : the only cure – my very own SF apartment.  

Good things come in small packages

City living in most cases (and mine) means small living. Downsizing is to be expected when I move and to tell you the truth – I’m looking forward to it.

My belongings could use a little purging – alright, a lot but I’m excited to explore creative ways to organize what will be left of my hoard collection, in a new small space. I want to live in an apartment that works and is beautiful. I want to be able to both relax and be inspired in my home. I want my space to function, so I hardly have to ;-)

My current apartment feels in limbo – disjointed, awkward, and vast. It’s so big too – at least for what I need and it’s a pain to clean :-\

In a smaller place – everything will have to have a home because anything out of place is just gonna make my shoebox look like a pig pen. Less space, I’m hoping, equals less to have to clean up, keep clean, or even think about cleaning. I’ll see if that fantasy pans out.

Photos courtesy of apartment therapy – check out their Small, Cool 2010 Contest. Small is sweet!

Home

Finally!! My dreams are about to come true! My boyfriend and I are moving out together and into this beautifully fabulous place. Hardwood floors, glass door knobs, farmhouse kitchen sink, lots of closet space and sun drenched! I can't wait to post about my decorating adventures. I feel like my life is just beginning. Oh, to have a place of one's own and express one's inner creativity in the surrounding environment. Hallelujah!

More work!

Again - I've been working away and not sharing any of it here! Check out the latest from Macy's and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Harajuku / New Contemporary at Macy's: Ultra Funky and hip - how I managed to use a red, white, and blue color scheme that doesn't scream Americana, I don't know.

Juniors Prom Dresses at Macy's: I had a blast with this androgynous look. I made that bow tie out of a pendant necklace and two loops of ribbon - everyone wanted to buy it!

Rampage forms at Macy's: I love how the form's usually random red color really made this color story come together.

Action Sports mannequins at Macy's: Trendy beach bums

Rampage mannequins at Macy's: Coral is such a hot color this season! Love it.

Chalkboard at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Daily Fresh Fish Specials

Market Window Display at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Going green with shirts made from recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton.



Flower show at Macy's opens April 3rd so I'll try to post some pictures from that soon!

I've been a busy girl...

Hello again! I'm still alive - miraculously! My life has been a crazy whirlwind since I last posted - starting a full time job at Macy's as a visual trimmer, continuing at Bubba Gump's, going through a self metamorphasis known as Landmark education, focusing on the process of moving out, the holidays, and everything else! Ah! It's been great fun though - a big adventure. Enjoy some snip-its (below) from the whirlwind!

Bubba Gump: Fall Window


Bubba Gump: Holiday Window (featuring red acrylic flatware snowflakes!)


Macy's: Star Gifts Coat 3rd Floor Pass Through (Styling)

Macy's: Juniors Action Sports (Styling)

Macy's: Dresses Social Dresses Holiday Display (styling and prop installation)

I'll try my best to be a bit more involved here as I do love posting my GG adventures. Stay tuned for more inspiration, work, growth, and ramblings!

P.S. Happy New Year! 2009 is going to be fantastic! My sort of New Year's Resolution is to take a picture every day - it must include some part of me be it my face or hand or whatever and will eventually catalogue 365 days of boring everyday life into hopefully something interesting - who knows!

Bubba BOO!

Check out my latest for my new client - Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. on Pier 39 in San Francisco! I'm really excited to be working with them and to have the ability to tie in bits from the movie, incorporate their fun merchandise, and have complete creative freedom! I'm having a great time sourcing things and making some custom props - check out the Halloween display pictures below! (click on images to get a closer look)

The overall look was a haunted house, distressed, spooky sort of thing. The backdrop is a sheer black fabric with an orange spiderweb pattern. I was lucky that they already had orange and black merchandise on hand but it's not only Halloween-ish, it's a little SF Giants reminiscent too!

This close up allows you to see the old busted up shutter I sourced that I used to merchadise hats, keychains, and little shrimp guys.

I made this tombstone out of some left over foam core and thought it was an awesome yet subtle tie into the Forrest Gump movie (it's Bubba's grave as it appears in the flim, well, minus the R.I.P.)

I had a great time coming up with this festive window and look forward to many more creative creations with Bubba Gump! Stay tuned!

Au revoir Mignonne!

Behold my last window design / installation for Mignonne. The star of the display is an amazing handmade bench by local artist Billy Kroft that used salvaged wood to piece together this intricate and beautiful piece. The small mirror perched on the bench is also the work of Billy Kroft.

We set out to have an autumn outdoorsy feel for the display, using muted colors, distressed textures, and fun branch and leave props. The frame's dry brushed paint treatment is meant to mimick the distressed paint finishes of most of Kroft's pieces and act as a weathered frame for the vignette.

I'm sad to be done at Mignonne but I have learned so much from my time there, built upon my portfolio, had tons of fun, and met a bunch of new friends. I am excited to see what direction Mignonne's new intern will take with the windows and look forward to a new chapter in Mignonne's colorful future!

Enjoy!

New Forever 21 Brand : Heritage 1981

Introducing Heritage 1981! The newest addition to my local mall is something to talk about. It's an interesting blend: a little American Eagle, dash of Anthropologie, and slightly Hollister / Abercrombie & Fitch - all with Forever 21 prices.


Not as trendy and clubish as it's sister store, Heritage 1981 has a cool relaxed retro vibe. The brand caters to both men and women - featuring quirky graphic tees, flirty sundresses, aviator shades, and denim.

The visuals in this store are awesome: playful, easy, colorful, and artistic. The theme right now seemed to be about voting and having your voice heard - a great message for the younger crowd their marketing to. Tote bags sporting 50's style graphics claim " Dad said voting is Groovy!" and sales associates flash pins pushing the right to vote too.

I must admit - I like this store. It's not all my style but I have a soft spot for simple cotton dresses that just fit right and look adorable. Below are two I bought. I went out on a limb with this printed one. I'm pretty basic and simple but something about it said "Try Me On!" then later persuaded me to take it home with me.

Check out the brand for yourself - Heritage 1981. They have great stuff and finally allow comfy style to be affordable for everyone!

Merchandising at Mignonne

Just a look into some merchandising I did recently at Mignonne...

Beachy and blue hutch refresher:

Detail of center section:

Warm and cozy rooster themed hutch refresher:

Tiers of teacups:

Smaller window display: Design/install by Johnelle - Disoriented & 70's theme

More in store movement next week! Stay tuned!
Discover more of Mignonne: website / blog

Window Woman

A couple weeks ago now I had a crazy few days doing windows - 3 corporate directed from Gap and one of my own design for my internship at Mignonne. To say the least, after that week... well, I probably would have done another window if I had the chance - I live for this sort of thing. Anyways, here they are! (click on them to zoom into every little detail)

GAP:


Mignonne:

It's hard to see with the glare and angle, but each frame showcases merchandise. You get the idea. We went for punchy modern colors with vintage frames for a Mignonne summer look.

Rainbows just don't cut it anymore

My latest addition to my design tools is one of my most favorite because it is so essential and yet it was free!!! Paint swatch cards from my local Ace Hardware are my new jewel. They have a VAST array of colors to reference and will suffice until I can someday get my hands on some actual pantones. They're great for talking over colors with clients and creating color combinations. I've been breaking mine in already. I can't decide if I want to hole punch them all and put them on a ring or find a good box for them - either way I'm super happy with my new find!





I grabbed the Ace Brand Paint swatch cards because they covered most everything I needed in a compact 192 cards (1,344 colors total). Benjamin Moore covers the whoollleee spectrum but in what seemed to be thousands of cards. Being discreet during my swatch collecting was something to think about as well - just in case Ace cared that I was taking one of every card!

My First Window Display

During quite possibly the craziest time of my life - Midterms, Job, Prepping for Robert J. Mahoney Award Interview with Barney's New York Head Visual, Internship, etc! I created this! My very first - from concept sketch to real life execution - window display. My first of 6 for cute little Oakland store, Mignonne. I have to still get some better pictures of it, but for now - here she is!

This window started out plain with no border or color. Only the vinyl text was there. This white frame and coral matting was all masked and hand painted by yours truly, including a hand drawn 8 foot oval.

At night

Up Close

Featured Item (tea pot) Side Window

Initial Sketch - Embarrassingly sketchy (I told you I was busy!)