Kate Pruitt writes for Design Sponge and used to do windows for Anthropologie. Dream! Here's a post she wrote for DS with tips for how to design and think about windows, even if you're a very small business: window display
I can't quote the adage perfectly, but that saying about things finding you when you stop looking for them? - literally happening to me this week. At least, in the job sense.
I am taking a vacation from unemployment and visiting the East Coast! Of course I can't be looking for a job, I am RELAXING (and eating lots of food). I got a request to design/implement store windows for a boutique, and two sales jobs from different retailers. Granted, I am asking myself if I really want to do sales again (NO!) but money is low and maybe I could do part time seasonal? Here are random jobs I am signed up for right now and things I might start doing:
Implemented:
- twice a week babysitting
- chocolate making approximately once a week, could pick up some hours on the business side
About to begin:
- knitting scarves for a designer who has an online boutique
In limbo:
- cashiering at a frozen yogurt shop, possibly doing some blog-y/marketing work
On the discussion table:
- store windows for clothing boutique! possibly selling some wares in store, possibly picking up some sewing work
- seasonal sales at Banana Republic (although I applied for a stylist position)
- seasonal sales at Anthropologie (in my tangible dreams I would do windows here)
Hot on the pursuit of:
- visual merchandising at Macys. I want to learn how to do windows the "right way" (I know there's no real "right way"! I enjoy perspective from people who've done it, who have tips or systems of working who could take my clueless newbie self under their downy wing. Realistic - I know.) I have a contact or two. Now to get my foot in the door.
So yeah that's going on.
New York is as beautiful as is said in the holiday season. It is cold-windy and sunny, everything glitters with Christmas decorations, the trees in Central Park are gold and auburn, the marathon adds a layer of unity and pride to the emotional current, the Rockettes are performing their holiday showcase, and a burger from Shake Shack is that much better!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
What Does Free Cost?
I picked up a box of pheasant feathers from someone on Craigslist the other day. Excuse me, a box of whole pheasant wings. Still attached to skin. And Bones. With a layer of under-skin fat in tact. I don't think any steps were taken to preserve or de-pest these. What did I get myself into?
Seriously, what did I get myself into?
I am sitting in my bathroom, perched on the edge of the bathtub. There is a cardboard box of pheasant wings sitting in the tub. I am hoping that any crazy mites and bugs that might exist can be contained in this quarantined area. I am hoping to not see any maggots. Or spiders. These were stored in someone's garage for an indeterminate amount of time.
Forge ahead, forge ahead!
I try to carefully pry wings away from a belly covered with beautiful little red-brown feathers with blue tips. Or is it a back covered with beautiful little red-brown feathers with blue tips? Who am I? Crack! Rip! Pluck!
This is gruesome. Little bits of yellow-with-age fat cling to the shafts of the feathers and melt on my fingers. Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it. That's what soap is for. Oh god I want to scrub my skin with Ajax!
Feathers get separated into big, clear plastic bags. Categories include: big stiff feathers like Yankee Doodle might stick in his cap and call Macaroni; medium sized oh-my-god there are so many feathers, you're all just going in here; and baby-sized I'll strip all the downy feathers off the stem to hopefully get ride of microscopic mites, hey these are pretty cute!
What am I even going to do with all of these? Ideally I could somehow make money off of whatever I make out of them. Money will help ease the memory of my Dexter-like deeds.
Won't it?
Could you guess that these dainty specimens pressed against glass on a linen background had such a gruesome past?
Seriously, what did I get myself into?
I am sitting in my bathroom, perched on the edge of the bathtub. There is a cardboard box of pheasant wings sitting in the tub. I am hoping that any crazy mites and bugs that might exist can be contained in this quarantined area. I am hoping to not see any maggots. Or spiders. These were stored in someone's garage for an indeterminate amount of time.
Forge ahead, forge ahead!
I try to carefully pry wings away from a belly covered with beautiful little red-brown feathers with blue tips. Or is it a back covered with beautiful little red-brown feathers with blue tips? Who am I? Crack! Rip! Pluck!
This is gruesome. Little bits of yellow-with-age fat cling to the shafts of the feathers and melt on my fingers. Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it. That's what soap is for. Oh god I want to scrub my skin with Ajax!
Feathers get separated into big, clear plastic bags. Categories include: big stiff feathers like Yankee Doodle might stick in his cap and call Macaroni; medium sized oh-my-god there are so many feathers, you're all just going in here; and baby-sized I'll strip all the downy feathers off the stem to hopefully get ride of microscopic mites, hey these are pretty cute!
What am I even going to do with all of these? Ideally I could somehow make money off of whatever I make out of them. Money will help ease the memory of my Dexter-like deeds.
Won't it?
Could you guess that these dainty specimens pressed against glass on a linen background had such a gruesome past?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Food styling?
I'm trying to improve my prop styling and photography skills. I feel very out of practice since my one studio lighting class when I was 19! Unfortunately I remember how little I enjoy the technical parts of studio lighting - adding, subtracting, shielding, bouncing, deflecting, directing, manipulating, and controlling light; precise placements of every teensy detail, strand of hair, fleck of dust; taking color temperatures; setting and resetting controls. Blech!
But I do enjoy combining forms and textures, finding interesting subjects, playing with color. I like to work organically with natural light, making a little tent on the stair balcony to diffuse light, finding a bit of white paper to bounce light onto an object. There is a lot of thinking on your feet and improvising.
Now that I'm working at a chocolate company I have a very specific subject to work with. I can self-assign this project to myself and, depending on the results, maybe get some exposure this way.
Here's a website devoted to food styling and photography, specifically an article focusing on using no equipment other than your camera and available light: Food Pixels
Inspiring prop styling, really bright diffused light: Canelle et Vanille
And here are some things I played around with today (too lazy for Photoshop color correcting and editing, these are just exercises):
Extremely plain seamless white background. Some weird dot shadow in the foreground, not enough shadow on the bottom chocolate, and not enough light/interest on the top chocolate. But I like the simple, interesting composition - the precarious balance, like the winged alpaca is about to take off!
I love the crackle texture in the clear glaze. Not sure about the funny curved highlight on the left and lack of shadow to ground the subject.
Thinking about textures? Trying to incorporate the Asian-flavor theme, here. I like the contrast of the rich brown with the black sesame seeds. The chocolate really looks like it's floating/Photo-shopped in here. Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing.
Thinking about the winged alpaca and travels? The seeds as sand/gravel or almost a "pathway". I don't think the execution of this idea is very successful, but an idea to try again.
Really piling on the visual elements here. Subject (chocolate) is much too dark. Overall picture might be too strangely busy. Interesting to think of chopsticks as a bridge, though.
Overturned bowl as a mountain? Alpaca conquers Glazed Stoneware Mountain?
Unrelated, but Soba eats purple-hued corn!
But I do enjoy combining forms and textures, finding interesting subjects, playing with color. I like to work organically with natural light, making a little tent on the stair balcony to diffuse light, finding a bit of white paper to bounce light onto an object. There is a lot of thinking on your feet and improvising.
Now that I'm working at a chocolate company I have a very specific subject to work with. I can self-assign this project to myself and, depending on the results, maybe get some exposure this way.
Here's a website devoted to food styling and photography, specifically an article focusing on using no equipment other than your camera and available light: Food Pixels
Inspiring prop styling, really bright diffused light: Canelle et Vanille
And here are some things I played around with today (too lazy for Photoshop color correcting and editing, these are just exercises):
Extremely plain seamless white background. Some weird dot shadow in the foreground, not enough shadow on the bottom chocolate, and not enough light/interest on the top chocolate. But I like the simple, interesting composition - the precarious balance, like the winged alpaca is about to take off!
I love the crackle texture in the clear glaze. Not sure about the funny curved highlight on the left and lack of shadow to ground the subject.
Thinking about textures? Trying to incorporate the Asian-flavor theme, here. I like the contrast of the rich brown with the black sesame seeds. The chocolate really looks like it's floating/Photo-shopped in here. Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing.
Thinking about the winged alpaca and travels? The seeds as sand/gravel or almost a "pathway". I don't think the execution of this idea is very successful, but an idea to try again.
Really piling on the visual elements here. Subject (chocolate) is much too dark. Overall picture might be too strangely busy. Interesting to think of chopsticks as a bridge, though.
Overturned bowl as a mountain? Alpaca conquers Glazed Stoneware Mountain?
Unrelated, but Soba eats purple-hued corn!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Belated Sunday, September 5th Post
We are having more consistent sunny days here in San Francisco. Is nice weather finally here?
I had 3 friends visiting from New York this week and we took full advantage of the city. Visitors always help me re-discover my city and appreciate it more! Here's a re-cap of what we did.
1) dinner at Slow Club - local, organic, SF-y, well prepared, a bit pricey!
2) bbq pool party in SoMa! Where else could you have an outdoor pool in SF?
3) farmers market picnic in Alamo Square park with other peoples' puppies!
4) hot hot day in Dolores Park, visiting 826 Valencia and other cute shops
5) tacos in the Mission!
6) drinks and Quiddler at Lone Palm
7) dinner party and Quiddler!
8) wandering/hiking in Muir Woods and after hike picnic
9) free day at the De Young and discounted tickets for Academy of Sciences! We went on Tuesday, after Labor Day and hardly anyone was there! No children! Bliss!
10) coffee, hot chocolate, foccacia at Arizmendi!
11) hot chocolate, killing time with "broken pictionary" at Arizmendi!
12) cuckoo selection of beers at Toronado!
13) cheese bun at Acme Bread in the Ferry Building!
So tired! So much fun!
I had 3 friends visiting from New York this week and we took full advantage of the city. Visitors always help me re-discover my city and appreciate it more! Here's a re-cap of what we did.
1) dinner at Slow Club - local, organic, SF-y, well prepared, a bit pricey!
2) bbq pool party in SoMa! Where else could you have an outdoor pool in SF?
3) farmers market picnic in Alamo Square park with other peoples' puppies!
4) hot hot day in Dolores Park, visiting 826 Valencia and other cute shops
5) tacos in the Mission!
6) drinks and Quiddler at Lone Palm
7) dinner party and Quiddler!
8) wandering/hiking in Muir Woods and after hike picnic
9) free day at the De Young and discounted tickets for Academy of Sciences! We went on Tuesday, after Labor Day and hardly anyone was there! No children! Bliss!
10) coffee, hot chocolate, foccacia at Arizmendi!
11) hot chocolate, killing time with "broken pictionary" at Arizmendi!
12) cuckoo selection of beers at Toronado!
13) cheese bun at Acme Bread in the Ferry Building!
So tired! So much fun!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Bulb Hair Elastics
Found a set of these woven baskets on the curb. This smaller one is perfect for storing and displaying my hair ties!
Packaged on business cards and pre-elastic balls in a bottle.
Nicely nestled in.
French Knots looking at you.
A set for sale!
Hand embroidered elastic hair ties are made from beautiful scrap bits of fabric. Each one is absolutely unique.
Set of 3 for $12. Link: Grandiflora at Etsy
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Whirling Week
What a strange week.
1) Went to Solo Showcase by myself - it was fantastic!
2) Decided to join a Meet Up group for a free screening of Catfish and pre-movie drinks. Couldn't find the group at the bar, couldn't find the group at the theater. Saw the free showing anyway. Came home and realized that the group is meeting NEXT week!
3) Wanted to join a different Meet Up group for a long walk up to Twin Peaks and dinner in the Mission afterwards. Parked my car in the mission and took BART to the meeting/starting point. Realized I'd lost my wallet and turned around to search for it. Missed out on the hiking group. Could not find wallet.
4) Filed a police report, called credit card company to cancel card, called friend to cancel check they'd written me.
5) Get on Facebook and see that someone has found my wallet and contacted me through Facebook! Wallet is intact, but missing its $22.
6) Went on an interview for an assistant chocolatier!
7) Spent 4 hours at a Kinko's cutting a 836 fot ream of paper into sheets.
Phew.
1) Went to Solo Showcase by myself - it was fantastic!
2) Decided to join a Meet Up group for a free screening of Catfish and pre-movie drinks. Couldn't find the group at the bar, couldn't find the group at the theater. Saw the free showing anyway. Came home and realized that the group is meeting NEXT week!
3) Wanted to join a different Meet Up group for a long walk up to Twin Peaks and dinner in the Mission afterwards. Parked my car in the mission and took BART to the meeting/starting point. Realized I'd lost my wallet and turned around to search for it. Missed out on the hiking group. Could not find wallet.
4) Filed a police report, called credit card company to cancel card, called friend to cancel check they'd written me.
5) Get on Facebook and see that someone has found my wallet and contacted me through Facebook! Wallet is intact, but missing its $22.
6) Went on an interview for an assistant chocolatier!
7) Spent 4 hours at a Kinko's cutting a 836 fot ream of paper into sheets.
Phew.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunshine on San Francisco Sunday
Amazing that the sun is out today! SF is in full swing this Sunday - there's Sunday Streets at the Great Highway, They Might Be Giants at the free Stern Grove Musical Festival! I'm going to a free theater performance tonight.
This week:
1) did an interview at Burlingame Antrhopologie
2) made raw chocolate chip cookies with oats, brazil nuts, dates, and chocolate chips!
3) finally visited Rainbow Grocery!
4) started a jar of vanilla extract in bourbon
5) went to a free performance at Stage Werx!
6) cleaned the heck out of my apartment - again!
7) made tiny harnesses for my rats so they can wander around my apartment - they are not fans! But they do look like the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz with their little red vests - does that make me the wicked witch?
I think I'll bike over to the Great Highway to see everyone enjoying the open roads and sunshine. Being out in public without a specific goal is unnerving for me, but not having anyone to accompany me to places I want to go shouldn't stop me, either. It usually does... but I don't want it to.
This week:
1) did an interview at Burlingame Antrhopologie
2) made raw chocolate chip cookies with oats, brazil nuts, dates, and chocolate chips!
3) finally visited Rainbow Grocery!
4) started a jar of vanilla extract in bourbon
5) went to a free performance at Stage Werx!
6) cleaned the heck out of my apartment - again!
7) made tiny harnesses for my rats so they can wander around my apartment - they are not fans! But they do look like the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz with their little red vests - does that make me the wicked witch?
I think I'll bike over to the Great Highway to see everyone enjoying the open roads and sunshine. Being out in public without a specific goal is unnerving for me, but not having anyone to accompany me to places I want to go shouldn't stop me, either. It usually does... but I don't want it to.
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