A Practical Experience

Ring Of Roses by Clare Elsaesser

As an interior design student, I got to play artist at my dream job for a few months, working as a visual display intern for Anthropologie.  It was an inspiring, rather humbling experience. I was mentored by a Senior Display Coordinator, Asaki, who's weekly undertaking put into perspective the small scale at which I design for this blog. In order to be successful in this position you need such a wide range of of skills, from fine arts to soft construction, you need to really understand the brand, and you need to be able to see the big picture, all from a cramped art room.  Here are my design takeaways from interning with Anthro...

1. Make a sketch. This was the first thing I had to do on day one.  My task was to build a series of 3D baubles to be installed from the ceiling in the entry of the store.  I learned how to make scaled sketches in school, but it is really straight forward, simply use a scale (1/2" = 1' works well for smaller interior spaces)something you can do with a standard ruler. The benefit of sketching is that you will know exactly how a piece will fit into the whole. This is especially important for room layout and hanging art.

2. Composition makes or breaks a design. Finding the right balance of color, negative space, light, and mass (some of the elements and principals of design)can determine whether or not a design succeeds. Asaki understands composition. Her current backdrop in the main window is a foggy scene of the Marin Headlands, with the Golden Gate Bridge peaking through, and 3 dimensional hot air balloons hanging in the sky. This could have easily gone the direction of a child's room, but the execution feels dream-like and impressionistic.   

3. Craftsmanship is crucial. Anyone can follow a tutorial to make the pieces that you see in Anthropologie...a coral reef wall, a bent wood swirl sculptures, a sea of fish, a forest of mushrooms.  The difference between the artful Anthropologie version and a home craft experiment gone awry is in execution. They make things out of paper, wire, cardboard, and canvas, they spray paint and hot glue, just like we do at home. Even on a small scale, a design can work if it is done with some precision. This precision comes with practice, trial and error, and by using proper technique.  I had to educate myself on how to apply gold leaf in an "organic way" to create patina, and how to score chipboard enough to easily fold it without splitting or looking sloppy, I used a common level to hang 100+ ornaments on the same linear plane over a table of kitchenware.  Taking time to learn how to do something well before building or displaying a piece ensures the right end result. At Anthropologie this end result is both refined and unconventional.

4. The psychology of color. I love color, and I think I have a pretty good understanding of color theory. The use of color depends on the size and scale of a space, and with the mood that you are trying to convey. Going back to the hot air balloon window example, Using muted tones of grays, blues, and greens, with a healthy dose of white made the rust and orange of the bridge pop from the fog.  The bridge feels hopeful, and the headlands seem calm. Translate this idea to a room, and you have a perfect retreat. 

5. The essential power tools. Going into this internship I wanted to learn one thing above all, and that was how to use a variety of power tools.  I think there is certain apprehension on the part of a lot of women to pick up a circular saw and cut a piece of wood. It's not something that I learned how to do growing up.  I find using power tools, well, kind of empowering.  I can chop and saw, drill, wire a lamp, use an air compressor.  I've learned to make things sturdy, and precise, as well as pretty; the most useful takeaway from the whole experience, and one that will translate in to my work going forward.
   
 

Bright and Beautiful

I promise this is not evolving into a party blog...I'll leave that to the experts. My dear friend Coco is having herself a little party this weekend to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her 30th birthday, and her husband Jim asked me to help out with "the look". Coco is a natural beauty, she is kind, sincere, and a appropriately goofy. When we lived in Montclair (Oakland), we were their down-the-hill neighbors, our kids are friends, and we spent several days a week at each others houses. Our moving away was pretty hard on both of our families, so we were beyond excited when Jim took a counseling job at the junior college up here - they'll be our neighbors once more this summer! Right around the time we moved, Coco bought the supplies for us to make one of my paper lanterns together, but we never got around to it, so I'm surprising her with this gilded version for her birthday. The party is at Campovida's Oakland tasting room, a reclaimed wood and brick clad space, located near Jack London Square. I went for a Kate Spade inspired palate of gold, fuchsia, royal blue, and teal. I found these sparklers in the same colors for a little late-night fun, and we're doing a photo booth including big white C O C O prop letters set against a pretty gold sequined backdrop. The be-tasseled lantern will hang prominently with more draped garlands and some giant clear balloons filled with gold confetti placed around the room. To make the paper lantern watch this video tutorial, glue in a second layer of smaller papers, and apply multiple light coats of gold metallic spray paint, and check out the how-to for tassel garland below.

1. Fold a sheet of tissue paper in half, lengthwise
2. Using a knife, cut the paper fold in half
3. Cut 1/4" lines 3/4 of the way up the paper fold toward the seam
4. Open the paper fold, finished side down, and fold in half
5. Fold in half, then again until the center is about 1/4" wide
6. Gently twist the center to create a rope and twist in a loop.
7. Twist the loop once around to secure itself.
8. To make garland from the tassels, loop a 3-4' piece of fishing line in knotted segments 

Festoons

The tree is down. I put it next to our fireplace this year, and totally dried it out.  While I'm a little sad to see Christmas go, I was tiring of the endless versions of little drummer boy I've heard over the last month. Fortunately I have next week's NYE party to look forward to. I'm making my first photo booth for the occasion, and I've been working on some festoons for the party guests. While packing away our Christmas haul, I discovered a box of this net-like craft paper padding, and I thought it might look pretty nifty spray painted gold, fashioned into a paper crown. I also painted feather tips with school glue, then dredged them in old fashioned glitter.  To make both, all you'll need is some cheap-o plastic headbands,  hot glue, masking tape (or washi) and gold metallic spray paint. See photo tutorial below...

Entry Level

Three days a week, I make the trip to Marin County for my dream job. I work in a cramped art room, painting in an alley, atop high ladders, doing visual display for Anthropologie. I was lucky enough to win the opportunity, a revamp of their internship program that allows me to own whole projects, due in some part to the work that I've done on Poppy Haus, which makes me so happy. Today I am sharing my first completed installation "Baubles" one of the centerpieces of the holiday narrative that Anthropologie created for their stores this year. My baubles are the first major installation that you see when you walk into the store. I made them from a thick stack of laser-cut chipboard, wooden beads, wire, thread, rope, paint, silver leaf, and faux snow, most of which is glued to my hands when I speed home to pick up the kids from school. Stay tuned for more of my Anthropologie projects and my favorite picks from their dreamy new holiday collection. xo, Heather

Tiny Sculptural Art

When we lived in Oakland our house backed up to a rocky, eucalyptus dotted hill, and when we would eat our breakfast we were often greeted by a family of deer.  It's one of the things I miss most about living where we did.  Despite the fact that we were in a big Bay Area city, we were confronted by nature every day.  I was staring at a newly purchased block of air dry clay, thinking... and decided to make my own young buck, a piece of tiny art, to remind me of that time.  I'm no Jonathan Adler, but it's pretty cute.  Displayed with a cluster of other weird plant-life including the gilded coral makes a little flora and fauna statement.  Here's my tutorial with handwritten instructions, because it's hard to take pictures of yourself working with clay... 

Materials:  Air Dry white clay, clay tools (found at Michael's), twigs, gold leaf paint, paint brush, and white spray paint.

The trick to using air dry clay is to keep it moist.  Dip your fingers in water when it begins to dry out while working with it.  Use more water on your finger to smooth cracks, and combine a little clay with water to create slip when attaching ears. Start with a lemon size ball of clay.

Go back over the cracks (see below) while still wet and smooth before allowing to dry.

Scoop a hole in the back for hanging.  Dry on it's back first, then rotate to expose back after face is set (about 24 hours each side).

I then spray painted the dried piece with white gloss to seal it.  Next I applied gold leaf paint to the tips of the magnolia twigs. Once dry I inserted them into the holes and hung the piece.

Arrow Art

I am still having fun with the arrows. Inspired by a recent J.Crew window display I decided to make a 3D art piece using the arrows and some cork and wood rounds.  See the full tutorial below including the video from last week about how to make the arrows using wooden dowels and duct tape.

To make the arrows watch this tutorial and read this post!

Materials: Cork trivets and wooden round (found at craft store)
Tools: Drill with 5/16 bit, hot glue gun, wall fastners (3M command)

Hot glue the three layers together. Drill holes for arrows (cluster around bullseye). Add a drop of hot glue to arrow ends and insert.  

Voila!

The Trapeze Planter

Plants are trendy right now, I'm just saying. Inspired by the current interiors of Anthropologie, the amazing San Francisco oddity Paxton Gate and this recent tutorial from Emily Henderson, I've been trying to incorporate more houseplants as decor into our front room.  The space is flooded with natural light, just perfect for green plants and my brown thumb. Today's DIY was a freebie for me; we had all the materials lying around, including these small coconut fiber pots- meant for planting directly into the ground.  As succulents and cacti don't require much watering, you can use these containers as decorative pots for indoor use, just remember they will break down if they are kept damp.  I fashioned this trapeze style planter using one of Wylie's many park sticks, some black and white baker's twine, some fishing wire and a paper punch.  It's pretty self explanatory.  Wrap twine around each end of the stick, tie off and hang; I used push pins because it was so light. Plant the succulents. Punch at either end of the pot, string fishing line through the holes, and tie ends together around the stick.

I got my hands on a fiddle leaf fig (background shot), and some lush ferns- in case you didn't know, these plants are the hot new (prehistoric)plants. Once I get everything planted in fabulous containers I'll do a little botanical reveal for you. xo, Heather 

Take Cover

As promised, my week has been too busy to prepare a DIY (see halloween costumes). Instead, I'll share a few links.  Should you be in the market for an enormous tent for beach glamping, you're in luck.  Anthropologie's Altair Tent is now on sale. Here's how to do it up:

sit down and rest your weary bones
enjoy an autumnal brunch
and a game of horse shoes, horse shoes!
then cozy up with a good book.

Happy Friday, xo

Just Do It

I pulled the trigger. I just ordered the curtains that have been at the top of my textile covet list for the last however many years. After much hemming and hawing they will be mine in about 5-7 business days. So what if I don't have a couch?

 

Round Too

Confession.  I sold my cupcake paper chandeliers in successive transactions on Etsy last month, and because I was going out of town when the orders were placed, I literally sold the pair hanging from my ceiling.  I meant to replace them, but I also wanted to try out a new idea I had for a larger, single chandelier for our new dining room space in Petaluma.  Using the same technique as the Anenome version, this time using 3" deep wrapped parchment paper baking cups, I paired the chandelier with a red fabric cord and ceiling fixture from West Elm. I left off the center papers on this piece, because the light is much more diffused.  To tell you the truth, I like this one more, and I think it looks more like the Rhododendron chandelier from Anthropologie.  For the tutorial, just reference the original post.
 

Soaking It Up

This week Poppy Haus was featured on Design*Sponge.  I think my favorite thing about the whole experience was getting to read all of the wonderful comments people left about my project. I just want to give everyone who has started reading my blog a big high five and to say thanks to Design*Sponge for the feature.  Have a happy weekend!

The Anthropologist

About ten years ago I walked into the San Francisco Anthropologie and looked up at a ray of fabric buttterflies stretching across their top floor ceiling.  Some short time later, I gathered the materials and made a smaller scale version for my apartment. Now their clothes and accessories are coveted by just about every girl I know, but my favorite thing about Anthropologie is the the ambiance, the way you can feel the warm scent from the burning candles, the day dreamy music, and the hand crafted art installations they call visual merchandising.  They sell all sorts of fancy and unattainable things, but the store is full of pieces constructed out of paper and wire and rope meant to feel that way. I have this smart and stylish friend named Valerie, who recently posted a link to a beautiful Rhodadendron chandelier from Anthropologie and it got me thinking...it's been a while. 

Hey There, Cupcake

I picked up some white paper lanterns and tightly layered soft white cupcake papers around the surface using a hot glue gun. I later went around with decorative petit fours papers found at a store called Spun Sugar in Berkeley. They gave the first layer some dimension and made it look less like a party decoration. I think the overall look feels something more like anenomes. They would look beautiful with  a light dropped in them, for now they hang over my dining room table.

Materials

• 100–125  white standard-sized paper cupcake liners
• 100–125  vertically striped petit fours papers
• (1) 18–20″ white paper lantern
• hot glue gun
• 1 Hemma Cord from IKEA (for lighting) ($3.99)