A Website Refresh

It was a long time coming, but I have finally taken the time to update and refresh my business website. Take a look!

Left Shark Inspired Design

Who is your favorite? Left or Right?

In honor of #SharkWeek (July 5 – 12 on Discovery Channel) #TBT and #summervacation, here are some nautical inspired event design photos from my son’s Junior Prom “after party” back in May. The theme was “Cruisin’ Under the Stars” and I was on the decorating committee with a large group of other moms. It was probably one of my biggest design challenges since we had to transform such a large space (lobbies, gym, and multiple hallways from floor to ceiling, including adding lighting) with such a tiny budget (I am pretty sure most everyone spent their own money to make up the difference like I did, although I really tried to be resourceful!) And it all had to be done in about 3 hours while the kids were dancing away at their actual prom. And then it had to be taken down and completely cleaned up within an hour (between 1 and 2am!) It was crazy, with tons of people on site working on their designated areas, but the kids loved the transformation and the event kept them off the streets for the night.

A few pictures of what we were starting with ...

When they returned to the high school, it looked like this ...

A large wooden anchor made by one of the dads, wrapped with twinkle lights, made a big impression at the dock-like entrance.

Blinking lights acted as a beacon while scented summery blooms wrapped with burlap brightened the walkway. 

I created a pop-up sign with the event logo and cruise ship graphics at my day job at White Light Visual, then had my event team install illuminated star lanterns to the entire ceiling (with fishing line and magnetic hooks). A palm tree from a recent theatrical production was repurposed. The cinder block and tiled walls were covered in black craft paper (not that easy to do!!) A red carpet was added as a finishing touch.

A water station was set up in front of the vending machines which were hidden behind Home Goods clearance curtains that we hung from the ceiling (magnetic hooks with string through the grommets did the trick). A flat screen TV box was wrapped with a large graphic that I had printed at White Light. 

The water fountain niche turned tropical waterfall with lots of large tissue paper blossoms surrounding sparkly silver strands.

The kids needed directions on where special activities were happening. Using a pole banner kit that I borrowed from work, I created a nautical striped sign to point the way.

A spot to sit and chat or take selfies: the glass front trophy cases were wrapped with lots of ocean blue paper. I recovered a bench of mine with burlap stamped with passport travel art. The potted hibiscus in on my porch now.

My favorite part of this event design process, besides getting to work with my husband during install, was creating pop-up versions of Left and Right Shark. Using screen captures from the Katy Perry video, I recreated the graphics, printed them at work, and wrapped a couple more monitor boxes with them. Of course super-size beach ball props were required, and I just happened to find a pair of large steamer trunks on the side of the road a couple weeks before the prom. Not kidding.

Katy Perry Left Shark on YouTube

The Midnite Buffet committee did an amazing job with all of the food including a candy “bar” complete with sparkly lobster traps and an ocean backdrop. The students yearbook photos were displayed like nautical flags and were hung on rope along the walls of the 140 foot long corridor.

There were lots of great decorating moments created throughout the school by the numerous teams of volunteers. I especially liked the Duty Free shop window above.

It took dozens of people to support this one night event, from planning logistics to coordinating donations to ensuring our kids safety while providing a fun place to hang out after a special night (there was even a mechanical shark ride in the gym a.k.a. “Mussel Beach”). If you wonder if it was worth all the effort, I would have to say yes. It isn’t often that I get to do this sort of thing for my kids, and I always wish I could do or give more ... but making memorable moments is its own reward.

My favorite photo of the night : )

New home for Left Shark (or Pool Shark)

Star shaped paper lanterns and LED battery operated lights

are available via Just Artifacts

Relationships with Designers + Clients

photo credit: Andrew Swaine

Every so often, I am asked to serve on a committee to assist in the promotion and marketing of an event. In September, one of those events was with the New England chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID NE). It was a two-part event that offered both a Distinguished Speaker presentation and then concluded with the Excellence in Design Awards. The event was hosted at a former Lamborghini showroom on the North Shore that is now used for catered events. It was the perfect venue for a group of designers who appreciate a unique space. 

photo credit: Andrew Swaine

With Katherine Hawkins, Amanda Greaves, Jill Janasiewicz, Lynda Onthank

Our committee meetings leading up to the event were so much fun! We were fortunate to have a busy group of designers involved who know how to get things done. Each of us had specific tasks (my job was event graphics) but all of us pitched in wherever needed to help make the event a success. During our meetings leading up to the event, we often shared stories about the design projects we were working on, and how we handled client needs. Since client relationships can determine how much fun one has on the job, we decided to have our guest speaker discuss this topic.

Mary Beth Haggerty and Jill with guest speaker Angela Merola

We selected professional speaker Angela Merola, a life-business-spiritual coach to present “Client Magnetism: Tools to Attracting Clients.” She was very engaging, encouraged audience interaction, and shared many valuable tips on how to find perfect clients and increase profits while doing so.

event florals for the evening were done by Laura Thomson Design

photo credit: Andrew Swaine

Angela actually offers confidence-boosting presentations on her website. But if you are an ASID designer and need CEU credits before the year ends, you must purchase an actual DVD and then take an online test afterwards to receive the credits. It is definitely worth the commitment either way! Details here. 

I wrote a brief blog post for Williams-Sonoma Designer Marketplace highlighting some of the client relationship building tips that Angela shared with us back in September. Check it out here. For this post, the Designer Marketplace team chose some great photos from Williams-Sonoma. There is actually one in the post that looks a lot like how my “coat closet” for the Glen Magna Farms Designers Holiday Show House is going to look. How did they know??! Stay tuned for my own photos in a couple of weeks. Better yet, come visit me there! The mansion has been buzzing with designers and artists working their magic in preparation for the big reveal and we can’t wait to show it off! It opens December 1st. Ticket info here.

Moving day ...

How does a week long show that I prepared for over the period of several months get completely dismantled in the period of two hours? On Sunday afternoon I showed up at closing time to pack up and take home all of the accessories from my space at the Wenham Museum North Shore Design Show. This took all of one hour which included chatting with some of my fellow designers who were also there beginning to pack up. Okay, maybe I spent more time stalling than actually packing. 

Monday morning I arrived to see the new 26 foot truck from my day job at Designer Bath parked alongside the Museum to pick up the Stone Forest Salus Potting Sink that was the inspiration piece behind my vignette. 

While I really didn’t need a 26 foot truck to accomodate the three foot wide sink, it was quite nice – and comforting – to have a couple of my co-workers from the showroom/warehouse there to carry out the extremely heavy granite sink along with the number of pretty pieces from Circle Furniture that also had to be returned. 

And since I chose the graphics and designed the look of the new trucks, it was a slightly surreal moment in time for me as well. 

Like every year, I did take a lot of photos from the show. I will share them later this week. Right now I am still a little sad that it is all over. I guess I could always just turn that same attention to my own house though, right? If only I had access to the same design inventory : )

I was not paid to promote this product ...

Can I just share how much I love this new conditioner I found? It smells like a combination of coconut and mint (fresh yet relaxed?) and is filled with good for you ingredients like green tea and goji berry. Besides being like aromatherapy in the shower and actually making my hair feel silky smooth, I am loving the on-trend orange bottle and rockin’ graphics. And who wouldn’t want to start the day (or go into the night) with the belief that “Living the Dream” is well within reach ... just look for it on your supermarket shelves : )  

TIGI Rockaholic Living the Dream

Daily Conditioner + Energy

Click here for professional styling videos

and more products available from TIGI

Y knot!

Y knot pattern designed by Yvonne Blacker
available exclusively at Alluminare.com

A while back I mentioned wanting to try my hand at creating patterns for fabrics, etc. What designer hasn’t searched for the perfect pattern in just the right color combination and wished they could just design what they were looking for?

With a background in illustration, graphic design, and print production, creating a pattern for fabrics (or other surface designs) seemed like a fun extension of the same creative process to me. After day dreaming about it for some time, I have finally given it a shot!

Y knot in White/Chocolate Milk, Small Scale
on an Alluminare 20 inch drum pendant light

This week my pattern “Y knot” was introduced exclusively on Alluminare.com! Now anyone can order a throw pillow, lamp shade, fabric or wallpaper in this modern-geometric typography inspired pattern (see the chain of capital letter Ys?)

What I love about Alluminare is that each pattern they offer can be custom designed with a variety of colors and pattern sizes. See how easy it is to transform Y knot into completely different looks from subtle to bold ...

Y knot in White/Silver, Tiny Scale

Y knot in White/Spring Grass, Large Scale

Y knot in Black/Cantaloupe, Largest Scale

This last pattern, when blown up to its largest scale, reminds me of a monarch butterfly! This was not intentional, just a pleasant surprise as butterflies happen to be one of my favorite graphic design icons.

Look for them in the following design show spaces:

North Shore Design Show, 2010
(can you find 3 in this post?)

North Shore Design Show, 2009
(can you see 5 in one photo?)

Danvers Historical Society Design Show, 2010
(can you find one?)

I plan on creating more patterns and hopefully a collection or two in the future. Thanks to the creative minds at Alluminare.com, custom pattern design is now a dream come true for me : )

Click here to see how you, too, can utilize the custom design features available at Alluminare.com!

I am engaged ...

Engagement “ring” available at
New England Fine Living

Working on the soon-to-be launched New England Finery Magazine has completely consumed my creative thoughts.

Table setting by Linda Smith
of New England Fine Living

Linda and I have been meeting regularly at this very table to discuss page layouts and desired content for the first issue.

Vintage fur muff: Seams Couture
Photo credit: Elizabeth Wertz

I am completely in love with the photos that our photographer, Elizabeth Wertz, has taken for our feature story.

XOXO blank notecards
yvonne b. designs

If you are in the area, please stop by New England Fine Living for your chance to take home some of the items that will be highlighted in our February issue (say “hi” to Linda while you are there!)

Refinished floors by C&R Flooring

The fact that my own house is finally getting some finishing touches during this exciting time is icing on the cake. But truth be told, it’s difficult to create blog posts when my house is filled with guys (the working kind that is).

Rest assured, I will be back soon with some “before” photos and worth-the-wait-happily-ever “afters” ; )

Giving away the good stuff ...

SATURDAY: RAFFLE

Enter to win one birth announcement (designed by yours truly) printed on canvas and designed to match a chosen nursery theme plus a matching “tummy time” blanket (see samples above) at this Saturday’s Open House held at New England Fine Living in Middleton. Many more raffle items and vendor discounts will be offered so be sure to visit on Saturday between 10am and 4pm or 7pm to 9pm for your chance to win (click here for event details.) I will be there in the morning and definitely will be back for the evening festivities which will include a NEFLtini cocktail (while they last) ...

Introducing my new line of icon-graphic note cards
available exclusively at New England Fine Living

SUNDAY: AUCTION

Modern Smiley Face Note Cards (set of 10)
and Hugs & Kisses Note Cards (set of 10)

One set of each will be auctioned off along with a custom designed butterfly accent pillow, apple green cork board and a few other items in my donated “Girl’s Room Gift Basket” to benefit the Lynnfield Educational Trust at Sunday night’s Taste of Lynnfield event at the Peabody Marriott. This almost-yearly fund-raising event is a great night out and offers a taste of many fine food establishments in our local area plus a chance to take home some great donated items by way of silent auction. All proceeds go towards educational enrichment programs and a soon-to-be established scholarship fund. Tickets are still available. Click here for details ...

And if you are interested in having any of these items designed for yourself or someone on your holiday shopping list, email me at yblacker@verizon.net

Have a great weekend,
xoxo yvonne