ENDLESS IDEAS

it’s exciting and intimidating at the same time that there are endless ideas out there, right? i mean, think about magazines. they have to make these magical photo shoots look different than the last. even if it’s inspired by something else, it still needs to feel different. and some days it feels like all the good ideas have been snatched already. but they haven’t been. shoots like this remind me that ideas are endless. just put your own spin on it.

Interview Magazine / Germany February 2012

STYLIN KIDS!

just stumbled upon this DVF + Gap Kids collab and smiled. these kids are rockin it! and those bold patterns are just my style. makes me proud to be working with gap! they are really stepping it up, huh?!

see more of these cuties here

ANTHROPOLOGIE EVENT!

photos via designlovefest instagram

are you an inspiration hoarder? i keep little knick knacks from everywhere i go. i usually tack them up to the cork boards in my office. but lately i have been into what we call an “inspiration string.” it’s a twist on the ole mood board!

flyer designed by anthropologie

i hope you can come hang out and make these cool inspiration strings with us at the Anthropologie store at The Americana at Brand on March 22nd in LA! I will be hosting the event with my friend jen {the co-founder of ban.do!} and we will have all sorts of fun supplies to make some of these beautiful strings of your own.

we encourage you to also bring some of your own items to add that personal touch: photo strips, postcards, little notes. these will make it that much more special!

make sure to rsvp to anthroevents@anthropologie.com. can’t wait to see some of your faces there! let me know if you are comin! OH! and there’s no specific start & end time to the craft so feel free to come anytime between 6-9!

PARIS / PART 1

here are some of my favorite things from our short 2 day trip to paris. it was really fun to go to paris a few months ago with my boyfriend, but a whole new and exciting experience to go with a best friend.

they don’t really wear bright colors that often in paris. but we sure did.

we loved cafe charlot so much that we had breakfast there both days. hey, we like routine. how amazing is that subway tile? such charm.

the bright green and florals outside of all of the white buildings was fantastic. they added so much life and personality to the windows. paris has such a cool factor when it comes to placing items. everything is so imperfectly perfect.

there are great little bars in the alleys of paris. so much off the beaten path goodness with wonderful eclectic decor.

{photos by jen gotch, who was sent over the sea with me by mailchimp}

ADVICE / 7

KATIE’S ANSWER:
dealing with money and friends can be very awkward. it can be uncomfortable to talk about and if they don’t pay you it will upset you and possibly ruin the friendship. i try to avoid it by trading my skills for my friends skills.

a friend asked me to design her some business cards recently but couldn’t afford to pay me. she is a talented seamstress and made me a dress instead. another friend wants a pretty header for her blog and icons to put around her site. she has delicious baking skills and has offered to bake my birthday cake in exchange for my graphic design and illustration skills.

i trust these people to follow through on their promises. it’s a chance i take. if a friend offers to pay me i treat them like a client. we sign a contract, and i work towards firm deadlines and deliverables. when we’re working or discussing their project we don’t mix in our personal lives. keeping them separate has helped get the projects finished and keep my friendships intact.

BRI’S ANSWER:
when this topic comes to mind i can think of some really amazing trades with friends and then a few that made me want to pull my hair out one by one. If you are going to trade with a friend, make sure that you respect the way they do business going into it. and it’s important for both parties to feel like the trade is fair, or else resentment and straight up awkwardness comes up. and like katie, I always make sure to keep deadlines and remain professional. after all, working with friends can be very inspiring and fun! it just can get very complicated as well, so tread lightly.

and please don’t think that you can’t charge your friends. I started a rule with myself a while back {after a couple sticky situations} that if I am not going to do a trade then I give a standard “friend discount” of 20% off. it has worked for me. real friends won’t take advantage of you.

(illustration by katie evans. here are all the advice posts over here and we love to hear your questions in the comments!)

DRANKS

let’s just say i had no shortage of drinks in new york/paris/london for the past 10 days. i think i am just going to drink water today. and tomorrow.

how cute is this bar cart by amy borrell?

A MEMORY

every new city i travel to, i always try to buy a ring while i am there. whether it’s a ring from a cracker jack box or a nice gem from a vintage store. the hunt for that city’s ring brings me to new places i might not have gone if i wasn’t looking for something. this recent paris trip i made an exception and got a bracelet instead. i fell in love with the tiny leather hearts and delicate chain.

photos by jen gotch, who was sent over the sea with me by mailchimp

STYLE / 44

today is the second week of the style series with a twist…

inspired by: champagne cocktails, satin gloves, tailored sequined dresses, feeling like a woman…

photography: max wanger
art direction: bri emery & jen gotch
styling: jen pinkston
hair & makeup: alex michael may
wardrobe: shareen vintage
copy: shoko wanger

see all the style posts here… and there are lots of outtakes on the designlovefest facebook page!

COLORFEST / 7

Imagination is such a powerful tool we all have! I don’t know about you, but for me, a good quote can change my mood instantly! Especially if it’s a shade of pistachio. -stephanie
shop these items: quote / milkshake blender / plate / sneakers / flower / butter dish / coin purse / tutu / earrings

(all the colorfest posts are right over here)

GOOD CLIENTS. YEP

we took the eurostar from paris back to london today. i have always loved trains…so spacious and relaxing. i sat and looked at the countryside while listening to a david sedaris audiobook called “me talk pretty one day”. which has been wildly entertaining.

i can’t thank mailchimp enough for sending jen over here on this trip with me to document everything. the best part is they have given us creative freedom and trust (aren’t those the best clients?) which has been very inspirational.

for those of you that don’t know, mailchimp is an email marketing tool. it’s what we use for blogshop to send out our company eBasts! the people i have met there are really helpful and make the whole experience very enjoyable. i can’t wait to share all the fun photos from the trip!

(ps, did you know you could request your city for blogshop right here?) speaking of blogshop. i gotta get to sleep. i have been walking non stop and my muscles are pissed about it. must rest before class tomorrow! night friends. -bri