Deck the Walls (or the Windows!)

Since my trip to New York City 5 years ago, I LOVE window displays, and have wanted to do my own. I now have two small street level display windows at my studio, so I'm excited to make things interesting! Here's my first crack at it:

I had painted the whole window box white when I repainted the rest of the studio to give it a fresh feel. However, the white can be glaring when the sun hits it, so I decided to go for a sohpisticated wood flooring look. In order to do this, I stained garden stakes ebony and cut off the ends . . . it took 100 stakes to cover the bottoms of both display windows!

The first picture shows 5 "wallpaper" panels (actually just gift wrap stuck to foamcore with spray adhesive), each with a framed word that collectively reads"Deck the Walls with Art." The large bulbs reference Christmas, but give the window a sense of theatricality and stage presence.

The next picture is a scan of my initial sketch -- I was going to hang strips of ribbon in the background, but found that the panels took up plenty of visual space, and are blocking natural
light in the studio. I will save the ribbons for later.

The third photo is my favorite part of the window display, although the photo doesn't do it justice. It is the middle of the second window (after the google Maps app barcode and magnets display), showcasing my Christmas cards. I am glad I have this mini pedastal to create some height and interest.

The next picture was an in-progress photo (you can see the white floor), but is the best photo of the Wordle I used to reiterate the theme. (What's a wordle? See the last post.) I framed it, used a mini wooden easel, and stuck the back of my business card to the
glass for a personal touch. I now have a sign in between the frame and my sticker that has business hours.

The final photo is the very first panoramic I've taken with my camera phone. As you can see, the displays really "glow" at night.

Overall, I wanted to showcase the season, and identify artwork as an awesome gift, but didn't want to be cliche with seasonal decorations. I hope it stands out!

What's YOUR Wordle?

I stumbled upon this fun app for creating your own word art called a "wordle." Above, you are seeing the wordle my blog made! I am using the app to make a signs for my studio. I'm also thinking it could have interesting uses for teachers (e.e. cummings poetry, vocab review, synonyms practice, etc.), which could make learning fun . . . Try it out!

Panorama Fun

Matt took panoramic photos of the new gallery/studio space with his camera phone. You can click on the blog title -- it's a link -- to view all four!

Menu for the Private Opening 11-13-10

Yesterday's opening fete was yummy (oh yeah, and fun!). Here's the rundown of the menu:

1. brie and havarti cheeses


2. a variety of fancy crackers


3. veggie tray


4. apple slices and dried apricots


5. dark chocolate squares


6. delicious Swedish meatballs in a crockpot (chef Matt's specialty)


7. garlic stuffed olives


8. Bogle merlot*


9. apricot walnut brie dip in the mini crockpot (received rave reviews from guests) -- recipe below!

Apricot Walnut Brie Dip:

1 large round of brie (13- 15 oz.)

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

2 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp water

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1/4 tsp dried rosemary

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Put brie in a mini crockpot (cut off the rind if thick). In a small bowl, mix apricots, sugar, water, vinegar, and rosemary. Pour mixture on top of the brie. Sprinkle on the chopped walnuts. Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours, or low for 3. Serve with crackers and/or apple slices.

*Special thanks to Brian Wimmer, Matt's cousin for suggesting the wine choice. I now have a new, affordable favorite.