STYLE IT: platypus designer duct tape

have been busy working as the "other" me (the marketing + creative strategist me) for platypus designer duct tape and other clients too.

i was celebrating the holidays back in october conceiving + creating this spot - soup to nuts - for this awesome company that makes super fun duct tape.

(i even pulled an all-nighter in the warehouse of parent company of fortis design, located in raleigh, nc, to style out this set....).

a team effort with the platypus people: head honcho, rob jordan and louise jordan, a.k.a.'s rob's mom and our awesome production assistant + the talented filmmaking team at taproot films. you won't believe your eyes....very unexpected. and, well, we had a ball.

click here to watch this really fab spot ('cause it is not uploading properly right now...).

"make it with tape." i did. ;-)

happy holidays!

lissa

note it:

"carol of the bells" by bird and the bee

CRAFT IT: platypus designer duct tape

these lovely gifts would make anyone's day brighter.

in addition to leading the marketing and creative direction for the brand, i styled these presents for the "remake christmas: make it with tape" holiday shoot for platypus designer duct tape.

you can create your own handmade packages too. here's how:

~ find modern + colorful gift wrap. these are from paper source in palo alto / san francisco (you can also order it online)

~ select a fun gift topper. these gorgeous handmade lollipops are from the candy store in san francisco.

~ make various styles of bows + then wrap with wide ribbon, crafted out of assorted platypus designer duct tape, of course!

my choices included:

~ pink polka dot

~ denim

~ leopard

~ wool stocking

~ houndstooth

i also gussied up the packages even further with some pretty french ribbon generously donated by rob's mom, louise jordan. she is one of the "platypus people" + was the "production assistant" on our holiday film shoot - pretty much the best PA ever!

now see, who can resist?

(not me. i basically pulled an all-nighter at the fortis design warehouse in raleigh, nc to make sure the film set and all of the styling was very "martha." oh, the things a girl will do in the name of platypus designer duct tape....It's not just for repair anymore.)

note it:

"she's crafty" by the beastie boys

CRAFT IT: school time!

hey y'all!

after spending the summer decompressing here, there + everywhere (lastly, charleston), i am gearing up for the school year.

kindergarten starts tomorrow so my wee one + i decided recycle some old crayolas.

love these.

much better than a melt down....

happy school year!

let the fun begin.

note it:

"another brick in the wall" by pink floyd

(photo credits: lissa lowe)

STYLE IT: mcguire's "jackson square"

just launched! one of my projects while at the luxury furniture company mcguire involved the development of their new archival-based furniture collection, "jackson square."

based on mcguire's historical designs and made of durable materials (e.g, rattan, leather and bamboo) along with colorful fabrics and finishes, this modern yet traditional line of furnishings sings both boldly and beautifully.

its heritage, craftsmanship and form stands out from a sea of competitors and lends beauty to a multitude of spaces.

as the spirited little sister of mcguire, i will be proud to own many a piece in my home. and dare i say, i've found a new definition of heirloom juxtaposed with modern living....swoon!

note it:

"step inside this house" by lyle lovett

TABLETOP TUESDAY - turkey treat

isn't this the sweetest turkey ever?!

okay, it's really jonathan adler's peacock but i'm re-imagining as a gobble gobble!

hee. hee.

note it:

"flamboyant" by pet shop boys

CRYPT IT: monster mash

from our house to yours, BOO!!!

note it:

"monster mash" by bobby "boris" pickett + the crypt-kickers

TABLETOP TUESDAY - clearly

simple + chic tabletop ideas for the kitchen and the dining room.

clearly.

note it:

"heart of glass" by nouvelle vague (remake of blondie's classic hit)

(photo credits: interiors/kelly hoppen; bosphorous vases/potterybarn.com)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - claudia pearson

i think these plates painted by brooklyn artist claudia pearson are absolutely fantastic!

inspired by alice waters' edible schoolyard (one of my personal heroines + initiatives here in the bay area), claudia created these plates at last weekend's Re:Form Show for REDU, a project that stands for rethinking, reforming and rebuilding our educational system.

even better, her illustrations are painted on both bamboo and fallen palm leaf plates - sustainable resources - and are designed to illustrate the daily waste that occurs in cafeterias across the USA. what a nasty glut of styrofoam and plastic out there. why isn't this stuff banned, especially since our government underwrites school lunch programs? as per her blog, claudia plans to have these goodies in her store super soon.

beneath these amazing plates, find her seasonal collection of "buy local, eat seasonal" tea towels. how perfect for th kitchen.

even more, her vision of "picnicware"...yes, these are images of prototype plates + cups that claudia has designed. i totally heart these + do hope they are produced sooner than later....and i'm super happy i stumbled upon her work + learned more about REDU's education reform.

note it:

"september" by earth, wine + fire

STYLE IT: horsin' around

if you follow my blog then you know that i'm obsessed with all things anthropologie. have been for many years...seriously addicted.

anyway, this image taken from the september catalog made me smile...as many images do in every catalog i save.

i immediately thought of sloane crosley's pony collection from "i was told there'd be cake." (might i add, a hilarious collection of essays about the misadventures of a 20-something gal in nyc) and the equestrian décor post i wrote a year ago. reminds me of my house in "horse country" (well, the closest thing to it anyway). and, this $28 horse knocker i recently found. i think it would be fun on any door - bedroom, bath, porch, wherever.

then, i noticed the cute pink + white scottie dogs' sweater (which i tried on in-store, by the way). in lieu of a sweater purchase (although i may buy it yet), id love to make these patchwork scottie pillows from denyse schmidt. if only i could sew....the pattern is free!

last, i want to say that i'm glad brass is back!

i feel nostalgic....

note it:

"brass monkey" by the beastie boys

TABLETOP TUESDAY - just super!

today's "tabletop tuesday" is for posted with love for my four year old son who is utterly obsessed with super heroes. (and might i add so darned cute when he "spins his webs.")

lucky for me, these cupcakes were tweeted via @guykawasaki last night. i couldn't resist showing them here....they'd be such a treat for all "kids" - grown up and small.

if only i had some spare time, i'd whip some up and make like wonderwoman.

hee.

note it:

"superman" by r.e.m (i still love this song, so fun!)

CRAFT IT: stylish shoeboxes

what artful closet display...

handmade hang tags for shoe boxes.

my two loves marry.

note it:

"diamonds on the soles of her shoes (live)" by paul simon

(photo credit: living etc.)

CRAFT IT: BBQ invites

what a fun idea for a summer BBQ!

find instructions here for these adorable invites crafted by paper source, one of my fave shops and now blog.

time to get grillin'!

note it:

"cheeseburger in paradise" by jimmy buffet, classic summertime tune

TABLETOP TUESDAY - pour in portland

these girl-of-the-month glasses are one-of-a-kind...literally. whimsically handmade by local artist leslie egenberger, she makes them, well, on a whim. they aren't always in stock. special requests aren't accommodated. like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get:

~ miss december = flipped white hair + green eyes + holly

~ miss november = flipped red hair + brown eyes + fall foliage

~ miss october = wavy black hair + dark brown eyes + candy corn, a pumpkin, witch hat

~ miss july = flipped blond hair + blue eyes + american flags

~ miss may = bobbed brown hair + green eyes + daisies

(the backstory)

my first girly goblet was miss july. we were visiting my little bro + our dearest friends in my old stomping ground of portland, oregon + spotted "her" at "a place in time," a home furnishings shop located in the pearl. i was smitten with the coquettish design. what merriment!

little did i know my hubby secretly purchased "her" for me...and he would continue to introduce me to more girlfriends over the next three years. thing is, i was always in suspense. i never knew when i'd receive one + for what occasion, if any. when my last glass, miss january, was gifted to me for mother's day this past year, i giggled with glee. i finally had my brown haired, brown eyed beauty (sound familiar - hee). my collection was complete.

but now i am a bit blue. i am left wishing for more surprises (there are so few in life)...and so i will wonder...what will my hubby think of next?