Check out my latest and greatest Holiday store window display for Half Moon Books: a fireplace made of books.
I started with a composite “inspirational” image that I made in Photoshop and went from there. The fireplace frame and hearth are all made of books. The mantle and deer head are cardboard covered in pages from The Ugly Duckling story. And then I just packed out the display with books, books and more books! I went opposite of my usual minimalism for this edition.
Happy Holidays.
Introducing my newest window display installation for Half Moon Books in Kingston, NY. The title is “Let Them Read Books.” Very Marie Antoinette meets Vogue.
With the coming Fall / Back to School season upon us, I wanted to do something that I hadn’t ever done before. Whenever I finish a window I feel like I’ll never have another ideas and then here we are - a paper dress extravaganza. I actually got the idea from an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race where the queens had to make garments out of one of Ru’s books. I thought yes, I have to do this, but a fashion piece is really out of my “architectural” comfort zone. But if you’re not challenging yourself, you’re not growing, correct?
So, I found these images as my inspiration. I fell in love with the paper pleating: I told myself, “I can do this!”
To make the paper gown I bought some fabric costume pieces to attach the paper too. Gotta love hot glue guns and spray mount - They’re magical. And of course I had to do a pair of pumps.
But then I had a huge predicament. I had build the dress offsite in one piece - how was I going to get it to the bookstore without damaging the design - walk her across town of course. I am a “put on a show” kinda girl after all. So, off we went.
Here’s some shots of the final installation. I added a chandelier for the full fancy vibe. I hope you love it as much as I do. Check out more of my displays at Half Moon Books here.
For my latest store window display I wanted to give the client (and the customers) something colorful and fun after a year of craziness and stress. It was also a priority to keep costs down.
I found some pictures hot air balloon launched, sky photo murals and tissue paper ball clusters that I thought were beautiful and used them as my inspiration. The owner had paper lanterns so the only prop we had to buy were the sky photo murals.
Even with my full knee replacement only 2 months old… Check out the wonder that was created.
My ispirado…
Custom T-Shirt and Face Mask designs
In honor of Bop To Tottom’s 20th Anniversary in Uptown Kingston, I helped them design these exclusive items to celebrate this milestone. And yours truly got to me a supermodel. Now, get out there and shop!
#shoplocal #shopsmall
Check out the new Fall window display I just completed at Bop to Tottom in Kingston’s Historic Uptown Stockade District.
My design was to create a retro-class room vibe… Since many students would be learning online and missing the IRL experience. The client wanted to save some money on this display so I figured out some inexpensive alternatives for this window update.
Inspired by the artist Cy Twombly and chalk scribbles, I created these simple chalkboard vertical banners of 1/4” lauan wood and chalkboard paint with fun chalk scribbles. Since face masks are now top sellers, I printed photos of the owner and staff at a large size and hung them on old cork boards that were in the basement of the store - added bonus for the classroom vibe. Then I used photo murals on the back and side walls for that high impact fall colors background.
Initially, I wanted to get vintage school desks and chairs as props but they were to expensive so I just used some furniture I had lying around. And voila… Instant store window display on a dime.
I’m so excited… My new fave client, Kingston’s very own Bop to Tottom has won a ChronoGrammy for BEST GIFT SHOP! Check it out here! Congratulations Karen on an award well deserved! I’m thrilled to be part of the Bop to Tottom team as we build their first ever e-commerce website. STAY TUNED. 🏆🥇🎉
I took the day off from work to install the new Spring store windows at my fave Bop to Tottom… I guess I was in a bubble up until because this was the day when the Coronavirus Covid-19 hit home for me. I heard of toilet paper hording and social distancing for the first time ever. No sooner did I finish the window than Bop to Tottom had to close and I then I was laid off at my full time job.
Once this ends, there will be super fun and colorful store window Bop to Tottom to bring you some happy cheer. Even if you need a quick pick me up, drive by and enjoy this colorful tribute to Spring re-birth!
This too shall pass as we will get thru this… Alone together.
To see the entire window display, click here.
DREAMS COME TRUE. I’ve always wanted to do the windows at Kingston’s signature gift shop, Bop to Tottom. The windows are incredible. They’re a vintage style, foyer wrap around on the corner of N Front St and Wall St. It’s reminded me for so long of Fred Flare. Giving me that nostalgic rumble.
When I heard that Karen, the owner, wanted me to do this year’s holiday windows… I was sooo happy… Absolutely thrilled. We had a tight schedule but it was so fun. I had a blast with Karen and her team. And here’s what I made…
The motif is “Sex and the City get an AirBNB in Pheonicia for the Holiday.”
Let’s take a tour…
The front girls… Rita, Dolores and Simone… At their front door.
THE NORTH-FACING WINDOWS: This is loosely interpreted as “inside” the girls’ AirBNB in Phoenicia. I merchandised little rooms and wanted to pack with the windows with great gift merch… So, every time you looked at the windows, you’d discover something new.
Check out the stumps as product platforms.
THE SOUTH-FACING WINDOWS: This is loosely interpreted as “outside” the girl’s AirBNB. I used a winter photo mural and loads of trees to give it that forest vibe.
Here’s a “how to” demo on making books as ornaments…
BOOKS AS ORNAMENTS HOW TO:
I picked a bunch of books that made nice fans. The paperback “romance novel” size seemed to work the best.
I drew lines on the covers where I wanted to cut them. 2 diagonal lines gave me the diamond shapes. Explore shapes!
Using my friend’s woodshop, I cut the books using a bandsaw. Be careful… Safety has NO QUITTING TIME!
Next, I cut 7/8” red ribbon in all different lengths and hot glue gunned the ends to the spine of the books.
Finally I would fan the book and hot glue the covers to each other… Creating an awesome fan effect.
Using my friend’s woodshop, I cut the books using a band saw. Be careful… Safety has NO QUITTING TIME!
Cutting the red ribbon in all different lengths and hot glue gunned the ends to the spine of the books.
About to glue the covers to themselves.
And voila… The finished product!
Wanna see it in real life? Be be sure to visit Half Moon Books on N Front St in Uptown Kingston this Holiday Season. Happy Holidays. xo, Chris
Another fantastic window collab with Half Moon Books. They’re celebrating their 10 year anniversary, so of course, I wanted to give them a cake of books! 🎂📚 Happy Birthday Half Moon Books. I love you!!! 🎉🎈🌜 #windowdisplay #bookstore #happybirthday #installation — at Half Moon Books.
For the Winter 2019 Half Moon Books store window update, I wanted to do something interesting but also minimal. I think after Holiday, minimalism is a great motif. I thought of just one solid pillar of books spiraling. There’s repetition and pattern in the simplicity. #monolithic
Click here for more Half Moon Books installation
Just finished re-merchandising one of my fave clients store for Holiday... Petalos Florist in Uptown Kingston, NY.
The store is really tight and the client needed a slightly better layout for their work area behind the register. I centered the work table on their storage armoire and electrified the chandelier. I cleaned up the wrapping station to the left and added some display shelves above. I also got in the Christmas spirit and added pops of light all over... But not too much!
I'll add pics of the store window in a bit!
Window design for a new client! 👗💡🛍 #windowdisplay #windowshopping #retail #karinadresses #dressshop #fashion #lampshade
Check out this fun, new video I produced for my client, Spectacled Bear Publishing. And who ever did that voice over is just pure... #Talent
Book circle window display I made from used books! ⭕️📚🤡 #artdept #creative #decorator #circle #windowdisplay #usedbookstore #surrealism Pioneer Agency — at Half Moon Books.
Starlight, Star bright... More holiday window displays! 🎄⭐️🌺 #christmasdecorations #flowershop #decorator #windowdisplay #retail #kingston #poinsettia #christmastree — at Petalos Floral Design.
New window display at Half Moon Books! 👁🔨📚💡 #windowdisplay #surrealism #booktower #tableau #bookstore #kingstonny
