designer's library

Crafting a Meaningful Home Book Trailer

Crafting a Meaningful Home from Meg Mateo Ilasco on Vimeo.

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Enjoy our new film for Crafting a Meaningful Home!

(Directed by Thayer Allyson Gowdy and edited by Arvid Eriksson)

Crafting a Meaningful Home Book Party

Yes, I have another book party coming up! This time it's for a DIY book called?Crafting a Meaningful Home. Join me for drinks and treats at?Rare Device in San Francisco on Thursday, October 21 from 7-9pm. You'll get to meet some of the contributors, too. Rare Device will be giving away complimentary copies of the book to the first 25 people whose purchases total $60 or more. (10% of the evening's sales will benefit Architecture for Humanity.)?

I'm also excited for you to see the installation called "A Group Memoir" which will display a majority of the projects featured in the book. With help from three friends/artists, Jean Lee (who made the doily rug above), Kate Pruitt, and Dianne Que, we're going to turn the Rare Device side room into an amazing cardboard space. (Of course, I'm using my favorite material, cardboard.).?Can't wait for you to see it! ?

Recap of the Creative, Inc. Book Tour

We're finally done with our Creative, Inc. book tour! Thank yous all around to everyone that came to the events, as well as to the wonderful hosts and sponsors. We had a great time. If you didn't make it, here's what you missed:?

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Stop #1:?September 9 at?Candystore Collective?in San Francisco.

(photos by?Matt Edge)

It was awesome to kick off the book tour in the Bay Area--one, because I live here and two, because Chronicle Books, our publisher, is based in San Francisco. I didn't get to taste any of the cupcakes from?Mission Minis?only because I tend to get stuff stuck in my teeth all the time, but I heard they?were delicious. From all the excitement preparing for the book party, Joy and I actually forgot to eat dinner that night!?

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Stop #2:?September 16 at?Urbanic?in Venice,CA.

(photos by?Charley Star)

The second event was at one of favorite stationery shops, Urbanic.?Learning our lessons from the previous event, Joy and I made sure we ate dinner ahead of time at?Gjelina?(joined by my husband, Marvin and my two kids).?I also figured out a way to eat without getting it on my front teeth, so I was able to enjoy the treats from Bakelab.?(But I still haven't figured out how not to get crumbs all over my clothes.)?We also got a bunch more garland from?Confetti System--the outdoor space looked amazing! We met so many talented artists and designers at the event, most of whom I've only known through their website or twitter handle.

I wasn't sure what it was going to be like bringing my kids (4 and 8-years old) to a book signing, but they seemed to be behaved...well, aside from the time that my son put me in a chokehold and played with my hair while I was signing a book. Otherwise, I think he was perfectly behaved.

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?Stop #3: October 7 at?Michele Varian?in New York.?

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(photos by?Karen Wise?and?Joan Cuenco)

We were really worried that it was going to rain--but it ended being a sunny day and a perfect evening for a party. We were really amazed by the 300-person turnout and alleged sightings of Helen Mirren at the event. (If anyone can confirm or deny this, please let us know.) I honestly think Dame Mirren is very interested in learning about freelancing.?

The treats by?Mari's New York?were awesome, so awesome I filled my pockets with leftover Caramel Sea Salt brownies at the end of the night. (I'm classy like that.) If I had bigger pockets I probably would've also taken the empty wine bottles from?Jaqk?just because the bottle design was so well done. And?It was good to finally meet Joy's mom and brother, too. I love that her mom looked at me and said: "You could be sisters!" ?

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Creative Inc. Trailer (Behind-the-Scenes)

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The post above was previously published on Poppytalk.
And in case, you missed the video, here it is again!

(above images and video by Thayer Allyson Gowdy)

Creative Inc Blog Tour & Book Tour

Today marks the beginning of our Creative, Inc. blog tour!? Some of our favorite bloggers will be sharing exclusive interviews with us, hosting giveaways, as well as some behind the scenes looks at both the book and video. Here's the schedule:

8/23 Poppy Talk
8/24 Oh Happy Day
8/25 SFGirl By Bay
8/26 Mint Design
8/27 Wit + Delight
8/28 Cathy of California
8/29 Book By Its Cover
8/30 Not Martha
8/31 Frolic
9/01 Upper Case
9/02 Craft
9/03 Decor8
9/04 Kris Atomic
9/05 Grain Edit

And for those in SF, LA, and NY, please be sure to stop by and see us on our book tour which kicks off in San Francisco on September 9.

Also coming out this fall...

is a book that I wrote, designed, and styled! It's Crafting a Meaningful Home: 27 DIY Projects to Tell Stories, Hold Memories, and Celebrate Family Heritage. Equal parts anthology of personal stories and projects for the home, the book features amazing projects by crafters and artists including Anh-Minh Le, Lisa Congdon, Derek Fagerstrom & Lauren Smith, Anna Corpron & Sean Aeyeung, Samantha Hahn, Jean Lee & Chika Eustace, and Joy Deangdeelert Cho--to name a few. 

The book will be available in September, but be sure to pre-order your copy now!

[btw, scanner broke, so no hand-lettered posts...]

Local by Design {in case you missed it}

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We had a great time at Chronicle Book's Local by Design event last Friday at?Zinc Details!? Since I'm always cooped up in my house behind a computer or having a business-y type meeting somewhere, it was nice to just catch up with friends (and even make some new ones) and check all the cool stuff Chronicle's churning out.

If you want to see more images, there's more on my Facebook page.

(images by Marvin Ilasco)

If you're free this evening (and you live near SF)...

Zinc Details is hosting an event with Chronicle Books called "Local by Design" tonight from 6-8PM at their shop on 1905 Fillmore Street. There will be books and art...and wine (if that's any additional incentive). Come hang out with us!

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Sneak peek of my new book...

I'm excited to finally share with you a project I worked on last year with the lovely and talented Joy Deangdeelert Cho: our book Creative, Inc.! It's filled with great advice about becoming a freelance talent like an illustrator, animator, designer, stylist, or photographer. The book will be available in early September, but for now you can pre-order your copy to make sure you're one of the first to get your hands on one!

(image above from Joy D. Cho)

Library love...

Identity design for Library, Archives of Fashion by Stitch (via Graphic-Exchange)