I’m placing orders, prepping for the next Fall photo shoot, and tidying/organizing the studio today. Boxes of new merchandise have been arriving weekly, and so the studio is starting to burst at the seams again. Time for a little seasonal flip.
Discovered today that my beloved camera (which I thought had died for good) only needed a new battery (which comes with a much lower price tag than a full replacement!), which means that I’m now back in action and can share my own photos again. Hooray! I realized that I haven’t shared many studio photos aside from a few sneak peeks here and there, so that’s my goal for today.
In the meantime, a little studio inspiration from Allister Ann … so many elements I love (and many that are similar to those in the Bicyclette studio) and the photos themselves are pieces of art.
images via allister ann
One of my favourite things about the neighbourhood I live in (Queen St. West, downtown Toronto), is exploring and hunting in the little vintage shops that are scattered around the area. A new discovery, and now a staple on my random wanders, is Art History, a little shop that is full of antiques, knickknacks and curiosities.
On a little break-time visit last week, I stumbled upon a box of two-for-$1 alphabet blocks, and after digging through, managed to surface with eight pieces, perfect for the studio. Now I’m just missing two.
One of the reasons this find excited me so much is that after coming across the Cabin 7 site awhile ago through Eat.Live.Shop , I’ve been wanting to recreate and customize their gilded alphabet blocks.
photo cred: cabin 7
Now it’s just a matter of deciding on a colour scheme. I was thinking of silver instead of gold, as it’s more consistent with the Bicyclette branding and would be the perfect accent in the studio. Any suggestions?
I just realized that I’ve shared these photos on Facebook, but they haven’t made their way to the blog yet. Took some quick snaps of my favourite parts of the studio: my collection of vintage nightgowns hung against the window (which I mentioned here, and promise to take better photos of), vintage mason jars that hold Bicyclette buttons and will hopefully be part of a growing collection, frames displayed on the wall (sometimes empty, sometimes full, always pretty), and my inspiration board that is constantly bursting at the seams. Brought to you by my new favourite iPhone app, the Hipstamatic.
I have a slightly odd obsession with vintage nightgowns, and thus have managed to build a fairly impressive collection. There’s something about the pastel tones, layers of sheer fabric and an abundance of lace and other intricate detailing that I fall victim too so easily.
So when I found the below photo on Fashion Toast, I decided that it was a sign that I should share my obsession with the world and hang my pieces along the Bicyclette studio window. How perfect! Love the way they catch the light and the whimsical, nostalgic quality of the display. I believe this is from the Free People headquarters, which makes perfect sense. Have I mentioned how much I love Free People? Always in my inspiration folder.
I’ll post photos when I have a chance to actually execute this. For now, it was just a little side tracked thought as I continue posting product to the site. Don’t worry, I’m hard at work, I promise!
photo cred: fashion toast
I’ve been busy writing product descriptions for the website, which means, inevitably, that I’m also scouring blogs as a means of procrastination and gathering ideas and images. I like to think it’s still productive, just in a different form.
It’s been awhile since I’ve done a post that focuses on interior design and decor, which I suppose makes sense as I’ve turned my focus towards the online store and put the physical store environment on the back burner. But I came across a few images that inspired me to do a little more research and after putting together these images to share, have decided that a branch chandelier DIY is definitely on the agenda. Not quite sure whether it will be a studio or home fixture (or maybe both?), but I think either way, it will be a simple addition with a great deal of impact. I also love the use of the branch as a means to display clothing, as in the third photo, and can see this being used for jewellery and accessories as well.
There’s a magical quality that these all evoke, almost ethereal or other-worldly. I’m picturing spray painting the branches white for a more modern feel, maybe adding a touch of silver leaf to catch the light, and intertwining strings of delicate fairy lights. I’ve edited all of the below pictures to be in faded black and white, as I feel it better evokes the spirit I want to capture.
Any other ideas of how you could customize this DIY, or thoughts on how it would be most effective?
click on images for sources / editing by bicyclette
Time for the second installment of the studio preview!
The other day I got out my handy toolkit (thanks Dad!), and finally hung the frames in the studio. I had posted about possible jewelry display ideas awhile ago, and Renee from Eat.Live.Shop (one of my favourite local blogs) suggested I use my collection of frames to do so. I started collecting vintage frames a few months ago for my exhibition display, spray painting them white and using them for the various branding elements that I had designed for Bicyclette. I’m so glad I’m able to reuse them now, and I love the overall effect they have hanging above the vanity (also a thrifted piece that I reworked and painted) and between the two shelving units I have for storage. Keep in mind that this is still a work-in-progress, and yes, I know that some of them are slightly askew!
On display are some of the pieces that I’ll be selling from Soos Rocks (vintage-inspired jewelry) and Oh Dina! (feather hair fascinators). Pretty, aren’t they? Trust me, it’s even harder to resist temptation when I feel the urge to accessorize now that they’re so nicely displayed. I think it’s time to start collecting frames again, as I’d like to continue the display out to the sides and across the tops of both shelves.
Keeping with the studio inspiration theme from yesterday (I’m a little obsessed, can you tell?), here’s another quick home DIY, courtesy of P.S. I made this. I’m already somewhat on top of this idea, what with my obsession with spray paint and my belief that a quick coat can magically transform anything, but I hadn’t really considered spray painting such random objects, and I usually stick to white. I must say though, I’m liking the toys (especially the animal figurines) and there’s something about the gold and silver that is so very luxe. Perfect for accessorizing the studio! Thinking a scouring of the apartment and a trip to the dollar store might be on tomorrow’s agenda …
Thoughts?
Tonight is dedicated to applying coat #2 of the chalkboard paint to the studio wall, so in keeping with the theme of redecorating, I thought I’d share this redesign of the BC Footwear LA showroom that I came across on Design Sponge. Love the overall DIY effect it has, the photo collaging on the walls and the vintage letters used in the display. This is similar to the feeling that I’m trying to convey, in the sense of having it be creative, interactive and playful.
Now, if I could just get this project to move a little quicker, I could focus on more of the “fun” decorating parts and be done with the physical labour! Quite frankly, I’m exhausted after yesterday’s 12+ hour day, but there’s so much to do in these last few critical weeks. No one ever said it would be easy!
Today was spent looking at lines for Fall (slightly odd, I know, considering that we’ve just started to enjoy our summer weather finally!), and doing some studio fix-ups/organizing. It always amazes me how short the days begin to feel when there is so much to do. I’m still trying to get in as much as I can before I call it a day, but I wanted to share some sneak peaks of what the studio is starting to look like. As I mentioned before, the whole room is still in complete disarray, but I tried to capture a few of the pieces that are coming together. Tomorrow is dedicated to painting the chalkboard wall, which I’m extremely excited about, so hopefully I’ll be able to share more once that’s done.
Vintage luggage vignette, in keeping with the retro travel theme that I always love. And of course my Eiffel tower statue in the background, one of Bicyclette icons.
Organization system: I have two huge honeycomb shelves and individual bags to hold each style. What you can't see is the little Instax snapshot on each bag that will indicate what style is being held within. More on my new camera in the future!
Vanity and vintage frames from the exhibit. The frames will be arranged above and used to display jewelry pieces. The vanity will be home to business cards and various other takeaway pieces.
New lace curtains that cast the perfect amount of light across the room and have that vintage-inspiration that I'm so drawn towards. There's a large window that runs the entire way across the room, so these are perfect, light and airy. J'adore.
I’ve been in full studio pre-planning mode, as my brother’s completed the first phase of moving out, so the second room in our apartment is almost free. Yesterday I set up a very temporary studio space in the half-empty room so that I could display all the merchandise I have so far for a few friends who wanted to come over and take a peek, and it got me even more excited to start setting up the actual studio.
Scouring the internet for inspiration and ideas has become my latest hobby, and most recently, after being asked by a few different people how I plan to display and organize the jewelry, I’ve been on the hunt for creative ways to do so. We all know about my love for vintage luggage, so when I found this photo, which marries that and my current need for displays, it was perfect.
I’d obviously have to get creative with how I actually get it to function for what I need it to do, and keep my eyes out for a few more pieces, but I love the concept.
What do you think? Any other creative jewelry display ideas?
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