http://dirtsastudio.com/professional-displays/highlights daily 0.75 2013-07-04 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b8/1372971952189/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+leaves.jpg Highlights - Bali Windows - Spring 2010 Huge tropical leaves were the inspiration for this set of spring  windows. Creating the leaves was very labor intensive—I created  enormous wire frames that I covered in wet tissue paper then shellacked  to seal in shape. The stems were made from conduit pipe bent into shape  and covered in tissue paper.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b7/1364266538487/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+leaves.jpg Highlights A view of the leaves from inside the store.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d1/1364266539536/Anthropologie+high+chest+illustration.jpg Highlights - High Chest, Cute Knobs - Spring 2010 To display some of Anthropologie's knobs and pulls I drew a fancy high chest and screwed the knobs into the wall as drawer handles.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2bb/1364266538452/Anthropologie+Hydroponics.jpg Highlights - Hydroponics - Spring 2010 Spring at Anthropologie means lots of garden-related product hits the stores, so there's always a gardening-themed concept. I raided the plumbing aisle at Home Depot and created this fake hydroponic piping system on one wall. I custom made the flower boxes and spent a lot of money on real plants to give a lush, living feel to it all. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b0/1364266544437/Anthropologie+bottle+flower+windows.jpg Highlights - Bottle Flowers - Spring 2010 This was one of my favorite windows I ever did for Anthropologie. I transformed an everyday material into something beautiful...see the next picture for the details. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2af/1364266542216/Anthropologie+plastic+bottle+flowers.jpg Highlights My intern and I made almost 2000 of these flowers—out of plastic bottles! We collected bottles from employees and a local gym and cut the tops and bottoms into petals. I then spray painted the back of the flowers to give them color but still keep that shiny lustre.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ae/1364266537383/anthropologie+bottle+flower+windows.jpg Highlights To suspend the flowers, I strung mason line from floor to ceiling in a series of rows (it took a lot of mathematical calculation and fancy ladder maneuvers to keep them straight). I then attached the flowers to the mason line with wire and pipe cleaners.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2dd/1372972493257/Anthropologie+origami+flowers.jpg Highlights - Origami Flowers - Spring 2010 I made a bunch of these flowers for a section of the store focused on dainty, feminine clothes. I attempted to fold origami flowers and got  lost in the directions, so I ended up coming up with my own way of  folding them. I then dipped them in fabric dyes and sprayed them with tea to mute the colors. For a final touch, I glued them to long stems.  Isn't this a gorgeous shot? https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2cb/1364266548060/Anthropologie+paper+ostrich.jpg Highlights - Modern Taxidermy - Fall 2009 One of my favorite concepts during my time at Anthropologie was based on the idea of “modern taxidermy.” This area of the store was supposed to feel sort of scientific and museum-like. It made for a lot of fun display. By far my most well received display element was this ostrich! So many different materials went into his construction, but most of what’s visible on the outside is actually paper – newsprint, printer paper, and book pages.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b4/1364266538519/Anthropologie+paper+ostrich.jpg Highlights Here’s a shot from the back. I made his legs so it would look like he was walking through the store. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c1/1364266538594/Anthropologie+paper+peacock.jpg Highlights - Peacock - Fall 2009 I also got to make this peacock, which was exciting for me since I use peacock feathers in a lot of my projects/decoration. I used color selectively because I felt like a fully colored peacock would have been too distracting in the space.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2bf/1364266538627/Anthropologie+paper+peacock.jpg Highlights The head is made from Model Magic and the eyes are bouncy balls that I spray-painted black. And my favorite part is the head fringe made from popcorn with a touch of blue paint!  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c2/1364266538538/Anthropologie+peacock+feather+eye.jpg Highlights I found weathered copper leaves in the art room and used them for part of the feathers; I love how the green patina adds a bit of subtle color and picks up on the colors of the fabric and sandpaper I used for the eyes of the feathers.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2bc/1364266538582/Anthropologie+Cardboard+deer+moose+heads.jpg Highlights - Cardboard Kill - Fall 2009 More taxidermy! I made this moose and deer head from cardboard. I’ve seen similar heads for sale, but I knew I could figure out how to make them myself. I made them for Fall but kept them through Holiday and made cardboard earmuffs to keep them warm!  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2cc/1364266547880/Anthropologie+oversize+letters.jpg Highlights - ABCs - Fall 2009 The company wanted us to create really big letters in all different fonts and sizes for one of the apparel concepts. I was happy to oblige since it gave me a lot of practice to improve my jigsaw skills. The base of letters was wooden and they were wrapped in cardboard stapled into place and painted white. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2dc/1364266539979/Anthropologie+1960s+fireplace.jpg Highlights - Fireplace - Fall 2009 My most ambitious carpentry project ever was this fake fireplace. I made the entire thing by myself, from cutting every single strip of wood, to staining it all the different colors, to installing the entire thing.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ad/1364266543995/Anthropologie+Sputnik.jpg Highlights - Sputnik - Fall 2009 Since the fireplace had kind of a '60s/mod/Brady Bunch feel to it, I embraced that and made a wooden sputnik sculpture to hang next to it. I had my intern cut the wood circles from birch branches. I then used a paint/water combo to wash the edges a bright green color before I assembled the whole thing.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c8/1364266538899/Anthropologie+Birch+Coffee+Table.jpg Highlights - Coffee Table - Fall 2009 I sent my intern back to the chop saw to help me make this coffee table. The base of the table is actually an old piano bench I found at the thrift store. I framed out a new top and had my intern glue the wood circles in place. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c4/1364266538604/Anthropologie+deconstructed+tree.jpg Highlights - Deconstructed Tree - Fall 2009 This bedroom concept was all about a neutral palette combined with rough, natural display elements. I used firewood and branches (from my yard) to create this “deconstructed” tree on the back wall. Little tufts of cotton softened the look.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ba/1364266538521/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+poof+cave.jpg Highlights - White Christmas - Holiday 2009 Holiday 2009 at Anthropologie was all about a white Christmas. To create a winter wonderland in the windows my intern and I spent *weeks* making these tissue paper poofs.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b9/1364266538735/Anthropologie+Tissue+paper+poofs+Christmas.jpg Highlights Some of the poofs had a slight glow; I strategically placed lightbulbs in certain areas so they would stand out at night.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2db/1364266539936/Anthropologie+plastic+cup+sculpture.jpg Highlights - Icy Landscape - Holiday 2009 Beside the poofs, this was the second biggest installation for Holiday 2009 -- an icy landscape on the wall. This is actually made from thousands of plastic cups dipped in wax and covered with fake snow. Each cup was wired and attached to a chickenwire frame.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d4/1364266539717/Anthropologie+paper+chandelier.jpg Highlights - Chandelier - Holiday 2009 The White Christmas theme continued over the cashwrap with this "chandelier" I made out of register tape, which is the paper receipts are printed on. This light fixture was huge; the outside rectangle was somewhere between 8 and 10 feet long.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d3/1364266539642/Anthropologie+paper+chandelier.jpg Highlights It doesn't show up in the photograph, but many of the strips were covered in glitter and/or dipped in wax. I love the variation in the level of light coming through the different layers.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b6/1364266538487/Anthropologie+cardboard+vortex.jpg Highlights - Vortex - Fall 2009 The best way I can think to describe this window is “cardboard sculpture,” of a sort. This cardboard vortex was fashioned around a wooden conical structure I built and mounted to the wall. I completely camouflaged it with many layers of cardboard.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b5/1364266538837/Anthropologie+cardboard+sculpture.jpg Highlights A shot from inside the vortex.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ce/1364266539720/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Highlights - Bubble Wrap Wallflower - Spring 2009 This is the Anthropologie project I’m most proud of since it was entirely my own creation and no other store in the country had anything like it. This big design was displayed on the main wall in our fitting room. Can you see what it’s made of…?  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d7/1364266539381/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Highlights Bubble Wrap! I individually injected every single bubble with water dyed with food coloring.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2cf/1364266547725/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Highlights I had to make a massive chart to keep track of what bubble needed what color. The whole project took about a week.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c0/1364266538523/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Highlights The colors shifted a bit with time, but overall the design and the bubbles really held up well. Everyone who visited the fitting room loved how unique it was.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2bd/1364266538771/Anthropologie+honey+comb+windows.jpg Highlights - Bee Windows - Spring 2009 For these spring windows, Anthropologie decided they wanted to highlight the plight of bees (Colony Collapse Disorder) with bee-themed windows and some promotional items with proceeds going towards bee research. For one set of my windows I chose to make honeycomb.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b3/1364266538823/Anthropologie+bee+windows.jpg Highlights This was a very labor-intensive set of windows as each honeycomb was individually made using double-walled cardboard and tissue and wax paper. I then glued them together to create clusters. As you can see, I made the honeycomb in two different sizes and a variety of colors ranging from brown to amber to yellow.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b2/1364266538612/Anthropologie+honey+comb+windows.jpg Highlights The honeycomb looked pretty on the inside of the store, too. The sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the different colors.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2b1/1364266538710/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Highlights For my other set of windows I created an enormous hive which I hung from a tree limb.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ac/1364266537755/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Highlights A picture of the hive from inside the store. I created the shape of the hive with chickenwire. I then covered the entire structure with strips of shellacked tissue paper (shellacking the paper gave it an amber color and a pretty semi-translucence). For some cheeky fun, I also incorporated wrappers from Bit O’ Honey candy into the hive! Click on for a detail shot…  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2be/1364266538533/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Highlights Here you can see the Bit O’ Honey wrappers. You might also notice a subtle glow; I dropped a lightbulb into the center of the hive. In areas where the tissue paper was thinner it added a very pretty effect, especially at night. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c6/1364266538557/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Highlights - Live/Work - Spring 2009 This section of the store was all about incorporating office supplies. My piece de resistance was a digital clock made from pencils! My inspiration came from pin art (i.e. those blocks of pins that you push to take the shape of your hand—everyone played with one as a kid.) So to create my “pin art” clock I used the mini golf pencils as the base, then had full length pencils pop out to create the time. A coworker and I decided 5:01 PM would be fun since that’s when people who work 9 to 5 get off from work.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c7/1364266538391/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Highlights It took about a week to make the whole thing. First I had to make a grid and mark where I should drill holes for the pencils. Then, I had to drill 2100 holes! (My arm was exhausted at the end). I glued the pencils into the holes and mounted it on the wall…  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c5/1364266538463/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Highlights After I hung it the numbers weren’t “popping” as much as I wanted them to, so I bought pink eraser toppers and dipped them in white paint. This really helped highlight the 5:01 PM.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2df/1364266539787/Anthropologie+moss+walls.jpg Highlights - Going Green - Spring 2009 The direction for this section of the store was all about creating a lush, green environment for some of our home product. I covered three walls with preserved green moss. I screwed big cardboard sheets to the wall then glued the moss to the cardboard.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2e0/1364266539603/Anthropologie+moss+walls.jpg Highlights To add visual interest and a kitschy feel, I added veins of fake plants, green balloons, and die-cut leaves to the moss walls.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d8/1364266539782/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Highlights - Origami Installation - Spring 2009 For the cashwrap section of my store I wanted to do something really light, feminine, and colorful. Flying origami cranes fit the bill!  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d9/1364266539838/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Highlights I’m not sure how many origami cranes I made in the end, but it took about a week to make them all and then a couple more days to hang each by an individual string from the ceiling. The shape of the installation echoes the shape of the wings on all of the cranes. And as you look from the tips to the center, the cranes increase in size. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2da/1364266539576/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Highlights A detail shot of the cranes, decreasing in size from left to right.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d2/1364266539595/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Highlights The smallest cranes were made from traditional origami paper. I was able to purchase nicely colored and printed paper up to 1’ X 1’, but to get the colors and prints I wanted for the larger cranes I had to paint the paper myself. The largest crane in the middle was made from a 4’ x 4’ sheet of paper that I painted and stenciled. All the other cranes in this shot were hand painted as well.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d5/1364266539656/Anthropologie+cupcake+wreath.jpg Highlights - Cupcake Wreath - Holiday 2009 I saw a wreath made from doilies and Christmas lights in Martha Stewart Living and thought it would be cute to adapt the technique and create one from foil cupcake wrappers.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2c9/1364266538615/Anthropologie+Christmas+Bauble+Tree+Windows.jpg Highlights - Bauble Trees - Holiday 2008 My first set of windows ever! I created "bauble trees" made completely from ornaments, pinecones, die cuts, cupcake wrappers, and other trinkets. To achieve the effect, I strung colorful ropes 5" apart and attached the baubles to them in the shape of trees.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df2ab/51510e24e4b07f13899df2d6/1364266539732/Anthropologie+Christmas+Bauble+Tree+Windows.jpg Highlights Here's a shot of the trees from inside the store. I tried to make them look as good from the inside as they did from the outside, since customers could see them from the back. These windows were my first major project at Anthro, but they remain among the highlights of my time there. http://dirtsastudio.com/professional-displays/highlights daily 0.75 2013-07-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b527/1372970281048/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+leaves.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Bali Windows Huge tropical leaves were the inspiration for this set of spring windows. Creating the leaves was very labor intensive—I created enormous wire frames that I covered in wet tissue paper then shellacked to seal in shape. The stems were made from conduit pipe bent into shape and covered in tissue paper.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b526/1364266449244/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+leaves.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio A view of the leaves from inside the store.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b541/1372970785427/Anthropologie+high+chest+illustration.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - High Chest, Cute Knobs To display some of Anthropologie's knobs and pulls I drew a fancy high chest and screwed the knobs into the wall as drawer handles.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51f/1372970803853/Anthropologie+bottle+flower+windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Bottle Flowers This was one of my favorite windows I ever did for Anthropologie. I transformed an everyday material into something beautiful...see the next picture for the details. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51e/1364266448928/Anthropologie+plastic+bottle+flowers.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio My intern and I made almost 2000 of these flowers—out of plastic bottles! We collected bottles from employees and a local gym and cut the tops and bottoms into petals. I then spray painted the back of the flowers to give them color but still keep that shiny lustre.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51d/1364266448735/anthropologie+bottle+flower+windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio To suspend the flowers, I strung mason line from floor to ceiling in a series of rows (it took a lot of mathematical calculation and fancy ladder maneuvers to keep them straight). I then attached the flowers to the mason line with wire and pipe cleaners.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54f/1372970869964/Anthropologie+origami+flowers.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Origami Flowers I made a bunch of these flowers for a section of the store focused on dainty, feminine clothes. I attempted to fold origami flowers and got lost in the directions, so I ended up coming up with my own way of folding them. I then dipped them in fabric dyes and sprayed them with tea to mute the colors. For a final touch, I glued them to long stems and "planted" them atop a shelf. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b53a/1372970904850/Anthropologie+paper+ostrich.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Modern Taxidermy One of my favorite concepts during my time at Anthropologie was based on the idea of “modern taxidermy.” This area of the store was supposed to feel scientific and museum-like. It made for a lot of fun display. By far my most well received display element was this ostrich. So many different materials went into his construction, but most of what is visible on the outside is actually paper – newsprint, printer paper, and book pages.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b523/1372970913716/Anthropologie+paper+ostrich.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio A shot from the back. I made his legs so it would look like he was walking through the store. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b530/1372970939643/Anthropologie+paper+peacock.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Peacock I also made a peacock. I used color selectively because I felt like a fully colored peacock would have been too distracting in the space.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52e/1372970966418/Anthropologie+paper+peacock.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio The head is made from clay and the eyes are bouncy balls that I  spray-painted black. My favorite part is the head fringe made from  popcorn with a touch of blue paint!   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b531/1372971030639/Anthropologie+peacock+feather+eye.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio I found some weathered copper leaves left over from a previous display project and used them for part  of the feathers; I love how the green patina adds a bit of subtle color  and picks up on the colors of the fabric and sandpaper I used for the  eyes of the feathers.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52b/1372971066189/Anthropologie+Cardboard+deer+moose+heads.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Cardboard Kill More taxidermy! I made this moose and deer head from cardboard. I’ve seen similar heads for sale, but I knew I could make them myself. I made them for Fall but kept them through Holiday and fashioned cardboard earmuffs to keep them warm. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b53b/1372971140091/Anthropologie+oversize+letters.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - ABCs The company requested really big letters in all different fonts and sizes for one of the apparel concepts. I was happy to oblige since it gave me the opportunity to practice and improve my jigsaw skills.   The base of letters was wooden and they were wrapped in painted cardboard, which was stapled in place. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54d/1372971155049/Anthropologie+1960s+fireplace.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Fireplace My most ambitious carpentry project ever was this fake fireplace. I made the entire thing by myself, from cutting every single strip of wood, to staining it all the different colors, to installing the entire thing.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51c/1372971170818/Anthropologie+Sputnik.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Sputnik Since the fireplace had kind of a '60s/mod/Brady Bunch feel to it, I embraced that and made a wooden sputnik sculpture to hang next to it. I had my intern cut the wood circles from birch branches. I then used a paint/water combo to wash the edges a bright green color. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b537/1372971184008/Anthropologie+Birch+Coffee+Table.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Coffee Table I sent my intern back to the chop saw to help me make this coffee table. The base of the table is actually an old piano bench I found at the thrift store. I framed out a new top and had my intern glue the wood circles in place. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b533/1372971196973/Anthropologie+deconstructed+tree.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Deconstructed Tree This bedroom concept was all about a neutral palette combined with rough, natural display elements. I used firewood and branches (from my yard) to create this “deconstructed” tree on the back wall. Little tufts of cotton softened the look.    https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b529/1372971213662/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+poof+cave.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - White Christmas Holiday 2009 at Anthropologie was all about a white Christmas. To create a winter wonderland in the windows my intern and I spent *weeks* making these tissue paper poofs.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b528/1372971221977/Anthropologie+Tissue+paper+poofs+Christmas.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio Some of the poofs had a slight glow; I strategically placed lightbulbs in certain areas so they would stand out at night.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54c/1372971236336/Anthropologie+plastic+cup+sculpture.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Icy Landscape Beside the poofs, this was the second biggest installation for Holiday 2009 -- an icy landscape on the wall. This is made from thousands of plastic cups dipped in wax and covered with fake snow. Each cup was wired and attached to a chickenwire frame.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b545/1372971254715/Anthropologie+paper+chandelier.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Chandelier The White Christmas theme continued over the cashwrap with this "chandelier" I made out of register tape. This light fixture was huge; the outside rectangle was somewhere between 8 and 10 feet long.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b544/1372971264776/Anthropologie+paper+chandelier.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio It doesn't show up in the photograph, but many of the strips were  covered in glitter and/or dipped in wax. I love the variation in the  level of light coming through the different layers.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b525/1372971282529/Anthropologie+cardboard+vortex.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Vortex The best way I can think to describe this window is “cardboard sculpture” of a sort. This cardboard vortex was fashioned around a wooden conical structure I built and mounted to the wall. I completely camouflaged it with many layers of cardboard.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b524/1372971287107/Anthropologie+cardboard+sculpture.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio A shot from inside the vortex.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b53d/1372971361655/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Bubble Wrap Wallflower This is the Anthropologie project I’m most proud of since it was entirely my own creation and no other store in the country had anything like it. This big design was displayed on the main wall in a fitting room. Can you see what it’s made of…?  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b548/1372971367390/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio Bubble Wrap! I individually injected every single bubble with water dyed with food coloring.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b53f/1372971373346/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio I had to make a massive chart to keep track of what bubble needed what color. The whole project took about a week.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52f/1372971380498/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio The colors shifted a bit with time, but overall the design and the  bubbles really held up well. Everyone who visited the fitting room loved  how unique it was.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52c/1372971407608/Anthropologie+honey+comb+windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Bee Windows For these spring windows, Anthropologie decided they wanted to highlight the plight of bees (Colony Collapse Disorder) with bee-themed windows and some promotional items with proceeds going towards bee research. For one set of my windows I chose to make honeycomb.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b522/1372971419730/Anthropologie+bee+windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio This was a very labor-intensive set of windows as each honeycomb was  individually made using double-walled cardboard and tissue and wax  paper. I then glued them together to create clusters. As you can see, I  made the honeycomb in two different sizes and a variety of colors  ranging from brown to amber to yellow.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b521/1372971427355/Anthropologie+honey+comb+windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio The honeycomb looked pretty on the inside of the store, too. The  sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the different colors.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b520/1372971434066/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio For my other set of windows I created an enormous hive which I hung from a tree limb.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51b/1372971450791/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio The hive from inside the store. I created the shape of the  hive with chickenwire. I then covered the entire structure with strips  of shellacked tissue paper (shellacking the paper gave it an amber color  and a pretty semi-translucence). For some cheeky fun, I also  incorporated wrappers from Bit O’ Honey candy into the hive! Click on  for a detail shot…   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52d/1372971460745/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio Here you can see the Bit O’ Honey wrappers. You might also notice a  subtle glow; I dropped a lightbulb into the center of the hive. In areas  where the tissue paper was thinner it added a very pretty effect, especially at night. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b535/1372971483757/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Live/Work This section of the store was all about incorporating office supplies. My piece de resistance was a digital clock made from pencils! My inspiration came from pin art (i.e. those blocks of pins that you push to take the shape of your hand—everyone played with one as a kid.) So to create my “pin art” clock I used the mini golf pencils as the base, then had full length pencils pop out to create the time. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b536/1372971498080/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio It took about a week to make the whole thing. First I had to make a grid  and mark where I should drill holes for the pencils. Then, I had to  drill 2100 holes (my arm was exhausted at the end). I glued the pencils  into the holes and mounted it on the wall…   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b534/1372971510921/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio After I hung it the numbers weren’t “popping” as much as I wanted them  to, so I bought pink eraser toppers and dipped them in white paint. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b551/1372971558186/Anthropologie+moss+walls.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Going Green The direction for this section of the store was all about creating a lush, green environment for home products. I covered three walls with preserved green moss. To protect the walls, I screwed big cardboard sheets to the wall then glued the moss to the cardboard.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b552/1372971565329/Anthropologie+moss+walls.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio To add visual interest and a kitschy feel, I added veins of fake plants, green balloons, and die-cut leaves to the moss walls.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b549/1372971575012/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Origami Installation For the cashwrap section of my store I wanted to do something really light, feminine, and colorful. Flying origami cranes fit the bill. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54a/1372971591062/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio I’m not sure how many origami cranes I made in the end, but it took  about a week to make them all and then a couple more days to hang each  by an individual string from the ceiling. The shape of the installation  echoes the shape of the wings on all of the cranes. And as you look from  the tips to the center, the cranes increase in size. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54b/1372971603843/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio Detail shot of the cranes. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b542/1372971616220/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio The smallest cranes were made from traditional origami paper. I was  able to purchase nicely colored and printed paper up to 1’ X 1’, but to  get the colors and prints I wanted for the larger cranes I had to paint  the paper myself. The largest crane in the middle was made from a 4’ x  4’ sheet of paper that I painted and stenciled. All the other cranes in  this shot were hand painted as well.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b546/1372971622861/Anthropologie+cupcake+wreath.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Cupcake Wreath I saw a wreath made from doilies and Christmas lights in Martha Stewart Living and thought it would be cute to adapt the technique and create one from foil cupcake wrappers.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b538/1372971631924/Anthropologie+Christmas+Bauble+Tree+Windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio - Bauble Trees My first set of windows ever! I created "bauble trees" made completely from ornaments, pinecones, die cuts, cupcake wrappers, and other trinkets. To achieve the effect, I strung colorful ropes 5" apart and attached the baubles to them in the shape of trees.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b547/1372971645214/Anthropologie+Christmas+Bauble+Tree+Windows.jpg Anthropologie Portfolio A shot of the trees from inside the store. I tried to make them  look as good from the inside as they did from the outside, since  customers could see them from the back. These windows were my first major project at Anthro, but they remain among the highlights of my time there. http://dirtsastudio.com/blog daily 0.75 2013-07-04 http://dirtsastudio.com/index daily 0.75 2013-03-30 http://dirtsastudio.com/press-1 daily 0.75 2013-07-05 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51d61714e4b001cbc6494f2c/1372986766543/BustCircled.jpg Press - Bust Magazine https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df366/1372986773792/CountryLivingCircled.jpg Press - Country Living https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df362/1372986780259/bhg.jpg Press - Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Gift Guide https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df360/1372986787018/12759-fs_dirtsa_header.jpg Press - Etsy Featured Seller Read the interview https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df35f/1372986792919/apartment+therapy.png Press - Apartment Therapy https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df35e/1372986798962/MarieClaireCircled.jpg Press - Marie Claire Maison https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df364/1372986805042/ohdeedoh2.png Press - ohdeedoh https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df365/1372986817986/ohdeedoh.png Press - ohdeedoh https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df368/1372986812002/philly+mag+combined.jpg Press - Philadelphia Magazine https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df369/1372986825734/aussiemag.jpg Press - Shop Til You Drop (Australia) http://dirtsastudio.com/new-events daily 0.75 2020-10-02 http://dirtsastudio.com/welcome daily 1.0 2014-12-18 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51d5b192e4b03b00fe442cdb/1372959122919/Press.jpg Welcome Press https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51d5a5f6e4b0fc2d0df56b92/1372956174572/Frank+and+Astrid.jpg Welcome About https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51d5aafae4b0c6a357c0a6e0/1431125858397/IMG_0371.JPG Welcome Display Portfolio https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51d598a2e4b0a4195e5064ae/1372952739334/SHOPdirtsa.jpg Welcome Shop https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51d5a6d1e4b0bd06a5ef4ae3/1372956373159/BlogImage.jpg Welcome Blog http://dirtsastudio.com/contact daily 0.75 2013-07-04 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51d5eab9e4b01caf88c95978/1372973754172/Pencil.jpg Contact http://dirtsastudio.com/heritage daily 0.75 2013-07-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51cb9e9be4b0814177b87e80/1431125829670/ColorTheory.JPG About https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51c9173ee4b01e5180255e4a/1431125835002/IMG_5217.JPG About https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51d60801e4b03fbe9da6be9c/1372982087741/Frank+and+Astrid.jpg About Astrid and loving husband Frank https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/t/51cb9d18e4b09eb676a2514b/1431125847447/Origami+Flowers.JPG About http://dirtsastudio.com/display-portfolio daily 0.75 2013-07-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b523/1372970913716/Anthropologie+paper+ostrich.jpg Portfolio A shot from the back. I made his legs so it would look like he was walking through the store. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51c/1372971170818/Anthropologie+Sputnik.jpg Portfolio - Sputnik Since the fireplace had kind of a '60s/mod/Brady Bunch feel to it, I embraced that and made a wooden sputnik sculpture to hang next to it. I had my intern cut the wood circles from birch branches. I then used a paint/water combo to wash the edges a bright green color. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54f/1372970869964/Anthropologie+origami+flowers.jpg Portfolio - Origami Flowers I made a bunch of these flowers for a section of the store focused on dainty, feminine clothes. I attempted to fold origami flowers and got lost in the directions, so I ended up coming up with my own way of folding them. I then dipped them in fabric dyes and sprayed them with tea to mute the colors. For a final touch, I glued them to long stems and "planted" them atop a shelf. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b552/1372971565329/Anthropologie+moss+walls.jpg Portfolio To add visual interest and a kitschy feel, I added veins of fake plants, green balloons, and die-cut leaves to the moss walls.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b551/1372971558186/Anthropologie+moss+walls.jpg Portfolio - Going Green The direction for this section of the store was all about creating a lush, green environment for home products. I covered three walls with preserved green moss. To protect the walls, I screwed big cardboard sheets to the wall then glued the moss to the cardboard.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54d/1372971155049/Anthropologie+1960s+fireplace.jpg Portfolio - Fireplace My most ambitious carpentry project ever was this fake fireplace. I made the entire thing by myself, from cutting every single strip of wood, to staining it all the different colors, to installing the entire thing.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54c/1372971236336/Anthropologie+plastic+cup+sculpture.jpg Portfolio - Icy Landscape Beside the poofs, this was the second biggest installation for Holiday 2009 -- an icy landscape on the wall. This is made from thousands of plastic cups dipped in wax and covered with fake snow. Each cup was wired and attached to a chickenwire frame.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b546/1372971622861/Anthropologie+cupcake+wreath.jpg Portfolio - Cupcake Wreath I saw a wreath made from doilies and Christmas lights in Martha Stewart Living and thought it would be cute to adapt the technique and create one from foil cupcake wrappers.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b544/1372971264776/Anthropologie+paper+chandelier.jpg Portfolio It doesn't show up in the photograph, but many of the strips were  covered in glitter and/or dipped in wax. I love the variation in the  level of light coming through the different layers.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b545/1372971254715/Anthropologie+paper+chandelier.jpg Portfolio - Chandelier The White Christmas theme continued over the cashwrap with this "chandelier" I made out of register tape. This light fixture was huge; the outside rectangle was somewhere between 8 and 10 feet long.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b542/1372971616220/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Portfolio The smallest cranes were made from traditional origami paper. I was  able to purchase nicely colored and printed paper up to 1’ X 1’, but to  get the colors and prints I wanted for the larger cranes I had to paint  the paper myself. The largest crane in the middle was made from a 4’ x  4’ sheet of paper that I painted and stenciled. All the other cranes in  this shot were hand painted as well.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54b/1372971603843/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Portfolio Detail shot of the cranes. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b541/1372970785427/Anthropologie+high+chest+illustration.jpg Portfolio - High Chest, Cute Knobs To display some of Anthropologie's knobs and pulls I drew a fancy high chest and screwed the knobs into the wall as drawer handles.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b549/1372971575012/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Portfolio - Origami Installation For the cashwrap section of my store I wanted to do something really light, feminine, and colorful. Flying origami cranes fit the bill. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b548/1372971367390/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Portfolio Bubble Wrap! I individually injected every single bubble with water dyed with food coloring.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b547/1372971645214/Anthropologie+Christmas+Bauble+Tree+Windows.jpg Portfolio A shot of the trees from inside the store. I tried to make them  look as good from the inside as they did from the outside, since  customers could see them from the back. These windows were my first major project at Anthro, but they remain among the highlights of my time there. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b538/1372971631924/Anthropologie+Christmas+Bauble+Tree+Windows.jpg Portfolio - Bauble Trees My first set of windows ever! I created "bauble trees" made completely from ornaments, pinecones, die cuts, cupcake wrappers, and other trinkets. To achieve the effect, I strung colorful ropes 5" apart and attached the baubles to them in the shape of trees.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b537/1372971184008/Anthropologie+Birch+Coffee+Table.jpg Portfolio - Coffee Table I sent my intern back to the chop saw to help me make this coffee table. The base of the table is actually an old piano bench I found at the thrift store. I framed out a new top and had my intern glue the wood circles in place. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b54a/1372971591062/Anthropologie+origami+cranes.jpg Portfolio I’m not sure how many origami cranes I made in the end, but it took  about a week to make them all and then a couple more days to hang each  by an individual string from the ceiling. The shape of the installation  echoes the shape of the wings on all of the cranes. And as you look from  the tips to the center, the cranes increase in size. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b53b/1372971140091/Anthropologie+oversize+letters.jpg Portfolio - ABCs The company requested really big letters in all different fonts and sizes for one of the apparel concepts. I was happy to oblige since it gave me the opportunity to practice and improve my jigsaw skills.   The base of letters was wooden and they were wrapped in painted cardboard, which was stapled in place. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b53a/1372970904850/Anthropologie+paper+ostrich.jpg Portfolio - Modern Taxidermy One of my favorite concepts during my time at Anthropologie was based on the idea of “modern taxidermy.” This area of the store was supposed to feel scientific and museum-like. It made for a lot of fun display. By far my most well received display element was this ostrich. So many different materials went into his construction, but most of what is visible on the outside is actually paper – newsprint, printer paper, and book pages.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b53d/1372971361655/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Portfolio - Bubble Wrap Wallflower This is the Anthropologie project I’m most proud of since it was entirely my own creation and no other store in the country had anything like it. This big design was displayed on the main wall in a fitting room. Can you see what it’s made of…?  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b53f/1372971373346/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Portfolio I had to make a massive chart to keep track of what bubble needed what color. The whole project took about a week.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b530/1372970939643/Anthropologie+paper+peacock.jpg Portfolio - Peacock I also made a peacock. I used color selectively because I felt like a fully colored peacock would have been too distracting in the space.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52f/1372971380498/Anthropologie+bubble+wrap.jpg Portfolio The colors shifted a bit with time, but overall the design and the  bubbles really held up well. Everyone who visited the fitting room loved  how unique it was.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52e/1372970966418/Anthropologie+paper+peacock.jpg Portfolio The head is made from clay and the eyes are bouncy balls that I  spray-painted black. My favorite part is the head fringe made from  popcorn with a touch of blue paint!   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b533/1372971196973/Anthropologie+deconstructed+tree.jpg Portfolio - Deconstructed Tree This bedroom concept was all about a neutral palette combined with rough, natural display elements. I used firewood and branches (from my yard) to create this “deconstructed” tree on the back wall. Little tufts of cotton softened the look.    https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b531/1372971030639/Anthropologie+peacock+feather+eye.jpg Portfolio I found some weathered copper leaves left over from a previous display project and used them for part  of the feathers; I love how the green patina adds a bit of subtle color  and picks up on the colors of the fabric and sandpaper I used for the  eyes of the feathers.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b535/1372971483757/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Portfolio - Live/Work This section of the store was all about incorporating office supplies. My piece de resistance was a digital clock made from pencils! My inspiration came from pin art (i.e. those blocks of pins that you push to take the shape of your hand—everyone played with one as a kid.) So to create my “pin art” clock I used the mini golf pencils as the base, then had full length pencils pop out to create the time. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b536/1372971498080/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Portfolio It took about a week to make the whole thing. First I had to make a grid  and mark where I should drill holes for the pencils. Then, I had to  drill 2100 holes (my arm was exhausted at the end). I glued the pencils  into the holes and mounted it on the wall…   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b534/1372971510921/Anthropologie+pencil+clock.jpg Portfolio After I hung it the numbers weren’t “popping” as much as I wanted them  to, so I bought pink eraser toppers and dipped them in white paint. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b528/1372971221977/Anthropologie+Tissue+paper+poofs+Christmas.jpg Portfolio Some of the poofs had a slight glow; I strategically placed lightbulbs in certain areas so they would stand out at night.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52b/1372971066189/Anthropologie+Cardboard+deer+moose+heads.jpg Portfolio - Cardboard Kill More taxidermy! I made this moose and deer head from cardboard. I’ve seen similar heads for sale, but I knew I could make them myself. I made them for Fall but kept them through Holiday and fashioned cardboard earmuffs to keep them warm. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b525/1372971282529/Anthropologie+cardboard+vortex.jpg Portfolio - Vortex The best way I can think to describe this window is “cardboard sculpture” of a sort. This cardboard vortex was fashioned around a wooden conical structure I built and mounted to the wall. I completely camouflaged it with many layers of cardboard.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b529/1372971213662/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+poof+cave.jpg Portfolio - White Christmas Holiday 2009 at Anthropologie was all about a white Christmas. To create a winter wonderland in the windows my intern and I spent *weeks* making these tissue paper poofs.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b524/1372971287107/Anthropologie+cardboard+sculpture.jpg Portfolio A shot from inside the vortex.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b527/1372970281048/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+leaves.jpg Portfolio - Bali Windows Huge tropical leaves were the inspiration for this set of spring windows. Creating the leaves was very labor intensive—I created enormous wire frames that I covered in wet tissue paper then shellacked to seal in shape. The stems were made from conduit pipe bent into shape and covered in tissue paper.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52c/1372971407608/Anthropologie+honey+comb+windows.jpg Portfolio - Bee Windows For these spring windows, Anthropologie decided they wanted to highlight the plight of bees (Colony Collapse Disorder) with bee-themed windows and some promotional items with proceeds going towards bee research. For one set of my windows I chose to make honeycomb.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b526/1364266449244/Anthropologie+tissue+paper+leaves.jpg Portfolio A view of the leaves from inside the store.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b52d/1372971460745/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Portfolio Here you can see the Bit O’ Honey wrappers. You might also notice a  subtle glow; I dropped a lightbulb into the center of the hive. In areas  where the tissue paper was thinner it added a very pretty effect, especially at night. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51b/1372971450791/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Portfolio The hive from inside the store. I created the shape of the  hive with chickenwire. I then covered the entire structure with strips  of shellacked tissue paper (shellacking the paper gave it an amber color  and a pretty semi-translucence). For some cheeky fun, I also  incorporated wrappers from Bit O’ Honey candy into the hive! Click on  for a detail shot…   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b522/1372971419730/Anthropologie+bee+windows.jpg Portfolio This was a very labor-intensive set of windows as each honeycomb was  individually made using double-walled cardboard and tissue and wax  paper. I then glued them together to create clusters. As you can see, I  made the honeycomb in two different sizes and a variety of colors  ranging from brown to amber to yellow.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b521/1372971427355/Anthropologie+honey+comb+windows.jpg Portfolio The honeycomb looked pretty on the inside of the store, too. The  sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the different colors.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b520/1372971434066/Anthropologie+bee+hive+windows.jpg Portfolio For my other set of windows I created an enormous hive which I hung from a tree limb.   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51f/1372970803853/Anthropologie+bottle+flower+windows.jpg Portfolio - Bottle Flowers This was one of my favorite windows I ever did for Anthropologie. I transformed an everyday material into something beautiful...see the next picture for the details. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51e/1364266448928/Anthropologie+plastic+bottle+flowers.jpg Portfolio My intern and I made almost 2000 of these flowers—out of plastic bottles! We collected bottles from employees and a local gym and cut the tops and bottoms into petals. I then spray painted the back of the flowers to give them color but still keep that shiny lustre.  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51a/51510dcbe4b0deb5ab26b51d/1364266448735/anthropologie+bottle+flower+windows.jpg Portfolio To suspend the flowers, I strung mason line from floor to ceiling in a series of rows (it took a lot of mathematical calculation and fancy ladder maneuvers to keep them straight). I then attached the flowers to the mason line with wire and pipe cleaners.  http://dirtsastudio.com/press daily 0.75 2013-07-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51d61714e4b001cbc6494f2c/1372986766543/BustCircled.jpg Press - Bust Magazine https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df366/1372986773792/CountryLivingCircled.jpg Press - Country Living https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df368/1372986812002/philly+mag+combined.jpg Press - Philadelphia Magazine https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df362/1372986780259/bhg.jpg Press - Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Gift Guide https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df35e/1372986798962/MarieClaireCircled.jpg Press - Marie Claire Maison https://static1.squarespace.com/static/51510c89e4b01fd1f705ed5d/51510e24e4b07f13899df35c/51510e24e4b07f13899df360/1372986787018/12759-fs_dirtsa_header.jpg Press - 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