Anthropologie's Holiday Decor Workshop

Anthropologie's store displays and windows have long been one of my favorites.  The creative window displays like this paper winter wonderland, draw people in to explore. The chance to be part of the team making this year's holiday displays in the Roseville, California store was an opportunity I couldn't pass up and a lot of fun!

A huge mastadon armature greeted us as we arrived to work.  Sculpted of chicken wire, pvc pipe and tape, this provided a clue as to what we would be working on!

Winter Laken is the theme for Anthropologie's 20th Anniversary displays, and the medium this year was 'paper', both chosen by the corporate office.  Winter Laken is a Swedish holiday  which animals help celebrate so the challenge was how to create a menagerie including a rabbit, fox, squirrels, polar bear, and multiple birds, using paper, and as many renewable resources as possible. The Roseville Design team chose to build a Wooly Mammoth in contrast to other stores who were building a polar bear.

A group of about 18 women gathered at worktables as the theme was explained, and instructions were given for the various tasks.

Tables were decorated with mercury glass vases grounded by a sparkling runner setting the wintery mood. Two of the vases had varigated plants inside and one housed scissors and napkins for later use by the work force.

After instructions were given we were invited to have a snack at our leisure. Sarah, the visual merchandiser, had made up little canning jars of Greek yogurt for each of the volunteers.


Spoons were tied with violet yarn to the jars, along with a button tag inviting "Top Me Off!"

Fresh raspberries, blueberries and strawberries were offered as toppings as well as granola and honey.  Mini banana nut muffins were a perfect accompaniment, and water and juices were readily available when we needed to be refreshed.

 Each table of workers had a different task.  One task was cutting out two dimensional geometric shapes from patterns.

 
 The patterns were printed on tag board, turned over, and then lace was laid on top.  Silver and gold spray paint was then applied and when dry, the lace was lifted up to reveal a stencilled pattern of the paper.

 
We carefully cut out the shapes using the printed patterns,

then folded and taped them 


to make three dimensional paper ornaments.  

 
 After all that cutting it was time for a little snack! 

 
As the ornaments were taped together, we ran wire through them in order for the design team to string them together into garlands.

Using pieces of cut dowels which were sprayed gold, the design team linked the 3D shapes together.   
 

After many garlands were strung together, they were hung in the foyer of the store with white lights to create a canopy.

  Another task was to make paper feathers to be used for the birds to be featured in the store's displays.  Wire 'ribs' were sandwiched between two pieces of glued paper and then cut in the shape of feathers.  


  It was our job to give the feathers life by cutting tiny slits along both sides of the rib.

 

After enough feathers were cut, the designers 'charred' the edges to give the feathers a more authentic look.  

 Here is a close up of the bird they already finished to show us for an example.

Here is Starr, the display coordinator, holding up the completed bird for us all to see.


Lastly, another task was for us to 'shred' the Wooly Mammoth fur.
Now remember, the corporate offices required paper to be used as much as possible in the displays this year so a big challenge was how to create Wooly Mammoth fur out of paper?!
 

 Swiffer dusting sheets! Yes, I was in awe! These young women are so creative!
The Swiffer sheets were stained with wood stain to get the color and allowed to dry before we got there, so all we had to do was shred!

 But a wooly mammoth takes a LOT of fur so the shredding continued!

The shredded furn was inserted into the chicken wire armature from the bottom up so the 'fur' would overlap and hang down like a natural wooly mammoth's fur would lay. 

The tusks were covered with masking tape as more of the fur was put in place.

The wooly mammoth greets all as they enter the store!

Even the backside of this massive animal was completely covered in Swiffer 'fur'! The design team finished the projects and did the installations in the store.  They told me to come back a few days before Thanksgiving to get the final pictures! 
I hope you enjoy them!


The Wooly Mammoth

 The Birds

 The Fox


Close-up of the Fox

The squirrels

Close-up of the little squirrel house


Isn't this the cutest thing you've ever seen?!

 The Rabbits

 An accent wall with the sprayed paper motif.

 These ornaments look as if they are in suspended animation!

The 3D ornament garland canopy . . .


can be seen from the front window!
A fun day with some of the most creative people I have ever met! Make a point of going by the store if you are in the area this holiday season to see the wonderful animals!

When I went back to take the final photos, I just had to purchase this ornament for my tree - I will cherish it and reminisce about my day here each year as I hang it on the tree.  I'd like to thank the whole design team at the Roseville Anthropologie store for hosting the workshop and allowing me to document the day - Good Times!

A "Deere" Celebration!

When Alan walked into his parents home and saw this invitation sitting on the kitchen table the surprise was off! Although Alan knew his family was throwing him a 'surprise' party for his 60th, what he didn't know was how well his family designed the party theme after his daily mode of transportation - John Deere Tractors!  Alan has been a rice farmer in the Sacramento Valley for about 40 years so the theme was perfect. 

Coming up to the house, the party theme was immediately apparent. 

 There were John Deere toy tractors and pumpkins greeting guests at the door, with bundles of rice sitting atop hay bales.

The early evening weather was perfect for a backyard celebration!  And since there was rain the day before the party, most of Alan's farmer friends were able to make it to the party since it was too wet to harvest rice that day!

Round tables were covered in green tablecloths and John Deere fabric toppers.  White plates were flanked by the silverware and topped with yellow bandana print fabric napkins tied with jute. Water glasses were canning jars accented with jute ties as well.

Centerpieces were pulled from the family's treasure trove of John Deere collectibles!

 There were collectible dolls on every table. . .

 .  . such as small scale John Deere tractors, metal lunch boxes and other pieces.

The floral arrangements were designed by daughter-in-law, Leslie.  Vases filled with fresh sunflowers were anchored with rice straight from the field, instead of oasis or flower frogs.  Leslie's mom, Fran, and sister-in-law, Julie helped with the set-up.

There were plenty of ride on toys for the 8 grandchildren to entertain themselves with throughout the evening, although most were camera shy so I didn't get a good picture of any of them on them!

The grandchildren even wore John Deere clothing - here grandson Cage models his Deere green shirt - along with his bandage from slamming his finger in the door the day before!
Daughter-in-law Cory, Cage's mom, was in charge of setting up the bar so Cage's accident added to her list of duties the day before the big party! 

Brynn, Alan's oldest grandchild, smiles for the camera with Katie, who is sporting her pink John Deere overalls!  These girls will be excellent party planners some day after watching and learning from their moms, Leslie and Melissa, and their aunties Cory and Julie, who all worked together with grandmother Debbie, to plan and implement this birthday! celebration!

Alan's daughter, Melissa, found and ordered the invitations from Lemonade Moments, an Etsy site.

Melissa also created this clever balloon wreath to hang on the patio door after seeing one on Pinterest.

The guests' party favors were placed in a large John Deere tin on a console table by the front door. Yellow bandanas protected the table's surface and John Deere Collector's plates added to the charm. A chicken wire basket accepted cards for the birthday boy!

Party favors were handmade shortbread tractor cookies in two patterns, Melissa had found on another Etsy site.

Susan Dobbs of The Tailored Cookie, created the tractor with the cab cookie, 

and the 'tractor without a cab' cookie!  The two types of tractors represent the years Alan has farmed; as he started with tractors without cabs (driving one you eat dirt all day!) to the luxurious air conditioned cabs of tractors today!

The buffet table was decorated with gingham checked fabric, pumpkins, bundles of rice, more John Deere toy tractors, and other farm decor.  The delicious buffet included ribs, chicken and chopped beef from Dickey's BBQ Pit in Roseville.  Debbie made the rest of the menu which included tasty beans, potato,fruit and Cesar salads, heirloom tomatoes and rolls.

And last but not least was THE CAKE! The three tier cake was created by Jessica Calta, a former student of Debbie's, and featured a tractor on the top tier, a cornfield on the middle tier and a split rail fence on the bottom tier - all, of course, in John Deere yellow and green!

The grandchildren couldn't wait for that cake to be cut! 

 
 Meika grabbed Alan and brought him over to the cake table where Cole, Cage, Wade, Katie, Brynn and Blake gathered.

Alan's son, Brad holds the youngest grandchild, Emma, while helping Melissa light the SIXTY  candles . . .

and light . . .and light!

 As 'Happy Birthday' was sung, the tractor looked like it was on fire!

The big moment came and the grandkids helped Alan blow out his candles!

 Alan will no doubt cherish this event which his "Deere'' family so wonderfully put together!