Once upon a time

Yep, that’s right folks, Image Made and DownsDesign are joining forces! Neither of us is being bought out or acquired, or anything of that sort. This is simply a mutually beneficial joining of hands that will allow us to handle larger, more complex projects with more resources. Through this merger, all our existing clients will be able to take advantage of our increased manpower and broader range of capabilities.
In other awesome news, we will be moving into a new studio here at the Mastercraft Building. The move will take place in early October, and we will be throwing a bash to celebrate! (Details soon to follow.) We want to encourage all of you to follow us on your social media drug of choice for Grain & Mortar updates and news!

Check out our splash page!

We wanted it to be ultra simple, straightforward, and easy to use and understand. We finished just in time for the series to start. During the CWS we had over 630 unique visits to the site, with no promotion aside from Facebook / Twitter! We will continue the site next year, and hope to add new, helpful features in 2012! – Kristin DeKay

Thrive Development Group works with small and mid-size businesses to find their potential through qualitative research, leadership development, social media management, and project management. We were asked to create an identity for them back in March. Our goal was to make research and data seem less stuffy and a little more sexy. We wanted to make sure to stay away from stereotypical styling, so we chose a non-traditional color palette and chose to use “fire” to represent the word “thrive”.

-Kristin DeKay

Megan Hunt is the owner of Princess Lasertron. She specializes in beautiful handmade, heirloom-quality, vintage felt and button bridal bouquets. She is also a Bridal Designer, a well-known blogger, and owner of CAMP Co-working. Megan’s attention to detail, creativity, and unique personality is showcased in each of her outstanding designs.

IM: What is your favorite object in your home?

Megan: My favorite object in my home is my big yellow-framed mirror in my living room. It belonged to my mom when she was little (it had an ivory frame then), and she put it in my room when I was a little girl. I remember when the big, heavy mirror was taller than me-I would stand in front of it for hours trying on my clothes, putting together different outfits, playing dress-up. As I grew up, it always stayed in my bedroom-I would write quotes on it with a dry erase marker, or put stickers on it from the concerts I attended. It has survived eight moves and it’s now painted yellow. I love looking at it on the table in my living room every day before I go to work.

Here’s a picture of it! http://www.flickr.com/photos/princesslasertron/5176198740/in/set-72157615697086436/

IM: What is your favorite place to eat in Omaha for under $20?

Megan: My favorite restaurant changes all the time-it’s always either Amsterdam Falafel in Dundee or B&G Tasty Foods on Dodge. At Amsterdam I love to get a plain falafel and dip it  in ketchup, and at B&G I always get peanut butter and jelly with an orange soda and a side of fries. Yes, I am four.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/princesslasertron/5017051214/in/photostream/

IM: What place in the world most inspires you to create and why?

Megan: Walking around in Berlin looking at the window displays at Kaufhaus des Westens, the biggest department store in Germany. Fashion houses like Dior, Chanel, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, Viktor & Rolf-all of the best  luxury designers-often showcase in those windows and have these brilliantly designed over-the-top displays. I love window displays and whenever I’m in a big city I try to find good ones. It’s like shopping tourism.

IM: What is your favorite handmade gift to give?

Megan: My favorite handmade gift to give is a hand-ruffled boutonniere. Ladies love them of course, but they aren’t too feminine for men and look great on woolen pea coats and men’s jackets.

IM: Who is your creative role model and why?

Megan: I have several creative role models. SARK is one of my favorite creative people-she writes inspirational books and creates beautiful paintings. My mom is very creative and I love that she never asks for credit or shows off-she’s just very real and inspired to make things for herself because they make her happy, not simply for attention or fame. And I love the work of Jo Packham, magazine editor and writer, who has made it her mission to travel around the country and connect with creative women from all different walks of life. I love reading her stories and I admire her willingness to drop everything and allow her creative passions to guide her entire life.

IM: What is one creative thing you want to learn how to do in 2011?

Megan: This year I want to learn how to do bookbinding.

IM: What is your favorite way to unwind at the end of the day?

Megan: When was the last time I really “unwound??” I NEVER unwind. I have a six-month-old, a home, I own two businesses, and I am always busy pulling smoke-and-mirrors moves trying to convince my customers and readers that I have it all together. I work from when I wake up to when I pass out around 3 or 4am. I constantly have to remind myself that I chose this life- it’s true that being your own boss is better.

How I would LIKE to unwind is by having zero e-mails in my inbox, getting a backrub, reading one of the magazines that’s been piling up by my front door for the last six months, and eating a chocolate croissant.

XO Meg

Friends of Image Made is 7 questions with people who have made us think, caused us to reflect, and helped us grow.

Jessica McKay is the owner of Birdhouse Interior Design and Birdhouse Collectible, which is Jessica’s beautifully designed showroom located in the Mastercraft Building. Jessica’s distinct style and love for one of a kind pieces and original art allows her to infuse each space she designs with the unique personality of each client. Birdhouse Collectible is an excellent place to find truly individual pieces for your home or office, and a great place to shop for gifts.

IM: What is your favorite object in your home?

Jessica: Probably the commissioned painting by Rebecca Herskovitz that hangs in my dining room. It is of a striking (and nude) woman, staring directly at the viewer. She is so strong and confident that you hardly notice she is so vulnerable. Unless you are my dad and say, “Jessica, that lady in your painting is naked”. Needless to say, he isn’t a huge art buff.

IM: What is your favorite place to eat in Omaha for under $20?

Jessica: Whole Foods! I really like their sushi. Sgt. Peffer’s is a close second. Their Italian tuna salad is pretty delish and Christopher always gets the puttanesca.

IM: What place in the world most inspires you to design and why?

Jessica: That’s a tough one. I would say Paris is pretty amazing. I’ve only been there once, but it was beautiful and so very chic. I love that everything is stylish and has so much life to it. The food, the drinks, the outdoor patios where you sip your espresso, the red lipstick – I love it all. Plus, nothing is bare there. It’s not ultra clean and modern. It has a ton of character and an indulgent feel.

IM: What is your favorite handmade gift to give?

Jessica: Original art. A small painting, drawing, or ceramic piece. Or, cooking someone a really fancy meal. I’m talking 4 courses, the table is set, and you are drinking plenty of wine or champagne.

IM: If you had to change professions, what would you choose?

Jessica: That’s tough too. Everything I love in life, I sort of already do. If I could somehow figure out how to get someone to pay me to travel all around the world, that would be fantastic.

IM: Who is your creative role model and why?

Jessica: I sort of adore Kate and Andy Spade. I just like the way they approach business, design, and life. Everything around them is super chic (and some is expensive), but is seems very accessible. Plus, if I could move into either their Hamptons house or their Manhattan apartment, my life would be complete.

IM: What is one creative thing you want to learn how to do in 2011?

Jessica: Learn to sew. Though, I know I won’t now because I have an assistant that is great at it. I have said I was going to learn for the last 3 years. Clearly, I am not that motivated.

Next week we will feature Megan Hunt a.ka. Princess Lasertron!

Friends of Image Made is a little series we are starting. It is simply 7 questions with people who have made us think, caused us to reflect, and helped us grow.

Our first post features Steve Gordon from RDQLUS Creative. Steve is a graphic designer who specializes in identity, branding, & creative direction. Steve is the author of “100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers,” and has been featured in many design industry publications. Steve can usually be found at his local Starbucks rocking a sweet pair of sneakers.

IM: What is your favorite place to eat in Omaha for under $20?

STEVE: There are so many spots that can get you right in the belly for a 20-spot… I really dig Hiro 88, Market Basket, Lo Solé Mio, Julio’s. It all just depends on ordering smartly.

IM: What place in the world most inspires you to create and why?

STEVE: Well, most know my thoughts on being inspired v. being motivated. My brain & constant curiosity keep me inspired, so I could do what I do in a cardboard box with wi-fi! haha… but really, I like to be in places with large windows, people and movement so that I can observe the world around and interact with it. As far as naming places—as in cities—I truly am a mobile & independent creative so I love to travel and work. I love the way my heart beats when I land in NYC. The vibe is just nuts and the pace is so very “RDQLUS.” Los Angeles is “LaLa Land” so I get a charge out of the imagination and perpetual drive to “make it” when I’m out there. Seattle; I just plain feel good there. Denver is an amazing place with a remarkable creative community. Internationally, I’d love to get to Paris and Prague because I was an architecture major for a long time and my love of architecture still finds its way into my work & style. I went overboard on that answer huh?

IM: We know you like to frequent Starbucks-what is your drink of choice?

STEVE: My drink of choice differs based on the mood, activity or time of year. I love a “long shot” Americano when I need a punch in the face. I like the taste of coffee more than sugary, hot milk, so I’ll get a quad-tall-nonfat-mocha some days. The “coup de grậce” is to go sit in a comfy spot and get a whole French press of a dark roast. Boom! I’m a bit of a coffee-snob, as you know, but that is well earned from studying it and not just buying a name or brand. That being said, Starbucks gets a bad wrap because they are “big brother java”, but most have never been to Starbucks no.1—which is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall coffee shop like any local spot that we claim to love. Anyway… they have locked down their formula so I go for the consistency in my order, because taste is everything.

IM: What is your favorite iPhone App at the moment?

STEVE: That’s a close tie between a couple of apps; the ‘Shazam’ music search app is just mind-boggling, and ‘Instagram’ produces the most beautiful mobile images and allows a social component to share them. Amazing! Now “most used?” is a different question.

IM: Who is your creative role model and why?

STEVE: Real talk? Me. Straight up. I know that’s dangerous to say and I’ll get flamed for being cocky, but there’s really no other way to put it that wouldn’t sound that way. I don’t believe in “hero worship” which many turn their role models into. That stops us from striving & growing to be more ourselves and turns us into a copy-cat criminals. I have role models for the type of people they are, the integrity they show, the good they try to do through living a good life… such as my good friend Dave Nelson of Secret Penguin. But when it comes to creativity and design, I admire work, certain styles and individual pieces far more than role models, famous or well-know people themselves.

IM: If you had to change professions, what would you choose?

STEVE: I’m pretty sure I’d be a high-level collegiate or US national team track & field coach, or a fitness coach/trainer. I had a good life as a former world-class track athlete and have since entertained and turned down several chances to coach at the collegiate level. On the side of my design career, I was assistant coach at UNO for 6 years. Even now, I’ve been the girl’s long jump coach at Westside High School for the last 6 years.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, all that… or I’d own a curiosity shop/style boutique. I’m a style hound, so that would be a dream!

IM: What is one creative thing you want to learn how to do in 2011?

STEVE: I want to learn how to sew better. I can sew, both by hand and machine, but I need some real training on a machine. I have plans for a few very fun, cool things and I would love to be able to so them myself, by hand. A close second would be to refresh my Spanish. I think language is a very creative thing.

Stay tuned for our next post on Wednesday, December 29th, featuring Jessica McKay of Birdhouse Interiors!

The End.