VIOLET
This Book Belongs To:
VIOLET
VIOLET
dis•po•si•tion noun 1 a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character, i.e. a sweet-natured girl of a placid disposition. 2 the way in which something is placed or arranged, esp. in relation to other things.
CONTENTS real-life inspiration p.20 inspiration p.16
meet anna p.8 mood boards p.18
character development p.24 6
planning p.30 scale models p.28
details p.38
final display p.36
customer faq p.46 7
MEET VIOLET
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VIOLET 9
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INSPIRATION
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MOOD BOARDS Creating a mood board is necessary in the process of defining a character, down to the most insignificant details. With the rough image of the personality in my mind, I collected magazine clippings and vintage ephemera that would resonate with each character. This also helped me to visualize displays, and remember everything at a quick glance of my clipboard. Working on a project so intense means everything you encounter is now a part of it in some way. Picking up a piece of scrap paper becomes an experiment—does this speak to me in any way? And I ask myself, does Violet like this? Would she cut this out and place it in her own scrapbook to keep for later?
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REAL-LIFE INSPIRATION Alison Westlake is the proud new owner of Coriander Girl, a shop in Parkdale (her neighbourhood!). To her flower shop, she brings an elegant sense of taste, with small touches of country and French provincial style. She blogs about her experience as a new entrepreneur, about her experiences with customers, and what it is like spending so much time with flowers! From her collections of little glass bottles, to her documenting every dog that comes into the store (she is surely an animal lover, too) and the hand-drawn calligraphy logo, Coriander Girl is quite an inspiring little shop! A little bit of Violet was inspired by Alison. Firstly, the dream of opening up a flower shop. Also, the soft and subtle sensibilities of the store’s design. Alison’s upbeat spirit and personality also contribute to Violet’s personality. Thanks Alison, for being an inspiration! www.coriandergirl.com (416) 532-3333 Read her blog at: www.coriandergirl.blogspot.com
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ALISON WESTLAKE of CORIANDER GIRL
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CORIANDER GIRL at 1537 QUEEN STREET WEST
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CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
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DESCRIPTION:
Violet is a lover of biology and botany, and worked for years as a bee researcher. She is inspired by everything you can find in the garden, including vintage industrial garden tools and antiques as unique planters. Violet can be found most likely in her garden or at the greenhouse, working on research or just for fun. She is very open and friendly, and loves to talk about her garden!
SEASON: spring IDEAS:
Ideas for this concept came from: • beehives and honey • botanical prints • lepidoptera (butterflies + moths) • industrial hardware • living greenery • light linen whites • alison from coriander girl (blogger and store owner)
COLOUR SCHEME:
Borrowed from the garden: • foliage • linen • industrial gray and chalkboard • little pops of flower buds
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SCALE MODELS Scale models were created to visualize the project 3-dimensionally, and to further instill the style and feeling associated with the character.
Above: Cut and paste process. Opposite: Paper and cardboard model, made with magazine clippings and a glue gun. Approximate version of the final, designed to create effect only.
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7 inches
5 inches Ratio Approximately 7:1
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PLANNING Materials & Supplies
Budget ($)
Reclaimed wood (from old barn) 1/8� sheets of scrap wood Chalkboard paint, white paint Preserving varnish (for book pages) Resin (for honeycombs) Power drill Band saw, Scroll saw Screws and finishing nails
Barn Board Scrap Wood Various paper materials (found or already on hand)
Accessories and hardware Hovis bread tins Vintage inspired lightbulb Kraft cheese boxes Brass factory plate Iron handles Imagery Robin (from bird book) Butterflies (public domain) Swedish botanical prints Dictionary pages Styling Plants
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Kraft cheese crates (2) Hovis bread tin Lightbulb Iron handles (3) Brass plate Resin Photocopies Plants Total Hours worked
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4 feet
3 feet
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First step: building the frame, with initial sketch superimposed. Sketches were revised many times to correspond with changes in design and unexpected challenges in the construction process.
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FINAL DISPLAY The creation of the final display happened in many parts. First, the gathered barn board was cut down into a more manageable size. It was then assembled as a frame to hold the smaller elements. The frame determines the shape of the overall piece, and the way in which it will be displayed. I chose to make a standard, wall hanging version (could be modified to stand on its own). After completing the frame, I went to work on creating the smaller elements which I prepared for by collecting materials in advance. I cut 1/8 inch thick wooden panels to desired sizes, and then painted, glued, or treated them. Hardware was then added. Each panel has a small 1/2 inch wood block glued on the reverse side, so that the pieces can be screwed through the frame into the wooden block (so that the front of the panel is unharmed). After all assemblage, a hook and wire were attached to the back to hang it like a picture frame. Plants were then added to “style� the frame, showing what it could look like with personalized additions.
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DETAILS
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CUSTOMER FAQ What kind of service are you offering? The service should be known as creating “functional display art.” Think of it as a commissioned piece by an artist or designer. You can buy a display already made, or you can build a customized display with me. You provide materials or a list of desired materials, and a concept. I provide the finished product. Will this suit only a local business, or can it be done internationally? The display can be shipped in pieces, and assembled with only a drill and screws. Each time the display is set up, it will probably look different—this depends on who has set it up and by which method. There is no set guideline to how it should look completed. How can this display be customized to fit my needs? There are many ways the display can be customized. In the images in this catalogue, I have added little styling touches that are not included (unless desired) and these pieces can be changed. It can also be set up three different ways (vertically stand alone, vertically hung, or stretched to a horizontal position and hung). How can I change the shape and size of my display? This is accomplished by modifying the frame to your desired shape. The rest of the components are secondary, the frame plays the most important in the piece. If the 46
display is too large for your space, the frame pieces can be cut down, or you can omit a few pieces. I’m not so handy, is there any way you could set it up for me? Yes, just like IKEA, you can set it up yourself, buy a preassembled piece, or you can have a custom design and I will assemble it for you at your space. If you are an international customer, this is not an option, but instructions will be included for all desired methods. What do you charge for? The price covers the cost of materials, accessories (hardware and other elements), and the hours put in for design and assembly (unless assembly is not necessary). If you would like a more specific answer, contact me for a quote that is tailored to your design. Contact: Aprile Elcich Re: Disposition Phone: 416 324 8289 Email: aprile.elcich@gmail.com 47
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