Anna Rifle Bond
Inside this issue:
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table of contents
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03 Letter From the Editor
04 Q&A with Anna Rifle Bond
08 Anna Rifle Bond’s Work
10 Q&A with Emily Henderson
14 Emily Henderson’s Interior Designs
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Letter from the Editor I am majoring in University Studies— Architecture, with a concentration in New Media Art and minoring in Communications. You may ask your self, ‘what in the world does that mean?’ Thanks for asking! University Studies is a way for Texas A&M to provide a major for students who want to study a subject they don’t offer a major in. For example, A&M doesn’t have an “art program” that is focused in graphic design specifically. By taking on University Studies as my major, I was able to essentially “DIY” my own major. I took classes specific to design in the full sense of the word. Graphic design, print, typography, layout, composition, print making, letterpress and more. I also enjoy exploring other mediums outside of the digital world. I enjoy knitting, using a letterpress, sewing, painting, drawing, weaving,
photography, crocheting, and trying new creative outlets. I spend my time working at my internship with Texas A&M Marketing and Communication Department as a graphic designer, mentoring 11th grade girls through my church, spending time with my friends, planning my wedding with my fiancé and studying for my courses. With my free time, I enjoy cooking, gardening, reading, roller blading, playing frisbee and doing yoga. My time in Graphic Design III has been a fruitful and challenging period. I have been pushed to grow and get past my expected limits in order to best see what other options I can utilize to solve a design problem or dig into a creative solution. I have enjoyed the projects given to us as this semester in this course because they have made me better.
Rachel Grant
Anna Rifle B By Jamie Hernandez Refinery 29 Writer
We’re kicking off the series with an interview with Anna Bond, co-founder and creative director of Rifle Paper Company. Anna and her husband, Nathan, founded the stationery company in the fall of 2009 with a $10,000 investment. In the nine years since, Rifle has grown exponentially, and Anna and Nathan are continually exploring ways to expand their product line, which now includes collaborations with LeSportSac and Keds, among other major brands. Ahead, Anna shares the challenges of running a business with her husband, her self-care routine, and what’s she doing at midnight most nights. (Spoiler alert: It isn’t sleeping.)
Bond
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Q+A I n t e r v i e w
What do you think the definition of self-made is, as it pertains to you? To me, being self-made is creating something without a safety net. We relied solely on ourselves to make our idea work and bring our vision to life without investors, mentors, or a traditional business background to fall back on. What quality do you think you possess that’s made you a
until later that we started to realize our location was unique as buyers and press continually seemed shocked that a successful company they loved wasn’t based in a big city. Looking back, the pros far outweigh the cons. Our cost of
‘Our stor y is m o t iva t i o n a l because we are t wo ve r y r e a l , nor mal people who figured it out as we went.’
good candidate for self-making your destiny? I have a lot of drive, which I actually didn’t fully realize about myself until after we started the business. I’m willing to put in hard work and sacrifice when necessary. I also think it’s vital to see what is best for the business especially when it differs from what you personally want or originally envisioned. Being flexible and open to new ideas helps guide the business in a healthy way. You’ve chosen to build your business in Winter Park, FL — not in a big city like New York or San Francisco. What are the pros and cons of doing business in Florida? Do you ever think you’ll relocate? When we started Rifle, we just started where we lived, and we didn’t give it much thought beyond that. It wasn’t
doing business is exponentially cheaper, we attract amazing local talent, we’re very focused in our own world here, the cost of living is reasonable, and so on. “The main con is that it can be
difficult to attract high-level talent to Florida. We opened a small NYC studio in Soho last year. Winter Park will always be our base, but it’s nice to have a foot in New York as well. Tell us a lesson you keep trying to learn, that you hope to master at some point. “Someday, I hope to master the art of delegation. I often struggle with letting go, but it is the key to finding balance and moving the company forward.” What are the challenges of running a business with your husband? Do you struggle to “turn off ” work — or, on the flip side, keep your personal life out of the office? Nathan and I have worked together in some way ever since we met 13 years ago (back then I was designing show posters for his band), but it probably took six years or so to really find our rhythm as
married business partners. At this point, we can ‘turn off ’ quite easily and sense when the other is not in the mood to talk about work at home. And we have always made a very strong point not to bring our personal life into the office. That isn’t always easy, and I’m sure we’ve slipped up many times, but I think it’s important for our staff to see us work together as business partners first. What aspect of your path do you think has been the most motivational to other young women coming up through the ranks? How do you share that part of your experience with people? I like to think that our story is motivational because we are just two very real, normal people who figured it out as we went. We truly knew nothing about running a business. Initial Google searches included basics like: ‘how to print a card’ and ‘how to ship a package.’ We started exactly where anyone else would start who has a big dream but knows little else about launching a business, and we are proof that you really can figure it out and find answers. Back in 2009, while I was planning the company, I was blogging about every step of the way, and I still try to continue that openness on social media as much as possible. How has your career and business changed since you had a baby? Do you find your ambition and goals have changed? Have your priorities shifted? I wouldn’t say that my ambitions or goals have changed for the business. If anything,
they have only grown since I had my son. However, my priorities certainly have shifted. My family comes first. I no longer have the capacity to pull an all-nighter to hit a deadline or work all weekend on a new collection. I am forced, in a good way, to delegate and use my time at the office much more wisely in order to have as much time as possible with my family. My hope, and I think it is true, is that the business wouldn’t be affected by the changes in my personal life. It just forced me to work in a different way in order to keep the business growing at the same pace. Being self-made means committing to self-care, too. How do you fuel and refresh yourself when shit really starts to get hard?
I love alone time and small breaks to refresh. Sometimes I just need to step back from what I am doing, and it can be as simple as a glass of wine and an episode of Seinfeld to make me laugh that does the trick — anything that removes me from the situation. I find that I work better when I continually make sure to take lots of small mental breaks rather than burning out and trying to make up for it later.
Oh, I love Martha. That is a huge compliment whoever said that. I didn’t think it would get this big, but I always dreamed it would, if that makes sense. I would say yes to both being very ambitious but also continually being surprised by Rifle’s growth. Every time I walk into our warehouse buzzing with over 100 employees it shocks me, and I am floored by what we have built.
Did you have any idea when you started Rifle that it would grow this big? You’ve been compared to Martha Stewart. Were you always ambitious? Or have you been surprised by Rifle’s success?
What’s your Self-Made Mantra for other women, no matter where they are in the process? Work harder than everyone else around you.”
Anna’s
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handpainted illustrations and distinctive color palette are the heart of Rifle Paper Co. her love for illustrating stationery turned into the idea to start a brand with a look unlike any other in the market.
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Rifle Bond skims through embroidered fabric used for pillows, rugs and other home goods.
Anna Rifle Bond hand paints most of the patterns seen on their website by hand and then touches them up in the digital relm.
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Rifle Paper Co has a partnership with Loloi Rugs and creates multiple patterns, sizes and prints of home rugs.
Rifle Paper Co pillow in a staged home found on the Rifle Paper Co website, one of many pillow designs.
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Rifle Paper Co’s Top Selling Products As a company, we take every detail of our products into consideration. This means hand-assembling products in our warehouse, and establishing our decade-long relationships with local Florida printers. Some might even say we’re obsessed (that perfect shade of red is important!). It is our passion and purpose to produce quality products that we use ourselves and to exceed your wildest expectations.
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The Rifle tote is a newer addition to the online shop, however this essential has quickly become a crowd favorite.
In a partnership with Keds, Rifle Paper Co sells a variety of styles and prints, giving a floral twist on the classic sneaker.
Perfect to add color to any space, Rifle prints are a must have for any room in your home or office.
An easy way to add fun to your house keys, Rifle’s keychain assortment offers variety and color to your key set.
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Becoming Emily Henderson
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By Marcus Jackson Senior Editor Stylist/Interior Designer and writer, wait and mom. Styling was where I started and what I honestly love the most. But, as a childhood avid journal-er, I find myself writing 2-3 hours a day (which I also love). My mom is the first one. She is the most productive person on the planet, unable to sit down, multitasking in her sleep. Did I mention also a mother of six?? That certainly rubbed off on me. I also had a great boss in my 20’s as a stylist. Who taught me how to push it every day, creatively and gave me the confidence to go out on my own despite NOT feeling ready. I was also raised by my 3 best friends through junior high, high school, college, young professionals and now all of us are successful in our
careers and moms. We built each other up the last 25 years of friendship – more like chosen sisters than friends. If you asked me when I started styling if I could see myself running a full-service interior design firm and daily style blog 10 years after starting my career, I never would have believed you. But here I am, loving each and every day of it and very excited for the future. Lately, I’ve been joking that I don’t have ambition, but so much drive…it’s like I don’t know where I’m going. I just get up, work hard, get a new idea, go after it then create and produce all day every day. I always knew that I would run a creative team, but I didn’t know I would be a business owner with 10 employees and managing 401k plans. I’m continually battling with social media being at the core of my business and balancing the social good that can come of it.
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What more would you like to “become”? I’m continually battling with social media being at the core of my business and balancing the social good that can come of it. So while I want the business to grow, we are shooting another book, pitching a TV idea that I’m ACTUALLY excited about, etc. I think that using the platform for good is at the top of my mind. Having two kids helps this – I MUST show them how to be good to others in this world that can often feel full of selfies. How did your childhood influence what you have become? I was born into a Mormon family in Oregon who made their own clothes at times, canned their own veggies and fruits, and lived modestly, I learned from a very young age the beauty of thrift and how much can be done from so little. Hence my deep and intense love for vintage. But, what my childhood really taught me was how to work VERY hard of, which I am extremely grateful for because it’s one of the big reasons I’ve been successful. My parents are incredible optimists and taught us what and how to value. We had no money but, we didn’t know it because money wasn’t important. We did one big family project every summer (they were both teachers) and we did service projects on the weekends (painting people’s homes, helping people move, etc). Despite my falling away from the church and yes, causing tension in the family, those values are deep inside and now as a mom, they are coming out strong every day. How did you get started in your field doing what you do? In my early twenties, I moved to NYC and started working as a shop girl at the Jonathan Adler store, which back then was not as big as it is now. I had always loved and appreciated style and design but wasn’t really sure what I could do or how to really
be a part of it. Flash forward to when I met a prop stylist and I felt like I found my calling. I mean, who doesn’t want to shop and play with beautiful things all day whilst getting paid for it. The blog started as a need to journal my creativity, and why not do it publicly? I started in 2010 as a New Years resolution and thank goodness I did. What’s a typical day like for you? Every day and week is different, certainly, but I’m always writing, always shopping/ styling and always thinking about social media and staying innovative because it honestly changes on a daily basis. My job is to create compelling digital content in the home and style world, both for companies, clients and our own personal projects. It means that my team and I are constantly brainstorming, creating, producing and amplifying original work – and we have to
move FAST. I am also the mother of two children under the age of 5 so they also make every day a beautiful, chaotic mess that keeps me very much on my toes. What does your current team look like? How does it fit your goals? In the last year, my team has doubled in size. SO exciting because they are incredibly talented and fun, but a big team also means the stakes have risen higher than ever before. This year, more than ever, we are strategizing for growth and staying super organized, which we feel will help facilitate creating awesome content that even more people will want to see and read. We have a ton of exciting plans that I am bursting about. A lot of new ideas with a big dose of OG Emily which is what both I and the audience are wanting.
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I like to live by this statement: “I don’t know the key to success, but I know the key to failure is trying to please everyone”. As for design, something I forget often is that “pretty always looks good next to pretty.” Instead, I’ve been trying to be “perfect” in the public eye. But the truth is, that when it comes to styling and decorating if you love one thing and you put it next to another thing that is also beautiful—even if they are different styles or scales—it will look beautiful and interesting.
How has social media influenced your work? Social media is a HUGE part of my business. It informs us of how people are reacting to our work and how they want (or don’t) it packaged. In terms of the design work, I am of course inspired and influenced with what I see happening on the different platforms. But, ultimately I design for what I like and not exclusively for what’s on trend. If I have learned one thing in all my blog and social media years it is, that people respond best to authenticity…and pictures with celebrities. HA. I guess that’s two things.
What’s coming up for you in 2019? And your company? I have signed on for another year with Target as their Home Style Expert which is
honestly still a dream job. Their products are so good and are only getting better (can we talk about their new ceramics??) I love getting to show them off. Aside from that partnership, we have A LOT of makeovers planned this year including my mountain house (FINALLY), a handful of staff home projects, and many more. We are also doing more crash surprise makeovers (1 day, deserving reader – BEST DAY OF MY LIFE LAST YEAR). But the biggest undertaking of this year will be writing and shooting my next book which is coming out early next year. I have been waiting to have something new to say, and boy did I find it after everything I learned with the two major renovations we did last year. Folks, I have a lot to say on the topic. It’s going to be fun and extremely informative. Stay tuned.
Emily Henderson poses with a kitchen remodel and renovation in downown Charlotte, South Carolina.
Inside her own home, Emily Henderson recreated a setting inspired by her husband’s love of unique and fine art.
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Inside the Homes Contemporary house design is something most designers strive for, but creating a rustic contemporary house is not something everyone can pull off. The beautiful modern houses of today don’t always mesh with a more rugged, dirtroad setting. But when a designer from Oregon finds a fixer-upper nestled in the Southwestern woods, magic is sure to happen. Two hours outside Los Angeles sits a small mountain town that’s home to Emily Henderson’s newest project. Built in 1964, the home-y A-frame abode was meant to serve as a quiet retreat from the city, and an outlet for Henderson’s love of the outdoors as well as nature.
It’s pretty darn great. The only thing that we’ve changed is that we moved that tree down to LA because I knew that I couldn’t keep it alive up here and ultimately didn’t want the guilt, but I really wanted that sculptural natural element to break up the space. Instead, I’m going to put a tall dresser there (I already have it, it’s this one) for storage. It just makes more sense. The reclaimed wood extends throughout the flooring, creating an endless, seamless look. he newly-renovated kitchen spares no luxuries typically found in a modern contemporary house, yet still holds true to it’s quaint mountainous yet quaint and nice setting.
Now, we’ve designed a lot of rooms in our day and have noticed some consistent trends. Well, actually some anti-trends. What I mean by that is there are pieces that Emily and our design team (and honestly the whole of the design world) keep coming back to. Why? It’s because they are special but simple and modern yet classic. Not a trend at all, really. Just really good design. So we are calling it. Let me introduce The New Classics. Pieces that you can buy with total confidence because these puppies are TIME. LESS. Consider them inducted into the “Style Hall Of Fame.” You have our final and last word.
Emily favors vintage rugs because they mask any debris the kids track inside. If they’re threadbare from years of use, she plumps them up with an extra-thick rug pad beneath.Emily opted to paint the walls of the main living spaces shades of gray and white so the furniture and accent pieces could give her home the character she craved. “You can mix however many styles you want as long as you have a consistent color palette peppered evenly throughout,” she says. Here, lighter wood tones accented with blues and greens make the blend of classic and contemporary elements look purposeful.
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