A little while ago I convinced our friends at Robber that we should put together a spring window display. I had maypoles on the brain at the time and considered building one. In the end we made posters and strung up ribbons. We hung everything last night (our friend Kan happened to walk by, and ended up helping -- thanks, Kan!). As a small independent shop, of course Robber doesn't have an art department or a window display department, and we'd never done a "concept" window before. We freestyled a bit, but I'm pleased with how it turned out!
If you're in Toronto, be sure to peek in the shop.
Fresh flowers would have been lovely but obviously not ideal or long-lasting. I spraypainted some fake flowers white -- it didn't turn out quite as I had hoped, but I like the muted, ghosty effect.
The image on the posters is taken from a picture of a magnolia tree behind the abandoned apartment building in our neighbourhood. Geoff and I both worked on the design.
"Into the Fields" doesn't mean anything, really, but I wanted something other than a generic springtime message such as "Spring has sprung." Erin came up with it, and I loved it immediately because it sounds as though it could be the name of a movie (and, of course, I love the word "field" and the images it evokes). Maybe one day we'll make that movie, and it will have Shabd x Baggu backpacks, Filippa K sandals, and Mini for Many sunglasses in it.
Thanks, Erin and Robin!
REPLIES
victoria / cats dreaming in keylime: I'm happy to hear that, thank you.
Siubhan: Oh yes, I read that in the UK they're known as "soap wort," or at least some varieties are. The proper name is gypsophila; I just neglected to put that part in. I never did make a crown as I don't think I picked up enough.
chelsea: I'm so happy to hear you say that! And no, I never did make a crown -- I realized that I don't actually know how to! I need your help, obviously. I wish I could take your flower classessssssss.
K.: I agree!
galatea.: Thanks for saying that.
Cat: Thank you very much.
Lotta Losten: Oh, that's beautiful! And thank you for saying hello.
nick: I know! What a jerk I am!
jlee: I love pussy willows too. When I was little my mom had them out as decoration (!?) and I would pluck the little catkins off to play with them ("catkins" is also a great word). Haha, and yes, let's make some crowns.
becka: No no, that doesn't sound patronizing, because I know what you meant! Thank you, sweet Becka. xo
Jane Flanagan: Oh yes! That is a perfect way to describe it.
erin: Thank you. x
kater: I think it does, too. I'll probably leave it in that jar for months.
lark + linen: I'm glad you think so, too!
in dreams: Thank you. I do love that hazy filler quality! I was a bridesmaid in 1992 but we didn't wear flowers in our hair. What a shame.
Lauren: That sounds so lovely! I'm sure it will keep forever. And thank you for the encouragement.
Juli: Nice! I'm so glad about that.
sara: I'm glad you agree!
erica-knits: Yes, for sure. I try not to buy them too often, just because it could get out of hand very quickly, but in the summertime there's a vendor at the farmer's market who always has the most beautiful wildflowers.
Sara: Yes!
Katie Yang: I think they look pretty nice when they're dry, although it's true that they're so much prettier when fresh.
Caitlin Rose: For so long I thought that I hated carnations, but this picture from my friend Caitlin really made me see that there are some beautiful varieties available: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nice-etc/4864713017/ (so beautiful!)
Kelato: Oh, wow! I'm glad you like it.
Kristien: Oh, that sounds so lovely! And thank you, I appreciate that.
elegant storms: Thank you so much. What a sweet comment.
Hannah Elise: I love that you have a childhood memory associated with it! I think the things that I remember most from when I was little are the cherry blossoms in our yard, the tiny rose bushes, and the tulips.
Kate @ lovelornunicorn.com: That's sweet!
Hopscotch: Thank you!
josefinalouise: Thank you! I am enjoying it very much.
This is super lovely. I wouldn't mind at all being a window display creative director.
ReplyDeletelooks amazing!! great posters and i love the ribbons (are they from mokuba by chance?)
ReplyDeletebeautiful display, i love the ribbon! i used to do window displays fror le train bleu so i know how much work goes into them. that one definitely makes me want to shop!
ReplyDeletei think the flowers are just beautiful as they are, a genius idea in fact!
ReplyDeleteIt looks perfect! Totally a sucker for grays with pale floral colors- I wish I could see the shop in person!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I LOVE it! Congrats, guys.
ReplyDeleteI love the feeling of Into the Fields. It would look great on a tote bag...
ReplyDeletebeautiful. my great uncle used to design window displays for bergdorf goodman years and years and years ago. i've always wanted to style a window and your styling is a dream!
ReplyDeletexo moorea
nice work team!
ReplyDeleteoh yes, those carnations are beautiful, not at all 80s : )
ReplyDeleteYour first window display looks gorgeous, I can't wait to go down to queen to check it out.
Ahhh just so lovely!
ReplyDeletea perfect balance between not over the top, but enough to make a quiet statement. love!
ReplyDeleteOhhh, I quite like the simplicity of the typeface & the contrast of muted colours against your black & white print. At risk of sounding materialistic, it would make for a fantastic tote.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for an eloquently stated defence of such pretty posts.
Cheers,
Looks amazing! You guys did a great job :)
ReplyDeletelooks so good! seriously!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so lovely, I can't wait to go see it close up
ReplyDeletex.Casie jean
so pretty! can't wait to check it out in pers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Anabela, just gorgeous, love it a lot ! Congratulations !
ReplyDeleteWow! It looks lovely...and it makes me want to go in!! eeeeeeek! ;)
ReplyDeletei love the spring window!
ReplyDeleteWow, you did an amazing job! My favorite part - the posters of course. They look so stylish and minimalistic! Just perfect!
ReplyDeleteDang, it looks awesome. I love those posters, you should make something similar to sell in your shop:)
ReplyDeletelooks fantastic! although i've only visited once, it certainly compliments their inner aesthetic. lovely.
ReplyDeletelove the display window. i think the spray painted flowers are my favorite part :)
ReplyDeleteSo nice!
ReplyDeleteyou are SO SO SO SO talented, anabela! for real. you do it all. photography, graphic design, installations. this is tremendous! i love the maypole inspiration, of course!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so beautiful. Love the poster images, but also really adore the ribbons hanging from the ceiling! I wish you could be the decorator for my wedding!
ReplyDeleteThe display is beautiful!
ReplyDelete<3 Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com
wow, this display really looks wonderful. i think it came together wonderfully. i love the way the pastel colored ribbons and flowers are offset by a strong black and white. it brings just enough color to the display while not taking away from the products, whose earthy tones are balanced great by the whole display. i am also loving how you handled the text - your banner reminds me a lot of an album cover.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love the idea of the spay-painted flowers, may have to borrow that sometime! ;)
ReplyDeletelove it! those flowers are great.
ReplyDeletei think the flowers look good! soft and muted like you said.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, I love the wistful romantic/modern vibe. I'm going to be doing a Fall window myself soon here on the other side of the world
ReplyDeletethis looks amazing! wish i could see it in person.
ReplyDeletealso - i just received my there is thunder in our hearts tote in the mail!! the wrapping is gorgeous and i cannot wait to start using the bag. thank you so much, i'm in love.
Soooo good, I wish I could come see it in person! I also wish I was going to be dancing around a Maypole this year, it's been way, way too long since I attended a good hippie heathen May Day celebration.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous work! Looking forward to passing by and seeing it in real life - those large scale prints are really great.
ReplyDeleteThe window looks great! A few months ago I started doing the windows at mini mioche which is just down the street from Robber :)
ReplyDeleteLooks great you guys! Having a store, I know how hard it is to do windows, which is why we tend towards the "we're minimalist, so what do you expect?" train of thought...haha...maybe I should hire you to do ours! (Juli from Mjolk - I can do the URL comment anymore)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great window display! Perfect scale and balance; not too crowded with merch or decorations, not too empty either. Just lovely!
ReplyDelete*brain tingling from beauty overload*
ReplyDeleteseriously, anabela, it looks amazing.
dang! looks so good and pro, can't believe its your first time doing it. I always thought working on display would be such a fun job if you loved the brand/product & you really love Robber, so perfect match...
ReplyDeleteaaah! i was literally in there yesterday looking at all the new stuff for spring! crazy that it's so different now! :)
ReplyDeletei'm completely in love with those filippa k sandals. they are amazing, and if i tried them on i'm sure i'd be walking out with them still on my feet. dangerous!
also, i really love that 'into the fields' poster. HMM. i smell a new shop update? cos that would be lovely... (speaking of which, where do you get them printed, anyway? i've been wanting to get some of my polaroids blown-up, and want to go somewhere they won't charge me arms, legs. etc.)
ooh, it looks so good! such a lovely display... i love the muted earthy feel and the mood that "into the fields" evokes. i've never been to Robber, but i will be sure to visit the next time i'm in TO!
ReplyDeleteis it the magnolias from the Sylvan Apartments?
ReplyDeleteYou know.. that's how I found your blog! I stumbled across them last spring and googled them and your blog came up and I've been a reader ever since! I'll know it's been a year when that magnolia tree is back in bloom!
Beautiful display!! You're so lucky that you get to do things like this!
Bravo. Love how it turned out. I work at Swan restaurant nearby so I will definately cruise by in person sometime soon!!
i think my tote bag will arrive tomorrow... i will have to sport it as i walk by ;)
keep up the good work!
amy
Love it! Congrats girl.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous! I love how you paired that ghost tone look with the bright pops. Somehow, it makes it a more realistic spring look, plus a lot more timeless.
ReplyDeleteIt looks truly amazing!
ReplyDeleteX
oh it looks lovely anabela! it really does! you sure did a wonderful job! the ribbons look so delicate! ;) take care! twiggs
ReplyDeletebeautiful!!! i think creating a window display would be loads of fun - such perfect posters and ribbons - everything looks great!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU guys! We love it, such a nice change from our usual boring (errr "simple") windows. Now COME ON SPRING!!!
ReplyDeleteturned out wonderful!
ReplyDeleteohh its so nice! what a lovely window display!
ReplyDeleteanabela, this looks great!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! And I love that you spray-painted the flowers...that's such a nice touch, I would never have thought of that. It all looks so delicate and perfect for Spring.
ReplyDeleteWow congrats, looks great!
ReplyDeleteIt looks wonderful! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteyou should be a stylist, this is so pretty, without being overbearingly pretty (if you know what I mean). I love the simplicity of it all - it's actually really hard to pull off a simple aesthetic that works well.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! What a great looking display, I'm sure they'll be asking you to do more in the future. :)
ReplyDeletei love it!!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Wow! This makes me want to style some window displays. The ribbons look super pretty.
ReplyDeleteso so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSuper duper lovely blog!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
colormenana.blogspot.com
Great work you guys! I love the ribbons. Gets me inspired to hang some around my bedroom. Next time I'm around the Queen West area I will be sure to check it out!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! My birthday is on May Day and I've always wished there were more maypoles in my life.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Saw it the other day on a stroll - I had just been in the store recently, drooling over the backpacks and those sandals. The combo is to die for.
ReplyDelete