Pattern Play

Today, I ventured over to Pottery Barn Kids in need of kiddo supplies. As a big fan of hearts of all kinds, my heart kinda stopped over these....

2016 POTTERY BARN KIDS 

Because I co-conceived these:

2012 PLATYPUS DESIGNER DUCT TAPE (the predecessor)

Coincidence? Hmmmm.....

These PBK hearts sure look similar to a 2012 "I Heart Tape" pattern co-conceived with my super fab client Platypus Designer Duct Tape. An upstart brand, I not only rebranded this company, but also led creative, marketing + PR efforts and new product development/assortment too.

Unlike the competition, our patterns were specifically designed to mix+match so that tapes would beautifully and seamlessly integrate for fashion-forward projects including wearables, jewelry/accessories, general crafting and DIY decorating. 

All led to national press as well as greater retail distribution, and expanded use of products, particularly within the home sector. 

For "inspiration," check out these super quick, budget-friendly ideas that uplevel, upcycle + uplift! Who can resist such easy, stylish improvement? Not me.

• Small bulletin board in "I Heart Tape" with bow in "Sour Apple Linen"
• Hair bow in "Pink Polka Dot"
• Magazine holder in "I Heart Tape"
• Cubby storage unit in "Picnic Gingham"
• Pencil cup in "Houndstooth" and "Denim"
• Pencils and clips in "Real Leopard," "Argyle," "Pink Polka Dot" + "Picnic Gingham"
• Bulletin board in "Grass," "Argyle" + "Sour Apple Linen"
• Picture frame in "Pool Chevron"
• Assorted covered boxes in "Jolly Roger" + more
• Paper bin in "I Heart Tape"

Platypus Designer Duct Tape. Make It With Tape.

Select patterns above include: Pink Polka Dot, Sour Apple Linen, Picnic Gingham, Houndstooth, Denim, Real Leopard, Argyle, Jolly Roger, Green Grass, Pool Chevron + I Heart Tape.

5 Stars: Falling for Mary Lou Quinlan's Solo Show....

Some news to share! Client Mary Lou Quinlan has done it again: her one woman, one act play based on her New York Times bestselling book, met critic raves this summer at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014.

Here, Mary Lou explores laughter and tears in love, in loss and in triumph. 

She says, "You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll want to call your mother."

"The God Box: A Daughter's Story," performed by Mary Lou and co-written with director Martha Wollner of New York City's critically acclaimed LAByrinth Theater Company, is an emotional rollercoaster of the heart. 

Best of all, the God Box project has helped communities near and far by raising over $250,000 for cancer, hospice, education, family and community causes. Now that's something to cheer about!

Whoo hoo, Mary Lou!

BRITISH THEATRE GUILD / 5 STAR REVIEW - "Based on her own New York Times bestseller, the production is a sweet tale, peppered with vignettes and meanders, which all add to flavour this sense of a life, and the people who touched it.

The titular God Box is a wicker container in which Quinlan's mother would drop scraps of paper with tiny prayers for her friends and family. It acts as a touching and unique focal point to the charity of the woman, and her deep kindness towards the people she knew. 

Charting the story of the death of both her parents, Quinlan manages to be comic, tragic and endearing by measure, all portrayed against a seguing projected display of photographs and imagery.

A truly beautiful play, with a heart full of love behind it."

Mary Lou Quinlan takes the page to the global stage!

When the book, The God Box: Sharing my mother's gift of faith, love and letting go, written by client Mary Lou Quinlan immediately became a New York Times bestseller, we had a feeling that its theatrical complement, The God Box, A Daughter's Story, would continue to gain momentum. And it has!

Mary Lou will be performing her solo show at the prestigious Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland this summer from July 31 to August 25, 2014. Whoo hoo!

Buzz is building so if you find yourself hankering to go (and do bring hankies...), get tickets at the Fringe's online box office. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Wondering what the fuss is all about? This.

An overachieving daughter, devastated after the sudden loss of her mother, makes a startling discovery: private boxes of notes to God written by the very hand that has slipped away. These secret petitions, scribbled on torn pages and Post-its, lure her onto an emotional rollercoaster, ricocheting from grief to laughter to the greatest human challenge: learning to let go. Based on her New York Times bestseller, The God Box, charismatic storyteller Mary Lou Quinlan shares her most personal journey yet. The solo show will make you laugh, cry and want to call your mother.

If you can't hop the pond, see clips + read more about the dynamic God Box project here. It has been quite a journey....and Mary Lou has many more miles to go.

(I'm thinkin' a made-for-tv movie...or Netflix special webcast...who's with me? Let's put that in the God Box!)

Learn more about Mary Lou here. She's one talented lady.

Crafting it for Brit

This spring I had a great time working with Brit Morin over at Brit + Co., headquartered in San Francisco, on an integrated branding and multi-pronged marketing initiative with Web series.

( I even picked up a few innovative tips and tricks for styling too! True to her Texan roots, her "@Brit" LED cowboy hat , complete with her Twitter handle, for SXSW is one of my all time fave ideas!) 

A rising star, Brit is craftily and happily blazing trails. Right out of the gate, she was hailed the "digital" Martha Stewart of today's curious "Gen Why" world. Tech-savvy and stylish, Brit is big on the maker movement, community collaboration and social sharing. She believes in making, doing and creatively living (she walks the talk, folks!) and feels that being inclusive - rather than exclusive - sets her apart from, ahem, others in the DIY realm. Plus, Brit + Co. projects aren't overly complicated and are meant to add a colorful boost or time-saving perk to daily life. See for yourself here.

Super bubbly and down to earth, it's no wonder that she is a frequent guest contributor on The Today Show. She is as friendly in real life as you see her on TV.

What's a girl like me who loves DIY of all kinds to do? Ideate, create and collaborate! In partnership with Kristin Brewer of Village Theorem, I co-crafted an integrated editorial, marketing and social initiative. Multi-faceted, our thinking included a cornerstone Web series, supplemental editorial content, community-centered events + e-commerce...Yep, there will be lots 'o fun stuff to bring to life! 

Not to mention, some advertiser love. With companies clamoring for newness, select partnerships and branded entertainment opportunities, I am certain this bang up and buttoned up concept will be quite a hit! So stay tuned....

"Brit" is destined to become a household name just like her, um, NYC-based predecessor. 

Yep, I'm sure of  it.

Street smart

Congrats to Rob Jordan, founder of Platypus Designer Duct Tape and inventor of colorfully patterned duct tape, as his awesome tape was included in today's WSJ! 

You can find it here within the Life & Culture section: "Tweens Say It With Duct Tape." 

The gist of the article is about tweens who strive to personalize and individualize their style by using a variety of crafting materials, thus rocking their own vibe.

One of my fave quotes: 

"Technology is driving kids' love of customization. Photos inspire them to try what others have posted on Instagram and Pinterest and provide a stage for showing off their own creations. Economic uncertainty has benefited crafting as well, because it promotes inexpensive, at-home activities. And young crafters are also recyclers, who like turning old tissue boxes into coin banks, and tatty T-shirts into fashion statements."

So true - and Platypus fans have been all over this trend! That's why Rob created chic, matte finish, horizontally and vertically seamless tape back in 2008. He wanted to stand out.

Whether handcrafting wallets, fashioning earrings, upleveling everyday household items or enhancing decor, one-of-a-kind, hand-making and beautifying has been a huge part of the Platypus DNA for the last couple years. His tape, he says, is "beautifully different."

And...despite what might be common assumption, Platypus patterns preceded the competition. But you know the old adage, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." And so it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway...), way to craft a new market, Rob! 

Now that was "street" smart.

With gratitude to Remedy Quarterly

A hearty thank you to Remedy Quarterly, acclaimed indie foodie pub, for including a heartfelt article of mine, "Love Amid Lemons," in its risk-themed issue. It is on newsstands beginning in March.

More soon on all...Right now, I'm beaming.

Warm regards,
Lissa

Whoa - HGTV magazine + the Today Show!

What a month! 

Rad client Platypus Designer Duct Tape was included in both HGTV magazine and on the Today Show during a recent segment on upleveling home decor with colorful adhesive.

(Natalie Morales said that Platy's Paisley was her favorite pattern - and proceeded to cover her cast with it.)

I'm thinking that these ideas are going to stick....

We thank you!

Thank you, Parade!

Such happy news! 

Yesterday The God Box mobile app that I created as a companion for Mary Lou Quinlan's bestselling book, The God Box: Sharing my mother's gift of faith, love and letting go was featured in Parade + Parade.com. 

This mobile app was designed in collaboration with the Phillip Ting of Elephant Ideas & Design in San Francisco and Kathryn Whyte, an illustrator now living in Charleston. 

Here are few screen shots of this lovely, heartfelt app (even if I am biased). It's available for download at iTunes + free! Click here.

The app trailer - shot by Taproot Films out of Durham, North Carolina - is simply wonderful....Totally humanizes technology.

Click here.

So easy to deposit notes of love, worries, wishes, gratitude while on the go. For whenever, wherever and whoever needs a little bit of hope.  Save, email, post or tweet it.

So sweet....

Lissa


P.S. More about the multi-faceted God Box project can be found at theGodBoxproject.com.

Hooray - Rachel Ray spots Platypus Designer Duct Tape!

Hot off the press! 

I am so excited that my client Platypus Designer Duct Tape is included in the "Just Spotted" edit in the October issue.

Fun fact: Rob Jordan, head honcho over at Platypus, is the originator of patterned duct tape designs (that "other" company continues to mimic him down to the detail...). Platy's Pink Polka Dot - with its unique seamless matte finish - is totally chic + can be styled in so many ways. And very on trend this fashion season.

Purchase your stash at Spoonsisters.com (as indicated). Or you can visit DesignerDuctTape.com where each roll is a wee bit less expensive + sold for $5.95/per. There are 20 additional designs too. 

All of the patterns are meant to mix+match - ideal for crafting, decorating + entertaining. Check out Rob's "Rolling Right Along" blog for some fabulous - and easy - DIY ideas.

Big thank you, Rachael Ray, for making our day!

Thank you, Forbes!

Recently, my client Mary Lou Quinlan, the New York Times bestselling author of The God Box as well as an internationally known authority on marketing to women, was asked by journalist Kathy Caprino to contribute to Forbes.com as a part of her series entitled "Entrepreneurial Women Rocking the World."

Mary Lou's article follow focuses on virtual global team building. As creative director and marketing strategist for the launch of the multi-dimensional brand the God Box project, including the hardcover keepsake book, performance, website, mobile app, series of short films, social media presence + more, my heartfelt gratitude to these talented ladies for including me within this article as well as touting virtual global team curation.

Handpicking a team that spans the globe, all companies should embrace new ways to work and ideate, just as forward thinking Mary Lou did.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2012/06/21/staffing-2-0-top-5-lessons-in-building-a-virtual-global-team/

What an honor, thank you!

Hitting The New York Times best seller list...!

Congratulations to my fabulous client Mary Lou Quinlan for being selected for The New York Times best seller list for her new book, The God Box: Sharing my mother's gift of faith, love and letting go. It is such a beautiful story about legacy (read more here via reviews on Amazon). What an incredible honor and accomplishment, especially since the book has only been out for a few weeks...!

As creative director and marketing strategist for the God Box project (theGodBoxproject.com) including this book, I couldn't be more thrilled and more honored to collaborate with such a wonderful, dynamic, uber talented woman. Thank you, Mary Lou!

P.S. More soon about the newly launched The God Box mobile app on iTunes! Is really endearing....

An update about the amazing Mary Lou

Mary Lou Quinlan's The God Box: sharing my mother's gift of faith, love and letting go officially launched two weeks ago...And the book is flying off the shelves like hot cakes! Barnes and Noble has upped its order to include it in 700 stores. Amazon can't keep the book in stock. (It broke the Top 100 books at launch!) Even more, she has agreed to translate the book in Portugese and Korean...and we are discussing product development too. Is crazy amazing...But then again, I am not surprised. 

When Mary Lou and I met on November 13, 2011, it was destiny. And we both knew it was meant to be that we would find a way to work together. Not only am I Mary Lou's brand architect, I am her wingwoman, her confidant, her special friend. So much fabulousness has happened as a result of her big idea and our collaboration. She has given my the opportunity of a lifetime. I am incredibly touched + grateful....And now the whole World Wide Web knows of my gratitude and admiration for her. Thank you, Mary Lou!

One by one, my hope is that people will learn about her mother's Mary's practice of keeping a God Box. A place where she deposited her wishes, worries, prayers for others - even strangers. She kept 20 years of notes in not one but 10 God Boxes. It is such a story of hope, love, faith and legacy.

Even Reba is a fan! (And I have been liaising with Starstruck Entertainment...so cool...). And Liz Gilbert too. And Gail Sheehy...and more!

Read ALL about Mary Lou's special project here:  http://www.thegodboxproject.com

The God Box iPhone app will be out super soon too! Note writing on-the-go. If I do say so myself, it's fabulous, simple, chic and heartfelt.

And Mary Lou continues to bring the printed page to the stage with her one woman, one act play...that she wrote and performs. Watch out Broadway here she comes!

I am over the moon for the amazing Mary Lou. And I am excited for what's more in store....because I am certain that greater things are on the horizon. 

YAY!

Mary Lou Quinlan + the God Box project's first wave of press

SNEAK PEEK!

Hooray, Mary Lou Quinlan! The first wave of press has begun to hit for my client's latest book, The God Box: Sharing my mother's gift of faith, love and letting go. And well it should. Mary Lou is one unique woman: media personality, speaker, author, playwright, actor, branding expert on women + more.

A labor of love by all - and for good reason - to bring the God Box project to life. Along with robust content that we launched on theGodBoxproject.com plus an emergent social presence, there is still much much good stuff to come. Including a lovely little iPhone app! The God Box is destined to become a household name...and a practice.

Early praise has graciously come from:

• Elizabeth Gilbert, author Eat, Pray Love
• Reba, musician, author, actress
• Jeffrey Zaslow, coauthor of The Last Lecture
• Jim Lehrer of PBS fame
• Gail Sheehy, author of Passages in Caregiving
• Lee Woodruff, author of In An Instant about her journalist husband, Bob Woodruff

Such a touching story of mothers and daughters and love for family, friends and even strangers. Exciting to think of its far-reaching impact.

In fact, The God Box will be included in the VIP gift bags at the Academy of Country Music Awards this Sunday...where none other than Reba is the host.

Very cool.

(To read more about my professional experience,click here.)

(photo: sneak peek by Lissa Lowe)

Press for Platypus!

Yipee! A smattering of recent press for my client Platypus Designer Duct Tape:

(To read more about my professional experience,click here.)

Fly (Work, Chat, Multi-task) with Wingstand!

Invented by Stanford student Daniel Haarburger, crowd funded on Kickstarter and backed by over contributors, the WINGStand arrived to market - from conception to inception - in less than five months!

(With 1,485 backers, $58,869 in funding representing 619% of goal, WINGStand was so successful that it also is part of Kickstarter's "Hall of Fame" as one of the most funded Design projects since 2009!)

Not only is this handy stand collapsible, portable and incredibly useful stand on the fly (literally or figuratively) on a plane, in a home, classroom or office, its unique design is minimalist chic, eco-friendly and made in the USA. Along with a bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboard, it makes computing a breeze on an iPad or iPhone (or other mobile device). Available in black or white, it's $14.95 price point can't be beat (get yours here).

As marketing advisor to this Palo Alto/Boulder-based start up, I couldn't be more thrilled to see its success and the media coverage from the likes of Wired, Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post, Gizmo.do, Cult of Mac, Gadget Boy and more (press release here).

Daniel Haarburger is poised to soar....!

(To read more about my professional experience,click here.)

Spirited "Jackson Square" from McGuire

One of my projects while at the luxury furniture company McGuire involved the development of their new archival-based furniture collection, Jackson Square.

Based on McGuire's historical designs and made of durable materials (e.g, rattan, leather and bamboo) along with colorful fabrics and finishes, this modern yet traditional line of furnishings sings both boldly and beautifully.

Its heritage, craftsmanship and form stands out from a sea of competitors and lends beauty to a multitude of spaces.

Marketing-wise, the launch was heralded in Communication Arts Design Annual 53 for its beautifully shot and styled luxe catalogs (groundbreaking imagery for the furniture industry). Congratulations to McGuire's Kendra Frisbie, Creative Director, who led this charge.

As the spirited little sister of McGuire, I will be proud to own many a piece in my home. And dare I say, I've found a new definition of heirloom juxtaposed with modern living....Swoon.

(To read more about my professional experience, click here.)