The Conference Jenay Ross The Conference Jenay Ross

A Look Back to #CreateCultivateDallas: Recaps From Our Attendees

Missed out on Create & Cultivate Dallas? Here are all the recaps from our attendees to get you up to speed.

Create & Cultivate Dallas may have been last month, but we still remember it like it was yesterday, and are so overwhelmed with all the love that we got from our amazing attendees! So many of you wrote amazing recaps and pointed out some of your favorite things that you learned on site, and we’re so glad that you shared them with us. 

If you happened to miss out on Create & Cultivate Dallas and are antsy to know what you can expect for our next city (we’re so excited to announce this Monday!), read all about how amazing Dallas was from our attendees’ point of view, and check out the links below!

House of Harper -  Little White Dress
The Skinny Confidential - Mini Delites: Create & Cultivate
Katherine Schwarzenegger - Create & Cultivate 2016
The Style Line - The Next Generation At Create & Cultivate Dallas (A Recap)
Livingly - 6 Inspiring Things Learned At The First Girl Boss Conference
Cobalt Chronicles - Create & Cultivate
Molly On The Move - My Create + Cultivaet Dallas 2016 Experience
Freckles and Figs - Create + Cultivate (And Then Combust From The Most Inspiring Day Ever): A Conference Recap
Fit Is Chic - 10 Things I Learned At The Create & Cultivate Conference
Girl Meets SF - Create + Cultivate Recap: Dallas Edition
Blonde Barrage - Wise Words
The Polished Workbook - Create & Cultivate
A Southern Style - Create + Cultivate Dallas
Between Two Coasts - Create + Cultivate Dallas
Obviously Elizabeth - Create + Cultivate 2016
Vici Loves - Create & Cultivate Dallas
Earn Spend Live - 13 Takeaways from Create + Cultivate Dallas
Passport to Friday - Create + Cultivate Dallas Recap: A Motivational Experience
Lady Goodman - Create + Cultivate: Dallas
La Vie Petite - Create + Cultivate Dallas
The Stylish Soul - Create + Cultivate Dallas
Chasing Kendall - Create & Cultivate Conference (and Some Dallas Fun!)
Buttoned Bears - Create & Cultivate
HerStory Blog - Takeaways From Create + Cultivate That Everyone Can Utilize
Champagne Darling - Travel With Me: Create & Cultivate

If we missed you on this list, share your recap below! 

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The Conference Arianna Schioldager The Conference Arianna Schioldager

Reliving Our Favorite #LadyBoss Moments at Create & Cultivate Dallas

If you have C & C FOMO, we've got you covered. Watch this now. 

#CreateCultivateDallas was only two weeks ago, but we're already looking back at some of the amazing moments and people we met on-site. To get you buzzing for our next city announcement on Monday, here's a little taste of what went down in Dallas!

Don’t fret if you missed out. We've got so much more in store for our next city! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know Monday AM where we're headed to next!

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The Conference, Profiles Arianna Schioldager The Conference, Profiles Arianna Schioldager

Meet the Boss of the Floral Business: Bess Wyrick of Celadon and Celery

She makes it look easy, but it's not. 

Serial entrepreneur Bess Wyrick is not only our MF BOSS Senior Event Producer at Create & Cultivate, she also runs Celadon & Celery Events, her fourth business venture which has been successful and profitable since 2008. This doesn't come as a surprise to us at C & C (did you see the florals and stages in Dallas?). Bess' work ethic is imbued with a Millennial spirit, the kind that's convinced it's possible to be an effective part of something bigger. The kind that believes we can create our own change and be disruptive in our own niches. So that's what she's done-- created the change herself (and it's blooming beautiful). 

Basically for Bess, the world is her Oleander. 

Tell us a little bit about your background, and how you found yourself in the floral and events business.

During college I spent some time working on the catering side of events and always loved when the events we worked on had the budgets to hire florists. I thought they were magicians!  So after college I spent some time freelancing as a florist with a slew of the best San Francisco Event Designers. I started out on the production floral side which meant early morning flower market runs, long hours of processing flowers, cleaning buckets and vases, cleaning out the cooler, and then sweeping. My god I was always sweeping since florists make a huge mess. It didn't take long before I was picking up all the insider tricks. Before long I was designing weekly flowers accounts, working on weddings, and being hired as a freelance designer. 

Plants, nature, soil it all made sense to me and working with it every day was second nature at that point.

 

What has been the biggest discovery you’ve made about yourself as a small-business owner?

You have to have more than passion to keep you motivated and driven. I have found that the crew you hire is the key to success. I am only as good as the team around me and I am better with a team that works independently, creatively, and passionately. As a creative I am always finding new ways to encourage and inspire my team to work harder but smarter. Luckily we are surrounded by beauty all the time so I have to remind them to not take advantage of it!

"Work harder but smarter." 

Tweet this. 

What was your biggest fear in launching your own business?

Running out of MONEY! This is my third business and unlike my last two I was launching without a business partner, in a new city, and I was still green! It was 2008 and I had just landed in NYC before the economy tanked and before too long my job, housing, and the life I had built was pulled out from under me. So I took my skill set, got a part time retail flower job and started hustling. I also took a studio in the NYC flower market where I converted it into a live/work loft and started to make the dream happen. 

I never ran out of money because I did three things that I think were critical to my success:

1. Freelance, if I did not have my own gig, I was working for someone else.

2. I lived and breathed flowers, marketing, networking. I was ruthless when it came to promoting myself and the brand I was building.

3. I was the first company to ever offer Flower Workshops on sites like Groupon and Living Social. They were a huge success and sold out every time I did an offer. They became so huge I started doing them in other markets: LA, Miami, Dallas.

By year two I was already becoming a nationwide brand name that people recognized. While that type of marketing had its downfalls it propelled the business to get through the years where wedding and event budgets were scare.

People see pretty. But behind the scenes is a lot of tough work and labor. What are some other elements people would find surprising about event and floral production?

I started my business on the ethos of buying only local flowers, which means grown and shipped in the US only.  In 2007 this was a very hard thing to do and meant I had to find these farmers myself. I would spend hours and days driving around to meet farmers and understand what they grew and what their capabilities were. It set my business apart in NY since the market was used to importing from Holland or Asia. Having spent four years of my life as a marijuana farmer I knew how important it was to find flower farmers who took the time to grow seasonal and sustainably. It is what my brand is all about!

In addition, the physical labor that goes into creating flowers for events is hard on the body, very time consuming, and tedious. Florists work long hours, in extreme conditions and it is a constant balance of heavy lifting and stretching to reach large installations. But it's a high to work long days and then step back and see the beauty you've created. I am addicted to that feeling; it is why I keep at it.

There’s a time frame when you’re working with flowers that’s a little… scary. How do you make sure things happen in crunch time?

Ahh, yes this is a secret language between the flowers, the environment, and the style of the event. The way flowers look at an event are leaps and bounds above how they look when I receive them. Most people would be surprised to know that I often get flowers five days before an event so I can work on changing their shape, opening them up, or allowing them to bloom so they are at their peak on event day. I am not a nervous person so this process is more like a dance between me and the flowers.

During Create & Cultivate Dallas I got all the soft flowers on Tuesday (ed note: the event was on Saturday) and spent the time to process them, heat them up so they would open, then stabilize them in a cooler when they were perfect. It is an art but comes with all those years I worked production and stuck it out in rooms with heaters and trucks with coolers!

What are the long term goals for Celedon and Celery?

The beauty about being in the event world is that you can be as transformative as a space. CC has become a resource to so many other florists on large floral build outs, destinations flower planning, and sourcing flowers in regions. I continue to see it be a design house that consults with agency on larger activations, and brand ideation. We are more than florists here at CC and that is why it has been so successful in so many markets. We are creatives, designers, producers, and most of all collaborators, and I hope to see it become a staple platform for  future visual artists to come.

 

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The Conference Arianna Schioldager The Conference Arianna Schioldager

An Inside Peek at the Fossil x C & C Speaker Dinner

From an ombré tablescape to a killer group selfie, the night before the conference was fire. 

To kick of Create & Cultivate Dallas, Fossil hosted an amazing Speaker Dinner at the W Hotel. Everyone from SoulCycle founders Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler to Who What Wear's Hillary Kerr showed up ready to mingle and oogle and ahhh the most gorgeous ombre table they'd ever seen. Before sitting, guests were given the option to emboss their Harper Crossbody bag-- something that Katherine Schwarzenegger jumped right on, and everyone went home with Fossil's fashionable activity tracker, Q Dreamer.

Click through to see our favorite moments from the dinner, the tablescape, and a fashion blogger selfie moment for the books. 

 

 

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The Conference, Advice Arianna Schioldager The Conference, Advice Arianna Schioldager

9 Killer Public Speaking Tips from Top Female Entrepreneurs

Get ready to pick up this mic we're about to drop. 

Jittery hands, racing heart, blank mind. If you're climbing the career ranks, there is a good chance you've experienced one or all of these emotions when you get up to give a presentation or a talk. There's no escaping it, and the earlier you accept that public speaking is going to be a part of your career, the better. After all, practice makes perfect (or so said Tina Craig of Bag Snob this weekend at Create & Cultivate Dallas). 

Whether you're prepping for a pitch meeting or you're planning to one day give a world-changing TED talk, we asked the industry best to give their quick and dirty tips for getting up in front of a crowd or an investor. 

ANNIE LAWLESS, NY TIMES BEST SELLER, CO-FOUNDER SUJA, CREATOR BLAWNDE.COM

"Don't filter yourself because everyone can tell. Be authentic-- that will help you be conversational. And don't worry about what you think they want to hear." 

DANIELLE DUBOISE, CO-FOUNDER SAKARA LIFE

"Memorize three things you know you want to say. Don't memorize anything else because you'll sound like a robot. And have a code word for yourself. Mine is solar plexus, for when I tap into my power." 

SOPHIA RIVKA ROSSI, CO-FOUNDER HELLO GIGGLES

"The key to public speaking is to disassociate, j/k, to connect to what you are expressing, and just remember no one really ever cares more than you do." 

JACLYN JOHNSON, FOUNDER CREATE & CULTIVATE

"The worst thing you can do on stage is think about yourself. What matters is the audience. So get out of your head and your inspirational insight will find a way into theirs." 

JULIE RICE, CO-FOUNDER SOULCYCLE

"Speak from your heart. Everyone can understand passion...oh yeah and 'takeaways.' Leave people with something actionable." 

TINA CRAIG, CO-FOUNDER BAG SNOB

“I talked about the end user, as if she was there.” On “Shirley,” the character she created and used when pitching HSN. Adding, "You do anything enough, and it becomes fun. Practice in your sleep."

 

HILLARY KERR, CO-FOUNDER WHO WHAT WEAR, CLIQUE MEDIA

"Some people thought we were cream puffs, but we were smart. I like to say it was like being bitten to death by a butterfly." On early fundraising meetings for Who What Wear.

RACHEL ASHWELL, FOUNDER RACHEL ASHWELL SHABBY CHIC  

"Be truthful. It's too easy to say what you think sounds good." 

ELIZABETH CUTLER, CO-FOUNDER SOULCYCLE

"And concise." 

Mic drop, Elizabeth. *claps* 

 

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The Conference, Advice Arianna Schioldager The Conference, Advice Arianna Schioldager

5 Pieces of Must-Know Advice from C & C Dallas

Yesterday at Create & Cultivate these ladies (and one gent) dropped some serious knowledge. 

Snapchat has DJ Khaled and his major keys, but yesterday Dallas had all the keys to creative, entrepreneurial boss success when Create and Cultivate hit Lofty Spaces. The energy was electric. Attendees were on fire with their outfits and questions for panelists. And the speakers, let’s say they knocked the yee out of the haw. 

Here are five MAJOR KEY takeaways from yesterday’s Create & Cultivate Dallas. 

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MISSION

We heard this reiterated a couple of different ways yesterday, but there's not doubt that buzzword of the day was MISSION. Everyone from the Soul Cycle co-founders to Stephanie Mark of The Coveteur made it clear: the goal SHOULD NEVER BE FOLLOWERS OR MONEY. You start with an idea you believe in and make that carry your business and fuel those late nights. 

"Trying to get 500k on Instagram is not a goal or a business plan." 

Tweet this. 

Soul Cycle co-founders Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler told the crowd that their mission has always been simple: "to put joy and empowerment into their business." 

Sakara Life co-founder Danielle DuBoise encouraged the audience to make sure that their work “is a mission driven business, because it will change your trajectory.” Adding, “When times get tough, you can make it so it’s not about you. Stay true to your mission because that is what will carry you through.”

WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, JUST WORK B.

What we see on stage is pretty and inspiring, but is also the result of late, wee-morning work hours, tears of exhaustion, missteps, hustling two jobs to fuel to the passion project, and even moving back in with mom and dad. 

At the end of day what everyone on these stages has is a propensity to work, work, work— something they reiterated to attendees time and again. 

From Annie Lawless telling the crowd: “Any entrepreneur will tell you, you are always working, but for you it’s not a job, it’s a dream.” 

To Emily Schuman explaining to a captivated audience: “Have patience. I’m sitting up here talking about all of these things I’ve done, but it’s taken a really long time. Have determination and patience and believe in yourself.”

On her early days of self-taught Photoshop Katherine Power told the crowd: “You just have to get it done.”

Kendi from Kendi Everyday said something rather similar: “You just have to decide to do it. And then do it.”

IT’S QUALITY AND QUANTITY

There is something to be said that “done is better than perfect”— which, is an adage we heard a couple of times from the stages yesterday. But when the world is watching you need to be on your A-game. Matt Crump of #candyminimal fame explained to the crowd the importance of delivering on both quality and quantity if you want to grow your following. 

“I was working two jobs,” he said, “and moved back in with my parents. But I would make sure that what I was putting out was thoughtful and consistent. If it’s your passion, you make it great, and you make it work.” 

Tina Craig of Bag Snob also made clear that in addition you need to know all sides of what you’re doing.“If you want to get in the business,” she said, “get in the back end of the business. Not just the fun. Not just the selfies.”

In the age of social platforms you have to consistently pump out content, but it needs to be solid. 

A BAD RELATIONSHIP CAN RUIN YOUR WORK SPIRIT

We heard this sentiment repeated three times and we think it’s worth repeating here. 

First, Whitney Wolfe CEO and Founder of dating-app Bumble asked the crowd to consider what a bad relationship has the ability to do. “If you’re in a bad relationship,” she said, “it can destroy your life.” 

On a lighter (but also totally serious note), Soul Cycle CEO Elizabeth Cutler told everyone, “No deadbeat boyfriends for anyone who works for us.”

This also applies to work relationships. Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power are coming up on their ten year workaverssary and told attendees, “WE obviously have a friendship but it’s business first and foremost. You have to be respectful.”

THERE’S NEVER THE RIGHT TIME

Waiting for the perfect day to come along to take a risk? Not gonna happen. 

When Danielle DuBoise and Whitney Tingle (who just made Forbes 30 Under 30) started Sakara Life they had a combined 700 dollars. Annie Lawless (also on Forbes' coveted list), who dropped out of law school and started delivering juice around San Diego in her 2-door coup, had less than that. If you’re waiting for lightning to strike, the stars to align, or enough money in the bank, there’s a good chance you’re going to miss your shot. There is someone right now taking that risk. 

Tze Chun of Uprise Art told the crowd: “When you’re starting a company just saying it’s real, makes it real.” 

Whitney Wolfe said, “There are so many days when it’s terrible. But if there is one good relationship taking place out there, it’s all worth it.” 

And Soul Cycle boss Julie Rice put it clear as day: “Whatever you’re doing now, I actually only think there is one skill you need, and that’s making shit happen.”

Get ready for our announcement on Feb 15th about the next Create & Cultivate. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear where we are heading next!!

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The Conference Arianna Schioldager The Conference Arianna Schioldager

8 Insider Moments at Create & Cultivate Dallas Speaker Dinner

Shhh. We're giving you the inside scoop. 

Create & Cultivate Dallas is officially here. We can't believe it either. And while attendees were busy mixing and mingling at Common Desk Happy Hour, Fossil hosted a ombre tabled Speaker Dinner at the W, where drinks were had, old friends mingled, new friends met, and a snapchat maven gave a few rookies a schooling in the app. Here are a few of our favorite moments from the night's festivities. 

1. To start the night, self-professed elevator- phobic Julie Rice of Soul Cycle fame, kicked off her heels and hiked 33 flights up to dinner. Which, is badass and equals buns of steel no matter how you spin it. (S. Cycle puns, you get it.) 

2. Create & Cultivate Founder Jaclyn Johnson giving everyone a warm welcome to Dallas. "This is our biggest event yet, and this room couldn't be filled with more talent," she told the room. Creative truth bomb. 

3. Katie Rodgers of Paper Fashion busting out the Sharpie and drawing at dinner for Claudia Naim Burt of The Boss Aesthetic. Because you can't have a blogger event without at least one sharp-doodling blogger. Check out her illustration here. 

4. Tina Craig of Bag Snob and Hillary Kerr of Clique Media giggling by the bar and lighting their Snapchat story on their own. Because who needs a lighting crew? 

5. Betches Aleen Kuperman and Jordana Abraham getting caught taking selfies at dinner and giving no bones about it. Naturally. 

6. Haylie Duff and Katherine Schwarzenegger cozying up like old besties. 

7. Emily Schumann, self-professed technology genius putting her money where her mouth was, by teaching Haylie Duff all about snapping. "It's cute when I use the slow filter on my daughter," she said-- to which, everyone cooed. Because it's cute as hell. And as of tonight, Haylie Duff has a Snapchat. 

8. Tina Craig admitting that earlier in the day she chopped off her own hair in her hotel room. For real. The Bag Snob took a pair of Japanese scissors and snipped off more than an inch. 

 

 

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The Conference, Profiles Jenay Ross The Conference, Profiles Jenay Ross

Keeping It Real: Talking Authenticity with Haylie Duff of The Real Girl's Kitchen

Haylie's rule of thumb: be yourself. Everyone can spot out the fakers. 

Haylie Duff is not just another face that you remember from the silver screen. 

After Haylie began making the transition from the traditional world to producing online content, one key that she made sure to always hold was authenticity and always being herself. Since 2012, she’s been able to share her true self via her blog The Real Girl's Kitchen, her amazing culinary talent, her family, and has invited her fans to get to know the real her. (It wouldn’t be called The Real Girl’s Kitchen for nothing, now would it?) Today, not only is her blog online, but she also has her own cooking show on the Cooking Channel too. Talk about killing it!

As we’re gearing up for Create & Cultivate Dallas this weekend, we caught up with Haylie to learn more about what keeping it real means to her, how her transition from actress to blogger was like, and how she deals with the busy trap as a mom/blogger. Also, make sure to catch her on panel on Style Vibes: How to define your personal brand, manage transparency, and define your voice this Saturday at #CreateCultivateDallas! 

What were some unexpected challenges/surprises transitioning from on stage/in front of a camera to online? 

I didn't really find them all that different! Technically you are still "on camera,” even if it is online. The level at which people are producing online content continues to surprise me though! I am constantly impressed and inspired. 

You started your career playing other people, but as a blogger you have to play (AKA BE) yourself. Was that transition scary? 

I guess it was, yeah. I tried to not give it too much thought. I tried to just be as genuine as possible and just have fun! I feel like if you are having fun, people will tend to want to jump on the bandwagon. Who doesn't like to have a good time, y’know?!

How do you manifest authenticity and get that across to your readers? 

This is one of those tricky things. I have been told many times that "I'm exactly the same person IN PERSON as I am on TV,” and this always kinda blows my mind. It is meant to be a compliment, and it's flattering, but I find this funny. How can you be a TV personality (as yourself) and not be yourself? I can only attribute this to all of us watching too much reality television. I can remember my first acting teacher telling me not to watch anything I was in because I would become "aware" of myself. With so many ways to watch ourselves, this seems unavoidable now. But I do believe that viewers can smell the fakers. I really do. They aren't dumb and they don't like to be lied to. Being yourself, flaws and all is always the best approach. 

"Viewers can smell the fakers. Being yourself, flaws and all is always the best approach."

Tweet this. 

Your favorite moment as female entrepreneur? 

Joining the Create & Cultivate crew is certainly a moment I am looking forward to! I love what C&C is doing by connecting so many talented and successful women, and I’m very excited to be included! My favorite female entrepreneur moment happened last year when I filmed the 2nd season of The Real Girl's Kitchen and then a Summer Special for Cooking Channel all while I was very pregnant with my daughter. I felt like I was really killing it! 

What kind of example do you hope to set for your daughter? 

This is something I think about all the time. I hope to show her that she can be anything she wants. That she can have a career and a happy home life. She can be a mother, have a job that she is proud of, and be a good partner to someone. I hope to show her that her life is always more important than her work. That her girlfriends will be the ones standing there if everything crumbles, so take care of them, and I hope I show her that she needs to be good to her mother in her old age!

What is it about the brand that you think resonates so well with such a wide span of women? 

My recipes are simple, that's a big one! We are all juggling jobs, families and social lives...no one has time for 100 ingredients! 

What are some ways that you keep it “real?” 

I think I keep it "real" by being all about balance. My producing partner calls my food style “healthy decadence,” I really believe that no one can live on a diet all year long, but I fully support a healthy lifestyle and love to eat healthy. So my outlook tends to be make good choices (most of the time), but keep it real by having that naughty pasta or dessert every once in awhile. You only live once. 

How do you handle the mom-work balance? 

I'm not sure to be honest. I start shooting a new show for Cooking Channel in March, so we’ll see! I’ve been able to stay home with my daughter Ryan quite a bit these last few months and have truly cherished this sweet time. My plan of attack is to be as present as I can with her on my days off, thank my mother 1,000 times a day for helping, and hopefully be home by bath time. 

When you’ve had a crazy day, what is your go-to, knock it out of the park recipe? 

Chili! I make Turkey chili with veggies all the time. It’s healthy, and so easy to keep in the refrigerator. Can't beat it.

What do you do when you have downtime? 

18 months ago, the answer to this question would have been VERY different! Haha! Most of my downtime is spent with my family...or a girls night out for margaritas or a good book. 

How many hours of sleep do you need? Do you know what sleep is anymore? Need? 

I mean, a whole weekend would be nice! Any mother that has nursed a baby will tell you that you learn to function on very little sleep! Once Ryan started sleeping through the night my whole life changed though! I try to get about eight hours a night. I was never good at the "nap when the baby naps" thing, so I try to go to bed shortly after she does at night. 

What’s next? Another book? 

I really want to do another cookbook, but next will be my new show with Cooking Channel.

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The Conference, Lifestyle Arianna Schioldager The Conference, Lifestyle Arianna Schioldager

How to Pull Off Day to Night with 4 Key Pieces

How to take your look from boss to babe status. 

All you need to easily transition from the office to out is a few key pieces. With a little help from Bebe, the company that's been dressing go-get-em-girls since 1976, it's as simple as swapping your jacket and shoes. 

DAY: FROM THE OFFICE TO A LUNCH DATE AND BACK TO THE EMAIL GRIND AGAIN. 

The dress is your base. Add a vintage jean jacket, a statement necklace, flat black boots (and optional: tights) and you're daytime ready. 

Dotted Stripe Sweater Dress. $139. Hana Colorblock Tote. $119. 

 

TO NIGHT: OUT FOR HAPPY HOUR, DINNER WITH FRIENDS, OR DANCING FRIDAY NIGHT AWAY.

Swap the denim for faux leather and the flats for heeled booties. It's a change you can make in your car. Add a red lip and a little cheek highlighter and it's a brand new look. 

 

Dotted Stripe Sweater Dress. $139. Hana Colorblock Tote. $119. ; Acheline Pointy Booties, $139.

 ;Julia Faux Leather Jacket, $149. 

And for everyone heading to Dallas for Create & Cultivate, be sure to come to Breakfast with Bebe. We're less than two weeks away! 

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The Conference, Digital Jenay Ross The Conference, Digital Jenay Ross

The Create & Cultivate App Is Here!

We have our own app now, and you can win your own too! 

If you’re following us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook, we now have a new way for you to stay in tune with all things Create & Cultivate right on your phone! We’re so excited to announce the launch of our brand new Create & Cultivate app, thanks to our friends at DWNLD

DWNLD has hooked us up with an app that brings all of our content, conference updates, and a look back all of our past events right at your fingertips. If you need all the details for our January 30th conference, our entire lineup, schedule, and sponsors are right there, making it easily accessible for when you’re at the conference. Not only that, the app is perfect for you to bookmark our blog content that’s most useful to you, so that way you don’t have to go back to our website and search for it through our archives. Easy peasy!

Make sure to download the C+C app on the App Store to be up to date with all things C+C.  If you love our app, enter below to win your own custom app from DWNLD! Also, make sure to learn from DWNLD's Head of Business Development Noah Wunsch on $$$: Monetizing across different channels and strategically growing your following at Create & Cultivate Dallas this month! 


GIVEAWAY.

Enter to win a custom app from DWNLD by filling out the form below!
Giveaway ends 1/22/16, 11:59PM PST. 

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The Conference, Lifestyle Arianna Schioldager The Conference, Lifestyle Arianna Schioldager

Our Favorite Dallas Finds! Highland Park Village

Dallas' premier shopping destination has you covered, head to toe. 

One of the many amazing perks of traveling for Create & Cultivate is learning about must-shop stops in the various cities. Highland Park Village is one such find— it also happens to be America’s first outdoor shopping center. 

Talk about entrepreneurial spirit! Highland Park Village became the prototype for retail destinations all over the country, when it opened in 1931. Originally conceived to be a town center, it’s now a bustling hub for all things fashion and food. 

Check out some of our favorite stores below, and if you’re heading to C & C Dallas, be sure to pop over to HP Village and get yourself something nice. We think you deserve it. 

Starbucks.

You cannot fathom how many amazing luxury stores are in one place. Highland Park Village is like Disneyland for the fashionable girl. So grab a latte, java-up, and get ready to shop. 

Chanel.

The bags. The shoes. It’s every girls dream store and it so happens to be right next to Starbucks. Why not start your Highland Park Village experience off with the best that high-fashion has to offer? Chanel is fashion candy at it’s most delicious. Just be careful where you put that latte. 

Anthropologie.

Maybe your #girlboss dreams of purchasing your first 2.0 Classic Chanel Flap are still only dreams, but that’s OK. 2016 is goals year. And there is plenty of casual but upscale fashion and home goods at Anthropologie. Be welcomed in by the large glass and doors framed in reclaimed wood and pick out a little treasure to take home.

St. Michael Woman’s Exchange.

More than just a gift shop, this store has raised over $4 million dollars for social service agencies and organizations through the world. Originally called The Women’s Exchange, which opened in 1939, it’s a store that gives back, which is the Texan way. 

Alice + Olivia.

Next door to the Exchange is the established brand which opened its very first Texas store in Highland Park this past October. With clothes that cater to the working girl who goes from lunch meetings to drinks, Alice + Olivia is a perfect blend of flirty and sophisticated.

Balenciaga.

Next head to Balenciaga. With its high-polished black and white checkered floor, the store itself is something beautiful to marvel at. With a mixture of classic marble and modern chrome, it might be more stylish than you. But not for long. The Balenciaga Mini City bag never goes out of style. Or opt for the Papier A4 or A6 Zip Around bag. It’s a classic bag that delivers on form, function, and making you feel powerful. 

Harry Winston.

Just a quick stop into the fine jewelry house that’s famous for acquiring some of the world’s most famous gemstones. You may not be able to walk out with a ring on your ringer, but a little window diamond shopping never hurt anyone. 

Jimmy Choo.

After you visit Harry, pop over to Jimmy. That master shoemaker who can transform any outfit. Get ready to swoon. The Hart 95 boot is the perfect ankle bootie for winter to spring transition, and can be worn to the office and out at night. 

Kiehl’s.

Après- shoe, head into Kiehl’s— it’s right next door— and test products from the skin care line that’s been serving up fine formulations for almost 160 years. Create & Cultivate is a long day and the Midnight Recovery Oil will do wonders. 

Bistro 31.

If you’re getting hungry, we don’t blame you. Everything has been a feast for your eyes, but now it’s time to grub. At Bistro 31 brunch is a celebration of lemon ricotta pancakes, short rib hash, and a full bar, so you can enjoy an afternoon cocktail or an orange juice— your call. 

Highland Park Village is located at 47 Highland Park Village, Dallas, TX 75205. On over 10 acres of land, it’s the premier shopping experience in Dallas. 

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The Conference, Lifestyle Arianna Schioldager The Conference, Lifestyle Arianna Schioldager

The Conference Essentials: What's In Our Bag?

Preparing for Dallas? We can help. 

It’s almost here! Create & Cultivate Dallas is going to be our biggest conference yet. If you’re prepping for the big day we wanted to share a sneak peak of what we bring—  in case you need a little packing help. 

Shoulder Bag/Backpack.

Make sure the purse you bring is big enough to hold your goods, but won’t weigh you down. Accounts Director Hope Evans says, “A cumbersome bag can actually get in your way more than you think. C & C is half listening half networking— and when you’re networking you want to be carrying something you don’t have to think about or track. The focus should be on relationship building, not lugging something to-and-fro.”

Vaseline Lip Therapy Tins.

It’s dry in Dallas in the winter and first impressions are crucial. A chapped lip is not your best look. The innovative and iconic Vaseline Lip Therapy Tins not only give you a natural, glossy shine, but also are clinically proven to help heal dry lips and give you moisture that lasts the day long. And C & C is a long day. Even C & C Founder Jaclyn Johnson makes sure to keep one in each of her handbags and at her desk.

Notebook.

There’s so much to do, see, and write-down. From scribbling down quotes from keynote speakers to sound biz advice, the notebook you take home might be chock-full of points that can take your brand to the next level. “You might think, ‘Oh, I’ll remember that,’” says Editorial Director Arianna Schioldager, “but there is so much good content, you should write down exactly what strikes you in a moment,.” (Pens are important too.) 

iPhone + Charger.

Social Director Priscilla Castro says, “This is not the time to forget your phone or run out of battery, and while you might think this never happens, it does. Double check your bag before you leave your hotel.” From adding new contacts to all the IG gold— like a sketch done by Paper Fashion’s Katie Rodgers at the Vaseline pop-up during the 4:30-5:30 break. And be sure to #creatcultivatedallas #VaselineLipTins

Instant Film Camera.

Everyone loves those little photos. Plus, if you meet someone you like, snap a shot, and write your number and email on the back. Not only will they go home with a snapped memory, but it’s like a personalized business card. 

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The Conference Arianna Schioldager The Conference Arianna Schioldager

Rent the Runway Offering 15% Off to C & C Dallas Attendees!

They say dress for the job you want, no the one you have. 

You plan outfits for dates, interviews, work drinks, and more. Create & Cultivate is no different. You're going to meet tons of people and you should want to dress to impress. First impressions and whatnot. (Charm them with your brain next). And packing for Create & Cultivate Dallas just got a little easier the help of our friends at Rent the Runway

Be on the lookout for an email offering codes to all Dallas attendees to take 15% off anything on the site. 

We look forward to seeing you-- and your outfit-- in Dallas! 

 

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The Conference Arianna Schioldager The Conference Arianna Schioldager

6 Ways to Maximize Your Create & Cultivate Experience

It's almost conference time! 

 

We can’t believe it’s here again. Create & Cultivate Dallas is only two weeks away. As our team nails down last minute preparations, you can also begin preparing, especially if you’re a first timer. We want you maximize your C & C experience, so here are our six tips on how to make that happen.

Pack Right

You don’t need a lot for the conference, a weekender bag is enough, but Saturday is a jam-packed day. (Ahem, wear flats.) Which means you should have a bag big enough for a notebook, Mophie power pack for your phone— you don’t want to miss all those powerhouse #createcultivatedallas IG moments, and business cards.

Pick Your Mentors Now

The mentor experience makes Create & Cultivate one-of-a-kind. If you’ve had your eye on a mentor and don’t want to miss the opportunity to get one-on-one time with her, don’t wait until the last minute. 

Stay in Your Happy, Power Place

Girls compete, women empower. You are going to be surrounded by a lot of women, some of whom are trying to create a brand the same way you are. Don’t get stuck in the competition, bur rather use this as an opportunity to network, make friends, and potential business partnerships. There is enough success out there for everyone, so stay open to the possibilities.  

Get Prepped

One of the hardest questions to answer is, “What do you do?” especially when you’re starting your own business. Have this nailed down so that you are confident when meeting new people. Beyond that, look over the panelist list and have questions ready. There are Q & A sections after every panel, and if you have something you’re dying to ask, have it prepped. The better the questions, the better the panel— so be specific. Plus, if someone takes interest in the kind of question you ask, you never know who will end up approaching you. 

Take Advantage of Everything on Site

Be sure to check out and check in to all the pop-up shops on site. We recommend getting your hair braided, makeup retouched, your portrait sketched by Paper Fashion’s Katie Rodgers at Vaseline’s pop-up, and snapping a photo in the Framebridge photobooth. The options are endless. Mix, mingle, create, cultivate and shop. (And maybe eat a cupcake while you’re at it.) 

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone 

There is a social happy hour the night before the conference that we highly recommend you attend. Create & Cultivate is not the time be a wall flower. We know it’s hard to be bold, put out your hand and yourself on the line, but it’s worth it. You’re here for a reason, you paid for a reason. So If need be, give yourself a little mirror pep talk in the mirror before you leave your hotel room. If you don’t know where to start, say hi to our founder, Jaclyn Johnson, or any of the Create & Cultivate team. We are here to make sure your conference experience is an engaged and wonderful experience. 

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The Conference, Advice Arianna Schioldager The Conference, Advice Arianna Schioldager

Create & Cultivate: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

December is like the Friday of months. Everyone's brain goes on a bit of a vacation, or on a nostalgic walk through the last year. It happens to the best of us-- the holidays tend to bring out the dreamer. 

It's even happening around the Create & Cultivate office. In part because we've always got C & C on the brain, and the conversations that happen on site at the conferences keep up invigorated year-round. But also because prepping for Dallas is making us a wee bit nostalgic for our favorite moments of 2015. 

So, raise a glass, put on your female alpha hat, and toast to an amazing last year and an even better 2016. 

there's room at the top for everyone; it's harder to get there all by yourself.

Emily Jackson of The Ivory Lane (tweet this)

Merry Christmas from everyone at Create & Cultivate! 

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Advice, The Conference, Career Arianna Schioldager Advice, The Conference, Career Arianna Schioldager

5 Tips on Landing The Job You Want (& Then Keeping It!)

Soniya Monga is busy. After helping launch LinkedIn Canada in 2010, she was named one of Marketing’s 2013 Top 30 Under 30. Now based in New York, she's been with the networking company for five years, successfully growing her own brand within its ranks. She's now working on global agency partnerships and spent time cultivating and growing global experience based out of Hong Kong for LinkedIn North Asia. From Day 1 (which she spent grabbing office supplies) to Day RN, Soniya's professional triumphs are impressive including speaking at the internationally recognized One Young World (Davos for the cool kids). Which is why we wanted to find out from her just how to land that dream job-- because she's got know-how in spades.    

Be sure to check-in with Soniya at Create & Cultivate Dallas, where she'll be a mentor and panel moderator.

PICK WHICH GAME YOU'RE PLAYING

A big part of success is picking which game you’re playing. In the tech industry people refer to this as pivoting, but I think it can apply to careers. If your current plan or company isn’t working for you, pivot to a new one where you can win. Choose to be somewhere where you’ll be valued.

"Choose to be somewhere where you’ll be valued."

Tweet this. 

BE UN-CONFIDENT WHEN TRYING SOMETHING NEW 

Let yourself see how things become less scary through experience. When I was working at LinkedIn in Asia, doing business in Korea felt scary and was the definition of being outside of my area of comfort. I didn’t know the language, understand the cultural nuances, or frankly feel qualified to have a seat at the table. But trip after trip, the challenge became subsequently less intimidating. It taught me to always to consider your audience and who you’re talking to, and to respect that audience immensely. 

CRAFT A CAREER ACCORDING TO YOUR STRENGTHS

Growing up, I always thought that having a profession was the ultimate pinnacle of success. By calling myself a doctor, lawyer, etc., I was under the assumption that this would be most fulfilling. For some, this is true, and that’s wonderful, but I quickly realized that following passion projects, thinking about ideas and finding a way to package that into a job I love, has been most gratifying. 

DON'T BE AN IDEA STEALER OR KNOW-IT-ALL

Instead be a question asker – asking questions is simply the best way to break through, challenge yourself and the environment around you. I think the art of inquiry is often the most underrated form of expression. Whenever I've asked the most questions being new to a job, team or country, I've found it helpful in breaking barriers and learn 10x faster. Also, know-it-alls aren't fun to be around or work with - give credit wherever you can. 

"The art of inquiry is often the most underrated form of expression."

Tweet this. 

WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, YOU'RE SELF-EMPLOYED

Think about picking a career where growth is dependent on the quality of your decisions – this can ensure you’re positioning yourself to over-index for skill vs. time, and can potentially generate a higher pay off. At my time at LinkedIn specifically, I’ve been fortunate enough to work in multiple “start-up like” environments, which meant doing everything from ordering envelopes to talking to CEOs of global companies in the same day. You may not be an entrepreneur in the traditional sense, but it’s important to act like one.

Whether you want to lead and build a company some day or make high impact in your current job, self-improvement is for everyone. There are clearly more than five things you can and should do to optimize for career success, however, making intentional choices throughout your career will hopefully help you land the job you want...and keep it!

 

Since 2010, Soniya Monga's career journey with LinkedIn has grown exponentially. The maven built their presence in Canada and took the helm as the company's global agency partnership lead. She was also named Marketing's Top 30 Under 30 when she was regional account director for LinkedIn, North Asia. Hear some of Soniya's best tips for building strategic partnerships and how she's been able to expand the brand internationally at her mentor session at Create & Cultivate Dallas.

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Meet the Mentors: Create & Cultivate Dallas

Wondering which #CreateCultivateDallas mentor is the best fit for your blog, business, or brand? 

From entrepreneurship to blogging to social media, our mentors have all the bases covered. Check out all of our Dallas mentors and their areas of expertise below! They're amazing, multi-talented women and we can't wait for you to meet them in January!

Wondering which #CreateCultivateDallas mentor is the best fit for your blog, business, or brand? 

From entrepreneurship to blogging to social media, our mentors have all the bases covered. Check out all of our Dallas mentors and their areas of expertise below! They're amazing, multi-talented women and we can't wait for you to meet them in January!

 

Rachel Schwartzmann - CEO & Founder - The Style Line

Best for: Social Media, Blogging, Entrepreneurship

 

Rachel Schwartzmann is the Founder and CEO of The Style Line LLC. She created The Style Line in late January 2011 via tumblr, which now hosts a following of over 488k+ followers on that platform alone; and has fostered The Style Line’s brand in it’s growth, since. In August 2013, she relaunched The Style Line, built their website and brought on a small team of contributors. Rachel has worked with companies including Tumblr, IBM, and numerous fashion brands and has been featured in esteemed sources including Women’s Wear Daily, Teen Vogue, Conscious Magazine, Darling Magazine, Mashable and Refinery29.She has also partnered with WWD’s MAGIC Trade-show in conjunction with Teen Vogue, as a digital media influencer speaking to brands about the importance of online presence and social media marketing. In both September 2012 and 2013 she was chosen as one of Tumblr’s participating influencers in their seasonal fashion week program, partnering with companies including SONY, MILK Studios and the CFDA. Rachel has also spoken at Columbia University, Goldman Sachs and 92Y’s Passport NYC program, and participated as a mentor in Columbia University’s Women@CORE mentoring program. She has published work for The Huffington Post, and NYLON Mexico and has blogged for companies including Jeffrey Campbell, ASOS and Nasty Gal.On October 1, 2015 she launched The Style Line’s in-house content consultancy, CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL™ whose efforts focus heavily on helping brands building and maintain a strong brand blog/editorial arm.

Devon Cruse of DevonRachel.com

Best for: Blogging, Styling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a Dallas native, Devon has worked her way from the ground up to be where she is now. Just a few days before she was set to graduate from Texas Tech, she was offered a job by celebrity stylist Taylor Jacobson in LA. The rest is history. Get the best tips on how to get into the styling game and become a full-time blogger from Devon at her session next month.

 

Jessy Fofana - Founder and CEO of LaRue PR

Best for: PR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessy Fofana is our go-to for all things PR. With her PR agency LARue PR, she has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to utilizing PR to strategically grow brands and get them on the right radar. Not only that, she is our seasoned PR correspondent for the Create & Cultivate blog. Get her advice in-person at Create & Cultivate Dallas!

 

Jay Goldmark - Co-Founder of EmiJay

Best for: Entrepreneurs, Philanthropy,  E-commerce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay is the co-founder of EmiJay, a hair accessory and apparel brand, who dipped her feet into entrepreneurship at the age of 18-- as a college freshman. Still in college, she is mastering the work, life, and school balance. Hear how she brought EmiJay to life and pick up her tips on how to balance it all at her mentor session.

Kendi Skeen - Creator at KendiEveryday.com

Best for: Blogging, Entrepreneurship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kendi, creator of Kendi Everyday and Dallas native, has been killing it in the blogging game since launching kendieveryday.com in '09. Fast forward 6 years. Kendi's style has evolved, but her blog has remained a go-to guide for the every girl with a high-low approach to personal style. Hear from Kendi on how she's grown her blog (while owning her own boutique) at her mentor session!

Brandy Pham - Jewelry Designer + Founder and CCO of Planogr.am

Best for: Entrepreneurship, Jewelry Design, E-commerce

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brandy Pham started a luxury jewelry line that fulfill's every minimalist's dream, being it's simple and dainty. But her approach to social media strategy is anything but. When she couldn't find what she wanted within Instagram, she created Planogr.am, a visual Instagram scheduler that is every marketer's dream. If you're looking to launch a product or an app, or want to hear about taking matters into your own hands, Brandy is your girl. 

Amy Locurto - LivingLocurto.com

Best for: Social Media, Blogging, Branding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Known for her DIY party ideas, cute food, printable designs, delicious recipes and love of cats, Amy’s goal is to inspire others to be more creative through her whimsical and fun style on LivingLocurto.com. Amy is also a Pinterest Ambassador and is a content creator for brands such as Coca-Cola, Universal Studios, FedEx Office, Seagrams Escapes and eBay.

Maxie McCoy - Creator of MaxieMcCoy.com

Best for: Life Coaching, Soul Searching, Career Development

Maxie-43 (1).jpg

 

 

 

 

Maxie is a dynamic writer and speaker with a message: how to find and follow your inspiration for an extraordinary life. An inspiration luminary, Maxie delivers heart-busting writings, actionable videos, and customized sessions on maxiemccoy.com. (and often for the C+C Blog). She built her career first as a sports broadcaster in Dallas and went on to build the global offline communities for Levo League. If you need a little soul boost in your career or your life – Maxie's your girl.

Soniya Monga, Global Agency Partner Lead at LinkedIn

Best for: Marketing, Career Development, Strategic Partnerships

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since 2010, Soniya Monga's career journey with LinkedIn has grown exponentially. The maven built their presence in Canada and took the helm as the company's global agency partnership lead. She was also named Marketing's Top 30 Under 30 when she was regional account director for LinkedIn, North Asia. Hear some of Soniya's best tips for building strategic partnerships and how she's been able to expand the brand internationally at her session. 

Melissa Lawson,‎Director, Influencer Partnerships & Marketing at Clique Media

Best for: Marketing, Influencer Partnerships

 

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For the past two years, Melissa has worked to grow Clique Media's channels as Campaign Strategy and Execution Manager, Senior Manager of Publisher Partnerships, and most recently Director of influencer Partnerships and Marketing. Hear from Melissa on how she's been able to climb the ranks at Clique Media, and hear some of her best tips on how to market your brand through strategic partnerships and more at her session. 


If you've already got your #CreatecultivateDaIlas tickets, check your inbox in the coming weeks to make your official mentor selection.

And if you don't have tickets...what are you waiting for!? Click here to get your tickets now - they'll be gone before you know it!

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The Conference, Profiles Arianna Schioldager The Conference, Profiles Arianna Schioldager

Future So Bright for Artist Nobel Truong

Making a living on acrylic cacti and boobs. Find out what's next for designer Nobel Truong. 

When you graduate high school at 16, there's a good chance you're gonna be ahead of the game. For artist and producer Nobel Truong, it's certainly proving true. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in philosophy, she crossed the pond to attend Cambridge and study philosophy and business. Degrees which, at first glance seem a bit incongruous, but have served her artistic existence well. "Keeping an open mind and being flexible is something that is important to bring to any business model," she says. "Even if you do not work with a physical product, it is always important to consider the different ways something can be executed."

From ceramics and furniture to prints, acrylics, and textiles, Nobel has her creative hands in all mediums, producing projects out of Nobl, her creative studio

We checked in with the San Francisco-based designer to get the goods on her process, her seemingly endless supply of creative juice, and why she prefers transparency in both business and her materials. 

Where did the idea for the illuminated cacti come from?

I had a dimly lit apartment and needed more lighting in the space. I had also just learned how to use a laser cutter and wanted to work with acrylic--  plastics are the best material to cut on a laser cutter. I was really inspired by the Memphis Group and was a bit nostalgic of the mid-century decor and architecture of my hometown in Southern California, so I felt succulent themed lighting would be most fitting. I had some idea of a succulent lamp from the start, but it went through a few iterations before it became the product that I have now. I debuted the cactus lamp at Pop Up Flea in Los Angeles in September and the support for the product has been so great that I began making more fluorescent acrylic pieces and larger scale cacti.

Who are some designers you admire?

Marcel Breuer, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe. I am a huge admirer of the structural forms and function that marked Bauhaus architecture and the play on colors and shapes pioneered by the Memphis Group. I also draw a lot of inspiration from the works of Noguchi, Ray and Charles Eames, and Nelson for the furniture I design and build. I am particularly interested in mid-century modern furniture and home decor. All in all, I think there is an appeal to good design which transcends different creative fields and it is for this reason that I look to architects, industrial designers, and graphic designers for inspiration in my work.

How do you feel being female in the male-dominated design space?

It definitely has its challenges and there have been times where I felt intimidated by my peers in the field, but I have also learned that if you are passionate about your work and you are driven in what you do, then gender really does not matter. As I continue to work in the field, the peers I used to be intimidated by have now become sources of inspiration and motivation. Any doubts I have had in my ability and work are now new projects or challenges to take on. I have always worked by the motto that "you can do anything" and so I never really saw issue with hauling my own lumber to the shop among the primarily male woodshop community. Beyond this, I also often look to Florence Knoll, Ray Eames, and other female figures in the industrial design space as inspiration to continue pursuing the field and not let the fact that I am in a male-dominated design space steer me away from my creative endeavors. 

"If you are passionate about your work gender really does not matter."

Tweet this. 

How did you make the transition from objects to furniture? Has working in a larger medium been more challenging than expected? In what ways?

Actually, a lot of my work grew out of necessity. I started with housewares because when I had housemates the only furnishings I had control over were my bowls and cups. So, I took ceramics classes and made bowls and cups. I moved into my own apartment this January and couldn't find furniture that fit my aesthetic, was conservatively priced, and was also space conscious. What began as an attempt to make something I could not find in the market eventually amounted to me learning how to operate woodworking tools and CNC machines. My first woodworking project was actually a sofa for my apartment after taking a woodworking safety class and spending a few days researching and sourcing materials. 

The transition to a larger medium definitely has its own learning curve, but it's something that is made a lot easier with modern manufacturing techniques and CNC machines. There are a lot more things to consider in a piece that will occupy a 10ftx10ft space as opposed to a small 3in cup. How structures are supported and how they will look as people move around them creates a different set of design problems. All that said, I have been really enjoying the challenges of building large structures and am constantly thinking about ways to incorporate the simplicity in my smaller scale designs in my large scale build-outs. 

Creativity is most often associated with the individual, but is there a social dimension to creativity that's particularly relevant in the 21st century. Have you found the need to mesh these two concepts?

I definitely think there is a social dimension to creativity, but I do not think it is one to overshadow one's creative vision. What I mean by this is that I think it is important to stay true to one's creative vision while also keeping in mind the social impact and responses your work will generate. There is a lot of exposure and resources for creatives today through different social streams, and it is important to learn how to handle this information and use it to your advantage. On this point, I do find myself meshing the two concepts to the extent that I capitalize on social streams to draw inspiration for new work. From a product development perspective, I want to produce work that is an addition to someone's home, so it is important to research what would suit the spaces of my target market. I am not sure if this is particular to the 21st century, but I do feel that the technology available today has made this kind of information much more accessible and easy for creatives to learn, grow, and adapt to. 

How do you feed your creative soul?

Honestly, just a stroll through the neighborhood. There are so many hidden gems sprinkled throughout the city landscape are often overlooked because they are lost in the dry suburbs. Neutra's house is right in the heart of Silverlake, for example, and there is a Noguchi garden in the office complex across from South Coast Plaza. I have spent hours reading about some of these works but nothing really compares to moving through the spaces in person. Beyond this, I have always found the characters I cross paths with in the city to be particularly inspiring. Chinatown during lunch hour, for one, has always been my go-to for color inspiration with all the residents in their colorful apparel out shopping in the market. 

"Chinatown during lunch hour has always been my go-to for color inspiration."

Tweet this.  

Picasso once said, "Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." What are some rules you've broken? What are some rules you've stuck to?

I have broken a lot of rules in both my creative and entrepreneurial endeavors. As far as design is concerned, there are a lot of design elements that some might deem staples of the industry which I don't exactly conform to. This is because I try to trim away as much unnecessary frill as possible and focus primarily on the quality and structure of the core product. 

As far as my business is concerned, I do not follow the typical retailer format. I do not wholesale my products and price everything as direct-to-consumer. This is namely because I feel really passionately about pricing transparency and the movement towards direct-to-consumer businesses. Since I began making home furnishings and accessories because I could not find what I wanted at an affordable rate, I wanted to make things affordable and assessable for others as well.

All that said, there are some principles and rules I have always stuck to in both my creative and business pursuits: I have always worked towards the thought that the best design is one where there is nothing left to take away. Whether that means designing shelving units that require no hardware for assembly or a business that is completely vertically integrated, I have always felt passionately about eliminating excess and middleman work to focus on the core of a design or business. 

"The best design is one where there is nothing left to take away."

Tweet this. 

What's next for you?

Definitely more large scale sculptural work and installations. I am particularly interested in the interaction between lighting and acrylic and would like to create a large scale build-out to highlight the interaction between the two mediums. The aim here would be to create an interactive experience through lighting castes on acrylic work. Beyond this I am also looking forward to working more with a variety of materials and fabrication methods in future projects such as welding, sewing, and lathe work.

For everyone heading to Create & Cultivate Dallas in January, don't miss Nobel's cacti installations (for inspiration and totally Instagrammable photos) all over the venue! 

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