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Artist and Designer Aaron Christensen's Blog for Embellishments Studio.  Art, kids design, display, store design and pediatric office theme builder.
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Superhero Fabrics for boys, teens and baby  debut on spoonflower

7/21/2018

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Please visit my Spoonflower shop and explore the latest fabric designs I've added.  The latest are yardage that coordinates with my superhero line of wall art.  The fabrics are perfect for bedding, upholstery and crafts.  You can also buy finished good from Spoonflowers' sister site Roostery.  There you will find sheet goods, pillows, accessories and home decor all available in the fabrics I've designed.
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A Rooftop Garden fit for fairies

6/21/2018

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Faced with an awkward second story rooftop patio that had no practical purpose, my client hit me up with an idea.  "Can you build a fairy garden for my daughter?"  He asked.  The cement siding, synthetic decking clad barren box screamed for help.
An outdoor space devoid of purpose.
The patio oddly linked an upstairs bedroom to a stairwell over the garage.  While it overlooked the backyard, the 3.5 ft tall barrier half wall obscured the best view.   It was a tough space to find a purpose for.  Luckily for me, the stairwell it fed to was adjacent to the home school classroom I created for the client.  That gave us an opportunity.  Why not offer the space as a retreat for the kids during their school day and an opportunity to explore science lessons about flora and fauna.
It was a winning idea once it merged with their young daughters wish for a fairy garden and a new dog house for her puppy.
With this being a roof top garden of only 9' by 11', it needed to be petite yet mighty with content.  I turned to my themed prop illusions of faux rock and wood.  With some exaggeration in shape, color and texture, they will look like their straight out of a magical story book.  They became facades for the pressure treated raised planters.
Initial concepts reflect the "hobbit hole" doghouse, mushroom furniture and an arbor of faux branches.
Faux cement branch arbor
Rather than try to deal with real branches, faux cement theme park style ones offer limitless possibilities in shape for the arbor that will be home to trailing vines and magical lights.
Rooftop Fairy Garden for Kids designed with Mushroom furniture, hobbit-hole doghouse and plenty of fairy and fauna luring plants.
The rooftop garden ready for dancing fairies and gardening gnomes.
First and foremost, I covered the siding with a paper faced exterior plywood, so I could incorporate mural work to help with the illusion of a lush garden while we await the plants maturing.  Studio created pressure treated raised planter beds were clad with faux rocks and logs. Their daughters request for a dog house provided the opportunity to create a hobbit type home with a planted roof of irish moss, sedums and ornamental clover.  Flanking the four corners and meeting overhead was the ambitious idea of a faux cement branch arbor with a small Lexan roof to shield some of the NW rain from the mushroom table below.  The arbor will eventually become home to vines like standard and evergreen Clematis, Jasmine and Algerian Ivy.  In the meanwhile, wrapping it with grapevines and twinkle lights offer up some magic. 
Living roof fairygarden doghouse hobbit hole for a NW rooftop garden.
Living roof fairygarden Hobbit Hole Doghouse by Embellishments Studio featuring faux rocks and logs.
Being a bit of a plant geek, I had fun incorporating some of my favorites and offering lots of texture and color play.  For my fellow geeks you'll spot Aspidistra, Clerodendron, Echium, Persicaria Red Dragon, gigantic Ornamental Rhubarb and some annual Musque De Provence pumpkin.  Most of the plantings are perennial and winter hardy, although I did mix in some annuals for instant color gratification.
Custom rooftop fairy garden with magical ideas by Aaron Christensen's Embellishments Studio
While a picture is worth a thousand words, I imagine there are questions to be asked.  Here's what my friends have been asking.
1) Will birds use the birdhouse?  No, it's not properly designed to house babies, so the opening is just painted on.  Nested bird houses require annual cleaning and specific dimensions for the fledglings safety and survival.
2)  How is the garden being watered?   A drip system is installed throughout the garden and spans the space hidden inside the cement arbor.
3)  It looks crowded with plants, won't it become overgrown?  Yes, it is...(smile).  Given its somewhat harsh environment of reflected light, weather shielding overhangs and their life in a raised bed I'm planning on some fight or flight with even the most of reliable plants.  My idea is to let the garden evolve with some plants thriving as others may fail.  I'll revisit it next spring to see what there is to learn from the unique environment. 

Artist, Designer Aaron Christensen from Embellishments Studio romances the outdoor rooftop garden he's building.
Note on the reflected light- While the space is north facing, I personally learned how harsh the bounced light can be. This Danish pale freckled skin of mine quickly showed signs of my being roasted like a rotisserie chicken.

via GIPHY

4) Where did you get the little mushrooms?  We of course made them in the studio along with all the faux rock, logs and the cement mushroom furniture.  The little ones are made from a sculpted urethane foam, hard coated with UV resistant epoxy and painted with exterior grade paints.   The furniture set has a core of welded rebar wrapped in expanded galvanized cloth.  They were sculpt coated in cement and painted with an exterior grade cement friendly paint.  I used the same technique on some other furniture for use as store fixturing.
Kids fairy garden built on a rooftop patio by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentsstudio.com
The life size fairy garden is ready for a magical party.
Outdoor cement mushroom table and stools by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentsstudio.com
Made of cement, these fairy garden mushroom stools and table are perfect for impish parties.
Living roof, rooftop fairy garden dog house by theme and kids space designer Aaron Christensen of Embellishmentsstudio.com
There's room for a puppy or two in this living roof, hobbit hole dog house.
Adding to the garden's illusion is some artificial turf under foot.  No lawn mower required to be carried up to the second story.  It will be easy to keep up with the occasional sweeping.
I have yet to enjoy the space at night when I can see the full effect of the twinkle lights and the LED fireflies I hid.  I'll be curious to see if I can capture the garden by camera at night.  If I can, I'll post those pics too.

So, who's ready for a fairy, imp, gnome party?  Non-Twitter trolls are welcome too...ha! 

FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST FOR THESE AND MANY MORE FAIRY GARDEN IDEAS
Aaron Christensen's Fairy Garden Pinterest Board
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Tree thugging: Getting caught making counterfeit trees.

3/10/2018

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 People love to bring the outdoors in and I am asked to play Brutha Nature and create trees all the time.  Big ones, little ones, realistic and modern.  So here I am poised once again to create a one of a kind piece for a client, I had to go idea browsing.  We settled on the idea of a tree shaped bookshelf.  One that was modern and architecturally interesting.  So I gathered together a Pinterest board with a variety of tree ideas.
Children's tree shaped book case inspiration by Aaron Christensen
There are lots of ways to create a tree bookshelf system.  I found some that are modern, some folky, some rustic and some really to my liking by being unique.  The trick with most of the trees is considering the fact that they must hold the weight of books and of course the weight of an adventurous child deciding to climb them.  If I were to offer a hint to any DIY'er out there, be sure to add branches or branch tips that point in a downward direction to act like a bracket.  These will bear the weight.
Tree Shaped Tree Bookcase / Bookshelf Idea by Aaron Christensen, Kids space designer.
You can see in the tree that I built, there are angles and pieces that point downward.  These provide vertical strength, so the shelf can't be pulled down or tip down off the wall.
My client is a pediatric dental office.  The bookshelf is going to be used dozens of times a day so I made it very robust, the scale and size more suited for a service industry environment.   As you can see it's a series of branches attached to a trunk.  The trickiest part is cutting the angles to match branch and support.
Tree Shaped Book Case, Book Shelves shaped like branches for children by Aaron Christensen
I'm a bit obsessive with building things straight and true.  So this tree stands perfectly upright, the backing is all on the same plane.  Great you think...but no, I mean NO!  The wall I was to mount it to had been where a doorway was covered up, so it was really out of whack.  I had to loosen my branches to tip them back a bit.  This left gaps in my seams... oh hell no!  So I went through painstakingly and finessed bondo into every little gap, sanded it and primed it.    The final finish was to coordinate with a maple counter across the room so I faux painted the piece using a series of color washes and treatment with faux finishers graining tool.  A topcoat of shellac gave it that amber wood tone I needed as well as protect the piece as a non-toxic clear coat.  Shellac is safe for little nibblers that put their teeth and mouths on everything.  Remember this is a pediatric dental office.  I'm sure there's some little munchin munchkins giving it the beaver treatment as we speak....gnaw, gnaw, and gnaw.
Jump over to my Pinterest for these and other photographs of inspirational trees.  I've included the following tree bookcases we've made here in the studio.

Other  tree  shelving  ideas  by  Embellishments  studio

3D sculpted tree bookcase by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentskids.com
Tree Bookcase in a Science themed playroom by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentskids.com
3d sculpted Tree Bookcase by Aaron Christensen Embellishmentskids.com
Corner Tree Shelf
Corner Bookshelf out of Maple
Modern Tree Bookshelf
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Meteor cookies - A Space Party, Easy Essential

1/16/2018

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This week I'm celebrating the launch of my new collection of kids wall art entitled Cosmos. The series is about space, robots and loving someone to the moon and back.  Well, on that trip of love from here to the rock in the sky, you best take some provisions.  Forget the dried astronaut food, I'm talking cookies!  What if they were meteor cookies...ooooohhhh?

Here's a simple way to turn any cookie recipe into ones that look like meteors.  Think about it, a meteor shower of cookies, you can't get any more deliciously spaced out than that! 
Space Party Meteor Cookies
What you'll need:
Black Food Coloring
Chocolate Rocks
Confectioners Sugar
Your preferred cookie recipe and ingredients.

The secret is to incorporate chocolate rocks.  But, unlike chocolate chips, if you mix them in only a part of them will show and the effect won't be as obvious.
Chocolate Candy Rocks for Meteor Asteroid Cookies
You could alter any cookie recipe for this.  Keep in mind that the chocolate rocks are similar to M&M's so you'll want to expect that crunch.  For this post I am making the classic Tollhouse cookie recipe and have simply left out the chips.  I'd suggest choosing a cookie that's dark in color so you only have to use a minimal amount of food coloring. 
Tollhouse cookie recipe for Metor Cookies, for an astronaut party
First step is to make the cookie batter according to your recipe.  Once it's mixed, add in black food coloring to override the cookies color.  Fold it in thoroughly.  The second step is to load your cookie sheet with dollops of dough.   I separated the chocolate rocks into colors.
Now that your dollops are placed you'll need to pile on the chocolate rocks.  They will settle and spread out as the dough cooks.  Be sure to place some around the edge of the dough.  Then bake the cookies according to your recipe.
Chocolate Chip Meteor Cookie Recipes for a space party
Allow the cookies to cool.  In a bowl add hot water into the a cup of confectioners sugar.  Mix until it becomes smooth and free of sugar clumps.  You'll want to add enough water to make the mixture thin enough to enable brushing it on.  Holding the brush at a steep angle and simply dry brush across the surface in a couple directions to hit and highlight the texture and rocks.  Let the sugar mixture dry. 
Space Birthday Party Metoro Cookies
My favorite color ended up being the turquoise blue.  They gave the cookies that gem stone look. 
Candy Rock Chocolate Chip Cookies perfect for a space or astronuat party.
Outer space cookies, moon cookies, asteroid cookies, meteor cookies
The chocolate rocks look like well,.... like rocks.   I imagine you could try this technique matching the rock colors to colored cookie dough.  Yellow on yellow, red on red would be very space like.  If you try a variation let me know how it goes and send over a photo I'll add it to the post.  -Enjoy!
Chocolate Candy Rocks
Solar System Space Party recipe for Meteor Cookies
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Space art launches - The cosmos collection

1/11/2018

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I'm happy to reveal my latest collection entitled "Cosmos".  It's available now in my shop.
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By popular request, this collection is the first in a series of works designed for littler guys.   They're perfect for the nursery or that little rocket ship of a room your astronaut pilots.
I've also taken the opportunity to offer some new products for testing.
  • Wall banners with vintage porcelain knobs.
  • Peel and Stick wall decals
  • Growth Chart
  • Framed Prints
  • Pillow Cases
  • Fabric
I Love You To The Moon And Back Wall Art Decor - the inspirational kids art is available as a banner and wall decor
Available in both a canvas banner and a peel and stick wall decal - I love you to the moon and back.
Always Bring your Own Sunshine Pillow by Aaron Christensen
 Over the next week I'm going to announce some more news and surprises.  For now, know that I'm offering 20% off of the new collection.  Visit my shop today! Below you'll find some mood board I've designed to showcase some room decor design ideas and maybe inspire.  I hope you enjoy them and I would love to hear your comments, leave them below!
And I'm super excited to announce I have a Spoonflower shop.  Many of you have requested soft goods that coordinate with my wall art.  I'm introducing some, like my Always Bring Your Own Sunshine canvas pillow and more are to come.  In the meanwhile, use your crafty skills to create decor and bedding using my fabrics.  Spoonflower has a great selection of fabric types.  My favorite are the soft ones like their velveteen and their minky. 
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Are you hosting a birthday party, decorating your astronauts room or looking for some fun space themed activities?  Be sure to follow me and visit my Space Themed Pinterest Board.
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Outer space art for boys rooms
I love you to the moon and back framed wall art for kids by Aaron Christensen
Boy Growth Chart in a space robot theme by Aaron Christensen - artist and kids space designer
Space Traveler Wall Art Decor for Boys bedrooms and nursery.
Always bring your own Sunshine Inspirational Poster and Framed Wall Art
Planets and Stars wall art canvas decor by Aaron Christensen
Ideas for a boys nursery in a space, rocket and planet theme by kids designer Aaron Christensen.  The boys room mood board features his art.
Inspiration and Ideas for a Space themed boys room.  Featuring the I love you to the moon and back wall banner by Aaron Christensen
Space Themed Nursery Ideas Mood Board featuring art by Aaron Christensen, kids room designer.
Create a boys room filled with space and solar system inspired decor.  The mood board features Aaron Christensen wall art available in canvases and prints.
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fall fashion and autumn automobilia

11/3/2017

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My display building services were challenged with a contradiction.  Can you combine a masculine window and store trim theme with a female sentiment?
A fall clothing boutique display utilizing auto parts and car related goods.
The concept of a mechanic, automotive theme combined with some positive affirmations was the winning idea my boutique client chose.  Off and running, I had a great time rummaging, replicating and altering automotive parts and car related goods.....continued

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Can You Build a Mini Truck Bed For a Boys Room?  Why, Yes!

9/11/2017

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Digging through my old analog photos of kids room projects, I realized that I had photos of one project that had never been seen by the public.  So, in retrospect here's a project where we built a bed for a boys room that looks like a truck.  Circa 2005. 
Boys Room Twin Truck Bed Created By Embellishments Studio - Prop Maker and Kids Room Designer
The one of a kind custom bed was for a young man named Zac.  Both he and his sister had their Embellishments bedrooms featured in the 2005 Street of Dreams, Luxury home tour. 
Building a Boys Room Truck Bed
Despite looking like an actual vintage truck, the piece is completely hand made from scratch.  It had to be, in order to fit in his bedroom.  It measured 4.5 feet tall.
The Studio Was Asked, Can You Build A Truck Bed For A Boys Bedroom.
Each element was hand carved, primed and painted to mimic a old truck.  The faux chrome emblem on the hood says "Embellishments" for fun. 
No Ordinary DIY or Maker Project.  Embellishments Studio Creates A Boys Bedroom Truck Bed.
Beyond being a show stopper for the luxury home tour, the truck bed and photographs of it topped HGTV's Rate my Space for the number one boy's room for multiple years, beating out its closest competitor by thousands of votes.
Truck Bed Bedroom Decor Under Construction
The truck bed was under construction before the home was completed.  Despite blue prints and on site measurements along the way, the final door opening was 3/4's inch too small for the parts to be carried in.  Therefore, we had to take out the second story boys room window, lean two extension ladders and push/pull the piece through the window.  From a far, on lookers only saw two men pushing a truck up two ladders.  It must have been quite a site.
The Ultimate Boys Room Dream- A Twin Sized Truck Bed
The bed had enough room for Zac to play truck driver.  The studio's faux garage door panels were to give the impression that the truck was in a garage.
What an Idea!  A Custom Kids Room Truck Bed.
In subsequent years, the studio created custom beds and play structures like a train car, princess carriage, tree houses and a pirate ship. 
Custom Studio Faux Truck, Used As A Boys Bed
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New   Releases  -  Vintage  Sports  Scoreboards  For  Basketball,  Football  and  Lacrosse!    Fresh Art   For  The  Sports  Fan.

7/6/2017

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I'm excited to share new additions to my vintage sports wall art line.  These three new scoreboards round out my selection to include more color schemes and types of sports.
Vintage Sports Scoreboard Football Wall Art for boys, teens and home.
Vintage Football Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Sports Scoreboard Lacrosse wall art for boys, teens and home
Vintage Lacrosse Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Sports Scoreboard Basketball Wall Art for boys, teens and home.
Vintage Basketball Scoreboard Wall Art by Aaron Christensen
The images are available as archival paper prints and stretched canvases.  If you have a favorite sport that's not represented in my collection send me a message.  I'm always happy to receive feedback and inspiration!
Vintage Sports Basketball Nursery Inspirational Mood Board Ideas and Art by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Basketball Nursery Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Sports Lacrosse Bedroom Ideas and Art Mood Board by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Lacrosse Teen Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Sports Football Boys Bedroom Ideas and Art Mood Board by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Football Boys Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
Vintage Sports Basketball Bedroom Inspiration and Art Mood Board by Aaron Christensen
Vintage Basketball Boys / Teen Bedroom Inspiration Mood Board
$30.00 - $179.00
  • See all my scoreboards HERE.
  • Football scoreboard sports wall art decor- great for the football or NFL enthusiast.
  • Handcrafted in the USA to portray the depth of color, texture and richness of Aaron's originals. 
  • Canvases are hand stretched onto 1.5" deep wooden stretcher bars. The canvas sides are finished with a color or additional imagery, so framing is not necessary.
  • Paper prints have a .5" white border for ease in framing.
  • © Aaron Christensen
Shop
$30.00 - $179.00
  • See all my other scoreboards HERE.
  • Basketball scoreboard sports wall art decor- great for the basketball enthusiast. Available as a stretched canvas or archival print paper poster.
  • Handcrafted in the USA to portray the depth of color, texture and richness of Aaron's originals. 
  • Canvases are hand stretched onto 1.5" deep wooden stretcher bars. The canvas sides are finished with a color or additional imagery, so framing is not necessary.
  • Paper prints have a .5" white border for ease in framing.
  • © Aaron Christensen
Shop
$30.00 - $179.00
  • LAX scoreboard sports wall art decor- great for the lacrosse enthusiast, fan, coach or player.
  • Handcrafted in the USA to portray the depth of color, texture and richness of Aaron's originals. 
  • Canvases are hand stretched onto 1.5" deep wooden stretcher bars.  The canvas sides are finished with a color or additional imagery, so framing is not necessary.
  • Paper prints have a .5" white border for ease in framing.
  • © Aaron Christensen
Shop
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Boys   Sports   Bedding   Guide  for  Summer  17

7/6/2017

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Boys Room and Teen Room Sports Bedding Ideas and Inspiration by designer Aaron Christsensen of EmbellishmentsKids.com.
Kids and Teen room designer Aaron Christensen offers his top bedding picks for sports enthusiasts.
I'm always on the hunt for new bedding styles and designs for my customers and I often get asked what bedding works with my sports wall art lines.  So here are my picks for new and tried and true pieces from my favorite haunts.  I rarely use themed bedding with sports graphics on it, for me it's usually too expected and often tacky.  In contrast I applaud my friends over at Land of Nod have done a great job of offering up some very simple understated pieces, I've included below.  The top picks include bedding from Restoration Hardware Teen, PBteen, Ralph Lauren via Nieman Marcus, Rejuvenation Hardware and Schoolhouse Electric. 
Having worked with several large retailers on the development and coordination

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DIY- Create   Colorful   Cactus   Plants   By Raiding   The   Swimming Pool!

6/27/2017

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Ideas are easy to come by, harder to realize.  I sold my clothing boutique client on the idea of a dimensional cactus themed summer window and store display.  I've been drawn to tissue art as of recently, and liked the concept of watercolor like tones of tissue combined with the harder cacti form.   Figuring out how to bring the concept to life became the mystery.  It was my mission to find a simple way to create cacti plants that are lightweight and life like in shape.
DIY - Create fun cactus decor.   Using kickboards and fun noodles for a summer window display
The fruition of my watercolor like cacti summer display trim concept.
After a stint of head scratching and store wandering, the idea came to me when I saw a display of foam fun noodles and little swimmer kick boards.  I quickly grabbed a shopping cart and loaded up 20 noodles and 20 kick boards.  In the checkout line I was asked by the cashier about my pool party.  Still excited by the idea, I blurted out that I was going to turn them into cactus.  Why I expected anything more than the half smirk and a random direction head nod from those around me, is beyond me.  Huff!  I guess my prickly pear making high was clearly a one man's journey.
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If you can decoupage and cut shapes with scissors you can have a cactus garden!  If you can climb over the fence and take your neighbors fun noodles and kick boards you can have a cactus garden for free, or the price of a misdemeanor.  Relax, there is no need to pilfer.  This time of year many big box and dollar stores have "polyethylene foam" swim noodles and boards for sale.  Plastic suppliers like Tap often carry it in large rolls.  It's used as a packing material and insulation, you will want 1/2 inch or thicker sheets.

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Vancouver's   Willows   Boutique   Celebrates   20   Years

6/13/2017

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2017 marks the 20th anniversary for Willows boutique in Vancouver, Wa.  The independent  women's apparel, accessory and gift store has changed through the years, evolving to serve its clients and customers.  Embellishments studio has been there from the beginning bringing their brands style to life.
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Willows   and   Embellishments   studio  celebrate

Hundreds of partygoers helped Willows celebrate its 20th anniversary, with florals by Stem Floral Design and treats by Rosycakes to coordinate with my summer display.  What may not be known to many in attendance is the origins of the boutique they love. 
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It was 1997 when I first met the first time shop owners Sandy McCloud and her business partner and daughter Janna Moats.  Bright eyed and ambitious to realize their concept for a bedding, furniture and gift store we hit it off.  Our task was to transform a rather plain and unassuming space tucked into a refurbished car dealership into something alluring and vibrant.
Willows storefront inside the Vancouver Marketplace. Yes, that is nursery bedding and baby goods you see.
Willows opened as a bedding, furniture and gift store. The very first incarnation of a willow tree was painted on the column. Each store has had a version.
When the first Willows expanded into the empty space next door, they began carrying apparel. Pictured is the first and only dressing room.
Willows was known for their extensive array of holiday gifts and ornaments. Pictured is the first holiday tree Embellishments designed.
It wasn't too long and their success lead to their expanding into an empty retail space next door.  The new area allowed them to expand their offerings to include some apparel, baby bedding and more gift merchandise.  It is with the addition of this space that glimpses of the Willows style appeared. 
Transforming the space required my faux finishing of a large plastic fluted column, the in-place pour of a concrete counter and suspending shelving fixtures down from the ceiling joists.
Having no backroom for storage meant fixtures needed to have storage, like these custom tiered merchandisers.
The roll up garage door facade was ahead of its time, circa 2001.
I presented them with the challenge of keeping live plants alive as part of their facade treatment. Over 20 years, I've learned that they do not have green thumbs. Willows was proven to be the place where poinsettias drop their leaves and die...ha!
Committed to having the, mostly service oriented, marketplace provide a shopping experience to the downtown Vancouver scene,  Sandy  and Janna, in addition, opened Fresh Willow, a garden and gift store.  I began my exploration of their interiors being modern with industrial and vintage accents.  This would include creating elements and faux finishing them for both the interior and facade.  Ingredients such as concrete, "rusted" metal and wood finishes will serve them well into their 20th year.
The best features of both Willows and Fresh Willow were inspiration for the new store. Raw steel, treated woods and glass adorn the fixtures. Willows' current logo made its debut.
Despite being very limited on space, a petite window display area became a necessity to communicate Willow's style to pedestrians.
The development of custom holiday decor became a staple to Willow's style.
Despite the irritating placement of the buildings window frames we persisted on providing downtown with a mini department store quality window display.
My style influences and the style I longed for Willows to have started its showing in their Ester Short Park corner location. Custom fixtures, window displays and holiday decor became a staple of Willow's style.
Despite their retailing success, the two Marketplace locations challenged the two owners with heavy schedules, separate merchandise buying trips and two vastly different goals within.   The decision was made to merge the two and define "Willows" with a new location, street side in the newly revitalized Ester Short Park area. Here the merchandise assortment began the flip from home dec and gift, with some light apparel to apparel with some gift.  Here's where the categories of garden, bedding and furniture were shed, a precursor to the boutique of today.  The response from downtown Vancouver's apparel store starved women was amazing. Willows became the guiding light and a stellar example of a revitalized Vancouver success story.   That forward momentum could not be sustained too long.  With the onset of the economic recession bringing about a reversal of downtown Vancouver's revitalization and growth, Sandy and Janna made the tough, but exciting, decision to close their Ester Shore Park location and relocate to their current one in the Grand Central Marketplace.  As a team, we decided to take the largest space yet further in expressing Willow's style and distill their offerings to be revolved around apparel, accessories and gifts.
Designed from the ground up I advocated for a large backroom and roomy dressing rooms.
Defining Willows visually was my goal in the decisions I made for their 4th incarnation. Included in this was the creation of their signature reclaimed Willow tree. Every store has had a representation of a Willow tree.
It is their Grand Central location that would challenge me to create the Willows experience from scratch.  This will be the first time I was given the freedom to develop a completly empty retail space.  No more were there going to be stairs, low ceilings and a lack of storage.  My first decision was to design them an actual working back room.  This marks the first time in Willow's 15 years that they can process new merchandise off the sales floor.  And I, as their merchandiser, display builder was eager to have a storage  area for fixtures, tools and display goods.

To further build the brands reputation for eye catching eye candy and high end department store like treatment of visual display, I carved a niche out for a window display and purchased a ton of mannequins.  The tradition of rearranging the store, adding new fixtures and displays with each season was born. 
Hundred of books, a custom chalkboard and hexagon merchandisers were created to herald in Fall 2012. Almost all the props used at Willows are created in my studio.
Spring was ushered in with repurposed glass objects, live plants and a mason jar chandelier.
Cream, crochet, a boho tent and dozens of studio made bohemian camp chairs add a light feeling to the store after Holiday was taken down.
Shimmer and glow, words of summer adorn the displays. A custom lifeguard stand, umbrella and driftwood fixtures were made in my studio. Many times, I will sell the items I make once they come down.
On trend, on the water! A nod to nautical brings summer to willows. Studio made sails, anchor marquis and super heavy concrete buoys set the scene.
A mix of faux taxidermy, rustic burlap and artistically woven branches lend a sense of Fall to the store. Customers of the store were invited to a private sale of the taxidermy.
Holiday 2014 went traditional with a Willows twist. The store's tree was lit with fourteen 25 foot strands of Christmas lights and adorned with fir boughs. The store was filled with handmade mini houses turned light fixtures, antiqued ornaments and fun colors.
Studio made hanging holiday houses, marquee accents and faux antique ornaments adorned the store. Many of these pieces will be for sale Fall 2017, as we clear room for 2019's trim.
As if the planets aligned just for the ladies of Willows, the two spaces adjacent to the store became available.  So without hesitation, the designing of the current, expanded Willows began.  The additional space allowed us to accommodate more dressing rooms, increase the selling space, add a sale area and further indulge in the textures and elements that define Willows visually.  And of course I got my wish of another window, an expanded back room and a central wrap desk that could hold four checkout stations!
The wall between the older space and the new space comes down to reveal the vastness of the new Willows and the scale of the new wrap desk area.
Studio built and revised fixtures for display and merchandising fill the store.
Vintage inspired looks and textures abound the surfaces of Willows.
Metal pipe and metal hangers play part in establishing the store's character.
Working with wood both raw and natural, we created fixtures for the store.
Furthering the "Willow" tree idea, we made a faux bois table for merchandising on. It's all cement and rebar.
Rough and textural finishes help define the Willow's style that's evolved over 20 years.
Old is new and new is old. Dressing room are covered in vintage wall papers and faux vintage bulbs adorn industrial look fixtures we created to look old.
A faux copper studded wall fools the eye and a variety of woods sport colors in a studio made merchandising table.
The raw wood organic, randomized look of the store's Willows tree is contrasted by dimensional, sculptural patterns of painted wood.
Studio created wall finishes, lettering and a custom barn door enliven the backroom photography and suppplier meeting area.
 I'm proud to play part in this 20 year love affair with the Willows brand.  The owners, Sandy and Janna are like family.  We've watched each others families grow.  We've watched our separate businesses grow.  And, we will continue watching Willows grow further with our collaborative ways and unrelenting love for the store.   I'm including some additional photos from my Willows displays below.  Enjoy!- Aaron
Custom Holiday trim of coppers, golds and rose gold with birch, fur and a bit of glam by Embellishments Studio.
Holiday 2016 decor Lux Lodge by Aaron Christensen.
A huge led lit antler deer mount made from "birch". The birch is actually made of pipe coated in a faux treatment.
Summer 2017 was inspired by watercolor landscape paintings of cacti and the desert southwest.
Cacti which are made in my studio from pool floaties, noodles and tissue cascade down the cash wrap wall.
Wheelbarrows of cacti set the mood in the store's windows.
Fall 2016 explores objects, textures and surfaces found in an old farm yard. All of the items were custom, made in the studio.
Fall 2016's Windmill, Birdhouse and 3 tier rolling "vintage floral cart" were made custom using scrapped reclaimed objects from Portland's Rebuilding Center.
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LACROSSE  WALL  ART  DEBUTS - LIVE, LOVE & LAX!

5/24/2017

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Okay Lax lovers, here we go...  I proudly present my lacrosse wall art series collage.  Available as a one piece, nine image design or you can pick and choose any of the nine as individual prints in canvas and on archival paper.

According to Thomas Vennum Jr., author of American Indian Lacrosse: Little Brother of War "Apart from its recreational function, lacrosse traditionally played a more serious role in Indian culture. Its origins are rooted in legend, and the game continues to be used for curative purposes and surrounded with ceremony. Game equipment and players are still ritually prepared by conjurers, and team selection and victory are often considered supernaturally controlled. In the past, lacrosse also served to vent aggression, and territorial disputes between tribes were sometimes settled with a game, although not always amicably." 

With it's rich history and evolution into one of the fastest growing sports here in the States, it's time to be wall proud and art up!  I hope you enjoy them, I'd love to hear your feedback.

Lacrosse sports wall art decor by Aaron Christensen available as stretched canvases and poster prints.
The nine image collage is available with a black or cream border in canvas and on archival paper.
Lacrosse Sports Art available in prints and canvases from Aaron Christensen.
You can also order any of the nine images as single prints or canvases. Use one or group several to express you inner laxitude.
Need some inspiration for your lax loving walls?  Here are three style mood boards to give you ideas and inspire.  Feel free to pin, post and print!
Lacrosse room ideas, inspiration for art and decor.  Perfect for the teen or boys room.
Lacrosse wall art and decor ideas for a sophisticated boys or teen room.

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Sports   Wall  Art   Round  Up  and  Round  Table

5/1/2017

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Reproducing and selling my own artwork direct and no longer licensing it out was the greatest of decisions.  One of the biggest rewards is the direct communication line to my customers.  Never before have I had so many ways to meet and discuss my art with those who enjoy it.    Within these live, phone, email and social media interactions I've heard a lot of feedback, requests and ideas that inspire.
As I hone my "to paint" list, I thought I'd put it out there that I'm open to suggestions or requests.  Many of my pieces were fueled by a flurry of requests.  So I'd love to hear from you if you have any sport, style or theme requests.
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I've been painting sports art for 15 years.  While many pieces are in private collections or are commissions, I enjoy selling my canvas and paper reproductions to the public.  I've touched on many of the popular sports and decor themes.  Some are more vintage some are more modern.  Many of my sports wall hangings end up in boys rooms, teen spaces and areas of the home where sports fans gather.   Given all of that, have you any requests?  Do you have a particular decor style or color scheme you'd like to see?  I'm painting now for my 2018 releases, I'd enjoy hearing from you.
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EMBELLISHING  A  HOME  SCHOOL  CLASSROOM

4/18/2017

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I love the opportunity to bring a clients vision to life.  When my clients, whom home school their children, moved into their new place, they called looking for my help.  You see, they had a huge room over their garage and wanted to convert it into a classroom for their kids and maybe other cooperative homeschoolers.   Waving his arms around Micheal, the owner, asked how can we make it bigger than life, something the kids would go crazy over.  Well... I was happy to oblige.  Here are some first round photos.  I need to go back with a wide angle lens to capture the entire room. 
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Creating a simple sketch to communicate ideas is a great start. Here is mine for this project.
This concept won their hearts.  It's a pretty grand in scale so I broke it down into parts.
Mural of historical timelines using events, people and pop culture references - By Aaron Christensen
A glimpse of the mural depicting around a hundred years.
One thing that is not illustrated in my sketch is the stair well leading to the classroom.  We decided on a mural starting at the base with the dawn of time, and winding up through the years as the stairs ascend.  Here I picked out some notable events, interesting facts and persons to illustrate a time period.  The video below captures most of it.

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Dr. Seuss Day - Confessions of a seussidian seussaphile and geisel groupie.

3/2/2017

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If I were to identify whom might be my number one influence in my artistic endeavors, it most certainly would be Dr. Seuss aka Theodore Geisel.  While Walt Disney the man, not the brand is close, Seuss was a bit more of a rags to literary wealth success story, which for me embodies the American dream.   He single handidly  changed the way in which young people learn to read and in turn see the world around them.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." - Dr. Seuss
On this special day acknowledging Mr. Geisel, please allow me to geek out for a bit and share some of my favorite Seuss and Seussisms.

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Shop top selling  wall art, paintings and prints for boys, boys rooms,  kids, teens, adults, tweens, nurseries and rooms by artist Aaron Christensen.  Vintage sports art, racing art, scoreboard art, rock and roll art can be found in our shop. View works by interior designer Aaron Christensen, whom specializes in children's spaces, theatrical and themed spaces, pediatric office and retail environments. Based in Portland, Oregon. All images, text, DIY's and art copyright Aaron Christensen. All rights reserved.

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