Supreme Award Winners!

Following on from our last post about the Ellerslie International Flower Show window display competition, we found out on Monday that we had been chosen as the Supreme Award winner, (exciting news like this doesn't make for a particularly productive start to the week..), and we were given 4 tickets to the Premiere Garden Party with a sneak peak of the show before the official opening!

3D creativity

It's nice to occasionally spend some time away from the computer screen whilst still utilising one's creative abilities, which was how Lucy and I spent our weekend. The Antique Print Gallery is taking part in the Ellerslie International Flower Show window display competition, on at the moment in the Garden City (as part of the Festival of Flowers), and we were given creative license for the design of the display. Lucy and I both lead double lives in the craft community and I have previously worked as visual merchandiser, so when we salvaged a collection of antique print off-cuts it didn't take long for a crafty idea to present itself, and the scraps were transformed into origami flowers pictured below!



Since installation we've spotted several people walking down New Regent Street just to take a look at the display, and in our opinion we have the most original and creative display in the street (although I suppose we are a little biased). The Press is running a People's Choice competition for the best window – you can vote for ours by texting "PRINT" to 3444 (be quick, voting closes on Friday), and you go in the draw to win two tickets to the Premiere Garden Party at Ellerslie on Tuesday.

The window display also ties in nicely with the Sarah Featon Flowers Exhibition being held in the Gallery from the 7th–18th March.

Special thanks also has to go out to the lovely folk at Acquisitions in Cashel Mall, who loaned us the gorgeous antique-esque vase and artificial greenery (or blackery in this case) which really made the display come to life.

Fabulous flowers

To coincide with the Festival of Flowers on at the moment in Christchurch, Paul Arnold from the Antique Print Gallery will be holding an exhibition of Sarah Featon's flower prints, which will be on display from March 7th – 18th in the gallery, at 34 New Regent Street.
Featon was an accomplished New Zealand botanical artist, and made publishing history in 1889 with The Art Album of New Zealand Flora, which was the first full-colour art book to be published in New Zealand.
It's a pleasure to be surrounded by such gorgeous works of art – the Board of Design office is situated above the Print Gallery – and we're looking forward seeing the botanical works up on display.

Antique Print Gallery
Ph 379 9868
Email paul@antiquemaps.co.nz

Fun with worms

This was one of my favourite council jobs for 2008, where we were able to create this little worm character for Learning through action, to encourage primary school children to look after their tiger worms and mini composts..


Cover of the take-home flyer, complete with our interpretation of a decorated worm farm (you can have a lot of fun when kids are your target audience)


A2 posters – items on and off the menu for worms, for display in classrooms

It could be Cuba

So we had become accustomed to the faint smell of cigars lingering in the air at Board of Design, since two doors down used to be Cubana and their customers would frequently test out the merchandise on their balcony...but it's been a while since they closed down, so the scent drifting through the office right now carries a hint of nostalgia.



A warm sunny day in New Regent Street, the Spanish mission architecture, the geraniums in full flower in the window boxes, and a guy wearing a Panama hat and smoking a cigar – who needs holidays, really?

Business cards for infant massage instructor Jo Osborne

Client: Jo Osborne, infant massage instructor

Brief: In addition to the physical health benefits of infant massage, it also promotes bonding between parent and child, relaxation, and parental self-esteem. Jo's card needed to look professional and confident, but also evoke a sense of calm and serenity – qualities to appeal to any new parent!

We chose an image that clearly illustrates a strong bond between a mother and baby. By using warm soft greys and an elegant handwritten script for Jo's name, we created a warm, personal effect and paired it with a clean white background and a simple, modern sans serif font to communicate Jo's professional nature.

Reusable shopping bags

We've been waiting for these bags to come back from print for a few months now, which were designed for the Christchurch City Council to help promote their Reduce Your Rubbish campaign. There's a different design on each side, and they make a great alternative to plastic bags. They're going to be promotional giveaways, so keep an eye out next time you're at the supermarket.