Lately I’ve been very busy.  Ok, so I say that every other day, but this time I mean really really busy.  In addition to the backyard demolition and the guest bath remodel I’ve been working with superstar client, Birds Barbershop, to unleash a new campaign on our unsuspecting and fair city.

See, with the word Barbershop in the name, people often assume that their core customer looks a lot like this:

With free lone star on tap, you best believe that several dudes get their ears lowered at Birds, but they also have customers like-a so:

And plenty like this:

Birds owner, Michael, and I have been brainstorming and coordinating this campaign for months.  All photographs were shot by Alison Narro, layout & graphics by yours truly, and the logo is a spin on an old austin bumper sticker from the ’70s.  (BTW, I tried to find a pic of the sticker online and couldn’t but trust me it exists)  Here are a few other posters I’ve put together so far.

The shoot took place over 4 days (one day at each Birds location) and all the models are Birds customers who just so happened to show up during the shoot to get a haircut.

If you’re in Austin, keep your eyes peeled, these posters and ads will be popping up everywhere soon.  Treat it like a where’s waldo, would ya?

So it’s 9:30 on Monday night and I’ve just gotten off the plane from my trip to Albuquerque, where I got to check out more than a few awesome Bart Price houses (alas, still not from inside).  Congratulations to both Sherri and Freshly Found for their laser-like accuracy in Friday’s where in the world contest, you made my decision tricky so you will both win bracelets from Naughty Secretary Club. Hooray!!

Anyhoodle, as I mentioned, I’m fresh off the plane and have just returned to my computer after 4 days of work-free-best-friend’s-wedding-bliss.  Despite my begrudging return to the real world, all is not so bad as my inbox included brand new pics of the newest Birds Barbershop taken by our own Ms. Erin.

You may remember that Erin took these pics of Birds on East Sixth just a couple of months ago.  The newest shop has a 3D mural created by local party planner extraordinaire and all-around badass, Luther Himes.  Psst… remember those 3D party pics I posted last week?  See, it’s all coming together, right?

My favorite part of the shop is the 35 foot long wall with the black and metallic silver chevron stripe.  I had originally suggested a wide, angled stripe, then Joel Mozersky suggested we make it a chevron while at lunch one day.  I gave the design to our painter who then suggested that we put it at an angle.  So, it was a 3-way collaboration.  Yay!  Collaborative success!

Oh, unfortunately, at the last minute they had to put that ugly AC in.  But at least it’s nice and cozy in there now.

That AC is a godsend since every other wall is a floor-to-ceiling window.

Did I mention the Free Skill Crane?

And the free Lone Star?

I love the back shampoo room, these chairs sit across from the big chevron wall.  The black high-gloss stripes running up the wall were a quick solution (suggested by yours truly) when no back splash had been planned for the sink, those shampoo bottles get messy too, so the wall directly behind them needed to be protected as well.

I found this light on ebay, it is my one true love

I also designed these 3D glasses, they’re mighty special from the front as well, guess you’re going to have to stop by the shop to see them.  For those of you in Austin, it’s at 1902 South Congress, Just north of Magnolia Cafe.  You can also visit their site (designed by lil ole me) HERE

Hello darlings! It’s been an insanely busy end of week/weekend, plus I’m getting ready to fly to Hawaii tomorrow, so today’s post is more picture diary than cutting commentary. Hope that flips your bic because, phew! — I am TIRED.

So, if you don’t already know, Austin is host to the annual SXSW music festival. For a couple of weeks the entire city revolves around films, free music, free parties, and lots and lots and lots of free alcohol — unless you happen to be six months pregnant like moi, in which case you skip the drinking binges. Dammit. I only made it out two days this year — and even that almost killed me — but I’m glad I went. The unborn fetus and I saw some great music, and we even have a few pictures to prove it.

Day 1 was dominated by the Bird’s Barbershop party, which was new and improved over last year’s rockin’ party due to an explanded venue and extra special marketing efforts by Miss Karly herself.

Poor Karly had to squat down 500 feet to match my diminutive height, and sadly this is the only SXSW picture I have of us together, so enjoy!

King Khan and the Shrines are like some kind of a bizarre, transatlantic James Brown.

N.A.S.A. rocked the house with extra help from a martian cheerleader.

My pal Diana was assaulted by an extraterrestrial creature.

Later that night we went to see Tricky at the Levi’s Fader Fort and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Day 2 was all about eating burgers at P. Terry’s, and then heading back to the Fader Fort.

After jamming to a set by Bun B, Karly, Hunny Bunny and I, did a loooooot of people watching while waiting for rumored special guest Kanye West to show up.

He finally did. Karly braved the crowds to get pretty close to Mr. West, but I stayed back for fear of having the baby squeezed out of me by frat tools. This was the best shot I could get out of my point and shoot, but you can still see his cutoff jean vest/jacket thing that Karly found most perplexing.

We skipped out after about an hour and apparently missed Erykah Badu and Common. Bummer. But we did have a lovely late night dinner at the Magnolia. Mmmmm… pancakes!

So, that’s it for my SXSW coverage. Karly’s got more for you on Tuesday, but I’d like to leave you with some shots of Kanye West’s house, featured in Interior Design.

Not bad. It’s pretty much a masculine mod shrine to Takashi Murakami and Andy Warhol, and I would totally live there. Except for this:

Or maybe I would live there because of this? All the music and ambient pot smoke must have befuddled me, because I’m really not sure.

Well, blog buddies, I’m going to be on vacation for almost two weeks. I’m sorry that I haven’t had time to catch up on a lot of your awesome blogs lately, but hopefully when I return from relaxing on the beach I will be totally rested and raring to go.

While I’m gone, Captain Karlypants will be steering the ship with help from first mate guest bloggers Hello Gorgeous, Eye Spy, The Homebound, and Even Cleveland. Please be sure to tune in to check out their fantastico posts. Thanks for supporting our blog, and I’ll see you when I get back!

As most of you regular kids know, one of my most active (and favorite) clients is Birds Barbershop.  Lately I’ve been (happily) up to my ears in work due to their latest endeavor:  Birds on East 6th.  The third shop in 3 years just opened last Wednesday, our own Mrs. Erin photographed the new digs:

For those of you in Austin, the new shop is located just east of I-35, a stones throw from my new favorite bars, Shangri La, Rio Rita, and The Good Knight.

The interior design was a collaboration between co-owner, Michael Portman; local design fave, Joel Mozersky; and graphic designer, Bryan Keplesky.  PSST… Erin and I scored that blue bench while thrifting a couple of weeks ago, so I guess I got to play dress up as well.  And, yes, that is a Joust machine you see lurking in the corner.  

The red Eames shell chairs were a craigslist score, as were most of the shop’s accessories.

Bryan Keplesky used images from around Austin’s east side to piece together his awesome mural.  Austin Style Watch has a great write up (with photos!) about the mural creation.  Here’s the short version:  The mural was printed in black and white on long strips of 36″ wide paper and applied like wallpaper.  A second version of the mural was printed on long strips of 36″ wide yellow paper that was then torn to pieces and wheat pasted in little bits over the first layer.

Bryan also created the mural at the first Birds Barbershop:

The boys then used a cherry picker and screen printed the mural directly onto the shop’s wall:

et, voila:

Erin didn’t take these pictures… but raise your hand if you think we should get her in there.

Just to prove my point that Bryan is a graphics genius, I’m going to veer off topic for a minute

Selected works from his portfolio, top row: Posters for author events at local book shop, Bookpeople; Bottom left: Allen Demling campaign fundraiser poster; bottom right: Gang of Four poster (I own this one but haven’t found a home for it yet)

Bryan also did these early Birds promo posters:

Luckily for me, Bryan has a day job at local ad agency, Door Number 3, so I do all the graphics for Birds now.

Above is the space-invaders inspired second Birds location on Burnet Road.  Sorry, I don’t have a good mural shot of this store, but it’s real real pretty.

Incase you weren’t inspired by the badass interiors, you may be interested to know that Birds throws down several times a year.  Above is my boyfriend Dizzee Rascal playing at Birds on Lamar during SXSW last year.  Here’s what our lineup is looking like this year:

This year’s show will take place at the new shop, you can see a larger version of the poster here.

If I still haven’t won you over, what if I told you that every customer over 21 gets a free beer? 

photo by Cory Ryan

yes, they cut ladies hair, too, and do a mighty fine job.  Guys and gals can download a coupon for the new shop here.  (Did I mention that I do their marketing, too)

So, there you have it, now you dudes know where I’m spending my days, and nights, and weekends.  Not too shabby, huh?