Welcome everybody! Today’s @MNMOmag Twitterview guest is @christinasandok of @StyleArchitects. Expect design & style Tweets!

Christina:    Thanks for having me!

Lets start from the beginning. Where did you grow up, and what were some of your interests early on?

Christina:    I grew up in rural MN…with a pony and your typical small town upbringing.

My grandmother was an entrepreneur – she inspired me daily!

And my grandfather was a jeweler so my love for design started at a young age.

My weekends were spent playing dress up…baking with my Mom…harassing my brother…building forts in our backyard

Neat! So were you creating and designing things when you were young? Like your bedroom and outfits?

Christina:    Absolutely. I love change so there was always a design project in the works…my world was a live Pinterest board! :)

So what was your journey from HS to starting @StyleArchitects. You’ve got 5 Tweets! :)

Christina:    After HS I attended college at UST. My degree was in Mass Comm + Journalism with a minor in Psych.

During my Sr. year I accepted a job @Target in Corp Media Center as a producer producing PR reels.

Post-Target, I launched beauty/apparel/wellness lines for @shopnbc.

After a few years in the world of fashion, I decided to leave and work for a children’s non-profit – @CHeartLink

Then a couple years in b2b marketing and 4+ years as a magazine style & beauty editor. I loved that job!

Two years ago I took the plunge and started @StyleArchitects – a creative lifestyle services agency.

So explain what kind of projects that @StyleArchitects does, and how have you gotten into working with magazines?

Christina:    I am lucky to have an amazing team @StyleArchitects: http://style-architects.com/about/  #mnmotv (cc: @FaithBrue @RanoshaC @CarlynMcClure)

We have wardrobe styling & event planning teams. We LOVE photo shoots – lots of creative pow wows @StyleArchitects

Each month we team up with @MNMOstyle on a makeover candidate (cc: @FaithBrue). We love our collaborations!

Sounds like a great place to work at! When you’re not @StyleArchitects, what kinds of things do you enjoy doing?

Christina:    On the weekends @Craigsandok and I head up to our lake cabin. We cook, drink wine and do cannon balls off our dock.

When we stay in the city we LOVE kicking off our Saturdays @Patisserie46 on our way to the farmers market.

Sounds like fun! :) Last point, what’s one bit of style advice you’d give to people looking for help?

Christina:    Be true to yourself – only follow trends that you truly love and that fit your lifestyle.

And follow the @StyleArchitects blog for weekly style inspiration! http://style-architects.com/blog/

Joel:    That’s pretty clear I’d say. Thank you for your time and Tweets today.  Keep up the good work that you do!

Christina:    A huge thanks to you and @MNMOmag for having me! It was fun :)

Welcome everyone! Today’s @MNMOmag Twitterview with @katearends of the #TCStyle blogging group is about to begin. Enjoy!

To start off with. Please share where you’re from and what kinds of things interested you when you were growing up.

Kate:    Hi all – from the chicago burbs, growing up was all about dance, the Beatles & Blackhawks, doc martens and peanut butter M&Ms.

When did you’re interest in design start, and did you major in that when you went to college?

Kate:    Senior year of HS i was involved in a riverfront design & city planning project, where i created pencil renderings of our solution.

Soon after, i enrolled in the architecture program at iowa state, where i was introduced to graphic design

How did you use your skills after college, and how do you use them now in your employment.

Kate:    After graduation i landed a job at @designcue, which brought me to mpls. i’ve been working there as a designer ever since.

One recent development has been your HUGE following on @Pinterest. What is your follower count, and how did you grow it?

Kate:    @Pinterest is a fun medium to play in. i have 870,964 followers total. the most followed boards are fashion-oriented w/ 1,800,000.

i use @pinterest to document inspiration for design, cooking, decor and fashion. i pin daily and use it as my main bookmarking tool

That’s amazing! Lets now chat about your #TCStyle blogging. How did you meet @MNMOStyle?

Kate:    @mnmostyle & I share similar interests. we met through my blog, shared a few drinks and the rest is history. She is lovely.

@mnmostyle is great. So waat kinds of things, topics, will you be contributing to the #TCStyle blog?

Kate:    i’ll create posts featuring wardrobe inspiration, product reviews, round ups, plus tips & tricks that i’ve used/learned.

Joel:    Thanks for your time and comments today! Enjoy your work with @MNMOstyle and the #TCStyle bloggers group too!

Kate:    Thanks joel! have a good one.

Christina Sandok is a specialist in authentic design. Her company, Style Architects, helps companies achieve better branding and presentation of themselves to the public.

She presents a very professional and tailored image, and she aims to share her skills, and those of her team,  with her clients so that they are always putting their best foot forward. He company covers a variety of areas, from personal assistance to assisting entire companies.

Her skills have caught the eyes of many, and so she also has had the opportunity to work with magazines for photo shoots and is also used as a source for sharing her ideas with their readers. How though did she get to be so successful and become so recognized for her skills and abilities?

In part 1 of the Christina Sandok interview, Christina talks about how her early years helped her develop her interest and passion for authentic design. She then finishes in talking about what led her to start Style Architects and what it’s focus is.

In part 2 of the Christina Sandok interview, Christina talks about her company, Style Architects, and what kinds of things that they offer to businesses. She answers some style questions and shares some of her personal favorites.

In part 3 of her interview, Christina Sandok talks about staring her business, Style Architects, where you might be surprised to find her shopping and then ends with giving a tour of her new office space.

@JoelECarlson – Welcome everybody to the 1st Food-Friday Twitterview of 2011 with @FarmgirlsDabble (Brenda) as the guest. Lets get cooking!

@FarmgirlsDabble – Hi Joel, great to be here!

Q – #1    So @FarmgirlsDabble, share a little about yourself. Where did you grow up and what did you do after High School?

A: Grew up in NE corner of SD, on a farm. Went to college for architectural drafting.

Q – #2    So then what got you from drafting to what you do now?

A: Marriage, kids, LIFE! Have worked for SALA Architects in Twin Cities for 11 years now (in HR), still really like architecture.

Q – #3    What then led you to doing a food/family blog? How long have you had it?

A: To share with others & document for myself & my girls all my favorite recipes/traditions/stories.

And I just plain love food. Cooking, eating, experimenting, eating out – all of it.

I started my blog in April 2010, on my daughter’s 3rd birthday.

Q – #4    What kind of cooking would you say is your focus? Are they “tweaks” on old recipes, new ones or good “experiments”?

A: Mostly, I focus on what pleases my tastebuds. I like variety and lots of flavor. I’m constantly with a new recipe.

I don’t tweak much on family recipes, seems like they need to stay intact. But otherwise I tweak quite a bit.

I do a lot of experimenting. A number of new recipes each week. No stale menus around here!

Q – #5    Is it comfort food or fancy fair? Do you do more cooking or baking?

A: It’s probably 50/50 on the cooking & baking – I really do like it all.

I make what strikes me – the people at my table can determine whether it’s comfort or fancy.

Q – #6    FAVORITES Question – Restaurant, store, vacation spot, winter activity & Twin Cities neighborhood.

A: Love the Longfellow Grill for breakfast, Reds Savoy for pizza, and 112 Eatery.

Williams Sonoma is like being a kid in a candy store.

Have a special place in my heart for FL, as I visited my grandparents there alot.

Love the Grand Ave/St. Paul area. Great shopping & eating. (And Penzey’s Spices store!)

Q – #7    To close. What mantra or life-advice would you like to share with people today?

A: Do what you love. And share it with others!

@JoelECarlson – Thank you for your comments and time today @FarmgirlsDabble. Feels like good soup making weather! Take care.

@FarmgirlsDabble – Actually, I’m doing a soup experiment this weekend. Currently, we’re ordering pizza for a bunch of 8YO’s.

Thank YOU, Joel, for having me. I’ve enjoyed your past twitterviews. Happy weekend!Sleepover!

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone! Welcome to Twitterview No.200 with special guest @Real_Genevieve! She’s from Minnesota! Let get this party started.

@real_genevieve – I’m ready @JoelECarlson Let get this party started.

Q – #1    So @real_genevieve, where did you grow up in MN, and how did you get interested in home design/decorating?

A: I grew up IN the city, 32nd Colfax

My family bought old victorians in the 80′s and we’d restore them from top to bottom, these are my first design memories

I come from an art driven family, it’s just wiring and support for beautiful comes naturally from all of us

when I say city I mean, I am South High, I’m KMOJ (the 1000 watt giant), lived in uptown before there was a calhoun sq. ha ha

Q – #2    After high school, did you get schooling/training in design? How did you land your 1st TV gig?

A: Yes, I went to Lewis & Clark College in Port. Or thinking I would be in International Affairs…but I found design, one class and

it sent me straight to NYC where I attended and graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in design.

I also studied in Europe for close to a year at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Holland, but I can never just study…

I would always be working/interning in design along with fulltime school. In NYC I worked at MTV for several years in the design dept

In Holland, it was so much design theory and not enough practice so I worked in a small studio out there called muskadelic

So, in short. Yes, I’ve had extensive training, I’m a real designer who just happens to be on TV

Post design school, my 1st job was one of my greatest. A co. from MPLS called Duffy Design.

Joe Duffy was and is an incredible design mentor to me.

Q – #3    When did you 1st start appearing on TV doing design work, and how has it evolved for you?

A: I first started doing design on television 11 years ago, this has been an incredibly long ride. I’m enjoying the entire journey

design television and myself have grown up together. My life experiences evolve my vision and curiousity

I have 2 be incredibly prolific and am unable 2 repeat myself. There’s an incredible amount of pressure,but thats how I operate best

Q – #4    DM’d question – @real_genevieve Did you ever work for Prince? In what capacity? Ever considered a home goods line as a side venture?

A: Yes I worked for Prince. I worked at Glam Slam as a teenager…he is and will always be a god to me. I’m forever 16 when I see Prince

Being from Minneapolis, Prince is less of a performer to us but more of a religion, we throw down for him

I do have many home goods coming out this year Bedding, Textiles, Accessories and Rugs

to keep inspired, u have to keep moving. Travel. It is the great educator. every yr. I push myself out there for a design mission

Last year, my roots. I went to Croatia & Norway to study embroidery & rosemalling. I came back refreshed w color and new eyes.

I actually filmed it, went to ancestral homesteads and met my family on both sides…humbling, unforgettable, forever inspiring

Bedding-Springmaid/Wamsutta in spring, Rugs-Surya, Accessories-Target Fall, textiles-everywhere

Q – #5    Great! With the “New Economy”, have you changed your style or approach to fit more of people’s needs?

A: My approach never changes, my mediums change with peoples budgets.

It never gets boring, out of desperation comes creativity. Small budgets make me feel like I’m in art school again, it’s a challenge

Q – #6    DM’d question – Can you be hired as a private designer? Also, what is the link for your design studio?

A: I can be hired privately, it’s rare that I have time but occasionally I’ll do a juicy project.

I like to do pro bono charitable spaces during my “free time” or hospitality

Q – #7    Your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, activity/sport, city for vacation & your comfort food.

A: MY FAVORITES in MPLS or in the world?

@JoelECarlson – Both. Re: Favorites

A: favorite cities in the world? New York, Istanbul, Rome, Paris, Marrekesh….for getaway disappear? Villasimius in Sardinia, poof!

Fav sport? I’m a soccer girl thru college, but have always been athletic xxskiing, etc and my latest obs. running. I’ve got a club

restaurants: in mpls: bar la grassa, the old lotus and swedish meatballs from ingebretsens

restaurants in NYC and the world? we’d need a whole separate interview, too many!!!

Q – #8    Understood. What is the most common & simplest mistake to fix that you see done in peoples homes right now?

A: fear. People are paralyzed by fear of making a mistake in their home. This is why they’re all beige. This can easily be fixed

The unbeiging of America will be my lifes work, ha ha ha

Q – #9    Unbeiging. You should copyright that! :) What advice would you give to designers just starting out?

A: to designers just starting out…lead from your heart first, head second. Design is an emotional practice not a science.

Your job as a designer is to imagine harder than everyone else in the room. Your eyes must ALWAYS be open.

We are visual therapists.

@JoelECarlson – THANK YOU so much @real_genevieve for being my guest today for No.200! Keep up the great design work!  All the best to you.

@real_genevieve – Thank you, to all of you! It was a privilege.

@JoelECarlson – Hi everybody! It’s time for Twitterview No.2 today, and our guest is @inkblotsart. Lets get this started!

@inkblotsart – I’m doing this via iPhone so I apologize for any delays!

Q – #1    No worries. iWon’t get mad about an iPhone. :) So to start @inkblotsart, tell us where you grew up and where you went to school?

A: I lived in St. Paul until I was 5 then lived most of my childhood in Little Canada, a St. Paul suburb.

I went to Roseville HS for high school, spend 4 years at the U of M and graduated from Globe College (now Globe University).

*Spent 4 years…yay iPhone auto correct. :)

Q – #2    So how did you get to become a digital artist, and please also explain what your art form is?

A: I went to school for graphic design and absolutely love working on computers. I’ve always been somewhat artistic so it was a good fit

Digital art is art created using a computer as your medium. Whether it’s painting, collage, fractals, etc.

I became a digital artist because I was rejected from interior design school. I failed my portfolio review b/c I used too much color!

Q – #3    Failure brought you to a good place! :) So explain what your collages are about and where ppl can see them now.

A: Well I have 3 different facets of work: location collages, mixed media collages and custom work.

The location collages are based on a city, neighborhood, college or event. I go out and take all of the photographs for them.

The mixed media collages are mostly focused around vintage themes & use advertisements from old magazines.

The custom work is collages that are created for individuals or businesses using photos & other items that they provide me with.

Q – #4    You now have a gallery opening up where people can see your work. Where is it, and when does it open?

A: People can find my work at retail stores around town and at art fairs during the summer.

The gallery is called Studio at 795 and is located at 795 Raymond Ave in St. Paul. Right down the street from Keys Restaurant.

The grand opening is tonight!! From 7-10. Live music & cupcakes!!

It’s a collaboration with my boyfriend Karl Johnson, who is a photographer. He’ll be here tonight shooting portraits for $25.

We’ll be open tomorrow from 10-5 for a more family friendly event. Hot cider & cookies & balloons for kids.

Q – #5    Cool! Now to you personally: what are you FAVS – restaurant, store, winter activity, tech gadget & color.

A: Favorite restaurant: Cecil’s Deli. Fave store: toss up between Ikea & West Photo. Fave gadget: my iPhone!

I just learned to snowboard so I can’t say it’s my absolute favorite winter activity just yet, but it’s getting there. :) #jectv

And as my Twitter profile says, I’m a chartreuse fanatic, or any kind of lime-ish green color. My dad now calls it “Giesla green”.

Q – #6    Funny! :) So to end, what is a thought of the day or a mantra that you would like to share with everyone?

A: I have a print behind my desk that says “you’ve gotten this far, keep going.” It reminds me that you have to keep moving forward.

@JoelECarlson – Very good! It was a pleasure to meet you and all the best to you and Karl on your new studio. Thanks for your time.

@inkblotsart – Thanks so much, Joel! It was great chatting with you.

PHOTO – Karl Johnson of Scape Photography – www.scape-photo.com

@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Twitterview of @WhereItBlooms. No potting soil or roof-top garden talk here. :)

@WhereItBlooms – Thanks for having me here today!

Q – #1    So @whereitblooms, where did you grow up, what HS did you attend and what did you do out of HS for work?

A: I grew up in NW suburb in the Twin Cities, went to Armstrong High School and then attended college at Bradley University in IL.

My first job out of college was in desktop publishing at a financial institution in Chicago…love the city!

After that I was a marketing director for a real estate/property management firm #jectv Saw lots of fancy expensive Chicago homes then.

Q – #2    So how did you end up back in MN, and what kind of jobs did you have up until now that lead you to start @whereitblooms?

A: I moved back to MN to be close to family. I started @whereitblooms 8 yrs ago and love working with small businesses.

My clients have included business owners, nonprofit organizations, retail, realtors, and projects for fam/friends too!

Lately I’ve worked with clients who need logo development and branding. Also have a new client needing product design work …fun!

Q – #3    Fun! Having work that involves creativity, do you find it difficult to “turn off” your mind at the end of the day?

A: Yes, I am always in creative mode! The mind does not shut off ;) I am inspired by so many things …visual photos, conversations, etc

Magazines are the most inspiring to me…I’ll sit with a stack and just tear tear tear. Great to get design ideas.

For business branding I really want to get to know my client and their business. That is key in being successful with marketing.

Anyone that is creative can relate to the mind not shutting down :)

Q – #4    What types/fields of business have you worked with?

A: I work with mainly small businesses and consultants in retail, real estate, fashion, coaching, non-profit…

Anyone who needs design, branding, marketing materials, promotional items are typically my niche.

Lately I’ve also been training and educating them in the social media arena. #jectv I love doing that since I’m passionate …

about the direction social media is taking small businesses. There are great opportunities to create awareness

Q – #5    Good for you! :) Lets shift to your FAVS: Favorite – restaurant, store, color, tech gadget and TC’s neighborhood.

A: Fav restaurants: Oragami, Wok in the Park. Stores: Nordstroms, Len Druskin Outlet. Neighborhoods: Linden Hills

Tech Gadget: my iTouch and my kids DS (for them not me), my drawing pad that hooks to Adobe

My favorite colors are green …goes with my logo :) and red although I don’t wear that much

I also love the new West End restaurants and shops! Sauce is delish and I love Hot Mama for clothes too.

Q – #6    Interesting choices. So @whereitblooms, are you affiliated with any design/mrktg groups in the TC’s?

A: Right now I am affiliated with more networking groups WIN (Women in Networking) and exploring TC Chamber.

However, looking to expand more and continue to make creative connections :)

Q – #7    That would be a good idea. With winter coming soon, any winter travel plans that you are looking forward to?

A: We usually go to Chicago during the winter to visit family. We have a big trip to Israel planned for spring!

I’ve been to Israel twice but not in over 20 years. This time we’ll bring our whole family.

Q – #8    That will be quite a trip. If you could pick 1 person, dead/alive to have dinner with, who would you pick and why?

A: oh…tough question but I would say Bette Midler. She has it all, personality, drive, talent. Would be interesting.

I am also a huge James Taylor fan so if Bette couldn’t make dinner he’d be my next pick!

Q – #9    I enjoy Taylor too. So to end today, what general advice or mantra would you share with others today?

A: I think the best advice I’d give is one I follow myself. Be AUTHENTIC in who you are and what you do.

@JoelECarlson – Very good! Thank you @whereitblooms (Beth) for your time today and sharing some of your life. Have a great afternoon!

@WhereItBlooms – Thanks Joel for the opportunity! Have a great day too.