The 18th Annual Designer Christmas Trees From Les Sapins de Noel des Createurs, Part I.

The non-profit organization, Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs (The Designers Christmas Trees), has been raising funds with its prestigious charity event for 18 years. Every December, renowned personalities from the world of fashion, design or architecture, bring their talent to offer their unique take on the traditional Christmas tree created in various mediums.

This is my fourth feature on this annual event. I have shared with you many of their previous designer Christmas trees  here, here and here.



This year, I have all of the photos from the 18th edition of Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs, with the exception of three, by the following participants. Images are shown in alphabetical order.

Agent Provocateur:

Ali Mahdavi:

Chantal Thomass:

Christian Ghion:

Dali Parfums:

Damien Da Rocha:

Diane von Furstenberg:


Didier Ludot:

Dior:

Élie Saab (on behalf of Evian):


Emilio Pucci:


Esmod Paris by Ioannis Guia:

Hermès - Petit h by Pascale Mussard:

Hervé Van der Straeten:


Jean-Charles de Castelbajac:

Jean-Claude Jitrois:

Jean-Jacques Ory:


Jean-Paul Gaultier:



Tomorrow's post will feature the designer Christmas Trees by Kenzo Takada, Laurence Torno, Louis Gérin and Grégory Lamaud - Les Garçons, Louis Vuitton, Massato, Mathilde de l'Écotais, Maxime Simoëns, Olivia Putman, Patrice Gardera, Philippe Soussan, Pierre Hermé, Ruben Alterio, Sonia Rykiel, Stella Cadente, Stella McCartney, Stéphane Rolland, Thanos Kyriakides - Blind Adam, Wooyoungmi, Yannick Alléno, Yiqing Yin, Zahia Dehar.

The only images missing are those of trees by Francis Kurkdjian, Mathilde de l'Écotais and Wooyoungmi.

Their vision of the traditional Christmas tree was displayed during a free exhibition, from the 4th to the 8th of December, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, at the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, 11 rue de Berryer, Paris, France. The pieces were then auctioned off on the 9th of December via an on-site and online charity auction and amassed 78,500 euros. The profits will go to la Fondation AVEC, pour la Vie, Espoir contre le Cancer

images courtesy of the following:
http://lessapinsdenoeldescreateurs.org
http://lespatouillesdebout2fee.over-blog.com/categorie-12217789.html
http://lesgarconsauxfoulards.blogspot.fr/2013/12/18eme-edition-des-sapins-de-noel-des.html
http://www.misterandmisstrendy.com/2013/12/les-sapins-de-noel-des-createurs.html
http://www.stylinco.com/blog/les-sapins-de-noel-des-createurs-2013/#lightbox[group]/0/
http://www.maryosbazaar.com/2013/12/08/les-sapins-de-noel-de-createurs-2013/

Meet Two Lovable Guys Who Don Gay Apparel In Some Very Pun-ny Christmas Cards.

Although Bill Bowersock Jr. and Gregg Higuchi met in the Le Marais neighborhood in Paris in 1997, they soon learned they actually lived less then two miles away from each other in San Francisco. A coincidence that turned out to benefit them and, as you'll see from this post, anyone on their annual Christmas Card mailing list.


above photo of Gregg and Bill by James Gosnell

After a five year friendship, the two San Franciscans (who are now legally and happily wed) began dating and their tradition of sending out humorous holiday cards was born.

Their first joint holiday card in 2002 featured a photo of their seasonally manicured toes at and the caption, "Living, Loving and Laughing under our Mistletoes":


That was the beginning of their pun-driven, tongue-in-cheek holiday cards that tap into some funny takes on Christmas Culture, from being Vegetarian Deer Hunters to chefs wishing you a Happy Hollandaise.



Each year since they have executed a different theme - from "Christmas Mime is Here" to "Silent Knight, Holey Knight" to " 'twas the Twilight before Christmas."  In 2011, Bill & Gregg were included in a December article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Alec Scott on "Cardies", people who create their own usual holiday cards.

2003, Vegetarian Deer Hunters:


2004, NUTScracker, Men In Tights:


2006, Christmas Mime is Here:


2006, Silent Knight, Holey Knight:


2009, Married Mistletoes:


2010, "'twas the TWILIGHT before Christmas ~ are you Team Santa or Team Claws?"


2012: Late night SF Partying


2013: Two of the Wiser of the Three Men

above: This year's card proves that they are truly wise men, opting for Palm Springs as their mid-winter desert destination.

"We talk through several ideas throughout the year, keeping a running list," says Bill, on behalf of the two.  "Our default conversation topic is often, What should our card be this year? We have a lot of fun planning our Christmas cards."

A true Holiday Ham, I had to include this recent photo of Bill by Rey Rey's Photography donning a Christmas Tree skirt as a cape despite it not being one of their annual cards because.... well, it's fabulous.



Full disclosure is that I've known Bill Bowersock Jr. for over 30 years now and he's one of the brightest, kindest, most generous human beings on the planet. Friends of Bill and Gregg heartily agree.

Simpsons Animator Liz Climo Does A Cute and Quirky 12 Days Of Christmas.

The 12 Days of Christmas as told by comic artist and Simpsons animator Liz Climo is a charming and hilarious exchange between a bear and a bunny that will warm your heart and give you the giggles.

On the first Day Of Christmas....

On the second Day Of Christmas....

On the third Day Of Christmas....

On the fourth Day Of Christmas....

On the fifth Day Of Christmas....

On the sixth Day Of Christmas....

On the seventh Day Of Christmas....

On the eighth Day Of Christmas....


Be sure to visit her tumblr to see the remaining days of Christmas!

The talented Liz Climo works as an animator on The Simpsons and is represented by: Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary.

Follow her on twitter: @elclimo

Interested in purchasing some of her adorable witty items? Check out the following links.

• Shirts and other wonderful things: http://shirtsandladders.com/
• Prints: http://society6.com/LizClimo
• Greeting cards, mugs, etc: http://www.cafepress.com/ridiculouslittlethings

The Egg Nog Project - A Kitschy Collection of Cartons From All Over The Country.

Seattle, Washington based Graphic Designer Madeleine Eiche began her fascination with Egg Nog cartons when she was working at a New York Coffee Shop back in 2002.  The kitschy packaging of Canastota's Egg Nog, coupled with her love of pop-art and her fondness for dairy products, inspired Madeline to begin an on-going collection of store bought egg nog cartons from all over the country.

She says "The peculiarities of the packaging range from festive to banal, minimal to unappetizing, and each seem to be printed with complete disregard for color alignment. It is precisely these things that make for such compelling kitsch."


above: the carton that started it all, Dairy Fresh, Canastota, New York

The majority of the cartons are so ugly, I'd hesitate to even call them 'kitsch.' However when viewed together they certainly represent the annual tradition as well as a facet of retail packaging category in sore need of redesign, with a few exceptions.

Guers Dairy, Pottsville, Pennsylvania:


Marcus Dairy, Danbury, Connecticut:


Derle Farms, Jamaica, New York:


Guida-Seibert Dairy, New Britain, Connecticut:


Dairyworld Foods, Vancouver, British Columbia CANADA:


Lucerne Foods, Pleasanton, California (2):



Faith Dairy, Tacoma, Washington:


Umpqua Dairy, Roseburg, Oregon:


Elmhurst Dairy, Roxbury, New York:


Wengerts Dairy for Swiss Premium, Lebanon, Pennsylvania:


Dean's Dairy, Sharpsville, Pennsylvania (2):



Crowley Foods, Binghamton, New York:


Giant, Landover, Maryland:


Tuscan Brand, Franklin, Massachusetts:


Schneider's Dairy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:


Parmalat Dairy, Toronto, Ontario CANADA:


Mountain Dairy Inter-American Products, Cincinnati, Ohio:


Swiss Premium Dairy, Lebanon, Pennsylvania:


Smith Dairy, Orrville, Ohio (2):



America's Choice, Montvale, New Jersey:


Wilcox Farms, Roy, Washington (2):



Turkey Hill Dairy, Conestoga, Pennsylvania:


Rockview Farms, Downey, California:


Lehigh Valley Dairy, Lansdale, Pennsylvania:


Horizon Organic, Boulder, Colorado:


Garelick Farms, Franklin, Massachusetts:


Organic Valley, La Farge, Wisconsin:


Southern Comfort, Lynnfield, Massachusetts:


Southern Comfort (Vanilla), Chelsea, Massachusetts:


Trader Joe's, Monrovia, California:


Silk, Boulder, Colorado:


Originally from Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, Madeleine Eiche is a graphic designer whose other collections include push puppets and floaty pens. Find her work at eiche.co.uk.

Photos by Justin Gollmer.

The Egg Nog Project