Creative Woman of the Pond: Gisele
For our first featured creative woman, we have the fabulous Gisele Jaquenod!
Gisele is the brilliant creative mind who designed my new site. She’s designed tons of gorgeous sites, as you can see on her blog and Web site, www.giselejaquenod.com. Not only is she extraordinarily talented and creative, but she’s so sweet and patient. I’m about as smart as a turnip when it comes to Web design. Gisele managed to take my random babblings and demands for pink and pie and create the site you’ve seen here for a price that would make you gasp with envy. The girl is definately underpaid.
She’s simply fabulous. I love her.
And now, a interview with our first creative woman–Gisele!
1) How did you become a designer? What’s your background?
Well, it all started when I was 10 years old going to fine arts school. There was this after school program. If you completed the three years successfully, you’d enter the Fine Arts high school. I did that and also did an additional six years of high school where I got to take the coolest classes. The classes included drawing, painting and sculpture to scenography, photography, animation, etc. When the high school finished, I wasn’t actually sure what to study since I like math and history very much as well. I ended writing for industrial design. Well, that was not the right choice for me. After three months of industrial design, I got the University to allow me to change to graphic design. Best idea ever, I just loved it!!
2) What made you want to design? Was there a defining moment or person?
I think all my life kinda lead me to this. Even before fine arts school, I was taking pottery and other art classes in different neighborhood courses. My parents, of course, played a huge role by encouraging something they could see I enjoyed (and they are both Electronic Engineers hehe).
3) What’s your favorite blog you’ve ever designed? Why?
Oh, that’s a hard one. First, because I am never satisfied totally with the result, and second because there’s many I have really enjoyed working on. But of course I have to say that my blog is the one I enjoyed the most designing, because I really got to do everything I wanted!!
I grew up in the same city I live now, La Plata. It was a really nice childhood. I read a LOT, and loved to ride my bike. I was some sort of a tomboy. Hehehe.
Well, in school I did tons of those things. Engraving, sculpture, building puppets, scenographies, theatre classes, radio theatre classes, etc. I was very lucky with that, actually.
6) What’s your favorite type of pie?
Oh my. I am more of a salty tooth than a sweet tooth, but I do love the coconut pie my sister bakes.
7) What’s your ideal meal?
This is a hard one. I am a vegetarian, but the type that eats milk and eggs. And I have to say cheese is my favorite thing in the world. So it would be probably something with cheese, like cheese fondue or a good spinach and cheese pie.
Favorite book?
Ah!! There’s so many!! From my childhood, I love the classics like the Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland. For adult books, there’s so many. But I am a science fiction lover, so I will say the six Dune books.
9) Favorite color?
I’d have to say pink!! Growing up it was blue, but later in life I found the girly girl in me!!
10) If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go and what would you do?
Well, as of now there’s two places: Norway, to get to see the family and because nature there is SPECTACULAR; and Machu Pichu, which I plan to visit sometime soon just because it’s so incredible mystical. I’d also love to visit Disney World again. EVERYONE SHOULD!!
Oh, probably I’d try to make a mural with some central theme, like a classic children’s tale. I have painted quite a few murals before (did I mention I also took mural painting at high school?), so my thing would be to make something in that style.
12) What creative women inspire you?
Well, I have to say there’s many. I love my friend Anne-Julie’s work (www.annejulie-art.com). She makes the cutest things, and has this artistic view on everything she does. I also love all the things Michelle Allen does (http://allendesigns.typepad.com/blog/). She really creates unique gifts, and I love her wall clocks!! But I have to say that, in general, I admire all those women that find the time between work, family and keeping their house tight, to pursue any artistic activity and also have time to BLOG ABOUT IT, and share recipes, tutorials, decoration tips and so much more!! They are really inspiration material to me.
13) How do you find the creativity to complete new projects and give them a unique spin, instead of churning out site after site?
Oh my, this one is hard. I find myself from time to time totally stuck, and there I need to take a little break from designing. Luckily my daily job is a bit more of a routine designing thing, that doesn’t require creativity all the time. But freelancing really does, because every client is a different world, so I think it’s not something I could do 24/7. I just wouldn’t function properly, and it wouldn’t be fair for the clients that expect something new from me.
14) Any advice for aspiring designers?
Just research a lot. Watch movies, go to the theatre, clip fashion magazines, browse design galleries, etc. I find that is the best fuel to work.
15) What are your plans for the future?
In the near future… I am moving by the end of the year to Norway!! And there it’s a new start!! Any Norwegian out there that has a job for me? Hello!
16) How can people contact you to get a quote or ask questions?
Just fill the contact form in my blog.
Thanks so much Gisele! You’re a fabulous creative woman and you inspire us all!
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have fabulous week coming up with recipes, stories and whimsical fun!
March 8th, 2009 at 6:00 am
Miiiiiiiiiir, thanks so much. It was a pleasure doing this for you
and I am so happy about you wanting to interview meeee… It’s my first interview ever!!
Thank you thank you thank you!!!
March 8th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Great interview! And she did a great design. I’ll have to look her up and get a quote!
With my computer being down, I’ve gotten behind in your storys. I’m off to play catch up.
March 8th, 2009 at 7:29 am
What a great interview. I am always intrerested and amazed at what fuels the minds of the artists among us. I wish I was one of them!
March 8th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Great interview, the new site is so pretty!
March 8th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Love the interview. So interesting. She really did an awesome job on your website.
March 8th, 2009 at 8:25 am
What a great interview. I only recently found her blog background site, and I love it! So unique and whimisical.
March 8th, 2009 at 8:51 am
A ha! there you go again… pink is very popular color among girl, no? I am, in fact wearing pink top at the moment.
Cheers,
elra
March 8th, 2009 at 10:32 am
[...] See original here: A Duck In Her Pond » Creative Woman of the Pond: Gisele [...]
March 8th, 2009 at 11:02 am
looooove the interview! and goodness i love her name. how PRETTY!
March 8th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I loved your interview. She did a great job!
March 8th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I would love for her to do a mural in Cat’s room! Her blog designs are all so adorable! I love her Sweet Shop design! And of course, your site is FABULOUS! I love that you asked her about her favorite pie!
Fantastic interview!!!!
March 8th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
How cool. Very interesting interview too. She is a great graphic designer. You are lucky to have someone like her working with you!!
March 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
great interview! gisele is certainly really talented
March 8th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Great interview! I love your blog design, Gisele did a fantastic job!
March 8th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I love your blog, she did great! Thanks for stopping by my blog SITSta!
March 8th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Nice interview. She did a great job on your blog design!
-FringeGirl
March 8th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I love your blog. It’s so cute. Thanks again for stopping by and leaving a comment on my blog.
March 8th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
I love the design on your blog too… she’s so cute and talented!!
March 8th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Always enjoy reading about creative people!
March 8th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
ahh love her….love your blog….she does great work!
thanks for stopping by my blog today!
m
March 8th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I love that you asked her what her favorite pie was!! Hi Gisele!
March 8th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Awesome! Gisele is most definitely uber-talented. I’m loving the look of your new site!
March 8th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Terrific interview. I’ve been wanting to give my blog a makeover but was really certain. Think I’ll check her out. She did do a fab job over here!
~ingrid
March 8th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
She certainly did a beautiful job here!
March 8th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
thanks for paying a visit to blossom
really pretty blog & interesting interview
take care, sharon x
March 9th, 2009 at 2:49 am
thanks for paying a visit to blossom
really pretty blog & interesting interview
take care, sharon x
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
March 9th, 2009 at 5:16 am
She did a beautiful job here thats for sure!
March 9th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Yes, she is very talented, and you did a great interview. Norway seemed to be the place she’s drawn to. Maybe she’ll start designing websites in Norway.
March 9th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Great job Gisele! I love the way this site looks and was just wondering who did it.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I think the new blog design is amazing — makes me a little blog-jealous!
Love the interview — keep these sorts of things coming!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I’m SO behind in my reading… but am seriously glad I made it back to see what you’ve got going on.
Gisele did a great job here. LOVE her work.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Great interview, what a sweet thing to do.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
What a fun interview, the site is great!
March 9th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Dear Duckie,
How nice of you to do this interview and introduce us to Gisele. Thanks too for the sweet comments you leave me. They always make me smile. You are a sweetheart. I hope that I get to meet you in real life one day. Have a good week. Love, Grammy Lura
March 9th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
So cool of you to do an interview of Giselle! I love her designs, she did an awesome job here! Plus gotta love a girl who loves cheese!
March 9th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Great interview! She did a gorgeous job on your site!
March 9th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
She did a great job on your blog!
March 9th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I came across Gisele’s site before not sure how I did (it was a while ago.) I did like her stuff though. She’s done some great work.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Great interview! She’s very talented. I love the new blog design as I’ve probably said a hundred times
March 9th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I love the idea! And Giselle really is inspiring. Good job, and keep it up, Duckie!
March 9th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Many thanks for this interesting interview. I like your blog design and visit hers very soon!
Have a nice week ahead!
March 9th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Geat interview Duckie. What a fascinatingly creative woman. I Know I love the way she did up your blog here! How wonderful too that she is moving to Norway. I have a good friend there, Pink Pearl. I have long wanted to visit Norway myself. To be able to live there must be a dream come true!