Lauren rocks! This supertalent has made such a contribution to fred’s growth over the last year. She’s gone from packing and shipping your orders to now helping find and stock even better things for you to enjoy. And this one has awesome taste! She’s always rocking some cute look or chatting up some amazing site you’ve never heard of or playing the best music that practically sparkles through the stereo. Turn it up!

Please tell everyone what you do at fredflare.com.
I used to work in the shipping department with Lillian but have recently moved into the buying department as the assistant buyer. It’s a big change. I used to be on my feet all day – “hustle mania!” is the team motto in shipping – but now I sit at a desk and am on the phone and emailing non-stop. I’m placing orders, budgeting and planning what we sell on the site. It's fun!

Tell us what it was like to grow up in New York City proper! What were some of your favorite places as a kid? What are some of your fave places as an adult?
Growing up in NYC was really fun but there were definitely times that wished I had a back yard to play in. But once I turned 13 and started to explore the city on my own, I had a blast. After school I used to go hang out on 8th street to go to stores like the Postermat that sold cool toys and accessories. Then in high school, I discovered the East Village where I would frequent small boutiques and rock clubs. These days, one of my favorite places is Barcade, which is this great bar in Williamsburg that has lots of old arcade games. I am a huge fan of Ms. Pacman! I also love Lil Frankie’s Pizza in the East Village! Get the Pizza Angelina! It's delish!

How do you like living in Williamsburg?
It's really fun! I can easily walk or bike to work or I can cruise over the bridge to Manhattan to meet up with friends! I also have a great view of the city skyline from my window. Since I’ve moved here I have also fallen in love with the neighborhood just north of Williamsburg, called Greenpoint. It’s charming & relaxing, a great place to go for a bike ride.

Sounds like you and your bike are good friends. Any exciting tales?
Well, I’ve declared summer of ‘05 to be accident-free. The past two summers I’ve gotten myself into some mildly gnarly situations… One time I biked into a patch of poison ivy! Another time I broke my wrist. Let’s just say, wear a helmet. And be sure to steer clear of poison ivy.

It seems almost every employee of the month so far has had a recent international adventure! Please tell us all about your trip to Japan.
It was amazing. There were cute characters everywhere and I could barely contain myself! Tokyo was insane! Parts of it were really overwhelming. I couldn’t believe how many people live there. Its like Times Square times ten! The fashion is out of this world. I saw so many crazy outfits! There are girls there who try to look EXACTLY like Beyoncé and Paris Hilton! It was scary at times. I found some really cute things there, like my amazing strawberry shoes. My friend also took me to this store called Swimmer that is so AMAZING. They sell cute accessories and home items that are to-die-for. (I’m trying to hunt them down to sell here at fredflare.com) There was also this five-story store called Kiddyland that had unbelievable toys and stationery. I almost fainted there! I also had a great time in Kyoto where we rented bikes and explored all the beautiful temples and gardens.

Please tell us about your tee line.
Lately I’ve been making tees under the name “Snack Mountain”. I like to design cute food people characters. My favorites right now are Banana-man and Broccoli. They’re all characters I created for my senior art project in college. I also like to make claymation movies with these characters. “Snack Mountain” was the first one, about a group of food people who share a fateful ride on a rollercoaster. Now I am currently working on an animation called “Snack Mansion” where the food people go to a haunted house and meet their fate by evil food ghosts! Oh no!

Where did you develop an interest in cute characters?
I think I was first inspired by trips to Disneyworld when I was little. I remember going to this one show at Epcot Center called “Kitchen Cabaret” where food puppets sang and danced. I still have a stuffed pineapple from that show! I also love this company called San-X. They design amazing food people characters that have more mature storylines. For example, one of their characters named Kogepan is a depressed piece of burnt toast. I have a serious stationery collection with loads of funny characters like this!

We seem to ask everyone about their iPod DJ slot. What are you spinning these days?
Well, my favorite band of all-time is Stereo Total. They are a French/German duo that transforms classic songs into amazing electronic pop songs! I have been a huge fan of Brooklyn-based Fannypack for a while also. They are so much fun! I also can’t get enough of the new Architecture in Helsinki album. It’s out of this world!

Any fun craft ideas for creative kids out there?
Although it does require quite a bit of set-up time, silk-screening is really fun and quite easy to do at home! You can make tees, bags or anything really. It is my favorite method of craftiness! Check out Peach Berserk’s Silkscreen Workshop DVD to learn more and, if ya have any silk-screening questions, please email me at lauren@fredflare.com! I’d love to see what you are working on!


08/2005



DIARY ARCHIVES: fred friends Estelle, Lights, One Night Only, Rye Rye, next BIG thing! 2008, Jesse McCartney, Jonas Brothers, Top Model's Sarah Vonderhaar, Jack Mackenroth, Think Pink writer Lisa Clark, Kit Pistol, Au Revoir Simone, Supayana, What the Buck, Peter Bjorn and John, Ratatat, next BIG thing! 2007, shoe designer Jeffrey Campbell, Erika Forster of Au Revoir Simone, heartist Chris Uphues, Alison Kelly of Dahl, Stephanie Deleau of Noisette, Marilyn Patrizio of M.Partizio, Liam Sullivan of Kelly "Shoes", Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, next BIG thing! 2006, Jill Bliss, next BIG thing! 2005, Loop NYC's China Young, Sukie, The Donnas, Vinnie's Tampon Case, Leah Tinari, Peach Berzerk, The Sperber twins, Jennifer Worick, Cody, Patch NYC 2, Chip Wass, Angela Adams, Venue, Jack and Lulu 2, All Girl Summer Fun Band, 31 Corn Lane, Charlotte Ronson, Three by Three Seattle, Princess Tina, Imperial Teen, Built by Wendy 2, Dana Carlson, Sweden, Jack and Lulu 1, Bob's Your Uncle, Mary Ping & Jonathan Adler, E-Z Living, Built by Wendy 1, Endicott Five, Patch NYC 1, media blitz Mod*Mom, Aya Kanai from Nylon, Grace Bonney of Design Sponge, Samantha Moeller of Missbehave, Marie Kare of The Sampler, Pink Is The New Blog's Trent Vanegas, Martha Stewart Kids' Jodi Levine, BUST's Debbie Stoller, YM's Elizabeth Kiester, Cargo's Ariel Foxman, teeter on tour back to brooklyn, she's so rad, double handsome, wild pony, enchanted treehouse, beanz-n- rice, wide open road, crush Teeter Sperber, Kelis, Jennifer Garner, Kylie Minogue, Charlie Brown, Scarlett Johansson, employee of the month Julie, Jen, Sammy Joe & Joe Sammy, Amy, Vanessa, Tim, Anne, Chanel, Josh, Lauren, Diane, Charles, Lillian, nancy drew review the haunted bridge, the whispering statue, the mystery of the ivory charm, the message in the hollow oak, the clue of the broken locket, password to larkspur lane, the sign of the twisted candles, nancy's mysterious letter, the clue in the diary, the secret of red gate farm, the secret of shadow ranch, the mystery at lilac inn, the bungalow mystery, the hidden staircase, the secret of the old clock, lulu in the city lulu luvs, extra! extra! read all about it!, pink Christmas, thanks, new york!, single in the city, spooky lulu, roller girl, jersey girl, no lights, big city, it was a "red hot" summer!, miss independence, billyburg shopping guide, lulu and the kitty, in like a lion, out like a lamb, my best friend joe, hotpants!, the queen of brooklyn, summer in the city, the anniversary party, garbage & neighbors & mice...oh my!, lulu in the city, cheap & cheerful give thanks, hula hoops, a piece of pi, cupcakes, fred fleur, tommy: mini mode happy summer days, it's a mod, mod world, good night, sweet dreams, my girl, keep on marching, one fine day, supermodels Dana's Lucky magazine shoot, hi-fi holiday honeys, supermodel Hillary's Warhol, fallfabulous, supermodel challenge, covergirls, fred on tour Paris Dispatch: Eiffel Awesomeness, Paris Dispatch: Just Strollin', Paris Dispatch: From Colette w/ Love, Paris Dispatch: Marie & The Moulin, Paris Dispatch: Bonjour, Peeps!, behind the music, San Fredcisco, LA Flare, chartoppers: the 80's 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, chartoppers: madonna Hard Candy, Confessions on a Dance Floor, reinvention tour recap, reinvention contest winners, Madonna, Like a Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, I'm Breathless, Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Ray of Light, Music, American Life, top 50 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, window shopping 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, sales and events Store Cute Grand Opening, Fall Sample Sale 2008, Carnival of Cute: Holiday 2006, Fall Sample Sale 2006, Pool Party 2006, Holiday Sale 2003, let's skate, Holiday Sale 2002, Holiday Sale 2001, Holiday Sale 2000, Spring Sale 2000