Tuesday, June 24, 2014

20 Favorites by 20 Gold Leafers: 1 – 5


Did you see our Birthday Video? We had a lot of fun making it, but really loved hearing from everyone who decided to drop us a line after seeing it. Some were new customers and some were blasts from the past. All were appreciated...so thanks.

To continue our 20th year celebration, we thought we'd quiz Gold Leafers on what their current favorite 2014 catalog item is and why. We'll be collecting these favorites on our website. 

"I'm a graphic designer and I've always been fond of Charley Harper's illustrations. The Baffling Belly bird is probably my favorite of the ones we have."

2. Keiana: Fiberglass Ducks
"I think they are playful, colorful, and cute....just like me!"

"They are such a great concept. I love how modular the square ones are, they let me fit any space. And as a bonus, they are recycled."

4. Rachel: Ginga Sculptures
"I like that they are abstract and eco friendly...made of discarded metals."

5. Sarahrose: Discus Column Towers
"I'm not sure why, exactly...but but they always catch my eye when I come across them in the catalog or in the warehouse."

I am Gold Leaf: Sherry

Sherry in her own words...

My background is in interior design. I got started in Pennsylvania, working as a freelance designer, for about 15 years. What really gave me the push was my neighbors would come into our house, and ask me who our designer was! Before that, I lived in Australia for 14 years. The people were my favorite thing about living there, and the climate and beaches were beautiful.

I specialize in meeting my client's needs in a variety of styles. My experience at Gold Leaf has led me to working with larger hotel chains and customizing hospitality projects. My day-to-day activities include lots of phone calls and emails, then working with our production staff to create amazing works of art that look stunning in any setting.

Working at Gold Leaf, I enjoy having new kinds of projects every day. I'm constantly astounded by what we're able to do to meet our client's specifications. 


THE OFFICIAL GOLD LEAF QUIZ...

Name: Sherry Zwinklis
Title: Design Project Manager

My typical day starts at: 6:00 am
My typical day involves: Corresponding with my hotels and purchasing agents, scheduling, quoting, reporting, routing, and shipping. 

FAVORITES
Favorite season: Fall
Favorite Band/Singers: Flo Rida
Favorite quote: Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them.
Favorite magazine: Veranda
I would have liked to have met: Theodore Roosevelt
Favorite TV show: Scandal

TRIVIA
My top three hobbies / interests...Paddle Boarding, Sailing, Swimming
When no one is looking, I... make fun of people. 
I wish I had more... time and money. 
My ideal day would include: Brunch by the water, and then go for a sail in the afternoon. 
How many tattoos do you have? 0
How many scars do you have?  1

EITHER/OR
Peanut Butter....Crunchy or Smooth​? Smooth
Talker or Listener? Listener
Pencil or Pen? Pen
Beatles or Elvis? Beatles
Chocolate or Vanilla?​ Chocolate

Saturday, June 21, 2014

One of Gold Leaf’s finest is now America’s finest!


June 18-19, 2014
from Allan Howze
We have just completed personal visitation with Changil for 2 days at the US Army Base, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Changil (CJ) worked with us this year and part of last. We were so glad to be there for Changil's award and his graduation. Hopefully, his Korean friends will help translate parts of this for his family and many friends still in Korea.
Darren and I traveled from Chicago to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for Changil's Army Basic Combat Training Graduation (BCT).  Wow, it was an emotional, learning and 'eye opening' experience.  Being an American is so often taken for granted.  For our friends in South Korea and the world over, I'm sure it is the same.  I request everyone to visit an Armed Forces graduation.  The amount of dedication and hardship our Soldiers are confronted with is incredible.  Most of us would simply give up immediately.  Changil did not give up.  He is an amazing person and has a good heart and soul.  His family is sure to be very, very proud of him.  You have taught him well!  It has been 10 weeks since anyone has had actual communication with him.  No phones, but an occasional letter.  We wrote often to offer support and try to lessen the depression he would feel.  Now, we get to visit with him for 2 days (Family Day and Graduation).
Family Day (9 a.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2014) started with about 500 graduating men and women marching and getting into formation.  It was about 95° F (35° C), a very bright and sunny day with 80% humidity (Changil says that he never will live in South Carolina, US because of the intense heat, humidity and memories of his sweaty hot training in the sun every day, LOL).  The new soldiers were divided into different groups called 'Companies'.  Changil was in Bravo Company which is known to be the hardest and most strict of any Company.  We couldn't see him in his group.  It was then announced about 27 new Soldiers would become citizens of the United States at this moment.  And, there he was, 5th row, center.  Very thin, very dark skin tanned and no hair.  Everyone must choose their life's path.  Changil did this and he has worked extremely hard to get what he wanted.  Although, he still has a long journey ahead.  Changil is now a United States citizen!

It was then announced that visitors could go down and find their Soldiers on the field.  As we walked down the steps, JEONG, as he is called by all, sees us.  He gave his usual big smile.  We reached him and of course he was overjoyed.  His first request to us was to quickly take him and get the HELL away from this place.  LOL.  We don't blame him.  He has had no privacy and quietness for 10 weeks.  Changil’s day begins at 4 a.m. and ends at 9 pm with lights out.  Sometimes the soldiers would only get 3 or less hours of sleep at night.  We could now take him anywhere on the army base ONLY and be with him without his drill sergeants screaming at him.  First,  he led us to his barracks where he shared living quarters with about 50 other young men.  His bed was the top ‘bunk bed’, bed #45.  He had a nice wide locker for his 3 uniforms, boots (that he cleaned for 2 days) and a few personal items.  He got his cell phone back and activated it from the 10 week rest.
We had a rental car and took him to stores on base to purchase new Army pants because his existing pants were much too large for him after he lost so much weight.  Then, we shared his first meal with him...Popeye’s fried chicken, a 16 piece family meal.  LOL.  Everywhere we went was a ‘culture shock’ for him because he was not allowed these privileges for the past 10 weeks.  We spent the entire day updating him with World News, friends and listened to interesting stories of his experiences.  Soldiers are denied access to any outside news because this would only cause distraction for the soldiers.  It was hard for him and hard for all soldiers.  He said many times that he couldn't believe that the 10 weeks had ended.  10 weeks seemed much longer because of the tireless and endless training he had completed.  He misses everyone and the life he used to have.  But, he must now think and be a soldier.  The day passed too quickly and we drove him to his barracks for his 20:00 check-in (8:00 pm).  We said our good night and then left base.

Today is Graduation Day (9 a.m., June 19, 2014).  After the Graduation Ceremonies, we get to check Changil out and drive away OFF the Army base camp.  We see CJ marching forward in the center of all graduates, first row.  He is to get an award!  During his gun training, he hits all 40 targets and scores a PERFECT SCORE of 40 out of 40!  He is the only one out of all 500 graduates and the ONLY one to do this in 3 years at this Army Base!!!  HE IS NOW KNOWN AS 'HAWKEYE' BY THE ARMY AND ALL GRADUATES.  He truly is a celebrity now.  Everyone knows his name!  Wherever we went, other soldiers would say to their families "this is the guy I told you about, he is Hawkeye".   This was incredible to experience because Changil has touched the lives of people more than the 500 graduates.  But, also their families!  Incredible.  After a while, Changil felt the need to run away from all of the ‘movie star’ atmosphere because he couldn’t relax.
After graduation, we helped to complete his requests.  They are (IN ORDER)...Starbucks (he hasn't had coffee), Target Store (personal shopping store for face creams, sun block, laundry soap...), + a few small stores.  CJ is very tanned and dark now from hours and days in the sun.  Next, was a McDonald’s lunch complete with 20 pieces of chicken nuggets and soft serve ice cream.  The ice cream became too sweet because he hasn’t had anything really sweet for 10 weeks.  It is now about 2 p.m. in the afternoon and we had about 7 hours remaining before we had to give Changil back to the Army at 21:10 (9:10 p.m.).  We spent the rest of the day relaxing in quietness.  He really needed to just get away from everything.  We took him to our hotel where he could watch TV, listen to music, rest, and shower in peace without anyone around.  Showering with 50 guys fighting for water was not fun.
At 9:10 p.m. we had Changil back at his post for check-in.  Families and friends said their last goodbyes.  And then, it began all over again.  The soldiers were called to attention for line up.  Check in was completed, they were updated with tomorrows activities and told to go to bed.  We waived goodbye with no wave back because he couldn’t.  Tomorrow, we leave for our trip back to Chicago.  CJ will begin his transfer to AIT (Advanced Individual Training) at 6 a.m. at the same Army Base in South Carolina for 8+ weeks.  Many soldiers will be transferred to other Army bases across the US.  Changil is due to graduate from AIT in mid-August.  AIT will teach Changil his Army job for the next 4 years where he will be stationed at any Army base in the US or abroad.
Changil and our troops need your support!  Remember that our freedom is special and exists because of our armed forces.
We will soon have CJ’s new mailing address for those who want it.
Allan

Friday, June 20, 2014

Travelling with Gold Leaf


Summer is here, though you would not know it by the weather. It has been struggling to reach 70 degrees for the last couple of weeks, but now we are seeing some warmth. I suppose we'll be missing the cool weather in August after our eleventy-billionth 90+ day. In thinking about summer, we think about travel. Gold Leaf Design Group's creations can be found the world over...

Looking for some place warm and languid? For the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort, we created a custom wall installation for their beachside dining space. Or maybe a historic Italian village complete with crypts and caves is more your taste? Chicago architect Patrizio Fradiani created a whimsical Wall Play™ installation as part of the spectacular Domus Civita. If either location would like me to come in as a "consultant" to inspect the work, I'm sure I could be convinced.