Sergey Brin, Google Co-Founder and Ivy Ross, Head of Google Glass, visit the Seebright booth in Eureka Park at #CES2015 Photo: Johanna Nilsson

The world of augmented and virtual reality is booming. The number of AR/VR headsets are large, and the question will be who survives the race…

At CES Seebright announced the new AR/VR HMD optical technology and the upcoming Seebright Wave System. They have been working on an innovative new multi-mirror technology that bounces the image through complex curved optics to create a stunning virtual image or overlay for VR & AR. They are also showing the newest remote prototype featuring 3D tracking and 9 DOF motion control.

Come visit them in booth #75408 in Eureka Park on the 2nd Floor of the Sands Expo Center.

Update:

The TechCrunch video crew was there and interviewed the Seebright CEO Dirk Kanngiesser and provided a demo by Wayne Torres-Rivera, our Developer Community Manager.

The Google co-founder Sergey Brin visited the Seebright booth for a an augmented reality demo.

I just #spotted “@SeebrightR” via @spot_io with Sergey Brin founder of Google! #ces2015 http://t.co/VHM2RXgln4 pic.twitter.com/g7STFsUKYT

— Trace Cohen (@Trace_Cohen) January 8, 2015

The proposal was offered at Small Business Saturday. November 30, 2013. The American shopping holiday the Saturday after Thanksgiving focusing on the small local businesses, run by moms and pops in our neighborhoods.

The School of Traditional and Medical Thai Massage, an excellent thai massage location around the corner, had gotten one of their original massage therapists as a new owner. She had already worked with two different “web designers”, and yet the presence that was created in the “current website” above did not make her justice at all. At all.

The need was evident. The budget was limited. The intention was to make it work. The Swedish saying from the legendary chef Caja Warg “you take what you have”, was put in action.

The Small Business Make Over was accepted. Traditional Thai Massage with website www.BayAreaThaiMassage.com got changed to Marina Thai Massage. Photo shoot with no-one less than Steven Gregory behind the camera, and signed as posing customer. Website redesigned with a responsive and hence mobile device friendly wordpress theme. Blog set up with first blog post. Newsletter tool selected and website sign-up created. Social media properties secured, updated and website integrated. Social share functionality installed. Yelp business account applied for – still in process. Google+ listing claimed, and to be verified and updated. We are getting there.

Can it be a better finale of the one-year anniversary celebration, than showing off the LLXLLQ shoe line in New York City, during New York Fashion Week? New York, the city where the founder Lucia Lucka Klansek lived a couple of years ago, when she went in and out of every store and couldn’t find shoes in her size 12. That is when she decided to create the shoe line of Italian handmade shoes in larger sizes.

What two months ago was supposed to be ‘one fashion show in New York’, rapidly turned into something much larger. Not only did we get featured on the Plitz New York City Fashion Show runway with GreenBlackDress (see video below). We also had our very own feature in Runway The Real Way, fashion brunch at Yotel, curated by fashion icon Catherine Schuller.Both  shows at the same time, Sunday, September 8, 2013!

Not only were we a featured brand at Runway The Real Way, we also contributed with the poster for the event, painted by San Francisco resident artist Donna Marchesano, currently exhibiting “Courage to Create” at Dolce Amore Miniature Art Cafe, where we had just finished the LLXLLQ one-year anniversary shoe exhibition/pop-up store.

We also attended the one-year anniversary of Project Runway winner Christian Siriano’s store and witnessed Eden Miller make history as the very first plus-size fashion designer presenting her line under the tents at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. We had a photo shoot with Valencia Shanté, our Bay Area model and ex basketball pro (size 11), who just moved to NYC to pursue her studies and model career – read the latest feature of her here. Our photographer throughout the week was Pete F. Hopkins, also from the Bay Area, who was also representing San Francisco Fashion Merchant Alliance Inc and FashionTech PR.

The highlights are not over. The LLXLLQ shoes were also part of chosen outfit by stylist for a music video to be launched in October. The very last show we attended was on Broadway. Kinky Boots. The musical with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper based on a true story of a struggling shoe manufacturing family business in the UK, changing direction and creating shoes that are needed and wanted, with their new drag queen business partner. The musical inspired the photo choice above – because “sex is in the heel”.  The story is really about being true to your self, and it has won the Best Musical Tony Award 2013 and many more. Warmly recommended.

And what else is knew? Have you seen the new mobile friendly website? Lucia Lucka Klansek just met our partnering designer Daniele Ancarani at MICAM in Milano, who’s shoe design LEXI, was the featured one in New York.  Last, but not least: thank you all who came and attended the one-year anniversary shoe exhibition opening at Dolce Amore. The miniature art cafe got featured as a San Francisco hot spot in SF Chronicle, who is also in the process of writing about LLXLLQ.Photos from the reception can be seen on Facebook – and videos will be shared as soon as possible. Here are the photos that made Lucia Lucka Klansek say: “Those are the most beautiful photos taken of the LLXLLQ shoes“.

Please follow the journey of this start-up on social media to get the updates real time: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google+. You can also find other goodies on YouTube.

New York, New York – keep spreading the news about LLXLLQ. Who do you know with size 10 and up in shoes? Are you aware if they have difficulties finding shoes? Would you be willing to find out? Share with us what your discoveries are. 

Johanna C. Nilsson

LLXLLQ is having a Shoe Closet Move Sale – find the details here: www.llxll.com/specials

The Swedish artist, Catrine Näsmark, is famous for her personal and story telling portraits, reflecting her personality combining playful humour and thoughtful depth. The break-through in her carrer was when the Queen Silvia of Sweden bought Catrine’s portrait of the King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, now decorating the wall of the Jubilee Room, in the Royal Palace  in Stockholm next to a portrait of the Queen herself.

Catrine has a new project that is about to take off ground. Cool factor: HIGH. Art factor: WORLD CLASS. Fun factor: CATRINE NÄSMARK. Scan this painted QR code above – art that works!

Or take the short cut… and click here.

Catrine visited San Francisco in February a year ago, at the same time as President Obama. See her portrait of him, and a number of other individuals that you may or may not recognize, in our introduction post “Meet the Artist”  from the time. If you want to commission a portrait by Catrine Näsmark – inquire about it here http://bit.ly/contactNasmark. 

If you are in Stockholm at the end of May – June this year – don’t miss her installation at Bromma Airport. In either case, I am sure you would find it interesting to follow this artist.

Enjoy,

Johanna

There are two things that Green Black Dress and LLXLLQ  shoes have in common that make them unique.

1)  Both brands provide fashion with a purpose

Green Black Dress is an eco-friendly line clothing line contributing to the creation of a sustainable fashion industry – coco chanel style.

LLXLLQ provides size 10-12 Italian handmade shoes – stylish, comfortable, and quality shoes in sizes previously very difficult to find.

2) Both designers come from an entrepreneurial drive

Both designers, Anna Lindell and Lucia Lucka Klansek, clearly have the eye and talent for design. However, the creation of both of their lines came from a need to solve a problem and make a difference, which called their entrepreneurial spirits.

We find ourselves grateful and inspired for those two reasons alone, to have the pleasure to work with Green Black Dress and LLXLLQ and their founders. Below you can see the live stream from the showcase at the Vancouver Fashion Week 2013.

Enjoy,

Johanna

Green Black Dress clothing can be bought online: www.greenblackdress.com
LLXLLQ Size 10-12 shoes handmade in Italy: www.llxllq.com 

Although it is no news that there are quite a few technology companies from the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, I didn’t know that there are so many focused on fashion.

At the SF Fashion+Tech event during fashion week I had the opportunity to discover some fashion start-ups and here are a few of my favorites:

On Copious you can sell those Jimmy Choo stilettos you never wear or all your handbags that just sit in your closet. You can also discover all the items other fashionistas are listing — both used and new. Copious is using social tools, and users can love each others’ listings, tweet items and follow people they like. Of course LLXLLQ is on Copious.

Vishal and his team at raf9 have a platform coming up that lets everybody create their own fashion channel. Keep an eye out for upcoming fashion and style channels from models, designers and fashion people.

SNOBSWAP makes high-end designer items available to everyone. By using their platform you can buy, sell, and/or swap luxury clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories. Feeling guilty after all your glamorous shopping? Put your conscience at ease by donating a thing or two to charity through SNOBSWAP.

Stay stylish!

Anna
><(((°>

  Every marketing girl’s biggest dream recently came true at our office – our new client is a shoe brand! Not only are they stylish and offers high quality – they also serve a niche market of women that have been neglected both beautiful and comfortable shoes in their sizes.

We’re all very excited to promote and work with LLXLLQ, which is a new shoe brand with it’s own online store, www.llxllq.com, offering fashionable, Italian-crafted women’s shoes sized 10-12. The launch collection of 48 unique models are made by the same manufacturers that have created shoes for brands such as Prada, Gucci and Versace.

Lucia holding a “Violet” in Suede Avio & Blue

Founder and designer Lucia Lucka Klansek, who herself wears size 12 shoes, had struggled her whole life to find both beautiful and comfortable shoes in her size. Discovering that it was nearly impossible to find a wide selection of fashionable footwear in one place, she was inspired to travel to Italy—the Mecca of high quality and well-designed shoes—to find a solution to her problem and help other women in her situation. It is Lucia’s goal to make her shoes widely available to women all over the world.

Lucia, a beautiful woman who is often mistaken for Meryl Streep, comes from a family of entrepreneurs and has started successful companies, such as Nektar and E4B, in both the US and her home country Slovenia. LLXLLQ is her newest venture and stands for the following:

LL  LUCIA LUCKA
X    BIGGER SIZES
Q    GREATER EXTENDED QUALITY

Seven shoe models in the launch collection are designed by Daniele Ancarani, and made in Spain. Daniele Ancarani is an Italian women’s shoe designer, famous for his blend of sophisticated simplicity and fundamental balance. He has several boutiques in Italy carrying his own brand of gorgeous shoes.

The other day the Herringbone team went to the LLXLLQ storage in Palo Alto to check out the summer 2012 collection consisting of flats, heels, and sandals. For a size 7½ girl like me it was rather shoe hell than heaven to be surrounded by so many beautiful and chic shoes and not be able to try them on. Johanna, a proud size 10, confirms that they are not only pleasing to the eye but comfortable. “Wow, anyone who gets the chance to try these shoes on will be a lifetime customer” said Johanna and left with a pair of “Mai” in bright orange – the top trend color of summer 2012. If you want to be as fashionable as her, get yours here.

Johanna’s orange “Mai” to the left

To celebrate the launch and honor women with larger feet LLXLLQ is offering 20% off on all shoes. Don’t wait too long to give yourself a beautiful summer treat – the offer is only valid until the end of August 2012. Use the promo code SUMMER12 at checkout. Did I mention that shipping within the US is free?

Ladies, Stand Tall, in Style!

Anna
>

By the way… make sure you don’t miss out on any news from LLXLLQ.
Follow them here:

LLXLLQ Facebook
LLXLLQ Twitter
LLXLLQ YouTube
LLXLLQ Pinterest
LLXLLQ Instagram

She  paints people in various shapes and forms – dressed, naked, families, adults, children, athletes in action, board of directors… She loves to honor individuals with portraits done her own way; larger than life. Her most recent exhibition was “United Statements of America”.

The Artist, Catrine Näsmark, will visit San Francisco February 16-18 in preparation of her coming exhibition.

Ileana Facchini, Board Member of San Francisco Opera House BRAVO! Club, is hosting with Herringbone a limited, invite-only after-dinner meet-and-greet gathering February 16, with light refreshments, and a personal 20 minute presentation by the Artist starting 9.15pm.

For a preview, see photos below and more info at www.nasmark.nu – should you have recommendations on gallery or whom to meet, in order to bring Catrine’s artwork to San Francisco and beyond – please let us know.

Should you desire to have a portrait made (size from 70X70cm/2.3×2.3ft), this is an exclusive chance to have the Artist come during her visit and take the photo herself.

Personally, I love the artwork created by Catrine Näsmark. The colors, depth and witty that it embeds – the photos are beautiful, and the originals provide so much more in the details. It is a pleasure for me to introduce her art to California. I foresee her art work at the Museum of Modern Art, NYC.

Enjoy,
Johanna C. Nilsson

Download her press kit.
Order a portrait.
Like her Facebook page: Facebook.com/ArtbyNasmark

-Michael E. Gerber

That is one of my favorite quotes. And I would say, what ever gift you have, you can apply that to a life with purpose.

A clear example of that is the Swedish painter Catrine Näsmark, who is changing the world with colors. Her upcoming exhibition, United Statements of America, takes place this coming Saturday, October 15, 2011 in Stockholm. As the artist herself expresses:

I see this exhibition as a tribute to a country that have had and has so many great human beings that left their mark not only in history but also inspired humankind.

Who did not cry when Obama was elected president, who has not been absorbed by Bob Dylan’s lyrics, been seduced by the Elvis moves, or impressed by Steve Jobs’ efforts.

One could wonder how long the U.S. will be the superpower. With all the crises they have gone through. But people / icons / heroes remains. Their winged words are there. And they will always retain their power and continue to give strength, cohesion and focus.

Here are some of the statements put face and color to in the exhibition:

Broadcast Queen. ”Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.” Oprah Winfrey

Storytime. ”All animal life, all …..is awakend.” Sitting Bull

I Like. ”By giving people the power to share, we’re making the world more transparent.” Mark Zuckerberg

Kissing a frog. ”I am storming, ambitous and I Know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bich. Ok.” Madonna

Fly away. ”Nobody tears my city apart and gets away with it.” Superman

Freedom. ”I’m the lady next door when I’m not on stage.” Aretha Franklin

Who Am I. ”All I can do is be me, whoever that is.” Bob Dylan

Queen of Spades. “There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.” Michelle Obama

Take Off. ”Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn’t be done.” Amelia Erhart

Black or White. ”The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at the work.” Michel J

Do Not Ask. ”Don’t Ask what the country can do for U, Ask what U can do for the country.” JFK

Innocent. ”We are on a mission from God.” Blues Brothers

Can we ever get enough of messages like these? Go visit Catrine Näsmark’s exhibition, or website, and enjoy. It won’t be long before you can see her art in the actual USA. Hold tight.

Get heard,
Johanna C. Nilsson