Sources of Inspiration:
Pearl River

Creativity on Tap
The moment that Karen Rossi first walked into Pearl River, the largest Asian department store in the country, she felt like a kid in a candy store. As an artist, she immediately began soaking up the bright colors of Chinese lanterns, the textures of fabrics and sequined shoes, and the patterns that were created from the collection of wooden birdcages hanging from the ceiling. She found the store to be a wonderland of inspiration and regretted only that she had forgotten to grab her camera when leaving the studio that morning.

A Second Chance
That first trip, however, led to a second. This time, with camera in hand, she captured a glimpse of what makes Pearl River so special. From the Asian umbrellas to the canisters of chopsticks to the indoor waterfall, Karen wanted to bring back snapshots of everything. She was anticipating the most recent project on which she is collaborating with Pearl River.

Count the Days
Each holiday season, the store creates a calendar to give to customers. In true Pearl River style, they make these calendars unique. In the past they have incorporated different fabrics and materials along with the paper that the calendar is printed in. This year, they've asked Karen to take part in the project.

After seeing the "Fortune Cookie" greeting cards that Karen created for the National Stationery Show, Pearl River owners, Mr. and Mrs. Chen, knew they'd found a look they really liked. The images that were created of the cards will be adapted to the calendar, and some new illustrations will be created as well. Karen's colorful koi fish, geishas, and fans will be sure to give a whimsical look to this year's calendar.

Join the Fun
To experience Pearl River for yourself, visit them at 477 Broadway in New York City. They also have a website: www.pearlriver.com. Take a look around, and feel inspired!

Cards with Character
Karen's "Fortune Cookie" cards caught the attention of Pearl River owners, Mr. and Mrs. Chen.