McKee DESIGN

11/10/2024

02/03/2013

Please share this.

Visitation and sharing of Gail's life will be held at the Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home (Great Neck Chapel), Friday February 8th, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A funeral mass will be held at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church on Saturday, February 9th at 10am with a reception afterward.

02/03/2013

My friend, Gail Doxtater Arnold, passed away last night still fighting non-small cell lung cancer. When we started her blog a year ago, we never discussed how to write this post as we wanted to believe it wasn't going to happen and took strength in the power of that thought.

Walking into her gift store, Topiaries, was to be transported to a magical garden, an art form of living sculpture, just as the name implies. As each season and major holiday approached, she transformed the store into a new wonderland, it was never just a shopping destination, it was always an eager anticipation of new experiences. Around every corner were mirrors, pictures, sculptures, urns, flowers, sweet smelling candles, coy little creatures such as birds, fairies, elves, imps, goblins, and bunnies enticing you to nestle them into nests, cottages and more. Her floral designs in unique containers and urns were treasures to own. The quality of artificial flowers and greenery she used to create arrangements rivaled the live arrangements she originally created in her previous business. Her collection of Lampe Berger containers and oils was addictive. Her store also excelled in its name sake with animals such as dancing bears, hanging monkeys, dogs, horses, airplanes, and more. She designed living Topiaries such as dolphins for Konikoff Dentistry and large animals for Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA.

This past year while Gail applied all her energies to squash “The Bug”, her name for her cancer, the beauty of her store was carefully maintained and cherished by her incredible employee, Maureen. She was loved by her employees, clients and countless friends that supported her and her family so she could give all her concentration and energy to the fight. In the end, The Bug did not win, Gail did. The Bug, the cancer, is now gone, but Gail Doxtater Arnold will always be here, surrounding us in her love, beauty, wit and talent.

02/23/2012

Starting the day off with a blast attending a workshop with Margie Johnson of Shop Talk. Love it when my mind gets stretched!

This workshop is designed especially for specialty retailers. The session will help them understand the “nuts and bolts” of visual merchandising.

05/11/2011

http://www.westernsizzlinobx.com/

10/16/2010

T-shirt design for one of my favorite chiropractors ever, Dr. Bob Leib of Rosemont Chiropractic! He makes me walk taller, which you all know is a really good thing. Much thanks to Andy Marsh from I AM Promotions for all his support and finally letting me step away from the computer!

http://www.otfc.info/
http://iampromotionsonline.com/

02/28/2010

Whew, just made a 12' tree for the lobby centerpiece for Saturday's Norfolk SPCA PETropolitan Gala. It's a charity, I'm gonna make it before I buy it!!

02/27/2010

One way or another, these branches and hundreds more (gulp) will look like huge tornadoes in the Wizard of Oz room for the SPCA's PETropolitan. Deep breath...

02/25/2010

Norfolk's first Homearama. We were challenged by the city to create a design that illustrated what made our city unique. Quite a challenge as we were the only house to use very dark colors....for a good reason. Read on!

I was the Senior Designer at Pilato & Counts during this project.

http://www.pilatoandcounts.com
http://www.watabconstruction.com
http://www.decorumfurniture.com

02/24/2010

Retail tip: Take B/W pictures of your store to see it from a new perspective. Does it blend together in a sea of cluttered gray? A lack of visual contrast can bore clients. Cluttered displays lack a clear message and create subliminal feelings of stress and decision anxiety WILL walk a customer out the door. A lot of product displayed correctly can be exciting, think Pottery Barn. Try it in your home, too.

02/24/2010

Excited about the day ahead as I head out to attend the Retail Resurgence workshop. My mind is going to get stretched in all sorts of new directions!

02/23/2010

Retail Resurgence 2010: Succeeding in the New Normal

Margie Johnson, Shop Talk

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