CRACK HEADS Due SOON!

Chris's book CRACK HEADS is due soon online at www.urbanprairie.net. Until then here's a shot of the cover. Don't you just LOVE it?

FREE, Signed Copy of "Crack Heads"

Chris has provided a signed copy of his soon to be released book CRACK HEADS for a FREE giveaway. Please enter your name and email address in the comment section below this post. I will hold the drawing on June 30th. Chris has promised a lot more Urban Prairie extras to be included in the package. Good Luck!

New Header

What do you all think of the new header? It was created by Chris himself. I love it! I also changed the template layout. It seemed to fit better. I've been in contact with Chris also about holding a contest for his upcoming book about his vintage doll head collection called "Crack Heads". Stay tuned for more details soon.

Interview

Michelle: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me and answer these questions.

Chris: Not a problem Michelle, my pleasure. It's an honor to be a part of your BOOTLEGGED blog.

Michelle: It's exciting for me too. I've been a huge fan of yours for a year now. I'm in my last year of interior design school. Everything you've done with your whole Urban Prairie lifestyle and designs have inspired me so much.

Chris: Thanks. I say it to everyone who writes me, but it's true. I get great joy out of knowing I have inspired people with my design work and all the different aspects that Urban Prairie encompasses.

Michelle: Can you tell us how you got started?

Chris: It’s hard to know where to start. Design, collecting and popular culture definitely played a big part when I was a child. It seems sometimes that I have lived two lives. The better part of my late teens and throughout my 20’s as a touring musician. Now the second part of my life designing, decorating, collecting and trying to inspire others.

Michelle: How far did you get as a musician and do you still play?

Chris: My band had an interesting run. We were lucky enough to tour with such bands as Tom Petty, The GoGo’s, Men at Work, etc. Along with playing every club in the South and Midwest. My musical career ended a year after a video on MTV. As far as playing goes, my wife and kids are the only ones who still get performances.

Michelle: How cool. When did you get the idea for Urban Prairie?

Chris: As I had mentioned, graphic and interior design have always played a huge part in my life. Simply put, I started experimenting with my own home. Friends and guest started asking advice. I ended up decorating their homes too and it just snowballed from there. Urban Prairie started a little over two years ago. First as just a site to showcase my collections, style and viewpoints. That too seems to of taken own a life of itself.

Michelle: What’s coming up next for you and Urban Prairie?

Chris: I have a book coming out at the end of June called “Crack Heads”. It’s a showcase of my vintage, cracked and faded doll head collection. I wanted to show people how beautiful and playful such a collection could be. I also have a line of note cards in the works. Pictures and graphics of some of my oddities.

Michelle: I want to thank you so much Chris for taking the time for this interview.

Chris: No, thank you! I wish you the best of luck with your design career.

Michelle: Thanks. You’ve been a huge influence on me.

Photo Credit: D'Ette Cole

Fresh, Raw Energy of the Heartlands

"Urban Prairie is an aesthetic and an attitude that embodies all that is cool about American country design. It encapsulates the keenest sensibilities of a uniquely middle American vibe. In the same way that graphic, home decor and fashion "scenes" on the coasts have a certain character, Chris Brown captures the pure, fresh, raw energy of the heartlands. It's rockabilly for your eyes."

- David Butler; Country Living Magazine

Photo Credit: D'Ette Cole

Out of the Box Country Style

From the blog: desiretoinspire.blogspot.com

Chris Brown is the genius behind Urban Prairie. A man with a finely tuned eye for the found and forlorn, Chris' edgy out of the box country style is inspiring the next generation of "found" collectors. Probably the funkiest looking site I've seen in ages. Chris says, “I’ve found that the people that are drawn to my style, my design sense are more than just collectors. They are people who want to live a simple life with things they love around them - in an interesting way.”

Meet Chris

See the MEET CHRIS department at www.urbanprairie.net. There is a link for a interview with Chris and David Butler of Country Living magazine. You must check it out!