Each clock in the Hands of Timeseries has a unique face made from a sanding disc that was previously used by designers from the Design Academy Eindhoven. The discs are worn through use, and over time each one becomes a fingerprint of each designers work that’s then turned into a functional object that can be given a new life. It’s clear that the materials each designer works with greatly impacts the resulting wear and tear, which leaves me wondering what was created with each disc.
Lucy Augé‘s paintings focus on one of my favorite subjects – botanicals! Her work feels fast and interpretive, entirely in the moment.
I want to capture the mood of the season, through documenting and repeating the image that nature is showing us at the time. Repeatedly painting one plant over and over, you reavaluate what you just saw. By creating these into large scale pieces you are left with a large painting but seen through the details and shapes plants form together, when grown in their natural habitat. The materials I use to create the work are picked out each season, colours reflecting the mood. It creates a timeline of what was felt at the time and what was being shown by nature.
Next month marks 19 short years since I first set foot on the University of Oklahoma campus, halfway across the country from home without knowing a soul. While I was admittedly miserable for most of my freshman year (culture shock!), my four year experience is the reason I became so adaptive which has helped lead to the many amazing experiences I’ve had since 1998. Now each summer as kids are about to head off to their next chapter, I’m struck by how easy shopping for college has become – XL twin sheets on the end of every aisle, pre-packaged kitchen essentials bundled all together, and entire sections of big box stores converted over to displaying everything you could possibly need. It’s got me thinking about what pieces I might pick up for my own dorm room or first apartment if I were able to magically revert back to being 18.
Eleonor Boström is a ceramicist and illustrator who splits her time between Stockholm and San Francisco, in between creating all of these magical creatures with great function that is. The sculptural utility goods, as she calls them, play the role of planter, pincushion, match holder, and more all while remaining ridiculously adorable!
Time once again to drop all pretense for part two of my yearlong financial journey with FreshBooks! In part one, back in April, I shared how I’ve approached the financial side of my business up until this year – in short, it’s not my strong suit and I’m doing all I can to remedy that.
In the past three months I’ve gained so much more confidence when it comes to invoicing, and I’ve also saved time thanks to all of the features I outlined in part one. I love how easy it is to access recurring client’s information as well as the visual representation of how much I’m earning. In the name of transparency blogging is going through a season of change once again, and the green is not as prevalent as in the past. The number one rule of being a blogger is being adaptable, and diversifying my income is a huge deal.
One way I’m doing that, aside from writing for larger corporate sites, is contacting sponsors directly more often. For a long time I didn’t have to pitch brands, but over time that’s changed and FreshBooks‘s estimate feature helps me navigate the steps that follows. After talking to a new brand – and them hopefully falling head over heels for my pitch! – it’s time to spell out my proposal with a dollar sign in front of it. It’s here that I’m able to outline deliverables Design Crush will be providing and the breakdown of pricing for each.
Estimate features: know when a client has viewed your estimate, add discounts, automatic tax calculations, transform your estimates into ready-to-pay invoices, client approval with one click
After signing a contract I can kick things off, whether it’s for Design Crush or a graphic design project on the side. With FreshBooks‘s time tracking feature I can map out my day and make sure I’m accounting for every billable hour. This is super helpful to me in a number of ways, especially when it comes to do future estimates for similar projects. I’m forever trying to become more efficient – the thought of hiring someone to feed me three square meals a day while I work has occurred to me – and time tracking is valuable in showing me where I can streamline even further. I can literally start a timer and hit stop when I’m done! When the project is wrapped up I can pull all of the tracked time into an invoice and send it off.
Time tracking features: team time tracking, clear breakdown of your day, view team members’ time, easy to use timer, detailed time entry notes, automatically bill for tracked hours
I’m already digging deeper into FreshBooks and am looking forward to what the quarter brings in terms of making me feel more like a well rounded businesswoman. If you have any questions about FreshBooks I’d love to try and help get answers for you from their award-winning rockstars in customer service. In the meantime, you can sign up for a free monthlong trial right here!
This post sponsored by FreshBooks. All words and opinions are my own, as always. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush creating fresh content!
Summer immediately takes me back to my teenage years – is it like that for everyone? Polish-born, California dwelling artist Justyna Kisielewicz has the knack for capturing that feeling in vibrant oil paintings. Bold color combinations, pop culture references, and Kisielewicz’s unique style lend a sexy vibe to what’s otherwise completely innocent subject matter.
Art plays a huge role in our lives, but when it comes to decorating it can end up at the bottom of the list. (You know, after things like furniture.) I did some digging and rounded up 18 resources that will cater to all of your art needs with vintage illustrations, LIFE photography, and more! A few are a little less polished than others and require more digging for that perfect image, but they’re all treasure troves of legal art free-ness. Think outside of the 8×10 and consider printing large scale black and white engineering prints, repeating the same print in one frame, embellishing with further editing, or adding elements like paint or embroidery.
Rowan Mersh is a multi-media sculptor epitomised by his ability to take ordinary materials and transform them into the extraordinary. From textile sculptures to kinetic and interactive installations, Mersh’s pieces bridge the realms of art, design, and fashion.
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve cooked with any kind of heat this summer, and will use almost any excuse to avoid it. Now that it’s mid-July I’m beginning to tire of salads and starting to search out recipes that are cool, refreshing, and healthy. I’ve never made spring rolls or worked with rice paper before, but they seem like a great place to start. Flavorful, versatile, and delicious looking!
Click on each image to go to the recipe. All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
Being an illustrator is one thing, being an illustrator with a wide breadth of talent and range of styles like Courtney Wotherspoon is another entirely. The Toronto-based artist’s portfolio is overflowing with portraits, comedic collections, and food that looks so good your mouth will water.
