October 24, 2008

Happy Weekend.

First off, Roxy and I have neglected to thank you for all the well wishes sent her way while she was under the weather. After some meds she’s back in top form again, wrestling her brother and “functioning” properly. (Thanks to kitty laxatives!)

Second, have a fantastic weekend full of fall and pre-Halloween activities. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t decorate the inside of my house this year, only the porch with some pumpkins and crimson colored mums. And I’ve eaten most of the candy I bought for the trick or treaters and need to stock up again this weekend before all the good stuff is gone!

This Weekend:
• restock candy supply
• hit up a bake sale with my mom
• clean
• groceries – my cupboards are close to bare!
• change out summer for winter clothes in my closet – YAY!
• work on painting china cabinet (the never-ending project!!)
• find something to bake for work on Halloween
• out with C & K
• catch up one some sleepin’!

Happy Weekend!

:: photo via ffffound

Posted In happy weekend
5
October 24, 2008

Rapid Change in Design.

Rapid Change in Design (The Changing Landscape & New Rules for Design Project) is a side job my co-worker, Chris, put together in collaboration with our design shop, Hester Designs. I really dig his graphics and the viewpoint that the ultimate goal behind any design – graphic, architectural, web, etc – is to solve a problem. Not design for the sake of designing. Take a look-see and put in your two cents on the topic!

Design is a continuous evolution. Things are changing at rapid speeds, and rapid change calls for us to change the way that we design. This project looks to stimulate that change.

Posted In graphic design, see it
1
October 24, 2008

A-Z Animal Flashcards.

A set of these A-Z Animal Flashcards framed and hung on a child’s bedroom wall? So cool.

From Anteaters to Zebras, each letter of the alphabet is paired with a detail of the animal along with the upper and lowercase letters. The backs of the cards show a silhouette of the full animal and an interesting fact about its unique feature. For example, did you know, rabbits can see behind them without even turning their heads? Illustrations are by Mark Fisher.

:: via Pretty Little Things

Posted In kids
2
October 23, 2008

Roundup: 2009 Calendars.

I get so, so excited about new calendar designs. Every year the designs seem to be taken to the next level and last year’s calendars are trumped. This year is no exception, so enjoy the 2009 Calendar Roundup!

Eco-Chic Desk Calendar by Cat Seto. Printed on 100% recycled paper this monthly calendar features a wood block stand made from reclaimed lumber. At the end of the year send your used pages back and Cat Seto will recycle them and send you a coupon for refill pages!

Letterpress printed calendar from Egg Press. 4 elegant designs on 8 1/2″ x 11″ thick cotton pages, one for each season.

Offset printed 2009 calendar from Egg Press. 12 colorful pages, printed front and back with jewel case stand included. Printed in Portland, Oregon, on recycled content paper with soy inks. Each page 4 5/8″ x 5 3/8″.

Large 2009 calendar from Jess Gonacha. The calendar features a different hand-drawn pattern for each month, as well as hand-drawn lettering, and is printed on smooth, recycled cover stock. This calendar measures 8.5 x 14″.

2009 Tea Towel wall calendar from Cicada Studio. Made of 55% linen/45% cotton, this towel will serve you years of purpose past 2009. With each washing, it gets more supple and soft and makes a good drying towel. Dimensions are 16×22 inches. Comes with wooden hanging rod and strung with baker’s twine.

2009 Pink Letterpress calendars from YeeHaw.You get twk calendars, 1 Punk Gal design and 1 Cupcakes design, letterpress printed on white card stock with 12-month tear away calendar. Calendar and pages are printed on 100% recycled paper from a family owned green USA paper mill. Mini calendar is 4-3/4″x8″, pin it up or hold up with a magnet.

2009 calendar from Turtle Papers. 12 monthly cards printed on matte heavy card stock, nice and tied with yarn. 4″ w x 10″ h.

2009 calendar from Ink & Paper. Wire bound with white stand-calendar includes 12 pages plus cover. Calendar pages measure 6” x 6”, include holidays and observances, and space for your notes.

Miriam Bereson 2009 Yearly Planner. Complete with marked weekends!

2009 calendar from seventy and sunny. Printed on 80lb recycled white paper and tied together with a pretty brown gingham ribbon. 5″ x 8″ with rounded corners.

2009 Calendar Postcards from Decoylab. Each month you will receive a monthly postcard calendar in your mailbox throughout the year 2009. Postcard has a monthly calendar on one side and an image on the other. Every month a card is designed, printed and sent. Postcard is 4″x6″ with Spot gloss coating.

2009 desk calendar from sugar paper. Letterpress printed in black ink on beautifully di-cut, double-thick stock. each box includes 12 cards – one for each month – and is paired with a silver stand for desk top display.

2009 calendar from OrangeBeautiful. Perfect bound & drilled w/ a 3/16″ hole, perfect for hanging on a wall in your home or office. Each page has (2) perforations for separating into thirteen 5×7″ art prints – one for each month plus 2009! Calendar measures 5×9.5″ and separated art prints 5×7″.

2009 wallpaper calendar from with wallpaper. Featuring an original design, this caledndar comes folded like a notebook and bound with a ribbon, and opens to be used as a wall calender. One month to a page. There is also a space on the side of each month to write important dates and appointments. Measures 5.5 x 7.7″ closed, 7.7 x 11″ open.

Recycled calendar from bubbo. This wall calendar measures 3.5 x 8.5″, is made of 100% recycled fiber and perforated and bound with recycled paper rope. Contains 12 sheets and cover made of brown kraft.

Collecting 2009 wall calendar by Kris’s Color Stripes. All 12 pages are inkjet prints of original aquarelle paintings. Calendar measures 11×8.5″.

2009 Letterpress wall calendar collaboration from Ink + Wit and Pistachio Press. The size of the calendar is 4.25″ wide by 11″ tall. Each limited edition piece is hand printed on a Vandercook printing press.

2009 desktop calendar from InkSpot Workshop. You get 12 whimsical designs, all printed on bright white, thick linen textured cardstock. Calendar measures approx 4.75″ w x 5.5″ h and comes tied with a 1/4″ satin ribbon.

Posted In calendars, paper goods, round up
8
October 23, 2008

Paper Jack o’ Lanterns.

I’m all about pumpkins galore for Halloween, but these paper jack o’ lanterns are a nice alternative and change of pace.

• Scissors or an exacto knife
• Orange card stock
• Wooden skewers
• Small votive holders
• Votives

Take your orange card stock and draw a Jack O’ Lantern face, a haunted house scene, a spider, or whatever you desire. Cut out your creation with either scissors or an exacto knife. Take your wooden skewer and thread it through the paper horizontally. Place your votive candle holder and candle behind the entire piece.

:: via Create My Event

Posted In halloween, holidays, make it
5
October 23, 2008

Judge a book by its cover.

I’m an avid reader and have to admit that, being a designer, I choose at least 50% of my books by their covers. Not only have I discovered some great authors along the way, but some really talented designers as well. If you’re like me you’ll love Jack Cheng’s Judge a book by its cover. You assign a rating of up to 5 stars, click submit, and see how your cover rating compares with Amazon ratings based on reader satisfaction.

:: via The Skinny

Posted In online, read up
2