Design Crush elsewhere:
I’ve added lots of new things to The Marketplace, including lots of things that might make the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.
A beautiful sink is my favorite focal point of any kitchen.
I’ve fallen fast in love with Yelena Bryksenkova‘s watercolor and gouache paintings. Her reading ladies just look so relaxed and cozy that I’d love to crawl right in next to them and see what’s so interesting on those pages. Not to mention CATS! and DANCE PARTIES! Yelena has both original pieces and plenty of prints available in her shop, so you should probably head over before I buy her out. (You think I’m kidding?)
Another of my plants bit the dust last week, A CACTUS. It became mushy even though I was barely watering it. So now I’m thinking maybe that particular species of flora and I just don’t get along since it’s the second I’ve sent to the grave. These Plant Talkers Plant Labels seem like perfect timing, now if only the little guys could talk.
When it comes to your February love game there are plenty of ways to go, but the most important is probably food. You know the old adage, the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach? Well I’m a firm believe in it. And as you might know, the best times to satiate one’s appetite is first thing in the morning or last thing at night. But no worries because I’ve got you covered with a dozen recipes for breakfast in bed and another dozen for after dinner dessert. Go forth into thine kitchen!
I love introducing people to new artists and music, but I’ve been in a little bit of a rut which is partly what helped inspire my Instagram project for 2015 – #365lyrics. If you’ve been following @designcrush over there, then you’ve probably noticed the (almost) daily handwritten lyrics popping up. Followers requested (demanded?) a playlist, so I’ve decided to create one with all of the fantastic musical artists featured at the close of each month. Here’s the first with one of my favorite January Instagram shots above and a few of my favorite lyrics from the month below. Enjoy listening to #365lyrics: January!
License plate design is clearly very niche, very design by committee, and very bad. Usually. As the folks behind the State Plates Project say, “Over the past 50 years, the American license plate has taken a turn for the worst. We’re here to change that.” Fifty designers, fifty states, fifty license plates I wish were the real deal.
Astrology and horoscopes have always been fascinating to me, and by extent gemology. Naomi Ernest‘s birthstone series partners the structure of rigid, structural ink lines with freeform, organic watercolor. I love the juxtaposition. Each month’s birthstone is available in several sizes of prints here.
A few weeks ago, on a cold Wednesday, I headed off to Alt Summit in Salt Lake City. It was my sixth time speaking and it’s become that point in the year when I reassess my goals and mission for Design Crush, and connect with potential sponsors and like-minded people who see the value in blogging. Every January I come away feeling refreshed and refocused.
The evening I flew into town Overstock hosted a dinner at Rest for some of the attendees. I didn’t have a real feel for the brand prior to that point, to be honest. But I’m going to be completely transparent here when I say that sometimes getting to know the people behind the company can completely change perception. Just a super lovely, very real team that was easy to talk to and hang out with and an insanely delicious meal (beer can chicken, paella, ceviche, pickled onion rings +more).
Thursday morning started bright and early thanks to jet lag and a poor night’s sleep – does anyone else have that issue the first night in a hotel? My roommate, Tabulous Design, and I took advantage and had a nice little breakfast (I’m obsessed with the Grand America‘s muesli and lattes) before talking to a few sponsors. I had to miss my friend Lisa Congdon‘s opening keynote for a few meetings, but everyone raved about it through the rest of the conference.
My panel was one of the very firsts – Pinterest: Community Growth, Revenue Streams, Driving Traffic – with Alexandra Evjen, Rachel Faucett, and Sara Martineau. Among all of the panels I’ve ever been lucky enough to participate in, this one was prepared to the nines. These ladies know their stuff in a big, big way and they’re excited about it too. If you’d like a few bits of advice that we talked about check out Alex’s post-Alt post.
Wednesday night brought with it a Downton Abbey themed dinner. Proper and elegant with flowers I couldn’t stop taking photos of, the night ended up being an early one for me. After dressing up in a dropped-waist, short-sleeved seafoam colored dress and (heavy) statement necklace I just couldn’t hang after my four hours sleep the night before. Several episodes of The Big C later and I was passed out cold.
While at Alt I also teamed up with Microsoft and Wayfair in their #DreamStudio, one of the sponsored lounges. They divided the space into three areas – craft room, kitchen, and living room/office – and had a few bloggers giving mini session on fun topics like Upcoming Art Trends in-between the main panels. Because I spent most of my time here I didn’t get to attend any panels other than my own, but I loved getting to connect with other attendees about something I’m passionate about!
Friday evening were the Mini Parties, basically my favorite part of every year. Alt takes over part of the third floor of the hotel and each room is a different theme, most rife with photobooth opportunitues. My partners in crime were my roommate Tab and Dottie and Alix (aka Modern Kiddo). We had an agenda to take the best possible photos and stuck to it for three straight hours – the last one is clearly our money shot!
I normally stay In SLC through Saturday and leave Sunday, but this year there was a ridiculous price difference in flights so I said goodbye Saturday afternoon after a leisurely breakfast and some good conversation with longtime friends. If you missed out this go around and are dying to attend Alt tickets just went on sale for Alt Summer!
