There’s no way I can start today without taking a moment to talk about yesterday’s destruction.
The biggest thank you to everyone who checked in to make sure I was okay. The monster twister hit about 20 miles southeast of my home, following nearly the same path as what was previously the most powerful tornado on record May 3, 1999. That one happened to be the first tornado I ever experienced after moving to OKC, it was finals week my freshmen year of college and I can remember how terrified I was as we hunkered down pre-cell phone era in the basement of my dorm. I’m not ashamed to admit I was clutching my favorite stuffed animal for comfort.
As bad as that was, this is at least three times worse. The F5 was over two miles wide at one point with winds up to 200 mph. Two elementary schools were leveled, one with luckier students than the other where they’re still recovering tiny bodies. It was on the ground for twenty miles and some people are comparing the destruction to atomic bombs and warfare in the Middle East. I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around the loss. Landmarks are gone, houses look like piles of matchsticks, there are at least 51 confirmed dead with I can’t even guess how many to come.
I’ve lived in Oklahoma on and off since 1998, and while it’s not where I’m from it is my home. Oklahomans are some of the most resilient people I know. They rebuilt the community after the bombing in ’95 and they rebuilt again after the May 3rd tornado. And we’ll do it again.
If you want to make a donation to help in that effort, text REDCROSS to 90999 and specify OK tornadoes.
If you follow Design Crush on Twitter or Instagram you probably noticed that I was posting a lot from the hashtag #AdobeMAX last week. A few months ago I was invited to be an Adobe Insider for the Adobe MAX creativity conference that took place in Los Angeles, and I jumped on it. As a graphic designer Adobe is my livelihood, and I couldn’t wait to see the big new reveals that were in store as well as learn from the best of the best in the 300+ sessions offered. (Psst… you can watch a ton of the conference right here!)
Adobe MAX was by far the largest conference I’ve gone to with over 5,000 creative industry leaders, designers, video professionals and photographers from around the world in attendance. Everyone I crossed paths with was so excited to be there and openly exchanging ideas, innovations, and inspiration. It was incredibly refreshing because sometimes the design industry can feel very hush hush.
I felt extra special with my Press badge, which gave me access to any session I wished to attend as well as the Press Room. With so many people milling about it was nice to have a place to stop in between sessions to decompress, regroup, and grab a snack.
The first full day kicked off with the A Creative Evolution keynote. Everyone was welcomed into the Nokia Theater to the sounds of high-energy pop music to set the mood for what was to come as Adobe got ready to unveil brand new creative workflows and capabilities that focused on productivity, responsive design, and just a little bit of Adobe magic.
CEO Shatanu Narayen, SVP and GM of Digital Media David Wadhwani, and a collection of Adobe visionaries led the audience through the past, present, and endless possibilities of our creative future over the next two hours. Some of my favorite new features follow.
Photoshop CC
• use the Camera Raw filter to reposition camera angle
• radial blur can now be used several times in the same image
• spot healing can now be used as a non-circular area
• photos can be deblurred with the Shake Reduction filter
• can now generate web assets
Illustrator CC
• vector images can now be turned into brushes
• the Touch Type took can now manipular individual character without converting to outlines
After Effects CC
• 3D modeling app – Maxon Cinema 4D
• 3D camera tracker
• can now adjust without rendering
• refined edge is now a tool similar to in Photoshop that tracks frame to frame
Edge Reflow CC
• places web assets back in place automatically
• sizes for different devices
Edge Inspect CC
• Chrome extension
• connects to all devices wirelessly to preview
Edge Animate CC
• timeline-based for working on any device
Edge Code CC
• simply mouse over color and image code to get a thumbnail view
• after that use the quick edit pickers to make fast changes
• live Chrome preview
The biggest deal both at the conference and in online coverage was news that the Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver) will be replaced with the Creative Cloud as of June 17, 2013. CS6 will be available in perpetuity, but there will be no further developments or updates. CC will allow Adobe to get both to us faster and offer a broader canvas for innovation.
Once you download the Creative Cloud – and it does live on your computer, you’re not renting! – a Creative Cloud desktop app will show up on your computer that makes keeping everything in sync a breeze. Mentioning breezy things, all of your settings are saved to CC. Meaning they’ll follow you wherever you go. And all of the files you save to your 20GB of Cloud space carry their layers, type, etc with them, so when you share a preview or project with someone they’re not left guessing and recreating. There’s also a CC Touch App in the works for sharing, viewing, etc.
You Creative Cloud membership also includes Typekit! That’s $25,000 worth of professional fonts at your fingertips that you can download to your desktop for web and print projects. Mind = Blown.
It’s a lot to educate yourself on and transition to (and I’ve only covered the basics), but you can read more about the new technology and have FAQs answered right here. For what it’s worth, I’ve been using the current iteration of the Creative Cloud for about a month now and couldn’t love it more. To quote, “It’s like an app store where you own all of the apps.”
Adobe is also making its first venture into hardware! Check out Project Mighty – a pressure sensitive pen – and Project Napoleon, a short ruler (heh) that also allows use of basic shapes. The tools and settings for both devices are saved on the Creative Cloud, which means it’s not tethered to the device you’re using them on. Like I said, magic.
Project Context is a collaboration between Adobe and Wired magazine that’s planning on changing the face of digital publishing as we know it. See those two screens? Basically a touch wall. That table? A touch desk. Soon digital publishers will be able to use both to share folders, touch and drag items into containers for review, mark up files, type notes – and so much more. Today’s pin boards that are present in every magazine office will be a thing of the past and now editors will always up to date with the most recent files. The Adobe Insiders got an up close and personal sneak peek of Projects Mighty, Napoleon, and Context backstage after the keynote and I basically felt like I was starring in the Jetsons. This is good stuff, people!
And then this happened. Yup, I had Bebe printed on a shirt. And the guys in charge of the booth said it was the best shirt they’d seen yet, and then they took my picture holding it up. I’ll be honest, it took awhile to come down from that high.
In the same space were the Red Bull Collective Art Project, Kiel Johnson’s Crowd Sourced Sentence, and the MAX Store full of souvenirs. Creativity explosion!
All of the sessions took place in the Los Angeles Convention Center, and I can’t say enough nice things about their staff. Each person was genuinely helpful and so nice, and the facility was top notch. In the middle of the main floor was this gigantic chalkboard wall that was doodled on and erased several times throughout the course of the conference. People got super into it sketching out their logos, Twitter handles, and so much more!
Day 2 brought with it a general session in the Nokia Theater. There we listened to four creative minds – iconic graphic designer and illustrator Paula Scher (that’s her work above), constraint-based artist Phil Hansen, photographer and retouch artist Erik Johansson, and Oscar winning visual effects supervisor Rob Legato – about how they foster creativity and approach their work. It was humbling to say the least, and each creator was supportive of the fact that we could each be doing exactly what they are. Incredible.
Then this might have happened at the MAX & You Photo Experience, you know how I love a photobooth! And I have to say, best and most flattering lighting setup ever.
That evening was the much anticipated MAX Bash! It’s the official close of the conference, though there’s almost a full day of sessions left. I wasn’t sure just what to expect and was completely blown away by the planning and coordination put into everything, conference-wide really. These giant marquee-style lights greeted everyone as we filed in.
There were several tents filled with street food faire, I opted for Indian because it was closest to the entrance and I was super hungry! But I also spied Asian and Korean-themed tents. I especially loved the decorations that adorned the ceilings.
There was even a tent dedicated solely to desserts. I was too full to enjoy any, but definitely had my eye on the astronaut ice cream and soda bar.
The outdoor space was filled with performers who were handpicked for their unique and creative approach to their craft. I think my favorites were these ladies dangling above one of the bars (yes, there were several), I kept wondering how they weren’t exhausted and falling off! This gal would occasionally reach down and ruffle the hair of people in line for drinks.
The finale was an hour and a half performance by The Black Keys! I had met up with a longtime internet friend (for the first time!) just before the show started, and we managed to hold our ground about 25 feet from the stage for the duration. They were really fantastic live and put on a great show, the perfect ending to an incredible conference and opportunity from Adobe.
Disclaimer: Registration, travel, and accommodations provided by Adobe. All words are my own.
I miss New York, I think it’s a small part of my constant being. Luckily I get to visit a few times a year for work and manage to cram in everything personal at the same time.
I never seem to get a view, but for this trip I was on the 23rd floor and it was a beautiful sight.
No trip is complete without popping into Fishs Eddy, and as luck would have it they were having a big sale! I picked up a little something for myself and a small Brooklyn themed gift for a friend who was moving out of town to remind her of her time here.
I love finding new gems in a city that’s forever changing. This time a few friends and I stopped by Rye House to catch up. I had the most delicious sweet potato perogies and will definitely be back to try more of the menu (and cocktails!).
I had a chance to grab brunch at Tipsy Parson with a new friend I’d met in Austin. We walked around Chelsea a bit and did a little shopping, and when we came across this on the sidewalk Amber couldn’t resist jumping inside!
I stayed in the Flower District and couldn’t help but feel giddy each morning as I walked the streets. They were bursting at the seams with flora and fauna of all varieties, I wanted to make a massive bouquet to take home.
Madison Square Park was showing signs of spring – the trees were filling in nicely and it seemed like a million people were out and about enjoying the beautiful weather.
As I walked across Manhattan Sunday morning I came across a few hidden nooks and crannies.
A few hours before leaving town I grabbed one last brunch at Resto with another friend. Until next time New York, I’ll be thinking about you!
You just did a double-take, amiright? Well, I promise that this isn’t a 30-day late April Fool’s joke. Pantone, the global authority on and standard of color, has teamed up with Valspar to launch a new line of paint! The Pantone Universe Paint Collection will be available exclusively at Lowe’s beginning this month.
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
The collection features 100 on-trend hues ranging from classic neutrals to eye-popping brights. It also includes the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year, Emerald, as well as the 2012 selection, Tangerine Tango!
This past weekend I visited NYC to participate in the 2-day Color with Confidence event along with several other bloggers and editors. Our first day was filled with inspirational talks from Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman, interior designer Elaine Griffin, and fashion designer Nanette Lepore. These ladies were nothing short of lovely and brilliant.
After listening to Leatrice, Elaine, and Nanette (and noshing on some tasty treats and colorful cocktails) we were taught the proper way to paint from Valspar’s Jill. I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable painter and was clueless on half of the tips she spilled!
• Use a wooden brush, it catches drips better.
• Use the handle of said brush to seal the edges of your painter’s tape.
• Remove your tape before the paint is actually dry to avoid peeling.
• Use high-quality brushes and roller to avoid shedding.
• A good paint roller is both washable and reusable.
• Load your roller with way more paint than you think necessary, four bathe + rolls in the tray is optimal.
• Paint in 4 x 4′ sections.
• Use a W technique (seen above). Make the letter W, then fill it in. Reload roller each time.
• Once the wall is filled go over it with vertical stripes of paint to even things out.
• Use a church key not a screwdriver to open paint cans.
• Put cellophane over the can opening before putting the lid back on to keep paint fresh for a year.
• Keep the paintbrush’s original packaging to retain shape.
• Always use a canvas drop cloth, it’s less slippery than plastic and absorbs drips immediately.
• Use a roller scraper to avoid wasting paint left in roller.
• Store paint in a cool place (i.e. not your garage – whoops!)
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
We played around a bit choosing a color palette and talked to Nanette Lepore about how color inspires fashion. Then we mingled and headed home to rest up for the next day, when we’d finally get to dig in and get some paint on our hands!
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
After grabbing breakfast,we all loaded into a black bus with tinted windows (so VIP) with a moving truck tailing us, and headed to Hell’s Kitchen flea market. It was a beautiful sunshiney day and we were chomping at the bit to find the perfect pieces to upcycle. The first thing that caught my eye was a beautiful metal horse bust. I was in love. But the vendor wanted $500 for it and would only negotiate down to $275. Waaay out of my budget. Later we stopped in at the Salvation Army and I found this dresser that would have been perfect in my bedroom, but it was unfortunately already sold.
Luckily I’d picked up a just-in-case piece, this gorgeous typesetter’s drawer. I’ve been wanting one since high school and had never seen a specimen in such perfect condition, and with unfinished wood. Success!
I suspect we all looked like a sideshow hauling pieces to the end of flea and loading them into our truck, but oh well. We had everything from a TV console to mirrors to end tables by the end of our excursion.
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
I didn’t realize just how dirty my piece was until I started wiping it down. So gross. (You can see the color difference between this photo pre-wash and the post-wash below.)
PHOTOS: Kelly Beall
It took me awhile to figure out just how I wanted to transform my newly acquired type drawer, but after some thought I decided to start by painting the borders a nice charcoal grey. When that didn’t seem enough I debated painting the entire interior, but it would have required smaller brushes and more time than I had. I settled on taping off a few “gallery sections” and painting them white, I’ll be able to use these areas to highlight special tchotchkes once I get it home and hang it on my office wall.
I’m really happy with how it turned out! I plan on going over the white areas with a smaller brush and one more coat before calling it complete, but I’m counting this guy as a success. The Pantone Universe paint in Valspar’s Signature covered like a dream and was so incredibly saturated with color. I only did one layer of the grey if that tells you anything. Oh, and it dries to the touch in 20 minutes! I know you’re going to love it as much as I do.
Disclaimer: Travel and hotel in NYC provided by Pantone and Valspar. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Design Crush going!
We dyed some of my favorite Easter eggs ever, they were striated! Bebe got her first haircut and came home looking like a totally different dog (I’m only just now getting used to her lack of scruff!). I retired my 5 1/2 year old MacBook Pro for this new beauty, and after a few weeks finally have everything transferred/installed/updated. I turned into a little bit more of the old lady I’m destined to become by hanging a few plates on the wall in my kitchen. Paused for a selfie or two. Spied this tongue in cheek moving truck on Broadway. Met a 17 year old (!) lab named Billie, after Billie Holiday naturally. Spent 4 glorious days in Austin. And spent another 4 in NYC.
Austin, Texas is just about 400 miles or a 6 hour drive from Oklahoma City, but I’ve only visited a few times. When The Jealous Curator (aka Danielle Krysa) announced her Girl Crush workshop with the extremely talented Alyson Fox I knew I had to be a part of it in some capacity. So what does one Crush do for another? She volunteers to be an assistant for a few days of course.
Last Thursday I made the trek down to Austin and picked up Danielle at the airport before we headed out to Alyson’s stunning modern home in Spicewood. She and her husband helped to design it from the ground up and it’s incredible – not to mention the view that tranced me out more than once. Alyson was kind enough to invite us to stay with her for a few days, and each morning I woke up to the sun. I hadn’t slept as many hours as usual, but felt so well rested. (I think that definitely had something to do with with the sun and not a blaring alarm.)
Danielle and I spent Friday in the SoCo (South Congress) neighborhood. We had lunch at some of Austin’s famous food trailers (mahi mahi tacos and cheesy waffle fries!) before visiting a few galleries. grayduck Gallery was definitely a standout. But the day wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at Gordough’s Big Fat Donuts, I went with the Funky Monkey and definitely had a moment.
And then it was all about Girl Crush! We put together a gift bag for each lady with Alyson’s book A Shade of Red: One Lipstick and One Hundred Women, a mug with her design from Ink Dish, and a Baggu printed with her work as well. Danielle also talked about how intimidating a blank sketchbook can be, and how she’s taken to buying 50 cent vintage cookbooks and using those instead so everyone received one for their own explorations.
Saturday morning we started off with a bevy of fruit, pastries, and coffee before digging into the nitty gritty workshop Danielle has perfected. All of the ladies were so open with their creative triumphs and struggles, I walked away feeling rejuvenated and knowing I had to make more time for my own creativity again.
Alyson is not only a mind-blowing artist, she’s also amazing in the kitchen and made our entire meal (for 14!) herself. I have an APB out for her recipes.
The afternoon wrapped up with tasty cupcakes from Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop (who just won Cupcake Wars!) and several hours of post-Girl Crush chatting.
That night Danielle and I were lucky enough to stay over at artist Rebecca Rothfus‘ new home. She and her boyfriend had moved in literally a week prior to our visit! The space was amazing on so many levels – the mid-century just oozed out of it. (There’s even a built-in espresso maker in the kitchen!) I think I walked around most of the time with my mouth hanging open.
After a quick brunch with friends at Bouldin Creek Cafe I was back on the road to OKC. I’ll be back, Austin. I will be back.
Crane & Canopy is all that and a bag of chips, and I’m about to spill the many reasons why. Bedding is one of those final touches that make a room feel finished and pulled together, it’s also one of the more expensive elements in a bedroom. It seems like every search I’ve embarked upon has ended with me being in love with a set waaay out of my price range. (Followed by wine and chocolate.) Crane & Canopy has revolutionized all of that. First by creating their own designs, second by working directly with premium companies to cut out the middle men and lower costs.
But here’s the thing, just because the textiles are actually affordable doesn’t mean they’re lower in quality. All of Crane & Canopy‘s base fabrics use the highest quality cotton with 300 to 400 thread count weaves, optimized for softness while maintaining lifetime durability and longevity. And every piece has special touches like convenient corner ties, easy care zipper, exquisite piping, or beautiful embroidery. Not to mention the bold, graphic, and inspired prints created by their designers. (I picked up the Octavia for an upcoming project!)
The icing on the cake (or bag of chips) is that this spring Crane & Canopy has partnered with New York’s Safe Horizon to give back to domestic violence victims. For every bedding set purchased they’ll be donating a complete bedding set to to Safe Horizon’s shelter residents. I can only imagine how amazing it must feel to someone looking for even the most basic of human needs to safely and comfortably snuggle up at night.
Crane & Canopy also sells the most delicious sheets with colorful edging that I can’t wait to pick up, they look perfectly crisp for summer! Also just launched is their spring pop-up shop, filled to the brim with lovely modern things for your entire home – not just the bedroom.
Last week I let you in on my front door makeover project I worked on with Sherwin-Williams for National Painting Week, and I’m so excited to finally be able to share the results! I can’t believe I put up with it in its dingy off-whiteness for as long as I did (4 1/2 years!), but spring is the perfect time for adding some color to all aspects of life, don’t you think?
Oh, hey there dirty post-winter porch and dormant flower bed! My house was definitely in a state of PLEASE HELP ME as far as curb appeal goes. (If you look closely you can spy my dogs, Piper and Bebe, in each window agreeing vehemently.)
Even though my door and frame were light in color, I opted to add a layer of primer for full color development upon the advice of the consultants at my local Sherwin-Williams store. But before that I neatly taped off the frame from the brick exterior and around all of the fixtures. What I forgot to do was cover the doorknob in foil (a fantastic trick). Whoops.
I did a little research pre-project on the best way to tackle the process, and it turns out there is a recommended way in which to paint a door. Painting in this order helps to eliminate excess visible paint strokes and globs. (It totally worked.)
1.The recesses in each interior panel. 2.The interior panels. 3.The cross-sections between panels. 4.The outermost borders.
Two coats of Energetic Orange in Sherwin-Williams Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex paint (and some fresh spring flowers) later and I was done! I’m looking forward to being able to tell new visitors that my house is “the last one on the left, the one with the orangedoor”!
I’d love to add a brass knocker and doorbell cover like the photo that inspired my makeover, and hopefully some interesting house numbers. This project has also given me the motivation to paint the trim and other exterior doors on my home a charcoal grey. It’s going to be amazing. My neighbor complimented me on the fresh look the other day and asked if I did this sort of thing for a living! (It was a long answer.)
Definitely pop over to visit The Brick House to see more orange today, and Vintage Revivals and Style by Emily Henderson tomorrow for their red projects! And, you’re in luck. The Sherwin-Williams National Painting Week SuperSale starts tomorrow and runs through April 22nd, with offers of 40% off paints and stains and 30% off painting supplies it’s too good to pass up.
Disclaimer: This project and post are sponsored by Sherwin-Williams. All opinions and words are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Design Crush going!
Let’s talk flexibility – in life, in your wardrobe, and in technology. I think it’s something that’s easy to take for granted when we have it in our possession, and something greatly missed when it is not. For example, a great outfit that takes you seamlessly from your day to night plans. Or a great piece of technology like the Envy x2 with Intel Inside® that has the power of two devices in one, both laptop and tablet.
But the fun is only starting! Just like Project Runway contestants show off their personal fashion every week, HP and Intel invite you to Pin Your Style. Want to participate in The HP + Intel + Project Runway Pin Your Style Contest? It’s easy and I promise you – worth it!
Pin a photo of the Envy x2 with Intel Inside® via the Pin It button on the Pin Your Stylecontest page. Then build a board that represents that week’s theme (in this case flexible fashion). Check out the weekly Pinsetter images on the site for inspiration.
Submit your board’s URL into the site to enter, then share your board with friends to earn the most votes!
Win prizes like an Envy x2 with Intel Inside® and a gift card to bring your style to life by getting the top votes for your board.
This post is sponsored by HP and Intel. Pin Your Style with HP + Intel + Project Runway to win chic HP products. Pin now.
I go crazy for a good statement door, it’s essentially the first impression your home makes on your visitors. I’ve been wanting to give mine a makeover ever since I bought my home nearly five years ago, and like a lot of projects simply haven’t had the time to devote to it. So when Sherwin-Williams asked me to participate in National Painting Week I knew just what I was going to tackle with hardly any thought – the off-white entrance to my home that was drab and unappealing and just blah.
When I started pulling together some inspiration to try and zero in on a color I realized I have a serious addiction, I had loads of front doors that I’d been bookmarking all along and had a tough decision ahead of me. Did I want classic? Maybe something more modern?
This door has been on my desktop for months now, so I took the hint and went with it. I used Sherwin-William’s Chip It color-matching site to find the shade I wanted, something a bit brighter than these called Energetic Orange.
My project will be up next Wednesday along with a few tips I learned along the way. There will also be projects from 13 other design bloggers celebrating National Painting Week beginning next Monday, and each day NationalPaintingWeek.com will be sharing inspiration, ideas, and more to get your jazzed about your own painting projects. Get ready, it’s gonna be a colorful week of before and afters!
, a mug with her design from 
