Toronto-based artist Erin Armstrong uses swift and decisive markings over acrylic-based images to create expressive people in everyday situations. The result is more about creating an atmosphere than mimicking reality.
Bayleaves Watercolor Canvas by The Savvy Heart // Bowl of Ferns by Stellaire Studio // F + V by Young American Creatives // Frame Two Flat by ALSO // Good Day by Moon Rabbit Press
Good Vibes by Cat Coquillette // Indigo Lines by Sycamore Street Press // Inspirational Quote by Easy, Tiger // New York Rooftop by Idlewild Co. // Orange Sun by Honey & Bloom
Rose Poster by Fine Little Day // Subtle Horizon by Georgia Paraschiv // This Print Wished You Would… by Laure Prouvost // Vintage Beer Photo by The Beer Book // We Are All Made of Stardust by Ban.do
Posted In create, graphics, illustration, painting, paper goods, photography, prints
Every year I think I’m going to skip out on doing a photo card to send out for the holidays, but then I see a design that I just can’t stop thinking about and order them. This year was no different, thanks to Artifact Uprising‘s modern looks and beautiful sayings.
After 8 1/2 years of Design Crush I figured now was a good time to do a card to send out to sponsors and PR folk who I work with on the regular. I really liked the idea of sharing a peek at my home and aesthetic for the photo, so you might recognize the shot on it from this month’s holiday mantle post.
For my family and personal friends it was none other than my pup, Bebe, front and center! I snapped this photo of her last year before decorating, and paired with the sentiment it was a perfect match. (This is also the first year I’ve included my pets names on a card – the decision to makes me laugh!)
I also toyed with the idea of New Year cards as I rushed to get the house decorated, gifts bought, and cards written out and in the mail. They’re such a great option for those of us who note December as the busiest month of the year both personally and work-wise. In fact, I’m already half planning on it for holiday season!
Now it’s your turn to win $150 to spend at Artifact Uprising! They have amazing cards and lots of other good stuff to personalize, so think outside the box. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
1/Geometry Planner 2/Gold Foil Any-Year Daily Planner 3/Color Pop Planner 4/Life Planner 5/Planner for Creative Passion Makers 6/2016 Planner 7/Weekly/Monthly Planner 8/Arches Weekly Planner 9/DAYZ 2016 10/Kalenderheft 2016
I hope you haven’t chosen your 2016 planner or calendar just yet, because today we’re sharing the best of the best! Twenty planners and sixty calendars right here, right now. The only problem? I want them all!
11/Monthly Planner 12/Aurora Planner 13/Moment Planner (Large) 14/Marble Planner 15/24/7 Planner 16/Day Designer 17/B6 Weekly Planner 18/Wise Words 17-Month Planner 19/Purple Floral Year-Less Planner 20/Weekly Diary (Large)
1/Brush Script Calendar 2/Great Musicians Calendar 3/A Moon a Month for 2016 4/2016 Coffee & Tea 5/2016 XL Wall Calendar 6/2016 Calendar 7/Stendig Calendar 8/2016 Letterpress Stump Calendar 9/2016 Typography Calendar 10/2016 Calendar Linen Tea Towel
11/2016 Desk Calendar 12/2016 Calendar 13/Flora & Fauna 2016 Wall Calendar 14/2016 Moon Calendar 15/2016 Monthly Constellations Calendar 16/CMYK Color Swatch Calendar 17/2016 Fruit of the Month Calendar Kit 18/2016 Cocktails Calendar 19/2016 Calendar Tea Towel 20/2016 Seasonal Beer Pairings Calendar
21/2016 Calendar 22/2016 Classic Cocktails Calendar 23/2016 Birthstone Letterpress Calendar 24/2016 Famous Poets Wall Calendar 25/2016 Desk Calendar 26/2016 MMXVI Letterpress Wall Calendar 27/2016 Marble Desktop Calendar 28/Perpetual Calendar 29/2016 Floral Calendar 30/Wall Calendar
31/2016 Calendar Printable 32/2016 Stitch the Star Calendar Kit 33/2016 Interactions Wall Calendar 34/2016 Gem & Mineral Calendar 35/2016 Seasonal Moon Calendar 36/Frankie 2016 Wall Calendar 37/Amy Rice Art 2016 Calendar 38/Constellations Perpetual Calendar 39/Constellation Wall Calendar 40/Planet Coaster Calendar
41/Flora Calendar 2016 42/Pattern & Post Card 2016 Calendar 43/2016 Wall Calendar 44/Metamorphosis 2016 Calendar 45/2016 Polygons Calendar 46/Botanical Calendar 2016 47/2016 Calendar Download 48/Gold Foil 2016 Calendar 49/2016 Watercolor Calendar 50/2016 Calendar
51/Blush Wall Calendar 52/Edition #2 National Park 2016 Calendar 53/2016 Desk Calendar 54/2016 Mid-Century Modern Calendar 55/Whales 2016 Calendar 56/2016 Moon Calendar 57/2016 Calendar 58/2016 Constellation Calendar 59/2016 Calendar 60/2016 Wall Calendar
Posted In calendars, create, paper goods, round up, series
Hey, Pittsburgh! Tomorrow – December 5th, from 11am to 7pm – is Handmade Arcade, Pittsburgh’s first and largest independent craft fair. Handmade Arcade brings together innovative crafters and progressive do-it-yourself designers at David L. Lawrence Convention Center to sell their handmade, locally produced, and offbeat wares just in time for the holidays.
Kara Reid created 2015’s branding art, seen above.
The process started with a basic wooden platform, painted black to boost the appearance of the typography. Almost 900 nails were used around the center logo and outside frame to create the best surface for the string. Once the existing HA logo was stenciled and painted onto the center of platform, the string was strung. Each letter was then lightly stenciled onto the surface, then re-painted twice to enhance the appearance of the typography.
This year’s show features 160+ crafters, designers, and makers from all around Pittsburgh,
the tri-state area, and the country. Some of my favorites that should not be missed – everyday balloons, Worker Bird, girls can tell, Stak Ceramics, strawberryluna, Alternate Histories, Commonwealth Press, Garbella, Make Believe, and so many more will be there slinging their wares.
Admission is free and includes the Hands-on Handmade area. It features a variety of drop-in, short, and day-long interactive programs – including craft demonstrations, mini-tutorials, make-and-take activities, craft competitions, and art installations – all designed to bridge the gap between consumers and creators. I got a sneak peek of this year’s activities and can’t wait to make my own.
Handmade Arcade will also be launching its inaugural print publication, Things Making Things: A DIY Coloring Book, featuring original commissioned artwork by ten Pittsburgh-based artists and Handmade Arcade vendors. Inside you’ll meet their imaginative creatures who are all crafting, making, and designing things – from robots screen-printing to spiders painting – and ready for you to create an artwork of your own.
Hope to see you Saturday!
Photos by Joey Kennedy
PS: Due to the high demand for our 2015 Early Birdie Passes (which are now sold out) we are opening up a limited amount of Early Birdie Shopping Passes for a reduced fee of $10. These passes do not come with the goody bags. Passes will not be mailed, your name will be placed on the Early Birdie will-call list. Please print out your Pay-Pal receipt to ensure entrance and bring it with you to Handmade Arcade December 5th for 10AM entry.
Posted In behind the scenes, create, pittsburgh
Books are one of my favorite things to give and receive throughout the year, so what better time to share some of my favorites than now? Most are design, interiors, or food related because when it comes down to it those are the subjects I like to share most with others. (You never would have guessed that, right?!)
The Kinfolk Home // See San Francisco // The 52 Lists Project // Bright Bazaar
Food52 Baking // The Year of Cozy // The Sugar Hit // Whip It Up
Sage Living // 100 Years of Color // Outside the Box // The Forest Feast
Posted In create, holidays, living, read up
Melbourne, Australia-based artist Justine Khamara is a master of digital manipulation. Khamara hand-cuts photographs, then reorganizes and pastes them into other configurations. Sometimes pasted, sometimes woven, always interesting.
What at first glance looks like crumpled pages that have been ripped from fashion magazines are actually painstakingly painted pieces by Stefania Fersini. Each oil piece shows off the models as life-sized, inviting us to explore our own personal relationships with real life and the polished media.
I’ve followed and been a fan of Frank Chimero ever since first joining Twitter waaaaaaay back in 2009. It’s been a blast to watch his career as a designer/illustrator/writer evolve and I always look forward to what’s next. The latest is Frank’s Colorfield series, available as prints. And if you’re a designer I highly recommended picking up a copy of his book, The Shape of Design.
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This year, instead of breaking up our usual December roundups into parts, we’re going big. A mega holiday card collection, a mega 2016 calendar post, mega holiday DIYs, and our usual imaginary Christmas celebration. This way you’ll be less likely to miss out on any favorites and all the more likely to get into a festive spirit! To start off here are 50 holiday cards I’d love to show up in my mailbox.
11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20
21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
31 / 32 / 33 / 34 / 35 / 36 / 37 / 38 / 39 / 40
41 / 42 / 43 /44 / 45 / 46 /47 / 48 / 49 / 50
Posted In cards, christmas, create, holidays, living, paper goods