It is that time of year again when all the amazing gift guides are starting to come out. The Holiday Guide by HGTV Design Star winner Emily Henderson is my favorite of the moment. There are so many cool gift ideas, live links for immediate purchase and features many categories. Time to pull out the wallet! Have a great weekend everyone!
{image credits Emily Henderson}
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I freakin' LOVE these animals! My talented designer uncles are at it again. They have just soft launched their new company, ZOOKLZ, "square animals with attitude." Now, of course I am biased, but these just super creative plush animals appeal to the designer in me and the new part of me that is about to be a mom for the first time. I am cramming our nursery full of designy objects for our petite to enjoy!
Each animal body is a 9.5 inch square and is only $20 USD. These would be great birthday or holiday gifts for the kids on your list and a portion of the profits will be donated to animal welfare organizations. My uncles are HUGE animal advocates. These will definitely be pinned on my SMALL board full of cool kids items on Pinterest! {are you following me?}
Click here to get shopping! Good luck boys! The signature five look amazing!
{image credits Zooklz}
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These free downloadable Halloween Witch Silhouettes from NoBiggie are so cute! They would great for party favors, garland, or even window decorations. NoBiggie also offers small and large versions of each template. Don't forget to check out the bat and black raven downloads as well!
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I collect bird illustrations, photography and little bird statues. So naturally, I have been looking for the perfect little bird illustration to sneak into our daughter's nursery. I love the whimsical watercolor style of this little Chubby Birdie from the JooJoo etsy shop. I also adore this Love print. So cute!
{image credits JooJoo}
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It only took a year and a half, but my finch&hawk® logo is now officially and legally registered through the US government. Look at that cute ® icon! So excited. If you would like a couple of pointers on how I went about the process, visit this Freelance 101 tutorial :: How to Apply For A Trademark {the basics}.
{image and logo credit Vale Design}
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I wanted to share my two latest purchases for our dining room "bird art wall." See other purchased bird art here and here and here and here. For those of you who do not know this about me {or could not figure out by the name of my Etsy shop} I am obsessed with Goldfinches and Hawks {specifically this Red Tailed Hawk.} I stumbled onto Amber Alexander via this Pinterest pin. GORGEOUS watercolor work. I think her artwork would make lovely gifts for the upcoming holidays or maybe even a nursery...
{image credits Amber Alexander}
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Everything Etsy features links galore to tutorials, handmade gift ideas and free printables. Bookmark them people. The holidays are coming!
• 101 Pretty Free Printables {featuring Vale Design printables!}
{image credits Everything Etsy}
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New Vale Design branding and business card designs for Brown Bear Photography. You can see the full logo exploration here. The client chose to move forward with two different logo versions to be used in various branding aspects of her company. Business cards were printed via Moo Cards with 9 different client photographs on the back.
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It was brought to my attention last week that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. My reader kindly asked if I would do a printable for this. I immediately went to my friend Kristen {of Paper Crave, Domestifluff and Craftig fame} to help me design some joint free printables. We brainstormed and have each created an activity page{s} and a coloring sheet. If you are a parent with a child who is suffering from cancer, our hearts, strength and creativity go out to you all! ~ Erin & Kristen
**Designer Notes: Try laminating the tic tac toe board and cut out pieces to strengthen them for airplane rides, road trips or trips to the doctor's office.
Download MazePear here. Download MazeApple here. Download HappyHalloween coloring sheet here. Download TicTacToe board and pieces here. {This is a multi-page pdf}. Download HopeBalloon coloring sheet here. COMMON SENSE RULE: For personal use only. Not for commercial use. ©erinvaledesign.com ©papercrave.com ©domestifluff.com **AN OLDIE, BUT A GOODIE **
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Designy temporary tattoos by Swiss Miss on the new site, Tattly. Two things I love, design and tatoos!
{image credits Swiss Miss and Tattly}
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Instagram is a great free photography iphone app for sharing photos immediately on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr. It features cool, scroll through photo filters to add that extra touch {see them along the bottom!}. I was dragging my feet about sharing personal photos on Twitter, but I changed my mind after I found this app!
**No kick backs were received from the writing of this post.
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I love stumbling onto artists doing something so original. Jen Stark is a 28 year old Miami based 3D paper sculpture artist...with obviously a lot of patience! She sketches and then uses an x-acto to cut the intricate designs into the construction paper. Here is a lovely video with an artist interview and a look at her process. Found via Pinterest.
{image credits Jen Stark}
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I have been home from my Chicago freelance work for 3 weeks now and I just feel like I am starting to get back into the swing things at home. I have been catching up on a lot of work, blog, family obligations and most importantly sleep! I am going to spend this holiday weekend relaxing with family and eating amazing food. I hope you have a nice safe weekend. See you back here Monday!
// SNAZZY SPRING LINKS //
+ new Brand Packaging magazine {save paper. view digital online!}
+ LOVE these fonts {found via Paper Crave}
+ want to see this documentary SOOO bad
+ wishing I could climb into any picture on my Ocean Pinterest board {do you follow me?}
+ cool idea for turning polaroids into large wall art
+ some of my favorite DIY coloring sheets I have designed
+ rain barrel tutorial {found via Young House Love}
+ fun DIY confetti egg tutorial {love the fruity pebbles option!}
+ want to try all of these 30 grilled cheese sandwiches options
+ such a cute idea for candy favors for any occasion
+ informative digital printing process {found via Oh So Beautiful Paper from Ellie of Mint}
+ husband and I are checking out these pre-planned gardens
+ keep ending up at this shop for cute goodies
+ easy DIY Easter Egg tutorials here and here
// LOCALS // {Indianapolis}
+ Water Warrior Yoga {in honor of Earth Day}
+ IMA showing of Temple Gradin
+ Bunny Spectacular {coloring sheets on event website}
{image credits Jordan Ferney Oh Happy Day}
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I had to leave you with one more of Alisa Burke's stunning DIY Easter egg tutorials. I am afraid of fine art painting, but I bet even I could not screw this up. Beautiful finished product! Would be such a great project to work on with kids. Click here for the full watercolor easter egg tutorial.
{image credits Alisa Burke}
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I always look for new ways to push myself on every design project. I try to incorporate a new tutorial or technique that I learn on at least one design solution I show my clients. It keeps my knowledge base current and does not let me rely on my "old standby" techniques.
I am always looking for simple and advanced Illustrator and Photoshop tutorials. I have decided to start keeping track of my favorites for all of you right here. Every time I stumble onto a tutorial I like, I am going to post and link to it. Some may be simple that you already know and some may be new to you. If you have any favorites you would like to share, please leave a link in the comment section or contact me. Sharing is caring!
ADDING GRADIENTS TO TEXT {this tutorial allows you to keep text live. no outlining required!}
{image credits Vectips}
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The latest free edition of Brand Packaging Magazine has a great list of Sustainable Packaging Suppliers and Sustainable Packaging Design Firms. The list is in the back of the magazine and includes live links directly to the vendors. Great design reference to bookmark.
{image credits Brand Packaging Magazine}
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OMG! Someone give me a food packaging project right now! Please! I stumbled onto food photographer Matthew Klein on Pinterest and I am blown away. Stunning. The detail he captures is remarkable. Matthew specializes in food photography for advertising and packaging. {ps these popsicles would be so great for a summer party. So visual and healthy!}
{image credits Matthew Klein. Found via Pinterest}
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I detest matchy-matchy stuff, so I was super excited to receive an email from a designer/friend of mine introducing her newest venture, Plate. Plate provides "vintage mismatched fine china available for rent for weddings, showers, parties and other special occasions." This is such a great idea! They are located in the Chicago area, but are willing to travel. Click here to contact them.
{image credits AveryHouse found via The Sweetest Occasion}
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You betcha I'm on Pinterest! From the Pinterest website, "Pinterest is a social catalog service. Think of it as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can post collections of things you love, and "follow" collections created by people with great taste." This site is has come in pretty handy for creating design moodboards for clients. I have used it a couple of times already.
You can follow Vale Design by clicking here or the link in the Elsewhere section top right. Some of the boards I have created so far, Color, Pattern, Birds, Ocean, Quotes, and Tasty Tidbits. Pop over and check out the eye candy!
{image credits Pinterest}
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DID I REALLY SAY I WAS GOING TO GIVE UP MY TIME OBSESSION?!! Can that wait until I purchase one of these bada#@ Nooka watches?! I thought I was a design watch enthusiast, but one of my co-workers in Chicago has that title cornered. He has the coolest watches! I think he has the above version, but bright purple! Love it.
These are some of the coolest watches I have ever seen. I am a huge advocate of wearing neutral clothing and accessorizing with crazy bright primary colored watches, shoes or bags. I am not sure how great these watches are at telling time, but hey, I am supposed to working on not caring about time! I would also recommend checking out the Collaboration section. Some cool shots, much like the Nickelodeon Spongebob and Patrick {a cartoon close to my heart} watches.
Here are some examples of the watch front faces:
{image credits Nooka}
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Lights. Camera. Cereal?! Being a package designer, this video from CES 2011 sends my head spinning! Induction power is not just for product design anymore. Imagine the possibilities...
{found via Brand New}
{image credits Fulton Innovation}
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I am so excited to announce that my client, Le Dolce Vita Patisserie, has set their store Grand Opening date. The store, located in Zionsville Indiana, will open Saturday, January 29th. I am so honored to have been part of the process and I have seen sneak peeks of the store along the way. I have also had the opportunity to test many of the sweet treats! Yum! Kelly and her team have done an amazing job and I wish them all the best! Stop in for some coffee, donuts and pastries!
Visit their website, twitter and facebook for locations and directions, store information, menu, seasonal flavors and event scheduling information.
{image credits Le Dolce Vita Patisserie}
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It's official! I have the coolest uncle EVER! One of my uncles, the graphic designer {business and Etsy}, made and mailed Daisy the COOLEST freakin' thing I have ever seen. Let me set the stage. Me depressed over Daisy's eye surgery. Uncles massive dog lovers. Me crying to them at Thanksgiving. Uncle had some time to kill in Minneapolis blizzard. Me opening special delivery package. Me screaming and calling them smiling in fits of laughter. Finally, someone brought some positive to this extreme negative! Voila! Daisy's new designer beaded eye patch!
I LOVE skull and cross bones {especially like Paul Frank}. As soon as the stitches come out and it is safe, I will take some pictures of Daisy sporting her new patch. Thanks UJ! You ROCK! Much love.
Much love to you all! You have left me the kindest comments and emails and ALL of them have helped my husband and I through this dog stuff. It was nice to hear about all of your pets and their struggles and triumphs. Helped us to remember her strength and to know that she too will get through this! ~ erin
{image credits Vale Design}
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I am loving the photography app Plastic Bullet by Red Giant Software. I stumbled onto this on the Eight Hour Day blog. Katie Kirk was gracious enough to share her secret app for her stunning photos. This app is $1.99 and produces some really stunning shots. It also lets you save hi res images! Click here, here and here to see more photo examples. I have told everyone I know with an iPhone about this app! Click here to read more about this app. Click here to purchase this app.
**No kick backs were received from the writing of this post.
{image credits Apple and Red Giant Software}
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Guys, I am sorry I have been MIA lately and frankly, not much in the holiday spirit around here. Life has been exceptionally hectic the past three months. Let's do some catch up:
Vale Design - New client logos, exterior signage, website design and maintenance, package design, catalog layout, production and invitation design...to name a few! Also, I have been contracted to work on-site in Chicago January through March in 2011. Chicago winter...brutal, but I love this client. Keep an eye out for pictures of our latest work!
finch&hawk™ - The Second Annual Holiday Notepad Sale was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who purchased notepads. We hope you enjoy them!
Daisy - For those of you who do not know, my husband and I do not have children. We have a very high maintenance 9 year old Shiba Inu named Daisy. She is a full blown allergy dog {shot once a week} and in early October she was diagnosed with glaucoma. My husband and I were devastated and had to make some very tough, emotional decisions. Daisy went 100% blind in her right eye within a month and was in some serious pain. Her good eye is now starting to show some slight signs of the disease. After speaking with the veterinary ophthalmologist {they exist}, and making one of the most agonizing decisions of our lives, we had her bad eye removed on Tuesday. She is stitched up and will be recovering the next two weeks. Scared, overwhelmed and panicked are just a few emotions we have been going through the past 2 months. This option sounds scary, but it was the best option for her. No more pain and just adjusting to a "new normal." She is already starting to show signs of that personality we fell in love with in the beginning.
If you are thinking of adopting a Shiba Inu, they are gorgeous, wonderful dogs, but please do your research. They are known for allergies and glaucoma. Please make sure you are emotionally and financially invested. If you have any questions about what we are going/went through with her, please email me. I would be happy to discuss. You are not alone.
Holiday - When the heck did this holiday get here?! This is my favorite holiday, but this year, to be honest, I could skip the whole thing. Bah Humbug, I know. I even purchased the letterpress print shown above that I saw on Paper Crave. Snarky reminder of my mood right now.
Please hang in there with me while I get some things back in order. ~ erin
{image credits Tag Team Tompkins}
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Every Christmas, my little brother {he is 31 now and still does this} used to rearrange every NOEL letter set he saw. I could not resist doing some scrabble work of my own while my mom and I were out antique shopping over Thanskgiving. I sent him this picture. His response...EL NO! Kid makes me laugh...
I have not had a moment of time to acknowledge that this holiday season is completely upon us. Work and my life have definitely kept me busy the past couple of months. That being said, the husband and I have decided to keep it simple this year and DIY most of our holiday gifts. For those that we need to purchase, I have been searching through all of the amazing 2010 Holiday Gift Guides put together by some of my favorite bloggers. I am SO THANKFUL for all of their hard work...and it is hard work, but it is much appreciated. I have put together a round-up of some links to my favorites!
{multiple guides per site}
// 2010 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES //
Loving Living Small - HUGE LIST!!
iVillage Top Blogger Wish List
and let's end with a little giving back!
Have a happy and safe weekend! See you all back here on Monday!
**the finch&hawk™ Holiday Notepad Sale ends Monday, December 13th 12 PM EST**
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It's time to show Pantone some love! Pantone has officially released the 2011 Pantone Color of the Year, Honeysuckle Pink! Bye bye 2010 color, Turquoise!
Also, my artist/photographer friend sent me the link to the Pantone Hotel. Next time I am in Brussels, I will definitely need to stop in! Thanks J!
{image credits Pantone & Pantone Hotel}
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More snazzy Vale Design portfolio work! We designed these van wraps for our Le Dolce Vita Patisserie client. {click here to see more LDV Patisserie work} Now they will be able to deliver their tasty treats in style! Their logo and contact information are clearly marked for potential client contact and to further the brand recognition.
{click here to see more Vale Design work}
{image credits Le Dolce Vita Patisserie}
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My new favorite iPhone photography app is called Camera Bag by Never Center. It has some of the nicest and easiest polaroid and stylish filters to make even the more boring picture look spectacular! Cost is $1.99 USD. Click here to read more about this app. Click here to purchase this app.
**No kick backs were received from the writing of this post.
{image credits Apple and Never Center}
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SeekLogo is a great design reference site. It features over 200,000+ free vector logos to download. They seem to be in both Illustrator and Freehand. Great for FPO logos on brochures, catalogs, etc. This site would also be useful for competitive analysis when re-designing a logo or brand.
**Please be respectful & ethical to these companies, designers and existing logos.**
{image credits SeekLogo}
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I LOVE this shop! LOVE LOVE LOVE. Buy Olympia features handmade work from over 50 many talented artists and groups. This shop has just about something for everyone. Books, food related goods, shirts, stationery & notepads, prints & posters, jewelry, kids, calendars & planners and much more! They also have a "Cool Gift Idea" section to help you brainstorm the perfect gift. You just might be able to do all of your holiday shopping in one place. I am loving this Yellow Owl Workshop Color Wheel necklace that I saw featured on an Oh Joy post earlier this month. I might have to keep that one as a gift to myself!
{found via Oh Joy}
{image credits Buy Olympia}
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Hello everyone! I am back from a much needed holiday brain break. I am ready to get back to work and the site...well, I thought I was ready until I remembered we have hit "that time of year" again. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday have come and gone {sort of}. Gift guides are/will be popping up all over blogs to help direct you to some cool internet gift ideas for the upcoming holidays. I am looking to DIY most of our gifts this year to family and friends. For the gifts I will not be making, I am looking to support some really cool internet shops that feature some unique products. I will be posting some of my favorite shops throughout the month of December.
One of these shops is Binth. They are a Chicago company that features baby books, stationery, home office products, prints and posters. One of my favorite products they offer is the Numbers Poster. Site / Blog / Twitter / Facebook
{image credits Binth}
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DESIGNERS, BOOKMARK THIS SITE! Holy smokes, I stumbled onto the most AMAZING dieline reference site I have ever seen! The site is Jason Liebig's Flickr photostream and it is chalked FULL of hundreds of flattened {front, side and back visible} new and old packaging dielines. I strolled down marketing memory lane last night for a good two hours! Just put it in slideshow mode and enjoy the large detailed shots of products from a range of categories. Great site to be inspired by grids, typography, branding, color palettes, violators, vintage, etc. Jason...THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK!!!
{image credits Jason Liebig}
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Loving this Blue Orange Chevron printed piece by Riki Zarris! Beautiful art for only $35! The Riki Zarris Etsy shop has lovely patterned artwork in varying color palettes for very reasonable prices. Give to a friend as a hostess gift or just keep it for yourself...or do both!
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One of my latest freelance package design projects, Glisten by Summit Brands, has been finalized and is making its way to a shelf near you! Click here to see which of the above designs was chosen as the final. I love to design packaging for the cleaning aisle. Sad, but true!
Other Summit Brand products I have designed and/or collaborated on are shown below...including the Summit logo which was recently chosen to be included in the Logo Lounge Master Series: Shapes & Symbols book. Click here to see the full Vale Design Portfolio.
{image credits Vale Design}
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There are many perks to my job as a freelance graphic designer. Freedom. Amazing clients. Flexible hours. Days off whenever I feel like it. The ability to choose who I work for and with. Now I can add DELICIOUS and LOVELY meeting take-home treats from my patisserie client! My meeting consisted of fresh coffee, fresh baked cookies and some of the best macarons I have ever tasted! I am lucky I heard a word she said...
Le Dolce Vita Patisserie packaging is almost done and the shop will open in a couple of months. Let's just say I am glad that the bakery will be one city away from my office. Otherwise, this graphic designer would gain some serious weight!
Thanks Kelly for the tasty treats! They were good and they are gone! ~ Erin's stomach :)
ps Pictured above is Vanilla, Chocolate and one of their seasonal flavors, Pumpkin Spice. These would wow any guest at any party or holiday gathering! **INDY LOCALS ** Contact them now to plan your event. They are booking up quick!
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These breathtaking watercolors are the work of French illustrator Lucile Prache. Her illustration style and color palette are so lovely. These would make great hostess and/or holiday gifts!
Check out more of her gorgeous artwork on her Site / Blog / Shop
{image credits Lucile Prache and Lucile's Kitchen}
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This candle packaging from Sparrow&Co makes me weak in the knees. I love the color palette and pattern work by London based illustrator Debbie Powell. Check out more of Debbie's gorgeous patterns. Site / Blog / Shop
{found via Design Work Life}
{image credits Sparrow&Co and Debbie Powell}
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The 2010 November issue of InStyle magazine is out and they are naming names...the names of the Best of the Web Online Shopping. The list features 223 websites that focus on fashion, beauty and home. Remember holiday shopping is right around the corner. Congrats everyone!
What sites are your favorites? Did they make the list?
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RUN DON'T WALK PEOPLE! Ez, of Creature Comforts blogging fame, has just released the first issue of Gifted Magazine and it is eye candy galore! Gorgeous photography, diy tutorials, gift ideas for everyone, free printables, recipes etc. Lovely articles and interviews with some of your favorite designers, blogger and illustrators. If only all online magazine could be this lovely...Congrats Ez!
{image credits Creature Comforts}
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I can not believe October is almost over. Halloween on Sunday. Yikes! I need to buy some candy...to hand out to the kiddos of course...not to eat it all myself with the porch light off! Today's list is a bit shorter than normal. I have a busy design day ahead of me.
// FALL FAVORITE LINKS //
+ Favorite Fonts {via Design*Sponge}
+ Love these font designer videos {via Design*Sponge}
+ Clever tutorial {via papernstitch}
+ Halloween tutorials {via Domestifluff}
+ Carmel Apple Martini would pair nicely with this martini
+ Pretty video and inspiring lyrics
+ My current favorite font
+ My husband's motto! Wish this was on a shirt
+ Devilishly good lookin' Devil's Food Cake pics & recipe {via Design*Sponge}
+ Did you download our DIY Halloween Coloring Sheets?
+ Still in awe of this Etsy shop
+ Halloween goodness {via Design Crush}
Have a great and spooky weekend everyone! See you back here on Monday!
{image credits Suzee Que}
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This is some of the most beautiful artwork I have seen in a long time. I love the sketchy quality, layering and mixed media of these illustrations by BalletArt. The ballerina imagery evokes memories of my days in art history classes studying Degas and his ballerinas and the breathtaking day that I was able to see those drawings in real life at Musee D'Orsay in Paris. I loved this shop so much that I could not just pick four images like I normally do for Etsy Finds. These ballerinas would be so precious in a little girls bedroom! For me, I think I will be purchasing that little bird for my bird illustration wall. Simply lovely.
[1] The Black Swan [2] Like A Bird [3] The Heart [4] Ballet on Pointe [5] The Ballerina [6] The Blue Cat
{image credits BalletArt}
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Finally feeling like I have some time to get in the Halloween spirit! Isn't that little designy ghost so cute?! Today's links are focusing on my passions of the moment. Halloween. Design. Music.
// FALL FAVORITE LINKS //
+ Great Etsy Storque Guide to Photography
+ How to organize your finances when you're a freelancer {via mint}
+ LOVE this song. Love her.
+ Can't get this song out of my head {that kid has some serious "IT"}
+ Creepy, but pretty poster
+ New favorite jeans that fit like a glove
+ SCARIEST Haunted House I ever went to!
+ The BEST free printable Halloween round-ups here, here and here {via Paper Crave}
+ Robot, Monster & Ghost Co {via FPO}
+ Really like this new logo
+ Halloween goodies are so cute they should be framed!
+ Made this for dinner last night
+ GAP does something right
+ Rifle Paper Co Business Series new post
// LOCALS // {Indianapolis}
+ Legend of Sleepy Hollow Headless Horseman at Conner Prairie
+ Shots in the Dark at the IMA
+ Andy Warhol Enterprises at the IMA
+ Haunted Places in Indiana
Have a great and scary weekend everyone! See you back here on Monday!
{image credits Robot, Monster & Ghost Co. via FPO}
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FUNCTION
A couple of weeks ago, my husband was traveling for work and I could not sleep. At 1:30 am, I saw a commercial for the Waste Management Bagster. I watched it and did not think about it again...until last Friday at 4:30 pm when my Cousin & Hard wood Flooring expert looked at me and asked where he and his crew were going to dispose of all 800 square feet of our old hard wood flooring and nasty carpet. YIKES! I had not even thought about that!
Enter the Bagster! I went to Lowes and pick up three Bagster bags for $30 a piece. I got on the internet, visited the Bagster website to make sure they picked up in my area, called the customer service number and scheduled a pick up. They emailed my confirmation by the time I hung up the phone. The pick up was $99 dollars for the first bag and $59 per additional bag. The truck with crane was at my house on Monday at 9:30 am and I was emailed a confirmation that my bags were picked up. We only used 2 out of the 3 purchased bags and I returned the extra one. Bagster was perfect for our small, quick demo job.
**CHECK WEBSITE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR RESTRICTIONS **
FORM
While at Lowes, I was looking over the Bagster packaging. {I'm a designer. I look at everyone's packaging!} I know there are design sites out there talking about niche, gourmet, gorgeous packaging, however, I think most mass packaging is overlooked. I respect the branding, cleanliness and communication of this design. As you can see in the above picture, this product is explained with little guess work. I design mostly mass packaging and clear consumer communication is key! I love the three step bold headers and support imagery. You can see the message repeated on the side of the truck. It is not re-inventing the wheel, but it is well done.
**I am not getting any kick backs from this post. I am just writing about my own personal experience.**
{image credits Vale Design}
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As I mentioned earlier, we had our old hard wood floors and nasty carpet ripped out and new beautiful Red Oak Natural floors installed this past weekend. Our entire downstairs is now all hard wood {except the office which has yummy Berber carpet}. I love it! Now the Husband and I just have to agree on a stain. {We are leaning toward Early American.} More pictures when it is stained, buffed, puffed and polished!
Keep reading to see more before and kind of almost after pictures!
Continue reading "Hard Wood Floor Before & Kind of almost After" »
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It is no secret that I have been on a home design kick lately. {click here and here} So it was only a matter of time before I stumbled onto Design to Inspire, ranked #4 on the London Times Top 5o of the World's Best Design Blogs. This site is run by Jo and Kim and features some of the most gorgeous home shots I have ever seen. There is inspiration on this site for everyone.
Through my baby step re-designs I have been doing around my home, I have noticed that I gravitate toward the classic, warm and rustic rooms. I am not a "modern, white walls" girl. The Italian in me screams for warmth, cozy settings and natural elements. I love exposed brick, raw woods and plants sprinkled in for extra green {my favorite color} and texture.
The more I learn about myself, the more I see those life experiences translate themselves into my home. It has been a lovely journey so far and I am looking forward to my next steps! Thank you to all the creatives who share all of their hard work and inspiration with the rest of us...especially those of us who are allergic to interior design.
{image credits Design to Inspire}
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Thank goodness for creative people and artists of every discipline. Life would be so boring without them!
Artist Jason de Caires Taylor created the world's first underwater sculpture park in the waters off Cancun Mexico. Twitter / Facebook
{quoted from Asociados Nauticos de Cancun}
"Divers and snorkellers will have the opportunity to admire more than 400 original sculptures in depths ranging from 9 to 20 feet."
"The sculptures are all designed to become artificial reefs and are constructed from special materials which promote marine life and create areas for corals to flourish and marine creatures to breed and take refuge, boosting the local ecosystem."
To see more pictures click here. To take a virtual dive, watch here.
{image credits Jason de Caires Taylor}
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Just thought I would share our new perfect Master Bedroom lamps. I am madly in love with them. They match my ocean theme so nicely. The shades have a beautiful sand color and rough texture to them and the base detail picks up the wall color beautifully. They fit right in to our Master Suite Beach Inspiration Boards. The husband and I picked them up at HomeGoods for only $39 dollars a piece! What a steal!
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