Its Finally Here!

Hello everyone!

Well folks, after working for a few weeks and teaching myself a little HTML, I've finally finished revamping the blog for mine and Joey's new life together!

So take a look around, share with your friends, and make sure to update the new web address in your list of favorite blogs!

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Joey and I just took a vacation to Virginia Beach so we took a little blog break, but look forward to new posts, including more yummy food and recipes, adventures, projects, and other fun things we've been up to! But in the mean time, here's one of my favorite photos from our vacation--aren't these the most beautiful and colorful radishes?

Something I Have to Do.

[Design Manifesto]

Friends, I want to be a designer so bad. 

Like, I can feel a lump in my chest, this push to jump in and get my hands dirty.

But I just don't even know where to start,

and I'm not sure I'm all that good. 

But I know I have to do it, because its all I want to do. 

Design: Lace Brushes for Photoshop

Well friends, here is a link to a handful of lace brushes for photoshop from Katrina of Pugly Pixel! She also has helpful tips and links to other tutorials and downloads.

Once the brushes are downloaded, just click to open the file. Next, go into photoshop, select the brush tool. Open the tab 'brushes' to see all of your brushes, including your darling lace brushes.

 Enjoy!

Watercolors

Why can't watercolor painting be as fun and beautiful as mixing the paint?

errmmmm, I'm pretty glad that my watercolor class ends next week...

does that make me a bad art major?

DesignFest!

No one asked how I spent today, but I'm going to tell you anyway! Work has definitely started to pick up and things are being scheduled and tweaked every hour. So off and on for over 8 hours today, I have designed the following for SVU's Travel Study Program:

Six individual posters for upcoming trip meetings, which included time scouring my collections of travel photos and my own trip photos (which always takes longer than you think to find a usable photo)...

Formatting the posters for six slides to play on flatscreen monitors around campus...

An 11x17 poster of all of the interest meeting dates, plus reformatting it into a 3x6 handout...

And updating the Travel Study website (which I'm still in the process of doing), which, for someone rather inexperienced in web design like me, is always a major project!

My eyes and fingers definitely need a break!

Camera Trap Study

As an artist and a bit of a tree hugger, I LOVED this study done by Conservation International.

Basically, researchers placed camouflaged cameras in seven areas around the world to document in particular, mammals, and see how things like habitat loss are threatening species population and diversity. The cameras didn't have flashes (rule #1 for awesome photographs) and were heat sensitive, so they snapped a shot when something warm was nearby.

"The first global camera trap mammal study, announced today by a group of international scientists, has documented 105 species in nearly 52,000 images, from seven protected areas across the Americas, Africa and Asia. The photographs reveal an amazing variety of animals in their most candid moments — from a minute mouse to the enormous African elephant, plus gorillas, cougars, giant anteaters and — surprisingly — even tourists and poachers."

42 of the 52,000 photographs collected are posted here, and they are simply stunning. The photos of the elephants are my favorite, but there are so many amazing shots--like a monkey staring right into the camera (curious about the object he spotted, no doubt), endangered Tapirs, and even the poachers (a little ironic I suppose, considering they are contributing to the very concern--dwindling populations--that the scientists are researching).

"Analysis of the photographic data has helped scientists confirm a key conclusion that until now, was understood through uncoordinated local study: habitat loss and smaller reserves have a direct and detrimental impact on the diversity and survival of mammal populations. Impacts are seen in the form of less diversity of species and less variety of body sizes and diets (smaller animals and insectivores are the first to disappear), among others. This information replicated over time and space is crucial to understand the effects of global and regional threats on forest mammals and anticipate extinctions before it is too late."

To read the full article on the study, click here.

Flutter in Pinhole

I found this several months ago, and my love for it hasn't faded. I love that its a step away from the digital and technological, and speaks to the sincerity and genuine quality of old fashioned postcards with hand written messages.

From Yanko Design:

Flutter In Pinhole is a zero-fuss cardboard pinhole camera. It works like a Polaroid camera e.g. instant pictures. The idea behind the project is radically different from its kitsch appeal. It’s aimed at the traveler who’d like to stay in touch via postcards. The photographs are captured into a pre-drawn frame, which you can then add a message to and post.

COOL.

The Definition of Last Minute

Well the poster for the Ballet is done. Not totally loving it, but that's what happens when a client gives you the information the day they want the design finished and going to the printer.

Dear friends, if you ever ask someone to design something, please remember that its not as easy as cutting and pasting into a word document or something, it's very time consuming and labor intensive.

Ok, I'm off my itty bitty soap box.

Phillip Hendrickson

I can hardly believe these are prints! Never seen prints like these before.

Props.

NO FEAR

One Heck of an Opportunity

Designed by moi. Wow, I don't know where this new style has come from, but I'm diggin' it--and what's more, my art professor and boss are diggin' it too!

Sneak Peek: Senior Show

Well here it is! A sneak peek at the poster I designed for SVU's senior art show. The class still has to approve it, but I think its not too bad...its definitely a different style for me but I worked really hard on it and I think its going to really stand out on campus.

Garden in a Light Bulb

Foxy Blunt Greeting Cards

I stumbled upon a card company called Foxy Blunt this morning and think they are just the funnest cards I have seen. they match up a courteous, stereotypical greeting card with a quick punch. Love them! wish they weren't so expensive though...

Book Sculpture

For my sculpture class i've been researching book sculpture, and have come across some amazing things. Su Blackwell in the UK creates mind blowing pieces that are just too beautiful. One of my favorites of hers (though not from a book) is this installation piece:

Two in one Day??

yes, i am in fact blogging twice today. but i found this vase and thought it was just too cool to keep to myself!

how cool is that?! i absolutely love it. i hope target or ikea or something makes a cheaper version....