Category: Design

  • Dec
    2013

    13

    Beyoncé is a Visionary… duh.

    Beyoncé is obviously not a new topic, but Mrs. Carter is one bad-ass lady who’s new album is really challenging the landscape of the music industry. In a land where record execs just want you to push the hottest single, Bey decided to make a whole VISUAL album. This amazing woman decided to create 17 music videos to accompany her new album and released them ALL. AT. ONCE. The amount of work that went into the planning of all of this blows my mind, and each song and video has such a 90s Madonna-meets-Missy Elliot vibe to it’s look that I can’t help but be giddy watching them all over and over and over…

    Well done, Bey, well done. My feminist anthem of 2014: FLAWLESS… so. fucking. good.

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  • Nov
    2013

    26

    Make Your Own Path

    I have two big things I’m passionate about: creating things yourself and making your own path. This lovely man not only runs his own woodworking company, passed on from his father, but helps displaced Juvie kids find a passion and a place of belonging.

     

    Not everyone fits into a perfect mold in our society and we tend to disregard people’s strengths, especially in our education system, shoving square pegs into round holes. I one day hope that we will have an education system that tailors itself to individuals and their passions. Whether that be a kid who wants to be a woodworker – giving him applicable math and chemistry skills that pertain to that trade, or if a kid wants to be a chef, veterinarian or artist – focusing and honing in on a person’s passions makes the learning easier because it gives it context. Not everyone wants to be doctors, lawyers or engineers and how amazing would it be to live in a world where people were nurtured to follow their passions and strengths, rather than given a one-size-fits-all education? I think that would be pretty incredible.

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  • Jul
    2013

    29

    Why beautiful business cards are expensive


    It takes craftsmanship and skill to execute beautiful paper products. This is a video on how Crane & Co. bevels and guilds their stationary… it’s all done by hand. Pretty incredible. So the next time you get upset about cost, think about the time and love that’s going into your product.

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  • Jul
    2013

    18

    Mosquito Patch

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    Did you know that mosquitos actually track you by detecting CO2 from your breath.. crazy, huh? Kite is an innovative product that is currently being tested and seeking funding to release mosquito repellant patches that you wear and can last up to 48 hours. Think about all the people around the globe who die from diseases carried by mosquitos who could really use this… not to mention my sweet-blooded self who gets eaten alive every summer. Another example of technology for good.

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  • Jul
    2013

    6

    Beauty is Embarrassing – Wayne White

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    I feel like I saw the trailer for this two years ago and have been waiting forever to get to see this, and FINALLY Netflix has it available! I’ve already watched it 5 times in the past two months, and thought I’d share it with you in case you haven’t checked it out yet. Wayne White is an artist and creator who does a bit of everything and is responsible for my obsession with Pee Wee’s Playhouse and the famed “Tonight, Tonight” Smashing Pumpkins video. Most of the things that I grew up with, that I really found visually inspiring, were created by this handsome man. This documentary make me feel sane for getting my hands into everything creative and that there’s nothing wrong with being a Jack-of-all-trades.

     

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    Wayne now paints these incredibly lettered scenic paintings that make me giggle every time I see them. Check out his site and his books.

     

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  • Jul
    2013

    3

    Designer Nail Art – on the cheap.

    Scratch commissions designers to created limited edition nail decals that are high-art, low cost. Flat Vernacular is the guest this month!

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  • Jul
    2013

    2

    Sailing Ship Kite

    Check out this amazing kite from Haptic Lab! Not only is it cool, it’s also Fair Trade. Check out their other amazing goods, including my favorite quilt.

     

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  • Jul
    2013

    2

    Balloon Powered Internet for All

    Google launched Project Loon in June 2013 in New Zealand to test the ability to use balloons to transmit internet to the large chunk of the world that doesn’t have access. As they say on their site “Many of us think of the Internet as a global community. But two-thirds of the world’s population does not yet have Internet access. Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after disasters.”

    Technology is doing so many incredible things; having the ability to help women entrepreneurs in third-world countries, giving education and medical access to the developing world and ensuring that people affected by major disasters can access the internet. Blows my mind.

     

     

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  • Jul
    2013

    2

    Behind the Scenes of Drug Ad


    I found this incredible anti-drug video today on Fast Company’s site. Pretty amazing to watch how the design firm, The Colony, executed it in the behind-the-scenes video. Talented people creating great work.

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  • Jun
    2013

    28

    Incredible Triple-Decker Poster

    This incredible triple-decker poster was made by the ridiculously talented Isle of Printing out of Nashville, TN. I love the use of negative space and that the design evolves as you add layers, yet each could stand alone. I’ve always wanted a laser cutter, but this just confirms the need.

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  • Jun
    2013

    6

    Nail Art & Best Friends

    My best friend in the whole world came to visit from Chicago and the girl is OBSESSED with nail art… so obviously I surprised her with amazing manicures from Ria Nailz…. I got ice cream & doughnut nails and she got ice cream and tribal nails.

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  • May
    2013

    30

    Working with Domestic Construction

    Today is not only my ONE YEAR anniversary here in NYC, but my first day working with the ladies of Domestic Construction. I am officially building, making and crafting things for these incredible girls.

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  • May
    2013

    28

    Finally Built My Dream Bookcase

    I moved into a larger room in our loft and decided to totally renovate it, like I said: I LOVE BUILDING THINGS. Anyway, here’s my well-planned, 10ft bookshelf I built with my boyfriend over the weekend… and our cat, Bubs, exploring things while I was working on organizing. I’m hoping to get the room photographed, so I can show all the before and afters.

     

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  • May
    2013

    27

    Salvage Desk Project

    So I grew up refinishing furniture and houses, and I have never been able to shake the itch I have to build stuff… so I built a desk today. I had a make-shift plywood desk in our old room and I decided I would take it apart, refinish the top piece and IKEA hack it onto my red metal drawers. Sorry for the grainy images, will post better ones soon!

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  • May
    2013

    4

    Re-Purposed Book Covers

     

     

    I just bought this incredible case for my Kindle (Top) at the BUST Magazine Craftacular today in DUMBO from Rebound Designs. She makes cases for pretty much any kind of tablet you can think of as well as really cute hard-cover, clutch wallets. I love old book cover designs and I am a huge fan of re-purposing things.

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  • Apr
    2013

    11

    check out onwander.com

     

    So while I was working out of Studiomates, Keenan from Wander came in to talk about the new project. Immediately I fell in love with the concept of a site that is a social-collaboration-aggregation Travel Scrapbook. Essentially, each user on Wander (which is now accepting requests!) creates a virtual scrapbook of their favorite places on their journey through life, allowing others to search specific places and get a really beautiful aggregation of everyone’s images tagged with that spot. So let’s say you’ve never been to Mumbai, for example, each user who’s traveled to Mumbai tags images or articles with a *star mention* and  it all aggregates to their personal travel page, as well as a communal Mumbai page. So when I go to the Mumbai page, I’m getting a visual feel of what it’s like there from a multitude of perspectives, as well as restaurant suggestions and places I should see! SO cool. Sign up now.

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  • Apr
    2013

    10

    I Am Lightyear EP Covers

     

     

     

    I created a bunch of song artwork for I Am Lightyear’s new EP, Holding Pattern. Check out her work, she’s a pretty amazing lady.

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  • Apr
    2013

    9

    Weird Children

     

    So my boyfriend works his butt off with these crazy fools. Tim Van Horn edited this really cute promo video for their upcoming show with their new singer and I couldn’t be more stoked for them! Check out Weird Children’s  fun, rocky-pop music you won’t might regret it…

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  • Feb
    2013

    16

    Fiorucci: “Looks wild to me.”

    Recently, someone told me that I reminded them of Fiorucci’s. For some reason, with my obsession with pop art and New York’s hey days, I totally missed this huge chunk of pop culture history…

     

    Fiorucci’s ads (above)

     

    Debbie Harry, Madonna, Basquiat, Warhol, Truman Capote, Betsy Johnson, Marc Jacobs, Maripol…. Pretty much everyone I’ve ever obsessed over or idolized hung out here.

     

    Dubbed the “daytime Studio 54,” Fiorucci was the place to be in the late 70s – early 80s. The East 59th Street store opened near Bloomingdale’s in 1976 and was filled with glitter, gold, lamé, and skin tight jeans. The store is credited for launching Madonna’s career (her brother worked there) as well as hosting the launch of Warhol’s Interview Magazine and exhibiting Keith Haring’s work. Fiorucci had avant garde, affordable fashions for everyone, waaayyyy before H&M or Forever 21 came into play. Unfortunately, mismanagement of the company led to bankruptcy in 1989. In 2001, the store tried to make a comeback in NYC, but it never would be like it was during Andy Warhol’s New York days. Fiorucci seemed like an amazing place and I wish I could have been a fly on the wall back in its hey day. ..

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  • Dec
    2012

    5

    Holiday Survival Kits

    I worked really hard to create these Holiday Survival Kits for some holiday gifts this year. I think they’re finally ready to get wrapped up and shipped! It took me awhile to miter cut each “frame”, stain and screen each box and put everything perfectly in place. I love them and am so excited to send them out into the world.

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