imp perfect

Allow me to be one of the early photoshoppers for the iPad unveil.

2010-01-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

The ability to menstruate is definitely a thing of wonder.

Don't think, just shoot

2009-10-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

Humble preface: I haven't even been able to blog or write poems lately. Perhaps it's all the traveling this summer, and visitors, and fun things to be done with friends that's taking up my mental space for the past few months. Oh, and work. (Hah!! Nice to know that it takes the back seat to funner exploits.) Better late than never, right?

When we visited New York we happened upon a store in the village that sold only lomography products. (Click pic for yelp reviews and info.)

Aside from the fact that the store was delightfully merchandised, I was tickled to find an HQ for this stuff. What is lomography, you ask? It's an analog way of taking pictures...you know, with that old stuff called, "film"...wherein you can achieve cool effects that one would associate with old cameras with light leaks, and other sorts of "flaws" that produce happy (IMO) accidents such as inadvertent color effects or double exposures. Fortunately or unfortunately the cameras have been re-introduced in the past few years at your friendly neighborhood hipster appropriators, Urban Outfitters. I remember back in school, students used old cameras, pinholes, and polaroids to achieve these kinds of effects to include in work. It's a look, and a look I happen to like. Here's some examples:

(Photo thanks to anarchy)

Cut to, there's a "Diana" camera out there that can not only achieve these effects, but can also take an instant film camera back! (Now that Polaroid instant has become defunct, I learned happily that Fuji is picking up the slack in the instant camera/film department! Oh joy!) Here's the camera that can be purchased at the lomography shop online.

Example result

In the words of Rachel Zoe, I die. I'm buyin' one! Join me! We can have a lomography geek club. I'm happy to add another artistic diversion to my life.

Etsy purchase: Breakfast tea mug

2009-07-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

Good lord, I love this mug! Purchased it last week and arrived in perfect, more-wonderful-than-I-imagined condition. Lani and I have fond memories of English breakfasts under the Union Jack. So much meat! So much sodium! So what!! Now we have a green and a red mug to remind of those halcyon mornings.

Mere moments after opening.

Musical Chestnut for the Day

2009-07-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

Sleepyhead, by Passion Pit
Samples here.

Jen Corace notebooks

2009-06-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Came across these notebooks again, which I lurve. The thickness of the coverboard gives it an extremely appealing heft, and the screenprints/palettes are gorge. Imagine a nursery mural at the hand of Jen Corace. Yumz!

Notebooks

Illustrations and Fine Art

Gettin' paid.

2009-06-04T23:42:00.000-07:00

I'm very pleased with many things about working for myself, not least of which is my new office. It's about 70% done, just gotta put in the Flor tiles, get a new chair, and reorg the peripherals station. Oh, and put up my faux bois bulletin boards and hooks for the clipboards (a la "Ace of Cakes"). One of my fave new office supplies is my Daiso red stamp kit. Bringing the cute back into business, fo' sho'. For example, check out my "PAID" stamp. I have no idea what it says, but I love the bun bun holding the paper (click for detail). Who says paperwork needs to be serious? Can't wait to see what my accountant says.

Freelancing is the bomb.

GLEE!

2009-05-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

Would you like to be happy for 3 minutes? To forget that you spilled your coffee on your pants, that the world is going to hell in a handbasket? Then read on, my friends.

So, my friend Dave told me that he watched the pilot episode of "Glee", a new FOX show. Backtrack: the entertainment bible, Entertainment Weekly, put it on their "Must List" and went on about it, so L.'s and my interests were suitably piqued. Unfortunately, I forgot to Tivo it as we had planned. I thought, oh well, I'll get it next time.

But after tonight and what I saw of the pilot, I am an instant diehard fan of this show and will be waiting on pins and needles for the season to start, as well as comb every inch of cyberspace for video scraps to tide me over to the fall!

Earlier, Dave and I watched the debacle that was the final episode of Idol (damn you, America), after which he played me a snippet of the end of the pilot. All I have to say is that after a shitty month, and after feeling particularly nihilistic after seeing "Angels & Demons" last night, this little clip did nothing less than RESTORE MY FAITH IN HUMANITY. To all my karaoke friends, this shit is solid m.f.'ing GOLD! Inspired!! Take note: within this motley teen glee club you'll find gay, African-American, Asian-American, disabled, theater geek, and jock living--nay, SINGING--in utter happiness and harmony. Take special note of the female lead--that gal was born to be on stage. Epic triumph.

You go, kids.

p.s. Watch the pilot here.

Dedicated to my friend, Kitty

2009-05-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

You gave us many years of companionship. Hope you have as many Pounces as you want, and lots of birds to meow at, and a comfortable pillow cloud to lie on. We'll miss you.

Etsy mini: Favorites This Week

2009-04-08T10:45:00.001-07:00

Ye Olde Siren magazine

2009-03-23T22:59:00.000-07:00

I just love Googling. Today I randomly searched on a magazine I designed with my co-conspirator Laura D. and found a blog post on the topic. In the 40 plus comments, a few of them sang the praises of the magazine and one even gave a shout-out to the cover I designed for Lili Taylor. The mag work resides in a special place in my heart b/c it was one of my first (albeit meagerly) paid jobs out of art school, and Laura and I designed much of it fueled on homemade breakfast after watching Martha Stewart in our pajamas, trips to Mel's diner for egg salad sandwiches, and beer. We also did a lot of xerox experiments that found their way into the layout. Ah, the glory days.

Crafty

2009-03-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

So my second craft day with Melissa yielded fabulous results. She was working on a birthday present for Leah and I, having forgotten my original stencils, started work on some graphic coasters. I'll be revealing Melissa's fabulous painting after this Friday, but suffice it to say that it's genius!!
The following are some of the fruits of my labor. Photos courtesy of Melissa.

What's On My Ipod

2009-03-19T23:25:00.000-07:00

K'naan: Fatima. Heartbreaking sentiments on the gang shooting of a first love, wrapped up in light hiphoppy pastry. I lurve this song. Wait for the chorus.

Drawing little mopeds with tempera paint

2009-03-19T22:55:00.000-07:00

I remember one of my first forays into making artwork that presaged my career as a graphic designer; I believe I was 8 or 9, and pulled an ad from a magazine for Honda mopeds from a Rolling Stone. There was a headline and a few lines of copy on a white background, and lining the bottom were images of 4 mopeds in different colors and models. Something compelled to draw and paint in freehand those little moped images with my Crayola tempera paints, the ones in those small plastic clear containers. The finished product looked fairly representative of the photographs, but more importantly, it was quirky re-creation. Of course, I wanted it to be a perfect reproduction; I didn't yet appreciate the value of idiosyncratic gesture.

Recently, Lani gave me a large postcard that featured the work of Evah Fan, an artist that lives and works in Berkeley with her partner, Brendan Monroe, also an artist. She makes these tiny pieces that are simultaneously loose and detailed, and most of all, full of humor. Her work took me back to those early joyous tempera moments. Take a gander at some of her work and marvel in the negative space and then get hit on the head with the polo mallet of her witty insights. Be sure to click for a larger image.

invitation to kleptomaniac at art committee meeting

source of bad energy

without further adieu

Meditation on surfing

2009-03-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

(random cull from Google images; please excuse copyright)

KITTENS!!

2009-02-14T11:38:00.001-08:00

Um. This rocks in every way.

Bag porn.

2009-02-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

I must tell you about a store L. ventured into last week: Hlaska in the Fillmore. The description on its website:

Born out of a love for science and design Hlaska combines elements of nature, science, architecture and engineering to create luxury wallets and bags. Each design is carefully thought out, with special attention paid to its inspirations, its functionality, and its beauty. Using only the best materials, including Italian leather, European fabrics and custom hardware, Hlaska products go through countless revisions to ensure the final product meets our strict standards for resilience, functionality, and aesthetics. Staying true to the original vision of founder Anthony Mazzei, each new Hlaska product brings with it a new way of appreciating both science and luxury.

Upon further research, apparently the owner has styled his showpiece bag after an archaelogist's bag, thus referencing his love for science. Another chestnut is that "Hlaska" is a combination of Helsinki and Alaska, two places he's fascinated with; as it turns out, "hlaska" is also czech for "communication".

So what differentiates this bag maker from any other of hundreds of fine bag makers? One word: Execution. I accompanied her to return to the store and purchase a weekender bag that she had eyed the week before. What followed was blissful enjoyment of a retail concept well-executed both physically and philosophically--the ambience and the soul is there. The store is tight. I felt like I was in on the ground floor of say, a Louis Vuitton in the making. This dude is passionate about one thing: a luxurious, well-designed, classic traveling bag made from the finest of materials, harkening back to when the well-heeled traversed the friendly skies wearing sassy neck scarves, valises in hand. Sigh. It was refreshing to see not one hint of trendy, faddy pandering to the transitory tastes of today's consumer culture. Kudos, Hlaska!

My new favorite kid actor. (No, there are not that many of them.)

2009-02-10T19:50:00.000-08:00

Maria Lark, most recently seen in Medium, the show with Patricia Arquette where she's like, an investigator with extra-sensory powers...or something. I don't know. I confess I don't watch the show, but I do watch TV, and today I saw a Hallmark commercial with this little gal. She's a 40 year-old in a 10 year-old body. She entertained me so much in that minute that I googled her. Here she is in a video for NBC wherein she takes us on a tour of the Medium set. Between her and Gladys the caller on the Ellen show, I giggle on a daily basis. Enjoy! (Especially when she talks about her call time on the set.)

Back to School

2009-01-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to my friend L., who started her first day of schoo..I mean, work, at a new job today! She hates being the new girl, and who doesn't? Nothing a few nifty office products can't fix, and believe me, I am an office supply WHORE. I have so many journals, agendas, day planners, notebooks--I just can't get enough of 'em! Thankfully I use them all, however that doesn't explain why I'm still disorganized. Anyway.

Here's a sampling of supplies that will boost your productivity and your serotonin levels from their sheer fabulousness!

I got this day planner recently from my friend A., and it makes me smile every day. It's the Non-Planner's Day Planner. Perfect for non-type-A's such as myself. Every day is a different illustrated format!! It's like a grown-up version of Highlights activities or something.

This next planner is a lovely horizontally formatted day organizer, from the folks at whoMi. I love the heft and the size, and especially the waterproof plastic cover. And Helvetica strikes again. Throw this planner in your Hobo bag and look chic and unique. You've got your shit together, girl.

For those who need giant rubber bands for...the things we need giant rubber bands for...here are a set of lovely colored bands for your pleasure. I imagine you could even print or stamp a design on these bands, for added fun! Nice palette.

Lastly, for write-on-the-run pad fun, here are some cool objets from our Canadian friends at Uppercase (we love them). The covers are made from plastic sign letters. Could anything be more beautiful? You're gonna make it after all!

Who, meme?

2009-01-10T15:02:00.000-08:00

When I am at my weakest, blogwise, I return to the meme! I sure do love a good one. Luckily I was tagged by my pal M. a few weeks ago. This meme is the ultimate in navel-gazing. Ladies and gentlemen, 16 little-known facts about me:

1. It does not make me queasy to leave CD cases empty, their contents strewn about in a disorganized way.
2. If or when I have kids, I'd like to skip ages 3-14 and go right to their sophomore year in high school.
3. I hold in highest regard the ability to give a firm and friendly hug.
4. I am the worst procrastinator when it comes to sending things in the mail. Among other factors, I find I never have stamps.
5. I would like to study to be a master carpenter someday.
6. Sometimes I think I could be a better-than-average actor.
7. I once had flying phobia and have now licked it for good, although I am dreading my first flight to Australia or Southeast Asia.
8. I sound exactly like my sister on the phone.
9. I took college courses for credit when I was in seventh grade.
10. I played piano in a group performance in the Florida capitol rotunda once in eighth grade.
11. I am in constant search of the perfect surf shop hoodie.
12. I have absolutely no problem taking a long nap in the middle of the day. As a result, I worry that my net time spent sleeping is...a lot.
13. I only read food literature these days.
14. When I really like something (i.e. tasting food, shopping for clothing), I will start cursing ("this is the fucking best piece of meat I've ever had")
15. I crave long road trips when I can sing with my custom-made mix tape at the top of my lungs.
16. I wonder when we are ever going to be able to buy a house.

I sweep gingko leaves off the windshield

2009-01-08T23:33:00.000-08:00

I'm back. My pal M urged me to start posting every day, and goshdarnit, I shall! Though I have no design-related news to report today, I thought it best to let you know that I will be sending missives via blog every day for as long as possible! Due to recent macroeconomic events, I have a lot more time on my hands, which of course means I will be fighting the evil force of inertia, especially during the hours of 7am and 10am. How I love thee, snooze button!

Ok, I'm going to break down and post 2 cool gifts I got from Santa (aka Lani) this year. The first is a set of Muji (go Muji!) cardboard speakers:

So cute! Loved especially the flat-packed presentation with translucent gift pouch. what's not to love?? A great travel-sized solution for your Ipod needs.

And next, Kelly Wearstler's recent tome, "Domicilium Decoratus".

It's a fun page turner, with photos of her domicile all prettied up in the way only Kelly can do. She a crazy lady. Though a lot of her touches aren't exactly my personal taste, the book is very inspirational and reminder to bust out of your comfort zone. Love.

I'm going to make a Christmas Village.

2008-11-15T23:44:00.001-08:00

I've decided. I'll keep you posted on its progress. As I delve ever deeper into this subculture, I'm sure I'll have enough fodder for a Christopher Guest-type of mocumentary by season's end.

I must get an ice rink.

FUCK YEAH!

Shameless self-promotion

2008-11-10T13:36:00.001-08:00

Ok, people. I'm showing you all my cards and reminding you, if you haven't picked one up yet, that yours truly and my sweet, talented pal LaDonna Willems partnered to create a book of poetry/design that will leave you somewhat depressed (ha!) but ultimately inspired. Over a year or so ago, I was honored to take on the design of LaDonna's collection of poetry, and we scraped together a few bucks and pubished Secrets of Falling. This was definitely a labor of love and one of those projects that you try and make time for between living, working, eating, and sleeping. Peep it here.

ps: Happy Birthday, Lo!

"Gimme a bagel and a coffee regulah"

2008-11-10T13:27:00.000-08:00

Today's Can't Miss Great Buy: We Are Happy To Serve You Ceramic Cup.
Got this for New Yorkaphile Lani. Ain't it great? Now I must find a throwing wheel, kiln, and other supplies to create ceramic cups for all our favorite to-go places. Hmm.

Get 'em here, or at your local specialty shop.

Curtain Call

2008-10-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not suggesting anything dire. It's been a long while since my last post, and instead of whining about the state of my life/hectic schedule, I shall dig in with a post about the humble...shower curtain!! I didn't know it was so difficult to find a good solution that appeases the modern sensibilities! Forget the economy, find me a good shower curtain! As it turns out, we did find one, but the search was slightly frustrating. Who knew we'd find the winner at the Triple B Ranch (otherwise known as Bed, Bath, and All That Other Shit.) First, the last curtain we had, a brown geometric with orange bottom trim:

We looked at other geometric patterned curtains, but frequently found some that were too heavy-handed, or some that were close, but not quite:

Also, I'm all for representative, kitschy shower curtains--maps, periodic tables, parts of cow, etc. however, it didn't really fit the look we were going for. One of the cons of our bathroom is that it's immediately viewable from the top of the stairs. So it's really one of the first things folks see when they walk in. We needed something a little less edgy. However, it took all my strength not to snatch up these gems, mostly Marimekko designs you can find at CB2 or other:

Finally, we bought this little guy. One of the joys of this curtain is that up close, the printing is very good. In addition to being perfectly registered, there's a slight bleed in the trapping of the shapes, so that it gives the whole design a really calm, dreamy feeling. Perfecto!

Centerfold

2008-09-15T00:35:00.000-07:00

My fashion designer cousin, Margeaux, got an Allure centerfold: Victoria Freaking Beckham!!!!! for August's issue. I finally found a photo link since I couldn't buy the back issue. Hello, bigtime! Get it, girl!

Buy her stuff now. Margarita Saplala

Winners and Losers

2008-09-14T23:33:00.001-07:00

Lots of cool stuff to post today. For one, Lani went to the Frida Kahlo exhibit today with our friend A. after our fantastic brunch at Slanted Door with friends J., J., and M. Let's talk first about the insane trio of desserts we had at Slanted Door: Cardamom rice pudding with Bronx grapes, Ruby port poached figs with hazelnuts and spicy chocolate, and last, but DEFINITELY not least...Chilled Ella Bella Farm cherry tomatoes with buttermilk sorbet and mint. O.M.GAWD. Really, I have never been so delightfully surprised by a dessert before. Served in a pool of vanilla-infused simple syrup with the buttermilk sorbet and mint, the tomatoes redefined themselves as a most sublime fruit. The sorbet was subtle, the mint was perfectly paired...I...I can't even. Think for a moment about what you might surmise this dish to taste like, then erase it. The thing was crisp, suprising, subtle, powerful, eye-opening. It's why food snobbery exists. Ha! M. is going to try to recreate this, and I'll hopefully post the recipe sometime soon. Uh-mahh-zing.

Back to Frida Kahlo, Lani had also bought me some gifts from the MOMA store--apparently Rex Ray is the first featured in a new Artists' Series product line for MOMA. I couldn't be more delighted. I've always loved his work from the beginning of his career (paper collages, resin panels) before all the licensing. I feel almost territorial about him, for example I don't want his designs to become mere apartment therapy motifs (see the ubiquitous Warhol), but I support his success. I'm so pleased that he was chosen for this new series. Lani got me a large notebook and a postcard wooden panel with one of his designs. NICE! Thanks!!

In other news, Barry McGee's alter ego, Lydia Fong, is exhibiting at Ratio 3, a gallery in the Mission. The exhibition will be up until mid-October.

Lastly, I unfortunately missed a Bay area showing of the doc Beautiful Losers, featuring artists Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen, Geoff McFettridge, et al. Some of the greats from our own "Mission School". Can't wait for wide release, and even better, a DVD release. Good stuff.

New York's finest

2008-09-07T00:09:00.000-07:00

Just came back from a long weekend out yonder, and among the MANY fabulous experiences that were had (not least of which was the US Open, for which I am reserving comment until all finals matches have concluded), some design-centered ones remained top-of-mind. We wandered into Fishs Eddy, a dining/kitchenwares store, and came upon a selection of fantastic glassware and servingware. Peep these:

Ceramic Trays, bowls, cups, and mugs in notebook and graph paper rules. Pale green, blue, cream, and white. YES. Wrap that shit up, now. Just in time for school to start!

Carnival-themed melamine in orange and white.

Floor-plan dinnerware. The bigger the piece, the more square footage. :)

Brett Favre should tear a few ligaments during the next Jets game.

2008-08-18T17:05:00.000-07:00

Just came back from a weekend in the heartland: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee. Good to see the sis and bro-in-law, and tons of fun seeing the rest of the family on the Schmidt/Phillips side. A few key lessons and takeaways from a weekend in Wisconsin.

1. Do not ever root for a team other than the Packers, especially during a Packer game when in the company of children raised in Packer country. Seems fairly intuitive, no? I guess I just didn't know how deep the well ran where Packer love is concerned. These kids looked at me like I was insane. Not like your garden-variety "oh whatever, (insert opposing team's name here) sucks!" It was like they just could not process how a person who was not a Packer fan was actually let in the house. I hope they weren't too traumatized with my cheering for the 49ers. Note to self: rooting against the Packers is up there between murder and adultery on the tablets. The shit is Real, folks.

2. Cocktails are tasty in the heartland. I loved the Moscow Mule, the Dark n' Stormy, and of course, the Old Fashioned. All very good!! Watch out cuz I've got the recipes.

3. Fish Fry is an important event/dish. It's like a Dishevent. I now basically see it as one of the major food groups.

4. When they say they have had 400 feet of snow, it doesn't really matter if it's cumulative or not, does it?

To little Monroe and Irene:
I LOVE THE PACKERS!

Upon reflection of the sabbatical

2008-08-12T21:11:00.000-07:00

Those who know me would not describe me as having crunchy tendencies, nor would they know me to indulge in any mind-altering substances (in post-college life, at least). However the phrase "Tune in, turn on, and drop out" has been on my mind of late, humming at the base level (I've successfully ignored the hippy connotations). I have entered a phase that has clarified one thing to me: I need a sabbatical. Not a vacation, no: a true, deliberate, purposeful removal from my present pace. I've been uttering this phrase repeatedly in the last few weeks: "Work is really cramping my lifestyle"--and it's true. A little wikipedia'ing yielded Timothy Leary's definition of TITNDO; very apt, in my case:

"'Turn on' meant go within to activate your neural and genetic equipment. Become sensitive to the many and various levels of consciousness and the specific triggers that engage them. 'Tune in' meant interact harmoniously with the world around you - externalize, materialize, express your new internal perspectives. Drop out suggested an elective, selective, graceful process of detachment from involuntary or unconscious commitments. 'Drop Out' meant self-reliance, a discovery of one's singularity, a commitment to mobility, choice, and change."
(Leary goes on to say "unhappily my explanations of this sequence of personal development were often misinterpreted to mean 'Get stoned and abandon all constructive activity'". I wonder why, Tim?)

I'm not interested in rest from burnout. I'm ready to create new output. Do I need to be a 60 year-old tenured professor to have a sabbatical? Must I have achieved some pre-determined career success or breakdown to earn this? Do I need a desert or a mountain peak to achieve this? I don't think so. So internets, I am going to start "Sabbatical Weekends" in my life, once a month. Unless and until I reach the greatest leverage point, DESPERATION, I shall institute this faithfully, beginning today. Criteria to be determined. When I can get a break.

Here's today's cool thing:
Hug your sorrow plush tears! Woot! Having a bad day? Misery loves company! Plush tears. YES.

Dynamo Donut

2008-08-09T23:07:00.000-07:00

Uh, I just had a farking awesome doughnut. No, for realz. I almost can't write about it. The darn thing lived up to the hype.

Before going out to Dillon Beach today, we went to get some fried pieces of goodness at a Dynamo Donut on 24th in the Mission. This is what I had, the chocolate spiced doughnut:

Mmkay. Some of the thoughts that ran through my mind while eating it:

Mexican chocolate.
Cinnamon.
Chile powder.
Crisp edges.
Moist.
Not too rich.
Rich.
Better than cake.
Better than doughnut.
Rainbows.
Kitty cats.
Dreams.

LOVED! Go get 'em. Look for the wall-wide, streetfront pickup window. Hip vibe but the counter folks are very sweet. Didn't have the coffee (cuz I was drinking my favorite chai) but I hear it's up there with the best of 'em. Damn good execution, folks!

Dynamo Donut
2760 24th St
(between Hampshire St & York St)

Thank God for memes

2008-07-29T00:36:00.000-07:00

...or I wouldn't have anything to post! I'm in a rut! Or rather, a lull! However, my friends have been saying the darnedest things that every day I want to make them the quote of the day. And then I promptly forget them. I should wear one of those necklace paper pads with pencil a la Holly Hunter in The Piano. But I digress...

My pal Poet With A Day Job's got a list, and my pal LaDonna took it next. Now me:

1. The Last Book I Purchased:
The Food Snob's Dictionary, An Essential Lexicon of Gastronomical Knowledge. Since I'm not in culinary school or apprenticing at Gary Danko, I thought this would help me with some french foodie terms. Or the pronunciation of the names of famous culinary figures. Or for definition of certain menu items ("salsify" and "concasse"). And it does! It is rather tongue-in-cheek though, and is not at all what I would call a comprehensive volume of culinary knowledge. A fun read all the same, perhaps perfect for a certain room in the house...

2. The Last Film I Purchased:
Sarah Silverman's Jesus Is Magic. A live DVD. Does that count? If not then it would have to say "The Birdcage" because shamefully, I never had it on DVD. I know, I know. I couldn't believe it myself. So back to "Jesus Is Magic": I haven't watched it yet but I'm sure my mouth will be left hanging open from laughter and shock. And awe. And shock.

3. The Last Music or Spoken Word I Purchased:
Raising Sand, with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Somewhat unlikely but surprisingly good pairing. It smacks of alt country, bits of bluegrass, and a pinch of folk. T Bone Burnett produced it so whaddya expect. It's good I'm-working-on-something-at-3-am kind of music. It's also "hm, yeah, I guess I am thirty-six" kinda music. Sigh. I might as well pack it up and move to Scarsdale.

p.s. Dear Tim Gunn, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, Heidi Klum, and Natalie Portman:
YOU. ARE. WRONG. Suede's dress was NOT cute. And Suede should have gone home for just being Suede. And on what planet is Terri's blue dress not the winner? You go, Miss Terri. I'm starting to feel a backlash to the backlash to the backlash with Project Runway right now. Don't even get me started.

What the fuck is this shit? From the mind of Suede, ladies and gentlemen. I get it, ok? But the execution is horrible, in my opinion.

Work it out, Terri. Challenge requirements met and exceeded, thank you.

By the skin of my teeth, sweeties

2008-07-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Hello again, blog. It's been a while and I'm trying to get back and it is...difficult. Last weekend's ZineFest just about kicked my ass. Frickin' exhausting. I guess that's what happens when you whore yourself out creatively for 16 hours on the weekend (there's a dangling participle in there somewhere...). The thought of going to work the next day actually made me physically ill, so I took that Monday off, and it worked wonders for my well-being. It was also fun to watch Golden Girls in the morning. "Shady Pines, Ma, Shady Pines!"

RIP, Estelle Getty.

I've also been doing some fun freelance for my sister and her new line. It's very exciting and I'm glad to be a part of it, however I've been pulling 12 hour days this week. Good results tho; perhaps I'll give a sneak peek sometime soon. Can I also say a big shout-out to my writing group sister-wives? Thank god for every other Thursday night. That shit is like wicked good THERAPY.

A'ight. Here's today's cool shizz. Corian rings. That's right. The counter surface material. Nice neutral colors like this graphite and some creamy white ones from these folks.

This weekend: SF ZineFest!

2008-07-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

Be there or be...not there. But really, be there. Because I'll be there, sitting behind a table I'm sharing with my friend LaDonna Willems, poet and writer. We partnered on her book of poetry together last year; I designed the book. We'll be sitting there and I'll be the one looking somewhat awkward and reading magazines whilst drinking cherry cola. My other friend Melissa Fondakowski will also be there, hawking her fantastic recent book of poetry. It should be a great opportunity to pimp out my design services and see some more good shit. So get your buns over to the ZineFest if you can. It promises to be yet another DIY fiesta fantastico!

My promo postcard. Git it.

Renegade Craft Fair: Report from the Field

2008-07-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we caught the tail-end of the Renegade Craft Fair's first showing in San Francisco (!) It promises to be an annual event here, and we're long overdue. 'Parently the Fair has been showing in Chicago and Brooklyn for the last 6 or so years (I believe Chicago was its first city). ANYWAY, we had to bootscootboogie through the fair on the last day, as we were due over in the East Bay in the early evening. This meant that our friend L. and Lani and I had about less than hour to spend at the Fair, since we had just come in from SanJo to attend a wedding the night prior. (Congratulations Laurel & Ricardo! Holla!) It was a craft frenzy, and I almost lost my mind trying to ferret out the cool stuff through the crowd of hipsters and crafsters and strollers and the roaming 30 piece band that was playing. It rawked, though, and I did make a purchase: Petit Collage's screenprint of the alphabet in blue/green. Love her stuff; had seen it hanging at Zinc Details many moons ago, and was psyched to get a print of my very own! I also learned that we are Noe Valley neighbors. Fun. Lani also got me a journal with a repurposed cover of an old 1973 Childcraft Annual (Jocelyn, remember those???) Awesome!

What was going on in the East Bay, you ask? Well, we got to milk goats, feed the horses, and harvest eggs from REAL LIVE HENS at Deer Hill Ranch where my friend M. is the Executive Director and farmhand extraordinaire. We were also able to pick some very sweet and luscious plums. I am flush with farm-fresh products. Slow food, ya'll, slow food. Thanks, M.! Can't wait to work on that logo!

This Is Why I'm Hot

2008-07-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Calling all HipAsianNerdBoys! Straight outta Korea we've got the fashion brand JBROS. And there's not just stuff for guys...the bags kick ass, especially the totes, duffels, and backpacks. Most bags are faux leather/patent, or canvas, or vinyl. Here's a selection of stuff I found insanely appealing.

Korean site (for eye candy)
A U.S. vendor of select products

"Vamos!"

2008-07-06T23:10:00.001-07:00

(This one's for Lani:) Four hours and forty-eight minutes (and 3 rain delays) of the most heart-pounding of Wimbledon finals, and you owned that shit! Congratulations, Rafa! You rocked that court today. And you're sweet. And you wear capri shorts. And your left arm is more muscularly developed than your right arm. And you Never. Give. Up.

The closest I have ever been to Rafa. He just finished practice at the Indian Wells tournament and I managed to elbow and take out some screaming teenage girls to snap this pic.

Calling all uteruses. Or uterii.

2008-07-04T23:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is pretty farking cute. What better entertainment can a parent have? All this one needs is a pair of goggles. They call them "helmet hats" and indeed they are. I know, baby hats, shmaby shmats, but come ON! Go get 'em! Your child's head is F-R-EEZING!! Notice below that these cutey hats come in many mod colorways. I also really love the chin strap and ear warmers. The purveyors of this particular piece of fashion fun also offer flowery add-ons to the hats, so that your baby can look like a 20's flapper if'n she wants! Put your money toward this, and not Crocs. Heh.

Etsy strikes again.

Procrastinatory posty

2008-07-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

Drumroll: I surfed! I am a surfer! I have achieved surfitude! Estoy surfiando!

And I have the pictures to prove it. Stay tuned. I'm lazy. Still lazy from being lazy, because laziness begets lazy. (side note: I should never order a Java Chip frappucino at 2 in the afternoon. I sound insane.)

So look for a future post on the vacation. Oh how I miss the swimming and sleeping and eating.

Today's cool thing: Custom silhouette portraits by Carter Kustera. You can add a descriptive tag line to each. It's a fun thing for the whole family.

Stoked!

2008-06-24T22:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers, I am leaving for a week of sun and fun in Sayulita, Mexico. I am looking forward to:

1. fish tacos
2. icy cold cervezas
3. quiet but for the breeze through the palm fronds
4. beach that isn't 40 degrees in the daytime
5. friends and good timez
6. local food
7. dialing down the tech-no-lo-gy
8. biggest worry: what tank top will i wear today?
9. swim. eat. swim. eat. drink. drink. swim. lay. read. swim. eat. drink. swim. sleep. repeat.
10. SURF LESSONS!!!!

Those who know me know that I've always wanted to learn to surf. But if you live in Northern California, you gotta put on a damn wetsuit, and there are sharks, and it's cold (beaches are NOT SUPPOSED TO BE COLD). Too much, too much. No fun. So going to warm waters is going to RAWK.

Product Alert:
My good friend L. who is going on the trip just bought me the MOST wonderful, profoundly enjoyable, quietly brilliant, beautifully executed book called "Wave". It brought quite a tear to my eye, and would especially delight new and and not so new moms and their daughters. (Especially the ones who love the beach). It's by artist Suzy Lee. Sniffle.

Go SLO

2008-06-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

If you listen to me once in your lifetime, please make it now. I'm about to enrich your life threefold. Sit down.

I am about to tell you of the wonders of SLO Chai. Picture it: I'm ambling along in San Luis Obispo at a farmer's market. It's a balmy day, and after perusing handmade rosemary mint soaps and infused vinegars, I look for some liquid refreshment. The next booth promises some iced-cold chai. The situation looks pretty granolafied: dude with a pleasant North-Face-Birkenstock-wearin' demeanor mans the counter. A vaguely Deadhead lookin' van is parked behind. Why not, I say and plop down my $2.50. I'm thirsty. What proceeds is a half hour smile on my face as I drink THE MOST SUBLIME MIX OF FAIR TRADE SPICE AND TEA AND MILK AND ICE EVER TO CROSS MY LIPS.

Fast forward 3 months. Nary a day goes by that I don't drink at least a cup of this life-giving nectar. Buy these jugs. You'd be a fool if you didn't. You say you don't like chai? Well, do you like music? Art? Rainbows? Kitty cats? Then take my advice: 2 parts chai to 1 part soy milk or regular milk. Ice. Your favorite cup. It's transcendent.

Now Testing: Planet Green Network

2008-06-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

There's a new channel in town, and its name is Planet Green. Self-described as the only 24-hour eco-lifestyle network on television (tethered also to its online presence), Planet Green is a sister site of the well-known "green" site TreeHugger.com. More interestingly, Planet Green comes to us from Discovery, who has re-branded their Discovery Home network into the new eco-focused channel. WOW.

Last night I watched a show called "Wasted" and the ever-popular Ed Begley reality show "Life With Ed", both pretty awesomely executed. "Wasted" is a how-to show that takes a homeowner and guides them through reducing their ecological footprint. Yawn, right? WRONG! You get how-to tips and advice on specific situations, and the hook is that at the end of 3 week period, they re-measure the footprint and pay you the amount you could save a year IN CASH! Nice touch. "Life With Ed" is basically like watching a Christopher Guest movie for a half hour. Ed has always been a green pioneer, and watching his whole family deal with his eccentricities is comedy gold. I also caught a snippet of a show called "Alter Eco", which is usually hosted by Entourage hottie Adrian Grenier. Alter Eco is an hour-long how-to show hosted and populated by pretty people. It goes down like iced sweet tea on a hot day.

I'll be watching and testing Planet Green. My initial grade based on branding, packaging and execution? B+!

Would you like some fresh ground pepper with that?

2008-06-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

One piece of kitchenware that has eluded me is the "modern" pepper grinder. Why must all pepper grinders look like turned wooden canopy bed finials? Ergonomically speaking, it may be the best shape for grinding, but the hourglass-with-bulbous-top-and-little-metal-grinder-screw is tired, ya'll. Yawn. We actually have an ugly-ass boring birch one that malfunctions, and I've had it. So a little search on the interweb yielded some good results. Some criteria for my search:

1. No perfectly cylindrical stainless steel solutions, a la Peugeot. Too masculine.
2. No fussy knobs or anthropomorphic shapes, a la Alessi or Michael Graves. Too cutesy.
3. No little screw parts, or multi-sections. I just want a nice, flowing, organic shape.
4. No ACTUAL midcentury modern grinders. There's a lot of old stuff out there that's really interesting, but for my purposes, I'm not including them here.

So here they are. Feel free to clue me in on any more that you may find! I'm always on the hunt.

Bollard Teak Salt & Pepper Grinder & Plate De Menage
This one's cute and it comes with a handled plate for carrying around. I like that because it catches all the little ground up bits that end up on your counter. This comes in 2 kinds of wood.

iittala - Collective Tools Pepper Mill
I like these for the proportion of the twist handle, and the three handle colors available. I think this one would feel good, and there's less chance of loose parts (a big problem with some conventional grinders).

Birch Salt & Pepper Mills
If you must have a wooden mill, this is a nice solution. Nice, smooth finish. Not too precious. It knows what it is, and it's working it in a quiet way.

Georg Jensen Twist Salt & Pepper Mill
Here's a little somethin' special. Why not? Hopefully it's ergonomically sound. Whatevs. I just wanted to throw something interesting in the pot.

Extra Fancy:

2008-06-12T23:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a fantastic collection of cards from Chronicle Books (you know, the folks who bring you the Yoshitomo Nara, Wanderlust, and Cine Mexicano postcard packs): "Uptight All Night". Jordan Crane is a cartoonist/artist whose spare yet powerful use of color is on display in his comic series and books; some snippets of his current "Uptight" quarterly book series are featured in this wonderful package. It's worth the $10 alone for the production of the cards. They're a nice, thick weight, and the printing is first-rate. It has the feel of a limited edition 2- or 3-color screenprint. As it says on his site, they are "tiny, but perfect". Collect 'em all, and share them with friends!

boom, boom, POP

2008-06-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a little hip-hop flava for yo' ass. Surfing the cable as I often do, I came upon the "Like I Love You" video from JT, and I think we would all agree that the choreography is SICK. I wondered, does JT come up with this stuff himself, or is he directed? A little research yielded some nifty choreography footage from the man responsible: a dancer named Marty Kudelka. Here he is dancing "My Love" with 3 other of JT's backup dancers: Nick Bass, Sky Hoffman, and Eddie Moralez.

Plush toys=pillows

2008-06-11T17:34:00.000-07:00

Today's recommended daily dose of plushness comes courtesy of The Container Store. I love The Container Store. Why do I love The Container Store? Because when I want to contain things, I know where to go to purchase such containing products. Used to be I went to Target, and with some certainty, I knew I would find something fairly attractive or at least appealingly generic. I mean, Target owns that angle. But it was a roll of the dice just the same: you never knew if your Des Moines Target Greatland might be out of stainless steel pasta containers with the transparent peephole. And God help us all if they were. Then, with little fanfare, The Container Store entered the arena and they were Clean! Well-ordered! Well-managed! Well-merchandised! and they had the same sense of generic-to-modern style that Target so capably executes. Huzzah! (<--who came up with this exclamation? It's so 18th century.)

So featured above are the Comfort Creature Travel Buddy Pillows. You can also get the Comfort Creature Travel Blankets. These are geared to small children--and me.

Look how cute! These ain't just for travelin'.

It's JUST THAT EASY

2008-06-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

Ok. I know you mean well. Really. I know you want the best for us and it may seem doable in your minds, but please. I cannot afford to buy the near-one-million-dollar house that I am currently RENTING. There's an episode in Sex and the City where Charlotte dates a guy who may or may not be gay. So all through the episode, folks are trying to figure out if this guy is gay or straight--he loves her Cynthia Rowley dress, but flirts incessantly with her. He gives her props in front of Carrie and Stanford, then kisses her on the...forehead. Right before making the "magic" happen, Charlotte asks him straight out (heh) if he's gay, to which he replies, "Charlotte, I am a 34 year-old pastry chef living in Chelsea. If I were gay, I would be gay." So to all my sweet and caring friends who currently own their house in the Bay Area (and God bless you if you do), if I could buy this house, I wouldn't BE RENTING IT, NOW WOULD I?

We will miss you, sweet Chattanooga apartment.

Design for Pets!

2008-06-08T14:41:00.000-07:00

For all my fuzzy feline friends out there (and for those who love them), here's a site with awesome cat trees and scratchers. Good colors for the modern-minded. Who says cat trees need to be gigantic carpeted eyesores? Not Everyday Studio.

Another gym membership? YES!

2008-06-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

Friday's cool new thing came via a co-worker's exclamation. Seems there's a new gym in the neighborhood: Craft Gym. And I couldn't be more delighted! Imagine frequenting a gym devoted to the art of craft and DIY. Come in, sit down, start crafting. 12 sets of 10 reps of bookmaking, knitting, beading, you-name it. Craft Gym provides the location, supplies, classes and workshops. I love it!

I think I shall take the class on tshirt printing. Or perhaps Linocut 101.

The Ryde

2008-06-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

New cool stuff in the tshirt arena. I don't know about you, but I am reaching maximum saturation point for graphic tees. I love 'em dearly (read: Threadless) but somehow this site got on my radar and it's a breath of fresh air. Not least because it focuses on surf style circa 1970's, but also because they are simple line illustrations (for the most part) on fresh colors and have lots of inventory for kids. The site is well packaged (thank you). Dig the sizing charts! Oh yes, you can also submit art for consideration.

Open houses suck

2008-06-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

Some things overheard during our apartment open house this evening:

"There's only 1 bedroom!!" (said incredulously). DUDE. If you're in this apartment, you have seen the listing and made an appointment to be here. You know full well it's a 1 bedroom, you ASS. Dumbass. ASS.

"I think it must've been built in 1920." WRONG. It's 1900. You're off by twenty. Get the fuck out.

"There's a ton of storage for a building this old." Uh-huh. So buy it already.

"Can we play through?" -said by broker as he passed by us in the living room. Actually, I appreciated his good humor. He wasn't smarmy when he said it. And he was a cute old guy. You're okay, Brokerman.

Now for the cool shizz for Wednesday. Here's a great book by American artist Charley Harper, who in the mid-century created these super-cute graphic illustrations. No surprise they're all the rage by modernist interior designers wanting to get their sweaty paws on some prints for their client's nurseries. Todd Oldham helped to design this book in collaboration with Harper.

Seasonique (R)

2008-05-31T10:39:00.000-07:00

Um, I don't think it's in Nature's plan for women to have ONLY 4 PERIODS A YEAR. The hell? Introducing: Seasonique! There have been many a pharmammercial that have raised my eyebrows, but this takes the cake. Don't mess with the plumbing, ya'll! What effect does this have on ovulation? Implantation? Hormone levels? Good Christ! Don't even try to explain it to me. Don't. Because I don't believe you.

Here's your cool thing for Saturday. Not my cup of tea normally, but i'm fascinated by these pieces by Brian Dettmer of Centripetal Notion. They are "book autopsies". I picture this guy with coke-bottle glasses, hunched over an art desk, surrounded by Exacto blades. Check 'em out.

cool shizz for thursday

2008-05-29T16:48:00.001-07:00

I'm sick. With a really bad cold that makes me cry a little. Other symptoms:
1. Not so much a symptom, but I am also enjoying that time of the month. Kill me now.
2. Headache in tandem with neckache. 2 Tylenol every 5 hours does the trick.
3. Insatiable appetite for junk food. Luckily in my fridge I've got some leftover Paxti's deep dish and cooked it right up. This is a dangerous and somewhat problematic symptom.

To make me feel better, here's some cool design shizz for Thursday. L. and I went to a little shop on Upper Market on Saturday, before the Capsule Design Fair in Hayes Valley: Rare Device.

Great shop with tons of art books. We discovered and bought a book of artwork by Evan Hecox:.