Color Inspiration (number 3)

(Artwork by Heisuke Kitazawa)

I'm in love with this salmon, warm gray and orange combo. Heisuke Kitazawa creates beautiful, whimsical illustrations and it's definitely worth a visit to his website to see more.

Missing in Action

Wow, it's been a bit of a crazy month, and I apologize for the lack of posts. I must explain the reason for my absence: I just got back from Mexico, where I married my childhood sweetheart Doug :) We were married at the Dreams Resort in Cancun (we stayed here 3 years ago and it held a special place in our hearts, so we decided to go back there to get married). The resort is absolutely beautiful with vivid turquoise blue water and white sand beaches. We hired a local photographer named Cecilia Dumas who was great to work with. A thunderstorm moved in soon after our ceremony, and our photography session was cut a bit short, but fortunately she still managed to get some good shots...complete with disheveled, windblown hair ;)

Thanks for your patience and I hope to get back to posting regularly once I get caught up.

De-Ugly Your Burned Discs with This Kit...

I think this is such a neat idea! If you're wanting to gussy-up your homemade CDs, DVDs, and "mixtapes" (or if you're like me and never really thought about it until now) Chronicle Books has a collection of CD Packaging kits that can help. Two of these kits have a really nice, sophisticated design aesthetic definitely worth taking a look at (pictured above). The specific kits I'm talking about are called Candy Orchards (not availabe until October 22, 2008) and Petals in Pink. These kits are around $16 and come with CD labels, CD sleeves and stickers (for closing up the sleeves) which make them perfect for "turning CD creations—music compilations or digital photo albums—into works of art".

Find more CD Packaging Kits from Chronicle Books here.

My How Things Change...

Found on Flickr

Here's an old cigarette ad (I'm guessing from the early 80's) that I found on a great Flickr Vintage advertising pool. I'm really liking that font! Of course, I doubt an ad like this would fly nowadays. It's hard to market a cigarette as "pretty" anymore, although Camel sure is trying hard with it's No. 9 cigarette.

A Couple Cute Prints by Scott Campbell

(images from Gallery Nucleus by Scott Campbell)

I just love these prints by Scott Campbell. The colors are great and the adorable little animals certainly don't hurt. I think these two would make a nice pairing hanging together on a wall. They are both very affordable too at $20 each. View these prints and more of Scott's offerings over at Gallery Nucleus.

Some Good Advice

via keri smith

This is an oldie, but a goody from artist Keri Smith. It's been floating around for a couple years, but it's great to "re-hear" stuff like this again, because sometimes when we're in a funk, it's good to be reminded of certain things.

Do You Have Super Hero Color Hue Detection Abilities? Hmmmm???

Okay, so maybe not super hero exactly...I don't even think super heroes need super hero color hue detection, but still. Point is, you can test your ability to differentiate subtle differences between gradations in color by taking this online quiz from x•rite. Oh, and uh, I got a 0...mmhmm that's right, a perfect score. And yes, that's me bragging. For once my genetically inferior myopic eyeballs haven't failed me, so yeah, I'm gonna brag about it!

Found via HOW by way of Abduzeedo

Nifty Font Choices from Font Bros

The other day I came across Font Bros: Typography Supply Company and I just wanted to share this great resource. They've got some excellent fonts on their site, a great deal of which are very retro, which of course, I love. There are also quite a few "handwritten" style fonts available, which is a very trendy graphic design style you've probably been seeing everywhere lately. Font Bros has arranged and categorized their fonts in such a way that finding what you're looking for is a breeze! Not to mention, these fonts are reasonably priced, too. Below you'll find a few of my favorites (be sure to click the image for a larger view).

(Click image for larger view. Font images from Front Bros)

Geek Jewelry by Nervous System

Now, before I go any further, I have to clarify when I say "geek jewelry" I do so in the most loving way possible, as I am of course, a geek. So where in does the nerdery lie in this jewelry, you might be asking? It's in the inspiration and process behind the making of the jewelery!



From Nervous System's About Us section:

Formally we are attracted to complex and unconventional geometries. Our inspirations are grounded in the natural forms and corresponding processes which construct the world around us. From coral aggregations to interference patterns, a study of natural phenomena is an essential ingredient to our design process.

I really like the idea of using natural forms as inspiration behind their jewelry, and I'm even more amazed how they go about creating it. From what I understand, they make their jewelry designs by creating an algorithm and with a few tweaks and variables, can create many more patterns based on this original formula. They even have an applet that customers can use to create their own custom jewelry.



If all this just sounds like a buncha big words that make your head hurt, I understand. I mean, I'm a geek and all, but not really the "algorithm" type of geek, and more like a Battlestar Galactica / Star Trek geek who is terrified of decimal places (ahem...poseur...). So, I'll sum it up for you: Nervous System is getting their inspiration from the microscopic things we can't see, and are essentially "blowing them up" for us to hang on our person and enjoy with our naked eyeballs :) Visit Nervous System's online store here.



(All images are from the Nervous System website)

Inspiration: Stina Persson

(image from stinapersson.com)

I quite literally stumbled upon (see StumbleUpon) Stina Persson's site a few months ago. Her beautiful illustrations were like nothing I'd ever seen before (although one of her pieces I instantly recognized as the cover art for a recent issue of Print magazine). I just love the flicks and drips of bold watercolors, and the pretty color transitions. Just as much as I love her use of color, I equally am impressed by the absence of color in certain areas of her pieces, or the areas where she deliberately leaves white space. Check out her portfolio here.


(image from stinapersson.com)


(image from stinapersson.com)


(image from stinapersson.com)

Totally Irrelevant

I wanna pig!! ::pitches fit like a 3 year old::


(image from shorpy.com via cuteoverload.com)

"Off" Colors and Some New Works by Me

(image from domino magazine, via The Scoop)

I truly obsess over color combinations. Experimenting with different colors is probably my favorite activity in terms of art and design. And as I've mentioned before, I'm constantly looking for color inspiration and logging my finds. So this post I came across on The Scoop last Wednesday certainly got my attention.

Stella Bugbee over at Domino Magazine.com has put together a neat set of color combinations that she describes as "off". She takes Pantone colors that are initially off-putting, but when combined, make for a fantastic set of chromatic eye candy. ::whispers to herself:: "Chromatic eye candy"...my God, did I actually just say that? ::makes a note to purchase a thesaurus::

Anyway, definitely check these out! I absolutely love some of her choices. I especially liked the dark navy/salmon combination*. So much so, in fact, that I was inspired to use them in a new digital design I've been working on this week. I can't decide which color combo I like the best, though, so I'm tempted to make limited edition prints of them all. If you have any input or suggestions on which color you prefer, be sure to comment.


(click image for larger view)

*To Doug, my wonderful future husband who loves mispronouncing words to irritate me: it's pronounced SAM-ON , not SAWL-MEN! AND DON'T YOU DARE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THERE'S AN "L" IN IT!!! Don't you dare.... :P

Etsy Finds: "Cute" Items for Invoking Nightmares

Feeling "over reseted"? Short on nightmares? Falling asleep too easily? Well, I've got just the thing for you!

I'm always searching Etsy to find nifty, unique things I like. During my pursuit I sometimes find items that, while intended to be cute, end up just being, well...freaky. I dunno, maybe it's just me. Examine for yourself:


(available for purchase for $9 at from vintagejunque)

Possibly the inspiration behind Alf?
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(available for purchase for $8 at from the saturday shoppe)

"Freddy Frog has trust issues".
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(item available for $6 from appleschloss)

"Despite being born without a torso, little Bobby made do."
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(item available for $10 from rekindle)

"As our featured item today on QVC we have this beautiful, green, ceramic turd! Err, what was that? Ohhhhh. I'm sorry folks! A beautiful, ceramic pickle. That's right, a pickle, folks. Huh ha!"
____________________________

(item available for $16 from bfas59)

"Beauty School Drop Out".
____________________________


(item available for $28 from scottishart)

I just have to point out here that this is a decorative bowl. I'd like to add that I've never seen a bowl actually grimace at me. Have you ever seen movies where people get decapitated? Don't the decapitated heads always have this same look of horror? This would just never work. I know I'd see that look on her face and then feel way too guilty to dump my pocket change into her head at the end of the day.
____________________________


(item available for $8 from thirteenleafclover)

Speaking of pocket change, I think I'd be too afraid NOT to put it into this thing. Good gracious, does it growl, too?
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(item available for $9 from ReUp)

"Dear Lord, please shrink our bulbous foreheads. Amen."
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(item available for $6 from gaytha)

Wonder why whoever made this thought painting the inside of his mouth the same color as his skin was a good idea? Better yet, who wants a pissed off little boy hanging on their wall, anyway?
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(item available for $12 from thriftyma53)

Hmmm, do you suppose the potter who made this modeled it after a dead cow?
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(item available for $6 from vinagerandpopvintage)

I've never understood why people always create lambs with fleshy, furless faces. Quite frankly, it's disturbing. God made lambs with regular ole sheep faces...cute ones too! I checked! It's best to leave well enough alone in my opinion.
____________________________

Mock-up for My New Website

(click image for larger view)


Lately I've been fretting over how exactly I want to re-do my professional website polymorphicstudio.com. My God, it is so difficult to create designs for myself! I am my worst client. When it comes to my own identity/branding materials, I always find it difficult to decide on a concept that perfectly reflects my style and personality--I'm just too close to the source to be objective. It usually takes 8.5 billion years for me to make a final decision, and you can bet that there were 125 "final decisions" that came before it. And of course, by the time it's complete, I'm sick of it. :P

Well anyway, apparently the stars have aligned in just the right way, because I think I've got a rough mock-up of how I want the homepage to look. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? I'm lissssstening ;)

New Works

(Galaxy Bird by Crystal Lynn Jackson)

I thought I'd share a new piece I created a couple weeks ago called Galaxy Bird. A few months ago I purchased a set of Dr. Ph. Martin's Hydrus liquid watercolors, and I've been having a really good time with them ever since. This is my first bit of adventuring into watercolors, and it's turned out to be great fun.

Etsy Finds: Vintage Handbag Round-up

(click photo for larger image)

By looking at this selection, you can probably tell that I've got a thing for boxy handbags. I just love how classy they look. But do note that I did throw in a hobo (E) which despite its lack of boxiness, is a great find. Check these purses out by clicking the corresponding links below.

A. Gray Carpet Handbag, $20, available at modishvintage
B. Sweet Faux Croc Retro Purse Handbag, $12, available at vintage eye
C. Vintage 60s Box Handbag, $18, available at mr fox vintage
D. Tan Vintage Purse Faux Leather, $20, available at perfect laughter
E. Vintage 70's Brown Leather Boho Purse, $40, available at hellomyfriend
F. Vintage yellow purse handbag, $18, available at sassydoggs

"Really Old Book" Textures Via Bittbox

A couple weeks ago, Jay over at Bittbox (an excellent resource site for designers btw) gave away a free, high resolution texture pack of an old book he'd "dissected" and then scanned. It's a pretty sweet pack with a lot of old, worn paper. Definitely check it out. You can view the original post with all the book's components here. The above photo is of the book's cover, which I love. For my purposes I didn't want the hole so I fixed it. You can download my version by clicking on the photo below > right clicking on the image > Save Image As. Enjoy!

My Jenn Ski Print Has Arrived!

(images by jennski)

I've been loving on Jenn Ski's work for a few months now, but I hadn't gotten around to ordering any of her prints until last week. Everything Jenn Ski does is just beautiful. Above is a small sample of her work. She's got a great love of mid-20th century art and design and it shows through in her pieces. Her work is mixed media/collage and it's brilliantly colored and full of texture.

The print I ordered came lovingly wrapped, numbered and with a certificate of authenticity. Best of all, IT'S ALREADY MATTED, which is damn terrific. Once I purchase a frame, it's going to look excellent in my living room.

On top of her great design skills, she's also a really nice gal who happily answered a few questions I had recently about producing art prints. Jenn's genuine belief in herself and courage to quite her day job and follow her dreams have been a real inspiration to me. You should definitely check out her website jennski.com and her blog.


Here's my happy little print :)

A treasure trove of wrongness

These are a bit old, but because of my tendency toward Internet-hermitization* I hadn't seen them until today. Via Trendhunter:

Statutory rape in Milwaukee is on the rise, so much so, that the Family Violence Partnership hired Serve, an ad agency to create this shockvertisement.

The point the advertisement is trying to get across is that just because a girl has a body physically capable of sex, doesn’t mean her mind has developed to a stage where she’s ready for intercourse. There is nothing subtle about this campaign, and it is creating a huge amount of buzz.

Also, I'm experiencing an added level of anxiety towards the above photo because somehow the little girl's head looks just like the "feral child" I read about today...more wrongness!




*Internet-hermitization describes the limited amount of content I see on the Internet due to refreshing my Myspace / Facebook home page and checking my email 200 times every 4 seconds. All of that refreshing and checking leaves little time for anything else. I'm certain that if anyone were to ever look at my browsing history I'd end up in a hotel room with my entire family circled around me and Jeff VanVonderen saying "I just see a lotta people here that just love you like crazy". I wish I was kidding.

Images via Copyranter

The Art of Mike Mitchell

I always enjoy ironic art. Weird juxtapositions always fill my heart with a certain kind of glee that can only come from something that is pleasantly unexpected. The other day I stumbled upon artist Mike Mitchell's page and was immediately impressed. I see a lot of artist's pages, but it's not often that something just reaches out and grabs me. However, when something does captivate my attention in the way Mitchell's has, I feel compelled to spread it around.



Visually, Mitchell's illustrations are just lovely. His color choices are fantastic. There is a grungy quality to his work and this gives it a vintage feel that I really like. In an abstract sense, I definitely can see that he is making political and social statements with some of his work, but he isn't doing so in an off-putting The Happening sort of sense. Sure his subjects may be a little dark, but they somehow manage to be...well...cute. Yes, cute....I just cringed a little saying that...but still...



Below is more of Mike Mitchell's work. Be sure to visit his website and his blog Laser Biscuits (mmmm, biscuits...). Also some of his work is available in prints and t-shirts at his Etsy store.







(all images by Mike Mitchell)

Free Textures from Lost and Taken

(image from lost and taken)

In need of textures for your various design and photography projects?? Hmmm?? Of course you are! Lost and Taken is an awesome site offering FREE textures for download. All the textures are copyright free for both personal and commercial uses. Sweet!


Found via Bittbox.

Gratuitous Cuteness

(image from lookandsee)

I've honest to goodness never seen a koala prance around on all fours before! I don't think my brain can withstand it...
::tears well up::
The...cuteness...is...unbearable...must...avert...eyes...

Etsy Finds: Swanky Modern Candlesticks

(click photo for larger image)

These vintage candlesticks found on Etsy all have a very sophisticated, clean-lined beauty.

A. Modern Candlesticks by Aksel Holmsen, $29, available at blue bell bazaar
B. Mid-Century Modern Dark Wood Candlesticks, $24, available at pony party
C. Vintage Wood and Brass Candlesticks, $32, available at coco + kelly
D. Mid-Century Modern Candlesticks, $12, available at rabbit oh rabbit
E. 1960s Danish Teak Candlesticks, $30, available at california vintage
F. Shiny, sleek Mod Candlesticks, $11, available at rabbit oh rabbit

Purdy Pottery: Mid-Century Modern Hotness!

(image from domestikate)

I love these! Such delicate prints, fantastic muted colors and sexy shapes!! Mmmmmm... ::drools:: Above: Mid Century Modern White Ceramic Carafe, $16, available at domestikate


(image from The Aviary)
Ben Seibel Leaf Motif Creamer, $8, available at The Aviary


(image from rekindle)
Pretty Dessert Bowls (set of 4), $15, available at rekindle


(image from Strantiques)
Folky Bavarian Bud Vase, $8, available at Strantiques

Atomic Ashtray

(image from el gato dice meow)

Wow, how classy ashtrays used to be! I don't smoke and there's no smoking in my house, but if I did....hmmm, I think I'd have to get this little guy! Available at el gato dice meow for $18.50

Etsy Finds: Vintage Shoe Round-Up

(click photo for larger image)

Blast my gigantoid feet! These are all super excellent shoesies available now on Etsy that absolutely DO NOT FIT ME, but alas are gorgeous. I've seen similar styles from Anthropologie selling for insane amounts of money....Well, insane to me, anyway :)

A.) Lime Green Vintage 60s Pointy Toe Heels, size 6, $15 available at RetroRenegadeVintage
B.) Vintage Aqua Caressa Shoes, size 8.5, $15 available at funkyfrugalfashions
C.) 1970's Bright Yellow Shoes, size 8, $18 available at Grey Brocket
D.) 1940's White Pinup Heels, size 5.5, $58 available at Grey Brocket
E.) 1940s Blue Satin Scalloped Peep-Toes, size 7, $58 available at Allen Company Inc.
F.) Coffee Brown Leather Maryjane Heels, size 6, $54 available at decades

Etsy Finds: Vintage Train Cases

(click photo for larger view)

I came across quite of few of these old, vintage train cases on Etsy. As a child, I remember my granny always had one of these to store her make up and cosmetic whatnots in. Whenever she'd wear one out, she'd give it to me and I'd stuff it full of crayons. While sort of impractical now given all the luggage and carry-on restrictions for airlines, train cases are still a great, stylish way to store and organize various things...especially crayons ;)

A.) Amelia Earhart Cherry Red Train Case $35 available at Retro Girl Gypsy Arcade
B.) Apple Green Train Case $25 available at pattispolkadots
C.) Brown Striped Amelia Earhart Train Case $30 available at Vero Vintage
D.) The original Traincase- a go go... $85 available at Samaria Project
E.) Brown Vintage Leather Hard Case Camera Bag With Handles $25 available at soulfulhues
F.) Mustard Yellow Vintage Luggage Set $32 available at My Secret Closet
G.) Saddle Brown Samsonite Train Case $40 available at Get Ready Set Go
H.) Blue Train Case $25 available at 2Pear
I.) Upcycled Red Rainbow Brite Train Case $40 available at Get Ready Set Go

Fanciful Lil' Animal Prints by Amber Alexander

"Burp" (Image from Amber Alexander)

I just love this little guy! I happened upon him under the Etsy Hand-Picked Items page. He's green, which gives him instant favoritism in my heart, but his mama Amber Alexander has made many other equally cute inter-species brothers and sisters to go along with him....
Her prints are all very affordable at around $17. I think I just might get myself a couple :)


"Octo" (Image from Amber Alexander)



"Spirograph Blue" (Image from Amber Alexander)



"Filly" (Image from Amber Alexander)

Mid-Century Modern Plates from Kitsch Cafe

(Image from Kitsch Cafe)

Ooh, Ooh, Ya'll! These plates are so purdy! I found 'em over at Kitsch Cafe. Not a complete set, but still, very nice. I love the blues and greens... and especially the atomic pattern. Nice!

Color Inspiration (number 2)

(Image by Cassi Griffin)

A Tammis Keefe tea towel originally posted on Bella Dia. Just a little visual reminder that aqua and lime are fabulous together :)

Color Inspiration (number 1)

(Image by Holly Becker)

Holly Becker used this photo last month to close a week on Decor8 and I instantly fell in love with these color combinations.

Taking a queue from Kris over at Kris's Color Stripes, I did a bit of eye dropping to create a nice swatch. I'm constantly squirreling away photos with beautiful color combinations for a little inspiration, and from now on I'll be sharing them here on my blog as often as possible. I hope you enjoy :)

NCAA + Garden Gnomes = WTF

Congratulations my friends, for you can now purchase your very own NCAA garden gnome.

::long pause::

...Oh, what, are you still here???? You haven't ran right over to Amazon.com and completed your purchase for this fine lump of "colorful cast resin"???? Well, I can ONLY presume it's because you do not have a garden to put it in. I mean really, why else?? ::nervous laugh::

This is ridiculous. But what's more ridiculous is that this was on my "personalized", ultra cookiefied Amazon.com home page under the heading "Did You Know Amazon.com Sells NCAA Garden Gnomes?". No, no I didn't. Wow, thanks Amazon.com...I feel I could die at peace now, knowing this vital info.

Amazon.com recommended this to ME. Me: a geeky, sci-fi nerd who knows NOTHING about any sport what-so-ever, and who nearly throws the remote in frustration whenever she must scroll through the 850 ESPN channels to get to HGTV.

Yes, Amazon.com of ALL places. The one company on the whole internetses that can so well predict what I want to purchase that it leaves me wondering if my life is some cruel irony like the Truman Show.

Gaaad...I thought you knew me Amazon.com, but you don't know me at all ...::sniffles::...not at all!!!

::runs away crying::

Spring Photos - Grape Hyacinth

Another shot I took on my school's campus from earlier this spring, a Grape Hyacinth...what can I say, I was there A LOT...almost 12 hours a day during spring semester.

Spring Photos - Hen & Chicks

Here's a shot from my yard of one of my favorite plants, the Houseleek.

Spring Photos - Spanish Lavender

I planted this Spanish Lavender over by my mailbox this spring. It's drought tolerate which means it may actually live in spite of my lazy watering habits.

Spring Photos - Crocus

This little guy popped up pretty early this spring on the campus of my school.

Spring Photos - Cherry Tree

Here's a few photos of a Japanese Cherry Tree on campus in March / April.

Spring photos - Star Magnolia

Here's a set of photos of a Star Magnolia that I took on my school's campus back in March. It was in full bloom then. I took it when it was getting close to sunset and the golden light was hitting it just perfectly.

Spring Photos - Flowers at My Grandma's

I took these back in March and April at my Grandma's (Gannie, is what I call her). She's always loved flowers and plants...and she always has a garden in the summer, too. I think I get my love of plants from her. She's a Virgo, like you :) I know I've probably told you that a thousand times. Virgos are earth goddesses, I love 'em.


These Narcissus always come up first around here. Do people plant a lot of these in Germany?


Baby Robins. This was hard to get! And I pissed off their parents... I thought I was going to get dive bombed on for a second.


I really liked these tulips she had. They started popping up in April, when I went back later.


Here's a Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)...I actually didn't know she had this and was surprised to see it blooming all ready.


This Lilac was smelling really, really good. She broke off a big chunk of it for me to take home...but I forgot it :-/

In Celebration of Springtime...

I love spring. The weather is perfect, and I just love all the flowers that pop up. For the past few weeks I was motivated me to do something that I've wanted to do for years: I actually took photos of some of the pretty things I saw.