Four eyes and two wheels

Glasses will do something to a child. Besides the whole corrected vision thing they become this accessory which you can't do a darn thing about. I sported mini coaster sized wire frames throughout the all-too important status seeking 1st - 5th grades. Although after breaking them playing football for the umpteenth time I finally became the owner of a contact. (yes, just one....don't ask.)


Yet my glasses experience left me wanting to redeem my own nerdy spectacle status. Harboring a secret obsession to own a pair of the non-functioning, trendy glasses for quite a while I have almost given in to buying these at Urban Outfitters. Vintage/Mod/Retro paraphernalia has really been turning my crank lately. Design Sponge recently featured a color palette that brought me inspiration. Color+Glasses+Vectors = My first pattern. A funky throw pillow maybe?

Since we're on the subject of vector illustrations and all (you didn't know that did you? Surprise!) I can't resist to post these bike delights starting with Eleanor Grosch of pushmepullyou design and of other artists featured on Poster Cabaret. Bikes are so cool. I finished the Bike Snob book by the way. The reading was delightful, I've decided I'm a cross between Roadie/Urban Cyclist/Godzilla Girl (who rides bikes in dresses and breezes through stop signs....yes, I'm guilty.)

July

It's that certain time of year when sunsets sound like popcorn popping and the stars are exploding into multi-colored flares. In strolls the month of July, head high and guns a'blazing. If July were a person, I'd want to hang out with her. Besides, it's also my birthday month, so that's exciting...for me.

This free downloadable desktop calendar/awesomeness from Mike Perry featured on design*sponge embodies this months personality. Colorful and at times crazy...but time passes on on all the same. Because that's life right? 

On a more random note, from thesaraus.com one of the synonyms for acceptable is "cooking with gas." Frankly, I don't get it. Any ideas?

Bike Snob

Vargo's Jazz City & Books in downtown Bozeman, Montana has books.

New and Used. They are wonderful.

I judge books by their covers.

My philosophy is that I'm supporting good design - bad covers don't get my money, no matter the book. That being said, I bought the book on the right. Based on it's cover. But much to my delight the inside is just as cool as the cover; filled with wonderful type, illustrations, and get this, sweet bike snob stickers! 

Sophie the dog

My graphic design professor brought her dog into class one day. A quick sketch in the margins and this is what I found months later going through my sketchbook. As we all sat around listening to our guest speaker, Michael Newhouse, Sophie sat listening just as intently as we were. A graphic design dog at heart.

I really was listening to the speaker I might add. My margins are always filled to the brim with doodles and whatnot. It's always inspiring to see people who do what you want to do and see how they've made it work. 

I guess the take-away message from that day in class would be the quote I also jotted down by Franz Kafka. Very true, very inspiring, and I like it.

"Don't bend, don't water it down, don't try to make it logical, don't edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsession mercilessly."

- Franz Kafka

A Good Morning

Vintage signage is a quaint and cheery thing. The cheesy slogans paired with quirky names and excessive use of exclamation marks combines to create a delightful and happy-go-lucky aura emanating to it’s viewers. In the 1940‘s and 50’s a typographic style became popular that utilized hand-lettering in printed advertisements and signage. Typeface’s such as the Reklame Script used here created by Hannes von Döhren in 2010 are exemplary of that style.

Funny how a typeface can conjure up such random and entertaining inspiration. It’s also funny how when you wake up at 4:30am quite accidentally on a Sunday morning what you find yourself thinking about. For me, obviously coffee. 

Either that or squawking birds. I was on a deliciously long run and I swear, two croaking crows followed me creepily for 4 blocks or so, making slow swooping dives at my head. Thankfully, I survived my run unscathed.

Coffee and crows aside, it’s been a good morning.

Sun’s up, I’m up.

Seasons

“ Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana! ”

-Groucho Marx

Each year Spring is always the trickster...teasing us with the thought of summer, driving us all nearly mad with it's incessant rain, mud, and random bits of sun. This is true indeed. However, let's all try to stay rather sane by partaking in other amusing distractions. Such as these delightful oxymoronic and sarcastic phrases from Groucho Marx. Brought to you ever so graciously by the Sarcasm Society. They would love to hear what you think. 


"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five."

"From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend reading it."

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it."

"I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception."

"Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?"

"Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read."

Chairs.

My sister, Hanna, gave a chair a makeover. As did I, only digitally. I also created a portrait of her, in the style of her husband featured in the previous post as to not leave anyone out. They are a creative duo, making old things new and updating older styles to a modern cool. Hanna has a blog called "hannamades." You should check it out. (I designed the header.)

The finished, remodeled chair: