When I'm not working...

I can be found chasing around a curly-haired little girl. I rarely work on Mondays, so we use it as our day to go to the library. Today, I ran across a book that I decided to check out just for the illustrations. Take a peek. More of Oliver Jeffers' work can be found here.

Friday Fun

I've decided to devote my Friday posts to fun links, things to do, etc.—diversions. I started it last week, so why not just continue? You weren't really serious about working today, anyway.


Venus Zine's Washington DC City Guide
Another guide to DC, the city that was my home for over seven years. Ah, sometimes I miss it :-) Note: like all guides to DC, Venus has included Ben's Chili Bowl... but they also included my favorite restaurant, Java Green (on another side note, what happened to their once-lovely website?)

Burda Style
I love this site, but alas, I do not sew. Maybe one day.



Flavor Paper
Not your grandma's wallpaper. I'm not entirely sure where I'd put it, but I love it!

This is where the magic happens.

This is my room. MY room, my office. I have a room to contain the mess of lino shavings, cut paper and exacto blades that I have been known to create. I can shut the door to keep out curious 2-year-olds. It gets great light (which is why I decided it would be ok to paint it Bittersweet Chocolate) and is, most importantly, a filled with things I love.

I still work from the desk my dad made me over twenty years ago, which sits on top of a beautiful Tibetan rug that was so graciously given to me in exchange for a website design. In front of me are two frames that remind me of my travels. One contains a silk blouse I purchased on my honeymoon in Paris nearly nine years ago. The other has a lovely piece of letterpressed paper from my trip to Italy in 2005. I could go on. But the point is that I feel so lucky to have a space to call my own, one that fosters creativity, and reminds me of where I've been and where I still want to go. It may be a little messy, but that's just what makes it mine. If there was a couch in here, I'd never leave.

Publish it.

I love making books. There's just something about having a tangible object to represent all of the hard work I've put into a project. It's great to be able to visit a website I've designed, but my true love is print, which is probably evident by now, if you've read any of this blog. While I take so much satisfaction in creating books by hand, bookbinding is time-consuming. And... I have lots of ideas I'd like to try. And... I have a toddler. You get the picture.

Lucky for me (and you), there are many companies that make this process a bit easier. Here are just a few:

Lulu
I'm not saving the best one for last... this is the one service I can't wait to try. Finally—a company to print small run publications that doesn't require the use of one of their templates. Just send them a PDF, your $$, and voila—your very own book! They'll even send out copies to your "subscribers", aka friends.

Blurb
These books look nice. Really nice. The only downside—you have to use their software to put it together. I'm seriously considering using this for portfolio, as it's very well-priced. Oh, and it works with your Flickr account... even better!

Hazel Mail
Not a book, but so great, I had to include it. I sent a postcard via Hazel Mail earlier today and I have to tell you... it was SO easy. Just upload a photo (or perhaps design?), write a little something, and it generates a postcard that you can send anywhere for only $1.50. Can't beat that.

Tried and true.

When asked to choose my favorite era in design history, I would have a difficult time trying to pick just one. I adore the simplicity of Mid-century Modern, the principles of the Arts and Crafts Movement, and the organic lines of Art Nouveau. But the style of Art Deco seems to have my heart. When I read The Daily Heller last week on a summer Master's program in Italy (Oh, how I'd love to go), and an Italian Deco design exhibit that just happens to coincide, I just felt the need to write about it. Italy and Art Deco. I love it.

When I had the chance to venture to that lovely country four years ago, I fell in love. Though it was a chilly February journey, we all had a fabulous time. And while the food was excellent, and the proximity to so much history left me humbled, I really found the the design of everyday objects—signs, packaging, clothing—to be overwhelmingly beautiful. And that is what made the most lasting impression on me.

Art Deco was still in full-force, especially in the signs scattered around Rome. And it made me wonder, "Why don't we do this back home?" The truth is, we're a young country—one that is still trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. Italy, on the other hand, has several thousand years under its belt. They've been around a while.

Though I know I won't make it in time for the exhibit, it's definitely time to return—time to remind myself why I loved it so much in the first place. But in the meantime, I'll just have to look at the photos once again, and treat myself to a few unnecessary products, purchased only for their packaging :-)