Alt Speaker / Stephanie Housley : Coral & Tusk
My head is still spinning from attending AltSummit. I was throw back into "real life" and work, but all I want to do is concentrate on this blog! I have a lot of work to do, and notes to review from all I learned at Alt and will be posting a thorough recap next week, for now take a peek at my gal Heather's recap, she did a fantastic job of summing it all up!
The quality of speakers at Alt is really incredible, they know no boundaries when booking the right people! One of the speakers that I loved looking into after Alt was Stephanie Housley. Stephanie was such an inspiration. As someone that works full time while trying to blog and start a business, I find it tiring & trying & challenging, but listening to Stephanie and seeing what she accomplished in starting Coral & Tusk, she makes me see that hard work and dedication pays off. She too was working while launching a business and has accomplished so much. Her tale of working overseas for her full-time gig, and creating her beautiul drawings and products (by hand at first, wowza!) is truly what I needed to hear to get some fire under my own tush.
via Coral & Tusk / photography by Kate Lacey
Stephanie Housley founded Coral & Tusk in 2007 with her husband Chris Lacinak. Stephanies quirky designs and characters are first drawn by hand before redrawn STITCH BY STITCH on the computer. Coral and Tusk now has a gorgeous space in Brooklyn that not only acts as her showroom, but is where the gorgeous products are finished BY HAND.
images via Coral & Tusk
As an illustrator, I love to take in the many unique, incredible styles of work that are out there. Stephanie's work REALLY blows me away. Her characters are clever and adorable.
I have alawys wanted to create an illustrated alphabet, but not been able to decide what style I'd like to do them in and how to set mine out from the other incredible alphabets out there, but Stephanie really takes the cake. Look at that Anteater above! Perfection.
images via Coral & Tusk
images via Coral & Tusk
“A mix of smart design, magic and mischief is at the heart of every Coral & Tusk embroidery.” - Coral & Husk
images via Coral & Tusk
My A#1FAVE is this Plains Fox Pocket Pillow. It is clear the level of thought and work that went into this darling. I mean, the fox comes out of the tee-pee. WHOA. I have got to get my hands on some of her work, I think I'll try to get to the Brooklyn Studio! SWOON.
My AltSumit NYC Business Card
When I scored my ticket to AltSumit, I knew I had to go big or go home when it came to my business card. You see, I did my research, and these blogger babes don't play! Amy of this heart of mine did a great round up of what she had collected at Alt and I was BLOWN away. Lexy of The Proper Pinwheel sewed individual garlands for petes-sake!
Because my blog encompasses a little design, a little DIY and a little baking, I thought it was important to encompass ALL OF IT in my "card".
When I get an idea in my head, I just can't shake it, and although I knew I had my work cut out for me, I thought it important to go with my gut.
A hand stamped bag, a recipe card, a dozen cupcake flags and a hand stamped card were ALL NECESSARY OF COURSE.
My hard work payed off, as I exchanged cards with others at Alt, they were WOWed and I even had some bloggers saying "so you're the one with that card, we were talking about it before." SCORE. I left an impression, which was the intention!
So, what went into these cards you ask... lets find out.
Let's start with the card. When I started 128johnst, i decided that I was going to have a "hand made" feel to most of the collateral I put out. I developed the logo and brand assets and immediately had stamps made by Simons Stamps. I'm so glad I did! I use them nonstop, they are perfect for some many things and give my business cards the look and feel I want every time.
I love Paper Presentation so much! I frequent the store and pick up different materials to make my cards out of. This time, I went with craft paper tags so I could hang them from the bags I was making, it gives the bags the look of a little gift! These were a little more than I would typically pay, but I left it to the last minute and didn't have time to shop around. I also picked up a selection of washi tape, and used Color Box Frost White, all of which was purchased at Paper Presentation.
First, I ran the tape along the bottom edge o the card.
I carefully trimmed around the edge of the card and WA-LA, we have a tag with a lil pazazz!
I then carefully stamped the card with my stamp and white ink. When stamping, make sure to ink your stamp evenly and fully, and apply in one even push. Set aside to dry, I let them dry for at least an hour just to be sure!
Next order of beez-wax, the bag! I ordered these babies off of Amazon. I saw them in Paper Presentation but they were $1 each, and on Amazon I scored 100 for $19!
I picked up this super cute bunting stamp and a Versa Magic ink pad. The people in Paper Presentation are fantastic and so knowledgeable. They knew exactly what stamp pad was best for fabric, and even let me test out some colors on the bag I was interested in stamping on!
Using the same stamp I used on the cards, I stamped the bottom back of the bag. Luckily, the fabric absorbed the ink quickly which made it dry uber fast!
I then turned the bag over and stamped the bunting on the other side. The stamp was wider than the bag, so I laid down some scrap paper under the bag so I didn't stamp all over my coffee table. (I learned this the hard way of course, after getting brown ink all over the black table. Welp. Here's the thing, I didn't notice it at first, because ya know, brown on a black table isn't really visible, but when I realized I was getting brown ink ALL OVER THE DAMN PLACE, I knew why. ugh.)
I had these super cute recipe cards printed, with an image of the cupcake on the front, and my contant information on the back, and OF COURSE the recipe inside. The card is the size of a standard business card (2 inches x 3.5 inches) so that it fit perfectly in a wallet and in the bag! I showed you how to make these adorable washi cupcake flags , which I included a dozen of in each bag. (Dude, this took soooo long!). The washi tape matches the tape I used on the cards, and every bag is unique because you get a few different colors and patterns.
Stick the flags and the recipe card inside the stamped bag and tie the card on the outside. TA-DA! Now you have a cute little favor bag filled with goodies!
Can we just talk about the AMOUNT of these I made. 150. YUP. You. Heard. Me. 150. That's 1,800 washi tape flags, the act of stamping 450 times. 150 bows tied. So much, but c'mon, they are so good.
And there you have it. Alt really made me step up my business card game, and I am so glad they did, I felt incredibly proud of what I had come up with and don't regret a single tiny flag.
as much as this is a very personal project, I think something like this could be perfect for a favor too!
I'm not the only one who stepped up my business card game of course.
I am in love with Araya's Wind & Willow Home card up there on the top left. ThePaperMama gave out some cute wood pins, Beth from Fluffed Up Desserts had a delish little treat in hers (which was a great snack for the train ride home, thanks Beth!). The big-boi on the top right is from The Note Passer, and included paper clips, a pencil, a sharpener and more! Chelo Keys had a beautiful piece made, made complete with a key shaped paper clip (how freakin' perfect, job well done Chelo!). My girl Heather Dempsey of Get Married not only had an INCREDIBLE LETTERPRESS CARD (bottom right), she also included pretty hair ties! I gots a watercolor set from Quaint-and-Quirky and Audrey of This Little Street gave out an envelope of gift tags!
Some beautiful letterpress has to be acknowledged (I'm so jelly, I love LETTERPRESSSSSS SOOOOO HARD). My fave was Heather's but I am alsooooo obsesssed with the cards from Lindsey of The Hive Studio, Rashi Birla with not only great letterpress, but a GOLD edge (whoa) and speaking of an incredible edge, Mara from A Blog About Love had a neon pink edge (whoa again!).
Also pictured above: Life In Pictures / Such Pretty Things / Peacock Moon Interiors / Inspiration Coop / Old Town Suds / Undeclared Panache / Approaching Joy / Freshly-Picked / Emily Jeffords / Small Pea Studios / Madame Curry / Madigan Made / Design + Life + Kids
Local Artist: NOLA / Phillip Lightweis-Goff
More on NOLA!
I told you last week about a local artist that I FELL IN LOVE WITH but I gots one more for you. Phillip Lightweis-Goff.
128johnst loves local artists, and you are going to fall head over heels for this one like I did.
"Our lives are pieced together from cultural and material experience, shifting around and recombining into new forms, thought and substance dancing, memories melting back into the soil to sprout ideas anew. " - Phillip Lightweis- Goff
Yes. All day. Yes.
Back when I was in college, my friends and I used to be shopping, at a store or flea market or craft fair and we used to find it incredibly difficult to purchase things sometimes. I don't know how well you know me, but I pretty much LOVE to spend money and buy stuffs I don't need (sad but true). BUT as artists, we were hard critics. If we thought we could make it, we just couldn't allow ourselves to buy it.
When I saw Phillip's work, I was in awe. Shock. Obsessed. Impressed. WOWed.
He slices up paper, and carefully weaves it and places it ever so carefully and perfectly and creates these AMAZING images. Phillip takes discarded items and created beauty.
Impressed yet? The amount of time and patience this must take is mind-boggling. I am all for DIY-ing, but I would never attempt such an intricate style.
JUST. LOOK. AT. IT.
You can snatch up some of Phillip's incredible work here at his Etsy shop, or if you have the pleasure of being in NOLA, stop by the Frenchman Art Market, the same place I picked up the necklace from The Magpie Collections.
Local Artist : NOLA / The Magpie Collections
This week's design post is a little different than the usual. Sticking with the New Orleans posts (I've got so much more to show you!) I wanted to highlight a local artist that I met while I was away.
We were wandering down Frenchman Street, because that is where EVERYONE we spoke to said to go at night, and we came across this ADORABLE market, the Frenchman Art Market. It was a nighttime market with local artists selling their work.
When I'm away, I try to always buy a piece of jewelry. It can be costume or dress, don't matter, just something that when I wear it it reminds me of the trip... SOOOO ... when we stumbled upon this market it was a perfect storm! They had tons local artists products, and TONS of jewelry.
Lauren Noel King of The Magpie Collections had BEAUTIFUL, unique, handmade jewelry. Because it was just after my birthday, my ladies said they wanted to buy me something on our trip as my gift (score!), and there was no questions I was getting something from The Magpie Collection. The decision was a difficult one, I mean, check out all the cool stuff she has in her Etsy store!
I decided on an African Porcupine Quill necklace. (You can see some better pictures and description of a similar one in her shop here.) Not only was her work great, Lauren was adorable and sooo sweet. Her business card is this blue sparkly piece of goodness, and she told me to contact her at any time if I have any issues with the necklace.
I went with a more simple design because I like to have pieces that I can wear everyday, but I LOVED this one too.
This night was beyond perfect. We started at The Spotted Cat and listened to Kristina Morales and the Bayou Shufflers for a looooong time. She (THEY) are amazing, check them out! I fell in love with the trombone player and then we stumbled upon the Frenchmen Market!
The space was soooooo coooolllll. There were different interesting sitting areas, including a GLOWING sofa! I'm uber sad I didn't get this mirror, but really, how the hell would I have gotten it home?!
While I write this, I am actually away in Vancouver for work and I realized that I actually have the necklace with me! I like to keep the jewelry situation light when I travel, I stick to the basics that I love and would wear while home on the reg (unless there is a specific piece that makes an outfit of course!). Pictured above we have the gorgeous NOLA necklace I can't stop talking about, a ring that I bought on my first business trip to Arizona at vingage shop (over 4 years ago!) and my favorite piece that reminds me of home. My grandpa Al had a business and had this watch face made SOOO LONG AGO. My mama found it at her house and gave it to me this year, I don't leave home without it!
Do you pick up trinkets along while away to remind you of your trip? I've collected quite a lot of interesting items, maybe I'll share the whole collection with you one day soon!
New Orleans here I come!
I am in New Orleans and loving ever second of it. The Food. The music. The people. ALL OF IT. These simple poster designs are amazing and needed to be shared. I cannot wait to tell you all about everything we do and see and eat!
Design Inspiration April 1 2013
Today marks the first day or April, which means it's the last month of me being 27. Yes, you heard me correctly, I am turning 28 this month (on the 18th to be exact). I'm not one to complain about growing older, but 28 seems like I am entering adulthood. Well, I know I TECHNICALLY AM an adult, but 28 really is coming for me.
Over the past year, being 27, I have been happy. I started the blog, I have a job I love, friends I can't picture my life without, a wonderful family, and overall a good life, but nothing is perfect and there is always room for improvement. There have been several let downs over the past year, and I have identified some things that need to be changed, which I will be sharing with you over the course of the next year.
This month I will be setting some goals, not only for the blog, but for 28. I've decided 28 is my year, and "saying it out loud" to you means I have to stick to the changes. I am establishing and developing some great new regular posts for you, which I think you will be as excited as I am about!
Today I baked some of the most challenging and beautiful cupcakes I have ever made, which I will of course be sharing with you, and I am exhausted, but feeling inspired. Here are some things that are inspiring me today.
I am fortunate in that I DO make something pretty much everyday, but I think I need to head back to basics and create some personal projects with my hands. I think to step away from work and the blog and the computer will be good for me- and I'm not just talking the DIY and baking stuff, I mean some design work, some illustration, remind myself why I fell in love with it all to begin with. Paint? Cutout? Glue? SURE! You should also make something today.
Speaking of back to basics, I am loving some of these simplistic logos, posters and designs I am seeing on the web. Who said we have to over design. Thoughtful design. Back to basics, that's what I'm talking about.
I am obsessed with this. Emma Daniels makes some RIDICULOUS custom cutouts. Now, I don't think I am gentle and meticulous enough for something like this, but the idea of it is inspiring and CRAZY.
I went to college for illustration, which I LOVE and I am think will always be my core, so when I see something like this which is so well designed, and well illustrated and thought out ... SWOON. This piece is particularly inspiring because it's EVERYTHING and so simple and well done. This piece reminds me to think outside the box and just go for it, but also that using what you know best can really surprise even yourself.
... and let us not forget baking. I baked my arse off today, and it was challenging, and frustrating, and some of my best work and some not so good, but I have to remember to continue to push myself and try new things. I am also going to try to reallllly learn about baking. Yeah, I do it, and it works (most of the time) but I'd like to study it more (a class maybe?) and get the basics down a bit more so I have more to share with ya'll! Scones is on the list of something to try, so I will be turning to Smitten Kitchen for some pointers, she's freakin' ace.
So there's what inspiring me in the start of April. April will be about getting back to basics and pushing myself. I have a few weeks until my bday, and plan on spending them setting goals, for the weeks, months and year ahead. What are some of your goals this month?
Obsessed with #PantonePairings
You all know me pretty well by now, so it shouldn't be hard to believe that I am COMPLETELY OBSESSED with #PantonePairings by David Schwen. Schwen, Minneapolis based art director totally nails it everytime.
“As a designer, you’re constantly picking color chips and pairing them up with one another. A while back I had an idea of making Pantone chips out of real household objects—sponges, cardboard, and the like. But while I was finishing up a poster design, I had taped two Pantone chips together to see how they looked next to one another. Instantly I thought of how people pair food together, and that was that. Pantone pairings.”
Follow along on Instagram via hasttag PantonePairings.
I am so kicking my self in the arse that I didn't think of this first, but I am glad Scwen did. Keep an eye out, he's got prints coming soon! Which will you buy?
Society 6 / My search for a new iPhone Case
Ho-Hum, last week I dropped my iPhone 4 and it had to go buh-bye. Although I had known that I was going to get a 5 soon (I mean, I did order Everpurse for a 5 when I had a 4) I wasn't ready just yet, I was on my way out from work and was going to by a new purse (#FAIL because I couldn't justify buying a bag when I knew I had to buy a phone). On the plus side, I have a new phone (yay), BUT what happens to your phone accessories when you get a new phone? I have had book iPhone cases, wood iPhone cases, this book iPhone dock - you name it, I think I have owned it!
Most recently, I bought the Pantone Universe 418 (my bday!) case, and I have had the No. 2 case above - so my natural instinct would have been to get the Ampersand by the same artist (I have been eyeing that baby for a while) or another Pantone case (the Pantomime Vegan Power is kind of awesome)- but have you seen all the cases on Society6?! I spent most of my Sunday evening looking through and here are some of my favs- you have to help me choose!
Who doesn't love some Helvetica? - I kind of lurve this Neue&Impreuved case. The designer in me says YES! buttttt- YELLOW SUBMARINE? 128johnst is named after the address of my Aunt K. who was beyond obsessed with the Beatles, and my background hasn't been anything but a Beatles image since she passed soooo.... but then l saw this adorable Little Escher's Building Blocks! So simple and well done!
Of course the baker in me liked this cupcake one, but it wasn't my fave, so I am counting it out. While we are in the food category, I love this Simply Grotesk by Tom Davie. I love Tom Davies work in general, and he has a bunch of stuff on Society6 apparently, so to combine the my loves for design and food, I think this one is leading the pack so far. I kind of am feelin' the Distracted on the right, its simple and graphic but oh-so-right! (See what I mean, how do you chooooose?!)
Ya'll know I am into pattern. All-Day-Er-Day-Pattern, so when I saw some of these beauts I fell hard. Native Song, Bulgarian Rhapsody and DG Aztec have me swooning, hard.
BUT WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE HAND WRITING ONES YET! The Hakuna Matata is a combo of pattern AND hadwriting, I think she takes the lead... but holey-moles, look at those other, simple, B&W, handwriting options. The F perfect and Beautiful Things really are making this decision difficult on me!
So whats the leader from this bunch? I just can't decide! Help!
Steve Simpson / Mic's Chilli
So, I am clearly in love with Steve Simpson, even though we haven't ever met. I was flipping though the Feb issue of Computer Arts and saw these amazing images created for Inferno Chili, and guess who created them, STEVE. I already shared his work here last month but I need to show you more!
Steve was hired by start up chilli brand, Mic's, to create the branding for their line of high-end chilli sauces. In Computer Arts, Steve talks about the project, saying that he "wanted to create a character that has immediate appeal; a little funky but with a serious side." He goes on to talk about how when you create a character that associated with the branding of a product, you have to create something that will stand the test of time, something which I think he definitely succeeded in.
He started working with the company in the early stages, which enabled him to have a bit of freedom, and now have to adhere to any brand guidelines (who does't LOVE that?!). With 6 different flavors, the bottles are all special in their own way, with a similar design, but different characters and colors- and way different than any other hot sauce you would see on the shelf, I'd buy it simply for the damn design!
Continuum did a great job incorporating the style of illustration into Mic's site as well, using the color palette and spot illustrations perfectly. Swoon. I love hot sauce. I love Steve. I love it all.
A#1FAV Valentine's Day Design
There are so many terrible Valentine's Day cards and crap out there, so when I see the good ish, I get flutters in the heart. I made my cards this year at the Design*Sponge Valentine's crafting brunch, but besides handmades, here are some of my favs this year.
Above: Not available anymore, but isn't it just perfection? Emily McDowel sums it up.
via Hungry Workshop
I love me some Hungry Workshop. We saw what they did for the winter holidays and they followed it up with some more fab for the holiday of love.
via Mama Sauce
Love Letters win the battle for me. I bought these darlings before they sold out. This box set of 7 letterpress printed coasters was printed by Mama Sauce. All the monies goes directly to the Hamilton Wood Type & Print Museum.
Designed by a an amazing group: A: Fuzzco / E: Justin Mezzell / I: Aaron Draplin / O: Dana Tanamachi / U: Jon Contino / &: Jessica Hische / Y: Ross Moody, I'm so stoked I snatched 'em up!
I leave you with Paperman. Get your tissues out before you hit play.