Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat

Today is one of those days. Sometimes it feels like for every step forward that you take, you end up taking 3 steps backwards. In this time of messed up economies and the drizzle of dread that has been surrounding 2009 so far, I suppose I'm not alone in feeling this way!

I love deviantART. It's a great source for inspiration, and to see what people are doing! There is a LOT of talent at deviantART, and most of the people are doing it just for the sheer satisfaction of creation. That's the best kind. So, I stumbled upon the photo above when I searched "anger" at deviantArt, because, I was angry. And then I came across the beautiful gallery of Protogeny, the one that took the above photo. That made me feel better, at least a little.

So here I go, heading off for my afternoon nap. Hopefully this year will start to turn around for everyone! In the meantime, why don't you take a stroll to deviantART and let me know what YOUR favourite galleries are!
P.

That Thom, Thom, Thom, Thom, Thom!

I was thinking - if there is a weekday that is awesome, even though it's a work day, and not including Friday, because that's the weekend - well, it would be Wednesday. It's kind of like a little pet that is, you know, something to be looked after and everything, but is boundless with positive vibes and wonderful things to experience. Wednesday is totally the best pet of the workdays. Yep.



Thom Yorke. Not the most handsome devil in the world, but talent which exceeds that of a 'normal' being. Radiohead's awesome, and Thom is, too!
For the Grammy's this year TWBA \ Chiat \ Day created this beautiful poster, as well as some others. Beautiful, inspiring, creative.. just like the music of Thom and Radiohead, alike!

Hope you enjoy it - Happy Hump Day!

I'm Back?

The good people at The Dieline piqued my interest, once again - sharing with me, the world of Aesthetic Apparatus!. They created these tea canisters for Andrews & Dunham's Damn Fine Tea.
Quirky, fun and unique, Aesteic Apparatus' portfolio is a kaleidoscope of colour and fonts - check out this poster for The Talkies.


I know it's been a long while since I posted - and I'm going to work on that. Who wants to read a defunct and never posted on blog? Like no one in the world. I think, also, that since my life is so freaking hilarious - I may begin sharing some of my antics with you - I think you'll laugh!

Have a super day!

I love hand rendered typography

Today was one of those days where the filesizes I've been dealing with are massive - so I took some time while watching that blue progress bar, slowly torture me by creeping to the right at a snail's pace - to doodle. And that's something I love to do, but don't get to do very often.

So there yo go, folks - shot with my new phone - not great lighting, not great colour, not great resolution - thought I'd share what I've been up to!

Do you love hand rendered typography?

The real McCoy!

I just about flipped my lid when I saw this bourbon packaging by The Creative Method. This blog is turning quickly into a packaging fan site - what can I say - I like packaging tons and tons and tons!
And here is a gorgeous example of packaging that really works - and really creates a character for a product. The typesetting is great - current, but with some nostalgic air - especially in the distressed treatment. The wood box is great, simple, but effective. I really like the added touch of the die for the label, those rough edges really make it look like it's travelled through time. All together, it sums up (to me) a bourbon that is tried, tested and true - and a real treasure.

Love!

On a side note - I've fallen in love with the blog Petunia Faced Girl. You really should pop over and take a look. Maybe I've already tried to send you over, I don't know - but it's worth checking out FO SHO!

Also - my firm has finally gotten around to writing a bio about me for the website. When it's up, I'll have to post it. I know that my boss HAS to write good things about me because, really - we're selling ourselves, right? But it puts a smile on my face either way!

Peace out!

Breath of fresh air

After a break from posting, due to the absolute MAYHEM that is Christmas, I bring you:


I am loving patterns right now. And I am loving the rich look of these Stussy air fresheners.
I always remember Stussy as being more of a fashion line - but who knows! I like how the packaging is like that of spray paint. I think that's neat. The design itself takes it to a whole new place, it's somehow old fashioned looking - with an urban edge.
Thoughts?

Thanks to High Snobiety for finding this first!

Also - over Christmas, I was so lucky to receive the "Designers are meant to be love not to be understood" poster that I blogged about here. I think I'm going to Plakkit - it's headed for the studio.
Thanks mom & Denis - hope your flight back to France today is quick and painless!

Papercuts

Yulia Brodskaya, from Russia, has created these beautiful paper illustrations. We did some paper folding and cutting projects in first year (college - design) but it certainly didn't get to this level. I love her work, it's beautiful - and showcases wonderfully how amazing paper can be as a medium. It makes me want to bust out my french curve and assorted exactos, rubber cement and cutting mat and start experimenting again. The delicate way she handles the sculptures is nearly impossible.. and no other effect can come close to mimicking the look of these beautiful pieces.

Also - I realize it's been ten thousand years since I last posted. Christmas crazyness has forced itself upon me. I love Christmas like crazy, but man, am I ever a ball of nerves when it's on its way! I have countless hours of shopping still to do - and all the while doing the Christmas obligatory parties, etc., trying to fit in friends, phone calls and sleep - not to mention Ryan!

I have noticed that there is a LOT of really awesome packaging out there this Christmas.. to the point where you don't even want to wrap some of them (in fact, we're not going to). And recycled material is big in a lot of the packaging - LUSH cosmetics and bath products, for example, use recycled paper and boxes for all their bath supplies. It's pretty cool! Anyway - I'm in the market for a new cellphone - hopefully with a crappy webcam - so then I can take shots of the pretty things I see - which will remind me to post them, or at least remember them for myself!

Anywho - hope your Christmas is awesome and Merry. Take a break for a cuppa tea - it helps me sooth my frazzled nerves! Like a hug from the inside!

Good morning Vietnam.

Umm. How effing cool are these radio hosts' business cards? I think I just peed a little.

There is something to be said about a die-line. That's for sure. And he was able to use less than four colours, (it appears, anyway) for this print run - which means that this was likely less than a standard 4 colour run. Likely is the key word here. I don't really know the details. Either way - this is the stuff that makes me go WOOHOOO!

Strong, Good, Alive, Calm

Another pretty thing, spotted at thedieline.com - Deluxe Honeydrop by Pearlfisher New York. Deluxe Honeydrop is a 100% organic flavoured water made up of "deluxe" fruit juices, and a drop of honey.

I like how fresh and clean these packages are (my personal fave) - they'd really merchandise well on a shelf - blocking entire shelves with a bold black line - featuring "positive" little bees - and a rainbow of colour below. I give these an a+ for shelf appeal, and for the clean design. Really - isn't that what organic is about? Clean - pure - fresh products? So, I dig these packages as a fresh alternative to the burlap/aged paper designs that float about in the Organix section of my supermarket!

Sorry the posts have been few and far between. There is something about the Christmas Rush that really scrambles my eggs! But excitement excitement! Ryan got a new car yesterday (woohoo), so we have Christmas-Crazyness transportation now. Hello!!!

Water Bottles that aren't related to Satan.

Paper Water Bottles!!!!!
brandimage is a "global brand strategy and design firm that offers holistic services to deliver rich brand experiences."

And how rich are these?

With shipping containers made of ecoboard, 6 packs made of entirely recycled materials - and an easy to use design - these puppies are truly innovative! Fully recyclable, made from 100% renewable resources, and made from food-safe materials - the "bottles" can hold all "liquid catagories". It's nuts to me, but I'm so glad someone thought of it! This eco-trend may be working in out favour - these green designs are popping up more and more frequently. But if you ask me, this one takes the cake.

The only thing that concerns me - one thing that gives me the willies is the feeling of cardboard with wet hands. I wonder howit would feel to take a swig from one of these?

I'm going to have to try and get my hands on one!

Thanks to The Dieline as usual - for putting these out there!

How fun would that be!?

Recalling the days where designs were all carried out by hand (yeah - even I know that - I may be young - but I did have to do everything by hand in 1st year - but seriously - thank god for "apple z" - sometimes I wish I could just apple z those random moments I wish didn't happen!) Adobe has created this gem of an ad.

How creatively fun, satisfying and right on the mark this is. Hilarious. And it really must have been a blast to create!

Whimsy

I have to share with you the lovely work of my friend, Wendy.. Her work can be found at her blog Whimsy. She's an amazingly talented local artist - she does a little of it all - illustrations, paintings, digital art. Wendy has a style that is reminiscent (to me) of the 1960's art that had characters with such big eyes. Love it. She maintains a unique style - while playing on the art of the past.

I hope I get to work one day.

But seriously, check it out. Her writing style is awesome, too. Very entertaining!

c'est la vie

Again, found on the dieline these LE Orangina bottles were designed by Yuri Majic. He designed them around the "C'est la vie" ideal - using (everyone's FAVOURITE artist) Alanis Morisette's Ironic. I'm not such a fan of Alanis these days - but I have to say - the execution of type, using the orange juice colour as a backdrop to the colours and icons - and using "C'est la vie" instead of "Ironic" even, speaks to me. It's a bright, bold and whimsical package - fun and wonderful. Just like orange juice!

On another note - wow Fridays are awesome. It's about time it got here!

Flair

If this necklace doesn't SCREAM flair to you, you obviously don't know the meaning of the word. In sharing the lovely Etsy Website with a friend, she showed me creationtwinne's Etsy pieces. I think I'm dying.
They're so lovely - she makes gorgeous pieces, that truly are wearable art!

Quoted from her Shop Page:

"Dare to be You , Dare to be Unique

Creation Twinne Jewelry is a mixte of:

An excess of folly
A wave of creativity
And 3 cups of patience.

Let me create for you an exclusive piece of art that will reflect who you are."

I'm loving it!

ME Sing Songs

Work has not allowed me a lot of creative opportunities lately - word processing, dealing with site details, etc. but luckily I have some very ambitious friends who will allow me to flex my creative muscles.

So - personal work, here we are- presenting ME Sing Songs Logo!



Hope you like it! It's nice to do creative things! I miss it. :)