Sketchy

The reason for my extended absence

2009-12-21T17:46:00.003-05:00

We will return to our regularly scheduled programming shortly.

What's Old is New

2009-11-30T16:45:00.003-05:00

Target began the trend a while ago with retro cookie packaging. Walmart's candy packaging followed. Pepsi released their "throwbacks" and Target's board games have jumped on the boat as well.

It now seems that every time I walk through a store there is a vintage package on the shelf. Even though it's a trendy marketing ploy, I do love it. Those who have followed this blog know that I tend to like simplicity, so these packages suit my sensibilities quite well. But I wonder what others think?

(images courtesy of TheDieline)

Changing Perception

2009-11-18T14:52:00.001-05:00

Here's an interesting Ted Talk by Rory Sutherland. Funny and insightful. Worth the 15 minutes of your time.

Signage

2009-11-17T10:37:00.002-05:00

Ok, here's a post for my fellow-design nerds, from the New York Times. Apparently I'm not the only one who gets bent out of shape when I see typefaces used inappropriately. Enjoy.

Mistakes in Typography Grate the Purists

By ALICE RAWSTHORN
November 16, 2009

Dirt. Noise. Crowds. Delays. Scary smells. Even scarier fluids swirling on the floor. There are lots of reasons to loathe the New York City subway, but one very good reason to love it — Helvetica, the typeface that’s used on its signage.

Seeing the clean, crisp shapes of those letters and numbers at station entrances, on the platforms and inside the trains is always a treat, at least it is until I spot the “Do not lean ...” sign on the train doors. Ugh! There’s something not quite right about the “e” and the “a” in the word “lean.” Somehow they seem too small and too cramped. Once I’ve noticed them, the memory of the clean, crisp letters fades, and all I remember are the “off” ones.

That’s the problem with loving typography. It’s always a pleasure to discover a formally gorgeous, subtly expressive typeface while walking along a street or leafing through a magazine. (Among my current favorites are the very elegant letters in the new identity of the Paris fashion house, Céline, and the jolly jumble of multi-colored fonts on the back of the Rossi Ice Cream vans purring around London.) But that joy is swiftly obliterated by the sight of a typographic howler. It’s like having a heightened sense of smell. You spend much more of your time wincing at noxious stinks, than reveling in delightful aromas.

If it’s bad for me (an amateur enthusiast who is interested in typography, but isn’t hugely knowledgeable about it), what must it be like for the purists? Dreadful, it seems. I feel guilty enough about grumbling to my friends whenever I see this or that typographic gaffe, but am too ignorant to spot all of them, unlike the designers who work with typefaces on a daily basis, and study them lovingly.

“I think sometimes that being overly type-sensitive is like an allergy,” said Michael Bierut, a partner in the Pentagram design group in New York. “My font nerdiness makes me have bad reactions to things that spoil otherwise pleasant moments.” One of his (least) favorite examples is the Cooper Black typeface on the Mass sign outside a beautifully restored 1885 Carpenter Gothic church near his weekend home in Cape May Point, New Jersey. “Cooper Black is a perfectly good font, but in my mind it is a fat, happy font associated with the logo for the ‘National Lampoon,’ the sleeve of the Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds’ album and discount retailers up and down the U.S.,” Mr. Bierut explained. “I wouldn’t choose it as a font for St. Agnes Church even as a joke. Every time I go by, my vacation is, for a moment, ruined.”

Choosing an inappropriate typeface is one problem. Applying one inaccurately is another. Sadly for type nuts, movies often offend on both counts. Take “Titanic,” in which the numbers on the dials of the ship’s pressure gauges use Helvetica, a font designed in 1957, some 45 years after the real “Titanic” sank. Helvetica was also miscast in “Good Night and Good Luck,” which takes place in the early 1950s. “I still find it bizarre to see type or lettering that is wrong by years in a period movie in which the architecture, furniture and costumes are impeccable, and where somebody would have been fired if they were not,” said Matthew Carter, the typography designer based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The same applies to TV shows, including the otherwise excellent “Mad Men.” It is rare to find a review of the show that does not rave about the accuracy of its early 1960s styling, yet the “Mad Men” team is woefully sloppy when it comes to typography. Mark Simonson, a graphic designer in St. Paul, Minnesota, blogs about typographic misdemeanors on his Web site, www.marksimonson.com, and he once catalogued the flaws in “Mad Men.” The 1992 typeface, Lucida Handwriting, appears in an ad in the opening titles. Gill Sans, a British typeface designed in 1930 but rarely used in the United States until the 1970s, is used for office signage. A lipstick ad features one wholly appropriate 1958 font, Amazone, but two incongruous ones, 1978’s Balmoral and 1980’s Fenice. He noted lots of other clunkers too, but admits that he has spotted fewer new errors in the most recent episodes of “Mad Men.”

“I guess they must be doing a better job,” Mr. Simonson said, adding that the same applies to other TV shows and movies, with the unfortunate exception of the animated feature film “Up,” in which he espied Verdana, a font designed by Mr. Carter in 1996 specifically for use on computers, in scenes set in the 1930s and 1940s. “But I’m not sure how picky you should be with a cartoon.”

Yet another common blunder is the misuse of the individual characters in a typeface that includes obscure versions of letters and numbers as well as more familiar ones. These gaffes often occur when lazy designers confuse one character with another, thereby making the typographic equivalent of a spelling mistake.

The British typography designer, Paul Barnes, remembers seeing one on a poster in a Gap store. “It was set in Adobe Caslon and was supposed to say ‘Your first clothes,”’ he recalled. “Rather than use an ‘f’ and ‘I,’ they decided to use a long ‘s’ and dotless ‘i,’ thus spelling ‘sirst’ rather than ‘first.’ ” He is equally irritated by similar errors in the use of historic fonts, like the archaic black letter typefaces that date back to the invention of the printing press in the 15th century.

That said, even the type-savvy Mr. Barnes claims to have become more tolerant — or less intolerant — of such howlers over the years. “I’m not sure if it’s a case of growing older, or maybe I have lower expectations,” he explained. “In France recently, I drank some nice Côtes du Rhône wine with a fairly dreadful typographic dress. I was less bothered than I used to be; after all, it’s the wine that’s important!”

I heart Anthropologie

2009-11-12T10:47:00.004-05:00

I have to say, I haven't been shopping for clothes much lately. Mostly because I can't fit into anything cute for the season, and I don't want to spend any money on maternity tents :) However, I went into Anthropologie yesterday to pick up a gift for a friend and was reminded of how much I really love the store. Even though I couldn't enjoy any of the clothes, I spent a good hour perusing their jewelry, accessories and home decor. They have such an eclectic mix of goodies. It's almost like shopping at a flea market, without all the junk.

Take a gander at these lovelies, and gear up for the shopping season!
These fabric bound classics would make a stunning bookshelf collection (whether or not you actually read them).
Original framed collage by Trey Speegle. Anthropologie has teamed up with various artists, and you can now shop their "gallery" online. I love that they are supporting artists and giving the public a great venue to buy original artwork. You can view the gallery by clicking here.

I love, love, LOVE this mirror made out of old found mirrors. I've been looking for the perfect one to hang over our fireplace, and this may be it. I think it's a project I could even accomplish myself.

Seriously? A wool sweater clock? Could this be ANY cuter?

Ok, I'm probably the furthest thing from a 1950's housewife. But I can't help finding these aprons terribly charming. Now all I need are some pearls...

I'm afraid I could be here all day pulling gorgeous items to oogle, so I'll stop now. Just know that there are hundreds of other gorgeous items just waiting to be discovered. Have fun!

A typeface after my own heart

2009-10-31T21:17:00.003-04:00

Love it! As created by Zumra Waheed.

Jenn Ski

2009-10-29T10:30:00.003-04:00

Apparently my head is still in baby-land & decorating-land, but I was smitten as soon as I saw these illustrations by Jenn Ski. I love her color palette and how she incorporates texture into her illustrations. I also love innocence & simplicity of her work. They have a retro flair which is so much fun, and something I've been really into lately. Her animal prints would be completely adorable in a baby's room, while her other artwork would brighten any room in the house.

Luckily for us, Jenn has an Etsy shop where you can buy one of the beauties for yourself! The holiday's are coming... happy shopping!

Click here for Jenn's website.
Click here for Jenn's Etsy shop.

Mystery Clock?

2009-10-27T13:25:00.002-04:00

Ok super-sleuths, I need a little help. Some kind soul sent me this totally adorable clock from my previous post. I absolutely love it and would like to thank whoever was responsible, but there was no note. Anyone willing to fess up? It's such a wonderful surprise!

Simplicity

2009-10-23T09:56:00.002-04:00

We live in a crazy age. It seems like everything we come into contact with on a daily basis is disposable, convenient, plastic, etc. We live in an age when growing your own food and recycling is a trend, not a way of life. But maybe it should be. I'm so taken with items that go back to basics. Products without plastic, noise, lights, batteries and plugs. There is a joy in simplicity.

So I was struck when I saw this rocking horse on Etsy (via NOTCOT). Created by Stil Novo Design, the horse is made from reclaimed oak wood from French wine barrels. Stil Novo is a family run business dedicated to:
"creat(ing) the highest quality wood crafts and specialty pieces. We love the fact that we are able to help the environment by recycling the raw material and to turn it into an object of practical elegance at the same time."

Where, oh where has my little blog gone?

2009-10-19T12:53:00.006-04:00

Um, apparently it's October. I have no idea when Fall arrived, or where the Summer has gone. But I hang my head in shame to realize I haven't posted in nearly 2 months. Which means, that all of my readers have probably gone elsewhere to blogs that are actually updated, and I'm now talking to myself (and maybe my mom). For this I humbly apologize, and I'm going to try to be better.

So, let's get back to the fun...

A house and a soon-to-be-born baby have me running around in my wanna-be-decorator mode. One of my recent frustrations was trying to find cool baby gear. The dominant stores - Babies R Us - are great for necessities, but can lack on design. Cool bedding & interesting toys require a little more research. Here are some of the joys I've found in my research.

First up, the Magis Puppy - designed by Eero Aarnio - can be used as children's seating, a stool, or just a fab sculpture. It comes in multiple colors, and I'd be shocked if you could look at one of these and not smile. In case anyone is interested, our little man has his eye on the blue one :) (Found at AllModernBaby.com)
Dwell Studio makes adorably chic home textiles, and their baby & child products don't disappoint. If you know how much I love patterns, you know that I could seriously buy everything they offer. (Dwellshop.com)

The last adorable shop I want to mention is Fawn & Forest. They carry a unique array of designers and studios. You can find something to suit every style and taste.

The Chair Obsession Continues

2009-08-13T11:01:00.007-04:00

Ok, so we've been moving house, which has create my loooooooong absence for this sorely-neglected blog. But I'm back to give it some love. However, since I'm entrenched in decorating, patterns, pillows, paint, etc... we're going to be on a home-goods kick for a while.

First an update... I did purchase my beautiful ghost chair from the previous post. It's stunning, and I'm thrilled. My hubby may still not understand it, but I think he secretly loves it. I'm also now obsessed with the classic Eames Rocker. Available at places like Design Within Reach and Modernica... it's so cute!

And who doesn't love a great accent pillow to add some pop or whimsy to a room? It's like a lovable piece of art. Here are some of my recent favs:

DwellStudio - Robin Motif Boudoir Pillow

Kpkp Company - Coptic

ferm LIVING - Velo Silk Pillow in Black

olli & lime - Billie Pillow in Burnt Orange

My Obsession

2009-06-22T15:57:00.004-04:00

We're buying a house. And that means endless options in paint, wall paper, furniture, flooring, planting, hardware, lions and tigers and bears, oh my! The list goes on and on. I'm trying to be practical. I really am. But sometimes it's not so easy for a designer. It's not my fault, really.

So, my latest obsession is the Louis Ghost Chair by Philippe Starck (for Kartell). They are light, airy and contemporary, but I love the hint of Baroque styling. I picture this with a shabby chic table for an eclectic vibe. Now, if only I could convince my husband that $400 for a plastic chair is reasonable!

I wish I could draw

2009-06-06T20:10:00.003-04:00

The gorgeous illustrations by Alberto Cerriteno are so inspiring. I love the layering, patterns and bold colors. Simply gorgeous. Enjoy the eye candy.

You can view more of Alberto's work on his website. Click here.

Happy Spring

2009-05-21T18:44:00.003-04:00

Here is some gorgeous photography by Shana Rae that seems appropriate on this beautiful sping day. As seen on Decor8. You can see more of Shana's work on her flickr page. Click here.

Patterns, patterns everywhere

2009-04-23T11:14:00.006-04:00

Anyone who has read this blog in the past knows of my infatuation with patterns. I don't know why... they just make me happy. The colors, and repetition and illustrations are endearing to me.

So here is another lovely illustrator and pattern designer – Jessica Gonacha. She has a fun, hand-drawn style. I love how even her paintings use layers of patterns to add interest and depth.

You can see more of Jessica's work on her website. Click here.
Or visit her Etsy shop. Click here.

Reuse, Recycle

2009-04-22T14:48:00.002-04:00

This seemed like an appropriate post for Earth Day. I recently received an email highlighting the work of Lynn Weller... an artist from New Jersey, who owns Seven Ply. Seven Ply reuses and recycles broken skateboards by turning them into funky and unique pieces of jewelry. They like to say that they're "turning Thrash'n into Fashion."

Here is a peak at some of their pieces. You can purchase items on their Etsy site. Click here.

Don't judge a book...

2009-04-17T11:18:00.002-04:00

You HAVE to watch this. (I can't embed is for some reason, so please take the time to click on the link) Simon's face is priceless.

Click here.

Need/Want

2009-04-06T17:33:00.003-04:00

Christine & Justin are artists from NYC, who think quite differently. They have two websites that intrigue me. One is called "Needs for Sale," the other is "Wants for Sale." Basically, they create charming paintings of things that they want (a shopping spree in SoHo!) or things that are needed by specific charities such as Habitat for Humanity. The price of the painting correlates to the price of the item needed or wanted. You get an adorable painting, and they use the money for the purpose highlighted in the painting. It's a bit like paying it forward, I suppose.

They also update a flickr album with images of the paintings that were bought and the actual items the money was used on.

I love it. Here are some examples. For more work, visit their website. Click here.

Back in the Day

2009-03-31T10:43:00.004-04:00

This is really funny. Well... if you're a Photoshop user, this is really funny. I just saw this on the blog of my friend Miki... who is a super-talented photographer in Phoenix. Here's a depiction of what Photoshop was like before the advent of computers.
This was created by an art agency in Indonesia called Bates 141 Jakarta. Creative Director--Hendra Lesmono, Art Directors Andreas Junus and Irawandhani Kamarga.

I'm very happy I live in the age of computers. Though, they will never take the place of a hand-made look. Every medium has its place.

Miki's Blog: click

Photographer/Storyteller

2009-03-08T10:38:00.003-04:00

I just saw this posted over on Notcot.org. Gorgeous work by photographer August Bradley. On first glance, these photos look more like intricate paintings than actual photography. The detail, emotions, and settings are fantastic and so well thought out. They are stunning works of art.

Bradley purposely blurs this line. He was quoted on mymodernmet.com as saying ‘The photographic style of the collection evolves from theatrical yet personalized portraits to fashion photography, so the style of the image making evolves with the theme from personal limitations to imagination and aspirational fantasy." and , "It's helpful to go out of the literal realm of photography, to leave the boundaries we typically view the world from within."

Superhero Supply Store

2009-02-20T17:02:00.003-05:00

As a follow up to this post about the Pirate Supply Store in California... you will be pleased to know that you can now buy Superhero supplies in Brooklyn. The Superhero store is also part of the 826 initiative to encourage creative writing skills in students. Again, there is an amazing storefront selling the necessities that all great superheros need. Plus they have useful tools such as a cape-testing area. I mean, how could a superhero shop anywhere else?

The design of the store and packaging is fantastic, and perfect for the subject matter. It was designed by Sam Potts. He did a stellar job. This looks like the type of project that every designer dreams of.

Click here for more of Sam's work.
Click here for more info on 826NYC.

Fabulous!

2009-02-11T18:26:00.004-05:00

I'm loving this pattern and textile design by Sanna Annukka (for marimekko)!

Hope

2009-02-03T12:13:00.002-05:00

I love, love, LOVE this print by Rebecca Puig of Sugarboo Designs. Sugarboo creates beautiful rustic prints and home decor. Everything has a crafted feel about it. This particular pieces contains a quote is by Emily Dickinson, and has always been one of my favorites. It can be purchased from Pottery Barn Kids.

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all."

Juxtaposition

2009-01-28T11:51:00.003-05:00

Mikel Uribetxeberria is a talented photographer. His series, Animalia, showcases wild animals in urban environments. There's something so striking about these images. To see more of Mikel's work, click here.

Monster cars

2009-01-28T11:42:00.002-05:00

I usually hate commercials. Truly. I do anything I can to avoid them, and usually end up watching 3 shows at a time just so I can flip the channel when one station goes to commercial. (And don't even get me started about the "bug" now appearing throughout the shows. Ugh)

However, I don't know why, but I find this commercial for Honda hysterical. Enjoy.