Monogram iPhone Screen

Monogram Style 1, Monogram Style 2

The Wedding Chicks, a beautifully designed wedding blog, created two do it yourself custom monogram generators. I know that these are supposed to be for people getting married, but I thought they were so pretty, and it is so easy to do. Just visit one of the two links above, input the info, and hit generate. In return you'll get a free monogram for your iphone or anything else you desire. Have fun!

Wardrobe Wednesday: Summer Outfits

Outfit One: Chambray Shirt, Skirt (Similar), Belt, Flats; 

Outfit Two: Spectacle Sweater, Pants, Wedges

I've been really enjoying the slightly warmer weather that we have been having lately. It has inspired me to think about the fun outfits I can put together when summer really arrives. Luckily I work in a casual environment, but I still like to dress up a casual chambray shirt with a beautiful silk skirt when I go to work. Throw on a brown belt and some cute flats and we have ourselves a successful work outfit.

For the weekend I would pair a fun colored pant and a kitschy sweater top with some sandaled wedges. Cute, casual, but still fun! 

Striped Shirt Art

Striped Shirt Art

I found these striped shirt paintings, by Mary Matson, over the long weekend while looking for house inspiration. I loved them from the moment I saw them and then when I read the back story thought they were even cooler. Turn outs each shirt is is a "portrait of striped shirts owned and loved by six creative women." How cool is that? 

I wish I could have each and every one. They are pretty much the epitome of me. A quirky illustration, of stripes, based on creative women. Could you ask for anything more? Oh, I know - to have them on my wall.

Happy Friday / Memorial Day!

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I took this photo from an old ad for a washing machine. I love vintage ads. I hope you have a marvelous holiday weekend. Mine is already turning out to be a good one!

this or that

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It's late and past my bedtime, but these two images were too good to be true.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Summer Sandals

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I've been looking for some summer sandals to wear on my trip to Philly and around San Francisco when it is warm enough. After I made this board I realized that my mind is set on a soft brown, and I'm pretty sure I want a flat sandal though those Stylemint wedges sure are cute.

p.s. Sorry for the absence I got the worst sunburn of my life and couldn't do anything. I didn't even go to work that last two days, even though calling in a sunburn was a bit awkward... 

Happy Friday!

Astro Cat

Book of the Commute #1: Blood, Bones, & Butter

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Since starting my new job I have been taking public transportation to work, which has translated into some blisters and a lot of time to read. As a result I thought I would start a new column called Book of the Commute, where I share the books I have been reading good, bad, embarrassing, or impressive.

Back in October my mom and I went and saw Gabrielle Hamilton speak. We had tickets to a series of talks with authors. At the time I didn't know anything about Gabrielle, but thoroughly enjoyed her talk, and bought her book at the end of the event. 

Fast forward seven months and I finally got around to reading the book, and boy do I wish I had read it sooner. Gabrille has a writing style I can only describe as juicy. The book is a memoir, and winds through her life starting with childhood. She is a chef, and while the book is peppered with descriptive paragraphs about food, it is not a recipe book. I haven't read many memoirs, but this book was so honest, it left me feeling like I really knew this person in a intimate manner. I highly recommend this book. 

Do you have any book recommendations?

Wardrobe Wednesday: Nick Veasey's X-Ray Fashion Photography

I came upon these photos while wasting time on Pinterest. From the moment I saw the thumbnail of the folded t-shirt I wanted to see more, so I followed the link and came upon a handful of images and a cute blurb. According to the blurb Veasey, "had the ideas of shooting these while dating the daughter of a truck driver who was transporting thousands of soda cans, one of which contained a prize worth 100,000 pounds. He rented an X-ray machine from a local hospital to find the winning can. Although he was unsuccessful, he credits this moment for sparking the ideas that launched his career."

All images via Trendland

Four Years Late & A Country Apart

Apparently in 2008 one of my favorite type designers, Tobias Frere-Jones, gave a three-mile walking tour of typography in New York City. Swoon. The tour started at the corner of Chambers and Centre and went through Civic Center, Chinatown, Little Italy, and the Lower East Side.

For those of you who aren't big type dorks like me, Tobias is the second half of the H&J type foundry in New York. They have made a number of famous fonts including Gotham, Archer, and Whitney to name a few. Tobias is know for getting his inspiration from the city, and based Gotham on type forms he photographed throughout the city for years.

Obviously, I'm a little late in finding out about this little event, but to make up for my four year shortage I found a couple flicker accounts that chronicled the adventure.

All images via Karen Horton's flicker

Caution: Patterns at Play

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I have been really interested in patterns lately. I love playing with patterns when I dress, design, and within the home. As far as trends go, I think pattern mixing is my favorite. 

The summer before I went away to college I made myself a slew of pillows in different patterns - some even had contrasting patterns on front and back. They were one of the favorite things about my apartment, not only because I some how managed to sew them, but also because they were playful and different. Hopefully I can do the same thing for the new house, and continue experimenting with pattern mixing when I dress.

Sick Sick Sick

Sorry for my absence the last couple days. I got an evil illness that has made me want to do nothing but curl up and die. I am starting to feel better, and I will be back next week. I hope you all have a lovely, and evil illness free, weekend.

The Case of the...

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I read a lot of Nancy Drew as a child. She was my hero for awhile and I remember doing a book report with a diorama on the books in the 5th grade. What does this have to do with iphone cases you ask? Well nothing other than all of the books started with "The Case of the..." and my brain likes to make associations.

I made the plunge into what one of my friends called "society" this weekend. I was personally fine with my no texting old school flip phone, but I have to admit the iphone is really fun. It's like a whole new world (Little Mermaid pun intended), with internet and instagram, which I am quickly becoming obsessed with. I also feel like an adult which is a little strange. Anyway, back to the consumeristic task at hand. I need a case and can't decide between this, plus a thousand more on the internet. Internet you have provided me with too many choices. So I have decided to ask the internet, meaning those reading this post, which case to get. Any suggestions?

p.s. Is that pink as neon on your screen as it is on mine? Somewhere between my photoshop and uploading it to the blog all of the colors got very vibrant.

Happy Friday!

Source for the Awesome Moose Head Photo

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I love finding two very different images that share a similar color palette. I also love all of these colors right now, and really wish that I had come across this van in the middle of the snow.

It's A Celebration

This is a semi embarrassing photo of me, but I thought it fit the occasion well, plus today I just don't care. You want to know why? Because I got a job! The new job is at an environmental graphic design firm that I interned for last summer and loved working at. Basically, I am super happy!

Since everyone in my house comes home after my bedtime tonight (yes I have a bedtime) I will be celebrating* alone. Let the solo party begin!

*By celebrating I mean putting on my pajamas, eating ice cream out of the carton, and watching reruns of Friends. I really know how to party.

Pin-spirational: Vintage Signs

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With the second to last week of my job at the airport closing in fast I have been thinking a lot about signs. As a sort of gift, Tom, my boss, gave me a more creative job. I have been branding the new SJC Premier Lounge, which means creating a logo, and designing the entry signs (as well as all of the other more boring signs). While the new entry sign will look nothing like these vintage entry signs I still enjoy looking to the past for inspiration. Plus I really look for any excuse to peruse my environmental graphics pinterest page. Can you blame me?