One Girl Creative

take those dusty trophies out of storage & display them proudly

2011-08-02T09:27:00.000-06:00

recently i discovered while going through my storage unit, hidden in a plastic tupperware tub, were my old tennis trophies that i earned from the 90s. since in my opinion, trophies are hideously aesthetic, after every win, i just tucked them away and knew in my mind that i had won. never displayed them and never looked at them again.

what a waste, right?

until recently i thought, wow wouldn't it be cool to display those trophies again but this time, not with pride, but with fun colors? after seeing the soccer trophies my daughter was winning, and how she displayed them, although fun and inviting, they were still that brass color that i hated—still the same old trophies lined on every athlete's shelf, still would not look good decorated in my loft.

yeah, i'm that picky.

with my idea in tow, i headed to the nearest hardware store and purchased five bright colors of spray paint—chartreuse, fuschia pink, orange, sun yellow and of course, purple. i couldn't wait to get home and start my new project.

i was surprised at how well the paint stuck! i envisioned lots of drips and many coats of spray paint later, only to see how wrong i was. no dripping, and only two coats of paint. they turned out fabulous!

take a look!

Unfortunately, the pics don't do the bright colors justice.

why is package design so much better in the UK?

2010-12-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

last year, i had the pleasure of visiting england for the first time in my life. since it had been a dream of mine to visit this beautiful country, i couldn't wait to embark on a series of quintessential tourist-y jaunts. but one place that is not on a tourist's map is the grocery store. being a graphic designer, i had always heard that design was far superior than that in the states. so, what better place to confirm this than visiting the grocery store myself.

initially, it was not my intention to solely visit the grocery store only to see what sits on their shelves, but because i was hungry, and i wanted something quick and cheap to eat.
but as i was perusing the aisles and shelves, i noticed there was a huge difference in their display techniques. not sure if this was intentional of course, but mainly with the individual products themselves.

there's something to be said for simplicity in design. since we are all consumers, i tend to notice these things, not just from a designer's perspective, but a customer as well. it's apparent that the package design in the U.S. is packed with so much information and crap, that i wonder, how can a customer accurately tell what's good and what isn't good mainly from the busy packaging? i know i can't, and considering i have used the same products for several years now, i guess i have just taken it all for granted.

until recently.

not so on the shelves in the UK. just from wandering through the aisles, it's apparent that simple, clean package design is a must over in that part of the world. but i ask, why can't it be the same over here in the states? a "friend" of mine through the graphic design community once told me that he never noticed how poor the package design was in the states until he traveled abroad. however, it was more prevalent not just lined on grocery store shelves, but in environmental design as well (i.e. street signs, et al). until i visited england last year, i simply could not 'get' what he was saying, until i saw, first hand, with my own eyes.

there's something to be said for simple graphic/package design. i'm sure the majority of our problem here in the western part of the world is mainly restrictions and the like, muddied with federal standards from the FDA—so i ask, how on earth can we work around this? what little package design i have in my portfolio, i am not the one who can accurately answer this question. the few package design projects i have worked on were not the common consumer item such as detergent and toilet paper, but something a little more obscure.

oh, i give Target® credit. i love their product packaging and as a result, i frequently buy their products—for the most part, i'm happy with their product line, but have been disappointed with a few items at the same time. i guess like with any product, it's hit or miss unless you have been a regular consumer of that item for some time.

regardless as to why we don't have extraordinary package design in the united states, what's important is that we necessarily don't. i will continue to search for that ideal design product, and at that point, i will purchase it in hopes of being satisfied with the product overall.

in the meantime, enjoy these product photos from package design in the UK.

the frugal decorator

2010-11-06T11:17:00.004-06:00

yup, that's right, i have actually been frugal in the past when it comes to decorating our loft. i have never been into the whole matchy-matchy look to begin with, so decorating with a more eclectic flair is more up my alley than copying a page out of a pottery barn catalog.

i wanted to share pictures directly from my loft so you can get an idea of what i've been up to since we moved in four and a half years ago.

if space is an issue with you, like it is with us, using your imagination can really help when decorating your home. storage solutions are key. to start, check out these perfect containers with magnets for spices which go directly onto your refrigerator. they're perfect and now it frees up an entire drawer where i once kept all of my spices.

each container costs $1–$2

below is a solution for this crazy little nook by our front door—it has always driven me crazy because of the wasted space that was there. so what better space saver than old style gym/school lockers. each little cubby houses many items such as winter scarves, gloves, hats, etc. and others are just filled with random items like replacement paper for the printer, envelopes, books, etc. it's a perfect solution for a perfect little space. it took me a year to find the perfect lockers on craigslist, so when i finally found them, i knew i had to have them. besides, my daughter loves to use the dry erase markers and color on them to decorate them as her own.

cost on craigslist - $60

this next frugal item is the cheapest by far—it was free! i found it in a dumpster. in our previous loft, we lived right next to a hair salon. i was looking out my window and remember seeing one of the employees dragging it out to the dumpster. as soon as they left, i immediately dragged my husband out and we carried it upstairs (begrudgingly, i might add). the top round circle is where the logo of the hair product line, TIGI, was located, so i immediately painted over it with some funky design and colors, and voila! instant bookshelf.

cost - FREE

now, since we live in a loft, i thought it would only be appropriate to maintain that urban/raw feel throughout. i really wanted the decor to reflect this look, so when it came to buying a container for the dog food, i immediately gravitated towards this 'trash can' as a solution. it wasn't as cheap as i would have liked, but it was still a reasonable price and a much more attractive interpretation than some of those hideous plastic dog food containers.

cost from the container store - $35

i loved this look of the 'trash can' so much, that i decided to actually use a trash can for our trash can and our recycle bin (located outside on our patio). you can't beat the cost, and they're available at home depot.

aluminum trash can as our regular garbage bin purchased

from home depot cost - $12

larger version of this aluminum trash can purchased from home depot - cost $14

this next frugal decorating idea is a little more 'clean' than the previous items.

re-used wine bottles for olive oil, red wine vinegar and basil flavored olive oil. not only do they add a lot of color to our countertops, but they're quite practical at the same time. i love having these within reach while i'm cooking (which isn't very often, unfortunately) and because they're not labeled, per se, i always know that the green bottle is for the basil flavored olive oil (get it, green for basil..), the yellow and orange bottles are for the plain olive oil and of course, the red bottle is for the red wine vinegar.

once you're finished drinking your wine, just peel off the labels and voila! a colorful useful bottle. pop in pour spouts (you can find these at any liquor store or home decorating store and they only cost $1–$2 at the most) and it's ready to pour.

it's a perfect solution at an inexpensive price.

cost - $10+ for a bottle of wine

(don't remember the name of the wine, but you can't miss them)

i know most of you have already seen my coveted gumball/candy machine, but i wanted to share it again because i feel it's completely appropriate for this segment of my blog. as you can see, this space at the end of our bar was boring and bland. once i added the gumball machine, it gave it new life. now it holds delicious m&m peanut butter candy so in addition to looking bright and colorful while mouthwatering at the same time, it's like a piggy bank as well!

you can find these all over eBay at a very low cost.

cost on eBay - $20 + S&H

my recent frugal addition—vintage billiard balls. don't ask me why, but i love the look of them. i love their color combinations and love how they really add so much life to a once boring coffee table.

since i don't play pool, nor do we own a pool table, i figured it would be easy to just look on eBay for vintage billiard balls. i personally love the yellowing patina that the vintage look gives while displayed in a triangle. and in my glass bowl, there are two sets of mixed and matched billiard balls—one set is very vintage (as you can see from the pictures) and the other set is just an older mixed set of balls that were selling on eBay.

before i put the balls in the glass bowl, i never really had any idea what to fill it with until i purchased the vintage balls and left them in a triangle on the table itself, and realized how cool it would be to fill the bowl with a plentiful amount of balls as well—both old and new.

i love the end result.

cost on eBay - vintage set in triangle $20 + S&H, 1 set in bowl - $15 + S&H and

2nd set in bowl $5.50 + S&H, triangle cost on eBay $7.99 with free S&H

i don't know about you, but i hate having DVDs and games lying around in a mess in my home. since we have a small space, i always feel like having too much junk lying around makes it look even more cluttered. so for another space saving solution, i use these old galvanized bins to store blankets and the controllers and games for our Wii. they easily fit underneath our large glass coffee table, so again, another perfect space saving solution for our household.

cost at pottery barn teen - $30

this bin, although not cheap in comparison, is the perfect size for games and controllers for our Wii, and easily tucks underneath our coffee table.

i never knew what to do with this ice tub that i purchased several years ago, so i took it out of storage and now i use it to store our blankets for when we're watching TV or just lounging on the sofa. i have never been a fan of blanket throws over our sofa, so for us, this is perfect! like the bin for our Wii games and controllers, it easily tucks underneath our coffee table.

having the Wii balance board and the two bins underneath our glass coffee table is another resolution. it works for us and it works for the larger table and keeps things within reach, without cluttering up your living area at the same time.

last, but definitely not least is this commercial shelving unit that we use for our daughter's bedroom. since her bedroom is small, we wanted to create another space saving solution where she can put her dollhouse (bottom), her hamster cage, TV, and games and other toys easily within reach. naturally, it had to look cool, too!

cost from sam's club - $79

i hope this post can give you some excellent space saving and cost saving ideas for your home, and realize that you don't need to spend a lot of money for your home decor. just use your imagination and some research—like craigslist in your area and eBay, or local estate and garage sales.

but most importantly, have fun while decorating. i love being on the hunt for these great finds as you never know what you'll find.

look, up in the sky...

2010-10-27T18:28:00.002-06:00

it's a bird. no, it's a plane. no, it's superman!

superman flying - pop art design by one girl creative 2010

yes, that famous superhero that we all know and love has brought back a renewed sense of nostalgia for me these past few weeks. don't know why exactly, just know that i love the whole superhero concept and anything related to it. because let's face it, in this day and age of technology du jour, i love the simplicity of a comic strip superhero.

many of us have not grown up with superman, et al, but we definitely are familiar with their origins and what they represent. show a picture of superman to a 4 year old boy, and i assure you, he'll just GET it. his reaction and excitement will not only surprise you, but enlighten you at the same time.

how can something so simple and fictitious create such happiness to a young, naive little boy? because as a little boys, they understand what it's like in all their dreams and their glory to become the perfect superhero (even if only in their mother's eyes at that time in their life).

even though i didn't grow up watching these superhero shows or cartoons, i can appreciate—now as an adult—what they represent to our culture. for me, they represent more than just a cartoon or a superhero, but within our pop culture of our own unique universe, something that is beyond innocent and timeless. i love what it represents, because personally, its meaning is an art, a timeless art. if you flip through the pages of any comic strip—old or new—you immediately get a sense of being thrown into a time machine and going elsewhere in your existence; an existence that only you can comprehend.

for me, it's about childhood and being born all over again. feeling that while your life starts anew, you can look forward without trepidation about the mundanes of everyday life, but your happy childhood instead.

don't grow up. enjoy your life.

black and white color

2010-09-17T17:38:00.005-06:00

what, black and white color??? what does that mean? what it means is, i love creating black and white photos and then adding splashes of color here and there to 'spice' up the image.

sometimes, having a black and white photo may seem dull, but with splashes of color juxtaposed with the black and white composition, it can really add life to any photograph.

i recently started experimenting with a few photos of my own so here they are. hope you like them!

i came across this cool 'sculpture' in front of an unidentified building in london

jubilee bridge in london

apple store in london

i had the pleasure of seeing one of these retro double-decker buses in london, and

since they have recently been 'retired,' it was a rare find

doubles champions - 2010

a loft and a pug

my kitchen

simple photo of lady bugs

common design crap

2010-09-01T12:19:00.004-06:00

i recently came across this little bit of news via twitter (gotta love the whole tweeting thing) about iStock soon-to-arrive stock logos. are you kidding me, iStock??? how is the whoring of commercialized logo design a positive direction? not only will this give clients/business owners even more credence to purchasing cheap logos in lieu of good valued logos designed from a reputable graphic designer, but it cheapens our field as a whole. so what else is new?

as if we don't have enough to worry about, this just only adds a whole new dimension of people wanting to belittle our field even more.

i've never been against the internet, in fact, i love it. i love the whole social networking idea as a whole—as long as it's not taken out of proportion (mafia wars, anyone?). and i admit, i have even used stock photos for ad campaigns out of sheer urgency and of course, when i can't as a freelance designer, afford to hire a professional photographer myself.

but stock logos? come on. as much as i'd love to admit this is the same thing, it truly isn't. there is a huge difference when needing to hire a photographer for photos and setting up a whole photo session than hiring a graphic designer to design a logo for you. so i ask, how is iStock going to pull this off? will they submit homogenized logos that can be interchangeable and requested by the purchaser? obviously not everybody has the same business name, so how will this work?

apparently iStock will only sell these logos as a one-time gig. meaning quite simply, that once a customer purchases a specific design from their website, that particular logo will no longer be available and will be listed as "sold." ummm...ok.

but here's the catch, for the designer that created the logo, they have to adhere to iStock's copyright policy in order to sell said logo. so for the graphic designer who is creating the logo, how is this a good thing?

seriously? and the customer actually thinks this is worth it? oh, and i forgot to mention that according to iStock's website, they will be selling these logos for a lot more than their average vector or photograph—their reasoning of course being that since it's a one-time deal, it's supposedly unique.

i'm still trying to figure out how this is advantageous for the business than just finding a good, talented graphic designer to sit down and go over your needs for your next logo project, and having that personal creative touch to your logo? no strings attached.

please, someone enlighten me here.

as anybody could imagine, i'm having a really difficult time accepting this new 'trend.' it's bad enough i have been unemployed for several months now due to the economy and let's face it, a saturated design field, but now i'm competing with stock logos online???

this definitely will bring a whole new dimension to graphic design. will it be for the worse or the better? only time will tell, but i'm afraid it won't go away anytime soon. as long as there are customers out there willing to spend money on this shortcut design, then it'll continue to flourish.

for now, i'll just continue to plug away and hope that my clients appreciate good, authentic and personalized graphic design instead of this common design crap.

live and learn

2010-08-26T07:35:00.003-06:00

who would have thought that my own personal advice would come back and bite me in the ass. a few years ago, i wrote about how we as artists shouldn’t fall prey to spec design. spec design is quite simply, doing the work before you’re compensated for it. i have always been confused by this ongoing problem with graphic designers, but it seems to be a common problem in my field.

this baffles me.

i won’t jump on my soap box just yet. what i wrote about a few years back in 2008 still holds true for me. unfortunately, given my recent vulnerability due to my unemployment status, i figured I’ll do a little bit of work just to make sure the client knows what they’re getting from me is not only good work, but so they’ll ultimately be 'wowed' with the finished product.

i was recently contacted via email about a company wanting to hire me to design some pop art images for their soon-to-be opening boutique in florida. this company sells couture designer items that have been pre-owned and at a much cheaper cost than buying them brand new.

the owner loved my pop art pieces of louis vuitton and chanel handbags, and wanted me to stick with this same concept of using designer items to hang throughout his boutique with a pop art twist. the only difference between my original designs and the ones he wanted for his boutique are a change of colors to reflect the colors in his logo and more designer items to add to their overwhelming assortment of items for sale.

when i spoke to his partner on the phone, he said he wanted me to come up with some designs to send his way, and if they like them, they will then allow me to “go to town” with whatever designs i wanted.

i made it very clear that typically i don't do spec work without some sort of compensation beforehand, and as he started to say he was ok with that—me like the weak person that i am, went ahead and said i would send him a design or two without an upfront deposit.

what was i thinking? because i got tongue-tied in the process, i assured him that i will only do a few pieces to send his way as jpegs. ugh!

here is where the frustration begins.

naturally, i went ahead and created a few designs—which thankfully didn’t take too long of my time—and immediately emailed to him.

next day—nothing.

day after—nothing.

day after that—nothing, so i decided to get proactive and i contacted him to let him know that if either of the designs that i sent him were not acceptable, to please let me know and I’m happy to change whatever colors or designs he wanted.

still, nothing.

it has now been almost a week and i have yet to hear from either of them.

yes, again i was screwed over. for whatever reason, i don’t know. all i do know is i didn’t get compensated for my time, nor did they even have the courtesy to get back to me to say yay or nay. nothing!

like we always say—“live and learn.” if only i had followed my own advice (as well as many others in my field) and not accepted it without a deposit up front.

so even though i didn’t get compensated, nor did i get to “go to town” with designs with this particular businessman, i will now learn by this mistake and move forward and hope that whatever business venture or client comes my way, i will continue to present a contract to them and require my typical 30–50% deposit up front before i start the work.

i'm mad, and i could kick myself, but at this point, you just have to learn from your mistakes and move on.

http://www.no-spec.com/

Louis Vuitton Speedy

Louis Vuitton Mini-Noé

bond, james bond

2010-08-04T08:56:00.002-06:00

those of you who know me, know that i have an unusual love for anything and everything james bond. i own every single move on DVD—except for diamonds are forever (but i'm still on the hunt for that). so much, that i recently spent $$$ to change 4 of my character's names from my world of warcraft account to reflect any female or male character from the james bond series from its original big screen inception of dr. no in 1962. now all 6 of my active characters each have james bond-related names—kissysuzuki from you only live twice, rogermoore, camillé from quantum of solace, vesperlynd from casino royale, tiffanycase from diamonds are forever and of course, our favorite, høneyryder from dr. no.

i even have a series of james bond pop art designs i created as my personal tribute to the super-manly agent.

what is wrong with me, you ask? simple. i love james bond. i love what it represents. the retro-lifestyle of living as a secret agent and traveling all over the world fighting 'bad guys' is a fantasy i have always envisioned. will it ever come true? of course not. but it's fun to daydream about, isn't it?

fantasize about someone like daniel craig emerging from the water wearing nothing but tight, slim swimming trunks are to every girl's fantasy. so who wouldn't want to be his go-to gal? minus the typically dying at the end scenario, i think it's the perfect dream come true.

dashing off to europe on a moment's notice while in tow with my superhunk to protect me sounds so exhilarating, doesn't it? And when we head "home" after all of the traveling, we arrive to our mid-century modern home equipped with the latest technology and sportscars in the garage.

Ahh, if only life were this simple.

daniel craig as james bond 007

sean connery as james bond 007

george lazenby as james bond 007

roger moore as james bond 007

pierce brosnan as james bond 007

timothy dalton as james bond 007

more world of warcraft screenshots

2010-07-11T10:48:00.002-06:00

as promised, i am adding more screenshots that i have taken this week. enjoy!

blood elf paladin, vesperlynd - (level 22) - silvermoon city

draenei hunter (with raptor pet, goldfinger), rogermoore - (level 36) - darnassus

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - felwood

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - un'goro crater

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - on flight in isle of quel'danas

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - sunset in scholozar basin

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - maestra's post, ashenvale

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - duskwood (in front of boss)

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - isle of quel'danas

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - hinterlands

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - darkshore, auberdine

night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - netherstorm (outland)

the world inside world of warcraft

2010-07-08T13:08:00.004-06:00

it was the end of january of this year, and i was bored. unemployed and bored. the weather was cold and wet, and since my daughter was in school for most of the day, i needed something to occupy my time. i have never been one of those people who can spend their entire day at a health club (not that i shouldn't, however), but always had a passion for video games. yes, i admit, since the age of 14 in 1979, while stealing quarters from my dad's change bucket and heading to the nearest pizza shop to play pac man, i have always loved video games.

i just chalk it up to the fact that i am a graphic designer, therefore i have a special appreciation for anything that's computer created.

fast forward to this century and with video games being everywhere—whether you play directly from your computer or a console—they have become the fastest-growing and most popular industry that we know of today.

now keep in mind, i have a mac. i love my mac. can't imagine my life without my mac, but if you're a video game junky like me, you soon realize that your options are unfortunately limited for this platform. sad, but true.

so by the time i exhausted my play of the first person shooter game, no one lives forever, i needed another outlet to enhance my appreciation for video games. but which one? it seems anything out there are army related (hate it), alien related (hate it), or worse, crime related—definitely hate it.

a virtual friend of mine who is also a graphic designer (thanks, nate) recommended world of warcraft—but he soon warned, it is very addicting. well, since on the average, i would play a video game for maybe an hour at the most, i figured i could handle it.

boy was i wrong, and he was right. ever since i started playing, i have been glued to my computer ever since. sad, but true. but it's not just playing the game itself that caught my attention, but the world within world of warcraft that piqued my interest overall.

i couldn't believe how detailed and expansive this world was. and i felt it was never-ending. even after 7 months of playing religiously everyday, i still have yet to visit every single area in the game.

since i'm mostly an alliance player (for those of you non-world of warcraft fans, i won't delve into what all of this means for the time being), i am not that familiar with the horde areas within the game. and since i have two level 80 characters and several more that i'm working on leveling, the alliance areas are mostly what i'm familiar with at the current time. however, since i recently created a horde blood elf paladin, hopefully i'll soon be leveling quickly in search of the unchartered horde territories that i now know.

in november of this year, blizzard (creators of world of warcraft) will be releasing a much-anticipated expansion called cataclysm. it's supposed to be their biggest expansion yet! i'm excited, yet bittersweet at the same time. most of the classic areas of world of warcraft—known as azeroth—will be completely altered. will it be for the best? i don't know. only time will tell. but for now, i wanted to capture as many screenshots as i could as a keepsake of what azeroth was like before cataclysm ruined it all.

so even though i discussed my love (a.k.a. addiction) of this game when i first started playing, and my night elf druid was my one and only character at the time, i wanted to give a much-needed update to my playing experience.

so please enjoy these screenshots that i have attached. i plan on making this a work in progress until november to try and capture most (most likely not all) of the azeroth areas. and now that i have a horde character, hopefully i can explore farther to give a much broader perspective of the game.

i will post more screenshots as i go along in the game.

enjoy!

my night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - teldrassil

my night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - darnassus

my night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - moonglade

my draenei mage, kissysuzuki - (level 50) - bloodmyst isle

my blood elf, vesperlynd - (level 15) - silvermoon city

my draenei death knight, camillé - (level 80) - crystalsong forest

my draenei death knight, camillé - (level 80) - coldarra

my draenei death knight, camillé - (level 80) - star's rest in dragonblight

my night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - zangarmarsh

my night elf druid, høneyryder - (level 80) - sporeggar

my draenei death knight, camillé - (level 80) - fizzlecrank's flight strip in borean tundra

my draenei death knight, camillé - (level 80) - the storm peaks

my draenei death knight, camillé - (level 80) - dragonblight

work of art: the next great artist

2010-06-26T10:11:00.008-06:00

bravo's new show is the latest stroke on the reality canvas. bravo has brought golden globe and emmy award winner sarah jessica parker and her production company, pretty matches, together with the emmy-nominated magical elves ("top chef," "project runway") and eli holzman, to produce "work of art: the next great artist," an hour long creative competition series among contemporary artists. work of art will bring together fourteen aspiring artists to compete for a solo show at a nationally recognized museum and a generous cash price of $100,000.

in each episode of "work of art," contestants are faced with the challenge of creating unique pieces in a variety of mediums such as painting, sculpture, photography, collage and industrial design. the weekly assignements on bravo's "work of art: the next great artist" alongside a new celebrated guest judge every week. through a gallery showing at the end of each challenge on bravo's "work of art: the next great artist," these industry select dictate which artists have successfully mastered the subject matter and creation of their piece, as well as whose concept leaves the greatest impact. - source: poptower.com

as i watched the first few episodes, i was intrigued. at first, i wasn't into it, but since i'm an artist, reluctantly i continued to watch. absorbing each artists' process was capturing, as well as intimidating. i almost felt like a voyeur as i continued to observe their neuroses, only to have the feeling of being able to empathize with their frustrations myself. sometimes i wonder if put in that type of situation, would i be able to succumb to the high-pressure competition of this caliber. would i succeed? or would i be eliminated after the first round? obviously, since i have no desire to appear on a reality show, i wouldn't audition to begin with.

all of that being said, i find it fascinating how any artist—who typically needs time to create their personal masterpieces—can even work in such conditions. i know i couldn't. but then again, i am in the field of advertising where—given if i was employed at the moment—i would be dealing with this high-pressure, deadline atmosphere on a daily basis.

but there is a fine line between fine art and graphic design, where graphic design deals with commercialism and its eye-capturing content to sell the latest product, and fine art is more subjective. it deals with each individual artist's perception of what they're creating, and whether or not it appeases them. something conceptual, however, can be very daunting considering that the end result is not necessarily an eye-pleasing work of art, but on the contrary, to capture a story from the artist's point of view, thus leaving the viewer confused about its subsequent concept.

i have a saying that sums it up nicely: graphic design is for the client, art is for the artist. meaning that from a designer's perspective, we create solely on what the client wants and desires, regardless of what we feel is compositionally appropriate. but as an artist, we create for ourselves, and nobody else. it's our choice and our personal masterpiece—whether it's appreciated and enjoyed, or not, is irrelevant. because in the end, it's for us.

regardless of what bravo's intent is with this show, i love it and hope it continues to thrive as much as their competitive counterparts (i.e. "top chef," "top design", et al), because if it's just one more outlet for an artist to showcase their work without the stress and worries of where their materials will come from for their next composition, then i am all for it. because you know, we are starving artists.

for now, i will continue to watch this masterpiece.

i will end this with a quote from one of my favorite artists, frida kahlo. "i am not sick. i am broken. but i am happy as long as i can paint."

right or wrong?

2010-06-01T10:12:00.025-06:00

recently i was approached about one of my pop art designs—batphone. the person whose image this belonged to was upset by my use of his photograph for my design/artwork. imagine my surprise when receiving this email. i didn't take the image and use it as my own, i distorted the image to create my pop art design.

(due to copyright issues, i am unable to post the image of the design in question). and for that, i apologize.

this particular phone was really cool. it reminded me of the phone during the 1960s batman series that was frequently shown throughout the show. at the time of creating my pop art design, i had no intentions of using a 'batphone' per se, but an old, retro-styled phone.

when i came across this particular image during my google search of a retro-styled phone, i was thrilled. i thought this is just perfect, i can easily create something retro and stylistic and have it look groovy at the same time. it would go perfectly with my retro-filled theme at the time i created this design.

since my first day of art school, i was told by art professors that when you take an original photograph and obstruct its purpose or originality, it's completely legit. one of my first projects during my freshman year at parsons school of design was just that—take an original work of art, and thwart its logic. in this particular case involving the "batphone," i took said image into photoshop, wiped away the background completely, and added my own color and flair to what i thought at the time—a somewhat simple image. this is my process. i do it with most of my pop art pieces and i change them completely to suit my own artistic needs.

let's put a few things into perspective, shall we.

for starters, this process has been going on for decades. how did andy warhol capture that infamous campbell's tomato soup image? from memory? i think not. what about his infamous brillo pad boxes? same thing. this is how the term pop art originated. an expression of commercialism.

i recently came across this website deconstructing roy lichtenstein's famous comic book pop art and how he took the exact images from comic books, in addition to the speech bubbles, and incorporated them into his now famous works of art.

was this approved and accepted? most likely not. but with the advent of internet, things are much more complicated and easily accessible.

andy warhol's silkscreened brillo soap pad boxes

andy warhol's campbell's tomato soup, 1964, silkscreen on canvas

pop art noun

art based on modern popular culture and the mass media especially as a critical or ironic comment on traditional fine art values.

The term is applied specifically to the works, largely from the mid 1950s and 1960s, of a group of artists including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jasper Johns, who used images from comic books, advertisements, consumer products, television, and the movies.

during the 2008 presidential election of barack obama, graphic designer/illustrator/artist shephard fairey has been under criticism and is currently undergoing a lawsuit for his representation of his artwork provided for obama's 2008 "HOPE" presidential campaign. in 2009, it was revealed that reuters photographer, mannie garcia, made claims that fairey took his 2006 photograph of then senator barack obama and used it as his own to create this now famous illustration.

shephard fairey's illustration for barack obama's 2008 HOPE campaign

late 19th century bohemian moulin rouge artist, henri de toulouse-lautrec, apparently used this process as well. he would use original images and create his illustrations representing these images. isn't that how art works? you use a photograph as a still representation to create a painting, illustration, etc. as a way to capture that image without doing so from memory?

regardless of what is right or wrong, as an artist, i am very apprehensive to agree with such claims that this is wrong or considered copyright infringement. and just because you find an image on the internet, it doesn't necessarily make it copyright protected—there are still legal channels to pursue to copyright protect your images/art. yes, if someone took my original artwork and signed their name to it, would i be upset? of course, that's a different story entirely. but to take a photograph that you get from the internet and change its original intent to your own, is this wrong as well? it's a dilemma we all face as artists.

i also found this particular pop art creation by artist, billi kid. the original photograph is a famous mugshot of the late, frank sinatra. clearly, the artist's intent was not to 'steal' the photograph/mugshot, but to distort its content, thus turning it into his own unique composition.

same thing, right?

billi kid sinatra stencil by artist, billi kid

spray paint and stencil on wood panel

i'm sure there are many gray areas on this subject, but for now, i will leave it at this. i would love to hear your thoughts on this problem. do you think it's wrong to take an image that was found on the internet and create a painting from this image? or my process of turning it into a pop art creation?

tell me your thoughts. i'm listening.

regardless, my process is my process, and will most likely not change. i assure you, i am not the first artist to implement this process, nor will i be the last, however, that being said, out of respect for the original "photographer" of this batphone image, i chose to politely remove any and all representations of my design out of respect for his request. i am no longer selling this particular piece, nor do i have it displayed anywhere on my website, blog, facebook, et al.

heck, it never sold anyway.

the gumball machine

2010-03-24T09:15:00.010-06:00

ok, we all know by now how much i love color incorporated into my home. but what i really love is adding fun and whimsical items, as well. items that most people wouldn't expect inside someone's home.

alas, the gumball machine.

it's an old iconic ware that you see in almost any retail outlet, but never in one's home. i have always believed that not only does a gumball machine add flare and color to your decor, but it adds a little bit of fun, as well. it can also act as a piggy bank for all of the candy or gum that must be paid with only 10¢. so for just a measely dime, you get a handful of gum or candy to enjoy.

another aspect of this colorful metal box is what a wonderful conversation starter it is. every time my daughter has one of her friends over for a playdate, inevitably they gravitate towards that gumball machine begging me for a dime (or two, or three...). at this point, it's not about the candy or the gum that's inside, but the whole concept of inserting the dime and watching the candy flow. it's fun and the kids love it.

so if you ever want to add some simple color to your home and give it a little bit of fun at the same time, consider a gumball machine. it's cheap and simple, but can add a whole lot of fun. and it fills that perfect spot on my countertop, too.

i purchased mine on ebay about 4 years ago for only $20. you definitely can't beat that.

color in a beige world

2010-02-19T11:35:00.007-07:00

i love color. i truly do. so it only seems appropriate for me to not just discuss how color makes us feel, but how it makes everything look and how it can brighten any room or decor!

i have always incorporated color into my home some way or another. and as i got older, i added more and more within my surroundings. it made me happy. it filled my world with bright, beautiful vibrant colors all around me. i have always believed that color can affect a person's mood or their overall personality when they're surrounded by it daily. color isn't just a visual mood, it's an emotional one, as well.

what we don't understand is, bright colors in the home aren't just for a childs room, but it can be ideal for the entire home as well. do you ever notice when you go into a home that is filled with beige walls and taupe upholstery, how it doesn't project the same feeling that it does when you walk into a colorful child's room? there's a reason for that. not just because there are toys strewn about, but because of the array of bright colors permeating throughout. it's a feeling that i cannot explain, but always like to convey visually.

you just know.

i admit, since i studied color theory in college, i am a bit biased on the subject, but i truly believe if everybody assimilated some splash of color into their home or office environment, not only would their frame of mind feel transformed, but their overall attitude would as well.

the use of color in your personal habitat can definitely bring a sense of sublime, and not just on an emotional level. as an artist, i have always been a firm believer in creating the type of surroundings that not only make you feel at home and at ease, but comfort.

which leaves me to ask—why don't the majority of people add more color to their interior environment? is it the fear that it could be too bold or a fear of being too overwhelming? or simply put, they don't know how? regardless of what the reasons are, give it a try—if not splashes of color here and there with maybe a colored vase, a colorful chair or ottoman, a small area rug—regardless of what you choose to add that little bit of bright to your life, color that you might not normally appreciate, can make a huge difference to your beige decor. even if white is your decorative hue of choice, adding a splash of color can brighten any room from afar.

so please, add some color into your life. you'll be happy you did.

pantone rubik's cube - color matching for nerds

fusion by wet water basin

it's all in the package

2010-02-13T21:18:00.021-07:00

as a graphic designer, i am frequently approached about my taste and opinion on specific things in life—color scheme, layout, where should i hang that picture—the list can be endless. but one thing i am never asked is how do i choose a specific product for my home. i'm sure it's under the assumption like the rest of society, that how we choose our favorite product is strictly based on its use which is suitable to each individual's needs.

unfortunately, this is where i differ from the average consumer. i am a little more choosy when it comes to picking my everyday household products, such as shampoo, dishwashing liquid, toothpaste—the possibilities are infinite. how i look at this dilemma is simple—if it looks good out in the open, i'll buy it. regardless of what i choose, the packaging is a huge contributing factor to my ultimate decision. i will even go as far as paying more for a product, as long as the packaging is "cool" and has the right look in my home. to most, this is a foolhardy approach when purchasing an everyday product such as tampons, but for myself—the quintessential artist and designer—i am much more particular.

there are reasons why the product companies go to such lengths to hire expensive—sometimes aloof—advertising agencies to design their next cool package. because they are in search of the few picky consumers like myself, only to fall prey to their beautiful, modern packaging in hopes of owning such a “masterpiece.” considering within each store, there is an overabundance of products to choose from. how does one choose? what better way than with cool packaging to “jump out” at the consumer.

as we know, this is the ultimate goal of a particular product and its advertising affiliates. but the majority of consumers don't care about how the package looks, but simply, how it works. i would say that advertising execs would refer to me as their "ideal consumer." going shopping in search of that ‘perfect’ bottle or box. intoxicated by the superfluous of bright colors on the shelves, looking out at me, wishing i would pick it up, if only for a moment, to appreciate and enjoy.

i immediately place it into my shopping cart beaming as i am en route to the cashier. i have—albeit momentarily—fulfilled my goal.

at times, i admit that occasionally i will have to bend my rules and purchase a plain and simple bathroom cleaner or deodorant, perhaps something a bit more user-friendly, if only for practical purposes. i assure you, they will be hidden out of sight with the rest of the ‘packaging rejects’ to not take away from my bright, polychromatic loft.

pantone colored buttons

innisfree

method mop by target

lisa & chad wine bottles

student project: erica hill

six fruit drink

student project: erica hill

spectrum art supply line

mugo mp3 player

cravendale milk

french rabbit wine

pop art with a twist

2010-01-24T11:15:00.006-07:00

something i have become passionate about in these past few years is creating pop art pieces. whether it's a custom piece, a famous celebrity, or just your favorite pet, i enjoy sitting down in front of my computer, on my own terms, and creating these pop art designs.

since i am a graphic designer, i have always loved my field and my craft, but in recent months, i have become worn out on the daily criticisms and demands of the client-designer relationship. it can take an emotional toll on one's psyche, to say the least, but for the most part, the end result is more than satisfactory. this doesn't, however, deter me from finding a new passion within the same realm of digital art—but this time, it comes with a twist.

recently i discovered last year during a business trip to the new york stationery show, how i noticed what is HOT right now—silhouette art. i realize it's true with all things being cyclical, that seeing as the silhouette as an art form has been around since the 1700s, i immediately became intrigued with its update and facelift. with bright colors and flair to give it that "pop," i knew i had found my calling.

naturally, i started with my daughter as my first subject, and added a bright pink for the background and her name in a fancy script font—then voila! it looks gorgeous on the wall in her room. printed on gallery wrapped canvas and ready to hang, it gives the appearance of a masterpiece in your own home, for a fraction of the cost.

you can view my etsy shop here for more details on how to purchase one.

vector version

printed on gallery wrapped canvas - 1.5" borders

my new addiction — world of warcraft

2010-01-03T09:05:00.008-07:00

sad, isn't it? i am a grown woman, mother of one, wife of one, full time graphic designer, and i am still finding the time to sit down and play world of warcraft? yes, i'm afraid i do. i admit, being a graphic designer i love everything about cool graphics and the like. whether it be movies with special effects or an interesting website showing the talent of that particular web designer. i love it all!

additionally, what falls within this category are video games. they're everywhere and they're hot! it's the most profitable industry out there. i only wish i could have gotten a piece of that pie as the world of video games first appeared on the scene. maybe i was born during the wrong generation, but i always wish i could have had the education and wherewithal to learn everything there is to know in becoming a gaming designer. maybe it's something i would have grown tiresome of—which seems to fall within every job category these days—or maybe i would have actually loved my job and made great money at the same time? at this point in my life, these are answers i will never have. talk about endless nights in front of a storyboard.

all of that "wishing" aside, i recently started playing the mega video game, world of warcraft. now keep in mind, i have only been at it for a good week now and i realize there is much more to learn within this amazing world. for instance, i still cannot seem to figure out the whole goal and purpose of this game. is it to just gain more quests to go farther and farther within the game? is it the goal to try and explore and discover new "worlds" instead? i honestly have no idea. i have tried to read up on world of warcraft from their direct website as well as the creators, blizzard, but so far, i'm still at a loss.

admittedly, with most video games, when you start anew, there is always that frustrating learning curve you encounter on a daily basis until one day, you just get it! ahh the bliss and accomplishment of that moment.

we finally got the wii system for the holidays and being a person that loves everything and anything james bond 007, i bought the wii james bond 007: quantum of solace game only to be frustrated with my lack of shooting abilities. why can't i aim it properly? i seem to be aiming the gun in the air instead of at the villians. ugh! either way, i will conquer this quest to be proficient as a wii game shooter if it's the last thing i do! :)

for now, i will continue to enjoy the world of warcraft environment to which i have so become accustomed, and my character, 'kyraline', will prosper and go forward! i made the step to go from trial user to the full upgrade, so i think i'm ready!

wish me luck!

my world of warcraft character, "kyraline"

england - everything i hoped and imagined, and more!

2009-10-31T12:17:00.007-06:00

a few days ago, i returned from a two week long trip abroad to one of my much ancitipated countries, england. since i had never visited england before, i had always dreamed of visiting this beautiful country in hopes of discovering more history than i had imagined.

at first, i was nervous. mainly because even though it's an english speaking country, i knew i was in another country, and therefore i wanted to be as respectful as possible towards their customs and way of life. considering i had to learn a whole new way of currency (the £ vs. the $), and of course, driving on the left side of the road—which till this day, still added confusion and loss to my right side of the road driving perspective—but i still anticipated awe and enjoyment during my brief visit.

not only are the english very respectful and kind as a whole, i love listening to their eloquent accents compared to our american accents—which of course, all things relative, is what i'm used to here in the americas—but what i hadn't anticipated was that they thought i was the one with the accent. go figure!

all kidding aside, i stayed at a quaint hotel located in the city of brighton overlooking the sea. it was bliss all the way around. i frequently walked around in the evenings and soaked up the energy that filled this urban town and continued to enjoy the sights. on the weekend, i took the train from brighton to london and per usual, did the "cheesy" american tourist-thing. i had always dreamed of visiting buckingham palace, big ben, et al, so even though pictures cannot describe the beauty and detail in the ornate historical architecture surrounding the city of london, i took many pictures to capture my trip, nevertheless.

enjoy!

buckingham palace

gates to green park (across from buckingham palace)

big ben - house of parliament

tower of london

underground subway (the "tube")

going across the london bridge

view from the london eye (i believe we were at the top)

another view from inside the london eye

busy street!

lucky i caught one of these original red double-decker buses. they were recently retired and now you mainly see newer ones, so this was a rare treat!

and of course, last but not least – the apple store on oxford st.

stephen sprouse (1953–2004)

2009-10-04T09:41:00.018-06:00

stephen sprouse

stephen sprouse was one of the most innovative and unique fashion designers of his time. he was not only a fashion designer, but an artist. stephen studied fashion design at the rhode island school of design, but never finished. he got his start by interning for veteran designer, bill blass when he was only 14 years old. at the age of 18, stephen worked as an assistant for coveted design haute couture, halston. a much coveted position and visionary enabled stephen to branch out into his own business, thanks to the financial backing of his parents—stephen sprouse, inc. was born in 1983.

gorgeous style with bright, bold colors

although his business was rocky to start, his experience working for such credible and well-known fashion design houses gave him much admiration and support from famed artists andy warhol, keith haring, bergdorf goodman, diesel jeans, barney's new york, marc jacobs for louis vuitton and his long time friend, debbie harry (from the 70s pop group, blondie).

window display

in 2001, marc jacobs called stephen with an idea for a new, bold and innovative idea for stephen to design a graffiti line of monogram pieces for louis vuitton. at that point, stephen sprouse was reborn and recognized by the masses. needless to say, it was a huge success and sold out immediately.

stephen sprouse graffiti louis vuitton monogram canvas keepall

in 2004, at the age of 50, stephen sprouse passed away from a long battle with lung cancer. even though he will truly be missed and be respected as one of the top designers of his time—thanks to his bold use of colors mixed with his pop art style—we are lucky to have the advantage of enjoying his wearable art; not necessarily as a collector's item, but to love and enjoy for years to come.

in january 2009, authors roger padilha, mauricio padilha and tama janowitz published an inside pictorial book to showcase stephen sprouse's art and fashion design throughout his years as an artist and a designer. this book is truly a collector's masterpiece and as a personal tribute, i leave it on my coffee table so i can peruse it every day.

there are four different colors available for the book jacket

when i lived in new york city from 1988–1990 while studying graphic design, i used to frequent the art galleries and boutiques down in soho and the village. i loved going to keith haring's POP SHOP on lafayette and houston on a regular basis and while walking on my many travels downtown, i stumbled upon stephen sprouse's boutique which at the time, was unfortunately going out of business. to my surprise, their sale was incredibly affordable and i was able to acquire many pieces from this iconic designer. if not to prey on the business' demise, but because finally, as a starving art student, i was able to actually afford some of his most popular pieces.

sketches by stephen sprouse

in 2003, to my regret, because i was no longer able to wear these beautiful pieces, i sold all of my stephen sprouse clothes on ebay. instead of saving them in hopes of one day being able to wear them again, i felt at the time, that it would be a more financially responsible decision if i could make some decent money, which i did. however, 6 years later, i regret every minute of it, especially that one signature piece, the sequined dress (at least i have a picture of me wearing it for halloween in 1989 as a 60s go-go dancer).

i miss you stephen sprouse, and i miss what could have been produced 5 years after his untimely death, because at the time, in the early 80s, you weren't appreciated for your original concept, but for your bold designs. this is for you, my personal tribute to a designer and an artist.

release your inner barbie

2009-09-29T16:46:00.014-06:00

do i mean barbie, as in THE most famous barbie doll? yup, that would be the one.

apparently this year marks barbie's 50th birthday. damn, she looks good for just turning 50! not only is this a celebratory event for the famous glamour doll, but jonathan adler of jonathan adler designs thinks so, too. he has designed a whole series revolving around everything barbie, which include gorgeous pink furniture, bright pink & black hand embroidered pillows and of course, it wouldn't be complete without a special edition jonathan adler barbie doll to go with this vivacious event. i love it!

imagine my surprise (and sheer pleasure) to see all things pink when i opened up my regular jonathan adler e-mail newsletter. all things pink to go along with his famous modern designs and lacquer accessories. if only i could convince my husband to decorate my bathroom in jonathan's bubble gum pink & black. for now, i can only admire from afar and appreciate jonathan's design sense and modern twist of a popular mid-century icon.

happy birthday, barbie! you look great!

if you're a barbie fan, you will love these glam designs by jonathan adler

new special edition jonathan adler barbie doll - $49.95

then your barbie can recline in this glam-or-ific accessories pack - $49.95

gorgeous bright pink lacquer accessories for your bathroom

check out these gorgeous large barbie plates - $98 set of four

retro barbie needlepoint coin purse - $38

love this funky barbie specs case - $38

or this must-have barbie lipstick case - $28

my addiction to 'joe'

2009-09-20T13:53:00.008-06:00

no, not a guy named joe, but my daily cup of 'joe.' yup, i'm talking about coffee. not just regular coffee mind you, but my daily, early morning cappuccino. that's what i'm addicted to.

i purchased a beautiful—and unfortunately expensive—amazing home consumer, semi-professional espresso machine by expobar. i love this machine. it makes me smile every morning as i walk upstairs and turn it on to heat up. i anxiously await for the red light to turn off, indicating it's ready to go. with eager anticipation, i grind my beans fresh every morning into the portafilter and anxiously await the bold smell of freshly ground espresso coffee.

now, keep in mind, i'm no expert barista by any means, but since i have recently become a cappuccino addict, i knew that i could save quite a bit of money by making my own cappuccino at home instead of spending over $4/day for a venti capp from my local starbucks. because of course, i just had to add a danish or apple fritter to my daily venti capp, which inevitably brought my daily cost to exceed $5/day instead. ugh!

not long after i purchased this beauty, it basically paid for itself just from the money i was saving from my daily spenditure at starbucks. so if anything, it was a purchase well justified.

it was either that or a new louis vuitton handbag. nahhh...definitely wouldn't satisfy me as much as my daily cappuccino. thank you very much!

not the best microfoam, but i am definitely learning (too many bubbles)

definitely on my way, but still a ways to go...

nothing beats freshly ground coffee beans in the morning

i only buy freshly roasted beans from my local roaster. they're the best!

not the best coffee grinder, but for now it'll do. i'm hoping to get a better one soon.

look at that crema....i'm in awe!

oh deer...

2009-09-18T06:59:00.005-06:00

until last week, i worked in the town of boulder, colorado—only 45 miles south of fort collins—and even though boulder is not necessarily a place i would want to live (or can afford to live, for that matter), i enjoyed working there with the beautiful scenery everywhere you turn, especially with the breathtaking views of the flatirons just west of where i worked.

as i was driving from lunch one day, i came across a side road to avoid the construction on the main roads, so as i was driving down this side road, i looked ahead and saw this deer in somebody's front yard—on a busy road—i kept thinking to myself "that statue looks so realistic"—until of course, it moved.

i couldn't believe my eyes. a gorgeous deer outside in front of somebody's yard just standing there as if there weren't 50+ cars driving by at a continuous pace.

well, after seeing such a beautiful creature out in the open like that, i had to stop and snap some pictures. something like this is a rare treat—even in colorado.

enjoy!

tour de fat - new belgium brewery

2009-09-05T16:43:00.007-06:00

every year, local mico-brewer, new belgium, hosts an exciting charitable event throughout the country—tour de fat. i don't know the specifics of this event, but i do know that every year bicyclists around the country ride tandum in this incredible celebratory event in a different city each month. for us this month, it was fort collins, colorado, where new belgium started. what a pleasant surprise to walk out the front door of our loft to see this amazing "parade" right in front of our building.

during this event, cyclists alike can dress up (or dress down) as anything or anyone they wish as they throughout the city on their two-wheeler, but for some, it may even be a 3 or 4 wheeler, depending on the contraption they have created for this lively event.

it's a wonderfully colorful event and knowing that thousands of cyclists are on the road simultaneously is an extreme notion considering in this day and age, where we have become even more reliant on our motor vehicles. it's a pleasant sight, indeed.

you gotta love this homemade "motorcycle" bike

lots of colorful costumes throughout

this guy has it made — sit back and enjoy the ride!

ummm...is that chuckie on the back of that bicycle?

pretty in pink???

now that's the idea...

got milk? (cheesy, i know)

what's the buzz all about?

is that a recumbant bicycle?

surf's up on this bicycle

you say tomato, i say tomato?

how does he get down off of that thing? or how did he climb up?

this was my favorite. army dudes hard at work.

las vegas fun in the sun!

2009-09-04T19:33:00.006-06:00

we just got back from a glorious week long vacation in las vegas last week. since it was a much needed vacation for our family, we enjoyed daily lounging (and drinking) at the pool. we stayed at the hard rock hotel, which is just slightly off the strip, and i must say, it was a perfect spot for a vacation.

we rarely dealt with the regular crowds that you occasionally encounter while walking up and down the strip, and believe me, the hotel was nothing short of perfection. the rooms were clean and large (which was a surprise), and the bed was so comfortable, it was a struggle for us to get out of bed every morning. we could have slept all day, but we didn't want to waste our vacation in our hotel room, so every day promptly at 10 a.m., we headed down to the pool. now keep in mind, there isn't just one pool for your lounging pleasure, but two.

these pools made you feel like you were at a tropical resort. the sand beach and cabanas scattered throughout was a visitor's delight. we enjoyed it immensely! oh, and the waitresses serving you cocktails by the pool made you feel as though you were a celebrity! the service was excellent.

since neither my husband or myself are gamblers, we preferred a smaller casino atmosphere which radiated the surrounding perimeter of the hotel as soon as you walked in the front door. we enjoyed the rock paraphernalia on display everywhere you walked—even retro photographs hung on the walls inside our room—it brought you back to the past each time you walked through the door.

overall, our vacation was relaxing and sublime and i highly recommend during your next visit to las vegas, to give the hard rock hotel a shot.

my husband, kirk, and our daughter, emma.

emma rinsing off the sand

emma and her new friends diving for "treasures"

at the "beach"

here she comes...

cruiser bikes in motion (or parked)

2009-08-22T19:55:00.003-06:00

i love cruiser bikes. everything about them. their comfort, their casual appearance, and of course, their mobility from getting to point a to point b. since i started commuting to work almost a year ago, i haven't had the convenience of riding my bike as often as i used to. i miss those days dearly—when i would walk to work or ride my bike, so as a tribute to these wonderful 'machines,' i am devoting this post to cruiser bikes all around.

for now, the cruiser bikes i have snapped photos of are local—fort collins, colorado—and although there were a plethora of gorgeous cruiser bikes out there, i could only post a few (for now).

this orange beauty is mine...(i had to throw this one in, of course)

pop art blast

2009-08-18T19:57:00.009-06:00

as some of you may know, i am a graphic designer by trade and education, but during a recent unemployment 'stint' in 2007, i was forced to try and make some money decisions while being at home collecting my temporary unemployment checks.

i had tried since 2003 to work freelance design from home, and although i enjoyed it, it wasn't as lucrative as i had hoped—or enjoyable, for that matter. with graphic design, it's about what the client wants, not what the designer wants. one of my design professors from college always used to say—"as a designer, you create for others, but as an artist, you create for yourself." this definitely holds true in the world of graphic and web design.

what else could i do that would provide me the freedom of fine art mixed with computer illustration? the answer? pop art.

it's something i have always had a passion for, but never took to another level personally. until i was laid off in january 2007 from my part time design gig, thus forcing me to take another look at how i could make money while actively looking for another job elsewhere.

from then, i started selling my pop art on ebay which quickly became a profitable—albeit temporary—solution. as i dabbled and experimented on the computer, i quickly found that creating pop art via the computer was better suited using a vector program (i.e. adobe illustrator), not a raster program such as adobe photoshop, which seemed to be the common application for such a task. not only are the lines clean and crisp, but there are no resolution issues when using a vector program, as well. it was a perfect solution for me and for my customers.

here are a few samples of my work—and if you're wanting to purchase some of my pieces, go here. but please be patient, i haven't posted all of my designs to date, but i'm working on it—slowly but surely. if there's a design you're looking for, just check out my bonanzle booth, or contact me directly, and i'm happy to work with you on a custom or already created piece.

bohemian nights at new west fest

2009-08-16T10:57:00.022-06:00

one of my favorite parts of summer here in fort collins is the annual local festival, new west fest. every year at the end of august, the city of fort collins hosts this magical event. in addition to the many local artisans showcasing their handmade goods, this festival wouldn't be complete without the sound of music throughout the day and into the night.

last night during bohemian nights, we had the pleasure of listening to the folk sound of musical talent, melissa etheridge. it was an amazing evening packed with many locals as well as visitors alike. all there for one reason—to enjoy the acoustic sound of melissa's solo talent while the sound of her raspy voice permeated throughout the downtown area. it was nothing short of delight and enjoyment.

although the festival was frequently interrupted with rainstorms throughout the day, it didn't stop visitors enjoying the day. while munching on the many tastes of food right there within our reach, visitors took in their surroundings at the same time. my daughter munched on a good old fashioned hot dog, while i couldn't resist my favorite indian cuisine, saag peneer and naan—and of course, homemade lemonade freshly squeezed right before our eyes. as a treat to end this traditional meal, we enjoyed a delicious funnel cake. simply divine.

after we finished with lunch, we headed over to the kids' area which was packed full with jumpy castles and obstacle courses, as my daughter enjoyed her active time inside the many air-filled arenas, i watched on with admiration and envy. wishing i could be a kid again.

since we wanted to head back on sunday for a day of clearer (and drier) weather, we continued to enjoy the busy surroundings of the downtown area as the weekend came to a close.

before we headed home for the day—and before we came back to listen to the live music in the evening—i had to break down and buy my daughter a handmade one-of-a-kind bow & arrow set. it was the cutest and most imaginative creation, that i had to give in and spend the $8 to get it for her. as often as i can, i love having the opportunity of being able to support local artisans as much as possible. seeing as i am one myself.

end of summer days

2009-08-10T20:43:00.004-06:00

it's that time of year again. the end of summer.

in a way, i'm very sad. mostly because i have enjoyed the gorgeous weather we've had this summer and all the beautiful lush green landscape that continually surrounds us—thank you, mother nature, for bringing us a hefty supply of rain this year. then a part of me is excited for the cooler weather. don't get me wrong, i have loved walking around with my flip-flops everyday and not having to worry about wearing my winter coat, but then i do love the cold and the snow at the same time. which is why i moved to colorado in the first place—skiing. yup, i'm addicted. what can i say. but i have tennis to keep me busy during the summer months while i anxiously await opening day and the arduous annual fight of who will win the much coveted title of the first mountain to open for the year—arapahoe basin or loveland.

as usual, i'm going in a completely different direction than what i intended. to discuss our gorgeous day at our local city pool. it was glorious! not too hot, not too cool. perfect. what more can you ask from a summer's day as it comes to a close?

my daughter enjoyed splashing in the water and riding down the water slides as my husband and i looked on with admiration as we realize how fast she has grown these past short months.

for now, we'll just enjoy her as the active 9 year old girl that she is, because before long, she won't want to be seen with us.

estes park, colorado

2009-08-09T11:14:00.005-06:00

here i go again, blogging about colorado. i never intended this to be a blog about all things colorado, but these past few weeks, we really have been taking advantage of the exciting places and majestic views rampant throughout our beautiful state, that i had to share them with you.

although we went up last weekend, i wanted to touch on it now. my husband, kirk, my daughter, emma, and myself headed up to estes park last weekend for a day in the mountains. since estes park is only a 45 minute drive from our home, it was an easy trek incorporated with a gorgeous drive. and in this day and age of higher gas prices fueled with the poor economy, we didn't feel as though we were wasting money on a days drive up the 'hill.'

upon our arrival, per usual, the summers in estes park are very crowded with tourists alike. although the majority of the tourists seem to be from outside of the colorado area, there were many—like ourselves—within a close proximity wanting to enjoy the mountain air without a few hours drive west of i-70.

in addition to majestic mountains in the background, there wasn't a short supply of rivers flowing and rock formations throughout. it was simply sublime.

many photos were snapped, while we ate lunch at a delicious local pub, and walked around and shopped like the rest of the daily crowd. it was a nice day, coupled with breathtaking views.

pawn shop find

2009-08-08T11:19:00.006-06:00

i recently started collecting stackable anniversary/eternity rings as a way to switch up my wedding ring ensemble. after going to many brick & mortar jewelry stores, i soon realized that these rings were way out of my price range. i tried the massive jewelry section on ebay, only to be overwhelmed again at the overpriced options.

as i was driving my daughter to school one day, i always notice the same reputable pawn shop along our route (if one can call a pawn shop reputable). i figured i'd give it a shot and go in there and see what they had. you always hear how people can find really good deals at a pawn shop, so why wouldn't this hold true for jewelry?

as i walked in, i immediately walked towards the jewelry counter. unbeknownst to me, i was surprised to see the massive amounts of diamond rings looking up at me waiting to be held, tried on and loved once again. as i perused the selection, my eyes continually gravitated towards this one white gold diamond anniversary band, sitting there in the case, looking a little worn and a little dull, but i knew the potential of this "diamond in the rough."

once i tried it on, i knew this was the ring for me. this ring needed to be brought back to life. after paying a mere $175 for what i thought for a ring maybe worth $400—i headed to my trusted jeweler and had him resize it and polish it up for me. i didn't inquire about an appraisal because i honestly didn't think it would be worth the effort to submit to my insurance company.

to my pleasant surprise, my jeweler informed me of its worth—he declared its value at a little over $1,000. naturally, i was shocked by this recent development as i didn't think i had gotten that great of a deal.

who would have thought that such a gorgeous ring purchased from a pawn shop could be worth so much more than i had originally paid? i was thrilled. so much that i now wear it with my pear shaped diamond engagement ring (originally from an estate) which gives it an elegant addition to my wedding combination.

take a look...

only in colorado...

2009-08-03T19:29:00.003-06:00

on my way home from work tonight, i noticed there were a lot of cars pulled off to the side of the road taking pictures of something. when i looked over, i immediately saw these three beautiful elk standing there as if nobody was there taking their picture. it was the most amazing sight, that i had to pull over and take their picture, as well.

i am so happy that i was lucky enough to have my camera conveniently located in my purse, so i immediately grabbed it and snapped away at these gorgeous creatures. makes me only appreciate my surroundings in colorado that much more.

what a breaktaking view...

river in lodo (lower downtown) denver

2009-07-22T07:28:00.007-06:00

a few weekends ago, we decided to head down to denver during the most coveted art festival in the northern colorado region—the cherry creek arts festival. it's an event i have enjoyed since moving to colorado in 1990 and try to get down to every year. although i missed it last year, i couldn't wait to head down this year in hopes of some much needed inspiration.

heading down, although it started out to be a very cloudy day, i knew reminiscent of colorado weather, that ultimately the sun would shine and the heat would be blazing once again.

in preparation for this long, hot event, i suggested to my daughter that she wear her swimsuit underneath her clothes so we can head down to the river in lodo and get a quick swim.

thankfully after enjoying a delicious lunch in cherry creek, we headed west to lodo for a quick dunk. as you can see, my daughter and my husband shown in the river cooling off (as much as one can cool off without completely submerging your head under water), it was a spectacular view and an enjoying day overall. and most importantly, it ended up being a refreshing, cool day.

a recent patio table(s) transformation

2009-07-13T07:14:00.005-06:00

i recently made a somewhat simple transformation of my two patio tables to use as one. as always, i started a search at the beginning of the summer for a large patio table, only to be disappointed (or just couldn't afford). since our dining area is relatively small, i thought why not get a larger table for our large patio, something we could use throughout the summer and warmer months. we have 6 chairs, so a large table would have fit comfortably.

unfortunately, any decent outdoor table that I wanted, cost in excess of $700+. ouch! since that's not really something we can afford right now, i took our two smaller tables that we used on our patio and moved them up together to make one, longer larger table instead. the only downside was since they're both metal tables, they were both in pretty bad shape. one of them had a large area of rust on the top surface, while the other one was peeling pretty badly, making dinners quite a challenge.

after a trip to the hardware store this weekend, i bought some all-weather paint and varnish and voila! a new transformation on our patio. i only wish I would have taken before pictures along with the after, but by the time I thought about it, it was too late. it was a much more cost effective solution for our patio, than buying brand new. and of course, it's the green way to go, as well!

mid-century modern - the incredibles style

2009-06-15T19:58:00.005-06:00

i remember taking my daughter to see the pixar movie, the incredibles, a few short years ago, anxiously awaiting the anticipation of not just another animated movie, but a movie that focuses on the everyday lives of a superhero family known as the incredibles. the name comes from their father—a washed up, overweight superhero once known as mr. incredible (a.k.a. robert parr).

i always fantasized about living the life in a james bond-esque world. perhaps this is why i prefer the old sean connery james bond movies that started in the early 60s, than the most recent ones. there was this mod style that I always grew fond of and daydreamed about, but to see it on the big screen as a cartoon was nothing short of exhilarating.

here are a few movie stills of their mid-century modern interior. enjoy!

to keep or not to keep?

2009-06-14T21:35:00.007-06:00

trying to figure out what to do with this old apple ibook g3 clamshell laptop, is not an easy decision. for those of you who are familiar with this iconic computer, you know that not only are they truly a classic design, but they're on the verge of being considered a collector's item. especially the unique lime green color design.

i purchased this computer a year ago used on ebay, and from that point on, i upgraded the operating system, installed extra ram, added a wireless airport card and replaced the keyboard—all myself. so not only is it special to me since i worked on it from the beginning, the classic retro design is what keeps me from coming back.

however, when i sold it on ebay a month ago, the buyer chose to look at this computer, not as a classic, if you will, but something more intricate. hairy details aside, the buyer chose to send me the computer back for a full refund. upon receiving the computer yesterday afternoon, i immediately gave her a full refund. back to my dilemma once again. i am now debating on whether or not i should choose to keep it and enjoy its whimsical style and ease of use, or try and sell it for another go. what would you do?

now keep in mind, i am not a superstitious person, nor do i believe in karma, but a huge part of me is thinking the reason it arrived back on my doorstep was that maybe, just maybe, it was a sign it came back in my life once again. then of course, the other part of me is thinking $$$. although this computer looks pretty sharp by its outer casing and carrying handle alone, we must remember, at a whopping 366 mhz processor, this computer can't go much faster than my daughter's scooter. and that's with high speed internet.

regardless, i wanted to post a picture of my lime green baby for now, at least to mull it over for a while and see what I decide. ultimately, i know my decision will be the right one for me, but for now, it's at home, safe and sound sitting on our kitchen counter.

taste of fort collins

2009-06-13T17:21:00.005-06:00

considering the continuous rain we have been getting here in northern colorado for the past few weeks, we were all thrilled to look outside this morning and saw a beautiful sun-filled day. thankfully, with the taste of fort collins being this weekend, we were happy to take part in these annual festivities.

because we're lucky enough to live in a loft in the downtown area, this festival was just in our 'backyard' and within close walking distance. since we were all a little bit overwrought with cabin fever as a result, we were nothing short of elated to enjoy the gorgeous weather outside.

letterpress printing - it's back with a vengeance!

2009-06-13T09:16:00.008-06:00

i recently had the pleasure of heading to the stationery show in new york city a few weeks ago,and as i strolled through the trade show, nothing pleased me more than to see an array of letterpress designs throughout. It easily mingled an eclectic style of old world printing mixed with new world modern flair.

while i was there, i had the opportunity of meeting with many letterpress printers who not only inspired me, but gave me some clear and concise insight into the world of letterpress printing.

one company that really stood out to me was Hello!Lucky letterpress printing. their work is simply elegant and timeless, but their color palette was so vivid, i had to post a few pics to give you a sampling of their gorgeous work.

no spec graphic design

2008-01-24T12:11:00.002-07:00

okay, i start this blog out quite simply—as a graphic designer, we deal with this question all the time—"why don't you design some samples before i pay you or hire you."

no, it doesn't work this way. as a graphic designer, we are repeatedly asked to do this task. this is what we call spec work. spec work is when a potential client and/or company is possibly interested in hiring you, but they want you to design their logo, poster, ad, whatever before they pay you. if they like what they see from these specs, they will then hire/pay you.

guess what? it doesn't work like that. that's why, most designers will say no to spec work. this is why we have portfolios to peruse. so you can check out my work and see what i'm capable of. unfortunately, nothing is guaranteed. there might be a chance that the designs i come up will not suit your needs. but guess what? as a professional, i will try my hardest to get it done right for you. regardless. how could these potential clients expect us to honor such an absurd request?

for instance, would you go into a lawyer's office and expect him/her to do the legal work before you give him/her a retainer? or would you go into an architect's office and expect the architect to draft up some ideas before you give them a fee/deposit? of course not.

so why are graphic designers not held to this level? why are we constantly expected to do the work before we get paid? why are we not looked up as a professional? we're here to do a service, as well as create something for your business. it doesn't matter if i'm designing a house for you, or drafting up a will—we are still providing this service which involves our expertise. if you came to us in the first place, then i am assuming you're needing/wanting a professional to accomplish this task for you. so why would you not expect them to act as a professional in return?

obviously, i am not aiming my anger at you, per se, but to the public in general.

i wanted to write about this particular problem because unfortunately, it's just that—a problem within the design community. i hear designers in the field continuously saying that when they ask their client to give them a deposit and/or sign a contract to that effect, they complain. i don't understand this logic. maybe the client feels that because someone like myself—who is a freelance designer and technically has no overhead (i.e. employees, brick & mortar building, etc.)—is not worthy of such professionalism. i would have to disagree.

it's because that i am freelance that i would need to uphold the same requirements as an advertising agency. i am trying to make a living, therefore, i am running a business, just as much as the guy who is the principal of a large ad agency. no, my duties are nowhere near as complex as that guy, but guess what? i have to wear many hats as a freelance designer—i have to wear the hat of a marketing professional—because i need to figure out (on my own) how i am going to build my business and make it better. i wear the hat of office manager—because i am in charge of invoices, incoming and outgoing receipts, contracts, answering phones, etc.—i have to do all of this because i don't have an assistant or office manager working for me.

i wear the hat of art & creative director. because guess what? i don't have a team of creatives that i can bounce ideas off of, i have to bounce them off of myself. so when i'm having one of those days where i have no creativity flowing, i don't have anybody to collaborate with. believe me, this is a disadvantage because that's how these large agencies become so large. they have a creative team to throw ideas at one another until something is just it—it's called brainstorming, and i don't have anybody to brainstorm with.

i have to wear the hat of copywriter—because when it comes to ideas and/or taglines, i'm the one who has to come up with them. unless of course, i'm lucky enough to have a client who already knows what they want their slogan to say. but unfortunately, this doesn't happen often.

i am the IT person—because when there's a problem with my computer. i don't have an IT professional working for me. unless you count that apple care program on my new imac. otherwise, it's called troubleshooting. i have become an expert at doing this. i don't want to have to pay $45 to apple support every time i have an issue with my computer or operating system. i have to figure it out on my own.

i have to be the printer—because when it comes to proofs, i'm the one who has to be able to figure out what colors are going to work better in pms or cmyk. i can't take the chance of having my client spending hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars for printing, and having the color turn out like crap. this is my responsibility as a freelance designer. there is no production department in my business—especially since i work from home.

then there's the hat of the principal—because i am it! i am the one who runs the show. i am the one who does everything by myself. that's what freelancing is. it can get very discouraging, but it can be rewarding at the same time. nothing excites me more than when a client tells me they're so happy with my design and it's the best design they've envisioned for their business. because i came up with that design all by myself. no creative team. no brainstorming until 3 a.m. with other designers sitting around a conference table. just me.

and last, but definitely not least, i am my own salesperson—i am the one who has to convince somebody that they need my services, and not pay some putz who claims they're a graphic designer just because they know their way around photoshop. i worked my tail off in college so i can learn everything there is to know about not only graphic design, but the history of graphic design, as well. this in turn, makes me a more successful designer in the long run.

so yes, even though i am on my own, i need to be everything that everybody else is all rolled into one.

for more information on this subject, please visit www.no-spec.com. this will not only educate you as a designer, but as a client, as well.

thanks!

life as a struggling artist!

2008-01-24T10:42:00.003-07:00

i start out my journal entry today as a frustrated one. i must say, that for the past year and a half, i have been endlessly searching for that dream job in the field of graphic design. at this point, i'd settle for a job at kinko's! as i struggled through college and art school studying my craft, i had always anticipated a decent paying job at the end of the commencement tunnel. alas, nothing!

in the meantime, however, i have been somewhat successful (and i don't mean monetarily successful) by selling my logo design packages through ebay. even though i have gained a decent following and have made some pretty good 'online' friends through my clientele, nothing is as substantial or steady as a regular paying, punch-the-clock job. now don't get me wrong here folks, nothing would please me more than to have my own successful design business, but that's much easier said than done. i started my design business, one girl creative, in july 2003, while i was still knee deep in my studies. so as you could imagine, at first, the intimidation factor of having that 'first real' client was overwhelming at best. but as i started designing posters or logos here and there, i soon found that yes, graphic design was my calling! i loved every minute of it. but could i actually get out there and receive a job offer where i would actually get paid for what i love? i guess that's the million dollar question.

as i force myself each and everyday to continue my arduous search—to no avail—i find myself falling deeper and deeper in this abyss we call unemployment. now, don't get me wrong, i am not trying to sound philosophical or bitter, but tell me, why is it i cannot find a job in my damn field? does my work suck that badly? when i walk into the interview schlepping my portfolio, do i appear to be a bitch? did I not kiss their ass to the point of wanting to immediately hire me on the spot enough? did i not tell them repeatedly how badly i loved their f-ing company and how much i would love to work for them? are my breasts too big? too small, for that matter? is my ass too big? i know it isn't too small, so tell me, what is it??? my answer is this—it's like art in general, it's all subjective. for whatever damn reason they choose to not hire me or call me back for a second interview, i guess it all boils down to one, simple thing—too much damn competition!!!

then i occasionally wonder whether or not i wasted my time graduating with this damn degree in the first place. should i have studied medicine, perhaps? hell no—i am too stupid to be accepted to medical school. what about architecture? still a creative field. wanted to, but my lack of math skills almost prevented me from graduating in the first place. so we al know that wouldn't suffice. what about computer science? it seems the field of IT (information technology) is running rampant within our vast technological driven society. but i ponder this over and over—does that mean i would have to work on a pc? oooh, bad idea. as you may have figured out from that last statement, i am a mac freak!!! yes, you got it—i am pro-apple in every way shape & form. except the iphone, which i cannot currently purchase thanks to apple's all-inclusiveness to at&t (for now, at least).

all kidding aside, i imagine the reason i chose to study and pursue graphic design as a career was because—silly me—i actually love it? i guess so. unfortunately, loving something and getting paid for it don't necessarily go hand-in-hand these days. i imagine we're all lucky to have a job period. so i end this on an interesting note. i will further continue my search for that one employer who would be more than willing to hire me as a 'paid' graphic designer, art director, whatever—but in the meantime, what doesn't define what we do, but only who we are, i will now turn in my application at starbucks (not really) in hopes to at least receive a job offer as well as a kick-ass benefits package. good luck to all of you struggling artists out there. hang in there and don't give up the fight to work in that passionate field of design, art, illustration, photography—whatever!

grad school here i come! =P