Archive for the ‘Art’ Category

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Subway Tiles

April 15, 2010

There’s something almost magical about finding beauty in an unexpected place, like a subway stop. While I’m certainly no Leslie Knope, public art is something I think every city needs more of and ranks high on my list, just like parks.

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So it was fun to be lost on the Philadelphia subway system, way back when we visited in February. We somehow ended up below The Gallery, which was this mall right in the city center. The station was so gorgeous that despite the fact that we were kinda turned around and wasted something to the effect of $15, it was worth it just to see all of the colorful subway tiles. Just magical …

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Posted in Art, Travels | 2 Comments »

67 Lewis Road

December 4, 2009

This is really just so lovely, that I had to share.

I was looking up other things related to Studio 67, my design business, because I’m working on getting a much better portfolio site together. It turns out Studio 67 is so popular! Kinda scary and I really wish I had actually done more research two years ago, but that’s neither here nor there, this late in the game.

In any rate, this piece from the Sussex PhotoHistory popped up and I fell in love. So timeless in design, to think that this was all created by hand really puts it in perspective to me. The craftsmanship behind each drop cap and gorgeous lettering is just so inspiring, such a treasure. I’d love to learn more and get better at my own hand lettering and calligraphy.

Plus how cute is it that you can get enlargements made in oil, water colour or crayon? Where’s that option at Walgreen’s?

Source: Sussex PhotoHistory

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Posted in Art, Graphic Design | Leave a Comment »

Off the radar

September 3, 2009

Am I off your radar? It’s cool, I probably deserve it.

I’ve had a very busy couple of weeks at the paper. We are launching, in less that 24 hours to be exact, a complete redesign. It’s really going from a very traditional tabloid style newspaper, to a stitched and smaller newsmagazine. I’m pretty excited with all of the changes, as I helped create it’s new looks for many years to come.

But wow … it was a ton of work. And it hasn’t left me too much time to blog. In fact, and keep this part a secret, I haven’t really gotten on the computer once I get home in the wee hours of the night, like, at all these last couple of weeks.

I know, I know. It’s weird to me, too.

I did want to share a quick pic with you, nothing super fancy. Dan and I decided to bike it over to the new Green Line from the Dart and shoot the Traveling Man.

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What you are looking at is Dan and I in the reflection of a resting bird. It is part of the Walking Tall piece, the largest in a series of three. It’s a must on my infinite “To Do List” to go back and get some great day pics, maybe even this weekend.

I was just excited to get back on my bike, now that it’s cooled off in the evenings a bit.

Happy Labor Day, everyone! I have so many exciting plans and can’t wait to share them with you. The storms are on their way, so it’s time for me to go to bed.

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20×200

August 19, 2009

20×200 is this creative little site and gallery on the Lower East Side of New York.

What makes this gallery so special? They commission really, really affordable prints from all sorts of artists. I mean really, truly affordable. Not In Style‘s definition of affordable, but my definition of affordable.

All of the pieces range from three prices. The smallest (usually 8×10) is $20, the second is $50 and the largest is $200. And the large print is HUGE!

But the best part is that they are are printed in limited numbers, so the one you get is pretty darn unique. Not too shabby, if I say so myself.

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Fingerprint by Ky Anderson

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Ziggurat 5 by Superdeluxe (Adrienne Wong and Karin Spraggs)

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Owl No. 1 by Lisa Congdon

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Flood by Jaclyn Mednicov

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Vogue JUL07:pg145 (Ripeness is All) by Lauren DiCioccio

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Artful Good(nes)s

July 7, 2009

We just got back from Portland, my favorite city. It makes me so happy to be there. More on that later. Needless to say, I will post pictures once I’ve done a bit of editing.

I love to shop on vacation. It feels so much more interesting to be at a Target in another city, than the Target across the street at home. I know that it carries the same stuff and all, but it’s somehow completely different. I don’t know why. Do you feel this way?

Daniel is … well … not really a shopper. So I didn’t get much time in except for a quicky-trip to Nordstrom to buy a pair of Puma’s, since I neglected to bring any sneakers with me. And by day two and three blisters later, I was ready to stick my feet into some sox!

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Snapped with my iPhone.

But he was willing to go into Artful Goods, after we visited the Portland Art Museum across the street. (We call it the PAM, but it seems no one else in the city does. Por que, Portland dwellers? Ever heard of of your neighbor called the SAM?)

So I just fell in love with the small gallery/store. It’s packed with everything a designer/obsessive-consumer like me loves. I grabbed the Owl Pattern Tray and swooned over the antenna clock. It even had some great band posters by Dan Stiles. They have an blog and an online store, so take a peeky-poo.

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Posted in Art, Portland, Travels | 4 Comments »

Total Eye Candy

May 6, 2009

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Every time I drive past the Sigel’s sign, I feel like it’s a small window into the past, a past I’d like to know better! With it’s crazy neon lights and fabulous blue and orange paint, I have often longed to photograph it.

So this weekend, Daniel and I did just that. We made a pit stop over on the way to the Inwood Theatre, to the empty parking lot on Lemmon Avenue and Inwood Road, to shoot it.

What devastating news did we find out, while our little hearts were bursting with creative vision? It’s going away! :(

Yes, the Sigel’s store is closing this month. The store is practically bare and sign will most likely go when they vacate. According the The Observer’s Unfair Park blog (boo), it will probably be transplanted to another location. Whew!

I’m still sad to see it go, but stoked we had the opportunity to get some snaps before it was too late.

Also, upon some light Googling, it turns out LOTS of people love the sign as much as we do. Check out the Flickr love if you have a second. And yes, I’ll be the first to admit they put mine to shame.

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Posted in Art, Graphic Design | 1 Comment »

LA … my way

May 1, 2009

Los Angeles is a unique city, to say the least. It’s got some pretty funky and artistic neighborhoods. But of course, those are hidden beneath layers vanity and bling.

But with it’s fabulous weather and never-ending clear blue skies, it’s easy to see why so many people flock to it. I recently did a long weekend with my good friend Chance, where we got to do a bit of shopping, sight-seeing and catching up with several friends.

We stayed at the Avalon Hotel, a swanky little Mid Century Modern boutique in the heart of Beverly Hills. I have to admit, I never took a single picture of the room, (woopsies!) so I ended up grabbing a few of the internets. (Unrelated, it turns out it’s quite a celeb spotting. Google it! Who knew?!)

avalonrenovateIsn’t the sign the CUTEST thing you’ve ever seen? It makes me smile. :)

avalon-2The rooms were filled with tons of great MCM finds and replicas. I personally loved the super-thick duvet on the bed. It get’s really chilly there at night.

the-other-side-of-theI really dug the stripped carpet. It pulled all of the colors from the walls and decor. Clever.

dsc01054We got really, really high into the Hollywood Hills. The homes are amazing. But the view? Priceless.

dsc01106The freakin Pacific Design Center, in all her glory!
PS: Love the use of Helvetica!

img_4043Fisherpeople (is that a word?) at sunset in Santa Monica. This was my favorite part of the trip …

dsc01085This was the most amazing cake I’ve had in my life. At The Abbey.

img_4141This is one of many murals by some of the local artists in Silver Lake. It’s a tribute to Bingo, the shop dog at Pull My Daisy. I got the sweetest little bird-shaped pillow, created by Social Studies Designs, there. Sweet!

img_4225We hit up the Farmer’s Market, with one of my oldest friends, Monica.

img_4227Reason number one to move to LA: avocado came on everything we ate!

dsc01098Don’t you just love this gray house, with yellow trim, in West Hollywood?

img_4279Right before we caught the jet home, we visited Greystone Mansion. Totally worth the stop!

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img_4308When I grow older, I want to be just like the ladies and play games in the garden on a lazy Monday. That’s the life!

rock-and-lizChance and I posing at Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor. (And yes, I’m owning the typical touristy pic at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. We even asked someone to take it!)

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Posted in Art, Graphic Design, Los Angeles, Travels | 6 Comments »

Vintage Appeal

April 28, 2009

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Last weekend, Daniel and I spontaneously swung over to Buchanan’s Flea Market, where they have a monthly event that happens in an empty warehouse within Fair Park. I didn’t even know it ever existed until recently, when the Dallas Morning News wrote a small blurb about it last month. (Note to self: Google Reader, you rock!)

It was a hidden surprise and a great afternoon. However, as I alluded to earlier, it was totally on the fly and we had a mere $10 with us, so after browsing through a ton of what some might consider junk and things I consider treasures, I only ended up with an old NIXON bumper sticker from one of his presidential campaigns. I would have loved to get just about everything in the warehouse, but alas, these are simple people, who don’t accept the plastic. Next time!

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I just love all of the colors on these old faucet handles.

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A woman was selling rows and rows of beads. Are these vintage, though? I’m leaning towards a no …

While nearing the end of our journey, there was one booth was that was quite intriguing. You all know that I have an obsession with posters … well this guy was selling all of the SUPER sweet vintage posters that were in great shape. However, they were all in the $100 to $200 range, and with tough times like these, that’s currently out of the Kristina Budget of 2009.

Here are a few of my favorites:
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Check out the cutesy Esquire poster … this was probably my favorite!

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I love the use of orange and cyan in this poster. How very STUDIO 67!

And Daniel really enjoyed this one:
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Posted in Art, Big D, Vintage Goods | 4 Comments »

Schlepping it to IKEA

March 15, 2009

I’ve been on pins and needles, eagerly awaiting the moment I could finally hang up my latest poster. I purchased a screen print of a Colin Meloy show from vrsdesign’s Etsy shop a few weeks ago. Since then, I haven’t had a chance to schlep over to IKEA, as I’ve had one obligation after another every weekend.

But finally(!) I’ve had a chance to get out there today, with my good friend Raquel and her daughter Zoe. The unfortunate problem was that they were all out of the exact RIBBA frame I wanted, so I had to settle on a larger one that doesn’t quite fit the print.

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No bother though. I flipped the back around and it serves as a slightly modern looking back of pressed wood. It’s not too bad, but it probably won’t stay like that.

Lately, I’ve been embracing my obsessive nature. Like currently I have a major crush on poster designs … especially of bands I love. I think it’s a craft that is overlooked and I’m discovering some of the best graphic designers out there, creating hand-drawn fonts and completely unique illustrations. I’m ordering these double prints of a Shins gig from Tad Carpenter, an awesome illustrator I found via Twitter.

PS: I love Twitter! You should really get one. If you do, find me @STUDIO67.

Have a super rest of the weekend. I’ll be working at the paper (boo) designing a zillion ads all day. Come visit if you want to! Yeah right … :)

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Posted in Art, Graphic Design, Home | 2 Comments »

From Australia, with love

February 19, 2009

Is it really hard to find a guy that will say this? Really, this is all I want.
Really … I promise!

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I would simply swoon and melt.

About the artists:
Able and Game are a duo from Melbourne, Australia, offering cards and stationery that are quirky and cute rather than cliche and predictable. The cards feature hand drawn designs of weird and wonderful people that are a off beat and stand out from the crowd.

This card is from their Valentine’s Day collection for 2009 and thankfully that dreaded day has passed. But I heart the cards and think they can be used any day. (Like under pillows, as a morning surprise … hint, hint … )

Posted in Art, Cards, Krafts, Stationary | Leave a Comment »

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