will work for clothes

spring cleanse palette

2012-01-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

I need a distraction from the bitter cold that is hitting minneapolis right now, so I'm focusing on the upcoming spring color trends and planing my new wardrobe...

I think the upcoming season will be filled with bright optimistic colors that will grounded with tried and true neutrals. Bright pink, light teal, tangerine orange are among the brights palette, and I think we might see yellow make a come back this year. It takes on a 50's pastel feel. Sand, white and navy will be neutral shades to help ground the brights and add a Parisian flare. We'll continue to see an abundance of patterns including flirty florals, animal themes, abstract and geometric shapes.

Can't wait to wear little jackets again!

Zara is Coming to America :: Sep 7th, 2011

2011-09-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I received a note from Zara mentioning they'd like to send me a package to announce their U.S. debut. I sort of wrote it off, because as you fellow bloggers know, we get a lot of weird emails that seem kind of fishy. But, last week an email stated my package was on it's way via Fedex, My interest was peaked. Not only did Zara feed half of my trend inspiration (see post below) with their amazing blazers, sweaters and coats, they were sending me a personal package?!

Last week I received the beautifully designed package. A fabric bag encasing a simple box filled with pictures of the 50 states from various photographers. As well as a gift card and an invitation to pre-order from their site today! I have huge expectations for my online retailers, they must have free shipping and free returns... Zara does both!I adore Zara and can't wait to get my order!

fall wants :: 2011

2011-08-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

...As it turns out I am quite needy this season! I have so many looks I want to experiment with - I am especially digging the new boots this year. They are reminiscent of my childhood favorites that I wore until the bottoms gave ‘way. This pair of boots called Nanette by Mia are on their way to me now, and were a large inspiration factor to the rest of my ‘fall wants’. I am slightly ashamed that I am wishing summer away to brisker days so I can once again rock scarves and boots.

envision artopia :: fall 2011

2011-08-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

It's that time again.... Envision Artopia Fall! I was super excited when Ignite Models Inc. contacted me to work on the promotional materials for the second time. Once again, the photos they provided for the fashion materials were amazing, so naturally I was jazzed to get working on the designs. This time around we decided I would provide a sample interface layout for double-think to build. They were great to work with, and... I'm actually going to have them help build my site (about time right?!). Check out the event site here for more details!

I am so excited for this fashion show, when you have superstars like ignite, Citypages and Graves behind an event it's bound to succeed. The production is spot-on at this series and makes you feel like you're in a bigger city than minneapolis. Mark your calendars!

our big dirty basement remodel

2011-04-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

Sooooo happy this one is done. We were without laundry for months after we prematurely disconnected our laundry pair expecting the new one to slide easily into place after we plopped down new flooring. Ha. That's when we found out our staircase was too narrow to fit the new efficient laundry set, enter contractor #1. He helped remove some drywall and boards and we were able to squeeze the machines downstairs. Barely. Seriously, it was like birthing a large baby.

After months of additional work by our second contractor/plumber, including: demolition of the sink, new pipes, wall smoothing, floor installation... the basement was ready for me to begin painting. I chose a relaxing blue "Tide Pools" to offset the stainless appliances and dark flooring. We found an awesome used stainless sink at a nearby restaurant services company - so much better than the run-of-the-mill plastic versions you find at home depot.

The result is a clean & inviting updated basement laundry room with working appliances... YAY!

envision artopia :: design work

2011-02-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

Recently the talented peeps at ignite models asked me to help out on a quick-turn project for the annual ignite/Citypages runway show called "envision". This show has a lot of marketing support with the help of a few full page ads and rack cards. So naturally I was super amped to help out with the design of the materials. Especially after I saw the amazing photography that was part of the assets provided to me... lovely to say the least. I am super happy with the result - it reminds me of a 1950's record cover. expect to see this design around Minneapolis... hope you can make it to the show - it's going to be a good one! more info below.....

Photography: Peter Hunner
Model: Aja (Ignite Models)
Styling: Hollie Mae of HMStyling
Hair/MUA: Kate Erickson
Graphic Design: Tanya Watkins

photo explorations :: smoky

2011-02-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

A few weekends ago I really wanted to capture a picture of smoke... it took awhile (and a good amount of photoshop work) but I finally snapped this pic. The trick that worked for me was light smoke in a brightly lit room with a dark backdrop and a very quick shutter speed. A lot of the photos were blurry because the smoke moves so fast, but after I found a good clear image I inversed the photo (basically made it a negative), colorized it and woalla! smokin'!

eco fashion :: gala & fundraiser

2011-01-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

My freelance design break is over and projects are starting to come in again! This is a flyer I designed for ignite models & sol inspirations for the upcoming eco fashion event. I love the wood dress, so cool! Sol Inspirations is a fundraiser and gala event to raise awareness about eco-fashion and to stage local and nationally known designers and green businesses and organizations. Proceeds will benefit the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society and will also be used to help Haiti rebuild. Find more information/tickets here.

before & after :: hosting prep

2010-11-27T17:35:00.000-08:00

this year we hosted for our family thanksgiving dinner, a great excuse to finish up some lingering home projects... I'm happy to report I finished almost all!

dining room paint project
The first project was a paint-job for the dining room, I wanted something more elegant and classic: so I went for a medium blue with gray undertones and soft white. I'm in love with how our wall art and lighting fixture totally pops now. win!
stairwell family wall

The other project that needed to be tackled was our "family wall", a photo wall dedicated to our peeps running up the stairwell. Reminiscent of my late grandmother's photo wall, I wanted to carry on the tradition in her honor.I hope my nieces and nephews will think fondly back at it when they are older:)

The final unfinished project will be a face-lift on our laundry area... more to come!

totes :: reusable bag

2010-11-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

Recently at my nine-to-five job i was given the opportunity to create a design for reusable tote - go green! Opportunities of a fashion nature don't come around everyday here, so needless to say I was ecstatic to lend a hand. Between myself and a coworker we presented about 20 concepts to our design group, they choose 4 favs and we presented those to our internal clients. This was the chosen design, a pattern I created (yay!). These are now available in Best Buy stores across the US for a reasonable price.

frankenstein & frangoyle

2010-10-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

We have a a ton of nicknames for our pets. For example, Frannie the dog is known as: hippo, marie, butthead (when she's naughty) and gargoyle. And Frankie the cat is also: frank, frank-lyn, frank-lyn butters, muffin and frankenstein. I've been joking that I'm was going to buy Frannie wings to be a gargoyle for halloween... sadly my boy is VERY against dressing up animals. It's ok... I've got photoshop, imagination satisified! I also got to include batkin - my pumpkin design from last year:) happy halloween everyone!

camera review :: fisheye + popcam + fuji instax 7

2010-10-19T16:24:00.000-07:00

A while ago I got a gaggle of new cameras and I've been meaning to followup with results... good news peeps - they all are awesome fun in their own way...

frannie the dog :: fisheye camera
I adore the fisheye - it's ab-fab. (thanks to my awesome friends that gifted this gem to me:) Since I shot on a really bright sunny day, I only had to do very minor color corrections on these pics. I can't wait to shoot another roll with this sweet baby. I had a few issues getting my first roll to catch on the take-up reel when I was loading the film, but the second and third rolls were a huge success. nearly every photo turned out, which in my experience is pretty uncommon for the lomo/toy cameras. Best to shoot with flash or in bright light with fast film. See more photos here.

austin texas :: PopCam
The PopCam is also a fun one tool around with, but the film turned out a bit under exposed - I would also recommend shooting in bright light with fast film or if that's not an option bumping up the saturation after you develop it in a photo editing software. But for a ten dollar bargain bin camera, it's pretty fun to experiment with it and see what turns out. See more photos here.

twins game :: fuji instax mini7
oh, and finally - the beautiful, beautiful fuji instax mini 7. this camera is more than amazing. every time I pull it from my bag I've gained a few new friends.. seriously! it is a total conversation piece. The photos can turn out great, but it does take some getting used to as far as flash and distance. The flash seems to be VERY powerful on this one, almost too powerful. I prefer getting close-up shots this camera in a bright outdoor setting so you don't need to use flash.The film is expensive, but easy to load and self-develops quickly.

suburban bird :: blog design

2010-10-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

My cute friend Niya, the creator of Suburban Bird, asked me to help out with her blog header design. The goal was to make it more interesting than the standard template provided by blogger. Random projects like this are always a welcome treat from the daily grind. And, it's always nice to design for someone that really appreciates the work you do. Thanks Niya, it was fun:)

project recipe box :: harvest time

2010-09-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I found a vintage wooden recipe box (you can see a snippet of the box in the photo on the family salsa recipe card). My plan being to round up all my favorite dishes that I've collected from family members, friends and websites. This week has been a little slow at work so I've have a chance to sort through my "recipe" folder in my email and start designing some recipe cards. Here's 2 off my favorite "harvest time" recipes.

Healthy Apple Crisp: I love buying apples at the orchard this time of year - but you get so many you need to have a good plan on how to use them before they turn bad. This dessert fills the house with the warm smells of autumn with it's use of cinnamon and nutmeg spices, without adding the unwanted winter weight. I found this recipe on caloriecount.com

Family Salsa: I am always looking for ideas for fresh tomatoes at the end of the growing season when there tends to be a large abundance of the delicious fruit. This salsa recipe does the trick! This is a recipe my sister created and shared with me. The great thing about it is how customizable it is. You can add more or less heat, or different spices to really make it your own.

tattoo inspiration :: maneki neko

2010-09-14T09:19:00.001-07:00

In an effort to firm up ideas for my next tattoo, I put together this style sheet to provide a clear visual to the tattoo artist of what I have in mind. The star of the tattoo will be Lucky Kitty or maneki neko. I really like the non-traditional chubby version of the kitty. For layout, I want kitty in the foreground and wispy cloud swirls behind the kitty with some other iconography, like fans or flowers. Though I will keep an open mind to what the tattoo artist creates. For placement: Deciding between getting it on my arm (either inside forearm or the front of my bicep), or on my shoulder (centered above the armpit crease). I am so excited!

before & after // home office

2010-08-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

the office was the last room to be completed after my move. I am proud to say, it is done! after hours of planning (and some rendering) it is ready for use. the bright lighting from the east-facing window and modern lines of the furniture allows for a quiet retreat for grinding out projects. never have I been more grateful that my employer allows me to work from home, what a nice alternative to a florescent-lit cubical. I am also excited to have the space for personal projects like sewing and macrame - hopefully great things will be created in this space. click here to see the graphic below larger.

finally. cat furniture redesigned.

2010-06-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

Faced with the problem of my kitty needing to be at a comfortable height away from our dog, who is a toddler who wants nothing more than the stand-offish kitty's attention - I began searching for cat trees. It seems most cat furniture forgoes all sense of style and design - matching bland 80's carpet with frivolous shapes. On principle, I can't bring myself to buy anything that has a beige carpet effect....eeeeww.

Good news....thoughtful design DOES exist in cat furniture, you just have to look a little harder. While I was at Urban Animal shopping for cat food I saw a raw birch wood cat tree that broke all the stereotypes of "Cat Tree". The local Minneapolis company name is appropriately called Pussywood. Beautiful designs that are earth-friendly and well executed. I am hoping to acquire a modern birch design... maybe I'll go custom to get exactly what I want!

As I search more, I found the most amazing concept of a cat litter box.... not an unattractive plastic box, but a corner cabinet that works as a side stand and the perfect cover to hide the poo within. beautiful. seriously where have you been all my life?! With a $150 price tag and a back-order until mid-month I may need to wait to purchase this, but I will own it, sooner or later.

the possibilities

2010-05-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

My birthday this year was awesome and to top it off my amazing friends gave me some very thoughtful amazing gifts that opens the door to new nerdy possibilities.

First off, I was gifted two astounding cameras, anyone who knows me knows I love taking pictures and collecting cameras, so these gifts are perfect. the first a fish-eye lens (which I have wanted for at least four years) - I can not wait to test out this weekend - the effects are bound to be crazy cool. The other camera I received is a FujiFilm Instant Camera. Similar to a Polaroid this sweet baby spits out a print as soon as you click the shutter release - awesome. A perfect combination of instant gratification AND film - I love them both!

The next gift is a Hello Kitty sewing machine. I can not wait to start (and hopefully finish) tons of nerdy projects. I plan on referencing this blog after I get the hang of the machine. so many projects, so little time;) I'll update the blog soon with samples of all the work to come out of these new tools... thank you friends for ALL the perfectly astute gifts!

office design

2010-05-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to find the perfect office setup for the new crib - it's been a challenge. It seems you either compromise on size or you pay a poop-load of money for a custom piece. I have decided on a combination of these options, paying a poop-load for a custom desk, and compromising on the size of the bookshelves. Here's the layout we're going with (here's all the options). I really love the idea of a bench to add a smart combo of storage and seating by the window. For colors, I have painted the room a flint stone grey and will have light maple woods, polished stainless and white furniture, with orange accents. I am more than excited to spend lazy summer days sipping coffee while working from my new home office - I'll post pictures when it's all done:)

before & now

2010-05-19T05:40:00.000-07:00

I've decided to take the summer off from my freelance graphic design gig. this has given me time to: move in with my boy, paint, plant flowers, ride my bike. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made:)

Even though I've taken off working freelance for others (including local fashion designers and small business owners) this in no way means I'm not going to design anything in my free time - now it's all about me and my nerdy projects (YAY!). So to prove my point, here's a graphic to represent the work that has been accomplished in lieu of freelance, my new bedroom and my flower garden 2.0. Click on image to see it large.

nerdy

2010-03-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

This weekend I planned what our new bedroom would look like and what furniture to get... this was the concept we both agreed would work with the space. I love creating scale floor plans, so much fun to "move" the furniture around and lots less work that actually moving stuff - nerdy fun!

dream team unite!

2010-03-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

kjurek & amanda christine pair up for a trunk show presented by cliché on April 9th. Go early for a private viewing (reserve your limited seat before they're all gone!) or show up fashionably late to sneak a peek at the amazing junk in the trunk;)

Spring Wants ~ 2010

2010-03-04T22:51:00.001-08:00

Here's trends and styles I'm digging this spring. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm in love with pleats, floral prints, and bloomer styles right now. Can't wait to get my hands on some of these shorts!

I found most of these amazing clothes at AKIRA online and a the baggy blue shorts at Sea NY.

AC // Fall 2010 Line Sheets

2010-02-13T17:05:00.001-08:00

Just completed Amanda Christine's Fall 2010 line sheets... and her stuff is looking absolutely amazing. Super cute dresses, flowy tops and some really cool silk pants. Can't wait to get my hands on some of her fall line!

Thrift Children : Phuture Psyence

2010-01-19T15:25:00.000-08:00

This is a flyer I created for an upcoming art opening at Cliché for illustrator/graphic designer, Matt Rector. What I've seen of Matt's work really makes me want to attend the show and meet the artist, looks rad!

2010-01-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I posted about a book that I designed the cover on that was getting a lot of love from the press. Recently my friend took this picture at a local Patina gift shop near my house and sent it to me. I love that I have a piece of design that is in Patina... yay!

christmas scarves

2009-12-27T21:31:00.000-08:00

since all my presents are officially handed out i can post about them. these are 2 scarves I made for friends. i really like the colors of the seventies scarf for niya - it's based off this juicy couture scarf she liked, knitted with merino sport weight yarn. matt's is an infinity scarf that can be worn doubled or long, knitted with a bulky organic cotton yarn. I had fun designing my own tags - i plan on using these on all projects going forward.

new obsession

2009-12-27T20:05:00.001-08:00

love this site, I've played around with it before, but never to the extent of setting up a user name... until now. goodbye free time, hello dream clothing sets...

New Year's Fierce by willworkforclothes featuring Acne

Items in this set:
Acne Dress with sequin top, 330 GBP
Rue Du Mail Asymmetric frock coat, 875 GBP
Nicholas Kirkwood Suede Platform with Python Cut-Out Detail, 600 GBP
Fendi Beaded Baguette Bag, 865 GBP
Dominic Jones Claw Ring, 300 GBP

growing to new heights

2009-11-15T22:01:00.000-08:00

i generally don't write about my nine-to-five design gig on this blog for a few reasons, but this is a special occasion i have something i'm super proud of and want to share... so if you don't know, i work for best buy designing signs... and recently my co-worker received a great project designing signage for a new area in the store we are testing in a few markets. it's pretty cool, bby will be selling wind turbines, solar panels and other green hardware to help clean up carbon emissions. pretty rad right? I didn't get to work directly on the project, but an illustration of a tree I had created a few months back did get used in the design... all over the place! The original design was used to test a 3M material that clings to textured walls. I love how my co-worker paired it with simple icons and white space to give it the clean feel the space deserves. loves!

Textured wall test : apx. 30ft x 18ft

Sample Green Section : Backer panel apx. 48in x50in

happy halloween!

2009-10-28T10:33:00.001-07:00

with so many halloween events in minneapolis this year, I am feeling overwhelmed! so focusing on the present is keeping me sane. tonight my friends are throwing an annual pumpkin carving party. Last year I went all out and painted my pumpkin white, and painted an evil Hello Kitty (pirate eye path, stitches and cigarette included). I was sad though that when lined up outside my creation faded into the oblivion since it didn't light up. This year I am definitely carvin' it up. above is my plan... happy halloween!

long term goals

2009-10-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

I've decided I'd like to give long hair another try. I've been cutting my hair relatively short for the last 9 years, I think it's time. The longest my hair has been was probably around 1997 - ahhh, high school, insert embarassing picture here (I'm in the middle). Since then I've been fond of rocking the chin-length angular bob. But I've decided since I've figured out the secret to maintaining my curls (it took 20 years to perfect) it's time to give the length a go. Now, to break it to my amazing hairstylist that I was just kidding when I said I'd never grow my hair long again:)

costumes & couture

2009-10-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

new f.a.m.e. event hosted by ignite entertainment - should be fun!!

ms stitch : unraveled

2009-09-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

left: hang tags I created for ms. stitch; right: ms. stitch scarves inspired by 80's hip-hop chains

Watch out, there's a new scarf maker in town and with skills like this, girl is goin' far. Rachel Schroder, owner and designer of ms. stitch based her new scarf line off the hip-hop gold chains of the 80's. Run DMC would be proud, they're amazing. Rachel and I have been friends for awhile so when she approached saying she'd be selling at cliché and needed tags I jumped at the chance to help her out. I really enjoyed working with Rachel on her brand - our styles meshed perfectly. we both loved the skull and it's scary-cute quality, little did I know when I was designing it that her current fabric tags were already skulls... fate! I can't wait to get my dookie chain and mutli-strand scarves - I loves me some ms. stitch!

ms. stitch is available at cliché and I like you in minneapolis.

new things : fangs + draped top

2009-09-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

Yay for new things! Since I've been not smoking for 2 months it's time for rewards... in the form of fashion. Off to Cliché for some fun new finds:) I found a new fang necklace by Andrea Oseland as part of her new line "Charm your pants off!". It reminds me of the Fang necklace by Australian graffiti girl duo Perks & Mini but at a fraction of the price! I also picked up this new nude draped top by alternative that I plan on fashioning in the style of Joan Wilder (love you Kathleen Turner!).

wardrobe inspiration : costa rica

2009-09-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

we just booked our airfare for a 12 day excursion to Costa Rica. I am beyong excited! and I'm thinking this will be a perfect opportunity to rock a big ridiculous hat, after thinking about it for while I was totally inspired by the look of Joan Wilder, Kathleen Turner's character in Romancing the Stone. I can't think of a better way to describe her style than carelessly-fabulous. her baggy breathable linen tops left un-tucked then cinched at true waist with a skinny belt and shin-length skirts end up being dirty and torn by mid-movie, and she looks amazing. The hat is key: woven and floppy, but not too big. I can't wait to update with my finds:)

fall wants

2009-08-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

top to bottom, left to right :
+bag : bulga / 80s Purple = $419.40
+long sleeve henley : alternative apparel / 80s Purple = $22
+wrap boots (navy) : Toms = $98
+grey hooded wrap : Juicy Couture = $168
+triangle necklace : steven shein / +80s Purple = $22.40
+neck warmer: coal considered / 80s Purple = $12
+stright-leg jeans : ever / +80s Purple = $184.80
+canvas shoes: Toms / 80s Purple = $69

I am kind of excited to snuggle into fall with some new duds. Here's my official fall wants sheet. Other things I am looking forward to this fall : chili, knitting, starting a new hobby = sewing, scrabble, pumpkins, halloween, and traveling. Yay!

fashion first-aid!

2009-08-13T21:21:00.000-07:00

it's tomorrow, are you going? I am, I need a cliché fix.... I am getting excited for fall lines and switching up my wardrobe, at least we have that to look forwrad to at the end of summer, right?

new adrienne bag = yay!

2009-07-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

Adrienne and I have an awesome working relationship, she was one of my first successful "work for clothes" experiences, when we traded branding work for a handbag. So when I commented on one of her purse photos stating I love this bag, she responded quickly saying there was one left.. yay! I adore my new bag - it's larger than the last so I've dubbed it my 'Airport bag', meaning I can fit a magazine, book, bottle or water and snacks inside it. I can't wait to test it out on my next airplane trip... for now it will be my ever-so-fashionable bus bag:)

customizable bedding

2009-07-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

If you've ever had a very specific idea of what you want for your bedding set, you know how hard it is to find. My prerequisites are teal & simple. Unfortunately every teal duvet I found looked like they belonged in a mom's house who lives in a suburb... I am not a mother, nor do I live in a suburb. In my painfully long search for the perfect duvet for my room, I ran across this amazing site - you can customize your bedding, called inmod. Below is what I am thinking about getting... I really wish there was a solid option, I'm not one for patterns - but I think this "pattern" may be just graphic enough to work. Thoughts?

fame {a swanky new monthly soiree} by ignite

2009-07-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

it's been while since I've posted, summer in minneapolis is the best, after our long, cold & blustery winters you'll be hard pressed to find a minnesotan indoors. alas, I have a great reason to blog today, I had the pleasure of working with the ignite crew on the above event flyer. fame is a new event hosted by ignite, looks pretty fun…and it’s free! See details below.

fame {a swanky new monthly soiree}
fashion|art|music|entertainment
July 30th, 2009 + 7-10pm
Brin Building + 600 Washington Ave. N. + Suite 101
ignitemodelsinc.com
The worlds of fashion, art and music will come together at FAME event, so prepare to find yourself hobnobbing with more than 50 hot male & female Ignite Models, fashionistas, stylists, designers, artists, musicians, DJ, hairstylists, make-up artists & writers from around the Twin Cities and beyond...
fashion Cliché clothing boutique will be hosting a fashion show and will create a mini-store inside Ignite Models Studio, with pieces available for purchase from the featured designers lines.
Fashion Designers: Jenny Carle + Kelson + Renate Adjei + Amanda Christine + kjurek couture + Carmichael Claith + Cliché
Hair by: Rocco Altobelli. Make-up by: L.mae artistry.
art live painting by Minneapolis Artists Garrett Perry and Jesse Draxler throughout the evening, and they will show their pieces in the Art Gallery.
music DJ Timmay and Jiz tha Goods
rsvp to info@ignitemodelsinc.com, or print off the email, flyer or Facebook invite will be admitted for free. Otherwise there will be a $5 cover charge at the door.

cliché : 5ive years of love

2009-05-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

it's that time again! cliché is having their fifth anniversary runway show. I was really excited to work on this flyer - the inspiration given to me by the cliché owner's was: paper. one of my most favorite things ever...awesome;) hope you can all make it - it is traditionally cliché's biggest show of the year.

almost famous : part deux

2009-05-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

I just found out today graphics I created for our downtown chicago best buy's store got a small mention in yahoo finance! the graphics are a silhouette of the downtown skyline, and some other industrial areas and neighborhoods in chicago. yay me! ;)

mystery tree

2009-05-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

this has nothing to do with graphic design or fashion, but it's driving me nuts. does anyone know what kind of tree this is? my boy has this cute little reddish tinged tree growing in his backyard, and we don't know what kind it is... any guesses?

summer duds

2009-05-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

i needed an excuse to blog (it's been awhile), so i did some internet shopping searches to get an idea for my summer vibe. this summer all my free time will hopefully be spent camping, swimming, biking, and hanging out at cookouts. I put together this quick style guide for my summer looks.

Sunglasses : Dior (I'll get the knock off)
Shoes : Vans (got em')
Watch : Nixon, 80's Purple (want it)
Necklace : Han Cholo, 80's Purple (want it)
Terry Romper : Victoria Secret (on it's way)
SwimSuits : Victoria Secret = I think i'm going to get both then send one back, I can't decide which to buy! (ordered the tankini - out of the gold one in my size)

funniest party game, eva!

2009-04-08T18:50:00.001-07:00

here's the deal, give your friends drinks, lots of them - them tell them to 'Shake Your Face!' Here's more shake your face images.

macrame madness

2009-04-08T18:46:00.001-07:00

here's a timeline on my first macrame purse project. i made this for my awesome friend teresa for her 29th birthday. it is sooo difficult to work on crafty, string-involved projects with my cat... she loves to help!

new spring cliché ad

2009-04-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

New spring ad art for cliché, photo by Eric Eul - eulphotography.com.

schwinn for sale

2009-03-11T22:52:00.000-07:00

If you live in minneapolis, chances are you can't wait to start biking again. I know I can't! I'm not hardcore enough to bike in winter, though I admire the people that do - it's just too cold and slippery for me.

I've been debating selling this bike for awhile - the frame size is meant for someone who is 5'9" or taller... I'm a measly 5'4" and sick of all my cooler than me bike friends saying it's too big for me. So I'm taking action, i just bought a 70's Schwinn Varsity that's more my size (pictures to come - it's being tuned up) and I'm selling this bike to cover the costs of my new (old) bike. If you live in the area and are interested, here's the details.

frame of reference

2009-03-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

I got my new glasses! I love the mutli-tone frame. Lauren, this post is totally for you:) What do you think?

my camerography : ode to film

2009-03-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

[image 1]

I have been a lover of film cameras my entire life. having began at the tender age of five on a blue Kodak/Fisher price camera (image 1) that took 110 film, eventually moving into high-school and the 35mm world and finding a love for Minoltas'. My first SLR, a beautiful Minolta X-700 (image 2), was gifted to me by my cousin who purchased it in Germany and thought I would get better use of it than him, what a sweety! Minolta X-700 samples here.

[image 2]

After totally pimping out the Minolta X-700 with numerous extensions, I realized the bulky SLR with attachments wasn't always conducive to the situation. The hunt for a good point & shoot began. I found a 70's Minolta Hi-Matic (image 3) point & shoot for $15 at a garage sale in wisconsin with the label "takes ex. photos".

[image 3]

And true to the description, this little camera has been my reliable party camera ever since. dropped a few times, a few beers split on it and it still performs like a champ, see some Minolta Hi-Matic samples here.

[image 4]

Over the past few years I have been given a few different lomography cameras. These cameras are extremely temperamental, you need a lot of light to get a good result and because of it's cheap production, it will get mistaken for a disposal camera - but they are so much fun to experiment with. I received the SuperSampler (image 4) for a graduation present, and though super unreliable it has the capability of taking really interesting photos .

[image 5]

After borrowing it to a friend, the camera was ruined and never replaced. Last year for my birthday my amazing boyfriend upgraded me to an Oktomat (image 5), boasting a whopping eight lenses versus the Super Sampler's measly four - this camera takes the cake. See some oktomat samples here.

Alas, in a digital world my analog ways have been failing me lately. Quality film developing is getting more and more uncommon and expensive, so I have taken the plunge into the digital world. I purchased the Canon PowerShot G10 (image 6). It's short of in between point & shoot and DSLR. It boasts manual and automatic settings, the ability to change out lenses (2 options) but it's a smaller size and easy to handle than a traditional DSLR.

[image 6]

The coolest setting I have found yet is the Flash Curtain settings. Basically you can make the flash pop as normal in first curtain - right before shutter opens. Or with second curtain - the flash pops before and after, giving the photo an awesome effect. I will update my blog with some pictures from my weekend trip. I can't wait to really bond with my new pretty camera:)

kjurek : exclusively spring

2009-03-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

a fashion event featuring an exclusive kjurek spring line. accessories by adrienne. models by ignite. music by attitude city. music equipment by vital vinyl.

friday, april 17th : doors at 8pm : at the W minneapolis

tickets $10/$15 : seating is limited, please purchase tickets in advance at Cliche, Drama, Gallery 360 and Karma by phone or in person.
limited vip tickets are also available and include runway seating and complimentary gift bag.

cliché art opening : torey bonar

2009-03-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

hands down, torey was the most easy-going artist I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I can't wait to meet her in real life!

avoid the grey

2009-01-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

the annual Cliché event Avoid the Grey is here again! and I hope you already got your tickets, cause it's sold out! with nearly all of cliché's local designers participating in the show this year it has grown substantially in size and is bound to be an eclectic mix.

usually we give the materials a spanish flair to play of the venue LaBodega, but this year the venue shifted to Old Arizona, so the owners of cliché requested a 70's postcard feel. this year it's all americana, all the time. luckily for me i went on some fabulous trips this year, colorado being one of them and took some decent photos of landscapes. hope to see you there!

iPhone Apps to die for

2009-01-23T09:23:00.001-08:00

QuadCamera is my newest most favorite iPhone app, it works like a "super sampler" or an "octomat" from Lomography.com except you don't need film, just an iPhone. There are different formating options for the camera, 4x1, 4x2, or 2x2. Love this app!

Another app I've been having fun with as of late is the Be Like Lil' Wayne app. This app works with your iphone camera to create Lil' Wayne look alikes of your friends. It seemed appropriate since we were going to the Lil' Wayne show in Minneapolis this week to make-over all my friends Lil' Wayne style. Great app for party tricks:)

barfly/cliché "fembot fatale" show

2008-11-17T16:39:00.000-08:00

this was my first flyer ever for barfly, cliché recommended me to them since they are coordinating the fashion portion of the event. they seem like a very nice group of people, very easy to work with. The show is taking inspiration from austin powers, barbarella and 60's mod styling. Should be a blast!

cliché fall/winter ad campaign

2008-11-17T16:33:00.001-08:00

this is the new cliché ad that will be running in vita.mn and citypages over the fall (is it over already!) and winter months. The photo comes from a shoot amanda christine did for her fall line, see more photos here.

will work for handbags?

2008-10-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

left: new brand identity I created for adrienne; right: new purse adrienne created for me

hell yes, i'll work for handbags when they're as rad as this one! adrienne, a local minneapolis handbag designer, and i worked together on her new brand identity and in exchange she made me a fabulous chocolate suede hobo bag with a purple satin interior. i am in love with her craftsmanship.

the brand unveiling took place at the "art & handbag" show last night at cliché and seemed to be very well received. the show featured new handbags by adrienne and art by keiko. cliche was packed with people supporting the work of these super talented girls.

See more adrienne images here.

diamonds replaced as "girls best friend"

2008-10-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

it's official. i would rather have an iPhone over diamonds any day. I teetered on whether I should purchase this phone or a different smart phone for months. I finally broke down and got an LG Dare. I had the Dare for 2 day before returing it. It's lack of compatibility with a mac and monthly price was the breaking point.

I went back, paid $60 more dollars and got the iPhone and recommend it to everyone. It is so cool for so many things! I love having unlimited internet everywhere, it's so convenient for answering freelance clients emails throughout the day. I don't miss a thing now!

The only complaint I have, is the lack of support for picture messaging - when you get a message you have to log into a website to retrieve it instead of it going directly to your phone. Besides that minor snafu, I am inextricably bound to this meretricious piece of technology.

art & handbags

2008-10-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

i designed this flyer for local handbag design adrienne and artist keiko. I can't wait to purchase art from keiko and see new handbags by adrienne, both girls are super duper talented, and really great people to work with. this will also be the unveiling of the new adrienne brand that i have been working on over the last few months, photos to follow.... everyone in mpls should go, yo!

fall flaired

2008-10-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

left to right: Arwyn birch royal blue dress, Amanda Christine ivory dress, Emily Weich black dress.

this post is kinda late... but better late than never, right? Fall Flair went very well, all designers had excellent pieces that i personally would love to add to my collection. See more photos here.

i love plaid

2008-09-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

so much that I used it in this design...

and everyone should totally go to this show if you live in minneapolis, I have seen the recent works of Amanda Christine personally and am so impressed!

labor day-licious

2008-08-28T06:14:00.000-07:00

i am so so so excited, we are going camping this weekend. it will be my second time this year - fulfilling my goal of going more than once:) so far it looks as though the weather wll be lovely (knock on wood) and I am all caught up on freelance work so I don’t have to feel guilty when I'm trying to relax and take in the rays.

and then monday is the annual alt bike and board shop paintball day. always a fun time, last year it was so hot as soon as you put on the mask it would fog up with your own steamy breath... this year it's forecasted to be a bit cooler... fingers crossed! i am so pumped to play rambo in the woods of wisconsin, note to self: buy headband and intimidating face paint.

fugly desktop

2008-08-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

inspired by the work we have been doing lately for our 9 to 5 job, my co-worker and I came up with this desktop idea. She had the idea of the "fuh" before the "glee" and I made the art. she's a genius. feel free to download here and quietly rebel against ugly stuff everywhere.

amanda christine + open house

2008-06-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

i heart amanda christine, super fun girl to work with and her fashion is awe-dorable. she is one of the few designers i know that takes criticism very well and puts it to use in her work.

this is a postcard i designed for her upcoming open house. we are going to test the using the "AC" logo without the spelling out of "amanda chrisine" on her next round of print work. just one more reason to love her... she likes to push me (in a good way).

support our fashion

2008-06-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

top: Maritza Ramirez debuts as a cliché designer.
bottom left: cute "cigarette girl" selling tickets for drinks.
bottom right: handbag designer Adrienne Grahn and fashion designer Arwyn Birch.

Cliché hosted it's fourth anniversary runway show at Plaza Verde on June 5th. the venue had the feel of a high school gymnasium when walking up to it's third floor location, but once in the auditorium the mood changed. with the use of a built-up runway, lights ans cloth screens the blank palette was transformed into a fashion-stravagnsa. the icing on the cake was the cigarette girls selling tickets for drinks - cute. the show didn't disappoint with works by local favorites such as Pather Yang, Swank Dollar, Anthem Heart, Amanda Christine, Arwyn Birch, Red Shoe, and k.jurek couture. My favorite new-be had to be Maritza Ramirez, with high waists and free-flowing her look was summery and fresh. see all photos here.

oktomat powers activate!

2008-05-31T17:31:00.000-07:00

the oktomat lomography camera

example of oktomat print
my boyfriend got me a lomography camera for my birthday the "oktomat". It is the coolest. basically it's a standard 35 mil. camera that has 8 independent lenses. each lens is timed to click sequentially - so the result is an awesome action photo. I love it - so much fun! see all pictures I took today here.

my friends are special

2008-05-30T15:27:00.000-07:00

seriously. they are so grand. thank you for all the birthday fun, and all of the amazing gifts. I love you all;)

there will be a follow-up post to this (with pictures) once I try out my new lomo camera....

coast to coast, back to the most

2008-05-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to be able to travel to New York and San Francisco in the last few weeks. It was really amazing to knock two amazing u.s. cities off my "to visit" list. I saw amazing things like central park, times square, MOMA, the Red Woods, and the trollies. I ate amazing food and had the best time ever hanging out with my boy. It made me realize how small Minneapolis is in comparison.

But for all Minneapolis doesn't have, it's really nice to have less... less people, less traffic, less smog, less poverty. i adore traveling and will never stop, but these trips made me appreciate my home a little more:)

summer fashion show

2008-05-07T00:14:00.000-07:00

this is a flyer i created for cliché's anniversary runway show. everyone should go - this is cliché's big show of the year, featuring almost all the local designers they carry. it's always fun. this year they are trying out a new venue, i am excited to see the space.

since fashion retail is about to hit an all-time low cliché decided to embrace the depression/repression of the time and use that as the theme of the show. with that theme in place, i tried to make the card look reminiscent of government documents from the 30's. thoughts?

yay for new things

2008-05-06T23:51:00.000-07:00

i went into cliché a few weeks ago and saw a bunch of new stuff I worked on.... it always feels so great to see the final product.

i worked with kelly riley, creator of red shoe clothing co., on her new collateral (business cards and product tags). i tried a new printing method for the solid black - we used a digital printer that only prints black ink, the result is a very solid coating of ink that looks like offset or screenprinted cards for a fraction of the price - they look hot!

i created a brand for belle a month ago. they did all the printing and finishing on their own - i just gave them logo files... i think the clear stickers placed on the hangers is a super great idea, but i'm not in love with the product tags. the pattern they used to fill the logo makes it look like it's tye-died (eew), and they were printed on an ink-jet, they look very low quality. i think in the future i will make sure my clients use me to do printing (in this case I didn't even think to ask up front - I've never had anyone that's wanted to manage the printing process). it hurts my heart to see my designs poorly produced. lesson learned!

my first bento

2008-04-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

i was talking to my korean co-worker the other day about bento boxes and where to find them in minneapolis, and she mentioned she had one I could have. though she thought she might have already given it away. the next day, she presented me with her vintage japanese hello kitty bento. it's the cutest thing ever! what a great work pal! now i need to start making cute lunches...

diy friday

2008-04-19T14:32:00.000-07:00

in my kitchen is a mammoth wall of cupboards, within the cupboard space is a small counter. since I rent an apartment in an old brownstone the unfinished counter space has been painted, repainted, wallpapered and painted yet again - which makes for an unfriendly counter top. it doesn't wipe off easily and seems super unsanitary. it would look fabulous grouted and tiled, or covered with butcher block or marble - but since I don't own, there's really no point in me putting the work/money into it. so I needed a temporary/cheap fix - I tried using shelf liner material, but it didn't hold up. hmmm...

the other day at work, I found a piece of perfectly good formica with a maple print on it in my work trash, I salvaged it expecting to use it for some unconventional wall art. but before going out friday night i got motivated to cut it down and see if it could work as the counter solution. and, vowalla! a counter that can be wiped, windexed spilled on, wiped again, and removed when I move. success!

birthday party

2008-04-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

happy birthday to me - there's a hip hop festival on my birthday this year, I'm trying to not let it go to my head;). so if anyone wants to hang out with me on my big day - buy a ticket yo!

more info: Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents brings you Soundset 08: the official Midwest kick-off festival of the summer with eight hours of the best independent Hip Hop music in one day. Confirmed artists for Soundset 08 include: Atmosphere, Dilated Peoples, Aesop Rock w/ Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz, Little Brother, DJ Babu, Rhettmatic, J-Rocc of the World Famous Beat Junkies, Brother Ali, Eyedea & Abilities, P.O.S, Blueprint, Mac Lethal, Abstract Rude, I Self Devine, Musab, Psalm One, Grayskul, Los Nativos and more to be announced! (lineup subject to change)

voltage week!

2008-04-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already gotten your ticket to voltage '08 fashion amplified on April 16th you should! It's an annual show at First Ave showcasing up and coming local designers. A few people I have worked with (and can vouch for good design) are in it this year, including: Amanda Christine, Kelly Riley (of Red Shoe), belle, and Laura Fulk. See more here.

imelda tags in cliché

2008-03-21T16:50:00.000-07:00

when I was at cliché the other day i noticed some tags I had designed for a local accessories designer made their way to the store...they look hot! The paper is really cool, it has a slight iridescent simmer. After talking to Martine, the creator of imelda, it sounds as though her jewelry is selling quickly - yay!

cute!

2008-03-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

arwyn birch set up a photo shoot a few weekends ago to document clothes she designed before selling them. I offered my help as stylist/art director, our friend Mandy modeled, and Russ snapped photos. last week Vita.mn ran a blurb about Arwyn's Open House and used one of the photos from the shoot...cute!

arwyn birch open house is a success

2008-03-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

top: delayna, co-owner of cliché, and arwyn birch, designer.
bottom left: delayna fits patron in an Arwyn Birch original dress.
bottom right: kimberely jurek, creator of k.jurek couture and arwyn graciously pose for a snapshot.

the arwyn birch open house was last friday at cliché and it was uber successful. if you don’t already know, arwyn is a mega-talented minneapolis native that has found local notoriety for her cute wearable dresses. most of the items that were available for sale at the open house were items that their debut only one week earlier at the envision runway show.

there’s always an amazing sense of local community at the cliché happenings, and this event followed suite. milling about the packed store were local hair designers, tattoo artists, fashion and graphic designers, and fashion enthusiasts of all ages. the wine flowed, the beer guzzled and the dresses sold quickly. there was a buzz about the store as people pawed over the racks of clothing that are always special priced (10% off everything in store) during an opening. arwyn ended the night selling a near record-amount of items for an opening night. it was a smashing success:)
See more photos here.

someone is on my shit list

2008-03-15T16:34:00.000-07:00

Though I am really happy Arwyn is getting great press, I am not sure why someone thought it was ok to redesign my postcard into this ad (see below). You better believe I'm going to get to the bottom of it. Not only did they not ask permission to use the art, the ad they designed looks like crap. I am totally p.o.'ed.

My question is how do you get this....
from this?

new cliché ad design

2008-03-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

cliché clothing store contacted me the other day to resize their ad art for the voltage program....the original art is something I created 2 years ago for them and we've been reusing ever since. as i started to resize the ad i realized i couldn't look at that art anymore without having to repress my nausea. so i decided it was time to freshen it up.

i thought it made more sense to tout the local designers they carry since the voltage fashion show is all about showcasing local talent. and i should mention at least two of cliché's designers will be showing their clothes at voltage - laura faulk and amanda christine. i wanted to keep it very simple and neat...what do you think?

wireless internet vs. comcast

2008-03-12T05:37:00.000-07:00

from roadrunner to comcast, i have been a subscriber of high speed internet in minneapolis for years. after having my internet bill raised a second time since comcast became a monopoly in region, I was super excited to find out there was another option that was both as convenient, and cost less. my apartment building doesn't allow digital satellite systems so dsl was never an option, but the thought of city-wide wireless made me giddy! how exciting... FINALLY, an internet system that doesn't keep increasing their prices to pay for their stupid commercials.

USI is the company minneapolis contracted to install the system - turns out it was a good choice, in other major cities a more well-known internet company has canceled their contracts and has left the cities helpless and wireless internet free.

then i dug deeper... uptown mpls isn't connected yet. I was blown away! Really?! Uptown is a cash cow filled with residents hoping for a better internet option - why would we be denied access? I stewed for a few days before I found a news story explaining...turns out uptown doesn't have an excess of sturdy light poles like surrounding areas. it's filled with decorative street lights that cannot support the weight of the heavy wireless transmitters. but there is a silver lining - we WILL have wireless, already 10,000 people in uptown have signed up. So USI is raising the ante and installing poles to hold the transmitters...hell yeah! I can not wait for the day I can call comcast and tell them I am no longer a slave to their high prices...I now have options...I have city-wide wireless for half the cost, biotches! eat it comcast - you suck!
...read more here

ignite fashion show

2008-03-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

from top to bottom: arwyn birch, cliché, kjurek couture

Last Saturday I attended the "envision fashion show" held at Windows of Minneapolis on the 50th floor of the IDS tower, put on by ignite. The turnout was great - they actually had to turn away people that had tickets at the door because with the model head count they were over capacity - considering the alternative of shutting down the show that was a good thing - though I feel for those people that bought the tickets and couldn't get in!

The fashion was great - arwyn birch, cliché and kjurek couture stoled the show. Awryns's brightly patterned spring dresses were a breath of fresh air. Cliché's bursts of color were amazingly timed, coordinating colors were paired to create a very cohesive runway segment. kjurek's silky fabrics and brilliant colors created a beautiful flowing collection.

I was really impressed by the production of the show, the rented runway, good beats, and lighting really brought everything together. It was a really good show.

See more photos here.

oh my god, shoes.

2008-03-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

I am officially a shoe-ho after this weekend. I had some extra cash - so I decided to get new gym shoes. I cannot stand most "normal" gym shoes - you know, the white New Balances that everyone has...no diss intended - just not my style. I went with the gold/black puma saloh's, love love love them - super light, and they have a light colored sole so I won't get in trouble for making marks on the floor. Come on, they're fabulous!

Then, as I was looking around I decided I needed a new pair of casual kicks too, after much searching I found a new pair of nike air prestige in khaki. These are great, in between wide skater shoes and skinny running shoes...perfect.

On my journey looking for gym shoes, I found a pair of staple, black nine west pumps for work. They were super cheap on sale - I couldn't pass them up.

Now, hopefully, my shoe craving will subside for at least a month or two!

presentation is key

2008-02-23T23:39:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a more professional template for presenting work to clients. I think I'm almost to a point where I am happy with it. It's amazing how important the presentation of a project can be. I think the more put together your presentation looks, the more trusting the client is of your skill and ability, hence the less edits you will have:)

Here's a sample of my presentation template, this is a fashion label I am working on for a Minneapolis fashion design team, belle (they sell clothes/accesories at cliché). How do you think the template looks? Comments on label designs?

happy heart day

2008-02-14T15:43:00.001-08:00

Hope it's filled with chocolate, rose petals and of course Lost - xoxo;)

What Happy Couples Do gets press galore!

2008-02-13T09:02:00.000-08:00

So I was going to link to a few videos of the book "What Happy Couples Do" being featured on news programs, then I did a little digging and found out...there's too many to post! This is the book I designed the cover for, the authors seem to be amazingly nice people.

Below is a list of all the press the book has gotten, it's fabulous! Congrats Anna & Carol - you're blowin' up!

National Magazines
Cosmopolitan, February 2008

National Radio
"Jeanne Chatzky Show", Oprah and Friends, XM Satellite Radio, 02/14/2008
"Jack Roberts Show", Cable Radio Networks*
"Insider Magazine", KPRO-AM, syndicated*

Regional Cable
"Art Fennel Show", cable show syndicated to New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Hartford, Providence, Harrisburg, & Springfield markets. 02/11/2008.

Local Television
WCCO-TV, Minneapolis, 01/24/2008, 10 p.m. "Good Question" segment
KARE11-TV, Minneapolis, 02/13/2008, "Showcase Minnesota" show
KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, 02/11/2008 "News 12 This Morning"
WCCB-TV, Charlotte, 02/11/2008, "News Rising"
KVEW-TV, Yakima, WA, 02/11/2008 "Good Morning Northwest"
WNEM-TV, Saginaw/Flint, "TV 5 Wake-Up"*
KWTX-TV, Waco, TX, "News 10 This Morning"*
KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, PA, 02/11/2008 "Pittsburgh Today Live"
WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, 02/11/2008 "Eyewitness News AM"
KMPH-TV, Fresno, 02/11/2008 "Great Day"
KHGI-TV, Kearney, Nebraska, 02/11/2008 "Good Morning Nebraska"*
WGHP-TV, Greensboro, 02/11/2008 "Fox 8 Morning News"*
KMAX-TV, Sacramento, 02/11/2008 "Good Day Sacramento"
KIMT-TV, Mason City, IA, 02/11/2008 "News Daybreak"
WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, WI, 02/11/2008 "Newscenter 13 Sunrise"
KTVE-TV, W. Monroe, LA, 02/11/2008 "Region 10 Today"*
WCJB-TV, Gainesville, FL, 02/11/2008 "Morning Edition"
WACH-TV, Columbia, SC, 02/11/2008 "Good Day"*
WPTY-TV, Memphis, TN, 02/11/2008 "Eyewitness News Midday"*
WTVR-TV, Richmond, VA 02/11/2008 "Virginia This Morning"*
KMIR-TV, Palm Springs, CA 02/11/2008 "KMIR 6 News Today"

Local Newspapers
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/03/2008
Lexington Herald-Leader, 01/15/2008
New Jersey Herald News, 1/18/2008
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, 1/14/2008
Wichita Eagle, 1/18/2008
Wisconsin State Journal, 1/20/2008
St. Paul Pioneer Press, 02/13/2008
Janesville Gazette (WI), on or around Valentine's Day.
The Buffalo News (NY), 02/01/2008
The Buffalo News (NY), 02/14/2008
Jacksonville Times Union, 02/11/2008
Springfield Journal Register (OH), 2/10/2008
Newark Star-Ledger (NJ), 01/30/2008
Villager, (St. Paul, MN), 02/05/2008
Chicago Tribune, 02/10/2008
Tampa Tribune, 02/10/2008
Cherry Hill Courier Post (NJ), 02/11/2008
Deseret Morning News, 02/11/2008
Lincoln Journal-Star (NE), 02/09/2008
Dayton Daily News (OH), 02/12/2008
Northwest Indiana & Illinois Times, 02/11/2008
The State (Columbia, SC), 1/19/2008

Local Radio
Minneapolis, MN, WCCO-AM, "Fairview OnCall", 02/03/2008
Minneapolis, MN, WCCO-AM, ”Mondale and Jones”, 02/07/2008
Minneapolis, MN, WFMP-FM, "The Lori and Julia Show", 02/14/2008
Baltimore, MD, WLIF-FM, “The Lite FM Morning Show Baltimore”*
Tulsa, OK, KBEZ-FM, Show: “Steve Smith and Carly Rush”*
Grand Rapids, MI, WOOD-AM,“West Michigan’s Morning News”, 02/07/2008
Gainesville/Ocala, FL, WOCA-AM, “AM Ocala Live with Larry Whitler”, 02/07/2008
Colorado Springs, CO, KCMN-FM, “Tron Simpson Show”, 02/07/2008
Roanoke, VA, WAMV-AM, “Bob Langstaff”, 02/07/2008
Norfolk, VAWAFX-FM, “WAFX Morning Show”*
St. Louis, MO, KLOU-FM, "Smash Morning Show”, 02/07/2008
Providence, RI, WFHN-FM, "JR and Sharon in the Morning”, 02/07/2008
Nashville, TN, WLAC-AM, “Dan Eidem Show”, ”, 02/07/2008
Sarasota, FL, WSRQ-AM, “Health Beat of America”, 02/07/2008
Salisbury, MD, WICO-AM, “Bill Reddish Show”*
Chicago, IL, WSBC-AM, “The Morning Break”, 02/07/2008
Milwaukee, WI, WBEV-AM, “Idea Exchange”, 02/07/2008
New Orleans, LA, KMEZ-FM, “Hometeam Morning Show”, 02/07/2008
Parkersburg, WV, WLTP-AM, “Doug Hess Show”*
Columbia, MO, KWIX-AM, “Stephanie Ross Show”*
Burlington, IA, KBUR-AM, “Steve Hexem Show”, 02/07/2008
Cincinnati, OH, WLW-AM, "Jim Scott Show"*
Santa Fe, NM, KSFR-FM, Santa Fe Public Radio, “The Journey Home”*
Fresno, CA, KTIP-AM, “Hopper”, 02/09/2008
New York, NY, WAWZ-FM, "Johnny Stone in the Morning”, 02/14/2008
Johnstown, PA: WKYE-FM, WFGI-FM, WRKW-FM, WJHT-FM, WNTJ-AM, WNTW-AM, "The Helen Mall Show", 2/07/08

* Taped shows, check local listings for air dates.

arwyn birch open house

2008-02-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

postcard I designed for the open house in arwyn's honor.

march 14th, from 7pm-9pm at cliché 2403 lyndale ave. s., mpls
Arwyn is making new clothes for the event - they're looking cute!
Everyone should go:)

duh

2008-02-06T18:03:00.001-08:00

i figured I should write a snippet on my vegas vacation - it had some high points, like watching La Reve by Cirque du Soleil driving around in the cheesy golden mustang, the red rock canyon hike with Tate, and of course the pup named chico. Overall I still feel like a need a getaway to a tropical destination, soon....

like whoa

2008-02-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

bird got me a SIGG Hello Kitty water bottle as a congratulatory gift - he's amazing.
i am officially a best buy employee - after contracting for them for 6 months in the in-store signage department, I have been hired on as a full-time employee - yay for stability! After a scare a few weekends ago, I finally feel safe telling the world. I had received a letter saying I wouldn't be hired on (after I was already told I would) - turns out ChoicePoint (the background search company) is messing up left and right - they sent similar letters to 3 of my new co-workers.

It seems so wrong they could make such a disastrous mistake - I was distraught and started making crazy plans to start a dog walking business at the thought of being unemployed. I am so glad I have such amazing friends - without their support I would for sure have gone insane - love you guys!

gettin' the hell outta dodge

2008-01-30T19:37:00.000-08:00

well, it's been a long time coming - but I am finally going on vacation. just a mini-trip to Vegas to visit a friend - it's not quite the beach weather I was hoping for, but in Vegas there's always something extravagant to see. anything beats the crazy cold in Minnesota right now. I'll save the real trip for a few months down the road when I can spend more time away. anyway, wish me luck - big money!!!

masquerade party

2008-01-28T17:48:00.000-08:00

on saturday I was invited to a choose your own decade masquerade party, hosted by my friend and co-worker clare, to celebrate her new house. because of my hair cut, i choose 60's mod. it was so much fun to research and go hunting for all the pieces - I found most items at savers (shoes, purse, scarf), I got the dress at cliché for around $30 and the tights and sunglasses I already owned. I completed the look with a thick white headband, heavy eyeliner and white lipstick. I adore the mod look -thank you twiggy!

avoid the grey without a hitch

2008-01-25T05:59:00.001-08:00

last night was the annual cliché avoid the grey show. i am sad the camera i was using died half way through the show – but I did end up getting some cool shots (yes, I could have fixed the intense red-eye, but it didn't look as cool). the models all rocked big poofy hair (which was fabulous) and blue eye shadow.

i really enjoyed the coats by k.jurek couture, Amanda Christine’s dresses, and the pieces cliché showcased from the store. The place was packed, the wine was flowing, it was a great show:) to view all the photos I took, click here.

fun with post-its and flashes

2008-01-23T18:03:00.000-08:00

i’ve been testing out my boyfriend’s Canon PowerShot SD1000 – it’s such a good little camera (i absolutely adore the macro function). having been a dedicated 35 millimeter user, i can barely contain my excitement when it comes to the instant gratification of a digital camera. i think I am almost ready to make the switch…maybe.

one really annoying thing about point & shoot digital cameras is the over-exposed look from an overbearing flash – it gives everything a washed-out look. as a quick-fix i tried placing a colored post-it over the flash and it gave some interesting results (shown above with pink and yellow shades). it’s almost like using a filter – it’d be fun to try it with colored transparencies!

spice up your work space

2008-01-23T16:50:00.000-08:00

decorate your cube with Speaker Dogs! these little guys are so much fun – easy to assemble and they really spice up your office space. and, they’re free! you just have to print them out, cut them up and glue them together:)

silver dresses

2008-01-22T19:25:00.000-08:00

Left to Right, Top: Amanda Christine dress (one-of-a-kind) front, Amanda Christine dress back, Arwyn Birch (one-of-a-kind) dress.
Left to Right, Bottom: Amanda Christine dress close-up, Arwyn Birch dress close-up

around christmas this year i was fortunate enough to have 2 original dresses made for me by local minneapolis designers, Amanda Christine and Arwyn Birch. grey/silver is one of my favorite colors right now (obviously!).
Amanda's dress was a product of a work-in-trade project - hopefully we'll have more of these in the future, she's unbelievably easy to work with, and i adore her designs.

Arwyn happens to be one of my beautiful friends, who when I told her that her soap dispenser was my favorite color, decided to make me a dress to match. the fabric is super silky soft and is amazing to wear. i love this piece, it plays double-duty as great work wear and fun party dress.

I can’t wait until spring so I can rock these pieces in full effect.

keep it fresh

2008-01-18T07:29:00.000-08:00

it was definitely time for a haircut - I love going to Megan at level salon – she’s fabulous! I never know what exactly I want – but she always has great ideas. I think I lost about 5 inches – yay!

mafiusi designs has a new look

2008-01-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

from left to right: business cards, jewelry tags, clothing tags.

mafiusi is a clothing/accessory line created Amanda Seaman who sells her work at cliché. she approached me to redesign her logo and create business cards, clothing tags, and accessory tags about a month ago and i can truly say this project was a pleasure to work on. Amanda is probably the easiest person to work with in the world! she told me to set the deadline, and really meant it! i think the cards turned out great, she had a great name to work with: mafiusi is a term associated with the Sicilian mafia. It roots are arabic and roughly translated it means "beautiful", but can also be translated as "cool".

So, I had some pretty cool direction, guns + flowers = awesome! And, this is another great example of a work-in-trade done right - in return for this project I will get a rad completely hand made, one-of-a-kind, sterling silver necklace - yay!

about medical color test

2008-01-16T05:37:00.000-08:00

from left to right: 5405 teal + 877 metallic silver; 647 medium blue + 877 metallic silver; 540 dark blue + 877 metallic silver; 540 dark blue + 145 orange

I've been working on this logo/branding kit for the past few months for a colleague that is starting a business with a few partners. This one is really exciting because the client is a print broker, so the sky is the limit on printing. My immediate thought was metallic! I've never gotten to use metallic in projects because of the cost - but what a great opportunity to really make this logo shine (literally)! And it makes sense as far as the industry, medical processing being clean, sterile and high tech.

The other partners are not as keen to the blue/silver, teal/silver color that my contact and I are pushing for (2 furthest left). They really want to see the blue and orange (furthest right) print. So I sent them a test print file last night, they will be meeting on it today to look at the prints and decide a final color direction - I really hope it's teal & silver! Which is your favorite?

imelda jewelry now at cliché!

2008-01-14T15:14:00.000-08:00

i designed the logo and jewelry tags for imelda a little while ago, a fabulous work in trade – gotta love free jewelry! and, I just found out that her line was picked up by cliché, she has pieces in store now – go get it!

i'm published

2008-01-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

this entry is strictly bragging... that's your forewarning:)

i am officially a published designer. my first book cover is What Happy Couples Do. HA! which proves i can design things i'm not an expert at. this project seemed like a royal pain in the a$$ when I was working on it, but in the end there were a few things i felt like i won on - the colors, and stripes:). i honestly didn't expect to ever see this printed, but man, what an ego-trip!

disclaimer: i only designed the cover wrap - the inside was designed by someone else, based off the look the cover.

looking for a new scanner?

2008-01-13T12:05:00.000-08:00

here's my recommendation, the Canon liDE 600F.

it rocks, it has a built-in stand for propping it up on it's side so it doesn't take up much desk room, scans decent high resolution files, includes a photoshop plug-in so you don't have to go hunting for one, and scans film in a separate apparatus. note: it does not, however, scan slide film- so if that's what you're looking for, this scanner is not for you. i am a design-whore, so if it's not pretty -I don't want it on my desk - this scanner seemed to be a great combination of sleek style and functionality. and at under $200 it's not going to break the bank.
Sample scan (j-bird's first turntable - cute!):