So I recently discovered a fellow designer and blogger, Lizzy B, when I saw her mexican inspired stationery and fell in love. The girl is a pattern genius, and not only that, she puts together these awesome image inspired colour palettes that I can’t seem to get enough of. The first one is now my desktop image, and I will be definitely looking to her for colour inspiration from now on. You can check her out at Lizzy B Loves, but in the meantime here are some of my faves that she’s put together.
When you work inside at a desk all day it’s sometimes fun to get out and do something different, and possibly a little crazy, and with all this springtime weather we’ve been having it was the perfect day for an adventure. In order to keep the creative juices flowing I find it helpful when I get away from the computer screen and become creative in other ways. Whether it’s working with a different medium like painting or making a collage, or driving to random places and hiking through the woods in three inch wedges while carrying a stuffed sea turtle that’s twice the size of you, it’s always a good time and I find it extremely refreshing for the soul.
So, we packed up the sea turtle I won at Canada’s Wonderland, a retro owl piggy bank, and my Travelocity gnome which I’ve been obsessed with since 2004 when “The Roaming Gnome” was first introduced in their advertising campaigns, and we drove around Medicine Hat looking for photo-ops. Here’s what we found:
I was listening to CBC Radio yesterday as I often do while sitting at my desk, and my ears perked up when I heard this interview with Luis von Ahn. Now, I have never heard of him before, but if you have encountered a CAPTCHA in your day (you know, those words you type into a webpage to prove your existence), then you will be familiar with Luis von Ahn, since he is the creator of the CAPTCHA.
His latest project is called Duolingo, and as a language enthusiast, this made me extremely excited. Have you ever wanted to learn another language? Yeah, me too. Duolingo helps you learn a new language while helping with a bigger project – translating the web into other commonly spoken languages. It is a new project so they aren’t offering it in every language just yet, but they have started with Spanish, German, and English, which works for me because I have been looking for something to help me keep up on mi español.
You can listen to the full interview here.
In my attempt to find a new addictive television show – you know, the ones where you absolutely can not miss an episode or the world might stop spinning – I started watching an episode of Breaking Bad. Having never watched the show before, (and turning on half way through), I knew nothing of the storyline or the characters, or why they were aimlessly driving through the middle of the desert digging up multiple briefcases full of money.
I’m not going to lie, I got bored very fast. There aren’t many shows that I watch religiously, and it is especially difficult to try and follow a storyline that has been developing for many seasons.
What I did gain from this half an episode however, was this wonderful song! Having listened repeatedly to a French band called La Gamique back in the 90′s, I was on the hunt for a new foreign addiction – preferably in Spanish though so I could pretend to sing along. So, here it is! Enjoy!
This one goes out to Jen N’ Stefan for sending me this awesome photo via Facebook. It was just what I needed after coming back from the grocery store where one of the clerks asked me not once, but twice, if I needed help carrying a bag of dog food. Sure, there may be some people out there who would like someone almost half their age to carry an 8k bag of dog food for them, but not me. This Spud’s a strong one! Have a great weekend guys!
Yes I am an eighties baby and proud of it. Growing up this was one of my favourite tracks by the oh-so-wonderful Duran Duran. I jammed to it then, and I’m jamming to it now. In fact, I am lip syncing the female lyrics right now and wishing for big hair and spandex to come rushing through the door in a whirlwind of eighties goodness.
I really have no idea why this was put to probably the most tear jerking scene from The Lion King, but, for me, it makes it so much better! I mean, who doesn’t like watching Mufasa kick the bucket in front of his son thanks to his brother while listening to British brilliance?
I love IKEA. Who doesn’t? Aside from their overly dorm-like appearance, you can usually find exactly what you’re looking for. Whether it be a single piece or an entire room, they’re always heading the way with modern, inventive, and affordable solutions for creating your own living space. As a girl who loves clean, simple design, we found just what we needed in order to prep the house for a summer full of entertaining.
Dining Room Table – IKEA, plant – The Brick, Dog – Who Knows, Rug – IKEA, Coffee Table – IKEA, Ceramic vase – Winners
Some may know this, others may not, but I have been mildly obsessed with Japanese culture since the ripe old age of 12. It all started when the Toronto Diocesan Girls Choir Camp had started an exchange with Japanese students. Well, let’s call it a one way exchange. You see, an older “camper” had moved to Japan for work, and instigated an opportunity for her Japanese students to come to Canada, spend 2-3 weeks with us, learn about our culture and practice their English.
Once I knew this I was determined to learn as much Japanese as I could in order to make them feel more comfortable. I may not have gotten past the “hi, how are you’s”, but I had set out on a mission, and boy was I out to accomplish it. My parents had bought me a Teach Yourself Japanese book, and I was stuck to it like a fat kid on cake. (Ha!)
This was my first encounter with a language/culture barrier, and also when I first discovered how fascinating the art of communication can be. I may not have known it at the time, but it’s a fascination that has grown with me and continues to grow every day. I mean, ask yourself, how do we communicate? By speaking, yes, but what if you don’t speak the same language? Or are deaf?
Communication is everywhere, and in everything, which is why I got into advertising. It’s the perfect combination of creativity and psychology that had me hooked the second my mum even suggested it.
I’m getting off topic – I tend to do this a lot, but Utada Hikaru is a Japanese singer who I discovered in 2005, right after I moved to Victoria, BC. I had done a lot of travelling that summer, which is maybe why I always feel like going somewhere when I hear this. Like right now, I’m going to go and buy shampoo. Hey, it may not be a big trip, but it does involve some form of transporation.
I have recently become obsessed with a friend of mine’s CBC Radio 3 playlist, and as a result I have discovered Imaginary Cities. I couldn’t be happier. Not just because they’re Canadian, but the fact that they are kicking some serious butt in the music industry as well. The video reminds me a bit of a Famous People Players production, and it’s just so much fun to watch. And when it comes to sound, there’s just something about her unique and soulful voice that is keeping this track on repeat right now. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and if you don’t, then enjoy the fact that I’m dancing around lip syncing to this song like a twit.
Deep in thought as to what I want my new ‘office’ to look like, you can never go wrong with some good sheep shelving. Designed by Australian company Karton, these unique shelves aren’t the only imaginative product they have come out with. They’ve created everything from tables and chairs to bedroom furniture, and all from high grade corrugated cardboard.
