mama said we could draw

Desktop Calendars: May 2011

2011-05-04T10:58:00.011-04:00

Desktop Calendars: April 2011

2011-03-31T13:35:00.010-04:00

Studio. Coming to a desktop near you!

2011-03-01T12:52:00.008-05:00

Desktop getting stale? Bring in the studio!

Starting this month we are bringing you a series of desktop calendar designed for you by your friendly studio artists. Each month we'll feature different styles and artists, starting with March calendars.

So download away and put a lil studio on your desktop!

Legacy of Letters by Luca Barcellona

2011-01-05T18:20:00.000-05:00

Legacy of Letters from Luca Barcellona on Vimeo.

Up There

2010-05-04T09:52:00.002-04:00

UP THERE from Jon on Vimeo.

A fascinating mini documentary about hand-painted ads and the artists behind them. Defiantly worth the watch.

Orla's getting us ready for spring

2010-03-09T14:11:00.003-05:00

Here in NC it's been uncommonly cold for uncommonly long. This week we're promised weather in the 60s and according to my local friends on facebook, it's a highly anticipated temperature. This little film from Orla Kiely is just what I need to start shifting from scarves and caps to greenery and bare legs.

mummysam give away!

2010-03-05T11:00:00.003-05:00

This is a great give away from mummysam. If you don't visit her blog or flickr regularly you should. It's filled with beautiful things. Leave a comment on her blog by 10pm Friday March 5th and this print could be yours!

Turquoise:: The Pantone Color for 2010

2009-12-10T14:59:00.004-05:00

I am happy to announce (well re-announce) that Pantone has decided that Turquoise will be the "it" color in 2010. So watch out, it looks like Turquoise will be gracing the covers of our magazines and stitching of our garments. Not a bad thing.

Turquoise Transports Us to an Exciting, Tropical Paradise While Offering a Sense of Protection and Healing in Stressful Times

CARLSTADT, N.J., Dec. 8, 2009 –Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company (NASDAQ: XRIT), and the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the color of the year for 2010. Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing.

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

Whether envisioned as a tranquil ocean surrounding a tropical island or a protective stone warding off evil spirits, Turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively. It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.

In fashion, Turquoise makes a statement that can look elegant and dressy in fine silk and gemstones, or casual and fun in cotton and athletic apparel. Because of its versatility, Turquoise is a great accent color in jewelry, purses, shoes, hair accessories and even nail polish for women, and ties, shirts and sportswear for men.

For brides wanting a flattering choice for attendant apparel and accessories on their big day, Turquoise is now one of the nearly 200 PANTONE WEDDING Colors available from Dessy, a leading manufacturer of bridesmaid, social occasion and flower girl dresses, as well as destination wedding gowns under the labels Dessy Collection, After Six, Alfred Sung, Lela Rose Bridesmaid and Sandals Destination Wedding Dresses. PANTONE WEDDING exclusively from Dessy provides a collection of color tools to make it easy for brides to achieve perfectly color-coordinated weddings – from inspiration to “I do.”

Additionally, Turquoise is one of 3,000 colors available in Pantone’s line of superior-quality, eco-friendly paint. PANTONE Paints combine the accuracy of PANTONE Colors with the beauty of high-performance Dutch paints. Perfect for a powder room or bedroom, Turquoise is an evocative, spa-like hue that adds an undertone of warmth and excitement to any cool space. In the kitchen, Turquoise adds a unique flare to tabletop and appliances.

When Able is unable:

2009-12-08T14:58:00.003-05:00

Our friend and fellow studio artist, Able Parris, who you should know since he's the only other Mama Said blog contributor, is down for the count with his recent appendectomy. Apparently he and his appendix have decided to part ways, which I hear is a painful situation. Also Able makes monthly wallpaper/desktops that we all enjoy using. However his appendectomy took precident over the December wallpaper so I decided to step up.
TA DA!
To see the lovely things Able usually creates check out his blog: ableparris.com/

The stockings were hung by the handmade, foam core fire place with care.

2009-12-08T14:31:00.004-05:00

It all started with the lights.
Thurston and I got these lovely white lights for our winter wedding a few years ago. I loaned them to Lee and Stacy for their rehearsal dinner last spring and was too lazy to ever take them home. So they've just been wrestling with my feet under my desk for the past six months or so.
I tried really hard to wait until December to put them up, but I just couldn't make it. How can you resist a canopy of twinkle lights? Thanks to Matt, well, really Matt's height, we had all the lights up in the blink of an eye!
Then came the small tinsel Christmas tree, which has been under my desk since last Christmas. Emily and I used load of old peeps as ornaments. Along with the random ornaments Matt found in his desk it became a pretty full looking tree.
Then we found the little stockings that Wade gave us last year and thought we needed to hang them from something. That's where the mantel came in. And since you can't have a mantel without a fire place and a fire we had a more involved project on our hands. Matt spear headed the project with help from the rest of us and with a few scrap pieces of foam core and two light-work afternoons later, we had ourselves a cozy fire and fire place.
Oh. And the Santa's mail box was discovered in one of the closets in the studio and I believe that was made by an ex studio member, Zach. So thanks Zach! We're putting it to good use.
We spend more conscience hours at work than anywhere else so may as well make it merry!
We have plans for a foam core wreath and a family portrait too. Maybe even a deer.

Big Shots

2009-11-13T13:52:00.013-05:00

Check out these McKinneites at the reception for Big Shots: Andy Warhol Polaroids at The Nasher Museum of Art. Enjoy and prolong our 15 minutes of Polaroid fame. See other shots on the Nasher’s flickr.
Sponsored by McKinney!
November 12, 2009
Durham, North Carolina

Karla Mickens & her sister
Studio Artist

John Hagerty
Art Director

Ellen Steinberg
Group Creative Director

Bliss Alexander-Smith
Studio Artist

Lizzie Ruiz
Project Coordinator

Kelly Quinn
Account Supervisor

Lindsay Parina
Project Leader

Melati Crook & Lindsley Baker-Baum
Project Leaders

Helen Hsu
Project Leader

Jenny Nicholson
Copywriter

Jonathan Cude
Chief Creative Officer

Brad Brinegar
Chairman & CEO

Janet Northen
Dir, Agency Communications

Philip Marchington
Group Creative Director

November Wallpaper

2009-11-05T12:15:00.002-05:00

I'd like to bring to your attention a little project I've had going on since April 2008. Each month, I design a desktop wallpaper available for download on my personal website. Below is this month's. (There's also an iPhone version.)

Studio THRILL McKinney (from the front)

2009-11-02T16:25:00.002-05:00

Studio THRILLS McKinney

2009-10-30T01:40:00.002-04:00

Basically the McKinney studio is awesome. For our Halloween costume contest this year, we did a group costume of zombies with a surprise guest, Micheal Jackson (Cha) and preformed the thriller dance. I'm sure there are other, better videos that were taken, but here's what it looked like from the back. It was filmed with a zumi digital which is meant to mimic a super 8. Which means really grainy in low light and no sound. For that super old school feel. I synced music to it as best i could, but the actual audio, complete with cheering co-workers, made it all the more amazing. Thanks to Rachel for filming this for me! And thanks to Julia, Cha, Emily, Karla, & Lizzie for thrilling it up real nice. And a big bummer to Gail who rolled her ankle days before and couldn't par take. We'll do it again for the Christmas party Gail!

Advertising Adds Value to a Product by Changing Our Perception?

2009-10-20T12:03:00.002-04:00

That's what Rory Sutherland asserts in this TED video:

Stealth Project, ISEA 2009

2009-10-15T14:18:00.000-04:00

I think McKinney needs one of these:

Is Internet Image Montage Fake?

2009-10-06T11:17:00.003-04:00

Watch the following video which claims to "present a system that composes a realistic picture from a simple
freehand sketch annotated with text labels," and tell me if you think it's real or not.

Incredible Interactive Keyboard Staircase

2009-10-06T10:23:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure how people would have known this installation was from Volkswagen, but the idea is wonderful. I would love to have a staircase like this. Maybe here at McKinney?

Able and I are on the same page.

2009-10-05T17:28:00.006-04:00

And that page has been carved down to reveal beautiful artwork. Check out these dollar bill cut paper works from tattoo artist Scott Campbell.

Book Dissections

2009-10-02T10:27:00.003-04:00

It's Friday, which means you have all weekend to do something creative on your own schedule. If you're lost for ideas, maybe these book dissections will inspire you to get away from the computer.

(via designboom)

Helvetimail

2009-10-01T10:26:00.004-04:00

Unhappy with the cluttered look of Gmail and their provided themes? Now you can give your inbox a cleanup with Helvetimail.

Test your color vision

2009-09-29T15:42:00.002-04:00

This test is pretty neat.

I'm curious to see how everyone does.

Surface View

2009-09-29T14:44:00.004-04:00

Speaking of adorning the walls, I would love the opportunity to have any of the designs at Surface View applied to a wall at my home. Below are a few that caught my eye, but be sure to browse their beautiful site.

Typophile Film Festival 5 Opening Titles

2009-09-25T16:10:00.001-04:00

Typophile Film Festival 5 Opening Titles from Brent Barson on Vimeo.

thanks to one of our lovely art directors, Rocky, for sharing!

The Readability Bookmarklet

2009-09-21T13:32:00.002-04:00

Reading on screens isn't much fun, but it just got a whole lot easier. Introducing, Readability, an Arc90 Laboratory experiment.

It's a customizable bookmarklet you can drag to the top of your browser. Any time you are reading an article online that you'd like to clean up, just click on the bookmarklet and it will temporarily reformat the text to your preferred settings.

Making of Blueprint 3 ALbum Cover

2009-09-21T10:39:00.001-04:00

I'm looking forward to the day studio gets a request to do something like this.

Adorn Our Walls

2009-09-21T10:31:00.003-04:00

I like the work of Brooklyn-based studio, Adorn. I'd like to see the studio do something similar to our walls as their installation for Nike pictured below. Check out more of their work on their site.

Dan Ariely asks, Are we in control of our own decisions?

2009-09-16T10:18:00.002-04:00

Dan Ariely will be coming into the agency in a couple of weeks to talk about behavioral economics. Dan is the James B. Duke Professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke University, a visiting professor at MIT’s Media Laboratory, and a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight.

After seeing the video below, I am really looking forward to hearing him speak. I'll also be trying to read as much of his book, Predictably Irrational, as possible before his visit.

How We Read

2009-09-14T13:37:00.003-04:00

Cyrus Highsmith of Font Bureau fame has written (and illustrated!) a brief explanation of how we read.

The typographer’s job is to work within the limits of the reader’s preferences and eyesight so the words go smoothly into the brain. With experience, the typographer is able to judge what settings will be the most comfortable for the reader.

Read the entire post here.

TYPOGRAPHY 101

2009-09-10T09:49:00.003-04:00

TYPOGRAPHY 101

2009-09-09T11:29:00.004-04:00

To quote Grealey:

Costume ideas are few and font between.

b3ta.com

desktop download

2009-08-24T17:11:00.004-04:00

Usually when I'm in meetings I doodle. Lots of lines and swirls. I did the same thing in school. Contrary to how it may seem it helps me concentrate. So recently, while waiting for an email reply or something where I'm still at my desk, this common little habit spilled over into a computer exercise. The result? A little gift for you my friend. Hopefully this will be a regular thing.

blue and red lines:
320 x 480 (iphone)
1024 x 768
1280 x 800
1280 x 1024
1440 x 900
1600 x 1024
1680 x 1050
1920 x 1200

iQ font

2009-08-21T14:10:00.002-04:00

This is just great. Great great great. I would love to be involved in a project like this some day. Maybe this weekend. I think I'm free. Kate get your camera and we'll all think up an appropriate ukulele cover to go with it.

iQ font - When driving becomes writing / Full making of from wireless on Vimeo.

This was created by Pierre Smeets and Damien Aresta from pleaseletmedesign.com. Also check out their flickr and download the free iQ font from Toyota!

Typography 101

2009-08-20T09:13:00.004-04:00

My plan was to get in early and do a post about Optical vs. Metrics kerning in InDesign. http://forums.adobe.com/thread/323629

this is hilarious.

2009-08-18T16:06:00.007-04:00

I love love love fashion blogs. Street fashion blogs though. Which may seem odd seeing as how right now I'm wearing ugly, very comfortable flip flops, jeans, a tshirt, a slightly baggy cardigan and twisted up hair. Although to my defense I had a cute hat on this morning which I thought was a nice accessory to my mild mannered outfit, but it didn't last.
I am a regular contributor to a flickr pool called wardrobe remix. It's quite fun and sometimes, sometimes, gives me the nudge I need to wear shoes other than my flip flops. I also frequent (as a viewer not contributor) hel-looks (my favorite), the sartorialis, and face hunter.
I recently came across this poster on refinery29, which I'm adding to my fashion blog watch. It is so completely hilarious! I love it. Even in the sort of fashion sub-culture I consider myself an appreciator of there's a lovely hierarchy that can be made fun of.

somewhere over the pantones

2009-08-12T16:41:00.010-04:00

While *waiting on some feedback today I took a gaze out of the window behind me and I do nearly every day to rest my eyes and stretch my legs and decided that it was very gray in Durham today. No. Not gray, like blueish gray. But a very pale blueish gray. Definitely a cool gray. And that led to me wonder what exact color the sky was. So I tracked down a(n old) pantone® fan book and tried to figure it out. I think it was in between Pantone 7541 C and Pantone Cool Gray 1PC. I couldn't be sure because every time I looked from the sky to the book my eyes adjusted for the brightness as did the camera phone exposure. So you'll just have to take my word on that one.

So this led me to wonder how a few other things translated in Pantone.

The up-to-date, solid chips coated, Pantone Book.
Again, let me mention that the fan book I was using was an older one and was chosen for it's ability to be held with one hand.
I believe its closest match was Pantone 7417 C.

Next, my arm.
Let it be known that I am a very pale person but did take a trip to the beach last Saturday which I think skewed these results. Pantone 473 C

My dress.
Which turns out looks duller on paper than on fabric. I suppose it has been washed a few times
Pantone 3395 PC

The lovely brick wall behind me.
This was hard because I had to choose one brick to match. But this is the brick I always glance to so it was the winner.
Pantone 1645 PC

My after lunch grapes
These are huge grapes by the way. Which I think made it a tad easier to match their color.
Pantone 374 PC

And finally, Chelsie's bag which I covet.
It's such a great color. Especially for a bag. It must be like carrying around a puddle of water. I have bag envy pretty frequent, but can't seem to ditch my own fall to pieces, full of buttons, ripped seams satchel I've had for years.
Pantone 307 PC

* disclaimer that i was not just tooling around at work

Typography 101

2009-08-06T11:07:00.011-04:00

Above is a demonstration of editing a rag. The ultimate goal with a flush-left paragraph is “long short long” or “short long short”. Whenever possible, open or tighten character space to the full measure. The “AFTER” paragraph demonstrates what Chic McKinney coined”semi-justified.” Each line either makes the full measure OR falls short at the same measure. Finally, do whatever you can to avoid hyphens. Enjoy.

Typography 101

2009-07-30T17:36:00.017-04:00

More than 25 years have passed since I was a typesetting vendor for McKinney & Silver Advertising. Today, I'd like to share with you the things my eyes can't ignore.

Here’s a little kerning trick.
The same kerning value needs to apply to every “straight-to-straight” letter combination. Thus, the negative space between the caps H U must be consistent with the negative space between the caps U R and H I. So remember: If you do it to one, you have to do it to all.

Cute Poop

2009-07-24T15:51:00.002-04:00

Your day is about to improve:

While searching for gifts yesterday for our white elephant exchange, matt came across this gem. Lucky lucky, Jesse Flores is now the proud owner. Enjoy.

Come one, come all!

2009-07-22T16:17:00.010-04:00

Well, not all, just those who are invited.
McKinney is expanding the studio to incorporate everything but the kitchen sink! That's right studio is not just for print anymore. Our new and improved "integrated studio" will be the one stop shop for making dreams come true.
Let's all get together and make nice.

click to make slightly larger

9:30am
Friday 7/24
Presentation Theater
For the white elephant gift exchange:
ideally this is something like a desk ornament that works as a reminder of the beautiful marriage between interactive and finished art. There is a $10 max set on the gift, or it's perfectly acceptable to wrap up and regift a desk item that was discovered in the move.
We won't tell. ♥
Click here to check out the rules for a white elephant gift exchange.

madsencycles

2009-07-14T13:14:00.001-04:00

waaaay cool.

books are pretty.

2009-07-14T12:58:00.002-04:00

I stumbled across Canadian based designer Ginger Ngo on the poppytalk blog and totally fell in love with her work.

She and her bookmaking friend, Chloe Lan have started a bookbinding project called teaparty design. Check our their etsy shop!

Lost River Modern

2009-07-08T14:11:00.004-04:00

First of all let me say that I have forsaken Mama. She said I could draw, I thanked her and loved and then dropped her. No excuses.

On to the post!
Okay, think of a cabin in West Virginia. Go ahead. Get that picture in your mind.
Is it something like this:

And don't get me wrong, there's a charming quality that this cabin has that is completely appealing to me. It makes me think "rest, nature, quite, simple". All good things. But it also sort of makes me think "indoor plumbing? could a bear get to me? ouch! splinters!"
Enter Lost River Modern.
This is their version of a West Virginian cabin:

Welcome to your modern prefab get-away. There's quite a few of amazing prefab homes these days, but not many that are rented out for the weekend. This little cabin also made it into dwell.
For even more info you can check out the PreFab Project blog on how this came to be.

All hail the "before and after"

2009-06-10T13:19:00.012-04:00

I mean who doesn't love before and afters? DIY projects, makeovers, home improvements. We love it because it's the instant gratification portion of our (or someone's) hard work. When transformations happen over a period of time and the end product is a cure of the process and not the original problem, the update can lose impact.
If you have any appreciation at all for package design, then you'll love this. And you, as a person, who probably buys things, defintiely appreciates package design even if you aren't aware of it. The package design website, The Dieline will not only wet your appetiate but feed you a 5 course meal and push second helpings of dessert afterwards. And you will enjoy it.
Here are a few of my favorite before and afters. Click here to see all 49 of them.

Waldo Pancake doesn't exist.

2009-05-26T12:20:00.007-04:00

Except that he does. Waldo Pancake is the sole genius behind Puccino 's, a popular UK based coffee shop/cafe. It's every designer/copywriters dream to have a fun trusting client like Puccino's. I'd go as far as to say I'd step out of line at a coffee shop if i spotted at Puccino's across the street simply to savory the message my cup would hold.

my favorite is "pillow to napkin's duvet."

Tea's agenda.

Ha! Love it!

Agreed.

Troublesome.

Enjoy other images at Waldo Pancake's flickr!

Brilliant

2009-05-19T10:16:00.003-04:00

Please enjoy my subtle comedy as I title this post "Brilliant" which can be a term of actual intellect here in the good ole U.S. of A. and as a colloquial term of cleverness or a good idea in the UK. My very good friend Steph has been doing loads of embroidery lately which, in turn, as put me closer to a lovely craft that I wish I could do. So when I ran across this cross-stitch (just a hop skip and jump away from embroidery) project that featuring tube maps, I immediately bookmarked it on my delicious.

It's great because usually when you think of cross-stitch you think of "Welcome to my Country Home" signs and little dutch girls in bonnets; which holds a certian place in my heart. So this rocking chair on the porch with sweet tea past time combined with the clean striaght lines of this urban motif is just brilliant! Thanks Meg!

Flickr Find - Neville Tricket

2009-05-14T16:49:00.008-04:00

I've found the most amazing flickr person. Neville Trickett.
Actually he found me. Not sure how he found me, but he befriended me so I of course at a look at his photos and immediately started favoirting them. He has the most amazing photos of some of the most beautiful things! Embroidery, textile patterns, paper patterns, vintage swing tags, incrediable floral art by josef frank, and mouth watering drawings by ernest haeckel! And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

I almost feel like i'm being tested. Maybe someone has been watching me and decided to create a source of all things i find beautiful to see how i react to it. *insert image of me looking around to see who's spying on me*
See for yourself and check out a few of many i've favorited over the past few days:

Portraits :: Julia Parris

2009-05-05T11:22:00.002-04:00

My friend and co-worker, Julia Parris has done some amazing medium format color portraits. I was honored when she asked if my better half and I would be subjects/models. It turned out to be a dreary rainy day when we could get together, but it completely fits with the rest of the portraits. An artist and photographer indeed.

$400 sunglasses? Yes, please.

2009-05-04T10:28:00.005-04:00

I am so so so far from the person who would pay $400 for sunglasses (especially if they weren't even prescription). I equate $400 to a portion of rent or maybe a plane ticket. Not something I could leave on the counter top at the drug store. But selling Oliver Peoples sunglasses to me with a cute and funny video featuring Zooey Deschanel, gets me a little closer. As in, now I'll say I really like that brand were as before I'd say, "who's this Oliver character?"

So way-to-go Oliver Peoples advertising. You've found the subculture of indie minded professionals with a healthy 9-5 who have found they have a taste for fancy name brand. I am in the market for sunglasses...and Zooey Deschanel is my #1 girl crush...

jackie's baby shower

2009-05-01T10:53:00.006-04:00

Our beloved mechanical artist, Jackie is counting down the days until her baby boy arrives. Wade threw a baby shower for her a few weekends ago and here are some highlights.
Ben and Jackie opening their gifts.

Chelsie recording the gifts.

EW made an amazing brunch.

Kevin, Chelsie, & Wade.

Make a baby out of play dough.
who made which one?

Unscramble the words. Kevin won.

Jacob (Wade's kitty) played with the ribbon.

Jackie is loved by many departments.
Laura: IT Director
Tess: : Macintosh System Administrator
Kristin: Interactive Production Artist

Wade & EW made Carolina blue baby bottle cookies for everyone.

twitteringly

2009-05-01T10:35:00.004-04:00

okay okay fine. i'll twitter. i'll update my facebook status, upload new memories to flickr, post on the blog(s), and i'll twitter. there is no excuse for anyone to not know what i'm doing at any time. my life is an open book. despite the obligatory typos it should be an okay read.
they've taken the best part of facebook, and just did that. the status updates. no one can request a lil green patch on twitter, or have a snow ball fight, or send me a drink request. no group, cause, event, or petition invitations. no sesame street feel-o invites, you're cool requests or most lovable person requests. but twitter is really pretty self indulgent. so are blogs. as in, me writing this, i'm assuming there's an audience that cares. the people i'm really interested in keeping up with are my friends. friends i don't get to see during the week and friends have moved away. but what will happen (like myspace and facebook) is that the line on who to follow and who to not follow will be blurred. and i'll end up "following" someone i just sort of knew in high school and through that i'll learn that he/she had eggs for breakfast. riveting.
but until then i'll twitter and and i'll blog about twittering and twitter about blogging and all will be happy.

New Justic video + co-workers and other design minded friends = great new after work game!

2009-04-23T15:54:00.005-04:00

Justice - DVNO from Freedom Record on Vimeo
Justice has done it again. You've probably seen their amazing video, D.A.N.C.E. (below) that knocked everyone (well, graphic designers) off their feet two years ago. The video above, DVNO is all type all the time. And it's it could also be a fun, name that typeface, after work game! C'mon, who's in?
Grade yourself against someone who's already done it, by checking out fontfeed editor, Yves Peters.

Ray, dear Ray.

2009-04-21T12:45:00.009-04:00

Ray Fenwick is a Canadian artist and illustrator who's hand was meant to hold a pen. Maybe the occasional sword, but definitely a pen. I got his book last year, Hall of Best Knowledge and it's wonderful wisps of swirls and lines cradling dark and humors stories spills from every page.

What lead me to this was his hand drawn type and patterns. It's so distinguishable I think I'd recognize it if he doodled on a post it note and dropped it on the ground. Here. In North Carolina. The best part about Ray Fenwick is that he has a flickr site. Okay well maybe that's not is very best attribute, but it certainly makes him obtainable. A fairly serious flickrer like myself appericates that. The following images are ones on his flickr that I can't get enough of.

"This Just In" skateboard made from book covers and deck. This was auctioned off for skate park benefit.

detail

The Final Campaign

Here is an installation he did of loads of drawings of friendship bracelets.

detail

Let's Turn This Into a Math Problem

Seamless Swords Pattern

Thee Battle of Excelsior Gulch Pattern

A Canon of Type Design Pattern

Hacked Flourishes Pattern

Cloud Diaper Pattern

And now you wrap your next gift with a Ray Fenwick pattern. Check out Naked and Angry to order.

Postcrossing

2009-04-16T12:27:00.011-04:00

I recently joined postcrossing which is a wonderful 21st century postcard exchange. My friend Steph signed up a while back and she has received very cool postcards and stamps from other countries that I was instantly envious of. Actually I was instantly envious of all the fun mail she was receiving. I haven't received any yet, but I've sent nine. Four of those have reached their destination so I should be receiving some any day now. Once a postcard is received the recipient registers it with the site, posts a picture, and usually sends a thank you message/post to the sender via the postcrossing site. So far I've sent postcards to Finland (3), Germany, China, the US (2), the Netherlands and Canada.
I love the site, not that its design blows me away but there's so much information. And that information is laid out in a way that's easy to navigate, interesting and simple. If you thoroughly read the Please buy me these art books post, then you'll know that isotypes are my pillow talk. Take these statistics for instants:
(click for larger view)

Simple, interesting, pretty.
And now my favorite part. There's a constant stream of uploaded postcards in the gallery and you can go through and favorite the ones you like (like flickr). These are some of my recent faves.
(click on any postcard to see where it's traveled)

I encourage you to join. It's a fun way experience different places while you're *uhm* stuck at work.

Here a Peep, There a Peep, Everywhere a Peep Peep.

2009-04-15T14:52:00.005-04:00

Think back. Way back. Way back to when Mama Said first started. Waaay back to September 2008. There was a post on the above-the-desk-decoration I inherited from Regan Wood.
Peeps. Yes Peeps. Two-year-shelf-life-any-color/flavor-imaginable-sugary-marshmellowy-Peeps. You either love'em (Wade) or hate'em (Chelsie). No matter the season, you can't ignore them. They transcend Easter and fly off the shelves at Rite Aid leaving little granules of sugar confetti in their wake year round. And by wake, I mean desk, because what was once a modest display of peepery has become a colorful collection of rock hard, multicultural peeps.

Whole Foods Earth Month design

2009-04-14T11:49:00.005-04:00

About once or twice a week Wade, my-friend-manager-volleyball-team-mate-car-pool-buddy and I stop at Whole Foods on our way into work. It's a nice way to begin the day. I usually get coffee or chai and a muffin and Wade can't resist the spinach and mushroom dish on the hot bar.
It's not too often that I go out of my way to closer inspect design that catches my eye, but this morning I did. And by out of my way, I mean fully extended my arm to reach for their Earth Month/April 2009 Calendar.

One, I'm a sucker for "aged" looking materials.
Two, I've been referred to as a neo-hippie which really just boils down to a preference for organics and recycling.
Three, "Enter For Your Chance To Win" narrowly escapes my attention. As long as I don't have to enter too much information, I try to get something for nothing pretty regularly.
Four, the color scheme is right up my ally. Blue and Greens with a yellow undertone and a splash of red. *sound of kissing the finger tips like a carton Italian chief*

So I would just like to condone the designer/design team that put this together. I saw the calendar. I took it. I read it. I typed in the website. And now I'm blogging about it. This is exactly what they wanted. And I will not deny them what they've earned.

I really hope I win that Energy Star Fridge.

Please buy me these art books.

2009-04-13T11:02:00.007-04:00

I'm surrounded by readers. My husband Thurston falls asleep every night with a book on his chest. My friend May went and got a library card as soon as she unpacked her car when she moved here. My friend Steph is a professional book lover. My friend SarahRice reads for pleasure and has a job archiving things other people want to read. And even my desk neighbor Matt Wood carries a book in his pocket at all times.
Me? I read Harry Potter and Twilight. When I do read a book one of the above mentioned recommends to me, I really enjoy it, but it's like pulling teeth to get me started. I also read Readymade and Real Simple cover to cover, and I absolutely love looking through art books. (which Steph keeps me abreast of the best)
The following are the ones I want to call my own:

Fingerprint: The Art of Using Hand-Made Elements in Graphic Design
This is my #1 pick. It's exactly what I'm interested in. The title may as well be, "How Bliss Can Use Hand-Made Elements in Graphic Design".

New Vintage Type: Classic Fonts for the Digital Age
I really love typography. It's funny how in college, I didn't care for typography or textiles and now that's what I'm most interested in. I have Mike Perry's book, Hand Job: A Catalog of Type, Over and Over: A Catalog of Hand-Drawn Patterns and they're both really amazing.

Charley Harper: An Illustrated Life
A classic. One day it will be mine. One day.

Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens
This is my porn.

Maps: Finding Our Place in the World
My friend Smitty and I had an on-going joke that maps and puzzles were one in the same. If you like maps, you like puzzles. Like puzzles? Must love maps. At my old job, I ended up drawing/designing a few maps for some residential developments and it was really a lot of fun. I think Smitty was jealous.

Otto Neurath
This book could be the book that Thurston and I read together to reinstate family time. Otto Neurath is an Austrian sociologist who made major achievements in graphic design and philosophy. You know isotypes? Yeah, he made those.

April 9, 2009

2009-04-09T10:49:00.004-04:00

Today is my kitty's day. He's Mr. April 9th for the cuteoverload calendar.

Max is the best.

Rosa Loves

2009-04-08T12:03:00.005-04:00

I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to an amazing non-profit, ROSA LOVES. Mike Fretto and Chris Lewis (a high school friend of mine) started the company in 2006. They both have full time jobs, but saw a need for their skill, craft and heart, and did not ignore it. Basically they help people in need. People are chosen that usually have a direct relationship with Mike, Chris or one of the volunteers. A t-shirt design is created about that person with their story is screen printed on in the inside. The shirts are sold online, in a few stores in St. Augstine FL, and surrounding (craft/charity) events.
Here are few of their t-shirt designs. Click the picture to read the story behind it.

What they do is really inspiring. If you can't recall the last inspiring thing you did, buy a t-shirt!

give'em an inch...

2009-04-07T17:07:00.003-04:00

2009-04-03T06:44:00.002-04:00

IYAD_WYAD_YAG_WYAG

Yellow

2009-03-30T13:27:00.004-04:00

Too busy to blog.

2009-03-25T11:15:00.003-04:00

To my dedicated 1.5 readers,
There will be more blogging next week.
I promise.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WADE!

2009-03-23T11:11:00.003-04:00

We hope you're laying in the sun and having a drink right now. Enjoy your day!

Busy

2009-03-19T16:24:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts here lately folks. We've been busy little beavers.

Happy Birthday Jackie & Kevin!

2009-03-16T09:39:00.005-04:00

musical felt

2009-03-11T12:49:00.003-04:00

I just can't get over these felt instruments made by etsy seller pul(sew)width. The first thing I did was sent the link to my husband, Thurston, who's incredibly instrument savvy and holds a special place in his heart for keyboards/pianos, while I hold a special place in my heart for things that are cute. And although I think $75.00 is a little crazy, (what are the odds of this person reading this blog?) clearly there are enthusiasts who will dish out that kind of dough. In fact, if Thurston and I had a kid, I could possibly see us convincing ourselves that this would be an appropriate toy for him/her despite our thrifty ways.

Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie

2009-03-10T11:52:00.003-04:00

So I'm thinking of renaming this blog to "Things you saw on Design Sponge last month." If by chance this video by Oren Lavie hasn't circled around to you yet, please enjoy:

A chilly reminder

2009-03-09T10:49:00.005-04:00

Today is a glowing 70 degrees with a high of 80. Nearly everyone in the agency is sporting a short sleeve shirt and is skipping around like the hardwoods are daffodils. Well, here's me, the wet blanket, posting icy pictures on a beautiful spring day. And hey, while I'm at it, by Friday, we're back in the 40's so don't put away your winter coats yet.
These are from last week when Matt and I were walking to the deck after work.

bliss: woe, what's that? It's not a man...hole... is it?
mattwood: must be a lady hole.
requisite laughter ensues for days.

these icicles stayed the longest just on this section of wire because that cyclone thingie there blocks the sunrise.

ooooh macro.

this photo's sort of funny. I only noticed these icicles after we walked away and instantly regretted that I didn't go back to take the picture. Since Wade (my carpool partner) was still in the building, I drove to the front from the deck. Got out and went back to take this picture. *insert sigh of relief here*

awesome apps

2009-03-06T13:58:00.005-05:00

Okay I've entered full iphone dorkdom when I blog about "apps". But any of my friends would say I entered when I started referring to them as apps instead of applications.
BUT CHECK THIS ONE OUT!
It's a photo filter called Polarize and it changes your iphone photos to look like Polaroids or there's the option to take the picture with the filter on. Pretty Sweet.
Before

After

I know I know. How impure can you be. Not only is it not a real Polaroid, it's not even film. It's not even a real camera. For shame. Technology has once again spat in the face of craft. And I'm handing out tissues and taking more pictures with the polarize filter!!!

'We're all gonna die. 100 Meters of existence.'

2009-03-06T13:42:00.003-05:00

I'm notorious for having five or more tabs open on my browser at once. I just like having the option of instant access I guess. I'll usually go through at slow points in the day and close or reopen new ones, but here's one I've had open for a few days now, and every time I think, okay, time to close this one, I just end up looking at it again and keeping it open. It's just great. greatness encapsulated in 100 meters on the internet.
A photograph 100 meters long, taken from the same spot over 20 days with only a few people noticing. Greatness.

Thanks to Tomas for sharing this link with the agency!

everyone knows: tiny = cute

2009-03-06T13:08:00.004-05:00

And that is why I love this photo from knitalatee's etsy shop. What I really want are those teeny plants in thimble planters. They could go on the ridge between Matt and I's desk. And I would love them not proportionate to their size, but they cuteness.

Design sponge feature the above photo along with photos of her crocheted stones.
*I have requested such a crocheted stone from my crochet savvy friend Sarahrice.
*reminder

Mckinney street style

2009-03-06T12:45:00.008-05:00

So twice now, I've harassed enough of my co-workers to pose for a "street style" photo for the Indie NC blog. (oh mama, don't be angry, you know I can't be contained). But just in case you missed that, let's see them again: Click the links to take you to the other blog for details.
Mckinney Street Style part 1

McKinney Street Style part 2

ridiculously cool: augmented reality

2009-02-23T15:41:00.007-05:00

So at some point or another I ended up on Mckinney's interactive community email list, which is funny because my interactive capabilities maxes out with me personally speaking to someone. I cannot program, I know very little html, and I know CSS stands for cascading style sheets and it stops there. I am grateful I'm on this email list because they talk about the best stuff!!!
I went to, what McKinney calls an, "I think that's cool" presentation where folks just present what they think is cool. Art, advertising, craft, it's all valid. This last one was produced by a few interactive members and it *exploding sound* blew my mind.
I do love learning about crazy new technologies. Just ask Matt or Chelsie. I'm constantly showing them neat new apps on my phone which Chelsie indulges me and says is cool and Matt, well, Matt...never mind.
So, the new thing I'm going on about is called augmented reality. Ooooooh. Ahhhhhh. Picture this if you will; a piece of paper with a weird grid on it. Got it? Okay now you take that weird grid and turn on your camera on your computer or phone (with the right app) and magic happens.
Magic like this little movie from Boffswana. Or this smart grid from GE. Or this clever little Valentines solution.
And finally this, create your own augmented reality from Microsoft. Which I did. And was pleased. And showed Chelsie. But not Matt.
I downloaded this app called tag reader to my phone, created a tag on Microsoft Tag's beta and had it point to one of my flickr pictures.

I clicked render and print to have a little piece of technology magic to call my own. I can't really do anything with it now but show my friends.

me: check this out! i can take a picture of this little box, with my phone and a minute later it takes you to this picture i took!

friend: why don't you just have a link instead of something that requires an application?

me: it's not as cool.

friend: okay. i'm hungry lets get some food.

me: no, don't you get it? it's cool because it can be used anywhere. magazines, movie posters, merchandise...

friend: how about nachos?

me: newspapers, bill boards, business cards....

It's just neat okay. Do me a favor. If you have this app on your phone, try it:

There's a similar program/company (I don't know how to refer to it) called JagTag which I will be playing with shortly.

credit where credit is due:
All this information came to me through Mckinney's interactive community.
The "I think that's cool" presentation was presented by Trevor OBrien, Rafe Kemmis, and Beth McKnight.
This Microsoft Tag was offered up by Glen Fellman and was counter offered with JagTag by Trevor.
The Boffswana link was offered by Melissa Blavos, the smart grid by Anna Lowe and the valentines thewarehouse by Kristin Siha.

Seymour Chwast

2009-02-19T09:55:00.005-05:00

One of my favorites. Had the opportunity to visit and tour Pushpin back in my college days.

Tuesday just got better.

2009-02-17T11:20:00.000-05:00

foam core fun

2009-02-10T14:57:00.006-05:00

There weren't a ton of assignments after the big pitch last week so I decided to practice my foam core cutting skills.

For Kevin, a foam core halberd.

For Jackie, a foam core hot air balloon.

There's no reason for it to say farewell, I just liked the balloon and didn't even notice the message until I was done cutting it out.

For Chelsie, a foam core bird. Didn't do such a great job on this one...

Here's the paper garland I made for Chelsie for her birthday.

Paper garland detail.

For Matt, a cardboard grenade.

This is how it started. During the pitch I made a card board sword. Just for the fun of it. So the next day I decided to make a mate, and Matt convinced me that I needed a sword holder for the two of them.

What can I make you?

Rebranding WTF

2009-02-03T17:29:00.006-05:00

The studio has, in the midst of preparing for a pitch, ingeniously come up with a very appropriate double entendre.
Where's
That
File!?!

Funk up your fridge.

2009-02-02T13:39:00.004-05:00

If you're the one person in the world that has trouble filling up their fridge with magnets, notes, and pictures, I urge you to consider this.

No title can pepare you for this.

2009-02-02T13:33:00.002-05:00

Mad Men groupie

2009-01-30T10:09:00.007-05:00

This is an appropriate post because this is a studio blog for an advertising agency, and below are pictures of me and/or my husband, Thurston, with actors/actresses that play characters who work at an advertising agency. (And I will shamelessly use anyway possible to show people these pictures)

Cut Paper

2009-01-21T15:15:00.005-05:00

Paper. Not just for writing on anymore.
Generator.x 2.0 And you thought CAD wasn't an artisans tool.

Stefana McClure creates these 11" balls of sliced paper from old maps, composition paper and comic books.

Kinsey Hamilton who was featured on design sponge and mint (local) makes these incredible hand cut cards.

2009-01-20T07:32:00.000-05:00

Let it snow

I have not seen Star Wars.

2009-01-16T16:11:00.003-05:00

But we can talk about that later.
I haven't seen Star Wars, but neither has this girl. And without people like us, this halairous video would not exist.

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

2009-01-16T13:53:00.001-05:00

On cold days like this I dream of Fire Island

tx me l8r if u want

2009-01-15T10:26:00.005-05:00

I'm guilty. I text almost as much as I talk. I like it because it's so casual. Effortless. Easy to communicate with someone without imposing and easy to decline an invitation without hearing disappointment in the invitees voice. (I assume anyways, because people turn me down all the time with texts - I'm starved for friendship (j/j). And up until lately, I typed shorthand with the best of them. C = see, U = you, @ = at, 2 = too, to, or two. But now with my new phone, there's an entire keypad and it's just as easy to type out the whole thing as it is type in shorthand. So now, this encourages me to use uppercase and punctuation where appropriate. Which has, in turn, spilled over into how I write emails. Which is good because I'm already terrible at spelling and grammar, and texting was just taking me further down.
I have a friend who's a high school English teacher and she says she gets papers all the time that are written in short hand. She says the kids freely replace 's' with 'z' and write out acronym after acronym of perceived gibberish.
Until I came across this article I had no idea there was so much short hand out there. It's pretty daunting. And maybe it's because I'm no spring chicken and texting has only entered my life as an adult, but a lot of this short hand just annoys me. Oops, there went my few remaining cool points. I've officially entered the "uncool, lady zone" as far as teens are concerned. I may as well perfect my battle cry, "Turn that music down!" lol!
Here's a grain of examples from the sands of shorthand and acronyms.

No Acid Required

2009-01-13T10:59:00.002-05:00

check out the Ganzfeld Procedure.

and you, too, can hallucinate in the comfort of your own home.

Flying Lions and Fireworks and Bea... No Unicorns, ...Oh My!

NOLAF

2009-01-12T11:19:00.003-05:00

This Tostitos spot is completely hilarious. And just ever so slightly even mentions Tostitos. The colors, the characters, the dialog, all just tickles me death. Which is exactly what NOLAF would want. Death by tickling. Well done, Chicago based agency, Element 79. I sent the DOOP A FRIEND gag to at least a dozen of my friends. "Putting the FU in FUN." Awesome.
Check out NOLAF for yourself.

I love Tina Fey

2009-01-12T10:48:00.008-05:00

If you haven't been watching 30 Rock, you should. It took me a few episodes to realize exactly how clever and hilarious it is. But now, there's no going back. It won three Golden Globes last night, best TV comedy and best comedy actress and actor for Tina Fey and co-star Alec Baldwin

Banksy

2009-01-09T11:46:00.008-05:00

Work's been kind of slow for me this past week. I know as soon as I type this someone will come by with a huge project, but I'll take my chances. Anyways, thanks to my recent work pace I've come across tons of awesome websites and articles. One being the graffiti artist Banksy. I had seen his stuff before, as I'm sure you have, but didn't know how illusive he was until I watched this interview on you tube. It's hard not to love a social commentary presented in humor and artistic talent. And rats. Don't forget the rats. But my favorite works are the ones he done that incorporate the existing environment. It's one thing to sneak out paint a stencil on a high profile wall, but another to see a blemished wall, or scene, and realize what it's missing. Then go home and make the stencil, come back and make it right. I love that. I love Banksy. I may just have to get buy his book today. Here are a few of my favorites.

Color Fun

2009-01-08T11:49:00.005-05:00

I came across this website called Multicolour Search Labs, that extract the colors from 3 million Alamy Stock Photos. With their visual similarity technology you can navigate the collection by a customizable color scheme.
Here's my collection based on the new colors of the blog.

inspirational instalational

2009-01-07T17:20:00.007-05:00

This is prit-tee amazing.

and a merry christmas to the studio.

2008-12-22T10:56:00.003-05:00

This is for Matt and Wade because they're the only ones working for the next couple of day. Play this guys. It will help you get through the day.

Wintry Mix vol.II

2008-12-19T14:43:00.005-05:00

Now Available!
Read here for extra fun information.

the mckinney gingerbread house competition

2008-12-17T16:36:00.007-05:00

I can't remember who did which one, but they were all awesome. And if it hadn't been for Brian Murray and Kevin Grealey judging, I don't think our Holiday House of Gore would have one. Check here for more photos.
Here's what we all started out with.

julia's poor house as some structural damage.

I particularly liked this one. Especially that twizler walkway.

this may be as much snow as NC will see.

the sweetest house of all.

the most delicious house.

this one came with props!

i would have voted for this one to win.

lovely icicles on this one.

clever shingles.

and finally, Melissa Blavos and I's Holiday House of Gore!

a teeny giggly taste of 3 am in the studio

2008-12-17T16:32:00.004-05:00

(For your listening, not view, pleasure)

bunnies <3 robots

2008-12-08T11:22:00.003-05:00

from the talented hands of Kate & Kevin Witchger.

bunnies <3 robots from Katian Witchger on Vimeo.

Have yourself a techy little Christmas.

2008-12-03T13:57:00.004-05:00

Nigel’s Eco Store has filled up their shop with a bunch of cool looking eco friendly christmas tree decorations made of recycled CDs and circuit boards.

A lesson dear friends.

2008-12-01T11:30:00.010-05:00

I'm a bargain shopper. There are not many things that I think are worth full price. But let me enlighten you on one of those things. A Christmas tree. If you like decorating for the holidays and having pretty lights twinkling from your window- do not skimp on your Christmas tree.
Thurston and I went to the Farmers Market in Raleigh this past weekend and it was cold and starting to rain, but I didn't want to purchase the first tree that has an agreeable price tag. (Agreeable price tag = $40 or less) So we're looking around and see this one long leaf pine that's about 7 feet tall. It stands out because there's only a few of these long needled trees and on closer inspection we see that the price tag says $35!!! Normally a $35 tree is about 5'5" or maybe 5'10" if you're lucky. A tall burly, but soft spoken gentlemen in a Santa hat walked over and asked if he could help us with anything so I asked why this particular tree what so inexpensive. "Shes crooket" And he tilts it so the trunk is flat on the ground. "oh" I say. I squint my eyes and stand back a couple of feet so the crookedness registers. I ask if it could be fixed by putting it in the tree stand at the opposite angle and the man says sure. By now I feel like I've already invested in this tree and will feel like I'm turning my back on lame puppy if I walk away so I bite my lip and ponder. This, I assume, inclines our chainsaw dawning Santa to lower the price to $30 so - we take it. I'm super excited because, 1. I feel like we have a different and rare tree 2. It's big and impressive. 3. We possibly saved a tree from a fate of mulch and 4. It was cheap.

Thurston hoists it up stairs and we adjust it in the tree stand until it's pretty much straight. This takes a while. It's just barely leaning forward, but that makes it seem all the more grand. I put the lights on and notice that the long needles do a great job of shielding the lights so the effect is a subtle inner twinkling. I make a face and decide it'll look brighter once there's ornaments on it to reflect the light. So I pour myself a glass of eggnog and Thurston and I start hanging the glass bulbs and copious "1st Christmas Together" ornaments we got last year. The thing with long needles is that you can't hang anything on the tips of the branches. The needles work like a slide at a water park so they have to be hung a little ways back. Out of sight basically. It's still pretty and smells so good... and the star isn't on yet and that always makes a difference.

Thurston goes into the other room to get the camera and I'm adjusting some of the ornaments with one hand and holding the star in the other. And like out of one of those America's funniest home videos, the tree slowly slowly starts to lean, then fall. I have enough time to yell "Thurston!" but it's too late. Tree down. Water from the stand gushing out. A cloud of those lovely long needles everywhere. And to top it all off, broken glass.
Now I'm not an overly sentimental person, but I knew this tree was out to get me but I just kept ignoring it, looking for the up side. Broken laid a big pretty bulb that I got from pier 1 last year, a glass bell that came in a 30 year old pack we got from the thrift store, and a mercury glass angel that came in a set as a wedding/Christmas gift from my mom. I even kept the note she wrote to us in the box with all the bubble wrap. I felt a swell in my eyes as I ran to get a towel to throw on the water while Thurston steadied the tree. How do you begin to clean up what is essentially needle and shattered emotion soup? I swept up the glass and needles and laid paper towels on damp floor and we started taking off the rest of the ornaments. What wasn't obvious was that all the ornaments that didn't fall off were balancing on the ends of those water slide needles. As we were trying to get the breakable ones off as fast as possible, gravity beat us to it. The slightest nudge and another one would drop.

I'd like to think I reserve my tears for when nothing else will do. A few broken ornaments wouldn't normally put me over the edge, but the regret of getting that stupid tree along with the complete helplessness of suicidal ornaments - well, that did it.

We cleaned as best we could and laid the tree back down. I'm not going to lie to you, it crossed my mind to shove it out the window and just start over with full priced center-foldesque new tree, but that's not me. I'm more likely to go through the trash to find something useless to rig to this other thing in order to make the thing I refuse to buy. Don't get me wrong, I certainly have my fair share of over flowing target bags when I only went in to get batteries. But my heart tells my hands it can be fixed. So we do.
We find my little hack saw that I've used maybe a half of dozen times and Thurston saws off about a foot or more of the trunk. We balance it back into the stand and put a door mat under half of it to help keep it level. And to 100% ensure that it will not meet the floor again until January, I tied it to our windows and went to Target for one more strand of lights and one pity ornament. (and bag of peppermint paddies, some mouth wash, half and half, paper towels, cereal, ect...)

Maybe now because it's smaller and the light /ornament to tree ratio is grander, it looks so much better. The new lights helped a lot and the ornaments seemed to show through better. I don't have a tree skirt (yet) so we spread out holiday blankets under the tree and the cat has a new place to lay. Everyone's happy.

The Secret Sheep

2008-11-24T15:14:00.004-05:00

For some time now there's been this paint chip in the stair well of my building. I always look forward to seeing it because it looks like little sheep. This secret sheep is located in the front stairwell and I usually use the back since it's closer to where I park. A couple of weeks ago I came home from work and was delighted to see that our doors and stairwells were getting a fresh coat of paint. No longer will our door be that chalkboard green and the walls be flaking and bubbling with decades of paint. It actually makes our place look pretty snazzy. But then I remembered the sheep... I hustled up the steps and crossed through to the other stairwell to check and see if they had painted both, but luckly they hadn’t. *Phew* I nearly missed my opportunity to document it. So before she’s long gone, please take note and enjoy, Secret Sheep.