All hail the "before and after"

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.