When blog ideas collide!

I admit it. I'm a complete blog stalker. Any free moment at work you'll find me scrolling through blogland, compulsively clicking on every link of interest, unable to stop myself. Because of this I have a huge (!) bookmarked folder of things to do and thing to make. Often things are simply dream ideas (Apartment Therapy, anyone? I love those spaces!), but often times things are completely do-able and when you combine ideas, oh man, watch out! For example:

 A few weeks back on A Merry Mishap this painted porcelain was featured and I seriously debated finally tossing my chipped glass Ikea plates for some fresh white ones just so I could doodle on them. With plates not really in the budget at the moment, I resisted and continue to eat off my sad blue plates from college.

But then (!) today Libby from pinkshirtsandcarwrecks posted these great West Elm ceramic containers she got on sale. Hmmm.... I've been looking for a nice canister to keep coffee on the counter (the only other spot to keep it is waaaay up on the top shelf, where even I (at 5 foot 10) have to stand on my tip tip tip toes to reach it). I've debated something vintage, something modern, and something just utilitarian, but nothing really struck my fancy. I'm mean this is a big deal- it's going to sit out for all who visit to see!

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?! I'm pretty sure these ideas could be combined. The West Elm containers are ceramic, not porcelain, so I'll have to investigate if there are paint pens that work on that surface (the former JoAnn Fabrics employee in me has a feeling there are).

I'll keep you posted on this one folks!

Biodegradable Pens?

DBA 98 Biodegradable Pen from DBA on Vimeo.

I love a good time lapse, and a good blizzard...

Yeah, we had this last week in the midwest... still cool to see it documented.



via swissmiss

Sally Boyle

I'm smitten with the colors and graphic nature of these prints. They make me want to travel to some faraway tropical place...

(this one is my fav ↑)

buy them all in her Etsy shop

5 Different Types of Chairs

By far the best scene in Knocked Up. After my 4.5 hour drive home last night (normally takes 26 minutes) I needed a laugh... enjoy!

the favorite part of my commute

Visible just West of Hwy 77, this tree lights up the sky. I'm told they light it up every year (and even made the switch to efficient LED lights this year), though this is the first time I've stumbled across it on the route to my new abode. No matter what the traffic situation (which is not always favorable), this tree always brightens my day.

I found this photo on Dan Glad's flickr site. His photos are amazing, be sure to go check them out- especially if you're a Minnesotan, he's got lots of good local shots.

(photo by Dan Glad)

cool marching band... oxymoron?

Like I need more posters...

I love posters. Love. By far the best part of being an adult and owning your own place is the ability to cram in as many lovely prints as possible and then switch them out to your hearts desire.

Stumbled across these on Etsy and of course am now debating how much heckling from friends and family I want to endure about the purchase of more prints.... but at only 16 bucks each with 4 dollars shipping, they're a steal of a deal!!

(link)

How do you throw a party in outer space?

Planet.

(via)

The Year in Film, 2010

(via)

Lego Letterpress

Working in a letterpress studio, I always appreciate seeing the presses used in a new way. Not to mention I used to spend hours upon hours playing Legos with my brother when we were little. The gorgeous colors on this print don't hurt either. Physical Fiction is the work of Justin LaRosa and Samuel Cox.

(link/buy)

Swearing Makes Me Smile

I don't know about you, but this is usually how I feel by the time I get up the nerve to brave the grocery store.

(link)

Advertising and Happiness

I ordered the first three seasons of Mad Men off Amazon the day after Thanksgiving (only $10 each!!) and I'm excited to dive into a world old-school advertising.

(if anyone knows the source of above, just let me know!)

//UPDATE// I found it! The lovely Lake Jane blog featured it! and you can BUY IT! hmm... do I have room for another poster... I think so!

Do You Eat It?

(link)

Harder than you would imagine...

I consider myself fairly well versed in cheeses and fonts, but you'd never be able to tell by my score. Try your luck at Cheese or Font?

Lots of snow + inflatable sports stadium = big hole(s)

I will never stop watching this...

I found this a few years back and I have yet to tire of it... enjoy!

Baseball Sketch

Kim | Myspace Video

SOF: 2011 Calendar is now complete!!

Now, I may be a little biased, but I think the newest Studio On Fire calendar is the best one yet. I am particularly enjoying the pop of copper on the inside of the easel stand- a nice little surprise to stumble across when assembling.

Of course the illustrations are superb (Adam Garcia, Jessica Hische, We Make It So, Brian Gunderson, Aesthetic Apparatus and Studio On Fire), my personal favorite is a mustache wearing a monocle (and it just happens to be the illustration for my birthday month of May- double bonus!).

Head over to beastpieces.com if you want to geek-out over the print details and studioonfire.com if you would like to purchase one of your very own.

(all images from beastpieces.com)

local: RedBlackBrown calendar

I was pleased as punch to see that local design collective RedBlackBrown has their 2011 calendars up for sale! As an avid fortune collector myself, I just may have to purchase one of these beauteous screenprinted gems.

Some of my favorite months below. Be sure to check their site for better images and a chance to buy!

(images via redblackbrown)

Paperless Poster + Green Drinks

Check out the Paperless Poster that AGENCY F Design and Hunter Marks whipped up for reDesign's Green Drinks event. Non-toxic inks - no paper. It looks clean and removes easier then tape on a poster.

local find: Peace Coffee Shop

I had the best time Sunday morning chatting with a friend over a hot cup of coffee at the new Peace Coffee Shop.

I could go on and on about Peace Coffee (they have been around since 1996–their history and ethics are super interesting, check out their site for more info) but in my mind the best part about them is that they're good a what they do- coffee!!

I toured their facilities last summer through AIGA MN's sustainability group reDesign, and the people we met were so incredibly kind. With coffee in hand we were shown the bean bins, the roasters, the cupping room and told all about their LEED certified building. Not to mention told about how they deliver their beans around Mpls by bike (yes! even in the winter).

Long story short, go to their new shop and enjoy a welcoming environment and a good cup of coffee.

Images from the peacecoffeeshop.com

swear words make me smile

(link)

I love a good time lapse... and a good mural.

Ping Pong Mural Time-lapse from Jolby on Vimeo.

Super-productive... before 9?

I don't know about you guys, but I am dog tired today. Reading this article made me even more sleepy- but maybe there's something to it. I'm definitely more of a night owl (most of my college homework was done between the hours of 10pm and 2am, and you can still find me doing housework in the dead of night) so the idea of getting up at 6am (by choice!) astounds me. Thank goodness for my job with a glorious late start.

Head over the the 99% blog to read about the 1-Step Plan for Super-Productivity

"...maybe I was too intense..."

2430 Pieces of Toast

why oh why do YouTube's videos never resize for me... sorry folks, I'll figure it out eventually. For now, watch it cropped or open in YouTube....

mpls deisgner: Brock Davis

Porsche: Refrigerator from Brock Davis on Vimeo.

Dramatic Look

yes please: Pantone espresso cups

Yes, I realize the cheese-factor of a graphic designer coveting any Pantone product, but I can't help myself! I use my Pantone book daily (at work we only match to PMS colors) and swill coffee like there's no tomorrow, so really these would be perfect... if only I could choose which set I like best.

found via the A PLUS R store and I'm sure many other places...

rePost: Little People- a tiny street art project

This is a project where the creator takes hand-painted miniature people and puts them out into our full-scale world... interesting results to say the least.

(link)

via Lottie Loves

rePost: Wired Gift Guide

(link)

I was flipping through the latest Wired Magazine and was taken aback by these gorgeous pictures of candy coated gift ideas! (Why? Why not!)

Is it boozy coffee or coffee booze?

One thing on my agenda this weekend: make this coffee vanilla liquor!

Found on The Dinner Files (how great is that pitcher!?)

Scary dark, scary sweet, and scary delicious. The curing time – at least a few weeks – is key to the final quality of this liqueur. I tasted it right upon mixing and it utterly lacked the aromatic draw of the final product. Make a batch this weekend to have it well and ready in time for Christmas gifts or entertaining.

3 cups sugar

3/4 cup instant espresso (still dried powder, not made into espresso)

2 vanilla beans

3 cups vodka

Bring sugar and 2 cups water to a boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Add coffee and reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook, stirring to fully dissolve the espresso, for about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a large glass jar or seal-able pitcher and let sit until more or less cool. Meanwhile, split vanilla beans open and se the back of a knife or a small spoon and scoop out the teeny tiny seeds (it seems more like a paste). Add seeds and pods to the coffee syrup. Pour in vodka. Seal and put it away for four to six weeks. Remove and discard vanilla pods.

Serve chilled on its own, in coffee, or over ice cream as a dessert.