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For those of you who do not know, I have been living in NYC for the last two weeks which is why I have been missing in action. I have not moved here, this is a visit and it has been amazing! Boy do I ever have a ton to post now.
I am pretty sure most of you have heard of BABYCAKES NYC from somewhere. But, if you do not know of this fun sweet place, it is in the East Village on 248 Broome St between Orchard and Ludlow Streets. I had to go gluten free a long time ago and I am also vegan so this place suits me well. Plus, they have agave instead of refined sugars. Agave is an all natural, low-glycemic sweetener derived from a cactus. YUM!!! Kind of like honey but not really.
Babycakes just blogged today that donuts are the new cupcake. Apparently they have a vegan gluten free agave sweetened donut. I am not a huge sweets person but if you are, proceed with caution. It is tasty!
(photo above: BABYCAKES NYC website)
Beautiful kids store on 65 West Houston Street, New York, NYsite
I had the chance to finally check out the Brooklyn Flea last Sunday in DUMBO, NY. Who would have guessed I would eat a goober pea. I love the name. A boiled peanut with a Cajun flavor that tastes like a bean. Slightly addictive but also filling In a way you may only want 2 or 3 at a time. Totally interesting and fun to eat, give as a gift, and share at a party in the summer. Boiled in Brooklyn has 4 distinct flavors, salty classic, less salty, spicy Cajun, and special blend. I think a honey mustard would be good too.
Goober Peas: Boiled in Brooklyn is a joint venture between Kate Burke and Chris Dial. Chris and Kate, who currently live in Cobble Hill (Brooklyn, NY), are from North Florida and have always loved a good goober pea. They moved to New York about three years ago, after finishing grad school at Yale, and quickly realized that you can find just about anything in new York City except a fresh “green” boiled peanut. "In the South there is a long standing tradition of eating boiled peanuts roadside and at outdoor events. Our love for Goober Peas and their association with good times, friends, and summer is something we would like to share with the City."
Found Kevin through Hello Lucky's blog tonight. I am loving his new book out soon, The Owl and the Pussycat. I think I just got the final push to finish the three children's stories I have written over the last two years. These drawings Kevin has come with along the color palette and whimsical characters just has me smitten.
Reka Kiraly is a Hungarian born graphic designer, living and working in Helsinki/ Finland. Love her work.
Before you read this,
[a] I love the USA
[b] do not start a boxing match on my blog... this is to help people
[c] pick up the Graphic Artist Guild Handbook Designers and stop charging $50 for logos, $300 for websites, $25 for blog headers. Even when I graduated from Syracuse University in 1999 I found in no section of this book a logo design for under $1000 and they went up to $100,000.
I see this everywhere now. Free this free that and amateurs trying to do a skill they have no business doing. I commend a way for the world to be able to afford a great design on a limited budget but $50 logos, c'mon! I pay more for gas in 2 weeks. Fuel that ruins the world. I think we can take a step back and look at how and what we spend our hard earned cash on and when approached with the idea of buying a dress at Prada, go for it. Seize the day. Buy it and wear it 100 times instead of 25 frocks from a tag sale. Hire a good contractor and build the house right. If you cannot afford it, it is not the right time. BUT, whatever you truly need and want, save your money and get things done right and buy quality. I have sadly heard from several of my design clients in the last 2 years that they hired someone who was not capable to complete their projects. They ended up spending more money to fix their branding. We have all been there and that is how you learn.
I want to clarify a few things...
1. printing, letterpress or offset with a quality artisan printer is not a few bucks, It will cost you
2. design is a skill, not a mass produced modern entity - it takes some form of training even if self taught and that goes for photography too
3. search around for quotes on your projects, all projects - chances are those that are super high may be overpriced, those super low are probably not worth it
Bless those French women, and we have all heard about them, they know how to buy clothing and as it appears Europeans have the right idea about food. When I visited France and Iceland for 2 weeks in January, and I have been abroad many times, I have to admit I wished the USA would take a hint, which I am slowly starting to see, and stop OVER-SIZING things. Over-sizing can often reduce or lower the value of other things. "My entree is so small", "this top did not come with matching pair of pants", blah blah blah. Seriously, choose wisely when looking for bargains because most of mine have bit me in ass and I end up spending more money to get the dress, design, food, vacation, I really wanted. And, ahem, a sale is not what I am talking about here. Sales are good. INK+WIT items have gone on sale to honor those who may need a break and also it is part of retailing items. But, my items are high quality and I understand how I priced them based on what went into them for design and production.
Bargain basement plumber = bad idea. Inexperienced intern rolling out full marketing campaign on their own, (sorry) bad idea! Unless you are a freak of nature like Doogie Howser.
It is all about valuing someone's skill, craft, time, ideas, talent, and vision to produce a "thing" that reaches you and serves you. Everything is an exchange of energy. It makes me feel better when I know someone put loving care into what I purchased even if it cost me a lot of money. So here is to all of you out there who have kept up your valued price, customer service, quality of product, honesty, integrity, and asked for what you deserve and bought what you love. Well built things are built to last and solve problems.
Cheers.
My new thing... words to live by 1X a day.
This is one of my favorites. It remains one of the most effective actions in life. Sometimes we all just need to shut up.
I love this illustration for this book published by Chronicle Books.
Learn to Live Better With Less By Mary Carlomagno
Illustrations by Andrea Cobb
One of my clients, Bella Figura, who has licensed INK+WIT for wedding designs, has mentioned their sample sale in order to help the American Forests.
Starting today through August 31, 2009, all Bella Figura samples will be just $1, regularly $5 each, with all proceeds to be donated to American Forests. For every $1 donated to American Forests, they are able to plant a tree to help protect and preserve our forests and wildlife, so hopefully the sample sale will translate into many many trees being planted for future generations. Bella Figura
501 West Fayette Street | Studio 222 | Syracuse, New York 13204
Ready for preorder. Will arrive mid September. Based on my original drawing interpreted digitally. 16 x20 (standard frame size) 100% post consumer recycled paper + soy ink Available now at INK+WIT Perfect nursery decor and gift.
Not only is Samantha is super nice person but she makes some super chic patterns. This is my favorite one featured above.
The best glue packaging I have ever seen. Manufactum has a great site.
"Open this tin and experience the pleasant, marzipan-like aroma. These practical all-purpose office and household glues have been made from potato starch since the 1920s, and one, an Italian product known as »Colla bianca solida per ufficio moderno«, has survived the test of time. A particularly welcome feature: the tin has a small tube in the middle which contains a brush for applying the glue. One 125 g tin."
Super pretty blog, A Field Journal
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