Friday, November 23, 2012

cozy necessities




Now that it's Black Friday it's finally clicked that it is indeed winter, despite the much milder weather I've been enjoying in the bay area.  Naturally the Holidays bring out my nostalgia for New England winters.  I'm craving a wood burning fire, thick wool socks and cozy sweater, and warm lush bedding.  Above are my favorites with sources below.  What's your favorite part of the season?

Left to right;  1. wool knee socks from H&M  2. silk and velvet coverlet on Layla Grayce  3. crescent firewood rack through Brookstone  4. aztec cardigan by Mickey's Girl  5. jumbo knit throw via Etsy

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Sans the White


Graphic patterns and bold colors have been trending for a while now, and they all seem to come together with heavy doses of white for balance.  I've got nothing against white, but sometimes when it seems the most obvious choice, that's exactly when you shouldn't use it.  The result?  Breathtakingly fresh combinations that demand a double take and exude a fun and carefree, yet dramatic way of design.  Why should the walls have all the fun? 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

inhabiture and the Green Movement


At my current internship, I've been working closely with the Creative Director to assist with the re-branding of a growing company.  They are unique in their commitment to all things green, environmentally friendly and sustainable without sacrificing a modern, functional and beautiful design aesthetic.
The branding has an earth inspired pallet with a hit of orange for a bold design accent.  The two chosen fonts are unique yet cohesive, one serving as a bold type for headers and the other thin and minimal for text that won't distract from vivid work examples.
I hand drew stylized linear leaves to lend a natural feel to this wholesome brand, executed related collateral, created brand guidelines and designed web pages.  I am really proud of the results and look forward to seeing this company shine.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Come Sail Away with Me


Music always creates a slide show of images in my mind, and listening to Noosa was no different. Sail away got me humming along in no time, dreaming of the open ocean and sunny skies, so I made this little graphic to accompany your listen.


Her sweet and airy voice is calming and upbeat all at once, so don't miss out.  She has six songs on Spotify so get to it, and enjoy your Sunday.

Friday, November 9, 2012

A Day on the Farm


I've loved horses all my life.  I usually always find a way to be around them or ride despite my busy schedule, city lifestyle and constant relocation.  But since being in SF I have not gone riding once... Naturally I made a board of everything I love about the farm to gaze at longingly until I can ride over winter break.  Enjoy the weekend.


Thursday, November 8, 2012


Oriental rugs.  I love them for their classic appeal.  However, they classically come in red.  Lots of red.  I know plenty of people love the hue, but I am just not one of them.  It always comes off angry and aggressive in my eye, so I avoid it in my decor at all costs.  So I was delighted to see this neutral version on House of Turquoise the other day.  It would blend seamlessly with any decor, but still offer interest with its subtle pattern.


I was especially excited to discover Medallion Rug Gallery on my way to work yesterday.  The showroom was large and filled with the ornate beauties.  They had an impressive color spectrum and I lusted over several, literally petting them as I snapped some pictures.


How awesome is this blue and green number?  Right up my alley and not a hint of red in sight.  I made a little exception to my red rule for this cute bird motif though.  How sweet is that?!


Because these rugs are such high quality and offer awesome warrenties and restoration throughout your ownership, they were expensive.  Very expensive.  But it is definitely a lifetime item that is worth investing in if you have the money.  Some day!


In the meantime, the stacks of rugs as a graphic will have to suffice.  Plus, gazing at the patterns really gets my creative juices flowing.


I also found these more affordable options on West Elm.  They are over-dyed and distressed for a monochromatic textured look.  I'm digging the patchwork motif too...


What do you look for in a rug?  Pattern? Price-point? Material? Color?


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Photo Filters


Here's a hot mess I created while playing around with different filters in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.  I know a good handful, but my life would be much, much easier if I experimented more often with various combinations.  This way I can expedite the process of getting ideas from my head to my computer screen.  I admit, sometimes I would much rather do things by hand, but digital illustration can have some interesting affects in the right hands, so as they say, practice makes perfect!



Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Sunbathing and Scarf Shopping


For anyone who missed the memo, I've got a new do.  I decided to be Cleopatra for Halloween, and rather than wearing an itchy wig all night, I thought I'd just dye my own hair a lovely jet black.  It was startling at first, but it's really grown on me!  Thanks to my Syrian roots, it doesn't look too outlandish... right?


I generally have Monday's off, and yesterday was no different.  It was a ripe 81 degree, blue sky, sunny day. (I've got to brag about SF all I can before I move back to frigid New England for the winter... I shudder.)  I headed to the pool to soak up some sun and then went to the street vendor market to browse.  They have these awesome pashmina's, just four for twenty bucks!


If you know me, you know this equine themed pashmina made my heart pitter-patter.  I also scooped up a nice b & w polka dot accented with some leopard, a royal blue and gold combo and a pink and cornflower psychedelic number.


While I plan to wear these as scarves, I started to brainstorm ideas of what else I could do with them.  At 4 for 20, it wouldn't be a stretch to buy a bunch more.  First, I tied the ends together to create the trendy infinity scarf.  Perfect for any windy days that obnoxiously unravel you en route.  Which got me to thinking, if I bought a bunch and tied them together into a larger piece, they could be hung as fun and funky curtain panels.  And if I cut some batting to size, sandwiched it between a few pashmina's and ran the stack through the sewing machine, I'd have a quick and unique quilt or throw.  Or tie them around a pillow for a new cover.  Yup, sounds like I may need to buy a few more.