2014 Calendar Available!

I'm so excited to finally share my 2014 calendar! Check it out in my etsy shop! 

Academic Calendar Available!

I work in academia, so I'm used to calendars starting in August or September. So, I thought I'd offer my 2013-2014 printable calendar this way too: check in out on my etsy site! For a steal of a $10 deal, you get the digital file calendar starting August 2013 and can print to your heart's content. Here's my copy brightening up my desk at work. :) 

Depth of Field, Fall 2013

Hello, there! It has been a busy summer, but I'm planning to start posting regularly again soon. Here's a postcard for a film series I just finished. More soon. :)

Expanding Your Horizons Conference Design

  

I love being able to spend time doing something I love in order to help out for a good cause. A few months ago, I got a great chance to do that--a former colleague who was helping to coordinate the "Expanding Your Horizons" conference asked if I'd be willing to help them create a design for this year's event. The conference introduces middle and high school girls to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. I loved the idea! It also aligned with something I've been thinking about myself. Though most of my education and career has been more arts/humanities related, I have recently found myself stepping into the (traditionally more "male") tech world as I learn more and more about web development. I think its so important for young women to be encouraged to pursue their passions and not have qualms about entering fields that are typically male-dominated.

I had a great time incorporating science and math iconography into a fun, bright UC BErkeley-specific design.

Here is the design incorporated into the conference website! It was also printed on t-shirts; I'm hoping to get a photo soon. Check out the EYH website for more information about both the local and the national organization, and to volunteer or donate!

Don't Forget!

Valentine Printables

I just whipped up these printable valentine cards, and I'd love to share them with you! There are three designs, all 4"x 6." They are for sale on my etsy shop for a whopping $2.50. But for my readers, they are FREE! Email me or add a comment and I will send you the file.

Shop Update: Greeting Cards!

I had so much fun creating my 2013 calendar that I recently decided to create a batch of greeting cards with some of the designs. Check them out on my etsy shop!

Black and White Flattery

While making this postcard for a film series the other day, I was thinking about how often speakers I've worked with use a black and white photo for their press photo. It really does look sharp, especially if the highlights and contrasts are done well. I love these three photos: Paul Goodman looks straight at you with that pipe and wild hair! Bobby Fischer and Ray Kurzweil so immersed in their genius!

I think we should all have a portrait of ourselves in this style, just in case someone makes a documentary about us and then someone else else needs to do a publicity postcard.

Spray Paint + Glue Guns = Fridge Fun!

I've seen lots of fun ideas online for whimsical crafts to make with plastic animals (like those on this blog). While buying spray paint for some other projects recently, I decided to give it a try! From the first step of chopping the animals in half, all the way through glue-gunning craft magnets to their middles, I was chuckling the whole way. Wouldn't these make wonderful little gifts to spread cheer to all your friends?

Printable 2013 Calendar: The Perfect Last Minute Gift

I can't tell you how excited I am to share my latest project with you: a printable 2013 calendar, now for sale in my Etsy shop! Each month features a bright illustration that will brighten up your home or office. Print the pdf and gift to as many friends as you like. Check it out here, in my shop! 

The Whole Song

Saw this little video today and it reminded me of an important lesson; one worth being reminded of! Where are you trying to "arrive?"

Costumes and Collage

Maybe I've been hiding under a rock, but I just discovered PicMonkey, an awesome site that let's you resize photos and create lovely collages in seconds. You must check it out!! There are tons of collage layouts; I tried a few simple ones out with some photos of my halloween costume from a few weeks ago. We went as Roy Lichtenstein's pop art people--a great way to use one of my many polka dot items of clothing! 

Autumn Colors

I thought this was a nice quote for fall in a way: we might lament the shorter days and colder weather, but its gonna happen so instead of trying to delay let's just embrace it! Maybe the connection isn't so strong, but I liked the quote and I liked the photo, so I smashed them together. ;)  By the way, isn't the color of these leaves just divine??? We don't get a ton of this in the Bay Area, so I was liking this tree. 

Super Yard Sale Find: ALPHABET stamps!

I cannot tell you how STOKED I was to find this gem of a stamp set for $1.00 while visiting a yard sale in my neighborhood this weekend. The "Print Craft" set by Superior Marking Equipment Co. has no date, but the design of the whole thing harkens back to another time. I love the little details on the box and the notepad (which is basically unused). Aside from a few small tears on the box cover, the entire set is in tact, including punctuation and even the matching ruler to keep your letters straight! 

The only thing I'll need to supplement from modern times is the ink pad; this cute little metal box only contains the powdered remains of an ink that once was. 

I can't wait to start lettering up my birthday cards and other fun paper crafts. :)

P.S. I think I'm destined for one yard sale triumph at least once per year. Remember this one?!?

Speed Design | Vikram Seth

I've been learning lots of coding stuff this month--not exactly pretty or blog-able! I've also had 

less energy to challenge myself on design projects. I made this poster for an upcoming event in 

record time to make a printing deadline. Improvements could be made, but I think it will do! 

Work (& Life) In Progress

If you know me personally, you know I've been going through lots of transition lately... hence ZERO blog posts in 2 months! I've moved and have also taken a new job (more on that in future posts) and I've been frantically training to learn new skills, mostly in web development. Its exciting! (And stressful.) I am so lucky to be given the opportunity to learn new things, and to continue doing stuff I love, like graphic design! Here is what my computer screen has been looking like during the last few days... I've had a great time drafting these posters and will be sure to share the final product with you too!

 

Scribbler Too

Thanks to a blog I love, How About Orange, I just discovered a really interesting online tool called "ScribblerToo." Simply draw a line and these cool effects appear! This style feels kind of Tim Burton to me. Try Scribbler Too out here!

First Mobile Post

I've been loving instagram so much lately and so I wanted to experiment with sharing some of my instagrammed photos on the blog directly from my phone. Here's a first try. :)

The Weekend in Snapshots

 

I can't believe its July 9! No joke, I have been catching myself dating documents for mid June! 

That's because life has been so full and so great lately. I have been snapping photos on my 

phone all along the way. This weekend I got to see Katie, my lovely friend from graduate 

school, who was passing through on a month long roadtrip! While catching up we sipped 

sangria at a party celebrating the festival of San Fermin, explored City Lights Bookstore in 

San Francisco, ate squid cooked in its own ink, and hosted a yummy brunch in my backyard! 

Life is good.

Blue Skies

We've had the most wonderful weather here the past few weeks, and I've been spending lots of 

time outside! Here are a few of my favorite blue sky moments, captured with my i phone. 

Top image: on my walk home from work (I love these trees!); bottom left: Alameda kite boarder; 

bottom center: ferry from San Francisco to Tiburon; bottom right: Oakland cranes.