just for fun : chinese zodiac

not sure if you're into things like this, but i think they're quite fun! if you enjoy them as much as i do, then check what your sign says about you!
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CAPRICORN: The Go-Getter (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Patient and wise. Practical and rigid. Ambitious. Tends to be Good-looking. Humorous and funny. Can be a bit shy and reserved. Often pessimistic. Capricorns tend to act before they think and can be Unfriendly at times. Hold grudges. Like competition. Get what they want.

AQUARIUS: The Sweetheart (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique. Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality.

PISCES: The Dreamer (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Tends to be overly-sensitive. Doesn't like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.

ARIES: The Daredevil (Mar 21 - April 19) Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse.. (Easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. Courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic.

TAURUS: The Enduring One (April 20 - May 20) Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings that are stable and secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient and reliable. Make great friends and give good advice. Loving and kind. Loves hard - passionate. Express themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper-tantrums. Determined. Indulge themselves often. Very generous.

GEMINI: The Chatterbox (May 21 - June 20) Smart and witty. Outgoing, very chatty. Lively, energetic. Adaptable But needs to express themselves. Argumentative and outspoken. Like change. Versatile. Busy, sometimes nervous and tense. Gossips. May seem superficial or inconsistent. Beautiful physically and mentally.

CANCER: The Protector (June 21 - July 22) Moody, emotional. May be shy. Very loving and caring. Pretty/handsome. Excellent partners for life. Protective. Inventive and imaginative. Cautious. Touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love from others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic.

LEO: The Boss (July 23 - Aug 22) Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. Doing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.

VIRGO: The Perfectionist (Aug 23 - Sept 22) Dominant in relationships. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Harsh. Practical and very fussy. Often shy. Pessimistic

LIBRA: The Harmonizer (Sept 23 - Oct 22) Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible.

SCORPIO: The Intense One (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Very energetic. Intelligent. Can be jealous and/or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long Relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be very centered at times. Passionate and Emotional.

SAGITTARIUS: The Happy-Go-Lucky One (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.

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i'm a taurus.... what about you?

design*obsession // landscape products co. (jp)

while doing a little surfing to get some inspiration for interior design as i would love to be able to add some interesting design touches to our *hopefully* new home, i ran across the work of landscape products co. alluring entryways + doors, delicate touches to integrate natural + man made objects, their work combines that of modern + traditional japanese culture. with the world being turned into a concrete jungle, i love the idea of bringing in nature-elements into the interior of our homes aside from just placing a potted plant in the corner of the room.

that bookcase is calling out to me! i would love a full wall for books... my current one is over flowing...

// landscape products co.

i {heart} work : jess wilson

really enjoying the work of illustrator jess wilson. the mix of hand drawn typography, delicate, but bold use of colors and nostalgic imagery conjure up thoughts of wanting to take a break from the daily grind, sit underneath a tree, sip some lemonade + doodle the afternoon away.

maybe you should go venture into the work of jess wilson on a weekday afternoon... you might come back feeling like it's a weekend.

// jess wilson

new studio : alternative space

Modern-Shed: design studio from Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli on Vimeo.


Modern-Shed: work studio from Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli on Vimeo.


Modern-Shed: yoga studio from Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli on Vimeo.

while brainstorming about a possible new studio space, i have been looking for different elements and one of the options that i have been debating about is an in-home work space vs a separated space. well, separated in a sense that i walk to the backyard into a studio space. i've read many blogs where people share their views on working from home and how having a place separate from the main house, even if it's just in their backyard, makes such a difference.

if i were to go the route of having a separate space, i would definitely consider one of these options from modern-shed. they are just lovely and aside from being aesthetically pleasing, it seems to be sturdy and well designed.

do you work from home? what are your thoughts on working from a room in the home vs working from a separate space (i.e. garage or modern-shed-like building)?

// modern-shed

sneak peek : zakka nouveau + new fabric prints!

we had a textile screenprinting session recently here at zakka nouveau to add onto our current springtime collection + i couldn't wait to show you one of my favorite prints. i am really loving this yellow + white color combination and looking extremely forward to sewing some new products for zakka nouveau's market!

a special thank you shout out to ms. taryn hiroshima for helping me with the printing! it came out oh so beautiful thanks to her helping hands.

please be on the look out for new products in our market + eco:revival store!

article : facing your toughest clients

good morning! this article was something that i wanted to make sure to have in front of me, to keep me focused + definitely to know that we as designers... no, we as people, all people, should not have to be put in a place where our hard work is not appreciated.

I read lots of freelance blog posts about handling difficult clients. They all seem to gloss over the most difficult client of all.

YOU.

The way you feel about yourself and your talent sets the tone for all your client interactions. Think of your clients as mirrors. If you complain they don’t treat you well it’s probably because you’ve taught them not to treat you well. If you complain they don’t pay you on time, it’s probably because you’ve taught them not to pay you on time. If you complain they expect you to do work you didn’t agree to, it’s probably because you’ve taught them give you work you didn’t agree to.
Most of us learn this wimpy behavior early in life and it gets reinforced as we march into adulthood. I was taught to defer to parents, teachers, lovers, bosses and government leaders. Rumor had it that if I stood up for myself something awful would happen – I’d get punished, dumped, fired or thrown in jail. Is it any surprise that I deferred to clients too? 

When I toiled in a cubicle for a larger corporation, my submissive behavior appeared to be expected, applauded and rewarded. When I opened my own business, the same submissive behavior had me working like a dog for wages even a dog couldn’t live on.

It took quite a bit of mental strength training, but I finally told my toughest client – the wimpy me – to take a hike. This allowed my greatest client — the powerful me — to advocate on my behalf. Now I set and maintain clear boundaries and decide how I wish to be treated. The result? My clients get a more confident designer, a far better design product, and a partnership grounded in honesty rather than fear.
Some aspects of the working relationship bring out the wimpy you more than others.

Sales conversation

 

The sales conversation is just that — a compassionate time for you and your potential client to get to know each other. You try to help the client figure out what his or her real problem is and whether you’re the best one to help them solve it. Sometimes you are, sometimes you’re not. Be brave enough to ask all the questions you need in order to make an informed decision.
Don’t be afraid to walk away from a client if you get funny vibes, request for a ludicrous deadline or a balk at your fee. Better to find out now than halfway through the project that the client has a history of being indecisive or controlling. Remember, desperation is only real if you give it life.

Pricing

 

Don’t sweat the fee. It isn’t up to you to decide how much the client can pay. Nothing worse than undercharging a client who told you a sob story and later discovering they live in a 2 million dollar mansion while you’ve got a leaking shower and no kitchen cabinets.

The bulk of your fee needs to be determined by how you feel about your work and the benefit it provides. If a client wants to haggle price with you, simply tell them you don’t haggle. They can either pay your price or look for someone who doesn’t believe in his or her own work. I actually found it easier to sell more expensive design solutions than bottom-of-the-barrel ones. 

Contract

 

Make sure every client — even if it’s a family member or friend — signs a contract or a memo of understanding. This document outlines what the client will and will not get. If the client asks you to do something beyond the scope of what you’ve agreed to, that’s considered a change order. Tell them it will be extra. They do it in engineering firms. You need to do it in your design business. And beware of phony deadlines and phony decision-makers. Tight deadlines, if you choose to take one on, need to cost extra. Nothing more disheartening than working day and night, weekday and weekend, to find your design stalled for three months because the real person making the decision suddenly stepped out from behind the corporate curtain.

Indecision

 

Some clients start the design process with a lot of energy. Everything’s going great and then BOOM, they hit the indecision wall and disappear for weeks/months at a time. You call them and don’t get a return call. You email them and don’t get a return email. If this goes on for more than one month, bill them for anything they owe you and be prepared to move on. Make sure you have a progress payments/cancelled projects section written into your contract in the event this happens.

Standing up to your wimpy-client self may be hard at first. The whining, blaming and excuses circulating through your brain may get to you. Remember, that’s just fear yakking in your ear! Stay the scary course. Soon you’ll build enough courage to give your business-defeating behavior the boot.
——
Giulietta “Julie” Nardone, of Fearless Design, offers branding and graphic design services to small/medium-size companies and non-profits. Julie is based in Ashland, Massachusetts, and you can read more encouraging articles through the Fearless Design resources page.

{ this article really hits home for me... no more wimpy me!! good bye! }

// courtesy of logo design love + giulietta “julie” nardone

i want : playmountain (jp)

while searching for a new house, along with that one begins to think about how it will be furnished. after reading/viewing countless blogs + books, i've come to realize that i really appreciate scandinavian design for it's simplicity, but points of visual punch. clean lines, natural materials yet modern. surprising twists to the usually mundane of pieces.

playmountain reminds me of this aesthetic sense. a sense of the unexpected within our everyday surroundings. a splash of color. a twist to the usual. i would love to have some of their pieces in our new home.

now.... how to convince the other half that all these things are necessary..........

// playmountain

announcement : crafty 2010 (singapore)

ahh!! i wish i was in singapore right now as i would -love- to attend this event! if you're in singapore, i would definitely say check it out!! (and then please let me live vicariously through your experience.) thank you.

// crafty 2010 + swiss legacy

video : david stark paper flower shoppe

David Stark Flower Shoppe Time Lapse from west elm on Vimeo.

love to watch the actual building + tearing down of the shoppe.

// west elm

studio {love} : pearlfisher

if you have been following this blog for sometime now, you will probably know that i have a very very soft spot for packaging design. i can definitely say that it is one of the things within the graphic design industry that makes my heart beat with rhythms of music.

one particular company, pearlfisher, has been catching my eye as they have been the creatives behind some of the most interesting packaging designs i have seen. interesting not because if it unconventional, crazy, kooky or just strange, but in a way that they introduce new ways of viewing a usually routine shape. with so many aesthetic variations, it just makes my mouth water.

i can look at their website for hours. i admit, i think i am a packaging design addict.

// pearlfisher

video : firefly letterpress

FireFly Letterpress from ilovetypography.com on Vimeo.

beautiful video about letterpress printing uploaded by ilovetypography a few years ago. oldie but goody.

installation*obsession // ball-nogues studio (LA)

i've always loved the idea of feeling like you are part of an exhibit or installation. ball-nogues' work makes me feeling like alice walking through wonderland. truly captivating.

// ball-nogues studio

product*obsession : gg

i've always been drawn to the idea of things being in their natural or most minimal of forms, but incorporated within that medium a sense of surprise or new perspective on the usage of that product. recently, i was reading an article entitled the problem with creativity from logodesignlove , which talked about how when we are children, our creativity is limitless as we have not been 'conditioned' by our surroundings/society, but as we get older, the more we learn, the more we are 'limited' to what we believe is true.

case in point. when i was in preschool i remember making these 'mud cakes' made from 3 different types of mud and 'selling' them at my general store to 'customers'. my playmates would come pretending to be mothers and 'buy' these cakes and eat them saying they were delicious! i'm sure many girls (and some boys!) can relate to this act of playing 'house' but the article reminded me that yes, once we become adults because of the knowledge that we have gained in our lives, as far as creativity is concerned, we might be stifled from creating more innovative products.

now i am going off on a tangent, but back to my point being that i love the idea of things being minimal or simple, but with a different perspective is that it allows to open up the mind of the viewer to see something in a different light. the products made by gg reminds me of this thought process. things that 'seem' to be might not be or a particular pattern on a simple piece can make it extraordinary. there's a word in japanese called 'haeru' which literally means 'to grow', but in this case i believe the embellishments on each of the gg pieces allows the original material, whether metal, clay, paper to 'haeru' because of the little touches that they add.

// gg

new studio : worktable hunting

for the past few months, i've felt like a real estate agent looking at house after house as we are hunting for a new domicile. although i don't mind as i really do enjoy looking at property, along with that, i've been dreaming about a new studio space! (it makes me so giddy just thinking about it!) although i do love my current studio, i feel that i am starting to outgrow the space and would like something a bit more roomier. with that said, i've been searching for the right 'environment' and first thing on the list of 'wants' is a huge work table in the middle of the room!!

i've been looking and it looks like it comes down to either forking out tons of money for the size that i want or to build one yourself. i'm beginning to lean towards building one myself, but would love your input on what you have tried within your work space.

any thoughts? please share~~

** some of these images were sent by friends so i don't have the actual links to the owners of these wonderful work tables/studios, but if you do know who it belongs to, please let me know as i would love to credit them. thank you!

design*sponge video : how to stay focused

really loving this post by design*sponge's biz ladies series entitled "grace’s tips for staying focused". i've been trying to figure out a more streamlined daily routine/work schedule and i think this video just answered a lot of questions for me! thank you!!

// design*sponge

i {heart} work : nousvous (uk)

good evening! before heading to bed, i wanted to share some beautiful work from design collective nous vous. their work makes me feel excited about what tomorrow will bring coupled with the endless possibilities of creativity.

for some reason, the poofy colorful type reminds me of the alphabet segment on sesame street. fun!

// nous vous

eyecandy : weehouse

aren't these houses just adorable? i am loving these miniature homes as it reminds me of the doll houses that i used to play with while growing up. i remember wishing that i could shrink in order to see what it was like from my doll's point of view. maybe this is a close 'real version' of my fantasy? not to mention, eco-friendly living!

// small house society

video : how to be alone.

something about this video is so soothing... the thought of spending time alone is so important for one to clear their mind of things and to reset. people associate with being alone as 'sad' or 'outcast' but i think knowing how to enjoy time with oneself is one of the most liberating things that you can find for yourself.

i {heart} work : ashkhan

happy monday + august! how has your year been going so far? do you feel like time is flying by or just flowing along like a lazy stream? i definitely feel that it's running full speed and doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon, but that doesn't mean that i want to take the little things for granted in life. i feel that moments are created through the little things that we noticed and i want to make sure that i don't miss as many of those little moments.

one of these types of moments is to be able to enjoy things that tickle your inner soul. for myself, sometimes i'm not sure what it is that makes me feel a burst of giggles inside me, but i do know when i see it/feel it/hear it that it is there. artist ashkhan captures this moment for me in his work. his use of type, imagery, concept and aesthetic just tickles my inner being. so real and yet reminds me of my childhood when things were a little less complicated and my worries were if i was going to be able to go out and rollerblade after school. oops, that last sentence just aged me a bit!

// ashkhan