17 posts categorized "designing"
November 13, 2009
October 27, 2009
This is what I do all day.
For those of you who are newer to the blog, I thought I'd share a little bit of what I do during the day. I'm a full time interior design student at The University of Akron, and during the day I work in groups coming up with design solutions and drawing out contract documents. Most of the time it's less than thrilling, but right now I'm working on a solo project for one of my studio classes. I'm designing a restaurant into an existing structure, and currently I'm deep into the planning phase of the project. This is the best part of the semester. And it keeps my quite busy!
Right now, all of my drawings are schematic floor plans or exploratory sketches. I love this part of work, before it all becomes electronic. I think there's something about an open piece of paper that inspires my creativity much more than a blank computer screen.
July 29, 2009
This seems so awfully boring,
Without a pretty wardrobe piece as a companion for the sneak. But alas, this pattern as well as the next and very last pattern, was inspired by vintage feedsack patterns found in my heirloom quilt. I would love to share an image of the quilt, but seeing as it's missing at the moment, that won't be possible. (Missing?! Phil! It must be his fault...)
This pattern is one of my favorites. Not just because of the title... though, we all know, I love me some joe. But I love all of the work that went into making this one! My professors always tell me, just because you took a long time on something doesn't mean it's any good. But dear professor, I think this one makes the cut.
My favorite part of this whole reveal process is seeing which ones are your favorites. I love that everyone loves a different design. Sometimes it surprises me when you declare a certain design to be your favorite. But, this is why I wanted the whole collection to be widely varied. Because I know each and every one of your styles are varied as well. And something I'm looking forward to most of all, is seeing what everyone creates with the papers!
July 27, 2009
An eternity
of cutting, and sanding, and drilling, and sanding, and cleaning, and staining. All for you, my dears. :)
The paper will be in my hands at the beginning of this week! I'm waiting for more buttons to arrive at my door... otherwise I would have no problem announcing that the kits will be for sale a week from today on Monday, August 3rd. But I think I can only semi-announce the date of sale. It really might end up being more like Wednesday. Stay tuned here for more information as to the price of the kits (I'm waiting to get a shipping cost estimate), definite date and time of release, and for a link to the shop I'm putting together!
Are you excited? Gee, I hope so! I am!
July 25, 2009
Pretty florals
When I'm shopping for Half Caf Vintage, pretty florals always catch my eye.
And lately, I've been fantasizing about wallpapering pretty vintage paper all over my walls. Of course, my brother, who owns the house we live in, isn't particularly partial to that idea. Which I why I'm fantasizing.
Maybe that's what I was doing while I was creating this next design for The Housewife:
July 24, 2009
Ladylike is fun.
Now, granted, ladylike isn't always fun, but sometimes it is! Like tea parties and dress-up. Not always fun, but usually. In fact, today I'm going to have a tea party with my little cousins. And we're planning on thoroughly enjoying ourselves!
Ladylike fun is what I had in mind while creating my next design. The fun version of prim and proper. Like this dress, from Half Caf vintage:
and this top:
Here is my oh so polite and somewhat precocious design:
July 22, 2009
Another peek!
After this one, there are only four peeks left! I'm so excited! In fact, I've already starting working on designing my next collection. The Housewife is the first paper collection I've ever designed, so I'm hoping it only gets better from here.
This next design is inspired by vintage calico prints, such as the one seen on this polo shirt:
A couple weekends ago, I was wearing my high waisted sailor-esque shorts from Urban Outfitters and couldn't find a cute summer shirt that went well with them. So, I went down into "the shop" (really, "the shop" is the basement, where I keep all of my shop items organized) and found this top. It went perfectly with the shorts. And while I was wearing it, I couldn't stop studying the pattern.
Little patterns are probably my favorite scrapbook paper designs. They work so well in little strips or in large portions. Here's my calico inspired design:
July 20, 2009
Back before there were blogs...
People used to read magazines. I hope someday I don't have to explain this to my grandchildren! After showing them my vintage Domino magazines. ha!
I can remember getting a huge kick out of looking at my grandmother's magazines. Looking at the articles about relationships (which seem farcical these days!) and advertisements about face creams and girdles was enough to take me back in time to when she was a teenager in the 1940s.
I designed a piece of vintage magazine whimsy for the Housewife Collection. I think it's both amusing and charming- as well as a lot of fun to work into a scrapbook page!
July 18, 2009
You had me at plaid.
I seem to be grabbing clothes off the rack these days based on their quantity of plaid. I hate to think it's a bandwagon thing... but you know, it just might be. Or perhaps it's all those years of wearing plaid skirts and jumpers in school? Who knows?
In any case, plaid is all the rage in fashion right now. And as per my usual, I have some plaid fashion inspiration to share with you from Half Caf Vintage.
The textiles of clothing is hugely important to me. And greatly influential in my designs, of course! So I bring you my next design for The Housewife....
Worried you won't get a kit? I'll announce a week in advance the day and hour kits will be made available. Just visit my blog on that day and you'll be linked to the shop where you can purchase one. Thanks for all of your excitement! It makes this whole experience that much more enjoyable.
July 17, 2009
The files are sent.
What a huge load off my mind! The fact that both of my computers are down isn't a huge downer to me right now. Because the printer has my files and the papers will soon be on their way! I think that the waiting explains why I was having such anxiety problems this week. Right now, I feel fine. And I'm finally enjoying my new car and the music mixes I made for cruising. :)
A few of you have asked how you can purchase the paper, when the time comes. Well, it should be a matter of a week or two that I will have kits available for purchase. I'm making 100 kits and will be selling them through a special blog page I'm setting up for Half Caf Paper. I'm not sure of what the price will be, as of yet, because I'm still gathering a few more items to add. I'll keep you updated!
Ready for another peak?
This design is inspired by vintage geometric patterns.
(shirt for sale here)
I think it's so fun to use geometric patterns in my scrapbook pages. Florals are nice, but geometrics are so versatile. And with the Housewife Collection, I'm trying to achieve a wide variety of designs that will be versatile and easy to use.
I hope you are liking everything so far! I can't wait to show you all of the designs together. I think they work together quite well. Now, if only I could just hold them in my hands...
