Hiss and Hearse

Today the skies are grey, the snow is still falling, and I find myself daydreaming about Forbidden Island tiki drinks, driving down Highway 1, and visiting my friends in snow-free San Francisco. Some positive things that have happened during this last frigid week: I was able to span lots of time with my honey, and my new, sophisticated KCP business cards, designed by Nubbytwiglet, arrived.

I have been collaborating with another talented person, Erin Corbett, who is a photo re-toucher living right down the street from us. We have been using our combined forces to revamp the website of a local skincare parlor called Bloom. I am also working on her business identity, and she is using her skills to help me with my photography portfolio!

Other wonderful things include: receiving real letters from my photographer pen-pal, Chloe Aftel, who constantly inspires and pushes me to be a better artist; wearing my new Betsey Johnson coat, which I bought for a steal and whose heart buttons make me feel happy; watching the documentary about American figure skater Johnny Weir, “Pop Star on Ice,” which I found to be completely inspiring; and discovering a love of yoga, which I have been doing once a week with Erin Corbett.

This morning I heard birds chirping, and these winter days are starting to make their exit. At the end of the month, I am taking a much needed trip home to California to see family and friends, and I am very excited about that! Tell me things that are making you feel wonderful.

Stockings for every mood! Found in the Flickr Vintage Advertising Pool Thanks Fun House!

You all know my love for amazing stockings, like these peacock feather tights from modcloth and these black fringe tights from Nasty Gal Vintage (which I now own, thanks Baby Dee!)

The Liberation of B, which I found from Nubbytwiglet’s photo stream. The perfect typography is just killing me!

Her Bodoni design has also been gracing my desktop.  Nubby, you are the queen of big, bold graphics!

Maya Bird takes the dreamiest Holga photos.

I am working on a secret project with my dear friend Mudchicken… based in Seattle, Washington, above is his work area. Let’s just say, the chicken has landed.

I don’t know who took this photo, I found it on Flickr. But the idea and concept is phenomenal, features the talent of Norwegian Model Siri Tollerod.

Modcloth posted their best look book yet! Taken at a bar Richard Wayne took me too in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania called the Brillobox! It features high contrast lighting, a nicely styled model, red vinyl and oh that damask wallpaper! How I wish that I could have been a part of this shoot! Yum!

1958 Portrait in Pink Harmonies by Vanity Fair, this image just makes me happy.

I have decided that I want to be her when I grow up.

Check out the fashion and rock photography of London based photographer Ren Rox- All of her in camera work is just fascinating to me! She took this beautiful image of Rosie, the lead singer of Ipso Facto (who also has the best haircut) and the flash of pink is just perfection to my eyeballs!

superbomba has a great collection of found vintage images and this one is what love feels like.

Continuing with my Jessica Stam crush, I can’t get enough of this circus themed shoot!

So much goodness, I can barely take it!

I am having a flirtation with textures and images. In my searches for good ones to work with, I found two great free resources here and here- they only ask that you credit them if any are used. I started a folder of these beauties, if anyone has any strange scans, film mistakes, or light leaks that I could add to my stash, please let me know!

(Modeling is the lovely Liz Liles for Bows and Arrows Vintage, Sacramento, CA)

I just can’t get over how amazing this Photoshop CS4 advertisement is! (And you can see the making of this beauty here.)

the most recent artist interview was done by richard wayne- who is my honey, resident david bowie expert, prince impersonator, and partner in crime.

together, we are working on a secret bonnie and clyde design operation (to be unveiled in november) and below is our first collaboration, a poster for our friends the agent ribbons girls.

agent ribbons is banned in the UK and there is a really great article about them in this week’s SF weekly along with a photo by me!

this week i am one tired design darling, all i have been doing is photo shoot, design, photo editing, design, work and repeat! (no wonder my vision is going bad!) to survive, i inhale coffee and listen to nick cave loud on headphones-

sunday i drove two of my favorite models, baby dee and alexandra up to sacramento where they posed, my friend jonathan did hair and make-up and i photographed some beautiful high fashion images- it was a long day full of giggling, visiting an amazing vintage clothes shop bows and arrows (and borrowing some beautiful clothes), listening to loud dance music, and eating in-n-out french fries late while driving back to the bay area-

i’m in nesting mode since richard wayne moves here from the east coast next tuesday- i want this black faux fur duvet cover and daydreaming about these suede shoes! the next months all i think about is hiding out, working on my book project, and creating more beautiful art-

i am in lust with my new red patent leather steve madden mary janes,
they are dreamy on the eyes and feets-

the talented swiss graphic designer vectortrash posted his final version of Kiki Bomb, it’s gorgeous-

nubby has an upcoming show, black & white graphic insight definitely check out her beautiful black and white collaged pieces- she has a variation of styles and sizes for every taste and budget.

lisa marie was and her rocker man, hang jones, are in nashville, check out her amazing photos here!

an interesting phenomenon in the electronic fashion blog world, lookbook.nu is a self proclaimed, “international social expriment in style inspired by fashion blogs and “what are you wearing today?” forums.”

i can’t believe some people really look that amazing every day AND have time to take an equally incredible photograph. ever wonder why i don’t post photos of myself very often? because i’m so vain about photographs now (except when i play with the macbook photobooth, but that doesn’t count.) they have to look a certain way and have a certain perfection about them, or i just can’t do it- half the time i will post an image of myself and delete it an hour later- (oh the curse of being both an artist and a graphic designer-)

found on oh joy! artist kent rogowksi who “takes ordinary teddy bears have been turned inside out and re-stuffed so each animal’s appearance is created by little intricacies of the manufacturing process.”

i want one! please please! i’ll be a good girl! (promise.)

can’t believe i missed one of my very favorites NICK CAVE and the bad seeds play in san francisco, oh the sadness- but i did enjoy looking at the photos that photographer leila-anne posted of this beautiful and amazing creature.

and for your enjoyment on that note, please click here to enjoy nick cave singing, do you love me?  (do you?)

he designed that beauty from this one…

favorites and inspiration oh my!

the beautiful anonymous poster and postcard designs posted on creative review

i forgot about the beauty of this suede album cover designed by peter saville and posted on FFFFound!

twitter is extremely addicting.

jordan crane reprints two of my favorite posters!

the magick daggers being dark and sultry in my headphones!

yes, i want pantone stairs!

i can’t stop staring at these new david lachapelle images.

this image by jessica-m which was right in synch with my recent rope girl work!

more your earbuds, san francisco band veil veil vanish are lovely and i’m meeting up with one of them tomorrow to discuss future evil art plans!

i watched the 2005 movie “the lost” and found it visually stimulating and great acting by marc senter who reminds me of my other favorite man, crispin glover.

the illustrations of jason thielke

my coworker, anna main, is a secret talented poster designer.

being stopped on the street for the SFstyle blog, the cure’s “entreat” on headphones, warm san francisco days, nude fishnets, and much needed heart peace are making my lips turn upward this tuesday.

jessica-m continues to inspire me and this last week provided the support and friendship i needed for daily survival, thanks girl.

these are the coolest horror film festival poster designs i’ve ever seen, by a london designer with a “fetish for typography”, rick banks

michelle’s soul mix is amazing go listen!

the fashion and charm of the dark comedy film, the heather’s- “If you were happy every day of your life, you wouldn’t be a human being; you’d be a game show host-”

by chance finding a beautiful portrait of an old friend, marcelo cunning, on the flickr fashion photography pool

great post about typography resources by the lovely nubby twiglet

joy division’s unknown pleasures was voted the most iconic album cover of all time by music fans at this site

moving on, growing up, adding color, and being ok, not looking back, but doing great things- tell me what opened your eyes this week. xo

super inspiring british design firm
studio 8 design