Parties I have known and loved by Kim Screen

Summer’s almost over, but it’s never too late to throw a great party. Here are a few of my all-time favorites, to help put on your creative party hat.

haiku party
This one’s a blast! Of course you must first send your invitation in haiku form.

what you need:
1. typewriter
2. typing paper
3. haiku how-to’s for guests
4. corkboard for posting haiku




taco truck party
This summer we threw our very first, but probably not our last, Taco Truck Party. In the spirit of conducting thorough research, I felt obliged to try tacos all over the city (what a gal) before finally securing Armando and his tasty tacos for our party. (To find taco trucks in your town, just ask the Google.)

what you need:
1. a taco truck!


My talented friend Sheila designed this cute little taco truck illustration we used for our party invitations.



outdoor movie party
We started this last year, and it’s so fun. Find a spot in your yard to set up an outdoor movie screen, and then host your own summer concert series.

what you need:
1. to make the screen: a canvas drop cloth from home depot + staple gun
2. to play the movie: a laptop, lcd projector + stereo
3. for seating: plenty of chairs, blankets, sleeping bags, etc
4. for snacks: popcorn + movie treats!

1 2 3 4

Feist shows there is another way to sing it, 1 2 3 4 and I've heard it quite a few times more, but I still like it. I love how the background singers are wearing flashy armbands, reminiscent of the original video which I posted here.

Wedding Planning: Pick words then colors by Kim Screen

Since I've just been through the wedding planning thing I must share this one overall thought. I had several people ask, in our wedding planning days, what our "wedding colors" were - for the invitation, tables, etc. And even though I’m big on color, I really cringed at this question. It felt like such a surface place to start planning something so special. Steven and I had a realization early on. I’m big on color, yes. But above all, we're both big on words. And so instead of colors we picked words we hoped would represent our wedding. It’s like any design project: pick a concept first, then make it look good. For us, this approach just felt right.

So, our words?
creative
meaningful
intimate

And here’s a peek at what that meant for us:





from top to bottom: walking to our handmade driftwood tent structure on the beach in Tofino, BC – my favorite place!; for our centerpieces we used the Japanese glass balls my family beach combed in the 1960’s and I made all our menus and printed pieces; handmade driftwood signs - a favorite beach craft project; our tent structure sparkling at night; army blankets for when it got cold; polaroids on our driftwood poles; a view of our head table we made from a 250-year old reclaimed cedar tree.

Tilt-Shift

My brother-in-law Philip, sent me a link about Tilt-Shift Photography and I was blown away, because I've never seen anything like it. Quite surreal, at first I thought it was somebody recreating little miniatures, but it is actual real photographs. Aren't they amazing? Find out more about the technique here and see photographer Vincent LaForet's explanation here.

My type of comfort food

Last night I had some scrumptious take-out Thai food. Masaman curry and Pad Thai are my favorite dishes. If you want to cook some up for your very own, check out the book Quick and Easy Thai food by Nancie McDermott, it has some great photographs. Anyone tried a recipe from it?



photos above from here - wish take-out looked this pretty!

My Creative Drives: A visual top 10 list by Kim Screen

At some point during my 6 years on LA roadways I realized my mind goes crazy with design ideas while driving! (admittedly, LA was a handy place to make this discovery) So, in the spirit of these great creative drives, here is a visual top 10 list of things that have inspired me lately. (click to enlarge)



1. old family photographs / 2. solid fabrics with bits of white thread peaking through / 3. sewing machines and vintage tools / 4. beautiful, make-me-drool calligraphy from betsy dunlap / 5. happy mailbox family / 6. my trusty lemon tree that blooms even in seattle / 7. vintage maps / 8. color-coded book shelves / 9. creamy delicious coffee brewing in a chemex / 10. our newly installed clothesline (one small step for the environment!)

Seattle Signs

I haven't cleaned off all of my cards yet, but there are sampling of a few signs in the Seattle area here. I am excited to go back in a few weeks for some more fun. I talked about my love for typography and signography a little bit here, yet I hope I have not become too obsessed with signs, my collection has become quite massive.

Linked up

Mac and I between the both of us have a lot of gadgets, and I guess I will admit it here, we are kind of tech geeks. There are the cellphones, the ipods, the cameras, the headphones, the gps etc. etc. Unfortunately, along with the "i love technology" sentiments comes the wire-phobe tendencies I have of wanting to hide all of those nasty, nasty wires. So, imagine my delight when I saw the Pottery Barn cover with this image on the front. Ahhh, relief.



Another way to link up is to use this chargepod that I saw on swissmiss.



What solutions do you use to charge up all of your gear?

I love the post office by Kim Screen

Call me crazy, but I really love the post office! Let me count the ways...

First, the stamps. I love picking out stamps. I get very sad when supplies are low and I'm stuck with flags (no offense, America). But sometimes there are real gems to be had: botanicals, people, graphics, teapots, star wars, you just never know.

For our wedding invitations we featured our polio inventor friend Jonas Salk. I know... it's not very "wedding" (which could have been the theme of our wedding) but the traditional pastel love stamps were simply not us; we thought Jonas was great!



Then there's the history factor. The post office is vintage! Some of their buildings even look vintage!




And look at this bit of post office history I found this week in my grandmother’s book collection. Some of these stamps are downright beautiful.




But here's the real reason. Mostly I love going to the post office because it means I am sending something that somebody will LOVE receiving. Friends, family, customers, whoever. I am making them happy. Simple as that.

The Market

Whenever I go to Pike's Place I see the yummiest produce around. There are so many different types of flavors and flowers and it is a great setting to take photos. Ever been there to see the infamous throwing of the fish? A great place to pick up some super fresh seafood.

Beware, Inspiration overload! by Kim Screen

Too much inspiration can be a bad thing. I know this may sound crazy but please stick with me. Here is what happens to me. I'm reading my favorite blogs, design magazines, wedding magazines, or shopping at my favorite stores. Whatever it is, I am INSPIRED. I see cool things, I feel creative, I love it I love it. And so I continue. And then it happens: inspiration turns to intimidation. Let me explain, with a very real example.

When I was trying to decide what sort of business to start I would go shopping in LA all the time. I went to my favorite boutiques, I saw what was out there, I knew all the product lines - I even traveled to trade shows, design conferences, the gift mart, anything remotely / somewhat / slightly related to design. And as much as it inspired me (and it did!) it also depressed me. EVERY idea has been taken…or so it seemed. Furthermore, I started trying to copy - with a twist of my own, of course - the things I already saw "out there." My favorite was Hable Construction; I love those girls! So maybe I needed to make prints of my own and fashion them into fun objects too?



The problem, of course, is that it wasn't me. I had crammed myself with so much creative inspiration I (quite ironically) couldn't find own my own creative direction. I love that, in the end, the most grounding thing I know – my family – gave me all the inspiration I needed.



(this is my grandfather, the one who always told us we came from good stock!)

So go be inspired, but beware of overload. Know when to stop and to just be yourself.

Welcome Kim!

I am very happy to introduce recently married, Kim Screen. After seeing the beautiful memory boutique books that she creates, at Good Stock I was inspired and wanted to know more about her and her work. From what I know about her, she is very friendly, energetic, creative, and resides in one of my favorite places in the Pacific Northwest. Welcome Kim!

BIO:
A Seattle native, Kim O’Neill attended the University of Washington where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 1994. She began her career at the Sports and Events Council of Seattle/King County, a program of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, working primarily as Program & Events Manager. In 2000 she moved to Los Angeles to serve as Director of Product & Brand Marketing for Ticketmaster, where she led the research and marketing of new technologies.

In 2003 she embarked on a career change to pursue her creative interests. Having studied art and design throughout the Los Angeles area, she enrolled at Art Center College of Design to further hone her skills. For two years she consulted in design management on behalf of Barry Diller of IAC/InterActiveCorp, finally launching Good Stock in late 2005.

Good Stock was inspired by Kim’s grandfather, Donald W. Close, who loved reminding his family they came from good stock. The tale was originally written with the help of her mother, a talented kindergarten teacher, for the littlest members of her family. She now makes the book for others and loves being in the business of preserving family memories.

Stewart Wedding

Crystal + Todd's wedding was absolutely beautiful, as were the bride and groom. A few alterations were made because of the pouring down rain, but I think those changes made the wedding procession even more lovely and romantic. Since I was in the wedding party, I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked, but here are a few and there are more at my Flickr.

New Feature!

I am super excited to introduce a new feature of my blog! I decided that I would like to include various guests that have inspired me in the world of design + the arts. Next week, Kim from Good-Stock will be my first guest blogger. Tune in, she has some great things to share, and in the meantime, check out Good-Stock Press & Bindery.

Calendar girl

With the abundance of school supplies in stores and the stocking of calendars for the new year, I saw these different calendars by Massimo Vignelli and was reminded how much I enjoy his calendar design style. Clean, classy and timeless, I am contemplating getting one for 2008.

Perusing

When I picked up the book Postmark Paris I enjoyed it throughly. It is very well done, and I hope to see more like it in the future. It is a story about a family who moves to Paris and a father introduces his daughter to the world of stamp collecting. Various stamps are shown on each page along with a clever narrative by the young girl. Definitely on my "Cool books for Vienna wish list." Check out more here.



Besides the amazing Binth baby book, (which I got to see in person this week) this 'Sweet Dreams Baby Book" is another great one I've seen on the market. Vintage Children's illustrations are used throughout, and there is great design sensibilities and a sense of nostalgia. A very budget sensitive item, you don't have to spend a lot, to have a little lovely. See more here.

Design Within Reach

There is nothing quite like the feeling a designer gets when they go into a DWR store. More of a kinesthetic experience than the catalog, my eyes were overflowing with eye candy crystals. This store features spectacular cutting-edge design originators.

Slow it down.

Kate Endle

These collages by Kate Endle are even more stunning in person. Collage art is something that has been a long time favorite of mine, so when I saw these I just ooohed and ahhed. Unfortunately, the awesome textural quality of these may not be visible in this online realm, but nonetheless, they are quite fabulous. You can find Kate's work at the lovely Petaline.

Natalie's Eden

While I am talking about Seattle based paperie, I came across the charming collection of Natalie's Eden. Here are a few of my favorites. I like the illustrations juxtaposed with the background patterns and details, and she uses glitter tastefully!! Check out more here and also find them at Luxe.

Pinkerton Design

I came across Seattle based Pinkerton Design in a little shop and enjoy what they have to offer. They use a lot of lovely colors and graphic patterns and designs in their cards and from what I have seen, they use mostly offset printing for their gorgeous work. Check out their website for more love. They also sell at Luxe Paperie online.

travel + wedding inspiration

I'm back and had a great trip! The rest of this week I am going to showcase various things that I was inspired by at my cousin's wedding, and also things I found while out and about, around Seattle. Hope you enjoy.


photo from here (unfortunately, my card reader isn't working today.)

My bags are packed, and I'm ready to go

Off to my cousin's wedding in Seattle. After the wedding, I am excited to...
1 have some clam chowder sitting on the dock of the bay
2 walk through marketplaces, and over bridges
3 shop in antique and artsy stores
4 hear the sound of crashing waves, with seagulls quacking
5 feel the rain coming down on my face
(forecast projection - high chance of rainy skies - surprise, surprise)

Hope that you all have a splendid weekend. Any fun plans?


image from here

Seattle

I am going to Seattle this weekend, and although I lived there for quite a while, it is always great to get more 'real people' local and travel perspectives. Any hip places you have enjoyed, that are must sees and dos?

Resend

Since I love stamps and mail ephemera, these little slices of lick and stick, are right up my alley. Quite a clever idea, to resend mail again and again, giving paperie and envelopes that textural feel. Check out Bari Zaki for more correspondence and bookbinding love.

Safari beauty

Inspired by the movie 'Out of Africa, (which after seeing these, I have a sudden desire to watch again) these images in June's Vogue are just down right stunning. I love the baby elephant sans the Louis Vuitton blanket.




via 2 or 3 things

Alexi Murdoch

While I am talking about genius songwriter/singers who play the guitar and sing acoustically, another one of my favorites is Alexi Murdoch. To listen to more of his voice, which can be addictive, go here.

Ben Harper

The first time that I heard someone cover this song, "Waiting on an Angel" it gave me chills and since then, I have been a big fan of singer/songwriter Ben Harper. There is something about his voice that soothes me. Here he is singing live.

Amos Lee

For some serious soul and sensitivity, let me (re)introduce you to Amos Lee. A brilliant songwriter and singer that gives it all in performances. I watched him on Austin City Limits and he seems to be even better live.

A new type of uglydoll

Recently pursing Twig, I found Esthex handmade toys from the Netherlands and thought they are just marvelous. I agree with their company statement saying, "they are for kids and grownups." Made out of various materials such as fleece, cotton, and felt, they are extra durable and lovable. Check out their website, it is a cute storytelling adventure.

Chalkboard fantasies

Chalkboard paint seems to be where it's at right now. I was contemplating doing a wall in my home, but then I thought... chalk dust! Do I really want to be cleaning that up all the time? Anyone have chalkboard fantasies like me, or have a place with one in their home? You can do anything from...

A baby chalkboard bench

from my clippings - Living Etc. magazine June 07

A dinning room

unsure where from?

Kitchen cabinets

from here

Family Room and more...

from here

Always creating lovely

Wonder why their colors just pop? Well...Chicago based Binth studio definitely has a passion for screen printing. Those hours and hours of getting the color just right, makes their beautiful work, one of a kind. I adore their memory book, poster, and new to me, matching game and numbered greeting cards. Their work is bold and graphic, quirky yet smart.

Originality at its finest

Wedding shots like I've never seen before, Edward Olive from Madrid takes a more edgy and artistic approach to your special day. Quite stunning. Check out his website for more, it is full of lots of gems.

Sock Monkeys

Can you ever go wrong with them? I remember growing up with these little sock monkey guys at our house. Their image has sure gotten better, and also has diversified.


These are from polkadots

Sock monkey greetings by Allie Munroe.


great polaroid from futurowoman's etsy. (other shots definitely worth a look)

Anne Herbauts

Anne Herbauts has beautifully illustrated many children's books and among my favorites is a book called 'Prince Silencio'. On the book jacket describing her work she states, "I am in the words and in the images at the same time. The realm in which I really work is in the space in between the two." Check out her great books here.



Others that look great, but I have still yet to thumb through.

Sweedish style

I was delighted to see photos of Elisabeth Dunker's home over at Cookie. I love her work and talked about some of it earlier here.



Here are a few more samplings from lula (click to enlarge) and go see more here.

August Rush

Mac showed me this trailer and I think it looks very interesting. It is due out November 2007.

bedroom beauty

I just love this shot and all the others from Dara Caponigra's home in Domino. Found via Absolutely Beautiful Things. (great interior design site - check it out, if you haven't done so).

Lullaboos

I just ran into these clever dolls, (ones that don't creep me out) called Lullaboos. They are designed by Margaret Wyngaard, and made out of wool and cashmere blends. I enjoy the idea of them having a little pod, so kids are able to play around with them going in and out, on the go. These look very fun and charming for tots. She also has an etsy store here.

Rebecca Thuss is a must.

If you are getting married soon, like my cousin, Crystal, go look at (photo-stylist/creative director/wedding designer/crafter) Rebecca Thuss and her amazing work all compiled together on her website. Go right now, you will be awed! I'm hoping you've seen some of her gorgeous photo-styling over at Martha Stewart Weddings. While you are at it, check out ThussFarrell , which is her and her husband Patrick's graphic design firm. Thanks to the Scoop for this inspiring link!




images from Rebecca Thuss.com

I am grateful for my shoes.

This last weekend, I watched an endearing Iranian film called "Children of Heaven." It is excellent and focuses on the themes of sacrifice and love. If you enjoy foreign films, I would highly recommend this.

Museum memories

I love museums, in fact I worked all through college in a museum as a photographer and assistant registrar. Some of the most unique little things I have found, have been in museum gift shops. I found these little delights at the moma.

DESIGN MOM

Hello Monday! This week I am going to be posting as a guest mom over at the fabulous Design Mom. Do stop by.



These stunning photos are by Mandy Lamb from one of my new favorite finds on Etsy.

8 things

I've been tagged twice. By A 10,000 wedding and A Cup of Jo. Merci. I am supposed to let you know 8 things about me, here they are:

1: I like to keep top ten lists.
2: I have a love/hate relationship with most purses and handbags.
3: I don't like thunder storms, but I do like it when the power goes out temporarily.
4: I love the library, enough that at one time I almost wanted to be a librarian,
one that was nice and dressed cool.
5: Fridge clutter is one of my pet peeves.
6: Most dolls really creep me out.
7: If I've been to a place once, I can usually get you back there.
8: I am tall, 5' 10" + my husband is 6'4" so I worry that Vienna will be over 6 ft.

*All who have read this that haven't been tagged yet, consider yourself tagged now. Leave me a comment that you have listed you 8 things, and I'll come read them, these lists are fun. Hence why I do #1.

More kitchens to dream about...

Okay, so I found more lovely places to cook it up in. I'm not sure where this first one is from, but I found it here. The other 3 are from the domino. There are so many little sweet spots in each photo. I also like that they are all spotlessly clean, I enjoy the feeling of a spanking clean kitchen.

Peter, Bjorn & John

Its been around a while, but I think this is a very creative music video for the song, " Young Folks" by Peter, Bjorn & John. I always feel like a hipster when I listen to their music, I don't know if that is a good or a bad thing?

CeU

Do you ever get the chills when you hear a new textural sound? Well, that was me yesterday when I heard a cross between Norah Jones + Bebel Gilberto playing in the library. I quickly turned my listening ears toward Brazilian singer CeU. She mixes it up with jazz, soul, and funk on her self entitled album, definitely a great Latin groove.

Leona Naess

Here is a sampling of the mesmerizing vocals of the multi-genre talent, Leona Naess. The first song is called 'Charm Attack' and is very pop and the second one, 'Ballerina' is more acoustic. Her albums are very solid, and I am still unsure why she isn't so popular but, I guess she was playing at the gas station of all places, the other day! A new album called 'thirteens' is coming out soon, should be a good one. I am excited to see how her sound has matured.

Stephanie Nance

I received an email from the lovely Stephanie Nance about her lively and alluring paintings. Her work is fresh and hip and also quite affordable. Check out her website for a great online gallery sale which starts today. Be quick, because they will go fast.


Her motor paintings make me want to rent one and tour across the country! I love the textural quality of the words in the background. It is also cool that Stephanie is renovating a motor home for her very own studio, talk about a lot of work - good luck girl!

Relax and unwind

I have relished in the packaging for Lollia because they are done well, feminine, and beautiful. I ran across these items I haven't seen before on their website and think they are quite lovely. I didn't even know they did stationery. What do you think about writing letters in the bubble bath? Does it conjure up too many thoughts of Kramer making salad in the shower?

Intriguing Enchantment

Business cards fascinate me, which is why I was so delighted when I found daily poetic's website + flickr images. Said so well, they are "little tokens of identity, with their everyday and ephemeral nature but also a keepsake - a token of remembrance." Here are a few of my many favorite business card designs. Go... be curious, here and here.

Tender timing

Watched the film Rabbit-Proof Fence last night. It is a very moving tale about the Australian government kidnapping some Aborigine girls back in the day. These little courageous girls work to escape and seek to find their way back to their homeland. A little sad, but also artistically touching and inspirational.

Ritter Sport

I think I may have found my new favorite choco delight. These ritter sport mini's are very delicious and small enough to indulge in every bite. I like the hazelnut and nugat the best.

for the handsome one

Mac and I have been discussing men's fashions lately. He has been wanting to alter his look a little, mix it up. We both like the show House, and so far, he has decided that he really likes Dr. House's (aka Hugh Laurie's) style from the show. It is pretty causal and relaxed, yet has some sophistication. House often wears outfits like the ones below - sport coats with jeans and sneakers and rocker t-shirts. While shopping around, we've found it tricky to find the right sport coat that goes with jeans. We've also found it important to have a good balance of manliness (not too much - what I call, 'men's euro fem'). Have you or your handsome friends found any great men's styles you are liking? We would love your input and suggestions!


ps. does anyone know how to find out what brand this sport coat is?