{Real Business} St. Clair Events

Whitney approached me with ideas of a modern, yet elegant and chic business card for her event planning business. We went through a few branding options as well as modern/pop colors to compliment the design. 

 Here is her final choice! 

Issuu: Antler Magazine

 Browsing Hoakon Loves Helga's shop, I came across Antler, an online magazine idea by Andi of Hoakon Loves Helga. Though it is published under a fashion pseudo, it really is an all creative, artistic inspiration. Antler Magazine "focuses on composing a collection of beautiful, inspiring ideas and designs from all aspects of life." The beginning of this magazine came about when Andi asked various international artists and designers to submit their work. Antler is a free, online publication and has gotten thousands of submissions since its first issue in 2009. I found a few other Etsy shops from browsing this magazine as well. What I love about this magazine is that there are no ads, and over 35 pages of pure inspiration!

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

Bringing It Home

Just when I thought I had made up my mind on what I would like to get on my wish list, I come across Leah Duncan. There goes my list! I have been on the hunt for an inspiring wall calendar and I believe I have found one. My only complaint is that I wish it had a grid with more space to write my never ending to-do lists...

In case you couldn't tell, I love textile patterns and print. I would prefer pillows that don't match and colors that clash...to some extent :P Here are a few prints I fell in love with in Leah's shop.

Letterpress, Design, and Steamrollers

The much anticipated Letterpress Wayzgoose and steamroller smackdown happened this past weekend and it was a very visual as well as interactive event. Hosted by the School of Visual Concepts, Seattle, where they offer various design and printmaking classes that teach the trade and preserve the art. Blushing Pearl had our first booth set up in the "marketplace" along side many talented letterpress printers. Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress, Tutta Lou, Visualchemist, and Keegan Meegan to name a few. All wonderful, inspiring artists!

One of the coolest activities I've seen is the steamroller smackdown, where large scale prints (designed by SVC design students and sold through a silent auction) are printed using a steamroller. The prints were later hung from the outside of the building, showing off a wide variety of talent! Throughout the day, there were food vendors, including an ice cream truck (yum!) and a life folk band. If you had equipment you wanted to sell, there were tables set up for that as well. I wish I had a chance to walk around and browse the sale... I could use another press or some shop equipment.

 The overall turnout was amazing! There were 3 classrooms filled with letterpress printers and paper stockists (such as Reich and Mohawk) with tons of sample swatch books. I was able to meet a few fellow bloggers, local printers, and designers...many with their own shops and tricks of the trade.

For more pictures from Wayzgoose, be sure to check out my Flickr as well as the Letterpress @ SVC group.

And for the record, this guy had one fabulous sushi costume!

*all photos by Blushing Pearl

Things That Go "Pop!"

When I came across Britain's Graham and Green, I nearly  died and gone to decorating heaven! I have been faced with prospects of decorating the rooms in my new house... and this time I want to do it right, with carefully thought out pieces that truly make each space active in its own right. I really don't have a preferred style of decorating, though I tend to go for the dark furniture with some island style pieces and colors to accent. My hubby and I just bought a leather, olive green couch for the TV room from Kasala. I'd say it is a very modern piece...but I like vintage.. and native prints... and terrariums... and I REALLY want a deer skull with antlers on the wall above my mantel. I guess you can call my decorative taste, "eclectic"? Or is it just all over the place? hmmmmm.

The one thing I find myself doing while searching and planning what to do with my place, is picking a piece that "pops" and stands out. This is probably why I was drawn to Graham and Green's sense of design style. If you look at each picture, they have at least 1 piece that pops, either in colors or in shape...AND they mix vintage with modern, throw in some ethnic pieces, like the mother of pearl inlay dresser or the Moroccan poufs.. very eclectic and seemingly all over the place?

The color hot pink has been associated with the neon 80's or Warhol-esque modern art. Graham and Green makes a bold statement with this pop color and I think I like it! Hot pink seems to be the new "pink" this spring season. Really, Graham and Green, did you have to use colors that Blushing Pearl would like? (check out the 3rd column, middle photo...BP's 2010 colors!)

*photo credit: graham and green

Daily Drop Cap

essica Hische is my newest inspiration. She is a very creative illustrator, designer, and typophile. From viewing her website, I believe her to be a funny gal. Her about page is pretty creative, showing off her type tattoo, works space and funny candids. The drop cap of this post is one of Jessica's daily posting of various drop caps she designs. I think I may have found my new BFF. I have this drop cap poster on my wishlist. If I were to get a tattoo, I would commission her to custom design one for me. Her typography is whimsical and very unique. She mixes vintage type with her own illustrative line. 

Here are a few more drop caps from Jessica:

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.  

Coroflot- A design community

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