Design By Committee?

Here's a great blog of importance if you know what it's like to deal with difficult clients and art directors alike:

http://clientsfromhell.tumblr.com/

An excerpt:

I’ve decided that the amount you invoiced us for is far too much. Here’s my thinking: We are paying you to come up with an idea — we’re not paying you for the time you take to think about it. The actual idea must only take about 30 seconds to think about as you come up with it. All these visuals, that’s just typing. I can do that in Word. It would take me 5 minutes. So I only want to pay you for 5 and a half minutes work.

Uhhhh, ok…

Flying Pizza Kitty

New Year's Resolutions? Volunteer, Hon!

HELLO MY BMORE COLLABORATIVE FRIENDS
I just wanted to stop by and wish you all a Happy 2010, no matter your circumstances! Bills to pay, houses to clean, work piling up after the holiday, where do we find the time and patience to maintain our "self-improving" resolutions? (That is if we made any at all!)

Fear not friends, I made my personal list so far, but when the temps dip below 30 degrees as a daily high I can't help but wonder what the more unfortunate folks in this city are suffering through. Luckily, most of us have a roof over our heads, plenty of food in the fridge and, of course, a computer to blog on.

What's MY POINT?
Well, I checked out this site: www.volunteercentral.net and saw that they have a mulitude of opportunities to reach out to the community. (I myself, complain about this city and figured, hell, I have the time! I'm going to shut up and do something about it!)

THE ARTS
Volunteer within the arts, the list is quite diverse!

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND GREET
Mark your calendars! The Volunteer Café meets on Tuesday, February 9, 2009 @ 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. in Harbor East at Teavolve Cafe & Lounge.

I hope to see you there! Remember, you have to "give it away to keep it"!

I Draw Pictures All Day

"If you were an engineer designing the turbine of a commercial airplane, would they interfere then, I wonder?"

The Oatmeal's amazing breakdown of how a design project can go wrong.

Best explanation of how designers feel when a client feels like they can trounce on your ideas with theirs because, well, you're just having fun, right?

oh! you pretty things…

Pretty scarf, brought to you by red prairie press.

She's crafty! She gets around.

Happy Holidays, everyone. Here we are, faced with BLACK FRIDAY sales placed strategically right after we gorged ourselves silly on food and drink (hopefully, let's give thanks) and now what? Stand in endless lines at Target, Kohls and Walmart.

NO! Let's get creative. Even if you don't have the time to hand craft your own special gifts for your special friends and family, have no fear...

The Charm City Craft Mafia is hosting an epic holiday shopping event at St. John's Church, 2640 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 on Saturday, December 5.

Doors open at 10 am and close at 5 pm.

"Shop handmade and have fun with over 40 amazing, local, crafty vendors showing off their astounding apparel, jewelry, accessories, ceramics, paper goods and so much more! Drinks and snacks will be available from Red Emma’s."

So, if you are artistically minded, enjoy crafts or just like poking around at markets and fairs at what's going on out there, here ya go...it's like etsy...but in your face!

You even get to meet the crafty people who make the wares they're selling. I hope to see you there! (No, I am not in the event but I'll be shopping there!)

I am not leaving the house

The Pen Story

Such a charming film.

Chic

Oh why can't every day bring a reason for such a fabulous outfit?

I gave her my heart

She gave me a pen.

"Say Anything" turns 20 this year. Here's a great quote that I always butcher: " I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."

Well kiss my grits....

This recipe seems to involve everything that is right in the world. Thanks to Sandra Lee, queen of the cocktail and tablescape.

Savory Sausage Cheese Grits
Sandra Lee, Semi-HomemadePrep 15 minutes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray four 4-inch ramekins with cooking spray; set aside.
In a medium skillet, over medium heat, cook breakfast sausage, breaking it up into small pieces. Remove from heat and drain fat; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and soup. Add the grits and whisk until smooth. Stir in the onions, bacon, cheese, and sausage. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into the prepared ramekins and top each with 1 tablespoon of butter pieces. Place ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes or until heated through.

INGREDIENTS
• No-stick cooking spray, Pam
• 4 breakfast sausage links, Johnsonville
• 2 cups milk
• 3⁄4 cup condensed cheddar cheese soup, Campbell’s
• 4 packets (1 ounce each) instant grits, Quaker
• 1⁄2 cup frozen chopped onions
• 1⁄2 cup crumbled bacon
• 1⁄2 cup shredded cheddar-Jack cheese, Sargento
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into tiny pieces

Y is for... Yeti??

Keyboard sticker set, with an interesting claim about advancing children's knowledge of the alphabet. I don't really care, as long as B is for Bowie.

Jimmy Choo and H&M

Clearly I've been living under a rock, cause I totally missed the Jimmy Choo collection for H&M which rolled out in select stores nationwide on Nov. 14th.


Alas, they aren't selling any of these clothes in Maryland and surprisingly not in DC. I guess I will have to take a trip to NYC.

U-NI-TY

U-NI-TY's collection has the three things I've been attracted to this season: gray, tailoring, and hats. The clothes have a certain casual elegance and attentiveness to detail. Be forewarned, I may bust out a top hat this winter.

I hope they open a boutique store in the states.

Tuesday's etsy find

Letters + green + keeping things organized = Holy trifecta of awesomeness.

Check out this etsy find letter organizer and all the other sweet things they have to offer....for me to steal. Just half kidding.

I'm waiting here, waiting for you to come home

Her new album is out today. I'm currently listening to "Waiting" - beautiful track. Makes me think of someone special. Ah, who could that be?

MoMAwesome

Tim Burton's talent (and eccentricity) are beyond measure. The Museum of Modern Art agrees: an exhibition titled "Tim Burton" is on display from November 22 - April 26. The title also allows for some funny instructions on MoMA's webpage: "Members and accompanying guests need not wait to enter Tim Burton." Hehehe.

Check it, he directed his own promo.

Dirty, Dirty

Very cool, very filthy idea:


This poster is a gift that, when the recipient opens, dirties his hands with varnish. When the dirtied hands are rubbed on the poster, it reveals a message. Brrrrilliant!

The Complex of All These

Check out this video. A cool stop photo film about book making.

Random iTunes mix

Oh, how I love to rediscover music in my iTunes library. Thought this was perfect for today's weather. Nothing sappy- just nice and melodic. Love the rolling drums. Obviously I don't know how to write about music. Enjoy.

I cannot embed the video, so click here.

10 inch heels

Ladies, I'm just curious if you'll be able to trot down the streets in Baltimore in 10 inch heels next spring and summer. Alexander McQueen is hoping you can.

Aside from the insane heels, the dresses are beautifully crafted with organic prints that resemble moths. Trendelacreme writes about the uncanny inspiration on their blog.


I recommend spending the next 17'23" of your time to view the show.