Tara had survived the hell of upheaval and change.

I've been yelled at by multiple individuals. They've begged, pleaded and placated. There have been a number of personal interventions and pep talks on my part. Maybe some threats and ultimatums. All of which amounts to one thing. I'm baaaackk. To blogging that is.

Held hostage by daisy dukes and cowboy boots during a brief hiatus working in a bar during Stampede week. Absconded to Vancouver to apartment hunt. Wrestled 20 years of Calgary life into one moving van and dropped myself smack dab in the middle of a major city that I hardly know at all. Unpacked, settled in, got my bearings. Dealt with the set back of a broken computer. Turned another year older. Broke a couple hearts along the way. Picked up some freelance work and found a part-time bartending job. I blinked and now it's suddenly halfway through October. Yeesh. This was all on the heels of up and deciding to quit my full time, salaried (read: safe) design gig in a bid to do that ultimate artistic thing – go in search of my dreams. Or in this case my dream job, among others.

Some say big risks reap big rewards. Upheaval? Change? It ain't no thang.

So now my portfolio is very nearly updated and refreshed. And I mean that literally, not in the way I've been saying it for the last six months. To prove it I'm posting a sneak peak at one of my most personally beloved projects a book entitled Heartsong, on the Scottish Highland Games and the tradition in Canada which I wrote, edited and designed in my grad year. Seeing as I was operating on vats of tea and maybe a three hours of sleep in a week at best in those last weeks of my degree it was pretty cobbled together at the time. It's been immensely pleasurable and rewarding to have some time to rework some of it into full potential.

Ok so change is stressful and hard as well as exciting. I think 'coping' is more accurate for how I'm dealing right now. I'm definitely missing a 9 to 5 schedule. Shh. Don't tell my parents I said that.

But hey here we go! Game on Vancouver!

Oh my gawd.

I need to post. And I will. Soon!! I promise.


As in probs tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Specs Appeal

Alright. I have a thing for figure drawings. I just do.

So much so in fact, that one day several months ago while efficiently utilizing our time at work, Sasha and I discovered and fell in love with a female semi-nude men's graphic tee from Urban Outfitters. 
We promptly ordered two.

Yes, we both now wear a man's shirt with a nude woman on it. Not that there's anything wrong with that. We bought it because we loved the artwork, so in a way it's supporting the arts, right?

Urban Outfitters Men's Tee feat. Ruthie - Kelly Thompson

Luckily we can cease referring to her as our 'naked lady/crotch shot shirt' somewhat like a horrible boy from a one night stand. She has a name. She's a person dammit. Real or imagined – and Ruthie . . . we love you! This mystery was solved recently as in my perusing of the interwebz I randomly (fatalistically?) came across Kelly Thompson's geek girls from her 2009 show Bookworms Never Go To Bed Alone.

Kelly Thompson, Annie 2009. Mixed media, giclée print, 69 cm x 60 cm, edition of 10.

Kelly Thompson, Maggie 2009. Mixed media, giclée print, 61 cm x 45 cm, edition of 10.

Kelly Thompson, Mary 2009. Mixed media, giclée print, 77 cm x 60 cm, edition of 10.

As soon as I saw her illustration work I sent Sasha an email wondering if it was the same artist and as it turned out it was. Kelly Thompson is a very talented illustrator and fashion photographer living and working it Australia. "Nonchalantly sexy" her bio touts. I'd buy that.

Check out more of her work here:
http://www.kellythompson.co.nz/
http://www.karenmag.com/2009/07/kelly-thompson%E2%80%99s-geek-girls/

"Geek girls are hot because there’s nothing sexier than brains." So true. Hip hip hooray!!

Cheers!

Summa time!

You guessed it folks. Slurpee season. Oh hells ya.

Today it finally hit a reasonable Calgary summer temperature at 25°C. But no! It's a Wednesday. Ok, ok, it's 'No Pants Wednesday' to be precise (props Nicole!), after all we're all friends here and it IS gloriously toasty outside. Alas, we're trapped in the office. Sad face. On top of that I have one last day here at my current full-time design job until the preliminary round of my grand change of scene/career building adventure in Vancouver commences. So I'm crazy restless and maybe a wee bit rebellious feeling.

Cue the continuation of lunch time Slurpee Tailgate Parties™. My lovely friend Nicole & I went three times last week. Three. There is no such thing as Slurpee shame peeps. There just isn't. 

Risking life and limb on the mean streets of Calgary, which today was apparently akin to a full-on contact sport with the maniacs out on the road, we roped Oli into the adventure and made our way to 7-11 in Ramsey. Some might say it's the worst Sev in the city. Some might say it's the best. You be the judge. (We were . . .) I know we likely shaved 7 years off our lives just getting there. Eek.

We loaded up and buckled down, neon blue cups in hand on the tailgate of my little Mazda truck. Perfect positioning to judge, uh I mean watch the prime specimens that frequent the area and catch some rays. Cheers to free and endless entertainment.

The best thing about this trip was that it made the three of us, shoved into my tiny little 3 seat cab, sucking back cups of sugary coolness, and rocking out feel like we were cutting class from high school. Cause that's what the cool kids do, right? Wait, wait, I don't mean that. Stay in school kids.

Admittedly it was a mini-rebellion, we did go back to work as we are in fact responsible adults. But it was fun, fun, fun while it lasted. And I quote, "what's not classy about sitting in Ramsey on the back of a truck?"

What indeed? All those in favour of Slurpees say 'Aye'!

Summer fun continues, quality time shopping with my Mama and she's driving the Beamer. Gots to go! And on that note just some beats to get you into the Slurpee/summer spirit of things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SZGW-6AF3A

<3

Happy Sunday.

Sometimes I feel quite the opposite. But nonetheless it's letterpressed so it must be true.

Happy Sunday everyone!

In Which I Gush About Oli

Q: What do you get when you cross a hate-on for cheese, a penchant for Heavy Metal, the talent of playing some mean air drums and a Belgian immigrant with a wicked tattoo sleeve?
A: My good friend and colleague Olivier Du Tré. Yeah. That guy.

Oli has the supreme honour of sharing cubicle space with me which has caused us to dub it "the cool side." I'd say we're both pretty lucky.

I told him just recently that I would have to blog about him sometime soon and he promptly and unsurprisingly gave me a excellent opportunity to do it. In addition to all his ultra hip and cool qualities he's also got some mad photography skills. Skillz.

Six months ago in the dead of an Alberta winter Oli went about scouting locations and setting up 10 pin-hole camera's between his home in Cochrane and Ghost Lake. There wasn't a Christmas tin in sight that was safe from his clutches. I totally forgot about them until early this week. That is until he was heading out one night grumbling and sweating with nerves. WTF? Well, I was informed that he was finally off to take them down and see how they turned out. And since I've seldom met anyone as passionate about their work as our Oli, I told him he better not fail.

He didn't and the results as you will see are amazing, beautiful, interesting and super inspiring. But then I never had any doubts.

Now then, I won't hold you in suspense any longer. Feast your eyes on these little pin-hole beauties!

He's now stocked up with a multitude of Starbucks TAZO tea tins from the deepest, darkest, depths of my desk for the next round. It was almost like Christmas time again, he was that excited about them. Apparently they're the perfect size. I think this should mean one of the next pinhole shots should be mine by rights.

Oli's got this quiet and genuine demeanor he disguises behind inventive curses and angry desk slams when Photoshop crashes. Seriously, don't bat an eye. (You can't hide those lyin' eyes Oli. I know the truth!) In the way of good-natured ribbing we affectionately refer to him as 'waffle' from time to time. Poor lad. It IS with affection though. I'm completely in earnest when I say that I'm constantly in awe of his talent and count myself lucky to have had the opportunity to work with him and more so to become pals.

Check out his other spectacular work on his website. He's also got a whole personal entry on these shots and the process on his blog as well. Fascinating little read.
http://www.olivierdutre.com/
http://odutrephotography.blogspot.com/


Gushing/

Pattern Pulp

Oh no!! As if I don't already spend crazy amount of my not unlimited time on the interwebz! Yesterday I discovered a new website – www.patternpulp.com – and now it's this weeks new favorite thang/time vacuum/infatuation . . .
Right. On the list.

It's alright. I'mma be ok. This little gem started by New York based designer Shayna Kulik is a creative platform with the goal of understanding how physical and digital forums embrace decorative repetition. Cool I say! I've recently had a growing and slightly crazy fascination with pattern. This is a bad (but gooood) combination as I may or may not have a retail therapy problem. Pattern. Clothes. Eek.

Contributors track and discuss pattern evolutions for the fashion, lifestyle and trend industries. There's a ton to look at and absorb and it's all just so Pretty. This my friends, is right up my proverbial alley. And maybe yours too.

Go play & have fun!
www.patternpulp.com
http://shaynakulik.com/

Small selection of some of my faves so far below. ALSO tomorrow's post is going to be spectacular! Just you wait. Be excited. I am.

Damian Foxe feature

Fashion Win

Four illustrations for the UK's Daily Telegraph Fashion supplement by UK Illustrator Tom Bagshaw. Featuring full page and three spot editorial works focusing on letters of the alphabet relating to specific items of clothing. Not sure where the letters come in but I likie! Especially the first one. I for one would also kill for that leather bomber.

 

More of his work here: 

http://www.behance.net/tombagshaw/frame

 

 

 

 

Pause + Reflect

I am not the worlds largest fan of doing my banking. Largely because that would involve math.
Math. Ick.

These gems from designer Emma Cook are causing me to strongly reconsider. More so if I happened to live in Johannesburg, where they will be adorning the walls of the new ABSA Towers (South Africa's largest consumer bank). The typography is lovely and the sentiments behind the sayings distinctly non bank-like. I also love the geometric patterns, which ok fine is math related. I'd be sold if I lived there.


Pausing and reflecting.

Original Source: http://www.typographyserved.com/gallery/ABSA-Walls/1415595#comments

Tough Cookie: Samantha Savage Smith

I have to talk about local Calgary singer/songwriter Samantha Savage Smith. Right. This. Instant.

I'm working as we speak on my portfolio in a trendy coffee spot and listening to her while it pours rain out once again. Melodramatic & pretentious. Fun times – and the complete opposite of her music. Truth is this mega talented lady is one of those items on my backlog list that I've wanted to post for a while. So here she is.

Brought to my attention through a one-time friend (who at the very least had excellent music taste) of my friend Sasha, I fell instantly in love with her album. Starting with the art when the cover landed in my hands and moving right on to the lyrics and musicality of the entire disc. Open, honest and undeniably relatable. Bonus points for Sam working at one of our favorite adult beverage hangouts, which would makes her seriously awesome by association, if she wasn't already.

http://www.myspace.com/samanthasavage

Boo crappy image quality!  I'll have to actually scan the amazing cover illustration when I'm home. 
Words will only say so much in this instance. Make a trip to her MySpace page and prepare to be blown away. This is a girl who is going places, so keep an eye out.

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

Yeah. Highland nerd. I said it.

For anyone who doesn't know, I grew up Highland Dancing and am still actively doing it. My brother is a bagpiper. Our last name is MacDonald (Clan Ranald, woot!) My father is from Antigonish 'the Highland Heart of Nova Scotia,' where I spent a few of my formative years. Escaping the influence of mother Scotland was pretty much unavoidable. We love it.

Imagine my elation when I received an email today from my all time favorite store Anthropologie promoting their online gallery. (I frequent this regardless.) The Anthropologist just so happened to be featuring this photo journalistic tribute to Scotland by famed photographer David Eustace. Coincidence? Oh nooo, I don't think so.

So I found myself doing a little happy dance at my desk today, hence the double posting. Simply breath taking. Please, please follow the link to see the whole photo-documentary in it's entirety. It's worth it just for the captures, but even better to see them laid out and accompanied by the captions.

http://theanthropologist.net/?cm_mmc=Email-_-Anthro_11-_-061411JuneCANNews-_-gist#/HighlandHeart

This project just makes my hands itchy. Fancy pants camera & hiking boots. Check. Plane ticket & time? 
Le sigh. I'll see you again next summer fo sho Scotland. xo

Peruse the rest of the gallery for more awesome stuff. Anthro also has a Tumblr site called Etymologie for further inspiring content. 
I swear one of my besties Sasha and I would move into one of their stores if we could.
http://anthropologie.tumblr.com/?cm_mmc=Email-_-Anthro_11-_-061411JuneCANNews-_-tumblr2