kelp designs :: peddling papers

Giving Back: Project Angel Food's Divine Design

2009-12-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

In an effort to give back, Kelp Designs has donated 1000 packs of folded note cards to Project Angel Food's 'Divine Design' sample sale, taking place in Los Angeles this weekend (Dec 3 - 7). 100% of proceeds from the sale directly benefit Project Angel Food's mission to feed men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

We're excited to be a part of such a special event and in the company of such amazing designers (you can find us under 'Mini Boutique', between Kate Spade and Kenneth Cole!) . If you're in LA, I encourage you to stop by Beverly Hills. Amazing deals and a great cause.

Lisa Rupp 2010 Calendar Give-away

2009-11-03T08:12:00.000-08:00

You may remember Lisa Rupp and her adorable free downloadable wall calendars. Well, she's at it again! Lisa has posted a give-away on her blog, for a 2010 wall calendar (also available for purchase in her etsy store). Love the circus train wall calendar -- would be a great addition to our nursery!

Head over to her blog and leave a comment to enter the give-away!

P.S. her November '09 calendar is also available for download -- click here.

Psst... we're over on The Social Life of Paper today (with a giveaway!)

2009-10-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to PJ at The Social Life of Paper for featuring us on her lovely blog today. We're doing a give-away for all of her readers (and ours) -- free set of note cards from my shop (winner's choice on style). Head on over to read the interview and post a comment to enter the give-away!

and the thank you notes go to...

2009-10-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

And, the winner of our folded thank you note give-away is K.Tsai (comment number 4). Congrats, Kim! Keep an eye on your mailbox, a pack of blue color block thank yous are on the way :)

Thanks everyone for entering!

Give-away: Folded Thank You Notes

2009-10-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

So... I realized I failed to tell you about some of the new designs that we launched at the National Stationery Show! In addition to our flat notes, we now have a variety of folded notes -- thank yous, happy birthday, congratulations, howdy.... lots of options, yay!

Below are some of the 'thank yous' that are available online through our etsy store as well as at the following retailers: Arts & Letters (Santa Monica, CA) and O' So Inviting (Yardley, PA).

To enter the give-away contest, leave a comment telling us which of the four designs below is your favorite and why. The contest is open until 11:59pm PT on Sunday, October 11th. One winner will be picked by random.org and announced on Monday, October 12th. Winner will receive a free pack of their favorite thank you notes! Good luck!

DIY: Custom Wrapped Soap

2009-10-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

When I stumbled upon the freebie placecards from Creature Comforts, I also discovered that she has a pretty extensive archive of DIY projects. This one was actually written a couple of years ago for mother's day, but as she states, there are many uses for dressed-up soap bars. I'm thinking about including a few in a gift basket for a friend. What will you use them for?

Check out the step by step instructions here.

Pantone's Spring 2010 Fashion Color Report

2009-10-02T20:37:00.000-07:00

Last month, Pantone released their Spring 2010 fashion color report in conjunction with New York's fashion week. Not only is the report chalked full of fun, sunny colors that we can all look forward to this spring, but it also provides some interesting insight as to how designers and retailers are responding to consumer consciousness in a down economy.

Interesting read and beautiful colors. Can't wait to start playing with some of these new shades in new designs!

Featured on Perideau Designs's Blog Today!

2009-06-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to meet my twitter pal and fellow stationery designer, Bridgett of Perideau Designs in person at the National Stationery Show this May and she asked me if I'd be willing to recap my experience as a first time NSS exhibitor. Head to her blog to read the interview!

Etsy Round-up: Sketch Books

2009-06-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

I've always got a notebook of some sort in my bag becuase you never know when you'll need to jot something down. Check out these fun sketchbooks on etsy:

Overgrowth sketchbook by slidesideways

Pocket Notebook - Three Pack from theblackapple

Cahier Journal - Green Apples from RagnazIdnar

Colors: PMS / Paper Source / Waste Not Paper

2009-06-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

When I was prepping for my wedding last year, I was a frequent visitor of my local Paper Source stores (the retail side of Waste Not Paper) to check out paper options and colors for my invitations. The variety and paper quality at WNP/Paper Source is hard to beat; and the color pallete of their solid papers is stunning.

I use their paper and envelopes for all Kelp Design creations, and wanted to share a list of Pantone colors that coordinate with the Paper Source palette. This list was compiled through a variety of sources including an email from our friends at Paper Source. It should also be noted that WNP/Paper Source papers do not have an exact PMS matches since their colors are custom, not digitally produced, but these are suggested numbers for their PS collection.

Chartreuse: 610U or 611U
Chocolate: 476U
Curry: 7405U
Grape: 273U
Lake: 7459U or 7468U,
Moss: 582U
Night: 289U
Papaya: 171U
Plum: 523U
Poppy: 150U
Pool: 7464U,
Red: 200U
Strawberry: 191U
Violet: 270U

Hope this helps, and if you have other colors to add to the list, let me know!

Calling-Cards featured in Etsy Treasury

2009-06-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to primsbyandrea for including our Green Retro calling cards in her treasury today! Check it out here.

NSS: RiverDog Prints Mentioned Us in her NSS coverage!

2009-05-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

We're over here today... RiverDog Prints included us in her national stationery show recap! She was super sweet and so encouraging. She's gearing up to exhibit at nss next year and I hope to see her there!

NSS Day 1: Twitter-tastic!

2009-05-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

Day 1 at the National Stationery Show was all about the twitter connections! On top of meeting a number of amazing retailers, I had a fabulous time meeting my fellow stationery twitter pals including @crowandcanary, @pjinomaha, @substudio (booth #1933), @RiverDogPrints, @tiselle (booth #2063) and @perideaudesigns.

Also, @crowandcanary and @owensays have put together a handy directory of NSS exhibitors that are on twitter -- you can check it out here.

p.s. we have some great nss neighbors -- a few veterans and a bunch of newbies like us, first time exhibiting and several brand new companies with different styles and products. Love the energy!

NSS Set-Up: Booth #2070, Take 2

2009-05-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Sadly, our original booth design/shelving was unable to be used at the last minute. However, one cab ride to Ikea later we had a back-up plan in place and I'm really happy with the way the booth turned out:

We've had a lot of comments from visitors about how the exhibit space has clean lines and a 'zen' feeling that mirrors our cards! The metal shelving had its advantages too -- we were able to showcase the promo magnets that I handed out. And, they've been so popular that I think we're going to package them to sell as gifts with the cards.

oh my!

2009-05-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Almost a month? Shame on me for not posting sooner. Was tied up with National Stationery Show prep.... and am excited to say that the show is finally here! Me and the hubby hopped a red eye from LA to NYC last night and headed straight to Javitz this morning to begin set up. With the added help of my lovely mom & sister we're just about done. I promise to post pictures of our set up soon and of course nss coverage of our friends and neighbors. Wish us luck!

Freebie: Placecards or Treat Toppers from Creature Comforts

2009-04-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

Ez over at Creature Comforts shared a new freebie yesterday -- printable seating cards and/or treat bag toppers. Each sheet contains six cards, three in each design. Visit her blog to download the .pdf and gather other ideas for these tags!

[image from creature comforts]

Etsy Round-up: Wedding Invites

2009-04-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

Love the colors on these.... what fun wedding invites!

Top to Bottom:
Blossom 2, Letterpress by DingbatPress
All Laced Up by decadentdesigns
Patchwork Wedding Invitation by PostInvitations
Invite No. 12 by upup

New Stuff: Calling-cards

2009-04-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

I got a little calling card-happy while working on the new branding and business cards for kelp designs (more about that later...). While my new cards are the standard size (2x3.5), I had a ton of fun designing these 2x2 mini cards for my etsy shop. The four styles below were listed last night. Would love to hear what you think. Are you a fan of the regular sized cards (2x3.5) or the mini's?

National Stationery Show : The Booth

2009-04-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

I spent last weekend in the windy city visiting my architect-to-be sister and working on my exhibit booth for the National Stationery Show. I probably don't tell her this often enough, but she has some serious talent and I'm so excited about what she's put together for Kelp Designs' exhibit booth.

While I don't want to reveal too much until the show, I will say that the booth encompasses all that I want my little company and products to be -- environmentally-friendly, streamlined, yet interesting and unique. I promise to post pictures from the show so you can see the booth in all it's glory. Until then.... lets just say, everything in the booth was chosen because of its 'green' factor and it is highly unlikely that you'll see anything else like it at the show. I can't wait :)

Featured on L7Designs Today!

2009-04-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to Carrie at L7Designs for featuring Kelp Designs in her Etsy Spotlight of the week! Go check it out...

DIY: Gift Bags

2009-03-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

Jessica Jones over at How about Orange came up with a very creative way to transform envelopes into gift bags. Her step-by-step tutorial can be found here.

This is brilliant! I love that you can run the envelopes through the printer to customize them, before converting to bags. Jessica provides some free templates for the A2 and 6x9 envelopes with the tutorial, or you can make your own.

Freebie: Mini File Folders from WhiskerGraphics

2009-03-30T23:17:00.001-07:00

Earlier this month, WhiskerGraphics offered up a free .pdf template for mini file folders that are very cute, and surprisingly useful. See what other folks are using them for here and here.

For more downloadable mini file folders in other styles, check out WhiskerGraphics etsy store.

I'm planning to use them to help sort my photos and also my ideas for the national stationery show. What will you use them for?

Owen Says Blogging about NSS and including me!

2009-03-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Erts over at Owen Says compiled a list of tweets about the National Stationery Show and included one of my tweets! It is interesting to see where everyone is in the planning process, thinking about shipping options, booth give-aways (me!), booth designs (me, next weekend!) and pr/marketing opps. There's a hash tag for the show if you're interested in listening in or joining the conversation -- #nss. And, thanks Jennifer for including me! Follow her @owensays.

Etsy Round-up: Gift Tags

2009-03-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

Spent the evening admiring these lovely gift tags on etsy:

Personalized Giraffe Favor Tags by Perideau Designs

Traveling Soul Tags by IamBlessed

Spring Tags by jellybeans

Little Red Riding Hood Tags by CrowandIris

Little Bird Tags by deejann

Reminder: Postage Hike

2009-03-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Attention Brides! Just a friendly reminder that postage rates are scheduled to go up on May 11th from $.42 to $.44 for one ounce. New stamps won't be on sale until May 11th, which leaves a tricky situation for those ever so important RSVP/reply cards.

USPS has a variety of options, but your best bet may be the forever stamp. It costs $.42, and will always be valid for first-class mail regardless of future postage hikes.

The increase is affecting other postage rates too, please visit USPS for more information.

DIY: Wine Labels in Illustrator

2009-03-23T11:06:00.001-07:00

I stumbled across this great wine bottle design tutorial on worldlabels.com over the weekend, and it had my mind swirling with ideas:

- Wedding favors or at the bar

- Table numbers for dinner parties

- Corporate events

- Wine tasting party

- Hostess gifts

- Girls night-in

- Birthday or holiday gifts

The tutorial is easy to follow, providing step-by-step instructions and resources to get the project started. For color palette ideas, don't forget about ColourLovers. And, istockphoto.com has tons of options for background designs and patterns.

How have you used custom wine labels?

Biz Talk: Twitter Benefits

2009-03-22T00:18:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, one of my LinkedIn groups had an interesting discussion about the pros and cons of twittering for businesses. Andrew Ballenthin culled through the 120+ comments and compiled a list of the top themes, which I've included below and are available on his blog. While a lot of companies are struggling to understand what twitter is and how they can utilize it to build business, more than 80% of commentors agreed that twitter presents a lot of opportunities.

Here's how companies have benefited from twitter:

1. Build relationships with people they would have not met before
2. Exposure to lots of new business thoughts, technical ideas & leadership styles
3. Finding new clients by commenting back on others’ tweets
4. Access to thinkers and doer’s one wouldn’t normally interact with
5. Can follow businesses you want the latest updates from with less effort
6. Clients have asked for accounts to be opened so they can get regular updates
7. Can assist Google rankings, sometimes it gets first page results
8. Can assist in getting real questions answered real time during the day
9. Been a great way to gain interactive access with new clients by following their tweets
10. Received access to publicity: radio, TV, press, speaking engagements
11. Allows leaders to connect to followers on a personal level
12. Without being pushy, it can generate buzz/talk about your company
13. Great for bringing traffic to your site if you offer truly valuable information & links
14. Provides a premier marketing tool when used correctly
15. Can be a great resource for getting push information versus searching the web
16. Can act as a news wire for journalist who are looking for story content
17. Can save time by getting the latest news without having to go search for it
18. Enables expansion of your database by removing budget or geography barriers
19. It can increase your market reach if you actively promote your presence on twitter
20. A great way to showcase your expertise & differentiate from competition.

Great list! How are you using twitter? What would you add to this list?

Feedback Please: Photos

2009-03-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

I can't decide if I like the way these photos turned out?! In person, the contrast between the iceplant, flowers and cards looked sharp and I liked the texture. I'm not sure it translated well in the photos though. What do you think?

National Stationery Show : Pre-show

2009-03-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

Yikes, has it really been two weeks since I last posted?!? Sorry folks. As you may know from my profile, the National Stationery Show is coming up in May and Kelp Designs will be making its debut this year (Booth #2070)!! I've been a busy bee preparing for the show -- working on pre-show marketing opps as well as prepping my papers :)

Anyone else going? What booth are you in? Would love to hear about what you're doing to prepare! My to-do list seems to be growing by the minute, although I'm enjoying it :)

Design Tutorials: Illustrator

2009-03-05T18:24:00.000-08:00

Lots of design resources out there on the world wide web... SpoonGraphics recently compiled a list of '50 illustrator tutorials that every designer should see'. Some good stuff here if you're interested in stretching your Illustrator wings -- tracing vectors, blending options, creating logos, how to make a map in illustrator, among others. Any others you would add to the list?

Pantone's Fall 2009 Fashion Color Report

2009-03-04T23:03:00.000-08:00

Pantone's Fashion Color Report for Fall 2009 came out a couple of weeks ago and is available for download free on their website. I was excited to see the warm autumn hues that are in store for the fall and enjoyed reading about the designer's inspiration.

According to the report, the top 10 fall '09 colors for women are:

PANTONE 19-1759 American Beauty
PANTONE 18-3520 Purple Heart
PANTONE 16-1143 Honey Yellow
PANTONE 18-1306 Iron
PANTONE 13-1006 Crème Brûlée
PANTONE 16-1212 Nomad
PANTONE 17-1544 Burnt Sienna
PANTONE 17-1929 Rapture Rose
PANTONE 15-0646 Warm Olive
PANTONE 19-4125 Majolica Blue

In terms of clothes, I can see myself heading towards the majolica blue. For my design work, Iron, Nomad and Burnt Sienna are some of my new favorites. Look for them in upcoming designs :) Which are your favorites?

Biz Talk: Pricing Design Services

2009-03-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

One of the toughest challenges as an independent designer is figuring out how to price your products and services. Jacob Cass of Just Creative Design tackles this age-old debate, offering a variety of resources and solutions, in his article "How much to charge for design work". Worth the time to read... enjoy!

Freebie: PoppyTalk Labels

2009-02-27T14:02:00.001-08:00

Earlier this week, PoppyTalk offered up these lovely labels for download. Print on label paper, cut, then stick as you will. Great for file folders, mailing labels or as a book plate. Have fun!

Etsy Round-up: Calling Cards

2009-02-26T17:14:00.000-08:00

I've been toying with the idea of adding calling cards to my etsy store for a while now, and plan to have some posted shortly -- stay tuned! In the meantime, check out some of the calling cards currently available on etsy.

Red Poppies card by MichelleBrusega ard
Rebecca Carlotta card by paperandink
Charlotte Mason card by notpourri
Catherine Calling card by PetitePapier

Freebie: Lisa Rupp Calendar

2009-02-26T10:17:00.000-08:00

Everywhere I turn, it seems that Lisa Rupp's designs are popping up (Thanks DesignSponge and Design Evolution for the introduction to her work!). This talented designer has a portfolio overflowing with colorful floral patterns that are stunning.

I was even more thrilled to find out about Lisa's monthly freebie! She offers a free 8"x10" downloadable calendar each month (through Lisa's blog or via her Flickr page) Love it!

Download the March calendar here

February is also available here.

Trade it, buy it or sell it: 12 Too Many

2009-02-25T21:20:00.000-08:00

Hey Party People! Great new resource for all the hostesses out there -- 12 Too Many is essentially a craigslist specifically for vases, table runners and all of your party planning needs. Trade it, buy it, or sell it.... this is the place to start.

Similar to CL, all listings are free and will stay live on the site for 2 weeks. 12 Too Many also provides for 'featured' listings for $15-- which puts you on the left sidebar for 2 months, increasing visibility. Buyers & sellers are responsible for making the exchange themselves.

The site is still growing, so while they cater to all 50 states in the US, don't fret if you don't see your city listed. Shoot them an email or post a product to put your city on the map :)

Happy hunting!

This or That: New Colors for Diamond Design

2009-02-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a custom project -- wedding thank you notes, where the wedding colors are navy blue, light blue, white and fushia. They asked me to incorporate these colors into the Green Diamond pattern. Which fushia accent do you prefer?

1. 2.

Biz Talk: Weathering the Economic Storm

2009-02-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

While I prefer to focus on the sunny side of life on this blog, it is hard to ignore what is happening with the economy right now. It seems like we're still not through the thick of it, and it is incredible how the recession has hit all industries. Scary, really!

In speaking with friends this weekend, we agreed that even in chaotic times there are opportunities for success. It is about being smart, minimizing risk and positioning yourself and your business to weather the storm. Below are some practical ideas that we're applying in our personal and business lives:

Be Smart & Make Good Decisions -- Now is not the time to upgrade your cell phone or buy a new car. Be smart about how you spend your money, personally and for your business. In addition, be conservative when taking on new projects or launching new products. Minimize risk as best you can, but don't be afraid to keep moving forward.

Focus on Core Business -- Whether you're an employee or an entrepreneur, now is the time to focus. Know your industry and continue to develop relationships with colleagues, clients and peers. Continue to provide top-notch customer service. Do your best to position yourself as an expert or thought leader within your industry.

Keep Moving Forward -- There are opportunities in a down market, it is just a matter of identifying and pursuing them in a smart way. Even on a shoe-string budget, it is possible to ramp up marketing efforts. Use tools like twitter, blogs and other social networking sites to gain exposure and enhance your brand.

Where are you focusing your business efforts? Do you think there are opportunities in a down-turn? Are you making changes, personally or professionally?

Design Tutorials: Photoshop

2009-02-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

David Pierce at makeuseof.com recently published '10 websites to make you a photoshop ninja'. He claims these tutorials will 'get you photoshopping like a champion' :) The quick list is below, but check out his screenshots and description for each of the tutorials here.

1. You Suck at Photoshop
2. Tutorial9
3. PSDTUTS
4. Good-Tutorials
5. The Photoshop Lady
6. Photoshop Tutorials
7. Luxa
8. Photoshop Contest
9. PSHero
10. PSDTop

Etsy Round-up: Buttons

2009-02-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

Buttons are popping up everywhere. Who doesn't love their flare?! Look at these fun finds on etsy:

Animals by steppie
Cupcakes by Barrell of Monkeys
Polaroid by Minor Thread
Apples by StudioMIKMIK

Dancin!

2009-02-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

Sorry for being MIA .... the day job has had me traveling. Promise to have some new stuff up soon! In the meantime, check out this guy's smooth moves -- 100 days, 100 dances in 100 different spots... hilarious!

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

DIY: Valentine's Day Crafts

2009-02-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

Sending out baked treats this Valentine's Day? Dress up your packages with this sweet, diy idea from twig & thistle. Easy way to personalize your homemade goodies!

Freebie: Little Brown Pen printable notes

2009-02-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

Freebie Alert! One of my favorite etsy shops, Little Brown Pen is offering a free downloadable, print-at-home set through Real Living Magazine. The stationery set includes gift tags, flat notes and folded notes featuring an adorable pinwheel design, all laid out on 8.5 x 11 sheets for easy at-home printing.

p.s. A couple more freebies at Little Brown Pen's Blog -- check the left column

p.p.s. All about the printable stationery right now. Love it.

Love out of the Blue: Katie Blair Designs

2009-02-03T16:30:00.000-08:00

Interestingly enough, I first learned about Katie Blair Designs through twitter (follow her here:@katieblair). She recently twitted about her line of mini-notebooks, and I was immediately drawn in. They are adorable, and come in a variety of colors and designs.

She handcrafts these puppies herself, down to the wire binding and lined paper. Each illustration is printed using a Gocco - Japanese tabletop screenprinter.

When ideas strike, you need a place to jot it all down!

This or That: Blue or Green Retro?

2009-02-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

Another installment of 'This or That'. Which color combination do you like better? Blue or Green Retro? Vote in the comments, please. Groovy, thanks.

Pistachio Press

2009-02-02T23:00:00.001-08:00

Simple. Sweet. Lovely. Letterpress cards from Pistachio Press.

Biz Talk: Customer Service

2009-02-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

A couple of days ago, CNNmoney.com reported that the US Postal Service may be cutting back delivery service to 5 days a week due to the 'economic downturn'. When I heard about this, two things crossed my mind:

1. My husband might freak out (he strategically plans his Netflix schedule.)

2. How will this affect my business?

Fewer days means slower delivery and longer wait times for my customers. This, on top of recent postage hikes for expedited & international mail options, presents new challenges for small businesses.

In times like these, it is important to connect with customers and continue to provide top-notch customer service from beginning until the end of a transaction. Below are some ways that I am enhancing customer service & communication with buyers. Some may seem obvious, but I sometimes find that the obvious is the easiest to overlook:

Acknowledge the sale. Email the customer the same day they place the order. Thank them for their business and confirm any details of the order.
Manage expectations. Explain the production process and specify all time lines. Be sure to note any irregularities/delays up front, so that the customer knows what to expect.
Communicate regularly. If necessary, provide updates throughout the design/production process. For custom designs, listen to the customer and understand their needs. Ask questions of clarification, but spend most of the time listening.
Be timely. Meet deadlines and be diligent about mailing packages out quickly.
Focus on details. Produce high quality products. Add a handwritten note with your shipment. Remember that packaging and shipping materials are an extension of your brand, pay attention to them.
Follow-up. Once the product has shipped, let the customer know the package is on the way. If appropriate, ask for feedback on ways to improve products & services. And, most importantly, thank them again for their business.

What would you add to this list? What are you doing that customers respond well to?

Sweet Treats: Printable Valentine's Recipe Cards

2009-02-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

Valentine's day is quickly approaching folks. And, as one would expect, etsy is overflowing with great gift ideas. One shop in particular caught my attention -- Whimsy & Spice.

While their baked g oodies made me drool, I really fell in love with Whimsy & Spice's printable Valentine's Day Recipe Cards (you know me and my paper...). I love this idea. For a few bucks, you can print and assemble thoughtful gifts for all of your loved ones. The Valentine's Day packet includes delectable recipes for ginger sugar cookies, spiced hot chocolate and chocolate mousse. yum.

What do you send for valentine's day? flowers? candy? love notes?

This or That: Blue or Green Kaleidoscope?

2009-01-30T17:53:00.000-08:00

If you had to choose, and I know it's tough, which kaleidoscope colors do you like best? Blue or Green? Vote in the comments!

Mimosa: Pantone's color of the year

2009-01-30T12:12:00.000-08:00

A little late to the party here, but wanted to share Pantone's choice for Color of the Year for 2009.... Mimosa.

I've seen this color popping up everywhere lately, from wedding invites to clothing, in paint colors and blog designs. I'm quite smitten. Pantone describes the color as an 'engaging yellow... that expresses hope and reassurance'. It sure makes me feel warm & fuzzy when I see it. How about you? Have you added mimosa to your upcoming projects?

p.s. Pantone's fashion color report for Spring '09 can be found here... I like the dark citron, big surprise, huh :)

Fonts: Most Commonly Used

2009-01-29T09:46:00.000-08:00

The nice people over at ishift put together a great list of 22 most commonly used fonts by professional designers. And, did I mention... most, if not all, fonts are free! woot!

Here's the quick roundup and screenshots of two of my faves:

- Delicious
- Gentium
- Tallys
- Lido STF
- Mg Open
- Cardo
- Day Roman
- Yanone Kaffeesatz
- Union
- Fontin Family
- Fertigo
- Droid
- M+ Outline
- Luxi
- Ambrosia
- Lacuna
- Liberation
- Advent Pro
- ATF Antique
- Mank Sans
- Diavlo
- Cicle

Check out ishift for more screenshots and links. What fonts would you add to the list?

Love me some colour

2009-01-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd kick off this blog by spreading the word about one of my favorite design tools / toys -- ColourLovers!

For those that haven't stumbled across this gem yet, you're in for a treat. Colourlovers lets everyday people like you & me compile and post our favorite colors, palettes and patterns. You can search thousands of colors, shades and hues and then see how they match up in a complete palette. It's magic.

Even better, ColourLovers allows you to download these palletes in a variety of formats --

ASE - can be used in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, CS2 and CS3
PS - a Photoshop Swatches File
AI - Adobe Illustrator file (opens a new IA doc with the palette in the swatches panel)
CS - Color Scheme Studio palette
HTML - downloads a HTML page with the colors specified as RGB and Hex values with an internal CSS stylesheet.
ZIP - downloads a zip file with all of the above, except the Adobe Swatch Exchange (ASE) file

Endless of hours of fun, this site, and endless uses. What types of projects do you use ColourLovers for? Which are your favorite palettes? Share, please!

Credit: Above 'Itsy Bitsy' pallette submitted on ColourLovers by wingedvictory