Create Your Own Font with FontStruct

by evie s. on May 8th, 2008

If you are feeling creative today and want to tackle creating your own typeface, FontStruct from Fontshop is the place to go.

Fontstruct allows anyone to create and generate a custom designed typeface and then share it with others. Once you’re done building a font, FontStruct generates high-quality TrueType fonts, ready to use in any Mac or Windows application.

You can also browse fonts that have been built using the program. Best of all, it’s free!

Spring Inspired Product Photos

by evie s. on April 30th, 2008

Showcasing products in photos can have many forms. Some opt for simplicity, but many go the route of creating context in their photos and it really pays off when props and styling are beautifully executed. These spring inspired images from Cotton Idea Studio are perfectly arranged and make the products even more enticing.

Companies like Anthropologie and Nantaka Joy do this type of thing very well. What are some of your favorite product photos to look at and be inspired by?

Packaging and Design Inspiration

by evie s. on April 28th, 2008

Following my last posts on packaging and business card inspiration, here are some more great ideas in those categories.

From left to right:

Impact Salon Card Sleeves by Creative Suitcase // Business card design by Jason Tremblay // Beehive Honey Packaging by Little Fury // Freska, facial tissue packaging

Collecting: Children’s Stuff

by evie s. on April 23rd, 2008

This is a collection I’m just beginning, because I’m 12 weeks pregnant with our first child! Ever since discovering this wonderful news, I’ve been keeping my eye out at estate sales for cute vintage kid stuff. With that said, don’t be surprised if I start posting more things that fall into the “baby” category.

From left to right:

Vintage finger puppets (lion and bear) // A Little Elephant vintage book // Things to Color vintage coloring book

Collecting: Globes

by evie s. on April 22nd, 2008

Globes are a pretty common collector’s item. I’ve been collecting various shapes and sizes for about 10 years now. Here are just a few from my collection.

From left to right from top shelf to bottom:

Vintage Seagrams globe // Globe from Bombay Company // Glass globe // Hand-carved wooden globe made by my husband // Second shelf // Plastic globe on stand // Small vintage globe // Large lit globe // Timex clock globe // Third shelf // Vintage globe bookend // Plastic globe by Hammond // Clear glass globe

Collecting: Elephants

by evie s. on April 18th, 2008

I think my love and fascination for elephants started right along with my love and fascination with the country of India. Ever since then, I’ve been collecting them in my travels, and these days, I love snatching up a unique vintage elephant to add to my ever-growing collection. They are by far my favorite animal, and to see them in person is extraordinary.

If you read my last post on Westmoreland glass, you would be interested to know that the elephant bowl in the middle is part of that collection. I saved it for this post since it is so special.

1. wooden hand carved elephant from Cameroon // 2. Carved stone elephant from India // 3. Wooden hand carved elephant from Jamaica // 4. Vintage small metal pillbox // 5. Small hand carved figurine // 6. Metal ornate elephant from India // 7. Small figurine by Monet // 8. vintage green elephant // 9. wooden hand carved elephant from Cameroon // 10. cast iron bank elephant

Collecting: Westmoreland Glass

by evie s. on April 16th, 2008

One of the (many) things I inherited through marriage was my husband’s Westmoreland glass collection. His family collects these beautiful handmade pieces partly for appreciation but mostly because my father-in-law worked in the glass factory years and years ago. Ever since then the family has been adding to the collection little by little with some of the rarest and most beautiful pieces in the company’s production history.

Westmoreland glass was made by the Westmoreland Glass Company of Grapeville, Pennsylvania, from 1890 to 1984. They made clear and colored glass of many varieties, such as milk glass, pressed glass, and slag glass.

Below is a photo of some of the many pieces in our own personal collection.

From left to right:

Blue satin glass candle holder // Green candle lamp // Blue pearlized carnival glass vase // Amber wheel cut candy dish // Charcoal basket vase // Blue satin glass compote

Do any evie s. readers collect Westmoreland glass? If not, is there another specific type of glassware that you find yourself amassing? Please share!

Batucada Jewelry from France

by evie s. on April 14th, 2008

I recently received a package from Ann with Brooklyn 5 and 10. She was so sweet to send me a sample of the Batucada jewelry collection designed in France. The Batucada designs, which include necklaces and bracelets, are inspired by nature and organic shapes. What’s more is that this beautiful product is made from eco-plastic, a material that hugs the skin and is environmentally friendly.

The bracelet I received in the “Hawaii” motif is just lovely. It fits my tiny wrist pretty well too, since it is flexible and adjustable. Thank you Ann!

To purchase, go to the Brooklyn 5 and 10 online store.

Starbucks and Beautiful Art Go Together

by evie s. on April 3rd, 2008

Whether you like them or not, Starbucks is an empire, and they have some of the best graphics and artwork representing their brand. I came across their new website, Starbucks Coffee at Home and was struck by the beautiful chalk-like illustrations of each product.

The main purpose of the site is to introduce Starbuck’s trademark flavors to coffee drinkers at home and to explore all their coffee blends. It is a fun site to wander through and you can even take a 5 question quiz to determine your perfect coffee (mine was the Costa Rica Tarrazu).

A Little Collection of Notebooks

by evie s. on March 20th, 2008

Does anyone collect journals and/or notebooks? I seem to have piles of them laying around and I’m doing my best to try and fill them with thoughts, notes, scripture, etc., but I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to fill them all. Maybe by the time I’m 100 years old! Oh well, it doesn’t stop me from still wanting a few more…you know, to add to the collection.

Here are some of my favs from left to right:

Butterfly Drift from Elum Designs // Travel Journal from Paper+Cup // Tall Grass Notebook from Snow & Graham // Amelie Journal from Delphine