WRKDesigns

WRKDesigns is now on Wordpress

2010-09-29T21:46:00.004-04:00

I know I keep jumping from blog to blog, but I've found that Wordpress works better for my needs at this time.

So...I will now be posting exclusively on: www.wrkdesigns.wordpress.com

You can also follow me on Twitter: WRKDesigns

Inspiration | Skeleton Keys

2010-09-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

I love skeleton keys, always have. I guess it's the fact that they aren't in use anymore that makes them oh so appealing. Not to mention the detailing, their weight, and just all round uniqueness.

I know every key is different, but modern keys just don't have that old school charm.

A few booths at the Regional Market on Sundays sell them. I always want to buy a few, but I just can't bring myself to spend $2 on one 1" key. When I start making the big bucks I'll put together a nice collection like the ones pictured here: Top | Bottom

Until then, I will just use them as inspiration for my own work. Stay tuned for some skeleton key surface pattern designs!

A Thought for the Day

2010-09-23T07:00:00.001-04:00

Design | Anthropologie

2010-09-22T07:00:00.006-04:00

I love Anthropologie. Unfortunately we don't have one in Syracuse, but I make it a point to visit whenever I go home to my Mom's house in Baltimore.

The store displays are what I think sets apart this store for any other. The front window displays differ with the season, new collections coming in, current events, and I have no idea where they come up with their awesomeness. But the decor inside the store is amazing as well.

It gives me great ideas for future decor in my own house. Some of the things that they do are just amazing. I'd love to be on the team who puts that all together. Major props to the extremely creative people behind all of it.

A few that I found to be particularly interesting are:
1. Plants
2. Books
3. Christmas
4. Honey

I'd love to one day sell my patterns to Anthropologie. That would be a personal best. Until then I will just drool over their displays whenever I get a chance to visit a store.

Local | Bridges as Art

2010-09-21T07:00:00.003-04:00

Syracuse is currently going through a transition. There is a large movement going on, called "The Westside Initiative." Basically the downtown area of Syracuse is being revamped to support art, culture, technology, green thinking, and the like.

This is especially exciting to me, not only because I'm an artist, but because the area in question includes my street. I'm very excited to be able to be a part of the artist community as it comes together.

A few artists came together to transform the train bridges that pass over West Street. The painted short sayings in an effort to bring new life to the old, rusty scenery. The project is called "A Love Letter to Syracuse."

The sayings include:
• I paid the light bill just to see your face
• Now that we are here nowhere else matters
• Spring comes Summer waits Fall leaves Winter longs
• Nothing to do is everything with you

I pass under these bridges everyday on my way to and from work. I think it was a great idea and I hope more artists open themselves up to similar opportunities in the near future. This is a great step for Syracuse. I can't wait to see what it turns into.

I Want That | Letter W

2010-09-20T07:00:00.004-04:00

I love Etsy. It's a great place to support handmade and buy one of a kind and unique items.

I'm obsessed with collecting Ws. Not just because it's the first letter in my name, but because I'm a graphic design and appreciate how every W is different depending on what typeface is used.

Here are a few Ws on my want list from shops on Etsy:

1. Wire W from kristinemays

2. Moss W from SpottedLeopard

3. Crackle Paint W from compulsivecollection

4. Horse Shoe W from AlteredIron

Most of the Ws I buy are from Anthroplogie or Michaels. I've gotten a few old woodblock letters in my search and I'm always on the lookout for more! Eventually I'd like to get some old light up store sign letters and once I get a house of my own, one wall in my studio will display all the Ws I've collected over the years.

Home | Fish

2010-09-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

I went to the NY State Fair a few weeks ago and Ben won me a fish in one of those ping pong toss games. So, of course I had to buy a tank for it and proceeded to fulfill my life long dream of getting a fish tank for the apartment...Okay so maybe not a life long dream, but at least something that I've been wanting to do for a while.

One 10 gallon tank starter kit, 2 extra fish, 4 live plants, rocks, and faux wood decor later, I have a beautiful fish tank set up. Eventually I'd like to get a few more smaller fish in there, maybe that will be on my To Do list for this weekend.

I'm also going to design a backdrop for the tank to get printed on window cling vinyl from Photomedia Revolutions. But, I haven't decided what I want it to be yet...add that to the list.

Fab Find | Mannequin

2010-09-16T18:24:00.003-04:00

So I was up on the 4th floor of my building at work today. It's full of old treasures and odd and ends that people have in storage. I came across this beauty and just HAD to have it.

The landlord has a collection of mannequins he used to use in the gallery space when it was open. He was looking to sell them so I bought 4!

Now I just have to figure out what to do with them. In the mean time they are just going to hang out in my apartment. Hopefully in the relatively near future I will be in the process of starting up a shop and will be able to use them to display and photograph my products!

In the mean time I am happy as a clam to finally have some really nice mannequin!

Inspiration | Blog Planning

2010-09-15T18:16:00.006-04:00

So, in my journey to getting my life organized, business ideas started, getting my name out there, working a full time job, and finding time to work on designs for myself, I find it hard to keep up to date on posting to my blog.

I typically only post when I have something of interest to put up, but it's not on any sort of consistent manner. So, that's now on my list of things to work on.

Doing a little research I came across a few free PDF downloads for planning out blog posts.

1. Indie Fixx – Clean and simple laid out in a traditional calendar style.

2. Living Locurto – More decorative design in a standard page format.

I guess the idea is that you plan them out over the weekend, write them up and schedule them accordingly, forget about it during the week (unless of course something else exciting comes up that you just have to post about), and then do it all over again the next week.

So, since I have some blog organizing tools, I guess I need to start coming up with things to blog about! And hopefully it will be more frequently. Next, I have to figure out how to juggle reading all the Twitter posts from people I follow and post on my own Twitter on top of all this!

A Thought for the Day

2010-09-10T18:31:00.000-04:00

Smash and Grab

2010-08-21T17:33:00.005-04:00

So, my car was broken into last night. They didn't take anything, but smashed my passenger side window.

I almost wish they had stolen something, so at least there was a point to having my window smashed in. I had to clean up their mess and now have to take the time to get my window replaced and spend money to get my car detailed to get all the glass out of it.

Note to car thieves:

Please do not smash in my window again. I have nothing of value in my car, as you seem to have realized by not taking anything, and it's not nice to make a person replace their window. It's just annoying. Next time, try going for people who leave their doors unlocked.

Thank you.

Inspiration | Books

2010-08-17T18:29:00.004-04:00

1: Exciting World of Pattern Design (Zeixs)
A small, but almost 2.5" thick, book full of amazing examples of surface pattern designs in all different categories.

2: Print & Pattern (Bowie Style)
Based on one of my favorite blogs Print & Pattern, this book features many of the artists and studios that have been featured as well as other undiscovered treasures.

3: The Creative Entrepreneur: A DIY Visual Guidebook for Marking Business Ideas Real (Lisa Sonora Beam)
A great guide for visual people looking to start a home/craft business.

4: Naive: Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design (R. Klanten)
Full of great examples of pattern and graphics in a design environment.

A Thought for the Day

2010-08-16T06:54:00.002-04:00

Desktop wallpaper that I came home to the other day. Created by my one and only, Ben!

Postcrossing | Postcards 4, 5, 6, & 7

2010-08-02T07:00:00.005-04:00

Sending out more Postcrossing.com postcards!

4th Postcard to be sent is going to: Florida
5th: Belarus
6th: Malta
7th: Canada

So far I've received postcards from Virginia and China!

Can't wait to see what else I get. I'm also going to have to look back into the Pen Pal Project on Indie Fixx. I have one pen pal that I need to get my first letter out to, but I'd like to get a few more to write to as well!

Interested in getting a Pen Pal too?! Check out Indie Fixx's Pen Pal Project here.

To Do | My First Quilt

2010-07-30T20:03:00.004-04:00

So I finally started my first quilt! Will probably take me a while to finish cutting out all the squares, but it's looking good so far. Here's a sneak peak of the patterns I'm using. Eventually I'll be making things with my own original designs on fabric, but until then I'll just go with the ones I like best at Jo-Ann Fabrics!

Tweets for Twitter

2010-07-29T19:44:00.003-04:00

You can now follow me on Twitter! Search wrkdesigns or just click here.

Postcrossing | Oregon

2010-07-21T07:05:00.005-04:00

My second Postcrossing mail is going to Oregon! This postcard features a pattern that I created.

I haven't received any yet, but I'm sure I will be seeing something soon.

If you want to join in on the project Click Here.

Postcrossing | Taiwan

2010-07-15T07:10:00.007-04:00

My first Postcrossing submission went to Taiwan!

One of the blogs I started following, Indie Fixx, created the Pen Pal Project. This then led me to other pen pal type websites and I found Postcrossing. You sign up and are sent a random address, from anywhere in the world, for someone else who has signed up and then you send them a postcard. You are given a special code to write on the postcard that the recipient then logs into the website when they receive it. The postcards you send and receive are tracked on the website similar to how Where's George and Bookcrossing work.

If you're interested in getting and receiving mail from total strangers and/or starting up some pen pal relationships, I highly recommend looking into these sites!

Local | Parking Fail

2010-07-13T07:11:00.000-04:00

Spotted this gem while pulling in for brunch at a local diner.

Really wish I had a You Park Like An Asshole notice handy. Next time I'll be ready!

See what people are saying about it on Reddit.

Moo Cards!

2010-07-12T19:05:00.003-04:00

So excited to find that my Moo Cards came in the mail today!

Where else can you get 50 cards printed and have a different design on each one!?

I got the Eco-Friendly 50 pack of regular sized business cards. Get some for yourself here!

Guest Spot | Indie Fixx

2010-07-11T15:39:00.005-04:00

Indie Fixx, one of the blogs that I follow, came up with a great idea to bring back the pen pal: hand written letters and snail mail included!

The Pen Pal Project:

"I’ve decided I want to bring back snail mail. I want to return to the long-lost days of letter writing, penpals and handwritten thank-you notes. There’s something so special about going to the mailbox and seeing a letter in there amongst the bills and sale fliers. I know you know what that feeling you get when you see a personal piece of mail, it’s like validation that someone loves you! So, I’m making a point of sending thank-you notes and not thank-you emails. I’ve also lined of a few pen pals with whom to trade letters."

Want to learn more and/or join in the snail mail action?! Check it out Here

I Want That

2010-07-07T07:42:00.009-04:00

One of my favorite things to do is browsing blogs and design sites. I look at everything from other surface pattern designers to food recipe posts to home decor to illustrators to crafters and creative mothers.

Here is my first "I Want That" post of items I've found through my endless search for beautiful things.

1. Ocean/Sea Glass Rug | Angela Adams
2. Deer Socket | Nendo
3. Bubble Club Sofa and Chairs | Philipe Stark
4. "W" | At West End

Calling all Artists

2010-07-06T07:00:00.003-04:00

Stumbled across this while looking through the Design Sponge Blog. It's an artist sketchbook project! For $25 you can pick one of the predetermined "themes" and get a sketchbook with a bar code in it that you fill up and return. The sketchbook then, joins others on a traveling tour around the US.

What a neat idea!

I'd love to be able to see all the finished products. I'm still thinking about whether or not to get one. I'm just afraid that I won't have time to do any work to submit!

But if it's something that's right up your alley...Go For It!

Learn more here: The Sketchbook Project

Local | Salt City Urban Art + Craft

2010-07-05T07:00:00.004-04:00

The Salt City Urban Art & Craft Market is a unique event for the Syracuse area. Crafters of the new generation are emerging to provide funky, alternative and contemporary handmade artworks and our mission is to create an annual marketplace where a diverse group of local artists and designers have the opportunity to showcase and sell their work.

The Salt City Urban Art & Craft Market is the place to buy, experience, share, and re-imagine all things locally handmade while enjoying local music performances and yummy food provided by a local venues!

The 2nd annual market will be on Saturday, October 23rd, 10am – 6pm, at the Case Supply Warehouse at 112 Wyoming St in Syracuse, NY.

Happy Independence Day

2010-07-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

A Thought for the Day

2010-07-02T07:00:00.001-04:00

Licensed To | Robert Kaufman

2010-07-01T07:00:00.005-04:00

My design licensed to Robert Kaufman through Pink Light Design.

I should be getting a swatch when it goes into production, so I'll post pictures of that when it comes in!

Sold To | Star Pennyslvania

2010-06-30T07:00:00.002-04:00

My design sold to Star Pennsylvania at Surtex through Carr + Lamb

To Do | Crafts and Artwork

2010-06-29T07:00:00.001-04:00

On top of everything that I'd like to do around the house and during all the free time I'm somehow pulling out of thin air...Here's a list of:

Crafts and Artwork I'd like to complete this Summer:

1. Create my own line of surface pattern designs
2. Start my own line of products with my surface pattern designs (scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, notebooks, fabric, note cards, etc.)
3. Open a shop of exclusive and handmade items (whether it be a physical shop or one on Etsy) – This might not be able to be completed over the summer...but still something I would like to do.
4. Start and complete my first quilt (that i already have all the supplies for, just haven't gotten a chance to do anything with)

Sold To | Clementine Paper

2010-06-28T06:38:00.002-04:00

My designs sold to Clementine Paper at Surtex through Carr + Lamb

Local | Gallery at Healing Art Passages

2010-06-25T07:03:00.006-04:00

Art Opening Tonight! – 6:00pm - 9:00pm

The Gallery at Healing Art Passages
137 1st Street Liverpool, NY 13088
315.426.9987

Art by: Laura Wellner, Ken Nichols, Suzanne Masters, and Fred Wellner

These guys have some great styles! If you live in the area you should definitely check it out. I know I'm going to.

Earthquake

2010-06-24T06:49:00.007-04:00

I don't live in California, but I guess that no longer excludes me from having the earth sway beneath my feet!

It was a very scary and strange feeling, since I've never experienced an earthquake before. It wasn't until after it was all over that my boss and I realized that it had in fact been an earthquake. After freaking out for a little while, that the entire building we were standing in had been shaking back and forth, I was able to get on with the rest of my day.

Very weird for Syracuse though.

More details here.

On a side note: Today is Ben and my 3 year anniversary. We're going to spend it going out for a nice dinner together. <3

New Work

2010-06-23T07:00:00.001-04:00

A fun new conversational design of cupcakes. You can't go wrong with cupcakes!

Available exclusively through Carr + Lamb Designs.

To Do | Around the House

2010-06-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

I have big plans for myself this Summer! It's sure to keep me busy, busy, busy...

Things to accomplish around the house this Summer:

1. Paint the living room
2. Paint the bed frame
3. Rearrange and organize the living room
4. Repaint and hang the shelf by the front door
5. Put up hook for hanging plant
6. Start indoor garden
7. Finally hang some artwork
8. Repaint bedroom floor

More TTV Fun

2010-06-21T07:10:00.000-04:00

Playing around with more Photoshop actions and TTV effects.

TTV Fun

2010-06-20T08:11:00.008-04:00

TTV = Through the View Finder

Defined as taking a picture of any subject through the viewfinder of any camera with another camera.

More info from: Through the Viewfinder

With this trend in photography, there has been a rise in tutorials on how to achieve this effect digitally.

I found a great blog that gives tutorials, ttv frames, and Photoshop actions on how to do it!

Find them here: Coffee Shop

Here's my test samples. The original image can be found in the post previous to this one.

I think they came out really neat! I plan on playing with this some more and maybe even getting some custom wall art out of it!

Try it for yourself and see what you come up with.

Picture Day

2010-06-11T18:36:00.005-04:00

Sleeping Beauty amongst the pillows.

– Cerse Dog

WRKDesigns

2010-06-10T20:41:00.002-04:00

My new website is officially up and running!

Check it out here: WRKDesigns

CNYJeep.Org

2010-06-09T07:07:00.006-04:00

If you have a Jeep in Central New York and you're not in this club....you're missing out!

CNYJEEP.ORG

Guest Spot | Ben Krisher

2010-05-23T14:31:00.006-04:00

Note: The images you are about to see are NOT photographs. They are 3D models created by Ben Krisher.

EMO-H2O: I posted before some images of the water bottles that Ben had worked on. Here is what his original modeled words look like without the bottle label. "Happy" didn't end up going into production, neither did "Thank You," which he also modeled for them.

Inspiration | Vintage Designs

2010-05-23T14:00:00.009-04:00

Some inspiration from "Textile Designs" by Susan Meller and Joost Elffer. This book features some amazing work from 1800 – 1900 European and American designers. A good majority of the designs, if re-introduced now, would fit right into the current trends and patterns of today. It's kindof amazing how styles can come full circle like that.

France, 1899

France, 1901

France, 1900

Surtex 2010 Follow Up

2010-05-22T19:16:00.006-04:00

Surtex show went well. Here's one of my patterns that sold through Carr + Lamb.

More to come.

Picture Day

2010-05-21T18:17:00.007-04:00

I iz in ur dryer, sheddin on ur sheetz.

– Rozwel Kitty

SURTEX 2010

2010-05-13T20:26:00.003-04:00

See all my designs at Surtex 2010

May 16–18, 2010 at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in NYC

Here's a sneak peak of just a few of the designs you could see!

A Thought for the Day

2010-05-11T08:09:00.002-04:00

Say Yes Syracuse 2010

2010-05-08T08:14:00.005-04:00

Say Yes Syracuse 2010 stemmed from the idea of Say Yes to Education Syracuse, which is a was to promote school and education in the area. We wanted to take that concept a step further.

Promoting your local community, town, city and state is important in order to promote local growth. That's why Assante Design teamed up with Salient Link and Kocak Wordsmith Ink to create a place where people can submit, for the world to see, how they want to support their local communities and why they think it's important.

Check it out and even if you aren't in Syracuse, post how or what you will do to promote your local community!

Guest Spot | EM0 H20

2010-02-12T07:49:00.010-05:00

My boyfriend Ben does 3D graphics and was approached by EMO H20 to model the 3D lettering on their bottles.

Here is what the finished product looks like.

If you ever need any 3D graphics done he's the man to go to! Contact me for more information or how to get in touch with him.

He'll have a site up by May, so I'll post a link when it's working.

Sold To | Glen Raven

2010-02-09T18:57:00.007-05:00

My designs sold to Glen Raven through Carr + Lamb Designs.

assante design | New Studio Space

2010-02-09T18:48:00.004-05:00

We're moving into another studio space! Here's a sneak peak into what it's going to look like. We just have a few finishing touches to do before we can start moving furniture in.

So excited!

I've Discovered Something Amazing!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-08T07:24:00.008-05:00

Back in May 2007, I sold a pattern to Staples, through Carr+Lamb Designs, that they used for their back to school collection in Fall 2008.

Here is what my original design looked like.

Here is how they used it on mini composition notebooks.

The other night I was catching up on episodes of Desperate Housewives and came across my patterns! Episode: How About A Friendly Shrink? around 16:30 minutes in.

I was soo excited! Here is what the spiral notebooks looked like...but on tv!

Local | Craft Chemistry

2010-01-27T20:24:00.005-05:00

I stumbled across a flyer in the lobby of my work and found Craft Chemistry. A local place for handmade arts and crafts. Seems like a very cool place!

Check out their site at Craft Chemistry.

I haven't yet made the trip out to their shop, but when I do I'll post my experience...which I'm sure will be great.

assante design

2010-01-26T19:47:00.005-05:00

A good place to work with...a better place to work for.

I've been working at assante design since June 2009, recently I was promoted to Studio Manager and now work full time overlooking everything that goes on in the studio and schmoozing with clients. I also do some graphic design!

Check out our recently relaunched web site, stuffed to the gills with great work and interesting tid bits. assantedesign.com

The beginning of the year has been great, we've gotten a bunch of new clients and the work keeps rollin' in! Hopefully it will continue to keep me busy the entire year.

If you are in need of any graphic design needs, no matter your location, please feel free to drop us a line. creative@assantedesign.com

Sold To | Mudlark

2010-01-26T19:44:00.003-05:00

My design sold to Mudlark through Carr + Lamb Designs.

Sold To | Soma

2010-01-25T21:05:00.007-05:00

My designs sold to Soma at the Printsource show in NYC through Carr + Lamb Designs.

Sold To | Pem America

2010-01-25T21:02:00.010-05:00

My designs sold to Pem America at the Printsource show in NYC through Carr + Lamb Designs.

Sold To | Masterpiece Studios

2010-01-25T20:59:00.011-05:00

My designs sold to Masterpiece Studios at the Printsource show in NYC through Carr + Lamb Designs.

Sold To | Lenox

2010-01-25T20:56:00.007-05:00

My designs sold to Lenox at the Printsource show in NYC through Carr + Lamb Designs.

Sold To | Hodsoll McKenzie

2010-01-25T20:52:00.006-05:00

My design sold to Hodsoll McKenzie at the Printsource show in NYC through Carr + Lamb Designs.

Sold To | Baby Lulu

2010-01-25T20:28:00.008-05:00

My designs sold to Baby Lulu at the Printsource show in NYC through Carr+Lamb Designs.