Studio Lápis Tips and Inspirations

2012 Decor Colors: Pantone's Cockatoo, Aqua, and Turquoise.

2012-01-27T15:33:00.000-07:00

Pantone has launched its Fashion Color Report for Spring 2012. Cockatoo—a neon coral color—is part of this year's choices. So, I browsed the web to see if it's being used in interior design, and found a few items with similar hues. Turquoise and aqua, which were part of previous forecasts, are still popular for this year's decor.

Ikea catalog 2012

www.cb2.com

www.urbanoutfitters.com

www.zgallerie.com

Some countries make war, Brazil makes music.

2011-12-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

Some countries make war, Brazil makes music. Most of its citizens live below the poverty level, but where there's samba, there's happiness, there's peace. Cheers!

Paper Objects by Jennifer Collier

2011-11-26T08:55:00.001-07:00

Jennifer Collier creates the most amazing objects made with paper, "by bonding, waxing, trapping, and stitching". She has a site and a shop where you can see the rest of her work and buy some of her creations.

Historical Posters

2011-10-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

These posters are from the U.S. National Archives' photostream on flickr.

Macs are sad because Dad (Steve Jobs) is dead

2011-10-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

sad computers from Bob Jeusette on Vimeo.

Steve Jobs died on the day of my birthday. I've admired him for many years and was very said to hear the news. It is truly a tragedy to loose a genius as young as he. I hope he rests in peace and I offer my condolences to his family.

My first Mac was a blue iMac G3, I got it when I started the program for computer graphics design at Glendale Community College. A year later, I bought a blue Power Mac G3, which I kept till the iMac G5 came out. Next I got a MacBook, which I still have. And lastly a 2.8 GHz 24" iMac, from which I'm writing this blog. I also bought the first iPhone when it came out, and I'm said to say I still have it. I'm dying to get a new one, but haven't had the cash for it yet. Still, I can't complain because my iPhone never broke and, aside from being a little slow, it functions well—I can't imagine life without it. Oh, and I almost forgot the small and cool clip-and-go iPod shuffle.

These machines have been my friends throughout my career, without them my life as a designer would have been so much harder. So thank you Steve Jobs and the Apple team for making the world a better place.

How I learned Macbeth

2011-09-12T14:04:00.001-07:00

This weekend I read Macbeth by William Shakespeare. When I finished the book, I hooked up my computer to my big screen TV, downloaded the BBC production from amazon.com, and watched it while reading the lines along with the actors. I must warn you, though, that there are better versions of the play out there. However, I can’t tell you what they are because I haven’t watched them. Once the movie was over, I googled “Macbeth lecture” and found the video of a Harvard Online Course: ENGL E-129 Shakespeare After All The Later Plays with Professor Marjorie Garber at freevideolectures.com.

I love to study, and I feel extremely lucky to be alive during a time when the Internet makes it possible for me to watch a Shakespeare play and a Harvard lecture, from my living room couch, in Phoenix, Arizona!

Inspired by books:

2011-09-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

There are two novels I want to recommend as sources of inspiration. One is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and the other is Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue.

The Book Thief is narrated by Death. It takes place in Nazi Germany, in the beginning of, and during World War II. It is the captivating story of a little girl named Liesel, who gets separated from her mother and sister, is placed with foster parents Hans and Rosa, and becomes friends with a Jewish fugitive who hides in their basement. Death has a great sense of humor and is very sympathetic to mankind. In fact, Death’s witty remarks make the sad parts of the book more bearable. Furthermore, the book’s typesetting, with callouts and drawings, is a cleaver addition to the story.

Room is narrated by a five-year-old boy named Jack. Jack speaks toddler language and loves word sandwiches. His interpretation of life is both smart and funny. Room is Jack’s world and his ma’s prison. Like Death from The Book Thief, Jack’s narration lightens up the tragic tale of ma’s life, her struggle to be free, and their rehabilitation to the outside world.

Both books are brilliantly executed. They’ll make you cry and laugh, you won’t be able to put them down until the end, and you’ll never be able to forget them.

VOID: The magazine app to help you write code on your iPad

2011-07-20T08:01:00.001-07:00

VOID is a conceptional processing magazine for the iPad. It is aimed to bring coding closer to designers, with focus on enhanced user integration and personalization with a strong visual approach.

VOID from Natalie Hanke on Vimeo.

A 3D Printer, Holy Cow!

2011-07-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

This is unbelievable! Imagine the possibilities...

Pantone: 175 new colors video

2011-06-29T19:48:00.000-07:00

A Pay-What-You-Want Type foundry

2011-06-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

The Lost Type Co-Op is a Pay-What-You-Want Type foundry, the first of it's kind. Founded by Riley Cran and Tyler Galpin, originally in a whirlwind 24 hour adventure to distribute a single typeface, Lost Type has blossomed into a full fledged foundry, distributing fonts from designers all over the world, with its unique model.

Users have the opportunity to pay whatever they like for a font, you can even type in '$0' for a free download. 100% of funds from these sales go directly to the designers of the fonts, respectively. Lost Type takes no cut of sales, and holds no funds. (This text was taken from their about page.)

Tom Ford Fall Winter 2011-2012

2011-06-18T10:36:00.003-07:00

The creator of the Nike Swoosh

2011-06-17T20:04:00.002-07:00

A $35 logo done 40 years ago by an art student: Original article from http://www.kgw.com/sports/Nike-swoosh-creator-tells-of-success-after-40-years--124047594.html.

Inspiration: Illustrated Album Covers

2011-05-31T13:31:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of illustration for books and albums, because it allows the artist to express his or hers interpretation of the work without the restrictions imposed by photography. I also think it's an effective way of making the product stand out on store shelves.

The selections below were taken from recent hits at iTunes.

Noteworthy fashion campaigns

2011-05-25T10:43:00.001-07:00

Creative people are always pressured into inventing new ways to sell a product. Think Super Bowl Commercials, how many times can the same beer be reinvented? How about cars? They might have new features but you'll still need to deal with the body of metal that doesn't talk. When doing a fashion commercial, should you use a celebrity and have her say something sexy wile walking towards the camera? Or perhaps show fashion models posing in an exotic location? Sound familiar? Well, the videos below are inspiring examples of what happens when creatives think outside the box.

Fun: Prada Spring/Summer 2011 Video Campaign - Backstage

Colorful: Prada SS2011 ad campaign

Artistic: YSL Spring/Summer 2011 Eyewear Collection

Bizarre: Advertising campaign Lanvin for H&M

Sexy: Gucci Cruise Collection 2011

Infographics: Sitting is Killing You

2011-05-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

And me too, because I'm on the computer all day and reading till bedtime. Plus, my chair, couch and mattress are in serious need of an upgrade.

Via: Medical Billing And Coding

Trend: Yellow Decor

2011-05-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of stores selling yellow items for your home this season. Here is a roundup of my favorites.

http://www.anthropologie.com

http://www.cb2.com

http://www.worldmarket.com

http://www.crateandbarrel.com

http://www.dwellstudio.com/

http://www.target.com/

http://www.westelm.com/

http://www.zgallerie.com/

Surf on my backyard

2011-05-20T19:32:00.001-07:00

This video was taken at Leblon beach, Rio de Janeiro, my backyard during childhood and teen years. There is where I learned to surf and met my husband who was also a surfer. Great times...

LEBLON STORM from Ricardo Faissol on Vimeo.

My favorite cartoon

2011-05-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the laserdisc? I still have the player and refuse to get rid of it because of Looney Tunes. I've got the very first volume of "The Golden Age of Looney Tunes", a five-disc set of pure cartoon bliss. So I decided to share with you my favorite: "I Love to Singa". How many times didn't we hear from someone, a relative or a stranger, that we couldn't do something? Well, let's not give up! Keep singing everyone...

And if you're into computer animation, make sure to watch "The Pixar Story" (2007) for more inspiration.

Creative charts and graphs

2011-05-03T15:43:00.001-07:00

Don't feel restricted by software tools when creating charts and graphs. Below are some cool examples to inspire your creativity. Illustrations, stock photos and hand-made objects are a lot more interesting and will make your business papers irresistible to the reader. One great site for info-graphics inspiration is Fast Company Design.

Process Magazine - Spring 2010

Via www.good.is. This one is interactive, see site for more.

By Maximus Chatsky via Carole Guevin

By Jude Buffum via Carole Guevin

Via www.good.is

Via www.ixycreativity.ro

I've discovered the T

2011-05-01T10:05:00.001-07:00

And the T belongs to The New York Times Style Magazine. If you're not familiar with this magazine I invite you to view all issues online. Its typography is clean and simple allowing the images to take the stage. The photography is absolutely stunning, and the ads are juxtaposed with editorial pages as if they were made for each other. There is a T opener page on every issue and each T is designed by a different artist. I'm including images below, but you have to see them in full size to appreciate the details, read the taglines and the name of the artists.

The Power of Words

2011-04-27T10:23:00.001-07:00

This is a beautiful video about the power of words. Something we often take for granted when we're caught up with our busy lives and tech devices. When entertainment was provided solely by books and theatre, language was studied and executed in a brilliant way. Letters were beautifully written and literature was rich in vocabulary. Yes, I am a romantic, and I tend to appreciate the classics more than modern-day books.

English is my second language and even though I've been in the U.S. for 21 years, I still struggle with communication. I'm always unsure if I'm committing grammar and spelling errors when I write, and I'm always self conscious when I'm speaking. However, every time I finish reading a classic my friends notice an improvement in the way I speak.

This video was created by Purple Feather, an online content agency from the U.K, as a self-promotion tool. It's also an example of creative genius and of YouTube's effectiveness as an outlet for mass-marketing.

Christian Lacroix for Designers Guild!

2011-04-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Christian Lacroix just created a line of products for Designers Guild. There are pillows, note books, note cards, and rugs. These are my favorites:

haute couture note cards

arles journal red

les anges baroques notebook

Creative outdoor campaign for Brazilian grocery store

2011-04-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

Brazilian ad agency MP Publicidade has created this brilliant and successful outdoor campaign for the grocery store chain Hortifruti. It was so popular that it became viral through email. And guess what, a relative emailed it to me.

Below are a few samples, but there is more on their site. I'll translate the titles so you can enjoy them as much as I did:

Coentro (cilantro) sounds like vento (wind). "O Vento Levou" is the Brazilian title for "Gone with the Wind". Text: "A Classic of Hortifruti."

Hortaliça (lettuce) sounds like "Noviça" (novice). "A Noviça Rebelde" ("A Rebellious Novice") is the Brazilian title for "The Sound of Music". Text: "She showed a family the lightness of Hortifruti."

Title: "The Incredible Arugula". Text: "It got its super powers when it moved to Hortifruti."

Title: "Lemon Impossible 3". Text: "Only vitamin C can stop the lethal virus."

Quiabo (ocra) sounds like diabo (devil), "O Diabo Veste Prada" is the Brazilian title for "The Devil Wears Prada". Text: "It entered the selective world of Hortifruti."

Title: "Edward Carrot Hands". Text: "A story that's going to cut hearts and prices." (brazilians say cut instead of break, for broken heart).

Batatas (potatoes), sound like piratas (pirates). Title: "Potatoes of the Caribbean". Text: "A battle for Hortifruti's treasures."

If you love Penguin, you'll love this book:

2011-04-21T09:14:00.001-07:00

Amazon page

Yes, the book is full of beautifully designed covers. But what I liked the most about it was to read the commentaries by designers and authors about the creative process involved in each design.

If you would like to know more, there is an interesting interview with Executive Vice President Creative Director, Paul Buckley, at Salon.com.

Ikea's sweet online magazine

2011-04-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

Ikea has a new online magazine called Ikea® Family Live. It's lovely! And to confirm one of the "50 reasons not to date a graphic designer", designers do love Ikea.

50 reasons not to date a graphic designer

2011-04-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

I came across this blog today and I can't stop laughing. It is so true! Full list here: a bourbon for silvia.

Art of Type

2011-04-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

Artist Joni James does some incredible illustrations out of type. Check out his Etsy shop.

Trend: Blue and white decor

2011-04-06T16:33:00.003-07:00

You may have seen Sabrina Soto's "Blue and White Room" collection for Target, but there are several other stores selling blue accents this year. Below are a few of my favorites, and some Indigo prints from my Etsy shop.

Crate&Barrel: Marimekko Samovaari Surf Bed Linens and Sadie Surf Table Lamp

Anthropologie: Lakarri Curtain

Prints from my Etsy Shop

Anthropologie: Paeonia Wallpaper

Pottery Barn: Brighton Chair, Bay Stripe; Arlington Sofa, Brushed Canvas Harbor Blue; and Oceanic Sea-Life Outdoor Pillow.

Urban Outfitters: Beach Patchwork Quilt and Trompe L'Oeil Floor Mat - Delft Wreath Blue

West Elm: greek key duvet cover + shams and assorted pillows

Pretty clutches from the UK

2011-04-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

This lovely Etsy shop from London, BagatellesAndCo, sells the most adorable clutches and purses.

Dream a child's room...

2011-03-30T11:38:00.001-07:00

And Restoration Hardware will make your dream come true! I'm a big fan of interior designers, but if you like to D.Y.I. there is nothing easier than buying the items from your favorite store's design gallery. All you'll need is a tape measure and lots of money, of course.

Zeitgeist Films :: Bill Cunningham New York :: the Trailer

2011-03-29T12:19:00.002-07:00

Zeitgeist Films :: Bill Cunningham New York :: the Trailer

Fashion documentary coming soon to a city near you!

Amazing locations for rent

2011-03-25T14:01:00.003-07:00

Did you ever wonder where photographers and movie makers find historical homes for their locations? Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire…sound familiar? Well this company rents them: http://www.jjlocations.co.uk/about.php. I found it via Anthology's blog.

Illustrated Inspiration

2011-03-21T17:29:00.001-07:00

Awesome illustrations by brazilian artist Túlio Fagim. See more on his website.

Children's lamps adults will love

2011-03-19T19:51:00.002-07:00

I don't have children but these would look fabulous in my house. They have designs for adults too. Available at Seascape.

From Ikea to the beach

2011-03-18T11:23:00.001-07:00

This fabric makes me want to go to the beach. Available at ikea.com.

Cute totes from Designers Guild

2011-03-18T10:49:00.002-07:00

I was searching designersguild.com for inspiration and came across these cute totes.

My patterns at Veer

2011-03-17T11:28:00.001-07:00

Some of my patterns are up for sale at Veer.com. They're all vector files and can be easily modified in Adobe Illustrator version 8 or higher. You can buy them to use on business layouts, invitations, posters, etc. You can even get the extended license to apply them to your own products. I put a few below, but there are many more at the site.

Before and Afters

2011-03-16T18:51:00.002-07:00

As you probably already noticed, I love patterns and I love fabrics. In fact I've been working on a collection of patters for a line of fabrics to be sold at Spoonflower.com. I also love transformations such as the ones seen on HGTV, What Not to Wear, Oprah makeovers, etc.

When we first moved to Phoenix, my husband and I used to buy used furniture from yard sales and auctions to restore. We lost all of our belongings in the Northridge Earthquake and couldn't afford to buy new furniture so this was the only option for us. We actually had a lot of fun doing it and our home decor was a very cute version of country contemporary. Unfortunately after a few years we got tired of that style and decided to go modern when we bought our house.

Lately I've been seeing a lot of before and afters at Design Sponge and other blogs and I'm itching to start some projects of my own, especially if I have my own fabrics to work with. Below are some fun examples taken from Design Sponge for inspiration.

It's Carnaval!

2011-03-06T10:37:00.001-07:00

Talk about explosive colors! You need to go to Rio for Carnaval before you die. It's amazingly beautiful.

My products on Zazzle

2011-03-04T12:13:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been around. I was busy creating patterns for iPhone and iPad cases, mousepads, buttons and coasters, which are available for purchase on my Zazzle store. Below is an example of how fashion influences my designs. I am in love with the explosive colors on the runways this year. Especially Gucci's fall ready-to-wear 2011.

Keep checking back for new designs. I can't stop creating! There will be some patterns for sale at Veer.com as well. They are in the queue waiting for approval.

Beautiful fashion spreads via blog Jardin

2011-02-11T12:07:00.001-07:00

Just saw some amazing photos from Marie Claire, Italy, February 2011 spreads, at blog Jardin.

Pantone fashion color report fall 2011

2011-02-10T09:59:00.001-07:00

Pantone posted its fashion color report for fall! You can download the pdf on their site.

Forget the Travel Channel, watch "Man Shops Globe"

2011-02-08T12:52:00.001-07:00

I don't know about you, but I'm a little tired of all of the food related shows on the Travel Channel. Where is Samantha Brown? I'm also tired of all the real estate related shows on HGTV. House hunters, you sound so stupid with your comments about chandeliers and paint colors! I still love Devine Design, Color Splash and Design Inc. but they don't seem to be on often enough. So I'm very happy to have the Sundance channel as an option. Sundance is a designer's paradise with fashion shows, documentaries, independent films, etc.

Yesterday, I was up till 3 a.m. watching Man Shops Globe. It is the most inspiring program I've ever seen where Keith Johnson, buyer for Anthropologie, travels the world in search of unique products for the store. Keith looks for the best local artists and crafts people to find the most amazing hidden treasures. You'll fall in love with the places, the people and their crafts. You'll also get lots of ideas for your own projects. Keith is not just a buyer, he has a gift for combining different products to create something never done before.

These animals are made with torn paper.

This lady cast her belly during the various stages of pregnancy to create these unique bowls.

This lady makes baroque mirrors and furniture out of cardboard.

Keith spent a night in this castle!

Traditional pottery from Sweden.

The New Seattle's Best Coffee ad Campaign

2011-01-27T10:37:00.003-07:00

I found out about this campaign when I was looking for tweets on the Daily Mail and the hang gliding ad intruded on my perusal. Normally I get irritated by ads that block my view, but this one caught my attention and made me laugh. You can read the story behind the campaign on Advertising Age.

Below is a snapshot of my screen when the ad popped up as well as the actual campaign videos. On the screen shot, notice the design around the video and how it has thumbnails of all three videos on the right. You might also want to check out Seattle's Best website for design inspiration. Enjoy!

Chanel's Spring 2011 Couture Collection

2011-01-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

On my previous post about Downton Abbey I expressed my frustration about the changes in fashion and the loss of glamour in our everyday lives. However, I'm happy to say that Chanel is one exception to the rule. Although Coco Chanel wanted to give women a more comfortable way of dressing themselves, she managed to keep the glamour and sophistication in her casual collections. Coco is long gone but thanks to the creative genius Karl Lagerfeld, her legacy continues.

Lagerfeld has taken Chanel to the next level by making feminine designs for every age. His 2011 Couture Collection is feminine, romantic, modern and chic. It would be interesting to see a modern version of Downton Abbey with Lagerfeld as its costume designer and creative director.

The photos below are from Getty Images and the source is style.com.

Paper costumes by Isabelle de Borchgrave

2011-01-24T12:41:00.001-07:00

If you're in San Francisco between February 5, 2011 - June 5, 2011 go to this exhibit: Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave.

Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave worked in collaboration with costume historians and fashion designers to create amazing examples of costumes from the Renaissance to grand couturiers Frederick Worth, Paul Poiret, Christian Dior, and Coco Chanel..

My passion for historical things

2011-01-20T13:05:00.001-07:00

Just saw a blog post on Habitually Chic about the TV series Downton Abbey, on PBS. The story takes place in England, two years prior to the Great War and starts with the news of the sinking of the Titanic. I'm not going to talk about the drama, you can find out more on PBS, but of my fascination with the fashion, architecture, interiors and scenery of that historical period. Why did we let it go? Their servants' fashion was more glamorous than our Jeans and T-shirts! If you missed it on TV get the DVD.

Downton Abbey:

Titanic, who didn't love this one?

Brideshead Revisited, another great book and movie:

New Year's Eve 2010-2011, Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian cities

2011-01-10T10:52:00.002-07:00

The Sartorialist: A behind the scenes story.

2011-01-06T12:00:00.005-07:00

I've always been fascinated by people. When I was dating, my boyfriends used to complain of me staring at strangers in public. Some, broke up with me on the basis that I was flirting with other guys. Well, maybe they were partially right, but mostly I was just curious.

Beauty is meant to be admired whether it's a person, nature, or a work of art. And I love to admire it through the lenses of The Sartorialist, my favorite blog about street fashion from around the world. Watch the documentary below to see how the pictures are made. Then checkout the blog. I know you'll love it!

A Look at the Future of Starbucks | Starbucks Coffee Company

2011-01-05T12:29:00.004-07:00

A Look at the Future of Starbucks | Starbucks Coffee Company (full story + video)

Every brand needs to be updated from time to time and Starbucks is a great example. I think I'll miss seeing their name on the logo, but for a company that is always expanding its line of products, the decision to drop the name makes a lot of sense.

The new logo is a lot more flexible because it eliminates the need for editing its verbiage to fit each product. Imagine having to replace the word coffee with espresso machine, or french press coffee maker? Now imagine having to do it in foreign languages like сafetière à piston. I don't know if this is what they're doing, but it would be a nightmare from a design standpoint. It's also expensive to have to change it on every package. But you might argue that they could just drop the description part of the logo and keep Starbucks on top. However, that would throw the design out of balance. I like the new logo because it's modern, clean and simple.

My New Year's Resolutions

2010-12-31T12:21:00.001-07:00

The graphic design industry is changing. Employers are looking for web and interactive designers, crowdsourcing websites are offering cheap logos, clients want Microsoft templates so they can make their own changes in-house, brides want to print their own invitations, and the list goes on. There's no sense in fighting these changes. We can complain on our forums, blogs and social media outlets, but they're here to stay and there's no going back.

So, what to do then? Below is a list of my resolutions for 2011:

Learn everything I can about web and interactive programs.
Become proficient in Microsoft Office.
Improve my writing skills, perhaps by taking a class in creative writing.
Become a social media expert. I don't know exactly what that is, even though I've been using social media for a wile, but it's something that almost every business is looking for.
Do more self promotion.
Keep writing blogs.
Take a business class.
Keep working on illustrations and photos for my Etsy shop.
Exercise my creativity.
Get out of the office more often to see new places and experience new things.

I also want to improve my drawing skills, learn new knitting stitches and learn how to sew. I'll let you know by the end of the year if I've achieved any of these things. In the meantime, happy new year and best of luck for achieving your resolutions for 2011!

Are you a Comic Sans Criminal?

2010-12-23T12:05:00.001-07:00

If you're not sure, take a look at the website Comic Sans Criminal, which illustrates what I said on my previous post about the personality of fonts. The site is brilliant and worth taking a look for inspiration even if you're not a Comic Sans Criminal. But don't be so smug, you might be another type of font criminal. Along with Comic Sans, the most overused fonts in graphic design are: Bradley Hand, Brush Script, Cooper Black, Copperplate Gothic, Curlz MT, Impact, Papyrus, Trajan and Zapf Chancery.

Lastly, there is a wonderful little book for non-designers and design beginners called "Non-Designer's Design Book" by Robin Williams. It's easy to read and understand with illustrated examples to help you create professional looking layouts.

Fonts and their personalities:

2010-12-15T11:48:00.001-07:00

I believe that every font has a different personality. A font can be classic, modern, fun, feminine, masculine, retro, etc. Choosing the right fonts for each design is very important and you shouldn't feel restricted to the fonts that come with your computer. There are many websites that sell fonts that work with PCs and Macs. My favorite is Veer.com. Below are some examples of what I'm saying:

Phaeton by Umbrella Type

Liza Pro Complete by Umbrella Type

Raniscript by Umbrella Type

Houschka Pro Complete by G-Type Type

p22 Caffe Family by IHOF Type

Eloquent Complete by Jukebox Type

Buffet Script by Umbrella Type

Finura Complete by TypeTrust Type

Kewl Script by Umbrella Type

Mati by Umbrella Type

Aeronaut Family by Umbrella Type

http://marketplace.veer.com/font/Sirba-CTT0000512

There is nothing sexier than a well-dressed man.

2010-12-07T19:59:00.004-07:00

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of looking at guys walking around with faded, torn and distressed clothes that are too big for them. The same goes to the all too common baggy suits with shoulder pads at business meetings.

Guys, big clothes don't hide your belly, they make you look fatter and sloppy. Girls too, but I'm talking about you now. Take a look at the latest and hottest fashions below and try to find pieces of clothing that mimic their style. Pay attention to hair and accessories as well. If you can't do it on your own, take the pictures with you and show them to a sales person. Trust me when I say girls will find you irresistible.

All the photos above are from Style.com

The September Issue

2010-12-05T18:55:00.002-07:00

I watched “The September Issue” last night, and if you like Vogue, I think you’ll appreciate watching the behind-the-scenes goings-on of this amazing magazine. Editor–in-Chief Anna Wintour does bare some similarities to Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada,” however Anna seemed to be much nicer and more real than Miranda.

I can’t decide if being emotionally distant, unapproachable and intimidating are necessary for a woman to succeed in the corporate world. Would Vogue be as successful if Anna Wintour was a friendly boss? Would Anna be who she is today if she was close to her employees? She’s definitely doing something right or her situation would be completely different, don’t you agree?

From my experience as an employee, the more approachable I was the more my bosses took advantage of me. And when I worked for an intimidating person, I absolutely hated going to work every morning. In fact, I did work at a magazine publisher a few years ago, and my boss was a “Miranda Priestly/Anna Wintour” wannabe…except that she wasn’t even close to being as sophisticated or well-dressed as Miranda or Anna. The magazines she managed were inconsequential in comparison to Vogue, and her exposure to high fashion was through Vogue, Getty Images and Style.com. She was the reason I decided to leave my job and start my design studio, and I’m grateful for her influence in my decision, because I’m a lot happier being my own boss.

Now back to “The September Issue.” I fell in love with Grace Coddington, top model in the ’60s and Vogue’s creative director. The woman is a creative genius! I’ve always said that Vogue has the most amazing fashion spreads, and now I know why. In the movie, Grace expressed some concerns about being a romantic and feared her taste was becoming obsolete. Well, I disagree with you Grace. Your spreads are my favorites, and I save them all. So please, don’t change your style. I’ll be sad the day you leave Vogue.

This movie made me regret throwing away my September issues. I always pull out the images and stories I like and recycle the rest, but the September issues are special, and I might sacrifice storage space to save them in the future.

What’s to become of Vogue without Anna and Grace is yet to be seen, and I hope it doesn’t happen for a very long time.

Colorful Favelas

2010-12-02T08:00:00.003-07:00

If you can't get rid of the Favelas (Brazilian shanty towns), why not make them pretty? That is exactly what The Firmeza Foundation is doing and you can help by donating some money.

Anthology Magazine Presents "Print Is Not Dead"

2010-12-01T12:08:00.001-07:00

Anthology is a new quarterly shelter and lifestyle print magazine that takes a narrative approach to its coverage of home décor, travel, design, entertaining, and culture. Checkout this cool video they put together to promote it.

Inspired by Brazilian colonial floors

2010-11-29T20:51:00.002-07:00

I photographed these floors on my latest trip to Rio de Janeiro as a source of inspiration. The first three pictures were shot at the art museum (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes). I'm always in awe of the craftsmanship that goes into every detail of old buildings and they never seize to inspire me.

These last two pictures of hand painted tiles make me feel nostalgic about time spent in the homes of old relatives whose homes have been replaced by tall residential apartment buildings.

If I ever get to build a custom home I'll have to design my own tile floors.

How to clean old slides, my way:

2010-11-24T09:12:00.004-07:00

After doing some research online I concluded that the best way to clean my old slides are with soap and water and finish with 91% Isopropyl alcohol. The suggested commercial film cleaners were said to have strong fumes and sometimes damage the negatives, so here is what I've been doing and it's working out so far:

Gently remove the slide from its cardboard case. You will need to reuse it to put the film back. If you destroy some of the cases you'll be fine as long as you have a few intact that you can use for all slides.
Soak the film in water and hand soap for a few minutes. 10 minutes is plenty. I put a couple of squirts of the soap in a small tupperware bowl filled with water.
Remove the film from the soap bowl and gently rub it with your thumb on both sides under running water.
Quickly dip the film in a small bow filled with the alcohol and gently dry it with a lint-free towel. Some people dry it with a blow dryer but I don't have the patience for that.
I put the film back in its cardboard case and insert it in the mounted slide holder. If I see any water stains I dip the towel in the alcohol and gently rub the film with it wile blowing air with my mouth.

I use the scanner Pulstek OpticFilm 7300 and retouch the photos in Adobe Photoshop.

Film prior to cleaning.

Film after cleaning. I missed a water spot on top of the tallest building.

Final image after retouching and color correcting. Available for sale on my Etsy shop.

30 Designer Gifts to Give The Lady Geek in 2010

2010-11-15T19:17:00.002-07:00

Inspired by 30 Designer Christmas Gifts To Give The Geek in 2010.

All of the above from katespade.com

Blush Flower Scarflette from Etsy

Turquoise 3 Tier Cake Stand from Etsy

Ecosaurus Interactive Cards, available at Ecosaurus

From Old Navy

Skip Hop Zoo Lunchies Insulated Lunch Bag - Zebra from Target

Handmade soaps by Strawberry Hedgehog

Pouch and laptop sleeve from Coach

MP3 SPEAKER SHIMMER WALLET and DAZZLE SPEAKERS from Juice Couture

Jason Miller Seconds Dinner Plates from Design Public

Snow White Vinyl Decal for Macbook from Etsy

Dotty Damask lil Hoot from Etsy

My Sex Life Guided Journal from Knock Knock

Pop Ink Napkins Fashion

Pop Ink Memo Books Garden Variety + Water Garden

Clock from Ikea

Jonathan Adler Love Dove Peace Sign Fuchsia Bookends from Barns & Noble

Chooka 'Gypsy Owl' Rain Boot from Nordstrom

Fossil 'Clara' Print Compact Mirror from Nordstrom

All of the above from CB2

I love Penguin

2010-11-12T09:48:00.002-07:00

I'm obsessed with books and do not buy a book if the cover is unattractive unless there is no alternative. Penguin has been designing the most creative and beautiful covers for their classic collections. The latest designs were done in collaboration with AIDS awareness fund (RED). Read full story here.

Here are some of my other favorite Penguin covers:

And the Nabokov Covers for Penguin Classics designed by Pentagram

Two trips, one photo montage

2010-11-09T16:45:00.004-07:00

This artwork is available for purchase at my Etsy store.

The flowers were shot at Bosque Alemão, Curitiba, Brazil.

When you go to a museum, please make sure you're allowed to take pictures of the artwork and remember to turn off your flash or set your camera to museum mode before taking pictures. Light damages original artwork.

Inspiration: Wallpaper on ceilings

2010-11-08T10:34:00.001-07:00

This is an old concept that always surprises me when I see it. How often do you think about dressing the walls and forget the ceiling?

I believe this was featured on Domino magazine, but I'm not sure.

From Country Home Magazine, 2010 House of the Year

This nursery was featured on Domino Magazine.

What is a press check?

2010-11-05T10:50:00.001-07:00

Assuming you hired a designer to do the job, after numerous rounds of changes and approval the designer sends your files to the printer. The printer generates a proof and you approve it with or without changes. So the printer schedules the day and time your job will go on press. The designer is notified and goes to the print shop at the appointed date. Upon arrival, the designer is taken to a lit table where a press-sheet, the sheet taken from the press running your job, is laid out.

The designer checks the press sheet for the following things:

▪ Color accuracy

▪ Skin tones

▪ Sharpness

▪ Color overlapping

▪ Edges of images

▪ Screened type

▪ Broken type

▪ Scratches

▪ Spots

▪ Ghosting

Please note that the designer does not proofread the job again. The purpose of the press check is to oversee technical printing issues. It is important to ensure the content is correct on the previous proofing stages. Otherwise, the job will need to be stopped, new plates will need to be generated and this will cost you and the printer more time and money.

If you don't have the budget, do it by hand

2010-11-02T07:25:00.001-07:00

My cousin Bhárbara Renault, fashion designer in Brazil, has created the backgrounds for her boutique’s Summer 2010 catalog with black and white prints that she hand painted using watercolor inks.

Below are some of my favorite pieces from her collection. The clothes are made with beautiful fabrics and feature impeccable construction. She's looking for stores to carry her clothes in the U.S. if you know someone please send her a message through her website.

Graphic Designers don’t like double spaces after punctuation

2010-11-01T10:36:00.002-07:00

Because the computer is not a typewriter:
“On a typewriter, all the characters were mono-spaced; that is, they each took up an equal amount of space. The letter “1” occupied as much space as the letter “m.” Because characters were mono- spaced, inserting two spaces after periods helped to visually separate one sentence from the next. Most fonts on the computer have characters that are proportional. That is, each character takes up a proportional amount of space—the letter “1” takes up about one-fifth the space of the letter “m.” So you no longer need extra spaces to separate sentences. In fact, if you insert two spaces between sentences, you will see unwanted white spaces in a block of text.” (Adapted from The PC is Not a Typewriter, Robin Williams)

And because the Grammar Girl says:
“Although how many spaces you use is ultimately a style choice, using one space is by far the most widely accepted and logical style. The Chicago Manual of Style (1), the AP Stylebook (2), and the Modern Language Association (3) all recommend using one space after a period at the end of a sentence. Furthermore, page designers have written in begging me to encourage people to use one space because if you send them a document with two spaces after the periods, they have to go in and take all the extra spaces out.
I know it's a hard habit to break if you were trained to use two spaces, but if you can, give one space a try.” (full article)