Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tchotchkeeper
On page 47 of this week's issue of Time Out Chicago, there's a small story about me and my design sense...Check it out!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
DANGER
Aaaaaw Jen is so cute, but she's DANGEROUS!Notice: Keep Out! OOOOOh she's such a pretty princess.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Circus Elephant
I adore this little guy...don't you!?
What's his story? Why is he so cute? Want the scoop? Then certainly check out Abode! Maybe you can help solve a mystery while reveling in the past...
Monday, May 12, 2008
Another Baby
The past weekend proved exhausting... Friday, my long-lost friend Stephanie and I saw Devotchka, which was musically wonderful, but still did not get this gnawing ‘90s song knocked out of my head. Afterwards Stephanie and I caught up at Matilda's Bar. Stephanie was one of my first friends here in Chicago. I met her at the Duke of Perth and at first we really didn’t like one another, but after having to endure two working nights side by side for a few weeks, we soon realized how cool we both were and began a good friendship. In fact, if it weren’t for Stephanie, I wouldn’t have had such a fun foray into my 30s—see Stephanie insisted we go out to celebrate my 30th in style. This same year Stephanie moved to Seattle where she stayed for three years, we kept in touch. Now she is back here in Chicago and I am happy to have her back!
Later that night, I hopped into Mario’s rock-n-roll cab...
You think there’d be some rockin’ music coming from this cab, right? No, unfortunately the décor is bumpin, but the tunes not so much. I told Mario it’s time to invest in a good stereo system so he can start rockin’ the Aerosmith. He does have a giant poster of the band on the ceiling over the back seat.
Double the giant poster, with the mini Aerosmith posters throughout the cab, throw in a couple Liv Tyler stories and, well pretty soon I want to see a dude that looks like a lady. Mario does seem to have a crush on Miss. Liv as he did recount the few times he drove her around Chicago. But when you press him for any dirty little details, he starts to get excited, and then immediately retreats, “oh no, it's not nice to say such things; I really like her." Aaaaw! Okay Mario, the music may not be rockin’, but I’ll give you points for being a sweetheart.
Unfortunately though, Randy Gerber didn’t see this side of Mario. One evening Mario picked Gerber up downtown, and while in the cab, Gerber noticed Mario’s poster of a wet and bikini-clad Cindy Crawford; he asked Mario “why do you have a picture of my wife up in here?” Not really thinking Gerber was married to Crawford, Mario started playfully arguing, "yeah right, she is beautiful." After further prodding, and not so playfully, Gerber asked again, "Why do you have my wife in here?" Mario then realized that this was Crawford's husband and just replied “Hey look man that’s a model, not a whore.”
If you want to hear more about Mario’s stories and get your own ride in the rock-n-roll cab, call Mario at 312/714-9608. His cab number is 1207. Oh and bonus, Mario not only happily accepts credit cards, he even suggests you use them! Now if only we could get little Janie and her gun in this cab, then I'd be real happy.
As for that song so delicately lodged in my head, well I made my peace with that little ditty...
Later that night, I hopped into Mario’s rock-n-roll cab...
You think there’d be some rockin’ music coming from this cab, right? No, unfortunately the décor is bumpin, but the tunes not so much. I told Mario it’s time to invest in a good stereo system so he can start rockin’ the Aerosmith. He does have a giant poster of the band on the ceiling over the back seat.
Double the giant poster, with the mini Aerosmith posters throughout the cab, throw in a couple Liv Tyler stories and, well pretty soon I want to see a dude that looks like a lady. Mario does seem to have a crush on Miss. Liv as he did recount the few times he drove her around Chicago. But when you press him for any dirty little details, he starts to get excited, and then immediately retreats, “oh no, it's not nice to say such things; I really like her." Aaaaw! Okay Mario, the music may not be rockin’, but I’ll give you points for being a sweetheart.
Unfortunately though, Randy Gerber didn’t see this side of Mario. One evening Mario picked Gerber up downtown, and while in the cab, Gerber noticed Mario’s poster of a wet and bikini-clad Cindy Crawford; he asked Mario “why do you have a picture of my wife up in here?” Not really thinking Gerber was married to Crawford, Mario started playfully arguing, "yeah right, she is beautiful." After further prodding, and not so playfully, Gerber asked again, "Why do you have my wife in here?" Mario then realized that this was Crawford's husband and just replied “Hey look man that’s a model, not a whore.”
If you want to hear more about Mario’s stories and get your own ride in the rock-n-roll cab, call Mario at 312/714-9608. His cab number is 1207. Oh and bonus, Mario not only happily accepts credit cards, he even suggests you use them! Now if only we could get little Janie and her gun in this cab, then I'd be real happy.
As for that song so delicately lodged in my head, well I made my peace with that little ditty...
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Meow Kitties
Work has been real busy and just so rewarding...ha! Um yeah...back to reality... So I have been on deadline and I am preparing for my next work trip.
In a week I go to NYC for the National Stationery Show; this is my favorite show of the industry! Beautiful paper, adorable greeting cards, stickers, and, of course, the artists that created these pretty pieces are always easily accessible and more than thrilled to gab about their work. Like Masha Dyans (right).
I love Dyans' artwork, it's whimsical, pretty, and so intricately beautiful! Aside from her work adorned on greetings, she has also done T-shirts for both Target and Urban Outfitters, funky, fun, and colorful T's indeed.
Another company I love is Red Cap Greetings, designs and artwork by Carrie Gifford. Gifford's illustrations are adorably enchanting and some are just a wee bit dark. I love, love! The cards are all letterpress and include touches of color on thick paper stock.
Shown here is Two Scoops which, for some weird reason, completely reminds me of my parents. It's two silly, semi-dorky, but sweet people completely in love with each other enjoying a favorite pastime, eating ice-cream together.
Lucky for me I have made some good friends in the industry and do look forward to seeing them all again as well catching up with new acquaintances from last year, and meeting others for the first time.
Events of the show include judging for the Best New Products Awards, the opening night party at the Rainbow Room, and the reception and ceremony for the Louie Awards. Um, The Louies Awards you ask?
The Louies are the Oscars of the greeting card industry.... yes they have awards for greeting cards and people go nuts for the Louies! It's pretty funny. Each year before the event and ceremony I receive the big box of nominated cards here at the office—this is a good day. All the cards are considered the best of the best, and once the Louies are over and I have covered the event, guess who gets to enjoy sending out some cute cards every now and then!?
I'm really excited this year as I often try to seek out different cards to feature in my section for the magazine. I often find out about different cards and artists through a Google Alerts listing that sends me all the stories relating to cards. This one company I found has the cutest little creations! The company is called LeClair Handcrafted and the artist is Corinda LeClair.
I contacted LeClair to get a card in the magazine, and after talking for a while I mentioned the Louies to her. LeClair decided to enter for the first time, and guess what? She is a finalist!! It feels good to have just a wee bit of a part in helping her get more exposure... Of course it also confirms that my taste rocks! Ha! Okay, but I do highly recommend you checking out her creations! LeClair takes vintage images, reproduces them and adds embellishments, such as ribbon and glitter, and places them on pretty card stock with matching envelopes. So cute!
Like at last year's show, and the NYC Gift Fairs, I again get to try another (new to me) New York City hotel. Last year's hotel was a real trip! I stayed at The Gershwin, next to the Sex Museum! The inside was bizarre, slightly run down, and had a very starving artist feel to it.
The moment I got in my room I thought "nope, I can not stay here." I mean just that previous month I was at the Waldorf for goodness sakes! But as much as I adored the fluffy bed and plush carpet, the overall stuffiness of the hotel bored me, that is why I sought out something a little more exciting... and exciting is what I got. Warning if the hotel is very reasonably priced and uses the word boutique in its description, than indeed be wary!
I was convinced the bed at bed bugs. Lucky for me, the show producers of the Stationery Show also work the hotel and hospitality shows and in speaking with the media supervisor she told me about all the fun things she had learned about bed bugs. So once I checked my mattress and all was clear, I felt a lot better. Thankfully the place grew on me, by the time I left I felt like it was my own little seedy apartment in NYC. Just look at my room below, it even had hardwood floors!
Mean hardwoods floors at that—as when I was in a rush flying about the room getting ready and missed my pierced ear when trying to hook an uber cute red shell earring from Ms. Mingo, I missed and that floor certainly snapped my earring in pieces. It was very sad.
Ahhh well these tales aren't so exciting...maybe to me...I guess the point of my post today is this: I am busy, but I'm missing J's World and my five faithful readers... I will write more and am excited for the next couple weeks. I will come back bearing pictures of my new hotel experience at The Dream Hotel in midtown.....please may it not smell like the W that I stayed at last Feb... not sure what the attraction is to W Hotels, do you know they spritz all the rooms with this god-awful annoying perfume? Headache city!
Please do remember to check out my other blog Abode for the latest in what happening in J's Home World and more of what designs, artists, and random little objects inspire me!
xoxo
Gossip Girl
In a week I go to NYC for the National Stationery Show; this is my favorite show of the industry! Beautiful paper, adorable greeting cards, stickers, and, of course, the artists that created these pretty pieces are always easily accessible and more than thrilled to gab about their work. Like Masha Dyans (right).I love Dyans' artwork, it's whimsical, pretty, and so intricately beautiful! Aside from her work adorned on greetings, she has also done T-shirts for both Target and Urban Outfitters, funky, fun, and colorful T's indeed.
Another company I love is Red Cap Greetings, designs and artwork by Carrie Gifford. Gifford's illustrations are adorably enchanting and some are just a wee bit dark. I love, love! The cards are all letterpress and include touches of color on thick paper stock.
Shown here is Two Scoops which, for some weird reason, completely reminds me of my parents. It's two silly, semi-dorky, but sweet people completely in love with each other enjoying a favorite pastime, eating ice-cream together.Lucky for me I have made some good friends in the industry and do look forward to seeing them all again as well catching up with new acquaintances from last year, and meeting others for the first time.
Events of the show include judging for the Best New Products Awards, the opening night party at the Rainbow Room, and the reception and ceremony for the Louie Awards. Um, The Louies Awards you ask?
The Louies are the Oscars of the greeting card industry.... yes they have awards for greeting cards and people go nuts for the Louies! It's pretty funny. Each year before the event and ceremony I receive the big box of nominated cards here at the office—this is a good day. All the cards are considered the best of the best, and once the Louies are over and I have covered the event, guess who gets to enjoy sending out some cute cards every now and then!?
I'm really excited this year as I often try to seek out different cards to feature in my section for the magazine. I often find out about different cards and artists through a Google Alerts listing that sends me all the stories relating to cards. This one company I found has the cutest little creations! The company is called LeClair Handcrafted and the artist is Corinda LeClair.
I contacted LeClair to get a card in the magazine, and after talking for a while I mentioned the Louies to her. LeClair decided to enter for the first time, and guess what? She is a finalist!! It feels good to have just a wee bit of a part in helping her get more exposure... Of course it also confirms that my taste rocks! Ha! Okay, but I do highly recommend you checking out her creations! LeClair takes vintage images, reproduces them and adds embellishments, such as ribbon and glitter, and places them on pretty card stock with matching envelopes. So cute!Like at last year's show, and the NYC Gift Fairs, I again get to try another (new to me) New York City hotel. Last year's hotel was a real trip! I stayed at The Gershwin, next to the Sex Museum! The inside was bizarre, slightly run down, and had a very starving artist feel to it.
The moment I got in my room I thought "nope, I can not stay here." I mean just that previous month I was at the Waldorf for goodness sakes! But as much as I adored the fluffy bed and plush carpet, the overall stuffiness of the hotel bored me, that is why I sought out something a little more exciting... and exciting is what I got. Warning if the hotel is very reasonably priced and uses the word boutique in its description, than indeed be wary!I was convinced the bed at bed bugs. Lucky for me, the show producers of the Stationery Show also work the hotel and hospitality shows and in speaking with the media supervisor she told me about all the fun things she had learned about bed bugs. So once I checked my mattress and all was clear, I felt a lot better. Thankfully the place grew on me, by the time I left I felt like it was my own little seedy apartment in NYC. Just look at my room below, it even had hardwood floors!
Mean hardwoods floors at that—as when I was in a rush flying about the room getting ready and missed my pierced ear when trying to hook an uber cute red shell earring from Ms. Mingo, I missed and that floor certainly snapped my earring in pieces. It was very sad.Ahhh well these tales aren't so exciting...maybe to me...I guess the point of my post today is this: I am busy, but I'm missing J's World and my five faithful readers... I will write more and am excited for the next couple weeks. I will come back bearing pictures of my new hotel experience at The Dream Hotel in midtown.....please may it not smell like the W that I stayed at last Feb... not sure what the attraction is to W Hotels, do you know they spritz all the rooms with this god-awful annoying perfume? Headache city!
Please do remember to check out my other blog Abode for the latest in what happening in J's Home World and more of what designs, artists, and random little objects inspire me!
xoxo
Gossip Girl
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