If Tom Helland can do it....

so can I! Here are some meeting notes, important nouns have been blurred out for my safety :) If you're wondering about Tom Helland, I am referring to the Tom from Organic that doodles during meetings. He says that it helps him concentrate and I completely agree! If I didnt write things like this, I would not remember them, plus every now and then I hear an awesome phrase or new word that is noteworthy. Doodling helps me think about the project creatively with all these notes on my mind. Some of the doodles go into a stream of consciousness, but its all part of the process :) You can also see meeting notes from the past on my website.

Perks

For a while now, I've been going to an event hosted by AIGA Detroit called Third Thursday. Its a social event that is usually at a bar, and its a good way to have a drink and chat with local designers. I have met a lot of designer friends from going to Third Thursday, and its made me realize that I love my design community :)

Somehow, I am now the AIGA Detroit Programming Director, and it has become my responsibility to create events like that, but change it a bit to reach a different audience because, surprisingly not everyone loves going to the bar and staying out all night! Some other AIGA Chapters have created things like this, one is called Buzz, a morning gathering at a coffee shop to discuss favorite typefaces, debate over re-branding campaigns, and whatever else it is that designers talk about in the morning. Our chapter will be introducing its new event series, Stew! Where designers can sit and stew over a range of various topics. I would also like to use this opportunity to bring some new business to local luncheries :) (suggestions are welcome!)

For each event must come a logo, so here are some initial sketches (Yes, thats right, I was considering calling it 'Lunchy Lunch' or 'FUNCH')

Now that you are part of the process, stay tuned for the official unveiling of the event series! :)

Lemonade

A couple months ago, I was obsessed with self-help lectures. Every time I brought up the topic of self-help into a conversation, I felt like I should be embarrassed that I brought it up. I often times get weird looks or silent nods about it, “oh yeah…uh...cool.” The only time I’ve had a long conversation about it has been with close friends. Anyway, I didn’t get into the self-help thing because I needed answers or because I felt stuck in life. I got into it because it seemed to be a source of inspiration for some of my favorite designers. Since I was in need of a little inspiration that did NOT consist of looking at the work of other designers, I thought I would investigate.

Since I am a better listener than reader, I signed up for the LearnOutLoud’s Personal Growth Podcast, that offers a small taste of every famous self-help book out there. I listened to all of them so far, and I have to say that they are either super good, really weird and creepy, or just entertaining. As hard as it is to listen to Tony Robbins, it was entertaining listening to him explain how to “Awaken the Giant Within.” For the most part, I enjoyed listening to each one, but I thought they were a little cheesy and moved on.

The other day, I revisited those podcasts, as I will do every now and then. Most recently, I listened to He Said–She Said by Deborah Tannen. I ended up having Darin download the entire book for me and then listened to the whole thing the next day! I think it was too much in one day, since it became all I could talk about for the next few days. She talks about the language patterns of men and women and pointed out how even though we assume our reactions and conversations with each other happen involuntarily, they are not, and the reactions between men and women (most of them anyway) are pretty constant in all different ages, time periods, and regions of the world.

Now this has become the-podcast-that-I-try-talking-to-people-about-but-they-are-not-into-it, haha. I’ll tell you what though, it makes my day so much more fascinating to study the way people talk in different situations. It makes so much sense! Its like finding the key to life (NOT the Secret, for goodnessake). I liked her book because it just states the facts, no judgments. She gives examples of conversations, but never says if either person reacted correctly or incorrectly, but it’s just a pure translation of the conversation and then an analysis of why those particular words were said. I love the idea that reactions and feelings are not involuntary, and its somewhat comforting/weird to know that men and women have been having the same conversations for generations! It means that a person has control over his/her feelings and that is so much more reassuring to me! This way of thinking makes it easier not to judge or hold grudges, and I like that. Blah blah blah. ☺

So I guess, in a way I was inspired by the self-help stuff. It hasn’t shown up in my work yet, perhaps it will once I start producing some hahaha. It has helped me to start writing about my own identity and point of view though. I guess once that is out on paper, the work will be easier to get down on paper.

Soooooo Cute

Some cute gocco prints from boygirlparty

This one reminds me of Lincoln & Girl Cat (a.k.a. Merle)


I love this fat little deer necklace!

Chalkboard paint!

fun colors for chalkboard paint from Hudson Paint!!! I love the packaging too, so cute!

Signs!

Awww these signs make me miss working at the sign shop! I <3 these!

Last night I had the strangest dream...

This morning was a little groggy, but on my way to work, I remembered my dream! A few notes to explain, Girl Cat is our cat. This morning she was banging on the closet door, driving me nuts! I think at one point I woke up and yelled at her :/ The You in this story is my friend Gillian. I was describing my dream to her and I was too lazy to rewrite it for another audience. Here is my dream as I explained it to my friend Gillian (I might have added more details to this one):

okay, so I have to tell you my dream. In the dream, I woke up to the sound of running water. I went in the bathroom and looked in, and Girl Cat was in there taking a shower! Just sitting there with the water pouring on her. I could see her through the curtains. So, she's in the shower and I thought that was weird. Then I pushed on the door to see if there was someone standing behind it, and there WAS! I couldn't see who was behind there, so I pushed the door as hard as i could, trying to trap them there, and yelled for Darin. I whisper/shouted, "There is someone behind the door!" and he was like, "grrrmmmb" rolled over and went to bed. Oh no! I pushed harder and started yelling at the person behind the door, pinning them behind the door, while looking for something to hit the person with.

I finally opened the door a little and saw the person was YOU! then you shouted, SURPRISE! Then, all of a sudden, we were at a wedding shower, only it was a shower where you invited all my girl friends over to one spot and each girl convinced me why I should have a baby. It was a baby convincing shower, so weird! but in the dream, this was a real tradition. sooooooo weird. We have casually been talking about babies, maybe after your wedding! :) I cant wait until you start having weird wedding dreams. I bet they are going to be good hahaha

wow :)