unruly-things

one of the most expansive script fonts available, P22 Zaner has over 3000 glyphs. it is also unique in its style, capturing the beautiful strokes of penman Charles Paxton Zaner.
it's quite lovely, if you ask me. I can't imagine having handwriting that nice.
{from font shop}

I've set up a listing in my shop for customized headers. if you need a header, go check it out!

{if you haven't seen the headers I've designed, you can see some of them here. above are just a few of the illustration samples that I've used on other headers. if you'd like a customized header, please email me and we'll go from there! I'm available to illustrate or design for a wide range of things. contact me for more info.}

when I was in college, I took a course on wine and culture. yep, a full credit class dedicated to exploring wine in it's entirety while sipping on tastings of at least 4 or 5 ounce pours of wine each class period. drinking at school = an amazing concept.
anyway, throughout the course of the class, we took evaluations on each of the wines we tasted and compiled them together into a book which we created. there was no limit to our creativity, we were just told that the better we displayed the styles, our tastings, and evaluations, the better our grade. I covered an old ring binder with watercolor paper and painted a bunch of red grapes onto the cover. then I separated each style of wine into sections in my book, filed under red and white wines, and ordered by body. sauvignon blanc fell first starting off the whites, and syrah and zinfandel ended the reds. the book was concluded with some fortified wine - port, sherry, and madeira. I enjoyed making that book, and I still enjoy going back to look at my illustrations of wine glasses and evaluations of each wine.
if you don't already know, dlb and I are big beer drinkers. we've tasted close to 300 different beers. in the fall of 2006, we started a beer book, with labels saved from all of the different beers that we've tasted. the label is placed inside the book along with the brewery information, website, and a little evaluation of it. I've often wondered what we will do with it if we ever decide to stop saving labels. then this morning I found this.

this neat little book by Joe McLaren made me think of my wine book and it's illustrations and descriptions. it gave me inspiration on what to do with our labels. to compile them into a new, better book and describe each style, as I once described each grape. since we have so many labels, my thought is to highlight beers from each style for the book, and maybe include some of the pretty labels too - yes, I tend to judge a new beer by the label.
{from joe mclaren, joe mclaren via a book by it's cover}

my good friend Lauren from back home in Tampa, just recently purchased an early 1900's apartment with a charming vintage appeal in the heart of historic Ybor City. the apartment/home is on the second floor of a commercial building that was built in 1908. the lower level of the building was originally a business and the second level served as a home for the shop owners.
last night Lauren sent me some pictures of her newly restored home. she and her boyfriend have worked hard to restore it and it really has turned out to be amazing. the fixing up has been a long process, and she's admits that it's an ongoing project.
as I looked through the pictures, I was in love. it's perfect and totally her style. the hardwood floors are gorgeous and I can just picture she and her friends playing pool while watching sports on their big screen tv. but I especially wanted to show you her kitchen, which I found to be simply breathtaking.
the merlot red walls, the bright white cabinets, combined with that oh so classically early 1900's black and white tile flooring. it looks like a perfect space for cooking up delicious meals. thanks for letting me share, Lauren! I can't wait to see it in person this May.

in this water and berries. check out more of this water and their cute packaging here.
{from this water, via design crush}

if I told you I didn't have a overwhelming crush on white, I'd be desperately lying. if I could, I'd decorate with white and pops of color, dress in white, and photograph with lots of bright whites. it's crisp and clean and simply striking.
if I didn't spill something on my self every darn time that I wore white, I'd wear it more often. but I like these whites of spring a lot.
{from j. crew}

I'm enjoying my weekend.  

she constantly leaves me impressed. the videos and still shots of her winter collection are just as fantastic as spring was, if not better. the balloons are so delightful.
{from alyson fox, via a history of architecture}

sometime, oh... let's say in the summer of 2006, there was a girl who fell in love with a boy. this boy couldn't stand pointy toe shoes and spike heels. he hated even more when she'd complain that her feet hurt. so this girl broke down and bought some comfort shoes, aka Crocs. she thought, hey, they'll be great for the beach, boat, and everything else Florida related, and plus, they are super comfortable. secretly, she thought her feet looked funny and a little bit like she'd fallen for the Croc cult, but her feet felt good when she wore them.
then one day, actually one really long week turned weekend, she left her Crocs in the sweltering heat of Florida, in her hot, steamy car.
and they shrank.

so, she no longer wears those brownish-greenish Cayman Crocs, but she's been eying these purple ones named Alice. {they are actually kind of cute, no?}

this week, Jen from simply photo has dedicated her posts to photographers. I've been enjoying her finds, especially the photography by Alana Davis. her work is beautiful.
{from alana davis, via simply photo}

since I'm a big fan of charms, these necklaces immediatly caught my eye. they have names like betsy, derby, pecan, and pingpong to complete their overall cuteness.
{from moss mills}

I'm wanting some lightweight cotton shirts for spring.
I'm also wanting days where I can wear just these shirts without needing a jacket and scarf.
oh yea, and also days where I can wear flip flops.
please? thanks.
{from forever 21}

Tiffany reminded me how much I love Sia. I first fell in love with Sia when she sang for Zero 7 on their debut album, Simple Things. if you know me, you know that Zero 7 is quite possibly my favorite band and sometimes I believe that Sia is the reason that I love them so much. she has such natural talent. her voice is so amazing. I still have yet to see her live, and she's been to Portland twice since I've lived here. hopefully one day... and hopefully she'll sing that song that got me hooked, Destiny. she's fantastic.
{from sia music}

I'm a big fan of simplicity. while I appreciate complex detail and subject matter, I'm more drawn to the simple, clean, and clear focused things. like a white blouse, or tiny doodles on a big sheet of paper, or classic monograms on white sheets.
white space is the negative space between elements in a composition. in art and photography, white space is often used to create a feeling of balance and interestingness. white space shouldn't be considered as simply blank space, but rather an important element to achieving the overall feeling of a photo. simply stated, it's a balance between the positive and negative space.
last week, I started a set on my flickr stream called white space wednesday. now, I'd like you to join me in my challenge to find beauty in white space, so I've started a flickr group, dedicated to utilizing white space in a photo. creatively and literally. let the subject share the spotlight with the negative space.
so here are the rules:
• make the negative space just as interesting as the main part of your photos.
• the white space doesn't always have to be white. I just find it prettier that way.
• you can post 5 photos a week.
• remember simplicity can be soothing.
• the pictures don't always have to be taken on or uploaded on wednesday, just remember to add the tag, "white space wednesday" to your pictures.
• and... have fun with negative space!

{image from top to bottom: aerodynamics, branco no branco, day 54/365, stripes of all kinds, untitled, white carpet, untitled, the end.}

do you have a memory from your childhood or your past that brings good tears to your heart? tears of aching happiness that swell your heart with passionate memories? my heart aches at the sound of a piano.
I began playing the piano when I was five years old. my mom played too, she thought that it would be good for me to learn to play an instrument. I played my heart out for thirteen years. I played solos, duets, concertos, hymns, and even wrote some of my own songs too. I studied mostly classical piano. I fell in love with Debussy, twisted my fingers learning Brahms, and wanted to learn every Chopin waltz written.
every year, I competed in a local and state level for piano. each year I played in the solo competition, but I also competed in hymn playing and concertos. when I turned 18, I received the most prestigious reward for my hard effort, and by far, my biggest accomplishment yet. achieving a superior rating was difficult. receiving a superior rating consecutive years in a row was even harder. I received my most rewarding trophy for twelve years consecutive superior ratings in piano solo on the night of my senior recital, my last piano recital before graduating highschool. {this was also the night that I played Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms while crying my eyes out}

this week, Ali has been tributing Amelie, which I must admit, I've never seen. I've found it to be quite intriguing following her posts, but today, I was breathless. this song, has so much passion. so much feeling. I can not wait to place my fingers on keys of the piano and teach myself to play this song. again my heart aches.

now, I said that my heart aches at the sound of the piano. and it does. not because hearing the piano makes me sad but because not having a piano leaves me heartsick. not being able to play and remembering less and less each day fills me with sorrow. but it's not a total sob story. I've got plans of buying a piano sometime this year or next. a keyboard. to save space and give me that therapeutic ability to sit down and play.

if you are new to classical music, or would like some suggestions of some gorgeous works, here are some of my favorites:
Chopin Nocturne in E flat major
Debussy Suite Bergamasque Prelude
Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 - especially the part after 2:30.
Grieg Concerto part 1
Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4 - one of my absolute favorite songs. ever.

{sorry for the long, wordy post. it gave me a chance to listen and share some of my absolute favorite music.}

tonight I'll be sampling beers at Hopworks with my babe. the word is there are twelve different beers on tap for today's opening day celebration at the brewery. thank goodness for sampler platters. Survival Seven Grain Stout is calling my name.

{beer fan? check out my beer snob wisdom.}

before Orla Kiely launched her own collection of paper goods. stem print and floral heaven. Holly just posted a fabulous sneak peak over at decor8 along with a giveaway! Orla's collection of journals, composition books, address books, and more debuts in April.
{from decor8}

I've really been enjoying the dailies series over at Design for Mankind. it's always fun to get a glimpse into someone else's busy life. and it's fun to see a personal side to these bloggers and business owners too! check them out here.

aside from having really cute shoes and styling, their website is pretty sweet as well. just make sure you listen for the feet splashing!
{from f-troup}

I love these looks from John Patrick Organic. not only are they fully sustainable and natural garments, they have a classic, fresh look.
{from john patrick}

I simply adore these shoes. so cute, so graphic, so fresh... I'd totally buy them in a heart beat, if only I wasn't $400 short.
{from missoni}

I am in desperate need of some new denim. my once skinny jeans have now become my "I can't wear them for too long before they stretch and literally fall off because they are just too big for me" jeans. I know that there are some fabulous denim brands out there, but I just can't bring myself to flop out a big handful of cash for a pair of premium denim. quite honestly, I don't know the first thing about premium denim and haven't cared to take the time to find out. I do know which brands have been good to me, and which styles fit. I'm toying with the idea of trouser jeans, but most I've tried are too long, and I'm also up for a pair of black denim that won't fade.
oh, the denim woes. got any suggestions? I'm over flare jeans... and I'm beginning to tire of boot cut too. so I'm thinking straight leg, and oh... not skinny fit.
{from j. crew}

with my upcoming trip to Florida in May, I can't stop thinking about warm sunshine, sandy beaches, and boat trips. while I have tons of bikinis and I'm sure I don't need another suit, I think this will be the year for a one piece. I never thought I'd say that I'm eying a one piece suit, but lately the styles have been a lot sexier and more fun. however, it just amazes me how much these little pieces of nylon can cost. especially since I don't live 30 minutes from the beach anymore.
{from anthropologie}

I totally love:
animal charms. {thanks Heather, these are awesome!!}
slim capris, red shoes, and stripes. {speaking of Levi's...}
her Easter paintings.

I can hear:
my stomach growling I'm so hungry.

I can feel:
the sweetness of springtime in the air.

I can almost taste:
celebration beers and tasty dinner.

I can't wait:
for my trip to the Sunshine State this May. {no seriously, I can't wait!}

I'm excited for:
sneak peaks.
tiny things in felt and fabric.
creating and planning.

happy friday my friends!

isn't it funny how we come across things? like today, I was googleing something else, and wham, up popped the amazing photographic portfolio of Levi Brown. I love his work. it's all very manly and earthy. check out his work here.
{from levi brown}
{hehe, I'm really giggling inside on how I stumbled on this}

I adore these soft toys from Messy Fish. made from knitted wool or socks, these silly creatures are pretty rad. I think Silvia is my favorite, how about you?
{from messy fish}

I really really really want these, paired with dark denim and a crisp white shirt.
{from zappos}

I adore these looks from the spring collection by Ulla Johnson. casual and feminine and oh so comfortably chic.
{from ulla johnson, via Jess}

I know they're for kids, but I can't help wanting these mixing spoons in my kitchen.
{from kids central kitchen}

speaking of collections, I love this card set titled, "collection" by the oh so talented Mav.
{from port2port press}

firstly I want to thank everyone for the amazing response to my custom designs. I love hearing everyone's input and thoughts. there's a funny little thing about blogging that I didn't expect when I first signed up for my blogger account. I knew it was going to be a home for my thoughts and ideas for a long time coming, but it was the friendships, and networks, and great circle of inspirational people that I would "meet" that really make blogging special. so, thank you for being my friends!
here are four new headers that I've just finished for the lovely ladies of In{side} the Loop, Allison Wrote, Lizzy Dishes, and I Heart You. I had fun with these, exploring new ideas and color as you may have noticed. this neutral girl has gone wild, and started using color, and I quite like it. even though pink is my least favorite color, I have Paige, of I Heart You to thank for challenging me to use that bold pink on her header. and it fits her perfectly!
. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. ..
so, now. I'd like to tell you a little bit about what I'm happy and excited to offer you. I'm currently available to customize just about anything that you can think of: blog headers, stationary, invitations, note cards, business cards, calling cards, recipe cards, and more. I've added a link to my side bar which now links to all of the custom work that I have done previously, but will eventually link to my new design site which is in the works. aside from giving you whimsical and unique designs, I can offer a quick turn around and affordable pricing.
email me if you have any questions or would like to start a custom job.

{as of yesterday, I've increased the price for blog headers. I wanted to offer a fair price while also being fair to myself. though after spending hours researching and developing 2 or 3 header designs for each person, I was beginning to feel a little on the short side. so, to be fair to you and fair to myself, I've upped my pricing. as always if you are interested in a design or would like to know more, please drop me a line}

I love these sunwashed khakis, especially those red ones. part of me wants one in every color, but the black loving, neutral fan in me that doesn't like to stand out in a crowd says, "hello Alyson, you'd totally stick out like a sore thumb if you ever wore those!"
but, I still think they are cute. and perfect for vacation... somewhere tropical. like now.
{from the gap}
{funny story, in that "black loving" post about feeling a little black, I was wearing a black shift dress, a black cardigan, black opaque tights, and black flats. I'm wearing that exact outfit today. hehe.}

I love this image from the front page of Three Potato Four. kind of makes me want to start a mug collection. seems I've had collections on the mind lately.
{from three potato four}

since I'm such a sweet freak and love baking, I've always been interested in finding alternative baking methods without using sugar. when I first read through Super Natural Cooking last year, I read about Agave Nectar and it's sweetening possibilities. dlb and I ditched the usual brown sugar in our oatmeal routine, and substituted Agave Nectar. it is one of the most natural and least refined sweeteners available.
so today, when Heidi posted about Ania Catalano's new book, Baking with Agave Nectar, I knew I had to check it out. the cookbook is packed with pages of delightful things from french toast and muffins to cookies and desserts. I've reserved my copy, and hope to pick it up tonight!
{from amazon}

I saw these rainy day flats at J. Crew this weekend. rubber flats - perfect for the rainy weather in Portland... maybe.
even though they are super cute, I'm not convinced that my feet wouldn't feel slippery and still get all wet.
oooo, cute umbrellas!
{from j. crew}

I love organized collections. I enjoy seeing what others are collecting and how they display them. today I found these prints and I really like the seeing illustrative quality of each collection.
{clockwise from top left: nesting material, indian summer, ferns, poplar leaves}
{for some photographic inspiration, check out this flickr group.}

I'm wishing that:
I wasn't at work.
I had a kitchen sink that looked out a window, like lottie's.

I'm having a hard time:
getting adjusted to the time change.
waking up when it's dark outside.

I'm up to my ears:
in work. for work and for pleasure kind of work.

I'd be lying if I said that:
I wasn't dying to give you a sneak peak of what I've been working on.

yesterday I was dreaming about summer and, rts:
I can't wait for bathing on the beach, preferably in this black suit.

tomorrow I'm baking:
scones for breakfast for the 4th time. they are that good
pizza for dinner.

and as usual, happy friday!

this busy bee will be back tomorrow. :)

in the meantime, I like this.
and these make me dream of summer. {or at least a vacation where a beach is present}
{image by me}

the lookbook from the spring collection at dace is simply stunning. I've expressed my love for their simplicity and uniqueness. their spring line is gorgeous. I love the neutrals and attention to detail. I especially love their dresses, so free and feminine and in light weight fabrics perfect for spring.
{from dace}

so this past weekend, dlb and I acquired a new desk. a free new desk, that just so happens to be an old Danish Modern style desk in just the right size for our apartment. {I can't stop looking at it, I love it and will photograph it soon}
so... the search continues for the perfect set of drawers to hold all of my craft goodness. currently, I've got everything in a rubbermaid tub which is great for tucking things away, but awful when I find out that the box of beads that I want to use is at the bottom of the tub.
today I found this 5-drawer cabinet, and I think it's perfect. especially since you can purchase drawer inserts with either 4, 9, 16, or 24 compartments that fit nicely into the drawers! the neutral fan inside me is screaming dark gray or white, but another part of me really likes that red one.
but 11" x 16" does seem a little bit on the small side. at that size, I'd need two or three to even look substantial in our apartment. hm... maybe it's almost perfect.
{from the container store}

spring at Orla Kiely is oh so cute. that red dress is simply to die for.
{from orla kiely, via ali & crust station}

lately, I have found myself drawn to images where light is a major factor. I love the way light dances around the subject, creating a highlighted silhouette and I love darkness and shadows. here are a few of my recent flickr faves.
{from top to bottom: windowlight, untitled, quench, apples, petal}

while I'm on the topic of soap, I will admit, I don't always buy soaps just because they look pretty. I also buy soap that makes me feel good and works with my skin. Oregon Soap Company, located here in Portland, is a soap company dedicated to a greener environment. the company plants one tree for each 10 bars of soap that it sells, which offsets it's carbon emissions. plus, all of their soaps are created with 100% certified organic ingredients. I use the Honey Oatmeal soap for my face and it smells good and gently exfoliates my skin. you can find it at either Whole Foods or New Seasons.
{from oregon soap company}

I'm such a sucker when it comes to pretty packaging. I'm the perfect example of someone who might "judge a book by it's cover" because I like to have pretty things, be it a book, a bottle of shampoo, or a bar of soap. so naturally, I want some these soaps in every scent.
{from anthropologie}

thanks for all the kind words this wkend. I don't like being sick. it wears me out. I've still got nasty stuff hanging around like coughing and congestion, but over all - I'm feeling lots better.
this weekend, other than laying on the couch and whining because I wasn't feeling well, I started thinking more and more about what I'm planning on debuting for my line this spring. I've got a lot in the works, let's just leave it at that. and after five or six hours, I finally produced something last night. it's satisfying. and while I'd love to show each of you what I've got up my sleeves, you'll have to be patient and wait.

in other words, I'm super super busy this week. I've got blog headers to be designed, websites to be worked on, and getting over this cold to be done. I hope to post regularly, but since I'm way behind, I may only be in for a post a day.
but, daylight savings time is the best. ever. I love having more daylight after the work day is done. for some reason, I just don't want to work anymore after the light is gone. I want to rest, and sleep, and snuggle with my kitties and dlb, and watch Lost.

until next time.... happy monday, thank goodness it's almost over.

a month or so ago, I was browsing etsy when I came across Shaybelle and this lovely dress. of course, not being a wiz behind a sewing machine and always wanting a one of a kind dress, I thought about customizing one of her lovely styles. I contacted Melissa, the designer and awesome lady behind Shaybelle, and told her I was interested in purchasing a dress of one of her designs, though customizing it with fabric that I picked out. she said she'd be delighted to work with me and I started hunting for fabric.
a few weeks later {and the best thing to brighten up my otherwise boring day on Saturday} a pretty little package arrived in the mail with my brand new Shaybelle Carpenter dress. my choice of fabric was a brown herringbone flannel, just light enough for cool spring days, though warm enough to handle chilly wind days and that awful air vent draft in my office. I think it's perfect for this dress.
Melissa, it was a pleasure to work with you and I can't wait to work with you again. I'm thinking summer dresses and tops!
{image by me}