ok, i’m sure excited for this years ByDesign Event at the Northwest Film Forum. This is my favorite event in Seattle and I’ve been attending since 2007, but I missed last year. I love motion designers and titling sequence - if I weren’t a graphic designer, I’d be a motion designer. I love stop-motion, classic film titles from Saul Bass, tv intros like Six Feet Under, old Comedy Central and MTV intros, fresh work from the local shop Digital Kitchen…

So this year’s line-up is amazing! Check out some of the reels and work of some of the featured screens and panels this year:

Danny Yount REEL 2009

UK based art collective, The Light Surgeons

The Light Surgeons Show Reel 2008 from THE LIGHT SURGEONS on Vimeo.

Saul Bass - The Man With The Golden Arm

Charles and Ray Eames - The Powers of Ten

Back home in a neighborhood called Oakley in Cincinnati, I visited, Nest, a lovely gift boutique shop on 3184 Madison Road. The place was beautifully decorated, with old nostalgic cabinets full of jewelry, fancy soaps, and caged sunflowers. I got a pretty feather hair pin and some birthday cards.

my modcloth office space wish list

Check out my office space collection. Part of my Valentine’s gifts to me. You can get me something too!

I worked on this logo and brand treatment for Nimmy, Saustra & Tallie Designs in exchange for a wonderful one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry! Ms.DaNelle “Nikki” Jenkins makes jewelry that is know for it’s uniqueness. Speaking of which, the unique name of her jewelry design studio came to her in a dream. Nimmy is an Indian word for smiling eyes and from the dirt (creation) and happiness. Saustra reminds her of sister and sisterhood and dance. And Tallie is like little one or tag-along and stands for her more playful, childlike side.

Cranberry Brooch, Elephants on Safari necklace & earrings

Her jewelry is very organic and flowing as is she, a Women’s Health Administrator by day and mixed media jewlry artist, Bali dancer, and model by… whenever she has time. Nikki’s work is very unique and inspiring! Check out her esty site for more of her wares

collage vision board 2010

Okay, so back in December right after Christmas, my BFF and I stole away to a resort in Indiana on my long trip home and worked on vision boards, 2010 plans, and had some much needed spa time. Our vision boards consisted of everything we want to manifest for ourselves this year 2010! I’d read something online out outlining your body and I am not sure if it was for vision board purposes but I thought, “Awesome idea!” and me and my BFF proceeded to get long rolls of Kraft paper and a magic marker to add to our collage efforts. We both outline each other, all 5 feet 7 inches of ourselves - doubled and started to cut and paste in our hearts desires.

Now fast forward to February 5, 2010… my vision board was too large to fit on my walls or door as I had originally intended so I cut my collage self into bits and am working on finding enough frames to fit all my pieces into. I’ll keep you posted on that…

collage vision board 2010

collage vision board 2010 close up 2

My inspirato is walls of frames and pics and mirrors. Back in 2006 I had a wall of mirrors to die for! I think we had about 17 different mirrors on our wall - it was awesome! I’ll have to dig up a picture to share. Anyways, see below for some cute shots of inspirato I’ve been collecting…

wall decorations - store front at Nordstrom

wall decorations - store front at Nordstrom

Artspace Hiawatha Lofts Artist Wall Inspiration

Artspace Hiawatha Lofts Artist Wall Inspiration

Yoga Motion, originally uploaded by jmurphpix.

This morning, I stretched. I guess I do each and every morning but this morning was a bit different. Actually the last few weeks I have been stretching in ways of which I am mindful of my growth and hopeful for consistent positive change in my life.

In life we (hopefully) grow to move and be flexible in different situations, to learn from each stretch, what brings more pressure to us and what actually relieves us. I had been practicing meditation for years and just recently picked up yoga truly and it has been a practice of mental and spiritual growth. I loved meditation but yoga really takes it to a tactical level for me. Being mindful of the feelings and pushing anyways. Another lesson learned in Seattle. Another reason to love this town… full of yoga studios. And opportunities to stretch and grow!

Think about how you can stretch yourself today and feel the comfort and discomfort in that act of growing yourself. And enjoy it

“A unique place for rustic and recycled home decor”, At West End, is a yummy website and catalog featuring everything from recycled pop art signs made from Haitian old tomato paste drums, to vintage yard signs, to wooden jockey sets from Mississippi. There wonderful catalog came to me in the mail and was meet with “Oooo”s, “Ahhh”s, “I want that”s! So before I chop it up and collage it, I wanted to share these whimsical finds and this great site! And I may be getting the hanging heart sign for my room / office