really great artwork (plus, the future)

How great is this typography?

I stumbled upon Zachary Smith's work through Instagram today (check out his site here) and must say, I'm pretty smitten.

His work got my wheels a'turnin.

Lately it seems like lots of people have been asking me what I want to "do" after graduation (you know, what do I want to be when I grow up?) and honestly I'm not always sure what to say. In my head I have this whimsical idea of where I see myself (in a perfect world, of course). The problem is, these whimsical (i.e., vague) ideas don't exactly translate into an actual job. In my head, I'm off in some colorful studio with giant windows and hardwood floors, surrounded by a group of wonderfully creative people and lots of empty coffee cups. Our desks are overflowing with photographs, sketches, color swatches, fabrics, and scribbled notes. At our staff meetings we discuss brainstorm about color choices, materials, fonts, inspiration, marketing, etc.

Also, there are orchids all over the studio. Purple ones. 

It's very likely that this magical, colorful dream job that I've concocted only exists in movies. 

But still.

I know that I would like to do some type of creative work. Maybe something with lettering & typography. Professional chalkboard artist! Card-making extraordinaire! Yeah! Definitely something that involves design. Crafty stuff. Handmade stuff. Hands-on work. Anthropologie-esque work (but seriously).

If nothing else, I know that I want to do something that involves making and creating. I love both of my current jobs, but making latté art can only bring you so much happiness. (Don't get me wrong, I still do a little victory dance any time I manage to do something sort of fancy. A lattè heart!?? I AM THE QUEEN OF COFFEE!)

There is some real joy to be found in making something for someone else - something that they love, something that will last. That's what has always attracted me to photography. Knowing that your work is meaningful and valuable to someone (even one person!) makes any amount of hard work worthwhile. I want to do something that isn't the same every day, something that challenges me, and something that gives me some room to be creative. I would never survive in a cubicle. 

I want to spend my days with people who love what they do. We'd spend all of our time and energy creating beautiful things and (hopefully) selling them to people who enjoy our work as much as we enjoy making it.

........Remind me what that job is called, again?

Letters in the Mail

As you may or may not know, there are few things I love more than opening my mailbox and finding handwritten letters waiting inside. Yeah yeah yeah, emails are fast. Maybe texts are even faster. But they're definitely not the same as real letters. There's just something nice about knowing that someone actually took the time to sit down and write you an entire letter. Put it in an envelope. Stuck on a stamp. Wrote down your address. Maybe even walked across the street to the mailbox. Know what I mean?

My favorite part (besides the actual letter) is recognizing the handwriting on the envelope.
Seeing what stationary they chose.
Seeing their writing scribbled all over the card.

I've always loved this kind of stuff. Handwriting. Calligraphy. Typography. Paper stores. Stationary. Envelopes. All that jazz. Going to Paper Source is like Disneyland for me.

I've always wanted to open up my own little card shop, so when I found out that my friend Becca at Pleasant Pheasant had done just that, you can imagine how excited (and jealous) I was. I was even more excited when I won her giveaway!

I was under the impression that I'd be receiving one card & one envelope in the mail from her new store. Instead, I opened up my mailbox and found an entire package of beautiful paper goodies. There was not one but four cards inside + dried flowers, a thrifted vintage photograph, and a tiny package of sprinkles - all wrapped in lace ribbons and twine.

Talk about brown paper packages tied up with string! These were definitely a few of my favorite things. I almost don't want to send the cards to anyone.. I want to keep them all for myself!

Now I really want to start my own shop. Opening up Becca's package was like opening a present. Everything inside was so thoughtful and creative and sweet. Handmade things like this are pretty special if you ask me, and this is just the sort of thing I want to make. Someday.

If you're looking for new stationary, definitely check out Becca's shop at Mole Hill Paper Co.