busynest cards mom blog

dynamic views for blogger

2011-07-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

busynestcards mom blog in mosaic view

ok this is too cool.

if you have a blogger account, here's a quick way to change up the look/feel/navigation of your site using blogger's dynamic views.

are you feelin a bit tumblr-ish? try out mosaic. old skool polaroids? check out snapshot. reorganize by recent, date, label or author. can't decide? just toggle back and forth on the right drop down menu.

send your viewers your new (albeit longer) url for a fun new way to check you out. have fun!

thank you how about orange for the heads up!

mission: gravy | a creative coworking community

2011-02-14T08:17:00.000-08:00

it's such an amazing thing when your visions become reality. i always knew one day that i'd collaborate with a friend on a work venture. Little did i know i'd be working with two amazing partners!

enter gravy. before it was gravy it was a positive affirmation entry in my sketchbook. thanks to my inspirational friend, mg, i have been reaping the benefits of writing down (or pinning up) what i want to happen as if it happened already. when i wrote it, i thought, "i don't know how this is going to happen but if i write it down, i know it will." ever have one of those feelings? well write that baby down!

sketchbook entry 11.13.10 | i'm so happy and grateful that i created a space

for myself and artists to work, teach and learn from each other.

i didn't know what i wanted had a name, i just wanted to bring all the creative people i knew together to make/create/feel that collective energy i felt in architecture school. fortunately for us, coworking spaces and hackerspaces not only exist but thrive around the world - how cool is that!

3 months later, 1 business plan, 1 shared vision and 1 bottomless pit of collaboarative & creative energy, the 3 of us are about to launch our first FREE coworking event (aka jelly) on friday, feb 25. if working at home is too distracting, and the local coffee shop's too noisy, coworking may be for you! bring your work, yourself and your energy and come join us!

refinishing furniture

2011-02-01T13:26:00.000-08:00

so, over the holiday, i got the refinishing fever. thanks to my inspirational visit to my friend, jody, i've decided to get over myself and go for it! unfortunately, i was too excited that i forgot to take a before picture. so this is as close as i could get to one.

after!

after again in action at my desk!

before (you get me)

kudos to the stencil 101 decor book for the large scale chain stencil. instead of dry brushing (as in the tutorial) the orange paint, i traced the stencil onto some contact paper, and cut it out. i then covered the (already spray painted white) side table and spray painted the cut out area orange. i love the surprise when you open the drawer....

also thanks to my sanding and refinishing friend, diana. who knew sanding could be so therapeutic? i will never sand alone again!

organization at the antique store

2010-11-18T08:55:00.000-08:00

so there's this antique store i check out wednesdays while i'm at piano with my kids. there are so many old/cool/junky objects in there that in the beginning it was overwhelming. but after 10 or so perusing trips, i think i've got that shop down! here's what i got yesterday for instant organizational transformation.

before: worn 1940's suitcase.
price: $12.50
bonus: did i not have you at $12.50?

after: dvd/game storage!
value: cheap charm!
bonus: a how-to lesson for the kids on those old latches!

before: cigar boxes.
price: $3-$6.50 each
bonus: colorful, paper wrapped wooden boxes

after: kids craft/pencil/sticker/stamp (stuff!) storage! check out this post for my inspiration!
value: an organized, pretty craft cabinet!
bonus: some geography lessons! for the kids too!

so now i'm hooked. i'm usually with my 7 year old girl (who has a very very acute olfactory sense) who says the place stinks. and the stuff is old. but somehow she was able to find an (old and smelly) box for herself. uh oh, i may be passing on the fever...

flyer design - stage + shoot

2010-10-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

nothin' like a filling up a tuesday with a photoshoot + some flyer fun! a 11x17 marketing flyer for my gal gina at always gourmet. it needed to be large scaled, eye-catching and have some kid appeal because it's going up in kid-friendly, mom-populated venues. i have a hard time finding the images i want online (and don't want to pay to use), so often times, i stage it and shoot it myself at home: a cutting board here, some eggs there, what else do bakers use? i did get the polariods free online here and have used them on two design projects. i love the nostalgia of them. baking and memories go hand in hand, don't they?

now doesn't this make you want to hire this talented mom/baker?

anatomy of identity design

2010-09-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

this project came together in a snap. maybe because i'm the demographic; maybe because i was working with a fellow designer. something magical happens when two designers work together. rules + intentions are more easily expressed/communicated/understood. design takes on somewhat of a shorthand. it becomes a collaboration!

for a consultation contact lauri loesch at minutemoms@roadrunner.com.

EASY teriyaki chicken lo mein

2010-09-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

made this last nite and had to share. supper easy + fast + yummy! my three musts in my book.

when mid afternoon rolls around, based on what i have on hand, i start paging thru my recipe collection, cookbooks or my epicurious iphone app (a must have!). nope, i'm not the super plan/shop ahead type, as much as i try, i can only get into that mode if i have company coming over! so, here i am paging thru a free copy of cooks' country i got last year. here, not even dog-eared, is this super fast, easy recipe. what was i thinking? this will definitely be on permanent rotation. enjoy!

3/4 c soy sauce
1/4 c rice vinegar
1.5 tbsp grated fresh ginger (omitted since didn't have)
1/2 c sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch (substituted flour)
3.5 c water
4-3oz. packages of ramen noodles (seasoning packs discarded)
1-16oz. bag of coleslaw mix
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut crosswise into 1/4" slices
1 tbsp vegetable oil

1. simmer soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, sugar and cornstarch in large saucepan over medium heat, whisking often until thickened, 2-3 min. pour half out in large bowl. add water to remainig soy sauce mixture in saucepan. boil. add ramen and cook until tender, 4 min. cover & keep warm.

2. pat chicken with paper towels. heat oil over medium-high heat. add chicken and cook until no longer pink, 1 min per side. transfer chicken to bowl of reserved soy sauce mixture, toss to coat. transfer noodles to platter and top with chicken.

what i learned from my teenage niece this summer

2010-09-07T18:46:00.000-07:00

spending time with my 15 year old niece, darlene this summer gave me some insight into her world. what's cool, what's not. what's hip, happening and what's worthy enough for her time. among many things, i discovered how incredible it is to be her age right now!

youtube :: cool

check out: MichellePhan: "really? you don't know who she is?" guess she's all the rage. an asian teen (with videos by herself + commissioned by lancome) who does makeup tutorials specifically for those brown skin + almond shaped eye girls. she does video tutorials about how to apply makeup for a natural look, for class photos, even using hot cocoa as blush!

check out: bubzbeauty: an asian teen who shows you some hip hairstyles - from loose curls to french braid behind the neck updo's. fyi, that sloppy "just rolled outa bed" look is intentional. some good styles for doing your and/or your little girl's hair!

tumblr :: cool

a graphically laid out blog popular with the young kids, displaying posts in conversation bubbles. newsweek said it's “a space in between twitter and facebook.” if i had more space + time, i'd figure this one out. but, i don't.

twitter :: not cool

for old folks, people.

facebook :: cool

for all the same reasons us adults think it's cool. random, meaningful discussions, getting to know each other thru identity defining quizes...

email :: occasionally cool

i learned the hard way that if i want a response from her in the next month, i should email her. she rarely checks it. i fb her instead and am zapped straight into her most checked line of communication.

texting :: need i even say cool?

must. pull her. away. from texting. without it she's lost. or she has to come to her aunt's house to earn money for her phone card by babysitting the kids. oh, and spending time with her aunt. oh yeah, that too. some of my favorite texting shortcuts i learned are: mkay (ok but mmmkay!), rofl (rolling on the floor laughing), js (just saying).

talking on the phone :: not cool

this is not in the main stream of thought when you're out of minutes on your texting plan. you know, use the landline! her phone does not even have a talking option.

itunes :: cool

that is when she wants to pay for music for her ancient 4 year old ipod. usually she gets them free using frostwire.

listening to a song, start to finish :: occasionally cool

just when i'm getting into one of her songs in the car, she gets her fill of her favorite part and moves on. talk about short attention span. those poor teachers writing by hand on the blackboard. how utterly primitive...

korean music :: cool

don't know what they're saying but it's kinda catchy. check out Girls Generation.

tv shows :: anime :: cool

i'll admit it, she got me into avatar, the air bender. don't know of it's more of darlene thing or a typical of all teens thing. earth/fire/water/air. end of the world. only one who can save us. sibling rivalry, love. what's not to love? she's loved anime since she was little and it stuck with her. first sailor moon, now true tears. she still loves hello kitty and all those little anime creatures you can get at the asian store that hang on your phone. that we have in common! hello kitty + little twin stars 4ever!

tv shows :: big time rush :: not cool

my 9 y.o. son likes it because of the music, my 6 y.o. daughter, the cute boys. my teenage niece thinks it's...l a m e.

asian store food treats :: cool

check out: pocky, aloe drink, botan rice candy (ok this one's one of my faves - edible rice paper wrapper!)

volunteering :: lukewarm cool

after volunteering with kids + art this summer, it gets a "it was ok." however, posting your volunteer time to your fb profile appears to be :: cool.

online photo editing :: cool

check out picnik. a free editing site that's photoshop-esque and let's you crop, resize, dodge, burn and sharpen to your heart's desire.

my teenage niece, once a 6 year old flower girl for my wedding, is all grown up. she's up on the latest youtube videos, technology and has cool music choices (bruno mars!). whenever she comes, i'm always asking her, "what's that?" "who's that?" "why do you like them?" i get to be the cool aunt who gives her space (shower at 4pm? mkay. another nap? js!) and is genuinely interested in her. valuing what she's into, what is hip + cool to her brings me closer to knowing and loving her for her. <3 and btw, boys :: not cool.

why l.a. is so cool.

2010-08-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

ok. now i remember why i miss l.a..

we went to pasadena last weekend and walked a bit, ate a bit (ok more than a bit) and snapped pix like crazy.

reason #1: walkability. yes that's us walking diagonally. why do the L thing when you can cut across? i remember this in, where was it, barcelona? new york? anywhere, someplace cool. someplace urban. l.a.'s cool.

reason #2: wacky shops left & right. this is rocket fizz: retro soda's + discontinued candy. right there to touch + consume. old skool prank toys. fake barf + commie mints anyone? and all that beautiful color! l.a's cool.

reason #3: people scaled, architectural details that invite you to stay a while. slow down. a thick, curvy, solid wood bench at the window of a 21 choices frozen yogurt. it's deep seating that makes you want to sink in and down that dutch chocolate with minted malt balls + brownies with wreckless abandon. l.a. is cool (pun intended, tee).

reason #4: art, art everywhere dangit!

back courtyard at lululemon

elevator doors at delacey parking structure

beautiful hand drawn typography at la luna negra

hand drawn art at the indian place on fair oaks

painted tables at la luna

stamped sidewalk art at green + delacey

l.a. it's intuitive, it responds to people. it changes, it's ever-changing. it's art, it's expression.

and i love l.a. mostly because of reason #5: it's unexpected. there are surprises, unknowns, discoveries. they're around every corner....or wall. now tell me. isn't l.a. cool?

divider wall at chair display, dwr

checking off the list | no. 9: learning to letterpress

2010-07-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

so i put it on the list. it's always been a love of mine: letterpress.

the simplicity of pressing paper to reveal. a quiet kiss. a whisper.

an age-old trade that tells the story of typography (what chapter are we on now?) and highlights the beauty, simplicity and relevance of each individual character.

after searching high + low (and patiently waiting), i was finally able to attend a class by quality letterpress in san diego and meet tim, owner + operator.

so what was i going to create?

i didn't know. i perused thru the little heavy drawers of characters, logos, symbols. decorative swirls. a pair of cherries. getting a little lost + overwhelmed.

then it hit me.

flashback to this poster from barcelona. in our room. en el bano. it was beautiful and inspiring.

i had tried to track it down and buy it, but couldn't find it. it's by artist, america sanchez.

so here i am with an opportunity to replicate it in the most beautiful way.

characters, spanish + english, big to small. black + red.

laying out the letters, in decreasing sizes. nope - not enough e's, gotta go to a different type size or typeface. 48pt...36pt...30pt...24pt...18pt...

setting up the plates. one red, one black, spacing out the leading with furniture, tightening the coins.

running the press, adjusting the kerning so it reads forced justified.

measuring. adjusting. tightening. running.

we got it.

setting the pins.

running the red. pedaling, feeding, pulling...

changing the inks.

running the black. pedaling, feeding, pulling...

can you feel the rhythm? a dance. a symphony. a breath. a heartbeat.

the finished product.

a result of time, patience, a little math, a little luck and a lot of feeling it out.

each piece, individual in its imperfections, each bearing on it, the love and care (sweat + tears) of its creator.

now i'm a designer. hooked. that rhythm's in my soul now. time to add to the checklist....

savoring summer: smoothie pop anyone?

2010-07-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

some summer love to you all! here's a fun (and healthy) treat for you and the kids. kudos to sara at fitness fun 4 all for this healthy 1-2 punch! thanks for showing me how fun + easy it can be to be and stay healthy, sara! feel free to enjoy all year round!

slide projector art - pt.2 - us soccer icon

2010-07-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

in honor of the world cup, we finished my son's wall mural! here are the pics. it was a work in progress for about a week (a lazy summer week, that is).

the final project.

the process. see my daughter's mural post for step by step instructions.

the make-shift slides.

projecting + tracing.

preparing the paints.

the hard part. masking. waiting. repeat.

the final mural. as you can see, we embraced sloppy edges. imperfection is your friend!

slide projector art - pt.1 - abstract wall mural

2010-07-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

catching up on my design*sponge posts, i came across this wallpaper mural of these sillouetted birds and got inspired. hey i can do my own! dusting off our old slide projector and jimmy-rigging a few old slides, i found myself projecting and tracing my daughter's original artwork on her wall. in one holiday afternoon, we created some beautiful artwork for her wall. and you can too! here's what we did.

supplies:

pencil

slide projector (or overhead projector w/transparent film)

vellum (transparencies are preferable but this worked, albeit cloudy)

plastic photo slides

scotch tape (painter's tape is another thing we didn't have so i improvised)

don't forget your patience - it's hard to wait until the paint dries! something about paint makes you want to just get in there and go crazy, young or old.

carefully open a plastic photo slide. the negative will just fall out. we used negative's size as a guide and created the artwork on vellum. place artwork in the slide, tape and close. voila! instant slide.

place into slide into slide ring - i think upside down and backwards is the way it goes - but in this case, art is art - whichever way strikes your fancy. project on wall. play with distance to determine the size - the further away, the larger the image. this is where the slide projector was limiting - this was the most i could back up and prop up. i'm assuming an overhead projector might be more handy for large size projects). focus and trace lightly with pencil, denoting colored areas in a paint by number kinda way.

tape off edges of artwork. this was my experiment with scotch tape - held up pretty well but did bleed as anticipated. paint away! i (ahem, i mean we) painted two layers per color and changed them to match her room (these were also the only colors we had in the house - when you want to get it done, you make do, folks!). don't forget to wait until each layer dries. we had to force ourselves to leave the room proving yet another hypothesis - staring at wet paint does not equal dry paint.

wait, paint. wait paint. get into the groove, my friends. you'll have to wait some more. and when you just can't stand it anymore, pull that tape off! scotch tape, as you can see gives you some sloppy edges, but we kinda liked it. i freehanded a thicker border leaving some white "matting" to frame it all, upon final the approval of the artist, of course! all in all, a fun afternoon of creating, painting and waiting with my girl.

amish friendship bread friday

2010-05-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

finally, baking day has arrived! after nine days of bag mashing and one day of ingredient adding, today is the day my amish friendship bread starter transforms into bread. yum! maybe it's the crunchy sugar topping on the outside or the soft, moist bread on the inside. or maybe it's the fact that this starter began way before me, mashing and transforming its way thru warm kitchens and loving hands of friends and friends of friends. although you can make starter from scratch, it's almost in the receiving that it takes on a deeper meaning. if you've ever had the blessing of having amish friendship bread starter passed onto you, i hope you share the process of making it with your family and revel in the beauty of what it feels/sounds like: the quiet resonance of friendships. thank you melissa!

seeing+being: beauty in death

2010-05-18T13:19:00.001-07:00

i almost walked past this broken bird's egg with my daughter at the beach park this morning. in the field of green grass, on a quiet overcast may-grey morning, it almost let its' story fade away.

did it accidentally drop? was it taken from its' safe, warm nest in the tree overhead? is it missed?

summer commitment #1: frame & vignette

2010-05-14T08:24:00.001-07:00

so i came across this old calendar i bought years ago after seeing a tony cragg installation in college (in particular, see tony's sculptures). oh yeah! i wanted to frame these! thus begins my quest to frame stuff i back-shelved (figuratively and literally) for later. it's like what sheryl says: it's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got. who knew i got good stuff!

i love the collection of everyday found objects not only grouped by color, but by an overriding shape, theme and feel. the pink/purple vintage glam poster would look great in my girl's room - but which girl? gotta be THIS girl.

part two of framing the prints is creating artfully placed

vignettes around the house, showing them off. this green nautical/nature framed print i placed in my family room with my favorite celadon walls. taking some clues & inspiration from apartment therapy, i mixed scale and color and feel. the ballerina in front is one my daughter made from a diy kit (the one her mama spent a good summation of hours gluing the hair on the back of that flat head). placing this imperfectly-perfect found object here plays on the playfulness of the print and the casualness of our family (and the room it's named for).

mental trick:

calling this post "summer commitment" before summer begins makes me feel like i'm ahead of the game. i know, i need to fool myself sometimes. just go with me here...

every good [girl] does fine

2010-05-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

ok all you ex-piano students - the ones whose parents finally gave in to your complaints of piano practicing - who remembers this one? has Every Good Boy Does Fine been burned into your brain like it has mine? what about FACE=space? i'm trying to find a visual and tactile way to engage my kindergartener girl into remembering her notes.

music magnet board + newly labeled (note: sports sticker themed) magnets make it more visual and definitely more fun! turn 'em over and you've got bass clef acronyms - i don't remember these when i was growing up, do you? Good Burritos Don't Fall Apart and All Cows Eat Grass. my girl loves making up her own - Fathers And Cows Eat (grass)...giggle giggle...

before + after: photo tools 2.5 freebie

2010-05-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

so i woke up wanting to play around a bit. thanks to pariah burke, i came across a freebie. photo tools 2.5 works with photoshop cs2, cs3 & cs4. it's for those of us who know some photoshop, but don't use it enough to get what burn, dodge & multiply really mean! this interface helps you get those tools with the click of a button. their selection of free presets like turbo boost, digital fill flash & graduated blue (the really cool presets come with the paid version of course) helped me electrify the sky and help balance the subject (go a!). i also added the cool white grunge frame with photo frame 4.5 (same company, also free) in five seconds flat!

popville

2010-04-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

check out this amazing book i found in catalunya. yes, it was in the kids section. i mean who doesn't love pop-up books?

it describes the city as "...un encantamiento visual, donde cada pieza va encontrado su lugar" (a visual enchantment, where each piece will find its place). i love how it describes a city as being alive...

it is a beautiful visual poem of urban meets suburban. it starts off with one quite little house with one quiet little driveway with trees as neighbors. page after page adds a few more cars, roads, buildings. it culminates into full-on urbania - tracks, roads, communication towers, high rises, industry. { hey, what happened to the trees? } i can feel the density and almost hear the noise bursting from the page. having studied architecture and urban planning, i can appreciate the radical (and yet beautiful) commentary on the urbanization of our surroundings.

my favorite part of the poem at the end of the book:

"vivo en una ciudad y soy una ciudad.

porque rio y a veces lloro

como todos los que habitan

en mi pequena ciudad."

i live in a city and i am a city.

because i laugh and sometimes i cry

like all who live in my small town.

a garden | gift | postcard

2010-04-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

ok, why didn't i think of this one? this has got to be one of the most creative ideas out there.

make a 3D foldable paper model (c'mon you fellow architects!) add seeds + water and voila! a little self-contained garden that pushes out of the windows and edges of it's own backdrop. i love how the model remains abstract - black lines over white paper. this allows the green to be the star of the show. it's like a living tabletop greenhouse/dollhouse for adults. did i mention you can mail it as a postcard? postcarden's got it down.

after you're done growing, hand it to the kids for a little polly pocket meets triceratops fun!

couch to bunk - lickety split!

2010-03-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

talk about a 2fer. need to reclaim space in that combo office/guest room of yours? no sweat. enter resource furniture's DOC space saving system. this is just one of many now ya see it-now ya don't transformations. have fun exploring & getting inspired!

zoom in design's current work!

2010-01-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

thanks, blogspoongraphics for the info on the coolest free ways to create a digital portfolio! yes, i am getting organized this year! check out my latest identity design work!

the holidays? huh?

2009-09-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

if you're like me, you're still stuck in summer mode. i attempt to snuggle into denial's warm embrace until it finally lets me down, back to reality's pull. then it hits me: another school year means my kids are getting older. no doubt i need to accept it. embrace it. then document it.

enter my new line of holiday cards at ruvacards.com (like the lead in?). these double-sided, color cards let you pick a photo or artwork of your child(ren) accompanied by a list of some of their favorite things - a window, if you will, into their world. be it strawberry picking, cartwheeling, ice creaming. loved ones want to know. loved ones want to ohhh and awww... go ahead, indulge them. and yourself. because even if you're kids keep changing right before your eyes, you can capture them this holiday in all your glorious acceptance.

fold n glue fun

2009-08-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

like symmetry? simplicity? plain ole' fun? then you'll love what we made at the new children's museum. so simple a kid can do it (and many did)!

1. cut out eight 2" circles made out of wallpaper, thick magazine pages or behr paint chips. pay attention to pattern, color, texture. whatever looks good to you.

2. cut out a 2" equilateral triangle out of cardboard or other rigid material.

3. place the triangle in the middle of the circle.

4. fold in three edges of each circle around the triangle. glue stick folded edge of one circle to folded edge of another. we glued a group of 4 circles together to create the "top" of the circle.

5. repeat #3-#5 with the other 4 circles to create the "bottom."

6. glue top to bottom. voila!

the above directions make the smaller ornament in the picture. to create the larger one, do the same with 45-50 circles and group them together in fives. fill in with additional circle as needed.

possibilities: use monochromatic paper to create themed ornaments for wedding/baby shower. photocopy pictures onto paper to make circles for a memorable baby mobile or kid's birthday. now, you go.

scale, layering, composition

2009-08-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

the walt disney concert hall. or as my son puts it, "the place where 'get smart' was filmed!"

each turn up, down and around this building was a constant revealing, opening and unfolding. from the scale of the street, to the sidewalk to the flower petal water fountain. each form individually and as a whole reinforced its role in the power of scale, layering and composition in the form of sculpture and architecture. (sculptecture was on the tip of my mouth but didn't want to get too corny). it seems fitting that this building houses the l.a. philharmonic which in its very nature is an art of scale, layering and composition. an inspiration for the eyes, ears and soul.

giveaways for moms starts today!

2009-07-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

know a mom? are a mom? like free stuff? three words: post & win, my friend! head on over to todaysmama.com for a chance to win something new everyday thru aug 2 by posting your answer to the daily question.

TODAY'S Q: what piece of advice do you wish you'd been told about giving birth? how about feeling like being hit by a truck the day after? oh yeah, that....go for it and good luck!

kelly lauro, realtor

2009-07-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

real estate. how to make your mark. i personally wanted kelly to choose the door knocker. it's an unusual graphic, it's eye-catching, it's different. it's also kinda cute. maybe that's why she didn't pick it. i like playing with typography in logo design, sometimes letters can speak to you. she wanted something simple. something that graphically communicated what her profession was. the question was: do i want to be literal? too many cutesy clipart images filled my mind: house, bricks, chimney. i went the opposite and hinted at the form of a house. in other words, anti-cutesy, abstract, sculptural. good thing she liked that one too!

birth announcements at ruvacards

2009-05-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

announcing my birth annnouncement line at ruvacards.com! this was a labor of love because i used these on my sweet baby girl. there's a matching christening invitation that goes with it and if you anything like me, you're late on announcing (too busy trying to sleep) so a 2-for-1 sounds pretty good. pink, blue and green designs available...

seeing and being: 3|2009

2009-04-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

whenever i get a new project, i wait for ideas, for images, for inspiration. i don't jump on a design unless i immediately get a visual. about 90% of the time, i just wait. and i'm not saying that i see it in a dream (altho that has happened a time or two) or it just materializes before my eyes. but i do find myself being more open to what's around me: colors, textures, adjacencies.

that bright yellow utility cover in front of my house that i run over with the car each day, only to discover it's beauty on the way back from the park. how the contrast of the earth beneath the green groundcover invigorates the other's color. these specific things may not be incorporated into my actual designs, but consciously being aware of what's around me, helps me to see more, to feel more, be more in my own life. maybe it's this perspective that i'm attracted to, more so than its result.

speaking of talented women...

2009-03-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

i met joy palisoc bach while doing summer school at uw milwaukee. shy and unsure of myself, i was drawn to joy's kookiness (to date, unmatched!), self-confidence, honesty and authenticity of character.

our friendship bloomed that summer and 20+ years later (and only a handful of times that i've seen her) i am honored to still call joy my friend. now she's a wife, mother of three, singer and whatever else she dares to try. in her personal blog, a 2009 journey she challenges herself to get out of her comfort zone and try something new every week "or so." from singing the national anthem at a brewers game, to getting mehndi on her arm, to parasailing, it is no surprise to me that joy is so out there, pushing what is known, what is comfortable, all the while staying completely grounded and appreciative of what a gift life is.

joy continues to inspire me. take a listen, look inside and let her inspire you too!

net|working women

2009-03-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

there are so many women that i know that are have such great expertise and great talent. so many women that do the mom thing and the work thing just like me. i meet them in my neighborhood, at school, thru friends. between my busy schedule of work, errands, kids, home, many times we don't get to finish our conversations. i leave feeling, "how did she do that? i want to know more."

finally, with the support and collaboration of a friend, we formed net|working women: a planned time to connect with other women, an avenue to support and to inspire each other. we've only had a couple of meetings so far, but they have been extraordinarily fulfilling! the most important part of our mission is to "help each other find meaning and joy in the process of professional growth, while highlighting personal and spiritual balance as well." big picture stuff! women helping women.

fonts: museo, zapfino. graphic: funky swirl medina

birdies for bricks

2009-01-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

"sure, i can design a logo for the golf tournament," i replied as i added yet another design task to my busy to-do list. my son's school's 2nd biggest fundraiser needed help!

once i have a visual in my mind, i can roll with it, but the actual coming up with one is the challenge. i had to juggle with 3 very strong images: birds (sillouette? cartoony?), golf (golf ball? golf tee? greens?) and bricks (school house? actual bricks?). there's another catch in the way i work: if i try too hard, i most certainly fail. i have to let my mind be open and continually look at everyday things in a new way. it's a practice i try to apply to my everyday life too, but with my crazy kids, believe me, it's hard!

so, here's how it went down: google helped me find a free vector graphic, "twitter birds"- check. i guess it's going to be cartoony. then saw the h&r block logo - that's right, a simple green square. ding! ding! ding! make the bricks abstract. add the flag for the golf element and voila!

pretty peppermint bark

2008-12-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

just a quick recipe to share for the holidays. and by quick, i mean: melt & spread chocolate, smash, separate & sprinkle candy cane. totally do-able as a busy mom of three. take this to your neighbor's "cookie" exchange. i am! heads up, helen!

slowly melt 1 pkg of chocolate in a double boiler situation: glass bowl over boiling water in a pot. use good chocolate. ghiradelli's dark chocolate and nothing less!
smash one box of candy canes in a double ziplock bag. my expert technique of "pounding bag on counter" satisfies my need to take out aggression as well. a two for one, if you will.
separate fine candy "dust" and actual candy cane. i use a colander. one that i've had since college. still the right size & has "colanded" many a-things...
once chocolate is melted, combine with the candy cane"dust" to further enhance the peppermint experience.
spread the chocolate into a rectangle on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet. see? we are utilizing similar cookie "tools" here!
sprinkle candy cane pieces on top.
freeze for i don't know, a half hour. i just leave it in there until my kid needs a refill on milk or something...
break up bark in randomly shaped pieces.
eat slowly. allow chocolate melt in your mouth. taste. savor. enjoy. share.

framing our family

2008-12-09T23:30:00.000-08:00

talk about pretty pictures. zoe from photography by zoe took these of our family at a local historic park. i wanted casual, urban, you know, dirty-pretty. leo carrillo ranch had the weathered architecture, the bold colors, the complex textures, the feel i love. the location mimics my everyday life in many ways: surprisingly finding perfection in imperfection. beauty in the overlooked. the charlie brown tree. and did i mention peacocks?

she and i talked a lot about layering the shots: jackets, hats, scarves; patterns vs. solids. visual framing. as unpredictable it is shooting with young kids, zoe brought out a certain comfort and calmness to them with each moment....

thanks zoe!

from thanksgiving to christmas

2008-11-27T14:13:00.000-08:00

with the holidays right around the corner (and some downtime while the bird cooks), i thought i'd share another christmas card design in the works. i like the juxtaposition of black & white with color, zooming in on the artwork and cutting around the face shot. who knows this might be our christmas card i like it so much! if you're interested in this design for your holiday card, email me! turkey day's almost over, time to get a jump on the next holiday...

fonts: baskerville, abadi mt condensed extra bold

ladybug girl

2008-11-21T10:58:00.000-08:00

looking for a good children's book? want a fun read?

a friend gave my daughter (5 years old) ladybug girl and we love it. besides being beautifully illustrated and a fascinating tale of a can-do girl (and conspiring dog), what struck me was how the author & illustrator captured the poignancy of emotion a child goes thru in every scene of their day. the rhythm of the read takes you on a ride as well: you effortlessly delight with ladybug girl's playfulness...and pause to feel her empowerment.

get it for your girl. empower her. i was pleased to find out there's another ladybug girl book in the works! the great thing was it came from a friend who's all about teaching self-empowerment to her kids, especially to her girl! thanks seema!

momworthy.com

2008-11-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

are moms your market? looking to promote yourself online? wanna do it for free? i knew you'd take the bait! momworthy.com lets you submit your latest blog post to their site to drive traffic to your blog. in addition, if you blog about momworthy.com (ahem!) they will automatically submit your blog posts to their site to be voted on (or, mominated). the more votes, the more exposure.
think of it as good ole' fashioned bartering for services. a mutual back-scratching, if you will. or as my husband would put it, "beating the system!"

my girl's tea party

2008-11-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

so my girl turned 5. we're talkin' big girl! she likes girly stuff but still wants the R2-D2 toy just like her brother.

THE INVITE: i wanted to design something classic, simple and graphic. girly, but not cutesy. i wanted texture to be more of the focus here. THE DETAILS: the table was set with mismatched tea sets on doilies, placecards (that kept flying away), butterfly bubble necklaces. the girls dressed up in lace gloves, thrift store clip-on earrings, feather boas & headbands (you know, just your normal, everyday women's wear)! they crafted paper fans. and made pretty paper hats (inspired by maya made). THE FOOD: on tiered platters were heart & flower shaped pb&j sandwiches, skewered fruit and cream cheese celery boats. desserts were meringue petit fours & mini chocolate cupcakes with flower accents (thanks to always gourmet).

fonts: edwardian script, headline two

fun 40th for a friend

2008-11-16T22:42:00.000-08:00

40 years is a milestone. we girls need to mark it well! here's a goodie bag label i did for a friend's surprise girls day out. it's girly yet grungy & edgy. classic gina (well except for the grungy part)! we all played it up by dressing in all black for the occasion. ya know, black=death=darth vadar music in the background...

fonts: porcelain, faith collapsing

new for the holidays

2008-11-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

i've been working with cindy from ruvacards.com on some modern holiday card designs! check them out! pick your child's favorite artwork or some kid close-ups...and voila! instant holiday spirit to share with all.

welcome busynesters!

2008-11-06T09:18:00.000-08:00

we're breaking new ground!

welcome to the busynest cards blog. i'll be your host, kim viernes.

why a busynest cards blog? good question. to put it rhetorically, why not? besides a designer, i'm a woman, a wife and a mom. if you're reading this, i'm certain we've got some common ground, some ideas to share. i design with all these things in mind (and more!). case in point: busynest cards. inspired by motherhood, i created these hip and stylish cards as a way for moms to not only feel "pulled together" in a world of "i didn't do it!" and "you can't make me!'s," but :: e m p o w e r e d :: too. truth is, you don't have to come up with an answer to the ever popular, "how do you do it?" there's nothing magical to it, you just do it. day after day. bravo.

here at the busynest cards blog, you can share your busynest stories, give tips, ask questions. and like the cards themselves, connect and communicate! we're all friends here - there's no need for proper punctuation! go ahead - use all lower case! make my day.

what will you get out of the busynest cards blog? a dash of design here, a pinch of motherhood there, a handful of the xx chromosome - you do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around --- (need i sing the rest?). as an added bonus (i.e. the good stuff), i hope you'll find inspiration, commonality, laughter and friendship!

come, read, explore a while!